Didn't get to hear the teaching conversation on Sunday? No problem, you can join in via our PODCAST.
Scriptures From Sunday: Deuteronomy 12:6, 14:22-29, 8:7-18; Leviticus 5:5-7, 11a; Exodus 22:29-30, 23:19a; James 2:14-26
REFLECT/DISCUSS:
- How do you feel about structure and complexity? Do you need them? Crave them? Avoid them? Do they give you life- or sap it from you?
- Have you ever felt/thought that God’s commands are burdensome or heavy handed? Like Daniel in The Karate Kid wrestling with Mr. Miayagi’s training methods, have you ever wondered if God is using you or trying to take things FROM you?
- What could/has a shift toward seeing God’s instructions and commands as an expression of what He wants FOR you mean for your relationship with your Maker?
- Why do you think God gave the nation of Israel such a complex and detailed system of offerings as they began their relationship with Him?
- What are your experiences with and perceptions of tithing? Have you ever thought of percentage based giving as a way for God to level the playing field and allow everyone to participate?
- God commands Israel to give him the first and best of their produce, the firstborn of their livestock, their best wine, etc. Do you think God wants this idea of priority giving to translate to us today? If so, how can we give God our first and best if we don’t bring offerings of food and drink?
- Think/Talk about a time in your life when a hands-on experience really helped you grab hold of an idea you already “believed in”. Do you think more words on the topic would have had the same impact?
- Read Deuteronomy 8:7-18. Do you think we face the same temptation God warns the Israelites about in this passage? If so, how can giving help mitigate it?
- Take a look at James 2:14-26. How do you feel about/respond to the ideas in this passage? Does what you are offering God today (think $ and beyond) require any faith on your part? If so, what would?
- The Sunday teaching focused on a few key emphases that seem to run throughout the complexities of the OT sacrificial system: PARTICIPATION, PRIORITY, and PRACTICE. Which of these would God have you to focus on most now as you learn to offer yourself more wholly to Him?
4 comments:
Several brief things come to mind. They're only tangentially related to the sermon, but perhaps something will spark discussion.
First of all, let me say that I, for one, would happily have listened to Fred for the hours it might have taken to pontificate properly on Old Testament law passages. We so rarely have the opportunity to gain real depth in understanding, and I'm sure this would expose tons of angles it's not very common to consider.
Second, this sermon reminded me of a time I tried to discuss with a fellow believer notions about giving. She's much more traditional than I -- loving the pageantry of orchestrated worship -- and I pointed out to her some passages that included the ones Fred pointed to in Deuteronomy, where people were encouraged to enjoy themselves with the money set aside in the tithe -- even using it to buy strong drink if they desired! Her reply was essentially, "I'm sure that it was still a solemn occasion." It's too bad that giving isn't treated as an opportunity for joy more often. Not that I've figured out how to be joyful about it very often myself.
Last idea: Fred mentioned that there is a sort of special feeling that accompanies being part of the inner circle. While I would agree that this can be a powerful bonding agent, I think that a lot of Christians have seriously misused this.
It's a very common human need to feel special. Unfortunately, some take this into a damaged direction. Take the person who convinces himself that he really knows who killed JFK, because he can see the subtle clues that most of the poor, idiotic public misses -- even though his reasons fall apart like a wet tissue upon critical analysis. Or the one who "knows" that people never walked on the Moon, and who believes he has proof (even though this "proof" is easily refuted by one who has relevant knowledge).
Christians are subjected to the same sort of thinking in various popular outlets, or may even be subject to it themselves. If they hold a position in opposition to the well-educated experts, that's because they have "'real' science" on their side, and because the experts can't see the fourth-grade-level "proofs" that their theories are complete garbage for some reason.
Of course, the "proofs" that convince them of their stance are shaky like those of the conspiracy theorists above, but that doesn't matter. One can get reinforcement by staying within the walls of the self-reinforcing echo chamber, and this allows them to get what's important: that feeling of being "special" because of their supposedly superior insight.
Christians may have legitimate reason to disagree with experts on a matter. But if these are matters that experts believe they have come to a strong consensus on based on reason and evidence, it makes all of Christianity look foolish when we adamantly disagree with the underlying attitude that they really are foolish and have nothing to demonstrate to us. Such things should be approached with humility, it seems to me.
This is only tangentially related (if that) to a relatively minor point in the sermon, but I've become especially sensitive to it lately as I watch society's attitudes toward Christians and Christianity shift over time.
On a more personal note, I've noted that I tend to harden my heart -- perhaps through force of habit -- when I should be tender and willing to help, since God is generous and helpful (after all). It's a little bit scary because I'm not quite sure what the change would entail -- a small change in one area has ripple effects in many others -- but I've tried to pray more recently that God would make me more willing to help when and where I can. And lately, I've even been praying that when I pray these prayers, I'll mean it.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and journey anonymous. Really appreciate your desire to keep growing and moving forward with God and His work in you!
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