Part 2 on Prayer

Should you pray for a parking space? What is theological humility, and why do we need it? Is Prayer a “comfort guarantee”? My least favorite parable. Is God your puppet?

How do we discern God’s will in our lives, and why should we obey?  We treat God as if he is indirect and vague, when in reality, God is very clear.  If we WANT to know God’s will, and He WANTS it, then we WILL know it.  God uses a variety of channels to speak with us; Scripture, circumstances, prayer, other Christians, the Holy Spirit.

Contrary to a universalist view that God loves everyone and it will all work out, Hebrews 10:26-31 is a passage that reminds us that people are in rebellion to God, and consequences to that rebellion will result.  As Christians, we can sometimes lose sight of that rebellion as it pertains to us.  Being part of a community helps us to fulfill the role that God has set before us, using our unique strengths that he has provided.  Being part of a community also allows us to identify, with the help of others, areas in which we may not be as strong.  At the same time the community encourages us to allow other members the opportunity to use their own strengths to build up the body.  This coming together of members of the body, each bringing their individual strenghts and gifts, create the whole.  We learn in Ephesians 2: 8-10, that this is God’s design, so that no one may boast of his own accomplishments.  The parts learn that the whole is designed and created by God, who has given us a choice to join in, or rebel.

What does it mean to love yourself?

How do you lover your neighbor as yourself?

Who is your neighbor?

Why do we show favoritism?

What does it mean to be free to be who you are?

The Bible allows us to break down what at first glance is God’s “unconditional” love for us.  Psalm 139 details God’s hand in our making, and his continuous presence in our lives.  But people have internal and external reasons for keeping apart from God.  We can learn God’s purpose for us in the middle of all of the turmoil; because although we are “rebellious” we are “redeemable”.   Not only are there many verses that tell us how far we have strayed from God, there are many verses giving us hope of returning to God.  Not only do we find biblical examples of failure, but, more importantly, biblical examples of men and women who stood the test of the heart.

Course Desciption:

Life is a journey -  the goal of the journey is to glorify God as we become fully ourselves, as God intended us to be.  In fact, Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we as followers of Jesus we have been created to do good works that God has prepared in advance for us to do. How’s your progress on this journey? How well do you know yourself? Are you freeing others to be themselves? We will be looking at how each of us is uniquely designed and exploring what God has to say about becoming fully formed. This discussion will touch on a wide range of biblical passages and the many relationships we enjoy as children, spouses, parents, friends, and employees.

Course Objectives:

*To see the Bible as a complex, constructed narrative of God’s relationship with His cration.

*To better understand who we have been created to be.

*To appreciate the importance of becoming ourselves within the context of community.

*To experience the freedom to be who we are meant to be so that  we accomplish the good works God created us to do.

(Lesson 1)

Two views of the human condition.  As put forth by Nitsche (and before him, Solomon):  in the end, your life doesn’t matter.  Life had better be enjoyed because not only is it the only one we’ve got, there is no imprint of our lives after we die.    God’s point of view regarding our lives is very different and can be found in the book of Genesis, where God has layed out our value.  Not only do we learn the ways in which God has given us a value beyond anything else, but that we have a choice, rooted in faith, to accept it and live accordingly to God’s original plan.    Which will you choose, a life devoted to self, or a life devoted to serving God and fulfilling his purpose in us?

Next lesson will not be until Sept. 20th.

Galatians 5:16 - A huge contrast between a life in the Spirit and a life of the flesh.

5:18 - Spirit vs law - There is no complete freedom.

5:19 - Don’t focus on “the list” — sin has consequences

5:22 - The fruit of the “Spirit” - not YOU.

5:23 - What God looks like.

5: 24 - Crucifiying the sinful nature.

5:25 - Keep in step with the Spirit.

5:26 - Who is the list about? 

Who is it NOT about?

A discussion of “sinful nature” vs the “flesh”.  Are they the same? Danger of Christianity:  We try to do it all on our own.

Gal 4:21 - Choosing to be under the law

4:22-23 - The difference between the sons.

4:24     - “Figuratively”

4:25 - Paul’s view of Jews and Arabs

4:29   -  The traditional view of Ishmael and Isaac

4:30  - Paul’s focus is on Judaizers

Gal 5:1 -  Christ freed us from sin - don’t go back.

5:3 - The consequences of choice.

5:5- Faith

5:6 - Faith expressed through love.

5:8 - Who calls you?

5:9 - Sincerity is not enough.

5:10 - Paul’s personal example.

5:10-12 - Who is destroying the church?

5:12 - Consistent images.

5:14 - People pick up on the falseness of hypocrites

Galatians 3:15 - Paul is citing the law given to Moses.                       

–  A time when a covenant was not changed.

Galatians 3:16 - Who was this covenant to?

Galatians 3:18 - The purpose of the law is to show transgressions.

Galatians 3:19 - The mediator?  Moses.

Galatians 3:20 - How are we given salvation?

Galatians 3:23 -  Prisoners of the law.

Galatians 3:25 - We no longer need this law.  

Paul’s message does not change

- God saves through faith.

The lesson of the prodigal son.

Paul’s way of life versus the American way of life.

Galations 2 -    Why did Paul feel the need to write on this subject?

Galations 2:2 - A “revelation” sent Paul to Jerusalem.  How would that play today?

Galations 2:4 - The Central Issue. Galations 2:7 -  Peter and Paul

Galations 2:9 -  What is bothering Paul?

Galations 2:11 - The problem still exists.

Galations 2:12 - Evidence of Peter’s hypocrisy.  It’s hard to be a “pillar”.

Galations 2:14 - Paul takes Peter on.

Galations 2:17 - Jesus DOES NOT promote sin; despite who he associated with.

Galations 2:18 -  Don’t return to Judaism

Galations 2:19 - What was the purpose of the law?

Galations 2:20 - “Christ lives in me” is Anti-New age.  

Application: Paul was uniquely qualified to write on this subject. The Gospel is against self-reliance, which is hard for us to grasp.

  Gal 1: 11 -  Paul cites the source and the message of his revelation.             

– Modern examples of “made up” Gospels             

– Paul’s claim - direct revelation from Christ.  

Compare Acts 9:1-25 and Galatians 1: 13-18             

Saul tried to destroy Christianity as a good Jew.             

–  “defender of the faith/traditions of my fathers”  

Gal 1: 15 - “chosen by God”

– Paul means this literally.

Gal 1: 16 - Paul’s task.

Gal 1:17 - Why immediately?

Gal 1: 18 - Acts 9: 26-30.

Gal 1: 23 - Paul recognizes his works are from God.  

Application:   What have we “added” to Christianity?  We all have an agenda that we attach - “Jesus +”

Galations:  Written by Paul to address a situation in Galacia.   

– Jewish Christians were forcing Gentile believers to become “Jews” in order to follow Christ.   

–Martin Luther, the Reformation, and Galatians -  Faith alone   

–Culture and Christianity   

–Jesus - the law and intent  

Galations 1:1 - Paul claims apostleship with it’s authority                     

– Saul was sent by men, Praul sent by God

Galations 1:4 - A reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice                     

 – What motivates Jesus?

Galations 1:5 - A departure from the usual

Galations 1:7 - “No Gospel” - no substitutions or variations from the core message

Galations 1: 8-9 -  A warning - Eternally condemned - No restoration

Galations 1: 10 - Whose approval does Paul seek?

This was the last lesson for Puzzling Passages.  The next podcast will no be until June 13th.

Jude  

verse 1&3 - Who is the audience?  

verse 4:  “Secretly” - They deny who Christ is.  

verse 5:  A reminder of truth the audience already knows.  

verse 6:  Even angels are punished.  

verse 7:  Powerful images.  

verse 8:  The arrogance of people.  

verse 10:  The human condition.  

verse 11:  The original heretic.  

verse 12&13:  More images to drive the point home.  

verse 14-16:  Not directed at “struggling followers.”  

verse 17:  Jude’s encouragement.  

verse 20:  What believers are to do.

“Eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking his blood”

John 6:26 - Those in authority set the agenda

John 6:28 - The disciples want to learn

John 6:29 - Their work (and ours) is to believe

John 6:30 - Can a Christian have it “both ways?”

John 6:32 - The credit goes to God. John 6:33 - The “bread”

John 6:37 - Who did Jesus drive away?

John 6:41 - Grumbling John 6:44-  Controversy

John 6:52 - Grumbling becomes sharply argueing.

John 6:68 - Peter says “we believe” Transubstantiation - literal or figurative