Lesson 1
*Psalm 25:4-5*
‘_Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in
your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I
wait all day long.”_
One excellent tool to help us remember what God has done in history is to
follow the seasons of the liturgical calendar. Every year, the liturgical
calendar reviews and reiterates the mighty acts of God ‘for us and for our
salvation.” It begins with a ‘season” of waiting and expectation called
Advent, and then leads us through the major events of our Lord’s life, death
and resurrection. From there, we go on to remember Pentecost, and are
reminded both of the Kingship of Christ and the mystery of the Trinity. This
annual recapitulation of salvation history also allows us the opportunity to
read through large portions of Scripture. Take advantage of this, and read
it all.
*Note 1:*
This year’s study uses the theme ‘For Everything, A Season” from
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
As you read this portion of Scripture, keep in mind that it is taken
from a rather unusual piece of biblical literature. It would be most
helpful if you were to take the time to read Ecclesiastes in its
entirety. If you were to do this, you would discover that the author of
Ecclesiastes is full of skepticism as he looks at the world around him.
For example, the phrases ‘under heaven” and ‘under the sun” describe
the author’s belief that the world is caught up in an unending cycle of
repetitive, nearly meaningless events. When he speaks of a ‘season for
everything under heaven a time to be born, and a time to die” he is not
speaking poetically or romantically. Rather, he is expressing a profound
cynicism about the meaning of life.
It is only as we discover God’s redemptive plan that we become aware
that there is meaning to our lives, and hope for the future.
*Note 2:*
It is vitally important that we remember the lessons of Genesis as we
approach this lesson. There we discover that while God created the world
‘good,” his good creation was defaced by human rebellion (i.e., sin). God
did not make the world the way that it presently exists. For example, the
Scriptures are clear that death is neither natural nor normal; rather, it is
the consequence of sin (Romans 5: 18).
*Note 3:*
In her discussion of time, the author speaks of various kinds of time, and
states that ‘balancing sacred and secular time has become a huge challenge”
(page 6).
She, of course, is correct. There is a sense in which there are all kinds of
time family time, personal time, daylight savings time, and the time of your
life. But in another sense, it is important to emphasize and underscore what
the author merely states as she quotes the _Directory for Worship, _’that
all time has been hallowed by God.” As God’s people, we live each and every
moment of our lives waking and sleeping before the face of God, under his
authority, and (hopefully) to his glory. As we grow in our relationship with
Jesus Christ, we should also grow in our awareness of this truth.
The author states that ‘we enter into sacred time through spiritual pursuits
such as prayer and meditation. It’s important to add, however, that we also
do it through all of the other ‘means of grace,” as well. These include the
reading and study of Scripture, public and private worship, stewardship,
Christian fellowship, and participation in the sacraments.
Some questions for your consideration:
· How do you use your time?
· Are you a ‘slave” to time?
· How do you specifically look to God to help you use your time more
wisely and for his glory?
*Note 4:*
As you consider the meaning of time, it is important that you understand
that Israel viewed time differently than did most of the rest of the world.
The Greeks, as well as most of the near-eastern cultures, understood time
cyclically. Every year the calendar just recapitulated what happened the
year before. Winter, spring, summer and fall were followed by winter,
spring, summer and fall. History was going nowhere important; it just went
round-and-round.
Israel, on the other hand, viewed time as going places. It was on a
‘collision course” with God. It might be far off, but somewhere in the
future was coming the Day of the Lord when every injustice would be judged,
and every problem caused by human sin set right.
Take a few minutes to think about how Scripture lays out time. The following
are some of the major events that Scripture tells us follow upon one another
in a linear motif. First comes creation, then the fall. Early on, God’s
gracious plan to rescue his fallen world is revealed (Genesis 3:15). Then
come the call of Abraham, God’s Covenant with Abraham and his posterity.
Israel goes into bondage in Egypt, and Moses (some 400 years later) leads
them out. There are the wilderness wanderings during which time God gives
Israel the Ten Commandments. Then the people enter the Promised Land, the
kingdom is united under David, and then the kingdom is divided. God sends
the prophets, but the people don’t listen. The Northern Kingdom falls first,
then the Southern Kingdom is taken into captivity in Babylon. Israel returns
to the land, and several hundred years later the Messiah is born. He lives;
he dies; he is resurrected; and he ascends into heaven. Then comes the Holy
Spirit on Pentecost, and the church begins its mission. And now, we await
the day of the Lord when Christ will return and put everything right.
*Note 5:*
‘Christ-Centered Time” — focus on the center column on Page 7. Here we
find the best reason of all for studying the seasons of the liturgical year.
*Note 6:*
Ignore all ‘wise words” and extra quotes by Joan Chittister that the editor
includes in these lessons. Our reasons for suggesting this can be found in
the VOW board’s comments about Joan Chittister
(http://layman.wpengine.com/Documents/Doc0176.aspx)
*Note 7: *
Questions 3 and 8 on page 8 could be deleted. Let me suggest some
alternatives:
· What difference does your relationship with God in Jesus Christ make to
how you use your time?
· What changes would you like to make in your life concerning the way in
which you use your time?
· Do you make regular use of the ‘means of grace” (cf. note 3)?
Closing prayer use the prayer on page 8 as written