It's Time to Get Back to the Bible!

We're starting 2010 off right: with a new Sunday School Class! It's called "Back to the Bible" and it's for all our members and friends who are 16 years or older. Let me tell you all about it . . .

The time: Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m.

The place: upstairs at the CE Building (coffee and doughnuts will be served)

What it's all about: the Bible! Here is your chance to learn about the Bible inside and out. What I mean is that we'll be looking not only what's on the pages but also about how the 66 books that we now call the Bible came to be. We'll be following a three-track approach every week: first, what's the story or history behind the day's lesson; second, what did the biblical writers intend; and third, how does the lesson speak to us today?

All versions of the Bible are welcome, but I will be teaching from the New Revised Standard Version (our pew Bible). We will not be reading the Bible cover to cover, but will be touching on all the most influential passages for our faith today.

If you miss a week or two, you can stay up on the readings, because I will have them posted on our web-page: tolonopresbyterian.org

Finally, we all bring our own histories and interpretations to understanding how God speaks to us through scripture. There will be lots of discussion in our class. I will be teaching from the perspective that the Bible has been written and edited and bound together by human beings inspired by the Holy Spirit. I believe that is okay to ask challenging questions of the scriptures and of ourselves as we journey in our faith. I will bring some answers to those questions, but I am much more interested in helping you discover answers for yourself- or maybe how to live with the questions!

So, please join me Sunday January 10th at 9:15am in the CE Building. As the class grows, I hope that we can offer nursery care. If you have a young child who would need supervision during the 9:15-10:15am hour, please let me know. The church's phone is 485-3725. My cell is 618 314-2298. Or drop me an e-mail at kerrybean@frontiernet.net

Back to the Bible

Lesson 5: Old Noah, He Built Him an Arky

Prayer of the Day

Holy God, by your grace: you touch our fears
with the fire of your compassion;
you touch our brokenness with the fire of your forgiveness; you touch our hearts
with the fire of your love.

Jesus Christ, by your grace: you step into our lives
and an unpredictable journey begins;
you challenge us to new thinking, with overflowing results;
you so confront our doubts that we can cast away our fears.

Holy Spirit, by your grace: you give us eyes to see the emptiness of the world; you give us ears to hear the cries of the hungry; you give us gifts to bring hope and healing to all.

God in Community, Holy in One, by your grace we are who we are,
your children, your people, your church, praying together as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .

Here are some questions to ponder as we work our way through the story of Noah and the Great Flood?

1. Why was God so displeased?
2. Why choose Noah and his family?
3. Why did God choose to save anyone at all?
4. How did the flood happen and how did the ark really work?
5. What is the significance of this account to our faith (other faiths)?
6. What are the great truths taught by the Flood account
7. How does archeology, biology, etc. jive up with the Flood account?

Interesting theory: One current theory, which I found on Christian answers.net, proposes that God created a great earthquake which released trapped waters and caused the oceans to rise rapidly. Further then, with more seismic activity, God place and shaped the continents where they are now, creating boundaries that the oceans cannot rise above.

Back to the Bible

Lesson 3: Gardening 101: The Fall of Humankind

Genesis 3

Today we look at the story of humankind's fall grace and the beginning of "original sin".

As mentioned in last week's lesson, God provides the first man and woman a garden which provides everything they need. But God also plants in the garden the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. These are off—limits, so naturally the humans are curious—and disobedient. This account also introduces us to the snake, the tempter—the devil. And thus begins the debate: when we sin, is it entirely our fault—or are we negatively influenced by evil? And the question arises: "What is sin, anyway?"

This week we will:

• Continue to look at what is happening with various civilizations early in biblical times—especially, of course, the Hebrew people.
• We will connect the account in the Garden of Eden with the creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2—our previous lessons.
• We will read Genesis 3 and try to coax out some of the more intriguing lessons contained therein.
• We will search for meaning(s) for us today. In other words, how is God still speaking through this passage?

Prayer of the Day

Holy God, Word-Giver: in soft-falling snow,
we hear your joy; in the whisper of the wind,
we overhear your dreams for us; in the silence of a frozen night,
we eavesdrop on your grace; in the prayers of the poor,
we take notice of your compassion.

Jesus Christ, Perfect Word: overcome our obsession
of focusing on ourselves, so we might serve;
make us simple enough to hear your good news
and wise enough to live it;
enchant our hearts with your grace,
so we might weep with those around us.

Holy Spirit, Cup Holder of Living Water: as we suffer together

may we drink deeply from your tenderness;
as we rejoice together, may we taste your strength;
as we pray together, may our hearts feast on your love;
as we worship together, may we hear the Word you have for us.

God in Community, Holy in One, in these moments, in every moment,
be with us, even as we pray as Jesus taught us,
Our Father . . .

Back to the Bible

Lesson Two: In the Beginning . . . Again — January 17, 2010

Opening Prayer:When we stand at the edge of desolation, peering down into our emptiness, you reach out to keep us from falling. When we fumble and stumble throw the shadows of our world, you offer us a little light, which is all we need until our eyes grow accustomed to the bright dawn of your grace and wonder. When we are worn down by the rough edges of life, you polish us until we gleam with hope. When we feel deserted, you adopt us as your very own. When the world files a bill of divorce against us, turning its back, you slip the ring of joy on our finger, clasping our hands in yours, as you whisper vows of love which will remain longer than the stars will burn. God in Community, Holy in One, we give you praise for your presence, even as we pray as we are taught, Our Father . . .

Preview of the Class:

• Four-part (hopefully) harmony: the history/background of the Bible, reading the text, what is the context of the passage, and how it speaks to us today
• Today: the beginnings—a second perspective. . .

• What are some significant things happening as the civilizations in the Bible form?
• Genesis chapter two: the creation of the world with some different takes. How is chapter one consistent with chapter two? How are they different?
• The great debate: creation vs. evolution
• How does it speak to us in 2010 CE?
• ASK QUESTIONS! MAKE COMMENTS!
• Get Messy! (Ms. Frizzle- Magic School Bus)

What you need: A Bible and maybe a pen or pencil for notes. These sheets are yours and a copy will be available at tolonopresbyterian.org

Suggested reading and other resources will also be there . . .

The Biblical description of the garden says:

Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers. The name of the first is Pishon; it flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold.[...] The name of the second river is Gihon; it flows around the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Tigris; it flows east of Assyria And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

There have been a number of claims as to the actual geographic location of the Garden of Eden, though many of these have little or no connection to the text of Genesis. Most put the Garden somewhere in the Middle East.

In the Middle East

Sumer and Dilmun (Bahrain)

Some of the historians working from within the cultural horizons of southernmost Sumer, where the earliest surviving non—Biblical source of the legend lies, point to the quite genuine Bronze Age entrepôt of the island theorized by some to be Dilmun (now Bahrain) in the Persian Gulf, described as 'the place where the sun rises' and 'the Land of the Living'. The setting of the Babylonian creation myth, Enûma Elish, has clear parallels with the Genesis narratives. After its actual decline, beginning about 1500 BC, Dilmundeveloped such a reputation as a long—lost garden of exotic perfections that it may have influenced the story of the Garden of Eden. Some interpreters have tried to establish an Edenic garden at the trading— center of Dilmun.

Cyprus

Some historians have argued that the Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus is the modern site of the Garden of Eden. ^[6] Robert Sarmast, in particular, theorised in his book The Startling Case for the Island of Cyprus^[7] that the pre—existing island may have the basis of several Judaeo—Christian and Classical myths on paradise, including both Eden and Atlantis. He argues that an area of the island, known as Yeroskipou (Greek: Γεροσκήπου, sacred gardens), may have gained its etymology from ancient fertility worship within walled, flowered gardens, similar to the appearance and presentation of both Atlantis and Eden in texts. Culturally, Sarmast also supposes that the still—celebrated Festival of the Flood, Kataklysmos, of unknown origins, may be related to a deluge myth — the loss of paradise in Eden's Classical equivalent, Atlantis, being by flood not expulsion. Sarmast's findings have also been studied by Philip Coppens^[6] amongst others.

Jerusalem

Several religious traditions identify the location of the garden of Eden with the city of Jerusalem,^[8] in particular Gihon Spring.

Let's take a look at Chapter Two of Genesis: we'll take it sections, a couple of verses at a time. I'll share some background info as we go. The big questions include:

• What is happening and who is making it happen?
• What do we learn about the relationship between God and creation?
• What feelings does this passage evoke?:

A comparison between Chapter One and Chapter Two. . .

Creationism vs. evolutionary theory: What are your thoughts? Can we simply state the essence of both positions? Do these theories exclude one another or can they be reconciled?

How do Genesis 1 and 2 speak to us in 2010 CE (AD)?

• About God as Creator and us as part of creation?:
• About the basic nature of nature?
• About the relationship between this passage and the rest of the Bible?

Next week: the fall of humankind, and the story of Cain and Abel.

Interesting page re: Garden of Eden in Wikipedia. . .

Closing Prayer. . .

Back to the Bible

Lesson One: In the Beginning . . .January 10, 2010

Opening Prayer: Eternal God, at the baptism of Jesus you revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with your Holy Spirit. Keep your children, born of water and the Spirit, faithful to your calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

Preview of the Class:

• Four-part (hopefully) harmony: the history/background of the Bible, reading the text, what is the context of the passage, and how it speaks to us today
• Today: the beginnings

• What are some significant things happening as the civilizations in the Bible form?
• Genesis chapter one: the creation of the world
• The great debate: creation vs. evolution
• How does it speak to us in 2010 CE?
• ASK QUESTIONS! MAKE COMMENTS!
• Get Messy! (Ms. Frizzle- Magic School Bus)

What you need: A Bible and maybe a pen or pencil for notes. These sheets are yours and a copy will be available at tolonopresbyterian.org

Suggested reading and other resources will also be there . . .

• Let's take a look at Chapter One of Genesis: we'll take it sections, a couple of verses at a time. I'll share some background info as we go. The big questions include:
• What is happening and who is making it happen?
• What do we learn about the relationship between God and creation?
• What feelings does this passage evoke?

A comparison between Chapter One and Chapter Two. . .

Creationism vs. evolutionary theory: What are your thoughts? Can we simply state the essence of both positions? Do these theories exclude one another or can they be reconciled?

• How does Genesis 1 speak to us in 2010 CE (AD)?

• About God as Creator and us as part of creation?
• About the basic nature of nature?
• What feelings does this passage evoke?

Next week: the second creation account, the fall of humankind, and the story of Cain and Abel.

Interesting page re: Garden of Eden in Wikipedia. . .

Closing Prayer. . .