November 11, 2018 - The Thinking Christian #5 - The Bible

November 11th, 2018 The smaller groups in our church community are inside our homes where we go deeper, build friendships, and walk out the Christian life with each other. HOME CHURCH/SMALL GROUP/CLASS GUIDE 1. “Breaking the Ice” question: (group facilitator) 2. Check-ins: What’s been happening in your week(s) since last meeting? Introduce yourself if new/new people in group, check in with each other 3. Care: Needs in the group; name needs and have sentence prayers (short sentences/open ended, not long-winded) at end of the gathering time 4. Compassion: What compassion work is the group planning? Are you inviting your neighbors to join? 5. Group Announcements (church-wide and group-only) 6. Dig in: Any reflections, discernments, disagreements from last week’s teaching (or since you last met)? Look at the Bible passage(s) again and read some of them out loud in the group (and other verses that may have been mentioned). What jumps out at you? Discuss some of these questions as a group. Old Testament Prophets - Is There Any Word from the Lord? KEY VERSES: Jeremiah 37:17 DISCUSSION: 1 Corinthians 3:11 2. Are there people in our culture(s) that speak like prophets? Give examples? 2 Timothy 3:16 1. When you think of the word “prophet,” what comes to mind? 3. Prophets call us out of our tunnel vision, seeing only ourselves and our struggles. In what ways have you or we been caught in tunnel vision? 4. Read Jeremiah 37 and discuss! 5. The prophets speak for a different vision than one which is dominant or controlling the people and the rulers. It often flies in the face of what everyone feels is “settled truth or reality”. Only later do people see that the prophets were right and the “settled truth” was wrong. Explore what this might mean for us? 6. The role of prophet and the gift of prophecy–speaking forth and locally applying truth–is reaffirmed but altered in the New Testament. Paul says it’s desirable for all to speak prophetically. What do you think about this? (See 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 31; 14:3, 29-31, 39). 7. Other thoughts 7. End and Homework: Final questions, prayer huddles for personal requests. Consider breaking into small groups (huddles) of 2-4, by gender, if large enough. Prayer Requests this week: SERIES MAIN IDEA: It’s a Road Map (travel guide), a revelation of relationship, not a magic book of spells, a manual, or a menu. + Read on your own and discern in community + Find a translation you will read + Torah - God’s word but not the final word, which is Jesus. + Prophets - God is still speaking! BASICS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Hebrew Bible - Three sections: Torah, Writings, Prophets 1. THE LAW OR THE PENTATEUCH (5 books) Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy 2. THE PROPHETS (originally 8 books, then 21) + The Former Prophets (originally 4 books, then 6) Joshua, Judges, Samuel (1 & 2), Kings (1 & 2) + The Latter Prophets (originally four books, then 15) - Major: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel (three books) - Minor: The 12 (originally one book, then 12) Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Brueggemann: We have to understand that texts not only say, but do. (WB v9) The theology of the Old Testament is (1) testimony–a verbal account of reality that bears witness to a certain version of reality. (2) The testimony is also in dispute with other versions of reality that are brought up. (3) Every version of reality–each text and interpretation–with/against other texts and interpretations advocates a certain version of reality that seeks to challenge and refute another version. “The Hebrew Bible texts are witnesses that trace out the character of Yahweh against other characterizations of YHWH, and thereby advocate a certain rendering of reality.” THE PROPHETS + The prophets tell us of ancient Israel’s faith and practice in real life/historical reality. + Prophetic: + Prophetic Speech: + Concentration and centralization of power in human hands is roundly condemned. A. The Former: Jewish Second Canon: Four books - Joshua, Judges, Samuel (Twin scroll) and Kings (Twin scrolls) (Ruth in Christian Bible after Judges - but in Jewish ordering shows up in writings (the third canon of Hebrew Bible). B. The Latter + Minor Prophets: Four books: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the Twelve (Minor Prophets). NEXT STEPS: + New Testament tells us that now the Spirit is poured out on all flesh. + Speaking God’s Words Into the Mess: There’s a two-fold role for prophetic speech–the exposing of our sinfulness and the second move of hope in Christ. The first never comes without the second denunciation and new life. + Denounce that which destroys love and hides the cross. Greed, excessive accumulation, unwillingness to serve, but only to be served. + Turning to Him and Doing His Will bring us new life. “Lord Jesus Christ, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. I ask your forgiveness and now turn from everything which I know is wrong. Thank you for dying on the cross for me to set me free from my sins. Please come into my life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and be with me forever. Thank you, Lord Jesus, Amen.” + In the big picture sense, the full reign of YHWH will come one day fully. Resources: https://bible.org/seriespage/7-bible-holy-canon-scripture