Week ending April 24, 2005
Know the story…Be the people…Expand the Kingdom
If you would like to contribute to the eNews or converse with the editor (Laura1), send an email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com
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IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK
WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL, by Laura1
THE STORY OF GOD—What it is we’re up to…
BIBLE DISCUSSION—Messy Spirituality, Psalm 36, 40
SERMON NOTES—Guilt And Grace: How To Deal With Guilt God’s Way
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOTE: the Bible Discussion section is updated on Wednesday.
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WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL, by Laura1
PRESENCE OF GOD:
God, your steadfast love is all around us, if only we would see.
WORD OF GOD: Psalm 33
DEVOTION:
Sometimes in the busyness of life, surrounded by distractions, we forget whose we are and who we are. Sometimes we need to take the time to remember and respond. That’s what Psalm 33 does. Listen again…
it is fitting to praise him
everything he does is worthy of our trust
his unfailing love fills the earth
The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created
The LORD shatters the plans of the nations
his intentions can never be shaken
LORD watches over those who fear him
Only he can help us
our hope is in you alone
We have before us a lofty project: to make a film of the Story of God. There are a multitude of details that we don’t even realize yet—details we can get lost in if we’re not careful. There is possible praise—praise that can turn our heads if we’re not careful. Even though we’ll be pouring over Scripture and stories of church history, we may loose sight of the true story: God’s steadfast love in Jesus. We may begin to think that the study and the work are sufficient nourishment for our souls—it is not. I have been going to seminary since Fall 1999. I have studied much. I have learned much. I have been distracted much. The main distraction is believing that thinking about God is the same thing as relationship with God. Relationship requires actual person-to-person contact. Study can be that; but it is not necessarily that. Making this film can be that—but it is not necessarily that. Let us continually go back to the truth of it: God, who is more powerful than we can imagine, loves us more than we can know. And his love cannot and will not be shaken.
CONVERSATION:
Thanks for your eternal grace.
Help us to realize what we do.
I don’t understand you grace, but I’m thankful.
Thank you that your grace covers our ugliness.
Help me recognize your presence when I don’t want to.
BENEDICTION:
Let us continually go back to the truth of it: God, who is more powerful than we can imagine, loves us more than we can know. And his love cannot and will not be shaken.
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THE STORY OF GOD—What it is we’re up to…
The story of God runs from the creation of everything to the consummation of everything in God’s Kingdom and includes everything God is doing in the already-and-not-yet. The lives of God-followers today are vignettes in that continuing story, joining the millennia of God-followers who live out God’s story. The God-followers here in Torrance, at TFB, and in the TFB college group are part of the ongoing story that includes believers across the globe. God has commanded us to be his storytellers through our lives, through words, through media, through art, and through any means possible, spreading the Story of God to all who will listen.
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BIBLE DISCUSSION—Messy Spirituality, Psalm 36, 40
TUESDAYS
7:15-9:00 pm— TFB College Room
Discussion is potluck style—everybody brings something to share,
so read ahead, pray a bunch, listen, and create.
Basic Questions
- Who is God?
- Who are we?
- What difference does this make?
The Samaritan woman in John 4 was a mess. She knew it. Her village knew it. Jesus knew it. But unlike the woman and the village, Jesus knew her mess could be redeemed. Read the story here.
page 60-61 “You don’t suppose, do you, the same could be true for you and me? Our mistakes, our strings of failures, and what everyone else labels unredeemable may actually be redeemable? You don’t suppose the mess we’ve made of our lives can be the place where we meet Jesus? Do you?”
Psalm 36:5-9
God's hesed is a big as all creation and strong enough to protect us from anything.
v.5 “Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.”
v.7 “How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.”
Psalm 40:9-12
God's hesed should be a major subject in our praise, for we hope in God's hesed.
v.10-11 “I have not kept this good news hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness. LORD, don't hold back your tender mercies from me. My only hope is in your unfailing love and faithfulness.”
Tuesday Prayer April 19, 2005
Thanks to MattC for being our worship leader!
WHAT’S NEXT?
Mike Yaconelli’s Messy Spirituality-we’re on pg 73
Psalms ‘hesed’ passages—worship readings and prayer response
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SERMON NOTES—Guilt And Grace: How To Deal With Guilt God’s Way
James 2:10
Pastor Charlie
April 17, 2005
WHAT IS GUILT? Psalm 38:4; Galatians 3:3
Guilt is a warning light.
Two kinds of guilt:
* Real Guilt
* False Guilt
Questions to determine real vs. false guilt.
1. Is the focus on people or God?
2. Is the focus vague or specific?
3. Is the focus on rules or relationships?
OUR WAYS OF HANDING GUILT
Genesis 3:6-13
We often respond with shame. “I was afraid.”
We often respond by hiding. “I hid.”
We often respond by blaming. “the woman you put here with me . . .”
GOD'S WAY OF HANDLING GUILT
God DECLARES us not guilty IF we TRUST in Him to take away our sins. Romans 3:22, 24
God FORGIVES us and CLEANSES us IF we confess our sins to Him. 1 John 1:9
Our confession includes three things:
* Tell God what you have done. Psalm 69:5; James 5:16
* Trust God to do what He said He would do. Hebrews 10:22
* Accept God’s forgiveness. John 3:18; Psalm 32:5
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REGULAR HAPPENINGS
SUNDAYS
WORSHIP GATHERING @ 9:15 am—Main Worship Center
Intergenerational worship gathering with indy-folk-rockish music and good preaching… too fun!
“COFFEE HOUSE” @ 10:30ish
Coffee, conversation, and donut holes in the TFB Courtyard.
COLLEGIUM @ 11 am—TFB College Room
Fifteen minutes of random yapping,
followed by 45 minutes of tangent-surfing and bible searching
TUESDAYS
BIBLE DISCUSSION @ 7:15-9:00 pm— TFB College Room
Bible study meets hangout. Thirty minutes of random yap
followed by directed digging. Right now we’re going through
Mike Yaconelli’s Messy Spirituality and the OT ‘hesed’ passages.
We’re also working on the Story of God media project.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Kamper Kamp: June 3-5
College Briefing—Forest Home: cost $155
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