Biblical Context:
Thinking of the Book of Acts as a whole.
In
the long run in all 28 chapters in the book, think of Jesus’ words of go
reach to Jerusalem, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
1:8.
Has what Jesus said in the verse been fulfilled in history as written in Acts 1-8:3; 8:4-12:24; 12:24-28? (I hope, yes.)
Biblical-and-Real-World
Questions in mind:
- How similar is U of T to the history in the Book of Acts?
- How much more similar can we become to the history (the characters, the actions, context, reaction, the movements) of the Book of Acts?
Historical
and Biblical Context:
What is Samaria? Where is it? What is it like? Who are the people who live there? What are the people there like? What type of lives did they lead? What do they believe in?
Where is the ends of the earth in the Book of Acts? Where, what remote places did Paul go exactly?
What are these places and the people like?
These two questions take a long term history lesson on the Bible to know. And we’ll probably get to find a bit of this throughout our Bible Studies this year. Relevant is to think about
Our Immediate Context - (which is probably much easier and tangible for us to find out, but might not be so obvious to ourselves yet):
(Questions of Reflections and Research about U of T)
What surrounding CCF at U of T? Who are the people around us? What do they believe in? What do they find to be important in their lives? What does the school find to be important? What does the school tell its students is important? What does the school convey to its students to be important (i.e. what are the first things, first messages the school gives in students in top/heading of an article, in the beginning of every lecture, in every report?)
What is the
“Jerusalem” to UTCCF?
Literally and Geographically it is the place Jerusalem on earth.
But “Jerusalem, ... all Judea, Samaria and ... the ends of the earth”, taking these words so that it means something to us:
- Those we feel closer or easier to talk to like the people in our fellowship itself? The Chinese students? The Chinese Christian circle? Those with the same or a similar culture as ours?
What is “Samaria” to
UTCCF?
- Those who might not be very similar to us in cultural values, family backgrounds, financial ability, but who nevertheless share a common responsibility, pressure, role and experience with us – namely students in general at U of T?
What is “the ends of
the earth” to UTCCF?
- Those who we feel even more remote to talk to or identify with. Like professors? The higher staff at the school? Those who have influence and power over the policies of the school? Those who have a say on the values, direction, and beliefs of the school like the president or the board? Or also the “ideas and values” of the school? The “things” that drive U of T?
To continue that thought, think about this slogan
“Great minds for a great future” – We’ve seen it on many big posters every 20meter on the campus and streets of U of T. Sometimes, even down at the Lakeshore area. This slogan is very visible. How do you feel when you see these posters? Remote? Impossible? Do you think “a great mind for a great future” is part of you? How does that sound to you?
Who made order that these posters be posted up? Who has the power or authority to vote on whether this is the slogan to post up? Who decides how many of these to post up? Do we feel remote to these people? Do we think that we can talk to these people?
Who is accomplishing what this posters says or asks for? Is it true? Is it happening? What effect do these poster, this slogan or this concept have on those who see it (the students, the professors, visitors, prospective students).
These slogans are so prominent and so visible. What would happen if those slogans says something different? Can you imagine these posters saying something different, giving a different message? What does it take to make these posters say something different?
What if UTCCF gets to suggest to the school something different to say on these slogans and U of T will print it out on it for us? Is that too remote an idea right now? Does UTCCF have the influence on U of T as big as that yet?
Are these slogans, ideas, influence, those who implement them as remote as “the ends of the earth” to CCF?
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