Segment 34: A Last Supper Together
Presenter: David Lowes Watson
The word covenant means binding in relation to God. The covenant
with God is always at God’s initiative; we respond to God’s grace.
Jeremiah prophesied a new covenant in which God’s law would
be written on every heart. Jesus Christ embodied this new covenant.
We have to let God be God by being obedient. To be obedient, we
have to be disciplined. The early Puritan movement used the word
covenant as a watchword for obedient discipleship. Christians through
the centuries have found that the best way to keep their covenant
with God is to make an agreement with one another to that end.
Disciple One: Because each One of us is called to be a Disciple
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Video Segment 33 Summary (May 15, 2011 class)
Segment 33: Gifts of Each Disciple
Presenter: Maxie Dunnam
Every Christian is a minister. In baptism and confirmation, all of us
are ordained to the general ministry of the church. We have been
claimed and commissioned by Christ. Jesus’ style defines our style:
He calls us to be servants. When we choose Jesus’ style, we give up the
right to be in charge. We become available and vulnerable. We lose
our fear of being taken advantage of. We experience freedom.
Presenter: Maxie Dunnam
Every Christian is a minister. In baptism and confirmation, all of us
are ordained to the general ministry of the church. We have been
claimed and commissioned by Christ. Jesus’ style defines our style:
He calls us to be servants. When we choose Jesus’ style, we give up the
right to be in charge. We become available and vulnerable. We lose
our fear of being taken advantage of. We experience freedom.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Video Segment 32 Summary (May 9, 2011 class)
Segment 32: We Never Lose Hope
Presenter: Jorge A. González
The Book of Revelation was written for Christians suffering bitter persecution.
Addressed to seven churches, Revelation offered hope to inspire courage, a call to return to faithfulness, and the message that only faith in Christ would sustain
them in persecution. The message of Revelation is threefold: Jesus Christ gained an ultimate victory over evil, the powers of evil are still active in the world, and the faithful must struggle in the face of evil. Underlying these themes is the conviction that God is in charge of human history.
Presenter: Jorge A. González
The Book of Revelation was written for Christians suffering bitter persecution.
Addressed to seven churches, Revelation offered hope to inspire courage, a call to return to faithfulness, and the message that only faith in Christ would sustain
them in persecution. The message of Revelation is threefold: Jesus Christ gained an ultimate victory over evil, the powers of evil are still active in the world, and the faithful must struggle in the face of evil. Underlying these themes is the conviction that God is in charge of human history.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Video Segment 31 Summary (May 2, 2011 class)
Segment 31: A People Set Apart
Presenter: William H. Willimon
Baptism attaches one to a community, the body of Christ. Baptism
means all that water means: deliverance, sustenance, new life. Water is
a symbol of death but also of salvation. Baptism is a communal act, a
prophetic act, a revolutionary act. Because of the peculiarity baptism
calls for, we must be prepared for the pain of changing and growing
and for the pain of letting go and trusting God. New life begins at the
instant of baptism. Baptism is a “dress rehearsal for death”—training
in letting go in faith—and promises the hope of resurrection.
Presenter: William H. Willimon
Baptism attaches one to a community, the body of Christ. Baptism
means all that water means: deliverance, sustenance, new life. Water is
a symbol of death but also of salvation. Baptism is a communal act, a
prophetic act, a revolutionary act. Because of the peculiarity baptism
calls for, we must be prepared for the pain of changing and growing
and for the pain of letting go and trusting God. New life begins at the
instant of baptism. Baptism is a “dress rehearsal for death”—training
in letting go in faith—and promises the hope of resurrection.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Video Segment 30 Summary (April 18, 2011 class)
Segment 30: Our Great High Priest
Presenter: William L. Lane
Hebrews takes the form of a sermon, a “word of exhortation.”
Hebrews is an insistent call to listen to the word that God has spoken. It
was prepared for a specific local congregation whose members had
become weary with the constant struggle they faced as Christians.
The pastor urged them to fix their gaze on Jesus so they would not
grow weary. The people of the new covenant were consecrated to the
service of God through Jesus’ sacrificial death. Consecration to God
implies committed discipleship. The task of the disciple is to emulate
Jesus, who faithfully did the will of God, regardless of the cost.
Presenter: William L. Lane
Hebrews takes the form of a sermon, a “word of exhortation.”
Hebrews is an insistent call to listen to the word that God has spoken. It
was prepared for a specific local congregation whose members had
become weary with the constant struggle they faced as Christians.
The pastor urged them to fix their gaze on Jesus so they would not
grow weary. The people of the new covenant were consecrated to the
service of God through Jesus’ sacrificial death. Consecration to God
implies committed discipleship. The task of the disciple is to emulate
Jesus, who faithfully did the will of God, regardless of the cost.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Video Segment 29 Summary (April 11, 2011 class)
Segment 29: A Pastor Gives Guidance
Presenter: Leander E. Keck
The letters to Timothy and Titus are called the Pastoral Epistles.
They are concerned with pastoral problems from the standpoint of
leadership. Most scholars think a follower of Paul wrote these letters
in Paul’s name. They take for granted a church structure with
clearly defined responsibilities and a society and family structure different
from our own. The summaries of essentials of Christian belief found in these
letters are probably early Christian confessions or creeds.
Presenter: Leander E. Keck
The letters to Timothy and Titus are called the Pastoral Epistles.
They are concerned with pastoral problems from the standpoint of
leadership. Most scholars think a follower of Paul wrote these letters
in Paul’s name. They take for granted a church structure with
clearly defined responsibilities and a society and family structure different
from our own. The summaries of essentials of Christian belief found in these
letters are probably early Christian confessions or creeds.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Video Segment 28 Summary (April 4, 2011 class)
Segment 28: The Son Shall Set Us Free
Presenter: Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr.
Galatians addresses two major problems: the nature and authenticity
of Paul’s apostleship and the relationship of Christian freedom to the
Mosaic law. On the question of the terms on which Gentiles could be
admitted to the church, Paul argues that all persons who have faith are
in fact blessed as they share Abraham’s faith based on God’s
promises. The Law was a kind of guardian until persons were mature
enough to receive the faith in Christ. The Galatians were now free to live
by the guidance of the Spirit. But freedom is not license. Whoever
lives by the Spirit does what the Law intended.
Presenter: Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr.
Galatians addresses two major problems: the nature and authenticity
of Paul’s apostleship and the relationship of Christian freedom to the
Mosaic law. On the question of the terms on which Gentiles could be
admitted to the church, Paul argues that all persons who have faith are
in fact blessed as they share Abraham’s faith based on God’s
promises. The Law was a kind of guardian until persons were mature
enough to receive the faith in Christ. The Galatians were now free to live
by the guidance of the Spirit. But freedom is not license. Whoever
lives by the Spirit does what the Law intended.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Video Segment 27 Summary (March 27, 2011 class)
Segment 27: A Congregation in Ferment
Presenter: Pheme Perkins
Corinth was a city of social, cultural, and ethnic diversity. Paul constantly
had to deal with quarrels and misunderstanding in the church there. In
the Corinthian correspondence, Paul returns repeatedly to two simple
principles: Since Jesus died for all people, no one can claim to be better
than any fellow Christian; and love is the standard by which we determine
how we treat others in all situations. Despite all the controversies with the
Corinthians, Paul never let the Corinthians forget that they had to
make that love a reality in their lives.
Presenter: Pheme Perkins
Corinth was a city of social, cultural, and ethnic diversity. Paul constantly
had to deal with quarrels and misunderstanding in the church there. In
the Corinthian correspondence, Paul returns repeatedly to two simple
principles: Since Jesus died for all people, no one can claim to be better
than any fellow Christian; and love is the standard by which we determine
how we treat others in all situations. Despite all the controversies with the
Corinthians, Paul never let the Corinthians forget that they had to
make that love a reality in their lives.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Video Segment 26 Summary (March 21, 2011 class)
Segment 26: Put Right With God Through Faith
Presenter: Richard B. Hays
Can God be trusted? In Romans Paul addresses the problem of God’s
universal justice, God’s faithfulness to Israel, and how the death
and resurrection of Jesus are to be understood as the fulfillment of
all that God had promised Israel. Romans is Paul’s defense of the
gospel and his appeal for support of his work. He concludes that no human unfaithfulness is more powerful than the faithfulness of Jesus Christ and
that the God who has chosen us freely in love can be trusted.
Presenter: Richard B. Hays
Can God be trusted? In Romans Paul addresses the problem of God’s
universal justice, God’s faithfulness to Israel, and how the death
and resurrection of Jesus are to be understood as the fulfillment of
all that God had promised Israel. Romans is Paul’s defense of the
gospel and his appeal for support of his work. He concludes that no human unfaithfulness is more powerful than the faithfulness of Jesus Christ and
that the God who has chosen us freely in love can be trusted.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Video Segment 25 Summary (March 14, 2011 class)
Segment 25: The Gospel Penetrates the World
Presenter: J. Ellsworth Kalas
The task of the first-generation Christians was difficult. Most of
them had not been outside their own village, and the message they
carried was hard to believe. They went first to major cities and began
their ministry there in the synagogues among Jews. Ephesians
enlarges the definition of world to mean the world of power and prejudice,
the world of hate and divisions, the world of ideas and culture
patterns, the world of intellectual struggle and spiritual conflict.
Presenter: J. Ellsworth Kalas
The task of the first-generation Christians was difficult. Most of
them had not been outside their own village, and the message they
carried was hard to believe. They went first to major cities and began
their ministry there in the synagogues among Jews. Ephesians
enlarges the definition of world to mean the world of power and prejudice,
the world of hate and divisions, the world of ideas and culture
patterns, the world of intellectual struggle and spiritual conflict.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
March 28 Disciple class
Danny has let me know that he will be having an evangelism meeting on Monday, March 28, 2011 at 7 pm in Fellowship Hall.
As I think some of our Disciple group would like to attend this meeting (and we need to at least move locations), I propose we move the March 28 meeting to Sunday, March 27th at 1 pm. Any comments?
As I think some of our Disciple group would like to attend this meeting (and we need to at least move locations), I propose we move the March 28 meeting to Sunday, March 27th at 1 pm. Any comments?
Posted from Blogium for iPhone
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Fasting during Lent
This is a reminder that our Disciple I group agreed to fast one meal a week during Lent and donate the money saved to feed the hungry (via a donation to West-Aid, etc).
Posted from Blogium for iPhone
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Video Segment 24 Summary (March 7, 2011 class)
Segment 24: The Explosive Power of the Spirit
Presenter: J. Ellsworth Kalas
Acts may be thought of as the Gospel of the Holy Spirit. The human characters
in Acts all act in relation to God’s Spirit, the lead character.
Wherever the early Christians went, they spoke with the authority of
Jesus because they possessed and were possessed by the Spirit of Jesus.
Presenter: J. Ellsworth Kalas
Acts may be thought of as the Gospel of the Holy Spirit. The human characters
in Acts all act in relation to God’s Spirit, the lead character.
Wherever the early Christians went, they spoke with the authority of
Jesus because they possessed and were possessed by the Spirit of Jesus.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Video Segment 23 Summary (Feb 28, 2011 class)
Segment 23: Advocate
Presenter: Gail R. O’Day
The Gospel of John addresses the problem of Jesus’ absence from
the faith community. In the Farewell Discourse (John 14–17)
Jesus promises his followers the Holy Spirit to keep the resurrected
Christ present in the faith community. The Spirit will function to
teach the faith community, to bear witness to Jesus and help communities
bear witness, to help the community declare what comes
from Jesus and glorify him, and finally to be present to communities
of faith. The Spirit will ensure that in whatever adversity
believers find themselves, the words of Jesus will be freshly
declared and freshly available.
Presenter: Gail R. O’Day
The Gospel of John addresses the problem of Jesus’ absence from
the faith community. In the Farewell Discourse (John 14–17)
Jesus promises his followers the Holy Spirit to keep the resurrected
Christ present in the faith community. The Spirit will function to
teach the faith community, to bear witness to Jesus and help communities
bear witness, to help the community declare what comes
from Jesus and glorify him, and finally to be present to communities
of faith. The Spirit will ensure that in whatever adversity
believers find themselves, the words of Jesus will be freshly
declared and freshly available.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Video Segment 22 Summary (February 21, 2011 class)
Segment 22: Lifegiver
Presenter: Fernando F. Segovia
John 1–12 presents the role of Jesus as the giver of life. A pattern
of descent and ascent is established in the Prologue and used
throughout the Gospel to develop its portrayal of Jesus: The Word of
God descends, comes from glory, reveals his glory in and to the
world, and returns to glory. The world above and the world below
are opposed to each other. Truth, light, grace, and life are contrasted
with falsehood, darkness, sin, and death. The “life” that Jesus
proclaims and makes available includes a new way of relating to
God and to one another. It is life born from above, life in union
with the Father, life “not of this world.”
Presenter: Fernando F. Segovia
John 1–12 presents the role of Jesus as the giver of life. A pattern
of descent and ascent is established in the Prologue and used
throughout the Gospel to develop its portrayal of Jesus: The Word of
God descends, comes from glory, reveals his glory in and to the
world, and returns to glory. The world above and the world below
are opposed to each other. Truth, light, grace, and life are contrasted
with falsehood, darkness, sin, and death. The “life” that Jesus
proclaims and makes available includes a new way of relating to
God and to one another. It is life born from above, life in union
with the Father, life “not of this world.”
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Video Segment 21 Summary (February 13, 2011 class)
Segment 21: God Seeks the Least, the Last, the Lost
Presenter: Fred B. Craddock
The Gospel of Luke presents Jesus as prophet, teacher, preacher, and healer
and records some of his stories that are preserved nowhere else. Luke
sets Jesus’ life within the Judaism of his day and states his mission in the
Old Testament terms of Isaiah. Luke chronicles Jesus’ prayer life; his calls
for justice, mercy, and fairness; his concern for the poor, the halt, the
lame, and the blind as Kingdom people; and his inclusion of women as
helpers and disciples alongside the men. According to Luke, the word
that the risen Christ wants preached to all people everywhere is both a
call for repentance and an offer of forgiveness.
Presenter: Fred B. Craddock
The Gospel of Luke presents Jesus as prophet, teacher, preacher, and healer
and records some of his stories that are preserved nowhere else. Luke
sets Jesus’ life within the Judaism of his day and states his mission in the
Old Testament terms of Isaiah. Luke chronicles Jesus’ prayer life; his calls
for justice, mercy, and fairness; his concern for the poor, the halt, the
lame, and the blind as Kingdom people; and his inclusion of women as
helpers and disciples alongside the men. According to Luke, the word
that the risen Christ wants preached to all people everywhere is both a
call for repentance and an offer of forgiveness.
Session 21 class is Feb 13 at 1 pm.
Just a reminder that the Session 21 class (on The Gospel of Luke) is being held on Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 1 pm in Fellowship Hall. Grab some lunch after the 11 am church service and come back for Disciple Study.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Video Segment 20 Summary (February 7, 2011 class)
Segment 20: The Hidden Messiah
Presenter: Dal Joon Won
The faith journey of the disciples from their call to their final
understanding of Jesus as Messiah included three stages: trying but failing
to understand the real mission of Messiah; realizing that Jesus is the
Messiah but continuing to misunderstand the nature of his messiahship
as the suffering Son of Man; and seeing the cost of following a suffering
Messiah as too high. The hidden Messiah was revealed in God’s true
power and glory to the women who went to the tomb. Discipleship happens
only when one accepts the suffering nature of the hidden Messiah.
Presenter: Dal Joon Won
The faith journey of the disciples from their call to their final
understanding of Jesus as Messiah included three stages: trying but failing
to understand the real mission of Messiah; realizing that Jesus is the
Messiah but continuing to misunderstand the nature of his messiahship
as the suffering Son of Man; and seeing the cost of following a suffering
Messiah as too high. The hidden Messiah was revealed in God’s true
power and glory to the women who went to the tomb. Discipleship happens
only when one accepts the suffering nature of the hidden Messiah.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Video Segment 19 Summary (January 31, 2011 class)
Segment 19: Mounting Controversy
Presenter: Leander E. Keck
After the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the leaders of the Pharisees
began to consolidate Judaism in the synagogues. Jewish Christians
emphasized Jesus’ own tensions with the Pharisees in order to find
their identity apart from the synagogues. The church’s tension with
the synagogue was stronger than the tension between the Pharisees and
Jesus had been. Two factors separated Jesus and the Pharisees:
Jesus was concerned about whether an act was right or just, not whether
a law had been violated, which meant going behind the law to
God’s will. And Jesus acted as if he knew what God’s will was.
Presenter: Leander E. Keck
After the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the leaders of the Pharisees
began to consolidate Judaism in the synagogues. Jewish Christians
emphasized Jesus’ own tensions with the Pharisees in order to find
their identity apart from the synagogues. The church’s tension with
the synagogue was stronger than the tension between the Pharisees and
Jesus had been. Two factors separated Jesus and the Pharisees:
Jesus was concerned about whether an act was right or just, not whether
a law had been violated, which meant going behind the law to
God’s will. And Jesus acted as if he knew what God’s will was.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Feb 14 class
As I mentioned before, Lisa and I have plans on Feb 14, so we need to move the class that week. How about moving it back a day to Sunday, Feb 13, and doing it in the early afternoon maybe 1 to 2:30 pm?
Posted from Blogium for iPhone
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Video Segment 18 Summary (January 24, 2011 class)
Segment 18: Radical Discipleship
Presenter: Leander E. Keck
According to Matthew, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament
hope. In Matthew the central theme of Jesus’ teaching is
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus and
Matthew use repentance to mean turning around, turning life
Godward. John the Baptist called people to repent in order to be
ready for the Kingdom. Jesus called people to repent in response
to the Kingdom. Jesus used parables to tell a story that could open
up some aspect of God’s kingdom.
Presenter: Leander E. Keck
According to Matthew, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament
hope. In Matthew the central theme of Jesus’ teaching is
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus and
Matthew use repentance to mean turning around, turning life
Godward. John the Baptist called people to repent in order to be
ready for the Kingdom. Jesus called people to repent in response
to the Kingdom. Jesus used parables to tell a story that could open
up some aspect of God’s kingdom.
Friday, January 14, 2011
February 14 class?
Hi,
It's a little ways off still, but Lisa and I will not be able to attend the February 14, 2011 class. It's Valentine's Day, and we have tickets to see Boz Scaggs at the Bass. So, we can either take this week off, or we can move the class to another night. Think about it (that is, assuming anyone actually reads this blog :-).
It's a little ways off still, but Lisa and I will not be able to attend the February 14, 2011 class. It's Valentine's Day, and we have tickets to see Boz Scaggs at the Bass. So, we can either take this week off, or we can move the class to another night. Think about it (that is, assuming anyone actually reads this blog :-).
Video Segment 17 Summary (January 17, 2011 class)
Segment 17: The Time of Transition
Presenter: Robert Mulholland, Jr.
During the time between the end of the Old Testament and the
beginning of the New Testament, synagogue and Torah instruction
became the center of Jewish life. Hellenistic culture influenced the
ruling aristocracy of the Jews, resulting in the Maccabean revolt.
Three groups emerged during the Hasmonean independence: Essenes,
Pharisees, Sadducees. By the end of Hasmonean rule, the Torah, the
Prophets, and the Writings had become authoritative for the Jews.
Messianic expectations among Jews ran high during the period of
Roman rule. Subordination to foreign powers prepared the way for
rabbinic Judaism and Christianity.
Presenter: Robert Mulholland, Jr.
During the time between the end of the Old Testament and the
beginning of the New Testament, synagogue and Torah instruction
became the center of Jewish life. Hellenistic culture influenced the
ruling aristocracy of the Jews, resulting in the Maccabean revolt.
Three groups emerged during the Hasmonean independence: Essenes,
Pharisees, Sadducees. By the end of Hasmonean rule, the Torah, the
Prophets, and the Writings had become authoritative for the Jews.
Messianic expectations among Jews ran high during the period of
Roman rule. Subordination to foreign powers prepared the way for
rabbinic Judaism and Christianity.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Video Segment 16 Summary (January 10, 2010 class)
Segment 16: People Hope for a Savior
Presenter: Jorge A. González
The author of Daniel sets the story in the period of the Babylonian
exile to draw parallels between the story of Daniel and the time in
which the book is being written. Apocalypticism, characterized by
symbolic language and the division of history into present and future
ages, provides the theme and the literary form for the Book of
Daniel. The book is structured into six dreams and four visions. It
includes the theological ideas of resurrection of the body and hope
for a Messiah and the expectation that the present age will soon end.
Presenter: Jorge A. González
The author of Daniel sets the story in the period of the Babylonian
exile to draw parallels between the story of Daniel and the time in
which the book is being written. Apocalypticism, characterized by
symbolic language and the division of history into present and future
ages, provides the theme and the literary form for the Book of
Daniel. The book is structured into six dreams and four visions. It
includes the theological ideas of resurrection of the body and hope
for a Messiah and the expectation that the present age will soon end.
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