Meeting 3. more planning and ideas

Met once again at SSBC on Wednesday, June 11, 2008. Continued to discuss both the general structure of the planned Bible Study as well as the themes and subjects that we would like to tie in as we go along. The themes would be both overall themes and specific themes related to certain letters of Paul. Overall themes related to the Year of St. Paul are Ecumenism, Evangelism, and Unity. Specific themes can include: anger, dissension, immorality, sin, truth, hope, love, unity, marriage, etc.

We talked, once again, about some fundamental concepts like Saint and Christian and Word.

We had a basic agreement on these topics, and discussed them to a certain degree. As expected the concepts of true conversion, and the rebirth found through baptism are concepts that Baptists and Catholics understand differently and at times I thought we were talking past each other. Just my impression, but I am hopeful in spite of what I perceived to be a disconnect. In spite of the disconnect we did agree on some major truths which included the following:
1. to follow Christ is what matters the most. Union with Him is what we all desire.
2. "The Word" has a meaning that is more than just scripture. It is expressed through Scripture, yet it existed before the first word of Scripture was written, and is expressed every time we are prompted by the Holy Spirit.
3. The word "Saint" seems to have two meanings. One that tries to capture the initial consecration, the initial decision to follow Christ, the initial receptivity to Truth and Love. And another that implies eternal salvation, truly in Heaven, truly seeing, truly one with Christ through and through, all impurities and sins in the past.

We also had an interesting discussion at the beginning while we were waiting for people to arrive that I would like to comment on in another append.

Next meeting is scheduled for Tues. June 24 at South Shore Baptist. 7:30pm to 9pm. (changed to Tuesday, 24th. Too many could not make 25th. PK)