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| | | From: Texasgal (Original Message) | Sent: 7/1/2004 5:01 PM |
Contemporary Comments on the Adult Sabbath School Lesson
[Title] Created for Community
[Texts] Genesis 2:18; Matthew 7:12, 5:9; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13; Luke 14:26;
1 John 4:7
[Use] July 3, 2004
With the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) summit Monday and Tuesday
of this week, the subject of "community" in the world context has received a
lot of attention.
One major decision of the summit was agreement to Afghan president Hamid
Karzai's request for NATO security forces to be sent to his country. "A
second was an agreement to transfer NATO's Bosnia peacekeeping mission to
the European Union at the end of the year.
"The third decision, which dominated proceedings, was to agree that NATO
would train security forces in Iraq -- but the details remain unclear after
France and Germany objected to their forces being deployed on Iraqi soil.
"British Prime Minister Tony Blair told reporters Monday that the
disagreements with France and Germany over whether the war was justified
have not disappeared. 'On the other hand, what is important is you've got a
United Nations resolution that has blessed the new government in Iraq. And
you've got a situation in which we have accepted today that there is a good
and sound NATO role... of training and helping to train the Iraqis so that
they can do their own security work.. And in that sense, I think the
international community has come together, and I welcome it.'" [1]
The international community. Humans were not designed as solitary creatures.
Rather, we form communities, from families to cities to countries to
international organizations. Like it or not, each of us is born into these
smaller and wider communities.
As technology and communications increase, our planet seems to get smaller
and smaller. We are more aware of our neighbors around the globe. NATO is
one way the international "neighbors" have tried to maintain peace,
security, and freedom, but all is not perfect in the neighborhood. Despite
ideals of world peace and global security, there are still disagreements
between nations and threats of violence.
Even within our Christian community, conflict does sometimes arise. But like
we've seen this week in the international community, we can join together to
strengthen and help each other. The Christian community is a special one,
uniquely bound together. That bond expressed in this week's memory text:
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God" (1 John
4:7).
--cm
TO ORDER SHARING SCRIPTURE...
Healthy community may be more difficult to establish in the entire
congregation than can be created in your Sharing Scripture class. Developing
authentic and inclusive community that lives the mission of 1 John 4:7 is
extremely rewarding. I pray you know that kind of love in your church. Have
you purchased the entire quarter (3rd Quarter 2004 now available) of lessons
for $8.75? If not, go to:
http://www.creativeministry.org/resources/sharingscripture/index.htm
If you want just this week's study guide for only $1.49, go to:
www.creativeministry.org/resources/sharingscripture/individual.htm
If you have trouble buying online, call toll-free 1.800.272.4664 and our
customer service personnel will be happy to help.
Paul Richardson, Director
Center for Creative Ministry
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