For me, theology is a kind of grounding. When I think about the Heidelberg Catechism, it draws Scriptural truths together to show what the Ten Commandments, the Apostle's Creed and the Lord's Prayer mean for our everyday lives. It keeps us focused on what church is about so that we don't just glide along with whatever culture throws at us.
Theology is literally the study of God. In many North American churches, the emphasis is on the individual and how he can find success and answers to prayer. How can we worship One that we do not know? How can we be a community of faith that builds each other up? The answers come in our understanding of God and subsequently our understanding of who we are in relation to Him.
Thanks for this article, Anthony. I think it also applies to who goes on short-term mission trips. How much preparation is given to those who go on these trips? Almost none. My one and only service trip overseas was to the Dominican Republic, where I helped with school construction for about one week. I knew very little about the country and culture of the people we were visiting in order to properly engage even the women who served us two hot meals per day. I do not regret having gone on this trip, but if I were to go again, I would at least want to have cultural and language knowledge so that I would be a greater help. Really, the air fare for a one-week trip would be better spent to equip nationals and well qualified others to do transformational work.
If I'm correct in assuming that these exchange students have a first language other than English, I wonder if the Manga Messiah version of Jesus' life would be appropriate. The reading level is much easier than traditional versions of the biblical story, and the accompanying pictures can fill in any gaps left by not understanding individual words. I hope this might help.
I am a sixth grade teacher and a few months ago I led my students in a poverty awareness activity that involved a form of fasting. This is how it worked:
For one month I had my students consider giving up something they were used to in order to have a better understanding of others living in poverty. It was up to them to decide the duration and the extent of their "fast." Incidentally, I did not call this activity "fasting" until after the month was completed. At that time, I showed them the connection between what they had given up and the traditional food-related fasting.
Choices of duration: one day, one week, one month
Choice of fast:
Sleep on the floor or sleep without a pillow [having a bed and a pillow is normal to us but not to every child in the world]
Use bar soap to wash your hair [In North America, our soaps are specialized, but in areas of poverty, bar soap becomes versatile]
Watch no television or use no device [Electricity and ready entertainment are not available 24/7 around the world]
Drink only water (not juice, milk, pop) [Imagine if you had to boil that water first...]
Eat no dessert or snacks after supper [Three meals a day plus grazing on snacks is not typical around the world]
Wear a shirt that is too small or too big for you [When you're poor you wear hand-me-downs until you can afford something better]
Wear the same outfit (you are allowed to wash it in between) [Wearing the same thing every day will help you appreciate your closet full of clothes]
Every student chose to participate. As a teacher I modeled wearing the same outfit for the month. Maybe some of these ideas can be useful to others.
I can't begin to express how much I have learned and been blessed by opening my home to an Iraqi refugee who had been stuck in Syria for four years. Her story enables me to see beyond the statistics.
Posted in: Why Does Theology Matter?
For me, theology is a kind of grounding. When I think about the Heidelberg Catechism, it draws Scriptural truths together to show what the Ten Commandments, the Apostle's Creed and the Lord's Prayer mean for our everyday lives. It keeps us focused on what church is about so that we don't just glide along with whatever culture throws at us.
Theology is literally the study of God. In many North American churches, the emphasis is on the individual and how he can find success and answers to prayer. How can we worship One that we do not know? How can we be a community of faith that builds each other up? The answers come in our understanding of God and subsequently our understanding of who we are in relation to Him.
Posted in: Should We Send "Ordinary Christians" as Missionaries?
Thanks for this article, Anthony. I think it also applies to who goes on short-term mission trips. How much preparation is given to those who go on these trips? Almost none. My one and only service trip overseas was to the Dominican Republic, where I helped with school construction for about one week. I knew very little about the country and culture of the people we were visiting in order to properly engage even the women who served us two hot meals per day. I do not regret having gone on this trip, but if I were to go again, I would at least want to have cultural and language knowledge so that I would be a greater help. Really, the air fare for a one-week trip would be better spent to equip nationals and well qualified others to do transformational work.
Posted in: Resources to Introduce Jesus and the Bible?
If I'm correct in assuming that these exchange students have a first language other than English, I wonder if the Manga Messiah version of Jesus' life would be appropriate. The reading level is much easier than traditional versions of the biblical story, and the accompanying pictures can fill in any gaps left by not understanding individual words. I hope this might help.
Posted in: Any Recommendations for Resources on Prayer and Fasting for Children?
I am a sixth grade teacher and a few months ago I led my students in a poverty awareness activity that involved a form of fasting. This is how it worked:
For one month I had my students consider giving up something they were used to in order to have a better understanding of others living in poverty. It was up to them to decide the duration and the extent of their "fast." Incidentally, I did not call this activity "fasting" until after the month was completed. At that time, I showed them the connection between what they had given up and the traditional food-related fasting.
Choices of duration: one day, one week, one month
Choice of fast:
Sleep on the floor or sleep without a pillow [having a bed and a pillow is normal to us but not to every child in the world]
Use bar soap to wash your hair [In North America, our soaps are specialized, but in areas of poverty, bar soap becomes versatile]
Watch no television or use no device [Electricity and ready entertainment are not available 24/7 around the world]
Drink only water (not juice, milk, pop) [Imagine if you had to boil that water first...]
Eat no dessert or snacks after supper [Three meals a day plus grazing on snacks is not typical around the world]
Wear a shirt that is too small or too big for you [When you're poor you wear hand-me-downs until you can afford something better]
Wear the same outfit (you are allowed to wash it in between) [Wearing the same thing every day will help you appreciate your closet full of clothes]
Every student chose to participate. As a teacher I modeled wearing the same outfit for the month. Maybe some of these ideas can be useful to others.
Posted in: The Refugee Crisis: Make It Personal
I can't begin to express how much I have learned and been blessed by opening my home to an Iraqi refugee who had been stuck in Syria for four years. Her story enables me to see beyond the statistics.
Posted in: Sunday School Celebration!
Nice ideas. Thanks for sharing.