Response to Columbine Series
1: Just Talking
2: Anger
3: Violence
4: Fear
Response to School Violence
Wednesday, May 4, 1999
Open: Games – Name Game, Finger Flash
- What are you hearing in your schools about violence or potential violence?
- How do you feel about the potential for violence in your school?
- Have you heard any direct stories or been involved in any violence?
- Are you afraid of going to school? Why or why not?
- What do you think needs to be done?
- What can we do? Topics of interest – Anger? Violence? Self-defense?
Closing: Prayer time
Response to School Violence
Wednesday, May 12, 1999
Open: video Caedmon’s Call “Hope to Carry On”
Isaiah 59 – Responsive Reading
Cycle of Sin & Repentance
When human knowledge begins to exalt itself, people begin to turn away from God, God releases attitudes and events to drive us back into relationship with Him. Violence, pain, and injustice we experience is product of sin. Why? Freedom of Choice. Sin, Rebellion, Judgement, Repentance, Restoration
Laws of Physics – Law of Sin and Death (Romans 8:2)
These laws do not change, we must exist and operate within them.
However, the one who wrote the laws can override them – miracles – both in physical acts (walking on water, healing) and in spiritual acts (forgiveness of sins).
Hope to Carry On
We have been given the choice of life (Romans 8:11)
We have been given help with our Prayer (Romans 8:26-28)
We have been given security (Romans 8:31-39)
Can I stop violence?
Yes. It is not your fault but you can take responsibility (2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people”)
Call to personal repentance (ANY sin is wickedness in the sight of God)
Call to (spiritual) arms. The issue is not more security – it is spiritual. How to fight spiritual battles. Chose man’s methods or God’s methods. (Micah 6:6-8)
Close: music & prayer, then video Rebecca St James “Pray”
Reading
Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short that it cannot save;
Nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear.
But my sins have made a separation between me
and my God, And my sins have hidden
His face from me so that He does not hear.
For my hands are defiled with blood And my fingers with sin;
My lips have spoken falsehood, My tongue
mutters wickedness.
No one sues righteously and no one pleads honestly.
They trust in confusion and speak lies;
They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity.
Their works are works of iniquity, and an act of violence
is in their hands.
Their feet run to evil, And they run to shed innocent blood;
Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity,
Devastation and destruction are in their highways.
They do not know the way of peace,
and there is no justice in their tracks;
They have made their paths crooked, Whoever treads
on them does not know peace.
Therefore justice is far from us, And righteousness does
not overtake us; We hope for light, but behold,
darkness, For brightness, but we walk in gloom.
We grope along the wall like blind men, We grope like those
who have no eyes; We stumble at midday as in the
twilight, Among those who are vigorous we are
like dead men.
All of us growl like bears, And moan sadly like doves;
We hope for justice, but there is none, For salvation,
but it is far from us.
For our sins are multiplied before You, And our sins testify
against us; For our transgressions are with us,
and we know our iniquities:
Transgressing and denying the LORD, And turning away
from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt,
Conceiving in and uttering from the heart lying words.
Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands far away; For truth has stumbled in the street, And uprightness
cannot enter.
Yes, truth is lacking; and he who turns aside from evil
makes himself a prey.
Now the LORD saw, and it was displeasing in His sight
that there was no justice.
And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished
that there was no one to intercede;
Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, and His
righteousness upheld Him.
He put on righteousness like a bulletproof vest, And a
helmet of salvation on His head; and He put on
garments of vengeance for clothing And wrapped
Himself with zeal as an overcoat.
According to their deeds, so He will repay,
wrath to His adversaries,
retribution to His enemies;
to the coastlands He will make compensation.
So they will fear the name of the LORD from the west
and His glory from the rising of the sun,
for He will come like a rushing stream
which the wind of the LORD drives.
A Redeemer will come to those who turn from sin.
-Isaiah 59 (Paraphrased from NASV)
Reading
With what shall I come to the LORD and bow myself
before the God on high?
Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings,
with yearling calves?
Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams,
in ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice,
to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
- Micah 6:6-8
Notes
Cycle of Sin & Repentance
Sin, Rebellion, Judgement, Repentance, Restoration
Laws of Physics – Law of Sin and Death (Romans 8:2)
The one who wrote the laws can override them – miracles – both in physical acts (walking on water, healing) and in spiritual acts (forgiveness of sins).
Hope to Carry On
We have been given the choice of life (Romans 8:11)
We have been given help with our Prayer (Romans 8:26-28)
We have been given security (Romans 8:31-39)
Can I stop violence?
Yes. It is not your fault but you can take responsibility
(2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people”)
Call to personal repentance
(ANY sin is wickedness in the sight of God)
Call to (spiritual) arms.
The issue is not more security – it is spiritual.
How to fight spiritual battles.
Chose man’s methods or God’s methods.