Discussion January 8, 2012

GENESIS 1:1-5

¹In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, ²the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. ³Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. ⁴And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

For Consideration

There is a car commercial on T.V. with a young child dressed up as Darth Vader. Little Darth is going around the house, arms stretched out in front, attempting to make things happen with the force. Nothing happens until the young Vader tries it out on his dad's car. Standing inside the house dad uses the remote control to start the car. Darth himself is taken aback and we all laugh or at least smile. 

For commercial: CLICK HERE

Why do we find this funny?

Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63) In today's scripture God said, "Let there be light." His words created a new order. Does God speak to us though visions and dreams or is it safer to say we get to God the most simple way - words?

A Message from the Publisher

Merry Christmas

It is difficult to adequately express gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of our Sunday School Class. The effort of preparing for our weekly discussions combined with your participation in the Chapel have caused my faith and relationship with God to grow stronger. At least that's what I think (always a dangerous proposition. see Isaiah 55:8).

During this time of Advent our focus is the coming of the Lord incarnate. In several months we will be preparing for Easter. During Jesus earthly ministry we are taught how to love God and our neighbors. All of this culminates on the Cross of Christ.

We believe in Jesus Christ and trust in the reality of redemption. It is important for our relationship with Christ to be strong and grow. Our usefulness to God depends on that and that alone.

Please consider other ways outside our weekly class to become more useful to our Lord. If you have any suggestions please post to the blog or email me by clicking here. Emails will be kept confidential.

God bless you,
Greg M

Discussion for December 18, 2011

 2 SAMUEL 7:1-11, 16

¹Now when the king was settled in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, ²the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” ³Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for the LORD is with you.”

⁴But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: ⁵Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? ⁶I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. ⁷Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ⁸Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; ⁹and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. ¹⁰And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, ¹¹from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.

¹⁶Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.

For Discussion:

Why is it important for the Messiah to be from "the house of David?"

What problems could this cause with Jesus when He actually showed up?

Discussion December 11, 2011

JOHN 1:6-8, 19-28

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

¹⁹This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” ²²Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³He said, 
     “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 
          ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” 
as the prophet Isaiah said.

²⁴Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” ²⁶John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” ²⁸This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

For Consideration

John is the first human introduced in this grand prologue. What is John's mission?

How does John distinguish himself from the Messiah?

What is the the definition of "Witness?"

Advent Prayer of Confession

Roben Mounger & Pam Hanners wrote this prayer for last week's service. The words were inspired from Psalm 85 and Isaiah 40:1-11

Glorious God of the Fresh Start,
you paid our penalty and remain beside us,
never weary, always watchful.
Yet we confess we are often forgetful of you.
Fragile as flowers, we fade under the frosts of our fears and failures.
Wake us, renew us, gather us in your arms.
Inside your arms, we feel comfort for the days ahead.
Inside your arms, we hear guidance for green pastures.
Wake us, renew us, gather us in your arms.
Amen

The Rev.Fred Craddock

On Monday 28 November, CNN ran a story on Fred Craddock. The story mentions his time in Columbia and a bit of his personal story. Click Here for the John Blake story.