It's been a while since this Blog got an update, so here goes...
Since my last post, I had rediscovered that I need extra motivation to study on a fairly regular basis. Combine that rediscovery with the tugging I had been experinecing to lead another class and the answer came in a BFO (Brilliant Flash of the Obvious). In September, with Carol's help, I started a new Disciple I class at Mandarin UMC. In spite of my lack of trust, we have an almost biblically perfect group of 11, including ourselves.
Disciple I is subtitled: "Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study" so it is more than the 34 week bible study it appears on the surface. As the course description states, "DISCIPLE aims at transformation, not just information, and calls on persons to submit themselves to examination by Scripture, to put themselves under the power of God’s Word, and to be changed by God’s Word". Having lead Disciple classes before, I know that it is the program and the Holy Spirit, that leads that change, I just follow the leader's guide and ask the questions.
As the Leader/facilitator, I am a learner among learners, so I get to read all the same material and work through the same, sometimes difficult, questions with the others. Even though this is the third time I've gone through Disciple I, it is still fresh. Becoming a Disciple is truly a process, not a destination.
More on Disciple can be found at: http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/dynamiccontent.aspx?pageid=204&id=17
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
On Bible Study
I guess the Nike motto is the whole thing for me, "just do it".
Just open it up and read. Look for what it says literally, think about what it meant to the first hearers (it was handed down orally before it was written after all), and then listen for what it means for us today. Better yet, listen for what it means for you today.
For instance, recently there have been some very difficult, sad events around me. Today's devotional from The Upper Room was based on Philippians 4:4-7.
Just open it up and read. Look for what it says literally, think about what it meant to the first hearers (it was handed down orally before it was written after all), and then listen for what it means for us today. Better yet, listen for what it means for you today.
For instance, recently there have been some very difficult, sad events around me. Today's devotional from The Upper Room was based on Philippians 4:4-7.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [TNIV]
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Prevenient Grace
I've understood Prevenient Grace to be that which "goes before" we accept Him into our lives. God's Grace is God's unmerited favor for us. We can never be good enough to ever earn it, even at our very best, we mess up; at our worst: get out of the way. But from the time of our conception He knows us as we are and wants to have a relationship with each of us.
...but how is He able to woo us into that relationship before we acknowledge Him?
One way, and maybe a primary way was dramatically related to us this Sunday by Pastor Debbie. Without retelling her powerful (true) story let me say that it is through others. In her story, she heard an inaudible voice that lead her to one who needed Him. She was able to witness to that person by her presence and opened him up to the relationship with God that God had been wanting for this person's whole life.
So it is through people that God works to woo others to Him. Last week I described why I am a Methodist. I live under God's Grace now, but it was through specific individuals, mostly Methodists in my case, that brought me to Him, but it was His Grace and Love that moved them to action.
...but how is He able to woo us into that relationship before we acknowledge Him?
One way, and maybe a primary way was dramatically related to us this Sunday by Pastor Debbie. Without retelling her powerful (true) story let me say that it is through others. In her story, she heard an inaudible voice that lead her to one who needed Him. She was able to witness to that person by her presence and opened him up to the relationship with God that God had been wanting for this person's whole life.
So it is through people that God works to woo others to Him. Last week I described why I am a Methodist. I live under God's Grace now, but it was through specific individuals, mostly Methodists in my case, that brought me to Him, but it was His Grace and Love that moved them to action.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Why I'm a Methodist
The short answer is: Methodists were always there when I needed a Church or God.
I grew up in a Congregational Church (now a part of the United Church of Christ). When the local congregation started falling apart due to internal issues, I quickly found a neighborhood Methodist Church that I felt comfortable with. Although I fell away from God after high School and through College, it was a Methodist chaplain that married me and my high school sweetheart. I still stayed way from God after that, but when my first daughter was born, it was again a local Methodist Church that baptised her. Still, this was not enough to draw me back to Him. It finally was the trauma of my divorce after over 19 years of marriage that changed my life forever. This time it was Linda who took me to her church one Sunday, a Methodist Church. I have not looked back. My faith was challenged the very first day in an adult Sunday school class: even if it's not there or not strong, act as if you believed.
That Sunday School class was 21 years ago, but I still remember it; I'll probably never forget it. I still worship and serve at that same Methodist Church.
This Sunday, a sermon series on John Wesley began. The three important points from the message helps explain why those many Methodists were there for me when I needed them. These are my versions of those points:
1. Faith is both what you think and feel. I. e., it is in both your Head and Heart.
I have always been more of a rational thinker than a 'feeler'. It took me years before I ever got the Heart thing; it was actually during my Walk to Emmaus when I frist truly experienced God from the inside out. perhaps another time I'll describe that.
2. Methodists organized into Bands, Classes, and Societies. I. e., they are made up of small groups.
It was the Adult Sunday School class that got me started and nurtured me through the early days of coping with a new single life. I've moved on from there, but always in one or more small groups where we encourage and challenge each other to live the life that we are called to be our faith.
3. Not by Faith alone, but by works.
Methodists believe in acts of mercy. We are organized for both ministry and evangelism. This reaching out, both locally and globally is what kept drawing me back to God.
What these beliefs call us to do is:
I grew up in a Congregational Church (now a part of the United Church of Christ). When the local congregation started falling apart due to internal issues, I quickly found a neighborhood Methodist Church that I felt comfortable with. Although I fell away from God after high School and through College, it was a Methodist chaplain that married me and my high school sweetheart. I still stayed way from God after that, but when my first daughter was born, it was again a local Methodist Church that baptised her. Still, this was not enough to draw me back to Him. It finally was the trauma of my divorce after over 19 years of marriage that changed my life forever. This time it was Linda who took me to her church one Sunday, a Methodist Church. I have not looked back. My faith was challenged the very first day in an adult Sunday school class: even if it's not there or not strong, act as if you believed.
That Sunday School class was 21 years ago, but I still remember it; I'll probably never forget it. I still worship and serve at that same Methodist Church.
This Sunday, a sermon series on John Wesley began. The three important points from the message helps explain why those many Methodists were there for me when I needed them. These are my versions of those points:
1. Faith is both what you think and feel. I. e., it is in both your Head and Heart.
I have always been more of a rational thinker than a 'feeler'. It took me years before I ever got the Heart thing; it was actually during my Walk to Emmaus when I frist truly experienced God from the inside out. perhaps another time I'll describe that.
2. Methodists organized into Bands, Classes, and Societies. I. e., they are made up of small groups.
It was the Adult Sunday School class that got me started and nurtured me through the early days of coping with a new single life. I've moved on from there, but always in one or more small groups where we encourage and challenge each other to live the life that we are called to be our faith.
3. Not by Faith alone, but by works.
Methodists believe in acts of mercy. We are organized for both ministry and evangelism. This reaching out, both locally and globally is what kept drawing me back to God.
What these beliefs call us to do is:
Worship weeklyI pray that I can be for others what the Methodists have been for me.
Be in a small group
Give of our Time and Treasures
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