Opening Prayer
Prolegomena
March 26 – I dropped the ball. A hard topic was raised and I did not feel that I could bring the conversation to a satisfactory place, so I moved on and avoided it.
- It is hard to upset people, but my failure to respond (I fear) did exactly that.
A few words about politics.
I am trying to view everything through the lens of being part of
the Kingdom of God.
- Compassion for the broken.
- Grace for the sinner (including me).
- Commitment to God’s Ways
o
Seeing God as Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier
§
God’s design, Law and Truth
§
God’s mercy, salvation, and forgiveness
§
God’s power to convert and transform
o
Truth
o
Mercy & Justice – hand in hand
o
Repentance
This makes my political views rather muddy – and
uncomfortable – especially in areas of:
- Justice for people in all ethnic groups. (I resist the word “race.” We are all human.)
- Care for the poor and the least of these.
- Protection of human life from the womb to the tomb.
- Human sexuality and marriage.
- The role of the church vis-à-vis the state – and political power.
Lastly, I would note that I fall woefully short of my
ideals.
-
Last Week
What was valuable, or what stuck with you from last week?
Romans 10:16-21
But not all obeyed the gospel. For
Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? 17 So
faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the
message about Christ. 18 But I ask, “Did they not
hear?” Yes, they did:
Their voice has gone out to the
whole earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.
19 But I ask, “Did Israel not
understand?” First, Moses said,
I will make you jealous
of those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation
that lacks understanding.
20 And Isaiah says boldly,
I was found
by those who were not looking for me;
I revealed myself
to those who were not asking for me.
21 But to Israel he says, All
day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people.
10:16
This is the lament of prophets and evangelists … and
everyone who seeks to share the faith.
Isaiah 53:1 – Look at the larger context!
Who is this
chapter about?
How does
this apply to Romans 10?
10:17
So faith [is] from hearing, and hearing through the word of
Christ.
The word of
Christ is the instrument God uses to create faith.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 - “Listen, Israel: The Lord our
God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 Love
the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with
all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving
you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to
your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you
walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Listening and hearing are important concepts in the
Scriptures.
Historically
read out loud.
God is a
God who speaks – He is verbal.
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