Good Morning - Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Good Morning! 

 

Note that we need to discuss what our next study will be -- we only have six weeks to go on this one.  Any suggestions, either as to a specific title, or of the type of study?

 

The new unit for this week is  Unit 20, The Way to Heaven   

 

Focus Scriptures for the Week:  

 

Hebrews 11:16   

 

They desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

 

John 12:26

 

Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.  Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

 

Today's Scriptures:  1 Peter 3:13-22   

 

Today's Discussion:   

 

-- the scripture today is one about encourgement and preparation.

 

-- the thing that comes up out of scriptures like this is the idea that being a Christian is a 24/7 job.  I don't think that everyone who comes to Christ understands that originally.  In so many of the other roles we have in our lives, we don't have to be that person all the time.  As an employee, you can usually leave your job at the office when you leave at night.  As a parent, you can leave that role behind when you go to the office, or go off and leave your child with a babysitter.

 

-- sometimes, people believe that they can leave their role as a Christian behind when they leave the church on Sunday.  And that's not to say that they go and live a life of sin on the other days of the week; more likely, they simply set it aside and don't think about it.  But the verses we have been reading, such as today's, indicate that the writer's expectation is that they are giving instruction for daily living, not just Sunday living.  There is an active dimension to being a Christian that we have to grow into understanding and appreciating.

 

-- that is the thing that this class format is intended to help us do, the learn how to exercise our Christian calling every day.  "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have" Peter says in this passage, and the assumption, in my mind, is that if you are living daily the life Christ wants you to live, people are going to notice and people are going to ask you about what it is that you have that they don't. 

 

Question for Sunday:  

 

-- look at the people you come into contact with today -- do you notice any of them who are actively living out their Christianity, their faith?

 

Today's prayer request:    Hurricane Katrina evacuees

 

There are so many different people to remember.  Today, let's remember those who had to leave their homes in New Orleans and who are now trying to reestablish their lives in new communities that in many cases they didn't choose -- trying to find jobs, schools, homes and new lives.

 

Today's class member prayer: 

 

Brigitte Severance

 

Have a great day.

 

Jay