Topics at Ten
Learn the Truth about “Homosexuality” and the BibleThose nagging six Bible verses. They keep coming up in recent political debate. We’ve heard them quoted and misquoted by certain legislators in the North Carolina House and Senate a lot recently.
More than 100 people have taken this class during the 6 different times it has been taught at St. John’s MCC. It is a MUST for anyone who gets beaten up with the Bible over sexual orientation. As you would expect from a course about homosexuality and the Bible that is taught at St. John’s MCC, Freed from Guilt … Freed from Shame! exposes the Bible passages that are often turned against us, revealing the original meaning and context of the verses without a twisted political agenda. But this class goes even deeper.
All of this happens during Topics at Ten beginning on Sunday, October 2nd. We normally meet in Friendship Hall. We will provide the study materials for you. If you have any questions, please contact Jim Manchester or any of the Saints who have taken this course in the past. For people who are interested, we have a special Topics at Ten mailing list. People on the list get a periodic update about the specific thing we are studying. You can see email messages from previous weeks by clicking here. You can also sign up to receive the no-more-than-once-a-week mailings. |
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Mirror on the Mountain:
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| Scripture | Date | Title |
| John 1:1-14 | May 16 | In the Beginning - Introduction |
| John 4:1-26 | May 23 | The Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s Well |
| John 4:43-54 | May 30 | The Nobleman’s Son |
| John 5:1-30 | June 6 | The Paralyzed Man at the Sheep Gate |
| John 7:53-8:11 | June 13 | The Adulterous Woman |
| John 9:1-41 | June 20 | The Man Born without Sight |
| John 10:1-19 | June 27 | The Shepherd and the Sheep |
| John 11:1-43 | July 11 | Lazarus, Mary, and Martha |
| John 12:1-8 | July 18 | Mary Anoints Jesus |
| John 13:1-17 | July 25 | The Foot Washing |
| John 14:5-13; 6:28-59 | August 1 | More Lessons from the Upper Room |
| John 15:18-27 | August 8 | Hatred for Jesus & His Followers |
| John 13:31-38; 18:15-18; 18:25-27; 21:7-17 |
August 15 | The Problem with Simon Peter |
Banish the Guilt and the Shame about Homosexuality from Your Life!
As you would expect from a course about homosexuality and the Bible that is taught at St. John’s MCC, Freed from Guilt … Freed from Shame! exposes the Bible passages that are often turned against us, revealing the original meaning and context of the verses without a twisted political agenda.
But this class goes even deeper.
- We will expose the political agenda in organized religion that brought forth a distorted view of God’s word that has been used to put us down.
- We will work through years-old feelings and voices that made us ashamed of our “secret” lives.
- We will begin to understand God’s gift of sexuality to us and how we can honor that gift while being true to ourselves. Instead of being ashamed of it, we will begin to be grateful to God for it.
- We will turn the tide of bitterness and hatred for those who have abused us when they used their twisted brand of “biblical authority” against us. We will find ways to begin loving them in a brand new way.
All of this happens during Topics at Ten continues this Sunday, and new participants are welcome. We normally meet in Friendship Hall. We will provide the study materials for you.
If you have any questions, please contact Jim Manchester or any of the Saints who have taken this course in the past.
The Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control
I wonder why it is that we, just like Paul did 2000 years ago, always leave the Self-Control aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit until last.
Is it because controlling ourselves always seems to be a difficult task? Maybe it is one of the things that we think we can’t do.
In fact, Self-Control IS always a challenge, but that is why God gives us a special gift – a way to empower our self-control using the Fruit of the Spirit. When we use it, controlling ourselves becomes a bit easier to do.
Do you want to find out how it works? That is what we’re talking about as we wrap up our study of the Fruit of the Spirit during Topics at Ten on Sunday morning, December 20th, starting at 10:00. We will meet in Friendship Hall.
Our assignment this week is to read the section of our materials entitled “Self-Control.” If you already have your materials, please bring them. If not, please contact me, Jim Manchester. I will send you a link to them.
Faithfulness Is Different from Faith and Gentleness Is Different from Weakness
Faith comes from within us. We either decide to have it or we don’t. Faithfulness, on the other hand, is a dependable steadfastness that comes from God’s power.
Gentleness can also be quite powerful.
An elephant has enough muscle to tear down a tree, but it is also gentle enough to carefully pluck a single leaf from a tall branch.
These attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit already belong to us. We just have to learn how to harness and use them. We will learn how to do that during Topics at Ten on Sunday morning, December 11th at 10:00 am in Friendship Hall as we continue our study of The Fruit of the Spirit.
Our assignment this week is to read two sections of our materials: “Faithfulness” and “Gentleness.” If you already have your materials, please bring them. If not, please contact me, Jim Manchester. I will send you a link to them.
Kindness and Goodness: The Fruit of the Spirit
“Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy!” Most of us are afraid that someone will think of us in a way that reminds them of a less-than-strong-enough garbage bag – especially if we seem just too nice.
Yet, we often find ourselves asking God to “create in us clean and pure hearts – to renew a right spirit within us.”
In these two characteristics of the one Fruit of the Spirit, God has given us the ability to change lives. That transformative power is something that we want to cultivate and spread to as many people as we can.
It means that we break some old, tired habits and start practicing some new ones. We will learn how to do that during Topics at Ten on Sunday morning, December 6th at 10:00 am in Friendship Hall as we continue our study of The Fruit of the Spirit.
Our assignment this week is to read two sections of our materials: “Kindness” and “Goodness.” If you already have your materials, please bring them. If not, please contact me, Jim Manchester. I will send you a link to them.
Longsuffering: A Fusion of Patience and Power
For many of us, “patience” means waiting around for something to happen. The other word used for this characteristic of The Fruit of the Spirit is “Longsuffering,” but that reminds of something else we hate to do: suffer.
Neither of these things is what Paul talked about when he wrote in Galatians 5:22-23, “By contrast, the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (NRSV) Instead, Paul wants us to let God empower us in banishing our quick-tempers.
During this holiday season, wouldn’t it be nice if we could find the secret to controlling impulsive anger? God has already given us that power. We will learn those secrets during Topics at Ten on Sunday morning, November 29th at 10:00 am in Friendship Hall as we continue our study of The Fruit of the Spirit.
Our assignment this week is to read the section of our materials that talks about “Longsuffering.” If you already have your materials, please bring them. If not, please contact me, Jim Manchester. I will send you a link to them.
Joy & Peace - The Fruit of the Spirit
Joy: Foundation for a Positive Life &
Peace: The Hunger of Human Hearts
How do we find “Joy” when there is so much sadness all around us?
How do we find “Peace” when everything seems to be in turmoil at home and abroad?
The materials we are studying this week in preparation for our discussion of The Fruit of the Spirit during Topics at Ten help us understand that better. (If you need a copy of our materials, please contact me, Jim Manchester. I will send you a link to them so you can be ready.)
Our assignment this week is to read the two sections of our materials that talk about “Joy” and “Peace.” If you already have your materials, please bring them to Topics at Ten on Sunday morning, November 22nd, beginning at 10:00. If you don’t have them, we will provide them.
We will meet in Friendship Hall this week. Bring your Bible, and we’ll see you there.
Love: The Ground from Which Spiritual Fruit Springs
We accept the fact that there are many definitions of the word “Love.” And, for many of us, we understand that the characteristic of The Fruit of the Spirit which manifests itself
in us as “Love” is somehow different – a special kind of love.
The materials we are studying this week in preparation for our discussion of The Fruit of the Spirit during Topics at Ten help us understand that better. (If you need a copy of our materials, please contact me, Jim Manchester. I will send you a link to them so you can be ready.)
Our assignment this week is to come up with 101 ways that this Fruit that looks like Love can spring up in our daily lives. We probably can’t do it all by ourselves. That’s why we are a team. Bring your list of your “Ways of Love” to Topics at Ten on Sunday morning, November 15th, beginning at 10:00. We will merge them together and learn from each other.
Since volunteers will be preparing Friendship Hall for our Senior Pastor’s 8th Anniversary Celebration Pot Luck Lunch, we will meet in the Downstairs Classroom this week. Bring your Bible and your list, and we’ll see you there.
Topics at Ten: The Fruit of the Spirit
Perhaps the greatest gift that the Christ-Child ever gave to us is the Fruit of the Spirit. During the eight weeks leading up to Christmas, we hope you will join the Saints for this intriguing study each Sunday at 10:00 in Friendship Hall. If you have any questions, please see Jim Manchester.
Join with us on Sunday morning, November 8th, as we begin the study of The Fruit of the Spirit during Topics at Ten, beginning at 10:00 in Fellowship Hall.
Revelation Wrap-Up: Keeping Our Focus on the “Main Thing”
Our study of the Book of Revelation has carried us through great dramatic scenes of torment and triumph, but as we finish our examination of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor in
chapter 3, we will take time to reflect on what it all means to us at St. John’s MCC.
Join with us on Sunday morning, November 1st, as we conclude our study of The Gospel of the Revelation according to St. John the Divine during Topics at Ten, beginning at 10:00 in Fellowship Hall. In preparation, please read all of chapters 2 and 3. Set your alarm clock back one hour, and bring your Bible. You’ll need it.
Luke-Warm? Misdirected? Distracted?
We’ve read St. John the Divine’s letters to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. We can’t help but wonder, “Could John have written any of those letters to us just as well?”
As we continue to look at the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation, we will ask ourselves about
the common themes that John communicates to those ancient churches and try to determine if there is any of his advice that could be directed to us at St. John’s MCC.
We will continue this examination on Sunday, October 25th, during Topics at Ten as we wrap up our study of The Gospel of the Revelation according to St. John the Divine in Fellowship Hall. Please read the first three chapters of Revelation in preparation, and then bring your Bible with you. You’ll need it!
The Letters to the Seven Churches
St. John the Divine’s letters to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor brought poignant reminders to the early followers of Christ who were scattered around the world. It seemed as if John had his finger on the pulse of those communities – giving just the right advice at just the right time.
As we look at the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation, we will ask ourselves about the common
themes that John communicates to those ancient churches and try to determine if there is any of his advice that could be directed to us at St. John’s MCC.
We will start this examination on Sunday, October 18th, during Topics at Ten as we wrap upour study of The Gospel of the Revelation according to St. John the Divine in Fellowship Hall. Please read the first three chapters of Revelation in preparation, and then bring your Bible with you. You’ll need it!
Understanding the Rapture
What do YOU think will happen during the Second Coming of Christ? Some say that people will leave this world while their cars continue driving down the road. Others say that angels will come down from the sky and pluck them up into the air.
If we contend that everything written about in the Book of Revelation occurred in the first century after Jesus’ life, then how can it have anything to do with our everyday life today?
Oh, but it does! Just not in the way that popular, pulp horror fiction would portray it.
Find out all about the Rapture during Topics at Ten this
Sunday, October 11th in our study of the Gospel of the Revelation according to St. John the Divine which meets in Fellowship Hall at 10:00. (The Rapture is also the scheduled discussion for Tuesday Night Bible Study on Tuesday, October 13th.) In preparation for this Sunday, please read from Revelation 19:11 through the end of the book.
While we will explore the ending of Revelation this Sunday, our study is not quite over. We will return to the first three chapters after we’ve let the Final Celebration settle into our hearts.
So, as usual, please bring your Bible. You will need it.
A White Horse and Its Rider
After the Final Judgment, everything becomes new again in the City of Light. For years, we have feared these closing moments of Revelation. Some people would like to believe that these events are still to come and that we, as God’s Rainbow people will meet the same fate as the Beast.
But, the war is over, and the fight has already been won. If that is true, why do we still call this dramatic
scene the “Final Judgment?” Find out during Topics at Ten this Sunday, October 4th in our study of the Gospel of the Revelation according to St. John the Divine which meets in Fellowship Hall at 10:00. In preparation, please read from Revelation 19:11 through the end of the book.
While we will explore the ending of Revelation this Sunday, our study is not quite over. We will return to the first three chapters after we’ve let the Final Celebration settle into our hearts.
So, as usual, please bring your Bible. You will need it.
Doom to the City of Darkness
The drama comes to its climax in Revelation 18. Those who would use fear and hatred to spread guilt
and shame over God’s people meet their ultimate reward. Regretfully, some translations use the name “Babylon” to refer the dwelling place of hate mongers, but that only obscures the truth that such people dwell in a “City of Darkness.” They conduct their lives trying to control others and exercise power over them when Jesus taught us to love and empower others to love each other. The difference in the points of view is startling. The result from changing one’s point of view is amazing.
For this Sunday, September 27th, Topics at Ten will meet at 10:00 am in the Downstairs Classroom so preparations for the Pride Lunch on the Grounds can get an early start. Please read all of Chapter 18 and the first 10 verses of Chapter 19 in preparation for The Gospel of the Revelation according to St. John the Divine. As usual, please bring your Bible. You will need it.












Raleigh, NC, USA – October 24, 2010 – “Reconciling Sexuality and Spirituality,” the current topic for Topics at Ten, reached around to world today to include one of its participants who is working temporarily on a contract in Korea.




