N.T. Wright short film #1

I would love to hear your thoughts on Dr. Wright’s comments.

Whole Sweep Challenge

I just wanted to clarify the “whole sweep challenge” a bit. This is a challenge based upon the NT Wright short film. (We used it yesterday during our worship time) Within the film Dr. Wright talks about reading the scriptures in longer portions. For instance reading the Gospel of John or Matthew straight through. With our current study of the Sermon on the Mount, we felt that it would be a great idea to read Matthew in one sitting! This will be on your own, it will not take place at the church, although next time we may set up a reading room and block off a couple hours!

Pass the word around to everyone you know, let’s get as many people as we can to accept the challenge and read the Gospel of Matthew in one sitting before next Sunday!

Here is a “mobile” version of the video if you missed it yesterday.

Here are some questions to ponder:

Have you ever read a book of the Bible straight through?

How could we read the Bible more “frequently” and “thoroughly?”

What have been some reasons you have heard for not “frequently” sitting down and reading through an entire book of the Bible?

What do you think about Dr. Wright’s statement that “When you read scripture in public, you are not just informing the people of what is going on, you are declaring the mighty acts of God which is an act of praise and adoration.”?

Have you ever challenged yourself or your family to read a book through in one sitting?

What do you think the response of your kids would be to a “reading challenge” like this?

So, here is the challenge, read the Gospel of Matthew in one sitting before Sunday the 17th. (approximately 2 hours)

Find someone or someones to tackle this challenge with you.

Sign up for the challenge at the blog post previous to this one!

The “Whole Sweep of Scripture” Challenge

Sign up below to accept the challenge of reading the Gospel of Matthew through in one sitting!

A Mother’s Day Thought

Here is a little info on Mother’s Day created with the help of our friends at the Work of the People.

Rob Bell: “Love Wins” chapter one

Let me begin by saying that I like Rob Bell. I believe he is one of the most effective communicators, not just preacher, but communicators around. (I put him right up there with Anthony Bourdain) One of his greatest strengths in communicating is to ask questions, a lot of questions. That is what the first chapter is; a list of questions. From my perspective they are questions designed to both disarm and frustrate. My “frustration” with the chapter is that while there were lots of questions he did leave out a few rather important ones and some he ask have rather important Biblical answers. (For example no question about sin, which is why there is a hell to begin with right? And as for those who don’t hear, I think Romans wrestles with that, it isn’t left open ended.) But with that said I do believe that we must wrestle with the questions. As Scot McKnight put it; “My contention is this: the approach to this generation is not to denounce their questions, which often enough are rooted in a heightened sensitivity to divine justice and compassion, but to probe their questions from the inside and to probe thoughtful and biblically-responsible resolutions. We need to show that their questions about justice and God’s gracious love are not bad questions but good questions that deserve to be explored.”

So, here is the question(s). Do you have an understanding of how God’s just nature and loving nation can co-exist? Have you wrestled with this question at all? And can you have some level of conversation about this with a co-worker, family member or friend?

Eugene Peterson on Rob Bell’s Book

As we begin to work through Rob Bell’s book on heaven and hell I think the brief statement by Eugene Peterson (translator of the Message) is a great way to start. I have a few questions after the blurb.

What are your thoughts regarding Rob Bell’s book and the controversy it ignited?  What inspired you to endorse the book?

Rob Bell and anyone else who is baptized is my brother or my sister.  We have different ways of looking at things, but we are all a part of the kingdom of God.  And I don’t think that brothers and sisters in the kingdom of God should fight.  I think that’s bad family manners.

I don’t agree with everything Rob Bell says.  But I think they’re worth saying.  I think he puts a voice into the whole evangelical world which, if people will listen to it, will put you on your guard against judging people too quickly, making rapid dogmatic judgments on people.  I don’t like it when people use hell and the wrath of God as weaponry against one another.

I knew that people would jump on me for writing the endorsement.  I wrote the endorsement because I would like people to listen to him.  He may not be right.  But he’s doing something worth doing.  There’s so much polarization in the evangelical church that it’s a true scandal.  We’ve got to learn how to talk to each other and listen to each other in a civil way.

What is your response to Peterson’s comments? How do you react to his statement about “bad family manners”? Do you there is to much “polarization in the evangelical church”?