Musalaha is a non‐profit organization that seeks to promote reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians as demonstrated in the life and teaching of Jesus. We endeavor to be an encouragement and advocate of reconciliation, first among Palestinian and Israeli believers and then beyond to our respective communities. Musalaha also aims at facilitating bridge building among different segments of Israeli and Palestinian societies according to biblical reconciliation principles.

Salim J. Munayer

Professor & Musalaha Director

Salim is a Palestinian‐Israeli born in Lod as one of six children and received his BA from Tel Aviv University in History and Geography, his MA from Fuller Theological Seminary, graduate studies in New Testament from Pepperdine University and his PhD from the Oxford Center of Mission Studies in the UK. His doctoral dissertation was written on “The Ethnic Identity of Palestinian Arab Christian Adolescents in Israel.” He has published several books on Reconciliation, the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, and Christians in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Salim served as academic dean of the Bethlehem Bible College from 1989 to 2008, and continues to serve as a professor at the college. He is also an adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary. Salim is married to Kay and has four sons, Jack, Daniel, John and Sam.

The Land Cries Out

by Salim J. Munayer

Musalaha is a non‐profit organization that seeks to promote reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians as demonstrated in the life and teaching of Jesus. We endeavor to be an encouragement and advocate of reconciliation, first among Palestinian and Israeli believers and then beyond to our respective communities. Musalaha also aims at facilitating bridge building among different segments of Israeli and Palestinian societies according to biblical reconciliation principles.

Salim J. Munayer

Professor & Musalaha Director

Salim is a Palestinian‐Israeli born in Lod as one of six children and received his BA from Tel Aviv University in History and Geography, his MA from Fuller Theological Seminary, graduate studies in New Testament from Pepperdine University and his PhD from the Oxford Center of Mission Studies in the UK. His doctoral dissertation was written on “The Ethnic Identity of Palestinian Arab Christian Adolescents in Israel.” He has published several books on Reconciliation, the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, and Christians in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Salim served as academic dean of the Bethlehem Bible College from 1989 to 2008, and continues to serve as a professor at the college. He is also an adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary. Salim is married to Kay and has four sons, Jack, Daniel, John and Sam.

The Land Cries Out

by Salim J. Munayer

A. Rocks, rocks, and more rocks B. John 8:1‐12

A. The Pharisees’ question reveals their own hearts.

1. At its core, they deny the image of God in the woman.

2. Judgment denies the humanity in people.

B. The question traps Jesus between a rock and hard place.

1. Their actions, seemingly, follow the Law of Moses (Dt. 22).

2. Their actions contradict the character of Jesus.

A. Writing in the dirt

1. Jesus refuses to even entertain the Pharisees’ question.

2. For Jesus, people aren’t objects for discussion, but human beings.

3. “The one without sin, cast the first stone”

B. “Neither do I condemn you”

1. Jesus gives the woman back her dignity.

2. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

C. “Go and sin no more”

1. Jesus invites the woman into Kingdom life.

2. Mercy leads to new life.

A. Am I the woman in the story?

B. Am I one of the Pharisees?

C. What will I do with the rocks I carry?

• Which of the characters do you most identify with in the story and why?

• In what areas of your life are you prone to judge others?

• In what ways have you personally experienced mercy triumph over judgment?

• Practically, how can you choose mercy and life over judgment this week?

• Jesus & the Holy Spirit

• Other people

• The Bible

• Napkins

• Circumstances

• A burning bush

A. Some things he wants all Christ followers to do

B. Some things are specific to our individual lives

A. Moses’ big buts

• “But God, who am I?”

• “But God, who are you?”

• “But God, no one will listen to me!”

• “But God, I don’t talk good!”

• “But God, I don’t want to!”

• How have you heard God speaking to you in the past few months?

• When have you sensed God inviting you to do something? How did you respond and why?

• In what area(s) of your life are you making excuses and need to move your “but”?

• If you could attempt anything for God, and you knew you wouldn’t fail, what would you do?

by John Ortberg

A. “If I couldn’t live longer, would I live better? “

B. “Is living better self‐serving or life giving to others?”

C. What shapes our answers to those two questions?

A. A Christ‐follower’s bucket list is shaped by his/her understanding and experience of God!

B. Conversion and its implications…

1. Sub‐normal Christianity | Acts 18‐19

• Challenging a lack of understanding/experience

2. Normal Christianity

• Shaping perspective of all of life

A. Leaving behind good people who will finish their own race! | Acts 13‐28

1. “Who died for you?” and “Who will you die for?”

B. Leaving behind something useful!

1. Don’t waste your stories or scars…

2. Leave expertise, encouragement, and values…

3. Leave a model of discipline and hard work…

4. Leave a model of faith and risk‐taking…

5. Leave a model of OUTGIVING and OUTLOVING!

• How would you summarize the whole of this last series? What key words, phrases or thoughts have remained with you from week to week?

• Were your ideas of what it means to “live better” challenged or changed in any way as a result of the talk?

• Discuss the contrast between sub‐normal and normal Christianity as defined by today’s talk.

• Describe a time in your life in which you were simultaneously seeking and resisting truth.

• Describe what it might look like if you / we / the church left behind all of the good things listed in section III. How might we get there from here?

Should you or someone you know need help, here are some counseling centers that we recommend:

web: broomtreecounseling.com

ph: (504) 265‐3125

web: lighthouse‐counseling.com

ph: (504) 734‐0501

web: thenewlifecenter.org

ph: (985) 632‐7797

web: restoraJonnola.net

ph: (504) 913‐5039

an internship program for the counseling students at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

web: nobts.edu/ccm/counseling-center.html

ph: (504) 816‐8004

email: [email protected]

A. Takers focus upon titles, roles, and self promotion

B. Givers focus upon being servants at their own expense

A. We don't do well outside of being generous in and with our...

1. Relationships

2. Forgiveness

3. Resources and wealth

B. Generosity is a learned habit

1. Taking the next step

• Why do you think this generosity thing is so important? Or, do you think undue emphasis is being placed on it? Why or why not?

• What did you feel during the discussion when we contrasted givers and takers?

• If generosity results in so much flourishing then why does it require so much training and discipline?

• Contrast being generous with resources and being generous with forgiveness. Now, does one seem easier than the other?

• What is your next step to flourishing?

III. Hell

IV. Earth

For Further Discussion

• What was your initial impression of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus? How did today’s talk impact or change your previous assumptions of its meaning?

• What was your biggest take away from today’s talk?

• At the conclusion of this series, what do you feel has been most helpful to you? What steps will you need to take to implement change?

• In what ways does having a good understanding of heaven and hell (according to Jesus) impact your life on earth?

by N. T. Wright

A. It is inevitable; one day we will all be fired!

B. Until then, we are to be “shrewd stewards” in and for the kingdom.

A. Being faithful…

1. To whom? With what? To what end?

2. Our ONLY obligation is to do the will of God

B. The enemy of faithfulness

1. Life tends to orient itself around the heart

• treasures on earth or in heaven

2. Attempting the impossible (Verse 13)

• “No one can serve two masters…”

C. The key to faithfulness (Matthew 6:33)

1. Eliminate compartmentalization of life and thereby eliminate the competition

2. Reorient life under the dome of the King (Kingdom)

3. Practice the presence

• Who are the masters of your universe?

• How do they compete with each other? How do they compete with your allegiance to God?

• How did this talk challenge the way you do life each day?

• Describe your experience with “attempting the impossible” of serving two masters.

• What practical steps can you take to live faithfully in the kingdom?

by Dallas Willard

by Stassen & Gushee

by N. T. Wright

A. The creative process for success

1. Seeing the target and taking aim

2. Thinking and acting differently

3. Creating opportunity and paying the price

B. Shrewdness; the ultimate strategy!

1. Luke 16:1‐8

C. Misreading success and the value of possessions

1. Consumerism on steroids!

A. Taking a hard look at ourselves

1. Asking the right questions…

B. The creative process for success in the kingdom

1. Seeing the target and taking aim

2. Thinking and acting differently

3. Creating opportunity and paying the price

C. Generosity and justice: a transforming initiative in bringing the kingdom to earth

• How did the manager use his master’s wealth to strengthen relationships?

• Why was he commended for it? What is commendable about his actions, if anything?

• Which part of today’s talk gave you the most trouble? Why is it so difficult to ask ourselves these hard questions regarding money and possessions?

• What does it say to you when you hear that God has entrusted more wealth than ever to our generation than any other time in human history, yet most are giving less to kingdom purposes than ever before?

• What steps can we take to reorient our thinking and doing about wealth around the kingdom?