Tuesday Class

If you aren't able to join us for our class on Tuesdays, you can still explore these spiritual practices and habits on your own. Each week Dr. Don offers some guidance and then we'll practice the habit during the week and discuss our experiences with the group the following week. Each week we'll post some info like the discussion questions we're covering in person and the scriptures we'll be reading during the week. 

THE INWARD HABITS

Sept 9: Dinner / Meditation
Sept 16: Prayer
Sept 23: Fasting
Sept 30: Study

CATCH UP WITH PREVIOUS SCRIPTURES AND GUIDANCE

THE OUTWARD HABITS

Oct 7: Dinner / Simplicity
Oct 14: Solitude
Oct 21: Submission
Oct 28: Service

Catch up with previous scriptures and guidance

THE CORPORATE HABITS

Nov 4: Dinner / Confession
Nov 11: Worship
Nov 18: Guidance
Nov 25: No class due to Thanksgiving
Dec 2: Pot Luck Dinner / Celebration

If you missed any of the Inward Habits during the first 4 weeks you can find a PDF here with previous questions, scriptures etc.
If you missed any of the Outward Habits during weeks 5-8 you can find a PDF here.

WEEK 12: CELEBRATION

 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." - Luke 2:10. From the beginning Jesus came to bring joy. The Westminster Catechism says that humanity's purpose is "to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." The Christian life and our relationship with God should be rooted in joy. 

It's important to celebrate the good things in our lives and in the life of our church. Joy comes from the knowledge of the goodness of life, and gratitude for that goodness. Joy and laughter also help us not take ourselves so seriously. It frees us from an inflated view of our own self-importance. Joy is contagious. Joy begets joy.

Two things that lead us to joy:

  • Obedience. Joy is found in doing what God wants us to do and being part of what God is doing. All the Christian habits we've been practicing are intended to help us find the joy that comes from following God and living a Christian life. 
  • Gratitude. You can't choose what happens to you, but you can choose how you respond to it. Practicing gratitude can shift your perspective and make it easier for your to find joy.

Some ways you can seek joy:

  • Think of specific things you're grateful for each day.
  • Spend time with joyful people or people who create joy in you.
  • Make time to do the things that bring you joy. 

Since this is our last class of the year, your assignment is to celebrate and seek joy until our next class on prayer begins on January 27! 

Questions About Guidance

  • Is the idea of guidance as a corporate habit new or strange to you?
  • Do you think that a group of people (church) can all pray and arrive at the same decision led by the Holy Spirit or is this a dream?
  • What are the obstacles of corporate guidance?
  • Was there any Scripture from last week’s readings that you would like to talk about?

Questions About Celebration

  • Do you enjoy God?
  • Why do you think a wholesome evening of side-splitting laughter with friends does you so much good?
  • Would the group you are in right now be willing to devise a one sentence Holy Shout of joy and do it before this session ends?

Scripture Readings on Celebration

WEEK 11: GUIDANCE

Guidance can refer to individual guidance from a spiritual mentor or to communal guidance from the Holy Spirit that we receive together as a church.

The best way to find a spiritual mentor or guide for yourself as an individual is to ask someone who've you've seen living out Jesus' teachings in the way you would like to. 

There are many examples in the Bible of God leading his people or his church together as a group. Some include the Exodus from Egypt, Acts 13 where the church prayed and fasted together to decide which of them to send to Cyprus, and Acts 15 where the Council of Jerusalem agreed to allow Gentiles to follow Jesus without following all of Jewish law. These are examples of the church being led not by dictatorship or committee, or even by democracy, but by Spirit rule. This is Spirit directed unity where the church as a group is able to reach a consensus of where God is leading and follow that guidance together. 

This week read the provided scriptures and think about ways God guides us.

Discussion Questions About Worship

  • Which forms of worship are especially meaningful to you? Why?
  • What are the advantages/disadvantages to formal, liturgical worship? and What are the advantages/disadvantages to formal, informal worship?
  • What is your favorite part of worship? Why?
  • Have you practiced Holy Expectancy (coming to worship expecting something to happen) this week? Did it make a difference?
  • What do you think about the understanding that worship has not taken place unless there is a response on our part?
  • Is there any of the Scripture you read this week that you wish to discuss?

Scripture Readings on Guidance

WEEK 10: WORSHIP

Worship is spending time in the presence of the living God. Over time continually spending time in God's presence changes us. It's not about one amazing experience on one Sunday, but about the continual practice of spending time in God's presence together with the family of God. The worship experience is enhanced when we prepare for it during the week by making ourselves available to God. Listening for God's voice. Praying to prepare our hearts.

Our challenge this week is to come to worship and to prepare ourselves to enter into worship with "Holy Expectancy." In other words, enter into worship with the expectation that God will be there and that he has something to share with us.

Elements of Worship

Many of these elements are found in Isaiah 6:1-8.

  • The Gathering - The gathering is the time before the music even starts when we greet and encourage each other as well as the formal "greeting" time. Worship begins with us loving each other because we love God by loving each other. This is also a time to welcome those you don't recognize into our community.
  • Praise - We praise God in may ways during worship through prayer, music, responsive readings and other ways that we give God thanks.
  • Prayer - There are several different types of prayer that can occur throughout the time of worship.
  • Confession - In our church we pray a prayer of confession before Holy Communion each month, but some churches do this every Sunday.
  • Hearing the Word of God - God speaks to us through all the elements of worship, but we are typically talking about the sermon and the scripture when we talk about this element of worship. 
  • Response - In the passage from Isaiah, he responds to hearing God speak by saying, "Send me." During worship at St. Paul we respond to hearing God's word by reciting the Apostle's Creed, giving an offering, and making an invitation to baptism (or other next steps in faith). We can also respond to God's word by challenging ourselves during the week to take steps toward what we heard in the word or toward what God's calling us to do.
  • Change - Over time worship should change us. Consistently being in the presence of God with the people we love can change us.

Discussion Questions about Confession

  1. In your own words, try to describe the theology that lies behind the habit of confession. 
  2. What are the advantages to a formal confession? What are the disadvantages?
  3. What gives a person the authority to pronounce that sins have been forgiven?
  4. Describe the importance of taking time each day to bring our thoughts and actions before God and ask God to show us if we have sinned in any of our ways. 
  5. When is it important to go to the person you have sinned against?
  6. Is there any of the Scripture that you read this week that you would like to discuss?

Scripture Reading

WEEK 9: CONFESSION

You don't have to confess to anyone but God, and we don't need anyone to intercede besides Jesus. However, confessing to another person can be powerful. It creates more accountability, and it offers an opportunity for someone else to give you strength. 

Only God has the power to forgive our sins, but we do have the authority to share with others that God has forgiven them.

Practical Advice for Confessing

  • Be Specific. Don't say something general like "I've sinned this week." Name the specific thing you did. Put a name on what you need to change.
  • Feel Genuine Remorse. Confess the things that you are genuinely sorry for.
  • Have a Determination to Avoid Sin. There's a difference between asking for forgiveness and repentance. Repentance includes the desire to change.  

Practical Advice for RECEIVING CONFESSION

  • Realize that you are a sinner too. Don't react with shock or judgment.
  • Just listen. Be silent until they've said all they need to. Don't offer counsel or advice unless it's asked for.
  • Pray for them. Include in your prayer a pronouncement that God has forgiven them. Remind them of God's love for them.

There's no requirement that you confess to another person this week, but read through the scriptures during the week. If you do feel called to confess you can use these tips, whether you're confessing directly to God or to another person.

Discussion Questions About the Practice of Service

  • What was your practice of service like this week?
  • Jesus took a towel and basin and washed the feet of his disciples. What does service look like for us in our culture?
  • Do you think service helps produce the fruit of humility in our lives? How so?
  • Are you aware of the ministry opportunities available here at St. Paul? (Hint: Check out the website!)
  • What do you think about the statement that Bible knowledge can produce arrogance and so service is a good balance for it?
  • Did any of the Scripture for the week speak to you in ways you would like to share?

Scriptures for the Week