Around the Table

Guests:
Jay Luthi
Duane Rocke

Show notes:

• Thoughts on different types of bridles.
• Ideal would be to not need a bridle.
• Allow God through his Spirit to control our tongue.
• Effective examples, both positive and negative, show how the tongue has a significant impact.
• How to understand and apply James 3.
• Appropriate transparency.
• Jesus is the best example.
• Our words should bring out the best in others.

Guests:
John Wiegand
Fred Witzig

Guests:
John Wiegand
Fred Witzig

Guests:
Bruce Frank
Joe Gerber

Show notes:

• God can relate to us because of the incarnation.
• Incarnation models selflessness, servant leadership, humility, and obedience to the Father,
• Incarnation brought us our perfect example.
• Incarnation is a model for preaching the gospel.
• Incarnation is a model for sacrificial living.
• Incarnation was necessary for salvation.
• Incarnation gives us an opportunity to ponder the depths of God.

Guests:
Herbie Knochel, Tony Manz, Tom Waldbeser

Show notes:
Discussion Summary:
Explored Christology (how Christ is fully God and fully human).
Person of the Holy Spirit (fully God yet fully dwells in believers).

Discussion Specifics:
Scriptures how Christ upholds the world.
Christ being God explains how Christ could achieve victory over sin, yet as human, also experience all aspects of humanity.
Humans tend to diminish Christ's divinity or humanity.
Why does it matter that Jesus was fully human? Jesus had to die (God cannot die).
We cannot recognize Jesus as God, except by the Holy Spirit.
Mystery of Holy Spirit indwelling believers.
The Holy Spirit proclaims and glorifies Christ.
How have our lives been affected by this study?

• Discovered validating scriptures that God is one in three persons (both OT and NT).
• Increase the quality of our fellowship as we studied.
• Experienced awe and wonder of seeing God more fully.
• Increase humility as we know God and exalt Him to his rightful place.
• Personally rewarding as we study to know God.

Guests:
Herbie Knochel
Tony Manz
Tom Waldbeser

Show notes:
Discussion Summary:
Trinity is part of elder body focus on core doctrine.
Intent is to help the ministry by better understanding core doctrine.
Elder body has been making efforts to teach well and learn well in areas not emphasized in the past.
Be careful to avoid "ditch" by demanding understanding of God's Word where God's Word doesn't offer or stretch meaning where it doesn't belong.
Identify boundaries where scripture is clear and not clear.
Be willing to accept mystery.
Studying scripture helps us appreciate God more and how he makes himself known.

Discussion Specifics:
How did we (elders) engage this study on the Trinity?

• Spend time reading: the Word, early church authors, middle ages and modern thought to get perspective on how humans have thought about God.
• Comparing various viewpoints strengths and weaknesses.
• Lots of discussion about how these viewpoints affected us.
• Spent time in worship as we reflect on God.

God is beyond us and we will never put God in a box.
Let God's word determine boundaries.
God has made an effort to show us who he is.
What are we doing with this effort? Creating teaching content for ministers to have a better understanding of core doctrine.
Identified scriptures that communicate trinity.
Become aware of God's use of metaphor and analogy to help us grasp difficult concepts.
Be careful to not take analogies and metaphors too far.
Become aware of many references to the Trinity that are not always obvious.
Examples of Old Testament references to Trinity, not just NT.
Affirm there is one God; one divine will; one divine mind.
There are 3 persons that are one God.
These 3 persons share glory and are interconnected.
The Trinity reveals true love and how it is other-focused.
The Trinity reveals true unity, how three function as one and not as independent agents.
Trinity is revealed in scriptural references to creation.

Guests:
Lucas Frank, Bekah Plattner, Darl Rassi

Show notes:
How did curriculum get started? Started in 2020.
What was the previous curriculum like?
Why do we need a new curriculum? Build on past curriculum. More relevant to today's rapidly changing culture. Provide resources to teachers to be better prepared to answer questions.
How did lesson creation begin? Identified ground of individuals to take charge over various grade levels.
Identifies goals of new curriculum.
How are needs of small congregations met to meet intent of curriculum?
How are lessons written? What will lesson look like?
How are lessons reviewed, edited and finalized?
How do lesson goals change with grade level?
How to better support new Sunday School teachers?
Over 700 lessons when finished!
30 lessons piloted in Fall 2022.
75 additional lessons to be piloted in Fall 2023.
Lessons will be available as soon as finished.
Volunteers greatly committed to project.
A blessing to see Body of Christ working together.
Ongoing need for volunteers and how to sign up.

Guests: Ron Messner, Gwen Luethold, Gina Martin

Show notes:
How did the singleness taskforce start?
Don't assume working singles don't want to be married.
Charter Objectives
Surveyed elders to see how engaged elders are with working singles.
Taskforce sisters pleased with elders' response from survey.
How did faith-based decision-making paper come about?
Realized "faith-based" is not defined the same across our churches.
Created paper
Started Facebook page
Initiated survey of singles to be completed in September

Guests:
Kurt Bahler, Tyler Knochel, Drew Schumacher, John Wiegand

Guests:
Jeff Grimm
Tim Lehman

Show notes:
Start with biblical principles: God owns it all
Stewardship vs. selfishness (mindset for both giver and receiver)
Only God knows the impact of the money we give on the lives of others: will it help or hurt them?
Love has to be motivation for giving.
Not always positive to hand down lots of money to the next generation. Can breed laziness and entitlement.
Other pitfalls: family members can have unanticipated expectations. Need to be aware of the range of potential expectations.
Motivation should not be to get every dollar possible. Nor should we expect a "family discount".
Communication is very important! If there is not effective communication, conflict will be an inevitable result.
It is scriptural to provide for our own families; that does not mean we need to give them everything (don't need to prosper them).
Need to keep in mind: how do I promote the christian lifestyle when I give? Will it continue reflecting Christ after I die?
Estate plan is our final act of stewardship. Start thinking about it earlier, rather than later.
Estate plan will need to be updated; often every 3-5 years.
If possible, use professionals who have a Christian worldview.
Be thoughtful and considerate when appointing an executor. It may be best to involve someone outside the family.
Be careful to not be self-focused, but be considerate of others.
There are two different types of gifts: unrestricted and endowed (with restrictions).
Referenced Silver Lining article for information on Endowment Fund.
Giving is not about the amount; it is always a blessing when we promote Christian principles.
Our estate plan should reflect our Christian values.
Scriptures are rich in speaking to financial stewardship; it is important to God.