Transcript How the Bible Came to Us: Its Writing, Use, and Authority

SESSION 1:
GO...THE GREAT COMMISSION
GO
RLC’s theme for the coming year
We continue to CONNECT and GROW through
reflection on what it means to be a Christian
servant.
As God’s baptized children we experience the new
FREEDOM we have in Christ to love and serve all of
God’s children and all of God’s creation.
Empowered by the Risen Christ, we are SENT into
the world to baptize and teach in Christ’s name and
with Christ’s presence.
Overview of Sessions
Session 1: September 14: “Go…in the Name of the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit”
Promise and power for Christian discipleship in the name of God
Session 2: September 21: “Go..and Learn what this Means: Mercy and
not Sacrifice”
We Go with God’s message of mercy and forgiveness
Session 3: September 28: “Go…as Trustworthy and Wise
Servants”
Faithful and wise Service makes good use of the resources we have been given
Session 4: October 5: “Go…and I am with you to the end”
Responsible service tests our creativity and faithfulness in our use of God’s gifts
The Christian Life:
A Journey and a Center
CONNECT
in Christ
with one another and the world
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation:
everything old has passed away; see, everything has
become new! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us
to himself through Christ, and has given us the
ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was
reconciling the world to himself, not counting their
trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of
reconciliation to us. 20 So we are ambassadors for
Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we
entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
(2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
GROW
in Christ
with one another and the world
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and
strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and
also members of his household, 20 built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ
Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the
whole building is joined together and rises to become a
holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are
being built together to become a dwelling in which
God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
SERVE
in Christ
serving one another and the world
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that
are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you
gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you
gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in
prison and you visited me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer
him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you
food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when
was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked
and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick
or in prison and visited you?' 40 And the king will answer them,
'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who
are members of my family, you did it to me.' (Matthew 25:34-40)
GO
in Christ ‘s Name
In mission to one another and the world
Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to
you while I was still with you-- that everything written
about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms
must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds to
understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, "Thus it
is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the
dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and
forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all
nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of
these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my
Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have
been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:44-49)
GO
CONNECT
SERVE
GROW
A Journey of Faithful Companionship with
the Scriptures:
We Go! Empowered by the Promises of God
The Bible is our Norm because of what it does.
We read as ones called into being by the Word of God
We read expecting that God will continue to do so again
The Bible is a book that does what God wants it to do: a book
that affects us, that transforms us, because it reveals Christ to
us and draws us into a living relationship with Jesus Christ
who is risen from the dead….The Bible opens the very heart of
God to us. It shows us what God has done for us—what God
still does for us—what God always will do for us.” (Powell,
Opening the Book of Faith)
“
• God's Word is never abstract truths, but
addressed to specific situations
• Authority and Interpretation: Dynamic not
Static: Read/Study-Listen/Understand
• Living with Ambiguity
• Living with Diversity
• Hearing new Word for new occasions
GO! BIBLICAL IMAGES
A LIVING LORD
A RESURRECTION PEOPLE
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man,
dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side;
and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them,
"Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of
Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised;
he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid
him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he
is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will
see him, just as he told you." (Mark 16:5-7)
Then he opened their minds to understand the
scriptures, 46 and he said to them, "Thus it is
written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from
the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance
and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his
name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48
You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am
sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay
here in the city until you have been clothed with
power from on high." (Luke 24:45-49)
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord,
is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to
Israel?" 7 He replied, "It is not for you to know the times
or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in
all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9
When he had said this, as they were watching, he was
lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While
he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven,
suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They
said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up
toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from
you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw
him go into heaven." (Acts 1:6-11)
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week,
and the doors of the house where the disciples had met
were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood
among them and said, "Peace be with you."
20 After he said this, he
showed them his hands and
his side. Then the disciples
rejoiced when they saw the
Lord. 21 Jesus said to them
again, "Peace be with you. As
the Father has sent me, so I
send you." 22 When he had
said this, he breathed on
them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit. (John
20:19-22)
GO MAKES DISCIPLES…
THE GREAT COMMISSION
A THEME FOR RLC YEAR OF “GO”
MATTHEW 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority
in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching
them to obey everything that I have commanded
you. And remember, I am with you always, to the
end of the age."
Framing the Good News
She will bear a son, and you are
to name him Jesus, for he will save
his people from their sins." 22 All this took place
to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord
through the prophet: 23 "Look, the virgin shall
conceive and bear a son, and they shall name
him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."
(Matthew 1:21-23)
And remember, I am with you
always, to the end of the age.
Framing the Commission
All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me.
Therefore….Go
And remember, I am with you always, to the
end of the age
Focusing the Commission
Make disciples:
Baptize: in the name of Father, Son, Holy Spirit
And when Jesus had been baptized,
just as he came up from the water, suddenly
the heavens were opened to him and he saw
the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved,
with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty
acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous
light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's
people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have
received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Teach: all that I have instructed
"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"
37 He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38
This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a
second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40
On these two commandments hang all the law and the
prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40)
All Authority Given to Me
Go..
Baptize…
Teach….
I Am with you Always
Coming and Going:
The Double Direction of
Discipleship
All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and
no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows
the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son
chooses to reveal him. 28 "Come to me, all you that are
weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you
rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
(Matthew 11:27-30)
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,