2 weeks ago we started talking about our second vow of Confirmation-
"Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?"
What are some of the things that you remember from our discussion?
-We talked about freedom and what that means
-How freedom without rules or discipline can be chaotic or may even limit your freedom
-That Christ set us free from sin and death
-What the law was powerless to do, Christ's sacrifice was able to do - Romans 8: 1-5
Today let's discuss what power is. Not only does God give us the freedom to resist evil, injustice and oppression, but God also gives us the power we need to make faithful choices. Acts 1:8- "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth." So what is this power? The Holy Spirit.
In this scripture, Luke is telling how Jesus told the Disciples that John baptized with water, but they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Turn to 1 Thessolonians 5: 16-19. What instruction is Paul giving in this letter to the church in Thessolonica? He tells them to practice their faith by always praying, being happy/joyful, and being thankful, but also reminds them that they shouldn't put out the power-- the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit living in us gives us the power to resist evil, injustice, and oppression.
What does it mean to resist something? Is it a passive act? To resist means that one is withstanding some sort of force or pressure so it's an action. Resisting is something we train ourselves to do. Through our arm wrestling demonstration you can see that each participant is not only using their strength to push another participant's arm down but also resisting that person's strength to keep their arm from being forced down. If you train and practice arm wrestling, you can get better at it. So just like accepting freedom means accepting discipline, resisting evil, injustice and oppression takes practice and discipline. As members of the body of Christ, we vow to resist evil, injustice and oppression. Being faithful to this vow requires regular exercises or spiritual discipline like... reading our Bible, going to Bible study and small group, praying, coming to church, and participating in communion.
Discussion questions in Table Groups:
1. What are some forms of evil, injustice and oppression?
2. How do these examples of evil, injustice and oppression put pressure on you or tempt you?
3. What are some ways that you can resist this pressure?
**Before going into small groups, we discussed different forms of evil as a group. One student said that Human Trafficking was an injustice. We then started discussing how we resist this injustice of human trafficking, what steps can we take. In this discussion I pointed out that one thing that can lead to the bigger problem of human trafficking is supporting the industry of pornography and that to help the bigger problem of human trafficking, specifically sex trafficking, we can take the small steps of resisting the urge to engage in the act of looking at pornography. Students have easier access to pornography with the advances in our technology, and younger and younger students are seeking it out. Looking at pornography can become a very addictive behavior and lead to other inappropriate behaviors, behaviors that we should resist. For statistics on how the pornography industry and sex trafficking are linked, please email me.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Accept - March 3, 2013
"Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?"
What thoughts, feelings or images come to mind when you hear the word FREEDOM?
Let's play a game that you never played before. I know that you haven't played it before because it hasn't been created yet. I'm giving you a few minutes to design a game using a ball. There is one stipulation... your game may not have any rules. It must be a freestyle game, because this session is about freedom.
What did you think or feel when I told you no rules?
What was it like to design a game with no rules?
Consider the game of football. What are some of the rules of the game? Could you play football without rules?
What are some of the rules you have to follow at home? at school? among your friends?
Why are rules helpful and important in life?
We're talking about freedom because it is part of the second confirmation vow. "Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?"
Freedom is a gift from God. Our free will allows us to use this freedom to accept God's grace or resist it. But as we could see from our game experiment, freedom without rules or discipline is a disaster.
What things are you free to do but will not be able to do if you aren't disciplined? Examples might be that you are free to become musicians, athletes, surgeons, etc. but you will not achieve these skills without extraordinary discipline. Lack of discipline can place limits on what we can do and actually makes us less free. Too often we think of discipline as something that constrains or limits us; it usually not something that we think of when we think of freedom. But discipline is more like training. As Christians who accept God's gift of freedom, we need to understand that the more disciplined we are, the better equipped we are to do the work that God calls us to do and to live the abundant life that God desires for us. Using one's free will without training, practice, and accountability that come from spiritual disciplines and a Christian community, often results in self-centered pursuits that do not bear fruit. Accepting God's freedom also means accepting Christian discipline and accountability.
Romans 8: 1-5 - What is this scripture telling us? Christ sets us free from sin and death, and what the law was powerless to do, Christ's sacrifice was able to do. If we let the Spirit live in us, and yield to life in the Spirit, you obey His law. The law becomes easier to follow when we are living with the Spirit.
What thoughts, feelings or images come to mind when you hear the word FREEDOM?
Let's play a game that you never played before. I know that you haven't played it before because it hasn't been created yet. I'm giving you a few minutes to design a game using a ball. There is one stipulation... your game may not have any rules. It must be a freestyle game, because this session is about freedom.
What did you think or feel when I told you no rules?
What was it like to design a game with no rules?
Consider the game of football. What are some of the rules of the game? Could you play football without rules?
What are some of the rules you have to follow at home? at school? among your friends?
Why are rules helpful and important in life?
We're talking about freedom because it is part of the second confirmation vow. "Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?"
Freedom is a gift from God. Our free will allows us to use this freedom to accept God's grace or resist it. But as we could see from our game experiment, freedom without rules or discipline is a disaster.
What things are you free to do but will not be able to do if you aren't disciplined? Examples might be that you are free to become musicians, athletes, surgeons, etc. but you will not achieve these skills without extraordinary discipline. Lack of discipline can place limits on what we can do and actually makes us less free. Too often we think of discipline as something that constrains or limits us; it usually not something that we think of when we think of freedom. But discipline is more like training. As Christians who accept God's gift of freedom, we need to understand that the more disciplined we are, the better equipped we are to do the work that God calls us to do and to live the abundant life that God desires for us. Using one's free will without training, practice, and accountability that come from spiritual disciplines and a Christian community, often results in self-centered pursuits that do not bear fruit. Accepting God's freedom also means accepting Christian discipline and accountability.
Romans 8: 1-5 - What is this scripture telling us? Christ sets us free from sin and death, and what the law was powerless to do, Christ's sacrifice was able to do. If we let the Spirit live in us, and yield to life in the Spirit, you obey His law. The law becomes easier to follow when we are living with the Spirit.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Renounce, Reject, Repent - Feb. 24, 2013
What is a vow? A promise one makes. In confirmation we make a vow to enter into a new relationship with the church in the presence of God and the church family.
On page 34 of The United Methodist Hymnal are the Confirmation vows. The first vow is this:
On behalf of the whole church, I ask you:
Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?
We talk about these vows so that the confirmation students know what it is they are promising to do when they get confirmed.
What is wickedness and evil? What actions or events come to mind when you hear these words? What makes something wicked or evil? Have you ever seen or heard of wickedness or evil in your community or school?
~Christians affirm that evil and wickedness are present in the world. But Christians also believe that God is always present and active and is more powerful than evil.
~Evil is the result of sin. Because all people are sinful, we create situations that bring evil into the world. Rejecting evil involves both resisting the temptation to do evil and resisting the temptation to encourage or participate in evil. We should strive to eliminate sin in our lives and we should be careful not to support groups that are responsible for evil.
~We are not God and some of the evil in this world seems massive (like terrorism, poverty, abuse and murder). Sometimes we feel powerless to address evil in our home and schools.
What does it mean to renounce? Webster's dictionary defines it as: to give up, refuse, or resign usually by formal declaration. To refuse to follow. So when we "renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness", we refuse to follow wickedness.
What does it mean to reject? Webster's dictionary defines reject as: to refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use. So when we "reject the evil powers of this world", we refuse to accept the evil powers of the world.
What does it mean to repent? Webster's defines it as: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life; to change one's mind. So when we repent from sin, we turn away from sin and change our life.
When you vow to renounce wickedness and reject evil, you are promising to stand up against and resist any thing that is opposed to God's will. Some forces of evil may seem too big for us to take on, but God calls us (individually and corporately as a church) to stand up and take action against evil and wickedness. As Paul affirms in Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
To follow Christ and to call Christ our Lord we must consistently turn from sin. Sin disrupts our relationships with God and others and keeps us from doing what God calls us to do. When we repent of sin, we turn away from the evil in our lives and turn toward Christ and Christ's love and saving grace.
The United Methodist Hymnal
Webster's Dictionary
Credo Confirmation Curriculum
Holy Bible (NIV)
On page 34 of The United Methodist Hymnal are the Confirmation vows. The first vow is this:
On behalf of the whole church, I ask you:
Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?
We talk about these vows so that the confirmation students know what it is they are promising to do when they get confirmed.
What is wickedness and evil? What actions or events come to mind when you hear these words? What makes something wicked or evil? Have you ever seen or heard of wickedness or evil in your community or school?
~Christians affirm that evil and wickedness are present in the world. But Christians also believe that God is always present and active and is more powerful than evil.
~Evil is the result of sin. Because all people are sinful, we create situations that bring evil into the world. Rejecting evil involves both resisting the temptation to do evil and resisting the temptation to encourage or participate in evil. We should strive to eliminate sin in our lives and we should be careful not to support groups that are responsible for evil.
~We are not God and some of the evil in this world seems massive (like terrorism, poverty, abuse and murder). Sometimes we feel powerless to address evil in our home and schools.
What does it mean to renounce? Webster's dictionary defines it as: to give up, refuse, or resign usually by formal declaration. To refuse to follow. So when we "renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness", we refuse to follow wickedness.
What does it mean to reject? Webster's dictionary defines reject as: to refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use. So when we "reject the evil powers of this world", we refuse to accept the evil powers of the world.
What does it mean to repent? Webster's defines it as: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life; to change one's mind. So when we repent from sin, we turn away from sin and change our life.
When you vow to renounce wickedness and reject evil, you are promising to stand up against and resist any thing that is opposed to God's will. Some forces of evil may seem too big for us to take on, but God calls us (individually and corporately as a church) to stand up and take action against evil and wickedness. As Paul affirms in Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
To follow Christ and to call Christ our Lord we must consistently turn from sin. Sin disrupts our relationships with God and others and keeps us from doing what God calls us to do. When we repent of sin, we turn away from the evil in our lives and turn toward Christ and Christ's love and saving grace.
The United Methodist Hymnal
Webster's Dictionary
Credo Confirmation Curriculum
Holy Bible (NIV)
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Living a Holy Life, Part 2- Feb. 10, 2013
In reflection of last week's lesson, I didn't stress enough that in small groups you not only hold each other to a higher standard, but you also love and encourage one another. In fact everything we do, even when it's calling someone out or holding them to a higher standard, we do out of love for that person. We should never be "judging" someone as better or worse than ourselves. Concern should be expressed as caring loving concern not in a judgemental way with a "better-than-though" attitude. In Philippians 2:3-5 Paul says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." And what is Christ's attitude? Read Philippians 2: 6-8
In Ephesians 4, Paul talks specifics about how we should live as children of the Light. Ephesians 4: 25-32 are his instructions to the people of the church in Ephesus and still apply to how we should lead a Holy life especially the last verse..."forgiving each other just as in Christ god forgave you."
John Wesley gave the early Methodists 3 general rules as a guide for living a Holy life. These rules still apply today.
1. Do no harm.
2. Do good.
3. Attend to the ordinances of God.
Table Group assignment:
In small group each of you need to take a notecard on your table and number 1-3 down the notecard. Each number represents Wesley's general rules. I want you to write a statement of something that you are going to do this week to commit to following these 3 general rules. For example: #1 is: Do no harm so I might say that "this week I will not say unkind words about my co-workers." Under #2 I might say, "I will spend time with my elderly neighbor." And under #3 I might say, "I will pray before I go to work every morning." When you have completed all of your statements, I want you to share them with your group if you feel comfortable and I want you to ask your prayer partner from last week to hold you accountable to doing these things. Make sure you phone or text your accountability partner this week to see how they are doing with their commitments.
In Ephesians 4, Paul talks specifics about how we should live as children of the Light. Ephesians 4: 25-32 are his instructions to the people of the church in Ephesus and still apply to how we should lead a Holy life especially the last verse..."forgiving each other just as in Christ god forgave you."
John Wesley gave the early Methodists 3 general rules as a guide for living a Holy life. These rules still apply today.
1. Do no harm.
2. Do good.
3. Attend to the ordinances of God.
Table Group assignment:
In small group each of you need to take a notecard on your table and number 1-3 down the notecard. Each number represents Wesley's general rules. I want you to write a statement of something that you are going to do this week to commit to following these 3 general rules. For example: #1 is: Do no harm so I might say that "this week I will not say unkind words about my co-workers." Under #2 I might say, "I will spend time with my elderly neighbor." And under #3 I might say, "I will pray before I go to work every morning." When you have completed all of your statements, I want you to share them with your group if you feel comfortable and I want you to ask your prayer partner from last week to hold you accountable to doing these things. Make sure you phone or text your accountability partner this week to see how they are doing with their commitments.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Living a Holy Life - Feb. 3, 2013
Where do chickens come from?
Where do eggs come from?
So which came first... the chicken or the egg?
This question is a common way to describe two things or events that completely rely on each other. In the church, the chicken and egg question applies to faith and works. You can't have one without the other. James 2: 14-26 In Genesis 22: 1-9 we read the story of Abraham being asked by God to sacrifice Isaac, the son Abraham never thought he would have. And in Joshua 2 we read the story of a prostitute Rahab that risked her life to hide some men that she knew were sent by God. In both stories we see examples of faith accompanied by actions that show dedication to God and his purpose.
We've talked about John Wesley and his part in forming the Methodist Church. John Wesley traved to Georgia from England to minister to the Native Americans and he struggled with this task. When he returned to England, he felt like a failure and questioned his faith. He met a man named Peter Bohler, a Moravian, after he got back to England and Bohler gave Wesley this advice: "Preach faith until you have it, and then because you have it, preach faith." What did Bohler mean? Simply this: When we act on our faith, even when our faith feels weak or when we have doubts, our faith will grow stronger. What are those ways we act on our faith? Go to worship, celebrate Holy Communion, pray daily, read and study scripture, do acts of mercy and service, meet in small groups. All these things help us become more holy but only with God's help. Practicing these acts of faith provides the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. The more we practice, the more and more chance God has to come into our lives.
Some of these acts of faith we can do on our own, but the one way God offers help is through the support and witness of other Christians. The first Methodists in England met in small groups called classes. They would gather to pray and read and study scripture. They made a covenant with one another to avoid sinful behavior, to perform acts of charity, to participate in worship and to grow in God's grace; and they held one another accountable to this covenant. Those who did not hold up to these things were expected to repent and with the help of their small group members, continue striving for perfection in their faith. Matthew 18: 15-20; 1 Thessalonians 5: 10-11
So on Sunday, Feb. 10th we will start a new evening gathering time called DIG (Deeper in God). This will be a time spent in fellowship, devotional, and small group. Small group time will be like your present table time in confirmation class but on a little different scale. It will be a start of the small group that you will have from now until the end of high school. This is a group that will help you grow in your faith and maturity as a Christ follower. Hopefully, the other members of the group will hold you to a higher standard. They will celebrate with you when something good happens, pray with you when you suffer, and call you out and guide you when you've messed up.
Table time:
Students were asked to write their name and phone number and a few prayer requests on pieces of paper and then those names were drawn from a hat so that the students formed prayer partners. Students were then instructed to pray for their prayer partner throughout the week and to also contact them during the week to see how their week is going and to encourage them to come to class and church this Sunday.
Students are also reminded to memorize their verses: John 15: 5; John 13: 34-35
Where do eggs come from?
So which came first... the chicken or the egg?
This question is a common way to describe two things or events that completely rely on each other. In the church, the chicken and egg question applies to faith and works. You can't have one without the other. James 2: 14-26 In Genesis 22: 1-9 we read the story of Abraham being asked by God to sacrifice Isaac, the son Abraham never thought he would have. And in Joshua 2 we read the story of a prostitute Rahab that risked her life to hide some men that she knew were sent by God. In both stories we see examples of faith accompanied by actions that show dedication to God and his purpose.
We've talked about John Wesley and his part in forming the Methodist Church. John Wesley traved to Georgia from England to minister to the Native Americans and he struggled with this task. When he returned to England, he felt like a failure and questioned his faith. He met a man named Peter Bohler, a Moravian, after he got back to England and Bohler gave Wesley this advice: "Preach faith until you have it, and then because you have it, preach faith." What did Bohler mean? Simply this: When we act on our faith, even when our faith feels weak or when we have doubts, our faith will grow stronger. What are those ways we act on our faith? Go to worship, celebrate Holy Communion, pray daily, read and study scripture, do acts of mercy and service, meet in small groups. All these things help us become more holy but only with God's help. Practicing these acts of faith provides the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. The more we practice, the more and more chance God has to come into our lives.
Some of these acts of faith we can do on our own, but the one way God offers help is through the support and witness of other Christians. The first Methodists in England met in small groups called classes. They would gather to pray and read and study scripture. They made a covenant with one another to avoid sinful behavior, to perform acts of charity, to participate in worship and to grow in God's grace; and they held one another accountable to this covenant. Those who did not hold up to these things were expected to repent and with the help of their small group members, continue striving for perfection in their faith. Matthew 18: 15-20; 1 Thessalonians 5: 10-11
So on Sunday, Feb. 10th we will start a new evening gathering time called DIG (Deeper in God). This will be a time spent in fellowship, devotional, and small group. Small group time will be like your present table time in confirmation class but on a little different scale. It will be a start of the small group that you will have from now until the end of high school. This is a group that will help you grow in your faith and maturity as a Christ follower. Hopefully, the other members of the group will hold you to a higher standard. They will celebrate with you when something good happens, pray with you when you suffer, and call you out and guide you when you've messed up.
Table time:
Students were asked to write their name and phone number and a few prayer requests on pieces of paper and then those names were drawn from a hat so that the students formed prayer partners. Students were then instructed to pray for their prayer partner throughout the week and to also contact them during the week to see how their week is going and to encourage them to come to class and church this Sunday.
Students are also reminded to memorize their verses: John 15: 5; John 13: 34-35
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Sacraments- Jan. 20, 2013
Pastor Matt Stone presented the lesson on Sunday on "Sacraments". In the United Methodist Church, two acts of worship are considered to be sacraments-- Baptism and Communion. What makes these sacraments? These two acts are ordained by Jesus himself. Jesus was baptized by John (Mark 1:9) and told his followers to go and baptize people "in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Jesus instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion, instructing his disciples to partake of his body and blood- the bread and the cup- "in remembrance" of him (1Corinthians 11: 23-26). Since these two acts are outlined in Scripture as practices that Jesus commands us to do, the United Methodist doctrine defines these as sacraments.
Baptism- In the United Methodist Church we baptize people of all ages. We believe in infant/small children baptism as an affirmation of God's prevenient grace-- the grace that goes before. Parents take the vows on their child's behalf. In our church, we affirm that "children are born into the brokenness of the world and should receive the cleansing and renewing forgiveness of God...." ("By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism"). Baptism is a sign of God's grace and that God's grace is at work in a person's life even before that person responds to God's grace by professing his or her faith. Not only do parents accept the vows of baptism for their child but the entire congregation does too. We also believe that a person only needs to be baptized once. Since we believe that God does the work in baptism, we also believe that God does it perfectly and therefore there is no need to baptize a person more than once. There are 3 ways to baptize: sprinkling, pouring and immersion. At KUMC we traditionally do baptisms by pouring or sprinkling. The reason being more about convenience, we don't have a baptismal pool, rather than any other reason. In an immersion baptism, the dunking in the water is very symbolic-- dying to your old self when you go under the water and being raised to a new life in Christ when you are brought out of the water. Not all Christian denominations baptize infants. Some practice believer's baptism meaning that a person can be baptized only when he or she is old enough to make a profession of faith. In the United Methodist Church, we call this time Confirmation. Confirmation is a time when a person is old enough to accept for himself the vows of their baptism. They don't get re-baptized but they confirm that they are now ready to accept God's love and grace and the responsibility of seeking a life in Christ.
Communion- Christians may and should partake in the sacrament of Holy Communion frequently. Through Communion, we are nourished by God's saving grace and reminded of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. Communion is done most of the time in community. Celebrating communion not only draws us closer to God, but also draws us closer to one another. In the United Methodist Church, all are invited to receive the bread and cup. This is called an "open table". In the UMC Communion litergy, the invitation is to "all who love Christ and earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another." Other denominations who practice closed Communion believe that being worthy to take Holy Communion means being in a right relationship with the church and/or sharing the church's understanding of Holy Communion.
The sacraments are more than just rituals. They are practices ordained by Jesus himself as ways for us to more fully experience God's forgiving love and grace. They are ways in which we live out our faith and come to know God better.
(Notes taken from: Credo Confirmation Curriculum)
Baptism- In the United Methodist Church we baptize people of all ages. We believe in infant/small children baptism as an affirmation of God's prevenient grace-- the grace that goes before. Parents take the vows on their child's behalf. In our church, we affirm that "children are born into the brokenness of the world and should receive the cleansing and renewing forgiveness of God...." ("By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism"). Baptism is a sign of God's grace and that God's grace is at work in a person's life even before that person responds to God's grace by professing his or her faith. Not only do parents accept the vows of baptism for their child but the entire congregation does too. We also believe that a person only needs to be baptized once. Since we believe that God does the work in baptism, we also believe that God does it perfectly and therefore there is no need to baptize a person more than once. There are 3 ways to baptize: sprinkling, pouring and immersion. At KUMC we traditionally do baptisms by pouring or sprinkling. The reason being more about convenience, we don't have a baptismal pool, rather than any other reason. In an immersion baptism, the dunking in the water is very symbolic-- dying to your old self when you go under the water and being raised to a new life in Christ when you are brought out of the water. Not all Christian denominations baptize infants. Some practice believer's baptism meaning that a person can be baptized only when he or she is old enough to make a profession of faith. In the United Methodist Church, we call this time Confirmation. Confirmation is a time when a person is old enough to accept for himself the vows of their baptism. They don't get re-baptized but they confirm that they are now ready to accept God's love and grace and the responsibility of seeking a life in Christ.
Communion- Christians may and should partake in the sacrament of Holy Communion frequently. Through Communion, we are nourished by God's saving grace and reminded of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. Communion is done most of the time in community. Celebrating communion not only draws us closer to God, but also draws us closer to one another. In the United Methodist Church, all are invited to receive the bread and cup. This is called an "open table". In the UMC Communion litergy, the invitation is to "all who love Christ and earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another." Other denominations who practice closed Communion believe that being worthy to take Holy Communion means being in a right relationship with the church and/or sharing the church's understanding of Holy Communion.
The sacraments are more than just rituals. They are practices ordained by Jesus himself as ways for us to more fully experience God's forgiving love and grace. They are ways in which we live out our faith and come to know God better.
(Notes taken from: Credo Confirmation Curriculum)
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Moving on to Perfection- Jan. 13, 2013
Several weeks ago Rev. Welch talked to us about "Way of Salvation" and he mentioned Wesley's 3 general rules: 1. Do no harm; 2. Do good, and 3. Attend to the ordainances of God or in other words, love God. He also mentioned that we should strive or move on to perfection which is a belief that Wesley emphasized in his sermons. John Wesley believed that we move toward a perfect faith, a perfect love. Wesley insisted that "a believer daily grows in grace, comes nearer and nearer to perfection, and that we ought to be continually pressing after it and to exhort (encourage) all others so to do." In Philippians 3:12 Paul writes, "Not that I have already obtained all this or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me."
So how do we do this? How do we move on to perfection, or a perfect love. The way to consistent Christian living and true holiness has remained the same (Ellsworth Kalas, Being United Methodist): Wesley's 3rd general rule-- attending to the ordainances of God-- prayer, worship, studying the Bible, celebrating communion, and serving others.
But doing these things are hard, right? Why? Besides being something we have to make time for or something we have to remember to do, Kalas says that he would argue that the hardest part about attending to the ordainances of God is doing it in the right spirit. Doing these because we want to advance ourselves is the wrong way and we'll miss the mark. Doing them to please and glorify God and to bless others is doing them in the right spirit. If we can think of praying, studying the Bible and praising God daily because He loves us and calls us to be in relationship with Him, doing these things would somehow be easier to do. Starting each day by renewing our day for the Lord would help us to do those things to be in relationship with Him.
True Holiness = Pure Love (love of God and love of others)
Matthew 5: 43-48 describes God's perfect love-- loving the good and the evil, sending rain and sun for both, and asking what is the reward to love those who love you? Verse 48 says: "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." Loving those that aren't nice to us, who are different than us, who you may think look weird or act weird is not easy. But it's what Christ describes as "pure perfect love" and it's the love that He wants us to have and show. Everyday we need a new commitment to a Godly life and renewed love for God and others. Everyday you have to "put on love". 1 John 4: 18-21 says that there is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear... the one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us. If anyone says , "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. In Ephesians 5:1-2 Paul tells us, " Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Philippians 3:12-- we're not perfect yet, but we should take hold of that which Christ has taken hold of us and keeps pursing us daily. Who wants to be imperfect, when Christ's goal is for us to be perfect? Remember our new verse (the one you should memorize): John 13: 34-35- "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
So how do we do this? How do we move on to perfection, or a perfect love. The way to consistent Christian living and true holiness has remained the same (Ellsworth Kalas, Being United Methodist): Wesley's 3rd general rule-- attending to the ordainances of God-- prayer, worship, studying the Bible, celebrating communion, and serving others.
But doing these things are hard, right? Why? Besides being something we have to make time for or something we have to remember to do, Kalas says that he would argue that the hardest part about attending to the ordainances of God is doing it in the right spirit. Doing these because we want to advance ourselves is the wrong way and we'll miss the mark. Doing them to please and glorify God and to bless others is doing them in the right spirit. If we can think of praying, studying the Bible and praising God daily because He loves us and calls us to be in relationship with Him, doing these things would somehow be easier to do. Starting each day by renewing our day for the Lord would help us to do those things to be in relationship with Him.
True Holiness = Pure Love (love of God and love of others)
Matthew 5: 43-48 describes God's perfect love-- loving the good and the evil, sending rain and sun for both, and asking what is the reward to love those who love you? Verse 48 says: "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." Loving those that aren't nice to us, who are different than us, who you may think look weird or act weird is not easy. But it's what Christ describes as "pure perfect love" and it's the love that He wants us to have and show. Everyday we need a new commitment to a Godly life and renewed love for God and others. Everyday you have to "put on love". 1 John 4: 18-21 says that there is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear... the one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us. If anyone says , "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. In Ephesians 5:1-2 Paul tells us, " Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Philippians 3:12-- we're not perfect yet, but we should take hold of that which Christ has taken hold of us and keeps pursing us daily. Who wants to be imperfect, when Christ's goal is for us to be perfect? Remember our new verse (the one you should memorize): John 13: 34-35- "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Worship- Jan. 6, 2013
If someone asked you what "worship" is what would you say?
The dictionary meaning says, "Worship is reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power-also an act of expressing such reverence - or a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual - extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem."
For those who worship the Lord, it is honoring God through our words, our prayers, our songs and our actions. It is recognizing that we can have an encounter with the living God.
People have worshiped God since the beginning of time. Cain and Abel brought to the Lord their best. Abraham built an altar to the Lord; Jacob set up stones to mark the place where he had an encounter with God; the Hebrews built a tabernacle for a place to worship the Lord; Solomon built a Temple; people gathered to honor and adore the One who had saved them from their enemies, the One who sustained them in times of trial and tribulation, the One who knew them intimately.
Jesus worshipped at a synagogue - a place where the people gathered to hear the Word read and proclaimed and offered their prayers and sang hymns or psalms of praise.
In the Christian community, worship is something we do together to honor and show our devotion to Christ.
Worship, or "The Service" means the work of the people. We are not suppose to be spectators or a passive audience in worship, but instead, we gather to collectively realize the presence of God in Christ, and to respond together in adoration, in sung praises, in prayer, hearing His Word, and in the dedication of our lives. Worship is the Christian community concentrating on God so that God's presence may overflow into the activities of our lives in the entire week to come.
What does our worship look like?
Our worship service is basically built around the form represented in the worship experience of Isaiah found in Isaiah 6: 1-8. In the scripture, seraphs are gathered around the Lord, singing praises, a person confessing their sin, an assurance of pardon, the Word of the Lord spoken, and a response to the Word. In our worship services we have many of these same elements: the Gathering, Praise, Adoration & Thanksgiving, Confession, Assurance of Forgiveness, Hearing the Word (anthem, Scripture, sermon), Responding to the Word, Going forth into the world to spread the Gospel. Special parts of the service are Holy Communion and Baptism.
The way that the church is laid out and the items in that place are very important for it's people to experience the story of God as known in Jesus. In the Old Testament Moses is given instructions by the Lord for the layout of the place of worship. The altar is a place of offereng to ask God to forgive sins. The altar represents the grace that Christ offers to us through the sacrament of Holy Communion. Candles remind us of Christ who is the Light of the World and the Holy Spirit whom we ask to join us in our worship. The empty cross in our church reminds us of the resurrection of Christ and His victory over sin and death. The pulpit is the place where the Word is proclaimed. The baptismal font is the basin of water used in baptism. The communion rail is the place to kneel before the Lord showing humility and honoring God. The paraments are the colorful cloths on the altar and serve to remind us of what we are celebrating and observing in worship. These paraments center around the Liturgical year, which tells the story of our faith year after year and helps to structure our worship.
The Liturgical year is as follows:
-Advent- Prepare for Christ; 4 weeks before Christmas Day; color is purple
-Christmas- Celebrate Christ's birth; 12 days; color is white
-Ephiphany- Celebrate Christ's divinity and we learn about Jesus; Until Ash Wednesday; color is green
-Lent- A time to think about our lives and Jesus; 40 days, not counting Sundays, before Easter; color is purple
-Easter- Celebration of Christ's resurrection; 50 days; color is white
-Pentecost- Remember the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Christian church; longest season; color is red
-Ordinary Time- time to reflect upon doing the work of God's Kingdom and to grow spiritually; lasts until November; color is green
Thank you Rev. Tefteller for this informative lesson.
The dictionary meaning says, "Worship is reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power-also an act of expressing such reverence - or a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual - extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem."
For those who worship the Lord, it is honoring God through our words, our prayers, our songs and our actions. It is recognizing that we can have an encounter with the living God.
People have worshiped God since the beginning of time. Cain and Abel brought to the Lord their best. Abraham built an altar to the Lord; Jacob set up stones to mark the place where he had an encounter with God; the Hebrews built a tabernacle for a place to worship the Lord; Solomon built a Temple; people gathered to honor and adore the One who had saved them from their enemies, the One who sustained them in times of trial and tribulation, the One who knew them intimately.
Jesus worshipped at a synagogue - a place where the people gathered to hear the Word read and proclaimed and offered their prayers and sang hymns or psalms of praise.
In the Christian community, worship is something we do together to honor and show our devotion to Christ.
Worship, or "The Service" means the work of the people. We are not suppose to be spectators or a passive audience in worship, but instead, we gather to collectively realize the presence of God in Christ, and to respond together in adoration, in sung praises, in prayer, hearing His Word, and in the dedication of our lives. Worship is the Christian community concentrating on God so that God's presence may overflow into the activities of our lives in the entire week to come.
What does our worship look like?
Our worship service is basically built around the form represented in the worship experience of Isaiah found in Isaiah 6: 1-8. In the scripture, seraphs are gathered around the Lord, singing praises, a person confessing their sin, an assurance of pardon, the Word of the Lord spoken, and a response to the Word. In our worship services we have many of these same elements: the Gathering, Praise, Adoration & Thanksgiving, Confession, Assurance of Forgiveness, Hearing the Word (anthem, Scripture, sermon), Responding to the Word, Going forth into the world to spread the Gospel. Special parts of the service are Holy Communion and Baptism.
The way that the church is laid out and the items in that place are very important for it's people to experience the story of God as known in Jesus. In the Old Testament Moses is given instructions by the Lord for the layout of the place of worship. The altar is a place of offereng to ask God to forgive sins. The altar represents the grace that Christ offers to us through the sacrament of Holy Communion. Candles remind us of Christ who is the Light of the World and the Holy Spirit whom we ask to join us in our worship. The empty cross in our church reminds us of the resurrection of Christ and His victory over sin and death. The pulpit is the place where the Word is proclaimed. The baptismal font is the basin of water used in baptism. The communion rail is the place to kneel before the Lord showing humility and honoring God. The paraments are the colorful cloths on the altar and serve to remind us of what we are celebrating and observing in worship. These paraments center around the Liturgical year, which tells the story of our faith year after year and helps to structure our worship.
The Liturgical year is as follows:
-Advent- Prepare for Christ; 4 weeks before Christmas Day; color is purple
-Christmas- Celebrate Christ's birth; 12 days; color is white
-Ephiphany- Celebrate Christ's divinity and we learn about Jesus; Until Ash Wednesday; color is green
-Lent- A time to think about our lives and Jesus; 40 days, not counting Sundays, before Easter; color is purple
-Easter- Celebration of Christ's resurrection; 50 days; color is white
-Pentecost- Remember the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Christian church; longest season; color is red
-Ordinary Time- time to reflect upon doing the work of God's Kingdom and to grow spiritually; lasts until November; color is green
Thank you Rev. Tefteller for this informative lesson.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Way of Salvation - Dec. 9, 2012
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).
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).
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.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
New Creation- November 18, 2012
8th grade student, Tyler O'Shea, gave our lesson on Sunday on "New Creation". Tyler reviewed the "fall" in Genesis 3 and talked about how sin separated us from God and also caused all of us to be born with a sinful nature. So before Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, we were created to live as Holy creatures with God in a perfect place.
Tyler then directed us to Hebrews 2:10 which says, "In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering." Tyler spoke about how Jesus had to suffer to bring things back to the way God intended for them to be in the beginning.
He went on to show us in Galatians 2:20-21 that Paul writes to the church in Galatia saying, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing."
In these scripture lessons and through a diagram that Tyler drew for us, we learned that we were meant to be Holy but because of the fall became separated from God and became Unholy. So to get us back to Holy (Heaven), we need a bridge and this bridge is Jesus dying on the cross and being raised to life. By accepting Christ and the salvation He gives us, we can cross that bridge. Nothing that we do, no right behavior (living by the law) can bridge the gap that was created by sin. Only accepting Christ and his sacrifice for us will provide us with that bridge.
Three questions that Tyler asked:
1. What does the fall mean for us today?
2. How are we saved from the Human sin of the fall?
3. What does it mean to be a new creation?
Tyler then directed us to Hebrews 2:10 which says, "In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering." Tyler spoke about how Jesus had to suffer to bring things back to the way God intended for them to be in the beginning.
He went on to show us in Galatians 2:20-21 that Paul writes to the church in Galatia saying, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing."
In these scripture lessons and through a diagram that Tyler drew for us, we learned that we were meant to be Holy but because of the fall became separated from God and became Unholy. So to get us back to Holy (Heaven), we need a bridge and this bridge is Jesus dying on the cross and being raised to life. By accepting Christ and the salvation He gives us, we can cross that bridge. Nothing that we do, no right behavior (living by the law) can bridge the gap that was created by sin. Only accepting Christ and his sacrifice for us will provide us with that bridge.
Three questions that Tyler asked:
1. What does the fall mean for us today?
2. How are we saved from the Human sin of the fall?
3. What does it mean to be a new creation?
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Church (cont'd)- November 11, 2012
The Bible says a lot about what it means to be a church. The Book of Acts was written by Luke and is the history of the early church. In Acts 9 we read about Saul's conversion to Paul, and after discussing the conversion of a man who was persecuting those who followed "the Way", we talked about how and what God used this same man to do to form the early church. (One student in class explained that the story of Saul's conversion is important because it shows us how God can use anyone to do anything He needs and that He can make us new. I love that this student said that because our next lesson will be on "New Creation".) In the books of Roman - 2 Thessolonians, Paul, the writer of these books, gives advice through his letters to specific churches about theology and how to live in communion with one another. In the books of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, Paul writes letters to give specific church leaders advice on caring for their congregation. He also writes about what kind of person should be pastoring and overseeing a congregation. We read 1 Timothy 3:1-7 as our scripture lesson on what exactly the Bible says in regard to those that oversee our congregation and for justification on those who are set apart to oversee.
Our church lesson continued with some brief discussion on a history of Kingwood United Methodist Church. KUMC was the 2nd church built in Kingwood. The church was started on Jan. 26th, 1972 with 6 couples in attendance and was called Trailwood Methodist Fellowship. They started by meeting in someone's home and did this until membership grew to 30 people. They then moved to Forest Cove Civic Center. On Nov. 26, 1972, KIMC had their charter service and 59 people joined on that Sunday. Jack Shelton became the first minister on Jan. 1, 1973 and remained at KUMC for 10 years. On July 21, 1974 we had a ground breaking ceremony for the original 8,000 square foot building which is now known as the gym. The first service was held in the new building on Dec. 31, 1974. The School for Little Children and Mother's Day Out started in 1975. 1976- 2nd building was proposed - Administration Building and completed in 1977. 1977- 2nd minister was hired as an associate - Wayne Middleton was hired to help grow the youth department. 1978- Church membership was almost 1,000 members and there was standing room only in the gym and every room was being used as a Sunday School room including the kitchen. 1979- ground breaking for the Sanctuary, G-building and E-building. All were completed in 1980. The first service in the sanctuary was held on July 13, 1980. 1979- the first music minister, Charles Tucker, was hired. 1981 - Society of St. Stephen was started and Wayne Middleton was replaced with Assoc. Minister and Christian Ed director, Don White. 2005- Renovation on the sanctuary to expand capacity and ground breaking for the K-building. Both were completed in 2006. Presently we have over 4,000 members, 7 buildings, 4 ordained pastors and a total church staff of 30 people not including the teachers of SLC.
So with a church this size, how many ministers do we have? How many people does it take to put a worship service together? After naming all the parts and details of the worship service such as ushers, the minister who preaches, acolytes, choir members, organist, greeters, and many others not mentioned, we concluded that it takes more than just the church staff to do all the different things to run the church and church services. All of us are called to minister. All of us are the church and are called to do the work of the church.
Table Groups:
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
How does this passage relate to our discussion about the people involved in planning worship and the other ministries of the church?
Our church lesson continued with some brief discussion on a history of Kingwood United Methodist Church. KUMC was the 2nd church built in Kingwood. The church was started on Jan. 26th, 1972 with 6 couples in attendance and was called Trailwood Methodist Fellowship. They started by meeting in someone's home and did this until membership grew to 30 people. They then moved to Forest Cove Civic Center. On Nov. 26, 1972, KIMC had their charter service and 59 people joined on that Sunday. Jack Shelton became the first minister on Jan. 1, 1973 and remained at KUMC for 10 years. On July 21, 1974 we had a ground breaking ceremony for the original 8,000 square foot building which is now known as the gym. The first service was held in the new building on Dec. 31, 1974. The School for Little Children and Mother's Day Out started in 1975. 1976- 2nd building was proposed - Administration Building and completed in 1977. 1977- 2nd minister was hired as an associate - Wayne Middleton was hired to help grow the youth department. 1978- Church membership was almost 1,000 members and there was standing room only in the gym and every room was being used as a Sunday School room including the kitchen. 1979- ground breaking for the Sanctuary, G-building and E-building. All were completed in 1980. The first service in the sanctuary was held on July 13, 1980. 1979- the first music minister, Charles Tucker, was hired. 1981 - Society of St. Stephen was started and Wayne Middleton was replaced with Assoc. Minister and Christian Ed director, Don White. 2005- Renovation on the sanctuary to expand capacity and ground breaking for the K-building. Both were completed in 2006. Presently we have over 4,000 members, 7 buildings, 4 ordained pastors and a total church staff of 30 people not including the teachers of SLC.
So with a church this size, how many ministers do we have? How many people does it take to put a worship service together? After naming all the parts and details of the worship service such as ushers, the minister who preaches, acolytes, choir members, organist, greeters, and many others not mentioned, we concluded that it takes more than just the church staff to do all the different things to run the church and church services. All of us are called to minister. All of us are the church and are called to do the work of the church.
Table Groups:
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
How does this passage relate to our discussion about the people involved in planning worship and the other ministries of the church?
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Church- November 4, 2012
We reviewed some of the things that happened at the Synagogue when the class went to Temple Beth Torah on Oct. 26th. Students said things like you read backwards from the hymn book, men wore small hats called yammica, they read in Hebrew not English, and the Torah is the first 5 books of the Bible. I asked what similarities they noticed in the service compared to our service. Some of the answers included: they worship God, they sing hymns, they read from the Old Testament. When I asked what the difference was the class responded that Jesus was the difference.
How rapidly did the early church grow? Acts 1:15- there were 120 persons; Acts 2:41- 3,000 persons were added; Acts 4:4- the number of men grew to 5,000.
In last week's lesson Matt Stone explained how after the resurrection some Jews converted to Christianity. But even in the early church people disagreed about how one needed to worship. The Jewish Christians felt that the Gentiles needed to be Jewish before they could be Christian. The Jews were caught up in the ways of the law and the Gentiles knew only that Jesus had died to free them from sin. This began the splitting of the church.
The splitting of the church kind of resembles a tree--the roots and trunk of the tree being the Early Church represented in Acts. The first split in the tree shows the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Orthodox church in the East. In the East small branches that arose from the Orthodox church were associated with specific countries such as the Greek Orthodox church, the Russian, and the Armenian Churches. In the West, a German Monk named Martin Luther called for reform of the Roman Catholic Church by posting his "95 Theses" or complaints on the door of the church. Luther felt like the church had so much emphasis on church tradition that it had distorted the truth of Scripture. This led to the Protestant Reformation which resulted in forming churches such as Lutheran, Calvinist (Reformed and Presbyterian), and Anabaptist (Mennonites and Amish).
Again, because the church is made up of imperfect people, the church split in England. King Henry VIII was a Roman Catholic who wanted a divorce from his wife and when it would not be granted by the Pope, he started the Church of England. Despite its controversial beginnings, the Church of England became an important denomination in England and in the United States. In the U.S. the Church of England is known as the Episcopal Church.
John Wesley, a minister in the Church of England, set out to reform the church. He emphasized God's grace, personal holiness, and social responsibility. Those who followed Wesley's method of holy living earned the nickname, Methodists. When the Church of England stopped sending clergy to the Americas during the Revolutionary War, Wesley ordained Thomas Coke as the first United States Methodist superintendent. Coke then ordained Francis Asbury and the two were the first bishops of the newly formed Methodist Episcopal Church.
How rapidly did the early church grow? Acts 1:15- there were 120 persons; Acts 2:41- 3,000 persons were added; Acts 4:4- the number of men grew to 5,000.
In last week's lesson Matt Stone explained how after the resurrection some Jews converted to Christianity. But even in the early church people disagreed about how one needed to worship. The Jewish Christians felt that the Gentiles needed to be Jewish before they could be Christian. The Jews were caught up in the ways of the law and the Gentiles knew only that Jesus had died to free them from sin. This began the splitting of the church.
The splitting of the church kind of resembles a tree--the roots and trunk of the tree being the Early Church represented in Acts. The first split in the tree shows the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Orthodox church in the East. In the East small branches that arose from the Orthodox church were associated with specific countries such as the Greek Orthodox church, the Russian, and the Armenian Churches. In the West, a German Monk named Martin Luther called for reform of the Roman Catholic Church by posting his "95 Theses" or complaints on the door of the church. Luther felt like the church had so much emphasis on church tradition that it had distorted the truth of Scripture. This led to the Protestant Reformation which resulted in forming churches such as Lutheran, Calvinist (Reformed and Presbyterian), and Anabaptist (Mennonites and Amish).
Again, because the church is made up of imperfect people, the church split in England. King Henry VIII was a Roman Catholic who wanted a divorce from his wife and when it would not be granted by the Pope, he started the Church of England. Despite its controversial beginnings, the Church of England became an important denomination in England and in the United States. In the U.S. the Church of England is known as the Episcopal Church.
John Wesley, a minister in the Church of England, set out to reform the church. He emphasized God's grace, personal holiness, and social responsibility. Those who followed Wesley's method of holy living earned the nickname, Methodists. When the Church of England stopped sending clergy to the Americas during the Revolutionary War, Wesley ordained Thomas Coke as the first United States Methodist superintendent. Coke then ordained Francis Asbury and the two were the first bishops of the newly formed Methodist Episcopal Church.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Church - October 28, 2012
Pastor Matt Stone spoke to the Confirmation class on Sunday about "Church". This was the first lesson of two on how we define "church" and the history of the church.
After having gone to the synagogue on Friday, Pastor Stone talked about what the difference between the Jewish faith and our faith. The short answer is "Jesus". The main difference between the Christian faith and the Jewish faith is "Jesus"- who he was, what he did, and what we believe about him.
Pastor Stone talked about how the church was formed from Jews and Gentiles by doing a demonstration. 1/3 of the class represented the Jews and the rest of the class the Gentiles. Then a few from the Jewish representation were separated out to demonstrate those who accepted Christ and became Christian and some from the Gentile group were pulled out to represent the Gentiles that became Christian. This Christian group was the representation of who the early church was.
What is Church? Possible definitions might include:
~"A group of people who love God and come together to worship, learn about God, and serve God's people."
~"A congregation or body of people, united together in the service of God."
Paul describes the church as the body of Christ. Each member of the church is a part of the body.
The Bible has a lot to say about what it means to be a church. The Acts of the Apostles gives the history of the early church, from its beginnings in Jerusalem to its spread throughout the Roman Empire. Paul's general letters (Romans through 2 Thessalonians) contain advice to specific churches about theology (salvation, who Christ is, and so forth) and how to live in communion with one another. 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus (Pastoral Epistles) give advice to specific church leaders about caring for their congregations. Revelation 2 and 3 contain messages to seven specific churches in Asia Minor.
One of the best descriptions of what it means to be the church appears in Acts 2: 43-47. We also read in Matthew 28:19 what Christ describes as the mission of the church, "Go and make disciples."
After having gone to the synagogue on Friday, Pastor Stone talked about what the difference between the Jewish faith and our faith. The short answer is "Jesus". The main difference between the Christian faith and the Jewish faith is "Jesus"- who he was, what he did, and what we believe about him.
Pastor Stone talked about how the church was formed from Jews and Gentiles by doing a demonstration. 1/3 of the class represented the Jews and the rest of the class the Gentiles. Then a few from the Jewish representation were separated out to demonstrate those who accepted Christ and became Christian and some from the Gentile group were pulled out to represent the Gentiles that became Christian. This Christian group was the representation of who the early church was.
What is Church? Possible definitions might include:
~"A group of people who love God and come together to worship, learn about God, and serve God's people."
~"A congregation or body of people, united together in the service of God."
Paul describes the church as the body of Christ. Each member of the church is a part of the body.
The Bible has a lot to say about what it means to be a church. The Acts of the Apostles gives the history of the early church, from its beginnings in Jerusalem to its spread throughout the Roman Empire. Paul's general letters (Romans through 2 Thessalonians) contain advice to specific churches about theology (salvation, who Christ is, and so forth) and how to live in communion with one another. 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus (Pastoral Epistles) give advice to specific church leaders about caring for their congregations. Revelation 2 and 3 contain messages to seven specific churches in Asia Minor.
One of the best descriptions of what it means to be the church appears in Acts 2: 43-47. We also read in Matthew 28:19 what Christ describes as the mission of the church, "Go and make disciples."
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Holy Spirit 2 - Oct. 21, 2012
The Holy Spirit is presented in 3 different images throughout scripture: Wind, Breath and Fire
The Holy Spirit is our sustainer. In someone's description of who the Holy Spirit is to them this was stated: "Jesus was at one time here on Earth as a human, living and communicating face to face with people. Now he is in Heaven so to communicate and help us he sent his spirit to live in us and keep us close to him."
In John 14: 15-17 we read: "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." And in John 14: 25-27: "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Billy Graham is quoted as saying, "The world can argue against Christianity as an institution, but there is no convincing argument against a person who has been made Christlike." When we accept Jesus and grow closer to him, He changes us for the better. The Holy Spirit comes into our lives and begins to grow his fruit in us. (Read Galatians 5: 22-26) When our lives start to exhibit these characteristics, people can't help but notice the difference in us.
1 Corinthians 12: 1-11 - talks about Spiritual gifts and that the Holy Spirit gives each of us different kinds of gifts. We will go more into these Spiritual gifts as the year goes on and will even take a Spiritual Gifts Inventory that will help each student identify what gifts they have.
In table group time, groups examined the Galatians 5: 22-26 scripture again and answered the following questions:
~ Where have you been aware of God's presence this week?
~ How has the Holy Spirit worked in your life this week?
~ What fruit of the Spirit would you like to see increase in your life?
~
The Holy Spirit is our sustainer. In someone's description of who the Holy Spirit is to them this was stated: "Jesus was at one time here on Earth as a human, living and communicating face to face with people. Now he is in Heaven so to communicate and help us he sent his spirit to live in us and keep us close to him."
In John 14: 15-17 we read: "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." And in John 14: 25-27: "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Billy Graham is quoted as saying, "The world can argue against Christianity as an institution, but there is no convincing argument against a person who has been made Christlike." When we accept Jesus and grow closer to him, He changes us for the better. The Holy Spirit comes into our lives and begins to grow his fruit in us. (Read Galatians 5: 22-26) When our lives start to exhibit these characteristics, people can't help but notice the difference in us.
1 Corinthians 12: 1-11 - talks about Spiritual gifts and that the Holy Spirit gives each of us different kinds of gifts. We will go more into these Spiritual gifts as the year goes on and will even take a Spiritual Gifts Inventory that will help each student identify what gifts they have.
In table group time, groups examined the Galatians 5: 22-26 scripture again and answered the following questions:
~ Where have you been aware of God's presence this week?
~ How has the Holy Spirit worked in your life this week?
~ What fruit of the Spirit would you like to see increase in your life?
~
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Holy Spirit - Oct. 14, 2012
Rev. Judy Tefteller was our guest speaker today and taught the lesson on the Holy Spirit.
We've learned about God as Father and Creator, God as Son and redeemer through Jesus Christ and today we will talk about God as Holy Spirit and sustainer.
We can't see God but God is always present with us and within creation. God is not a physical object or person that can be located in time and space right now (he was in Jesus when he walked on the Earth, but not right now). God is more than even the universe. He is beyond time and space. He is Spirit. Throughout the Bible people have experienced God as Spirit. In Genesis 1:2 (Now the Earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.) the Holy Spirit is present and involved in the creation of the universe.
Judy told us at her lake house on of her favorite things to do is sit on her porch and watch the trees blow in the wind. She doesn't actually see the wind but she sees the trees moving which is witness to the wind blowing. The Holy Spirit is like the wind-- you can't see it but you know that it is real by the effect it has on other things. The Spirit moves like the wind. Jesus talked about this in John 3:8- "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." One image then that we have of the Holy Spirit is wind. The Holy Spirit is also known as the Breath of God. The Hebrew word for breath is ruach which also means wind. In Genesis 2:7 it says: "the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Breath is a special kind of wind; it gives life. When we stop breathing our life here on Earth is gone. God breathed into each of us the breath of life, and breathed into us his Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is known as wind, as the breath of God and one other image-- Fire. The flame of a candle is real, has great power but no substance, no mass, no weight, yet it is still very real. After Jesus' death and resurrection the Holy Spirit appeared to the disciples as tongues of fire. In Acts 2:1-4 we read: .... Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a vviolent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. The saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." Wind, breath and fire-- all images for the Holy Spirit-- ways to help us understand One who comes in various ways.
The Holy Spirit was involved in Creation and also involved in people's lives throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came to particular people at particular times for particular tasks to give power to do something for God. Look at Exodus 31:1-5 and Judges 15:14-15 for two examples of this. We also see in Ezekiel 36:26-27 that God promises that the Holy Spirit will come to all people. In several passages in the New Testament we see how the Holy Spirit was very active. See Luke 3:16, Luke 3:22, and Luke 4:1. We also see in the Bible how the Holy Spirit worked through the Disciples and Paul to tell people about Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is God with us, to guide, counsel, give courage and hope, to give us faith, to empower us to do great things for God, to comfort us and to correct us when we have sinned.
We've learned about God as Father and Creator, God as Son and redeemer through Jesus Christ and today we will talk about God as Holy Spirit and sustainer.
We can't see God but God is always present with us and within creation. God is not a physical object or person that can be located in time and space right now (he was in Jesus when he walked on the Earth, but not right now). God is more than even the universe. He is beyond time and space. He is Spirit. Throughout the Bible people have experienced God as Spirit. In Genesis 1:2 (Now the Earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.) the Holy Spirit is present and involved in the creation of the universe.
Judy told us at her lake house on of her favorite things to do is sit on her porch and watch the trees blow in the wind. She doesn't actually see the wind but she sees the trees moving which is witness to the wind blowing. The Holy Spirit is like the wind-- you can't see it but you know that it is real by the effect it has on other things. The Spirit moves like the wind. Jesus talked about this in John 3:8- "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." One image then that we have of the Holy Spirit is wind. The Holy Spirit is also known as the Breath of God. The Hebrew word for breath is ruach which also means wind. In Genesis 2:7 it says: "the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Breath is a special kind of wind; it gives life. When we stop breathing our life here on Earth is gone. God breathed into each of us the breath of life, and breathed into us his Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is known as wind, as the breath of God and one other image-- Fire. The flame of a candle is real, has great power but no substance, no mass, no weight, yet it is still very real. After Jesus' death and resurrection the Holy Spirit appeared to the disciples as tongues of fire. In Acts 2:1-4 we read: .... Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a vviolent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. The saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." Wind, breath and fire-- all images for the Holy Spirit-- ways to help us understand One who comes in various ways.
The Holy Spirit was involved in Creation and also involved in people's lives throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came to particular people at particular times for particular tasks to give power to do something for God. Look at Exodus 31:1-5 and Judges 15:14-15 for two examples of this. We also see in Ezekiel 36:26-27 that God promises that the Holy Spirit will come to all people. In several passages in the New Testament we see how the Holy Spirit was very active. See Luke 3:16, Luke 3:22, and Luke 4:1. We also see in the Bible how the Holy Spirit worked through the Disciples and Paul to tell people about Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is God with us, to guide, counsel, give courage and hope, to give us faith, to empower us to do great things for God, to comfort us and to correct us when we have sinned.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Redemption 2: October 7, 2012
Who is our Redeemer? Jesus
John 3:16 - Who is familiar with this verse? Everyone raised their hand and then we had one boy who knew it from memory who recited it for us: " For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16 is one of the best known verses of the Bible, because it reminds us in one sentence of the salvation we have in Christ. But who knows what John 3:17 says? No one raised their hand. John 3:17 is not as well known but equally important. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." These two verses together demonstrate that, despite our sin, God doesn't give up on us. God wants to redeem each of us and all creation; and God sent Jesus Christ to make that possible. Romans 3:23 reminds us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." So we know that all need redemption, a Savior.
How many have ever had a broken item that needed to be fixed? When we fix the item, will it be as good as it was before it was broken? Will it be better than it was before it was broken? How does God, through Christ, fix us?
In Table Group time, the students read and talked about the following Scripture:
Romans 5: 6-9
Romans 5: 12-15, 18-19
Romans 6: 1-11
Phillipians 2: 5-11
1 Peter 2: 24
Groups were asked to answer the following questions about the Scripture- What does this Scripture tell you about Christ, how Christ is our redeemer, and how Christ atones, or makes amends, for our sins?
Redemption in the United Methodist Church:
Article VIII - Reconciliation through Christ from the "Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church" - We believe God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. The offering Christ freely made on the cross is the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, redeeming man from all sin, so that no other satisfaction is required.
This statement affirms that our belief is that Christ is our redeemer and that Christ is capable of atoning for the sins of the entire world.
What does it mean that Christ's sacrifice is perfect and sufficient? How can this statement give us hope and comfort when we struggle with sin?
John 3:16 - Who is familiar with this verse? Everyone raised their hand and then we had one boy who knew it from memory who recited it for us: " For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16 is one of the best known verses of the Bible, because it reminds us in one sentence of the salvation we have in Christ. But who knows what John 3:17 says? No one raised their hand. John 3:17 is not as well known but equally important. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." These two verses together demonstrate that, despite our sin, God doesn't give up on us. God wants to redeem each of us and all creation; and God sent Jesus Christ to make that possible. Romans 3:23 reminds us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." So we know that all need redemption, a Savior.
How many have ever had a broken item that needed to be fixed? When we fix the item, will it be as good as it was before it was broken? Will it be better than it was before it was broken? How does God, through Christ, fix us?
In Table Group time, the students read and talked about the following Scripture:
Romans 5: 6-9
Romans 5: 12-15, 18-19
Romans 6: 1-11
Phillipians 2: 5-11
1 Peter 2: 24
Groups were asked to answer the following questions about the Scripture- What does this Scripture tell you about Christ, how Christ is our redeemer, and how Christ atones, or makes amends, for our sins?
Redemption in the United Methodist Church:
Article VIII - Reconciliation through Christ from the "Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church" - We believe God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. The offering Christ freely made on the cross is the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, redeeming man from all sin, so that no other satisfaction is required.
This statement affirms that our belief is that Christ is our redeemer and that Christ is capable of atoning for the sins of the entire world.
What does it mean that Christ's sacrifice is perfect and sufficient? How can this statement give us hope and comfort when we struggle with sin?
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Redemption - Sept. 30, 2012
Luke 5:27-32-
The story of Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, and Jesus was questioned by Pharisees and teachers of the law about why is he eating with these people. Jesus answers, "it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." We talked about this passage to refer back to last week's lesson on sin being a sickness.
So the first question was asked: Who are the sinners? Yes, Everyone of us.
Redemption-- what does it mean?
Leviticus 25:47-49- (We first talked about the book of Leviticus -- it's a book about laws, how to worship,and how to make sacrifices)
In Biblical times, redemption was often associated with slavery. So in these verses we see that in ancient cultures, selling oneself into slavery was a way to pay off a debt or having one's debt paid off by someone else and being released as a slave. In other words, being redeemed.
Romans 7:14-20 -
This passage of scripture talks about doing what we don't want to do and being a slave to sin. What does it mean to be a slave to sin? We keep sinning and can't break free from it.
Romans 8:1-8 -
How can we be freed from slavery to sin? We are redeemed by Christ who was our sin offering. When we live connected to Christ, living by focusing on God, trusting in his grace, trust in God's spirit living in you-- this frees us from the grip of sin.
So the meaning of redemption- the state of being redeemed; deliverance from sin through the life, death and resurrection of Christ.
The story of Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, and Jesus was questioned by Pharisees and teachers of the law about why is he eating with these people. Jesus answers, "it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." We talked about this passage to refer back to last week's lesson on sin being a sickness.
So the first question was asked: Who are the sinners? Yes, Everyone of us.
Redemption-- what does it mean?
Leviticus 25:47-49- (We first talked about the book of Leviticus -- it's a book about laws, how to worship,and how to make sacrifices)
In Biblical times, redemption was often associated with slavery. So in these verses we see that in ancient cultures, selling oneself into slavery was a way to pay off a debt or having one's debt paid off by someone else and being released as a slave. In other words, being redeemed.
Romans 7:14-20 -
This passage of scripture talks about doing what we don't want to do and being a slave to sin. What does it mean to be a slave to sin? We keep sinning and can't break free from it.
Romans 8:1-8 -
How can we be freed from slavery to sin? We are redeemed by Christ who was our sin offering. When we live connected to Christ, living by focusing on God, trusting in his grace, trust in God's spirit living in you-- this frees us from the grip of sin.
So the meaning of redemption- the state of being redeemed; deliverance from sin through the life, death and resurrection of Christ.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Sin - Sept. 23, 2012
Our lesson on Sin started with the reading from Genesis 3, the story of the "Fall of Man".
What is Sin? Students had the chance to answer and then also talk about the difference between sins and Sin like cancer and the symptoms of cancer. We do sins because we are infected with Sin. Only grace througn Christ can get rid of the "cancer" (sin). We still do sinful things but now we have the power through the Holy Spirit to start being returned to the image of God we were originally created to be.
Who in the Bible and other faithful people have sinned?
Moses - murdered an Egyptian but was still called to do great things for God (Exodus 2 & 3).
David - was an adulterer but was still one of God's most faithful servants (2 Samuel 11)
Peter - denied Jesus but was one of his most faithful disciples (Luke 22: 54-62)
Paul - persecuted Christians but God called him to spread the gospel (Acts 9)
John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church - banded a girl that he was in love with from taking communion when she married another man but he still went on to be the founder of Methodism.
Besides looking at individuals who sinned, corporate sin (which is groups of people or communities who can be guilty of sin) was addressed. The book of Jonah talks about the city of Nineveh as being a "wicked city" who's wickedness has come up before God (Jonah 1:2). * In Amos 5:21-27, God scolds the nation of Israel for injustice and idolatry. In Paul's letters to the churches, he holds Christian communities accountable for their behavior. The United Methodist Church has a history of focusing on both personal and corporate sins. We challenge individuals to be disciplined and avoid "doing harm" which is the first of John Wesley's General Rules, and hold the church to a standard of justice.
Sin distorts God's image in us. Grace through Christ restores the image.
*Credo Curriculum
What is Sin? Students had the chance to answer and then also talk about the difference between sins and Sin like cancer and the symptoms of cancer. We do sins because we are infected with Sin. Only grace througn Christ can get rid of the "cancer" (sin). We still do sinful things but now we have the power through the Holy Spirit to start being returned to the image of God we were originally created to be.
Who in the Bible and other faithful people have sinned?
Moses - murdered an Egyptian but was still called to do great things for God (Exodus 2 & 3).
David - was an adulterer but was still one of God's most faithful servants (2 Samuel 11)
Peter - denied Jesus but was one of his most faithful disciples (Luke 22: 54-62)
Paul - persecuted Christians but God called him to spread the gospel (Acts 9)
John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church - banded a girl that he was in love with from taking communion when she married another man but he still went on to be the founder of Methodism.
Besides looking at individuals who sinned, corporate sin (which is groups of people or communities who can be guilty of sin) was addressed. The book of Jonah talks about the city of Nineveh as being a "wicked city" who's wickedness has come up before God (Jonah 1:2). * In Amos 5:21-27, God scolds the nation of Israel for injustice and idolatry. In Paul's letters to the churches, he holds Christian communities accountable for their behavior. The United Methodist Church has a history of focusing on both personal and corporate sins. We challenge individuals to be disciplined and avoid "doing harm" which is the first of John Wesley's General Rules, and hold the church to a standard of justice.
Sin distorts God's image in us. Grace through Christ restores the image.
*Credo Curriculum
Monday, September 17, 2012
Confirmation Retreat Weekend - Sept. 15-16
Our confirmation retreat was this past weekend and it will be pretty difficult to tell you in this small space everything we did and learned. But let me at least try to talk about our 3 lessons.
Lesson 1: Journeying Together-
Our scripture reading came from Luke 24: 13-32 -The Walk to Emmaus . We broke down the scripture and talked about how this story is similar to the journey that we are making together in Confirmation. Confirmation is also a journey and God is with us during this journey. I believe and pray that just as the disciples had their eyes opended and were able to see Jesus, our eyes will be opened to who Jesus is and how God works and is present in our lives. As part of this lesson we did a blind-folded trust walk and lifeline exercise where the students had to do three things- 1. Follow the lifeline wherever it leads you, no matter how difficult, 2. Whatever you do, do not let go of the lifeline, not even for a second, and 3. Be careful. There may be obstacles along the path that you could trip over or run into. The lifeline in the exercise represented our relationship with God, and the obstacles, things that may get in the way of that relationship.
Questions- What is an obstacle that may get in your way of having a relationship with God? What can disconnect us from God? What do we need to do to stay close to God?
Lesson 2: Covenant-
What is a covenant? A special promise or agreement. The Bible is divided into two covenants-- the Old Testament (the one God made with the Hebrew people) and the New Testament (the one God made with us through Jesus).
In the Old Testament making a covenant was literally cutting a covenant-- taking a special animal, cutting into two and walking through it while making a promise to God (Jeremiah 34:18). In Genesis 17 we read about the covenant that God makes with Abraham, one that establishes a long line of descendants from a man and his wife who should not have been able to have children because of how old they were.
God establishes a new covenant for all who believe. That new covenant is Jesus. He sends his son to the cross to die for the sins of all people. In Hebrews 8:12 it says, "for I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." By calling this covenant "new" he has made the first one obsolete and what is obsolete will soon disappear.
After this lesson, we spent time in small groups writing our covenant for the confirmation year. The students came up with some fabulous statements of commitment and it will be put together for them to review on Sunday.
Lesson 3: Faith-
Our Faith lesson came from Hebrews 11:1-3. We identified faith in 3 parts. The first part, trust, we identified as being built on events from past experiences. We build trust from having information of what has already happened or people who have already proven themselves. The second part, hope, we identified as being related to the future. We hope we get something for Christmas, we hope that someone gets well, and we hope we do well on a test. The last part, love, we identified as being related to the present. We love now. We show love now and receive love in the present. So "faith is being sure of what we hope for"; it's being able to trust that what we do not see is true and that God loves us enough to give us a hope of an everlasting life through the sacrifice of his son.
Lesson 1: Journeying Together-
Our scripture reading came from Luke 24: 13-32 -The Walk to Emmaus . We broke down the scripture and talked about how this story is similar to the journey that we are making together in Confirmation. Confirmation is also a journey and God is with us during this journey. I believe and pray that just as the disciples had their eyes opended and were able to see Jesus, our eyes will be opened to who Jesus is and how God works and is present in our lives. As part of this lesson we did a blind-folded trust walk and lifeline exercise where the students had to do three things- 1. Follow the lifeline wherever it leads you, no matter how difficult, 2. Whatever you do, do not let go of the lifeline, not even for a second, and 3. Be careful. There may be obstacles along the path that you could trip over or run into. The lifeline in the exercise represented our relationship with God, and the obstacles, things that may get in the way of that relationship.
Questions- What is an obstacle that may get in your way of having a relationship with God? What can disconnect us from God? What do we need to do to stay close to God?
Lesson 2: Covenant-
What is a covenant? A special promise or agreement. The Bible is divided into two covenants-- the Old Testament (the one God made with the Hebrew people) and the New Testament (the one God made with us through Jesus).
In the Old Testament making a covenant was literally cutting a covenant-- taking a special animal, cutting into two and walking through it while making a promise to God (Jeremiah 34:18). In Genesis 17 we read about the covenant that God makes with Abraham, one that establishes a long line of descendants from a man and his wife who should not have been able to have children because of how old they were.
God establishes a new covenant for all who believe. That new covenant is Jesus. He sends his son to the cross to die for the sins of all people. In Hebrews 8:12 it says, "for I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." By calling this covenant "new" he has made the first one obsolete and what is obsolete will soon disappear.
After this lesson, we spent time in small groups writing our covenant for the confirmation year. The students came up with some fabulous statements of commitment and it will be put together for them to review on Sunday.
Lesson 3: Faith-
Our Faith lesson came from Hebrews 11:1-3. We identified faith in 3 parts. The first part, trust, we identified as being built on events from past experiences. We build trust from having information of what has already happened or people who have already proven themselves. The second part, hope, we identified as being related to the future. We hope we get something for Christmas, we hope that someone gets well, and we hope we do well on a test. The last part, love, we identified as being related to the present. We love now. We show love now and receive love in the present. So "faith is being sure of what we hope for"; it's being able to trust that what we do not see is true and that God loves us enough to give us a hope of an everlasting life through the sacrifice of his son.
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