New Schedule

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

Here is the new schedule for the men and women's groups where Dorman will teach us how to study the Bible.

Studying the Bible Catch-up Seminar/Workshop

When: April 21, Saturday, 8am-12noon
Where: At church
Who: Anyone, men and women, who need to jump-start or review the Bible Study process Dorman taught in the prior Saturday morning Men's Group.

Studying the Bible (On-going Class)

When: Beginning April 22, on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sundays each month, 12:30-1:30pm
Where: At church
Who: Men who were in the Saturday morning Men's Group, and anyone else who attended the catch-up seminar.
Note: Lunch will be ordered and participants may make freewill donation to cover the cost.

You may find these sessions in the new church calendar by clicking HERE.
Please bring a Bible (New American Standard Bible preferred), pen/pencil, paper and an eager heart to learn!

Please let me know if you require childcare at the catch-up seminar or at the ongoing class. Vicky and I will see what can be arranged, but please keep it in prayer.

In Christ,
Wilson

Outline & Main Theme (Mar 24)

This session we shared some of the additional 50 observations from Genesis 1:1-2:3.

A few random notes:

1. Phil observed that the creation account includes much more detail about the earth, but very little about the heavens.

• Dorman remarked that that is a trend seen throughout the Bible: the focus is on what happens on earth, while there is little detail about heaven.
• A question was raised if "heavens" refers to Heaven or to the sky and space in general.
• Dorman noted the Hebrew word for heavens is literally "up there."
  

2. Jean Marc noted that only seed bearing plants are given to man to eat. Why?

• Dorman pointed out that there is a general theme of reproduction in the passage and that God's command to man was to "be fruitful and multiply." The word "seed" also appears a few times, noting that it comes up in Genesis 3 later. (a little look ahead)

3. JM also noted the structure of Genesis 1:27 :

• A = God created man

B = in His own image
B' = in the image of Go
A' = He created him;
C = male and female He created them

• The mirror structure of the verse poetically emphasizes that God created man in His own image. Man is a reflection of God.

• Both man and woman are created in His image.

4. Genesis 2:3, for the first time, states a reason for God's action: "because" - a causal link.

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

• Rest is a huge theme throughout the Bible
• O.T.: Rest in the (promised) land. (Joshua)
• N.T.:
• Matthew 11:28-30
• Hebrews 3, 4
• Revelation 21, 22
• God rested: the all powerful rested->balance->integrity->Hebrew "echad"
• "Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is one(echad)"

[Sorry if your observations aren't listed above, I didn't write down everything!]

Homework:

1. Make a one page outline of Genesis 1:1-2:3

• Consider: How would you teach this passage? (i.e. make a teaching outline)
• How is the passage organized?
• What are the big principles?
• Be careful not to get caught up in the minutiae and miss the big picture.

2. Describe the main theme of Genesis 1:1-2:3 in 60 seconds

• 60 seconds = approx 8-9 sentences

50 More !!! (Mar 10)

As we gathered for our session, the buzz around the group was, "How many did you get?" "Did you get 50?"

So right off the bat, Dorman asked who came up with 50 observable facts from Genesis 1:1-2:3.

We spent the majority of the session, sharing observations in just Genesis 1:1,2. Towards the end, we shared observations from the entire passage. It was a wonderful time of learning from each other. Many times I found myself saying, "I totally missed that one, I wish I saw it!" after someone shared a keen fact from the passage.

One thing to do, if you haven't already, is to make a chart to diagram the patterns of each day and see where the pattern breaks. You can find these patterns in the things that are repeated each day (or not in some cases!); i.e. "Then God said..." "And it was good" etc.

My short summary here does not do justice to the awesome time we had as brothers this past Saturday.

And so... the next Homework: 50 more observable facts from Genesis 1:1-2:3 !!!

Most of guys were in shock, "50 MORE!?" But we should have see it coming as we saw this play out in the poem, "The Student, the Fish, and Agassiz," [pdf] Dorman shared with us last time.

Note that we will NOT be meeting this coming Saturday, March 17, as Dorman is out of town. So you have 2 weeks to come up w/ 50 more!

Bible Study (Feb 24)

Dorman gave each person a pine cone and instructed us to write down ten observable facts about it such that if someone else read our list, they would readily agree. We each shared one of our observations and then looked to find any that were related.

He then shared a story titled "The Student, the Fish, and Agassiz" [pdf] from Appendix American Poems (Houghton, Osgood & Co., 1880). The story, about a student's training in zoology by observing a preserved fish, splendidly expresses the essence of Bible Study. Ask Dorman or me for a copy if you missed this meeting.

The keys to Bible Study:

1. Read, Read, Read (i.e. read the passage over and over again)
2. NO outside aids (commentaries)
   
3. Observable facts - incontrovertible
4. Guidance is available from the ... the Holy Spirit, the author of the Scriptures!
5. Make notes or draw what's described
6. Don't be content

Dorman noted that at Dallas Theological Seminary, a new student would be asked to make 25 observable facts on just one verse: Acts 1:8 !

Reading the passage over and over again helps to reveal things in the passage not apparent earlier.

Dorman used Psalm 23, as an example of "read, read, read," a passage very familiar to people and which many have memorized. He observed that in verses 1-3, the shepherd is ahead of the sheep, leading them. Yet verse 4 is the turning point- in the darkest moment, the shepherd is right next to the sheep, "for you (God) are with me."

Homework: 50 observable facts from Genesis 1:1-2:3

Can NOT just repeat what it says.
i.e. Genesis 1:1 facts:
#1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

rather...

#1 The subject of the first verse of the Bible is God.
#2 1st action taken by God as recorded in the Bible was to create.
#3 Creation of heavens mentioned before the creation of the earth.
#4 The Bible begins at the beginning.

You can make observations by breaking down the grammar, but that's not the only way.
Look for patterns and breaks in the pattern.
At this point, do not draw any theological conclusions, just make observations.

How would you introduce yourself? (Feb 17)

(This was the Chinese New Year weekend, so many guys were absent.)

Dorman posed the question, "How would you introduce yourself?"
Imagine you were introducing yourself so someone would know who you are. (i.e. not just, "I'm Wilson. I know Phil from college..." as you would at a party.)

Further, "Where do you get your identity and your security?"
A secure man is not competitive with other men.
A secure man doesn't give you his resume' when you meet him.

Dorman proceeded to introduced himself, followed by Wilson doing same.

Romans 1:1
End of Paul's 3rd Missionary Journey.
Famine in Jerusalem
Paul knew he would go to jail and be killed
Romans is Paul's last will and testament

How does Paul introduce himself? "Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God"

• Bond-servant: slave by his own choice, for life
• Supreme humility
• Supreme identity in Jesus the Messiah

• Called apostle: "sent one," "called messenger"
• Goes where the Master says to go

• Set apart for the gospel: Romans 1-8
• Our sin problem: Romans 1:18-3:20

Our identity and security is in Christ alone.

Introduction

The purpose of this blog is to summarize the men's group led by Dorman at Hope EFC for both those participating as well as those unable to so all can keep up with the group.

Our meeting schedule:

• 2nd, 3rd, 4th Saturdays of each month, generally
• 10am-12pm
• Room 206, enter church building on 34th Avenue

There will be 4-5 hours of homework each week.

A New American Standard Bible is recommended. All Scripture quotations and web-links are NASB unless otherwise noted.

Personal sharing and prayer requests will NOT be posted here.

What is the most important investment you could make? (Feb 10)

At our first session, Dorman opened with the question, "What is the most important investment you can make?"

Followed up by, "How do you go about answering this question?"

Think Biblically!

In the Old Testament, from Genesis through Malachi, the Scriptures point towards Jesus in the Gospels- the peak of revelation. Then, Jesus sheds light on the rest of the New Testament- Acts through Revelation.

We answer these fundamental life questions in two ways:

1. What did Jesus say?
2. What did Jesus do?

Mark 3:13-15
Jesus chose disciples so they would be with Him
Jesus chose disciples to send them out to preach

Matthew 28:8-20 = What Jesus said
Mark 1:1-3:15 = What Jesus modelled (did)

How did Jesus figure this out? Isaiah 50

Aside:
The "Fifth" Gospel - The Servant Songs of Isaiah

1. Isaiah 42:1-4
2. Isaiah 49:1-13
3. Isaiah 50:4-11
4. Isaiah 52:13-53:12
5. Isaiah 61:1-11

Being a father is to disciple your children.

If we think about the relationships in our life, in the center is our relationship with Christ. From this center, outward in concentric circles are our relationships in our home, with the community and finally with the world. In these relationships are discipleship opportunities.

Homework: Read Genesis 1:1-2:3

If you missed this session, you can listen to Dorman's message on the Gospel According to Mark. The first part of the sermon covers most of this session.