Inside Out Session 2: Highs and Lows Vlog and Homework

Katrina RyderFull of Fruit

family_crying_250Hi Ladies! We had a great meeting on Thursday though we missed the 4 ladies who couldn’t make it. 🙂 Hopefully this post and vlog will help everyone, including our online friends, get up to speed.  But first, the inner teacher in me requires that I “pass out papers” now, so here are all the links you need if you want handouts, etc.

If you are joining in late, here is the link to Inside Out: Session 1.

Here is the link to request to join to Facebook group. All the files are available to members of that group. Be sure to request to receive notifications so you will know when someone posts prayer requests or comments.Notification Settings

Here is the Handout for Session 2.

Here is the Handout for Week 2 Homework. 🙂

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Now that we’ve taken care of that, let’s discuss some of what we learned from our homework.  Here are some of the questions that we discussed in the live group.

Triumphal Entry Recap Discussion

 

  1. What stands out to you from ALL FOUR passages about the triumphal entry?
  2. What stands out to you that WAS in only ONE passage? Is there any significance to this author mentioning this detail?
  3. Since Jesus KNEW the crowd that praised him would soon reject him, what do you think he felt during his ride to/through Jerusalem? (Hint: Luke 19: 41-44)
  4. John points out that the disciples didn’t really understand this significance of this day or the fact that Scripture was being fulfilled. How do you think they DID feel? (I know I’m asking you to speculate.)
  5. Do you think Jesus was trying to “drum up” or escalate emotion?
  6. What else did you notice or take away from reading these four accounts of the same experience?

 

It’s easy to imagine how jubilant the crowd was greeting Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem on the colt. I can feel the palm branches waving and hear the roar of the crowd shouting “Hosanna.” I can even smell the dust and the donkey if I try.  The tough thing for me with this passage is figuring out how everyone was feeling because Jesus’ emotions are a bit obscured.  The disciples obedient but, typically, miss the point confused. The Pharisees are being jerks as usual. The crowd seems happy to get “caught up” in something.

I can’t help but feel a bit annoyed with them once I start thinking about what a melancholic journey this might have been for Jesus, treading into town to greet his followers and his accusers. Maybe he was really good at compartmentalizing and just allowed himself to bask in the moment, but it seems like that would have been a tough trip. 

Jesus’ next actions during Holy Week seem to reveal that his divinity doesn’t keep him from hunger, irritation, or anger. In our homework, we will be studying Jesus’ clearing out the temple and cursing the fig tree, but today, I want talk about some OT passages where we see God showing negative emotion. You don’t have to look very far to find passages that reveal God feeling deeply angry and feeling deep love.

Isaiah 54: 7-8 (NIV)

7“For a brief moment I abandoned you,

but with deep compassion I will bring you back.

8 In a surge of anger
I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord your Redeemer.

Live Group Activity

Hosea 1- 14

We are going to divide this book up among ourselves, either in pairs or singly, analyzing one or two chapters.  Scan the chapter and use the study worksheet to particularly note the HIGHS and LOWS of God’s feelings and of the people’s feelings. After 10-15 minutes, we will come back together as a group. Be prepared to share a verse or two from your reading that reflects the ups and downs you saw.

Online Group Suggestion

Print out the text of Hosea 1-14. Take two colors of crayons (or more if you want) and color in the positive and negative emotion as you read through the text.  What patterns do you observe? What do you notice about God’s emotions and how he acts upon them?

How do you feel when you read about these extremes of emotion displayed by God?

In the vlog, I summarize our discussion and preparation for Week 2 Homework. I’m not the world’s greatest vlogger, so be merciful. 🙂

Here’s a link to my blogpost from the past about when Jesus asked the disciples to get the colt and donkey for him.

Thanks so much to all of you trudging through this somewhat scary attempt to understand our emotions. I’ll be honest and tell you that I’ve been feeling like my emotions have been uncomfortably close to the surface of my life lately and I don’t know if I really like that! (Wait. I do know know. I don’t like it AT ALL!) I do know that whatever they are, I want them to reflect Christ, so I am hoping to discover quickly how to do that. Thanks for being with me.