バイブルクラスが行われました
本所緑星教会
Bible
class on Saturday December 5th, 2015
今年も早くもアドベント（待降節）を迎えました。今日（12/5 土）は私たちの教会の子供クリスマス会が開かれていました。大勢の子供たちと保護者の皆さんの楽しい声が聞こえてきました。
そして、同時刻にもたれたバイブルクラスの出席者は3名でした。
聖書の個所はルカによる福音書の8章です。
この日のルカ８章もとても長く５６節で構成されているので、次回（12/19）と二回に分けて学ぶことになりました。
冒頭の１節から３節には、各地を旅をしながら神の国を宣べ伝えるイエスと弟子たち、そして彼らを支援した女性たちのことが記されています。具体的に名前が挙げられている女性はマグラダのマリア、ジョアンナ、スザンナの3人ですが、彼女らはイエスと弟子たち一行のためにかなりな援助をしたと書かれています。中でもジョアンナという女性は当時の統治者ヘロデの大番頭の奥さんですから、おそらく経済的に相当に裕福な人であったと想像できます。今の時代に置き換えれば官房長官夫人と云ったところでしょうか。
「種をまく人のたとえ」についてイエスは弟子たちに解説して、まず種とは神のみ言葉であり、それを受け止める信仰のありかたであるとを教えます。次にみ言葉を種まきになぞらえて、み言葉が伝えられる環境の良し悪しに言及します。種がまかれる環境について四つの事例が示され、そのうち三つの事例は種（神の御ことば・信仰）が大地に根付かない良くない環境、あるいは信仰を成長させられない人（あるいは教会）を象徴しています。
そしてバイブルクラスでは種（み言葉と信仰）が根付かない環境の中で、雑草の中という環境について話し合われました。雑草の中に落ちた種とは、後にみ言葉・信仰の種の周りにいろいろな種があるという混雑した環境で、み言葉や信仰が世にある身近にある関心事によって苛むことを伝えていると理解しました。このことは単にみ言葉の受け手である人として捉えるのはもちろんですが、人の集合体である教会も社会へのつながりの中で様々な出来事や問題に関心と関与が必然であることから、最も重要な教会の本質であるみ言葉への追及が疎かになりがちではないかとの意見も出されました。
次回は 3/19（土）ｐｍ 15：00から、当教場所は当教会室で行われています。
Luke
8 The Message (MSG)
8
1-3 He continued according to plan, traveled to town after town, village after
village, preaching God's kingdom, spreading the Message. The Twelve were with
him. There were also some women in their company who had been healed of various
evil afflictions and illnesses: Mary, the one called Magdalene, from whom seven
demons had gone out; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's manager; and Susanna--along
with many others who used their considerable means to provide for the company.
The
Story of the Seeds
4-8
As they went from town to town, a lot of people joined in and traveled along.
He addressed them, using this story: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds ate it. Other
seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn't have good
roots. Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it.
Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop.
"Are
you listening to this? Really listening?"
9
His disciples asked, "Why did you tell this story?"
10
He said, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom--you know how it
works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of them
aren't going to get it:
Their
eyes are open but don't see a thing,
Their ears are open but don't hear a thing.
11-12
"This story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of God.
The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear
it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won't believe and be saved.
13
"The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the
enthusiasm doesn't go very deep. It's only another fad, and the moment there's
trouble it's gone.
14
"And the seed that fell in the weeds--well, these are the ones who hear,
but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their
lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.
15
"But the seed in the good earth--these are the good-hearts who seize the
Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest.
Misers
of What You Hear
16-18
"No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under
the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see
their way. We're not keeping secrets; we're telling them. We're not hiding
things; we're bringing everything out into the open. So be careful that you
don't become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess
impoverishes."
19-20
His mother and brothers showed up but couldn't get through to him because of
the crowd. He was given the message, "Your mother and brothers are
standing outside wanting to see you."
21
He replied, "My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God's
Word. Obedience is thicker than blood."
22-24
One day he and his disciples got in a boat. "Let's cross the lake,"
he said. And off they went. It was smooth sailing, and he fell asleep. A
terrific storm came up suddenly on the lake. Water poured in, and they were
about to capsize. They woke Jesus: "Master, Master, we're going to
drown!"
Getting
to his feet, he told the wind, "Silence!" and the waves, "Quiet
down!" They did it. The lake became smooth as glass.
25
Then he said to his disciples, "Why can't you trust me?"
They
were in absolute awe, staggered and stammering, "Who is this, anyway? He
calls out to the winds and sea, and they do what he tells them!"
