I need 8 responses for DQ 1 and 2 : 90 words each

DQ1

1)L.H      Really Bad News, Really Good News

Class,

As I work with students in our CWV classes, I find that some who believe they understand the Christian faith don’t quite grasp how bad is the bad news that it gives and how good is its good news about Christ. Students often assume that, according to the Bible, a person who lives without committing heinous crimes and tries to “do their best” to live well will ultimately merit favor from God now and in the life to come.

This perspective, however, misses how bad the bad news is, and how good the good news is. According to the Christian worldview, the bad news is, well, bad: God created us and is the source of all good, but all human persons have rebelled against God (Romans 3:9-20). None of us, even if we are decent people in society, is free from sin and can stand before God and gain his acceptance on our own (Psalm 130:3; Romans 3:23).

God has created us for live-giving fellowship with himself and with each other, something to be enjoyed now and for all eternity in a renewed creation (John 17:3; Romans 8:18-25; Revelation 21-22). Yet, when we face God, our holy Judge, and we see that our lives are completely visible to him, all of us will find that we’ve cut ourselves off from God, the supreme good and giver of life.

However, since this bad news is really bad, the good news is then really good! The responsibility of offering perfect faithfulness to God is taken up by Christ on our behalf (Romans 5:12-21). He did what Adam (and each of us) has failed to do. Then Christ also willingly took on the punishment of our sin by dying a God-forsaken death on the cross (Isaiah 53:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13). Then he rose from the dead, vindicated as the Messiah and God the Son in the flesh, reigning over death and hell, and ready to give forgiveness and new life to all who receive him by faith.

That faith is simply a matter of trusting in Christ and what he’s done for our salvation and turning from our old way of living against God. That turning or “repentance” isn’t a promise to become instantly perfect, but it does mean a new orientation to our lives and the beginning of a slow process of spiritual growth with the help of the Holy Spirit. This faith produces good deeds over time, but those deeds never become the basis of our salvation; only Christ’s work is that basis. Good deeds are the fruit of our acceptance with God, never the basis of our acceptance with God. Attending church is not a way to earn God’s favor; instead, church is where we go to initially hear the message of salvation and, from there, it’s where we go to have our faith nourished week by week.

If you take away nothing else from this course, I hope that this post is very clear to you. If you’re looking for more ideas on the next steps to take, please have a look at the “What Happens Next?” posts in DQ2 for this week.

In terms of your reflection, I’m curious: If you are a Christian, what has been the most clarifying aspect of this course for you in your faith? If you are not a Christian, what have you found to be the most compelling aspect of the argument for Christian faith? What do you see its greatest challenge to be?

2)     K.C  Re: Topic 7 DQ 1

 

People may discover their purpose by knowing the mission that God is calling you to. This can be a feeling, but mainly is you are doing work that is meaningful to others. If you enjoy your work, but it feels meaningless to you, then you have not yet found your purpose. This happens too often. I talk to so many people that just live their lives in a haze. Where they just go to work, go home, sleep, and go back to work. They have no job satisfaction and are doing what they are doing to live a life of meaningless work. This is why I want to become a teacher. I believe that that would be living life to my fullest. It is serving others to better themselves what makes me feel meaningful.

The Christian concept missio dei means the mission of God. Missio Dei fits into a Christian's sense of purpose because, in their eyes, their goal is to please God and do what you believe he intended for you to do on this earth. Serving others is the mission of God.

3) F.O 

For someone to find their purpose in life, we must go actively seeking it. We cannot sit around and wait for our calling to come to us. Like Missio Dei means the mission of God. And how God would actively go into the world and sent his son to search for people to listen to his words of the gospel. We must find our joy in life and be able to recognize our calling. At times we will fail and not always be able to find it right away. We cannot let our failures discourage us. For when we do find our purpose, we will know. People will think their calling falls in line with money. And will go where the money is. Wealth is not a calling; it can be a benefit. If we are willing to do anything for free, then we have found our calling. I feel that we should measure our wealth in happiness and not actual money. We would all be wealthy. In conclusion, we should find happiness and find a calling that causes us joy and benefits the world. Not just personal gain.

4)

E.S  Re: Topic 7 DQ 1

A few ways a person can discover their purpose by thinking about what you are fervent about, knowing your strengths, and how you might work in order to help restore Gods will in the world. Our purpose is guided by God. We are here because of him. Our purpose is not only what we like to do or what we can do, but more of what impact can we make on the world to help guide others to Christ. 

In the Christian sense of purpose, Missio Dei fits perfectly because God is everywhere. And he is sending not onlyhimself into the world, and in missions, but he is guiding us with his presence. He is guiding his church to talk to others, and lead others to his love and his purpose. 

DQ 2

1) K.C  Re: Topic 7 DQ 2

Someone in my future vocation, teaching, would be able to live out a Christian missional purpose by serving others. The Christian mission is to embody the mission of God. We must restore the world by repairing and helping others. The missional purpose is to fill the earth with people who know God and who love him and others. Especially in Chrisitan schools, it would be easy to spread God's word and help others grow closer to him through education and practice through Christ. In Christian schools, there are specific times to worship, and there are times for discussion. In our class, we have assignments on the bible and particular passages that we are tasked to read, and we have open discussions about the interpretation of those passages. As for a non-Christian school teacher, it would be harder to educate them on God, but you could help them navigate where or who they can talk to to find God. For example, you could educate them on specific times that a church has may have a bible study or when times of service they can attend. Doing this like this as a teacher would help you live out your Christian missional purpose.

2)L.H       What happens next?

What happens next? At this point in the class, students are often thinking about how this class will affect their lives going forward. Some mention wanting to continue to study the Bible, some mention that they’re skeptical about the Christian faith but are still interested in exploring it and asking hard questions. Some are wondering how they can be sure that what they’ve learned will actually influence the way that they live their daily lives.

So, what happens next now that the class is coming to an end? I’ll provide a few suggestions in a few different posts for this DQ.

Here’s my first suggestion: if you want to continue studying the Bible and growing in your understanding of the faith, I encourage you to pick up a study Bible. I recommend the NIV Study Bible available here on Amazon, or the ESV Study Bible available here .

To understand what the original authors intended to communicate in the Bible – and to make sure we’re applying it faithfully today – it’s helpful to know something about the historical and cultural circumstances of the world of the biblical authors, as well as their common ways of communicating, using metaphors and so on. A good book on interpreting the Bible is useful for this.

See below another post with additional resources you may want to check out. Apart from this, what are some things you have thought you may begin doing differently or more regularly as a result of this class?

3) E.S       Re: Topic 7 DQ 2

In my future career, there are plenty of ways to live out the Christian missional purpose. Even though I might not be able to come out and say Christ is the way, there are plenty ways to show He is. Growing up I always was told that it isn’t by words alone we can lead others to Christ, but on actions as well. So, in my everyday life, I try to show who Christ is through my actions and loving all just as I want to be. I know in times it is hard, because we are all human. And we all fall short. But it is so important especially when working with young children that they know they are cared for and noticed. I think especially the older you get, like high school age, it gets even more important to truly feel cared and respected. I feel like showing the love of Christ shine through you opens so many avenues to reach other souls. 

4)  Topic 7 DQ 2  is missing