2009 Initiative - "365 Holy Days": March 17 is Saint Patrick's Day. This week we focus on the life of Maewyn Succat who was named by the Roman church St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. March 17, 460CE is believed to be the day of his passing. Patrick's greatest contribution in his time may have been crossing over the wall between the middle management and the upper management of the Roman church regarding mission work. In other words, no pope, no cardinal, no bishop and no priest told him to go convert Ireland; he just went! He followed the voice of an angel he believed to be named Victor.
WELLness
Warm-up: Chitchat; question: St. Patrick's Day celebrations, traditions?
Exercise: Focused discussion - four questions
- Have you ever found yourself in a bad situation where you could have avoided if you had obeyed your parent(s)?
- Have you ever had an opportunity to show mercy to someone(s) that had wronged you?
- Have you ever made a minor compromise to make major progress?
- Have you ever received or used a great illustration to make a point or share a message?
Lesson: A Saint Named Patrick
- The Prodigal Son Syndrome (Luke 15:15-17) - Maewyn Succat was born in Roman-Britain to a comfortable family situation. Though his grandfather was a priest and his father was very involved in the Roman church, Patrick himself was not religious or spiritual at all. He was kidnapped at age 16 and was enslaved by Hibernian raiders. As a slave, he shepherded sheep for his master. While a slave, he felt "The Prodigal Son Syndrome" (see Luke 15:15-17). He felt this situation was on him because of his neglect of his fathers' faith. He prayed to God for the six years of his enslavement. At the age of 22, he fled upon hearing the voice of an angel he called Victor, who told him his ship had come in, literally. He walked 200 miles to see a ship waiting. This ship was his escape.
- Love Your Enemies (Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:27-36) - After reuniting with his family, Patrick had a vision compelling him to return to the land of his enslavement. The Roman church made him a bishop and sent him with priests on his journey.
- The Celtic Cross: Sleeping With The Enemy? (First Kings 16:31-33; Revelation 2:18-29) - The greatest nemeses Patrick faced in Ireland were the pagan priests called Druids. The Celtic Cross represents a fusion of the Druidic concepts with the Christian faith. This symbol also represents one of Patrick's methods of conversion: to live among unsaved people and accept their unsaved lifestyle. This conversion practice is a major hallmark of the Roman church: The "Oh, we believe that, too!" Method. This practice is at best a slippery slope, and at worst a denial of essential Christian teaching! As Christians, we are to live among unsaved people, but we cannot be okay with the unsaved lifestyles!
- The Legend Of The Shamrock: The Reason For The Green (Genesis 1:1-2; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 17:21) - Legend has it that Patrick plucked a shamrock and used it as an illustration of the Trinity of God: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; three "persons", One God.
Example: (English grammatical equivalent of Hebrew Genesis 1:1)Bottom Line: Many and One is not foreign to Judaism. After checking out Genesis 1:2 and John 17:21, make it real in your mind that God is three in One.
"In the beginning God create the heavens and the earth."
(fusion of "In the beginning God creates the heavens and the earth," and "In the beginning Gods create the heavens and the earth.")
Deuteronomy 6:4 - Listen, Israel; the LORD our God, the LORD is One. (Shema Yisrael Yahweh Eloheinu Yahweh echad)Life application: Don't neglect your Christian faith! Celebrate it by showing mercy to those who persecute you. Don't make friends with people if it means you have to dis Jesus! And keep your focus on the Christian message, not on illustrations, no matter how great they are, that helps to explain that message. Go forth!
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