1. Abraham physical and Genesis 12. 1-9
spiritual
Journeyed on by stages
Abram was 75 years old when he departed
took all their possessions
built an altar to the Lord
2. Exodus Event physical, Exodus 12.33-42
spiritual,
emotional
could not wait
mixed crowd
lived in Egypt 430 years
vigil to commemorate event
3. Ruth and Naomi physical Ruth 1. 16-17
emotional
vow of where you go, I go
journeyed away from security
4. Jonah emotional Jonah 1.1-3
spiritual
fleeing from journey
away from the presence of the Lord
begrudged the salvation of Ninevites
5. Babylonian exile forced exile Isaiah 1.7-8
aliens devour your land
request of God to make themselves clean, removing evil
6. Jesus and Egypt exile for Matthew 2.13-23
protection
God's messenger called to protect the children
7. Paul journey into Acts 9. 19b-22
belief
unbeliever becomes a witness
(Material taken from "Faith Passages and Patterns"
by Thomas A. Droege
Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1990)
"When I was a child, I spoke like a child,
I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became
a man, I gave up childish ways." 1 Corinthians 13.11
"And Jesus grew in wisdom, in strength, in favor with God
and in favor with humankinds." Luke 2.52
1. "God is like my mommy and my daddy" (ages 2-6)
"Our Father..."
2. "What fair is fair"--stories of good
and evil (ages 7-12)
story of bargaining for the salvation of Sodom and Gomorrah
3. "I believe what the church/community believes"
(ages 12-18)
--conformist stage/peers
4. "As I see it, God is..." (college-adult)
--faith knowing; highly intellectual
--moral reasoning
--referencing the development of each Gospel, particularly John
--letters of Paul
5. "Don't confuse the map with the territory"
--our view are still incomplete and limited
--ready for dialogue with other truths, while centered in own
belief system
--ecumenical dialogues
6. "I have a dream"
--few people reach it: Martin Luther King, JR
Gandhi
Mother Teresa
prophets in Hebrew Scriptures
apostles of Jesus
Jesus
--putting life on line for justice and equality
At this point in our discussion, we have looked
at some Biblical passages on individual faith journeys, and
the stages of faith. In preparation for our next session , I
would like each of you to reflect on these two questions.
1. Identify three episodes in your life which
were key events or experiences in your faith journey (i.e. a
walk in the woods, confirmation, marriage, having children...).
Be able to tell the story of one.
2. Identify three challenges/events or experiences in your life
of faith and how they led you or are leading you to grow with
God (when a belief was challenged, when you disagreed with a
pastor or teacher...). Again, be able to tell the story of one.
3. Can you think of any wisdom that God has given you, based
on your walk of faith?
