Post date: Mar 08, 2014 3:54:54 AM
Session 1 explaining and practicing 2W2W
Session 2 testimony work on 2W2W (see old testimony training on
Session 3 -- Faith
A deeper examination of faith in 2W2W. Faith is about where we go with our longings (towards the broken world or towards God). We've been talking about #3 as being caught in #2 as we long for #1. We might ask what "caught" means, and one way to answer is that we are caught by a misplaced faith, by idolatry (by faith in something about #2). If we suspect (by God's provocation) that this "faith" is unlivable, unsatisfying, unworthy, or incomplete we move to #3 rather than being content with #2. True faith, on the other hand, is firmly grounded in #1 by means of Christ.
So here is a plan for unpacking it:
needs list exercise, debriefing in where we take those needs (where we place our faith)
Psalm 111 discussion -- what makes the works of God satisfying? How does the psalm, then, characterize a right response (the right kind of faith)?
NT angle -- faith is believing in, believing on, and believing that
#1, see OCOP on gdrive from last year.
#2 same
#3 see teach/christianity explained/ CE dorm talk, Kohler 1-26-00.wpd section on faith
[see original in gdoc OCOP 12-13 ]
Make a vertical list of needs and aspirations. As the group comes up with needs (usually physical needs first), do a little categorizing, and prompt with additional categories (“what about spiritual needs?”). Expand key contributions by asking for synonyms or related ideas (meaning, purpose, identity, goals)
Categories of needs & aspirations
6 areas of wellness: social, physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, occupational
the so-called “four Fs” of basic biological needs or things that drive our behavior: fighting, fleeing, feeding, and reproduction
Camille’s basic enneagram needs (ego needs?): self protection, self promotion, self provision/self rule
Hybels (community needs): love and be loved, know and be known, serve and be served, celebrate and be celebrated
Intimacy needs: to desire and be desired, hear and be heard, hold and be held, companionship (to share time, experiences), to be one with someone, to experience the mystery of another person
Debrief:
“God” or “Jesus” may be listed along with the other needs. Move God to another column on the left. God is the goal of our pursuit. We find all of these things met in Him. [write “God” on left with “abundant life in God” under it].
John 10:10 ...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. This is a purpose that Jesus states in coming. Was Jesus just referring to a quantity of life? as in “eternal life”? I think he also meant a quality of life -- “real life.”
It is sometimes hard to see how our needs are ultimately met in God, but that is where discipleship takes us. Let’s map out a couple of these trajectories:
self-esteem → esteem of others or “honor” → what we really need most: the esteem of God. “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
fun → creative aspect of fun, relational aspect of fun, freedom of regular duties aspect of fun → God’s provision for sabbath and celebration, Jesus “parties” with people → Westminster catechism: chief end of man is to love God and enjoy Him forever.
We have an option, however. We can seek to meet our needs in God or not.
We can eat nutritious food or we can eat junk food.
we can look to other people
some try the stereotypical college excesses like alcohol or sex.
This is actually a pretty good working definition of addictive behavior: we try to meet a need with a substitute that makes us feel better for a while. But when we find ourselves feeling empty later, rather than seek what is truly fulfilling we turn back to the addicting thing, compulsively rationalizing that we just need more of that.
But we know where these things lead ultimately: they lead to death [add a column to the right labelled “death”. Write above it “no God”] Our needs and aspirations either motivate us to seek abundant life in God, or they drive us to ultimate emptiness and death. A rather stark way of looking at it, but living life is a high stakes thing. Let’s call one pursuit faith, and the other idolatry.
Buechner quote from CE file on enchantment. Idolatrous faith is an empty fantasy. Buechner, Eldridge, Ortburg quotes link . "Frederick Buechner once wrote that every age has produced fairy tales. Something inside us believes, or wants to believe, that the world as we know it is not the whole story. We long for the reenchantment of reality. We hope that death is not the end, that the universe is something more than an enclosed terrarium. So we keep spinning and repeating stories that hold the promise of another world." Ortburg, p
[see original in gdoc OCOP 12-13 ]
Let’s focus in on a very important subset of our needs: purpose or meaning. This is a need that makes us goal directed. If discipleship is a deliberate pursuit of God as our goal, then maybe it would be helpful to think about what makes things meaningful to us.
Psalm 111 is about the works of God. Take a few minutes to read it. Look especially at how God’s works are described. As you look it over, jot down what makes those works of God satisfying to you in verses 2-9.
For example, in v.2 “greatness” makes things meaningful to me. The unimportant or insignificant things -- they don’t really help me find meaning. But God’s works are great: that makes them satisfying. The second half of the verse is important to me, too. I like being a student. When the subject delights me and is worthy of my study -- even if it is lofty or complex -- study of that subject is meaningful for me.
discussion points
cf. splendor with what we commonly think of as “beauty” (as in the arts)
real meaning is enduring.
v. 7. With God, the ends do not justify the means. How God does things, with faithfulness and justice, make his work meaningful.
v. 8 works that are a model standard -- “worthy of emulation” makes something meaningful
v.9 works for the good of people make them meaningful.
note idea of “covenant” is very relational. It is personal with God. Meaning is personal.
Verses 1 and 10: two responses to God, worship and fear
response of praise. The works of God satisfy our need for meaning in every way. They are the very definition of what makes things meaningful for us.
response of fear. Definition of “fear” as “heeding” -- the sovereign that we listen to above all others. If we look at “fear” this way it looks like what we mean by discipleship. The pursuit of God means that He is the one we heed above all other options. The consequences of not heeding God, the pursuit of idolatry, really is something to be feared and avoided.
A. Assumption #1: everyone has faith in something. The reason we search is because we find that faith unlivable, or unsatisfying, or unworthy, or incomplete.
B. Assumption #2: the goal of the spiritual journey is a living faith in something that is satisfying, worthy, whole:
C. believe that
1. (cognitive content, proper object, problem with vague spirituality, the "mush god"),
2. NAU Mark 15:32 "Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!" Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.
3. NAU John 20:31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
4. pisteu,ÎsÐhte o[ti
5. Al Plantinga: faith is a special case of knowledge.
D. believe in
1. (affective subject, relationship, who do you love? open up emotionally to love)
2. NAU Mark 5:36 But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe."
3. NAU John 14:1 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
4. pisteu,ete eivj (most common)
E. believe on
1. (volitional, act upon belief, commitment).
2. NAU Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
3. NRS Acts 16:31 They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
4. pi,stewj evpi. (form doesn't appear often, this is just for illustrative purposes)
F. DQ:
1. What aspects of faith can you relate to?
2. What makes faith difficult?