Adapted from In My Place, an article by Steve Brown. Romans 5:6-11, verse by verse.
Even radical bible scholars count Romans as an epistle definitely written by Paul. His purposes in writing the letter include: prayers for his coming journey to Jerusalem, his plan to go to Rome and then on to Spain, to outline his teaching before his arrival in Rome, and to address the big conflict in the community. The conflict between the Gentile and Jewish Christians developed because Emperor Claudius exiled Jews from Rome in AD 49, which resulted in Gentile Christians taking leadership positions. The tension came when Jewish Christians returned in AD 54 after Claudius' death and found the Gentiles not keeping Jewish food laws nor observing Jewish holy days.
Martin Luther described Romans as "the chief book of the New Testament… it deserves to be known by heart, word for word, by every Christian." His lectures on Romans in 1515-16 were probably when he developed his criticism of the Roman church, which led to the 95 Theses of 1517. In 1738, John Wesley’s reading of Luther's Preface to the Epistle to the Romans began his conversion experience, which may be considered the beginning of Methodism. In 1919, Karl Barth's commentary on Romans was the beginning of neo-orthodoxy, which was a big influence on Bonhoffer and the German Christians who resisted the Third Reich. Modern day evangelists use the “Romans Road” to present the case for salvation: Romans 3:23, 6:23a, 6:23b, 5:8,10:9-10,10:13.
That’s a good epistle!
Romans 4:23-25 is a good summary of the 4th chapter on faith.
1) What is Paul saying? How definitive is it? (Is he clear or ambiguous?)
Today we’re concentrating on only 6 little verses, Romans 5:6-11. But first we should look at verses 1-5.
2) How would you sum up those first five verses to a fellow Christian? (To a non-Christian?)
The CROSS is a…necessity v6: You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
3) If we are forgiven, why do we always pray to be forgiven?
The CROSS is a…surprise v7: Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
4) How would you feel if someone offered their life up for yours? (Or, if you’ve experienced this in the military or elsewhere, how did you feel when they did offer their life for yours?) What if it was someone who was a better person than you? Someone with more to lose? Brown notes: we deserve wrath, we expect anger, and yet we find God offering love.
The CROSS is a…demonstration v8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
5) Can we witness if we are miserable and bound? God demonstrated his love to us that he might demonstrate his love through us.
The CROSS is a…promise v9: Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
This reminds me of the best teacher I ever knew. She enforced complete discipline to make sure that her classroom was a safe place for her elementary students, but always, always any act of discipline was followed by an act of love.
6) What does this verse mean to you?
The CROSS is a…reality v10: For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
7) Do you live in guilt? That’s living in a lie. The reality is you are forgiven. What difference does that make in how we live day to day?
8) Are you afraid of death? That fear is a lie. The reality is you are going to live forever. What difference can that make in our decision making?
The CROSS is a…celebration v11: Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
9) Consider the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). What keeps the older brother from celebrating?
10) What helps you be able to join the celebration?
The CROSS is the … last word. The cross is crucial to Paul. One of the biggest disputes in the early church was over circumcision. The sign of the Abrahamic covenant, it was utterly necessary to be one of God’s chosen. But let’s read Galations 6:11-17.
11) Why does the cross settle this dispute for Paul?
12) What disputes in the church today could be settled by this same argument?
The cross is for us? In Matthew 16, after Peter is shut down for telling Jesus that He shouldn’t have to suffer and die, it says: (Mt 16:24-25) ‘Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me. Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will find them.’
13) Amazing that this was before the crucifixion. What do you feel like Jesus is telling you?
Showing posts with label Romans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romans. Show all posts
Monday, March 11, 2013
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Lump - a Nooma study
Forgot to post this!
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) prove we’re all sinners. And if we didn’t get it then, when Jesus explains them fully (Matthew 5) he ends with
1) Picture or think about one of your sins in your mind.
2) How do we deal with that stuff?
Watch the Nooma called Lump. (Here's a trailer from YouTube. You can find the whole video, but I encourage you to buy them if you're using them to teach.)
Galations 6:1-10
4) What’s one verse you would want to remember out of that scripture?
Romans 8:31-39
5) How do these scriptures help us to deal with our sin?
6) What’s one verse you would want to remember out of that scripture?
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) prove we’re all sinners. And if we didn’t get it then, when Jesus explains them fully (Matthew 5) he ends with
“46If you love those who love you, do you deserve a reward? Even the tax collectors do that! 47Are you doing anything remarkable if you welcome only your friends? Everyone does that! 48That is why you must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.”So maybe we can fool ourselves that we didn’t break a commandment. Clearly, though, none of us are perfect.
1) Picture or think about one of your sins in your mind.
2) How do we deal with that stuff?
Watch the Nooma called Lump. (Here's a trailer from YouTube. You can find the whole video, but I encourage you to buy them if you're using them to teach.)
Galations 6:1-10
1Brothers and sisters, if a person gets trapped by wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should help that person turn away from doing wrong. Do it in a gentle way. At the same time watch yourself so that you also are not tempted. 2Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings. 3So if any one of you thinks you’re important when you’re really not, you’re only fooling yourself. 4Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without comparing yourself to others. 5Assume your own responsibility.3) If we can’t be perfect, why does Paul think we should try to be good?
6The person who is taught God’s word should share all good things with his teacher. 7Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you’ll harvest. 8If you plant in the soil of your corrupt nature, you will harvest destruction. But if you plant in the soil of your spiritual nature, you will harvest everlasting life. 9We can’t allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way. Certainly, each of us will receive everlasting life at the proper time, if we don’t give up. 10Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers.
4) What’s one verse you would want to remember out of that scripture?
Romans 8:31-39
31What can we say about all of this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32God didn’t spare his own Son but handed him over to death for all of us. So he will also give us everything along with him. 33Who will accuse those whom God has chosen? God has approved of them. 34Who will condemn them? Christ has died, and more importantly, he was brought back to life. Christ has the highest position in heaven. Christ also intercedes for us. 35What will separate us from the love Christ has for us? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or violent death separate us from his love? 36As Scripture says:
“We are being killed all day long because of you. We are thought of as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37The one who loves us gives us an overwhelming victory in all these difficulties. 38I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces 39or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation.
5) How do these scriptures help us to deal with our sin?
6) What’s one verse you would want to remember out of that scripture?
Friday, August 12, 2011
Don't Try Harder
Read Romans 7:14-25
The 12 Steps of Alcoholic’s Anonymous have been described as America’s main spritiual contribution to the world. Let’s look for connections among the steps. I have changed alcohol to sin here – since that’s our common problem.
1. We admitted we were powerless over sin — that our lives had become unmanageable.
Is this true? Do we truly believe that we are unable to be righteous by our own power?
What connections do you see with Rom 7?
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
• “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
• “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9)
What does grace mean to you?
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
• “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then [in heaven] we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Cor. 13:12)
• “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17)
• “... If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
What does this mean for a Christian in general? For you?
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
• “Your sins are the roadblock between you and your God. That's why he doesn't answer your prayers or let you see his face.” (Isaiah 59:2)
• “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:40)
• “Search me, 0 God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”. (Ps. 139:23-24)
How do you do a moral inventory?
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
• “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord - and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Ps. 32:3-5)
• “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)
• “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Cor. 7:10)
Is this necessary? Why is it a step? Does it correspond with scripture?
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
• “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land.” (Isaiah 1:19)
• I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Phil. 4:11-13)
What sin do we not want to give up? To not have God remove? It’s been said that an idol is anything you cannot imagine giving up.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
• “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10)
• “But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” (Matthew 8:8)
Do we feel that we must stop sinning before coming to God for forgiveness for the sin? Do we have to get it right, first?
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
• “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
• “Give and it shall be given you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)
• “Say to the Israelites: When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged.” (Num. 5:5-7)
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
• “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Eph. 4:26-27)
• “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!” (1 Cor. 10:12)
• “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith GOD has given you.” (Romans 12:3)
These steps seem to say that it’s not enough to say you’re sorry. What does scripture say about that? What might amends for sin look like? We know it’s not necessary for forgiveness, so why make amends?
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
• “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
• “Search me, 0 God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24)
• “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.” (Luke 11:8-10)
• “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matt. 26:39)
What does this have to do with our sin problem? How does it help?
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to sinners, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
• “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you (Eph. 5:14)
• “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14-16)
• “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2)
• “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19)
How do you practice this in everyday life? What does it mean as a part of an ongoing program?
God,
Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can and the Wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.
Commonly heard slogans (wisdom in shorthand)
• First Things First
• This Too Shall Pass
• One Day At A Time
• Easy Does It
• H.A.L.T. (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired)
• Keep It Simple
• Live And Let Live
• The Serenity Prayer
• Today I will do one thing
• Keep Coming Back
References: The Gospel and the Twelve Steps by Martin M. Davis, The Big Book by Alcoholics Anonymous, and, of course, the Bible. Reminded of this study by a Nadia Bolz-Weber sermon (at http://bit.ly/psKG1n)
I know that God’s standards are spiritual, but I have a corrupt nature, sold as a slave to sin. I don’t realize what I’m doing. I don’t do what I want to do. Instead, I do what I hate. I don’t do what I want to do, but I agree that God’s standards are good. So I am no longer the one who is doing the things I hate, but sin that lives in me is doing them. I know that nothing good lives in me; that is, nothing good lives in my corrupt nature. Although I have the desire to do what is right, I don’t do it. I don’t do the good I want to do. Instead, I do the evil that I don’t want to do. Now, when I do what I don’t want to do, I am no longer the one who is doing it. Sin that lives in me is doing it. So I’ve discovered this truth: Evil is present with me even when I want to do what God’s standards say is good. I take pleasure in God’s standards in my inner being. However, I see a different standard at work throughout my body. It is at war with the standards my mind sets and tries to take me captive to sin’s standards which still exist throughout my body. What a miserable person I am! Who will rescue me from my dying body? I thank God that our Lord Jesus Christ rescues me! So I am obedient to God’s standards with my mind, but I am obedient to sin’s standards with my corrupt nature.
The 12 Steps of Alcoholic’s Anonymous have been described as America’s main spritiual contribution to the world. Let’s look for connections among the steps. I have changed alcohol to sin here – since that’s our common problem.
1. We admitted we were powerless over sin — that our lives had become unmanageable.
Is this true? Do we truly believe that we are unable to be righteous by our own power?
What connections do you see with Rom 7?
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
• “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
• “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9)
What does grace mean to you?
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
• “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then [in heaven] we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Cor. 13:12)
• “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17)
• “... If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
What does this mean for a Christian in general? For you?
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
• “Your sins are the roadblock between you and your God. That's why he doesn't answer your prayers or let you see his face.” (Isaiah 59:2)
• “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:40)
• “Search me, 0 God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”. (Ps. 139:23-24)
How do you do a moral inventory?
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
• “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord - and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Ps. 32:3-5)
• “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)
• “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Cor. 7:10)
Is this necessary? Why is it a step? Does it correspond with scripture?
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
• “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land.” (Isaiah 1:19)
• I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Phil. 4:11-13)
What sin do we not want to give up? To not have God remove? It’s been said that an idol is anything you cannot imagine giving up.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
• “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10)
• “But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” (Matthew 8:8)
Do we feel that we must stop sinning before coming to God for forgiveness for the sin? Do we have to get it right, first?
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
• “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
• “Give and it shall be given you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)
• “Say to the Israelites: When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged.” (Num. 5:5-7)
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
• “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Eph. 4:26-27)
• “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!” (1 Cor. 10:12)
• “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith GOD has given you.” (Romans 12:3)
These steps seem to say that it’s not enough to say you’re sorry. What does scripture say about that? What might amends for sin look like? We know it’s not necessary for forgiveness, so why make amends?
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
• “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
• “Search me, 0 God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24)
• “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.” (Luke 11:8-10)
• “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matt. 26:39)
What does this have to do with our sin problem? How does it help?
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to sinners, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
• “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you (Eph. 5:14)
• “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14-16)
• “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2)
• “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19)
How do you practice this in everyday life? What does it mean as a part of an ongoing program?
God,
Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can and the Wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.
Commonly heard slogans (wisdom in shorthand)
• First Things First
• This Too Shall Pass
• One Day At A Time
• Easy Does It
• H.A.L.T. (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired)
• Keep It Simple
• Live And Let Live
• The Serenity Prayer
• Today I will do one thing
• Keep Coming Back
References: The Gospel and the Twelve Steps by Martin M. Davis, The Big Book by Alcoholics Anonymous, and, of course, the Bible. Reminded of this study by a Nadia Bolz-Weber sermon (at http://bit.ly/psKG1n)
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Worship
Next week's men's study is going to be about worship. I was already thinking about it because of its prevalence in Moses' story. "Let my people go," we're familiar with but leave it unfinished, "so we can go worship the Lord of Israel." Then they worship, but, of course, don't limit themselves to the Lord.
The catalyst this week was Kurt Vonnegut, who is famous for being a humanist. But he's not an agressive atheist like Hitchens or Dawkins; he just wants people to do good for the sake of doing good. Which I see as pretty close to God's call. In this speech at Albion College, "How to get a job like mine," he said the following about creativity: go home tonight and write a 6 line poem. Make it rhyme because you're not playing if there's no rules. Make it as good as you can. And then tear it up into tiny pieces. Tell no one. Distribute it among widely scattered trash receptacles. Then you will have done a creative act. No money!
That really struck a chord in me, because I was right with him until he said tear it up. Then my sensibilities were offended... but the time, or I could share it with someone, tight? or can't I just twitter it first? If I can't do that with a dumb poem (as I'm not much of a poet), how can I even think my worship isn't selfless.
So the questions I'm mulling are:
And the scriptures I'm starting with:
Jn 4:21-24 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
Is 29:13 (Quoted by Jesus in Mt 15:7-9) The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Is 12:1-6
In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you."
If anyone reads this (crickets...), I'd love to hear what you think in the comments. How do you worship? Why do you worship? Or what do you think it means to worship in spirit?
To close, how about one of our favorite family worship tunes, from Robin Mark:
The catalyst this week was Kurt Vonnegut, who is famous for being a humanist. But he's not an agressive atheist like Hitchens or Dawkins; he just wants people to do good for the sake of doing good. Which I see as pretty close to God's call. In this speech at Albion College, "How to get a job like mine," he said the following about creativity: go home tonight and write a 6 line poem. Make it rhyme because you're not playing if there's no rules. Make it as good as you can. And then tear it up into tiny pieces. Tell no one. Distribute it among widely scattered trash receptacles. Then you will have done a creative act. No money!
That really struck a chord in me, because I was right with him until he said tear it up. Then my sensibilities were offended... but the time, or I could share it with someone, tight? or can't I just twitter it first? If I can't do that with a dumb poem (as I'm not much of a poet), how can I even think my worship isn't selfless.
So the questions I'm mulling are:
- What is worship?
- Why do we worship?
- How do we worship?
And the scriptures I'm starting with:
Jn 4:21-24 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
Is 29:13 (Quoted by Jesus in Mt 15:7-9) The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Is 12:1-6
In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you."
If anyone reads this (crickets...), I'd love to hear what you think in the comments. How do you worship? Why do you worship? Or what do you think it means to worship in spirit?
To close, how about one of our favorite family worship tunes, from Robin Mark:
Friday, March 12, 2010
March Men's Study
I'm doing something I've never done tomorrow - reuse a study for the same group! I was looking through what I had on the prodigal son for the youth group, and stumbled across a 4 year old study from the men's group at Lakeshore Lutheran Fellowship. It was exactly what I needed to be thinking about at this point in Lent. Interesting to look back and revise a study, too.
We meet at 7 (breakfast), 7:30-8:30ish study if you're interested, 2nd Saturday of each month. It's not so much me teaching, as bringing questions that I want to hear these brothers talk about.
The Cross Is…
From In My Place, an article by Steve Brown. Romans 5:6-11, verse by verse
Even radical bible scholars count this as an epistle definitely written by Paul. His purposes in writing the letter include: prayers for his coming journey to Jerusalem, Rome and then on to Spain, to outline his teaching, and to address the big conflict in the community. The conflict between the Gentile and Jewish Christians developed because Emperor Claudius exiled Jews from Rome in AD 49, which resulted in Gentile Christians taking leadership positions. The tension came when Jewish Christians returned in AD 54 after Claudius’ death and found the Gentiles not keeping Jewish food laws nor observing Jewish holy days.
Martin Luther described Romans as “the chief book of the New Testament… it deserves to be known by heart, word for word, by every Christian.” His lectures on Romans in 1515-16 were probably what led to the 95 Theses of 1517. In 1738, John Wesley’s reading of Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to the Romans began his conversion experience. In 1919, Karl Barth wrote a commentary on Romans which was a big influence on the German Christians who resisted the Third Reich. Modern day evangelists use the “Romans Road” to present the case for salvation: Romans 3:23, 6:23a, 6:23b, 5:8,10:9-10,10:13. That’s a good epistle!
Today we’ll look at just half of one chapter. In the first four chapters, Paul uses a bunch of strong connections with the Old Testament to make the case that we are justified by faith. Now he’s going to share the blessings of being justified. First let’s look at Romans 5:1-5.
1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3-4 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
1) How would you sum up those first five verses to a fellow Christian?
2) What are some of the blessings of justification?
3) Can you think of any life examples of the benefits of suffering described in 3-4?
The CROSS is a…necessity
v6: You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
4) If we are forgiven, why do we always pray to be forgiven? In what ways were we powerless? Are we no longer powerless?
The CROSS is a…surprise
v7: Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
Brown notes: we deserve wrath, we expect anger, and yet we find God offering love.
5) What’s the difference between a righteous man and a good man?
6) How would you feel if someone offered their life up for yours? (Or, if you’ve experienced this in the military or elsewhere, how did you feel when they did offer their life for yours?) What if it was someone who was a better person than you? Someone with more to lose?
The CROSS is a…demonstration
v8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
7) Can we witness if we are miserable and bound? God demonstrated his love to us that he might demonstrate his love through us.
The CROSS is a…promise
v9: Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
This reminds me of the best teacher I ever knew. She enforced complete discipline to make sure that her classroom was a safe place for her elementary students, but always, always any act of discipline was followed by an act of love.
8) What does this verse mean to you?
The CROSS is a…reality
v10: For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
9) Do you live in guilt? That’s living in a lie. The reality is you are forgiven. More than acquitted of the crime, we’re reconciled. What difference does that make in how we live day to day?
10) Are you afraid of death? That fear is a lie. The reality is you are going to live forever. What difference can that make in our decision making?
The CROSS is a…celebration
v11: Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
11) Consider the parable of the Prodigal Son. What keeps the older brother from celebrating?
12) In our happiness-obsessed culture, how do you explain joy? How can accepting Jesus’ salvation result in joy if it doesn’t change anything about your circumstances?
Web Resources
Steve Brown is a former pastor, radio host and seminary teacher who concentrates on grace. His teaching is very freeing because of this great emphasis on it's free and freeing nature. You can find his resources on keylife.org. Writings, podcasts, etc.
We meet at 7 (breakfast), 7:30-8:30ish study if you're interested, 2nd Saturday of each month. It's not so much me teaching, as bringing questions that I want to hear these brothers talk about.
The Cross Is…
From In My Place, an article by Steve Brown. Romans 5:6-11, verse by verse
Even radical bible scholars count this as an epistle definitely written by Paul. His purposes in writing the letter include: prayers for his coming journey to Jerusalem, Rome and then on to Spain, to outline his teaching, and to address the big conflict in the community. The conflict between the Gentile and Jewish Christians developed because Emperor Claudius exiled Jews from Rome in AD 49, which resulted in Gentile Christians taking leadership positions. The tension came when Jewish Christians returned in AD 54 after Claudius’ death and found the Gentiles not keeping Jewish food laws nor observing Jewish holy days.
Martin Luther described Romans as “the chief book of the New Testament… it deserves to be known by heart, word for word, by every Christian.” His lectures on Romans in 1515-16 were probably what led to the 95 Theses of 1517. In 1738, John Wesley’s reading of Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to the Romans began his conversion experience. In 1919, Karl Barth wrote a commentary on Romans which was a big influence on the German Christians who resisted the Third Reich. Modern day evangelists use the “Romans Road” to present the case for salvation: Romans 3:23, 6:23a, 6:23b, 5:8,10:9-10,10:13. That’s a good epistle!
Today we’ll look at just half of one chapter. In the first four chapters, Paul uses a bunch of strong connections with the Old Testament to make the case that we are justified by faith. Now he’s going to share the blessings of being justified. First let’s look at Romans 5:1-5.
1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3-4 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
1) How would you sum up those first five verses to a fellow Christian?
2) What are some of the blessings of justification?
3) Can you think of any life examples of the benefits of suffering described in 3-4?
The CROSS is a…necessity
v6: You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
4) If we are forgiven, why do we always pray to be forgiven? In what ways were we powerless? Are we no longer powerless?
The CROSS is a…surprise
v7: Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
Brown notes: we deserve wrath, we expect anger, and yet we find God offering love.
5) What’s the difference between a righteous man and a good man?
6) How would you feel if someone offered their life up for yours? (Or, if you’ve experienced this in the military or elsewhere, how did you feel when they did offer their life for yours?) What if it was someone who was a better person than you? Someone with more to lose?
The CROSS is a…demonstration
v8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
7) Can we witness if we are miserable and bound? God demonstrated his love to us that he might demonstrate his love through us.
The CROSS is a…promise
v9: Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
This reminds me of the best teacher I ever knew. She enforced complete discipline to make sure that her classroom was a safe place for her elementary students, but always, always any act of discipline was followed by an act of love.
8) What does this verse mean to you?
The CROSS is a…reality
v10: For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
9) Do you live in guilt? That’s living in a lie. The reality is you are forgiven. More than acquitted of the crime, we’re reconciled. What difference does that make in how we live day to day?
10) Are you afraid of death? That fear is a lie. The reality is you are going to live forever. What difference can that make in our decision making?
The CROSS is a…celebration
v11: Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
11) Consider the parable of the Prodigal Son. What keeps the older brother from celebrating?
12) In our happiness-obsessed culture, how do you explain joy? How can accepting Jesus’ salvation result in joy if it doesn’t change anything about your circumstances?
Web Resources
Steve Brown is a former pastor, radio host and seminary teacher who concentrates on grace. His teaching is very freeing because of this great emphasis on it's free and freeing nature. You can find his resources on keylife.org. Writings, podcasts, etc.
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