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The Book
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Next Class: Feb 10th, 2008
Reading: 1 Samuel
Sorry about the lack of posts recently. Due to the Superbowl this weekend, class is cancelled.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Next class: Jan 13th, 6:15
Reading: Numbers
Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been quite distracted with preparation for my trip to Canada to spend Christmas with my in-laws. I'll post summaries of the last two classes soon hopefully. In the mean time, please note that the class will be taking a break for the next 3 weeks. May the light that is Christ's coming shine upon you during this blessed season!
-Scott
Monday, December 03, 2007
Next class: Dec 9th, 6:15pm
Reading: Exodus 1-19 (start with Ex 1-4, and 18)
Shifting from the stories of individuals in Genesis, we move into stories of a people being led. The Exodus stories of the Hebrews leaving Egypt is not only a powerful historical event, but also a very personal analogical one as well. We all have our own Exodus story. We've all made a transition from darkness to light. Sometimes these stories are painful, and sometimes they are joyous. As we read the story of the Exodus, let this story speak to your heart and notice when you identify with the various characters of the story. You might be suprised how much in common we have with this group of people that lived thousands of years before us.
In the last class, we recapped the stories of Abraham, Jacob and Joseph. Abraham embodied the transition from living in fear, to living out of love. Jacob embodied a transition from serving one's own will, to seeking God's will. Joseph embodied the act of living and acting out God's will for one's life. These stories build upon each other, as if they were showing us something deeper about the human experience. Then we cheated...
We skipped ahead to the beginning of Matthew 5, the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. Here we explored the Beatitudes as a model for spiritual journeys. For centuries, this wisdom has been explored, and a threefold way has been interpreted from the 9 Beatitudes:
1) Purgation - The purging of one's own ego to make room for God in their heart.
2) Illumination - Learning how to discern God's will for one's life.
3) Unity - The acting out of God's will for one's life.
What Jesus sums up so succinctly and poetically, the ancient Hebrews had used rich stories to convey. Here we see the parallels: Abraham models Purgation, Jacob models Illumination, and Joseph models Unity. This parallel is important because it reinforces that God's underlying message is the same throughout history. Whereas Jesus spoke to a culture heavily influenced by a Greek mindset of philosophy and ideas, the ancient Hebrews were a culture rich in stories of the human experience. The context and delivery for that message changes as our world changes, but the underlying truths are still relevant.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Next Class: Dec 2nd, 6:15pm
Reading: none
Before our transition to the book of Exodus, we take a small departure to review what we've read, and sneak a peek from the New Testament. The patriarchs Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph have given us models for various personal journeys. But what is the bigger picture here? This week we'll look at Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount and learn how the stories of the ancient Hebrews are echoed in the words of Jesus, and still inform us today.
As we finish out Genesis (chapters 37 through 50), we encounter the story of Joseph. This is a critical story in setting the stage for the birth of the Israelite people in Egypt. The Genesis narritive shifts gears and introduces us to the larger group of people that become the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Equally important though, is the story of the man Joseph. Unlike his forefathers Abraham and Jacob, Joseph's pivotal event is at the very beginning of his story. Just as his father Jacob started with the experience and perspective of Abraham, Joseph starts with a profound understanding of God's presence in his life and a desire to seek God's will in his life. Despite being cast out by his own family and thrown into servitude and eventually prison, Joseph lives his life seeking God's will in every moment. It is his commitment to this one goal that allows God to bless him and those around him. Recalling Gen 12:1-3, there is a clear parallel that can be drawn in this calling and blessing from God that echos from Abraham to Joseph, and Joseph models acting in unity with God's will.
In Genesis 23 through 36, we followed the story of Jacob and his great transformation. His Grandfather, Abraham, travels a journey of learning how God is present in his life. But where Abraham spends his life slowly learning this lesson, Jacob starts his journey already aware of God's presence. Jacob's journey is one of learning to surrender to God's will. It isn't until the pivotal wrestling match with God that Jacob finally surrenders (although not initially). This event is a powerful analogical statement for all of us. Jacob doesn't turn away from God. Jacob desires God's blessing. Jacob opens his heart to transformation and surrender. The results are astounding. Jacob heads to meet his brother expecting anger, but receives love. It is this journey from pursuing one's own will, to surrendering to God's will that is taught in this story of the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Sorry for the lack of updates recently. I've been extremely busy with the holidays. Normally I'd give a proper update but I wanted to get a calendar update on here while I had a chance. We're off this Sunday due to Thanksgiving.
Next classes:
* Dec 2nd, no reading necessary
* Dec 9th, Exodus 1-18
* Dec 16th, Exodus 19-20
[long break... I'll be in Canada]
* Jan 13th, Leviticus and Numbers
I'll refine these readings as the classes get closer, and will post summaries from the previous classes and previews of the upcoming classes.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Next class: Sunday, Nov 11th
Reading: Gen 23-36 (first read Gen 32:22-32)
Just as Abraham undergoes a transformation, so does his grandson Jacob undergo a transformation. This time we encounter a man who is already firmly rooted in a faith in God, but is challenged to grow beyond his narrow vision of how things should be, into an understand of God's will for his life. As you read through this section, notice how Jacob's behavior changes before and after the pivotal "wrestling match" with God. Even the way that God interacts with Jacob changes.
In Genesis 12-22, we explored the story of Abraham and the transformation of his heart by being in relationship with God. Gen 17:5 forms a pivotal point for Abraham. In addition to the name change given to him, it marks a change in how he responds to the events surrounding him. Prior to the turning point, Abraham commonly responds out of fear, avoiding conflict through clever scheming or by outright deferral to other's decisions. After his transformation, Abraham begins to respond out of love. He seeks relationships with others, takes responsibility for his actions, and attempts to honor his responsibilities to others. This transformation is brought about by being in relationship with God, and being witness to God keeping the promises He makes.
In addition, we briefly discussed the Chiastic structure of Abraham. Below is an outline of that structure:
A: Gen 12:1-3 - Call of the Lord
B: Gen 12:4-9 - Abram enters the land (Covenant confirmed)
C: Gen: 12:10-20 - Abraham lies to Pharoah
D: Gen 13 - Lot
E: Gen 14 - Abram rescues Lot
F: Gen 15 - Covenant made
X: Gen 16 - Hagar
F': Gen 17-18:15 - Covenant made
E': Gen 18:16-33 - Abram rescues Sodom
D': Gen 19 - Lot
C': Gen 20 - Abraham lies to Abimelech
B': Gen 21 - Birth of Isaac (Covenant confirmed)
A': Gen 22 - Call of the Lord confirmed
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Next session: Sunday, Nov 4th, 6:15
Reading: Genesis 12-22
Starting at Genesis 12, we move from stories of the early formation of the world, to extended stories about specific people. These stories illustrate specific people working out what it means to be in covenant relationship with God. The power of these stories is in the examples of personal transformation that happen to the people. In this first story we follow Abram, from his first call, through the end of his life.
In studying the story of Abraham, it's important to note that there is a structure at work in this story to help us even more. It follows a chiastic structure, which provides even more depth to what is already a complex story. Next session we will explore the Abraham story, look for footprints of its chiasm, and explore what meaning that structure expresses about the story overall.
Archive:
04/01/2005 - 05/01/2005
10/01/2007 - 11/01/2007
11/01/2007 - 12/01/2007
12/01/2007 - 01/01/2008
01/01/2008 - 02/01/2008
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