by Elizabeth | Jun 21, 2011 | Learning Story
I now interrupt the series on bearing Christ to the world’s women to bring you this great comment on the panoramic vision we have of life due to the Sun of righteousness rising to light the way. First, hear Hebrews 11:39-40, which summarizes the “great hall of faith,” a panegyric of Old Testament figures who lived faithfully even though they had only glimpsed God’s glorious plan from afar:
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Now listen to Calvin’s words:
John Calvin: “If those on whom the great light of grace had not yet shone showed such surpassing constancy in bearing their ills, what effect ought the full glory of the gospel to have on us?” asks Calvin. “A tiny spark of light led them to heaven, but now that the Sun of righteousness shines on us what excuse shall we offer if we still cling to the earth?”
Think about it. We have a rescue to remember — the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the reason for the hope that is in us. What thing on this earth am I clinging to with a ‘death-grip,’ afraid of letting go for fear I will lose joy, hope, meaning, and purpose?
by Elizabeth | Jun 20, 2011 | Learning Story
I Timothy 1:12-20
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (I Timothy 1:15-17)
If you missed last week’s blogs on the four core stories we must know to bear Christ to the world’s women, you may want to start there. Today is the third essential story: YOUR story of grace. Why must we know our own stories of grace to share the glory of God in Christ?
1. Because it reveals God’s grace in our lives. Far from being a “paralysis by analysis” maneuver, as my friend Scotty Smith warns us about, it is for the purpose of the transformation of the gospel working in our lives. Are we willing to tell people — yes, I am the WORST sinner you’ll ever meet? But God poured out his grace on me.
2. Because it keeps us from becoming like Simon. (I posted a podcast on the third story we must know – a woman’s story in the Bible, in this case, Luke 7.) The only way we can keep from being puffed up is by remembering how rotten we truly are BUT FOR the grace of God through Jesus Christ working in us. If we don’t know this story, we’ll be too far above anyone to share the good news of what Christ has done in us.
3. Because others may hope based on our stories. “Well, if God could change you, a screw-up like YOU, then maybe He could change me. What is this gospel anyway?”
by Elizabeth | Jun 16, 2011 | Learning Story
Chart from Learning God's Story of Grace
Women struggle. We forget our God-designed and designated meaning and mission; we are blind to our manipulative ways; we hunker down in shame rather than being buoyed by the hope of the freedom for which Christ set us free; we lose hope when our sights don’t remain on the full redemption to come.
In the workshop on bearing Christ to the world’s women, we considered the implications of redemptive history for the world’s women. The above chart is lifted right out of Learning God’s Story of Grace — to explore more fully what redemptive history tells us about who God is, what He has done, and why that matters so emphatically to us, check it out. For more on why knowing this story of grace matters for women, check out the recorded workshop at Barker Productions.
by Elizabeth | Jun 15, 2011 | Learning Story
We must learn and love these core stories to bear Christ into the world.
Some of you asked me about an earlier post regarding the gospel and Lady Gaga. As promised, over the next few days, I’ll share a slice of the workshop on Bearing Christ to the World’s Women, which leads us ultimately to the question of what do we as Christ-followers have in common with Lady Gaga, and what essential differences do we have?
If we’re going to share Christ and bear Christ to the world’s women, we need to start at the beginning — with four core stories, contemplating…
1. What does God’s Story of Grace have to offer the world’s women?
2. Who are the women of the Bible and what hope do their stories tell?
3. What is your story of grace? Awe and gratitude for what God has done for us and in us is the best story we have to share.
4. What is the story of the world’s women? We must listen carefully to the stories they are telling us.
Stay tuned for a few more thoughts on this topic and for thoughts on the gospel and Lady Gaga. If you want to hear the recording of that seminar, you can order it from Barker Productions.
by Elizabeth | Jun 14, 2011 | Learning Story
Yesterday I wrote about the new Bible study arriving, and today I am working on its sequel (which is really the wrong word for a study on what is all woven together in life — living in faith and hope (and love –which will be the third in the series…), but nonetheless, I am immersed in faith and hope. This morning this gem played in my heart…beautiful lyrics by Michael Card…Do you know this song?
They called him laughter
“A barren land and a barren wife
Made Abraham laugh at his wandering life
A cruel joke it seemed then to call him the father of nations
A heavenly prank, a celestial joke
Cause grey hair and babies leave no room for hope
But hoping is something this hopeless old man learned to do
Chorus:
They called him laughter
For he came after
The father had made an impossible promise come true
The birth of a baby to a hopeless old lady
So they called him laughter
Cause no other name would do
A cry in the darkness and laughter at night
An elderly couple sat holding him tight
An imporbable infant, a punchline, a promise come true
They laughed til they wept then laughed at their tears
This miracle baby they’ve wanted for years
Would make a messiah who’d give us impossible joy…
What about you? What stories in the Bible or in your life make you laugh at the hilarious beauty of God?
by Elizabeth | Jun 13, 2011 | Learning Story
Learning God's Story of Grace Bible Study
Weighing in at approximately 12 ounces, with a definite pastel skin tone, sturdy and sensible binding, and perfectly lovely writing paper,
Learning God’s Story of Grace, the first in the Living Story Bible study series, has arrived!
To give you an idea of its nature, I’ll share with you a few questions people have asked, and my answers. Please add to the questions (or answers, if you have already taken part in the study!):
1. “Would this be helpful for me to discover more of my own story of grace? I’ve done a lot of Bible study but I haven’t ever really thought that I had a story of grace.” Scotty Smith, who wrote the foreword, says: “Elizabeth helps us find our place in God’s story – God’s Living Story of redemption and restoration. Each of us is called to be a character in and a carrier of this amazing story. Indeed, the gospel runs to us and through us, to the glory of God.”
2. “Do you study the Bible?” Learning God’s Story is about just that – understanding the whole of the love and life story Scripture tells in a way that makes us passionate to study it and learn it.
3. “Is it only for women? I have some co-ed groups in my church that I would like to use it with.” Take a look at Chapter 4 to find a great story of a men’s church board using the concept of Story Feasting. I surveyed church planters as I was designing the study, and they asked me to leave it open for study by men and women.
4. “Can anyone in any denomination use it?” Anyone who has an interest in growing in grace, living the story of the true gospel of Jesus Christ will not only love this study, but begin to see new realities about God, Scripture, and themselves in it.
5. Where can I buy it? It is available online through P&R Publishing, Christian Books, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Family Christian, and others. You should be able to walk into your local Family Christian and Barnes and Noble and ask for it. If they don’t have it, please tell them to order it for you and stock a few extras:!
Got questions? Ask them here or on Facebook page, Living Story.
