NOTES:
1] MT's Gospel was probably written after the destruction of the Temple (70 AD), most likely in the 80's. In the form in which we know it, it's unlikely to be the work of the Apostle Matthew. It may have taken shape in Syria, perhaps in Antioch. [W. Carter, Matthew & the Margins, p.17, Orbis, 2000] 2] Read what precedes v.36 to get the context.

WARMING UP: Does Advent mainly serve as a reminder it's time to think about Christmas: gifts, cards, letters, pudding...?

TREASURES OLD & NEW: Identify God at work in anything that's happened since last week's Group?

EXPLORING GOSPEL:

36         Does the thought of the world ending have any real impact on us? What if our own little Christian world were to come under active attack (as that of many Christians in MT's day did)? Might what Jesus says here have more impact on us if we were the ones being bombed rather than Iraqis, Sudanese, & other victims of mindless violence? Do we find it at all off-putting that some of the world's leading astro-physicists think we need to  come to terms with a universe that may collapse in on itself, but then start all over again, rather than end? If they are right, does Jesus have to be wrong?

37-39   When Jesus likens his 'second coming' to a great flood, what truth(s) can we learn from the great Noah story [GEN chs.6-9] to which he directs our attention? If we treat the Noah story as a kind of parable rather than literal fact, does this affect the truths Jesus wants us to see & respond to? In flood imagery, what are we 'up to our eyeballs in' today? Is there an ark of any kind on the horizon for us?

40-42  Do we usually think of the man 'taken in the field' & the woman taken 'while she's grinding corn' as blessed or hard done by, or haven't we thought about it that way? How much would it matter what we were doing if the 'second coming' were to happen & catch us up right now? If we're not prepared now, are we ever likely to be? What makes the difference between preparedness & unpreparedness?

43-44  Do we see ourself, personally, as being under threat of having our life 'broken into' in some sense? Has it already happened in some way? What about those in our community whose lives give evidence of being 'broken into' by things like stress, anger, fear, illness, etc., that seem to stop them from being able to live free, loving & loved by God? Do we ever think of God as some kind of thief coming to steal our life away? How can we get a more postive angle than that? If we don't (get a more positive angle) aren't we likely to be barricading God himself out? Or is that what we're really doing anyway? What can we do to welcome Jesus as a new Noah right now, the Son of God who wants to break into old failed lives & keep us afloat?
 

NOTES: 1] ACTS is a continuation of LK's Gospel. Some think it may pre-date the final version of that Gospel as we know it today. 2] Theophilus (= Lover of God) may have been an actual person, or a generic term for believing readers. 3] For a list of (some) Resurrection appearances see ICOR15:5+. 4] Many scholars see Jesus'Ascension as a stage of his Resurrection.
5] A 'Sabbath Day's' journey could vary, but about a kilometre is in the ball park.

WARMING UP: Do we have family history in which 'facts' vary according to who does the telling? (How about returning next week with the first line of your autobiography?)

TREASURES OLD & NEW: Identify God at work in anything that's happened since last week's Group?

EXPLORING ACTS:
1-5       If we were asked to summarise 'all that Jesus did & taught' for some 'Theophilus' today, name 2 or 3 essentials in our summary? Can we identify any waiting / marking time period in our own discipleship? Have we moved on from where Jesus' earthly story ends to fulfil our own story as God wants us to? Or, are we still waiting for 'the promise of the Father' (baptism with Holy Spirit) whatever that might mean in our case? Can we share the story of how that's already taken place in our life?

6- 8     Given Jesus' Resurrection didn't 'restore the kingdom to Israel' in the political sense many were hoping for, is it fair to say Jesus expects God's Rule to come not through political power but Spirit-filled-people-power? What would that mean for us? Can God's Rule happen at all except as Spirit-power translates into people-power world-wide? Could Spirit-filled-people -power transform today's world as it did in the Mediterranean world back then if more of us made ourselves available as witnesses? Witness to what? What room does the kind of power Jesus envisages leave for political power? Do we tend to run too much with political power rather than God's way of empowering through the Spirit of Jesus? Is there, or is there not, still a role for friends of Jesus in 'restoring' the kind of kingdom God wants in the world? If that can only happen if we're crucified in some way & raised up again, is that too high a price to play? Better to leave sleeping dogs lie?

9-11    Is it a good or bad thing these kinds of appearances / disappearances by Jesus don't happen any more? Would our faith be shored up if they did, or wouldn't it be good for faith in a modern world? Do we spend much time 'looking up towards heaven' in one way or another? Which is more important: that we spend more time 'looking up towards heaven', or getting on with the job here on earth? Do we really expect Jesus to come again 'in the same way they saw him go into heaven'?

12-14  Given the women who played such an active role in Jesus' ministry have quickly dropped (or been pushed?) into the background, appearing here almost as an afterthought; where are we in our church with regard to women's issues, women's ministry, etc? How many of our congregation can we name, or could name us? When's it time to stop praying & act?