A Disciple’s Path: Week 4

Gifts: Financial Generosity

October 6, 2016

Opening Prayers

Opening Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:17-18

Day 1: It’s All God’s!

There is a direct connection between our relationship with money and possessions and our relationship with God.

1. God created everything

2. God owns everything

3. As disciples of Jesus, we are not owners of our possessions but trustees of things that belong to God.

What is your relationship to God?  How is that manifested in your relationship to money?

Day 2:  The Tithe

Tithing comes from the Old Testament: Numbers and Deuteronomy

Jesus was used to the custom of tithing – it was something everyone did.  But he stressed that giving was about the condition of the heart.  We should give from desire first and not from the legalistic requirement of the law.

Tithing should be a response to our abundance from God.

Tithing is a spiritual discipline – it is tied into good stewardship of your own money.

Day 3: Cheerful Giver

What is our motivation to give?  We give more when we feel good about giving, or safe about giving (UMCOR), or responding to a definite need.

Day 4: It’s the Heart, Not the Size

What is the impact of you giving on yourself and on others?

The Left Hand and the Right Hand might have been a reference to person or estate managers of the rich.  The idea is that the two managers didn’t need to know how much you were giving to the poor to manage the accounts.  If the two managers knew they might assume that there was more money to exploit off of the people or off of the wealthy person.  Even back then wealth was a private matter – but it is always manifested publically.

Day 5: 10-10-80: Budgeting as a spiritual practice

10 % to God               10% Savings                80% Live on income

How can we: Assess where we are; Review our income, expenses, and priorities; Pick a percentage; Make our gifts a first fruits offering?

A Disciple’s Path: Week 3

Presence: Corporate Worship and Small-Group Communities

September 29, 2016

Opening Question:  How did everyone do with their prayer time? 

Scripture: John 15:12

Day 1: There is no Solo Christianity

What do you do as a Solo Christian that is affirmed as a Corporate Christian?

            There are times when we worship to affirm the faith that we hold, but there are other times when I come to worship so that the faith the church affirms can hold me.

Day 2: Preparing for Worship 

What does the phrase – to be present – mean to you?

Day 3: What is Worship?  How Do We Worship as United Methodists?

What worship is – Liturgy (the words we say)  & Basic Order of Worship  (how we say them)

Day 4:  The Sacraments of Baptism and Communion

Baptism:  1. Marks our entry in the body of Christ

                 2. Affirms our connection with each other

                 3.  Symbolizes the Grace of God that cleanses us from sin. 

                        This is a life-long process for United Methodists

                 4.   Gives us an identity as Children of God

                 5.  Symbolizes dying with Christ and being raised to new life with him.

                        This is a life-long process for United Methodists

Communion: 1. Commemorates Jesus’ Last Meal with his disciples

                        3. Reminds us to remember Jesus’ death for us.                 

                        4. Confirms our continuing connection to God

                        5.  Confirms oGod’s promise that he will sustain us in our walk with God.

                        6. Nourishes us as we remember our sin, during confession, and then we accept                                          God’s grace and forgiveness when we take the bread and cup.

Day 5:  Discipleship Changes as You Grow: Our different relationships with God.

Strangers – Acquaintances – Friends – Good Friends – Intimate Friendship.

In this chapter is also included Wesley’s 22 questions that he felt that every Christian should ask themselves to evaluate where they were on their spiritual journey and how they could get better.

September 22, 2016, A Disciples Path: Week 2: Prayer

Pg 31:  Prayers:  Talking and Listening to God

            Presence: Being there for our Church and its work in some way

            Gifts:  Giving our time and giving our money

            Service:  Helping out when we can

            Witness:  Telling people about what our faith does for us

Day1: What Is Prayer?

Talking and Listening to God

            Talking: Share Joys, Fears, and Challenges

            Listening:  How do we hear God?

                                    Inner voice

                                    Indications in things that happen in life

                                    Things that people tell us

Developing a relationship with God

            If you want a good relationship you need to devote some time to it.

Day 2: Three Prayer Methods

1. ACTS:  Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.  (Like the Lord’s Prayer)

2. Five Finger Prayer: 

            Thumb: Loved ones

            Pointer: people who help you point to God

            Middle:  World issues

            Ring:  Those who are weak and need help

            Little: This is for you

3. Contemplative:

            1. Lecto Divina: Read short Scripture passage

                                       Take one word, phrase, sentence to focus on

                                       Set timer for ten minutes and think out loud or silently what it means to                                                  you.  Some people like to journal afterwards.

           

            2.  Centering Prayer:  Chose a word or phrase that describes God for you

                                                Sit comfortably and set a timer for 20 minutes. 

                                                Say your word or phrase in your mind.  When your mind wanders

                                                            return to your word or phrase.

                         

Day 3: The Bible:  This chapter is an overall introduction as to how to approach the Bible for those who are not familiar with it. 

Day 4:  The Wesleyan Quadrilateral: Scripture, Reason, Tradition, Experience

 Scripture is where we start, but to put scripture into context we need to use reason, tradition, and experience to help us interpret scripture and its meaning for us today.

Day 5:  Bible Study and Reflection

SORP:  Scripture, Observation, Reflection, Prayer

            Read scripture; Observe what the situation in the story is; Reflect on how it relates to                   your life; Pray on how this lesson can help you.

SOAPY:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer, Yield

            Read scripture; Observe how the situation relates to             your life;  Apply to lesson to your life actions; Pray on how this lesson can help you;  Yield to what needs to happen in your life for this to come about.