Sunday, August 19, 2007
Deuteronomy study guide: 8/20 - 8/25
So I'm trying out something new with the Sunday morning Bible discussion group. I'm trying to write up little study guides each week to hand out for every body to work through during the week. The idea is to get everybody reading the same text throughout the week, and not just on Sunday mornings. It's intimidating for some to absorb and respond to a big chunk of text on the spot, so this gives everybody some time to chew on it before we talk. Mona told me today that she and Leo and the other Mona spent four hours at McDonalds yesterday going over it together. That warmed my soul.

This is the second one I've put together. Maybe you'll find it useful.

August 20 - 25
Loving God Totally
Deuteronomy 6:1 - 25

Monday
Read 6:1 - 9
Verses 1–3 are all about results. What are the results of obedience?

How are verses 1–3 connect to verses 4–9?

If verse 5 is the bottom line for God wants, does this change anything about what it means to be religious or how we “do church”?

Tuesday
Read 6:10–19
Again, according to verse 18, what the results of obedience?

Think about a time you were obedient to God. What happened? What was this experience like?

Verse 15 is now the third time God describes himself as “jealous” (see 4:24 and 5:9). How is this such an important quality of God?

Wednesday
Read 6:20–25
What is the value in telling our story with God?

Why this continued emphasis on teaching this story to our children?

Thursday
Read Exodus 17:1–7
How is this a story about “testing”?

Think of a time you tested God. What happened?

Friday
Read Matthew 4:1–11 and Mark 12:28–34
When Jesus is tempted in the desert, twice he quotes from Deuteronomy 6 (6:13 and 6:16). What does Jesus’ application of this passage mean for our own lives?

When Jesus is asked about the most important commandment, he quotes Deuteronomy 6. Why might this be important or significant?

Saturday
Read all of the passage 6:1–25
What would you say this whole passage is about?

Remember that chapters 4 – 11 in Deuteronomy are one continuous sermon. How does chapter 6 fit with what came before in chapters 4 and 5?

Sunday @ 10 a.m.
Join the discussion at the church downstairs.

“A Methodist is one who loves the Lord his God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, and with all his strength. God is the joy of his heart, and the desire of his soul, which is continually crying, ‘Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth whom I desire besides thee.’” –John Wesley, from “The Character of a Methodist”

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posted by Peter at 10:33 PM
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Greece pictures

About two months ago, Jackie and I took a vacation to Greece. We spent a day in Athens, where we hiked up to the Acropolis and saw the Parthenon. Then we spent seven days on the island of Sifnos in the Aegean Sea. We found Aegean Thesaurus Travel to be a great help.

I finally have all of the pictures uploaded over at Flickr. You should check 'em out.

posted by Peter at 8:45 PM
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