Bethesda Chapel 2001
SG Bible Study #10

Let God’s light shine through you (2 Cor 4:1-18)

Warm up songs
Select songs praising God, Jesus and others with words on: light, death, life, transformed.

Quiet Contemplation (3 minutes)
Allow a short time of quiet contemplation and private confession of known sins, a willingness to listen to each other share the Word of God and to His Spirit’s leading and conviction.

Warm up game (optional)
Select three persons, Q, A, O.  A will think of a truth statement and write it down.  The interrogator, Q, is blind-folded.  Q has only ten attempts to try to get the truth out from the other person.  A cannot use a single word answer “yes” or “no” or “maybe.”  Any other answer is acceptable.  A can smile, laugh, or cry so as to confuse Q and O.  The observer, O, acts as a mute but can see A’s expressions.  O observes from the exchanges between Q and A and tries to guess the answer that Q is aiming at. 

For example, A writes down a truth statement, “I brush my teeth after each meal,” and writes it on a piece of paper and folds it.   

Q1: “How was your dinner today?”                        A1: “Very nice and light, Hee! Hee!”
Q2: “Did any bits of food get into your teeth?”        A2: “Well, some did.”
Q3: “How do you get the bits out.”                        A3: “That’s easy, first I used a toothpick.”
Q4: “Wouldn’t it be easier with a toothbrush?”        A4: “The toothpick did some good.”
…..
This goes on till Q gets the answer he/she wants.  Bingo! Q wins.

If A uses a single word answer, Q wins.
If Q cannot get his/her answer after ten questions, A wins.
If O opens his/her mouth, Q and A win.
If O writes the answer that matches Q’s before the end of the game, O also wins.  
If the answer is wrong, Q and A win.

Reflections
Which role is more difficult?  Q, A or O?
Why?

For context read 2 Cor 4:1-18
Key words
Jesus Christ; God/god of this world; Do not lose heart;
Veiled/blinded; Light/darkness; Glory; Death/life
seen/unseen; Temporal/eternal
Structure
Vv 1-6             The light of God light shines in the hearts of Christians
Vv 7-15           The resurrection-life of Christ manifests itself in the lives of Christians
Vv 16-18         The Spirit’s inward renewal of Christians

Discussion questions
Read 2 Cor 4:1-6 again.

Q1. What are different meanings of the word “light” as used in verse 6?

Q2. What does the word “light” in verse 4 mean?

Q3. How is the word “light” used in Gen 1:3, John 1:4-9 and Lk 11:33-36?

Q4. Why do men attempt to seek light on their own?

See an example of what light may mean outside of the light of the gospel of Jesus.
Read excerpts of the article from Time July 16, 2001 below:

By Bharat Thakur, a living Himalayan master, teaches the ancient art of yoga and meditation and has a wide following in India.
http://www.time.com/time/asia/arts/magazine/0,9754,166970,00.html

 “…the West views yoga: as an aid to master the physical.…Most of the so-called yogis in the West seem to focus on figure correction, not true awareness. They make statements about yoga being for the body, mind and soul. But this is just semantics. Asanas (postures), which get such huge play in the West, are the smallest aspect of yoga. Either you practice yoga as a whole or you don't. If one is practicing just for health, better to take up walking. Need to cure a disease? See a doctor. Yoga is not about fancy asanas or breath control. Nor is it a therapy or a philosophy. Yoga is about inside awareness. It is the process of union of the self with the whole. Yoga is becoming the Buddha….
                    …Basically yoga is made up of two parts: bahirang (external yoga) and antarang (internal yoga). The West practices only the former. It needs to enter into antarang yoga. For that you need a true master to take you into spiritual yoga. Someone who has walked inside himself….It is a trip from you to no you. A trip from the known to unknown… 

This great darkness in found in yoga which deceptively teaches that light can be found within darkness. 
Matt 6:23b “If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

Q5. Who is the One who can shine in the darkness of man’s hearts and give true light?  

 Personal Reflections
     1.  Who are the people who look at my life in my waking hours? 
     2.  What would they see in me that is Christ-like?
     3.  Am I aware of my unchristian attitudes, thoughts, deeds and words?

Personal Prayer
Unlike Moses who wore a veil before men and reflected a fading glory, Christians with unveiled faces behold Christ and display the glory inwardly in their character, not losing the intensity, but are being transformed by the power of God progressively into the likeness of Christ.

Personal prayers, petitions, confession and thanksgiving before the Lord.  Ask the Spirit of God to minister to you.  Dismiss quietly.
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