The document contains endorsements for a study guide on the doctrine of God called "The One True God" by Paul David Washer. The endorsements praise the work for providing a clear, biblical, and substantive study of God's attributes that will help believers know and worship God more fully.
The biblical account of the fall of Adam can be summarized as follows:
1) God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden, commanding them not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Disobedience would result in death.
2) Satan in the form of a serpent tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. She and Adam disobeyed God.
3) As a result of their sin, Adam and Eve's fellowship with God was broken. They became ashamed and afraid, and were expelled from the garden. God cursed the serpent and pronounced judgment on mankind.
This document provides guidance on identifying spiritual gifts by outlining a 5-step process: 1) explore biblical descriptions of gifts, 2) experiment with possible gifts, 3) examine feelings about using gifts, 4) evaluate effectiveness, and 5) expect confirmation from others. It also includes questions to help discern gifts and comparisons of gifts, fruits of the spirit, talents, and their purposes. The overall goal is to help Christians discover their God-given gifts to build up the church.
This document discusses the doctrine of election and predestination from a biblical perspective. It provides several key points:
1) Election refers to God's sovereign choice of individuals and groups to be part of his plan of salvation. This is seen throughout the Old and New Testaments with figures like Abraham and groups like Israel.
2) Passages like Romans 9:11 emphasize that God's election is not based on works but on his sovereign will.
3) The elect include both Israel as God's chosen nation and the church as those adopted as God's children through Christ.
4) While the doctrine involves mysteries, the Bible teaches God's electing purpose in salvation and calls believers to make their calling and
God is self-sufficient and needs nothing outside of himself. He possesses all qualities like goodness, love, and justice intrinsically and eternally. God does not need advice or help from anyone. The nations and all their resources are insignificant compared to God's immense power, wisdom, and knowledge.
The document provides definitions and descriptions of various spiritual gifts as identified in the Bible. It discusses how spiritual gifts are expressions of the Holy Spirit that empower believers to serve the church. The document then lists and defines 20 different spiritual gifts, including leadership, administration, teaching, knowledge, wisdom, prophecy, discernment, exhortation, shepherding, faith, evangelism, apostleship, service, mercy, giving, hospitality and others. It encourages readers to take a spiritual gifts survey to discover their own gifts and how to best use them to serve God and the church.
A more in-depth presentation of the practice of praying for the presentation of the Gospel to be offerd to souls who died before they heard and decided about it.
The self-sufficiency of God - Part 3
This morning we concluded looking at the definition, illustrations and Scriptural support for the "doctrine of self-sufficiency."
The document contains endorsements for a study guide on the doctrine of God called "The One True God" by Paul David Washer. The endorsements praise the work for providing a clear, biblical, and substantive study of God's attributes that will help believers know and worship God more fully.
The biblical account of the fall of Adam can be summarized as follows:
1) God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden, commanding them not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Disobedience would result in death.
2) Satan in the form of a serpent tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. She and Adam disobeyed God.
3) As a result of their sin, Adam and Eve's fellowship with God was broken. They became ashamed and afraid, and were expelled from the garden. God cursed the serpent and pronounced judgment on mankind.
This document provides guidance on identifying spiritual gifts by outlining a 5-step process: 1) explore biblical descriptions of gifts, 2) experiment with possible gifts, 3) examine feelings about using gifts, 4) evaluate effectiveness, and 5) expect confirmation from others. It also includes questions to help discern gifts and comparisons of gifts, fruits of the spirit, talents, and their purposes. The overall goal is to help Christians discover their God-given gifts to build up the church.
This document discusses the doctrine of election and predestination from a biblical perspective. It provides several key points:
1) Election refers to God's sovereign choice of individuals and groups to be part of his plan of salvation. This is seen throughout the Old and New Testaments with figures like Abraham and groups like Israel.
2) Passages like Romans 9:11 emphasize that God's election is not based on works but on his sovereign will.
3) The elect include both Israel as God's chosen nation and the church as those adopted as God's children through Christ.
4) While the doctrine involves mysteries, the Bible teaches God's electing purpose in salvation and calls believers to make their calling and
God is self-sufficient and needs nothing outside of himself. He possesses all qualities like goodness, love, and justice intrinsically and eternally. God does not need advice or help from anyone. The nations and all their resources are insignificant compared to God's immense power, wisdom, and knowledge.
The document provides definitions and descriptions of various spiritual gifts as identified in the Bible. It discusses how spiritual gifts are expressions of the Holy Spirit that empower believers to serve the church. The document then lists and defines 20 different spiritual gifts, including leadership, administration, teaching, knowledge, wisdom, prophecy, discernment, exhortation, shepherding, faith, evangelism, apostleship, service, mercy, giving, hospitality and others. It encourages readers to take a spiritual gifts survey to discover their own gifts and how to best use them to serve God and the church.
A more in-depth presentation of the practice of praying for the presentation of the Gospel to be offerd to souls who died before they heard and decided about it.
The self-sufficiency of God - Part 3
This morning we concluded looking at the definition, illustrations and Scriptural support for the "doctrine of self-sufficiency."
The document discusses the nature of God's love versus God's wrath. It argues that God is purely love by nature, and that references to God's "wrath" in the Bible are misinterpretations and actually refer to God intensely reaching out to unbelievers with his love. The document asserts that hell is a place where God's presence and love are experienced intensely by those who have rejected him, not a place of God's anger or punishment. It aims to reconcile the concepts of God's love and wrath by interpreting wrath as an expression of his passionate love for all people.
This document summarizes a lesson about conversing with God through prayer. It discusses how prayer can be either instinctive monologues or spiritual dialogues where we get to know God. Spiritual prayer focuses on God rather than what we want from God. It also explores how God is a personal being made of three persons who love each other, and how they communicated through words. Christian prayer sees God as transcendent, so we look to God in prayer rather than looking within. Speaking words to God in prayer allows for depth, as He speaks to us through words. Both conscious prayer using words and times of quiet listening to God are important aspects of conversing with Him.
The document is a summary of a sermon on the self-sufficiency of God. It discusses how God is transcendent and immanent, possessing attributes intrinsically rather than derivatively like humans. God needs nothing from creation as He possesses perfect power, wisdom and other qualities within Himself. While caring for humanity, the nations collectively amount to nothing before God's infinite might and understanding. The purpose of the sermon is to explain why an all-sufficient God still demands worship, service and obedience from humans.
This document provides an overview of religious experiences and reasons for believing in God. It discusses what religious experiences are through examples like numinous experiences, conversions, visions, and miracles. It also examines arguments for God's existence like the teleological, cosmological, and ontological arguments. Modern reasons include religious experiences, moral arguments, and religious upbringing. The document also addresses the problem of evil and responses like suffering adding meaning and being preparation for paradise. Key terms related to believing in God are defined.
1. THE MAJESTY OF MAN Based on Psa. 8
2. WE ARE BORN TO RULE Based on Psa. 8:1-9
3. SANCTIFIED SILENCE Based on Psa. 46:1-11
4. SAINTS IN THE COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT Based on Psa. 77
5. THE PLEASURE OF POSITIVE THINKING Based on Psa. 84
6. THE PLEASURE OF PASSION Based on Psa. 84
7. THE PLEASURE OF PERFECTION Based on Psa. 84
8. THE PLEASURE OF POWER Based on Psa. 84
9. THE PLEASURE OF PROGRESS Based on Psa. 84
10. REVIVAL Based on Psa. 85:6
11. A NEW SONG Based on Psalm 96
12. THIS IS THE DAY Based on Psa. 118:6-14
13. TURN ON THE LIGHT BASED ON Psa. 110:105
14. A MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCE Based on Psalm 125
15. WHAT IS SIN? Based on Psa. 51:1-2
16. CONFESSION OF SIN Based on Psa. 51:
This document outlines the devotional method of Bible study, which involves prayerfully meditating on passages to find practical ways to apply the teachings to one's own life. It recommends four steps: 1) Pray for insight on application; 2) Meditate by visualizing, emphasizing words, making passages personal; 3) Write a specific, measurable, achievable application; 4) Memorize a key verse. The goal is for readers to seriously study Scripture and "do what it says" in order to experience life change and spiritual growth.
This document discusses the rabbi-disciple relationship in 1st century Judaism and what it meant to be a disciple. Disciples willingly submitted to their rabbi's authority, viewing the rabbi as the interpreter of God's word. Disciples spent long periods studying, debating, and emulating their rabbi in an intimate community. They conformed their lives to their rabbi's interpretations of scripture. The document examines what aspects of this rabbi-disciple dynamic may still be relevant for Christian discipleship today.
This document provides teaching notes on exegesis from an ICCM School of Missions class. It begins with an exercise on Ezra 7:10 and discusses the importance of exegesis in properly understanding and teaching Scripture. The document outlines different types of biblical genres and gives guidelines for analyzing the context, form, content and function of a passage. It emphasizes avoiding eisegesis and being aware of cognitive biases. The document provides a workflow for exegesis using the acronym COFOCOFU to analyze context, form, content and function. It stresses asking questions, understanding genre and not reading things into the text. Overall, the document aims to equip students to do careful, unbiased exegesis in order to
This document is an introduction to a study of the biblical concept of "shalom," which is generally equivalent to the English word "peace." It notes that shalom is a theological term with broad significance that means more than the English word "peace." The introduction explains that while English speakers are familiar with the word "peace," the study will show that shalom conveys a richer meaning. It previews that examining how shalom was understood in ancient Israel and in the Bible can provide new insights and understanding beyond its modern usage as a pleasant greeting. The goal is to gain fresh perspective on this essential theological and ethical concept through exploring its meaning and implications in Scripture.
Helmet of Salvation
Who do you think you are?
Problems of low self esteem
Satans psychological weapon
God’s view of me
Biblical
Our new position in Christ
Implications
This document discusses the nature and types of prayer. It begins by summarizing controversial statements made by religious leaders in 1980 regarding whether God hears the prayers of Jews. It then explores different perspectives on what prayer is, from a means of controlling nature to a human instinct. The document outlines two main types of prayer - mystical prayer, which focuses inwardly on connecting with the divine within, and prophetic prayer, which acknowledges God as transcendent. It argues that the prophetic view which sees God as holy and separate from humanity is preferable to the mystical view which risks dissolving the pray-er into God. Overall, the document concludes that while mystical prayer should be done carefully, both types can be used to experience awe and intimacy with God
Renew week 5 seek the presence of god lg questionskowboy62
This document discusses seeking the presence of God through stillness, prayer, and meditating on His word. It provides practical steps for these spiritual disciplines, including reading Scripture silently, listening for characteristics of God, thinking on how He has shown Himself, and praying in response. The group is encouraged to commit to these practices over the week and to support each other in doing so faithfully until their next meeting.
This document provides an overview of how to study the Bible in four steps: observation, interpretation, application, and preparation. It discusses key aspects of each step. For observation, it emphasizes paying close attention to context, key terms, questions, and details. Interpretation involves understanding what the text meant to the original audience and identifying timeless principles. Application means applying those principles to one's own life. Preparation includes confession, seeking wisdom, and focusing on God's word. The document recommends various resources and gives tips for effective Bible study.
Loving relationships are built on loving two-way communication. True Christianity is just such a relationship--one that grows stronger and deeper through honest, open communication. Jesus is just waiting to speak to you.
The Baton Exchange and the Handover by Rev. Dele Shobowaleokebolamediateam
This is a teaching that clearly shows the difference between Personal Devotion and Quiet Time. It also reflects things we should hand over to our children as parents.
This document is a chapter from a book that discusses the nature of God in Christianity. It aims to present what the author found in their research of the Bible on this topic. The chapter asks several questions at the beginning to introduce the topics it will cover, such as whether God is one or three, if Jesus is equal to God, and if Jesus is the son of God. It then provides various verses from the Bible to analyze these questions. For example, it examines verses where Jesus distinguishes himself from God, says God is greater than him, and that he was sent by God. The chapter aims to use logic and reasoning to understand what the Bible actually says about if Jesus is God based on these verses. It concludes by
These Sunday and Wednesday classes at a church provide opportunities for connecting, studying the Bible, and learning how faith can change lives. The classes cover topics like the New Testament, inductive Bible study, Old Testament characters, evangelism, prayer, finances, the Holy Spirit, intercessory prayer, and an Alpha course introduction to Christianity.
This document provides an overview and introduction to a DiscipleMakers class aimed at teaching participants how to use God's word to lead seekers to saving faith in Jesus Christ. The class will cover topics like conversion, memory scriptures, sin, the cross, grace, repentance, and salvation doctrines. It emphasizes the importance of asking purposeful questions to guide Bible study with seekers, get to the heart of issues, and empower seekers to critically engage with scripture on their own.
This document provides guidance for a campus ministry module focused on embracing the power of the Holy Spirit. It includes an introduction noting how the Holy Spirit creates fellowship with God and others. The module then outlines bible passages, studies on embracing God's wisdom and loving one another, and suggestions for outreach and online resources. The studies involve group discussions on what it means to be wise and who constitutes our brothers and sisters. The goal is to spark awareness of the Holy Spirit's work and inspire acting for God through overcoming selfishness.
The document discusses the nature of God's love versus God's wrath. It argues that God is purely love by nature, and that references to God's "wrath" in the Bible are misinterpretations and actually refer to God intensely reaching out to unbelievers with his love. The document asserts that hell is a place where God's presence and love are experienced intensely by those who have rejected him, not a place of God's anger or punishment. It aims to reconcile the concepts of God's love and wrath by interpreting wrath as an expression of his passionate love for all people.
This document summarizes a lesson about conversing with God through prayer. It discusses how prayer can be either instinctive monologues or spiritual dialogues where we get to know God. Spiritual prayer focuses on God rather than what we want from God. It also explores how God is a personal being made of three persons who love each other, and how they communicated through words. Christian prayer sees God as transcendent, so we look to God in prayer rather than looking within. Speaking words to God in prayer allows for depth, as He speaks to us through words. Both conscious prayer using words and times of quiet listening to God are important aspects of conversing with Him.
The document is a summary of a sermon on the self-sufficiency of God. It discusses how God is transcendent and immanent, possessing attributes intrinsically rather than derivatively like humans. God needs nothing from creation as He possesses perfect power, wisdom and other qualities within Himself. While caring for humanity, the nations collectively amount to nothing before God's infinite might and understanding. The purpose of the sermon is to explain why an all-sufficient God still demands worship, service and obedience from humans.
This document provides an overview of religious experiences and reasons for believing in God. It discusses what religious experiences are through examples like numinous experiences, conversions, visions, and miracles. It also examines arguments for God's existence like the teleological, cosmological, and ontological arguments. Modern reasons include religious experiences, moral arguments, and religious upbringing. The document also addresses the problem of evil and responses like suffering adding meaning and being preparation for paradise. Key terms related to believing in God are defined.
1. THE MAJESTY OF MAN Based on Psa. 8
2. WE ARE BORN TO RULE Based on Psa. 8:1-9
3. SANCTIFIED SILENCE Based on Psa. 46:1-11
4. SAINTS IN THE COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT Based on Psa. 77
5. THE PLEASURE OF POSITIVE THINKING Based on Psa. 84
6. THE PLEASURE OF PASSION Based on Psa. 84
7. THE PLEASURE OF PERFECTION Based on Psa. 84
8. THE PLEASURE OF POWER Based on Psa. 84
9. THE PLEASURE OF PROGRESS Based on Psa. 84
10. REVIVAL Based on Psa. 85:6
11. A NEW SONG Based on Psalm 96
12. THIS IS THE DAY Based on Psa. 118:6-14
13. TURN ON THE LIGHT BASED ON Psa. 110:105
14. A MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCE Based on Psalm 125
15. WHAT IS SIN? Based on Psa. 51:1-2
16. CONFESSION OF SIN Based on Psa. 51:
This document outlines the devotional method of Bible study, which involves prayerfully meditating on passages to find practical ways to apply the teachings to one's own life. It recommends four steps: 1) Pray for insight on application; 2) Meditate by visualizing, emphasizing words, making passages personal; 3) Write a specific, measurable, achievable application; 4) Memorize a key verse. The goal is for readers to seriously study Scripture and "do what it says" in order to experience life change and spiritual growth.
This document discusses the rabbi-disciple relationship in 1st century Judaism and what it meant to be a disciple. Disciples willingly submitted to their rabbi's authority, viewing the rabbi as the interpreter of God's word. Disciples spent long periods studying, debating, and emulating their rabbi in an intimate community. They conformed their lives to their rabbi's interpretations of scripture. The document examines what aspects of this rabbi-disciple dynamic may still be relevant for Christian discipleship today.
This document provides teaching notes on exegesis from an ICCM School of Missions class. It begins with an exercise on Ezra 7:10 and discusses the importance of exegesis in properly understanding and teaching Scripture. The document outlines different types of biblical genres and gives guidelines for analyzing the context, form, content and function of a passage. It emphasizes avoiding eisegesis and being aware of cognitive biases. The document provides a workflow for exegesis using the acronym COFOCOFU to analyze context, form, content and function. It stresses asking questions, understanding genre and not reading things into the text. Overall, the document aims to equip students to do careful, unbiased exegesis in order to
This document is an introduction to a study of the biblical concept of "shalom," which is generally equivalent to the English word "peace." It notes that shalom is a theological term with broad significance that means more than the English word "peace." The introduction explains that while English speakers are familiar with the word "peace," the study will show that shalom conveys a richer meaning. It previews that examining how shalom was understood in ancient Israel and in the Bible can provide new insights and understanding beyond its modern usage as a pleasant greeting. The goal is to gain fresh perspective on this essential theological and ethical concept through exploring its meaning and implications in Scripture.
Helmet of Salvation
Who do you think you are?
Problems of low self esteem
Satans psychological weapon
God’s view of me
Biblical
Our new position in Christ
Implications
This document discusses the nature and types of prayer. It begins by summarizing controversial statements made by religious leaders in 1980 regarding whether God hears the prayers of Jews. It then explores different perspectives on what prayer is, from a means of controlling nature to a human instinct. The document outlines two main types of prayer - mystical prayer, which focuses inwardly on connecting with the divine within, and prophetic prayer, which acknowledges God as transcendent. It argues that the prophetic view which sees God as holy and separate from humanity is preferable to the mystical view which risks dissolving the pray-er into God. Overall, the document concludes that while mystical prayer should be done carefully, both types can be used to experience awe and intimacy with God
Renew week 5 seek the presence of god lg questionskowboy62
This document discusses seeking the presence of God through stillness, prayer, and meditating on His word. It provides practical steps for these spiritual disciplines, including reading Scripture silently, listening for characteristics of God, thinking on how He has shown Himself, and praying in response. The group is encouraged to commit to these practices over the week and to support each other in doing so faithfully until their next meeting.
This document provides an overview of how to study the Bible in four steps: observation, interpretation, application, and preparation. It discusses key aspects of each step. For observation, it emphasizes paying close attention to context, key terms, questions, and details. Interpretation involves understanding what the text meant to the original audience and identifying timeless principles. Application means applying those principles to one's own life. Preparation includes confession, seeking wisdom, and focusing on God's word. The document recommends various resources and gives tips for effective Bible study.
Loving relationships are built on loving two-way communication. True Christianity is just such a relationship--one that grows stronger and deeper through honest, open communication. Jesus is just waiting to speak to you.
The Baton Exchange and the Handover by Rev. Dele Shobowaleokebolamediateam
This is a teaching that clearly shows the difference between Personal Devotion and Quiet Time. It also reflects things we should hand over to our children as parents.
This document is a chapter from a book that discusses the nature of God in Christianity. It aims to present what the author found in their research of the Bible on this topic. The chapter asks several questions at the beginning to introduce the topics it will cover, such as whether God is one or three, if Jesus is equal to God, and if Jesus is the son of God. It then provides various verses from the Bible to analyze these questions. For example, it examines verses where Jesus distinguishes himself from God, says God is greater than him, and that he was sent by God. The chapter aims to use logic and reasoning to understand what the Bible actually says about if Jesus is God based on these verses. It concludes by
These Sunday and Wednesday classes at a church provide opportunities for connecting, studying the Bible, and learning how faith can change lives. The classes cover topics like the New Testament, inductive Bible study, Old Testament characters, evangelism, prayer, finances, the Holy Spirit, intercessory prayer, and an Alpha course introduction to Christianity.
This document provides an overview and introduction to a DiscipleMakers class aimed at teaching participants how to use God's word to lead seekers to saving faith in Jesus Christ. The class will cover topics like conversion, memory scriptures, sin, the cross, grace, repentance, and salvation doctrines. It emphasizes the importance of asking purposeful questions to guide Bible study with seekers, get to the heart of issues, and empower seekers to critically engage with scripture on their own.
This document provides guidance for a campus ministry module focused on embracing the power of the Holy Spirit. It includes an introduction noting how the Holy Spirit creates fellowship with God and others. The module then outlines bible passages, studies on embracing God's wisdom and loving one another, and suggestions for outreach and online resources. The studies involve group discussions on what it means to be wise and who constitutes our brothers and sisters. The goal is to spark awareness of the Holy Spirit's work and inspire acting for God through overcoming selfishness.
a PDF file of the slides used in Session # of the "Shaping Spiritual Practices Program" seminar (SSPP) at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Taurnaga, New Zealand on the 11th August 2014.
This document provides a summary of the CHEC Homeschool Update newsletter. It discusses upcoming events being held by CHEC, including the Day at the Capitol and the Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference. It also features several articles on homeschooling topics such as tools for homeschooling, serving the Lord together as a family, encouragement for struggling learners, and balancing homework. The newsletter aims to provide resources and community for homeschooling families.
The document provides an overview of the topics and schedule for a Christian Worldview course. It includes information about assignments, papers, participation points, and exams. The professor provides tips for writing papers and emphasizes turning assignments in on time. The schedule outlines the topics that will be covered over the semester, including understanding worldviews, creation, the fall, Jesus, salvation, truth and ethics, and finding purpose. Group exercises and discussions are also part of the course.
Amen: What Prayer Can Mean in a World Beyond Beliefjohnmcneil99
Here are some common explanations offered by religious leaders for unanswered prayers of supplication:
- God's timing is not our timing. He has a greater plan that we cannot see or understand fully.
- It was not God's will to intervene. All things work together for good according to his purpose.
- Our faith was not strong enough. If we had prayed with more faith and conviction, God would have answered.
- There were unknown sins in our life that hindered God from answering. We need to repent and draw closer to God.
- God answered in a different way than we asked, through strengthening our character or deepening our faith through the trial.
- The request was not in
The document discusses helping young people hear and discern God's call. It shares two stories of individuals who felt called by God in different ways - one through confirmation rather than a direct call, and another through a vision. The document then prompts discussion on ways to create environments and activities to encourage young people to listen for God's voice, including a role play activity for two youth groups with different approaches.
The document discusses helping young people hear and discern God's call. It shares two stories of individuals who felt called by God in different ways - one through confirmation rather than a direct call, and another through a vision. The document then prompts discussion on ways to create environments and activities to help young people hear God, including a role play activity for two youth groups with different approaches.
The document is a biblical study on the doctrine of man by Paul David Washer. It covers several topics related to man's origin and nature according to scripture, including the creation of man, the fall of Adam, the fall of mankind, spiritual death and moral inability, enslavement to Satan, the character and universality of sin, God's disposition towards sinners, God's judgment of sinners, the final judgment of the wicked, and hell. The study is designed to have students directly engage with scripture passages on each topic in order to gain understanding.
This document provides guidance for leading a group prayer service focused on praying Scripture passages. It recommends choosing a short, familiar Bible passage to read in different versions. Participants are then instructed to reflect quietly on the passage, looking for what verse or phrase captures their attention. They are encouraged to dialogue with God within the passage, asking what it means for them personally. Finally, individuals may share any impressions or words they received from God during the prayer time. The overall goal is to use Scripture to inform, renew, and transform participants through the Holy Spirit.
We’ve begun exploring the difference between science and religion .docxhelzerpatrina
We’ve begun exploring the difference between science and religion and facts and beliefs in the discussion threads along with the Week 1 reflection paper on beliefs. This thread explores what spiritual growth means (need compelling definitions from those quality sources) and how are discussions fit. The images of rooms in a house or possible paths to take or a journey and our work in this thread deepens the central point of a religious quest as growing spiritually.
In week five the concept of biblical literalism is examined in regards to an informed, living Word of God foundation, which is not easy, nor short term, nor isolated is the mature, experienced, and prayerful interpretation of Sacred Scriptures. But this is one of several points that we should note and then study in reference to a mature faith and biblical studies. (This is a good point to include in the Week 3 Written Assignment!) (Biology is another point to relate to our work!) Just as we were born small, defenseless, incapable of speech and had the capacity for understanding but knew nothing, human development (each of us) needed to physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually needed to grow, deepen, and progress through stages that take time. See Kohlberg’s Model of Moral Development that might provide some insights in graphical form.
Also, check out the lecture for this week to aid in our work.
Thoughts and sources, class?
1
Religious Quest – RELS 1325
Rev. Paul Hudec, PhD
Week 3 Written Assignment (quiz/journal, etc.)
This assignment will provide evidence regarding mastery of the important concepts of the material through the end of this portion of the course including references (sources) as they refer to each item below. This is a formal paper which is different from the Week 1 informal, reflection paper. Citations linked to sources are required in each of the following topics.
Organize the paper with a header or section title and (you can use single-spacing rather than double-spacing if you’d like) with any references to the text and other sources identified as footnotes or as endnotes or in a proper documentation style at the end of this short paper.
This is not a memory test or assessment on persons, places, or things, but on the quality sources discovered and the material these sources provided along with insights gained in the discussions that logically flow from these sources.
What expert and professional sources have you found in these first three weeks that aid your efforts in this course Religious Quest and how have they helped (list each and what insights have they provided)?
What is the religious quest and how do the attributes of God as discussed in the discussion threads fit within that quest?
What is spiritual growth and what models were explored in the discussion threads?
How does science inform the religious quest?
Each answer to the above questions should be at least ½ page (single-spaced or 1 full page if doub ...
The document discusses developing a defining vision for churches through the Acts 16:5 Initiative. It provides seminars on transformational and missional ministry for pastors and teams. It also discusses pastor clusters for encouragement and accountability. A vision team works with the pastor and council to apply concepts. The goal is to awaken a high expectation for ministry through developing a clear defining vision.
The document provides information on spirituality for family life ministers. It defines spirituality as a conscious relationship with God through practices that foster Christian discipleship. It emphasizes that spirituality involves being in community and realizing one's identity as a beloved child of God through baptism. It also discusses developing a personal rule of life through contemplative practices and devotions to guide one's spiritual growth in a balanced way. The document provides resources for family life ministers to cultivate their spirituality.
This document discusses setting one's mind on spiritual things and developing a spiritual life focused on God. It provides a three stage model of the spiritual life: purgative, illuminative, and unitive. It tells the story of Alexis Carrel and his journey to faith. It addresses developing the intellect and mind through natural knowledge, divine revelation, and contemplation. It provides steps to build a spiritual plan of life focused on reducing media, engaging with scripture, spiritual reading, prayer, and enjoying beauty. It concludes with evaluation questions on elevating the mind to God.
This document discusses how spiritual texts like Conversations with God may have a special "wave-form" structure. It analyzes the wave-form structures found in the Bible, works by Plato and Rudolf Steiner, and in prayers. The author examines the wave-form structure of Neale Donald Walsch's Conversations with God, finding mirroring themes between chapters that create a larger organic structure. Understanding the wave-form can help internalize the ideas in spiritual texts on a deeper level.
This document summarizes the final session of a study on fearing God, following Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit. It includes discussion questions to reflect on what was learned and challenges the group to continue meeting to help each other live out these principles. The session concludes with a time of prayer to ask God to empower the group to live in light of who He is.
This document outlines an exercise to examine cultural biases about gender roles and leadership. Participants are each given a task, such as listing characteristics of an ideal person, leader, man or woman. They then discuss their lists in groups and as a larger group to analyze similarities and differences. The goals are to look for overlap between stereotypes and roles, see how perceptions may impact women, and discuss any surprises. Instructions provide templates for tasks and questions to guide reflection on biases revealed. The exercise aims to promote understanding of how sexism can unconsciously influence views of propriety roles.
A toolkit designed to equip regional leaders to host and collect information through a structured listening session. Questions and goals pertain primarily to the status and challenges of being a woman leader in the United Methodist Church.
This webinar visual presentation was designed to equip regional organizers for recruiting, identifying and promoting women or other marginalized peoples into leadership in a large protestant denomination.
The final report for the board of directors of outputs and outcomes from the five year organizing and training campaign I directed and evaluated while working for Reconciling Ministries Network
Training Manual - 2011 - Reconciling MinistriesAudrey Krumbach
The Called to Witness five year campaign trained United Methodists in community organizing, public narrative, and political strategy. This training manual includes the materials used in the fifty training events given during the final year of the campaign.
Sex and the Church was a United Methodist project to publish a variety of articles and editorials about issues of sexual ethics for Christians. This was a post-publication supplement created to invited local congregations to engage with these ethical questions through discussion.
An introduction to Christian bible names and descriptions for God which are gender neutral and feminine. A workshop presentation developed for the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women in The United Methodist Church and presented at the Women and Worship conference hosted by Philips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, OK.
This document provides an overview and agenda for a training event called "Called to Witness IV: A Campaign of the Reconciling Ministries Network". The training will focus on sharing personal stories to promote inclusion in the United Methodist Church. Participants will learn relational organizing techniques like storytelling and active listening. They will practice developing and sharing their own stories of commitment to an inclusive UMC. The goal is to equip attendees to share their testimonies at annual conference meetings in order to support election of inclusive delegates to the general conference.
The document is a training manual and campaign guide for volunteers of the Called to Witness campaign. It contains sections on campaign goals, talking points, training exercises, and resources for volunteers to build relationships with delegates in order to impact the 2012 United Methodist General Conference to vote for inclusive language in the denomination's Book of Discipline. The campaign aims to train 1500 volunteers in storytelling and relationship building skills to contact all 606 U.S. delegates multiple times before the conference.
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A375 Example Taste the taste of the Lord, the taste of the Lord The taste of...franktsao4
It seems that current missionary work requires spending a lot of money, preparing a lot of materials, and traveling to far away places, so that it feels like missionary work. But what was the result they brought back? It's just a lot of photos of activities, fun eating, drinking and some playing games. And then we have to do the same thing next year, never ending. The church once mentioned that a certain missionary would go to the field where she used to work before the end of his life. It seemed that if she had not gone, no one would be willing to go. The reason why these missionary work is so difficult is that no one obeys God’s words, and the Bible is not the main content during missionary work, because in the eyes of those who do not obey God’s words, the Bible is just words and cannot be connected with life, so Reading out God's words is boring because it doesn't have any life experience, so it cannot be connected with human life. I will give a few examples in the hope that this situation can be changed. A375
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This manual will guide you through basic skills and tasks to help you get started with various aspects of Magic. Each section is designed to be easy to follow, with step-by-step instructions.
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A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma teaching of Kamma-Vipaka (Intentional Actions-Ripening Effects).
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The Hope of Salvation - Jude 1:24-25 - MessageCole Hartman
Jude gives us hope at the end of a dark letter. In a dark world like today, we need the light of Christ to shine brighter and brighter. Jude shows us where to fix our focus so we can be filled with God's goodness and glory. Join us to explore this incredible passage.
1. ROCK, SHEPHERD, FRIEND
ENRICHING OUR IMAGES OF GOD
A FOUR-SESSION STUDY
Prepared by the General Commission
on the Status and Role of Women
of The United Methodist Church
3. 2
ROCK SHEPHERD FRIEND:
ENRICHING OUR IMAGES OF GOD
This is a four session study designed to help Christians look at the ways we envision and talk about god.
• The first session explores the images of God we use now – in prayer, in creeds, in worship and in our
daily spiritual life.
• The second session opens up the Bible to explore the rightness of biblical language about God.
• The third session is a look at the United Methodist Hymnal and its wide-ranging imagery for God in the
hymns we sing in worship. It also looks at the creeds we use in worship.
• Session four gives seekers an opportunity to explore and expand their own images of God, both for
corporate worship and for private prayer.
The leader’s guide gives background material as well as a lesson plan for each session. The leader’s role in this
study is to facilitate discussion and to provide an environment that will enable group members to explore their
images of God.
Also included are worksheets for group members. These should be duplicated so that each group member has a
worksheet.
4. 3
SESSION ONE:
EXPLORING OUR IMAGES OF GOD
BACKGROUND MATERIAL
J.B. Phillips wrote the book Your God Is Too Small in 1961. In it, he challenged Christians to take a careful look at
how they understand God. He noted that when Christians cling too long to only their earliest images of God,
they become blind to the richness and variety of ways in which God chooses to touch them now.
Phillips said, “Let us fling wide the doors and windows of our minds and make some attempt to appreciate the
‘size’ of God.”
Other theologians have expressed similar concerns about the ways we envision God. Rosemary Radford
Ruether, Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza and Catherine Gonzalez are some who have written and taught widely
about God’s size shape and form.
Explain to participants that this four-session study is an attempt to do just that – to fling open windows and
doors so that they may see the many ways, the many forms, the many faces of the God who seeks them.
The first session is an exploratory one. It contains some exercises for helping participants become acquainted
with one another, in case members of the study group are new to each other.
SESSION PLAN
1. Ask group members to find a partner and tell each other the following about themselves: Give their name,
their reaction to the purpose of this first study session, and their most familiar image of God.
2. Have the partners introduce each other briefly to the entire group, giving name, a sentence summary of
their partner’s reaction, and their partner’s most familiar image of God.
3. Hand out two sheets of construction paper to each participant, along with crayons or magic markers. Ask
each to answer the following questions on the first sheet of paper:
4. What is your earliest memory of God?
a. Can you remember a time when you were afraid and needed God’s help?
b. Can you remember a time when you felt closest to God?
c. When was the time you felt most alone, deserted by God?
d. Who has been a friend-in-faith, a spiritual companion to you on your faith journey?
5. Ask them to draw, on the other sheet of paper, two images of God. First, have them draw their earliest
image of God. Second, have them draw how they envision God now.
6. Call the group back together. If your group is small enough, have each person share their answers to the
faith journey questions and their two drawings of God. If time does not permit the group to share as a
whole, break down into two or more groups and share.
7. As a total group, have persons call out as many ways of talking with God as the group can. List these on
newsprint as they are mentioned. See how many different images the group can come up with, based on
their previous sharing and their own experience.
5. 4
8. Read the following excerpt from “Tell Me What Your God Looks Like,” a sermon by The Reverend Sue Anne
Steffey Morrow, Associate Dean of the Chapel at Princeton University. (Currently at The Lawrenceville
School: www.lawrenceville.org).
Celie and Shug, two women in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple who grow to become friends, are
talking on the porch one night when Shug looks at Celie and asks her the question, “tell me what
your God looks like.”
“Tell me what your God looks like.” What images of God operate in your life – is God someone
with a large protective shoulder to lead against… or is God a strong warrior who will help you
fight your way through…? Does your image of God give God great majesty, high and lifted up,
stained glass leaving you awe-struck… or does your image keep God close to your heart? Does
God hold you in an embrace, sooth you and comfort you through it all? What face is on your
image of God?
Is your God cold and forthright, ready to chew you out for each misdemeanor, or is your God’s
face calming and capricious with eyes that are deep with love? Maybe your God is a grand
ethicist seeking justice and peace, a balance in the nature’s environment, the anti-nuclear
freeze. Maybe your image of God is not human like those I have mentioned; maybe it is God as a
cave or a harbor, a place of refuge or a place of fire? Is your God an animal, stalking or sniffing
us out like prey, or as the Psalmist pictures God, like a great bird with wings under which we
might hide?
“Tell me what your God looks like,” and whether your images are sufficient to get you through
the long tough days and dark nights…
Celie [in The Color Purple] …had been so badly abused by all the men in her life [that] she
needed to be able to imagine God in a way other than male, so Shug paints another picture of
God for Celie. Shug pictures God ‘who is inside and outside manifesting love even when you’re
not looking – in trees and birds and other people, when you”re sitting quiet or when you”re
feeling like a motherless child… “So Celie,” Shug says, “Whenever you are trying to pray and a
man plops himself on the end of that prayer, tell him to get lost, conjure up flowers, wind,
water, a big rock.”
For most of us the situation is not as extreme as it is for Celie, but I am suggesting that we keep
our eyes open, our ears, minds and hearts [open] to changes in our experience that might affect
our image of God.
“Tell me what your God Looks like.”
+++
When you have finished reading this excerpt, allow time for participants to respond to the notion that changes
in our life experience affect and change our image of God. Ask if anyone has an experience illustrating this point
that they would share with the group.
9. Share with participants, by way of closing, that this is what they have been doing in this session and will be
doing in the next three – telling each other what their God looks like.
10. Thank participants for sharing with each other. Let them know that next week’s session will look at various
Biblical images of God.
11. Share the first stanza of #113 in the United Methodist Hymnal and close with a prayer.
6. 5
SESSION TWO:
UNCOVERING BIBLICAL IMAGES OF GOD
BACKGROUND MATERIAL
Imagery for God in the Bible is rich, expansive, and provocative. In the Old Testament, Israel’s language about
God reflects two participants that must be held in tension.
• First, this Hebrew God is worshipped in sharp contrast with the goddess worship prevalent in the Ancient
Near East at the time. Because of this, there is frequent reference to God as male.
• As the same time, God is not specified or limited by this masculinity. God’s masculine character is not what
Israel worships; that would be idolatry. The important thing about the Hebrew God was that this God acts in
Israel’s (and in our) history.
In the New Testament, the organizing center of Jesus’ teaching and ministry is the inbreaking of the Kingdom of
God. Language about God is focused on describing the realm of God. After his death, Jesus himself becomes the
focus of language about God. And, after the resurrection and at Pentecost, Christians experienced God’s
redeeming presence with them as the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thus, language about god becomes language about
the Spirit.
+++
Before you lead this session, look up the Bible references of the page entitled “Biblical Images of God.” Study
those that interest you. What biblical images do you know that were left out? Do any of these passages widen
your own image of God?
SESSION PLAN
1. Share with participants the information under “Background Material.” Follow up any discussion this
information generates.
2. Hand out to each participant the worksheet “Biblical Images of God.” Have them look up the Bible
passages and write down the varied images of God they dis over.
3. Bring the group together to go over these biblical images. Discuss and briefly share:
a. When you pray or think about God, which of these images do you use/
b. Are these images ever used in services of worship in your church?
c. How do you feel about these images of God? Are there biblical images you can think of that are
not on the list? Do any of these passages widen your own image of God?
4. Divide the group into four subgroups. Have each subgroup take one of the biblical images of God and
ask them to write one of the following using that biblical image: a prayer, a corporate call to worship, a
litany of thanksgiving, and a responsive reading.
5. Share these by using each of them in a time of closing worship. Share stanza 2 of #113 from the United
Methodist Hymnal.
7. 6
WORKSHEET: SESSION TWO
Biblical Images of God
Read the entire text of the hymn #113 in the United Methodist Hymnal, “Source and Sovereign, Rock and
Cloud.” Then look up some of the following Bible passages of the different names, images or faces of God. List as
many as you can think of.
Look at these passages and list the name and images of God you discovered in these
Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 32:18 II Corinthians 3:17 Revelation 15:3
Psalm 23:1 Exodus 3:13-14 Psalm 68:5
Matthew 6:9 Hebrews 12:29 1 John 1:5
Psalm 84:11 Psalm 18:2 Isaiah 42:14
Psalm 7:8 Isaiah 66:13 1 John 4:8
Isaiah 64:8 Psalm 40:17 Psalm 61:3-4
8. 7
SESSION THREE
SINGING THE NAMES OF GOD: CREEDS AND HYMNS OF THE CHURCH
BACKGROUND MATERIAL
The hymns and songs of the church reflect a rich history of corporate worship, that holy time and space where
the faith community gathers to praise God, to pray, to seek forgiveness, to hear the Word, and to receive
strength for the faith journey.
Throughout history, as different images of God have been lifted up in the faith community, different images of
God have appeared in the hymns, prayers and creeds of the church at worship.
As the Reverends Sharon and Tom Neufer Emswiler note in Women & Worship,
“A study of the history of hymnody quickly shows that churches have not been afraid to change hymns down
through history for various reasons; to make them more meaningful, to shorten them, or to make them more
contemporary. Evan a comparison of the same hymn in several different hymnals will show many changes the
text of a hymn has undergone. Often different verses and different words within a verse are found in these
hymnals.”
The United Methodist Hymnal, is one of the latest in our church’s line of hymnals and worship resources. As the
statement from the Hymnal Revision Committee notes, the committee:
“Has taken a common sense approach to the preparation of a new hymnal and a worship book: seeking the
middle ground of evangelical hymnody held in common by the various traditions and constituencies, and
identifying and retaining that ‘traditional core’ of hymns that has the strongest potential value and usefulness to
most local United Methodist congregations.”
The same evolutionary process affects the creeds of the church, as well. Creeds are statements of the journey of
faith of the body of Christ. The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church recognizes creeds as:
“cherished landmarks of Christian self-consciousness and affirmation” as well as encouraging believers to do
their own “serious and informed theological exploration.”
SESSION PLAN
1. Go over the background material to ensure that participants are starting with some common
understanding of the development of hymns and creeds. Ask for any reactions, question or comments
about the material.
2. Ask the group to list all the names and titles for God they can remember from hymns and creeds. As
they name them, write them on newsprint. See how many the group can come up with.
3. Hand out the worksheet entitled, “Hymns of the Church.” Note to participants that several hymn titles
and numbers are listed under the different categories of the United Methodist Hymnal. Divide the group
into teams to look up hymns under each category and identify all the names, titles, and attributes for
God that each hymn mentions.
4. Have the group come back together and share the list. You might have several categories on newsprint
under which to list these – human names and attributes, images from nature, images of power, images
of tenderness, images of vulnerability, etc. Print the names and attributes as they are called out. Let the
group help you decide under which category to list each image. Talk about the images after they are
shared. Which are the “traditional?” Which are surprising? Which speak most strongly” Which are
oddest, the strangest or uncomfortable sounding?
9. 8
5. Distribute the sheet entitled, “Creeds of the Church.” Note that on it are four creeds of the church: The
Apostles’ Creed, A Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada, excerpts from “A Woman’s
Creed,” written by Rachel Conrad Wahlberg, & An Affirmation from 1 Corinthians 15 and Colossians 1.
Ask participants to take a pen or pencil and mark each creed this way: underline the words that are meaningful;
circle words that are puzzling; put an x on words that are not personally meaningful.
6. After individuals have had a chance to reflect on these creeds, get them into pairs or groups of three to
share what they discovered about themselves, about God, and about the faith as they worked with each
of these creeds. If time permits, ask each pair or group to share with the whole group one or two
insights gained from their conversations together.
7. Close by affirming the faith together with the United Church of Canada creed. Sing together either Hymn
#105 – “God of Many Names,” or #113 – “Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud.”
10. 9
WORKSHEET: SESSION THREE
Hymns of the Church
Praise and Thanksgiving
61 – Come, Thou Almighty King
88 – Maker, In Whom We Live
101 – From All That Dwell Below The Skies
God’s Nature
104 –Praising God of Many Names
105 –God of Many Names
109 –Creating God, Your Fingers Trace
111 –How Can we Name a Love
113 – Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud
115 – How Like a Gentle Spirit
116 – The God of Abraham Praise
118 – The Care the Eagle Gives her Young
Providence
127 – Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
133 – Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
136 – The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want
In Praise of Christ
164 – Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life
174 – His Name is Wonderful
180 – Jesus Es Mi Rey Soberano
184 – Of the Father’s Love Begotten
188 – Christ is the World’s True Light
Promised Coming
204 – Emmanuel, Emmanuel
211 – O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Birth and Baptism
222 – Niño Lindo
240 – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
247 – O Morning Star! How Fair and Bright
Life and Teaching
257 – We Meet You, O Christ
263 – When Jesus the Healer Passed Through Galilee
Passion and Death
300 – Crown How with Many Crowns
Assurance
378 – Amazing Grace
381 – Savior, Like a Savior Lead Us
Rebirth and the New Creation
384 – Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Social Holiness
443 – O God Who Shaped Creation
447 – O Parent, By Whose Name
Prayer, Trust, Hope
465 – Holy Spirit, Truth Devine
446 – An Invitation to Christ
506 – Wellspring of Wisdom
Strength in Tribulation
523 – Saranam, Saranam
526 – What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Born of the Spirit
538 – Wind Who Makes All Winds That Blow
543 – O Breath of Life
Eucharist
624 – Bread of the World
630 – Become to Us the Living Bread
638 – This Is the Feast of Victory
Morning & Evening
679 – O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright
684 – Christ, Might Savior
686 – O Gladsome Light
11. 10
WORKSHEET : SESSION THREE
The Apostle’s Creed, Traditional
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of the Father Almighty.
from thence he shall come again to judge the quick
and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
A Woman’s Creed
I believe in God
Who created woman and man in God’s own image
Who created the world
And gave both sexes the care of the earth.
I believe in Jesus
Who discussed theology with a woman at a well
And first confided in her
His messiahship
Who motivated her to go and tell her great news to
the city.
I believe in Jesus
Who spoke of himself as a mother hen
Who would gather her chicks
Under her wings.
I believe in the wholeness of the savior
In whom there is neither
Jew nor Greek
Slave nor free
Male nor female
For we are all one in salvation.
A Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada
We are not alone, we live in God's world.
We believe in God Who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God. We are called to be the church: to celebrate God's presence, to love and serve
others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Affirmation from 1 Corinthians 15:1–6 and Colossians 1:15–20
Leader: This is the good news which we have received in which we stand and by which we are saved:
People: Christ died for our sins, was buried, was raised on the third day, and appeared first to the women, then
to Peter and the Twelve, and then to many faithful witnesses.
We believe Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One of God, the firstborn of all creation, the firstborn from the
dead, in whom all things hold together, in whom the fullness of God was pleased to dwell by the power of the
Spirit.
Christ is the head of the body, the church, and by the blood of the cross reconciles all things to God. Amen.
12. 11
SESSION FOUR
EXPANDING OUR IMAGES OF GOD
BACKGROUND MATERIALS
In 1983, the Washington Post ran the results of a poll asking Americans this question, “when you think about
God who likely are certain images to come to mind?” In the list, pollsters included such attributes as creator,
liberator, mother, master and spouse.
In that poll, Americans were most likely to think of God as creator (80%), healer (68%), friend (61%), and father
(61%). They were least likely to think of God as lover (41%), mother (24%), or spouse (16%).
Davelyn Vignaud compiled for the General Board of Discipleship a list of names, titles and phrases applied to
God. That two-page list contains more than 200 names and phrases, many of them biblical, many of them from
the church’s tradition-history of names for God.
This session is an invitation to participants to experiment with unfamiliar names and images of God, to expand
their understandings of God, and to grow into new faith relationships with God and with one another.
SESSION PLAN
1. Share the above background information with the group. Be gentle with people; assure them that this
session is an invitation to do some experimentation and growing in faith.
2. Distribute the worksheet titled, “Wesley’s Notations of God’s Grace.” Read through with the group the
short definitions of grace as understood by Wesley. Then ask the group to life up names and images of
God that fit each understanding – prevenient, justifying and sanctifying grace. List these on newsprint.
Encourage people to use new images and names they have come across in the past three sessions of
study.
3. Share the worksheet and statement “Tell me What Your God Looks Like” by The Reverend Sue Anne
Steffey Morrow.
4. Give each participant time to reflect for a few moments on this statement. Have them answer the
questions following the statement.
5. Share reactions to the statement and answers to the questions with the whole group. Make this a time
of invitation and sharing. Be sensitive to the fact that this may be more difficult for some people. Lead
the discussion gently.
6. Sharon and Tom Neufer Emsviler, United Methodist Clergy in the Illinois Conference and authors of
Women & Worship, talk about how their own efforts to expand their images of God have enriched both
their public and private worship. They write of the benefits of “experimenting” with taking different
images for God each week for their own personal meditation. One week they would pray to “Light,”
another week to “Rock,” another to “Father,” and another to “Mother.” And so on. Share this with the
group.
7. Gather participants into a circle in chairs. Invite participants to “center down” and to begin to do some
reflecting on their journey with God over the past four sessions. Are there those who want to share any
changes, insights, surprises, or challenges to their spiritual life that happened during this study? Spend a
few minutes reviewing some of the major themes of the past four sessions – how we form our images of
God, how the Bible informs our images of God, the place of hymns and creeds in our spiritual
development, and ways to grow in our relationship with God through new images.
13. 12
8. After all who wish have had a chance to speak and interact, place an open Bible in the middle of the
circle and light a candle. Invite participants to sit quietly by themselves for a few moments and to focus
on one image of God – particularly one that is new or unfamiliar to them. Guide them to spend some
time in silent prayer with that particular image of God.
9. Let the participants know that the prayer time will end with a group benediction which you will start by
saying, “We pray these things in the name of God, who is .” Each person in turn will end the
prayer by saying the same time, adding the image or name of God that she or he has focused on for
prayer that evening.
10. Close this session by singing a quiet, familiar hymn such as “Kum Ba Yah, My Lord” or “Amazing Grace.”
11. Thank participants for the spirit of adventure, trust, and risk with which they participated in this study.
Encourage and invite them to continue to “fling wide the doors and windows” of their hearts as they
continue along their faith journey.
14. 13
WORKSHEET: SESSION FOUR
Wesley’s Notations of God’s Grace
These are summary statements of John Wesley’s thinking on grace. He differentiated among three different
functions or kinds of grace.
Prevenient Grace
We acknowledge God’s prevenient grace, the divine love that surrounds all humanity and precedes any and all
of our conscious impulses.
Justifying Grace
We believe God reaches out to the repentant believer in justifying grace with accepting and pardoning love. This
process of justification and new birth is often referred to as conversion. Such a change may be sudden and
dramatic, or gradual and cumulative.
Sanctifying Grace
We hold that the wonder of God’s acceptance and pardon does not end God’s saving work, but continues to
nurture our growth in grace. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are enabled to increase in the knowledge
and love of God and in love for our neighbor.
Tell Me What Your God Looks Like
Tell me what your God looks like. This is not simply an exercise in our imagination for God’s
sake. How we envision God is of course intimately connected to how we see one another, how
we look at one another face-to-face, how we act toward each other.
To see God as hungering after righteousness is to recognize our God-given responsibility to
those who are hungry. To picture God as feminine alter the way we relate to one another, men
and women, the respect we show one another, the possibility for mutual love.
To envision God [as a God] who suffers is to see God in the courage of a four year old facing
leukemia. To know God as all wisdom is to see God in one who may be frail physically but has
the accumulated wisdom of years. To see God in a bright September afternoon is to imagine this
earth as a precious gift to protect. To consider God bent on all humanity is to bend ourselves
over for all who surround us.
Tell me what your God looks like. Look around. Tell me you see love incarnate in all that has life.
Sue Anne Steffey Morrow
What do you think of Sue Anne’s statement that “how we envision God is of course intimately connected to how
we see one another, how we look at one another face-to-face, how we act toward each other.”?
What difference would it make in your relationships with other people to envision God as both masculine and
feminine? What difference would it make in your relationships with the earth to envision God in terms of
nature? What difference would it make in relationship to power if we envision God as a child, or as a wise old
woman or man? Sallie McFague, former dean of the Vanderbilt Divinity School, says that “Finally, of course, we
must recognize that no language about God is adequate. Religious language begins and ends in silence.” What
do you think of this statement?