Wednesday, August 31, 2016
31st August: The Whiteboard Bible
Shannan shared a series of youtube videos from 'The Whiteboard Bible" for us to watch. There was nothing spectacular, but it's a bit like hearing the gospel afresh, a good reminder and you always appreciate something new.
Check out some of their videos
They also have a great website with resources for either personal or small group study:
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
20th August: Guys Snow Trip
What a wicked day. Was it 14 or 15 guys? Either way we had a great time. No injuries but many of use were walking with a little less bounce come the end of the day. Following a BK dinner, the stop in Tokaanu pools was welcome. Will this become an annual event? Check out the video from Shane's GoPro.
19th August: Midwinter Christmas
Our annual gathering and excuse to get a babysitter. Most memorable is the present game where this year the hot items were the rock climbing helmets. It was quite something to see the number of couples now connected within these TWO home groups. Whereas once we were just 4-5 couples, now we could easily be mistaken for looking like a church all on our own.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
17th August: Creation
Just when you thought you knew creation... Shane took us through some new insights into the Genesis account.
Saturday, June 25, 2016
3rd August: A Chosen People
Sean and Marcus threw their hands up at the opportunity to share around this topic. It was good stuff. Takeaway message: God never chose the Israelites, he chose Abraham, who had many sons, yes many sons had father Abraham. Check it out.
Chosen people from smcpeak
20th July: Poker Night
We met at Pete's place and played, well, not poker. We had a low turnout so an honorary member stepped up to fill in. Cheers Michelle! Speaking of poker chips, check out this video I was shared recently:
6th July: The Sacrificial System
Alexis talked us through some interesting material on this topic. Cheers mate. Study notes below.
Background
It seems that animal sacrifice was a pretty standard in many ancient religions. It appears that it started as a way to feed the god’s appetite. The angry Gods would come down and kill people through fire, volcanoes, disease, weather etc. The people thought that maybe if they gave the gods people or animals they would be happy and wouldn't come and take people randomly.
In the old testament the practice was significantly changed. Human sacrifice was not allowed. Most of the sacrificed animals were then eaten. The whole concept was about coming closer to God. The word "qorbanot" is usually translated as "sacrifices" or "offerings"; however, the word qorbanot comes from the root Qof-Reish-Beit, which means "to draw near," and indicates the primary purpose of offerings: to draw us near to God.
In the Ancient Near East animals were the 'wealth' of the day. Animal sacrifice was costly to the offerer. Giving your best animals to God and killing them was a symbol of God being your greatest treasure. Similar to our tithes and offerings at church today. The whole point was that the offering must cost something to the offerer (1 Chronicles 21:24). This helped the offerer express faith, for it takes faith to give up something costly with no apparent benefit, unless you believe that what God said is true. So although sacrifice was often about an innocent animal taking out guilt and dying in our place its use was broader than that.
Substitution Is the idea that the thing being offered is a substitute for the person making the offering. The things done to the animal are things that should have been done to the person offering. The offering is in some sense "punished" in place of the offerer. The innocent animal had to be perfect to be acceptable. (Jesus was also innocent and perfect)
The priests were purified for service to God through the transferal of their sins to a bull. Similarly, when an Israelite presented a peace or a sin offering, he laid his hands upon the animal being offered, identifying himself with it and transferring his guilt to the animal. Whenever the subject of qorbanot (sacrifice) is discussed in the Old testament, the name of God used is the four-letter name indicating God's mercy.
God is only able to dwell where it is holy. So to dwell in their midst it would have to be holy. The consequences of sin are far reaching and are embedded in this world. Blood is a symbol of life and the blood of the innocent animals was often gathered and sprinkled in the temple to purify it so that God could dwell there.
The 5 offerings and sacrifices
The Burnt Offering (offered twice a day)(Leviticus 1), in which the whole animal (except the hide) was burnt up, atoned for “the general sinful disposition of the presenter”. This offering was made on behalf of the whole nation so
that God could dwell in their midst (Exodus 29:38-46), but an individual could also offer it on a voluntary basis.
The Grain Offering (offered twice a day)(Leviticus 2), is the only non-animal offering. It was offered on behalf of the nation, and an individual could offer it voluntarily as a gift to God “in recognition of his lordship and his total claim on the presenter.”
The Peace Offering (voluntary offering)(Leviticus 3). Only the fat of the animal was burnt up. The meat was shared between the priest and the presenter’s family, who together with invited guests had fellowship over the meal in the presence of God. The occasion could be “to praise God for good fortune or success, in fulfillment of a vow, or as a spontaneous expression of love for God.”
A Sin Offering Is an offering to atone for and purge a sin. The Guilt Offering was similar. They are an expression of sorrow for the error and a desire to be reconciled with God. A sin offering could only be offered for unintentional sins committed through carelessness, not for intentional, malicious sins. The size of the offering varied depending on the sin and the financial means of the sinner. Some sin offerings are individual and some are communal. Communal offerings represent the interdependence of the community, and the fact that we are all responsible for each others' sins.
Animal sacrifices were costly. To enable even the poorest to offer the Sin Offering, they could offer flour in place of a sacrificial animal (Leviticus 5:11-13).
The Day of Atonement
Yom kippur (the day of atonement) is probably the most important day of the Jewish year. On this day everyone's sins are atoned for. Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and God, not for sins against another person. A goat was killed for the sins of the priests. Then the priests laid their hands on another goat (the scapegoat) and everyone's sins were passed to it.
He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.
In reality to stop it coming back it was taken to a cliff and pushed off. Jesus became the scapegoat for us. It should be us sent into the wilderness away from community and God. But Jesus took on the sins of everyone and was removed from the presence of God.
A matter of the heart
Repentance and the disposition of one’s heart were crucial. A sacrifice made with insincerity was detestable to God (Proverbs 21:27).
The end of the sacrificial system Hebrews 10: 1 - 18. So the blood of bulls and goats (in and of themselves) did not and could not take away sins (Hebrews 10:4). God accepted the animal sacrifices when offered in faith and repentance because of the (future) sacrificial death of Christ, the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:30). The animal sacrifices then served as “credit-cards” that God accepted then, in view of the future “payment” to be made by Christ (Romans 3:25).
All our sin was transferred to Jesus and the death he suffered was meant for us.
Animal sacrifices happened in God’s story from early on.
* Cain and Abel brought sacrifices
* Noah gave sacrifices
* Abraham ‘almost’ sacrificed Isaac
* The passover - This is the event closest to the final judgement. God’s judgement came down and passed over the houses with the innocent animal blood painted on the door frames. They were saved, not because they were Jews (if they stepped outside they would have been killed too), but because of the ‘life’ blood covering them.
Thoughts for discussion:
“Blood is a symbol of life and the blood of the innocent animals was often gathered and sprinkled in the temple to purify it so that God could dwell there” - Is really the blood of the sacrifice that counts or is it the intention and acknowledge of God’s holiness against our human nature? Otherwise the hole floor, curtains and walls of temple should have been washed with blood.
This idea can be reinforced when reading Hebrews 10:4, “God accepted the animal sacrifices when offered in faith and repentance because of the (future) sacrificial death of Christ...” Even when the animal was pure it seems more important to God the heart condition of the offerer.
God is almighty and is disgusted by sin at the point that he cannot stay in the same place where sin is. It seems logical to think that God in his power could overcome sin and walk where he pleases with no need of pure blood. However it is also logical to think that it is not in God to negotiate our free will and transform our heart without our help. It seems that from the beginning we were aim to take the first step to get close to Him. Today, by receiving His son in our heart, then through a repentant heart ready to acknowledge his holiness power.
It is all about faith
Background
It seems that animal sacrifice was a pretty standard in many ancient religions. It appears that it started as a way to feed the god’s appetite. The angry Gods would come down and kill people through fire, volcanoes, disease, weather etc. The people thought that maybe if they gave the gods people or animals they would be happy and wouldn't come and take people randomly.
In the old testament the practice was significantly changed. Human sacrifice was not allowed. Most of the sacrificed animals were then eaten. The whole concept was about coming closer to God. The word "qorbanot" is usually translated as "sacrifices" or "offerings"; however, the word qorbanot comes from the root Qof-Reish-Beit, which means "to draw near," and indicates the primary purpose of offerings: to draw us near to God.
In the Ancient Near East animals were the 'wealth' of the day. Animal sacrifice was costly to the offerer. Giving your best animals to God and killing them was a symbol of God being your greatest treasure. Similar to our tithes and offerings at church today. The whole point was that the offering must cost something to the offerer (1 Chronicles 21:24). This helped the offerer express faith, for it takes faith to give up something costly with no apparent benefit, unless you believe that what God said is true. So although sacrifice was often about an innocent animal taking out guilt and dying in our place its use was broader than that.
Substitution Is the idea that the thing being offered is a substitute for the person making the offering. The things done to the animal are things that should have been done to the person offering. The offering is in some sense "punished" in place of the offerer. The innocent animal had to be perfect to be acceptable. (Jesus was also innocent and perfect)
The priests were purified for service to God through the transferal of their sins to a bull. Similarly, when an Israelite presented a peace or a sin offering, he laid his hands upon the animal being offered, identifying himself with it and transferring his guilt to the animal. Whenever the subject of qorbanot (sacrifice) is discussed in the Old testament, the name of God used is the four-letter name indicating God's mercy.
God is only able to dwell where it is holy. So to dwell in their midst it would have to be holy. The consequences of sin are far reaching and are embedded in this world. Blood is a symbol of life and the blood of the innocent animals was often gathered and sprinkled in the temple to purify it so that God could dwell there.
The 5 offerings and sacrifices
The Burnt Offering (offered twice a day)(Leviticus 1), in which the whole animal (except the hide) was burnt up, atoned for “the general sinful disposition of the presenter”. This offering was made on behalf of the whole nation so
that God could dwell in their midst (Exodus 29:38-46), but an individual could also offer it on a voluntary basis.
The Grain Offering (offered twice a day)(Leviticus 2), is the only non-animal offering. It was offered on behalf of the nation, and an individual could offer it voluntarily as a gift to God “in recognition of his lordship and his total claim on the presenter.”
The Peace Offering (voluntary offering)(Leviticus 3). Only the fat of the animal was burnt up. The meat was shared between the priest and the presenter’s family, who together with invited guests had fellowship over the meal in the presence of God. The occasion could be “to praise God for good fortune or success, in fulfillment of a vow, or as a spontaneous expression of love for God.”
A Sin Offering Is an offering to atone for and purge a sin. The Guilt Offering was similar. They are an expression of sorrow for the error and a desire to be reconciled with God. A sin offering could only be offered for unintentional sins committed through carelessness, not for intentional, malicious sins. The size of the offering varied depending on the sin and the financial means of the sinner. Some sin offerings are individual and some are communal. Communal offerings represent the interdependence of the community, and the fact that we are all responsible for each others' sins.
Animal sacrifices were costly. To enable even the poorest to offer the Sin Offering, they could offer flour in place of a sacrificial animal (Leviticus 5:11-13).
The Day of Atonement
Yom kippur (the day of atonement) is probably the most important day of the Jewish year. On this day everyone's sins are atoned for. Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and God, not for sins against another person. A goat was killed for the sins of the priests. Then the priests laid their hands on another goat (the scapegoat) and everyone's sins were passed to it.
He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.
In reality to stop it coming back it was taken to a cliff and pushed off. Jesus became the scapegoat for us. It should be us sent into the wilderness away from community and God. But Jesus took on the sins of everyone and was removed from the presence of God.
A matter of the heart
Repentance and the disposition of one’s heart were crucial. A sacrifice made with insincerity was detestable to God (Proverbs 21:27).
The end of the sacrificial system Hebrews 10: 1 - 18. So the blood of bulls and goats (in and of themselves) did not and could not take away sins (Hebrews 10:4). God accepted the animal sacrifices when offered in faith and repentance because of the (future) sacrificial death of Christ, the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:30). The animal sacrifices then served as “credit-cards” that God accepted then, in view of the future “payment” to be made by Christ (Romans 3:25).
All our sin was transferred to Jesus and the death he suffered was meant for us.
Animal sacrifices happened in God’s story from early on.
* Cain and Abel brought sacrifices
* Noah gave sacrifices
* Abraham ‘almost’ sacrificed Isaac
* The passover - This is the event closest to the final judgement. God’s judgement came down and passed over the houses with the innocent animal blood painted on the door frames. They were saved, not because they were Jews (if they stepped outside they would have been killed too), but because of the ‘life’ blood covering them.
Thoughts for discussion:
“Blood is a symbol of life and the blood of the innocent animals was often gathered and sprinkled in the temple to purify it so that God could dwell there” - Is really the blood of the sacrifice that counts or is it the intention and acknowledge of God’s holiness against our human nature? Otherwise the hole floor, curtains and walls of temple should have been washed with blood.
This idea can be reinforced when reading Hebrews 10:4, “God accepted the animal sacrifices when offered in faith and repentance because of the (future) sacrificial death of Christ...” Even when the animal was pure it seems more important to God the heart condition of the offerer.
God is almighty and is disgusted by sin at the point that he cannot stay in the same place where sin is. It seems logical to think that God in his power could overcome sin and walk where he pleases with no need of pure blood. However it is also logical to think that it is not in God to negotiate our free will and transform our heart without our help. It seems that from the beginning we were aim to take the first step to get close to Him. Today, by receiving His son in our heart, then through a repentant heart ready to acknowledge his holiness power.
It is all about faith
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