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Life Together Introduction Shawn Reese
Life Together - Introduction Background Life Together: The book named the class • Author: Dietrich Bonhoeffer • – Pastor, theologian, martyr – Books: Cost of Discipleship, Ethics, Letters and Papers from Prison – Biography: Bonhoeffer (Metaxas, short and long version)
Life Together - Introduction History 1930: Bonhoeffer’s dissertation is published • – Sanctorum Communio: A Theological Study of the Sociology of the Church – Christ – Church – World – Life Together is the “experiment” of his dissertation.
Life Together - Introduction History 1933: Bonhoeffer writes a letter to a friend • – The church in Germany is “invisible.” – “The church is not called to be a tiny, sacred haven from the world, but, like Jesus, a presence in the midst of the world.” – But, the Christian must be fortified with the Word.
Life Together - Introduction History 1934: The Confessing Church is founded • – The Barmen Declaration (Barth) German Stamp: 50 years of – Christ is the head of the church, not Hitler the Barmen Declaration – To accept the Nazification of the church would be to accept that “there are areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ but to other Lords.”
Life Together - Introduction History 1935: Bonhoeffer begins seminary at Finkenwalde • – 20+ men living together in intentional community – Orthodoxy (belief/cognitive) and Orthopraxy (behavior/practices) – Not everyone excited about it (Barth)
Life Together - Introduction History 1937: Gestapo shuts down Finkenwalde • – Many of the men are jailed – Bonhoeffer escapes and writes Life Together – Life Together is published in 1939
Life Together - Introduction Bonhoeffer Finkenwalde Goals Intentional and authentic community • Orthodoxy: Correct belief • – Bonhoeffer taught the scriptures Orthopraxy: Correct behavior/practice • – Bonhoeffer felt the practices formed people for life in the world – Expected personal practices: Bible-reading, praying, giving, etc. – Communal practices: talking about others, being thankful, etc.
Life Together - Introduction Our Goals Intentional and authentic community (commit & submit) • Orthodoxy: Correct belief • – Bonhoeffer will “teach” us in Life Together Orthopraxy: Correct behavior/practice • – We will experiment with the practices per Life Together – Practices/Disciplines discussion – Formation discussion
Life Together - Introduction Schedule Bookmark • – 1/12: Read ch 1 – 1/19: Read ch 2 – 1/26: Read ch 3 – 2/2: Read ch 4 – 2/9 (Women’s Retreat): Read ch 5
Small Group Discussion Questions 1) Formation: Is there a spiritual practice/discipline which comes easy for you? Which one do you want to be more consistent with? 2) Cultural awareness: Discuss specific ways the culture mal-forms us? Can you name specific ways/practices that can counter-form us?
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