Session Notes

As I had already summarized these in a previous Shoveletter I’ll just paste it below:LOVE FROM A PURE HEART: Would Paul be referring to anything other than the love that flows from a heart that has been purified by the power of the risen Christ and indwelt by the Spirit of God?… It is in hearing the good news of Christ that our hearts are stimulated to real love for one another for it declares WHO our real life is and WHO is also our real connection with one another.A GOOD CONSCIENCE: This is nothing less than a conscience that has been set free from sin and made alive to God through Christ. This is the conscience of one who is given confidence through the good news of Christ that there is NO MORE remembrance of sin.A SINCERE FAITH: Sincere means genuine or real, and it has nothing to do with that pathetic ATTEMPT at sincerity that is often thrust upon us by the religious mind.

Shovel Writings: 1 Corinthians 11:“”For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep“I think he was referring to their obvious conditions during the celebration (something you had asked me about as I remember)…. Others ate and drank all day.Many were weak – it was in direct relation to the arrogance of those who despised them…. But even when this happens God is not forsaking us but is continually disciplining (training as children) us. For if He didn’t stay with us in this we would be condemned along with the world.Listen to the simplicity of this one thing that Paul suggests: wait for one another.

And in this, we ourselves are blessed for we end up reminding ourselves of our true “righteousness” at the same time. And then, when that brother (or sister) is “restored” all are encouraged and reminded that this life is indeed miraculous.“This is a great article on where our encouragement for restoration needs to be and the way it is achieved. It is only through reminding one another of their and our righteousness in Christ.

Shovel Writings: What about God’s anger against the churches in Revelation?:“Attention can be given to discernment while forgetting the simplicity of Christ (Ephesus)…. I do believe it gave much encouragement to the believers as they went through the great persecution that followed. It reminded them that the blessings of ”the overcomers“ (this only fits in the context of the miraculous work of Christ …