Next New Testament Study Meeting

Our next meeting is on June 9th. I hope this can work for you. You are almost 1/2 way through reading the New Testament. Congratulations! This is no small undertaking! Reading scripture is one of the most important ways that God speaks to us. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would remind us of everything he had said. This is like having a hard copy of the Bible programed into your brain. What we read will be brought to mind in important moments of our lives to the glory of God. Scripture is food /manna for the soul. Like our physical bodies need daily nourishment so to do our spiritual bodies. Look forward to seeing you on June 9th.

What’s so good about Good Friday?

I am often asked, especially at this time of the year, why is Good Friday called good? Seems a contradiction in terms. It is called good for a couple of reasons. The first is that because of our Lord’s death on a cross, we have Easter. In other words, no death, no resurrection. Christ’s sacrificial self offering makes our redemption possible. God loves us more than life itself.
Secondly, and not so well understood, is the Latin phrase, “O felix culpa”, ‘O Happy Fault’. In a great paradox, our sins which lead us to death, also commend us to God. Our transgressions are not liabilities that lead us away from God, but to Him. Out of great love God has made possible life from death. Instead of believing that our sins prevent us from being in relationship to God, the opposite is true. When we acknowledge them and seek forgiveness by turning to Jesus, we discover that we are welcomed by God, a friend of sinners. This is the miracle of God’s grace. Sin not only forgiven, but remembered no more and restored to full relationship with God. Good Friday is good, God would have it no other way. May you find blessings at this time of year. Rev. Huntley

New Date for Study

Attention Bible Study Group!
My apologies in advance in the event another change in our meeting time is problematic. I now have a conflict with the 15th, and therefore changing the date to Thursday May 6th at 7pm. Trust your reading is coming along. Look forward to hearing of your experiences on the 6th. Blessings in Christ, Rev. Steve Huntley

Next Study Night

Our first meeting of the New test Bible Group took place this past Thursday. Six people joined in and we related their experiences of reading the NT. Some were surprised by the Jesus they met in the scriptures. He appeared “harsh.” This seem to contradict the image of “gentle Jesus meek and mild.” Still others didn’t see this. While apparently a contradiction, both are the same person. Scripture attests to both images. He spoke harshly and critically to those who wore their religion on the outside. Luke 11:37-53; Luke 49-59. And was meek and mild to those for whom he sought out. Matthew 12:20; Luke 18: 15-16. In these images we see and experience the glory of the divine. Jesus is the unique and incarnate Son of God. “O taste and see that the Lord is good,” cries the Psalmist!
If you missed the first meeting, “NO WORRIES.” Please come and join with your friends at Tansley on April 15th at 7pm. *Please note this is a change from the date of April 8th.

Attention NT Readers,
A group is now scheduled to meet on Thursday March 4th at 7pm to talk about the readings thus far and engage in conversation about the Program. Please mark the date on your calendar and indicate if attending. We will also discuss potential ideas about a night or two where we could invite a guest speaker to speak about the Bible. Rev. Steve

I have been reading “The Heavenly Man”, the story of a Chinese Christian and Christianity in China in the 1980′s. It is hard to believe the kind of persecution that so many endured for their faith, including imprisonment, beatings, and death. The cost that so many paid for their belief in Jesus Christ is unfathomable by our standards. One of the more poignant moments in the book, occurs at the half way point in the story and prompts me to share this on our blog. The main character, Brother Yun, has his day in court, after being held in prison in pitiful conditions for a number of months. Standing before the presiding judge, he is asked, “Is this your Bible?” Yun answers in the affirmative, resulting in a four year jail term. Imagine, for a moment, being asked in a court of law, if you own and read a Bible? For those of us who have begun this reading the NT program, let us do so in the knowledge that our faith is a privilege we take so lightly in the West. May the freedom of religion we enjoy and take for granted add a sense of gratitude to you this day as you read and reflect. Rev. Steve

How is your reading of the NT going, my fellow readers? Do you have any questions about what you’re reading? For instance, in Luke 4:38-44, when Jesus tells the demons not to tell anyone that he was the Christ? Why wouldn’t Jesus not want the world to know who he was? Isn’t that the point?

The silencing of both demons and others is what is known as the Messianic Secret. There are differing views of regarding this call to be silent. One theory is that Jesus did not want his Messiahship associated with the popular view that he was a political/military Messiah come to establish the Kingdom of God by force, uproot the Romans and begin a new Davidic Kingdom from Jerusalem. A second theory is that he wanted people to understand his mission and identity in light of his resurrection. Making a proclamation too early would distort their view of his purposes.

I’ve been thinking further about how we might connect around this project of NT in a Year. Perhaps we could meet occasionally to do a discussion group about the readings and what it means to us individually. Or perhaps an evening of finger food and a presentation about history and formation of the New Testament, and/or a video related to some aspect of the NT – discussion to follow. We might also invite someone, a biblical scholar for example to speak to us. Let me know what you think, or any other ideas you might have.

Rev. Steve

My First Entry

Hello Fellow Tansley Bloggers,

I hope you will find this both a useful resource for your reading the New Testament (NT), and also a fun way to talk to one another about how your are doing and to be of encouragement. I commend you greatly for taking on this assignment. 14 have signed up!!! I believe that this will be a great blessing to you. I also acknowledge that reading the Bible can sometimes be a challenging task!

I personally have not read the NT in a disciplined way for many years. I have used as an excuse (we all have them, right!) that I am regularly reading pieces of the NT as sermon prep, but that is different. How we approach the NT will differ from one to another based on our past experiences.

The first thing I have noticed as I begin this journey is one of process. Doing a regular reading program is a discipline and takes discipline. I am setting aside time early in the morning. I find it a great way to start the day; to have the Word present from the outset of each day. This is a great spiritual practice in that disciplines are critical for a healthy spiritual life. (That’s why they called them disciples!!)

The other thing I have found is the dichotomy between just reading and trying to understand, and referencing my years of reading biblical commentary. While reading what others think is very important and helpful, it can sometimes get in the way of our own understanding, and perhaps in the way of what the Holy Spirit, the original author of the Bible, is trying to say. While these two are not mutually exclusive, I am finding it refreshing to just open up the NT and read. What have you found so far? What has the experience been like to date for you? Don’t hesitate to ask questions using this blog. This helps us all to learn. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Blessings in Christ,
   Rev. Steve