Bible Study #1

today was our first bible study! hooray! here are the notes for yall who couldn't come (or if you just wanna read more about it).

we talked about what it means to be a christian and why we arechristians. and then we mentioned the importance of "mysterious evidence"... how god works in our lives in mysterious ways, and how unexplainable things can be evidence of god for you even if you have don't always have concrete evidence to back up your faith (although that can be a good thing to have sometimes).

Some people believe in Jesus or reject Jesus without ever considering the evidence for either side. Have you ever really thought about why you believe in Jesus as your Savior? Take a minute and think of the reasons (evidences) that have helped you make the decision to believe in or not to believe in Jesus.

Leading up to his death, Jesus was questioned many times by many different people. You can find the whole story in John 18-19, but here’s one of those times (John 18:19-24):

"19Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20"I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said." 22When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded. 23"If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" 24Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest."

Is it possible to make a totally rational decision about whether or not to follow Jesus Christ, or is it something less than “rational” (or more than rational)?

This week reflect on what you would say if you were asked why you celebrate Easter and also imagine that you are now the one on trial and Jesus is the judge. How well prepared would you say that you are?

We also read talked about the story of Ruth and Naomi and talked about how God provided for them in a mysterious way through Boaz. The Message's version of Ruth 2:5-12 says...

5Boaz asked his young servant who was foreman over the farm hands, "Who is this young woman? Where did she come from?"

6The foreman said, "Why, that's the Moabite girl, the one who came with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7She asked permission. "Let me glean,' she said, "and gather among the sheaves following after your harvesters.' She's been at it steady ever since, from early morning until now, without so much as a break."

8Then Boaz spoke to Ruth: "Listen, my daughter. From now on don't go to any other field to glean--stay right here in this one. And stay close to my young women. 9Watch where they are harvesting and follow them. And don't worry about a thing; I've given orders to my servants not to harass you. When you get thirsty, feel free to go and drink from the water buckets that the servants have filled."

10She dropped to her knees, then bowed her face to the ground. "How does this happen that you should pick me out and treat me so kindly--me, a foreigner?"

11Boaz answered her, "I've heard all about you--heard about the way you treated your mother-in-law after the death of her husband, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and have come to live among a bunch of total strangers. 12GOD reward you well for what you've done--and with a generous bonus besides from GOD, to whom you've come seeking protection under his wings."

first post

well, i liked the idea of putting my spiritual ramblings on the web, mainly because it keeps me organized. but also, i think it has the potential to reach out to people. so i'm hoping if you're reading this, you'll check back here every once and a while and see if you find something interesting to wrap your mind around...

here is a little something i wrote on december 29th. it's kinda crazy, but hey, it's me. ok then.

i just watched the exorcism of emily rose.

i love the epitaph at the end... it's philippians 2:12 (and i've added on 13 as well). here are some different translations of it. and if you don't have time to read all these, just read the first one and skip down to the important part of all this.

"continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" -NIV

"Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure" -the message

"And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him." -new living translation

"...work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." -amplified bible

SUMMARY:

i just think this verse is interesting. i heard bill watkins preach a sermon at crieve hall church of christ last night that touched on what he said was a huge problem in churches of christ everywhere, and i couldn't agree more with what he said... he said that the 2 biggest problems he sees with church of christ congregations are that the people's faith is based on 1) guilt, and 2) fear. and this verse hit home with me because i went through the salvation process in a lot of fear... but i'm not afraid anymore... i was afraid when i wasn't saved, but not now, because i have the assurance in my heart of my salvation. and that's the problem with so many churches... they are SO faithful because they're SO scared... scared of slipping away... scared of not being saved on judgment day... convinced that the christian faith is all about who goes to heaven, and are YOU going?? and i'm definitely not trying to hate on the church of christ... but having faith is so much deeper than that. there is just so much more to it that that. just think about it. just go to bed tonight knowing that if you've done what you need to do and you know it, then you're gonna be okay. start living without fear. don't let fear get in the way of all the ways you could let christ shine in your life if you were free. wake up and live tomorrow knowing that you can be FREE... and try it for one day--try living just one day with that mindset. and just remember what that feels like. live free in christ. let him free you up. i promise, you will never want to go back.

leave comments if you feel moved to do so (or if you just want to...)