The Sojourners Class

(for the Season 2007 / 2008)

(An adult discussion group)

Pamela Daskus (known as Pam) –

(Teacher and Moderator)

 

Notes:   Dates have been arranged to display the latest first.

The Bible that we use is the Good News Bible published in 1976.

 

                                        

 

(That’s Pam at the end of the table in the yellow blouse)

 

Pam puts a lot of effort in class preparation and is quite happy at the popularity and participation in her class.  She invites all adults to attend.  She spent four years in college studying the Bible and knows her stuff.  She also has an excellent presentation.  We have a lot of fun while we learn and talk about the Bible and our beliefs.

 

06/08//08

Today we discussed the power of prayer and all that it can accomplish for us.  We pray that our faith in God will help with the solution to a problem.  We cannot wait for God to solve the problem but must do the work on our own with a faith that our faith in God has provided us with the correct path for a solution.  We also read in the Bible, Colossians, Chap. 2, verse 18 which states “Do not allow yourselves to be condemned by anyone who claims to be superior because of special visions and who insists on false humility and the worship of angels”.  This seems to suggest that we should not follow cult leaders. 

 

This was the last class meeting of the season.  We will resume in September.  Keep an eye out for an announcement to this effect.  Have a great summer and may God bless.  

 

06/01//08

No class was held today.

 

05/25//08

We got into a discussion about love and why God may have chosen not to build it into us as a natural reaction like eating and sex etc.  The capacity is there but we have to develop it.

There will be no meeting next week, June 1st.  The last meeting of the season will occur on Sunday June 8.

 

05/18//08

We studied more of Jesus’ parables.  Luke chap. 12, verse 16 is the parable of the rich man who wanted even more.  We discussed the nature of parables their intent etc.  

 

05/11//08

No report today.

 

05/04/08

The empathies were on the parables that Jesus taught showing him to be a real rebel in his time.  We discussed each one in some detail.  His whole thrust seemed to be on showing that the Jewish laws of that time seemed to prohibit doing good works when they were required.

 

04/27/08

Pam posed a question which we tried to answer with discussion.  The question was, “Do we believe that God said everything that he intended to say in the Bible”.  The discussion went on from there sometimes diverging from the original topic.  The discussion centered around weather we are predestined to play out a prescribed part or weather we have an important part in the way things will go.  No conclusions were reached.

 

04/20/08

Today we continued our discussion about tradition verses scripture.  The discussion revolved around Mark 7, 14 – 23.  An opinion was expressed that God guides progress by sending someone with a particular idea or skill that advances society when he deems that we are ready for it.  A “predestination” type idea.  Another expressed the idea that it may be more random in nature, with ideas being kept as they are tried and deemed as working.  Note that most good ideas seem to be a rediscovery as to how God has already ordered things. (A lot of deep Philosophy here)  What a day to return from vacation.  

 

03/30/08 – 04/13/08 I will be away on R&R.  These interesting discussions will go on with out me reporting.  So come and hear for yourself.

 

03/23/08

Today we had an informal discussion, which centered around how we turn people off when presenting our religion to them.  To us the religious buzz words and stories are familiar and pleasant.  To others they may sound silly and out of date.  How can we present our beliefs so that they make sense to the modern way of thinking with out changing the meaning?

 

03/16/08

We continued our discussion of Jesus’ words, this time about perfection.  We decided that perfection is a goal that we should pursue.  We will not get there but we should try to come as close as we can.  We must always strive to be better.  We also discussed the fact that words in Jesus time probably didn’t have the same meaning as they do today and that is why we must understand the times that these word were spoken and try to understand what was truly meant.  This is one of the things that divides Christians today.

 

03/09/08

We continued our discussion of Jesus’ words about changing money in the temple and doing good works on the Sabbath.  Sorry I was not in class for the whole time and did not get all the details.

  

03/02/08

We studied John 2, 13-17 and Matthew 21, 12-  where Jesus upsets the money changing tables located in the Temple.  We were knit - picking about exactly where the tables etc. were located, in the sanctuary or in the temple complex?  Pam pointed out that Jesus may have been protesting the unfair inequity and the cheating in the exchanging process because trade and selling always went on in the vicinity of the Temple.  It was within the city walls.   

 

02/24/08

No Report

 

02/17/08

Pam was away on some much needed R & R.  Sue took over and we looked at and discussed a book that she had called “The Narrated Bible in Chronological Order.

 

02/10/08

Today we talked about Jesus’ calling the disciples to follow him.  We talked about what it means for us to follow Jesus.  We talked about salvation.  We tied to define the word salvation.  

 

02/03/08

Today we discussed associating with bad people.  Jesus did it so that he might convert them.  Jesus had a good reason so when we do it we should have a good reason also.  We discussed some of the ideas that the church has today, especially the Catholic church.

 

01/27/08

Today we discussed parts of the book of ST. Matthew.  We discussed “sin” and tried to define it.  That took up most of the session.  

 

01/20/08

Today we discussed Luke 4-16 to 21 where Jesus, while in the temple, read from the book of Isaiah chapter 51 where he proclaimed that he was the one that was sent to fulfill the scriptures.  We discussed what it was that the Jews expected of the Messiah and what it was that Jesus gave them.  We also read Luke 1-46 to 55. There, Mary talked about what it was that Jesus gave to her and to all people.  More about Jesus next week.   

 

01/13/08

We started right off discussing some of the words that Jesus said in the “Sermon on the Mount”.  Matthew, chapter 5 verses 41 states “ and whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him two”.  The discussion centered around this.

 

01/06/08

We hope everyone had a happy new year and made a resolution to come to Sunday school faithfully.  We finished our study of the book of Revelation.  We tried to make some sense out of why it was written and why it was included in the Bible.  We noted that at the end, John discouraged anyone from changing what he has said.  Moving on, Pam decided that next we would study the books describing the words that Jesus spoke.  Everyone agreed.

 

12/30/07

We had a discussion about what we will study next but no conclusion was reached.  We will wait until Pam returns so we can have her input, after all she is the one who has to prepare the lesson.

 

12/23/07

Had our yearly Christmas Party.  Exchanged gifts and ate goodies.  Played a game in which we had to guess Bible characters from clues.  Next week we will talk about what we should study next.  Be sure to come and put your “two cents” in the discussion.

 

12/16/07

Stopped our study of the book of Revelation. 

 

12/02/07

Just a general class discussion today.  No class meeting next week.

 

11/25/07

No class today.

 

11/18/07

No report for today.

 

11/11/07

We continued to discuss the book of Revelation.  Pam has outlined the agenda for the class discussion to the end of the year.

 

          11/11     Revelation

          11/18     Revelation

          11/25     No class meeting.  (Day after play.)

          12/02     Revelation

          12/09     No class meeting.

          12/16     Finish Revelation!!

          12/23     Christmas Party

          12/30     “ Casual class meeting – Let’s talk about what to study next.”

          01/06     Begin New Topic!

 

11/04/07

No report for today.

 

10/28/07

No report for today.

 

10/21/07

Today we finished discussing the book of Revelation chapter 14.  Next week on to Chapter 15.

 

10/14/07

Today we continued discussing the book of Revelation chapter 14.

 

9/30/07

Today we continued discussing the Book of Revelation chapter 14.  We read the chapter out load and then gave our interpretations of what we read.  And on it goes.  No meeting next week 10/07.  Class will resume the following week 10/14.  See you then.

 

9/23/07

Today we continued discussing the Book of Revelation chapter 13, with many of us describing our interpretation of what we were reading.  Again, I could detect their interpretation depended upon what I think their belief structure is (i.e. orthodox, conservative, liberal etc.).  It seems that Revelation has something for everybody depending upon their frame of mind.

 

9/16/07

We started off the new season with a bang.  Attendance was good.  We continued where we left off in June with the book of Revelation studying chapter 13.  We spent the time trying to read into it some relevant meaning.  As before, what we saw was what we wanted to see.  This book seems to allow people to find the meaning that they would like to find but may not have found before.  A very clever way of allowing people to find what they want.  This book was put at the very end as a catch all. (my own interpretation, EH)