Pastor Jim Welch gave the lesson on Sunday on "Way of Salvation".
Jim started by reminding us that when we are saved we are saved from something to something. Sin is the state of being separated from God, neighbor and self. Sin is aloneness, and brokeness. So if salvation is being saved from our sin, we are being saved to wholeness, to relationship with someone, and right relationship with God, neighbor and self.
God's love is a seeking love so it doesn't matter how much we separate ourselves from God, he will always seek us out. There are many Greek words for love: eros- word that means the kind of love we feel, philia- word for the kind of love we have with a friend, storge- word for love a parent has for a child or siblings have for each other, agape- word for sacrificial love/ how God loves us.
In Luke 15 there are 3 parables - Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Son. All are found. In each case, it's a story of a seeking love. They are parables about God's character and how He seeks us out in every moment of life.
John Wesley indentified 3 types of grace that helps us clarify God's love and grace. Prevenient grace is that which goes before. In comparing this to a house, it would be like standing on the porch and the porch light always being on. It's a preparing grace which prepares us for God's love. When we talk about repentance from our sin, repentance is going in the other direction, we think of turning toward the porch light of God's love. Justifying grace is like walking through the door of the house. It's a welcoming grace, an assurance that you are welcomed and will be embraced. (1 John 1:9) Sanctifying grace is a holiness of life and heart. With sanctifying grace we are inside the house and get to explore the house. We are living worthy of God's love.
John Wesley says that this grace that God offers us is a grace that helps us move on to perfection in our faith. We work to move toward a perfect love. Three general rules that Wesley says that we should live by are these: 1. Do no harm, 2. Do Good (or be in love with others), and 3. Attend to the ordinances of the Church (or live out that love).
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Way of Discipleship- Dec. 2, 2012
Rev. Judy Tefteller provided the Confirmation lesson this past Sunday on "Way of Discipleship".
Rev. Tefteller addressed 4 parts of discipleship. The first was devotion. Judy talked about how devotion is spending more time alone with God and that devotion involves prayer, meditation, and reading and reflecting on Scripture. Devotion is a daily thing. Rev. Tefteller gave the students an advent calendar and a devotional lesson that they could use to devote time to scripture everyday.
Next, she talked about worship. Worship is spending time with God as part of a group. Acts 2:37-47 tells us that right after the first Christian community came together, the people joined one another in worship. Judy handed out bulletins from the KUMC worship service and spent time talking about the different parts of worship and which part the students like the best.
Compassion is the third part of discipleship. The word compassion came from two words that would literally be translated as 'to feel with'. When we have compassion for someone, we try to feel what they are feeling and to meet their needs and heal their pain. Rev. Tefteller talked about all the compassionate things that the comfirmands had done as a group, focusing on our mission at White Oak apts and how that was truly an act of mercy.
Last but not least, Judy talked about justice as the last part of discipleship. There is a simple definition of justice-- justice is God, all people, and all creation living in right relationship with one another. Like compassion, justice involves loving others. And like worship, justice is corporate. We work with other people to bring about justice for all. "Shout for the Silent" was an act of justice. Judy talked to the group about what they learned and what they could do about those caught in human trafficking. She also reminded the students that there are many forms of those who are silent around the world and even in their class and school. Scripture has a lot to say about justice. Check these verses out: Dt. 16:19-20, Isaiah 42:1-4, Amos 5:15, Micah 6:8.
The final thing that Rev. Tefteller discussed was the KUMC mission statement: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world to the Glory of God. Our vision: Connect to Christ and to one another, Grow in faith, and Serve in love. And our goals- We are to become disciples who: confess Jesus as Lord, empowered by the Holy Spirit, worship regularly, practice a vital prayer life, connect through small groups, rooted in scripture, share the story of God's love in Christ, practice generous giving, and serve the least, the last and the lost.
Rev. Tefteller addressed 4 parts of discipleship. The first was devotion. Judy talked about how devotion is spending more time alone with God and that devotion involves prayer, meditation, and reading and reflecting on Scripture. Devotion is a daily thing. Rev. Tefteller gave the students an advent calendar and a devotional lesson that they could use to devote time to scripture everyday.
Next, she talked about worship. Worship is spending time with God as part of a group. Acts 2:37-47 tells us that right after the first Christian community came together, the people joined one another in worship. Judy handed out bulletins from the KUMC worship service and spent time talking about the different parts of worship and which part the students like the best.
Compassion is the third part of discipleship. The word compassion came from two words that would literally be translated as 'to feel with'. When we have compassion for someone, we try to feel what they are feeling and to meet their needs and heal their pain. Rev. Tefteller talked about all the compassionate things that the comfirmands had done as a group, focusing on our mission at White Oak apts and how that was truly an act of mercy.
Last but not least, Judy talked about justice as the last part of discipleship. There is a simple definition of justice-- justice is God, all people, and all creation living in right relationship with one another. Like compassion, justice involves loving others. And like worship, justice is corporate. We work with other people to bring about justice for all. "Shout for the Silent" was an act of justice. Judy talked to the group about what they learned and what they could do about those caught in human trafficking. She also reminded the students that there are many forms of those who are silent around the world and even in their class and school. Scripture has a lot to say about justice. Check these verses out: Dt. 16:19-20, Isaiah 42:1-4, Amos 5:15, Micah 6:8.
The final thing that Rev. Tefteller discussed was the KUMC mission statement: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world to the Glory of God. Our vision: Connect to Christ and to one another, Grow in faith, and Serve in love. And our goals- We are to become disciples who: confess Jesus as Lord, empowered by the Holy Spirit, worship regularly, practice a vital prayer life, connect through small groups, rooted in scripture, share the story of God's love in Christ, practice generous giving, and serve the least, the last and the lost.
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