Where have you been? you might say. Well I have been and will continue to be a bit busy for the next few weeks. Well, busier than usual. A few weeks ago I went before the District Committee on Ordination for my recertification interview for my candidacy for elder in the United Methodist Church. That all went fine but I was asked to have all of my paperwork for the Board of Ordained Ministry for the Conference in to them in six weeks. This was a shock. I will not be eligible to go before the BOM until this time next Spring. The BOM is expecting my paperwork in January, so I thought I had all summer to work on it when my course load is lighter, etc. Well, the District Board told us they wanted to look at it by April 19.
What they are asking for is this: Answers to 11 theology and doctrine questions, a 4-6 week bible study curriculum, a sermon for Advent, and answers to 8-9 (need to check) questions on leading a called and disciplined life. No small feat! My work will determine whether they give me the go ahead to appear before the Conference Board. Soooo, in the midst of taking 4 classes (one of which is Biblical Hebrew, HELLO!) and working two part time jobs, being mom to 2 kids and wife to Marten, I have my hands more than full. Seriously I don't have a life right now.
I am posting the theology and doctrine questions today. I will post the called and disciplined ones in the next week sometime. Why don't you all give me all the answers and we will call it good? ;)Prayers would be appreciated, for the Holy Spirit to guide my work and provide the words, for the energy to get this done, and for peace and assurance, that what I produce will be good enough.
a) Describe your personal experience of God and the understanding of God you derive from biblical, theological, and historical sources.
b) What is your understanding of evil as it exists in the world?
c) What is your understanding of humanity, and the human need for divine grace?
d) How do you interpret the statement Jesus Christ is Lord?
e) What is your conception of the activity of the Holy Spirit in personal faith, in the community of believers, and in responsible living in the world?
f) What is your understanding of the kingdom of God; the Resurrection; eternal life?
g) How do you intend to affirm, teach, and apply Part II of the Discipline (Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task) in your work in the ministry to which you have been called?
h) The United Methodist Church holds that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason. What is your understanding of this theological position of the Church?
i) Describe the nature and mission of the Church. What are its primary tasks today?
j) Discuss your understanding of the primary characteristics of United Methodist polity.
k) How do you perceive yourself, your gifts, your motives, your role, and your commitment as a probationary member and commissioned minister in the United Methodist Church?
l) Describe your understanding of diakonia, the servant ministry of the church, and the servant ministry of the probationary member and commissioned minister.
m) What is the meaning of ordination in the context of the general ministry of the church?
o) You have agreed as a candidate for the sake of the mission of Jesus Christ in the world and the most effective witness of the gospel, and in consideration of their influence as ministers, to make a complete dedication of yourself to the highest ideals of the Christian life, and to this end agree to exercise responsible self-control by personal habits conducive to bodily health, mental and emotional maturity, integrity in all personal relationships, fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness, social responsibility and growth in grace and the knowledge and love of God. What is your understanding of this agreement?
p) Explain the significance of the sacraments in the ministry to which you have been called.
5 comments:
All I have to say first is WOW, my brain hurts. I am going to answer your questions one at a time one day at a time. We will see how far I get? No promises.
a) Describe your personal experience of God and the understanding of God you derive from biblical, theological, and historical sources.
First the easy part for me, well maybe not. My understanding of God grows daily when I am seeking Him in relationship, reading His word and listening for His voice. My sources are few. The Bible and the window in my house or out my cockpit window.
Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
God is love but demands obiedience. 2 John 1:6
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
2 Corinthians 10:6
And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
I could go on and on and I know could be accused of cherry picking but I take Gods word at face value.
I am finding people just do not get it. I didn't, maybe I still don't. So here is the bottom line for me. If we call ourselves Christians, what are we called to do? For me it is plain as day and night in the Bible, a historical document which just so happens to be the Living Word of God.
Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 22:36-40
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Matthew 25:40
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
For me that is it. Obiedience, forgiveness, repentence, love everyone, take care of everyone. Simple right? Not in the flesh. That is where the love relationship you have with God enables you to do all the above. You can fake the love thing awhile in the flesh, but sooner or later the ugly is coming out. I am finding out you have to call on the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, how else can you love and pray for your enemies? I can't do it, God can.
Did I come close to making any sense or answer the first question asked? Walking with God is an amazing experience as long as you are not trying to get in front of Him on the path or you will get run over (in love).
I am back for the next question:
b) What is your understanding of evil as it exists in the world?
Genesis 2:9
And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
God, in the recent past has revealed to me from different sources a clearer understanding why there is evil. I feel from scripture it comes down to choice. Humans choose evil over good. It comes down to free will. God did not want robots walking around the earth worshiping only Him. What kind of relationship is that? If we are not seeking God we are falling away. If we do not keep our eyes on the prize, if we do not keep our eyes on Him we will surely fall.
God knows all, is in control of all, good and bad (look at our government, evil?).
Genesis 50:19-21
19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
God does not get blind sided. He does not say, boy did not see that one coming. He knows the beginning and the end.
Revelation 22:12-14
12"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
You can not have love without hate. What would you have to compare to? Just as you can not have good without evil.
c) What is your understanding of humanity, and the human need for divine grace?
I was curious and a loss for words (what me?) so I looked up definitions and that started all kinds of thoughts.
hu·man·i·ty
1.all human beings collectively; the human race; humankind.
2.the quality or condition of being human; human nature.
3.the quality of being humane; kindness; benevolence.
The funny thing is inhumane being the opposite of humane is not a good quality. Being made in the image of God, we all should be kind, humane... o that's right it's that free choice thing again. We live in a fallen world and been that way since the beginning, almost. Two first chapters all went well, after that, you know... it was the woman's fault! Just kidding, maybe.
grace
8.Theology.
a.the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.
b.the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
c.a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.
d.Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.
Without God's grace we do not have salvation. If you stop and really think about it, no I mean really think about the grace we are given even as believers in Christ, it wows me. I remember driving home from the airport one night and God lays on me this thought. I gave up My Son for you, will you nail your son on the cross for me, your daughter. I start crying and just thanking God for His sacrificing His Son for me. His forgiveness of my sins because of that sacrifice. NOW THAT IS GRACE! I have said this a few times and I will probably say it a few more. God must have a plan for me, because if I were God I would have given up on me along time ago, He has saved me from death many times, NOW THAT IS GRACE!
John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 10:8-10 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.
Yes, that is my God, full of grace and mercy.
d) How do you interpret the statement Jesus Christ is Lord?
Lord
1.
Jesus who has Authority, Control, or Power over us; a Master, Chief, or Ruler. King of Kings
2.
Jesus who exercises Authority from property rights; an Owner of land, houses, us, everything, bought and paid for by His blood
3.
The Savior
Kind of playing with the dictionary, but if you think about it they are all true. Jesus paid for our sin with His blood. He was tortured beyond recognition, scourged, punched, kicked, spit on. I think he is deserving to be called Lord or anything he likes. The question has been asked, when you enter the Throne Room how do you think you will act when Jesus is sitting in front of you. Will fall on your face, will you be able to speak, will you be able to look at Him not for the things you have done but the things you have not done on this earth for His name.
Isaiah 43:10-12
10 "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD,"and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD,
and apart from me there is no savior.
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God.
Revelation 20:11-12
11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
Revelation 21:5-8
5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
I do not want to be a coward for my Lord.
Matthew 1:21
21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[a] because he will save his people from their sins."
My Lord, My God, My Savior, My Provider, My Everything
YouTube - Phillips Craig and Dean You are God alone
e) What is your conception of the activity of the Holy Spirit in personal faith, in the community of believers, and in responsible living in the world?
This is timely for me. This question is talking about the “Forgotten God”. Our small group is going to do the study. If you do not have the book, google and read the introduction. I agree with Francis Chan, the church, as a whole today for the most part is interested in attendance, entertainment and comfort to satisfy the lukewarm. If we believe what the Bible tells us in Acts it would be a whole lot different. I want the Acts experience. I want that type of relationship with God. I want that supernatural power from God for His glory. I know what your thinking, I want, I want, I want, I, I, I. Much more prayer needed for wisdom, faith and all the other things to get there. Have not got there yet. I pray daily I will inch closer.
I wrote the paragraph above before I read part of A.W. Tozer’s book, Life in the Spirit. God’s perfect timing once again (even if it was at 1:30am). God continues to cure my blindness to His Word. The verses below spoke to me when placed together.
The questions and realizations you have to ask yourself that Francis Chan and A.W. Tozer bring up are:
Is this for you?
Is this part of God’s will for you, part of the total plan?
Do you really want this, or are you afraid of what God will ask?
You must desire to be filled.
There are more but those are the biggies.
A.W. Tozer ( a very interesting man) describes how to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Go to the Word of God! Imagine that.
Romans 10:17
17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Romans 12:1-2
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Luke 11:9-13
9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[a] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Acts 5:32
32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
Galatians 3:2
2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
I say, yes God…….
Easy to type. Hard to live.
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