Weekly Reflections:
Throughout our foundations series the focus of the GPS will be to dig deeper into scripture about the part of the creed we discussed the previous week in worship.
Further there is an open invitation to join us for conversation at Foster’s Grille Thursdays beginning at 6:30 for deeper conversation. Come for as long as you can for good food and great conversation.
Finally you can visit https://faithpointum.org/foundations-series/ for other weekly resources and a printable version of the creed worksheet so that you can create your own creed by the ned of the series.
Monday: Read John 1:1-18
Today we read that the Word was with God in the beginning and the Word is of the same (not similar) substance of God the Father that we looked at last week. This is an important part that the Word before taking on flesh is the same substance as the Father and not inferior. Then the Word was made flesh in Jesus. Taking on flesh Jesus (The Word) is fully human and fully divine).
- How does the dual nature of Jesus shape your understanding of the Word? Have you thought of it before?
Tuesday: Read Hebrews 1:1-4
Jesus is a reflection of God because when we look at Jesus through the lens of the gospels we are taking a look at God interacting with creation. Perhaps the last time we saw this kind of interaction between God and humanity was in the garden when Adam and Eve were hiding from God.
- In what ways do you see Jesus and God the Father as being similar? In what ways are they different?
Wednesday: Read Colossians 1:15-23
Paul becomes a servant to this Good News that we have been reconciled to God through Jesus. All of the fullness of God dwelt within Jesus. This is a powerful statement and yet humanity (we) came to reject him and he suffered death on a cross. In the reconciliation a new way has been opened up to us. This way is apart from the law of the Jews.
- In what ways do you remind yourself that you are called to place Christ at the center of your life?
- How can you keep him there so that you might take full advantage of living into the Good News?
Thursday: Read Ephesians 1:15-23
Here we see a prayer for the spirit and revelation through Jesus that we may come to know Christ more deeply. Many times we see that we are called to “work out our own salvation” or ask, seek and knock as we search for God, yet many of us seem to protect, cover and archive our faith.
- Why do you think so many people faith to seek and push against their faith for the sake of revelation and a deeper relationship/knowledge of Jesus/God?
- In Matthew 16 Jesus asks the disciples who others say he is. He then goes on to ask who they (the disciples) say he is. How would your friends answer the question of Jesus’ identity? How do you answer it?
- PS-don’t forget Theology Thursdays Tonight at 6:30 at Foster’s grille
Friday: Read John 6:35, 8:12, 10-7-10, 10:14, 11:25-26, 14:6-7, 15:1-5
I am…light, bread, the gate, the good shepherd. Jesus uses story and parable to teach so powerfully and these illustrations are no exception. Yet they don’t capture the entirety of who he is.
- What image from the readings today or another do you most connect with as who Jesus is?
- In what ways are you sharing your revelation of who Jesus is with your friends and community?
Saturday: Read John 3:16-21
This is one of the most well known passages of scripture and yet we don’t live like it is truth or like it transforms us. Jesus came into the world to give life and not condemnation. He came to bring light in the darkness, and yet we (humanity) seem to try and draw the covers of darkness back over our heads as the dawn of the SON peeks over the horizon in our life.
- Why do you think we are so quick to judge and belittle others, casting ourselves back into the darkness? (share your thoughts with me Chris@faithpointum.org)
- How might you try to live into the light more fully?