LYRICS
Maranatha
Closer
Defender
Recap:
11 // Lazarus
12 // Jesus is annointed. Palm Sunday, Jesus talks to crowd.
13 // Feet Washing
14 // Communion
15 // Love one another. We are all already pruned.
16 // One final hangout
17 // A prayer for the disciples
18 // Jesus Arrested. Peter attempts murder. Jesus’s trials. Lack of humanity from Pharisees. Peter denies Jesus three times
19 // Jesus - punished and executed.
20 // Jesus appears to disciples. Thomas is Redeemed. Others are Redeemed
21 // Peter is redeemed. (Triple Denial + attempted murder). Jesus is consistent. Jesus references their calling (fishing) and cooks a meal for them.
Hermeneutics
What is it?
Short answer - Hermeneutics is about understanding how we interpret scripture. It’s more concerned about the process behind our interpretation & discernment. It looks at the lenses through which we view the world which in turn influences the way we read scripture. Simply thinking about these variables can help us begin to think more critically about our faith. It helps us look for a bigger picture and it helps us embrace a mentality of humility. You are but one person. You live through the world with only your lens. To believe you have the only proper and most correct understanding of scripture is arrogance at its finest.
Read that last line again. I am talking to you. Yes you. This goes to everyone. The “progressive”, the “traditionalist”, “the whatever-label-has-been-given-to-you”, “the I-don’t-believe-in-labels-I-just-follow-Jesus”, and everyone in between. Wherever you stand, think about how absurd it is to think that you have successfully figured out ALL the ins and outs of what God wants for this world.
All of that should not discourage you. There is freedom that comes with this humble approach. Freedom in knowing that there is always more to learn! Comfort in knowing that God can and does speak through everyone. Peace in knowing that we don’t have to get it right all the time. Safety in acknowledging that we will sometimes be wrong. Permission to grow in our understanding as our thinking shifts or evolves one way or the other. In Christ, we experience all this. In Christ we grow closer to each other in spite of differences.
So to help start/continue your journey of faith - we have a worksheet with some questions. Take your time in reflecting on these answers. I recommend at least an hour and my hope is that this shouldn’t feel like homework or an assignment. The hope is that you will find yourself asking more questions about yourself and learning more about who you are as a disciple of Christ. And that begins by reflecting on ourselves and our stories. One of the coolest and more important parts of going down these rabbit holes, is the discussion that will follow. You will get to hear how others are both similar and different in a variety of ways. How certain life events might play a bigger impact for one person than it does another. Some of these questions may be a bit personal for some by asking you to think about your family & upbringing. You will not be asked to share anything you do not wish to share. When we meet again, we will not be going through all these questions one by one as a group or anything like that. We are more focused on the process of figuring out our individual world lens because that plays right into Hermeneutics.
Lastly, Hermeneutics is not a one-time study/period of reflection. Those that study hermeneutics see it more as a loop. We gain our understanding and interpretation of the big picture of life, through the compilation of individual events. But we also gain understanding of individual events by pulling from our big picture understanding. It’s a constant cycle of evaluation and re-evaluation. Re-read that if you need to. It’s a cool concept to think about. So, without further ado, go onto the next page for the reflection questions.
Questions to Reflect On
Family of Origin (FOO)
What are your most significant family traditions?
How does your family observe Christmas? Thanksgiving? Birthdays?
What did your family do together for vacations? to have fun?
Where did your FOO fall economically—compared to the families you associated with in your neighborhood, at church, etc.? Poor or rich? How did the family handle that?
What were your family’s educational expectations? Grades? College?
How did your family handle hardship? Failure? Conflict?
How would you describe the “emotional tone” of your family? (Happy/unhappy, close/distant, warm/cold, honest/hypocritical)
How materialistic was your FOO?
How many hours a week did your father/mother work?
Who “ruled the roost” in your FOO?
When it came to conflict, did your family “let it all hang out,” deny and ignore, smooth things over without resolution, discuss and decide, or other?
What were the principle values taught in your FOO?
What did you like best about your FOO?
What did you dislike most about your FOO?
Name some things from your FOO, that you hope to bring into your life and various relationships?
Name some things from your FOO that you hope to avoid bringing into your life and various relationships.
Questions to Ask Myself While Reading Scripture
Family of Origin. How does this influence the way I view/read bible passages? How about how I view my beliefs and faith? My view of God?
Denominational History (How does that influence my interpretation of scripture? Ie: free will, grace, etc.)
Race (How does my racial and cultural history influence my reading of the Bible?)
Sex (How does my sex/gender/sexual orientation influence my interpretation of the Bible?)
Social Class (How does my point on the economic spectrum influence my interpretation of scripture?)
Political Alignment (How do my political preferences influence what I see in a text?)
Life Experience (Do any of my life experiences (or hardships) relate directly or indirectly to this passage? How does that change my ability to connect with and comprehend the text?)
Physical Location (How does where I was raised influence how I interpret the Bible? How does where I live right now influence how I interpret scripture?)
Bible Translation (How does the translation influence my understanding of the passage? How does it compare to other translations?)
Questions to Ask The Text
What genre is this piece of literature? Who was it initially written to/for?
Why did God inspire people to create a written record of this story, event, prayer, song, or saying?
What can I learn about the original context that can help me grasp how people originally understood this passage?
How might this be different from how I understand it (through my own lens).
OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE
OLD TESTAMENT
Pentateuch (The 5 Books of Moses)
Genesis
Describes the creation; gives the history of the old world, and of the steps taken by God toward building relationships with humanity.
Exodus
The history of Israel's departure from Egypt; the giving of the law; the tabernacle.
Leviticus
The ceremonial law.
Numbers
The census of the people; the story of the wanderings in the wilderness.
Deuteronomy
The law rehearsed; the death of Moses (succeeded by Joshua)
Historical Books
Joshua
The story of the conquest and partition of Canaan.
Judges
The history of the nation from Joshua to Samson.
Ruth
The story of the ancestors of the royal family of Judah.
1 Samuel
The story of the nation during the judgeship of Samuel and the reign of Saul.
2 Samuel
Story of the reign of David.
1 and 2 Kings
The books of Kings form only one book in the Hebrew manuscripts. They contain the history of the nation from David's death and Solomon's accession to the destruction of the kingdom of Judah and the desolation of Jerusalem, with a supplemental notice of the liberation of Jehoiachin from his prison at Babylon, twenty-six years later; they comprehend the whole time of the Israelitish monarchy, exclusive of the reigns of Saul and David.
1 & 2 Chronicles
So called as being the record made by the appointed historiographers of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel; they are the official histories of those kingdoms.
Ezra
The story of the return of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity, and of the rebuilding of the temple.
Nehemiah
A further account of the rebuilding of the temple and city, and of the obstacles encountered and overcome.
Esther
The story of a Jewess who becomes queen of Persia and saves the Jewish people from destruction.
Poetical/Wisdom Books/Writings
Job
The story of the trials and patience of a holy man of Edom.
Psalms
A collection of sacred poems intended for use in the worship of Jehovah. Chiefly the productions of David.
Proverbs
The wise sayings of Solomon.
Ecclesiastes
A poem respecting the vanity of earthly things.
Song of Soloman
An allegory relating to the church.
Major Prophets
Isiah
Prophecies respecting Christ and his kingdom.
Jeremiah
Prophecies announcing the captivity of Judah, its sufferings, and the final overthrow of its enemies.
Lamentations
The utterance of Jeremiah's sorrow upon the capture of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.
Ezekiel
Messages of warning and comfort to the Jews in their captivity.
Daniel
A narrative of some of the occurrences of the captivity, and a series of prophecies concerning Christ.
Minor Prophets
Hosea
Prophecies relating to Christ and the latter days.
Joel
Prediction of woes upon Judah, and of the favor with which God will receive the penitent people.
Amos
Prediction that Israel and other neighboring nations will be punished by conquerors from the north, and of the fulfillment of the Messiah's kingdom.
Obadiah
Prediction of the desolation of Edom.
Jonah
Prophecies relating to Nineveh.
Micah
Predictions relating to the invasions of Shalmaneser and Sennacherib, the Babylonian captivity, the establishment of a theocratic kingdom in Jerusalem, and the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem.
Nahum
Prediction of the downfall of Assyria.
Habakkuk
A prediction of the doom of the Chaldeans.
Zephaniah
A prediction of the overthrow of Judah for its idolatry and wickedness.
Haggai
Prophecies concerning the rebuilding of the temple.
Zechariah
Prophecies relating to the rebuilding of the temple and the Messiah.
Malachi
Prophecies relating to the calling of the Gentiles and the coming of Christ.
NEW TESTAMENT
The Gospels - Biographical accounts of Jesus
Matthew
A brief history of the life of Christ.
Mark
A brief history of the life of Christ, supplying some incidents omitted by St. Matthew. Some scholars believe Mark to the be the first gospel written.
Luke
The history of the life of Christ, with especial reference to his most important acts and discourses.
John
The life of Christ, giving important discourses not related by the other evangelists.
History
Acts
The history of the labors of the apostles and of the foundation of the Christian Church.
Letters to Churches
Romans
A treatise by Paul on the doctrine of justification by Christ.
1 Corinthians
A letter from Paul to the Corinthians, correcting errors into which they had fallen.
2 Corinthians
Paul confirms his disciples in their faith, and vindicates his own character.
Galatians
Paul maintains that we are justified by faith, and not by rites.
Ephesians
A treatise by Paul on the power of divine grace.
Philippians
Paul sets forth the beauty of Christian kindness.
Colossians
Paul warns his disciples against errors, and exhorts to certain duties.
1 Thessalonians
Paul exhorts his disciples to continue in the faith and in holy conversation.
2 Thessalonian
Paul corrects an error concerning the speedy coming of Christ the second time.
Letters to People
1 & 2 Timothy
Paul instructs Timothy in the duty of a pastor, and encourages him in the work of the ministry.
Titus
Paul encourages Titus in the performance of his ministerial duties.
Philemon
An appeal to a converted master to receive a converted escaped slave with kindness.
More Letters
Hebrews
Paul maintains that Christ is the substance of the ceremonial law.
James
A treatise on the efficacy of faith united with good works.
1 & 2 Peter
Exhortations to a Christian life, with various warnings and predictions.
1 John
Respecting the person of our Lord, and an exhortation to Christian love and conduct.
2 John
St. John warns a converted lady against false teachers.
3 John
A letter to Gaius, praising him for his hospitality.
Jude
Warnings against deceivers.
Prophecy
Revelation
The future of the Church foretold.