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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 – Summer 2004 – No 1 – It all depends
An intro to the issue of Absolutes and all the other issues…!Getting across the idea that although we live in a world where ‘anything goes’ – God has given us some non-negotiable principles which we ignore at our peril.
Welcome
Welcome
Play a dice game – any game, snakes and ladders, monopoly etc. but with one extra rule: if anyone throws a four, they can do whatever they want (e.g. move the other’s pieces, award himself triple points, start playing a different game – won’t be too long before someone declares themselves the winner! But don’t give them too many chaotic ideas at the beginning.
Discuss what our lives would be like if all rules and laws were suddenly up for grabs, do what you like. E.g. riding a bike – cars don’t need to miss you, drive on any particular side of road, wait for you…. Shopping – people can take things off you, overcharge you, sell you complete rubbish, shoot you!
Discuss what our lives would be like if all rules and laws were suddenly up for grabs, do what you like. E.g. riding a bike – cars don’t need to miss you, drive on any particular side of road, wait for you…. Shopping – people can take things off you, overcharge you, sell you complete rubbish, shoot you!
Worship
Remind each other of some of God’s characteristics that have always and will always exist. Be thankful.
Word
God has absolutes (something that is total, completely pure, not dependent on anything else!) – some of these are for a particular time, others are eternal.
Put this lot into one or other category – copied here – but easy to find from Bible
Put this lot into one or other category – copied here – but easy to find from Bible
Ex 21:28 If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox must be stoned. The meat cannot be eaten but the owner of the ox is in the clear
Deut 23:24 When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat all the grapes you want until you’re full, but you may not put any in your bucket or bag.
Deut 5:17 No murder
Ex 20:14 No adultery.
Deut 14:19 Winged insects are ritually unclean; don’t eat them
Ex 20:15 No stealing.
Deut 22:11 Don’t wear clothes of mixed fabrics, wool and linen together.
Deut 23:24 When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat all the grapes you want until you’re full, but you may not put any in your bucket or bag.
Deut 5:17 No murder
Ex 20:14 No adultery.
Deut 14:19 Winged insects are ritually unclean; don’t eat them
Ex 20:15 No stealing.
Deut 22:11 Don’t wear clothes of mixed fabrics, wool and linen together.
Discuss why some are changeable others not?
Some for every culture, every time, God reminds of some, while others are dropped or changed. Example from Matthew 5:38-42
38“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ 39Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. 40If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. 41And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. 42No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
Brainstorm the various absolutes that God has given us, write them down on big piece of paper then vote for top ten! Then in smaller groups or all together, think of song lyrics, films, soap plots etc. which demonstrate how differently the world thinks
How would friends at school/college rewrite God’s principles?
People think of principles as harsh, dogmatic, intolerant – but remember the game at the beginning. If people stick to principles what would be different? (Family breakdown, price of stuff in shops, less police, etc)
But putting absolutes into practice isn’t always easy….
How would friends at school/college rewrite God’s principles?
People think of principles as harsh, dogmatic, intolerant – but remember the game at the beginning. If people stick to principles what would be different? (Family breakdown, price of stuff in shops, less police, etc)
But putting absolutes into practice isn’t always easy….
A junior manager in a retail firm finds out his bosses are taking money out of company, and hiding their dishonesty by overcharging customers. He is invited to join the scheme, and warned that he’ll be sacked if he tells on them. “…and we’ll see you never work in this industry again” He has a wife and three children
Witness
Divide group in half:
One half look at Philippians 1:27-30, the other Colossians 3:15-17
One half look at Philippians 1:27-
Each group come up with at least one practical survival suggestion to help us to live by God’s absolutes
Encourage each other to do these things! Pray