Know the story…Be the people…Expand the Kingdom
If you would like to contribute to the eNews or converse with the editor, send an email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com
A fresh eNews is posted each Monday and updated on Wednesday.
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IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK
SUNDAY COLLEGIUM: God put us (tfbcollege) here (Manuel and Carson)
THE STORY OF GOD—What we’re up to…
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS—Next: EAT! Independence Day BBQ: July 3
tfbcollege pix on flikr
Staff:
Pastor G (TFB Youth Min Pastor) gbenjamin49@gmail.com
Laura (teacher, AKA the mad tangent rider; eNews editor) lkspringer@gmail.com
Leadership team:
TBA
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SUNDAY COLLEGIUM: God put us (tfbcollege) here (Manuel and Carson)
June 26 God put us (tfbcollege) here (Manuel and Carson) part 1: here
Sunday, June 26, we took a walk in downtown Torrance. God has placed tfbcollege near downtown Torrance, so we took a look a where we are. On the first leg of our trip we asked the question, What do you see? Walking east on Carson, north on Arlington, and northeast on Marcelina, just past Keegan’s Pub, we took notes. There we realized that this was the forth Sunday and we were at the monthly antique market. We stopped just at the entrance to the market and checked out God’s Word:
Matthew 9:35-38 NLT
What happened before? Jesus was traveling from town to town healing, preaching, and casting out demons (Matthew 9:19-34)
In the middle of ministry, Jesus looks at the crowd and feels CONCERN, v35-36a
Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And wherever he went, he healed people of every sort of disease and illness. He felt great pity for the crowds that came,
Jesus felt concern because of NEED, v36b-37
because their problems were so great and they didn't know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, "The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few.
Jesus responded to his real concern over their real need by commanding the his followers to pray to GOD to send more WORKERS, v38
So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields."
Retracing our steps, we again asked the question, What do you see? We then stopped at Steve’s Burgers (which was closed… bummer) and sat on their benches. After talking about what we saw, we wrote the following desperation prayer (edited for public consumption):
“Lord of the harvest, send people to reach out to those at the flea market, to be shepherds to the shepherdless, on July 24, when the next market is held”
CHALLENGE: Bring this prayer to God everyday until we next meet on July 10. In a journal, write down answers, additional requests, and anything else God may be telling you. We’ll come together on July 10, compare our prayer journals, and look at the “us” that God has put here.
July 3 No Collegium, EAT Sunday 6 PM at the Mooney abode
July 10 God put us (tfbcollege) here (Manuel and Carson) part 2: us
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THE STORY OF GOD—What 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.
Movements:
Beginnings, Genesis 1-12
Israel, Genesis 13-Malachi
Christ, the gospels
Church, Acts –Jude and church history
Endings, Revelation and other passages
The Crux of the Story: The life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the crux—the turning point—of the Story of God. Tuesday, June 28, we chose scenes that tell us what sort of person Jesus is:
- Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, and while he is coming up out of the water, the Spirit descends on him like a dove and the Father announces his pleasure in his Son; this confirms his identity at the beginning of his ministry (Matthew 3:13-17).
- Satan, a jerk, tempts Jesus in the wilderness, after Jesus has fasted for forty days and nights, , testing Jesus’ trust in his Father; the temptation fails (Matthew 4:1-11).
- At a wedding in Cana, Jesus turns water into wine after the wine runs out (John 2:1-11).
- A sinful woman breaks into a dinner Jesus is having at a Pharisee’s house; there she cries on his feet and anoints them with expensive perfume; the Pharisee judged her unworthy, but Jesus tells the woman her faith has saved her (Luke 7:36-50).
- Jesus’ appearance is changed so that he glows like the sun; he is joined by Moses and Elijah and his Father announces his pleasure in Jesus and commands that he be heard; this confirms his identity at the ending of his ministry (Matthew 17:1-13).
- Jesus cleanses the temple by driving out those who were selling because it should be a house of prayer, but they made it a den of robbers (Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48).
- Jesus predicts his betrayal and crucifixion in Bethany after Passover (Matthew 26:1-2).
- Jesus tells a parable of 100 sheep and a shepherd; one sheep wanders off and the shepherd goes and finds the one, rejoicing more over that one that the other 99; this shows God’s passion for his children (Luke 15:1-7).
- Simon Peter cuts off the high priest’s servant’s (Malchus) ear as Judas is about to betray him; Jesus tells them to stop and not take away what he must do and heals the servant’s ear (John 18:10-11)
The Problem: Rebellion against the rule of God and the mind-body-spirit-world results of that rebellion.
The Solution: Jesus Christ. Everything before Christ points toward Christ and everything after Christ points back to Christ. In the end, everything is returned to God’s original design in Christ.
Satan’s View: As the leader of the first rebellion against God’s rule and as the Adversary who has now officially lost the war, he fights a desperate, losing battle against God’s rule. He is a very dangerous enemy who will do anything necessary to stop the expansion of God’s rule.
PREP ASSIGNMENT: This week, read or skim through 1 and 2 Kings. Then choose 2 scenes that show God’s amazing steadfast love and Israel’s incredible unloveliness.
NOTE: Elisa has agreed to be our worship leader for July!!
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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
Collegial teaching time led by collegians
TUESDAYS
SPIRITUAL DISCUSSION SMALL GROUP @ 7:15-9:00 pm— TFB College Room
Hangout and conversation, guided by a teacher-facilitator; often resembles Mr. Toad’s wild ride, but with bibles.
Currently: Writing a screenplay for the Story of God media project
FRIDAY or SATURDAY
GATHERING (contact Pastor G for details)
Hang out, talk, bring your friends.
Friday, June 24 @ 7 pm
Sunday, July 3 @ 6 pm
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UPCOMING EVENTS—Next: EAT! Independence Day BBQ: July 3
EAT! Independence Day BBQ: July 3, at the Mooney abode
College Briefing: September 2-5—Forest Home: cost $155
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