All Are Welcome!
The Open Bible Study, Sept. 12, 10:30am in Shockey Lounge
The Open Bible Study (Monday Morning Bible Study) restarts the first Monday after Labor Day, Sept. 12th.
The “Open” part in our title means we actually read the Bible. We read, share ideas suggested by the text and what they might mean in/for our lives. We aspire to receive what the Spirit offers through each participant. It is also “open” to everyone … male/female (could use a few more of the latter) … young/old (in the last two years, we’ve ranged from people in their early-20’s to late-80’s.) … learned/learning (we recognize that we are all both … Luther described himself as a “beggar” before the things of God … “God is bigger.” … Humility before God counts, yet the Spirit gives profound insight.)
We just finished reading St. Paul’s lengthy letter to the Romans with its emphasis on “salvation by grace through faith” that underlies Luther’s consistent statement of “faith, not works.” This Fall, we are going to begin by reading the short book of James, which takes a practical emphasis: “…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead.” …How do we/you … understand these two ideas together?
Following this, we plan to finish reading Genesis. We beganearlier, when we thought about Creation, the Fall of Humankind, and the Flood and God’s promise to Noah. What remains speaks of God’s relation to people in stories that convey principles, in themselves, that are also used to illustrate truths presented to a Jewish audience in the New Testament.
So, come, read, have some coffee and talk (or not), listen, critique, offer alternatives, see examples of God’s teaching in our lives!
We meet at 10:30am, Monday mornings, in the Lounge.
—Wayne Becker