Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Good Morning!

Also available at http://leapclass.blogspot.com/.

This week, we are working on Unit 4, Life in Christ

Focus Scripture for the Week: Colossians 2:6

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him.

Today's scripture: Acts 17:22-28

Notes:

--- the verse that I really like from the scripture reading is from verse 27 -- "God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." There is a great deal of encouragement in that verse.

-- the second reading from Wesley has a very nice explanation of what this section is about, which is really about going beyond the obvious. When we first discussed this study, we talked about jumping into the deep end of the pool. The passage from Wesley is almost like describing what the shallow end of the pool is like, with his three points about what the religion of the world considers a religious person -- doing no harm, the outward thing like robbery, etc. -- doing good, or being charitable -- and using some of the means of grace, at least going to church and to Communion. Wesley characterizes this as something that will not satisfy the soul hungry for God, a soul that wants something higher and deeper than this. And I will say that I have a sense that all of us in our class knows exactly what Wesley is talking about there, and thus the willingness to embrace and practice what is presented by this study.

-- we know that there are a lot of people who don't even get to doing those three basic points that Wesley outlined, and there is something to be said for bringing people to that point -- where they refrain from sin, they give to the poor, and they attend church. But there is much more there, much more to do in our walk, and our call is to seek that for ourselves, and then model and share that behavior with the others who can't see or don't know that there is more.

Today's prayer request: Nelson Ferreiro, a family friend of Megan Douglas

Nelson was recently diagnosed with brain cancer, and had surgery to remove the tumor. However, they could not remove all of it, and he was given 2 - 6 months to live. We need to pray for him and his family.

Today's class member prayer:

Jay Waters

Have a great week.