For our regular bible study time on Sunday 8/26, we reviewed the story of Jacob and Esau that we did a couple weeks ago. You can find the notes on that bible study here. Reviewing took up quite a bit of time. After that, we kept reading about Jacob and Esau, after Jacob takes the final blessing from Isaac that was meant for Esau.
In Genesis 28, Isaac blesses Jacob and commands him not to marry a Canaanite woman. Then he tells him to go to Paddan Aram, where his maternal grandfather lives. Esau realized this (the part about the Canaanite women) and marries one. And not just anyone, but Ishmael's daughter. You may recall that Ishmael and Isaac are half brothers. It's weird how God chooses a certain group of His people and then another line of His people become enemy nations. That's what happens with Jacob and Esau. You might say it's unfair but isn't it God's decision who to use for what purpose? Romans 9 talks about that.
But the people God uses obviously need a relationship with Him. Every person whom God uses. Even though Abraham was Isaac's father, Isaac still needed a personal relationship. The same with Jacob, later on when we study Joseph, and everyone else God uses. Despite Jacob's confusing vow to God at the end of chapter 28, God still uses him. I say confusing because it sounds as if Jacob is saying, "Hey God, if you do this for me, then I'll follow ya." It's as if he was bargaining or something. Hopefully, it was meant more as a vow as it says. Either way, God still blessed him.
Next week, we'll see what happens at the end with Jacob and Esau.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Miracle pt 2
On Sunday, August 19th, I was still gone on vacation. Students watched the remainder of Miracle, about the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team upset over the Russian team. This past Sunday (8/26) we discussed a couple more scenes.
Staying Focused on the Prize/Working Hard/Unity
Miracle- Chapter 7- Time 38:45-46:54
Shortly into training, the USA team travels to Europe to play the Norwegian team, a mediocre team. They end up tying them because they slack off (and check out girls in the stands). This infuriates Coach Herb, who puts the team on the line and skates them again...and again. In between he gives bits and pieces of why they needed to focus. The concept of playing for the team/country is much more important than any of the individual components.
QUESTIONS
1) Is the Herbie scene hard to take? Was Coach Herb too hard on his players?
2) Have you ever been part of a team where you felt the whole group was more important than each individual?
3) Do you agree when he says that "common men go nowhere. You have to be uncommon?"
SCRIPTURE Philippians 3:12-14
BIBLICAL QUESTIONS
1) Has being a Christian ever felt like running a race to you?
2) What is the end prize for Christians?
3) How can you be uncommon as a Christian?
Unity/Family
Miracle- Chapter 9 (mid)- Time 55:40-, 59:11-1:03:05
Coach Herb brings in another player, Timmy Harrer, into an already tight roster. At this point, another player still needs to be cut as it is to get down to the 20 player 1980 Olympic rules. Some of the players gather together to talk with Coach Herb about it after they play the NHL All-Stars to express that it is unfair "with one of us going home as it is." Coach Herb backs up his decision to bringing Harrer in by stating his skills as a hockey player. But that's not the point. Harrer hasn't been playing with the team from the beginning. The teammates have become a family. As a result, Coach Herb tells the players that Timmy will just help them out, and then he'll send him home.
QUESTIONS
1) Have you ever been cut from a team or group? How did that make you feel?
2) How do you think the players felt about this- adding another player when one still had to be cut? How can we view it from the coach's perspective?
3) Have you ever felt close enough to other members of a group or team like this 1980 U.S. Hockey team?
SCRIPTURE I Corinthians 12:12-30
1) How does the body of Christ need to be close like a team that has become a "family"?
2) Which body parts to you seem weaker (v. 22)?
3) Do you see what your role in this body is?
lots has happened
I was gone on vacation and then we lost power. Needless to say, youth group and time at church in general has been quite irregular for me lately. However, when I was gone on Friday 8/17, Ming filled in and talked with the youth group about prayer from Matthew 14:22-33. This is the passage where Jesus walks on water towards the disciples in the boat after praying alone on land. He then calls out to Peter to walk on the water towards Him. This blog will contain his points as well as my own.
Here's a good passage on what prayer and faith are and are not. It should be any one or more of the following things: 1) further God's kingdom, 2) glorify Him, 3) make us closer to Christ, 4) make us be more like Christ. It is meant to focus on Jesus.
But just speaking the prayer and doing nothing afterwards is not enough. We must act. It is important to note that Peter was not testing Jesus in verse 28 when he was asking Jesus if it was really Him. Instead he was responding impulsively, as he typically did. When first going out on the water, Peter was actually walking on it. But then he saw the wind, saw he began to sink. Basically he took his focus off Jesus. When we see our problems as bigger than what we think Jesus can handle, we will sink.
As I mentioned earlier, faith is focusing on Jesus. It is not looking at our environment, surroundings, past experiences, or our feelings/emotions. For Peter walking on water, his faith in Jesus at that point should not be focused on the wind, the waves, the scientific notion that people cannot walk on water, or fear. But how difficult it is to do that sometimes! In the end, no matter where we are, it is good to know that Jesus is always there when you need help the most.
Here's a good passage on what prayer and faith are and are not. It should be any one or more of the following things: 1) further God's kingdom, 2) glorify Him, 3) make us closer to Christ, 4) make us be more like Christ. It is meant to focus on Jesus.
But just speaking the prayer and doing nothing afterwards is not enough. We must act. It is important to note that Peter was not testing Jesus in verse 28 when he was asking Jesus if it was really Him. Instead he was responding impulsively, as he typically did. When first going out on the water, Peter was actually walking on it. But then he saw the wind, saw he began to sink. Basically he took his focus off Jesus. When we see our problems as bigger than what we think Jesus can handle, we will sink.
As I mentioned earlier, faith is focusing on Jesus. It is not looking at our environment, surroundings, past experiences, or our feelings/emotions. For Peter walking on water, his faith in Jesus at that point should not be focused on the wind, the waves, the scientific notion that people cannot walk on water, or fear. But how difficult it is to do that sometimes! In the end, no matter where we are, it is good to know that Jesus is always there when you need help the most.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Siblings pt 2
For our regular bible study time on Sunday (8/12/07) we studied the next siblings the Bible focuses on- Jacob and Esau. This sibling story can be found in Genesis 25:19-28:9.
Talk about another story of siblings gone wrong! Jacob and Esau were always at odds with each other, even before birth. Verse 22 says "the babies jostled each other within her." Apparently they couldn't wait. So the twin boys grow up. Esau became a hunter. Jacob stayed among the tents. Surely they had their own little fights and arguments growing up. But the Scriptures skip to this very important incident where Jacob gets Esau, who is famished one day, to give up his birthright to him in exchange for food (25:27-34). The birthright was huge! It consisted of two things that the son inherited: material possession and leadership of the family. Esau gave that up on impulse because he was starving. And the result was that he despised his birthright (25:34).
Later on we find Jacob being deceiving again to benefit over Esau (27:1-29). Isaac tells Esau to hunt some game and prepare a feast for him, so that Isaac may give his final blessing to Esau before he dies. With his mother's help, he prepares food from the flock and disguises himself as Esau. Remember from 25:28 that Isaac loved Esau, but Rebecca loved Jacob. Isaac is confused but gives the blessing to Jacob anyways. Soon after, Esau returns with the good to his father, but the blessing has already been given (27:30-40). Esau instead receives a very unfavorable blessing that includes him serving his brother, amongst other things (27:39-40).
These events do not occur without consequences. Jacob's greediness and deceitfulness to get Isaac's blessing that was intended for Esau tore the family apart. He never saw his mother, Rebecca again. He was exiled from the family and lived with his Uncle Laban. Esau wanted to kill him and that continued beyond their lives as Esau's descendents became an enemy nation.
Were Jacob's motives good? Clearly not. He did not allow God to work in His timing at all. That is something to think about. In getting what you want, are you allowing God to work in His timing? Are your motives pure? My prayer for all of us is to follow God's will and timing, at the expense of our own.
Talk about another story of siblings gone wrong! Jacob and Esau were always at odds with each other, even before birth. Verse 22 says "the babies jostled each other within her." Apparently they couldn't wait. So the twin boys grow up. Esau became a hunter. Jacob stayed among the tents. Surely they had their own little fights and arguments growing up. But the Scriptures skip to this very important incident where Jacob gets Esau, who is famished one day, to give up his birthright to him in exchange for food (25:27-34). The birthright was huge! It consisted of two things that the son inherited: material possession and leadership of the family. Esau gave that up on impulse because he was starving. And the result was that he despised his birthright (25:34).
Later on we find Jacob being deceiving again to benefit over Esau (27:1-29). Isaac tells Esau to hunt some game and prepare a feast for him, so that Isaac may give his final blessing to Esau before he dies. With his mother's help, he prepares food from the flock and disguises himself as Esau. Remember from 25:28 that Isaac loved Esau, but Rebecca loved Jacob. Isaac is confused but gives the blessing to Jacob anyways. Soon after, Esau returns with the good to his father, but the blessing has already been given (27:30-40). Esau instead receives a very unfavorable blessing that includes him serving his brother, amongst other things (27:39-40).
These events do not occur without consequences. Jacob's greediness and deceitfulness to get Isaac's blessing that was intended for Esau tore the family apart. He never saw his mother, Rebecca again. He was exiled from the family and lived with his Uncle Laban. Esau wanted to kill him and that continued beyond their lives as Esau's descendents became an enemy nation.
Were Jacob's motives good? Clearly not. He did not allow God to work in His timing at all. That is something to think about. In getting what you want, are you allowing God to work in His timing? Are your motives pure? My prayer for all of us is to follow God's will and timing, at the expense of our own.
Miracle pt 1
On Sunday (8/12/07) we started to watch the movie, Miracle, for our temporary film discussion class. This is based on the true, inspring story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that beat the seemingly invincible Russian team and won the gold medal. It is such a fantastic movie with many points to bring up. We got to the first scene for discussion which continues our idea of unity and teamwork over rivalries/dissension. We will finish the movie this Sunday (8/19) while I am gone and discuss a couple more scenes the following Sunday (8/26) when I return.
Unity/ Settling Rivalries
Miracle- beg Chapter 4- Time 17:49-23:46
The scene at the bar gives the backstory. OC has some "unfinished business" with Mac from a national championship game three years ago. This obviously caused the division between them from the get go. OC subs in a drill for another guy and hits down Mac hard. Coach Herb lets them brawl it out for awhile and then tells everyone that the divisions end right now. "Skating...passing...flow...creativity... That's what this team is about. Not old rivalries."
Questions: 1. Has there been a time where you have stepped to break up a fight or help mend a relationship or team?
Once again, personal experience is important. A lot of our discussion was based on teams and school projects the youth had worked on. We talked a bit about sports again. The swim team one of the youth were on was not the best topic, but plenty of other sports (like basketball, football, volleyball) require unity within the team.
We looked at Psalm 133 to drive the point home. It's a wonderful thing when a group of people work together for a common goal. It is like "precious oil running down the head" (used for annointing priests). Have you ever thought of unity within the church? There are many things which can divide us, but we must try to work together and "be perfectly united in mind and thought" (I Cor 1:10).
Is there someone at church or work or home that you need to settle something with to make the unity more unified? Prayerfully approach the other person(s) to settle it.
Unity/ Settling Rivalries
Miracle- beg Chapter 4- Time 17:49-23:46
The scene at the bar gives the backstory. OC has some "unfinished business" with Mac from a national championship game three years ago. This obviously caused the division between them from the get go. OC subs in a drill for another guy and hits down Mac hard. Coach Herb lets them brawl it out for awhile and then tells everyone that the divisions end right now. "Skating...passing...flow...creativity... That's what this team is about. Not old rivalries."
Questions: 1. Has there been a time where you have stepped to break up a fight or help mend a relationship or team?
Once again, personal experience is important. A lot of our discussion was based on teams and school projects the youth had worked on. We talked a bit about sports again. The swim team one of the youth were on was not the best topic, but plenty of other sports (like basketball, football, volleyball) require unity within the team.
We looked at Psalm 133 to drive the point home. It's a wonderful thing when a group of people work together for a common goal. It is like "precious oil running down the head" (used for annointing priests). Have you ever thought of unity within the church? There are many things which can divide us, but we must try to work together and "be perfectly united in mind and thought" (I Cor 1:10).
Is there someone at church or work or home that you need to settle something with to make the unity more unified? Prayerfully approach the other person(s) to settle it.
in need of a Savior
Last Friday (8/10/07) we watched Superman Returns. It's a really great movie and deals with the idea of a world needing a savior. That was our topic of discussion in the middle of the movie.
There is a scene where Superman finds Lois and asks to be interviewed. After Superman left, Lois wrote an article titled, "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman." She even won the Pulitzer for this article. Superman confronts her about this and then takes her up into the sky. "You said the world doesn't need a savior. But I hear people that need my help everyday."
The word "savior" is in the Bible almost 40 times. "Save", or some variation of it is in the Bible over 320 times. This idea of being saved is there a lot. Many of the Old Testament references were in the Psalms (i.e. Psalm 69). David and other authors cried out to God a lot for salvation from their enemies. Let's take a step back again. What is the Old Testament about (in general)? Is it not many stories of God's people forgetting about Him, God allowing the Israelites to be put into danger or some bad situation, God's people crying out to Him, God saving them (often working through a person of great faith), and God being close to His people again?
It doesn't take a genius to see this idea in the New Testament with our Savior Jesus Christ. Look at I Timothy 4:9-10. The living God is the Savior of all men. Jesus Christ, being fully God coming down as a human, put His heavenly glory on hold and lived a perfect, sinless life. He sacrificed His own life and took on the wages of everyone's sins through His death on the cross. Those of us who believe that know our citizenship is in heaven. Earth is only a temporary home. We eagerly await for our Savior to return and transform our earthly bodies into something like His (Phil 3:20-21).
Does God hear people's voices that need Him everyday like Superman? Our talks revealed yes, God does hear people in need everyday, but there are differences. For example, Superman is not everywhere at once, although he is very fast, like God is. If you saw Bruce Almighty with Jim Carrey, you may recall a scene while God grants Bruce his divine powers for a short time. Bruce checks all the e-mails to God. He gets frustrated due to the amount of e-mails so he just grants all the requests given to him. Do you think God is like that at all? Probably not. People need God and Superman in different ways. But despite the differences, the similarities are apparent as well.
How about you? Have you helped someone out in a big way? If someone comes to you with a serious problem, don't make fun of them for it. Just listen to them and try to understand. If you think God is asking you to take a couple extra steps to help them, then take courage and step forward.
related songs that come to mind:
"How to Save a Life" The Fray
"In the Light" dc Talk
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Cain and Abel
For our regular bible study hour (8/5/07) we started our siblings series after the monstrous interest shown a week earlier. So what better place to start than the very first siblings in the Bible- Cain and Abel, found in Genesis 4.
By accepting the fruit from the serpent, Adam and Eve brought sin to all human beings (Gen 3, Rom 5:12). Therefore, it should be no surprise that Cain and Abel would not get along perfectly. The sad thing is that it resulted in murder. Siblings will always fight, but this was extreme. So how did this come about?
"Abel kept flocks and Cain worked the soil" (vs. 2). When they brought their sacrifices to the Lord, God accepted Abel's but not Cain's. Why? It's not that grains or agricultural offerings were not accepted. Leviticus 2 tells us that amongst other passages. So it must be something else. Something inside Cain that God did not find acceptable with his sacrifice. Whatever happened with Cain's attitude, he just gave some of the fruits of his soil as an offering. Abel gave the fat portions of the firstborn of his flock (vs. 3-4). God's favor for one brother and not the other sparks jealousy that goes beyond what anyone could have imagined.
It started with jealousy. "God likes you more than he likes me," kind of thing. The most applicable verse to today would be verse 7. If we don't take care of the sin controlling our lives, then it will wait to tempt and consume us. Basically it will get worse. Jealousy led to anger. From anger it led to murder. And not even on impulse, but premeditated murder. In verse 8, Cain suggests that he and Abel go out to the field, and he kills him out there. But it doesn't stop there.
Five generations down the road, it gets worse. After Cain, we get Enoch, then Irad, then Mehujael, then Methushael, then Lamech. It is Lamech who will murder again for a young man wounding him, and reference God's words to Cain, found in verses 23-24. Cain was not necessarily overwhelmed by guilt for killing Abel, but atleast he had some negative feelings, if only for the punishment God gave him (vs. 11-14). But Lamech? He takes revenge into his own hands and boasts about it. "If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times."
My prayer- to be willing to let God mend our hearts to be more holy. To take care of the sin in our lives before it manifest itself into something worse through prayer and accountability.
blessings
By accepting the fruit from the serpent, Adam and Eve brought sin to all human beings (Gen 3, Rom 5:12). Therefore, it should be no surprise that Cain and Abel would not get along perfectly. The sad thing is that it resulted in murder. Siblings will always fight, but this was extreme. So how did this come about?
"Abel kept flocks and Cain worked the soil" (vs. 2). When they brought their sacrifices to the Lord, God accepted Abel's but not Cain's. Why? It's not that grains or agricultural offerings were not accepted. Leviticus 2 tells us that amongst other passages. So it must be something else. Something inside Cain that God did not find acceptable with his sacrifice. Whatever happened with Cain's attitude, he just gave some of the fruits of his soil as an offering. Abel gave the fat portions of the firstborn of his flock (vs. 3-4). God's favor for one brother and not the other sparks jealousy that goes beyond what anyone could have imagined.
It started with jealousy. "God likes you more than he likes me," kind of thing. The most applicable verse to today would be verse 7. If we don't take care of the sin controlling our lives, then it will wait to tempt and consume us. Basically it will get worse. Jealousy led to anger. From anger it led to murder. And not even on impulse, but premeditated murder. In verse 8, Cain suggests that he and Abel go out to the field, and he kills him out there. But it doesn't stop there.
Five generations down the road, it gets worse. After Cain, we get Enoch, then Irad, then Mehujael, then Methushael, then Lamech. It is Lamech who will murder again for a young man wounding him, and reference God's words to Cain, found in verses 23-24. Cain was not necessarily overwhelmed by guilt for killing Abel, but atleast he had some negative feelings, if only for the punishment God gave him (vs. 11-14). But Lamech? He takes revenge into his own hands and boasts about it. "If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times."
My prayer- to be willing to let God mend our hearts to be more holy. To take care of the sin in our lives before it manifest itself into something worse through prayer and accountability.
blessings
Being part of a team
This past Sunday (8/5/07) marks the first of five Sundays that we are adding another class in the morning. In place of Chinese class there will be a film discussion time. For the first time doing this, I focused on unity and being part of a team, using clips from Stomp the Yard and Coach Carter. Here is what we did:
Being Part of a Team/ Mending divisions
Stomp the Yard- Chapter 19 (mid)- Time 1:06:15-1:11:11
Theta Nu Thetas have been practicing hard for the national step competition for over two weeks now with little results to show. Here the main character, DJ, leads the new recruits of Theta Nu Theta in some new stepping moves that combines hip hop with traditional step moves. He trying to get the point across that their moves and body types shouldn't have to fit step. Step should fit their natural rhythm. This angers the leader and it turns into a battle between the upper classmen (prophytes) and the new recruits (neophytes). However, DJ deviates from the new steps he planned with the rest of the neophytes and they end up losing. "It's not always about you," one of the guys tells DJ. This leads DJ to approach the whole fraternity and apologize. "I just want to be part of the team." In addition, the leader of the Thetas asks DJ for help with teaching some hip-hop based moves to help the team at nationals. The importance of team over the individual is a concept that runs throughout the whole movie.
Questions: 1. Has there been a time you wanted to show off (big or small crowd)? Was it for the right motives?
2. DJ took courage and apologized to the whole team. Do you find it hard to humble yourself for the betterment of the team?
3. Is there a time that you were a part of or witnessed differences in opinion or method being resolved and it worked out for the better for both sides?
Scripture: I Cor 3:1-9
Questions:
1. As the body of Christ we are all part of a team. Has that ever crossed your mind?
2. Paul calls jealousy and quarreling, which cause the divisions, "worldly." Think of an experience on a team you've had where there were divisions and share. Were the reasons serious enough to cause divisions? Were they helpful or make the team better in any way?
3. What divisions do you know of that are going on in the church at large right now? Are the reasons for the divisions good or help the body of Christ in any way?
Unity/ One Happens to One Happens to All
Coach Carter (PG-13)- beg Ch. 7 32:41-36:08; Ch. 8 (mid) 40:55-43:23
Earlier in the movie, Timo Cruz attacks Coach Carter. After Richmond wins their first game, Cruz wants to be back on the team. However, for his past actions, Coach Carter punishes him with 2500 pushups and 1000 suicides within a week. At the end of the week, despite hours of hard work, Cruz is short and Carter asks him to leave the gym. Then Lyle steps up and says he will help finish because "if one player suffers, the whole team suffers." The rest of the team fills in as well to get Cruz back on.
Questions:
1. What did you think of Coach Carter's punishment? Was it fair?
2. Was it possible for one person to complete all of that in the time given?
3. Do you think it was hard for Lyle to step up and help Cruz?
Scripture: I Cor 12:12-26 (esp. verses 25-26)
Questions:
1. Scripture tells us that we, as Christians, are part of a whole body. Do you believe that?
2. The words in this scene are almost exactly from verse 26. How do you think this applies to the body of Christ?
3. Have you stepped up to help someone like Lyle did for Cruz? What happened? What was the result?
Being Part of a Team/ Mending divisions
Stomp the Yard- Chapter 19 (mid)- Time 1:06:15-1:11:11
Theta Nu Thetas have been practicing hard for the national step competition for over two weeks now with little results to show. Here the main character, DJ, leads the new recruits of Theta Nu Theta in some new stepping moves that combines hip hop with traditional step moves. He trying to get the point across that their moves and body types shouldn't have to fit step. Step should fit their natural rhythm. This angers the leader and it turns into a battle between the upper classmen (prophytes) and the new recruits (neophytes). However, DJ deviates from the new steps he planned with the rest of the neophytes and they end up losing. "It's not always about you," one of the guys tells DJ. This leads DJ to approach the whole fraternity and apologize. "I just want to be part of the team." In addition, the leader of the Thetas asks DJ for help with teaching some hip-hop based moves to help the team at nationals. The importance of team over the individual is a concept that runs throughout the whole movie.
Questions: 1. Has there been a time you wanted to show off (big or small crowd)? Was it for the right motives?
2. DJ took courage and apologized to the whole team. Do you find it hard to humble yourself for the betterment of the team?
3. Is there a time that you were a part of or witnessed differences in opinion or method being resolved and it worked out for the better for both sides?
Scripture: I Cor 3:1-9
Questions:
1. As the body of Christ we are all part of a team. Has that ever crossed your mind?
2. Paul calls jealousy and quarreling, which cause the divisions, "worldly." Think of an experience on a team you've had where there were divisions and share. Were the reasons serious enough to cause divisions? Were they helpful or make the team better in any way?
3. What divisions do you know of that are going on in the church at large right now? Are the reasons for the divisions good or help the body of Christ in any way?
Unity/ One Happens to One Happens to All
Coach Carter (PG-13)- beg Ch. 7 32:41-36:08; Ch. 8 (mid) 40:55-43:23
Earlier in the movie, Timo Cruz attacks Coach Carter. After Richmond wins their first game, Cruz wants to be back on the team. However, for his past actions, Coach Carter punishes him with 2500 pushups and 1000 suicides within a week. At the end of the week, despite hours of hard work, Cruz is short and Carter asks him to leave the gym. Then Lyle steps up and says he will help finish because "if one player suffers, the whole team suffers." The rest of the team fills in as well to get Cruz back on.
Questions:
1. What did you think of Coach Carter's punishment? Was it fair?
2. Was it possible for one person to complete all of that in the time given?
3. Do you think it was hard for Lyle to step up and help Cruz?
Scripture: I Cor 12:12-26 (esp. verses 25-26)
Questions:
1. Scripture tells us that we, as Christians, are part of a whole body. Do you believe that?
2. The words in this scene are almost exactly from verse 26. How do you think this applies to the body of Christ?
3. Have you stepped up to help someone like Lyle did for Cruz? What happened? What was the result?
The Simpsons
Last Friday (8/3/07) we went to the Streets of Woodfield to see the much anticipated Simpsons movie. It was good. No actual bible study happened that night, but we'll see what I can pull from the movie for the near future...
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