Ok, this entry is a bit late... I've had a few irons in the fire and felt that sleep was the priority ;-)
You know... If I didn't know better I would have thought that Pastor Jay read over these lesson notes (based on this morning's sermon). It was right in "lock step" (per se) with this lesson.
Here is a quick overview of last Tuesday's Life Group Meeting:
* Who is Man? Who is God? - The answers to these two questions form the foundation of every one's worldview. The battle within – Galatians 5:16-17 – Our sinful nature is in constant conflict with God's Spirit – Romans 7:15-25, Romans 6:12, Romans 8:5-14.
* Man's Essence - The States of man:
Innocent – Genesis 1:27
Fallen – Romans 5:12, Genesis 6:5
Hell – Revelation 20:15, Hebrew 9:27
Redeemed – Revelation 5:9
Glorified – 1 Corinthians 15:42
Dualistic or Monistic – Both flesh and spirit or purely material?
Naturalistic Philosophy Implications – no gods or purposive forces, no foundation for ethics, no free will, no life after death, no meaning in life
* IMAGO DEO Versus IMAGO Goo...
* RC Sproul's Comments (video):
http://connect.thetruthproject.org/content/video/lesson3/dvd/BattleWithin.html
REMEMBER - Lesson 4, "Who Is God" will be on WEDNESDAY October 24th (not on Tuesday) at 7 pm.
Have a great week and see you soon!
Matt
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Lesson 2, Philosophy & Ethics: Says Who?
Hello again! Well, we had another great night with The Truth Project Life Group. If anyone is reading this and would like to attend - WE WELCOME YOU TO ATTEND. We meet at my house every Tuesday evening at 7 pm. Usually we sit around and talk for a couple minutes - my wife always has some cookies, crackers, etc to snack on - then we open with a prayer and begin the lesson. Once the lesson is finished we go around the room and talk about it, i.e. what were the particularly interesting points for you, etc. So, feel free to join us and if you decide that you'd like to make up the lessons that you've missed... we'll sit down and find a time and date to do so.
Back to Lesson 2. Truly too much to blog about, so I'll go over some of the more salient highlights that we discussed as a group. I believe we all recognize that Carl Sagan is deceived and truly believing a lie - to think that we are all created from 'star stuff'...? and to actually think that the cosmos is all that ever was, is, or will be...? WOW, that is true deception. I hope that we all can pray for men & women who think and believe this way - truly they are lost as they attempt to put the answers in a box or "the cosmic cube". Those who are unwilling to look outside “the cosmic cube” for the fulfillment of this need try to find ways to “bring God inside” by identifying Him in some way or other with “the stuff in the box.” This is the source of spiritual naturalism, paganism, pantheism, and panentheism.
Other highlights from the lesson are:
1. Philosophy: The love of wisdom. The systematic examination of basic concepts such as truth, existence, reality, freedom, etc. Webster's 1828 dictionary definition: "The objects of philosophy are to ascertain facts or truth, and the causes of things or their phenomena; to enlarge our views of God and his works…" True religion and true philosophy must ultimately arrive at the same
principle.
2. Ethics: The standard, the line, that which ought to be. The principles of conduct governing a person or group of people.
3. Universals: Broad "universal" truth claims that provide meaning to the smaller "particular" questions in life. "Universals" provide answers to the great philosophical questions we face.
4. Particulars: Individual truth claims; the small details that describe "particular" objects.
5. Metamorphoo: Greek for "transformation." Root of the word "metamorphosis." This is the primary goal of The Truth Project: for individuals to be transformed into the likeness of Christ by gazing on the face of God. This process is not easy and we often struggle with God's Truth claims in the "cocoon." Metamorphoo is used in Romans 12:2, where it is usually translated as "transformed."
I'm looking forward to Lesson 3 - Anthropology: Who is Man? After Lesson 3, we may take a the next Tuesday to simply fellowship and discuss more of Lessons 1 thru 3.
So if anyone is interested in attending - let me know or just come by.
Be Blessed & Testify to the TRUTH!
F. Matt Williams
fireteamwilliams@cox.net
Back to Lesson 2. Truly too much to blog about, so I'll go over some of the more salient highlights that we discussed as a group. I believe we all recognize that Carl Sagan is deceived and truly believing a lie - to think that we are all created from 'star stuff'...? and to actually think that the cosmos is all that ever was, is, or will be...? WOW, that is true deception. I hope that we all can pray for men & women who think and believe this way - truly they are lost as they attempt to put the answers in a box or "the cosmic cube". Those who are unwilling to look outside “the cosmic cube” for the fulfillment of this need try to find ways to “bring God inside” by identifying Him in some way or other with “the stuff in the box.” This is the source of spiritual naturalism, paganism, pantheism, and panentheism.
Other highlights from the lesson are:
1. Philosophy: The love of wisdom. The systematic examination of basic concepts such as truth, existence, reality, freedom, etc. Webster's 1828 dictionary definition: "The objects of philosophy are to ascertain facts or truth, and the causes of things or their phenomena; to enlarge our views of God and his works…" True religion and true philosophy must ultimately arrive at the same
principle.
2. Ethics: The standard, the line, that which ought to be. The principles of conduct governing a person or group of people.
3. Universals: Broad "universal" truth claims that provide meaning to the smaller "particular" questions in life. "Universals" provide answers to the great philosophical questions we face.
4. Particulars: Individual truth claims; the small details that describe "particular" objects.
5. Metamorphoo: Greek for "transformation." Root of the word "metamorphosis." This is the primary goal of The Truth Project: for individuals to be transformed into the likeness of Christ by gazing on the face of God. This process is not easy and we often struggle with God's Truth claims in the "cocoon." Metamorphoo is used in Romans 12:2, where it is usually translated as "transformed."
I'm looking forward to Lesson 3 - Anthropology: Who is Man? After Lesson 3, we may take a the next Tuesday to simply fellowship and discuss more of Lessons 1 thru 3.
So if anyone is interested in attending - let me know or just come by.
Be Blessed & Testify to the TRUTH!
F. Matt Williams
fireteamwilliams@cox.net
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Lesson 1, What Is Truth?
We had a great night - overall it took about two hours which included introductions, a little discussion about the course, how I foresee the flow and/or execution of the course as a home-based Life Group, watching lesson 1, then discussing. What a simple question - What is Truth? But very profound. Jesus told Pilate, "...for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37) I love that scripture.
God is Truth (period). Yet we loose our bearing as a people (of God) and allow the world to sway our perspectives on reality and believe the lies. Bad, is not that bad, and can be tolerable and almost deemed good - it's a lie. To the point, anything that is contrary to God (His nature, His word, His Truth) is a lie. Odd that more and more we allow the influences of this world to impact us, instead of us impacting it. Remember there is no truth in the father of this world - the father of lies.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Don't allow yourself to be deceived by this world and what may appear truthful and then fall victim to the lies. Furthermore, MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY when we're with outsiders (Non-Christians). Remember to love them - they are deceived and believing a lie - be full of grace & seasoned with salt.
Consider Isaiah 44:14-20. In short, a man cuts a log in half - with 1/2 of the log, he starts a fire and cooks his meal and stays warm, and with the other 1/2 he carves an idol and worships it... then he asks the idol to save him. Now verses 18 thru 20 says ->
18 They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
19 No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, "Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"
20 He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"
In closing, we were left to ponder this - Do you really believe that what you believe is really real? As Dr. Tackett stated - That question is haunting.
For the first meeting, I think we had some great discussion. I truly look forward to next weeks session "Philosophy & Ethics - Says Who?"
God is Truth (period). Yet we loose our bearing as a people (of God) and allow the world to sway our perspectives on reality and believe the lies. Bad, is not that bad, and can be tolerable and almost deemed good - it's a lie. To the point, anything that is contrary to God (His nature, His word, His Truth) is a lie. Odd that more and more we allow the influences of this world to impact us, instead of us impacting it. Remember there is no truth in the father of this world - the father of lies.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Don't allow yourself to be deceived by this world and what may appear truthful and then fall victim to the lies. Furthermore, MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY when we're with outsiders (Non-Christians). Remember to love them - they are deceived and believing a lie - be full of grace & seasoned with salt.
Consider Isaiah 44:14-20. In short, a man cuts a log in half - with 1/2 of the log, he starts a fire and cooks his meal and stays warm, and with the other 1/2 he carves an idol and worships it... then he asks the idol to save him. Now verses 18 thru 20 says ->
18 They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
19 No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, "Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"
20 He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"
In closing, we were left to ponder this - Do you really believe that what you believe is really real? As Dr. Tackett stated - That question is haunting.
For the first meeting, I think we had some great discussion. I truly look forward to next weeks session "Philosophy & Ethics - Says Who?"
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