Imagination: A Handmaid of the Gospel
Our Lord is not only the King of creation but the King of creativity.
Hang around Lutheran musicians long enough, and you will, no doubt, hear these famous words of Martin Luther. “Music is a handmaid of theology.” It is easy to understand why this quote is so popular. Luther’s words are rich in their simplicity, beauty, and truth. They point to the heart of every good Christian hymn: Christ crucified and risen for you.
![[Sunday] To Thine Own Self Be True - Say What](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1633711353739-VNXD2ML925P22AG0BMU6/Saywhat+21+3a.jpg)
[Sunday] To Thine Own Self Be True - Say What
This famous Shakespeare quote has gotten a modern, extremely selfish, makeover. Lets talk about Christ’s salvation for the world and the expectation to follow likewise.
No Questions this week.
What Had happened at Grace this week.
![Christmas Dinner at Mission BBQ [photos]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766111458710-ULPCKS16DAZCMUN7LI93/PXL_20251218_000243197.jpg)
![[Sunday] A Song of Christmas Light - Know Me Better Man Stave 3](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1765482111687-AQYCM4FZQV9BO7JIPL02/Christmas+light+3a.jpg)
The Problem with Self Optimization
A look at what Jesus taught about Christian self-optimization.
John came to college as a self-professed atheist, which made his appearance at the small campus Christian fellowship something of a curiosity. He had grown up without any religious background and wanted to know what the whole Christianity thing was about. John did the same for the other religious groups at the school. This voyeurism soon turned to devotion. He went to every meeting, every retreat, every bible study he could. In a matter of weeks, the atheist label he once wore proudly was soon exchanged for another: Christian…………………
![[Bible Study] Chapter 1 Corinthians](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1633701472224-897RMRJUDEZRCYC2WQXW/2+cor+bs1.jpg)
The God Who Gives Life to the Dead
Unlike us, God is not limited by impossible situations.
Read the whole article here The God Who Gives Life to the Dead - Mockingbird (mbird.com)
The hand of the LORD came upon me…and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones […]
So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” (Ez 37:1, 7-9)……………………….
![[Sunday] God Works In Mysterious Ways - Say What](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1633098381433-WVEDSFSME8P6VHARYG5W/Saywhat+21+2a.jpg)
[Sunday] God Works In Mysterious Ways - Say What
This famous Christian phrase has its origins in a little-known song writer who was always dealing with depression and mantel illness. When our lives are not going the way that we would like we are able to say phrases like this as an expression of deep hope.
Describe the mysterious ways you have seen God work?
Read Mark 10: 17-27. Looking at the context, why does Jesus say “with God all things are possible?”
How might we misuse the saying “God works in mysterious ways?” According to the Bible, what ways does God work that are mysterious?
Read Isaiah 55:6-10. When you fail or feel down, what mysterious way of God can you cling onto to have hope?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
![[Sunday] A Song of Christmas Light - Pointing to Greatness Stave 4](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766107074577-MKU6U8LW1N5S1EATE1RW/Christmas+light+4a.jpg)
Not Captain Material! Rejection and the Good News
An essay by David Zahl from the newly released, The Jesus I Wish I Knew in High School
Read the whole article here https://mbird.com/religion/testimony/rejection-and-the-good-news
It was a lock, they told me.
The team would meet for its annual post-season banquet. We’d eat some pizza, our coach would hand out a few awards, and then we’d elect next year’s captains. I say captains, plural. My sophomore year there had been three. My junior year, two.
Water polo is what you call a niche sport -- in New England at least. Sunny places like California and Florida boast robust high school programs, both public and private school leagues. These states tend to feed the US Olympic roster. Up in Connecticut, though, the sport is mainly something for swimmers to do during the off-season. No one takes it that seriously.
Week 7 RLC Together: Conclusion
How did it go
Welcome to Week 7 Contents.
Pastor Cris Together Group Video
Meets Thursday 11am: Video Releases Friday Morning
Together Group Video
Discussion Guide
Pastor Cris’ Together Group Meets
Thursday Morning at 11am
Video recording releases Friday mornings.
Together Group Video Week 7
Discussion Guide | Week 7
![[Sunday] Devil Made Me Do It - Say What](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1632496681373-3MD44TD40M1WJLRYIIYM/Saywhat+21+1a.jpg)
[Sunday] Devil Made Me Do It - Say What
Are we the Baddies? Oh the problem of blaming the devil or anything else for our troubles. It takes the very essence away from the Christian.
Questions for the Week
When are times you would be tempted to say “the devil made me do it” and try to shift blame for some of our problems we find ourselves in?Read Luke 4:1-12. We see that Jesus is tempted in every way we are. What are the temptations Jesus faced and how do you face similar temptations?
Read James 1:12-18. What does this teach us about temptation? What ultimately lures us away into temptation?
Read 1 John 1:8-9. Knowing what Jesus has done for you, how should you respond when you find yourself realizing that you are a “baddie?”
Red Letter Challenge
Together Groups
Find some folk to go through this challenge together.
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Say What!? Thats Not In The Bible
There are many phrases that we think are good and Christian; however, they are not actually found in Scripture at all. So we are looking at some of those phrases and exclaiming, “Say What?! That's not in the Bible.”
There are many phrases that we think are good and Christian; however, they are not actually found in Scripture at all. So we are looking at some of those phrases and exclaiming, “Say What?! That's not in the Bible.”
![[Sunday] Love The Sinner Hate The Sin - Say What](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1634310790101-0NYPC98FYHLVOB2ZWVFM/Saywhat+21+4a.jpg)
![[Sunday] - Say What?! Cleanliness is Next to Godliness](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1589069509976-9IH3EH42STQ5IKDR0J4N/Say+what+weekly+4.jpg)
![[Sunday] - Say What?! God Gains Another Angel](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1588452699714-CXS1WI1PFXYS6U50UF8Y/Say+what+weekly+3.jpg)
![[Sunday] - Say What?! God Help Those who Help Themselves](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1587855258943-HUMGPOSS15Y4SJ8XOEAF/Say+what+weekly+2.jpg)
![[Sunday] - Say What?! God Won't Give You More Than You Can Handle](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1587243856974-ZR45UJUOS8TUI746BUAT/Say+what+weekly+1.jpg)
COVID-19 Killed Our Sense of Personal Progress
Scripture says that might be a good thing.
Read Whole article at https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/august-web-only/covid-19-coronavirus-pandemic-personal-progress.html
“The average human lifespan is absurdly, terrifyingly, insultingly short.” That’s how Oliver Burkeman begins his new book, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. In it, he confronts readers with the disquieting truth that we have a paltry 4,000 weeks on this earth, and a lot of what we do with them is meaningless, at least by some human standards.
As bleak as it sounds, that is exactly the message we need to hear right now.
Life expectancy in the United States has dropped for the first time since World War II. Thanks in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans can now expect their 4,000 weeks to be reduced by roughly 78 weeks (or 18 months). The fact that life is hard and death is coming would be unremarkable news in any other time or place. But for those of us in the modern West (and perhaps America, in particular), mortality is a question we’ve found ingenious ways to avoid…..
While the Ghost points to the grave our ambition digs, Jesus answers by becoming the humble Child who enters that grave to raise us to new life.