Journal 1


1. What is the one key idea of this chapter?

In Journey Through the New Testament, the key idea of the first chapter deals with relationships with others and especially Jesus. Relationships are two-ended give-and-take systems. THis ties in with covenant. We need to have a strong covenant relationship with God, inspired by scripture. In this way we are guided by the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit breathed life into the scripture. We need to let God into our minds and hearts so that we can contribute to the relationship. We need to create peace, love, justice, and more to bring us closer to the Kindom of God. Overall, relationships with God, our community, and oursleves form the basis of life and faith.

2. Write about two major ideas you want to remember.

One major idea i want to remember is the three levels of reading scripture. I admit that i do not do as well as i should in reading and absorbing the meaning of scripture. Knowing and using the three steps will help me learn more about Jesus and become closer to him. The first step are knowing the scripture. This should be the easiest part. The second is figuring out what God is saying to me in the scripture, which would require more thinking. FInally, I have to figure out what the scripture means to me. This would help me to relate to Jesus and get the most out of scripture.

Another Major idea I want to remember is covenant. I want to remember how the old covenant relates to the new covenant and now how to fulfill the new covenant today. If I can live out what has happened in the past I can become closer in my relationship with Jesus. Knowing how the first patriarch, Abraham, made his covenant with Jesus and how the first followers of Jesus did the same will help me live out my covenant relationship with Him today.

3. One image that captures the chapter for you.



4. One significant question you have from this chapter.

What can I do to deepen my relationship with Jesus?

5. What experiences in your freshman year brought you closer to Jesus?

Many things have happened in my freshman year that brought my closer to Jesus. One major impact was meeting the kids. There are so many kind and loving kids at SLUH and they make me look at myself. I knew I could do a lot better than what I had done before.Another huge experience was the freshman retreat, where i got closer to Jesus and other kids. I learned many religious feelings from others and shared some of my own. This allowed me to learn a lot about how i really did feel about religion and Jesus. From there, I could keep the good stuff and change the bad. Being closer with other allowed me to be closer to Jesus. One more small but helpful event helped me get closer to Jesus and that was the weekly prayer service on monday. It got me started off fresh and prayerful after possibly difficult or busy weekends.