March 14, 2010
Unveiled-Week 3
Posted by Communications
Learn The Christology of Revelation in light of current and past religious pluralism Revelation 6 and 7:10
Main Idea: We worship God for the breadth of his love—for the means by which he chooses many for the sake of the more and One for the sake of all.
What? There is a popular idea that Jesus is one of many ways to God… no matter how popular it gets it- it will never be a biblical one. Revelation reminds us that Jesus is God’s one way for all the people.
So What? If salvation belongs to our God then it is given on his terms, not ours.
Now What? Whom do you know that as far as you know, doesn’t know Jesus? Pray for them and invite them on Easter
Discuss
1. What does God’s saving act stir in your heart? What does it say about our God? Spend some time saying these characteristics back to him, as an act of praise and worship.
2. Our culture has accepted many “paths to Salvation”. What other “paths” have you heard about? How do they compare with the words of Revelation and the truth in the Bible?
3. Do you have a hard time swallowing this reality? Discuss some of your hesitations. Challenge yourself/ each other where you might not trust in God’s goodness, mercy, or truth.
4. How do we love others even if they do not agree with this Biblical truth? How can we be honest with them about what we believe, but not be aggressive or hurtful towards them? How do you think God shows his love for them?
5. One way God shows his love for us is with his open arms. He is a God of invitation, always inviting us to know him more and be with him more deeply. Consider the people you know who do not know God. How can you invite them more into your life so that they might experience God though you?
PRAY
Ask God for wisdom in talking with people who are stuck in religious pluralism. Ask for God’s gentle spirit to bring your heart into a place of compassion partnered with truth. If you yourself struggle with the reality of Jesus’ act being the way to God, spend time praying and asking God to reveal his truth to you, but more importantly his character. Spend some time reflecting of what God’s way has provided for you. Offer thanks to him for what he has done in your life through Christ. Maybe take time to share these stories with others. Pray for God to bring people to mind who need to hear these stories, need to hear about God’s love, and invite them with you to Summit or into your life in some other way.
Lent
Lent is the season on the liturgical calendar that precedes Easter and has historically been used by the church to prepare for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. One of the common elements of Lenten “celebration” has been the practice of fasting.
There is no biblical command to fast a certain amount of days or from a certain sort of thing. There are just examples of Godly people doing it, including but not limited to, God Himself in the person of Jesus.
When we fast, we intentionally focus on God as the center. We strip away non-necessities on which we’ve become unconsciously dependent to lean into what is necessary. We take away things that often provide easy escapes so we can remember what it means to seek refuge. And you don’t have to fast from food—it’s the removal of any norm in your life to concentrate more fully on God. (Like Facebook, sweets, TV, etc…)
Here’s the one thing about this… if you don’t feel led to fast as you pray about fasting, don’t do it. Let God lead you. He will if you ask Him.
