ISSL Reflections August 29, 2021 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10 Post 3

Posted on by
Reply

VIII.
Paul tells us – “… so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”

Life? Life that is not defined by “the earthly tent we live in” and “this slight momentary affliction”?

Let’s read the passage and notice what else Paul may be telling us about “life.” What other words does he use to speak of that kind of life and living?

IX.
2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling— if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

X.
Paul mentions the “eternal” several times. Likewise he mentions “the heavens.”

We might could take it that as he speaks of being “swallowed up by life” he has in mind a “life” in heaven.

But does that do justice to the entirety of what he may mean?

I notice Paul writes, “our inner nature is being renewed day by day.”

“Day by Day” as in here and now? As in right now?

He tells us “we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Take some time and look for the ways you are being swallowed up by God’s kind of life even now.

Paul does try to hide that all is not perfect in our day to day lives. But he seems convinced that he walks with God now. This walk by faith is something that transcends the walk by sight each day.

What do you notice in your own life as you consider Paul’s words that “we walk by faith not by sight”?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections August 29, 2021 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10 Post 2

Posted on by
Reply

IV.
In the last post I briefly called our attention to the mention of “this slight affliction.” And to be more precise Paul calls it a “slight momentary affliction.”

As you read the passage again with this phrase in mind, notice anything Paul writes that throws light on “this slight momentary affliction.”

V.
2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling— if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

VI.
What did you notice as possible examples of this “slight momentary affliction”?

Maybe, “our outer nature is wasting away…”?
And, “if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed …”?

And then, “… in this tent we groan … we groan under our burden …”?

VII.
In a first reading of this I hear Paul speaking to my physical condition of “aging.” Is that the word we use today for “getting old,” “wearing out,” and just plain “running out of steam.”

But then it occurs to me to look beyond my physical “aging.”

Maybe it’s my home also. Even our neighborhood, community, and our very world.

VIII.
Take a few moments to go back to this passage and notice any words of encouragement Paul has for you.

At what word or words did you notice the most hope stirring within you?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections August 29, 2021 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10 Post 1

Posted on by
Reply

I.
As you read this week’s focus passage, what begins to capture your attention?

He asks us to “not lose heart” and then in the course of these few words “helps” us see some of the reasons why we might “lose heart.”

Does this hold your attention or do you want to better understand what he means by “this slight affliction”?

II.
2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling— if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

III.
Does this passage “encourage” you in any way?

Sometimes folks try to encourage one another by completely focusing on the “upbeat” things and trying to ignore what discourages us. This seems not the case with Paul here.

How is it for you?

Do you come away from reading this passage encouraged or do you more find reason to be discouraged?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections August 22, 2021 1 John 4:2-3, 13-17; 5:4-5 Post 3

Posted on by
Reply

VII.
By spending time with these passages from 1 John what have you come to know or to know more deeply?

VIII.
1 John 4:2-3

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world.

1 John 4:13-17

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world.

1 John 5:4-5

… for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

IX.
What “world” do these passages invite you to live in?

What “world” do these passages warn you of?

Take time to read the passages again and notice these three words, “confess,” “abide,” and “love.”

Do those words in any way describe the “world” you live in or hope to live in?

How does your understanding of those words help you see the world as Jesus saw the world?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections August 22, 2021 1 John 4:2-3, 13-17; 5:4-5 Post 2

Posted on by
Reply

IV.
As I return to the passages today, I am drawn to the phrase, “conquers the world.”

What does it take to conquer the world?

V.
1 John 4:2-3

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world.

1 John 4:13-17

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world.

1 John 5:4-5

… for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

VI.
Take enough time to not only read the sentences from 1 John 5 but to rest in them. Let the words become fully formed in your consciousness so that you might begin to see (and maybe sense?) something of the power the writer wants his readers to see and acknowledge.

What do you think is conquered and by what … or who?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections August 22, 2021 1 John 4:2-3, 13-17; 5:4-5 Post 1

Posted on by
Reply

I.
This week we will consider three passages from 1 John.

As you read these passages a few times, what do you notice that “ties” the passages together? Does one word stand out? Does a repeated phrase stand out? What do you notice repeated that may hold these readings together for you?

II.
1 John 4:2-3

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world.

1 John 4:13-17

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world.

1 John 5:4-5

… for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

III.
One of the phrases I notice is, “By this we know …”

What do you think the writer wants his readers to notice the most deeply?

And we might then ask, what does the writer think should follow from that?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections August 15, 2021 Hebrews 10:23-36 Post 3

Posted on by
Reply

VII.
We have read this passage paying attention to the encouragements and warnings it puts in front of us.

Notice the writers closing words to us –

Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. (Hebrews 10:35-36)

Today I invite you to read the entire passage again and let these words serve as a means to hear what the writer desires for us.

VIII.
Hebrews 10:23-36

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

For if we willfully persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy “on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by those who have spurned the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

IX.
Initially we read,
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

And the closing word here is,
Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
(Hebrews 10:35-36)

“ … hold fast … he who has promised … do not … abandon that confidence that is yours … reward … you have done the will of God … receive what was promised ….”

X.
Do you ever feel “stuck in the middle”?

I wonder if that is something of the place the community who initially received this letter found themselves? It seems to me that is where our writer saw them.

And they were having a hard time going on toward the “reward.” Some of them, a very hard time. Hard enough they thought the journey should be abandoned?

But, they were reminded they were not alone. The God who called them to the journey, the God who promised them a life and future that was God breathed was still journeying with them and would not abandon them.

What words of encouragement come to you today to stay on the journey with God?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections August 15, 2021 Hebrews 10:23-36 Post 2

Posted on by
Reply

IV.
Let’s go back to this week’s passage and in your reading this time take notice any “warnings” you find in the passage either explicitly or implicitly.

Hebrews 10:23-36

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

For if we willfully persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy “on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by those who have spurned the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

V.
The other day we looked for the encouragements in the passage and today we are noticing the warnings.

What warning or warnings speak to you the deepest?

Why would they so capture your attention?

VI.
Can you hold the warnings you notice and the encouragements you notice at the same time?

I have encountered some folk who seem to have a harder time noticing and sharing the encouragements they find in Scripture than the warnings.

Where are you today? What holds your attention the most?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections August 15, 2021 Hebrews 10:23-36 Post 1

Posted on by
Reply

I.
We continue this week with another reading from the Epistle to the Hebrews. As I initially read over it, I am not sure if I should call it “a passage” or “three passages.”

Take time to read this Scripture so as to follow the logic of these several paragraphs.

Then read it again and notice what you find encouraging in the reading. Notice what encourages you in your life of discipleship as a follower of Jesus and notice what you might be called to encourage.

II.
Hebrews 10:23-36

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

For if we willfully persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy “on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by those who have spurned the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

III.
How encouraging to you are these words from the epistle?

What is the greatest encouragement to you?

The writer calls his readers’ attention to struggles and sufferings they endured.

Does recalling such times in your life ever encourage you?

He encourages his readers not to “abandon … [their] confidence.” What confidence or confidences come to mind for you?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections August 8 2021 Hebrews 11:1-8, 13-16 Post 3

Posted on by
Reply

VII.
Let’s spend some time with the last few sentences from this week’s focus passage.

The writer calls our attention to those he mentioned by referring to them as, “All of these died in faith without ….”

What might these few sentences suggest to us about faith – its content, its direction, and even its fulfilment.

VIII.
Hebrews 11:13-16

All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

IX.
Is faith the start, the middle or the end of a journey?

Can it be each of those?

The folk our writer calls our attention to are all identified as having faith.

But they are “without having received the promises.” They lack something, Does that mean their faith is not sufficient? Or does that mean it has a “growing edge”?

Notice – “from a distance they saw …”

Is that something of the middle of the journey of faith?

Did you see – “… they are seeking a homeland … God … has prepared a city for them.”

Does that suggest something of the “end” of the journey of faith?

Well, “end” does not seem the right way to describe this.

Maybe we are back to “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Is faith a journey? Is faith the map for the journey? Is faith a “vehicle” to reach the homeland?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}