Deacon / Deaconess Discussions

Let's take another break from our normal programming to join the church in the 'deaconing' discussion to which Pastor Mike has dedicated 3 sermons. If you missed one of those sermons, check them out on the church website.

Read the following articles by two godly men who pastor a couple of the flagship churches in the PCA (skip reading the visitors' comments below the articles, they can be time-wasters).

The Case for Our Current Policy on Female Deacons, by Rev. Ligon Duncan of First Pres. in Jackson, Mississippi.

The Case for Commissioning (Not Ordaining) Deaconesses, by Rev. Tim Keller of Redeemer Pres. in NYC. Author of Reason for God.

Because we're still the Good Book Club, we'll read the applicable scriptures ourselves. But contrary to the Inductive Method, we'll dive into these outside interpretations to facilitate our discussion. Perhaps we can even listen to some of the audio from the debate, depending on what you guys think on Friday. I'll even bring a copy of the Book of Church Order... exciting.  ;-)

Absalom

So we touched on Absalom in the Amnon, Tamar, Absalom story, but this week we'll look more at his relationship (or lack thereof?) with David, his father and king, and with God.

Where we left off, Absalom had fled to Geshur (where he was possibly royalty there, via his mother's line). To summarize Chapter 14, David has another "you're that man" rebuke (this time by a woman) that made him allow Absalom back into the Kindgom, but he still refused to see him.  After 2 years, Absalom set fire to a field of Joab (one of the King's men), to get his attention. He finally went before his dad David, bowed, and David kissed him.

Read Chapter 15, and the second half of 16 (vs 15 and on).

We'll discuss Absalom's whole story, but we'll focus mainly on the above passages. I'll summarize the rest after we read.

Remember the Inductive Method (see post below or click here), because we'll be using it again.

And finally, remember to read and post prayer requests on the prayer blog.

See you Friday.

Inductive Bible Study Method

I hope you all enjoyed our first attempt at using the Inductive Method. I think it's a good way to keep us focused and looking deeper at the Word of God. For reference, here again is the structure:

Observation -- What does the passage say?
Interpretation -- What does the passage mean?
Application -- How does that meaning apply to me?

General Rule: Come to the Word with curiosity and humility. You are hearing/reading the very voice of God. Forget what you think you know about the passage and read it as if you've never read it before.

Observation

• Read the passage carefully.
• Discuss the context: Who, What, Where, When.
• Look for repeated words or phrases, changes in tone, tense, person (e.g. 3rd person to second person), synonyms, comparisons, contrasts .
• Use a Bible Dictionary or Concordance to help with historical background and language translations/word meanings.
• Note unusual details or wording.
• Look up cross references in other parts of the Bible (not commentaries).
• Do not interpret yet. Just observe.
• Write down questions and ask them aloud.

Interpretation

• Try to answer the questions asked using only the passage and its cross references.
• Search other passages that may answer the questions at hand.
• Discuss relationships, themes, an overall message.
• Use your mind-- logic, reasoning.
• Do not introduce outside sources for answering questions (facilitator may share from a commentary if the group is stuck on a difficult passage).
• Do not preach. The only teacher in the group is the Word.
• Listen to one another. Share the discovery with one another.
• Agree on one or more principals, meanings, messages.
  

Application

• How does the meaning apply to us? What do we learn?
• Where do we fall short? and why?
• What can we do about it?
• How do we make these applications habitual in our lives?
• How can we pray for each other specifically in this area?