Nexus Discussion Group

Comment

Comment by Jeff Marian on February 8, 2010 at 12:39pm

Gotta go outside the Bible to unravel that mystery!

Comment by Paul Dean on February 8, 2010 at 12:29pm

Hey anyone want to talk about the mystery man Melchizedek?

Comment by Mara Schwartz on October 26, 2009 at 7:39am

My question isn't specifically about the reading but I thought that I would throw it out there anyway...
I was thinking about the sermon this week and about predestination - I know that I can do nothing to earn God's love or my salvation but when God chooses me doesn't that lead to predestination? I was having a discussion with my sister about this one afternoon (while she was reading the book of concord) and it seemed like as Lutherans we say no predestination but then describe it...
Any thoughts on Luther vs. Calvin on this subject?

Comment by Joel Haugen on October 25, 2009 at 9:04pm

I appreciate the context Pastor Jeff because this was one of the verses I underlined and wrote down to struggle with. I actually went back and re-read Titus 2:11-15 where it discusses God's grace that allows us to deny these sins in the first place. I looked at these sins as some of the most easily identified 'selfish' sins. I read the application here in my life is to highlight the risk and severity of those sins that turn focus on me vs. God. Identify those...pray for God's grace and wisdom...and find the one hope in Jesus (Eph 4:4). How 'bout everyone else?

Comment by Sarah on October 25, 2009 at 4:13pm

Thanks Joel for starting this group, I had some questions too as I read through the passages and thought it would be nice to have a discussion group on the New Testament reading

Comment by Jeff Marian on October 24, 2009 at 11:23am

OK, I did a little more research and discovered that Paul often "clustered" the three Greek words that are sometimes translated "immorality, impurity and greed." And when he does Paul is almost always talking about idolatry, which was a HUGE concern for Paul and the ancient Church because it was so pervasiive in culture. So...Paul is NOT saying that if you participate in these three sins you have no inheritance in the Kingdom. What Paul is saying is that the people in Ephesus cannot be Christian AND idol worshipers. These are mutually exclusive. So the question becomes...what does that mean for us who live in MN in the 21st century?

Comment by Jeff Marian on October 24, 2009 at 9:25am

So, I'm reading Ephesians 5:5. I'm pretty sure that Paul is talking to Christians here, but this verse seems to imply that immorality, impurity or greed makes one an idolater and removes our "inheritance" in the Kingdom. Does than mean that this sin takes away our salvation? Why just these sins? Do we know ANYONE who doesn't wrestle with at least one of these sins? Are we all damned and doomed? What happened to grace? Just a few questions to stir the pot!