Friday, December 03, 2010

Spiritual Disciplines

Some verses to consider:
Hebrews 12:1-2
[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Psalm 1:1-2    
[1] Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
            nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
[2] but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 5:3
            O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
                        in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

Psalm 63:5-7
            [5] My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
                        and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
            [6] when I remember you upon my bed,
                        and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
            [7] for you have been my help,
                        and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

Mark 1:35
            And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Current
Abandoned (largely)
Prayer—lists or topics or people or Bible verses
Meditation—not emptying but fill w/ God
Bible Study/Reading
Bible Memorization
Fellowship
Fasting
Music
Chants
[Communion]
[Confession]
[Baptism]
[Church Discipline]
[Worship] and Worship
Journaling
[Preaching]
Silence and Solitude
 [in brackets indicates corporate discipline practices]


Practice:  Read a whole book through—Titus is a good one to start, short, easy.
Practice:  Read one verse and think on it alone for 5 min.—James 1:5 is a good one.
Practice: Memorize one verse—again, James 1:5.
Practice: Pray for 5 min.—your school, family, church, or friends are great personal things to pray for, the government, the economy, the unsaved, missionaries, and Bible translators are other great things to pray for.

Files related to meditation on Scripture on http://biblicalspirituality.org/sbts.html

Thanksgiving, the Real Story


What is the story we usually hear?
Indians saved Pilgrims and they had a party to thank Indians
          Liberals say the common story is a lie, it was very different
          Conservatives say the common story is a lie, it was very different
          It all comes down to interpretation of VERY LIMITED facts

What is the real story?
          First thanksgiving: 1541—Francisco Coronado upon finding food and H2O in FL
          First English thanksgiving: 1607 at English Fort on river in Maine before abandoned it
First annual thanksgiving: Berkeley Plantation in VA, Dec 4 1619, as day to THANK GOD for safe travel to New Land (lasted 3 years, colony then gone)
Puritans had more than one thanksgiving—and probably just Puritans, not “Pilgrims”, at most just “pilgrims” as in those traveling on a journey aka book of Hebrews, this life is a journey
*        Arrived around Nov 21st 1620 at where would eventually settle
*        Not off ship totally until February 1621, by March 1621 only 47 of 102 lived
*        Scavenged stored beans and corn from Indians—seed corn (would have died w/o)
o   Not saved by Indians when first landed, scavenged from wiped out settlement, and buried items
o   Repaid in full those who they could, later when they could
o   These scavenged supplies were what they planted and thanked God for in 1621
*        Not saved by Indians
o   Squanto, former slave recently returned to US, helped with his knowledge of area especially fertilizer of herrings and N American vegetables
o   Massasoit (of Wampanoag Tribe) sort of friend
o   But not saving Puritans, Puritans not the only Europeans around
*        Harvest of scavenged seed in September 1621 was so great, gave thanks, invited friends
o   Friend Massasoit brought family of almost 90 people including Squanto
o   Massasoit most likely had Squanto killed, believed Squanto “betrayed” them to English
o   This celebration was inviting them to party with them as a result of Puritan’s great harvest, not Indians giving food to Puritans so they survive.
o   Could already hunt, fish, and build shelters all on their own—many other foods available, eels, lobster, mussels, many fruits and herbs.
o   Majority of what Indians gave them was in BARTER not gifts
*        “thanksgiving” not mentioned formally until 1623—before was feast to celebrate like always did back home, just not formal day/declaration
o   This was thanks for capitalism and end of socialism in their midst
*        June 1676—after defeating Wampanoag who broke treaty first, King Phillips War (King Phillip of Wampanoag aka Metacomet, Massasoit’s 2nd son) , another thanksgiving (treaty provided for justice to be served by whoever was wronged, Native or English, and English punished Indian murderer with Indians on jury, Indians start skirmishes that grew to war).
          Purpose of “thanksgiving”—a special service of thankfulness to God
NOT THANKFULNESS TO INDIANS, BUT THANKS TO GOD
                                                               
Our holiday
*        annually proclaimed by some Presidents as last Thursday
*        initially by Washington to celebrate over winning Revolutionary War
*        not until Lincoln in 1863 was made annual on last Thursday—heal from civil war
*        Each year still had to be declared national holiday
*        1939 FDR made it 4th of 5 weeks, to make holiday shopping longer
*        1940-41 3rd week to include longer shopping again
*        1942 onward—Congress made permanent 4th week, whether last or 2nd to last date
*        Every year, less about giving thanks and more about everything else
o   What else do we “celebrate”
§  Football
§  Overeating
§  Parades
o   Do I enjoy these, yes, are these the REASON? NO!


Why does it matter?
          Politicians co-opted for political reasons—unity, shopping, votes
Historians slant for political reasons—not God but “Native Americans”, not thanks to God but friendship, etc.….
          Christians should affirm truth for religious reasons
                   Puritans were largely self-sufficient (including supply shipments)
                   Indians were helpful neighbors but not “saviors”
                   God provided, not Indians provided

          What does this mean for us?—think about it
          Tonight—practicing the art of thankfulness
                   3 things you are thankful for
                   3 people you need to tell thank you
                   3 things you should thank God for

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

A Summary of Verses on Jesus (for FBCE Youth)

I promised the Youth a list of the verses we covered on Sunday about Jesus and His role(s) so here they are:
           1.  Nicene Creed
a.       Καὶ εἰς ἕνα Κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ, τὸν ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς γεννηθέντα πρὸ πάντων τῶν αἰώνων·
φῶς ἐκ φωτός, Θεὸν ἀληθινὸν ἐκ Θεοῦ ἀληθινοῦ, γεννηθέντα οὐ ποιηθέντα, ὁμοούσιον τῷ Πατρί, δι' οὗ τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο.
Τὸν δι' ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους καὶ διὰ τὴν ἡμετέραν σωτηρίαν κατελθόντα ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν καὶ σαρκωθέντα
ἐκ Πνεύματος Ἁγίου καὶ Μαρίας τῆς Παρθένου καὶ ἐνανθρωπήσαντα.
Σταυρωθέντα τε ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου, καὶ παθόντα καὶ ταφέντα.
Καὶ ἀναστάντα τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ κατὰ τὰς Γραφάς.
Καὶ ἀνελθόντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς καὶ καθεζόμενον ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ Πατρός.
Καὶ πάλιν ἐρχόμενον μετὰ δόξης κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς, οὗ τῆς βασιλείας οὐκ ἔσται τέλος.

b.      We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in fulfillment of the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

2.    Fully God
a.    Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God
b.    2 Peter 1:1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ
c.    Many more verses speak of Him as the Son of God
3.    Fully Man
a.    Romans 5:15-17 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
4.    Savior—Council of Jerusalem testimony
a.    Acts 15:11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will
5.    Sanctifier—our Scapegoat
a.    So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.
6.    Healer—literally eternally and temporally only by extension
a.    1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
7.    King—in talking with Pilate
a.    John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
8.    Creator
a.    John 1:3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
9.  Mediator
a.    1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus
10.  Prophet
a.    Luke 24:19 And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people—on the road to Emmaus
b.    Ephesians 2:20  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone (Greatest Prophet if cornerstone of foundation of all prophets)
11.  Priest
a.    Hebrews 4:14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
b.    Hebrews 6:19-20 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
12.  Shepherd
a.    1 Peter 2:25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
13.  Sinless
a.    1 Peter 2:22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
14.  Suffering Servant—as an example
a.    1 Peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
15.  Died, buried, risen again
a.       Luke 24:19-35 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
16.  At the right hand of the Father for eternity, interceding for us
a.    Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
b.    Romans 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
17.  Sovereign of the Universe
a.    I Timothy 6:13-15 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
18.  Kenosis Philippians 2:7
a.    Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.