We've launched two Sunday morning events that both begin at 9:45: Children's Sunday School & Adult Bible Fellowship.
For the Adult Bible Fellowship the topic will be the Sunday Scripture readings. There are several things that I'm hoping that our study, reflection, and discussion of the Scripture lesson will accomplish.
Most generally, I'm trusting that worship will be more dynamic as our ability to reflect with greater depth on Scripture increases. Reading and studying the texts before the service helps prepare us to continue to hear God speak to us as the Scriptures are re-read and re-encountered in the context of God's presence with us in worship.
Most specifically, I'm hoping that this will be an opportunity for many of you to learn and practice a disciplined, methodical approach to reading, studying, understanding, and enjoying the Bible. This approach is the COMA method, also called inductive Bible study. I've introduced this method before (here's a link to that introduction).
Last week I sent an example of the COMA method at work to a few folks in the parish. Their response was favorable, so I thought I'd do the same this week and send it to everyone. In the coming weeks I'm hoping to have time on Monday or Tuesday to put this together so you'll have more time to make use of it for Sunday.
Once again, our readings for Sunday in the NRSV translation with the collect may be found at this link.
Readings for Sunday in the ESV translation will be linked to each Scripture heading. (note: I include multiple translations because no single translation is perfect, and the next best thing to learning Greek is studying with the help of multiple translations. If you're interested in even more translations available on the web, try biblegateway.com or biblestudytools.com and if you need an introduction to the differences between translations, here's a helpful, short introduction)
Amos 8:4-12
Context: Who and what is Amos? Amos is a prophet who wrote a shorter book (listed in the "Minor Prophets" (minor means "short" not "less important"). Many study Bibles have excellent introductory material. For example the ESV Study Bible has this short summary of the theme of Amos. "The theme of Amos is the universal justice of God. The Israelites clearly expected a “day of the Lord” when all their enemies would be judged (1:2–2:5). What they were not prepared for was that the judgment of that day would fall on them as well (2:6–9:10). Far from enjoying favored status, they would be held more accountable than their neighbors." There is much more that can be discussed here (the date of the writing itself, and that place that chapter 8 has in the whole of the book).
Observation: What words do you notice? What jumps out at you? In vv. 4-6, what do "those who trample on the needy" do? In vv. 7-12 what does the Lord do in response? If there was time (and there's never enough) it would be a good study to go through Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy and see what the law teaches about how the rich are to relate to the poor, especially as it relates to their common privilege of being God's people, Israel, and worshiping God together as his people. (usually in a good Bible dictionary or encyclopedia, articles on these subjects are readily available).
Meaning: In this case there is a conflict between how God's people treat other people (especially those weaker than themselves) and how they "appear" in outward forms of worship and religious life (i.e. if someone is powerful and holier than thou but meaner than the dickens). God sees through the deception and into the reality of the heart. Those who know better will be corrected. There would seem to be a special emphasis on God's correction of those who are using their positions of religious and economic power to appear righteous while breaking the law and abusing God's people.
Application: How does my devotion to God and his ways show itself in how I treat other people, especially those who are weaker or less powerful than I am? Do I know what I'm supposed to be doing? If so, am I doing it? If I know what to do but I'm not doing, am I acting like there isn't a problem, or am I seeking to repent and be changed? The challenge of applying a passage like this is the challenge of letting it speak to us about our hearts and not about "those people" that we think are worse than we are.
Psalm 138
Context: In the Psalms, we are in the hymnal of ancient Israel. Psalm 138 is attributed to David ("Of David" is in the superscription).
Observation: Verse 6 seems especially important in light of the Amos reading. In the context of this Psalm, consider how verse 6 relates verse 1, especially, "for you have exalted above all things your name and your word" (138:1b, ESV). What does God's care for the lowly (the unimportant) and his distance from the haughty (the self-important) tell us about God's name, his word, and their exaltation?
Meaning: God's character (he answers prayer, and helps those in need) meets and fills our deepest need ("do not forsake the the work of your hand").
Application: In what do I put my confidence? My own intellect (ability to "figure things out"), my own power and influence? Or do I trust, put my confidence in, God's character (his name and word) and order my intellect, power, and influence accordingly. (remember, King David had a great deal of intellect, power, and influence, but he still knew he was helpless without God).
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Context: Paul is writing to Timothy about how the Gospel of Jesus shows itself in the behavior of those who trust Jesus. Conversely, those who deny Jesus ultimately slide into moral oblivion.
Observation: This section of Paul's letter deals with corporate prayer in the church and the issues surrounding its practice in the 1st century. Who are suitable people for Christians to pray for (vv. 1-2)? Were kings and emperors friendly to Christians in the 1st century A.D.? And how are Christians to respond to and support them? What are Christians trying to accomplish by their prayers (v. 2b)? What is God's express desire for all people, and how has he made it possible (vv. 3-6)?
Meaning: There is one mediator for all people: Jesus. This fact orders our corporate prayer life as Christians, and vv. 8-10 deal with some practical details for the ordering of peaceful prayer in the Christian community.
Application: When we gather on Sundays, how do we pray in light of (1) God's desires, (2) Jesus' mediation, and (3) our own internal peace and order?
Luke 16:1-13
Context: This is another teaching during Jesus' journey to Jerusalem (which begins in Luke 9:51). The immediate context, which is the parables in Luke 15, is very important to understanding this parable the teaching that follows.
Observation: What connects this parable to the preceding chapter? (Jesus "also" said, or "Then" Jesus said) What did the manager or steward do to get into trouble? To get out of trouble? Verse 8 requires careful observation. In the first half Jesus speaks about the master's evaluation of his servant (this is not Jesus' evaluation of the servant, he's just telling us what the master thought). The second half of verse 8 is Jesus' perspective.
Meaning: In short, very short, the dishonest manger acted with knowledge and shrewdness to secure his self-interest for his immediate future. He is a son of "this world", and is acting predictably to secure his well-being in this world. Do those who are "sons of light"--children of the coming age, those who are participating in the Kingdom--do those people handle their knowledge and their assets to secure their ultimate future security in the Kingdom of the age to come? How would that do that? Reflect on Jesus' teaching in Luke 12:32-34 and Luke 14:12-14.
Application: Do we make knowledgeable and practical decisions now in light of our true happiness and real future in the Kingdom? In particular, how do we do this in light of Jesus' express teaching to bless those who curse us, pray for our enemies, and give generously with no expectation to be paid back? How shrewd are we in the ways of the Kingdom?
--
Now, there is no way to cover all of this in a 45 minute discussion. And for everybody to have a chance to share something, I recommend that each person, if possible, come to the discussion prepared to share one or two observations from one of the passages that help them understand the meaning.
If there is time, and if someone is comfortable doing so, it may be helpful and appropriate to share a personal application. Clarification: a personal application is something you personally intend to do in light of some clear knowledge of the meaning of the Bible based on careful observation. Personal application is not what any one of thinks somebody else should do.
I pray that this will be a fruitful and encouraging exercise. I know from experience that learning the COMA method seems tedious and complicated at first. But think of it like learning the rules of a card game or working on a golf swing. When the fundamentals are in place, it's much more fun to play the game. The same goes with the Bible. As we develop careful and helpful habits of Bible study, we increase our confidence and joy as we listen to words of God in order to grow in the character of God.
God bless you richly as you study his word.
Yours,
Fr Greg+
For the Adult Bible Fellowship the topic will be the Sunday Scripture readings. There are several things that I'm hoping that our study, reflection, and discussion of the Scripture lesson will accomplish.
Most generally, I'm trusting that worship will be more dynamic as our ability to reflect with greater depth on Scripture increases. Reading and studying the texts before the service helps prepare us to continue to hear God speak to us as the Scriptures are re-read and re-encountered in the context of God's presence with us in worship.
Most specifically, I'm hoping that this will be an opportunity for many of you to learn and practice a disciplined, methodical approach to reading, studying, understanding, and enjoying the Bible. This approach is the COMA method, also called inductive Bible study. I've introduced this method before (here's a link to that introduction).
Last week I sent an example of the COMA method at work to a few folks in the parish. Their response was favorable, so I thought I'd do the same this week and send it to everyone. In the coming weeks I'm hoping to have time on Monday or Tuesday to put this together so you'll have more time to make use of it for Sunday.
Once again, our readings for Sunday in the NRSV translation with the collect may be found at this link.
Readings for Sunday in the ESV translation will be linked to each Scripture heading. (note: I include multiple translations because no single translation is perfect, and the next best thing to learning Greek is studying with the help of multiple translations. If you're interested in even more translations available on the web, try biblegateway.com or biblestudytools.com and if you need an introduction to the differences between translations, here's a helpful, short introduction)
Amos 8:4-12
Context: Who and what is Amos? Amos is a prophet who wrote a shorter book (listed in the "Minor Prophets" (minor means "short" not "less important"). Many study Bibles have excellent introductory material. For example the ESV Study Bible has this short summary of the theme of Amos. "The theme of Amos is the universal justice of God. The Israelites clearly expected a “day of the Lord” when all their enemies would be judged (1:2–2:5). What they were not prepared for was that the judgment of that day would fall on them as well (2:6–9:10). Far from enjoying favored status, they would be held more accountable than their neighbors." There is much more that can be discussed here (the date of the writing itself, and that place that chapter 8 has in the whole of the book).
Observation: What words do you notice? What jumps out at you? In vv. 4-6, what do "those who trample on the needy" do? In vv. 7-12 what does the Lord do in response? If there was time (and there's never enough) it would be a good study to go through Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy and see what the law teaches about how the rich are to relate to the poor, especially as it relates to their common privilege of being God's people, Israel, and worshiping God together as his people. (usually in a good Bible dictionary or encyclopedia, articles on these subjects are readily available).
Meaning: In this case there is a conflict between how God's people treat other people (especially those weaker than themselves) and how they "appear" in outward forms of worship and religious life (i.e. if someone is powerful and holier than thou but meaner than the dickens). God sees through the deception and into the reality of the heart. Those who know better will be corrected. There would seem to be a special emphasis on God's correction of those who are using their positions of religious and economic power to appear righteous while breaking the law and abusing God's people.
Application: How does my devotion to God and his ways show itself in how I treat other people, especially those who are weaker or less powerful than I am? Do I know what I'm supposed to be doing? If so, am I doing it? If I know what to do but I'm not doing, am I acting like there isn't a problem, or am I seeking to repent and be changed? The challenge of applying a passage like this is the challenge of letting it speak to us about our hearts and not about "those people" that we think are worse than we are.
Psalm 138
Context: In the Psalms, we are in the hymnal of ancient Israel. Psalm 138 is attributed to David ("Of David" is in the superscription).
Observation: Verse 6 seems especially important in light of the Amos reading. In the context of this Psalm, consider how verse 6 relates verse 1, especially, "for you have exalted above all things your name and your word" (138:1b, ESV). What does God's care for the lowly (the unimportant) and his distance from the haughty (the self-important) tell us about God's name, his word, and their exaltation?
Meaning: God's character (he answers prayer, and helps those in need) meets and fills our deepest need ("do not forsake the the work of your hand").
Application: In what do I put my confidence? My own intellect (ability to "figure things out"), my own power and influence? Or do I trust, put my confidence in, God's character (his name and word) and order my intellect, power, and influence accordingly. (remember, King David had a great deal of intellect, power, and influence, but he still knew he was helpless without God).
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Context: Paul is writing to Timothy about how the Gospel of Jesus shows itself in the behavior of those who trust Jesus. Conversely, those who deny Jesus ultimately slide into moral oblivion.
Observation: This section of Paul's letter deals with corporate prayer in the church and the issues surrounding its practice in the 1st century. Who are suitable people for Christians to pray for (vv. 1-2)? Were kings and emperors friendly to Christians in the 1st century A.D.? And how are Christians to respond to and support them? What are Christians trying to accomplish by their prayers (v. 2b)? What is God's express desire for all people, and how has he made it possible (vv. 3-6)?
Meaning: There is one mediator for all people: Jesus. This fact orders our corporate prayer life as Christians, and vv. 8-10 deal with some practical details for the ordering of peaceful prayer in the Christian community.
Application: When we gather on Sundays, how do we pray in light of (1) God's desires, (2) Jesus' mediation, and (3) our own internal peace and order?
Luke 16:1-13
Context: This is another teaching during Jesus' journey to Jerusalem (which begins in Luke 9:51). The immediate context, which is the parables in Luke 15, is very important to understanding this parable the teaching that follows.
Observation: What connects this parable to the preceding chapter? (Jesus "also" said, or "Then" Jesus said) What did the manager or steward do to get into trouble? To get out of trouble? Verse 8 requires careful observation. In the first half Jesus speaks about the master's evaluation of his servant (this is not Jesus' evaluation of the servant, he's just telling us what the master thought). The second half of verse 8 is Jesus' perspective.
Meaning: In short, very short, the dishonest manger acted with knowledge and shrewdness to secure his self-interest for his immediate future. He is a son of "this world", and is acting predictably to secure his well-being in this world. Do those who are "sons of light"--children of the coming age, those who are participating in the Kingdom--do those people handle their knowledge and their assets to secure their ultimate future security in the Kingdom of the age to come? How would that do that? Reflect on Jesus' teaching in Luke 12:32-34 and Luke 14:12-14.
Application: Do we make knowledgeable and practical decisions now in light of our true happiness and real future in the Kingdom? In particular, how do we do this in light of Jesus' express teaching to bless those who curse us, pray for our enemies, and give generously with no expectation to be paid back? How shrewd are we in the ways of the Kingdom?
--
Now, there is no way to cover all of this in a 45 minute discussion. And for everybody to have a chance to share something, I recommend that each person, if possible, come to the discussion prepared to share one or two observations from one of the passages that help them understand the meaning.
If there is time, and if someone is comfortable doing so, it may be helpful and appropriate to share a personal application. Clarification: a personal application is something you personally intend to do in light of some clear knowledge of the meaning of the Bible based on careful observation. Personal application is not what any one of thinks somebody else should do.
I pray that this will be a fruitful and encouraging exercise. I know from experience that learning the COMA method seems tedious and complicated at first. But think of it like learning the rules of a card game or working on a golf swing. When the fundamentals are in place, it's much more fun to play the game. The same goes with the Bible. As we develop careful and helpful habits of Bible study, we increase our confidence and joy as we listen to words of God in order to grow in the character of God.
God bless you richly as you study his word.
Yours,
Fr Greg+
