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A Modern Perspective on Early Christian Thought.
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Imitation of Christ – Book 4, Ch.8-11, pt.2
Enter into the story of the Road to Emmaus. Read the passage slowly, reverentially, and expectantly allowing yourself to live into the story itself. Reflect on the part of the story that resonates with you, particularly its conclusion that the Risen Jesus is known in the breaking of the bread.
Imitation of Christ – Book 4, Ch.8-11, pt.1
The theme of these next meditations is the mutual offerings we experience in the Eucharist. Within this mystery Christ fully offers himself on our behalf; so also does he now call us to likewise fully offer ourselves to him.
Imitation of Christ – Book 4, Ch.4-7, pt.2
One Christian who found a great benefit in reading through “The Imitation of Christ” was John Wesley, the Anglican priest and founder of the Methodist movement. Wesley translated the book into English and published the same so that members of his Methodist community could benefit from á Kempis’ writing.
Imitation of Christ – Book 4, Ch.4-7, pt.1
In meditations four and five, we come across two concepts that have a very ancient origin in the church – the Eucharist as the “medicine of immortality” and the special dignity (or burden) of the priesthood.
Imitation of Christ – Book 4, Ch.1-4, pt.2
Á Kempis begins his series of meditations with the awesome duty we have of preparation. Á Kempis looks back on the preparations made by Noah, Moses, and Solomon to receive God’s presence and what type of preparation do we make to receive God as well?
Imitation of Christ – Book 4, Ch.1-4, pt.1
As the alternative to the Scholastic Doctrine of Transubstantiation, á Kempis simply gives us a series of five Bible verses to contemplate as a guide into a spiritual knowledge of the Eucharist and thereby into a relationship with Jesus that passes all understanding. Therefore, for Tuesday night, the only homework is to read the five verses: Matthew 11:28, John 6:52, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 6:57, and John 6:63.
The Great Divorce, Ch. 12-14, pt.2
If you could insert a chapter about your own ghost, how would it read? What thing is the most important thing in your life? What idol are you prepared to protect and pursue at all costs?
The Great Divorce, Ch. 12-14, pt.1
Lewis’s teaching is that if we can begin to wrap our heads around the idea that the movement of time is simply an illusion, then the stark difference between creation/annihilation, universalism/election, and predestination/freedom disappears.
The Great Divorce, Ch.9-11, pt.2
Nothing in and of itself is good or bad (how can the love of a child be wrong) but when that thing takes the place of God, it causes us to miss the mark (i.e. sin). Therefore, the challenge that Lewis gives us is to see those idols in our life that draw us away from God so that they can be put in their proper place.
The Great Divorce, Ch.9-11, pt.1
As Lewis shows us, non-existence overcomes the humanity in the ghosts and the grumbler becomes a grumble and the ghost of Robert’s Wife simply goes “poof.”
The Great Divorce, Ch.7-8, pt.1
As we progress through the book, the ghosts and their respective problems should be getting more personal. This week, we’ll meet the ghosts of doubt – the Hard-Bitten Cynical and the Frightened Shame-filled ghost.
The Great Divorce, Ch.4-6, pt.2
But He cannot defend this deity of His against the self-righteous people who are unwilling to accept grace and eternal life from Him freely but want to earn it by their own works. They simply want to rob Him of the glory of His deity. – Martin Luther