Conflict with Judaism
1. Read Acts 3 and 5. From Acts 3,what, if anything is the significance of Peter and John going into the temple for the prayer service?
2. Why does Peter begin his speech with, “The God of Abraham and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our Fathers”?
3. From Acts 4:1-22, what was the charge that Peter and John were arrested on? Is this consistent with their interrogation the following day?
4. From Acts 5:17-24, what new element do you see entering into the arrest story in contrast to the one narrated in the previous chapter?
5. What was the reason behind the Sanhedrin’s decision to release them? From Acts 4:1-22.
6. What is the function of the Spirit in 5:32? How do you think the Holy Spirit fulfilled this function then? How does He today?
7. What statements made by Peter and other apostles could be interpreted as anti-Semitic? Since the apostles were Jewish themselves, how do you understand their attacks on “the Jews?”
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Seeds Planted in Us and by Us
June 14, 2009 -- Proper 7 -- God's work in us and through us is often like the planting of seeds. It often takes us awhile to realize what seeds have been planted within us. We may never know the seeds of God's love that we have planted in the lives of others.
MP3 File
MP3 File
The Community of God
June 7, 2009 -- Trinity Sunday -- God acts and we know God's acts in community. The idea of the Trinity -- the three expressions of God's presence and concern -- reveals the essential community of God's nature. When we share our experiences of God's involvement in our lives with the community, those experiences are strengthened and made even more true for us and for the community.
MP3 File
MP3 File
The Newborn Church
May 31, 2009 -- Pentecost -- The church was "born" on Pentecost. The people there didn't really know what would happen in the days and years ahead. The church we've received needs to be "reborn" in our time -- and we need to be as open to a new creation as those first people following in Jesus' Way.
MP3 File
MP3 File
Leaders Known and Unknown
May 24, 2009 -- Easter 7
Judas' replacement chosen -- Matthias
He was one of the first twelve leaders of the church, but we never hear about him again. Being a leader doesn't always mean one gets to be famous!
MP3 File
Judas' replacement chosen -- Matthias
He was one of the first twelve leaders of the church, but we never hear about him again. Being a leader doesn't always mean one gets to be famous!
MP3 File
Pentecost Group -- Bible Study 3
Read Acts 2.
This is Luke's account of the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples and the beginning of the church.
1. On the day of Pentecost, when the disciples were aware of the Holy Spirit, does the passage say there was an outward appearance of the Spirit? What do you think it was?
(Note: The day of Pentecost, which was 50 days after Passover for Jews, brought people together to honor God’s giving the ten commandments to Moses. The law defined the people’s relationship with God and with one another.)
2. Was the baptism of the Spirit for individuals or a body of believers?
3. What is meant by the gift of tongues? How can we understand that in our time?
(Read Genesis 11:1-9 [attached] and 1 Corinthians, Chapters 13-14. The Genesis reading tells us about being divided by different languages and the Corinthians passage talks about the gift of tongues in the early church.)
4. What does this passage tell us about the requirement for an apostle in the early church? How does this apply to us today?
5. What was Peter’s sermon on Pentecost about? Does this have anything to do with us?
6. How can the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives help us to understand each other?
This is Luke's account of the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples and the beginning of the church.
1. On the day of Pentecost, when the disciples were aware of the Holy Spirit, does the passage say there was an outward appearance of the Spirit? What do you think it was?
(Note: The day of Pentecost, which was 50 days after Passover for Jews, brought people together to honor God’s giving the ten commandments to Moses. The law defined the people’s relationship with God and with one another.)
2. Was the baptism of the Spirit for individuals or a body of believers?
3. What is meant by the gift of tongues? How can we understand that in our time?
(Read Genesis 11:1-9 [attached] and 1 Corinthians, Chapters 13-14. The Genesis reading tells us about being divided by different languages and the Corinthians passage talks about the gift of tongues in the early church.)
4. What does this passage tell us about the requirement for an apostle in the early church? How does this apply to us today?
5. What was Peter’s sermon on Pentecost about? Does this have anything to do with us?
6. How can the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives help us to understand each other?
Monday, June 08, 2009
Holy Spirit or Gremlin
Yesterday was wonderful, although it seemed as if our patron saint -- Confusion -- was in control.
First the cake had misspelled Cheryl's name. A little dental surgery from Dr. Gargiulo corrected that.
Then the Gospel reading wasn't quite marked.
The recorder to get the sermon was knocked over in both services.
Readings were done out of order at 10 a.m.
I know that most people missed most of the flubs, but it does require a bit of smoothing over. At least things are never dull.
First the cake had misspelled Cheryl's name. A little dental surgery from Dr. Gargiulo corrected that.
Then the Gospel reading wasn't quite marked.
The recorder to get the sermon was knocked over in both services.
Readings were done out of order at 10 a.m.
I know that most people missed most of the flubs, but it does require a bit of smoothing over. At least things are never dull.
Pentecost Group -- Bible Study 2
The Christian Community
1. From Acts 1:12-26, which talks about the first Christian community after Christ’s ascension, comment on the significance of those present.
2. What do you find of importance in the election of Mathias?
3. From Acts 2:42-46, describe life in the early Christian community. What does that say to us today?
4. From Acts 4:23-35, what was it the community prayed for and how did God respond?
5. What do you think Acts 14:23 tells us about the early organization of the Christian community (see also Acts 11:30)?
6. What do these readings add to your understanding of life as a Christian?
7. How does our community compare to the earliest community? Do we want to be more like them? How would we do that?
1. From Acts 1:12-26, which talks about the first Christian community after Christ’s ascension, comment on the significance of those present.
2. What do you find of importance in the election of Mathias?
3. From Acts 2:42-46, describe life in the early Christian community. What does that say to us today?
4. From Acts 4:23-35, what was it the community prayed for and how did God respond?
5. What do you think Acts 14:23 tells us about the early organization of the Christian community (see also Acts 11:30)?
6. What do these readings add to your understanding of life as a Christian?
7. How does our community compare to the earliest community? Do we want to be more like them? How would we do that?
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Pentecost Group -- Bible Study
We started our discussion of the Book of Acts. Here's the first lesson and questions. Other references and assistance will happen later.
Read Acts 1:1-12 (http://bible.oremus.org/)
Questions
1. What earlier work is referred to by the author in Acts 1:1? How do Jesus’ last instructions to the apostles seem to indicate this book is a completion of the first?
2. What do you find important about the apostles’ questions to Jesus in verse 6? How are they still somewhat confused as to the nature of the Kingdom?
3. Read Mark 16:14-20, Matthew 28:16-20, Luke 24:44-43, and John 20:16-23. What direction was given to the disciples by Jesus in each instance? Taking into account these passages, do you think his direction applies to the church today? How?
4. What do you think is the key verse in Acts 1:1-12? Why?
Next meeting is July 7. Lessons will be posted weekly.
Read Acts 1:1-12 (http://bible.oremus.org/)
Questions
1. What earlier work is referred to by the author in Acts 1:1? How do Jesus’ last instructions to the apostles seem to indicate this book is a completion of the first?
2. What do you find important about the apostles’ questions to Jesus in verse 6? How are they still somewhat confused as to the nature of the Kingdom?
3. Read Mark 16:14-20, Matthew 28:16-20, Luke 24:44-43, and John 20:16-23. What direction was given to the disciples by Jesus in each instance? Taking into account these passages, do you think his direction applies to the church today? How?
4. What do you think is the key verse in Acts 1:1-12? Why?
Next meeting is July 7. Lessons will be posted weekly.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Pentecost is coming! Will you notice?
Sunday is Pentecost, the traditional birthday of the church. It was the day the Holy Spirit allowed the original disciples to speak in "tongues" -- so that Jews from all over the nearby world could understand them. The disciples' excitement and willingness to share their faith brought in a reported 2,000 new Christians in one city on that day.
Our celebration of Pentecost is pretty low key these days. If enough people in the congregation wear red, it's about as much excitement as we can absorb. Of course, this year we're baptizing a young boy, so that's exciting.
The real challenge, it seems to me, is to say something that the "world," anyone not already in the church, can understand and finds important enough to change their lives. That's one reason I'm starting the "Pentecost Group" on Tuesday, June 2 -- to figure out how to speak to the world and what we Christians have to say to the world.
Our celebration of Pentecost is pretty low key these days. If enough people in the congregation wear red, it's about as much excitement as we can absorb. Of course, this year we're baptizing a young boy, so that's exciting.
The real challenge, it seems to me, is to say something that the "world," anyone not already in the church, can understand and finds important enough to change their lives. That's one reason I'm starting the "Pentecost Group" on Tuesday, June 2 -- to figure out how to speak to the world and what we Christians have to say to the world.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Angels with Strange Faces
May 17, 2009 Easter 6
The length of the sermon says something about how important I think the message is. Our words on Easter must be translated into actions later. The Holy Spirit calls us over and over to risk our comfortable, familiar community in order to share the good news of new life with those who seek and need it.
MP3 File
The length of the sermon says something about how important I think the message is. Our words on Easter must be translated into actions later. The Holy Spirit calls us over and over to risk our comfortable, familiar community in order to share the good news of new life with those who seek and need it.
MP3 File
Monday, May 11, 2009
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