Hello,
I'm this week's guest blogger, Kate Degner. I'm not nearly as qualified as most of the other guest bloggers we will have this summer, but I suggested we start a blog for the YOB summer Bible studies, so I'm hosting the first week of the online discussion. I have to admit that my family and I did not start following the YOB readings until I found out I would be blogging about it, but now that we've started its been a nice routine to add in to the day. I am also a mathematics teacher by trade, so hosting an online discussion about readings is not something I'm really experienced with! This week's readings are listed below, so read them and then feel free to comment at the bottom of the blog.
As a side note, the comments are moderated so when you make a comment to the blog it won't publish right away. I'll be moderating the comments daily, so it will post, just wait about a day.
Readings for the week:
5/23 1 Kings 14, 15/1 Cor. 15
5/24 1 Kings 16, 17/Ps. 58, 59
5/25 1 Kings 18,19/1 Cor. 16
5/26 1 Kings 20, 21/2 Cor. 1
5/27 1 Kings 22/Ps. 60, 61
5/28 2 Kings 1 - 3/2 Cor. c
5/29 2 Kings 4, 5/2 Cor. 3
Discussion question for the week:
Which of the readings made the most impact on you? Why? OR What was the most surprising reading for the week? Why?
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This weeks readings from Kings contain two of my favorite stories. One is the widow of Zarephath. We aren't told whether or not she had prayed to God for help, but God sent Elijah to her. Because she was willing to take him in and trust him when he said that her flour and oil would not run out, she was supplied daily with what she needed to feed Elijah and her family.
ReplyDeleteThe second is the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal - how Baal the false god was completely unable to help his worshipers while God did something impossible - humanly speaking - and instantly lit a completely soaked fire and burned up not only the sacrifice but "the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench."
Both these stories remind me that it doesn't matter in the slightest to God what I consider to be "impossible" - oil and flour that never run out? An unlightable sacrfice that completely burns to the ground? Minor matters for the Creator of the universe.
I'm not entirely sure what the format of these posts are supposed to be, so I'll just throw some ideas and questions out there (Idea #1, we all need to encourage others to jump in on this!). The church that I'm working with in Washington for the summer is also reading through the Kings now as well. I will do my best to keep up with the NT readings in Williamsburg too!
ReplyDeleteIn 1 Kings 19 Elijah heard the voice of God with the "sound of sheer silence." I'm not sure what "silence" sounds like, but anyway. What does this mean for us? Anything? It sounds like yet another weird Old Testament phrase and story. I do think there's something to be gleaned from this though. In an age full of noise how would we hear this voice of God? Speaking for myself I find it difficult to find a place and moment for silence. And I don't have a spouse (yet) or children! I find some sort of comfort with noise. I don't drive with the radio off. I don't sit in silence. Heck, when I pray I don't usually pray in silence, I usually have some music on. I don't watch much TV, but the point is that I hardly ever sit in silence.
Why? Can anyone else relate? Does it matter? Maybe I'd rather be distracted and not HAVE to listen to the still small voice of God?
Please comment if so inclined!
p.s. For all you "spiritually disciplined" folk and heretics (like me) out there, I think everyone should memorize the end of 1 Kings 12:10 for a smile on a rainy day;)
I have observed our girls ages 25, 17 and 14 - they are rarely in silence - they almost always have some form of music going whether it's an ipod, the radio or even music videos off YouTube while they work around the house. Usually they have 2 or 3 forms of something going - homework (of course), texting to friends and music playing. I think they are entirely typical of their generation. You raise a good question Andy - are they afraid of the silence? Just uncomfortable?
ReplyDeleteWhen I read your comment (with the TV on in the background for noise only!). I was trying to think about the last time I sat in silence also. At night I even have a the fan on for noise! I don't really like to sit in silence, ever . . . I think its pretty creepy! Maybe its because I'd have to listen to the small voice of God. I think I'm going to try to sit in silence for at least 15 minutes a day for the rest of the week. I'll be interested to find out what I start to "hear."
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea - it is hard to find "silence" at our house with 4 girls. Maybe I will try that at bedtime and just listen.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thanks for getting this blog started. I pray this can become an important tool for some that may have a hard time participating in a small group.
ReplyDeleteI really like the first few chapters of 2 Corinthians.
Paul is definitely not finding peace and silence in 2 Corinth: 2. To recall, 1 Corinth. was written to the church in conflict. I think we are supposed to find comfort that even the earliest churches struggled both with surrounding influence, and within the church itself. From the view that maybe this makes us not so screwed up...or at least that not everything change.
Within the conflicet, I really like 3:4-6 "Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
How often with our Western influence do we put our effort into working harder to get ahead to rely on ourselves. The working harder and the results themselves are blessings when we realize it is not from us. It's that "God helps those who help themselves"(which is not Biblical) that we fall into. To consider the discernment of gifts section in 1 Corinthians 12, we all have gifts withing the body that are important in the community.