Know the story…Be the people…Expand the Kingdom
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A fresh eNews is posted each Monday and updated on Wednesday
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IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK
TUESDAY GATHERING: Revelation 2:1-11
SUNDAY GATHERING: September 18—TFB College: who are we? why are we here? Matthew 28:16-20
SERMON NOTES—Living a Life of Praise, Part 1
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS—Next: The Church has Left the Building, September 25@ 11 AM
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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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TUESDAY GATHERING: Revelation 2:1-11
Tuesday, September 20
Worship Space
Worship Leader for September: Josh K
We know worship is not music. In fact worship is not any particular practice. Rather, worship is focusing on God, giving him praise—adoring him.
Think about your daily practice of worship:
How do you worship during the week?
Why do you worship?
Spend some time worshiping.
Study Space
Read through the message.
Ask who, what, where, when, why, and how questions.
Do some research and try to answer some of your questions.
Good info on the seven cities can be found at: http://www.luthersem.edu/ckoester/Revelation/main.htm
Each of the messages to the churches follows a basic pattern.
Not all the parts are in every message.
For the messages to Ephesus and Smyrna, label each section.
Summarize the message to each church. What is God saying to us today in these messages?
Prayer Space
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Next week, September 27, we’ll continue discussing Revelation 2-3, the letters to each of the seven churches—starting with Pergamum.
Get more out of the gathering by bringing more to the gathering! Study ahead:
- Wednesday and Thursday: Pray through the passage as a whole. Write down any thoughts.
- Friday: Using bible handbooks and bible dictionaries, hunt down any cultural or historical info that might shed some light on the passage.
- Saturday: Lay out all your notes and talk them over with God. Ask questions. Write down any thoughts.
- Sunday and Monday: Try to answer some questions:
- What is God saying to us?
- How does God want us to respond?
- What other stories (in the bible, in history, in your own life) come to mind as you read this?
- If you had to explain this passage to someone else, what would you do or say to make it clear?
Bible study helps can be found at http://bible.crosswalk.com/
Also, good info on the seven cities can be found at: http://www.luthersem.edu/ckoester/Revelation/main.htm
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Do you know a person who is asking tough questions about God and the mess of life? Great! Invite them to the Tuesday Gathering for our Revelation discussion. Pick up a flyer in the college room.
Questions are exactly what we’re looking for…
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SUNDAY COLLEGIUM: September 18—TFB College: who are we? why are we here? Matthew 28:16-20
Teachers: Jonathan Pribble and Laura Springer
Know the Story-Be the People-Expand the Kingdom
Lesson Objectives
Based on a study of Matthew 28:16-20 describe the three ministry goals: know the story, be the people, and expand the kingdom.
Create the first draft of a visual media piece that effectively communicates the three ministry goals to collegians outside the TFB College Ministry.
The Book
- Gospel
- According to Matthew
- Written between AD40 and AD60
- Distinctively Jewish
- Focuses (‘foci’ for the nerds): Jesus is Messiah, Jesus is King of the Jews, He was not recognized, Kingdom open to all, “Rules” of Messiah-following
- Matthew, AKA Levi
- Tax collector for the Romans
- Jewish
- One of the Twelve
- Lived in Palestine
The Readers
- A mainly Jewish audience
The Geography
- Took place in and written from Palestine
The Context
- Empty tomb 28:1-7
- Jesus seen 28:8-10
- Guards’ lie 28:11-15
- Great Commission 28:16-20: Meeting Jesus v16-17, The Command v18-20
One Point: The goal of the TFB college ministry is to guide collegians to know the story, be the people, and expand the kingdom.
Know the story. The story is much more than a timeline or a series of bible lessons. It begins with everything in the Bible, and includes all we do in God’s Kingdom. Knowing the story is understanding the truth about life this side of eternity and the truth about God’s work in the world.
Be the people. Follower-learners today are part of the people of God that includes all follower-learners of all times and places. The people of God are unified not by their similarity to each other but by their relationship to God in Christ by the Spirit. So, in the people of God unity is primary, diversity is celebrated, and division is unthinkable.
Expand the kingdom. The kingdom expands when follower-learners go deep, becoming more and more like Jesus. The kingdom expands in when follower-learners go wide, telling the story to all who will listen and challenging listeners to become follower-learners.
Work the Passage
Ministry is defined by who we are and why we are here. Let’s take a closer look at what God says about ministry in Matthew 28:16-20, and then create a rough draft of a visual media piece that effectively communicates the three ministry goals to collegians outside the TFB College Ministry.
Matthew 28:16-20 contains four ‘all statements’ that show us the extent of ministry.
- v. 18 all authority Jesus is Lord NOW
- v. 19 all nations the kingdom is open to all peoples
- v. 20 all commands all Jesus’ words and deeds
- v. 20 always Jesus is present with his people every moment
The purpose of the TFB College Ministry comes from three big ideas found in this passage. First, we are to know the story. The story of us (verse 17) is mixed; the disciples responded to Jesus with both worship and doubt. We respond the same way. The story of Jesus includes everything he commanded in words and in actions.
Second, we are to be the people. According to verse 19, we become part of the people of God by being baptized into the Name. In verse 20, we remain part of the people of God because Jesus is always with his follower-learners. In baptism we are made part of him and by his presence we are kept part of him.
Third, we are to expand the kingdom. The kingdom is not a physical space, but is the rule of God; wherever and whenever God is obeyed, there his kingdom is present. We expand his kingdom by going into the world and making more follower learners (verse 19) by baptizing them into the Name. Verse 20 tells us that we also make follower-learners by teaching people to obey everything Jesus commanded. God’s kingdom expands when we make more follower-learners and when we all become better follower-learners.
Practice It
In your opinion, what is the most important thing we need to do in following Jesus?
Prep for October 2
Assuming this passage as all you know about ministry, create a visual media piece that will let your friends know who we are and why we are here. Be sure to include information relating to each of the three goals.
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SERMON NOTES—Living a Life of Praise, Part 1
Pastor Charlie
September 18, 2005
DEFINITION OF PRAISE: At its root praise is a voluntary act of expressing willing dependence on God and joyfully proclaiming His great and wonderful acts and His great and wonderful goodness.
WHY PRAISE?
God Desires That We Wear Praise. Isaiah 61:3; Matthew 11:29-30
One Of Our Missions In Life Is To Praise God. 1 Peter 2:9
All God Has Created Is Designed To Praise Him.
1. The Heavenly Host Praises God. Revelation 4:8; 4:11; 5:12; 5:13
2. Nature praises God. Romans 1:20; Psalm 148:3-5; 7-10; 13.
3. The creation of mankind brings praises to God. Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-14
God Deserves Our Praise. 1 Samuel 2:1-2; Psalm 145
PRAISE SILENCERS
Ignoring God Silences Praise. Romans 1:20, 21
Replacing God Silences Praise. Romans 1:25
Living Our Own Way Silences Praise. Romans 1:29-32
REESTABLISHING A LIFE OF PRAISE
Make The Choice To Praise God.
Clear Away The Confusion Between Creator And Creation.
Begin To Live A Godly Lifestyle.
NEXT WEEK: Some benefits of praising God when our lives are in a less-than-desirable scenario.
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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
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UPCOMING EVENTS—Next: The Church has Left the Building, September 25@ 11 AM
The Church has Left the Building—Ministry at the downtown Torrance flea market: September 25, 11 AM
Beach Bonfire @ Dockweiler: date TBA
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