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
NOTE: the editor will be in a blog-free zone until June 7.
The next update will happen on or near that date.
Sermon notes for Sunday May 29 updated as of 0527
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IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK
HOT STORY: new TFB College Ministry Handbook now online!!
THE STORY OF GOD—What it is we’re up to…
AT SUNDAY COLLEGIUM: What do we intend to do?
BIBLE DISCUSSION—Hesed Wrap
SERMON NOTES—Offering Grace
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOTE: the Bible Discussion section is updated on Wednesday.
tfbcollege pix on flikr
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HOT STORY: new TFB College Ministry Handbook now online!!
http://tfbcolhandbook.blogspot.com/
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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.
Work on the Story is moving to Tuesday and will start in earnest June 7.
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AT SUNDAY COLLEGIUM: What do we intend to do?
May 22 TFB College: what do we intend to do?
While it may seem a bit hyperbolic or lofty, the next four to six weeks will determine with our ministry looks like for the coming year. On June 19, the new freshmen join TFB College and we start all over once again. College ministry is like that. Nevertheless, once again we stand on the edge, not quite sure of what is ahead or how it will look on the other side. Everything changes. What remains?
We get some clues for this by looking at monkey bars.
Monkey Bars
A monkey bars frame is stable and strong, yet on this frame, children can fly in creative loops. The security of the frame allows for the creativity. TFB College has a phrase that acts as our monkey bars. This phrase is drawn from the teaching of the great commission in Matthew 28:16-20:
Know the Story, Be the People, and Expand the Kingdom.
Three intentions flow from this phrase:
- We intend to be so certain of Jesus’ continuing presence that we are free to tell God and each other the true story about ourselves.
- We intend to expand God’s kingdom by recognizing, preparing for, and participating in God’s continuing story.
- We intend to expand God’s kingdom by working together to tell God’s Story to all who will listen and by challenging listeners to become followers.
This is the stable frame of all we do and plan to do. But how will that look? What questions need to be asked? Who will bravely climb the monkey bars and start doing some creative loops? Let’s toss out our narrow boxes and do some monkey bar thinking, eh!
If you’d like to climb the monkey bars and do some loops, step up to the challenge and apply for the leadership team. Go to http://tfbcolhandbook.blogspot.com/ for application instructions.
May 29 TFB College: any questions?
- we’re taking Collegium on the road to China Town May 29; we’ll be heading out at 11 am for the return of EAT!
June 5 no collegium: KAMPER KAMP!!!
June 12 TFB College: the next step…
June 19 the return of the Freshman drag… boy howdy!
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BIBLE DISCUSSION—Hesed Wrap
TUESDAYS
7:15-9:00 pm— TFB College Room
When you think of God’s steadfast love—his hesed—what comes to mind? Think outside the usual box and go through the five senses:
taste
touch
sight
smell
hear
Compare your results with ours from Tuesday night:
We’ll do some more thinking on hesed as we work through the story of God, but for now,
Deuteronomy 7:7-11 NLT
"The LORD did not choose you and lavish his love on you because you were larger or greater than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! It was simply because the LORD loves you, and because he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the LORD rescued you with such amazing power from your slavery under Pharaoh in Egypt. Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves (hesed) those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who hate him. Therefore, obey all these commands, laws, and regulations I am giving you today.
God has both steadfast love and justice. Let the words of C.S. Lewis sink in:
The only place outside of heaven where you can be safe from all the dangers of love is hell. -- C. S. Lewisfrom Jordon’s quote library
WHAT’S NEXT?
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SERMON NOTES—Offering Grace
Pastor Charlie
May 29, 2005
“…Give as freely as you have received!" Matthew 10:8 (NLT).
FORGIVENESS QUIZ: True or False?
A person should not be forgiven until he asks for it.
Forgiving includes minimizing the offense and the pain caused.
Forgiveness includes restoring trust and reuniting a relationship.
You haven't really forgiven until you've forgotten the offense.
When I see someone hurt, it is my duty to forgive the offender.
WHAT REAL FORGIVENESS IS NOT
Real forgiveness is not unconditional?
Real forgiveness is not minimizing the seriousness of the offense.?
Real forgiveness is not resuming a relationship without changes.?
Real forgiveness is not forgetting what happened.?
Real forgiveness is not you forgiving someone for what they have done to someone else.
WHAT REAL FORGIVENESS IS
Remembering How Much You Have Been Forgiven. Ephesians 4:32
Relinquishing Your Right To Get Even. Romans 12:19
Responding To Evil With Good. Luke 6:27-28; 1 Corinthians 13:5
Repeating The Process As Long As Necessary. Matthew 18:21-22
WHY OFFER GRACE TO OTHERS?
God Is Gracious To You. Ephesians 4:32
The Alternative Is Bitterness. Hebrews. 12:15
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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. Wrapping up “hesed”
Storyboarding and scripting for the Story of God media project
begins June 7!!!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
EAT! China town: May 29, 11 am
Kamper Kamp: June 3-5
Freshman Drag: June 19
College Briefing: September 2-5—Forest Home: cost $155
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