The Adult Forum meets on Sundays at 9:00am in Wilkinson Hall
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 24 – 26
Chapters 24 and 25 are the final laws of the law code, and chapter 26 describes liturgies for affirming adherence to the law.
The laws include these general topics:
How might those themes apply today?
Chapter 26:
The liturgy that is described in at the end of the legal code is related to the Festival of Weeks, which was a harvest festival. How are the law and the harvest related?
The instructions include reciting a kind of hymn or creed described in 26:5-10. What does this passage highlight about God and our relationship with God?
The Deuteronomic understanding of the covenant with Moses is describe in vv. 17-19. How might we understand this covenant today?
For next week: – Read ch. 27 – 30. In these chapters, the law that Moses has just shared are ratified. Can you think of ceremonies that parallel this in our tradition today?
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 21 – 23
Grappling with the death penalty:
In these chapters (and some others) the punishment for several violations is stoning to death, and the death penalty seemed accepted as a punishment for some crimes. Jews and Christians have interpreted this in various ways (and continue to do so). Even if they do not accept the forms of execution described, some feel that capital punishment is appropriate for some crimes. Others argue that the context of these punishments (there were no prisons) has changed, and therefore the protection that execution provided in the past can now be accomplished in other ways (this is a typical Jewish interpretation). Still others in the Christian community argue that Jesus’ teachings override these laws and are not consistent with capital punishment. Where do you see yourself on this spectrum? Why?
Note that the violations in these chapters that require stoning to death include disobedience of parents (21:18-21) and adultery (22:22)—these are laws in the Ten Commandments, so this may be the reason for such a harsh punishment.
Finally, these harsh punishments are often followed by the phrase “so you shall purge the evil from Israel.” How do you understand this emphasis? How might this be understood in a metaphorical sense (for instance, consider Jesus’ exhortation Matt. 5:26 to pluck out an eye if it causes you to sin)?
The theme of purity and maintaining boundaries:
Several laws seem to emphasize the importance of maintaining boundaries, such as the prohibitions against cross-dressing, planting different seeds in a field, yoking two different animals together, and wearing two kinds of fabrics (Deut. 22:5, 9-11). Are these really moral laws? What might be going on here?
What other laws stood out to you?
For next week: – Read ch. 24 – 26. These chapters wrap up the law code. What are some major themes you found throughout the laws?
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 18 – 20
Chapters 18 and 19 contain a series of laws on unrelated topics, while chapter 20 focuses on rules for engaging in war.
Here are questions on a few of the laws:
18:1-8: What do you think might have been the significance or purpose of these laws regarding the Levites (priests)?
19:1-13: What principles of justice lie behind these laws about cities of refuge? How might they apply today?
19:15-21: How do these laws connect to the law in the 10 Commandments that says “thou shall not bear false witness”?
Chapter 20:
What other laws stood out to you?
No class next week!
For 11/4 – Read ch. 21 – 23. Which laws reflect important principles that might apply today? Which laws are challenging for you? Which are confusing?
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 14 – 17
With these chapters we are well into the law codes that will last through chapter 26. These laws are a reiteration of the laws found earlier in the Torah, as Deuteronomy is written as speeches by Moses before Israel enters the Promised Land in which he is reminding them of the covenant they made with God. Many of the laws are exactly the same, but there are some differences. One difference of note is that the earlier laws reflected an acceptance of a variety of places of worship, while these laws insist on certain rituals only taking place at a centralized place of worship—this may reflect a later concern that people had begun to stray from the prescribed forms of worship.
What laws stood out to you as relevant to us today? What laws surprised you? What laws were confusing?
Here are major categories of laws found in these chapters:
Kosher laws (14:3-21): Please take a look at the reflections below on the meaning of kosher laws for people today.
The tithe (14:22-29): Note the concern for the poor and for the Levites (who were not given any land) in this section,
Cancellation of debts and manumission of slaves every seven years (15:1-18): What do you think is the principle behind these laws?
The festivals (16:1-17): This section prescribes the celebration of Passover, Shavuot (also called Festival of Weeks or Pentecost), and Sukkot. These holidays were originally connected to the agricultural calendar, but they later also took on meanings connected with events in the history of the Israelites (the exodus, the giving of the Torah, and the wandering in the wilderness).
Judicial structure (16:18 – 17): This establishes a structure for enforcing the law and providing justice. Some of the punishments seems especially harsh to us today, and in a future week we will discuss the concept of punishment and how it has been interpreted over time both within Judaism and Christianity. One thing of note is the restrictions that were supposed to be imposed on any king of Israel – why might this have been included?
Kashrut Makes Me Ask Good Questions
The observance of kashrut is an example of an annoying series of mitzvot that I am glad not to have dropped because of some of the rather important surprises it has offered. Because it is a public observance, I have to justify it rather frequently, to my friends and certainly to myself.
I find that whether I like it or not, kashrut brings me into contact with a series of rather important questions: What is my responsibility to the calf that I eat, or to the potato? Is the earth and the fullness thereof mine to do with as I will? What does it mean that a table should be an altar? Is eating, indeed, a devotional act? Does God really care whether I wait two or six hours before drinking milk after a meat meal? If kashrut makes me ask enough questions, often enough, I discover that its very provocative quality is one of its chief virtues for my religious life.
–Rabbi Richard J. Israel (1929-2000) directed Hillel programs at UCLA, Yale University, and in the Boston metropolitan. Reprinted from The Condition of Jewish Belief: A Symposium, composed by the editors of Commentary Magazine, by permission; all rights reserved.
Kashrut Makes Eating a Religious Matter
Let’s go back to my hypothetical lunch with a friend. Watching me scan the menu, he may suspect me of thinking, “Oh, would I love to order the ham, but that mean old God won’t let me.” But in fact, what is probably going through my mind at the moment is “Isn’t it incredible! Nearly five billion people on this planet, and God cares what I have for lunch!” And God cares how I earn and spend my money, and whom I sleep with, and what sort of language I use. (These are not descriptions of God’s emotional state, about which we can have no information, but a way of conveying the critical ethical significance of the choices I make.) What better way is there to invest every one of my daily choices with divine significance?
There is nothing intrinsically wicked about eating pork or lobster, and there is nothing intrinsically moral about eating cheese or chicken instead. But what the Jewish way of life does by imposing rules on our eating, sleeping, and working habits is to take the most common and mundane activities and invest them with deeper meaning, turning every one of them into an occasion for obeying (or disobeying) God. If a gentile walks into a fast-food establishment and orders a cheeseburger, he is just having lunch. But if a Jew does the same thing, he is making a theological statement. He is declaring that he does not accept the rules of the Jewish dietary system as binding upon him. But heeded or violated, the rules lift the act of having lunch out of the ordinary and make it a religious matter. If you can do that to the process of eating, you have done something important.
Harold Kushner, Rabbi Laureate of Temple Israel in Natick, Massachusetts. This passage is reprinted with permission from To Life!: A Celebration of Jewish Being and Thinking, published by Little, Brown and Co.
For next week – Read ch. 18 – 20. As you read these laws, think about some of the principles behind them. Why might they have been important at the time? Do they have anything to say to us today (or not)?
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 10 – 13
What passages did you particularly like in these chapters? Which did you not like?
Chapters 10 – 11
These chapters mark the end of the long preface to the actual detailing of the laws that were revealed to Moses.
Chapters 12 – 13
These chapters begin the long section that enumerates the laws (it goes all the way into chapter 28!). They focus primarily on two points: the centralization of worship in Israel (which did not actually occur until well into their time in the land), and the warning not to be tempted to worship other gods. What stood out to you in these chapters?
For next week – Read ch. 14 – 17. Which of these laws still speak to us today? Which are confusing?
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 7 – 9
What do you think is the overall purpose/message of these chapters?
The beginning of chapter 7 is one of the passages that we often find challenging, as it commands the complete destruction of the people in the land of Canaan. If we think about the perspective of when this was likely written, it might help us understand the motivation. Since the Israelites clearly had not completely destroyed the people and later were tempted to worship their gods or at least collaborate with kings and leaders of other peoples (instead of relying on God), the author may have believed that this is what had led to the destruction of the northern kingdom. The emphasis was on not being turned away from God, as seen in verse 4: “for that would turn away your children from following me, and serving other gods.” What do you think? Can we understand this “complete destruction” in a more metaphorical sense?
In contrast to the start of chapter 7, there is an emphasis on humility at several points in these chapters. Let’s take a look at 7:7-11, 8:2-4 and 9:4-7. How can we apply this message to ourselves today?
Why do you think Moses recounts in such detail the events at Mt. Sinai in 9:8-29? What might this mean for us?
For next week – Read ch. 10 – 13. Choose the passages you like most and those you like the least.
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 4:44 – 6
Moses’ second discourse begins in 4:44 and will last all the way through chapter 28. In chapter 5, Moses indicates that all of Israel received the Ten Commandments directly from God (there is disagreement about this in the Hebrew texts). After the Ten Commandments, the rest of the laws are given through Moses as mediator between God and the people.
What is the impact of 5:3 that says “Not with our ancestors did the LORD make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today”?
Let’s look at the Ten Commandments in 5:6 – 21.
Chapter 6 emphasizes the conditional nature of the Israelites’ covenant with God—if they follow God’s law, then all will go well with them when they enter the Promised Land, but they will face difficulty if they stray from God’s law. While we can interpret this literally as some kind of explanation for specific bad events, but we can also understand it in a broader sense as an emphasis on the importance of creating a just society and living compassionate lives.
For next week – Read ch. 7 – 9. Think about why there is such a long introduction before the laws are actually stated. What is the purpose of these chapters?
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 1 – 4:43
These chapters comprise Moses’ first speech to the Israelites as they have paused in the Transjordan before entering Canaan (the Promised Land).
Chapters 1 – 3:
Why do you think Moses reviews what had happened to the people of Israel from the time of the exodus on? What is his point?
In chapters 2 and 3, Moses recounts God’s help in defeating two kings (Sihon and Og). These kings and their people are described as fearsome giants—why would this have been significant?
In 3:21-29 we see a foreshadowing of how the story of Moses will end. What are your reactions?
Chapter 4:
The chapter begins, “So now, Israel, give heed to the statues and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe…” How does this connect to the chapters that have come before?
What is the view of God’s law portrayed in vv. 5-7?
Let’s read through the chapter carefully. What is the message to the people in Moses’ time? Why would have been important in the author’s time (7th century BCE)? What messages does it have for us today?
For next week – Read ch. 4:44 – 6. We will focus on the Ten Commandments in 5:6-21 and also the exhortation in 6:4-9.
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 24 – 26
Chapters 24 and 25 are the final laws of the law code, and chapter 26 describes liturgies for affirming adherence to the law.
The laws include these general topics:
- Marriage (24:1-5)
- Justice and care toward the poor (24:10-22)
- Limits on punishment (25:1-3)
- Personal responsibility (24:16)
- Honesty in business dealings (25:13-16)
How might those themes apply today?
Chapter 26:
The liturgy that is described in at the end of the legal code is related to the Festival of Weeks, which was a harvest festival. How are the law and the harvest related?
The instructions include reciting a kind of hymn or creed described in 26:5-10. What does this passage highlight about God and our relationship with God?
The Deuteronomic understanding of the covenant with Moses is describe in vv. 17-19. How might we understand this covenant today?
For next week: – Read ch. 27 – 30. In these chapters, the law that Moses has just shared are ratified. Can you think of ceremonies that parallel this in our tradition today?
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 21 – 23
Grappling with the death penalty:
In these chapters (and some others) the punishment for several violations is stoning to death, and the death penalty seemed accepted as a punishment for some crimes. Jews and Christians have interpreted this in various ways (and continue to do so). Even if they do not accept the forms of execution described, some feel that capital punishment is appropriate for some crimes. Others argue that the context of these punishments (there were no prisons) has changed, and therefore the protection that execution provided in the past can now be accomplished in other ways (this is a typical Jewish interpretation). Still others in the Christian community argue that Jesus’ teachings override these laws and are not consistent with capital punishment. Where do you see yourself on this spectrum? Why?
Note that the violations in these chapters that require stoning to death include disobedience of parents (21:18-21) and adultery (22:22)—these are laws in the Ten Commandments, so this may be the reason for such a harsh punishment.
Finally, these harsh punishments are often followed by the phrase “so you shall purge the evil from Israel.” How do you understand this emphasis? How might this be understood in a metaphorical sense (for instance, consider Jesus’ exhortation Matt. 5:26 to pluck out an eye if it causes you to sin)?
The theme of purity and maintaining boundaries:
Several laws seem to emphasize the importance of maintaining boundaries, such as the prohibitions against cross-dressing, planting different seeds in a field, yoking two different animals together, and wearing two kinds of fabrics (Deut. 22:5, 9-11). Are these really moral laws? What might be going on here?
What other laws stood out to you?
For next week: – Read ch. 24 – 26. These chapters wrap up the law code. What are some major themes you found throughout the laws?
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 18 – 20
Chapters 18 and 19 contain a series of laws on unrelated topics, while chapter 20 focuses on rules for engaging in war.
Here are questions on a few of the laws:
18:1-8: What do you think might have been the significance or purpose of these laws regarding the Levites (priests)?
19:1-13: What principles of justice lie behind these laws about cities of refuge? How might they apply today?
19:15-21: How do these laws connect to the law in the 10 Commandments that says “thou shall not bear false witness”?
Chapter 20:
- Were you surprised by the laws in vv. 1-9? What might have been their purpose?
- What limits are placed on battle?
- What do you make of the discussion of trees in vv. 19-20?
What other laws stood out to you?
No class next week!
For 11/4 – Read ch. 21 – 23. Which laws reflect important principles that might apply today? Which laws are challenging for you? Which are confusing?
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 14 – 17
With these chapters we are well into the law codes that will last through chapter 26. These laws are a reiteration of the laws found earlier in the Torah, as Deuteronomy is written as speeches by Moses before Israel enters the Promised Land in which he is reminding them of the covenant they made with God. Many of the laws are exactly the same, but there are some differences. One difference of note is that the earlier laws reflected an acceptance of a variety of places of worship, while these laws insist on certain rituals only taking place at a centralized place of worship—this may reflect a later concern that people had begun to stray from the prescribed forms of worship.
What laws stood out to you as relevant to us today? What laws surprised you? What laws were confusing?
Here are major categories of laws found in these chapters:
Kosher laws (14:3-21): Please take a look at the reflections below on the meaning of kosher laws for people today.
The tithe (14:22-29): Note the concern for the poor and for the Levites (who were not given any land) in this section,
Cancellation of debts and manumission of slaves every seven years (15:1-18): What do you think is the principle behind these laws?
The festivals (16:1-17): This section prescribes the celebration of Passover, Shavuot (also called Festival of Weeks or Pentecost), and Sukkot. These holidays were originally connected to the agricultural calendar, but they later also took on meanings connected with events in the history of the Israelites (the exodus, the giving of the Torah, and the wandering in the wilderness).
Judicial structure (16:18 – 17): This establishes a structure for enforcing the law and providing justice. Some of the punishments seems especially harsh to us today, and in a future week we will discuss the concept of punishment and how it has been interpreted over time both within Judaism and Christianity. One thing of note is the restrictions that were supposed to be imposed on any king of Israel – why might this have been included?
Kashrut Makes Me Ask Good Questions
The observance of kashrut is an example of an annoying series of mitzvot that I am glad not to have dropped because of some of the rather important surprises it has offered. Because it is a public observance, I have to justify it rather frequently, to my friends and certainly to myself.
I find that whether I like it or not, kashrut brings me into contact with a series of rather important questions: What is my responsibility to the calf that I eat, or to the potato? Is the earth and the fullness thereof mine to do with as I will? What does it mean that a table should be an altar? Is eating, indeed, a devotional act? Does God really care whether I wait two or six hours before drinking milk after a meat meal? If kashrut makes me ask enough questions, often enough, I discover that its very provocative quality is one of its chief virtues for my religious life.
–Rabbi Richard J. Israel (1929-2000) directed Hillel programs at UCLA, Yale University, and in the Boston metropolitan. Reprinted from The Condition of Jewish Belief: A Symposium, composed by the editors of Commentary Magazine, by permission; all rights reserved.
Kashrut Makes Eating a Religious Matter
Let’s go back to my hypothetical lunch with a friend. Watching me scan the menu, he may suspect me of thinking, “Oh, would I love to order the ham, but that mean old God won’t let me.” But in fact, what is probably going through my mind at the moment is “Isn’t it incredible! Nearly five billion people on this planet, and God cares what I have for lunch!” And God cares how I earn and spend my money, and whom I sleep with, and what sort of language I use. (These are not descriptions of God’s emotional state, about which we can have no information, but a way of conveying the critical ethical significance of the choices I make.) What better way is there to invest every one of my daily choices with divine significance?
There is nothing intrinsically wicked about eating pork or lobster, and there is nothing intrinsically moral about eating cheese or chicken instead. But what the Jewish way of life does by imposing rules on our eating, sleeping, and working habits is to take the most common and mundane activities and invest them with deeper meaning, turning every one of them into an occasion for obeying (or disobeying) God. If a gentile walks into a fast-food establishment and orders a cheeseburger, he is just having lunch. But if a Jew does the same thing, he is making a theological statement. He is declaring that he does not accept the rules of the Jewish dietary system as binding upon him. But heeded or violated, the rules lift the act of having lunch out of the ordinary and make it a religious matter. If you can do that to the process of eating, you have done something important.
Harold Kushner, Rabbi Laureate of Temple Israel in Natick, Massachusetts. This passage is reprinted with permission from To Life!: A Celebration of Jewish Being and Thinking, published by Little, Brown and Co.
For next week – Read ch. 18 – 20. As you read these laws, think about some of the principles behind them. Why might they have been important at the time? Do they have anything to say to us today (or not)?
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 10 – 13
What passages did you particularly like in these chapters? Which did you not like?
Chapters 10 – 11
These chapters mark the end of the long preface to the actual detailing of the laws that were revealed to Moses.
- What themes are emphasized in this preface? Why might this be the case?
- Let’s look at the passage in 10:12-22, which is a description of the nature of God. What is emphasized? How might we think this of this today in our own faith?
- 11:8-17 describes the land that God is taking them to. If we think of this “land” as a metaphor for what we will experience if we open our hearts to God, what is it saying to us?
Chapters 12 – 13
These chapters begin the long section that enumerates the laws (it goes all the way into chapter 28!). They focus primarily on two points: the centralization of worship in Israel (which did not actually occur until well into their time in the land), and the warning not to be tempted to worship other gods. What stood out to you in these chapters?
For next week – Read ch. 14 – 17. Which of these laws still speak to us today? Which are confusing?
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 7 – 9
What do you think is the overall purpose/message of these chapters?
The beginning of chapter 7 is one of the passages that we often find challenging, as it commands the complete destruction of the people in the land of Canaan. If we think about the perspective of when this was likely written, it might help us understand the motivation. Since the Israelites clearly had not completely destroyed the people and later were tempted to worship their gods or at least collaborate with kings and leaders of other peoples (instead of relying on God), the author may have believed that this is what had led to the destruction of the northern kingdom. The emphasis was on not being turned away from God, as seen in verse 4: “for that would turn away your children from following me, and serving other gods.” What do you think? Can we understand this “complete destruction” in a more metaphorical sense?
In contrast to the start of chapter 7, there is an emphasis on humility at several points in these chapters. Let’s take a look at 7:7-11, 8:2-4 and 9:4-7. How can we apply this message to ourselves today?
Why do you think Moses recounts in such detail the events at Mt. Sinai in 9:8-29? What might this mean for us?
For next week – Read ch. 10 – 13. Choose the passages you like most and those you like the least.
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 4:44 – 6
Moses’ second discourse begins in 4:44 and will last all the way through chapter 28. In chapter 5, Moses indicates that all of Israel received the Ten Commandments directly from God (there is disagreement about this in the Hebrew texts). After the Ten Commandments, the rest of the laws are given through Moses as mediator between God and the people.
What is the impact of 5:3 that says “Not with our ancestors did the LORD make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today”?
Let’s look at the Ten Commandments in 5:6 – 21.
- What is the difference between the first four and the last six?
- What is the motivation for observing the sabbath (note that this is different from the motivation described in Exodus 20)?
- What are the larger values behind the commandments (consider rewording them in the positive)?
Chapter 6 emphasizes the conditional nature of the Israelites’ covenant with God—if they follow God’s law, then all will go well with them when they enter the Promised Land, but they will face difficulty if they stray from God’s law. While we can interpret this literally as some kind of explanation for specific bad events, but we can also understand it in a broader sense as an emphasis on the importance of creating a just society and living compassionate lives.
- Verses 4-9 are important in the Jewish tradition, as they start the “Shema,” the more important prayer in Judaism. Why do you think these verses are so important? How do they resonate in Judaism? How about in Christianity?
- What is the significance of retelling the exodus story in verses 20-25?
For next week – Read ch. 7 – 9. Think about why there is such a long introduction before the laws are actually stated. What is the purpose of these chapters?
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Fall 2018
Deuteronomy
Chapters 1 – 4:43
These chapters comprise Moses’ first speech to the Israelites as they have paused in the Transjordan before entering Canaan (the Promised Land).
Chapters 1 – 3:
Why do you think Moses reviews what had happened to the people of Israel from the time of the exodus on? What is his point?
In chapters 2 and 3, Moses recounts God’s help in defeating two kings (Sihon and Og). These kings and their people are described as fearsome giants—why would this have been significant?
In 3:21-29 we see a foreshadowing of how the story of Moses will end. What are your reactions?
Chapter 4:
The chapter begins, “So now, Israel, give heed to the statues and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe…” How does this connect to the chapters that have come before?
What is the view of God’s law portrayed in vv. 5-7?
Let’s read through the chapter carefully. What is the message to the people in Moses’ time? Why would have been important in the author’s time (7th century BCE)? What messages does it have for us today?
For next week – Read ch. 4:44 – 6. We will focus on the Ten Commandments in 5:6-21 and also the exhortation in 6:4-9.
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Winter 2018
Bread of Angels
Chapters 1 – 3
Before we discuss the first three sermons, let’s stop to think about the title of the book.
- What does the phrase “bread of angels” bring to mind for you?
- What does the image of “bread” mean for you?
Chapter One: “Glory Doors”
- What do you think of the image of both Moses and Jesus shining after their encounters with God?
- How do we allow God’s light to shine through us? Do you agree with Taylor that this is a choice?
- Here is the final paragraph: “By the power of our beliefs, we choose what kind of world we will live in—a porous world, full of glory doors leaking light, or a flat world where everything is exactly what it seems. I leave you with the stories to make up your own minds.” (p. 7)
Chapter Two: “Bread of Angels”
- What makes something “manna”? What makes it a miracle?
- What do you make of this quote from pg. 10? “If, on the other hand, you are willing to look at everything that comes to you as coming to you from God, then there will be no end to the manna in your life.”
- And this from p. 11: “Jesus is God’s manna in the wilderness…”
Chapter Three: “You Are the Man”
- This sermon focuses on the method that Nathan used to get David to understand what he had done wrong. How does she say God uses this same method with us?
- What do you think is the central message of this sermon?
For next week: Read chapters 4 – 7.
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Winter 2018
Bread of Angels
Chapters 4 – 7
Chapter Four: “I’m Sorry, I Don’t Dance”
Chapter Five: “No Rewards”
Chapter Six: “God’s Daring Plan”
Chapter Seven: “The Wilderness Exam”
No class next week (Jan. 21) – Annual Meeting
For Jan. 28: Read chapters 8 – 11.
Winter 2018
Bread of Angels
Chapters 4 – 7
Chapter Four: “I’m Sorry, I Don’t Dance”
- Taylor argues that even if God had not saved the three Jewish princes in Daniel’s story, she would still think the story is significant. On p. 20 she writes “According to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the point was to obey God no matter what. No matter if they died. No matter if anyone ever knew they were right.” Do you agree?
- Has there ever been a time you have refused to “dance,” even knowing there could be negative consequences? What makes us able to do this? What stands in our way?
Chapter Five: “No Rewards”
- What do you think Taylor means by “spiritual seduction” (she lists the desire to be effective, to be respected and obeyed, to be rewarded)? Do you agree that these are in some way wrong to desire?
- On p. 27 she writes, “On Palm Sunday, you can walk into just about any church in the land and hear the story of what happened to God’s best friend…yet we line up to worship him, which is a very puzzling thing. How—with a Lord like that—did we ever get the idea that our faith should win us respect, influence, or protection?”
Chapter Six: “God’s Daring Plan”
- This is an imaginative retelling of creation and of God’s decision to take on human form. What aspects of the story were most interesting to you?
Chapter Seven: “The Wilderness Exam”
- How does Taylor’s own experience in the desert help illuminate Jesus’ experience?
- Here is an interesting quote—have you thought of the story in this way? “This is the story in which everyone finds out what being the son of God really means. This is the story in which Jesus proves who he is not by seizing power, but by turning it down…he will remain human, accepting all the usual risks.” (p. 39)
No class next week (Jan. 21) – Annual Meeting
For Jan. 28: Read chapters 8 – 11.
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Winter 2018
Bread of Angels
Chapters 8 – 11
Chapter Eight: “The Trickle-Up Effect”
The point of this chapter seems to be that true power comes from below—from service--and not from above.
Chapter Nine: “High-Priced Discipleship”
Chapter Ten: “The Hidden I Am”
On p. 53 Taylor writes, “There are those of us who like to think that we could walk right into any room and pick him [Jesus] out, and that there is something wrong with anyone who could not, but I wonder. All we really have going for us is hindsight.”
Chapter Eleven: “The Prophet Mary”
For Feb. 4: Read chapters 12 – 14.
Winter 2018
Bread of Angels
Chapters 8 – 11
Chapter Eight: “The Trickle-Up Effect”
The point of this chapter seems to be that true power comes from below—from service--and not from above.
- How do you view power?
- How does Jesus fit this view, or not?
- Do you see examples of this in your own life?
Chapter Nine: “High-Priced Discipleship”
- Do you agree that Jesus would not have made a very good parish priest? Why does she say this?
- If discipleship is so costly, why do it? Do you think it’s as costly as she says?
- Near the end she writes, “I think he just wants us not to take it for granted.” (p. 50) What was your reaction to this?
Chapter Ten: “The Hidden I Am”
On p. 53 Taylor writes, “There are those of us who like to think that we could walk right into any room and pick him [Jesus] out, and that there is something wrong with anyone who could not, but I wonder. All we really have going for us is hindsight.”
- Do you think it’s easy to recognize Jesus in others? Do you agree that sometimes we don’t realize it until after the fact?
- What was your reaction to her story about the man she encountered at the Red Table Café in seminary?
Chapter Eleven: “The Prophet Mary”
- Why does Taylor identify Mary as a “prophet”? What does this mean? Do you agree?
- What is unusual or significant about identifying Mary in this way?
For Feb. 4: Read chapters 12 – 14.
St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Winter 2018
Bread of Angels
Chapters 15 – 17
Chapter 15: “The Shepherd’s Flute”
Chapter 16: “Deep in Christ’s Bones”
In this sermon, Taylor explores the concept of Paul’s image of Christians being the “body of Christ.”
Chapter 17: “The Silence of Angels”
Taylor uses the story of Zechariah to help us reflect on the importance of silence.
For next week: Read chapters 18 – 21.
Winter 2018
Bread of Angels
Chapters 15 – 17
Chapter 15: “The Shepherd’s Flute”
- When you think of Jesus’ as the “good shepherd,” what does it mean to you?
- Taylor proposes a different way of thinking about ownership, what do you think of this? “I begin to think of ownership as a certain kind of relationship, one that is created between people and other people, or animals, or things. Then ownership in not about mere possession, but about being bound to something beyond ourselves, about identifying with it so strongly that it becomes part of us.” (p. 81)
- At the end of the sermon, Taylor reminds us that Jesus charged his disciples to be like him—what does that mean for us?
Chapter 16: “Deep in Christ’s Bones”
In this sermon, Taylor explores the concept of Paul’s image of Christians being the “body of Christ.”
- What are the challenges of this image?
- What does is tell us about living in community?
- What did her story about marching and encountering the Ku Klux Klan make you think about? How would you have felt?
Chapter 17: “The Silence of Angels”
Taylor uses the story of Zechariah to help us reflect on the importance of silence.
- Why does she think we need more silence? Do you agree?
- When is it difficult to be silent? Why?
For next week: Read chapters 18 – 21.