Here at Lancaster First UMC, I am privileged to be part of two weekly bible study groups that study the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday worship services.
Below are the notes from this week's bible study:
This Sunday’s Worship Theme – “Marks of a Christian: Prayers & Presence”
Revelation 4 (Focus: Presence or Worship)
Overview of Book – John, on the island of Patmos writing to the 7 churches in Asia Minor to remain faithful until the Lord Jesus reappears. To understand this final book of the bible, we need to interpret it in light of the historical situation of this time period. (Churches bowing to the pressure of the Roman Empire.)
Chapters 4 & 5 – Focus on worship as John gets a vision of worship in heaven.
- John is a spectator in the heavenly court watching as all of creation worships God. This is not a future reality but a present reality!
- 4:1-2 – “coming up to heaven” & “being in the Spirit” are ways of showing how heaven and earth overlap. This is done through worship.
- Scene opens with heavenly throne room (see Ezekiel 1.) The surprise is that we first see how animals are worshipping God. Then the 24 elders, representing all of God’s people (old and new covenants) worship as well.
- “Worship” means “worthy” where we acknowledge the “worthiness of God.”
- Points of passage: 1) God is the creator of all. 2) Task of humans is to join all of creation in worship through our words of praise. See “hallowed be thy name” in Lord’s Prayer.
- This passage reminds us of Genesis 1 how God created the world and called it good, but that sin entered the world. Jesus Christ is the one who can open the scroll and bring God’s plan for redemption to completion. This is what leads to praise and worship.
- The purpose of God is not to save humans from the world but to save them for the world.
- Political dimension of this – Worshipping God in this way is an affront to the Roman Empire and Caesar. This is very subsersive!
- Notice that God the creator and the Lamb (Jesus) are worshipped while maintaining monotheism and not dualism or paganism (worship of many gods.)
Luke 11:1-13 (Focus: Prayer)
The Lord’s Prayer
- Early Christians prayed this prayer 3 times a day.
- God as Father reminds us when Israel was in slavery and needed to be rescued. God told Pharaoh through Moses and Aaron, “Israel is my son, my firstborn.” To call God “father” reminded people that they were an exodus people.
- When Jesus gave us this prayer, he was on his journey to Jerusalem and the cross to rescue us from our slavery and lead us into a new exodus that would defeat sin and death once and for all.
- Daily bread reminds us of the manna to sustain us during the journey.
- Our journey is to be marked by forgiveness toward our enemies, just as Jesus forgave his enemies on the cross.
- Our journey is to deal with the evil in the world just as Jesus dealt with evil on the cross.
Below are the notes from this week's bible study:
This Sunday’s Worship Theme – “Marks of a Christian: Prayers & Presence”
Revelation 4 (Focus: Presence or Worship)
Overview of Book – John, on the island of Patmos writing to the 7 churches in Asia Minor to remain faithful until the Lord Jesus reappears. To understand this final book of the bible, we need to interpret it in light of the historical situation of this time period. (Churches bowing to the pressure of the Roman Empire.)
Chapters 4 & 5 – Focus on worship as John gets a vision of worship in heaven.
- John is a spectator in the heavenly court watching as all of creation worships God. This is not a future reality but a present reality!
- 4:1-2 – “coming up to heaven” & “being in the Spirit” are ways of showing how heaven and earth overlap. This is done through worship.
- Scene opens with heavenly throne room (see Ezekiel 1.) The surprise is that we first see how animals are worshipping God. Then the 24 elders, representing all of God’s people (old and new covenants) worship as well.
- “Worship” means “worthy” where we acknowledge the “worthiness of God.”
- Points of passage: 1) God is the creator of all. 2) Task of humans is to join all of creation in worship through our words of praise. See “hallowed be thy name” in Lord’s Prayer.
- This passage reminds us of Genesis 1 how God created the world and called it good, but that sin entered the world. Jesus Christ is the one who can open the scroll and bring God’s plan for redemption to completion. This is what leads to praise and worship.
- The purpose of God is not to save humans from the world but to save them for the world.
- Political dimension of this – Worshipping God in this way is an affront to the Roman Empire and Caesar. This is very subsersive!
- Notice that God the creator and the Lamb (Jesus) are worshipped while maintaining monotheism and not dualism or paganism (worship of many gods.)
Luke 11:1-13 (Focus: Prayer)
The Lord’s Prayer
- Early Christians prayed this prayer 3 times a day.
- God as Father reminds us when Israel was in slavery and needed to be rescued. God told Pharaoh through Moses and Aaron, “Israel is my son, my firstborn.” To call God “father” reminded people that they were an exodus people.
- When Jesus gave us this prayer, he was on his journey to Jerusalem and the cross to rescue us from our slavery and lead us into a new exodus that would defeat sin and death once and for all.
- Daily bread reminds us of the manna to sustain us during the journey.
- Our journey is to be marked by forgiveness toward our enemies, just as Jesus forgave his enemies on the cross.
- Our journey is to deal with the evil in the world just as Jesus dealt with evil on the cross.
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