Monday, September 2, 2013

Looking Forward to September 8, 2013 -- 16th After Pentecost, Proper 18C

This week will be reading one Scripture lesson.  The letter to Philemon.

The Sermon title is What IF? -- An Experiment in Reading Scripture

Early Thoughts: What preconceptions do we carry to Scripture?  What assumptions do we make about what is being said and what "everyone" knows about the story?

I suspect there are more answers to those questions than we are aware of.  SO this week I am revisiting an experiment from my first seminary class in New Testament Studies.  This will involve dialogue, so consider yourselves warned!

We are going to read Philemon as if it was the first and only Christian document we had ever seen.  What does it mean if we know nothing else?

Admittedly this is really difficult.  It is almost impossible to "un-know" something -- sort of like trying to unring a bell. 

I'll be honest, I have no idea how well this will work.  That is why it is called an experiment.  Right?
--Gord

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