Radical Church

The Acts of the Apostles study 12th October 2009

Having risen from my sick bed late last week there was a Bible study at lunchtime today!! And we meet again next week.

By way of recalling what we have done, I made some general observations:
• The early Christian movement was Jewish – the split came in the AD70s. The people in that movement called themselves ‘followers of the Way’.
• Luke was writing a history of the early years of the church for the second generation of Christians;
• The Christian movement would have been very suspect; Jesus was crucified (therefore regarded as a dissident who was executed as an enemy of the Roman Empire). [In today’s terms Jesus might have been seen as a sort of Osama bin Laden figure.]
• The resurrection of Jesus is key to understanding who Jesus is for the church.
• Luke conveys the startling character of this small minority movement that spread and grew in the face of severe persecution.
• Luke’s explanation of this growth is that it comes from the ‘Holy Spirit’: ie. from the power of the living God.

‘Apostle’ comes from the Greek word ‘apostolos’, meaning ‘the one who is sent’. This was the name given to the first twelve of Jesus’ followers (although Luke also includes a wider group of 70 or 72, including women).

For Luke, Peter is strongly connected to Jerusalem. James (brother of Jesus) was the key leader there. Paul, a missionary apostle to the Gentile (non-Jewish) world, spends most of his ministry in the northern areas of the Mediterranean, and concluded it at Rome. Tradition has it that both Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome.

It has been said that without Paul there would have been no Christian church, certainly no Gentile church.

Paul’s letters make up more than half of the New Testament.

This leads to a reading of Paul’s ministry – beginning with his presence as Saul of Tarsus at the stoning of Stephen, his organised rout of the followers of Jesus, his conversion on the road to Damascus, and his missionary travels – including severe disagreement with the Jerusalem council. Our aim is to read the full text of Paul’s activities and to get a sense of the whole story –returning to particular parts that have caught our attention.

For next week: read as much as you can of Paul’s ministry, especially Acts 17.

You may find sections 7 & 8 of the pamphlet published by the working group on doctrine (Uniting Church) How to Read the Bible helpful.

To conclude I reported on:
• the Agape Meal: six of us, from various places including Zambia, South Africa, Singapore/Melbourne, Victoria in general, Western Australia/Melbourne, met for a conversation and meal on Saturday evening, reflecting particularly on the fact that we are well fed but so many people live precarious lives, as the Tsunami, typhoons and earthquakes show. We reflected on our feeling of helplessness, and small actions we may take.

• The Thursday Forum which introduced the particular issues facing people seeking asylum in Victoria, and the Asylum Seeker Support Project that provides financial and medical support for people who have applied for refugee status but have no decision – and also those who have been granted refugee status but are not eligible for social security of Medicare cover.

THREE COMING EVENTS /OPPORTUNITIES:
‘Where to for Afghanistan? Prospects for a Just Peace’: a public forum on Sunday 18th October, 2.00-5.30pm, at the Centre for Theology and Ministry, Morrison Close (between Ormond and St Hilda’s Colleges. Keynote speakers: Prof. Amin Saikal, ANU; MS Fazia Tasmin Hajeb, radio presenter; Prof. Joseph Camilleri, Latrobe university. Organised by Pax Christi. Admission free. More information from : tel: 9893 4946, or Wes 8344 6034.

Australia’s Place in the Global Refugee Crisis – Nellie Watson Memorial Lecture – by Peter Mares, at St Aidan’s Uniting Church, Duggan St, North Balwyn, Sunday 8th November 2009 at 3pm. Afternoon tea provides; all welcome. Enquiries: 9857 4050 or  mail at staidans.org.au