Monday, May 19, 2008

Dialogue with the World: Jesus for the World

Series: Dialogue with the World
Jesus for the World by John Burke, May 18, 2008
Today, we’re beginning a new series on major world religions, and this first message stressed that God has always wanted to have a loving relationship with individuals from every part of the world – and that Jesus is His “Way” to make that happen.

1. As John pointed out, “the world is coming to Austin”. Isn’t it so? Do a quick test: If you are not from the U.S., what is your original nationality? If you ARE from the U.S., of the people you know personally here in Austin, what counties are they from? Also consider how Austin has gone to the world: Tell about any countries you’ve lived in beside the U.S.. (My bet is that there is going to be a pretty good sized list... it's a small world!) (10 minutes)

2. John talked about some of the similarities in moral beliefs that exist across the world (he even listed some from C.S. Lewis’s book The Abolution of Man). Think about this idea for a minute (and try not to peek at the list below). Can you identify a rule of life that you think might be a more or less a “universal” – one that most cultures/people believe? Go around the group and see what kinds of “standards” you can identify. (Note: don’t worry if you don’t agree with each one identified… the idea is to see what “rules” a shared to some degree across nations.) (10 - 15 minutes)

3. Now that you have your list of a somewhat common “laws”, ask John’s question: How are we doing? Since these ideas/value are accepted an many places, do we see them lived out? How about in your own life: Do you consistently follow the ones you believe in? (Don’t worry if the answer is “no”… I’m pretty sure you’re not alone). So, why is that? Why do we so often fail in following these universal moral laws? Talk about this for a few minutes. (10 minutes)

4. Accord to Christian belief (and many other religions too), God is “Holy”… completely pure, righteous, and loving, and by definition He can’t mingle with those who are not. But as His dealings with people through time make clear, He wants to have a relationship with each of us. So, He set up some ways to bridge the gap – what theologians call “covenants”. As John told us, the covenant with Abraham was based on his faith, and was unconditional, while the one with Moses was conditional, and was based on people following God’s “law”. Take some time to try to get a hold on this idea of a “covenant relationship”, either conditional or unconditional. What other relationships can you identify that are like a “covenant” in some way? What makes them like a covenent? Are they conditional or unconditional? Are there any outward “signs” of the relationship? Read the bible verses below to get more insight in to the concept, and then take some time to draw as many parallels as you can with these concepts “covenant”… This can be a hard one for many of us to get our head around. (10 - 15 minutes)

5. In Luke 22: 20 (see below) Jesus called His blood the source of God's “new covenant”. Think about what you know about Jesus and what you understand about covenent relationships. In what ways did Jesus create a covenant “bridge” to God? What is the nature of the convenant? What are signs of it? How does it effect one's life? (5 - 10 minutes)

6. At the end of the services this week, we had baptisms … the major symbol/ceremony of a new covenant relationship with God. Have you been baptized? Take some time for those who would like to, to describe their own baptism… especially if it just happened this week! (10 minutes)

As you close, take a minute to talk to God about your relationship with Him. Have you entered a convenant? If so, what does it mean for your life? If not, do you want to? Why or why not? What should be your next step in the relationship? (3 - 5 minutes)

If you have questions about this idea of covenant – and Jesus as the covenant bridge to God, or questions about Hinduism, Buddhism, Judism, or Islam… now is your chance: There will be a dialog with people from other beliefs and with John over the next three weeks. You can text your questions to Myquestion@gateway.com.

Bible verses from the message:

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and…all the families on earth will be blessed through you…. Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness…I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant …to be your God and the God of your descendants. Genesis 12:1-3; 15:6, 18; 17:7

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests. Exodus 19:5-6

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach…No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you. Deut 30:11, 14-16

Even when Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, instinctively follow what the law says, they show that in their hearts they know right from wrong. They demonstrate that God's law is written within them. Romans 2:14-15

Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, "We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey." Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words." Exodus 24:7-8

“I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives….When the LORD returns to [Jerusalem]…all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God…Just as there were many who were appalled at him--his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness--so will he sprinkle many nations. Isaiah 42:6-7, 52:8-15

Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey…your king will bring peace to the nations. His realm will stretch from sea to sea and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. Because of the covenant I made with you, sealed with blood. Zechariah 9:9-11

“The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant...because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD… “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34

This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Luke 22:20

For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins…Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. So don’t let anyone condemn you…. Colossians 2:12-16

1. Don’t do harm to another human by what you do or say (the Golden Rule)
2. Honor your father and mother
3. Be kind toward brothers and sisters, children, and the elderly
4. Do not have sex with another’s spouse
5. Be honest in all your dealings (don’t steal)
6. Do not lie
7. Care for those weaker or less fortunate
8. Dying to self is the path to life
--adapted from C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man

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posted by Linda Gerber @ 7:04 AM   0 Comments