Meditation 2: SACRED SCRIPTURE Speaker: Resource or adult, discretion of Lay Director Time: Die Day afternoon, approx. 2:35 P.M. Length: 25 minute maximum PURPOSE:. To introduce the spiritual dimensions of the TEC weekend. To communicate the truest ideal Jesus Christ. To communicate whose we are. Each of us is a Child of God. To identify the Bible as the Word of God, His recorded message to us. It is the final authoritative source of Spiritual truth. OUTLINE: Begin your talk here. Introduction: Our Identity = Key to Our Ideal 1. In the Ideals talk we reflected on: what we are - our roles who we are - our qualities who we want to be - our ideal 2. Now consider another critical question. Whose are you? or To whom do you belong? a. If you are baptized the right answer is, I belong to God. or I belong to Jesus. b. Consider: Do I really belong to God? 1. Do I belong to Him in all areas of my life, or do I let other people or things own parts of me? 2. Think about your answers to (Ideals speaker s) questions. I. Our Identity in Christ = Child of God A. You do belong to God through your Baptism. 1. God always loves you and is always there for you. 2. You may not always recognize it or show it by the choices you make. B. Purchased by Christ at the cross 1. As the perfect Lamb of God, Christ shed his blood to cover all our sins. 2. We have been purchased, not with perishable silver and gold, but with the blood of Christ. (1 Peter 1:18) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 3. (Ephesians 1:7a) In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with God s grace. C. Reborn as children of God, through Baptism 1. (Romans 6: 4) We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Sacred Scripture, page 1 of 5 3/14/2006
2. In Holy Baptism God liberates us from sin and death by joining us to the death and resurrection of Christ. (Service of Holy Baptism, LBW p.121) 3. We are born children of a fallen humanity; in the waters of Baptism we are reborn children of God and inheritors of eternal life. (Service of Holy Baptism, LBW p.121) D. Sealed with the Holy Spirit forever 1. In Baptism we receive the Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and might; the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord; the spirit of joy in God s presence (Service of Holy Baptism, LBW p.121) 2. Historically a seal showed ownership. The Holy Spirit is the proof of purchase certifying and sealing you as a child of God. (Ephesians 1:13-14) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 4:30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 3. Marked with the cross of Christ forever a. It is an external sign of the spiritual seal b. The Cross of Christ is marked on your forehead. We can t see it, but God does. c. Satan recognizes that mark, too. Write down: (Your name), child of God, you are marked with the cross of Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit forever. E. Affirming our Identity = Claiming our Inheritance 2. God chooses us and adopts us into his family. He will always love us. 3. God will never force us to obey him or love him. 4. We can choose to love God, to accept his love and gifts of grace. 5. As we grow in God s grace we will want to love and obey him. We will choose life in Christ as our ideal. Write down: To fully receive all the benefits of being a Child of God, we need to choose life in Christ as our ideal. Note: As you begin Section II or at the end of your talk, Bibles will be distributed to each person in the conference room. Announce the gift. Make a brief statement about what your Bible means to you. Example: In the Bible God reveals his love for us and our ideal, Jesus Christ. We would like to present you a Bible. I treasure mine. I hope you will treasure yours. Read and understand it as if your life depends on it. It does! Sacred Scripture, page 2 of 5 3/14/2006
The Bible is the story of God's love for his people throughout time. (Handout) (Use the following points as a guide to present the overview of the Bible as a flowing story. Note: The Bible references are included on the handout so you won t need to read them aloud during the talk.) II. The Word of God, the Bible = The Ideal (Christ) Revealed A. Old Testament The Ideal Pictured and Promised through Prophesy 1. God created the world. (Genesis Chapters 1 & 2) 2. God created man in his own image to be in relationship with him. Through Adam and Eve, sin entered the world. All people are in bondage to sin, born children of a fallen humanity. God s plan for man s redemption from sin is revealed throughout the Bible. 3. To provide covering for the sin of Adam and Eve, God shed the blood of animals. (In Genesis 3:21 God clothes them with animal skins.) From the garden, innocent blood would be shed to cover sin. 4. God set Abraham apart and made a promise, a covenant, with him that he would become a great nation, and that through him the entire world would be blessed. Even though he and his wife were very old and childless, Abraham believed the promise! Abraham s descendants through the line of Isaac became God s chosen people, the Jews. God gave them a promise of salvation from sin. 5. God instructed the Jews in bondage in Egypt to slay a perfect lamb and eat it as the Lord s Passover. He told them to smear the blood of the lamb on the doorsill. God promised that the angel of death would pass over any home marked with the blood. The blood of their first Passover lamb protected them from God s wrath against the Egyptians. (Exodus 12) 6. God delivered the Jews from bondage/slavery (Moses) and gave them a new life. He gave them the law to show them how to live as his people. 7. God cared for his people even when they didn t live under the law. He sent the prophets to warn them of the consequences of their behavior, to comfort, and encourage them. 8. In the Psalms God reveals himself to his people. He shows that he knows their joys and sorrows. He comforts and encourages them. B. New Testament The Ideal is Made Man! 1. The promise is fulfilled because God became man in Jesus Christ. He lived among His people, the Jews. Christ taught the Jews first, but also included Gentiles. 2. Jesus gives us the greatest commandments. Sacred Scripture, page 3 of 5 3/14/2006
3. Jesus died on the cross as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. He made the atonement for the sin of Adam and for all sin, once and for all. Through his death and resurrection God gives salvation to all that believe. 4. After Christ s death and resurrection the apostles continued to spread the story of Christ to the Jews. Though they were God s chosen people, many did not recognize Jesus as their long awaited Messiah. Peter and Paul were instructed by God to offer the message of Christ s salvation to the Gentiles. 5. Christ built his church on Peter the rock. In the writings of Luke, Paul, Peter, and John we see how God shared the message of salvation as he grew his church. 6. Christ will return claim God s children, conquer Satan, and rule the earth. This story was revealed to John and is written in the book of Revelation. III. God s Written Word to Us A. A Love Story 1. The Bible is the story of God's love and salvation for me and for you. (This may be personalized through selected passages expressing your faith.) a. We cherish and reread letters from friends: to learn news of what they are doing to maintain our friendship and communication b. So too with God's love letters to us; we pour over his letters: to learn who he is, what he has done, and what he has promised to do. to discover how we can respond in love and thankfulness 2. Tells of the promises of God and Christ 3. Tells of God s grace the blessings of membership in His family B. A True and Trustworthy Story 1. God s word is true and trustworthy. God will not lie. Scripture cannot be broken. 2. Do you trust your life to anyone or anything less than the ultimate authority, God? The Bible is His Word, His message. 3. Test all spiritual ideas against the truth in God s Word. Pastors can be wrong. Parents and teachers can be wrong. Friends can be wrong. Enemies will lead you astray. 4. It s our guidebook. a. Points toward Christ as our ideal, our guiding light. b. Tells how to follow Christ. Write down: The Bible is the authority on Spiritual truth. It is also our family history, a love story from God, and a light from God that reveals Christ, our ideal. Sacred Scripture, page 4 of 5 3/14/2006
IV. Our Use Of God's Word A. Treat it with reverence. 1. In the Entrance of the Word ceremony we stand to show reverence. 2. We also follow the Word as we move from place to place. 3. We show our reverence for the Word because it is a gift and a revelation from God. B. Gain spiritual strength through reading and study. 1. Read the Bible to strengthen, comfort and encourage you. Keep Bibles handy for frequent reference by your bed, on your desk, next to your favorite chair, in the car, in your purse, etc. 2. Pray over what you read. a. Ask for understanding. Let God speak to you through his word. b. Reflect on the full meaning of the Gospel (Good News). 1. Let it grow in you and fill you with joy. 2. God's word is here to... magnify his glory save us from sin and death through faith in Jesus Christ educate and reveal to his children true life and holiness. 3. Memorize Bible verses so you can always remember spiritual truth even when you don t have a Bible available. 4. Ask for strength to follow God s will as it is revealed to you through scripture. 2. Share the Word. You have incredible news! 1. Give the Bible to your friends. 2. Share its message with them. Note: If Bibles weren t distributed before Section II of your talk, distribute them at the end of your talk. Announce the gift. Make a brief statement about what your Bible means to you. Example: In the Bible God reveals his love for us and our ideal, Jesus Christ. We would like to present you a Bible. I treasure mine. I hope you will treasure yours. Read and understand it as if your life depends on it. It does! Reflection questions to be read by the Youth Lay Director after your talk: How important is the Word of God? How does it make you feel? Sacred Scripture, page 5 of 5 3/14/2006
Our Family History Old Testament The Ideal Pictured and Promised through Prophesy 1. God created the world. (Genesis Chapters 1 &2) 2. God created man in his own image to be in relationship with him. Through Adam and Eve, sin entered the world. All people are in bondage to sin, born children of a fallen humanity. God s plan for man s redemption from sin is revealed throughout the Bible. 3. To provide covering for the sin of Adam and Eve, God shed the blood of animals. (In Genesis 3:21 God clothes them with animal skins.) From the garden, innocent blood would be shed to cover sin. 1. God set apart Abraham and made a promise, a covenant, with him that he would become a great nation, and that through him the entire world would be blessed. Even though he and his wife were very old and childless, Abraham believed the promise! Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. (Galatians 3:6) The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:1-3) Abraham s descendants through the line of Isaac became God s chosen people, the Jews. God gave them a promise of salvation from sin. 5. God instructed the Jews in bondage in Egypt to slay a perfect lamb and eat it as the Lord s Passover. He told them to smear the blood of the lamb on the doorsill. God promised that the angel of death would pass over any home marked with the blood. The blood of their first Passover lamb protected them from God s wrath against the Egyptians. (Exodus 12) 6. God delivered the Jews from bondage/slavery (Moses) and gave them a new life. He gave them the law to show them how to live as his people. And God spoke all these words: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments. "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all Sacred Scripture Handout 1
your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. "You shall not murder. "You shall not commit adultery. "You shall not steal. "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:1-17) 7. God cared for his people even when they didn t live under the law. He sent the prophets to warn them of the consequences of their behavior, to comfort, and encourage them. But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43: 1,2) "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Jeremiah 31:31-33) 8. In the Psalms God reveals himself to his people. He shows that he knows their joys and sorrows. He comforts and encourages them. O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. (Psalm 139:1-4) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, [1] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23) Sacred Scripture Handout 2
New Testament The Ideal is Made Man! 1. The promise is fulfilled because God became man in Jesus Christ. He lived among His people, the Jews. Christ taught the Jews first, but also included Gentiles. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) 2. Jesus gives us the greatest commandments. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (Matthew 22:37-40) 3. Jesus died on the cross as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. He made the atonement for the sin of Adam and for all sin, once and for all. Through his death and resurrection God gives salvation to all that believe. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:21) Paraphrase of II Corinthians 5:21: God made Jesus who had no sin to be sin for me, so that in Jesus I might become the righteousness of God. 4. After Christ s death and resurrection the apostles continued to spread the story of Christ to the Jews. Though they were God s chosen people, many did not recognize Jesus as their long awaited Messiah. Peter and Paul were instructed by God to offer the message of Christ s salvation to the Gentiles. 5. Christ built his church on Peter the rock. In the writings of Luke, Paul, Peter, and John we see how God shared the message of salvation as he grew his church. 6. Christ will return claim God s children, conquer Satan, and rule the earth. This story was revealed to John and is written in the book of Revelation. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He 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." He 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. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Revelation 21: 1-7) Sacred Scripture Handout 3