Wednesday, December 20, 2017

The ABCD of Advent

The ABCD of Advent




Angels,
Anticipation,  
Announcements
(The angel Gabriel said to Mary you will bear a son, call him Jesus. He will be called the Son of the Most High. Luke 1:26-32)






Baby
Birth
Barn
(She gave birth to her firstborn son… and laid him in a manger Luke 2:7)






Celestial
Choirs
Celebrate
(Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace… Luke 2:14)




David’s
Dynasty
Discovered
(Where is the baby born to be King? Matthew 2:2 )

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Bible Study on word Shalom



Bible Study on word Shalom
Read Numbers 6.24 – 26 in different versions.
1.       What do you notice?
2.       The word Peace is the Hebrew word “Shalom”  - What sort of Peace does it Describe?
3.       Give out circles name each segment as follows
a.       Relationship with God
b.      Relationships with friends
c.       Relationships with family
d.      Relationship with Spouse
e.      Health
f.        Work
g.       Money /wealth
h.      Inner calm / serenity
Then color the segment showing to what leave of Peace you feel within that Category – is shade it 100% if you are fully at peace with God or your work or 30% or.
Talk over your image with another person explaining what you have drawn.

Definition of Shalom “a comprehensive sense of well being,  not only your spiritual connection to God, but  life connections—bodily health, contentedness, social relationships…. It is about Completeness, wholeness, fullness.”
4.       What does this mean when you are wishing someone Shalom as in Numbers 6?
5.       Read Jer 29:4-7 what do you know about the Context of these verses? 
6.       The word that is translated Welfare (ESV) or Prosperity (NIV) Prosperous (GNT) is the word “Shalom”.  Why was Jeremiah encouraging them to seek the Shalom of the foreign nation where they were being held captive?  What might that mean for us?
7.       Read Jer 29:11.   This is many people’s favourite verse. (the word welfare = Shalom) In the light of your earlier discussion what does this mean about God’s plans for you?
8.       Read these 3 NT Verses and discuss what they teach us about “Shalom / Peace” (Note the Greek word for Shalom or Peace is Eirene)
a.       John 14:27
b.      Col 3:15
c.       Hebrews 13:20-21 – Notice that God is the God of peace
Notice that v20 looks back to what God has done – WE have an eternal hope through the resurrection and forgiveness through the blood, which has established an eternal covenant
Notice that God continues to work to equip us… So that we may Do his will, and accomplish every good thing

9.       Go to the person you originally shared your circle diagram with in Q3 and pray for each other.  Finish by reading Numbers 6 :24-26 as a blessing over each other.

What would a world Look like where shalom prevailed?
·         all marriages would be healthy and all children would be safe.
·         Everyone would have enough
·         Israeli and Palestinian children would play together on the West Bank; their parents would build homes for one another.
·         In offices and corporate boardrooms, executives would secretly scheme to help their colleagues succeed; they would compliment them behind their backs.
·         Tabloids would be filled with accounts of courage and moral beauty.
·         Talk shows would feature mothers and daughters who love each other deeply, wives who give birth to their husbands’ children, and men who secretly enjoy dressing as men.
·         Disagreements would be settled with grace and civility.
·         Schools would no longer need police presence or even hall monitors; students and teachers and janitors would honor and value one another’s work.
·         At recess, every kid would get picked for a team.
·         Churches would never split.
·          No father would ever again say, “I’m too busy,” to a disappointed child.  
·         Divorce courts and battered-women shelters would be turned into community recreation centers. Every time one human being touched another, it would be to express encouragement, affection, and delight.


If you want you can sing the Jewish song Havenu Shalom Alechem

Welcome

Thanks for stopping by and reading this. You will find links to St Columba's services, helpful information and a few more personal thoughts.

Contact Form

Name

Email *

Message *

About Me

My photo
Married with Children. my wonderful wife is Sue. I have 2 sons Paul in Gisborne David In Napier