Discussion 2 December 2012

LUKE 21:25-36

²⁵"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. ²⁸Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

²⁹Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; ³⁰as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. ³¹So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ³²Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. ³³Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

³⁴"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, ³⁵like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

For Consideration

-Why is this pericope part of the Advent Gospel reading?

-How does this passage speak of Hope?

Doctrine of Election

In preparation of our class discussion Malachi suggested in Verse 3 the Doctrine of Election. Here is Joe's response for the Doctrine in two sentences:

"Election seeks to explain salvation in light of what we believe about grace. If we are saved completely by grace and not by works then salvation must come through God's act of electing to save us and not our act of electing to be saved."

Discussion for 25 November 2012

 MALACHI 3:1-4

¹See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight — indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. ²But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; ³he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. ⁴Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

For consideration:

-What is it that needs purification?

-What will be consumed by the flames?

-What is it that God recognizes as precious metal?

November 18

This Sunday our class will compose the Prayer of Confession for the 1st Advent Sunday in December. The scripture selections are as follows:

JEREMIAH 33:14-16

¹⁴The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. ¹⁵In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. ¹⁶In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness."

Luke 1:5-24  John’s Birth Announced to Zacharias

I don't have a template, but here are some steps that might help write the prayer of confession each week: 1. Start with the passage from Jeremiah. The Call to Worship will be based on this passage, and I don't know whether people really realize it or not, but the prayer of confession is always a continuation of the Call to Worship, so start with the passage from Jeremiah and identify key terms or phrases that resonate with you: "he shall execute justice and righteousness", "a righteous branch shall spring up" 2. Then I ask myself, "am I a good example of what the passage is talking about?", meaning, "do I execute justice and righteousness?" "am I like a righteous branch?" 3. If I'm not, then I need to say why: "because I've been more interested in riches than righteousness" "I've executed convenience rather than justice..." 4. Come to a point where you can pause for silence 5. Then sum up what you're saying for the last line Looking at some old bulletins might be helpful. Good luck!

Discussion 28 October 2012

JOB 42:1-6, 10-17

¹Then Job answered the LORD: ²"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ³'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ⁴'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me.' ⁵I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; ⁶therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

¹⁰And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends; and the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. ¹¹Then there came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and they ate bread with him in his house; they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him; and each of them gave him a piece of money and a gold ring. ¹²The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys. ¹³He also had seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴He named the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. ¹⁵In all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters; and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers.¹⁶After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children, and his children's children, four generations. ¹⁷And Job died, old and full of days.

For Consideration:

-Why do innocent people suffer?

-Why are "friends" oblivious to sincere cries of those who suffer unjustly?

-Why does God allow such suffering to stand and remain silent before the pleas of the afflicted?

Discussion 21 October 2012

JOB 38:1-7 (34-41)

¹Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: ²"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? ³Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

⁴"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. ⁵Who determined its measurements — surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? ⁶On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone ⁷when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?

³⁴"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that a flood of waters may cover you? ³⁵Can you send forth lightnings, so that they may go and say to you, 'Here we are'? ³⁶Who has put wisdom in the inward parts, or given understanding to the mind? ³⁷Who has the wisdom to number the clouds? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens, ³⁸when the dust runs into a mass and the clods cling together?

³⁹"Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, ⁴⁰when they crouch in their dens, or lie in wait in their covert? ⁴¹Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?"

For Consideration:

Does God answer Job's question?

What does God do to Job in verses 3 and 4?

Does this clear up our understanding of God?

For Discussion 14 October 2012

 JOB 23:1-9, 16-17

¹Then Job answered: ²"Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. ³Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling! ⁴I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. ⁵I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.⁶Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me. ⁷There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge.

⁸"If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; ⁹on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him.

¹⁶God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; ¹⁷If only I could vanish in darkness, and thick darkness would cover my face!

For Consideration:

In Vs 7, Job suggests an upright person could reason with God. Why would this make Job feel justified?