Author Archives: Michael W.

“I believe…” January 8, 2017 Discussion

Download an outline of the Creed.
Go to the beginning of this study of the Creed.


Table Talk:  What is your usual response when someone asks you the very general question, “What do you believe?” – does it make a difference if the questioner is a believer, or a not-yet-believer, or if you don’t know?

[“Table Talk” is an opening question or topic for discussion at the beginning of our time together.  The intent is to help group members (around tables, with four to six at each table) build connections with each other, as well as to guide thinking in a direction related to the passage.]


Our first discussion about the Apostles’ Creed began by comparing past experiences with creeds in church.  Some members of our group have a Roman Catholic background, and they remembered reciting the Creed every week and being required to memorize it.  Others had little or no exposure to creeds.  Some with a background in a conservative denomination had learned that creeds were unnecessary at best, maybe even dangerous.  One person mentioned being unable to say the words “holy catholic church.”  So we start with a wonderfully diverse background when it comes to Christian creeds.  Continue reading

Before we start the Apostles’ Creed

The beginning of a new Bible study is an exciting prospect.  This study will be different from previous studies of a book of the Bible or of a particular topic.  The goal of this study is to explore the Scripture behind the ancient Christian creeds.  The Apostles’ Creed will provide our general outline, and the Nicene Creed will provide additional direction for our study.  It may be helpful to read a brief introduction to Christian creeds to see why studying them can be spiritually forming.

The content of the study will be Scripture, and the methodology will be inductive examination of the text of the Bible.  The creeds will provide our initial direction, but the constant question will be, “Does the Bible really teach that?”  If it does, “How does that help me grow in my relationship with God?  How does knowing and understanding the Apostles’ Creed enrich my Christian life?  How does the Creed shape the way I share the gospel with others?”

The format of the group will be, as much as possible, an interactive discussion about the Observation, Interpretation, and Application of the passages we study.  Of necessity, there will be some teaching about the history and development of the Creed.  The goal is for lecture to be minimized and the focus to remain on Scripture and how the content of the Creed represents the faith “once delivered to the saints.”

3 John 1:1 – 15 November 27, 2016 Discussion

Download discussion questions:  3 John 1:1-15


One of the most obvious differences in 3 John that sets it apart from the writer’s two other letters is the fact that here John names names.  The letter of 1 John contained no personal references other than terms of endearment such as “my little children.”  In 2 John, the author identifies himself as “the elder” and his recipient as “the elect lady and her children.”  In contrast, 3 John includes the names of three specific individuals.  In fact, as one member of our discussion group pointed out, the structure of the letter is a “sandwich” with the negative portion inserted between two very positive segments.  The sandwich arrangement reflects the three individuals that John identifies:  Gaius (v. 1), Diotrephes (v. 9), and Demetrius (v. 12). Continue reading

3 John 1:1 – 15 November 27, 2016 Handout

Download discussion questions:  3 John 1:1-15


What more does John have to say?  How does this letter (the shortest book in the New Testament) relate to the other two letters of John, or to the Gospel he recorded, or to his vision in exile on the island of Patmos?  Does this letter exhibit the similarities that connect 1 & 2 John?  How is this letter substantially different?  Download the handout and join us for our continuing discussion on Sunday morning.

2 John 1:1 – 13 November 20, 2016 Discussion

Download discussion questions:  2 John 1:1-13


 

Table Talk:  How do we distinguish orthodox teaching from cults or heresy?  Scripture, of course.  But lots of people use Scripture and come to very different conclusions.  How do we decide who to listen to?

[“Table Talk” is an opening question or topic for discussion at the beginning of our time together.  The intent is to help group members (around tables, with four to six at each table) build connections with each other, as well as to guide thinking in a direction related to the passage.]

The book of 2 John is just over ten-percent the length of 1 John, and after spending nine weeks in 1 John, our group spent one meeting time in 2 John.  At least two observations stand out after reading 2 John:  This shorter letter contains hints or reminders of most of the major themes of the longer letter.  However, the 2 John also includes several marked differences in form and content.  Our discussion explored both those similarities and differences. Continue reading