Have you ever read the story about Saul who became Paul? If you never have, you can find out all about him in Acts… (Most of it starting in Acts chapter 9. His story ends in chapter 28) Saul was a man who was against those who followed Christ and murdered many who followed of Jesus. But then, he encountered Jesus, and his entire life was changed! His name even changed: to Paul. He began to preach the name of Jesus, and though he was persecuted he never backed down and spoke the gospel until his death. This week, our study comes from one of the letters that Paul wrote, many of which make up the New Testament.
1 Timothy 1:12-17
"12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
What is grace? (v. 16-17)
How did grace change Paul’s life?
Why did Jesus come to this world?
Have you ever been a recipient of grace? Is it hard to accept?
Do you feel that you have allowed God’s grace to change you?
How might your life change if you offered grace to others freely just as it has been offered to you?
This weeks challenge, that we might offer grace to others even when they don’t deserve it. Be Blessed.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
The Rag Man
Hey all, I am so sorry that this is so late. I got pulled to counsel this week on Sunday, and when I counsel I have no access to anything electronic. I’m with kids 24/7. Anyways. I promise I have not forgotten about you. As you read this story, by walter wangerin jr. think of it as a allegory to who our Lord Jesus is. I’d love to hear your thoughts. I hope this moves you as it moves me.
'i saw a strange sight. i stumbled upon a story most strange, like nothing my life, my street sense, my sly tongue had ever prepared me for. hush, child, hush now, and i will tell it to you. even before the dawn one friday morning i noticed a young man, handsome and strong, walking the alleys of out city. he was pulling an old cart filled with clothes both bright and new, and he was calling in a clear, tenor voice: "rags!" ah, the air was foul and the first light filthy to be crossed by such sweet music. "rags! new rags for old! i take your tired rags! rags!"
"now this is a wonder," i thought to myself, for the man stood six-feet-four and his arms were like tree limbs, hard and muscular, and his eyes flashed intelligence. could he find no better job than this, to be a ragman in the inner city? i followed him. my curiosity drove me. and i wasn't disappointed. soon the ragman saw a woman sitting on her back porch. she was sobbing into a handkerchief, sighing, and shedding a thousand tears. her knees and elbows made a sad x. her shoulders shook. her heart was breaking. the ragman stopped his cart. quietly, he walked to the women, stepping round tin cans, dead toys, and pampers. "give me your rag," he said so gently, "and i will give you another." he slipped the handkerchief from her eyes. she looked up, and he laid across her palm a linen cloth so clean and new that it shined. she blinked from the gift to the giver. then, as he began to pull his cart again, the ragman did a strange thing: he put her stained handkerchief to his own face; and then he began to weep, to sob as grievously as she had done, his shoulders shaking, yet she was left without a tear.
"this is a wonder," i breathed to myself, and i followed the sobbing ragman like a child who cannot turn away from a mystery. "rags! rags! new rags for old!" in a little while, when the sky showed grey behind the rooftops and i could see the shredded curtains hanging out black windows, the ragman came upon a girl who's head was wrapped in a bandage, who's eyes were empty. blood soaked her bandage. a single line of blood ran down her cheek. now the tall ragman looked upon this child with pity, and he drew a lovely yellow bonnet from his cart. "give me your rag." he said tracing his own line on her cheek, "and i'll give you mine." the child could only gaze at him while he loosened the bandage, removed it, and tied it to his own head. the bonnet he set on hers. and i gasped at what i saw: for with the bandage went the wound! against his brow it ran a darker, more substantial blood - his own! "rags! rags! i take old rags!" cried the sobbing, bleeding, strong, intelligent ragman.
the sun hurt both the sky, now, and my eyes; the ragman seemed more and more to hurry. "are you going to work?" he asked a man who leaned against a telephone pole. the man shook his hear. the ragman pressed him: "do you have a job?" "are you crazy?" sneered the other. he pulled away from the pole revealing the right sleeve of his jacket - flat, the cuff stuffed into the pocket. he had no arm. "so," said the ragman. "give me your jacket, and i'll give you mine." such quiet authority in his voice. the one-armed man took off his jacket. so did the ragman - and i trembled at what i saw: for the ragman's arm stayed in it's sleeve, and when the other put it on he had two good arms, thick as tree limbs; but the ragman had only one. "go to work," he said.
after that he found a drunk, and lying unconscious beneath an army blanket, and old man hunched, wizened, and sick. he took that blanket and wrapped it round himself, but for the drunk her left new clothes. and now i had to run to keep up with the ragman. though he was weeping uncontrollably, and bleeding freely at the forehead, pulling his cart with one arm, stumbling from drunkenness, falling again and again, exhausted, old, and sick, yet he went with terrible speed. on spider's legs he skittered through the alleys of the city, this mile and the next until he came to its limits, and then her rushed beyond.
i went to see the change in this man. i hurt to see his sorrow. and yet i needed to see where he was going in such haste, perhaps to know what drove him so. the little old ragman - he came to a landfill. he came to the garbage pits. and then i wanted to help him in what he did, but i hung back hiding. he climbed a hill. with tormented labor he cleared a little space on that hill. then he sighed. he lay down. he pillowed he head on a handkerchief and a jacket. he covered is bones with an army blanket. and he died. oh, how i cried to witness that death! i slumped into a junked car and wailed and mourned as one who had no hope - because i had come to love that ragman. every other face had faded in the wonder of this man, and i cherished him; but he died. i sobbed myself to sleep. i did not know - how could i know? - that i had slept through friday night and saturday and its night, too.
but then, on sunday morning, i was wakened by a violence. light - pure, hard, demanding light - slammed against my sour face, and i blinked, and i looked, and i saw the last and the first wonder of all. there was the ragman, folding the blanket most carefully, a scar on his forehead, but alive! and, besides that, healthy! there was no sign of sorrow nor of age, and all the rags he had gathered shined for cleanliness.
well then i lowered my head and trembling for all that i had seen, i myself walked up to the ragman. i told him my name with shame, for i was a sorry figure next to him. then i took off all my clothes in that place, and i said with dear yearning in my voice: "dress me." he dressed me. my Lord, he put new rags on me, and i am a wonder beside him. the ragman. the ragman. the Christ.'
'i saw a strange sight. i stumbled upon a story most strange, like nothing my life, my street sense, my sly tongue had ever prepared me for. hush, child, hush now, and i will tell it to you. even before the dawn one friday morning i noticed a young man, handsome and strong, walking the alleys of out city. he was pulling an old cart filled with clothes both bright and new, and he was calling in a clear, tenor voice: "rags!" ah, the air was foul and the first light filthy to be crossed by such sweet music. "rags! new rags for old! i take your tired rags! rags!"
"now this is a wonder," i thought to myself, for the man stood six-feet-four and his arms were like tree limbs, hard and muscular, and his eyes flashed intelligence. could he find no better job than this, to be a ragman in the inner city? i followed him. my curiosity drove me. and i wasn't disappointed. soon the ragman saw a woman sitting on her back porch. she was sobbing into a handkerchief, sighing, and shedding a thousand tears. her knees and elbows made a sad x. her shoulders shook. her heart was breaking. the ragman stopped his cart. quietly, he walked to the women, stepping round tin cans, dead toys, and pampers. "give me your rag," he said so gently, "and i will give you another." he slipped the handkerchief from her eyes. she looked up, and he laid across her palm a linen cloth so clean and new that it shined. she blinked from the gift to the giver. then, as he began to pull his cart again, the ragman did a strange thing: he put her stained handkerchief to his own face; and then he began to weep, to sob as grievously as she had done, his shoulders shaking, yet she was left without a tear.
"this is a wonder," i breathed to myself, and i followed the sobbing ragman like a child who cannot turn away from a mystery. "rags! rags! new rags for old!" in a little while, when the sky showed grey behind the rooftops and i could see the shredded curtains hanging out black windows, the ragman came upon a girl who's head was wrapped in a bandage, who's eyes were empty. blood soaked her bandage. a single line of blood ran down her cheek. now the tall ragman looked upon this child with pity, and he drew a lovely yellow bonnet from his cart. "give me your rag." he said tracing his own line on her cheek, "and i'll give you mine." the child could only gaze at him while he loosened the bandage, removed it, and tied it to his own head. the bonnet he set on hers. and i gasped at what i saw: for with the bandage went the wound! against his brow it ran a darker, more substantial blood - his own! "rags! rags! i take old rags!" cried the sobbing, bleeding, strong, intelligent ragman.
the sun hurt both the sky, now, and my eyes; the ragman seemed more and more to hurry. "are you going to work?" he asked a man who leaned against a telephone pole. the man shook his hear. the ragman pressed him: "do you have a job?" "are you crazy?" sneered the other. he pulled away from the pole revealing the right sleeve of his jacket - flat, the cuff stuffed into the pocket. he had no arm. "so," said the ragman. "give me your jacket, and i'll give you mine." such quiet authority in his voice. the one-armed man took off his jacket. so did the ragman - and i trembled at what i saw: for the ragman's arm stayed in it's sleeve, and when the other put it on he had two good arms, thick as tree limbs; but the ragman had only one. "go to work," he said.
after that he found a drunk, and lying unconscious beneath an army blanket, and old man hunched, wizened, and sick. he took that blanket and wrapped it round himself, but for the drunk her left new clothes. and now i had to run to keep up with the ragman. though he was weeping uncontrollably, and bleeding freely at the forehead, pulling his cart with one arm, stumbling from drunkenness, falling again and again, exhausted, old, and sick, yet he went with terrible speed. on spider's legs he skittered through the alleys of the city, this mile and the next until he came to its limits, and then her rushed beyond.
i went to see the change in this man. i hurt to see his sorrow. and yet i needed to see where he was going in such haste, perhaps to know what drove him so. the little old ragman - he came to a landfill. he came to the garbage pits. and then i wanted to help him in what he did, but i hung back hiding. he climbed a hill. with tormented labor he cleared a little space on that hill. then he sighed. he lay down. he pillowed he head on a handkerchief and a jacket. he covered is bones with an army blanket. and he died. oh, how i cried to witness that death! i slumped into a junked car and wailed and mourned as one who had no hope - because i had come to love that ragman. every other face had faded in the wonder of this man, and i cherished him; but he died. i sobbed myself to sleep. i did not know - how could i know? - that i had slept through friday night and saturday and its night, too.
but then, on sunday morning, i was wakened by a violence. light - pure, hard, demanding light - slammed against my sour face, and i blinked, and i looked, and i saw the last and the first wonder of all. there was the ragman, folding the blanket most carefully, a scar on his forehead, but alive! and, besides that, healthy! there was no sign of sorrow nor of age, and all the rags he had gathered shined for cleanliness.
well then i lowered my head and trembling for all that i had seen, i myself walked up to the ragman. i told him my name with shame, for i was a sorry figure next to him. then i took off all my clothes in that place, and i said with dear yearning in my voice: "dress me." he dressed me. my Lord, he put new rags on me, and i am a wonder beside him. the ragman. the ragman. the Christ.'
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Love.
So you may think by the title that today's passage is going to be about 'romantic' love. Sorry... that's not the case. But you'll see. It's going to be good... Read on my friends, do read on. :)
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
So, have you ever heard the saying: God is love? How about now, we put God in the place of the word love.
God is patient. God is kind. He does not envy, he does not boast, he is not proud. He is not rude, he is not self-seeking, he is not easily angered, he keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God never fails
Powerful, huh? Do you believe that? That God never fails? That God is all of these things?
Ok so, now. We as Christians; as people who believe in Jesus; people who follow Christ; who want to be more like Him. To live and love others as He loved. To serve as He served. So if we are trying to be like Him, and God is Love, then, put your name in that place. Say it this way:
I am patient. I am kind. I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud. I am not rude, I am not self-seeking, I am not easily angered, I keep no record of wrongs. I do not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. I always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I never fail.
Humbling, huh? Like wow. That is not me. I have a lot to work on. But I want to be this way. I hope that I can work to be more like this. I challenge you, to challenge yourself with this passage. And to pick some of these things to work on. Strive to be more like Christ. To love like our God has loved. Because God is love. <3
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
So, have you ever heard the saying: God is love? How about now, we put God in the place of the word love.
God is patient. God is kind. He does not envy, he does not boast, he is not proud. He is not rude, he is not self-seeking, he is not easily angered, he keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God never fails
Powerful, huh? Do you believe that? That God never fails? That God is all of these things?
Ok so, now. We as Christians; as people who believe in Jesus; people who follow Christ; who want to be more like Him. To live and love others as He loved. To serve as He served. So if we are trying to be like Him, and God is Love, then, put your name in that place. Say it this way:
I am patient. I am kind. I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud. I am not rude, I am not self-seeking, I am not easily angered, I keep no record of wrongs. I do not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. I always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I never fail.
Humbling, huh? Like wow. That is not me. I have a lot to work on. But I want to be this way. I hope that I can work to be more like this. I challenge you, to challenge yourself with this passage. And to pick some of these things to work on. Strive to be more like Christ. To love like our God has loved. Because God is love. <3
Thursday, July 9, 2009
This week our passage is Romans 12:9-21
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, "says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
These verses intrigue me. They are all absolutes. When you break it down almost ever sentence is a specific instruction. List them out.
-Love must be sincere.
-Hate what is evil
-Cling to what is good *
-Be devoted to one another in brotherly love
-Honor one another
-Be joyful in hope
-Be patient in affliction
-Be faithful in prayer *
-Be joyful in need
-Practice hospitality
-Bless those who persecute you
-Bless and do not curse
-Rejoice with those who rejoice
-Mourn with those who mourn
-Live in harmony with one another
-Do not be proud *
-Be willing to associate with people of low position
-Do not be conceited
-Do not repay anyone evil for evil
-Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody
-If possible live in peace with everyone
-Do not take revenge
-Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good
For this week try to commit to trying out three of these things. Post which ones you are going to try, or update during the week about how it’s going. These are over arching principles but I feel like they apply to so many situations in life. I starred the ones that I am going to work on this week. I’ll let you know how it went ☺ The Lord Bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you. And may He give you peace.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, "says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
These verses intrigue me. They are all absolutes. When you break it down almost ever sentence is a specific instruction. List them out.
-Love must be sincere.
-Hate what is evil
-Cling to what is good *
-Be devoted to one another in brotherly love
-Honor one another
-Be joyful in hope
-Be patient in affliction
-Be faithful in prayer *
-Be joyful in need
-Practice hospitality
-Bless those who persecute you
-Bless and do not curse
-Rejoice with those who rejoice
-Mourn with those who mourn
-Live in harmony with one another
-Do not be proud *
-Be willing to associate with people of low position
-Do not be conceited
-Do not repay anyone evil for evil
-Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody
-If possible live in peace with everyone
-Do not take revenge
-Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good
For this week try to commit to trying out three of these things. Post which ones you are going to try, or update during the week about how it’s going. These are over arching principles but I feel like they apply to so many situations in life. I starred the ones that I am going to work on this week. I’ll let you know how it went ☺ The Lord Bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you. And may He give you peace.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Do You Want To Be Healed?
Sorry this is a little late, this is our passage for the week: John 5:1-14
1Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. 2Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesdaa]">[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.b]">[b] 5One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
1Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. 2Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesdaa]">[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.b]">[b] 5One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
7"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
8Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat."
11But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.' "
12So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?"
13The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his lifea]">[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
I want to find life. And I think, no I know, that I have to choose to pursue that life.
So this week, I only have one question: Do you want to be healed?
Monday, June 22, 2009
And I, a Watchman
So this week I have posted a poem that one of my best friends wrote. It was based off three passages of scripture so I’ve posted those too. It just really resonated with me and I hope that it touches your heart too.
And I, a Watchman
And I, a watchman, cannot sleep,
Yet my waking is in vain.
So my soul waits on the Lord,
As my eyes wait for dawn to break.
In the night, my will is broken.
"No rest for the weary" my only thought,
And yet You offer sleep.
I wait for morning. Wait.
I wait in mourning.
Hear me God. Have mercy.
My soul waits, uncertain, and my strength fades.
My will breaks in time with my composure.
And I, a watchman, am afraid.
My soul waits for morning. Wait.
My soul waits in mourning.
Oh, that I could sleep.
Have mercy, my God, on your daughter.
I, ever a watchman, fear your rest,
And still, you beckon "sleep."
Will you build and guard as I dream?
Will you protect as I lay down my wakeful defense?
And Lord, can I trust your unfailing love?
My soul is ever waiting.
My eyes are quickly fading.
At last, I break
And I, a watchman, sleep
I sleep.
Until my soul meets the morning, I sleep
And though my soul still knows mourning, I sleep.
You offer rest.
And I, your beloved watchman, sleep.
Your love, oh Lord, is unfailing.
Your love, my Lord, is strong.
Inspired by
Matthew 11:28
28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
PSALM 1308
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; 2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. 7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. 8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
PSALM 127
1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.3 Sons are heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Prayer.
So I keep saying that I’m praying for you and I realize that we never talked about prayer. I thought now might be a good time to talk about how Jesus said to pray. Lets ‘unpack’ the Lords Prayer. Therefore our passage for the week is:
Matthew 6:9-13
9"This, then, is how you should pray:" 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Questions:
-Have you heard the Lord’s Prayer? What do you think of it?
-What are the smaller prayers do you see within this prayer?
-“Our father, in Heaven” might be hard for some people to pray. Why?
-Saying “Hallowed be your name” means asking that God’s name will be set apart in your life and in the lives of others. What does that look like in your life?
-Praying “Your kingdom come” means that you are asking Jesus to walk into your world and occupy every corner of your life. Why is this difficult to genuinely pray?
-Many people think that God does not care about our personal lives and requests. Yet the words “Give us this day our daily bread” appears in this prayer. Do you find it significant that this is part of the template for prayer we are given? Why or why not.
-“Give us this day our daily bread” is not prayed until half way through the prayer. Why do you think that is?
-Jesus tells us to ask for forgiveness for our own sins but also to pray to forgive those who have sinned against us. Why is this in our template for prayer?
-Jesus says we should ask God to “deliver us from the evil one.” Do you believe that there is and evil one and that he is capable of creating havoc in our world today?
-How has working through the Lord’s Prayer changed your perception of it?
I am praying for you all. And I hope to hear from you soon. :)
Check out this video too... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=301S7NgAkLs&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Efacebook%2Ecom%2Flyons%2Ekayla%3Fref%3Dts&feature=player_embedded
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions??
So there is something that we like about the attitude of tolerance. A phrase like ‘absolute moral standard’ sounds very extreme and irrelevant especially in our culture until we look and see that moral freedom is taken away everyday across the world and even in our own country. An ‘absolute moral standard’ means that certain things are right and wrong, not just for one person, but also for everyone, all the time. From a logical standpoint, if there is no universal moral standard, then tragic and horrific events would have to be deemed justified. Like the holocaust, slavery, human sex trafficking. But, WHAT?? We know those things are wrong. But then, is there an ‘absolute moral standard’? This begs the question then, IF I BELIEVE IN GOD, HOW SHOULD THAT AFFECT MY MORALS?
Here is our passage for this week:
Matthew 25:31-46
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. 44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Questions:
-How does Jesus describe the actions of those who follow (the sheep)?
-Let’s put those sheep into modern times, what do you suppose he was involved in?
-How does Jesus describe the actions of those who were not genuine followers (the goats)?
-The ‘least of these’ is mentioned a lot in this passage. Who are ‘the least of these’?
-Does Jesus’ teaching match up with what you would have thought the moral stand is supposed to be for a person who believes in Jesus?
-Moral behavior is completely related to how we treat people. How does that impact the way you live?
Monday, June 1, 2009
A Purpose and A Name
Hey All,
This is our passage for the week:
14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Questions to think about:
-What basis was used in distributing talents (aka. sums of money) to these servants? Does the system seem fair?
-What could 'talents' represent today?
-What talents have you been given? Do you believe that God has given them to you? If yes, then do you think it is fair that God will settle accounts with you one day?
-Why does God entrust us with talents?
-How is the Master's response to the servants like or unlike to what you would have pictured God's response to be? Was the master too hard on the last servant?
-Is it your responsibility to develop your talents, or God's?
-What is the correlation between this story that Jesus told, and your life? In terms of the talents and gifts that you have been given and what you are doing with them?
I want to challenge you (and myself obviously) with the fact that we have all been given talents and gifts in our lives. There are things that we can be so passionate about that we desire to learn about an pursue. In developing these things there are two struggles. First, not thinking that God has given us anything that is special and second, that we don't owe it to God to explain how we have used those talents. Consider this: Mother Teresa said "We have all been given a name at birth, and that name will stay with us until our death. But that does not mean that God does not have another name for you that He wants you to live into. God told us that, 15 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! 16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hand." (Isaiah 49:15-16)
God promises that he will never forget you. He has a name for you. The challenge is to trust these promises and to learn what those talents are and how we can use them well.
Answer questions like-
What are you passionate about?
What injustices make me angry?
What activities give me great energy and joy?
Who do I really admire and why?
God has created you to be uniquely you. Use those talents! :) I am praying for you all. As usual I will be looking forward to responses. I am here to answer questions as usual. I would love to hear your responses!!
Monday, May 25, 2009
nothing is as fatal to faith as indifference
Here's our first couple of passages to read this week:
Matthew 4:18-22
18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20At once they left their nets and followed him. 21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Luke 9:57-62
57As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."59He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." 62Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
So these are two moments were people were faced with a decision, to follow Jesus or not. Some dropped everything and other's had to take a moment to consider the cost. I have some questions for you. Some you can answer here, but if they are too personal don't worry, all I ask is that you think about them.
Questions:
- People dropped everything to follow Jesus. What does that tell you about his character or what does that make you think he was like?
- What would a person have to be like for you to consider following them?
- What risks do the people in these passages face in following Jesus?
- Do you think Jesus is saying it's bad to like things like money, jobs, and family?
- What things might we have to drop because they get in the way of our pursuit of God?
- What kinds of things do you think we are called to now?
- What would it take for you to follow Jesus whole heartedly?
So I know some of these questions are a little intense. I wanted to challenge you just a bit. So write your responses here and of course your questions. I will answer them to the best of my ability, and of course anyone else can answer them too. Please write your name at the end of your response so that we can all know who's writing. I hope you are all having an amazing summer so far! I am praying for those prayer requests and I look forward to hearing from you soon!! :)
Abby
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The Plan
Hey All,
So this is the plan: After finals week, I will start posting weekly Bible readings. I'll post some questions to get us started too. Then you all can sign in and write your questions and responses. Just like we do in Bible study only we will type them to eachother since we can't all be together. I hope and pray everyone's finals went well! Check this the 25th and our first reading should be up :).
Talk to you all soon,
Abby
Temique's Poem
Miles Near But So Far Gone
I heard he was miles near
But I’m so far gone
In search of someone so beautiful and so strong
That breaks the bread in the kingdom on the table where I belong
But so long is the journey
Distracted.
My faith is so torn
But I have worn the words of faith
And I have seen the vision of hope
And still I come up short
I desire to praise
I desire to love
My truest desire is to attain the image of him.
Him who does not speak his name
But calls onto mine
And yet I only receive sounds of the wind
But is it him?
The burning in my heart
When my breath stops
I can’t see cause I’m blinded by his grace
He needs not to show his face
He needs only to see my faith
“How foolish you are and how slow of heart…” The wind speaks
My eyes stand still and no more did I feel chills
Astonished by his presence
My heart skips a beat.
No longer is it slow
Gone from my sight
My mind fades to black
Now on the right track
Telling others that these words are true
He has broken bread
Tied up lose threads
And has filtered my soul with pure thoughts in my head
With him, my past lays to rest
I have been given the ultimate test.
Tell all who do not know
That he lives after being risen from his death.
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