VIII Humankind: Created in God's Image - Day 7

"Lord, why should I doubt any more, when you have given me such assured pledges of your love? First, you are my creator, I your creature, you my master, I your servant...

I am confounded to think that God, who has done so much for me, should have so little from me. But this is my comfort, that when I come to heaven, I shall understand perfectly what he has done for me, and then I shall be able to praise him as I ought.

Lord, having this hope let me purify myself as you are pure, and let me be no more afraid of death, but even desire to be dissolved and be with you, which is best of all."
--Anne Bradstreet

VIII Humankind: Created in God's Image - Day 6

Because we the Church believe human beings are made in God's image, and with a divine destiny, we will treat ourselves, other human beings, and all of creation as sacred creations.

In your view, how should humans view their place in creation as a whole?

What are the implications of your views?

SEEKING MORE UNDERSTANDING
For the coming week, try consciously to see each person you have contact with as made in the image of God, and try consciously to carry out your role as steward of everything else in creation. At the end of each day, make notes of your experiences.

VIII Humankind: Created in God's Image - Day 5

I Corinthians 15:35-57 - resurrection of the body
TM;
Ephesians 2:1-10 - saved by grace
TM;

Anthony A. Hoekema

Christopher Morse

VIII Humankind: Created in God's Image - Day 4

Romans 1:16-2:16 - God's righteous judgment
TM;

VIII Humankind: Created in God's Image - Day 3

Psalm 8 - humans given dignity
TM;
Ecclesiastes 1 - human experience repetitious
TM;

Quaker

VIII Humankind: Created in God's Image - Day 2

Job 6-7 - life hard for humans
TM;

VIII Humankind: Created in God's Image - Day 1

Genesis 1:26-2:7 - created in God's image
TM;

Athanasius

VII Covenant-Maker - Day 7

Strong Covenant God, save us from being self-centered in our prayers, and teach us to remember to pray for others.
May we be so bound up in love with those for whom we pray that we may feel their needs as acutely as our own, and intercede for them with sensitiveness, with understanding and with imagination.
This we ask in Christ's name. Amen.
--Based on words from John Calvin, 1509-1564

VII Covenant-Maker - Day 6

What about the church, as you have known it, makes it most difficult for you to believe in the church as God's covenant community?

What affirms your belief in the church as God's covenant community?


If the cross is God's signature to the new covenant, what is our signature of acceptance?

VII Covenant-Maker - Day 5

RSV
I Corinthians 11:17-26 (cup of the new covenant) TM;

Hebrews 8-9 (covenant in Christ's blood)
TM;


reading 83 from

reading 84 from

VII Covenant-Maker - Day 4

RSV
Psalm 89 (covenant with David)
TM;
Jeremiah 31:31-37 (new covenant)
TM;


reading 81 p. 310

reading 82 pp. 64-65

VII Covenant-Maker - Day 3

RSV
Exodus 34:1-14 (covenant renewed)
TM;
Deuteronomy 5:1-7:11 (commandments to live by)
TM;


reading 80 pp. 399-401

VII Covenant-Maker - Day 2

RSV
Genesis 12:1-9 (call of Abram)
TM;
Genesis 13 (promise of land and offspring)
TM;


reading 78 from

VII Covenant-Maker - Day 1

RSV
Genesis 6:11-22 (God instructs Noah)
TM;
Genesis 8 (covenant with Noah)
TM;


reading 77 p. 58

VI Providence: The God Who Is Involved - Day 7

"O thou Chief of Chiefs, we kneel before thee in obeisance adn adoration. Like the bird in the branches we praise thy heavenly glory. Like the village sharpening stone, thou art always available and never exhausted. Remove we pary thee, our sins that hide thy face. Thou knowest that we are porr and unlearned; that we often work when hungry. Send rain in due season for our gardens that our food may not fail. Protect us from the cold and danger by night. Help us to keep in health that we may rejoice in strength. May our villages be filled with children. Emancipate us from the fear of the fetish and the witch doctor and from all manner of supperstitions. Save the people, especially the Christian boys and girls in the villages, from the evil that surrounds them. All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ thy Son."
---Prayer from Zaire

VI Providence: The God Who Is Involved - Day 6

Because we the Church believe God is involved in our world, we see ourselves as co-workers with God in fulfilling the divine purpose.

Divine Providence

Predestination

Unconditional election

In what ways is the concept of providence a challenge to your personal faith?

VI Providence: The God Who Is Involved - Day 5

Romans 8:18-9:33 - confidence in God
RSV, TM;

Herbert Butterfield

Daniel L Migliore

reading 73 from

reading 75 p. 100

VI Providence: The God Who Is Involved - Day 4

RSV
John 15:1-17 - abide and love
TM;
Ephesians 1:1-14 - god's plan
TM;

Paul Tillich

reading 70 from
reading 71 pp. 17, 32-33


reading 72 from

VI Providence: The God Who Is Involved - Day 3

Esther 1-10 - Providence
RSV , TM;

William Temple

reading 69 pp. 291-292

VI Providence: The God Who Is Involved - Day 2

RSV
Psalm 139:1-18 - God present everywhere
TM;
Isaiah 45:1-19 - God's sovereign power
TM;
Hosea 11:1-11 - God's compassion
TM;

His Eye is on the Sparrow

VI Providence: The God Who Is Involved - Day 1

RSV
Genesis 50:7-26 - God intended good
TM;
Psalm 105 - God's faithfulness
TM;
Psalm 106 - Israel's confession
TM;

John Calvin

Jacobus Arminius

reading 65 from
reading 66 p. 148

V God: Giving a Name to God - Day 7

"The God of Abraham praise,
All praised be His name,
Who was and is, and is to be,
Always the same!
The one eternal God,
Whose timelessness is clear;
The First, the Last: beyond all thought,
Throughout the year!"
Daniel ben Judah, c. 1400

V God: Giving a Name to God - Day 6

Because we the Church believe God is person and therfore personal, and is known to us by name, I will address God with awe, with intimacy, and with glad humility.


Think about the names you use for God. How do they reflect your understanding of God and your relationship to God?



How do you experience God as personal?



How would you address God in a time of deep personal distress? when you were profoundly moved by awe? if you were angry about your personal circumstances?

Attributes of God

Names of God

V God: Giving a Name to God - Day 5

Luke 15:11-32 TM loving God
RSV
John 14:1-14 TM Jesus shows us God

Paul K. Jewett (Theology Today article)

reading 63 p. 228

reading 64 from

V God: Giving a Name to God - Day 4

Isaiah 44:6-20 TM the Lord is God
RSV
Isaiah 46 TM only God saves

Thomas C. Oden

reading 61 from
reading 62 from

V God: Giving a Name to God - Day 3

Psalm 89:1-18 TM God's faithfulness
RSV

Psalm 90 TM eternal God

Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929-1968

reading 60 from

V God: Giving a Name to God - Day 2

Job 5:8-27 RSV, TM God's marvelous doings

Job 26 TM God's power

reading 56 from

V God: Giving a Name to God - Day 1

Exodus 3:1-15 TM I Am Who I Am
RSV

Deuteronomy 6 TM the LORD alone

St Cyril of Jerusalem, 314-386

Julian of Norwich, 1342-after 1416

reading 53 from

reading 54 from
or free electronic version ccel