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Apostles Creed Study

Apostles Creed Study. “Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary”. Analysis. Compare “conceived” to “born” What do these words mean? What are the differences? Compare “Holy Spirit” to “Virgin Mary” What is the nature of each? What role do they play?

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Apostles Creed Study

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  1. Apostles Creed Study “Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary”

  2. Analysis • Compare “conceived” to “born” • What do these words mean? • What are the differences? • Compare “Holy Spirit” to “Virgin Mary” • What is the nature of each? • What role do they play? • Big Question: What is the difference between the first line (“conceived by the Holy Spirit”) and the second line (“born of the virgin Mary”)?

  3. Observations • This article spells out the DIVINE and HUMAN nature of Jesus. • Jesus is God (not just a representative) • Jesus is God become human (or “flesh”) • The mention of two terms “conceived” and “born” for Jesus’ birth are intended to distinguish between natural, human childbirth and the extra-ordinary nature of Jesus. • In English: its trying to avoid any sexual connotations. • Mary is the vessel of Jesus, not a partner in his becoming human in the normal sense.

  4. Activity • Split into Groups • Using your electronic devices, look up what you think is the cheesiest love song you can find (think 80’s and 90’s or Taylor Swift ). • The group who finds the cheesiest song/video (by vote) wins!

  5. Generic Love Song • Axis of Awesome – “How to Write a Love Song”(Warning: some language) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2cfxv8Pq-Q

  6. What We Learn about Love from Love Songs • It is selfish: “I need you…” in a way that sounds nice, but really very self-centered. • It is unreal: “I dream about you all the time…” or carries unrealistic (and unhealthy) expectations “our love will never fade…” in a way that, if we experienced it in reality, we would be totally creeped out! • Questions: • Why do we buy into love songs if we know in our minds that their message is immature and crazy? • What do these songs tell us about human love? • What would a love song from God be like?

  7. Human Love vs. God’s Love Human love is… God’s love is… Self-emptying Sacrificial Eternal Enduring • Self-centered • Temporary • Socially influenced • Fragile

  8. The Bible • John 1:10-13 • 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. • The Bible emphasizes that Jesus was not born by “the will of man” (literally, a male) in order to distinguish between the human loves that perpetuate self-centered survival and the divine love of self-emptying sacrifice.

  9. Conclusions • These two lines are deeper than they appear. • They spell out the divine and human origins of Jesus • By doing so they also illustrate the self-surrendering and self-emptying nature of God in Jesus. • Human love without God is self-seeking and, therefore, creates pain and hurt. • God’s love is not only the only real love, but also the way in which we can learn to really love each other whether it be our friends, our family, or our significant others.

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