Knowing Jesus,
making Jesus known
making Jesus known
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Web manager Simon Ford
Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.”
Rev 22.13
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.”
Rev 22.13
CELL GUIDE No 7 – Summer 2004 - LETTERS
Welcome
Welcome
Play a delayed answer quiz – do not answer the first question – then give the answer to first question to second question and so on
What is your favourite thing to spread on toast?
What do you wash your hair with?
What’s your favourite drink?
What are icebergs made of?
What do you sleep on?
What’s the fastest way of travelling?
What do you want for your birthday?
What do you use to wipe your bottom?
What would you wear to a really posh ball?
What would you give to a monkey?
What do pop stars sing into?
What do you clean your teeth with?
What are you going to give your best friend for Christmas?
Come up with others – try to do it without any laughing
What do you wash your hair with?
What’s your favourite drink?
What are icebergs made of?
What do you sleep on?
What’s the fastest way of travelling?
What do you want for your birthday?
What do you use to wipe your bottom?
What would you wear to a really posh ball?
What would you give to a monkey?
What do pop stars sing into?
What do you clean your teeth with?
What are you going to give your best friend for Christmas?
Come up with others – try to do it without any laughing
Word
Just seen confusion if answer is given to wrong question
The New Testament Letters were written mainly as answers to various problems – to understand them we need to discover the problems.
Activity 1
Divide group into pairs or threes – give each group a pen, paper, Bible, tape or glue and a sheet with following references and questions on it.
1 Corinthians 1:1-2, 1 Timothy 1:1-2, James 1:1, 1 Peter 1:1
For each reference work out
i) Who wrote it?
ii) Who was it written to?
iii) Who is the letter named after?
Task is for each group to answer the questions, make an envelope out of their answer sheet and then has to arrive air mail in a bin that you could put somewhere in room. (ie it has to be thrown)
At end of activity run through the answers and the way the letters are grouped
Romans through to 2 Thessalonians: Written by Paul to churches (named after recipients)
1 Timothy to Philemon Written by Paul to individuals (named after recipients)
Hebrews to Jude Written by other people (named after authors)
Can anyone work out / guess why the letters are ordered as they are?
The largest letters in each of the three groups come first! Technical huh!
Activity 2
Read out these segments of imaginary letters and then ask these questions:
Who do you think is writing the letter?
Who do you think it is written to?
What situation caused them to write?
Segment 1: ‘…I know you went out with him and he treated you like dirt, but he’s changed now – honestly, he’s really sweet and I know things are going to work out fine between him and me. I just don’t want you to be angry with me…’
Segment 2: ‘… I just don’t understand what you’re both so worked up about. Its not like I ever wanted to be an engineer or a physicist. What use will maths be to me when I’m a professional skateboarder?’
The New Testament letters are similarly letters written in response to real problems or issues that were occurring 1950 years ago. We have to act as detectives if we are to find out what the problems were and why the writers wrote what they did. This will give us the best chance of understanding the letters.
Ask the same three questions to the following passage:
Galatians 1:1-9 (Paul, Churches in Galatia, turning away from Christ as someone was preaching a false Gospel)
We can simply work as detectives – but never forget the wealth of resources in commentaries, Bible reading notes or online.
Worship
Read Colossians 1:15-20 & Philippians 3:7-11
Make a list of all the amazing things about Jesus that Paul describes
Witness
As a group put together a list of the most important things in life. (Friends, family, success, possessions, health, happiness etc)
Where would you place Jesus in this list
If Paul were to make a list like this Jesus would be at the top – be honest about one area where you find it difficult to put Jesus above. Tell each other
Pray for each other to be able to make Jesus more and more of a priority.
Where would you place Jesus in this list
If Paul were to make a list like this Jesus would be at the top – be honest about one area where you find it difficult to put Jesus above. Tell each other
Pray for each other to be able to make Jesus more and more of a priority.