Read the various accounts of the institution of Holy Communion (1 Cor 11:23-25; Matt 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:15-20; John 6:48-58). What is different about each account? More importantly, what is the same?
Martin Luther talks about Holy Communion as a tangible sign of the promise that we have from God that He has given Himself for us. Think of a time that you were given or gave someone else a tangible sign of a promise? How did/does seeing or touching this sign help you to trust the promise?
What is the difference between believing that Jesus is the Son of God who rose from the dead and believing that Jesus is the Son of God who rose from the dead for you?
What is the difference between believing that God is present everywhere and that God is present for you in the bread and wine of Holy Communion? Does this distinction change how approach / perceive Holy Communion? (Consider Martin Luther’s explanation of Holy Communion in the Small Catechism, p. 17 in Communion Handbook)
What did Jesus’ friends “bring to the table” when they gathered with Jesus for the institution of the Communion meal? (See pp. 2-6 in Communion Handbook) What do we bring to the table when we come to receive Holy Communion?
What (if anything) does God ask/require of us to bring to the Communion table?
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Romans 15:14-16:27 for 3/18
What have you learned about God from our study of Romans?
What have you learned about our relationship as the Body of Christ?
If you take Paul’s words in Romans seriously, what would change in your life? In your ministry? What is God calling you to do / say?
Read Paul’s final instructions in Romans 16:17-18. How might we hold these words in tension with the commandment to love our neighbor and not to judge? How do these words inform how we might live into these first two commandments in the “real world”?
Why do you think Paul mentions so many people in such rapid succession at the end of this letter? What might it have accomplished?
Notice the roles of women that Paul mentions in chapter 16. Compare this to 1 Cor 14:33-36 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12. What do you make of this?
What have you learned about Christian Ethics from Paul’s letter to the Romans? What does this mean for your own moral living? Your relationships with others?
What have you learned about our relationship as the Body of Christ?
If you take Paul’s words in Romans seriously, what would change in your life? In your ministry? What is God calling you to do / say?
Read Paul’s final instructions in Romans 16:17-18. How might we hold these words in tension with the commandment to love our neighbor and not to judge? How do these words inform how we might live into these first two commandments in the “real world”?
Why do you think Paul mentions so many people in such rapid succession at the end of this letter? What might it have accomplished?
Notice the roles of women that Paul mentions in chapter 16. Compare this to 1 Cor 14:33-36 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12. What do you make of this?
What have you learned about Christian Ethics from Paul’s letter to the Romans? What does this mean for your own moral living? Your relationships with others?
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Romans 12:1-15:13 for March 11, 2010
This section of Romans might be described as Paul’s primer on Christian Ethics. Note that it comes only after Paul has described in depth God’s relationship with humanity. How does what God has done in Christ Jesus effect how we are to live as Christians?
If we took Romans 1-11 seriously, how would it change how we live? Our ethics and behavior?
The Greek verb “be transformed” in 12:2 indicates an ongoing behavior. In what ways have you already experienced the Spirit’s transformation (e.g. baptism)? In what ways is the Spirit’s work an ongoing action in your life?
Romans 12:9-13 is frequently used in marriage services. In what ways do your closest personal relationships reflect the way in which we are called to be in relationship with the whole body of Christ? Is it easier to “let love be genuine” in these more intimate relationships or in the broader sense to which Paul is speaking? How might your behavior change if you took Paul’s words seriously among both groups?
Romans 13:1-7 has often been used by those in power to maintain their position and by those under repressive regimes to maintain the status quo. Do you think this is an appropriate use? Why or why not? Why might Paul have written these words and how do you think he intended them? (Pay particular attention to the role of God and the use of the term “due”)
Read Paul’s words in Romans 14 again. Consider these questions from the Lutheran Study Bible notes: “How can Christians with differing views be a part of the same church? What can you do to build up the church?” Is “mutual upbuilding” always possible? In our current church situation, how might we pursue this goal?
In what ways does / has “the encouragement of the scriptures” given you hope? (Romans 15:4)
If we took Romans 1-11 seriously, how would it change how we live? Our ethics and behavior?
The Greek verb “be transformed” in 12:2 indicates an ongoing behavior. In what ways have you already experienced the Spirit’s transformation (e.g. baptism)? In what ways is the Spirit’s work an ongoing action in your life?
Romans 12:9-13 is frequently used in marriage services. In what ways do your closest personal relationships reflect the way in which we are called to be in relationship with the whole body of Christ? Is it easier to “let love be genuine” in these more intimate relationships or in the broader sense to which Paul is speaking? How might your behavior change if you took Paul’s words seriously among both groups?
Romans 13:1-7 has often been used by those in power to maintain their position and by those under repressive regimes to maintain the status quo. Do you think this is an appropriate use? Why or why not? Why might Paul have written these words and how do you think he intended them? (Pay particular attention to the role of God and the use of the term “due”)
Read Paul’s words in Romans 14 again. Consider these questions from the Lutheran Study Bible notes: “How can Christians with differing views be a part of the same church? What can you do to build up the church?” Is “mutual upbuilding” always possible? In our current church situation, how might we pursue this goal?
In what ways does / has “the encouragement of the scriptures” given you hope? (Romans 15:4)
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