What a house full with six new guests. Welcome to Angelica and her boys, Bex, and Michael. We feasted on Jambalaya, thanks Duane. And thanks to all who filled out the menu with great grub.
The Word was from 1 Peter 4 and 5 tonight with some good side trips through Luke, Philippians 3:12-14, and Galatians 5:1 - "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."- Read 1 Peter 4:1-11 and Philippians 3:12-14, then grapple with this question based on Galatians 5:1: Who is trying to burden you with a yoke of slavery?
- Read 1 Peter 5:1-3 and comment regarding the following: Are these verses suggesting there must be a pastor, "shepherd" in each group, "flock"?
- Read 5:5 and give your thoughts on: What does it look like to be "subject to your elders"? Should there be an emotional distance between you and your shepherd?
- In response to 1 Peter 5:8-11 discuss this final question: In what ways do you find it helpful to know that others in Christ are suffering in the same way you are?
Hee Hee! Love the pic of the pregnant lady eating...
ReplyDeleteA thought that comes to my mind is this: Emotional distance between me and my shepherd...
You all know my gut reaction was, "Uh... YEAH! There should absolutely be appropriate emotional distance." We've all seen what happens when those lines are crossed. And frankly, I'm tired of trusting shepherds just because they are so called. They are people too, and do oftentimes more than their share of letting people down. All this can and has for me created a frustration with the heirarchy that we humans have created in our churches.
Which leads me back to one thought: There is NO emotional distance between me and my True Shepherd. He is also much more than just a person. He has never once let me down. Perhaps that Shepherd is the One I should focus on a bit more.