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— Prayer: The Widow
THE STORY OF GOD—What we’re up to…
TUESDAY GATHERING: Coming In September--Revelation!
STORY-CONNECTING STORIES—My College Ministry Journey
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS—Next: Silent Movie Night (The Tramp, Nosferatu, and Metropolis)
tfbcollege pix on flikr
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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— Prayer: The Widow
Luke 18:1-8
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Study:
List the phrases that describe the widow.
What sort of person was she?
How are we like the widow?
How are we not like the widow?
Apply:
Name an everyday need.
Assume that God is exactly like the widow and write a prayer about that need.
Assume God is nothing like the widow and write a prayer about that need.
Thinking back on your prayer journaling this past week, where do they fall?
1 = My prayers last week show that I am exactly like the widow.
5 = My prayers last week show that I am nothing like the widow.
Last words:
1- God will answer our prayers if we give him prayers to answer.
2- Pray as you can, not as you can't (source unknown).
August 14, 21, 28: Picture It! (in the TFB gym)
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THE STORY OF GOD—What we’re up to…
As the leader of the first rebellion against God’s rule and the Adversary who has now officially lost the war, Satan fights a desperate, losing battle against God’s rule. Deluded by twisted memories of personal glory and haunted by piercing visions of his own demise, this dangerous enemy recklessly takes advantage of the pervasive corruption caused by humanity’s rebellion, warring against the inevitable completion of God’s rule in Jesus Christ.
Movements:
Beginnings, Genesis 1-12
Israel, Genesis 12-Malachi
Christ, the gospels
Church, Acts –Jude and church history
Endings, Revelation and other passages
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.
What came before… The story of Israel. Tuesday, August 9:
- Wife Swapping (Genesis 20): Abraham introduces his wife as his sister; Abimelech happily took Sarah into his harem, thinking she was Abraham’s sister (she was his half-sister); God intervened, saying he would kill Abimelech if he didn’t return Sarah to her husband; he returned her and compensated Abraham.
- Abraham’s Covenant with Abimelech (Genesis 21:22-34): Abimelech recognizes that God is on Abraham’s side in the dispute over the wells, so they make a covenant and exchange cattle.
- The Sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19): Abraham fears God enough to sacrifice his son, Isaac, the son of promise.
- Isaac and Abimelech (Genesis 26:1-11): Isaac gets caught sleeping with his wife after he had told Abimelech that she was his sister (he lied).
- Jacob versus God (Genesis 32:22-32): Jacob wrestles with God until daybreak; God is unsuccessful, touches Jacob’s hip (putting it out of joint), and blesses Jacob.
- The sons of Jacob Get Medieval (Genesis 34): Dinah get raped by Shechem, and Jacob’s sons deceive Shechem into getting circumcised; the sons slaughter Shechem and company while they are still healing.
- Joseph Sold Into Slavery (Genesis 37:18-36): Joseph’s brothers gang up on him, rip his clothes off, throw him in the well, and sell him into slavery.
- Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt (Genesis 41:37-57): Pharaoh makes the dream-interpreting, former-convict Joseph to be the ruler of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh.
August 16 The Story Today summer mission trips (Josh, Dylan, Micah, and Jeff)
August 23 Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1 Maccabees
August 30 The Church Age
September 6: NEW STUDY—The Revelation of Jesus Christ!
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TUESDAY GATHERING: Coming In September--Revelation!
On Tuesday, September 6, we’ll begin our reading and discussion of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Book series, television movies, and more have looked at the events prophesied in this last book of the Bible. Do they have it right?
Does the book of Revelation intend to tell us the future, or is it about something else?
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STORY-CONNECTING STORIES—My College Ministry Journey
I, Laura, am living proof that God uses messy people. After some utterly ineffective angling, I stumbled into college ministry in January 2000. During that month, I substitute taught in the weekday bible study. Next thing I knew, I was in charge. Eek! The past five and one-half years have been a messy journey. One thing I’ve noticed: in those times when I am most sure of myself, I am usually ineffective. In those times when I feel utterly clueless, I am usually quite effective. It continues to be a bumpy road; I do and say clueless—sometimes stupid—things. The best thing I am learning as I do this ministry is that God has called ME—with all my quirks and mess—to do THIS ministry. God uses me best when I am most aware that I—like all humans—am a mixture of brokenness and glory. By myself, I’m toast. With God… I don’t think I can dream that big (Ephesians 3:20-21).
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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
TUESDAY GATHERING @ 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
DAY varies…
WEEKEND GATHERING (contact Pastor G for details)
Hang out, talk, bring your friends.
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UPCOMING EVENTS—Next: Silent Movie Night (The Tramp, Nosferatu, and Metropolis)
Silent Movie Night (The Tramp, Nosferatu, and Metropolis): Date TBA
Ministry and EAT!: Sunday, August 28— Torrance flea market ministry at 12 noon; lunch around 1 pm
College Briefing: September 2-5—Forest Home: cost $155
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