LWT BIBLE STUDY : THE HIDDEN HAND OF GOD

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LWT BIBLE STUDY THE HIDDEN HAND OF GOD

• Introduction to the Wisdom Stories of Ruth,
  Daniel 1-6, Esther

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The B-I-B-L-E, yes, thats the book for me I
stand alone on the Word of God The B-I-B-L-E
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My hope is built on nothing less that Jesus
blood and righteousness No merit of my own I
claim, but solely lean on Jesus name. On Christ
the solid rock I stand All other ground is
sinking sand.
Luther
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O R D
OF GOD
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Living Lord Jesus Christ
Gospel of freedom in Jesus Christ
Scripturewitness to Gods vision for creation,
incarnate in life/ministry of Jesus of Nazareth
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BIBLE
Living, ongoing story of God revealing Godself as
Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier (Triune) for sake
of world God loves
Living, ongoing story of the triune Gods vision
for creation
A vision thats..
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Triune Gods Vision for Creation

• Context- sensitive.addresses changing contexts
  of Gods people through time and space
• Communal.invites me into the community of Gods
  people through time and spaceinto the one, holy,
  catholic, and apostolic church

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Vision, cont

• Comfortingproclaims message of life,
  forgiveness, healing, hope for me and all
  creation
• Challenging.calls me, within community of Gods
  people to discipleship in our time and place
• Justification justice

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Authoritative that which pushes
Christ..that which empowers us to hear and
experience good news of freedom from sin that
incorporates us into community and sends us forth
in mission
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Biblical Witness A Conversation
MANY VOICES
texts
history of interpretation
contemporary communities
Inviting us into the conversation
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A CONVERSATION THAT.

• Invites us into mysteries ambiguities of often
  messy life
• Pushes us out of individualism to community of
  church
• Challenges us to address systemic as well as
  individual sin
• Opens us to new knowledge from created world
  sciences

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INSPIRATION
We hear and receive the good news of the Gospel
by the power of the Holy Spirit, who continues to
work in our study today, equipping us to discern
the claims of the Gospels proclamation for our
life together today
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RISK
In entering the biblical story
I will be
CHANGED
TRANSFORMED FOR MISSION
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POST-REFORMATION17-18th centuries

• Context pressures from Roman Catholic
  enthusiastic approaches
• Response Lutheran scholasticism/orthodoxy
• Goal systematize faith into rational
  propositions
• Implications Bible becomes book of unchanging
  truths

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APPROACH TO SCRIPTURE

• WHAT IS THE BIBLE? The Bible is the Word of God.
• WHO WROTE THE BIBLE? Holy men of God wrote the
  Bible. The Prophets wrote the books of the OT
  and the Evangelists and the Apostles wrote the
  books of the NT

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Approach, cont

• WHY IS THE BIBLE THE WORD OF GOD ALTHOUGH IT WAS
  WRITTEN BY MEN? Because these men wrote it by
  inspiration of God
• WHAT DOES BY INSPIRATION OF GOD MEAN? It means
  that God the Holy Ghost moved the holy men to
  write and put into their minds the very thoughts
  which they expressed and the words they wrote
  (verbal inspiration).

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THEREFORE.
Every word of the Bible is Gods Word and
therefore the Bible is without error.
Truth Statements Accept or Reject
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CONVERSATION STARTERS

• With which approach are you most familiar?
• With which approach are you most comfortable?
  Why?
• What are the pros and cons of each approach?

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Types of literature
Psalms
LAW
Theological Histories
Prophetic Oracles
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Differences

• Little mention of law,
• covenant, history
• Indirect revelation
• Observation of the world
• Difficult hidden and subtle ways

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WISDOM
At heart of reality From God
Insight Gained Through experience
Teaching of elders
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Assumptions of Proverbs
Fundamental order in universe
Structure of creation action/appropriate
consequence
Through disciplined observation of nature
social exchange, one can discern and live in
harmony with order
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WISDOM
Calls people to heed her words
Possesses knowledge, strength, discernment
Power behind rulers, lover, source of wealth
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TWO WAYS
sinners
Wisdom
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PRAGMATIC

• How to live well
• What to say
• Experience wholeness and blessing

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E S E D
E R O I S M
I D D E N HAND
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HESED

• Goodness
• Kindness
• Loyalty
• Steadfast Love

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Heroic Actions
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HIDDEN HAND OF GOD
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E S E D
E R O I S M
I D D E N HAND