Bible Text:
Matthew 1:18–25
Lesson Focus:
Jesus came to teach us how to live and free us from sin and death.
Big Question:
Wait, God became human?
Key Words:
CRUCIFIED, RESURRECTION, ASCENDED, LORD, REDEMPTION
Definition of Key Words
CRUCIFIED: executed on a cross.
RESURRECTION: returned to life, raised to life.
ASCENDED: gone up, as in Jesus has gone up to heaven.
LORD: ruler of all.
REDEMPTION: rescue from sin and death
Going Deep
The Apostles' Creed was formed primarily to articulate the reality of Jesus Christ in relation to God. Addressing the concerns from which the Creed arose, the second article focuses on Jesus' relationship in the triune God and on Jesus' incarnation. Jesus' life in flesh attests that Jesus is fully human. Jesus was born a human being of a human being (Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 2:1–20). Jesus suffered, was executed by crucifixion, and was buried (Matthew 27:26–50, 57–61; Mark 15:16–47; Luke 23:26–56). Family, friends, and followers knew Jesus as a human being. Yet Jesus' contemporaries—friends and enemies—did not fully understand who he was (Matthew 13:54–58; Mark 2:1–12; Luke 5:27–6:5).
The resurrection shed more light on the reality of Jesus. Jesus is fully divine. The Gospel authors wrote of Jesus' human life from the perspective of the resurrection. Jesus rose from the dead (Matthew 27:53, 28; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:5, 13–49). Jesus ascended into heaven (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:2, 9–11, 22). Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty (Matthew 28:18; Mark 16:19; Acts 7:55; Hebrews 1:3), maker of heaven and earth.
The second article is the longest of the Creed's articles. There are two inseparable themes: Jesus' divinity and Jesus' humanity. Jesus' being fully human and fully divine is crucial to the work of redemption. God is willing to go to any length, even human suffering and death, to redeem creation, including humanity. God does this out of love for creation, including us.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Creed: Article One
Bible Text:
Genesis 1:1—2:25
Lesson Focus:
God's creative work in the world is ongoing.
Big Question:
How do we know God is still creating stuff today?
Key Words:
CREATE, CREATION, SUSTAIN, EX NIHILO, STEWARDSHIP
Key Word Definitions
CREATE: to make from nothing.
CREATION: all that exists; all that God has made.
SUSTAIN: to keep, preserve, and maintain.
EX NIHILO: Latin for "out of nothing."
STEWARDSHIP: responsibility for care and proper use.
Going Deep
Genesis records two accounts (1:1–2:4a and 2:4b–25) of God creating the heavens and the earth and their creatures. The first account focuses on God's speaking—God's word forming an orderly creation from chaos. God separates, for example, light from darkness, to create. The second, older account focuses more specifically on human beings and their relationship to the rest of creation. Human beings are formed from the dust of creation and are intended to care for creation. God is creator of all that is. The visible creation helps human beings understand the invisible, including God's "eternal power and divine nature" (Romans 1:20).
God's creation is fallen (Genesis 3). The entire sweep of history is moving to a final reconciliation of God and creation (Romans 8:19–25) in a new creation. This new creation is the aim of God's relationship with us and our relationship with God. God's creative power was not only in the beginning but continues (2 Corinthians 5:17). Finally, God's creative power will make all things new, a new heaven and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Revelation 21:1–4).
Our Prayer
Leader: Creator God,
Group: You created me and all I have.
Leader: Creator God,
Group: You provide me daily with all I need for life.
Leader: Creator God,
Group: You made us all stewards of your creation.
Leader: Creator God,
Group: Help make us better stewards
Leader: So that where there is hunger, homelessness, and despair,
Group: There may be food and shelter and hope.
All: Amen.
Genesis 1:1—2:25
Lesson Focus:
God's creative work in the world is ongoing.
Big Question:
How do we know God is still creating stuff today?
Key Words:
CREATE, CREATION, SUSTAIN, EX NIHILO, STEWARDSHIP
Key Word Definitions
CREATE: to make from nothing.
CREATION: all that exists; all that God has made.
SUSTAIN: to keep, preserve, and maintain.
EX NIHILO: Latin for "out of nothing."
STEWARDSHIP: responsibility for care and proper use.
Going Deep
Genesis records two accounts (1:1–2:4a and 2:4b–25) of God creating the heavens and the earth and their creatures. The first account focuses on God's speaking—God's word forming an orderly creation from chaos. God separates, for example, light from darkness, to create. The second, older account focuses more specifically on human beings and their relationship to the rest of creation. Human beings are formed from the dust of creation and are intended to care for creation. God is creator of all that is. The visible creation helps human beings understand the invisible, including God's "eternal power and divine nature" (Romans 1:20).
God's creation is fallen (Genesis 3). The entire sweep of history is moving to a final reconciliation of God and creation (Romans 8:19–25) in a new creation. This new creation is the aim of God's relationship with us and our relationship with God. God's creative power was not only in the beginning but continues (2 Corinthians 5:17). Finally, God's creative power will make all things new, a new heaven and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Revelation 21:1–4).
Our Prayer
Leader: Creator God,
Group: You created me and all I have.
Leader: Creator God,
Group: You provide me daily with all I need for life.
Leader: Creator God,
Group: You made us all stewards of your creation.
Leader: Creator God,
Group: Help make us better stewards
Leader: So that where there is hunger, homelessness, and despair,
Group: There may be food and shelter and hope.
All: Amen.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
ACTS
Here is the "philosophy" of ministry that we will be using within our student ministry at Christ The Savior. The philosophy of ministry is "our tool" to help us (as a student ministry) reach the mission of our church: Reaching people to know, love and serve Christ.
If you have a ministry thought or suggestion that we can do in each one of these areas, please let us know.
If you have a ministry thought or suggestion that we can do in each one of these areas, please let us know.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
No Make-Up Class
Initially, we had a make-up class for series one scheduled for this Sunday (November 7th). We will not have the make-up class. We will, however, still have confirmation on Sunday at our normal time which is at 10:45.
We will continue our "creed" series and will take a look at Article One. Hope to see you there.
We will continue our "creed" series and will take a look at Article One. Hope to see you there.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Creed: Week One
Bible Text:
Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:28–34
Lesson Focus:
The Apostles' Creed states our shared beliefs as a community of faith.
Big Question:
What do I believe?
Key Words:
CREED, BELIEF, CHURCH, MONOTHEISM, TRINITY
Definitions of the Key Words
CREED: a statement of belief.
BELIEF: an affirmed or accepted truth.
CHURCH: the community of faith, known in the Apostles' Creed as the "communion of saints."
MONOTHEISM: the belief in one God.
TRINITY: God as three persons in one being.
Focus on Monotheism ....
Ask students to turn to Mark 12:28–34, and ask another volunteer to read the verses aloud. Asked which commandment is greatest, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:4. Explain to students that the people of Israel were the only people in the time of Moses, and later, the time of Jesus, who believed in the concept of monotheism: that there is one God, not many. Other people, who believed in many gods, thought that either the God of Israel was not one of the gods, or that the God Israel worshipped was another god like theirs. The belief in only one God was radical and caused Israel a lot of problems. But without that belief, they would no longer have been Israel. If you have time at this point, you may want to have the students consider if this idea of there being only one God continues to be a radical one today.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:28–34
Lesson Focus:
The Apostles' Creed states our shared beliefs as a community of faith.
Big Question:
What do I believe?
Key Words:
CREED, BELIEF, CHURCH, MONOTHEISM, TRINITY
Definitions of the Key Words
CREED: a statement of belief.
BELIEF: an affirmed or accepted truth.
CHURCH: the community of faith, known in the Apostles' Creed as the "communion of saints."
MONOTHEISM: the belief in one God.
TRINITY: God as three persons in one being.
Focus on Monotheism ....
Ask students to turn to Mark 12:28–34, and ask another volunteer to read the verses aloud. Asked which commandment is greatest, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:4. Explain to students that the people of Israel were the only people in the time of Moses, and later, the time of Jesus, who believed in the concept of monotheism: that there is one God, not many. Other people, who believed in many gods, thought that either the God of Israel was not one of the gods, or that the God Israel worshipped was another god like theirs. The belief in only one God was radical and caused Israel a lot of problems. But without that belief, they would no longer have been Israel. If you have time at this point, you may want to have the students consider if this idea of there being only one God continues to be a radical one today.
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