Bible Study Handout: Pastor Dean Nadasdy - Woodbury Lutheran ...

1) Dangerous Memories of Jesus and His Agenda. Exilic Jews were encouraged by
the stories of their faith that has been passed on orally for generations and
written down as inspired Scripture – stories on the power and grace of God like
the story of Abraham and Sarah. See Isaiah 51:1-2
Like an experimental farm, the church is to demonstrate living in the Kingdom of
God with generosity and selflessness in contrast to the greed and consumerism
rampant in society. The secret to this is rediscovering
remembering the stories of Jesus. Frost calls the reader
to a fresh understanding of Jesus through first century
Jewish eyes. For example, Jesus' eating patterns
amazinglybroke down social barriers and demonstrated
inclusiveness unheard of in Jewish religion of his day.
Frost insists if we are to imitate Jesus, we will value
hanging out with people in `third places' like clubs and
hotels where people gather regularly and not get overly caught up in meetings
and Sunday stuff (the usual barometer of Christian commitment).
2) Dangerous Promises of God That Point to the Kingdom. Jews in the exile
needed to cling to the promises of God. Those promises defined them as people
who would not merely survive but thrive among the nations as a transforming
source. See Isaiah 54:1-3.
Today the promises of God can create a community bound by its authenticity,
theology, mission, mercy, hospitality, generosity, and righteous work. Frost
favors a life-affirming and not-too-difficult approach to hospitality: “Serve up
something delicious, and then just watch the conversation flow and trust God to
stick His nose in somewhere” (p.168). Dismissing a dualistic approach to secular
work, Frost encourages integrating work and mission.
3) Dangerous Criticism of the Culture. God’s prophets before and after the exile
were not afraid to call out the idolatry of pagan Babylon. See Isaiah 46:6-7.
Christians today must be active in criticizing the waste, greed, injustice, and
idolatry of our culture. We must take the lead in speaking up for the rights of
the disenfranchised, including the unborn, the poor, and the persecuted. This
can happen politically, but it can also happen sacrificially as we respond with
compassion and personal investment to disasters and the needs of the
impoverished.
4) Dangerous Songs That Transform. In the exile, new songs were sung with the
same old message. See Isaiah 42:10-12. Frost, especially here, stretches the
church to consider its music. Do our worship and music carry the sense that we
are dangerous transformers on a mission to change our culture
A few songs and a long sermon won't do. A communal, ambient space,
centered around a convivial meal table, reflecting local culture, using
ancient and modern rituals, and infused with spiritual singing will be a
wonderful expression of the overflow of love lived daily to please our
happy, joyful, all-powerful God (p. 300).
Exiles have given up on singing sentimental, us-centred (`Jesus my
boyfriend') love songs, and want to cry songs that call into reality a
new world brought on by the kingdom of God. And they want to see
4