Thursday, April 23, 2015

Preparation for Wednesday April 29th 2015

This will be our final lesson on the topic of "Gospel Culture".  I think you will find it very interesting.  In order to be better prepared for our time together--read Lk 15:11-32.  You will recognize this right way as the "Parable of the Prodigal Son".  Couple things to think about before we meet:

1.  Who is represented by the Prodigal and the "Older Brother"

2.  How is grace manifested in the parable?  What are the consequences of rejecting God's grace?

3.  How does this parable relate to Gospel-Culture?

See you on Wednesday,
Kevin

Friday, April 17, 2015

Preparation for Wednesday April 22nd, 2015

We studied the example of Jesus when He washed the disciples feet, which in turn led us to the truths associated with the Christian's calling to have a servant's heart and to follow the example of Christ.  We have one last subject to investigate and it revolves around this question, "If we are living out the truth--a sacrificial, other-person-first, life of humility; how then would we expect the world to respond to us?"  

You might think it would be grateful, or even respond to the message we have.  Take a look at Jn 16:33 and Jn 15:18-19 to see what you can expect instead.  

Stated another way, William Tyndale, Bible translator, said this about the Gospel, "Euangelion (the Gospel) is a Greek word signifying good, merry, glad and joyful news, that makes a man's heart glad and makes him sing, dance and leap for joy."  And the world martyred him, for among other things, translating this good news into English.   

How do you explain this?  Should it effect our "Gospel Culture"?  

See you on Wednesday,
Kevin

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Preparation for Wednesday April 15th 2015

So during our last meeting together, I tried to show you that one way we (the Church) puts on display the manifold wisdom of God (Eph 3:10) is through the outworking of a servant's heart (Jn 13:15-16).  And not just a few within the fellowship, but as a VCC-wide culture.  

Now, are there any boundaries or limits on this service model?  

  - On the one hand, with Christ as our example, we might be tempted to say no.  

  - On the other hand, consider 1Tm 3:15 and Jn 18:37-38.  I think they add something to what it means to be "holy. . . without stain or blemish" as a church fellowship.  That's one of the things we'll talk about this week. 

See you on Wednesday,

Kevin

Monday, April 6, 2015

Preparation for Wednesday April 8th, 2015

We are going to continue our study of "Gospel Culture" while at the same time transitioning to a study of John chapters 13-17.  Here is the connection I would like you to think about for this weeks' study.  

How does the example of our Lord washing the disciple's feet (and the command to do likewise) relate to Eph 3:10?  In other words--this idea of Gospel Culture seems to be tugged in two different directions.  Are we to take on a servant's role--or put on display the wisdom of God to the watching spiritual host?  Can these two be reconciled.  We'll try on Wednesday.  

Kevin

April 1--No Wednesday Evening Service