Disciple III - Prophets, Letters of Paul

Obviously you have enjoyed your first 2 years in the program and are now half way through the course in its entirety. Those of us who have completed level three have found it to be the most challenging of the levels to date. The format is certainly the same with a 32 week schedule but the material covered unfortunately may be unfamiliar. Covered in this level for the first 16 weeks are the books classified as the Major and Minor Prophets except for Daniel. The latter will further explore the Apostle Paul and the rest of his writings as he relays his relationship to the Jewish community and culture of his day.

The objective of the first half is to establish the historical context in which the prophets spoke for God. Daily reading assignments will also draw on the books of Deuteronomy through Chronicles. The structure or flow is organized by the prophet's historical sequence rather than their biblical sequence. Much of this material does however follow a familiar sequence of Israel's disobedience, their long progression away from God, God's warning through the Prophets, The Prophets relationship to Israel's leaders and Gods message of hope and deliverance.

Central to level three is its main objective to remember the connection between memory and identity as the people of God. We are a community of memory. Several themes weave their way through the study: the call to remember, the call to repentance, the need for renewed vision (eyes to see, ears to hear), and the place of community. The prophets and Paul are continually calling listeners and readers back to their God and to a sense of who they are as a people 'set apart'. The prophets and the community cannot be separated. The prophets spoke for God, out of the community, and to the community.

As in years past please begin praying about your decision to participate in the program. See you in September.