As we move further into considering McKnight's proposals about the Jesus Creed,
it seems fair to ask: Do you think memorizing and repetition of a text
can have an impact on how you live out your faith? That is, while
simply memorizing something is hardly living by it, is there any
relevance in memorizing and reciting routinely something like the Lord's
Prayer or the Jesus Creed?
"'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
There is no commandment greater than these."
IF
spiritual formation is as McKnight suggests "about relationship -- with
God and with others," then on what principles of faith are your
relationships built?
~*~*~
Chapter 16: Matthew 23:8-12; Mark 5:24-34; Luke 5:12-16. "The Jesus Creed empowers us to restore people to the community." How have you been a part of breaking down walls that separate humans from God and from others? How is healing related to community restoration? Imagine a "kingdom society" in which the "classified" are "de-classified" and welcomed equally to the table of fellowship, where unequal classifications are eliminated. What differences might be noticed in our community if such a kingdom society were available?
Chapter 17: John 2:1-11. "Humans yearn for the deep joy that comes from loving God and loving others." What does it mean to yearn? For what do you yearn in this faith gathering? In this community? In life? What might CS Lewis model for us in how he understood his life as the pursuit of joy? Do the things you yearn for point you toward loving God and loving others?
Chapter
18: Mark 14:25; Matthew 25:31-46. "Living the Jesus Creed means having a perspective on life in light of the final kingdom, a kingdom noted especially by fellowship with the Abba (love for God) and with God's people (love for others)." What do you imagine heaven looks like? What does Jesus say the final kingdom will be like. How do our perceptions of heaven shape how we live now? How do you build relationships with God and with others in anticipation of a forever community?
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Part Three, A: The Society of The Jesus Creed
As we move further into considering McKnight's proposals about the Jesus Creed, it seems fair to ask: Do you think memorizing and repetition of a text can have an impact on how you live out your faith? That is, while simply memorizing something is hardly living by it, is there any relevance in memorizing and reciting routinely something like the Lord's Prayer or the Jesus Creed?
"'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
There is no commandment greater than these."
IF spiritual formation is as McKnight suggests "about relationship -- with God and with others," then on what principles of faith are your relationships built?
~*~*~
Chapter 13: Matthew 6:10; 11:28-30; Luke 17:20-21; Mark 3:31-35. "The kingdom of God is the society where the Jesus Creed transforms life. That kingdom has arrived in Jesus." How do you think the word "kingdom" relates to the apostle Paul's favorite term "church?" Are they the same? What part will you play in a society where the Jesus Creed is part of creating God's kingdom in our church? In our neighborhood? In our community?
Chapter 14: Matthew 13:31-32. "Jesus' model for the kingdom of God is the mustard seed: a seed that grows among the unlikely, from person to person, and among the peaceful and patient." Think about how God's work often moves slowly through the most (seemingly) insignificant ways. Can you identify those in our community? How are YOU a mustard seed in your family, neighborhood and community? How are WE at First Congregational a mustard seed in our community?
Chapter 15: Luke 4:16-30; 6:20-26. "The society of the kingdom is a society that pursues justice because it loves God and others." How are justice and the Jesus Creed related. Do you know of someone who lives out the Jesus Creed by pursuing justice? How is "justice" important to Jesus? What does "justice" mean to you? What would "justice" look like if it were defined by the Jesus Creed? What do "restitution" and "restoration" have to do with justice?
"'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
There is no commandment greater than these."
IF spiritual formation is as McKnight suggests "about relationship -- with God and with others," then on what principles of faith are your relationships built?
~*~*~
Chapter 13: Matthew 6:10; 11:28-30; Luke 17:20-21; Mark 3:31-35. "The kingdom of God is the society where the Jesus Creed transforms life. That kingdom has arrived in Jesus." How do you think the word "kingdom" relates to the apostle Paul's favorite term "church?" Are they the same? What part will you play in a society where the Jesus Creed is part of creating God's kingdom in our church? In our neighborhood? In our community?
Chapter 14: Matthew 13:31-32. "Jesus' model for the kingdom of God is the mustard seed: a seed that grows among the unlikely, from person to person, and among the peaceful and patient." Think about how God's work often moves slowly through the most (seemingly) insignificant ways. Can you identify those in our community? How are YOU a mustard seed in your family, neighborhood and community? How are WE at First Congregational a mustard seed in our community?
Chapter 15: Luke 4:16-30; 6:20-26. "The society of the kingdom is a society that pursues justice because it loves God and others." How are justice and the Jesus Creed related. Do you know of someone who lives out the Jesus Creed by pursuing justice? How is "justice" important to Jesus? What does "justice" mean to you? What would "justice" look like if it were defined by the Jesus Creed? What do "restitution" and "restoration" have to do with justice?
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Part Two: Stories of The Jesus Creed
McKnight considers this the Jesus Creed:
"'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
There is no commandment greater than these."
He uses this to define spiritual formation: "Spiritual formation is about relationship--with God and with others" (Prologue) McKnight also poses a principle of such spiritual growth in each chapter. See the previous post for Part One (chapters 1-6). This time I've also included the scripture texts to give context for those not reading the book itself!
~*~*~
Chapter 7: Luke 3:1-20; John 1:6-9, 15, 19-34. "Life begins all over when we tell God the truth about ourselves." How was the baptism of John the baptizer a "communication event?" How is John's baptism like crossing over the Jordan River? Listen to the voice of John who calls us to confess our sins; to the voice of Jesus who invites us to join him in the river; to the voice of the Spirit who searches our hearts; and to the voice of God who longs for us to tell the truth about ourselves.
Chapter 8: Matthew 1:18-25. "What God thinks of us (our identity) is far more important than what others think of us (our reputation)." Identify how Joseph faced a calling from God that would alter his reputation. Think of a time in your life when reputation and identity were in conflict. How does a group--say, our congregation--worry about reputation and struggle with genuine identity? Imagine how the challenge of reputation and identity might work in the realities of your own immediate future ... our immediate future. Commit your reputation to God so that your identity in following Jesus shapes your life.
Chapter 9: Luke 1:46-55; Psalm 149. "Each of us has a vocation from God that lets our life speak." What is it God made you to be and to do? Consider this: "Let the Church remember this: that every maker and every worker is called to serve God in his[her] profession or trade--not outside it (Dorothy Sayers, Creed or Chaos?). What is the difference between a job and a vocation? Listen to God's promptings for how your life can be used by God. Imagine God using you in concrete ways.
Chapter 10: Luke 5:1-11. "Conversion to Jesus, however suddenly it may begin, is a life-long process of gentle nods of the soul's surrender to the Abba, a process in which the person's surrender becomes increasingly public." Reflect on how "conversion" is a series of gentle (or noisy!) nods of the soul, for yourself and for others. How has your life been in ongoing transformation? What will it take for your life to be a continual "conversion?"
Chapter 11: Mark 10:25-45; Luke 9:49-56; John 13. "The Jesus Creed calls us to love, but love takes time." How did the apostle John learn to love? Why is it important to understand Christian growth as a process of growing in love? How have you grown in love? Listen to what the Spirit is saying to you about love, about your life of learning to love, and about your need to grow. Commit to loving others today.
Chapter 12: Luke 7:11-17; 36-50; 8:1-3. "Compassion is a cycle of God's love for us and our love for others." How is Jesus compassionate to those in need? What are the key features of compassion? How have you received compassion from others? When have you been compassionate to others? Who are "in need" of compassion? Why is compassion both so hard to show and so satisfying when we actually show it to those in need? What is the Spirit saying to you about showing compassion to those in need?
"'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
There is no commandment greater than these."
He uses this to define spiritual formation: "Spiritual formation is about relationship--with God and with others" (Prologue) McKnight also poses a principle of such spiritual growth in each chapter. See the previous post for Part One (chapters 1-6). This time I've also included the scripture texts to give context for those not reading the book itself!
~*~*~
Chapter 7: Luke 3:1-20; John 1:6-9, 15, 19-34. "Life begins all over when we tell God the truth about ourselves." How was the baptism of John the baptizer a "communication event?" How is John's baptism like crossing over the Jordan River? Listen to the voice of John who calls us to confess our sins; to the voice of Jesus who invites us to join him in the river; to the voice of the Spirit who searches our hearts; and to the voice of God who longs for us to tell the truth about ourselves.
Chapter 8: Matthew 1:18-25. "What God thinks of us (our identity) is far more important than what others think of us (our reputation)." Identify how Joseph faced a calling from God that would alter his reputation. Think of a time in your life when reputation and identity were in conflict. How does a group--say, our congregation--worry about reputation and struggle with genuine identity? Imagine how the challenge of reputation and identity might work in the realities of your own immediate future ... our immediate future. Commit your reputation to God so that your identity in following Jesus shapes your life.
Chapter 9: Luke 1:46-55; Psalm 149. "Each of us has a vocation from God that lets our life speak." What is it God made you to be and to do? Consider this: "Let the Church remember this: that every maker and every worker is called to serve God in his[her] profession or trade--not outside it (Dorothy Sayers, Creed or Chaos?). What is the difference between a job and a vocation? Listen to God's promptings for how your life can be used by God. Imagine God using you in concrete ways.
Chapter 10: Luke 5:1-11. "Conversion to Jesus, however suddenly it may begin, is a life-long process of gentle nods of the soul's surrender to the Abba, a process in which the person's surrender becomes increasingly public." Reflect on how "conversion" is a series of gentle (or noisy!) nods of the soul, for yourself and for others. How has your life been in ongoing transformation? What will it take for your life to be a continual "conversion?"
Chapter 11: Mark 10:25-45; Luke 9:49-56; John 13. "The Jesus Creed calls us to love, but love takes time." How did the apostle John learn to love? Why is it important to understand Christian growth as a process of growing in love? How have you grown in love? Listen to what the Spirit is saying to you about love, about your life of learning to love, and about your need to grow. Commit to loving others today.
Chapter 12: Luke 7:11-17; 36-50; 8:1-3. "Compassion is a cycle of God's love for us and our love for others." How is Jesus compassionate to those in need? What are the key features of compassion? How have you received compassion from others? When have you been compassionate to others? Who are "in need" of compassion? Why is compassion both so hard to show and so satisfying when we actually show it to those in need? What is the Spirit saying to you about showing compassion to those in need?
Friday, February 3, 2012
Think on these for Part One
The following elements are from A Companion Guide to The Jesus Creed, also by Scot McKnight, and are aimed at giving shape to our conversations in person or in this space. As you can see, it is likely our conversations will span two weeks for each part of this text!
~*~*~
McKnight considers this the Jesus Creed:
"'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
There is no commandment greater than these."
He uses this to define spiritual formation: "Spiritual formation is about relationship--with God and with others" (Prologue) McKnight also poses a principle of such spiritual growth in each chapter.
Chapter 1: Mark 12:28-33; Luke 9:57-62. "Spiritual formation is about loving God and loving others. In particular, loving God means to follow Jesus personally." Imagine your life--with your family, with your co-workers, and with your church community--as a life dedicated to loving God and loving others. What could that life look like today? Tomorrow?
Chapter 2: Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:9-13. "The Lord's Prayer is a prayer that shapes our love for God and others." Consider some public prayers in our church community. How do they reflect the Lord's Prayer as love for God and for others?
Chapter 3: Matthew 6:9-15; Luke 15:11-32. "Abba loves us--this is the promise and the premise of spiritual formation." Mull over the joys and the difficulties you have in accepting that Abba loves you the way the world's best parent loves a child. Why does our image of God need amending as we learn more about God?
Chapter 4: Matthew 11:16-19; Mark 2:14-17; Luke 19:1-10. "At the table of fellowship with Jesus, where walls between people are broken down, we find healing, vision, and hope." Think about our congregation in terms of variety and diversity of those who gather at the table for communion. Where are the walls between people? What makes it difficult for us to be at the table together? Why are there walls between people? Are some walls good? Reflect on what might be/is different because you commit your mind to the message of the table; your heart to the fellowship of the table; your time to the people of the table; and your body to the unity of the table.
Chapter 5: Matthew 6:9-15; Luke 7:26-50; 19:1-10. "Abba is both loving and holy. Abba's love is sacred. Therefore, our love for Abba is to be sacred." Is your own love for God sacred? Does your love for God transform your words and your actions in every day life as well as when you're at church?
Chapter 6: Luke 10:25-37; Mark 12:28-34. "The Jesus Creed exhorts us, first, to love God and, second, to love others." How does the parable of the Good Samaritan deal with the dilemma of a calling and compassion for others? When have you experienced an opportunity of "whenever and wherever" love for another? Why is it difficult to show compassion?
~*~*~
McKnight considers this the Jesus Creed:
"'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
There is no commandment greater than these."
He uses this to define spiritual formation: "Spiritual formation is about relationship--with God and with others" (Prologue) McKnight also poses a principle of such spiritual growth in each chapter.
Chapter 1: Mark 12:28-33; Luke 9:57-62. "Spiritual formation is about loving God and loving others. In particular, loving God means to follow Jesus personally." Imagine your life--with your family, with your co-workers, and with your church community--as a life dedicated to loving God and loving others. What could that life look like today? Tomorrow?
Chapter 2: Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:9-13. "The Lord's Prayer is a prayer that shapes our love for God and others." Consider some public prayers in our church community. How do they reflect the Lord's Prayer as love for God and for others?
Chapter 3: Matthew 6:9-15; Luke 15:11-32. "Abba loves us--this is the promise and the premise of spiritual formation." Mull over the joys and the difficulties you have in accepting that Abba loves you the way the world's best parent loves a child. Why does our image of God need amending as we learn more about God?
Chapter 4: Matthew 11:16-19; Mark 2:14-17; Luke 19:1-10. "At the table of fellowship with Jesus, where walls between people are broken down, we find healing, vision, and hope." Think about our congregation in terms of variety and diversity of those who gather at the table for communion. Where are the walls between people? What makes it difficult for us to be at the table together? Why are there walls between people? Are some walls good? Reflect on what might be/is different because you commit your mind to the message of the table; your heart to the fellowship of the table; your time to the people of the table; and your body to the unity of the table.
Chapter 5: Matthew 6:9-15; Luke 7:26-50; 19:1-10. "Abba is both loving and holy. Abba's love is sacred. Therefore, our love for Abba is to be sacred." Is your own love for God sacred? Does your love for God transform your words and your actions in every day life as well as when you're at church?
Chapter 6: Luke 10:25-37; Mark 12:28-34. "The Jesus Creed exhorts us, first, to love God and, second, to love others." How does the parable of the Good Samaritan deal with the dilemma of a calling and compassion for others? When have you experienced an opportunity of "whenever and wherever" love for another? Why is it difficult to show compassion?
Reading and conversation timeline
The book is divided into five sections, each with six chapters of fairly short length. It is anticipated the conversations will take longer than one week per session given the nature of sharing about spiritual formation. Our hope is to move through the book into and through the Lenten season, sharing ideas about how we are transformed and transforming by living the Jesus Creed.
For February 5, participants are asked to read Part One, The Jesus Creed and the glossary of terms (page 295+).
February 12: Part Two, Stories of the Jesus Creed
February 19: Part Three, Society of the Jesus Creed
February 26: Part Four, Living the Jesus Creed
March 4: Part Five, Jesus and the Jesus Creed
Again, watch this page for more posts, questions, and the shape of the journey! Hope to see you at church or here via the your-time-anytime-anywhere-accessible web!
For February 5, participants are asked to read Part One, The Jesus Creed and the glossary of terms (page 295+).
February 12: Part Two, Stories of the Jesus Creed
February 19: Part Three, Society of the Jesus Creed
February 26: Part Four, Living the Jesus Creed
March 4: Part Five, Jesus and the Jesus Creed
Again, watch this page for more posts, questions, and the shape of the journey! Hope to see you at church or here via the your-time-anytime-anywhere-accessible web!
Our first book study this year!
The Adult Study Group at Dayton First Congregational Church-UCC is beginning to read and share conversation about The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others by
Scot McKnight. As a professor at North Park University in Chicago,
McKnight experienced his students as "hungry for spiritual formation
materials..." Based on the question "What is the greatest commandment?" asked of Jesus by one who knew Jewish Law, McKnight describes the relevance of the answer Jesus gave by reciting the Shema, the Jewish creed that instructs Israel to love God with heart, mind, soul, and strength, AND by adding to that "love your neighbor as yourself." McKnight 's hope is that readers will themselves be transformed by new understandings of what it means to love God and to love others.
The Adult Study Group meets on Sunday mornings at 9:30 at the church. We're located at 214 S. 3rd Street in Dayton. If you're unable to participate in those conversations, feel free to add thoughts here! If you have questions, please email Pastor Marj. To learn more about our congregational life, please visit our website.
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