A five-part DVD study of One Thousand Gifts, the best-selling book by Ann Voskamp
September 7 - Welcome and Introduction - Tabitha September 14 - Continued Welcome and Introduction - Tabitha September 21 - Continued Introduction - Tabitha September 28 - Continued Introduction - Tabitha October 5 - Attitude of Gratitude- Tabitha October 12 - Attitude of Gratitude - Tabitha October 19 - Grace in the Moment - Marcie October 26 - Grace in the Moment - Tabitha November 2 - All is Grace - Kelly
November 9 - All is Grace - Kelly November 16 - Trust: The Bridge to Joy - Helen November 23- We will not meet November 30 - We will not meet
December 7 - Trust: The Bridge to Joy - Helen
December 14 - Empty to Fill - Laurel
December 21 - Empty to Fill - Tyler
"Multitasking and Spiritual Practices" - FaithLink - Sunday, July 27, 2014
As we discussed, multitasking "is more accurately described as task-switching since our brains are built to focus only on one task at a time. Rather than multitasking, we are really just moving from one task to another quickly."
"Stop Texting, Dad! I'm Talking to You!" - graph showing results of a study measuring the number of words spoken by adults to a child while smartphones/computers were on and again when they were off
"What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains" - the YouTube video below summarizes what Nicholas Carr says about multitasking feeding short-term memory at the expense of long-term memory
Journalist Christine Rosen argues in an article in The New Atlantis that "people who have achieved great things often credit for their success a finely honed skill for paying attention."
Core Bible Passages
Luke 10:38-42 - Martha is caught off guard when Jesus tells her to value BEING over DOING
Deuteronomy 11:18, Philippians 4:8 - We should replace what is in our minds with the thoughts and ways of God
Psalm 46:10 - We can let go of our anxiety and trust in an ever-present Creator
Genesis 1:1 - 2:25 - God is intentional and focused in his work and finds great joy in his accomplishments.
Spiritual Practices can help you be more present to God, to your family and friends, and even to yourself. Our handout suggested Centering Prayer, Mindfulness, and Walking the Labyrinth
The following verse from Psalm 46:10 can be practiced as a centering prayer. This was in the "lesson plan" handout and I planned to conduct it, but we did not have time. These were the instructions that you can practice on your own:
Invite participants to read the verse silently, take a deep breath, and spend one minute in silence. Erase the last word so it reads, "Be still and know that I am," and read the verse in silence. Repeat the breath and silence. Erase the last words so it reads, "Be still, and know." Repeat the breath and silence. Erase the last words so it reads, "Be still." Repeat the breath and silence. Erase the last word so it reads "Be." Invite participants to close their eyes and focus on any part of this verse. Spend 2-5 minutes in silence.
Breath Prayers - written by Nancy Walsh, 2013 UMW Spiritual Growth Chair
God wants us to to pray to him. Paul exhorts us to "pray without ceasing." Although there are any number of ways to pray, the important thing is just to do it. One of those ways is known as the "Breath Prayer." It is a short petition which is repeated in an intake of air and an output of air, like inhaling and exhaling.
You may wish to
a) Sit comfortably with a straightened back and your eyes closed
b) Pay close attention to your breathing
c) Ask for the trinity to be with you, to lead, guide, and protect
Early in the summer, several of us thought that Tyler's
suggestion of FaithLinks sounded great. They are electronic lessons
based on CURRENT events available for download (about $10 each).
June 22 - Final segment of Max Lucado's You'll Get Through This
June 29 - Just Coffee will not meet
July 6 - Just Coffee will not meet
July 13 - FaithLink: Freedom, Disagreement, and the Christian Faith - Tyler
"Freedom in our country means that many people will express ideas and
positions that are very different from ours, especially in the political
arena. How does Christian faith guide us through our differences? How
do we pray for leaders when we disagree with them?"
July 20 - FaithLink: Creative Conflict - Tyler
"Human beings have differing and often strong opinions and ideas about a variety of topics. Such differences can lead to conflicts, stalemates, and broken relationships. How can Christians respect different points of view and use them in creative ways for the good of all?"
July 27 - FaithLink: Multitasking and Spiritual Practices - Tabitha
"Many people who live a fast-paced lifestyle value multitasking. What is multitasking, and is it beneficial? What does the Christian faith teach us about paying attention?"
Aug 3 - Selfies - Marcie
Selfies was the word of the year for 2013, according to Oxford Dictionaries. What is a selfie, and what does this phenomenon say about our culture and our self-image in the digital age? How does our faith influence the way we present ourselves?
Aug 10 - Anxiety and Faith - Laurel
Situations in our daily lives can cause us to feel great anxiety. What is anxiety? How does Christian faith help us when we feel anxious?
Aug 17 - The Devil Made Me Do It? - Traci
Christianity claims that good ultimately wins out over evil, but clearly
evil does win some of the battles. How can Christians understand the
nature of evil and how to combat it?
Aug 24 - Sweat of the Brow - Kelly
What's the point of Labor Day? What role does organized labor play in
our economy? How does our daily work shape our identities? How can our
Christian beliefs affect our workplaces?
April 27 will begin our new book/DVD study, You'll Get Through This by Max Lucado.
Here's information from the back of the book: "You fear you won't make
it through. We all do. We fear that the depression will never lift, the
yelling will never stop, the pain will never leave. In the pits,
surrounded by steep walls and aching reminders, we wonder: Will this
gray sky ever brighten? This load ever lighten?
In this six-session small group Bible study, pastor and New York Times
best-selling author, Max Lucado offers refreshing assurance. Max
reminds participants God doesn't promise that getting through trials
will be quick or painless. It wasn't for Joseph—tossed in a pit by his
brothers, sold into slavery, wrongfully imprisoned, forgotten and
dismissed. But his Old Testament story is in the Bible for this reason:
to teach us to trust God to trump evil.
With the compassion of a pastor, the heart of a storyteller, and the
joy of one who has seen what God can do, Max explores the story of
Joseph and the truth of Genesis 50:20. What Satan intends for evil, God
redeems for good."
April 27 - You'll Get Through This - Marcie
May 4 - Down and Out, but Never Alone - Melinda May 11 - we will not meet - Mother's Day
May 18 - Stupid Won't Fix Stupid - Traci May 25 - we will not meet - Memorial Day weekend
June 1 - Is God Good When Life Isn't? - Tabitha June 8 - we will not meet - church-wide Health Kit Packaging in Fellowship Hall :-)
June 15 - Now, About Those Family Scandals and Scoundrels - Kelly
June 22 - God Can Use This for Good - Wendy
Everyone is welcome to join us
in the Fellowship Hall during Sunday School (9:45-10:45). We look
forward to seeing you soon and learning in Christ together!
April 27 will begin our new study, You'll Get Through This by Max Lucado.
Here's information from the back of the book: You fear you won't make it through. We all do. We fear that the depression will never lift, the yelling will never stop, the pain will never leave. In the pits, surrounded by steep walls and aching reminders, we wonder: Will this gray sky ever brighten? This load ever lighten?
In this six-session small group Bible study, pastor and New York Times best-selling author, Max Lucado offers refreshing assurance. Max reminds participants God doesn't promise that getting through trials will be quick or painless. It wasn't for Joseph—tossed in a pit by his brothers, sold into slavery, wrongfully imprisoned, forgotten and dismissed. But his Old Testament story is in the Bible for this reason: to teach us to trust God to trump evil.
With the compassion of a pastor, the heart of a storyteller, and the joy of one who has seen what God can do, Max explores the story of Joseph and the truth of Genesis 50:20. What Satan intends for evil, God redeems for good.
John Wesley saw many of his classmates at Christ Church College (in Oxford) have a more rigorous faith in God, and he felt a desire for more faith himself. "In 1725, he wrote that his desire was no longer to be a 'nominal' Christian but to be a 'real' Christian" (113). He met with a group of college students who also had similar beliefs to go deeper in the faith. They worshiped together and sought to pursue acts of charity in their community. Critics called them "Methodists" because of their methodical approach to the pursuit of holiness. John Wesley did not set out to form a new denomination; he simply encouraged its beginnings as a renewal movement within the Church of England.
He was shaped by both the Enlightenment (search for logic and reason) and the Pietist Movement (skeptical of reason). "This union of reason with the desire for a personal faith would become a defining characteristic of Methodism. To this day United Methodists see themselves as people who bring together both a reasonable faith that is intellectually satisfying and a passionate and emotionally compelling faith that touches the heart" (113).
Wesley sought to experience assuarance of salvation. In 1738, while listening to the words of Martin Luther being read, Wesley said he "felt [his] heart strangely warmed" with a new passion and vitality. Many describe Wesley and other early Methodists as being "reasonable enthusiasts" because they could hold together reason AND a passionate faith.
Once Wesley began preaching outdoors, he found satisfaction there. He declared that the world was his parish, and he spent the rest of his life traveling by horseback preaching and calling people to follow Christ.
General Rules
1. Avoid doing what you know is wrong.
2. Do all the good you can to everyone you can.
3. Pursue the spiritual disciplines, including prayer, worship, Scripture reading, and fasting, among others.
Practicies that Shaped Methodism (in early times and today)
1. Outstanding preaching
2. Organiztion of small groups (holding each other accountable and helping each other growing in grace)
3. Singing
4. Social reform
Characteristics of Methodism 1. Wesley and subsequent generations of Methodists were ecumenical and willing to work with and learn from Christians of other denominations. "United Methodists tend to build bridges with other Christians rather than erect walls that separate" (119). 2. Methodists believe in bringing their intellect to their faith. "United Methodists still value the intellect and believe they are not to 'check their brain at the door' when they enter the church" (119). 3. Wesley and the early Methodists valued passion and experience. The "Wesleyan Quadrilateral" added Experience to the Anglican three-legged stool of Scripture, Tradition, and Reason.
4. Wesley and the Methodists, drawing from the Pietist movement, placed major emphasis on a personal faith. 5. Wesley and the Methodists stood against Calvin's teaching on predestination. 6. Wesley brought together the high-church tradition of the Anglicans with the low-church simplicity of worship that characterized Puritan churches. 7. Wesley placed major emphasis on two seemingly contradictory ideas: grace and holiness. we have life and salvation only by God's grace (God's undeserved favor and blessings). Methodists also believe that we are saved from sin in order to do good works. Wesley also emphasized sanctification (Christian perfection) as a lifelong goal of the believer. It means to have one's heart so transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit that one expresses perfect love for God and neighbor. Holiness, for Methodists, has two dimensions - personal holiness (love of God and surrendering to God while avoiding anything that would offend God in one's thoughts, words and deeds) and social holiness (love of neighbor, which includes addressing injustice and shaping our communities so they are patterned on the kingdom of God).
According to Bishop Scott Jones of the Kansas Area, Methodists "tend to be a people of the extreme center. The extreme center means that The United Methodist Church at its best is conservative in some areas and liberal in other areas. We don't fit a stereotype very well.... By occupying the extreme center, we see the value of both sides and try to carve out a position , whether it involves theology or social justice, that embraces the whole gospel" (122-123).
John Wesley's Passions
1. To change lives
2. To transform the community
3. To revitalize the church
"United Methodists invite other Christians to listen to and learn from one another; to recognize that truth is often found most fully not on the extremes, but in the center; and to pursue the life of faith by maintaining a balance between grace and holiness, intellect and emotion, evangelism and social justice" (124).
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Hamilton, Adam. Christianity's Family Tree. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2007.
Pentacostalism sprang from the same roots as Methodism. John Wesley sought assurance of salvation and began to focus on EXPERIENCE being placed in addition to Scripture, Tradition, and Reason of the Three-Legged Stool. Wesley's followers (Methodists) were known for their spiritual passion and for religious experiences that were sometimes deemed to be excessive by more traditional Anglicans. There came a split; members of the Holiness Movement tended to be more conservative theologically than Methodists with a greater emphasis on personal piety and personal fervor/experience.
Charles Parham sought an experience like that of Acts 2 at Bethel Bible College in 1901. Many people at that gathering spoke in tongues as they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. Pentacostals think of speaking in tongues as normative, which means as available today as it was in the first century. Pentacostals would say their role in church history involves going back to to the Apostolic Church.
Four Major Emphases 1. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit - a "second work of grace" in which recipients are completely immersed in the Holy Spirit. The evidence of this baptism is speaking in tongues (as described in Acts 2). Pentacostals believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit gives Christians power for living and allows them to be used of God in a special way. 2. A Personal Relationship with Christ - Pentacostals emphasize the emotional dimensions of their relationship with Christ. 3. The Second Coming of Christ - Pentacostals live in expectation of Christ's imminent return. There is a sense among many that the second coming will be within most of our lifetimes. 4. Modern-Day Miracles and Healing - There seems to be a greater sense of expectation that God is in the "miracle-working business."
What Pentacostals Teach Us
1. Living daily in the power and direction of the Holy Spirit to experience the fullness of the Christian life.
2. A willingness to identify and use our spiritual gifts. "When we use our gifts - God's gifts given to us for his purposes - we find joy in our faith" (109).
3. Reclaiming healing power. We can be bold in praying and to expect that God can do wonderful things to heal our bodies.
Summary of chapter = Hamilton encourages us to invite the Holy Spirit to be at work in our lives. We can be more aware of the Spirit's guidance, power, and work.
Prayer: "Come, Holy Spirit, and fill me anew. Guide me. Use me. Empower me. Lead me. Grant me your gifts that I might be useful to you in serving others. In Jesus' name. Amen" (110).
And... for a little chuckle...
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Hamilton, Adam. Christianity's Family Tree. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2007.
Today's lesson from Christianity's Family Tree was about Baptists. We were enlightened to the history and development of the Baptist denominations.
Baptists began as radical reformers with a disagreement over baptism. These reformers rejected infant baptism and believed that individuals cannot be baptized until they can make their own personal decision to do so. In fact, in 1609 John Smyth (often thought to be the founder of the denomination) re-baptized all adults who had been baptized as infants.
Baptists also rejected elements of worship such as liturgy and altar tables, feeling they were "too Catholic."
Today there are 40-45 million Baptists in the world, with 33 million of those Baptists living in the United States. There are many different branches of the denomination - American Baptist, Southern Baptist, Northern Baptist, and Independent Baptist, for example. There is a large amount of autonomy given to each Baptist church; in fact, perhaps due to their nonconformist background, there is no governing board. Instead, they can associate with like-minded churches into "conventions" (Southern Baptist Convention, for example).
Baptists believe that God chose every word in the Bible to be a timeless commandment, so this would be why they believe that women should not be pastors or leaders in the church.
Central Beliefs
1. The inspiration and infallibility of Scripture
2. Emphasis on a personal relationship with Christ
3. Salvation through faith alone not by works
What Baptists Can Teach Us 1. Bible Study - With time, Bible reading begins to shape who we are. 2. Missions - Sharing faith with others is important. 3. Simple Salvation Message - There is a great value in claiming the faith for yourself. For example, many people may have grown up in a Christian home or feel that they can achieve Christianity through osmosis. Taking time to accept the path to follow Jesus on your own is important and valuable.
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Hamilton, Adam. Christianity's Family Tree. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2007.
Last week our section of Christianity's Family Tree focused on Anglicanism. King Henry VIII sought an annulment from Catherine of Aragon. The Pope excommunicated him from the Roman Catholic Church. King Henry VIII declared that the KING should be the leader of the Church, and he developed a new group - the Catholic Church of England. Religious chaos ensued, and Queen Elizabeth I sought to find the via media ("middle way") between Catholicism and Protestantism. She brought forward the Book of Common Prayer. James I thought that a new translation of the Bible was needed, and the translation that became the Bible of the via media was the King James Bible.
Anglicans wanted a "middle road" between Catholicism and Protestantism:
Catholicism - Bishops, priests, and deacons
Seven Sacraments
Sense of reverence and liturgy
Protestantism - Baptism makes everyone a minister of the Gospel
Bishops, priests, and deacons can be married and can be women
Anglican's beliefs are centered on the "Three-Legged Stool" of Scripture, Tradition, and Reason
Adam Hamilton emphasized the importance of prayer to the denomination. Their phrase, lex orandi, lex credendi, translated from Latin as "As you pray, so you believe." The Apostle Paul advised Christians in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray without ceasing."
Here's a funny meme that I found, and I thought you all would enjoy it :-)
John Calvin, the person whose theology became a huge part of Presbyterianism, went a little farther than Luther. He had a profound conversion experience, and, at 26, wrote Institutes of Christian Religion. This text is the intellectual lens through which Presbyterians understand theology. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." - Mark 12:30 Five Points of Calvinism * 1. Total Depravity - we were born into sin, fundamentally broken, and cannot save ourselves 2. Unconditional Election - some people elected (chosen) by God for eternal life and others chosen for eternal damnation 3. Limited Atonement - Jesus died for those who were chosen 4. Irresistible Grace - God will win you over if you are part of the elect 5. Perseverance of the Saints - the elect might stray from the path but never from God's grip Strong belief in the SOVEREIGNTY of God - God's will IS going to be done, nothing happens outside God's will * God is constantly working in our lives. The problem exists when we are not always listening and looking. We should pray that God would use us each day. * While these beliefs were foundational in the theology of John Calvin, opinions have changed over the years where not all Presbyterians agree with the strict beliefs of predestination and the idea that nothing happens outside of God's will.
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Hamilton, Adam. Christianity's Family Tree. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2007.
Adam Hamilton's summary of what we can take away from Lutheranism:
Lutheranism sprang from Martin Luther's dissatisfaction with the Roman Catholic Church. He grew up in a home where religion was based on fear. The Protestant Reformation arose as many people believed the Church needed reform. Indulgences infuriated Luther, and he stated his rejection of many current Church practices in the 95 Theses. Lots of other people were struggling in their beliefs also, and this message of discontent spread like wildfire.
Central beliefs of Lutheranism 1. Priesthood of all Believers - Everyone is called to use the gifts God has given us. All of us are called to be in ministry. 2. The Christian's Compass - God speaks to ordinary people through the Scriptures. 3. Justification by Faith - Luther searched for a God of mercy and determined that God is looking for us to trust Him and trust in His love. Our right standing before God is a gift of God - NOT because of good works. We need to live in a grateful response and trust in His love. God affirms us and loves us. He loves us more than we can ever believe.
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Hamilton, Adam. Christianity's Family Tree. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2007.
I really enjoyed Adam Hamilton's discussion of what we can learn from Catholicism:
1. The Power of Ritual - rituals shape our soul 2. The Power of Reverence - how we honor God 3. The Power of the Eucharist - the focus of worship and the presence of God, a moment where we connect to Christ on the cross - we need God's grace and mercy
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Hamilton, Adam. Christianity's Family Tree. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2007.
We have begun a study that we are very excited about: Christianity's Family Tree by Adam Hamilton. Hamilton compares the
Christian family to our own extended families by exploring and providing
an overview of eight different Christian denominations. He reminds us
how we feel very close to some of our relatives but other relatives seem
so distant we may forget how we are even connected to them in the first
place! We are connected by a common patriarch - God the Father!
Everyone is welcome to join us
in the Fellowship Hall during Sunday School (9:45-10:45). We look
forward to seeing you soon and learning in Christ together!
Jan. 26 - Orthodoxy - Helen
Feb. 2 - Catholicism - Kelly
Feb. 9 - Lutheranism - Marcie
Feb. 16 - Presbyterianism - Ashley
Feb. 23 - Anglicanism - Tyler
Mar. 2 - Baptists - Wendy (but depending on her recovery, let's have a back-up volunteer)
