First Circle minicast

Myth: Pentecostals/Charismatics are a fringe group within Christianity

• The Question: What is normal Christian life and practice?

• The Problem: The global explosion of Christianity over the last 110 years has grown with Pentecostal revival, not cessationist doctrine/practice.

• The Informing Text: Acts 2:38; Acts 1:8

• The Big Idea: The cessationist view of a huge Laodecean deception (dispensationalist church age doctrine) doesn’t really hold true to Scripture or recent church hisory.

Myth: Churchless Christianity is healthy/normal

• The Question: I don’t have to go to church to be saved, right? And church is all messed up, so why go?

• The Problem: Everyone else is doing it. Not only are people leaving churches, but lots of books are being written from Christian authors about how it’s the thing to do.

• The Informing Text: Galatians 3:14 (among others)

• The Big Idea: No matter what the latest books may prescribe, it is absolutely necessary that Christians verbally tell people the Gospel and call people to faith and repentance in Jesus Christ. We can’t do that effectively (at all really) with no visible witness (Church). And the same goes for discipleship, only more so.

First Circle minicast

Oops. I forgot that our group will not be meeting on Easter Sunday. The post below is for April 11. It’s been two weeks since we’ve been able to meet. I’m looking forward to getting back together with everyone. Our myth that we are discussing this time around is perhaps the one that fosters the most misunderstanding about being a Christian. The fact that we believe that a relationship with Jesus is the only way to eternal life (at least that’s the Biblical view – some church folk actually believe the myth that there are “many paths to the same truth”) sometimes labels us as intolerant. In some circles this is referred to as the scandal of Christianity – the fact that it is exclusive. When we get into our discussion, we’ll certainly examine this claim. And contrary to popular belief, Christianity isn’t the only belief system that claims exclusivity. We’ll bust that little myth open too. Sounds like we’ve got a lot to discuss, doesn’t it? Show up on April 11 with your Bible, your opinions, your comments, and the homemade cookies are a nice touch too. Props to those of you who passed the fragrant plate around last time!

Myth: We’re All God’s Children

• The Question: Are there many paths to one truth, or is Christianity as exclusive as it claims to be?

• The Problem: There are so many other beliefs, most of which claim exclusivity, even in our “age of tolerance”.

• The Informing Text: Acts 4, Romans 11

• The Big Idea: Although we believe that Jesus is the only way to eternal life, this is no cause for personal pride because we ourselves have been grafted in by His Grace.

:)

Just kidding

Actually, last week’s discussion (our best so far, methinks) was just getting rolling when we ran out of time, so we’ll continue with the same topic this week.  I’m learning a lot and I’m also learning a lot about all of you.  BTW: if any of you have any information on our topic that you would like to bring with you, feel free to share it.  Unlike the picture above (sorry, but I just HAD to use it – LOL), we welcome your stories, resources, thoughts & convictions.  And the discussion doesn’t have to wait until the group meets. Feel free to post your thoughts here on the website. We have all of this whiz-bang technology; might as well use it.

Myth:    Angels & Demons – We’re past that aren’t we?

• The Question: Are angels & demons just a personification of good & evil, or are they real entities? What are 21st century Christians to believe?

• The Problem: Modernism: a leftover worldview from the enlightenment period based on rationalism

• The Informing Text: Luke 4:40-41

• The Big Idea: The methods of science are crucially limited. Since traffic with demons is forbidden in both testaments, Christians should believe/accept this or the rest of the Bible’s authenticity is called into question.

Myth: Ouch! It Hurts So I’m Not In God’s Will

• The Question: If you are in pain, are you out of God’s Will? Is it really that simple? Is it a lack of faith?

• The Problem: To be a servant of God we must at some point be served a cup of pain.

• The Informing Text: Luke 4 – The temptation of Jesus

• The Big idea: We believe in healing, but what about healing afflictions?

• The Question: Is there a difference between what the Bible says and your personal convictions?
• The Problem: Not being true to our own beliefs.
• The Informing Text: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
• The Big Idea: Personal convictions – are your standards higher/lower than Jesus’ standards?

This week we’ll continue with last week’s discussion as we dive into the first and biggest Christian myth of all – that being religious can in some way make us acceptable to God.

BTW: Some of the discussion from last week continues online! Check the pre-post below this one for comments and feel free to post your own responses and/or additions.  Click on the little brown box with the number in it in the upper right hand corner of the post to see comments.  *NOTE* When you post something it won’t appear until I, the moderator (Mike) approve the post. Posts must be approved because of all of the spam-posts that appear. If the posts weren’t moderated, there’d be advertisements for all kinds of stuff on here (use your imagination. You wouldn’t believe what I have to delete every week that never makes it. Just think of what’s in your email spam-box!) So, anyway, after I approve your post it will appear. Jump on in!

• The Question: How do religious myths get started anyway & what’s the big deal?
• The Problem: If religious people are getting it wrong, others will miss out on reality.
• The Informing Text: In Luke 4, Jesus preaches a sermon in the town where he grew up, attacking the racism, self-righteousness, & nationalism of the hearers, enraging them to the point that they attempted to throw him off a cliff.
• The Big Idea: The myths that compel people to reject Jesus are based in 4 types of selfishness:

1. Control
2. Greed
3. Familiarity
4. Comfort