Tuesday, October 17, 2006

CG 10 Oct

Before CG

Waiting for CG to start...


Julian is sleepy...

1. Ice Breaker

Thanks marc for the alphabet song game...guess it wasn't easy to memorise alphabets...ha. Those who did got the alphabets wrong had to sing the whole song in alphabets


Our enthusiastic forfeiters!

2. Worship
Thanks to Yiling and Daniel for that wonderful time of worship! Yup praising God shld always be this fun!



3. John Study 2
Who is Jesus?

Take note of the symbolic language in the bible.
- Imagery used is steeped in the Jewish traditions found in the Old Testament
- All the imagery/symbols all pt to what Jesus was going to do  Jesus was a fulfillment of the OT
- Common theme running throughout the bible studies: bringing the focus back to God, drawing you back to Him – this is a common msg in the bible also

Have any of you been baptized? Why did you choose to be baptized?
- cleansing from sins – mirror what was happening spiritually
- declaration of faith
- in OT, ritual purification for the priests
- for the Gentiles who wanted to become Jews
Why Be Immersed?
To the ancient Jew, the mikveh was a process of spiritual purification and cleansing, especially in relation to the various types of Turmah or ritual defilement when the Temple was in use. Although God has not revealed all the meaning of the mikveh, it is obvious because of the amount of space given to it in Scripture, and the effort of Jesus to fulfill it, the command is of utmost importance. All commands of the Lord fall into three categories:
1. Mishpatim: judgments The moral or ethical laws that are necessary for man to live in harmony
2. Edos: witnesses; The rituals and festivals which reawaken us to important religious truths such as Sabbath, holidays, the Tefillin and the Mezuzah that remind us of God's presence.
3. Chukim: decrees; no explicit reason given for their existence except for Israel's identification as God's chosen people to the other nations (Deuteronomy 4:6). Among the decrees of this group are the dietary laws as well as ritual immersion.
How Immersion Was Done
Jewish baptism has never been taken lightly, but in ancient times immersion was to be performed in the presence of witnesses
The baptismal water (Mikveh) in rabbinic literature was referred to as the womb of the world, and as a convert came out of the water it was considered a new birth separating him from the pagan world. As the convert came out of these waters his status was changed and he was referred to as "a little child just born" or "a child of one day" (Yeb. 22a; 48b; 97b). We see the New Testament using similar Jewish terms as "born anew," "new creation," and "born from above."
Water and Blood Both Illustrate God's Cleansing In Judaism
Both water and blood are used constantly in the Torah and the New Testament as the two main agents to illustrate God's cleansing. [last wk talked a little abt the redemptive power of blood ie Passover] The Jews believe that uncleanness is not physical, but rather a spiritual condition as related in Leviticus 11:44 where it states by wrong actions one can make the "soul unclean." Therefore, the purification through ritual immersion, as commanded in Scripture is basically involved with the soul, rather than the body. Note how both water and blood are cited in Scripture: (1) Blood is used in cleansing in relation to the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12). (2) Blood is used in cleansing in relation to the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). (3) Blood is used in cleansing in relation to the Feast Offerings (Leviticus 23). (4) Blood is used in cleansing in relation to the five Levitical Offerings (Leviticus 1-7). (5) Blood is used in cleansing in relation to the atonement for the soul (Leviticus 17:11-14).
(2) Water is used in cleansing in relation to the consecration to priestly ministry (Leviticus 8:6). (3) Water is used in cleansing in relation to the cleansing of the leper (Leviticus 14:1-8).
>> READ VERSES

Exploring the Authority of Jesus
1.
Why disciples’ ask this qn
- jealousy (most probable) cos of John’s subsequent reply
- issue of authority: Jesus was baptized by John >>WHY DID JESUS NEED TO BE BAPTIZED IF HE WAS WITHOUT SIN?
The reasons Jesus was baptized was:
a.) to “fulfill all righteousness”
b.) to set us an example that we should follow
c.) to reveal Himself as to belonging to God and being the Christ

JOHN VS JESUS
- sent b4 the Christ
- friend of the bridegroom
>> Jewish Tradition: fren meant to help bridegroom prepare everything so that everything goes smoothly. The bridegroom is the pt of the fren’s preparation, if he is not there, there will be no pt
- John = OT, age of law; Jesus = NT, age of grace

3.
4. Jesus increase, we decrease: we can only do this if we understand that our work is not for ourselves but for God; clear of what is the focus of our lives
5. v31 WHO IS TALKING HERE
- Est the authority of Jesus  ur response can have a redemptive element
- Mediator must be qualified
- Authority more for the Jews, and for Gentiles to cont believing
- john the evangelist taking over from where john the Baptist has left off
- use john the Baptist testimony  john the Baptist was well respected by the Jews. If pple like John was used to pt to the Messiah, why are u not believing in Him?
- But in today’s context u can’t say John Baptist says this then u believe – then who is the credible source?
- YOUSELVES!!
- Need to have personal testimony
- If you were to call to say who Jesus is, what wld you say

4. Makan!
Thanks to Yiling & Esther who brought us yummilicious ice-cream mooncakes!
Marc thinks the ribbon on the pig mooncake can be eaten T_T
Deborah is thankful for 2 hands cos that means she can hold on to more food! :)
C blk brothers & sisters in Christ!



7:55 PM
C-ing Christ

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