We're giving up Bonhoeffer for Lent!
well, not really, but we are taking a break. Our Church is doing a church-wide study during Lent called Serving from the Heart: Finding Your Gifts and Talents for Service and our Book Study Group is taking part. So we'll be back on Bonhoeffer the week after Easter.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Sunday School Lesson: Secure Connections
Purpose: To show that true life is life in Christ and that such life bears fruit worthy of Him.
Scripture : John 15:1-17
Joh 15:1-4 ESV "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. (2) Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (3) Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. (4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
Jesus commonly used ideas or examples which were part of the religious heritage of the Jewish people. This passage from John 15 is no exception. Over and over in the Old Testament Israel is pictured or described as the vine or the vineyard of God.
Isa 5:7 ESV For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting….
Jer 2:21 ESV Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed……
Eze 19:10 ESV Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard planted by the water, fruitful and full of branches by reason of abundant water.
Hos 10:1 ESV Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. …
Psa 80:8-9 ESV You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. (9) You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.
The vine became the symbol for the nation of Israel. The emblem on the coins of Israel was the vine. One of the greatest distinctive features of the Temple was a great golden vine on the front of the Holy Place. It was considered a great honor to give enough gold to mould even a single grape on that vine. When Jesus used references to the vine He was not introducing something new. Any reference to the vine would have been immediately recognized by any Jew of the time as a reference to Israel and her special place in the vineyard of God.
How do you think Jesus’ statement: “I am the true vine” would be understood by His Jewish audience?
What exactly was Jesus saying with that statement?
If we look closer at the Old Testament references to the symbol of the vine, we see that in the Old Testament the symbols were always in reference to a declined, degenerate, and corrupt Israel.
Isaiah pictured a vineyard that had run wild:
Isa 5:10 ESV For ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath….
Jeremiah complained:
Jer 2:21 ESV ….. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?
So what was Jesus’ message to Israel?
Jesus seemed to be saying: “You may think that just because you belong to the nation of Israel you are a branch of the true vine. But the nation is a degenerate vine, as reported by the prophets. It is I who am the true vine. The fact that you are Jews will not save you. The only thing that can save you is to have an intimate living fellowship with me, for I am the vine and you must be the branches joined to me.”
Who we are, which nation we are born into, which church we belong to , etc. will not save us. No external qualification can set us right with God. Only our relationship with Jesus Christ can do that.
Since the Jews had not produced righteousness, God sent the “true vine” to accomplish His work. Jesus replaces Judaism as the means by which people are connected to God. The only way to God is through Christ.
Jesus said: “Abide in me..”
How do we abide in Jesus?
How can we tell that we are abiding in Jesus?
What is the difference between “removing branches” and “pruning branches”?
Pruning is essential to grape production. Grapes are only produced on one-year old canes. Care must be taken to ensure that sufficient one-year canes are on the vine to produce a crop and also that some canes are growing to be the producing canes for next year. All two-year canes are removed as they are past their usefulness. What do you think happens to a one-year old cane that fails to produce?
They are completely removed so that they will drain away none of the plant’s strength which is needed by those that are producing fruit.
A vine cannot produce the crop of which it is capable without much severe pruning – and Jesus knew that.
And what happens to the pruned branches?
They are thrown into the fire. One curious characteristic of the vine is that the wood of the vine is good for nothing. It is too soft and not durable enough for any purpose.
Eze 15:2-5 ESV "Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? (3) Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it? (4) Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel. When the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything? (5) Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything!
Who was Jesus thinking of when He spoke of “fruitless” branches?
He may have been thinking of two groups. He may have been thinking of the Jews. They were certainly branches of God’s vine. But did they accept Jesus? Did they “abide” in Jesus? If they did not then their branch would wither and die.
The second group He was thinking of was more general. He was thinking of “fruitless” Christians: Christians whose Christianity consisted of profession of faith without practice of faith, Christians of words without deed. Those are useless branches, all leaves and no fruit. He may also have been thinking of Christians who heard the message and accepted and later fell away.
What is Jesus pruning tool?
In what way has God removed dead and useless branches from your life?
Have you noticed God “pruning” in you life?
What have you learned from the experience?
Joh 15:5-8 ESV I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (6) If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. (7) If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (8) By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
How do we abide in Christ?
How do we know that we are “bearing fruit”?
Is “bearing fruit” limited to bringing others to Christ?
How well do you think we are doing at “abiding” in Christ?
What are some things that we could do to abide in Christ more than we do?
What are the benefits to abiding in Christ?
What are the costs of failing to abide in Christ?
Verse 4: “For apart from me you can do nothing.” What does that statement say to a very good person who is not a Christian?
Is there a such-thing as a “good” non-Christian?
Can a non-Christian bear good fruit?
What is the only way to live a truly good life?
Joh 15:9-11 ESV As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (10) If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (11) These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
What is the relationship between abiding in Christ and obedience?
How is joy and love related to abiding and obedience?
What is Jesus’ goal in this lesson?
Do you think most believers enjoy their relationship with God?
How can we come to find complete, continuous joy in God?
Is the joy spoken of in this passage the kind of joy that makes you smile, or is this a deep, deep joy that no one ever sees?
How do we abide in Jesus’ love?
Can we simply tell ourselves over and over that “Jesus loves me”? Is that abiding in His love?
Is it possible to have a warm, loving relationship with God if we don’t dutifully follow His commandments?
Does the warmth of relationship always go along with the duty of obedience?
Is it possible to be dutifully obedient without being connected in a warm, loving relationship?
How does joy fit into obedience? Can you have joy without obedience?
Do you normally think of joy and obedience as going together?
Is it important that we be joyful or just that we are obedient? Is it ok to be obedient but grumpy?
Joh 15:12-15 ESV "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (13) Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (14) You are my friends if you do what I command you. (15) No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
Who did Jesus say were His friends?
Why does Jesus call His disciples friends?
Can you command love? Is love that is the result of a command true love?
What does it take to be a friend of God?
As followers of Christ shouldn’t we be called servants?
We are called to obedience, but not called servants. Why?
Do we sometimes struggle to love others as Jesus has loved us?
In what ways is it hard to be Jesus’ friend?
Joh 15:16-17 ESV You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (17) These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Did the disciples choose to follow Christ of their own free will?
We like to think of our relationship with Jesus as something we decided to do. Is this true? Do we choose to follow Christ of our own free will?
Why did and does Jesus choose His disciples?
What is Jesus’ commandment?
Homework:
Imagine yourself as a branch on the vine of Christ. What do you look like?
Are you a healthy branch?
What do you need? More water, fertilizer, sun?
What do you need from Christ to nourish you so that you become an outstanding specimen and bear much fruit?
Scripture : John 15:1-17
Joh 15:1-4 ESV "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. (2) Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (3) Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. (4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
Jesus commonly used ideas or examples which were part of the religious heritage of the Jewish people. This passage from John 15 is no exception. Over and over in the Old Testament Israel is pictured or described as the vine or the vineyard of God.
Isa 5:7 ESV For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting….
Jer 2:21 ESV Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed……
Eze 19:10 ESV Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard planted by the water, fruitful and full of branches by reason of abundant water.
Hos 10:1 ESV Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. …
Psa 80:8-9 ESV You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. (9) You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.
The vine became the symbol for the nation of Israel. The emblem on the coins of Israel was the vine. One of the greatest distinctive features of the Temple was a great golden vine on the front of the Holy Place. It was considered a great honor to give enough gold to mould even a single grape on that vine. When Jesus used references to the vine He was not introducing something new. Any reference to the vine would have been immediately recognized by any Jew of the time as a reference to Israel and her special place in the vineyard of God.
How do you think Jesus’ statement: “I am the true vine” would be understood by His Jewish audience?
What exactly was Jesus saying with that statement?
If we look closer at the Old Testament references to the symbol of the vine, we see that in the Old Testament the symbols were always in reference to a declined, degenerate, and corrupt Israel.
Isaiah pictured a vineyard that had run wild:
Isa 5:10 ESV For ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath….
Jeremiah complained:
Jer 2:21 ESV ….. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?
So what was Jesus’ message to Israel?
Jesus seemed to be saying: “You may think that just because you belong to the nation of Israel you are a branch of the true vine. But the nation is a degenerate vine, as reported by the prophets. It is I who am the true vine. The fact that you are Jews will not save you. The only thing that can save you is to have an intimate living fellowship with me, for I am the vine and you must be the branches joined to me.”
Who we are, which nation we are born into, which church we belong to , etc. will not save us. No external qualification can set us right with God. Only our relationship with Jesus Christ can do that.
Since the Jews had not produced righteousness, God sent the “true vine” to accomplish His work. Jesus replaces Judaism as the means by which people are connected to God. The only way to God is through Christ.
Jesus said: “Abide in me..”
How do we abide in Jesus?
How can we tell that we are abiding in Jesus?
What is the difference between “removing branches” and “pruning branches”?
Pruning is essential to grape production. Grapes are only produced on one-year old canes. Care must be taken to ensure that sufficient one-year canes are on the vine to produce a crop and also that some canes are growing to be the producing canes for next year. All two-year canes are removed as they are past their usefulness. What do you think happens to a one-year old cane that fails to produce?
They are completely removed so that they will drain away none of the plant’s strength which is needed by those that are producing fruit.
A vine cannot produce the crop of which it is capable without much severe pruning – and Jesus knew that.
And what happens to the pruned branches?
They are thrown into the fire. One curious characteristic of the vine is that the wood of the vine is good for nothing. It is too soft and not durable enough for any purpose.
Eze 15:2-5 ESV "Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? (3) Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it? (4) Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel. When the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything? (5) Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything!
Who was Jesus thinking of when He spoke of “fruitless” branches?
He may have been thinking of two groups. He may have been thinking of the Jews. They were certainly branches of God’s vine. But did they accept Jesus? Did they “abide” in Jesus? If they did not then their branch would wither and die.
The second group He was thinking of was more general. He was thinking of “fruitless” Christians: Christians whose Christianity consisted of profession of faith without practice of faith, Christians of words without deed. Those are useless branches, all leaves and no fruit. He may also have been thinking of Christians who heard the message and accepted and later fell away.
What is Jesus pruning tool?
In what way has God removed dead and useless branches from your life?
Have you noticed God “pruning” in you life?
What have you learned from the experience?
Joh 15:5-8 ESV I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (6) If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. (7) If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (8) By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
How do we abide in Christ?
How do we know that we are “bearing fruit”?
Is “bearing fruit” limited to bringing others to Christ?
How well do you think we are doing at “abiding” in Christ?
What are some things that we could do to abide in Christ more than we do?
What are the benefits to abiding in Christ?
What are the costs of failing to abide in Christ?
Verse 4: “For apart from me you can do nothing.” What does that statement say to a very good person who is not a Christian?
Is there a such-thing as a “good” non-Christian?
Can a non-Christian bear good fruit?
What is the only way to live a truly good life?
Joh 15:9-11 ESV As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (10) If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (11) These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
What is the relationship between abiding in Christ and obedience?
How is joy and love related to abiding and obedience?
What is Jesus’ goal in this lesson?
Do you think most believers enjoy their relationship with God?
How can we come to find complete, continuous joy in God?
Is the joy spoken of in this passage the kind of joy that makes you smile, or is this a deep, deep joy that no one ever sees?
How do we abide in Jesus’ love?
Can we simply tell ourselves over and over that “Jesus loves me”? Is that abiding in His love?
Is it possible to have a warm, loving relationship with God if we don’t dutifully follow His commandments?
Does the warmth of relationship always go along with the duty of obedience?
Is it possible to be dutifully obedient without being connected in a warm, loving relationship?
How does joy fit into obedience? Can you have joy without obedience?
Do you normally think of joy and obedience as going together?
Is it important that we be joyful or just that we are obedient? Is it ok to be obedient but grumpy?
Joh 15:12-15 ESV "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (13) Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (14) You are my friends if you do what I command you. (15) No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
Who did Jesus say were His friends?
Why does Jesus call His disciples friends?
Can you command love? Is love that is the result of a command true love?
What does it take to be a friend of God?
As followers of Christ shouldn’t we be called servants?
We are called to obedience, but not called servants. Why?
Do we sometimes struggle to love others as Jesus has loved us?
In what ways is it hard to be Jesus’ friend?
Joh 15:16-17 ESV You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (17) These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Did the disciples choose to follow Christ of their own free will?
We like to think of our relationship with Jesus as something we decided to do. Is this true? Do we choose to follow Christ of our own free will?
Why did and does Jesus choose His disciples?
What is Jesus’ commandment?
Homework:
Imagine yourself as a branch on the vine of Christ. What do you look like?
Are you a healthy branch?
What do you need? More water, fertilizer, sun?
What do you need from Christ to nourish you so that you become an outstanding specimen and bear much fruit?
Book Study – The Cost of Discipleship, Week 6 – Chapters 14-16
Chapter 14 – The Hidden Righteousness
Mat 6:1-4 ESV "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. (2) "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (3) But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, (4) so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
We have already studied Matthew 5: 13-16 which tells us that our life of righteousness must be seen. The Body of Christ is to be visible in the world and known by it’s righteousness. Salt and light. Here we are told that our righteousness is to remain hidden. Which is it supposed to be? Visible or invisible?
The passage from Matthew 5 left no doubt that our discipleship must be visible to the world. If it is not seen, it probably doesn’t exist. Being a witness to the world is the purpose of discipleship. So, from whom are we to hide our discipleship?
Not from others, but from ourselves. When we begin to notice our own righteousness, we have taken our eyes off of the One who is truly righteous.
How can the visible and invisible aspects of discipleship be combined?
How can, at the same time, discipleship be both visible and invisible?
Bonhoeffer:
“To answer this question, all we need to do is to go back to chapter 5, where the extraordinary and the visible are defined as the cross of Christ beneath which the disciples stand. The cross is at once the necessary, the hidden and the visible – it is the ‘extraordinary’.”
If our “visibility” ever takes the eyes of the world away from the cross, we have crossed the line. If our discipleship ever is seen as “our” righteousness then it is no longer the righteousness of the Cross.
How is the seeming contradiction between Matthew 5 and 6 resolved?
Notice that in the Table of Contents the chapters dealing with Matthew 5 and those dealing with Matthew 6 are separated. Matthew 5 is subtitled Of the “Extraordinariness” of the Christian Life and Matthew 6 is subtitled Of the Hidden Character of the Christian Life.
Bonhoeffer:
“All that the follower of Jesus has to do is to make sure that his obedience, following, and love are entirely spontaneous and unpremeditated.”
Easy for him to say. How can we, if we are “making sure” of anything do so spontaneously and unpremeditated? If we are thinking about it enough to “make sure” it is spontaneous, we have in so doing lost it’s spontaneity.
Chapter 15 – The Hiddenness of Prayer
Mat 6:5-8 ESV "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (6) But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (7) "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. (8) Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Jesus had to teach his disciples to pray. Is prayer a natural thing for man?
Bonhoeffer:
“Prayer is the supreme instance of the hidden character of the Christian life. It is the antithesis of self-display. When men pray, they have ceased to know themselves, and know only God whom they call upon. Prayer does not aim at any direct effect on the world; it is addressed to God alone, and is therefore the perfect example of undemonstrative action.”
Do you agree with the statement that “prayer does not aim at any direct effect on the world”. Isn’t that why we pray? To plead with God to “effect” the world?
John Wesley:
“God does nothing but in answer to prayer. Even people who have been converted to God without praying for it themselves (which is extremely rare) were prayed for by others. Every new victory that a soul gains is the effect of a new prayer.”
Who do you agree with, Bonhoeffer or Wesley? Does prayer “not aim at any direct effect on the world” or is every direct effect on the world the result of prayer?
Chapter 16 – The Hiddenness of the Devout Life
Mat 6:16-18 ESV "And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (17) But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, (18) that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
How many of you have ever fasted?
Is it wrong to admit that I have fasted, or should my fast remain secret?
I’m sure next week folks will be asking, “What are you giving up for Lent?”
Should we just keep our Lenten fast between us and God?
Jesus doesn’t tell the disciples to fast. He takes it for granted that they will.
Bonhoeffer:
“strict exercise of self control is an essential feature of the Christian’s life.”
What does this passage say to those who desire a monastic lifestyle? Those who intentionally and very visibly seek suffering as a show of piety?
Bonhoeffer:
“This is a pious but godless ambition, for beneath it lurks the notion that it is possible for us to step into Christ’s shoes and suffer as he did and kill the old Adam. We are then presuming to undertake that bitter work of eternal redemption which Christ himself wrought for us. The motive for asceticism was more limited – to equip us for better service and deeper humility.”
If I do certain things with the intention of showing my humility, haven’t I totally defeated their intended purpose?
Mat 6:1-4 ESV "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. (2) "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (3) But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, (4) so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
We have already studied Matthew 5: 13-16 which tells us that our life of righteousness must be seen. The Body of Christ is to be visible in the world and known by it’s righteousness. Salt and light. Here we are told that our righteousness is to remain hidden. Which is it supposed to be? Visible or invisible?
The passage from Matthew 5 left no doubt that our discipleship must be visible to the world. If it is not seen, it probably doesn’t exist. Being a witness to the world is the purpose of discipleship. So, from whom are we to hide our discipleship?
Not from others, but from ourselves. When we begin to notice our own righteousness, we have taken our eyes off of the One who is truly righteous.
How can the visible and invisible aspects of discipleship be combined?
How can, at the same time, discipleship be both visible and invisible?
Bonhoeffer:
“To answer this question, all we need to do is to go back to chapter 5, where the extraordinary and the visible are defined as the cross of Christ beneath which the disciples stand. The cross is at once the necessary, the hidden and the visible – it is the ‘extraordinary’.”
If our “visibility” ever takes the eyes of the world away from the cross, we have crossed the line. If our discipleship ever is seen as “our” righteousness then it is no longer the righteousness of the Cross.
How is the seeming contradiction between Matthew 5 and 6 resolved?
Notice that in the Table of Contents the chapters dealing with Matthew 5 and those dealing with Matthew 6 are separated. Matthew 5 is subtitled Of the “Extraordinariness” of the Christian Life and Matthew 6 is subtitled Of the Hidden Character of the Christian Life.
Bonhoeffer:
“All that the follower of Jesus has to do is to make sure that his obedience, following, and love are entirely spontaneous and unpremeditated.”
Easy for him to say. How can we, if we are “making sure” of anything do so spontaneously and unpremeditated? If we are thinking about it enough to “make sure” it is spontaneous, we have in so doing lost it’s spontaneity.
Chapter 15 – The Hiddenness of Prayer
Mat 6:5-8 ESV "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (6) But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (7) "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. (8) Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Jesus had to teach his disciples to pray. Is prayer a natural thing for man?
Bonhoeffer:
“Prayer is the supreme instance of the hidden character of the Christian life. It is the antithesis of self-display. When men pray, they have ceased to know themselves, and know only God whom they call upon. Prayer does not aim at any direct effect on the world; it is addressed to God alone, and is therefore the perfect example of undemonstrative action.”
Do you agree with the statement that “prayer does not aim at any direct effect on the world”. Isn’t that why we pray? To plead with God to “effect” the world?
John Wesley:
“God does nothing but in answer to prayer. Even people who have been converted to God without praying for it themselves (which is extremely rare) were prayed for by others. Every new victory that a soul gains is the effect of a new prayer.”
Who do you agree with, Bonhoeffer or Wesley? Does prayer “not aim at any direct effect on the world” or is every direct effect on the world the result of prayer?
Chapter 16 – The Hiddenness of the Devout Life
Mat 6:16-18 ESV "And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (17) But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, (18) that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
How many of you have ever fasted?
Is it wrong to admit that I have fasted, or should my fast remain secret?
I’m sure next week folks will be asking, “What are you giving up for Lent?”
Should we just keep our Lenten fast between us and God?
Jesus doesn’t tell the disciples to fast. He takes it for granted that they will.
Bonhoeffer:
“strict exercise of self control is an essential feature of the Christian’s life.”
What does this passage say to those who desire a monastic lifestyle? Those who intentionally and very visibly seek suffering as a show of piety?
Bonhoeffer:
“This is a pious but godless ambition, for beneath it lurks the notion that it is possible for us to step into Christ’s shoes and suffer as he did and kill the old Adam. We are then presuming to undertake that bitter work of eternal redemption which Christ himself wrought for us. The motive for asceticism was more limited – to equip us for better service and deeper humility.”
If I do certain things with the intention of showing my humility, haven’t I totally defeated their intended purpose?
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