San Diego, California, United States First United Methodist Church "Heart of Christianity Discussion ideas for Sunday" for Sunday, 29 June 2014

San Diego, California, United States First United Methodist Church "Heart of Christianity Discussion ideas for Sunday" for Sunday, 29 June 2014
Heart of Christianity Discussion ideas for Sunday
Dear Hearts,
Lembi will be facilitating our class.  Her discussion topics are below.  We are in Chapter 3.
Thoughts for Sunday June 29.
1. Crossan says the word translated as kingdom connotes power and dominion. Does this affect the way you see the phrase Kingdom of God?
2. Crossan describes 2 different levels of the kingdom of God:
a. Apocalyptic or future – depends on God to use power to create peace and justice. All we can do is wait for it.
b. Sapiential
ii. Does not depend on supernatural actions of God.
iii. Role of believer dominates
iv. Crossan puts Jesus in this type.
3. P. 67 – Jesus talks about family divisions. He says it does not have to do with believer vs non-believer. Says it’s about changing the power structure. Your thoughts?
4. P.68  Blessed are the poor .  but poor really means destitute. Does that change how you see the quote. How does our society abuse power in relationship to the homeless – the destitute of our time?
5. The role of kids – see letter on pg 71.  Infant must be accepted by father before it is considered human. If not, it could be discarded.  When Jesus let the kids come to him, he was touching and blessing them – accepting them into his kingdom even though they are nobodies.
6. Mustard plant – it’s not about size of the seed being a metaphor for the size of one’s faith. It’s about a plant the takes over if it is not carefully  controlled.  Should we be controlling our faith???
7. Open commensality – from mensa = table.  Rules of eating are a model of the rules of the society. Jesus wants no rules, no separation. 
8. Radical egalitarianism – absolute equality of people – no hierarchies, no discrimination.
9. open commensality and radical egalitareanism  above are terrifying to most people in the 1st century.  And now????
Lembi Saarmann, RN, EdD
Professor Emerita
School of Nursing
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4158
Cell:  619-987-1604

Email:  Lsaarman@mail.sdsu.edu
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