SmallGroupNotes12thMarch2017.Theme:‘RootedinGrace,GrowinginGoodWorks’
KeyWords:Sin,DeathRooted,Poem,Handiwork,Masterpiece,GoodWorks,Saved,Faith
Welcome
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Read a poem by a South African or African poet (Possible ideas below – it would be worthwhile
printingoutthepageforthegroup.Pleasefeelfreetochooseyourownpoemifyousowish).
CSLewiswrote“poetry…isalittleincarnation,givingbodytowhathadbeenbeforeinvisibleand
inaudible”1.Whatdidthepoem(s)helpyouunderstandseeorfeel?
Worship
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ReadIsaiah60(selectaportionyoulike,tryandincludevs.20-22).
Orinviteaphotographer,poetorartistinyourgrouptoshareoneexampleoftheirworkwithyou
anddescribehowitexpressestheirfaith(thesenotesaresentoutearlythatyoumayhavetimeto
getthisdone).
PrayEph.3:14-19foroneanother.
Word
ReadEphesians2:1-10
(Paulthinksintermsofthe“presentage”,theageinrebelliontoGod,andthe“agetocome”.InChristthe
“agetocome”hasbrokenintothe“presentage”)
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WhatisPaul’sdiagnosisoftheworld’sproblem?Howdo“death”and“sin”gotogether?
WhatdoyoumakeofGod’swrathinverse3?2
Howhaveyougrownupunderstandingwhatitmeanstobe“saved”?
Howdoesthispassageenhanceyourunderstandingofbeingsaved?
Thewordtranslated“workmanship”is“poeima”(asinpoem)intheGreek.Awordevocativeorart,
poetry and sculpture. This idea of God’s people as God’s artistic masterpiece is prominent in
scripture (eg Gen 1:26-27, 31; Is. 29:23, 43:7, 60:21). Describe how you have seen the beauty of
God’screative“workmanship”inDMC.
What are good works? Would you agree that “good works”, like poetry, open the eyes and the
imaginationtothebeautyofGod’sKingdom?HowcanDMCencourageartists,poets,story-tellers,
photographersetc.toinspireuswiththeirwork(besuretoshareyourideaswithus).
.Works
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Howcanyouexpress“goodworks”inyourcurrentjoborhomelife?
PrayforourSocietyStewardsandSmallGroups.PrayforGodtoopenthe“eyesofourhearts”that
wemightseeandparticipateinthegoodworkGodisdoingaroundus.
AskthegroupforfeedbackontheNotes.Sendresponsestomcguigan@durbmeth.org.zaorhand
themtoSandraattheofficeorhandtheminatthehelpdesk.
PerhapssomefolkwillbeinterestedintheJusticeConference–seeadvertbelow:
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ReflectionsonthePsalms
NTWright:“Wrathisnotcapricious…notGodlosinghistemperandlashingout.WrathisthenecessaryactionoftheHolyGod
againsteverythingthatdefacesanddestroysandcorruptsHiswonderfulcreation,andparticularlyhishumancreation.IfGod
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doesnothategenocide[and]thehigh-levelcorruptionwhichkeepsmillionsinpovertythenGodisnota“goodGod”.
NTWright:“Wrathisnotcapricious…notGodlosinghistemperandlashingout.WrathisthenecessaryactionoftheHolyGod
againsteverythingthatdefacesanddestroysandcorruptsHiswonderfulcreation,andparticularlyhishumancreation.IfGod
doesnothategenocide[and]thehigh-levelcorruptionwhichkeepsmillionsinpovertythenGodisnota“goodGod”.
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Poems
Ma(AntjieKrog)
Ma,ekskryfvirjou‘ngedig
sonderfensieleestekens
sonderwoordewatrym
sonderbywoorde
netsommer
‘nkaalvoetgedig
wantjymaakmygroot
injoukromkleinhandjies
jybeitelmymetjouswartoë
enspitswoorde
jydraaijouleiklipkop
jylagenbreekmytenteop
maarjyoffermyelkeaand
virjouHereGod.
joumoesie-oorismyenigstetelefoon
jouhuismyenigstebybel
jounaammybreekwaterteendielewe
ekissojammermamma
dateknieis
watekgraagvirjouwilweesnie.
You can find more Antje Krog poems here
(https://mg.co.za/article/1997-12-23-five-poemsby-antjie-krog),Wordofwarning–clickingonthe
linkinarushandreadingthefirstpoemtoyour
groupwouldbememorablebutunadvisableJ.I
recommendthesecondonealthoughitwillhave
all the mothers in tears- just as the one above
mayhavedaughtersintears.
TelephoneConversation(WoleSoyinka1963)
Thepriceseemedreasonable,location
Indifferent.Thelandladysworeshelived
Offpremises.Nothingremained
Butself-confession."Madam",Iwarned,
"Ihateawastedjourney-IamAfrican."
Silence. Silenced transmission of pressurized
good-breeding.Voice,whenitcame,
Lipstickcoated,longgold-rolled
Cigarette-holderpipped.CaughtIwas,foully.
"HOW DARK?"...I had not misheard...."ARE YOU
LIGHT OR VERY DARK?" Button B. Button A.
Stench
Ofrancidbreathofpublichide-and-speak.
Redbooth.Redpillar-box.Reddouble-tiered
Omnibussquelchingtar.
Itwasreal!Shamed
Byill-manneredsilence,surrender
Pusheddumbfoundmenttobegsimplification.
Considerateshewas,varyingtheemphasis-
"ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT" Revelation
came
"Youmean-likeplainormilkchocolate?"
Heraccentwasclinical,crushinginitslight
Impersonality.Rapidly,wave-lengthadjusted
I chose. "West African sepia"_ and as
afterthought.
"Downinmypassport."Silenceforspectroscopic
Flight of fancy, till truthfulness changed her
accent
Hard on the mouthpiece "WHAT'S THAT?"
conceding "DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS." "Like
brunette."
"THAT'SDARK,ISN'TIT?"
"Notaltogether.
Facially, I am brunette, but madam you should
seetherestofme.Palmofmyhand,solesofmy
feet.
Areaperoxideblonde.Friction,caused-
Foolishlymadam-bysittingdown,hasturned
My bottom raven black- One moment madam! -
sensing
Herreceiverrearingonthethunderclap
About my ears- "Madam," I pleaded, "wouldn't
yourather
Seeforyourself?"
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