Robes (of glory) by Tabitha

A little change of pace this week, as we consider the story found in Acts 9:36-42.

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas ), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!" Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

Questions:

• As you read this what are the first things that come to your mind?
• What in this text strikes you as remarkable?
• What is the main point of this story?
• Can you imagine what Dorcas looked like?
• Can you imagine the work she did with her hands?
• How can such work begin a way to influence others?
• Can you imagine the thrill of her resurrection?
• How does passage fit with this statement? We are baptized believers participating in the life of God for the sake of others.

What else is on your mind this week??

Riding in Chariots with Scrolls

We have a rather long, but easily read, text this week for our consideration.

Acts 8:26-40

Now an angel angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:

"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth."

The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

Questions:

• As you read this what are the first things that come to your mind?
• What in this text strikes you as remarkable?
• What is the main point of this story?
• How does this passage speak to need to be in contact with others to learn?
• How are the Old Testament and Jesus connected?
• What is the "good news about Jesus"?
• What is the link between Jesus and baptism?

What else is on your mind this mid-summer week?

(Still, kinda) Unusual

I’m still away, so I am still operating out of the unusual. We’re in Alabama with Kedra’s kin folk (speaking the local lingo).

I had a wonderful time at Lipscomb. My two classes went well, but the real experience was listening to others and spending tons of time with Earl Lavender. I am re-energized, so watch out. I will try go easy... ha ha ha

So what’s up up your way?

This week we are going to consider this text from Ephesians 4:11-16:

It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

What do you think about this text?

How does it relate to our discussion about elders and deacons?

Just what on earth are you to do for heaven’s sake? (Ha ha - sorry)

What else is on your mind??

Unusual

This week and next will be unusual for me. [I like unusual.] What that means for this place is that I MAY not be that active. It will depend on what you put on here, or if I have some brilliant thought that needs to be expressed (not likely).

This week is 4th of July week, so it’s a little disjointed, seeing that the 4th falls on a Wednesday. I am going to Nashville that day to participate in Summer Celebration at Lipscomb; it ends on Saturday. On Saturday afternoon Kedra and I are going on down to Alabama for a few days to see her folks.

So there you have it: two weeks of unusual for me. I like it.

What do you want to talk about? Remember, we recently buried a horse, so no digging in that area.

We could dive into the relationship of church and state, particularly as it shows up in what some call "Patriotic Christians." Or not.

How about discussing what hot dogs are made of?

We could talk about...

Or we could all just relax and drink some sweet tea.

Deacons

1 Timothy 3:8-13

Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

It would be helpful to read, along with this passage, Acts 6:1-7, which many believe to a description of the original deacons, even though they are not called that.


Some Questions:

• As you read this what are the first things that come to your mind?
• What in this text strikes you as remarkable?
• How many "qualifications" does Paul mention for one to be a deacon?
• Why are these things important to God?
• Which of these is the most difficult?
• How does these things differ from what Paul describes for elders?
• Do you know of men who like what Paul describes? Who are they?

What else is on your mind this week?

Who’s Up for This?

1 Timothy 3:1-7

Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.


It would be helpful to read, along with this passage, Titus 1:5-9.

Some Guide Questions:

• What in this text strikes you as remarkable?
• How many "qualifications" does Paul mention for one to be an overseer or elder?
• Why are these things important to God?
• Which of these is the most difficult?
• Do you know of men who are like what Paul describes?

What else is on your mind this week?

Watch Out!

Here is our text for the week:

Acts 20:28-31

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

To help you really understand the text, you should read verse 17 and then all the way to the end of the chapter 20.

Questions:

• As you read this what are the first things that come to your mind?
• What in this text strikes you as remarkable?
• What is Paul’s mood and tone?
• Can you imagine his face?
• What are Paul’s concerns?
• What "assignments" does he give to the elders of the Ephesian church?
• How this text apply to our present time?
• Why is this story here?

What else is on your mind this week?

Waiting on Tables (and God)

Our text for the week is

Acts 6:1-7.

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.


Some questions:

• As you read this what are the first things that come to your mind?
• What in this text strikes you as remarkable?
• What is the problem presented in the text?
• What is the solution?
• What point do the apostles make?
• How do they perceive their role in the church?
• How this text apply to our present time?
• Who in the modern church corresponds to the apostles?
• Who in the modern church corresponds to the distributers of food?
• Why is this story here?
  

What else is on your mind this week?