We started week 3 with a video. This scene from Braveheart is very well known, but this time watch it with a different mindset. The Scottish Nobles act like Pharisees from scripture. William Wallace is telling the Scots that their freedom is worth fighting for, and sounding a lot like Jesus when he does it. Think of Mark 8:36 as you watch it.
What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Mark 8:36 (NKJV)
This led us into a discussion first on how Jesus is portrayed in pictures in books, or Bibles, or wall decorations. Some responses were a gentle man with a beard, who used good conditioner in his long wavy hair, and is just as meek and mild as could be. At times (minus the hair care products) he was that person. We don't often see the warrior Jesus, the one who challenged the Pharisees (unheard of in their day) and fought for our souls. The Rider on the White Horse from Revelation 19:11-21 was talked about, and how that conflicts with the gentle nice guy that wants a relationship with us, but as long as we are a nice person who always turns the other cheek, etc etc. He knew that it would be a fight to turn us away from this world and to follow Him...asking nicely won't cut it. We don't often make the "Braveheart connection", where Jesus tells us not to worship the Pharisees, but to love and have a relationship with God (just as William Wallace said not to fight for the noble, but fight for their freedom). He wants us to fight against the world for our freedom.We talked for a bit about our relationship with our father.
How did he influence us and who we have become? Is he someone who we are proud to take after?
Then we talked about our relationship with our Father.
How does He influence us and who we have become (and are becoming)? Is He someone who we are proud to take after?
Some Q&A from Week 3
What is God fighting for?
Our love and worship
Us
That we use our free will to accept Him, not reject Him
When do we turn to God?
When things are bad or when thing are going good?
What is the public perception of us, as a Christian? Are we brave or do we strive for acceptance?
They should not be surprised to find out we are a Christian-it should be evident by the way we live.
Eldridge goes on to talk about the Earth we live on. "Most of the Earth is not safe; but it's good." We are encouraged to spend an evening in the wild - walk through the woods without a flashlight, go out in a storm, etc. Experience the wildness of God, and think about how much of the world is considered (by us) unsafe, but God Himself proclaimed it good. If you do it sometime this week, share with us what you experienced.We finished the evening talking about sex (GASP!). In a nutshell, God created it, proclaimed it good (after marriage, of course), yet it remains a taboo in most churches and amongst many Christians today. If it was inherantly bad, God would not have blessed it in Song of Solomon (SoS 5:1).
On the flip side of the coin, sex (along with money) is easily abused by man. Lust is a major pitfall of men, and one we must combat frequently.
We discussed an mp3 of Chip Ingram discussing how to defeat lust. That mp3 can be downloaded here (right-click, Save File As to download to your hard drive).
FOR NEXT SUNDAY: READ CHAPTER 3: THE QUESTION THAT HAUNTS EVERY MAN!
If you missed the study, we missed having you there. We hope you all have a great week, and we hope to see you next Sunday.
As always, feel free to leave comments or start a conversation in the section below.
One comment
Comment by Jon on September 30, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Has anyone taken Eldridge up on his challenge of spending time in the wild? If so, tell us about it. Where did you go? What did you experience (spiritually, physically, emotionally) during your time? (If you are unsure of what we are referring to, look up at the paragraph by the storm picture)