For the last eight weeks, we have been doing a mini hermeneutics course in our high school seniors Sunday school class. We’ve covered genres, themes, and keys to interpretation in the hopes that they will feel more confident as they approach Scripture study. This Sunday is the last Sunday, so you guessed it, it’s time to approach the ‘scary’ Revelation. True, wars, whores, strange beasts and fiery dragons are the stuff that nightmares are made of. Not to mention, we’re not all that comfortable with uncertainty, and the numerous symbols and visions don’t lend themselves to easy interpretation. And of course, that many mini-battles over millennialism aren’t that pretty either.
And yet, I volunteered to lead this study, because I am so passionate that this is a book of hope about Jesus Christ, and people should not only not avoid it, but should study and enjoy it. The most helpful resource has been Scotty Smith and Michael Card’s book, .The subtitle says it all: “eternal encouragement from the book of Revelation.” In these last days, which had been lasting for a long time, we all need encouragement to persevere through life in a broken world. Revelation tells us the end of the story, and it is good. The day is coming, a city is coming, when and where a wildly varied fellowship of believers, Jesus’ name tattooed on our foreheads (okay, maybe that’s just a symbol, but who knows?), will dwell with God forever, freed from sin, sickness, and sorrow to finally live as we were created to do. It’s a really good story. Why not read it again for the very first time?
PS. Stay tuned: I’ll post my notes for the seniors here tomorrow.
Posts Tagged ‘Scotty Smith’
Back this week on Friday to share a few favorite things I read this week.
I read and really appreciated the hard and beautiful story of Maggie Lee for Good, because it’s more than an ‘inspirational’ story — it’s a true story that takes us into the daily ins and outs of the travels and travails of grief that wrestles with gospel hope. Learn more at Maggie Lee for Good.
For writing that does not sentimentalize the story of young Olympic champion Gabby Douglas, read this excellent piece from Vanity Fair.
And, the topic we should never weary of, forgiveness. Scotty Smith’s prayeron the implications of Christ’s forgiveness is one of many prayers he has written that help me voice my heart’s struggle with this most important of topics. You can find more of them by clicking on the ‘forgiveness’ tag at his “Heavenward” blog of daily prayers.
A glimpse of the second book in the Living Story series!
Thank you to Scotty Smith, Nancy Puryear, and Daniel Taylor for kind endorsements.
Amazon so graciously has given you a look inside. Click here to see the rest.
In any story, well-developed, complex characters drive the plotline. But our stories are unique because they bear the mark of God. In one of my favorite books, Restoring Broken Things,Scotty Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman write,
“God is telling an authentic, non-spin story of selfish, broken people, who are in the process of being made new by Jesus. That’s why Jesus has the lead role in God’s Story. But He’s not the only character. He’s making us characters too. We are carriers of God’s Story – targets for hope who’ll serve as agents of hope, and candidates of mercy who’ll live as conduits of mercy. Jesus is bringing restoration to broken individuals as a means of bringing healing to other individuals, families, communities, and ultimately, to the whole universe.” (Restoring Broken Things)
Because God has made us characters who are carriers of His story, we must carefully consider the people and relationships in our stories. No person, no interaction with a person, can be random – each one, whether an apparently good or evil influence, has been written there by God to further His purposes. Think of a question people commonly ask you – “How did you…end up in Pensacola, Florida?….know you wanted to be a carpenter when you grew up? ….meet your best friend?” The answers to these questions involve story, but they also involve characters.
Be sure to check back tomorrow when I’ll share a story to show you what this might look like.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/2012/02/28/a-prayer-for-redefined-and-refueled-joy/
I know some who read this blog also read my friend Scotty’s daily prayers. When I saw Tuesday’s prayer, I couldn’t wait to post the link to that with the link to the brilliant (though not always well understood) song, “Joy,” by Page CXVI. In the video I’ve posted, the creator tells her story of how this song was given to her after her father’s death. It is a GREAT story! Also, Page CXVI’s music is great — I have all of their hymn albums, and they soothe and encourage my heart.
