DC 301 - Week 4

We wrap up Larry Crabb's Inside Out this week, much to the appreciation of some, I'm sure! Lighter, but no less important reading lies ahead... In the meantime, here's how the workload for this week might play out:

Monday - Read Genesis 37-50 and Psalms 17, 19-21
Tuesday - Read Gordon MacDonald's article, Biblical Masculinity, and review memory verses, such as 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:15, and Jeremiah 29:11
Wednesday - Read chapter 10 of Inside Out and make notes
Thursday - Read chapter 11 of Inside Out and make notes
Friday - Read chapters 12-13 of Inside Out and make notes

DC 301 - Week 3

After moving slowly through the first half of Larry Crabb's book, Inside Out, we will pick up the pace. This week, we'll spend most of our time discussing chapter 7-9 of the book, although there is more to the workload than that. Here's how it could break down:

Monday - Read Genesis 25-36
Tuesday - Read the assigned Psalms for the week, 11-16 I think... and the lengthy article in the workbook
Wednesday - Read chapter 7 of Inside Out, and review the memory verses for the week, including 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 4:29, and Galatians 5:16, I think
Thursday - Read chapter 8 of Larry Crabb's book
Friday - Read chapter 9 of Larry Crabb's book

DC 301 - Week 2

We spent two weeks on week 1, and now we have 2 weeks to cover the week 2 workload, though we will meet only once. Here is how you might break it down if you were covering the full workload in one week:

Monday - Read Genesis 12-24
Tuesday - Read Psalms 8-10 and the article/interview with Dr. Larry Crabb by Traci Mullins, Facing the Pain in Relationships
Wednesday - Review memory verses, including Proverbs 3:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, and 2 Peter 3:18, and read chapter 4 of Larry Crabb's Inside Out
Thursday - Read chapter 5 of Larry Crabb's Inside Out
Friday - Read chapter 6 of Larry Crabb's Inside Out

The Parable of the Dishonest (Shrewd) Manager

The parable of the shrewd, or dishonest, manager is definitely worth a closer look. I listened to a good sermon on it recently. Here are some thoughts:

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LUKE 16:1-3 We must have and use wisdom for success (both worldly and for eternity) Always keep the end in view (as in the bigger picture, the future, the purpose for which all things are happening) The manager was accused of wasting possessions (the prodigal son did the same); this may be why he was called "dishonest," not necessarily because of his later actions in reducing the debt owed to his master (in other words, he may have had approval to do that) The rich man demands an account from him and effectively fires the manager The manager contemplates his future and, thinking ahead and about the resources at his disposal, plans for what’s coming, and is commended for his shrewd behavior. For what exactly is he commended? The dishonesty? No! His decisiveness? Not exactly... Quick action w/ future in mind? Yes… His present action with long term purpose in mind (SHREWDNESS) Jewish leadership (Pharisees) valued tradition over people, and Jesus challenges them on that point here When Jesus says, "Use worldly wealth to gain friends so that when wealth is gone, you’ll be welcomed into eternal dwellings," He means that we ought to care for people (gain friends) with wealth, knowing that we benefit from that too (it is more blessed to give than to receive), instead of amassing wealth for selfish spending (and squandering) Money ought to be used but not trusted God ought to be trusted but not used We ought to order our whole lives around larger purpose (small things lead to large things) Whoever can be trusted with little can be trusted with much... ---------------------------------