Lent 2007

Sundays in Lent 2007 Bible Study Proposal: Theology of the Cross | Leah Chang

1 Corinthians 1:20-25

²⁰ Where is the smart stuff of this world? Where are the world's heavy thinkers?... ²¹ Since in God's wisdom the world did not know God through their worldly kinds of smarts, it pleased God through foolish proclamation to save anyone who trusts Him. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks crave wisdom, ²³ but we proclaim Christ the crucified one, a scandal to the Jews and moronic nonsense to the gentiles: ²⁴ But to those called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ--God's living dynamic power and God's kind of wisdom. ²⁵ Because God's foolishness is wiser than humanity's intellectual cleverness, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength!

1 Corinthians 2:2

² For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

God is here! As we God's people meet to offer praise and prayer...
Here are symbols to remind us of our lifelong need of grace;
Here are table, font and pulpit, here the cross has central place...
by Fred Pratt Green © 1979 Hope Publishing Co.

6 Sundays in Lent – adult Bible study

Theology of the Cross: what does this mean for this church's life and mission?

Preliminary Ideas:

1. Theology of glory vs. theology of the cross

2. Hebrew Bible roots/wellsprings

3. Paul, Mark and Jesus of Nazareth

4. Mark, Paul and Jesus the Christ

5. Saul/Paul of Tarsus; Martin Luther

6. Some familiar theologians of the cross: Bonhoeffer; Dorothy Day; Gandhi; MLK; Desmond Tutu; Mother Teresa; us! Who else comes to mind?

7. The cross and the sacraments:

a. A theology of baptism and

b. A theology of the eucharist

8. What does this mean for each of us as individuals?

9. What does this mean for the community here at this church?

10. What does this mean for our nearby neighbors?

11. What does this mean for the world in which we live and serve?

12. The cross: Foolishness to the Greeks and foolishness to us?

© 2006 Leah Chang