Transcript FOR THE LOVE OF GOD - Centenary College of Louisiana

SESSION TWO: WHAT CHRIST COMMANDS
Centering Moment
 How are Christians to be in the world but not of it?
 What tempts you to forget Christ’s command to love
one another?
 Can anything that pulls us from the life of Christian
discipleship be considered a force of evil, or
“antichrist”?
A Contemplative Exegesis
 To “exegete” a text means to pull something from it.
 Literally hundreds of exegetical methods exist for
studying the Bible.
 A contemplative exegesis invites you to rely on your
own experiences and the work of the Holy Spirit to
extract meaning from Scripture.
 Of course, a bit of scholarship only enhances the
experience!
 When done as a community, expect wonderful, new
insights to emerge.
A Contemplative Exegesis
 Ask several persons with different versions of the New
Testament to read aloud I John 2:15-17.
 What key words or ideas came to your mind as you
heard the text read? Let’s make a list.
A Contemplative Exegesis
 Most Biblical scholars look at this passage as a way the
writer wishes to characterize the opposition; that is,
another group of persons who seem to believe the love
of the world and our desire of its offerings is a good
thing.
 Since I John is not written as a letter, scholars struggle
to understand the context of these words. Did such an
oppositional group really exist or is the writer creating
a group as a rhetorical example of the struggle all of us
feel?
A Contemplative Exegesis
 If the second idea is true, I wonder:
 What “desires of the world” do you feel pull on you?
 Let’s make another list, but be ready to add a bit of
explanation about your comments, to encourage a
conversation to emerge.
 Ask several persons with different versions of the New
Testament to read aloud I John 2:18-21.
 What key words or ideas came to your mind as you
heard the text read? Let’s make a list.
A Contemplative Exegesis
 Biblical scholars have noticed many interesting things
about this part of I John. First, did you hear the sense
of urgency at the beginning of the text: “it is the last
hour”? The writer believes the end of time is at
hand…or at least wants the reader or listener to believe
it to be so.
 Second, the writer reminds the audience that
“antichrist” (in the Greek, more of a condition than a
person; notice in the NRSV the article “the” is
missing), the time of final challenges, is at hand.
A Contemplative Exegesis
 Third, it seems a group of persons that once belonged to
this community—the ones who thought the pleasures of
the world were to celebrated—left but still pose a serious
threat.
 Fourth, in :20 the word usually translated into English as
“anointed” appears. In Greek, the term is chrism, very
similar to Christos or, in English, Christ. It is thought
perhaps this references a forgotten ritual of anointing
members of this Christian community with oil to recognize
their membership (or “knowledge”) of the community. So a
problem arises: what about those who left? Were they not,
too, anointed? This idea of anointing is repeated twice in
2:27, so it seems important.
A Contemplative Exegesis
 You have been baptized in the name of the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit. I wonder:
 What might make one’s baptism null and void?
 Let’s make another list and discuss ideas as they emerge.
 Feel free to raise related questions as they come to your
heart and mind. For instance, can persons actually
become unredeemable?
A Contemplative Exegesis
 When you witness a baptism, you promise:
 “With God’s help we will so order our lives after the
example of Christ that, surrounded by steadfast love,
you may be established in the faith, and confirmed and
strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.” (from
Sacrament of Baptism, Hymn Book).
 Think about this promise we make every time we bear
witness to a baptism. What aspects of our lives might
stand in our way of fulfilling this promise? Again, let’s
make a list and discuss.
A Contemplative Exegesis
 Find another person in our learning community and
pull your chairs close to one another.
 Each one of you should complete the following
sentence: “After exploring today’s scripture, I…”.
 Spend a few moments reflecting with one another on
your responses to this method of exploring scripture.
Small Group Activity
 Read closely the following statement:
 “There are a lot of ‘missing persons’ in our world today
whose situation of poverty, injustice, and suffering
makes God weep. The missing persons are not strangers
to God, for God already has reached out to care for
them. Yet they are strangers in the world who need to
know God cares through the witness of a church that
practices a ministry of hospitality and justice on their
behalf.”
-From Just Hospitality, God’s Welcome in a World of Difference, by Letty Russell
Small Group Activity
 Imagine you are a member of the congregation to
which I John was written. How might this quotation—
and the ideas reflected in it—affect the way in which
you address those persons who had left the
congregation?
 Please find three other persons and fashion a small
group to discuss your responses to this question.
 Each small group will be asked to offer a brief report to
the group-at-large, so take some notes and decide on a
spokesperson.
Small Group Activity
 Another question for small group discussion:
 How do we move from the secure and comfortable realm
of our own beliefs and lives into fellowship with those
persons who live at physical and emotional risk who may
believe differently than ourselves?
 Each small group will be asked to offer a brief report to
the group-at-large, so take some notes and decide on a
spokesperson.
“Feeding a Group of Four”
Exercise
 Remain in your small groups.
 See Handout that is being distributed.
 Instructions: Using the items in a bag from a food
pantry, create a week’s worth of menus for a family of
four.
 Be ready to share with the larger group insights from
your experience and how it might relate to other ideas
shared in this session.
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT IV
CONGREGATIONAL REAFFIRMATION OF
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
 INTRODUCTION TO THE SERVICE
A deacon or pastor addresses the congregation:
 Brothers and sisters in Christ: Through the Sacrament
of Baptism we are initiated into Christ's holy Church.
We are incorporated into God's mighty acts of
salvation and given new birth through water and the
Spirit. All this is God's gift, offered to us without price.
Through the reaffirmation of our faith we renew the
covenant declared at our baptism, acknowledge what
God is doing for us, and affirm our commitment to
Christ's holy Church.
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT IV
CONGREGATIONAL REAFFIRMATION OF
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
RENUNCIATION OF SIN AND PROFESSION OF FAITH
Since the earliest times, the vows of the Baptismal Covenant
have consisted first of the renunciation of all that is evil and
then the profession of faith and loyalty to Christ.
The pastor addresses the congregation, and the congregation
responds with the words in bold:
On behalf of the whole Church, I ask you: Do you renounce
the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of
this world, and repent of your sin?
I do.
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT IV
CONGREGATIONAL REAFFIRMATION OF
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil,
injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?
I do.
Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his
grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church
which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?
I do.
According to the grace given to you, will you remain faithful members of
Christ's holy Church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world?
I will.
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT IV
CONGREGATIONAL REAFFIRMATION OF
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
A deacon or pastor leads the confession of faith with the
congregation responding in bold
Let us join together in professing the Christian faith as
contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments.
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of
heaven and earth.
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT IV
CONGREGATIONAL REAFFIRMATION OF
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who
was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the
Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to
the dead. On the third day he rose again; he
ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand
of the Father, and will come again to judge the
living and the dead.
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT IV
CONGREGATIONAL REAFFIRMATION OF
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic*
Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness
of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life
everlasting.
* “Catholic”, in this context, means “universal”.
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT IV
CONGREGATIONAL REAFFIRMATION OF
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
THANKSGIVING OVER THE WATER
This prayer is led by the pastor and joined by the people.
It recalls scriptural images and meanings of Holy
Baptism and is comparable to the Great Thanksgiving
at Holy Communion. All may stand as they are able.
The congregation will respond with the words in bold:
 The Lord be with you.
 And also with you.
 Let us pray.
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT IV
CONGREGATIONAL REAFFIRMATION OF
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
Eternal God:
When nothing existed but chaos, you swept across the
dark waters and brought forth light. In the days of
Noah you saved those on the ark through water. After
the flood you set in the clouds a rainbow. When you
saw your people as slaves in Egypt, you led them to
freedom through the sea. Their children you brought
through the Jordan to the land which you promised.
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT IV
CONGREGATIONAL REAFFIRMATION OF
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Tell of God's mercy
each day.
In the fullness of time you sent Jesus, nurtured in the
water of a womb. He was baptized by John and
anointed by your Spirit. He called his disciples to share
in the baptism of his death and resurrection and to
make disciples of all nations.
Declare Christ’s works to the nations, his glory
among all the people.
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT IV
CONGREGATIONAL REAFFIRMATION OF
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
 The pastor may place hands in or over the water, stir
the water, or lift the water.
Pour out your Holy Spirit, and by this gift of water call to
our remembrance the grace declared to us in our
baptism. For you have washed away our sins, and you
clothe us with righteousness throughout our lives, that
dying and rising with Christ we may share in his final
victory.
All praise to you, Eternal Father, through your Son
Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns for ever. Amen.
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT IV
CONGREGATIONAL REAFFIRMATION OF
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
REAFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Acts of reaffirmation are not acts of rebaptism. When the
congregation reaffirms the Baptismal Covenant, a deacon or
pastor may invite the people to come to the water as the pastor
says:
Remember your baptism and be thankful. Amen.
Appropriate ways persons may use the water include:
 Touching the water and making the sign of the cross on their own
foreheads;
 Scooping up the water and letting it fall back into the font;
 Scooping it over their heads, or hands, or to refresh their faces.
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT IV
CONGREGATIONAL REAFFIRMATION OF
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
After the participants have reaffirmed their baptismal covenant, The
pastor addresses those reaffirming the Baptismal Covenant:
The Holy Spirit work within you, that having been born through water
and the Spirit, you may live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Amen.
THANKSGIVING
Let us rejoice in the faithfulness of our covenant God.
We give thanks for all that God has already given us. As members of
the body of Christ and in this gathering of The United Methodist
Church, we will faithfully participate in the ministries of the
Church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and
our witness that in everything God may be glorified through
Jesus Christ.
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT IV
CONGREGATIONAL REAFFIRMATION OF
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
The pastor addresses those reaffirming the Baptismal
Covenant:
The God of all grace, who has called us to eternal glory
in Christ, establish and strengthen you by the power of
the Holy Spirit, that you may live in grace and peace.
Let us now pass the peace.
 Signs of peace may be exchanged.
 An appropriate hymn, stanza, or response may be sung.