Last week wrap up and much, much more

So apparently it has already been two weeks since our last meeting? I can't believe it!

Let's recap though and talk about our next meeting as well.

Last week Andrew opened with a prayer that focused on the deaths in the news that day, or more systemically, about the loss of life and our grasp upon the numbers of men and women who die. He chose a number, 200, and we prayed for a period of time in silence counting up to that number to try to appreciate their lives and their families loss.

We then all read chapter 3 in unison. Andrew's topic of discussion centered around vs. 17-21 and about how the the world sees Christ as a condemner, and not a savior, and what role we play in that opinion. We also talked about the meaning of someone who is in the light, versus someone who is not in the light.

For Monday, we will focus on three sections of chapter four.

4:10 "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to 'give me a drink,' you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water"

-Where does this term living water come from? How is Christ the living water, literally and figuratively.
-What is it that people ask God for and what is God looking to truly give.
-Briefly speaking about The rock that is struck twice and how that relates to us today.

4:20b "They say that in Jerusalem is the place where one OUGHT to worship"

-Where ought we worship and how does Spirit and Truth play a part in our worship?
-St Augustine said"God is closer to us, than we are to ourselves." How does that reality reveal how we should worship?
-Why were the Samaratins despised, and why did they worship at Gerizim?

4:35b-4:36a"Behold I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest. And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life..."

-Are only white people able to be saved?
-What is the economy of grace in relation to the concept of compensation?
-What might our fruit look like in our understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven, and how does that concept play a part in our lives today.

I look forward to seeing you all as I always do. You guys help push me through the week.