Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Class Two of "The Geography of God"

Session Two Study Guide for “Geography of God” by Michael Lindvall
Prepared for First Presbyterian Church by Rev Rob Erickson
Session Two- The Way
Read scripture and look and listen for the Trinity:
Genesis 1:1-5 and John 1:1-5- The Story of Creation
Matthew 3:13-17- The baptism of Jesus
Luke 23:46- The Crucifixion of Christ

Chapter 6 “Beside Yourself: I believe in God”
Think about the world with us at the center of it (pg. 26 in Geography). What does that world look like to you? What happens if we take ourselves out of the center and put God in the center? Read Matthew 16:24-25
When we think of God as Father, “Abba” what attributes of God do we think about?

Chapter 7 “Specifically Spiritual: I believe in Jesus Christ”
What are the influences on “that little voice” within us that helps us identify right from wrong? (See page 30 in Geography “My faith has carried me a long was. It’s Sheilaism. Just my own little voice.)
What does the “incarnation” mean to you? God “in the flesh”. What difference does it make?
Think of the word “Atonement” as “At-one-ment”. Review the atonement theories: 1) Forgiveness or “Substitution Theory of Atonement- Anselm; 2) Inspiration or “Moral Influence Theory”- Abelard; 3) Revelation- “I am the way the truth and the life”

Chapter 8 “Present Tense Divinity: I believe in the Holy Spirit”

The Hebrew word for Spirit, breath and wind is the word “Ruach”. The Greek word for Spirit is “Pneumas”. What do we know about God who is described as spirit, wind and breath? What do we know about God whose name is synonymous with power?
Read John 14: 25-27 (Jesus introduces the Holy Spirit); Acts 2:1-4 (The Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples in Pentecost); Matthew 4:1 (The Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness after his baptism to be tempted.)
What do you think about Lindvall’s notion that the Holy Spirit is “The Present Tense of God”

Monday, March 14, 2011

Leaving Home

Study Guide for “A Geography of God: Exploring the Christian Journey”
Prepared by Rev. Dr. Rob Erickson for First Presbyterian Church, Jefferson City, Mo.

Class One “Leaving for Home” Chapters 1-5
Genesis 12:1 “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”
In Chapter One Michael Lindvall writes about faith as a journey and entitles the first section “Leaving for Home”.
Share a little bit of your spiritual journey with the person next to you. Share with the group what you hope for in this spiritual journey and what are you a little bit nervous about.

Why get up in the morning? That’s the question Michael introduces in Chapter 2.
Do you know people like Albert Camus who are searching for purpose in their lives? (pg. 8)
What does the question from the Westminster Shorter Catechism have to say about this whole question of purpose?
Q.1. What is the chief end of humanity?
A. 1. Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy God forever.

What’s so irresistible about Grace? That is the sub-question in Chapter 3 “Finding or Found”. C. S. Lewis describes man’s search for God as a mouse searching for a cat (pg. 10). Why might it be scary or inconvenient to seek God? Or is it?
Read Francis Thompson’s poem “Hound of Heaven”. Does it speak to you?
How did God find you or how is God finding you? Have you ever been lost and found by God as the song “Amazing Grace” implies?

Chapter 4 grapples with the “delicate balance between the sovereign power of God on one hand and human freedom on the other.” Why is that balance so important to God…to us?

The Greek word for faith is “pisteuo” which means “to believe or to trust. Explore as a group the difference between trusting someone or something and believing in someone or somethings. Why does Lindvall call this risky?

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Geography of God Lenten Study

Lesson Plan for “Geography of God: Exploring the Christian Journey” by Rev. Michael Lindvall
This Lent we will be using Michael Lindvall’s book “A Geography of God” for our Lenten Study Groups. Michael uses this curious phrase “The Geography of God” as a title for his book and the title of chapter nine in his book to help move to a place of understanding who God is, what the terrain and the make up of God is as Trinity- Father, Son and Holy Spirit- so that we might walk with this Triune God. Michael is aware that to actually speak of God in Trinitarian language and to imagine that we might move in this Trinitarian language to greater understanding and not great confusion is a stretch for most people. And so he calls the book, “The Geography of God: Exploring the Christian Journey” and he speaks of understanding “this God who is love, a God who is relationship, a God who is communion. That is to say, the ultimate reality of the universe is a relationship of intense love and profound communion. This Way before us leads into participation in the very life of God who is communion The way of faith is not just toward God; it is not simply following God; it is not simply walking with God. The road itself is God.” (pg. 52) So I invite you to join us on the journey which is God.

The lesson plan for the Tuesday, 9:30 class will be:

Part One “Leaving Home”March 15 Lesson #1 Chapters 1 “Spiritual Maps” and Chapter 2 pages 3-9
Chapters 3 “Finding or Found”, 4 and 5 page 10-22

Part Two “The Way”March 22 Lesson #2 Chapters 6 “Beside Yourself” and Chapters 7-8 pages 23-50

Part Three “Life on the Road”March 29 Lesson #3 Chapters 9 “Geography of God” & Chapters 10-11 pages 51-66

April 5 Lesson #4 Chapters 12 “Packing a Bible” and Chap 13-14 pages 67-92

April 12 Lesson #5 Chapters 15 “As Good as You Get” & Chapters 16 -17 pg 93-115

April 19 Lesson #6 Chapters 18-20 “All or Nothing” pages 116-135