What's your Ishmael ?
We had a good group of 10 inmates out tonight for the discussion. One of the inmates prayed, asking God to join the group. We went around the circle, each person giving their first name and saying how they are doing.
We talked quite a bit before singing. I started by talking about my experience of taking a friend to church recently. I invited her, she agreed to go. So I showed up at her house 15 minutes before church to pick her up. She wasn't outside, so I got out of the car and knocked on the front door. No response. I knocked again, several times, loudly. I was getting frustrated. I went around to the back door and knocked there. Then, I thought about Jesus saying He stands at our door and knocks. Finally, the door opened and a sleepy teenager came to the door, saying she'd be ready in a minute. I was happy to see her. I wasn't concerned about the time or her condition, I was just glad to see her. We went to church. I keep a hair brush in the car, so she was able to straighten up a bit. Discussion question: How long do you think Jesus knocks on the door to a person's heart?
We sang several songs. The volunteer that played the piano several weeks ago was not here, so we sang without accompaniment. It doesn't matter. Signing seems to be healing in a way, as we raise our voices together to God.
Then we read a Psalm and started the lesson / discussion time. We went to Genesis 18 and read about when God made a promise to Abraham and Sarah that they would bear a son. They didn't believe Him, so Sarah suggested that Abraham have sex with her hand maid Hagar, which he did. A son was born of regular fleshly effort. Later, Sarah gives birth to the miracle child that God promised. Isaac birth was a miracle because Sarah had long passed the age of childbearing - she was post-menopausal.
I asked the group to consider and discuss what their Ismael was, meaning; "what have you accomplished on your own that is less than what God promised"? Answers included money, greed, women, addiction and the like. One man said "fear". We discussed that more.
We ended by reminding wach other that God is offering us the best there is. He stands at the door to our heart and knocks. He knows we are home. He knows our condition. He knows what promises we have not believed and tried to do on our own. He still wants us to open the door to Him and be with Him.
Let us learn to trust God's word and will for our lives.
We talked quite a bit before singing. I started by talking about my experience of taking a friend to church recently. I invited her, she agreed to go. So I showed up at her house 15 minutes before church to pick her up. She wasn't outside, so I got out of the car and knocked on the front door. No response. I knocked again, several times, loudly. I was getting frustrated. I went around to the back door and knocked there. Then, I thought about Jesus saying He stands at our door and knocks. Finally, the door opened and a sleepy teenager came to the door, saying she'd be ready in a minute. I was happy to see her. I wasn't concerned about the time or her condition, I was just glad to see her. We went to church. I keep a hair brush in the car, so she was able to straighten up a bit. Discussion question: How long do you think Jesus knocks on the door to a person's heart?
We sang several songs. The volunteer that played the piano several weeks ago was not here, so we sang without accompaniment. It doesn't matter. Signing seems to be healing in a way, as we raise our voices together to God.
Then we read a Psalm and started the lesson / discussion time. We went to Genesis 18 and read about when God made a promise to Abraham and Sarah that they would bear a son. They didn't believe Him, so Sarah suggested that Abraham have sex with her hand maid Hagar, which he did. A son was born of regular fleshly effort. Later, Sarah gives birth to the miracle child that God promised. Isaac birth was a miracle because Sarah had long passed the age of childbearing - she was post-menopausal.
I asked the group to consider and discuss what their Ismael was, meaning; "what have you accomplished on your own that is less than what God promised"? Answers included money, greed, women, addiction and the like. One man said "fear". We discussed that more.
We ended by reminding wach other that God is offering us the best there is. He stands at the door to our heart and knocks. He knows we are home. He knows our condition. He knows what promises we have not believed and tried to do on our own. He still wants us to open the door to Him and be with Him.
Let us learn to trust God's word and will for our lives.
posted by Kathy Kolb | 3:31 PM
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