small group, week 1 of 7

During the one hour session, our 9 people introduced themselves by way of talking about the path that led them to church life as child and as adult, along with any first impressions of the reading or sermon. So we had no time for the study-guide questions, much less the video supplement.

Some notes:

1. There's a big difference between attending as a child, in tow, rather than voluntarily of one's own effort. There's another step from merely showing up and participating in church life by degrees socially, and then going further and actively seeking answers to the questions and challenges posed by scripture and example of Jesus.
2. None before had considered the matter as framed by the book title.
3. The list of things NOT to believe resonated with all of us generally, in line with the author's positions. But while the list helps to correct misdirected energy, there are other layers of custom and culture accumulated with no basis in Bible, primitive Christian experience or WWJD (what would Jesus do: based on examples attributed to him). For example, christmas trees and carols are beautiful and uplifting, but are not Middle Eastern. Of course the message is not limited to those eras or geographies, but it is a mistake or distraction to dwell on these physical traces of the real message of Easter and resurrection. Other examples close to modern habits, but not present in original worship and disciplines linking people to God: hymn singing, praise songs, Order of Worship and offertory ritual. Likewise embedded and almost invisible to we moderns are the errors and assumptions caused by translation into English of what began in Greek (septuigent's 70 books), Aramaic and Hebrew.
4. Still, despite the conflating of modern expressions with original or ancient ones, the thing has survived in so many places and times. It is exciting to be a part of this search and discipline. The same old questions have to be answered and the same old temptations and misunderstandings live on, as well.
5. Somewhat confusing is the great number of important facts and interpretations shown us from one week to the next in sermon, readings, discussion, current events, church programs and operation, etc: what is the best yardstick to measure the relative importance of something? Is it the foundational command to love God with everything you have (external) and you are (internal); and to love your neighbor as yourself (well being of one is as important as that of the other? Is it the minimalist, stripped down encounter of God that the Quakers are guided by? Is it the simple question: What Would Jesus Do?
6. Some people are calling themselves Christians, are drawing closer to the point of seeing themselves as Christians, or are unsure of what to call themselves, but are actively inquiring into the life of Jesus and the nature of God. And others may be called Christians or be regarded as Christians, while others may not have any 'brand' image of Christian but still perform God's work in the world. But it is refreshing to worship with believers in other denominations, countries and languages to witness the universal message of God's love.