Devotions: -Bruce Almighty:

This brings up the topcs of signs and wonders, and surrendering to God's will even ehen they don't happen. See: and

pp, 42-43 here
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a couple pics taken in class here and here..

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Review the week's outline:
Tues

Spiritual
Structure
Saul
Samaria

Thurs

Steven's Sermon
Sheet of Pete
Sircumicison
Signs and Wonders

We'll save SAMARIA and CIRCUMCISION for the rabbi's visit next Thurs.
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FIRST>> To finish most of the S words....We'll continue on with the NT Wright series, "Acts: The Heaven on Earth Show"
with parts 7-13, which take us through the first half of Acts (or in Stott's outline, through Module B).

For each part below, look for answers to the questions listed.

Part 7:

1)How might our Myers-Briggs personalty difference affect how we read the Bible/Acts?
(particularly STs vs NFs...for explanation, see this).
2)Why is resurrection important?
3)Why is the Spirit poured out?
4)What does it mean for Jesus to bring a theocracy?
5Which Old Testament book is helpful to understand this section of Acts?

Part 8:

1)In the first half of Acts, Jesus is announced as ____________.
This leads inevitably to a conflict with _________/
2_two key themes: a)K________ b)T_________
3)What do kings do? They _____________temples.
4)Reading the OT, even the last book (Malachi), what was the state of the temple?
5)What is the tension in Acts 2? If Jesus and the______ are the temple, problems exist with ______________.
6)Draw and label chart of this first half of Acts which includes the bookends, the capstone, and the events on either side of the capstone. Give chapter and verse references.
7). If the __________ is the alternate __________, then __________________________________________________.
8(What are the four SIGNS of the church living as the new ________?
The signs result in a)__________________ b)_________________
9)The church is a family business, not ____________________/

Part 9:
1)"No needy among them" is a reference to Deut 15 and 16. The reason no one was in need
is because they saw themselves as living in _____________.
2)They were behaving as people who ____________________.
3)Maybe the fact that we don't see a lot of ________________ today is related
to the fact that we don't see a lot of _____________.
4)Tension: disciples were going to __________ yet living as if they were __________.
5). "It's not us; it's what God has _________________."
6)It's more about where we are in the story, than about ____________________.

Part 10:
1)What's more important than your individual resurrection someday is
_____________________
2)Resurrection splits into two: a) ______ b)_____
3)Again, we learn how important it is the get the context and historical world
of which Old Testament book?

Part 11:
1)Draw a chart labeling the two extremes of a New Testament political theology, and
the two candidates for the possible balancing components which prevents the extremes.
2)They/we need to learn to navigate being faithful to _____________ and
obeying _________.
3)Pattern: When the church trusts God, they find _______________.
4)The Hebrew vs. Hellenist problem only existed because the believers were ___________.
5)Steven's sermon is the ___________ of this whole section, and its whole point is that we are the true ________. Within this main point, two subpoints: a)God sends _______________
b)People are always guilty of ______________, particularly of the __________.
6)______________ is only an advanced signpost. Signposts are saying "Don't ___________."

Part 12:
1)The specific is to benefit the __________.
2(Draw a chart which places Paul's conversion in between two other episodes.
The point: Paul's idea of reaching the Gentiles was not a new idea.
3)Phillip quotes Isaiah 53, which we think is all about the cross and individual salvation (and
it is, but this leads to Isaiah 54 which is about _____, and Isaiah 56, which is about membership granted to ___________ and __________.

Part 13:
1)On his way to conversion, Paul may well have been practicing the meditation of the
_____________________.
2)Paul realized that --regarding everything he stood for:
a)Everything is ______________ b)Everything is ________.
3)When Wright talks about clean/unclean, draw this as a bounded set.

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SHEET OF PETE
SIGNS AND WONDERS,

SIGNS AND WONDERS

GROUP 1 STRETCH:
: Watch Mr and Mrs. Craig Keener. Read the article below. What do you think? Include and draw Hiebert's "Middle Zone" grid as you discuss. Report to class:

related:

Finally...Read: It's Okay to Expe ct a Miracle | Scholar Craig Keener rediscovers the reality of divine intervention.

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GROUP 2 STRETCH:Read about and watch Heidi Baker. What do you think?: Include and draw Hiebert's "Middle Zone" grid as you discuss Report to class:

Miracles in Mozambique: How Mama Heidi Reaches the AbandonedThere are credible reports that Heidi Baker heals the deaf and raises the dead. One thing is for sure: She loves the poor like no other in this forgotten corner of the planet............ by Tim Stafford |

Watch the slideshow at end of above article,
and this interview below:

GROUP 3 STRETCH:

Go with Dave . Report back Tues.

This program brought you by the letter "S":

As we said today, this week's topics are from Module "B" in Stott.....and all start with "S"
We got through the first three (The first one was an hour plus video, so it took awhile)< and will pick up the rest next time..-- Yes, I know I cheated with the spelling on one of these words ):

Tues

Spiritual
Structure
Saul
Samaria

Thurs

Steven's Sermon
Sheet of Pete
Sircumicison
Signs and Wonders
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BUT FIRST< today's "devotional" story:

I told a story about a "sign":

Click the title below to hear (and see ) all about it:

tell and show: smoking on the seminary roof,romance by the urinal, illegal crosses

Erica found this great sign...Keep them coming!:

This sign gave us a chance to talk about thae fact that Luke begins both his books by assuring Theophilus he's writing NONfiction, and reminded us that even when we use the word "STORY," it doesn't mean it's not true.

See page 5 of your textbook and circle the word STORY!

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SPIRITUAL:
Some great conversation in class, about how we tend to think about this word,
and them we saw the challenging video presentation below by Rob Bell, "Everything Is Spiritual."
I suggested that as we watch, we look for the following

-Influence of Genesis on rest of Bible; particularly Acts
-Chiasm
-Set theory: bounded, centered, fuzzy ("yep" sets)
-Any of Hibert's grids, but particularly "Flaw of the Excluded Middle"
-Flatland
-Dimensions
-Roman Empire
-Short definition of "Kingdom"
-Any ways anything connected to Acts

First, a few short excerpts to refresh your memory:

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Then the "OUTLINE" in "SIGN" language:

LOL>>>DOES THIS BRING IT ALL BACK?

To watch entire video online, click here

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STRRCTURE:

Here below is an example of the structural work we did today, particularly with chiasm..

That is...After noting from today's video and from examples like this:

of how big chiasms can get,

and warning against "chiasmania"..

And suggesting that writing your life story..or your Christians story in chiasm could be acceptable as an "Adventure" project..

FIND CHIASMS BELOW:

Acts 6 (New American Standard Bible)

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Acts 6

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Choosing of the Seven

6 Now ^[a]at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the ^[b] Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked inthe daily serving of food. ²So the twelve summoned the ^[c]congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. ³Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. ⁴But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ^[d]ministry of the word.”⁵The statement found approval with the whole ^[e]congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and ^[f]Nicolas, a ^[g]proselyte from Antioch. ⁶And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

⁷ The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
⁸And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and ^[h]signs among the people.⁹But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians andAlexandrians, and some from Cilicia and ^[i] Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. ¹⁰But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

SAUL

We compared and contrasted the three accounts of Saul/Pau's conversion.
We also were honored to hear Anthony's story. Loved the line "something hit me".
Ohh...we watched a bit of the Matrix....The "call" of Neo..How does this relate to
-interpreting a text?
-the Bible?
-Paul's conversion in Acts?

Script:

Neo: What? What the hell?... Follow the white rabbit?... Who is it?
Choi: It's Choi.
Neo: Yeah. Yeah. You're two hours late.
Choi: I know, it's her fault.
Neo: Got the money?
Choi: Two grand.
Neo: Hold on.
Choi: Hallelujah. You're my savior, man. My own personal Jesus Christ.
Neo: You get caught using that...
Choi: Yeah, I know. This never happened. You don't exist.
Neo: Right.
Choi: Something wrong, man? You look a little whiter than usual.
Neo: My computer, it... You ever have that feeling where you're not sure if you're awake or still dreaming?
Choi: Mm, all the time. It's called Mescaline. It's the only way to fly. Hey, it just sounds to me like you need to unplug, man. You know, get some R and R. What do you think, DuJour? Shall we take him with us?
DuJour: Definitely.
Neo: I can't, I have work tomorrow.
DuJour: Come on, It'll be fun. I promise.
Neo: Yeah, sure, I'll go.

(Club)
Trinity: Hello Neo.
Neo: How do you know that name?
Trinity: I know a lot about you.
Neo: Who are you?
Trinity: My name is Trinity.
Neo: Trinity. The Trinity? That cracked the IRS d-base?
Trinity: That was a long time ago.
Neo: Jesus.
Trinity: What?
Neo: I just thought, um...you were a guy.
Trinity: Most guys do.
Neo: It you on my computer. How did you do that?
Trinity: Right now all I can tell you is that you're in danger. I brought you here to warn you.
Neo: Of what?
Trinity: They're watching you, Neo.
Neo: Who is?
Trinity: Please just listen. I know why you're here, Neo. I know what you've been doing. I know why you hardly sleep, why you live alone, and why night after night you sit at your computer. You're looking for him. I know, because I was once looking for the same thing. And when he found me, he told me I wasn't really looking for him. I was looking for an answer. It's the question that drives us mad. It's the question that brought you here. You know the question just as I did.
Neo: What is the Matrix.
Trinity: The answer is out there, Neo. It's looking for you. And it will find you, if you want it to.

(Office)
Mr. Rhineheart: You have a problem with authority, Mr. Anderson. You believe that you are special, that somehow the rules do not apply to you. Obviously you are mistaken. This company is one of the top software companies in the world because every single employee understands that they are part of a whole. Thus if an employee has a problem, the company has a problem. The time has come to make a choice, Mr. Anderson. Either you choose to be at your desk on time from this day forward or you choose to find yourself another job. Do I make myself clear?
Neo: Yes, Mr. Rhineheart, perfectly clear.

FedEx man: Thomas Anderson?
Neo: Yeah, that's me.
FedEx man: Ok, great. Have a nice day.
Neo: Hello.
Morpheus: Hello Neo. Do you know who this is?
Neo: Morpheus.
Morpheus: Yes. I've been looking for you, Neo. I don't know if you're ready to see what I want to show you, but unfortunately you and I have run out of time. They're coming for you, Neo, and I don't know what they're going to do.
Neo: Who's coming for me?
Morpheus: Stand up and see for yourself.
Neo: What, right now.
Morpheus: Yes, now. Do it slowly. The elevator.
Neo: Oh %$#@
Morpheus: Yes.
Neo: What the hell do they want from me?
Morpheus: I don't know, but if you don't want to find out I suggest you get out of there.
Neo: How?
Morpheus: I can guide you but you must do exactly as I say.
Neo: Ok.
Morpheus: The cubicle across from you is empty.
Neo: What if they...
Morpheus: Go, now...Stay here for just a moment. When I tell you, go to the end of the row, to the office at the end of the hall. Stay as low as you can.... Go, now.... Good. Now, outside there is a scaffold.
Neo: How do you know all this?
Morpheus: We don't have time, Neo. To your left there's a window. Go to it.... Open it. You can use the scaffold to get to the roof.
Neo: No way. No way. This is crazy.
Morpheus: There are two ways out of this building. One is that scaffold, the other is in their custody. You take a chance either way. I leave it to you.
Neo: This is insane. Why is this happening to me? What did I do? I'm nobody.... .... I can't do this.

watch part 1 here
watch part 2 here
Unfortunately, part 3 is not online, even though it;s a famous and parodied scene..

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What did you notice about the three accounts of Saul /Paul's conversion ?
Acts 9
Acts 22
Acts 26

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Noticing the differences above helped us talk about TTP,
a principle that is true in the gospels, as well as Acts:

We have made the case that each gospel writer/evangelist had their unique "targeted theological purpose" (TTP ).

And we have noticed that different gospel writers place the same event at different times or places

("historical world"):

The "temple tantrum": did it happen late in Jesus' ministry (Matt, Mark, Luke, or very early (John)? (NOTE: rermember you have an assignment on the Temple Tantrum die April 8)

Is it the "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew) or "The Sermon on the Plain" (Luke)?

One way to get around these differences is to suggest there

were in fact two different "temple tantrums" or "sermons"..But is that what's up? Does a view of the inspiration and accuracy of Scripture require that?

Then you have word or linguistic "(literary world") differences:

-What did Jesus say at the "temple tantrum" (compare the differences)

-Which "Lord's Prayer" (Matt or Luke)?Did Jesus say "blessed are the poor" (Luke) or ""blessed are the poor in spirit" (Matthew)?

Some people take these as errors, or proof that the Bible is untrustworthy (See

ApparentChronological Contradictions in the Gospels

and Gospel Errors in Timing )

BUT..I think reading this below from Joel Green ( "How to Read the Gospels and Acts")may help, please read and wrestle with what you read (you'll be asked about this on the final exam). Click each page to magnify, then click again:

What do you think? Does this change or violate your view of Scripture? of accuracy?

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...and this diagram adapted from Allen Guenther, former teacher at our seminary..it's kind of a dial, suggesting how important following a literal chronolgy was to biblical writers:

Those of us who believe in divine inspiration at heart want to push the "reliability" of the gospel documents over the top..ELEVEN on a scale from one to to ten. But maybe the way we do that it by recognizing the historical/literary world of the day didn't look at biography/chronology the same way, and that is not lying or inaccurate..but just the way God chose the Bible to be inspired. Eleven out of ten on the inspiration level. (: See this classic clip from "Spinal Tap" (That Rob Bell mentioned today!)