Sanctify! Collegium

Hebrews 1 - Jesus is better

2010-11-11T09:03:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 1-2 listening and thinking begins.

Kent places this chapter in the doctrinal discussion, specifically
1:1-4 Christ is superior to prophets
1:5-2:18 Christ is superior to angels

Hebrews - Trying to get a handle on Melchizedek

2010-10-31T20:21:00.000-07:00

While there are still questions to answer about the book as a whole, I have re-focused my energies on Melchizedek. To that end, I am listening to Genesis 14 and Psalm 110, the two passages in the TaNaKh where he is mentioned.

I also plan on using the wikipedia article as a jumping off point.

Anyone with insights, add your thoughts and questions to the comments.

Hebrews - listening and reflecting

2010-10-12T12:33:00.000-07:00

rev 1: re-purpose to show personal intent and invitation to others

I have decided to bite the bullet and actually study Hebrews. I've been listening unreflectively for far too long. I shall now become intentionally reflective. I am setting no time schedule for myself--or for others who may join me. I am setting out on a meandering journey.

My first leg of the journey is to listen reflectively. To that end, I shall start listening over and over, posting my reflections in the comments.

I invite you to join me.

Resources

PLANNING FOR 2009--everything changed

2008-11-16T15:01:00.000-08:00

Rev 1. title change, 12/10
Rev 2. title change and major changes 10/2010

In 2009 and 2010, everything changed in Collegium. Our Sunday at 11 physical gathering is now a fellowship around the table at a local diner and the content is life. In October 2010, this site "officially" changed (as if one person can make such changes) changed to an online study space. We shall see in the coming weeks, months, and, hopefully, years the exact form it shall take.

The Sanctify! Collegium Team is hard at work during November and December developing curriculum for 2009. We're planning to add four more short seminars to our spiritual disciplines line-up:
Bible Reading and Reflection: Bible Chewing and Beyond (making some modifications)
Prayer:
Giving:
Solitude:
Seminars will restart in 2009.

Bible Chewing and Beyond

2008-10-07T12:01:00.000-07:00

Prep reading: Bible Chewing and Beyond (3 posts)

Sessions

October 12: Bible Chewing: what to do with the Bible once you have read it. Ideas to remember:

The paragraph/stanza is the smallest unit of thought.
Always start with the context when you are reading or searching for answers. Move out from there.
Scripture means what it meant to the original readers.
The youngest book of the Bible, probably Revelation, was written around AD 95, in Koine Greek, in the Middle East/Mediterranean. The cultural/historical distance between us and the original writers/readers is vast and requires that we work to cross that distance.
The point of Bible study is not to know as many details as possible. The point is knowing God. Do not become lost in the details.

October 19: Bible Rumination and Digestion: getting the Bible into your heart

October 26: Putting It All Together: Lectio Divina as a framework for Bible Engagement

Take Home Assignments

Due 10/19: Chew Revelation 5:9-10 (basic instructions and resources)
Due 10/26: Ruminate on Revelation 5:9-10 and make time for proper digestion (basic instructions)
Due for life

this page will be updated as the course continues

Picture This!

2008-09-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

Matthew, 9/14--Jesus: Messiah-King
Mark, 9/21
Luke, 9/28
John, 10/5

Room 204

Picture This!

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

2008-09-08T10:44:00.001-07:00

Sunday, September 7, 2008
Live Recording by Max McLean

How did Edwards use Scripture in his sermon? Was this use effective? Why?
How did Edwards use emotion in this sermon? Is this use of emotion valid? Why?

Therefore, let every one that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the wrath to come. The wrath of Almighty God is now undoubtedly hanging over a great part of this congregation. Let every one fly out of Sodom: "Haste and escape for your lives, look not behind you, escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed."
Closing paragraph, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Full text at CCEL
Wikipedia entry

REVEAL--session 6: Evaluating and heading out

2008-08-23T17:01:00.000-07:00

Which segment[1] does each Sanctify! activity[2] reach?
How does Sanctify! function in TFB?
How should Sanctify! function in TFB?
Which segments should Sanctify! prioritize?
Of the twelve additional discoveries, which two should Sanctify! prioritize?
What's next?

Additional questions

How can Sanctify! help TFBers express gratitude to and dependence upon God?
How can Sanctify! help TFBers value and practice the spiritual disciplines?
How can Sanctify! help TFBers prioritize spiritual growth?

[1] Segments: exploring Christianity, growing in Christ, close to Christ, and Christ-centered
[2] Sanctify activities: monthly meal, weekly Sunday lunch, weekly Tuesday dinner, Tuesday Night Bible Study, Collegium, Academy, Worship Experience, and Movie Nights

REVEAL--session 5: So what can you do now?

2008-08-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

Key Idea: The necessary, spiritual formation-encouraging interdependence between church and members requires that leaders focus their energies on evaluation, wise response, and intentional coaching.

Questions

How does TFB function in your spiritual formation?
Which coaching practices might TFB leadership prioritize?
How does Sanctify! function in TFB?

Additional questions

How should Sanctify! function in TFB?
Which segments* should Sanctify! prioritize?

* Segments: exploring Christianity, growing in Christ, close to Christ, and Christ-centered

Prep for 8/24: Reveal pgs 94-106, 107

REVEAL--session 4: What did we discover?

2008-08-09T21:16:00.000-07:00

August 10

Key Idea: Relationship with Christ, not involvement in church, is the most effective predictor of and influence on spiritual growth.

Questions

What has most influenced your spiritual growth?
Does the interpretation of data in this chapter reflect biblical teachings?
Where are you on the continuum?
What needs to change?

Available resources

REVEAL, pp 27-60

Additional questions

What needs to change in Sanctify?
What needs to change in TFB?

REVEAL--session 3: Where are we?

2008-08-02T21:44:00.000-07:00

August 3

Key Idea: The condition-revealing interrelatedness of affections and behaviors shows us where we are as a church and provides insight into the requirements for individual and corporate spiritual formation.

Questions:

Where is TFB?
How does the REVEAL methodology square with Scripture? What would you change?
How do you score on our three criteria (Genuine concern for others; God- and service-centered conversation; and Intellectual engagement with truth)?

Applicable Scripture references

Available resources

REVEAL, pp 17-26

Additional questions

How do we encourage growth in emotions (especially last two on list in 2 Peter 1:5-7)?
How can we encourage spiritual conversation during patio time and elsewhere?
How can we banish grey squirrels and other such automatic answers to theological questions?

Prep for 8/10: pp. 27-60

REVEAL--session 2: How should we measure effectiveness?

2008-07-26T15:18:00.000-07:00

July 27

Key Idea: The means of measuring necessary ministry effectiveness are not the externals of participation but the internals of heart growth.

Question

What are some criteria for accurately measuring ministry effectiveness?

Applicable Scripture references

John 13:31-35

Available resources

REVEAL, pp 9-16
Article describing traditional evaluation methods (How to Evaluate your Youth Ministry)
Wikipedia entry on Spiritual Formation

Output

Suggested Measurement Criteria

Genuine concern for others
God- and service-centered conversation
Intellectual engagement with truth

Next: pp 17-26 (8/3)

REVEAL--session 1: Where are you?

2008-07-19T22:24:00.000-07:00

July 20

Question

Where are you?

Applicable Scripture references

John 13:35 and its context

Available resources

Additional questions

Are the patterns discovered in the REVEAL study truly biblical?
How does a big picture view of TFB fit with the results in the study?
What are cultural factors?

USING DOUBT TO DRAW CLOSER TO GOD

2008-06-21T23:08:00.000-07:00

Sunday, June 22
Introduction

Question

What is doubt?
What is faith?
How are they related?

Applicable Scripture references

John 20:24-29, 30-31

Available resources

The Thomas Factor by Dr. Gary Habermas

Additional questions

What do we do with doubts when we have them?
How can we make our gatherings a safe place for doubt?

Grabbing Some Basics--Bibliology

2008-05-26T11:56:00.000-07:00

BEDROCK BELIEFS--BIBLIOLOGY: BIBLE BASICS

by Laura Springer, M.Div.

Christianity is defined by certain beliefs and practices. Bedrock Beliefs summarizes some of the beliefs that define Christianity. These beliefs—also known as “theology”—are an important part of following Christ, for our theology—what we believe about God, his work, and his world—shapes our worldview. Our worldview determines our attitudes and actions. Theology is about who we know and why we live how we live.

BIBLIOLOGY: BIBLE BASICS

THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WRITTEN WORD

As a divine book, the bible has certain characteristics: inspiration, inerrancy, infallibility, and authority.

Inspiration means that the words of the Bible are “God-breathed” or “God-spoken.” The Holy Spirit worked through the human writers so that while freely writing according to their own style and personality, the result was the Word of God.

Inerrancy means that the original manuscripts do not say anything contrary to fact. This includes not only statements about theology, but also statements about history, geography, and the like.

Infallibility means that the Bible will not lead us in the wrong way when it comes to the content and practice of faith. It can be trusted as a guide to salvation and to Christ-following, for it is the revelation of God in words.

Authority means that to disbelieve and disobey the Bible is to disbelieve and disobey God. The Bible is master, not servant. It is the source and measure of the content and practice of faith.

If the Bible truly is inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative, then how should we respond? The Bible must be handled with respect. Even odd stories and genealogies are God’s Word.

The Bible must be allowed to speak for itself. Commentaries, bible study guides, and even preachers are useful, but their words do not determine what the Bible says. The Bible determines what they say.

The Bible must be obeyed. If our reading and study of God’s Word does not result in obedient behavior then we have not treated the Bible as the Word of God.

THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WRITTEN WORD.

While the Bible is a divine book, it is also a human book. The Holy Spirit used the style and personality of the human authors to communicate his Word. To understand the Bible we must consider culture, history, genre, style, and occasion.

Culture is the worldview of the writer and the intended readers. The Bible was written over a span of about 1,500 years, in three ancient languages (none of which is English), and in a number of nations (none of which is the USA). Culture is crucial.

History includes the significant events happening at the time of the writing and at the time of the story.

Genre is the type of literature as shown in style, form, or content. There are a great number of genres in the Bible: for example, narrative, poetry, apocalypse, and letter.

Style is the author’s distinct manner of expression. Different authors choose to use different words, different levels of complexity, different grammatical structures, and different moods.

Occasion is the situation that prompted the writing. In a few rare cases, the situation is specified. Most of the time, we must look at clues in the biblical book and then make our best guess.

Originally published by Laura on TFB Academy

LOOKING LIKE CHRISTIANS--in the world, not of it

2008-05-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

What would it look like to be one, in the world, not of the world, yet for the world?

Yesterday in Collegium, this question arose from our reading of John 17. The answer, seeming to be nothing more than a dream (but, is it?), was a picture of a large house, full of Christian brothers and sisters, living as one in a neighborhood, distinctly different from that neighborhood, yet distinctly part of and serving that neighborhood. During our discussion, we realized how this might sound, how it might be perceived by those inside and outside the church. Such perceptions are of concern, but should they deter the dream?

Now a further question for thought: What do we do in the meantime, between now and the dream? We are, right now, partners with God in his mission to the world. What are we to do now?

Leaving the Building

2008-05-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

After reading John 17, analyzing verses 13-19, and doing a Lectio Divina on verse 17, we answered three questions:

1. Who are we?

Not of this world (v 16)
Sanctified by the word of the Father (v 17)
Sent into the world (v 18)

2. What might we look like at this time next year if we become who we are?

Weekly meals together at Red Car, with a bunch of people sitting at one big table, laughing, eating, telling stories, and sharing life. Others in the restaurant keep glancing over at our table, wondering what it is we have. The servers linger at our table, drawn by the something. More than a planned and scripted gathering, the meals flow from intertwined hearts and lives.
Spontaneous care for one another, listening for God's prayer list and praying at the moment. Keeping our hearts with each other's hearts and caring person to person.
At the weekly bible studies, any person can teach the passage because all are zealous and ready.

3. What can we do this next year to participate with God in making that a reality?

Come to the gatherings, in Room 202 and elsewhere, for we can only be community in person.
Form accountability pairs, who call one another each week and remember each other before God.
Hold a weekly "hat-pull" for SAY leader; in other words, each week any person in the room may be called upon to lead the first movement of our study (a bit scary, but it will be okay, really).

Sanctify! Pondering and Planning

2008-05-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

As Jonathan wrote last week, Sanctify is rates well on some scores:

Text-centered
God-honoring
Intense
Bible study

Other scores need some attention:

Participatory
Relational
Mutually responsible
Shaped by the people and the Spirit of God
Together striving

One action point was to have more activities/hanging out apart from structured study events. Sunday, we took a first step on this action point and planned our monthly Il Fornaio meals a few months in advance:

May 17: Abruzzo
June 14: Sicilia
July 19: Sardegna
August 16: Toscana

Other possibilities? Put them in the comments!

The next steps will take more effort: go deep in John 17 and listen to the voice of God together. How? We shall travel that road together.

Sanctify! Checkup

2008-04-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

Today we did a checkup on Sanctify! after approximately 9 months of existence (July 10, 2007 was our birthdate). Laura posted on the event the next day, primarily on our vision After reading John 17, we discussed the ministry primarily in this context this morning. We came to the following conclusions:

Text-centered
We're doing well here. Focus on the Word is consistent and intentional. TNBS particularly sticks to this well, and even in Collegium we make sure to validate our conclusions with scripture.

God-honoring
We seem to be doing fairly well here. There's no heresy taught and we intentionally have closing worshipful prayer and a "so what" time.

Intense
We definitely have this one down. TNBS is very intense, especially during prophetic and epistolic books. Collegium is usually not as intense as TNBS due to the nature of the material, but still fits the bill.

Participatory
This is where those of us in attendance felt we needed some work on personal levels. Participation is good at the studies proper, with no one person dominating the conversation. However, we felt that outside participation (preparation) was weak. While we cannot speak for the group definitively, we suspected that would be the case if we asked others.

Relational
This is another area we still need work in. Although we have grown closer to one another in trust and friendship, we are still not great at outreach. We are also mostly introverted homebodies that can't really be bothered to leave our caves except for Tuesday and Sunday (and work).

Mutually responsible
Yet again, progress could be made. We took this to mean that we hold one another accountable. There's very little (possibly no) midweek checkup going on between members to check on what preparation has been done.

Bible study
Although we hope we don't sounding too pompous, we feel that this one's in the bag. TNBS is the definition of paragraph-by-paragraph contextual Bible study.

Shaped by the people and the Spirit of God
There was the notion brought forth that with all of our studies and analysis, we must be wary of having a relationship with God that is all head knowledge rather than heart knowledge. This can be especially difficult for the analytically-oriented.

Together striving
As before, we felt unity was not as strong as it should be and that we are perhaps meandering in the general direction rather than truly striving.

We plan to bring up our findings at TNBS, when there will be a few more in attendance. One thing we felt might help both inter-group relationships and outreach opportunities was to have more activities/hanging out apart from structured study events. These activities could include dinner together, movie nights, trips downtown (or wherever) and any other clever ideas anyone could come up with.

Christological Issues

2008-04-13T17:22:00.000-07:00

4/20--The “Preexistence of the Son” and the Old Testament

What do Christians believe?

2008-03-10T08:13:00.000-07:00

Christian Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms

Suggested Discussion Questions:

How accurately does this reflect Scripture?
How does it compare with what we know from the church? the world? our own reason?

3/23: Apostles Creed

Does the "in" of line 9 reflect Scripture?
Does "He descended into hell" (line 4) reflect Scripture? (resource article)

3/30: Nicene Creed

How do the Nicene and Apostolic Creeds compare?
What might be the purposes for or causes of the differences?

4/6: The Definition of Chalcedon

Heresies combated to date:

Arianism, refuted at Council of Nicea, AD 325
Apollinarianism, refuted at Council of Constantinople, AD 381
Nestorianism, refuted at Council of Ephesus, AD 431
Eutychianism (AKA monophysitism), refuted at Council of Chalcedon, AD 451 (NOTE: see the handy Chalcedonian Box for a summary)

4/13: Athanasian Creed

Theopedia article
Issues Addressed

Does humanism have a place in Christianity?

2008-03-10T08:09:00.000-07:00

Sunday, March 9

Humanism in Scripture and Culture: Recovering a Balance
by Dennis Bratcher

Theological Trick Questions 7-10

2008-03-03T09:52:00.000-08:00

February 24:
7) Can you believe heretical things and still go to heaven?
8) Have you been baptized with the Holy Spirit?

References:
Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5
Acts 11:16
1 Corinthians 12:13

March 2:
9) Do sanctified Christians sin?

References:
Jeremiah 17:5-10
1 John 3:4-10
Romans 7:13-25

10) Do you believe in the Rapture?

References:
Romans 5:6-11
1 Thessalonians 1:2-10; 5:1-11
Revelation (note that "church" is not found after chapter 3, except in the conclusion in chapter 22)

Check out the reflective answers over at CRI and post your thoughts in the comments.

Recommended reference: Summary of Christian Doctrine, by Louis Berkhof
$9 at amazon.com

==========================

Reading for March 9: Humanism in Scripture and Culture: Recovering a Balance

Theological Trick Questions 5-6

2008-02-17T20:37:00.000-08:00

Sunday, February 17

5) Did Jesus die to pay the penalty for your sins?
6) If you commit a sin, does that mean you will go to hell?

Check out the reflective answers over at CRI and post your thoughts in the comments.

Recommended reference: Summary of Christian Doctrine, by Louis Berkhof
$9 at amazon.com

References:
Genesis 3
Isaiah 53:4-6
Romans 5

Cur Deus Homo by Anselm
Pro and Con on the Penal Satisfaction theory of the Atonement

Theological Trick Questions 1-4

2008-02-04T16:40:00.000-08:00

Sunday, February 3

1) Do you believe in the Bible?
2) Do you believe that the Bible is literally true?
3) Have you been born again?
4) Was Jesus omnipotent?

Check out the reflective answers over at CRI and post your thoughts in the comments.
(BTW, it is perfectly good to disagree...at least two Collegium members disagree with many of the reflective answers...hopefully they'll post some thoughts in the comments:-)).

Recommended reference: Summary of Christian Doctrine, by Louis Berkhof
$9 at amazon.com

==============
NOTE: We've started a 21-day Faithfulness Experiment

Answer Wesley's questions every day.
Check in with Sanctify once a week.
Be brutally honest with yourself and God.
Be filtered-honest with the group (why? because in a group setting some things should be shared in general rather than in detail)

How can Wesley's Questions help us train in faithfulness?

2008-01-22T10:14:00.000-08:00

Here are the tentative elements in our experiment:

Supplies

Us
WQ Journals

Hypothesis: Daily reflection using Wesley's Questions will train the subjects for the intentional living that is an essential component of faithfulness.

Experiment: For each of 21 days we will individually answer Wesley's Questions. Once each week, we will check in, reporting our experiences and any changes in our answers.

John Wesley's "Holy Club Questions"

If faithfulness is a tending of the heart, how can we make sure our hearts are tending toward God?

2008-01-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

Draft definition of "tending"

"Tending" is continuous, self-correcting movement of the whole self of one person toward the whole self of another and for the other's good.

God expects consistent tending.
God makes a way for us to return to consistency when we fail.

Three feedback sources help our tending.

Our decision to follow Christ
Our faith community
The Holy Spirit

Sources one and two are subject to much noise; therefore, we must be intentional. The Collegium has decided to investigate John Wesley's "Holy Club Questions" as one way to be intentional.

======================

Related definitions (see "faithfulness" definition)

"Consistent"

Tending is consistent when the decision to tend is regularly renewed and when inconsistency is quickly confessed and repented of.

"Intentional"

Tending is intentional when it is the result of personal and corporate decision, rather than inheritance or mere habit.

If faithfulness includes the whole self, then how should it influence our lives?

2008-01-07T13:25:00.000-08:00

Draft definition of "faithfulness"

Consistent and intentional tending of the whole self toward God and God's desires.

This week we unpack "whole self"

Tending with the whole self includes physical, intellectual, affective, and volitional domains.

Argument for whole-self faithfulness

We are whole persons.
God is creator of all and Lord over all.
Faithfulness describes the proper relationship between us and God.
Therefore, faithfulness applies to everything we are and everything we do.

What does it look like to be faithful?

2007-12-16T11:31:00.000-08:00

Matthew 24:36-25:46 (the parables of the Olivet Discourse)
1 Samuel 17 (David and Goliath)
1 Samuel 20 (David's friendship with Jonathan)
1 Samuel 24, 26 (David spares Saul)
2 Samuel 11-12 (David and Bathsheba)
Hebrews 11 (Hall of Faith)

Faithful: Adhering firmly and devotedly as to a person, cause, or ideal. Worthy of trust or belief; reliable. Consistent with truth or actuality. (American Heritage Dictionary)

Knowledge
Values
Behaviors

Resource: Creating a Faith Practice

Additional Questions

How can one be faithful and have such glaring flaws?
What is the human characteristic of faith? How does faith look in Christ? (Resource: James Fowler, Stages of Faith)

What criteria should be used to evaluate the TFB budget?

2007-11-11T12:07:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 1:7
Proverbs 9:10

"fear of the LORD"

"deep seated reverence and awe in recognition of the holiness of God, his utter otherness" (p14)
"loyalty to God's covenant and serving him and walking in his ways" (p15)

Should I get married and have kids?

2007-10-08T18:59:00.001-07:00

(Asked by Jonathan but generalized for anyone).

Passages of interest:
Genesis 2:18-24
Matthew 17:3-12
I Corinthians 7:1-16
Ephesians 5:22-33