This is Part 9 in our series: The Public Christian Journey. We take our last look at the ezer kenegdo concept and define "synergy." We combine the words wisdom, submission and synergy and consider the wisdom in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
Series Summary:
Week 1: We built our theology of loving others from Mark 12:29-31 and then defined love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) and forgiving others as honoring Christ's sacrifice. (Ephesians 4:32) On a practical level we look at the value and blessing that others bring to us in our journey.
Week 2: We focused on giving "free" gifts, just like Christ sacrificed for us when we didn't deserve it. We focus again on Mark 12: 29-31 and also talk in the Podcast about the connection of Christ's death to the metaphors of The Good Shepherd and the Tree of Life. We look very closely that the prison of unforgiveness and how to apply that to our daily lives. If we are in a state of unforgiveness then we are also in a state of incomplete grief.
In Week 3 we focused on the Parable of the Lost Son found in Luke 15:11-32. We deconstruct much of the Hebrew context of this parable to expose a deeper level of forgiveness expressed by the father (God). And we meditate on who actually is the lost son, and remind ourselves that forgiveness is the end product of a period of grief. We also discuss the activity sheet and journal activity for the week.
Week 4 we focused on the scriptures supporting Sabbath. We took a brief look back at the Parable of the Lost son. But this time we discuss the celebration dinner and link it to Sabbath celebration. We suggest journal prompts for the teens and discuss the activity sheet and journal activity for the week. For the small group session it was shaving Cream Week!!! (Always a favorite)
In week 5 we focused on "Apologizing with All of Our Hearts." As part of the PCJ, we will hurt people and they will hurt us. The apology is how we live out humbleness and submission (listening deeply to know) to others. We looked at intentional and unintentional harms and then look at several scripture passages that touch on various aspects of a genuine apology. Finally we suggest role-play activities and journal prompts that help dive deeper into being ready to apologize when needed.
In Week 6 in our series we “introduced you to “Win-win-win thinking." As part of the PCJ, we hear echoes of Stephen Covey, but here we include God as the third win. We see the wisdom of the Greatest Blessings as finding the win-win-win. When anyone "loses" God is saddened. We even see that if we are not fully loyal to God we can create a win-win-lose. We looked at several scripture passages that touch on various aspects of a genuine apology. Finally we suggest role-play activities and journal prompts that help dive deeper into how best to find win-win-wins.
In Week 7 we continue a deep dive into "Win-Win-Win Thinking." With "submissive" (anah) listening we focus on figuring out what is a “win” for other people. Do we guess or ask? We also get to have fun playing the fool or the wise person when faced with an apparent conflict. We look to Philippians 2:4 and Proverbs 18 for guidance.
In Part 8 we looked at "Win-Win-Win Thinking," that is expressing (patiently and kindly) what is a “win” for us. We fully review the concept of ezer kenegdo (iron sharpens iron). Seeing that ideal relationships happen when both people share and strengthen each other. We see the wisdom of this in Proverbs 18:1-2 and 13.
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