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Where Grace Takes YouSTUDY GUIDE

1. Up/Down (Justification&Vocation)

1. Well,anyimmediatereactions?Whatsurprisedyou?

2. Inyourownwords,whatdoesjustifi-cationmean?Whatsynonymscometomind?(JackFortinspokeofexpe-riencingbelonging.)Whatdoesitlooklike?Howisitmisunderstood?

3. Howdopeopleseekto“reversetheflow”andjustifythemselves,makethemselvesworthy,today?Howdowetryandmakeourselvesright?Why?Prompt:Whatareour“bizarre,alienrituals”?And,asVivianJenkinsNelsonasks,Areyou“lostinthedesertofbusiness”?

4. MarcKoldencharacterizedonemis-understandingofjustificationbygracethroughfaithas“justificationbybelievingtherightlistofstuff”.ButifGoddoesallthe“heavylift-ing,”faithitselfisanundeservedgiftfromGod.Sitwiththisforamoment.What’syourreaction?Inwhatotherwaysdowemisunderstand,mini-mize,ormisrepresentjustification?

5. Inretrospect,it’seasytoseethefollyofthechurchLutherreactedagainst.Butwhataboutus?Whatareweenslavedtotoday?Wheredoweobscurethewonder,thescandal,ofGodcomingallthewaydown?

Summary: Justificationandvocation,twoideas—atoncesimpleandscan-dalous,easilygraspedandeasilyforgotten—centraltotheBiblicalwitness,butrediscoveredbyMartinLuther.

Prayer:AlmightyGod,throughthedeathofyourSonyouhavedestroyedsinanddeath.Throughhisresurrectionyouhaverestoredinnocenceandeter-nallife.Wewhoaredeliveredfromthepowerofthedevilmayliveinyourkingdom.Giveusgracethatwemaybelievethiswithourwholeheart.Enableus,always,tostead-fastlypraiseandthankyouinthisfaith,throughyourSonJesusChrist,ourLord.

—MartinLuther

Getting Started: (10 min)Whatdidyouleavebehindtopar-ticipateinthisgroup?Thisopenendedquestionhighlightsourmulti-plecallingsoutsidethecongregation.Whatareyourhopesforourconver-sationstogether?

While You’re Watching: 1. IsLuther’sReformationfinished?

Dohisconcernsstillapplytoday?Havewegottenit?

2. Justificationandvocation?Whatdothesebigwordsmean?

Group Discussion: (30 min)

6. Doyouagreethatitisthetendencyof“naturalreligion”toreversetheflow,tomakeourselvesworthy?Canyoufindanyexamplesofthistoday,eitherformallyorinformally?

7. Inyourownwords,whatdoesvoca-tionmean?Whatsynonymscometomind?(JackFortinspokeofmakingadifference.)Whatdoesitlooklike?Howisitmisunderstood?

8. LoisMalcolmassertsthatbecauseofGod’scomingdown,“Idon’thavetoprovemyself.”Inwhatwaysdowetryandproveourselves?Whatwoulditfeelliketogivethisup?Similarly,becauseofjustificationbygracethroughfaith,wearefreetoattendtoourvocations?Doyoufeelfree?Howmightyouknowandclaimthisconfidence?

2. In/Out (Congregation)

Summary: WhatdifferencesdoLuther’sinsights,justificationandvocation,downandout,makeforourcongre-gationallife?Whatwoulditlookliketoturnacongregationinsideout?

Prayer:Remember,OLord,thychurch,todeliveritfromallevilandtoperfectitinthylove.Strengthenandpre-serveitbythyWordandsacraments.Enlargeitsborders,thatthyGospelmaybepreachedtoallnations;andgatherthefaithfulfromalltheends

oftheearthintothekingdomwhichthouhastprepared;throughJesusChristourLord.Amen.1

Getting Started: (5 min)WhatdoesitlookliketoserveGod?Wheredoesthishappen?(What’saministry?Who’saminister?)

While You’re Watching: DoesLuther’scritiqueapplytousaswell?Howisourcongregationlike,orunlike,themedievalchurchagainstwhichLutherreacted?

1. Whatdoesitmeantosay“weareallpriests”?(Andwhatdoesitnotmean?Howdoesthephrasegetmis-understood?)Whatproblemwasthelanguageintendedtosolve?

2. What’sthenarratorgettingatwhenhecharacterizesthepriestsagainstwhichLutherreactedas“elevatoroperators”?Dowestilltreatpastorsorprofessionalchurchworkersinthismanner?Ifso,how?

3. Haveyoueverheardthephrase“full-timeChristianministry”?Ifnot,moveontothenextquestion.Ifso,whatdoesitimplyabouttherestofus?

4. Doyoufeelcalled?Doyouknowofsomeonethat’sreceivedandfollowedacalling?Whatdoesthislooklike?Whatisacalling?Who’seligible?Howdoyou,ordidyou,findyourcalling?

Group Discussion: (30 min)

Summary: Gracetakesusout,intoourcommu-nities(neighborhoods,schools,littleleagueteams,etc.)inpursuitofthecommongood.Sometimeswewanttoserve,othertimeswesimplyhavetoserve,buteitherwayGod’swork-ingthroughustosustainandrenewtheworld.

Prayer:Lord,whatacuriouswayyouhaveofbringinglifeandhopeintoyourworld,ofworkingpeaceandjustice,ofshowingcompassionandloveforallofyourcreatures.Nohandsbutthehandsofus,yourservants:nofeetbutours;noprotectionbutsuchasweprovide;nomoneybutours;nofriendsunlessitbewe;noshel-terexceptwebuildit;noinstitutionsunlesswefoundthem.Sinceitdoesseemtobeso:Lord,beinourmindsandinourunderstanding;Lord,beinourheartsandgiveuscompas-sion;Lord,beinourfeettorunyourservice;Lord,beinoureyesandbeourinsight:Lord,beinourplans

andbeourhope;Lord,beinourpresentandgiveusafuture.

—WendellFrerichs1

Getting Started: 1. What’sGoddoinginyour

community?

2. Thelasttwosessionsoftencharacterizedthemovefromjus-tificationtovocation,downandout,asfreeandspontaneous:overwhelmedbyGod’sgrace,wecannothelpbutloveandserveourneighbor.Well,youhaveneighbors,areyoualwaysover-flowingwithgoodnesstowardsthem?

While You’re Watching: 1. Whataresomeofthechallenges

uniquetolivingoutyourcallinginthecommunity?

2. Andwhatmotivatesyourservice?

3. Wherecouldyourcongregationhelpout?

3. Wanna/Gotta (Community)

5. HowdoesGodtakecareoftheworld?Inparticular,howdoesGodgiveusourdailybread?Bywhatmeans?

6. WhatdidLoisMalcolmmeanbythephrase,“masksofGod”?What

“masks”doesGodwear?

7. RichardBliesedescribedarule,ifa

pastor’sintheroomthepastoroughtnottobethefirsttopray.Whatwashegettingat?Howwouldyourcon-gregationreacttothisrule?

8. Ministryandvocation,what’sthedifference?Hint:God’satworkintheworldintwoways,redeemingandcreating.

1. Atonepoint,RichardBliesecallsjustificationwithoutvocationdis-obedience.Whatdoyoumakeofthis?Arethesetwoideasstartingtofitandworktogetherforyou?

2. LoisMalcolmdescribedtheGospelas“radicallytransformative”andthreateningtodictators.Whymightthisbeso?Doyouagree?

3. Thenarratorsaysthat“reallylet-ting[justificationandvocation]seepintoourdeepestcracksandcrev-icesisscary,andhardtodo.”Doyouagree?Ifso,whyisthis?Howmightithappen?

4. MarcKoldennotedthatGodkeepscreatingandmaintainingtheworld,withusanddespiteus.Weholdtheworldinbondage,itawaitsrescue.Doyouagree?Wheredoyouseecreationsufferingatourhands?

5. DoyoubelievethatGodisactivebehindthescenes?WhydoesGodworkinthisway?

6. Howcouldyour“gathered”congre-gationbettersupportits“scattered”callingsinthecommunity?

Group Discussion: (30 min)

4. Creature/Creator (Workplace)

Summary: Gracetakesusout,intoourdailywork,beitpaidorunpaid.Throughourseeminglymundanedailyactiv-itiesGod’satworkrenewingandsustainingcreation.

Prayer:HeavenlyFather,inyouweliveandmoveandhaveourbeing.Wehum-blypraythatyousoguideandgovernusbyyourHolySpiritthatinallthecaresandoccupationsofourlifewemaynotforgetyoubutmayremem-berthatweareeverwalkinginyoursight;throughJesusChristourLord.Amen.

—BookofCommonPrayer

Getting Started: Whatarethepeculiarchallenges,andopportunitiesoflivingoutacallingintheworkplace?Whatdoesitlooklike?Whatdoesn’titlooklike?

While You’re Watching: 1. Bywork,wedon’tnecessar-

ilymeanemployment,althoughthat’scertainlyaformofwork.Thinkmorebroadly.Whatget’syououtofyourchair?Inapracti-calsense,whatdoyoulivefor?

2. IfGod’sCreator,whatareyou?Hint:acreature.Whatarecrea-turesfor?

3. Howcouldyourcongregationhelpyoutoliveoutyourcallingsintheworkplace?

1. Whatisyourwork?Note:Notallworkispaid.Whatmakessomethingavocation?Whataretheessentialingredients?

2. WhatdifferencedoesChristmakeforyourwork?WhatwoulditlookliketobeaChristianlanguageteacher?Whataboutawriter?Amechanic?

3. Ofthemultiplepotentialcallingsavailabletoyou,howdidyouhearandrespondtoyourcurrentcalling?Didanawarenessofyourstrengthsandabilitieshelp?Ifso,wherediditcomefrom?

4. Whatdoeslivingoutyourcallingintheworkplacelooklike?Wheredoyouneedhelp?

5. Toaffirmourcurrentcommitments(wedon’tneedtogoandfindacall-ing)DarrellJodockinvitesustoask,WhatwouldthiscommunitybelikeifIweren’tfulfillingmycall-ing?Doyoufindthistobehelpfulandcompellingcounsel?Giventhespecializationofmodernwork,manyaren’tabletoobserveadirectbenefitfromtheirlabor.What’syourcoun-seltothesefolk?

6. RolandMartinsondescribesourroleonearthas“createdco-creators.”What’shegettingat?Doyouagreeordisagree?Whatdifferencedoesitmake?

7. Howcouldyour“gathered”congre-gationbettersupportits“scattered”callingsinthecommunity?

Group Discussion: (30 min)

5.Self/Others (Home)

Summary: Gracetakesusout,intoourhomes,variedandcomplexthoughtheymaybe.Inthehome,God’sbusychang-ingdiapersandteachingforgiveness.

Prayer:LordGod,ourhomeisamongthemostpreciousgiftswereceiveinthislife.WerealizethisallthemoreaswerememberourLordJesus.Hesetasidehomeandfamily.HavingnoplacetolayHisheadthroughoutHisministry,HechosetosojournamongthoseHecametosave.Weprayer-fullyinviteHimtodwellinourearthlyabodeevenasHecontinuallyinvitesusbyWordandSacramenttodwellforeverinourheavenlyhome,whichHepreparesforus.Amen.1

Getting Started: Whatarethepeculiarchallengesandopportunitiesoflivingoutacall-ingathome(e.g.,daughter,brother,grandmother,etc.)?Whatdoesitlooklike?Whatdoesn’titlooklike?

While You’re Watching: 1. Likethedomainofwork,think

ofhomeinthemostexpansivesensepossible,somethinglike

“familialrelations.”

2. Howcouldyourcongregationhelpyoutoliveoutyourcallingsathome?

1. Thenarratordescribesthehomeasasourceof“selflesslove”.Did(ordo)youexperienceitthisway?Doesweekthree’s“wanna/gotta”discussionhelphere?Or,andper-hapsmoretothepoint,canyousee,indeed,canyoufeel,howjustifica-tionandvocationcometogetherincircumstanceslikethis?

2. Withrespecttofamilylife,thechurchprivileges“marriedwithkids.”Butwhatdoesitlookliketoliveoutyourcallingathomeinanotherlifestage(e.g.,child,singleadult,widow,etc.)Howmightyourcongregationequipfolkfortheseparticularcallings?

3. Morespecifically,howcancongre-

gationssupportthehome,inallitsvarieties,asaprimarymeansoffaithdevelopment?Hint:Onecon-gregationincludedtableprayersfortheweekasaninsertintheSundaybulletin.

4. Whatdoesitmeanto“findyourcrossinyourcalling”?Canyouthinkofanyexamplesfromyourownlife?Whathappened?

5. Manypeoplehavedifficultydiscern-ingwhere,orexactlyhow,toliveouttheircalling,beitatwork,thecom-munity,orinthehome.DidtheparticipantsinthissessiongiveyouanyideasfordiscerningGod’scall?Hint:1)Ask,What’sthehelpful,orhuman,thingtodo?,and2)Letyour

Group Discussion: (30 min)

currentroles,andthepeopleinrela-tiontothoseroles,determinewhatgood,thatis,useful,worksare.

6. What’sDarrellJodockgettingatwhenhesays,“Godbreaksthecycle:Iadoptyounomatterwhat.Youare

mychildnomatterwhat.”Haveyouexperiencedthis?

7. Howcouldyour“gathered”congre-gationbettersupportits“scattered”callingsinthecommunity?

6. Spirit/Flesh

Summary: Godcomesdownandsendsusout.InJesus’humanity,theincarnation,Goddignifiedthetinyandoftenmundanedetailsofcreaturelyexis-tence.Wecannotseparatebodyandsoul,fleshandspirit.

Prayer:OGodandFather,giveusgraciouslywhatbelongstothebodyanditslife.OSonofGod,freeusfromsinandmercifullygrantusyourspirit.OGodtheHolySpirit,heal,com-fort,andmakeusstrongagainstthedevil,andfinallygiveusthevictoryandtheresurrectionfromthedead.Amen.

—MartinLuther1

Getting Started: Sharehighlightsfromyourcir-clecharts(Seelastweek’sToThinkAboutThisWeeksection.)Didthisexperienceclarifyyoursenseofcall-ing?Didyounoticeanycommonthemesacrossthedomains(home,workplace,congregation,commu-nity,leisure)?

While You’re Watching: Throughoutthisserieswe’veexploredtheimplicationsoftwoideas,justificationandvocation.Howdoesanunderstandingoftheseideashelp,inthewordsofRichardBliese,toexpose“falsegos-pels”?Whataresomeofthese“falsegospels”?

1. Whatsurprisedyouinthisfinalsession?

2. Whatareyourassociationswithpopularspiritualityandpopularviewsofthebody?Whatexamplescanyouthinkof?

3. WhatdifferencedoesathoroughlyChristianunderstandingoftheselfmake?Whataretheimplicationsofthisunderstandingforspirituality?

4. DarrellJodockasserts“God’shomeisdownherewithus.”Doesthissur-priseyou?Doyoufindithopeful?

5. WhoinyourlifeisasilentwitnessofGod’sgrace?

6. Inthepastsixweeks,wheredidgracetakeyou?Whatareyournextsteps?

7. Whatarethenextstepsforyourcongregation?

Group Discussion: (30 min)

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Endnotes

2. In/Out (Congregation)1 JohnW.Doberstein,ALutheranPrayerBook(Muhlenberg,1960),p.97.

3. Wanna/Gotta (Community)1 WendellFrerichs,RealPrayers(CenteredLife,2004).

5. Self/Others (Home)1 LutheranBookofPrayer(ConcordiaPublishingHouse,2005),pp.199-200.

6. Spirit/Flesh1 MartinLuther,Luther’sPrayers(Augsburg,1967),p.62.

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