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Meeting Notes : 9-29-2010

Sorry for not updating in a while but I've just been very busy. We had a great turnout today and a moving study. Good seeing you again TJ -  You looked great and I'm pleased to hear things are going so well in your life. Jesus takes care of his own, you are discovering that, eh?

We finished Chapter 4 of Ecclesiastes and will pick up with Chapter 5 next week. Bring your Bible and be prepared to use it because I have a lot of cross-referrences to go over that will greatly help explain and reveal the depths of this chapter. Untill then, KEEP LIVING IT.

peace and grace

Tommyboy.

Meeting notes: 8-25-10

We had an awesome discussion comparing 3000 years of western philosophy with the arguments and conclusions of Solomon in the first three chapters of Ecclesiastes. A practical demonstration that there truely is "noting new under the sun". We also covered 2:12-18 and will pick up at 2:19 next week. Hope to see you there.

Meeting notes: 8-18-10

We covered Ecc 2:1-11 and had a great discussion going with everyone participating. Qoheleth's hedonism experiment was interesting and universal. A lonely, self-indulgent journey. Hebel.  

Next week we'll take a look at how Q's observations and consequent philosophic conclusions compares to western philosophy, Christian and secular, over the last 2000 years. It should be interesting and I hope to see you there.

p&g

tb

Meeting Notes are Up

I have posted tomorrow's meeting notes. Feel free to print them out and bring them to the meeting.

Prayers to Glenda.

Update for Glenda Murphree

Hello all:

As and update on Glenda, the detials of her her son's funeral can be found
here:

Funeral Notice

Chris Cross

Glenda Murphree

Fellow Followers:

It is with great sadness that I learned that Glenda Murphree of our study group lost her son this week. Please keep her and her family in your prayers during this difficult time. I will try to have a card at this week's study for everyone to sign. If you would like to take a collection for flowers, please let me know. The arrangements are pending, but the viewing will be at Forest Lawn on 135 South.

Chris Cross

Meeting Notes 8-11-10: Great Discussion

We covered Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 today and had a really good discussion. The themes of Ecclesiastes are so universal and self evident that it really draws out the conversation and perspective of the group. I called this passage "The Quest" as it identifies the mission Qoheleth is taking on, why the task needs done and why he is just the man for the job. While such a quest would usually strike chords of optimism, Q tells us right from the start what the result of the quest was: hebel.  (Wow, talk about killing the moment.....")

Join us next week and discover how Q came to his conclusion. Until then,

peace & grace

tommyboy

Tomorrow's meeting notes posted

You can download a copy of the meeting notes for tomorrow using the link to the right. I won't be able to bring handouts every week, but everyone is encouraged to print out the notes and use them.

Mario's Getting Married

I'm happy to announce that group member Mario is getting Married! And even better, all regular attendies are invited. Details:

Mario and Terrell

September 4, 2010 @ 4:00 P.M.

Broadway United Methodist Chruch

609 East Twenty Ninth Street

Indianapolis, Indiana

(click to see copy of Invitation)

Meeting Report 8-4-2010

Great meeting today. We covered Ecclesiates 1:1-11. This is Qoheleth's summary of what is to come, dominated by the introductory poem which acts as an Overture to the entire book. A very beautiful passage of scripture that goes very, very deep. A lot of good discussion and I think the depth and visceral impact of the issues addressed will continue to draw everyone present into the discussion. This is what I hoped when Ecclesiates was chosen to study and so far I haven't been disappointed. I will post my meeting notes in the next day or so. They will be in the sidebar to the right.

Hope to see everyone next week. Until then,

peace & grace

Tom

Qoheleth - Life under the Sun

CMBS starts Ecclesiastes. We had a great meeting and in depth introduction to the book of Ecclesiates ("Qoheleth"). This promises to be an exciting study, something a bit different from a very modern book. We discussed the authorship of the book (group consensus - Solomon), the themes, genre and five good reasons that now is a more relevant time than ever to study this often overlooked God breathed book. If you would like to review our study notes for the meeting click here.

Next week we'll get started on the book with an eye toward Chapter 1 v. 1-11. I strongly recommend that everyone read the entire book before the next meeting. It's not that long and can easily be read in a single sitting. Focus especially on chapter 12, the last chapter. It contains a unifying coda on the book which shows the author's true focus. Hope to see you there.

Ecclesiastes It Is.........................

It boiled down to Jonah or Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes won for now and Jonah will be next. Ecclesiastes is a wonderful book that takes a look at life's hard realities and the meaningless of life without God. In the end it is a book of hope and optimism in that it answers some of our most basic and important questions. I've added some excellent study aids and resources in the links to the right. 

Please join us in our journey exploring life under the sun with Qoheleth.

Meeting Report - A farewell to Hebrews

A great meeting on 7-21-10. We had a retrospective of the book of Hebrews, reviewing our long journey through the Old Testament foundations of the Gospel of Christ. We remembered just who the book was being written to and the major themes expressed therein. Themes such as judgment apart of Christ; the "better", perfected state of the Gospel, the necessity of faith and the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies and foreshadowing in Jesus. I hope everyone found our study of Hebrews to be rich and satisfying as I did. Now.....on to Ecclesiastes!

Hello All:

It appears that we are leaning toward studying Ecclesiastes next. On the chance that we go that direction, I have attached a study guide for you to use as a resource. It is posted in the Resource Section in the right margin below. Hope to see you all soon.

Chris Cross

What to study next?

As you can see we are getting to the end of Hebrews. It's been a great ride and rich study. We need to start considering what we will do next. A topic study? An OT book? We're open to suggestion.

A topic study has been suggested. I have several studies available and the one's on the following topics look very good:

• "Sermon on the Mount"
• "Christian Discipline"
• "Meeting God"

I like the "Meeting God" study. Not enough people today really study God as he is revealed in his word. The study was prepared by J.I. Packer, author of the classic, "Knowing God".

If you have a suggestion or something you'd personally like to cover let either Chris or myself know. We'll narrow it down to a list and let the group vote on it again. I know I sure have been spending some quality time in Ecclesiastes lately (hint, hint)   ;-)

Think about it.

We can’t wait to get to the City Market Bible Study.

Meeting Report 6-2-2010

A rainy day but a great turnout. We studied Heb. 12:12-25 and discussed the significance of this, admittedly, difficult passage. An interesting side discussion developed on the giving of the 10 Commandments from Exodus Chapter 20. Next week will go over Heb. 12:25-29 and learn about "the Kingdom that cannot be shaken". Hope to see you there.

p&g

tommyboy

Comment from Joe

Hello all:

Joe wanted me to post his comment to Tommyboy's post regarding his baptism.

Joe M said...
tommyboy your quite the genius:)and BTW what in carnation is Soli Deo Gloria? Seriously though folks you've been great!Thank you very much! hee hee hee!!!!! :)

love,
your brother in Christ
Joe A Massey
p.s.
we all can't have a handle like Tommyboy!
Joe:

Soli Deo Gloria roughly translates: only for the glory of God. I beleive it was a motto used during the Protestant Reformation.

Meeting report 5-12-2010

For such a cloudy, rainy day there was plenty of  light at the City Market. We had a good turn out under the circumstances and the spirit was present and strong. We studied Hebrews 11:23-31, focusing primarily on the faith of Moses.

Next week we will begin at Hebrews 11:32 and hope to finish the rest of Chapter 11. Hope to see you there. May God bless your week.

Indiana Family Institute

I was attending the festivities at the City Market celebrating the National Day of Prayer and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was being led and had been organized by Curt Smith. Curt is a childhood friend that I had not heard from in many years and it was a blessing to talk with him afterwards and catch up with each other. Curt is currently the President of the Indiana Family Institute.
The Indiana Family Institute is  a Christian organization that promotes the family and Christian social values and has a strong mission. You can find out more about the IFI here: Indiana Family Institute. I strongly encourage everyone to support this fine organization in the Godly work they are doing.