Zion Lutheran Bible StudySpring 2020

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Session 1 – The Story, My StoryGetting to know one another!

My Favorite Person or event in the Bible!

Opening PrayerHymn: ELW#638 – Blessed Assurance

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=blessed+assurance+youtube&view=detail&mid=01066E74FAAC10FA767501066E74FAAC1

Psalm 1Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; 2but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night. 3They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. 4The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

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The Ancient Biblical Texts “My Father was a wandering Aramean!” Exodus 6: 1-8 The Great Commandment – Deuteronomy 6 Let’s tell the story from the Jesse Tree.

Let’s put some meat on the bones of these famous men and women of the scriptures.

Noah Sarah & AbrahamEsther JesseSamuel HannahDaniel Jacob (Israel) & RachelJoseph (son of Jacob) MosesDavid/Bathsheba RuthSolomon IsaiahEzra/Nehemiah Joshua

Talking more about our own sacred story.We’ll divide our story into a few parts.

1. Our Childhood2. Our tweens and teens

3. Our Adult years of work and family4. Our Golden Years of age and grace

What does God want for me/from me?

1. Our Childhood Days (0-8 yrs. Old)

Take a few minutes and write down any names would you put down of friends, siblings and people who meant a lot to you

growing up.What were some important events of these early years?

2. Our Tweens and Teens (9-18)

Any activities that you were involved with at school or in your neighborhood.

Put a few words down that describe this time In your life.

3. Our Adult Years of work/family

What was my basic work/calling?

Family History – Single/married

Children/other special children in your life.

Where was God and Church at this time?

4. Senior years until today.

What keeps you active /going today!

What’s a typical day like?

The Bible StoryChapter 1 – The Beginning of all things. (Pre-History)

Creation Humankind The entrance of sin/freedom into the world Punishment Understanding the plan/story

Chapter 2 – The Story of the People (Israelites) Patriarchs/Matriarchs Judges 450 years in Egypt Slavery Passover – Covenant Promised Land Kings Temple Split of Kingdom

o North – Israelo South – Judah

The Voice of the Prophets o Majoro Minor

Exile – Restoration The prophecy of the Messiah

3. Jesus – a new Covenant Incarnation Preaching, teaching, healing Discipleship Cross Resurrection and Ascension

4. The Birth of the Church Pentecost The life of the early Church The life of Peter and Paul persecution Body of Christ Life in the Holy Spirit

5. The End of all things The Word to the Churches (Revelation) New Heavens and Earth Judgement Defeat of the Evil One Heavenly Jerusalem

Chapter 1 Themes

Creation – Genesis 1-3

New Creation – 2 Cor. 5:17 Col. 1:15-20 Psalm 148 ELW#876, 835, 881, 824

Humankind – Adam & Eve – Genesis 2-4Cain & Abel

Sin – Genesis 3 Exodus 20 – Commandments Psalm 51 Mark 9:43 – your hand John 8: 7 – throw the stone In Paul – Romans 5,6,7 1 John 1:8-10 – I am without sin!

Punishment of Sin Genesis 3: 10-24 – Garden Romans 5,6,7

Repentance Prodigal Son Isaiah fast (Isaiah 58) Isaiah 59

The Plan Genesis 1 Isaiah 55 – Come to the Water Col 1: 15-20 Revelation 21-22

Chapter 2 – The Story of the People (Israelites) Patriarchs/Matriarchs – Genesis 1-11 450 years in Egypt

Slavery - Exodus Passover –

o the meal – Exodus 12, Matthew 26:17-30.o the Passover (Angel of Death)o the Crossing of Red Sea – Exodus 13: 17-22

HYMN: ELW#618 – Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer

Covenant – Mt. Sinai – Exodus 19-20.Bible Film – the Ten Commandments

Promised Land Preparation– Exodus 30:11 – 31:29.

The Crossing into Canaan – Joshua 3-4.

Judges – written somewhere during the time of the Monarchy (circa 1,000 – 900 BCE) o The Book of Judges characterizes the life of

Israel in the Promised Land from the death of Joshua to the rise of the Monarchy. (King Saul). On one hand it is an account of frequent apostasy, provoking divine chastening. On the other hand it tells of the urgent appeals of the people to God to save them and deliver them from their trouble.

o Read Judges 2 – 3:11.

Kings Temple – 1Kings 6

Split of Kingdom

o North – Israel

o South – Judah

The Voice of the Prophets o Majoro Minor

Exile – Restoration – Isaiah 60-62 The prophecy of the Messiah

3. Jesus – a new CovenantFilm – “The Nativity” - birth of Jesus

Incarnation – Matthew 1: 8-25, Luke 2, John 1:1-18

Preaching, teaching, healing Discipleship –

o Call of the First Disciples – Mark 1: 14-20, Luke 5:1-11, Luke 9:18-27, Luke 10: 1-14,

o John 13-17

Film of Crucifixion of Jesus Cross Imitating Christ’s humility – Paul to the Phil 2

Theology of the Cross – Martin LutherQuestion: "What is cross theology / theology of the cross?"

Answer: The theology of the cross, or theologia crucis, is a term coined by the German theologian Martin Luther to refer to the belief that the cross is the only source of spiritual knowledge concerning who God is and how God saves. Only at the cross does a fallen human being gain the understanding that is the result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at conversion (1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14). Cross theology is contrasted with the theology of glory, or theologia gloriae, which places greater emphasis on human abilities and human reason. Luther first used the term theologia crucis in the Heidelberg Disputation of 1518, where he defended the Reformation doctrines of the depravity of man and the bondage of the will to sin.

The primary difference between the theology of the cross and the theology of glory is the ability or inability of man to justify himself before a holy God. The theologian of the cross sees as inviolate the biblical truths of man’s inability to earn righteousness, the inability for humans to add to or increase the righteousness attained by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, and the only

source of man’s righteousness coming from outside of ourselves. The cross theologian agrees wholeheartedly with the Apostle Paul’s assessment of the human condition: “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature” (Romans 7:18). The cross theologian rejects the idea that man can attain righteousness in any degree by keeping the works of the law, but is saved and sanctified solely by grace (Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8-9).

Theologians of glory, on the other hand, see good in humans and ascribe to them the ability to do the good that lies within them. They believe that there remains, after the fall, some ability to prefer good over evil and to choose the good. Most significantly, glory theology posits that humans cannot be saved without participating in or cooperating with the righteousness given by God. This is the classic works vs. faith debate which has long been fueled by a misunderstanding of certain passages in the book of James. James 2:17-18 is interpreted to mean that we are justified by our works, while James is actually saying that those who have been justified by faith in the work of Christ on the cross will produce good works as evidence of true conversion, not that conversion is obtained by good works.

It should be noted that theology of the cross is not the sentimental idea that Jesus is made more attractive to us by His identifying with our trials and tribulations. While Jesus certainly does identify with our suffering, our suffering is not somehow made nobler because of it. Our suffering is the byproduct of the fall of mankind into sin, whereas Jesus’ suffering was that of an innocent Lamb slaughtered for the sake of others’ sin, not His own. Nor is cross theology our identification with His suffering through our own, which pales in comparison to what He went through. In the end, Jesus suffered and died because nobody identified with Him. The people cried, "Crucify him!" One of His disciples betrayed Him, another denied Him three times, and the rest abandoned Him and fled. He died alone, forsaken even by God. So to attempt to unite ourselves with Him in His suffering is to diminish His sacrifice and exalt our own sufferings to a level never intended by the theology of the cross which Luther posited.

Resurrection of the LordMatthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20Romans 6: 1-14Ephesians 2: 11-22

the Ascension – Luke 24:50, Matthew 28: 16-20

4. The Birth of the Church Pentecost – Acts 2

The life of the early Church – Acts 2: 43-47 Seven called to serve – Deacons – Acts 6: 1-7 Stephen – First Martyr – Acts 6:8 – 8:1 Philip and Ethiopian – Acts 8:26-40

The life of Petero Peter heals the lame man – Acts 3

o Peter and Cornelius – Acts 10o Council of Jerusalem – Acts 11

The Life of Paulo Call & Conversion of Paul – Acts 9:1-23o Rom. 1:1o I Cor. 1:1

o Paul in Athens – Acts 17: 16-34 Persecution Missionary journeys Body of Christ – 1Cor. 12: 12-31 Life in the Holy Spirit – Romans 8

5. The End of all things The Word to the Churches (Revelation 1-3) New Heavens and Earth – Revelation 21 Judgement – Revelation 18-20 Defeat of the Evil One Heavenly Jerusalem – Revelation 21-22