Holy cow (or bear): it's the Sacred Sweater!

Knitting 103 - Teddy Bear Sweater

Contributed by: Trinity Lutheran Church, Eau Claire, WI

Knitting 103 "Teddy Bear Sweater" The purpose of Knitting 103 “Teddy Bear Sweater” is to educate the class about all the steps required in knitting a sweater. The pattern was designed to include all the parts of a regular s ized cardigan, including a small increase pattern on the sleeves, a ribbed crew collar and button plackets. They will learn the importance of determining gauge and blocking. The goal is to encourage the class: if you can knit this teddy bear sweater, then you can knit a person sized sweater, too! It is a four week class. The sweater is small enough that they should easily be able to finish the work from week to week Teddy Bear Sweater, Week One Before people have arrived to this class, they should have determined what size needles they need to achieve the correct gauge. Talk to them about gauge. Gauge doesn’t matter so much  if you’re knitting a dishrag or a scarf or even an afghan. But if you’re making something which needs to be a certain size, like a garment or a pillow cover, then you need to make sure that your gauge in knitting will achieve the proper dimensions. After you’ve explained all that, then it’s time to get started! Hand out the pattern for week one, and get them started. The Bible Study is centered on the topic of measuring gauge, Romans 3:19–26. I. Introduction Questions: •What’s the purpose of a ruler? •Is an inch the same on one ruler as it is on another ruler, or are there different standards for the length of an inch? In religion, what would be our “ruler”? What do we measure ourselves against? (The Law, or the 10 Commandments) We measure our lives against the standard of God’s Law. But a funny thing happens once we start to measure our gauge. Have someone read Romans 3:19–20 II. The Law’s Gauge Question: What is Paul saying here about when we try to make the gauge” against the Law’s standard? (Nobody will measure up.) Paul is saying that we can never make the gauge of God’s law. There are things you can do in knitting to manipulate the outcome of your product. Question: What are some things you can do? (Use a different size of needles; knit more tightly or loosely; use another yarn) But Paul is saying that there’s nothing we can do in our lives to manipulate our  gauge to fit God’s standard! We will not measure up! Let’s suppose: You knit a sweater, but you never check your gauge. And you have a great time knitting it up. But when you get finished, your sweater will be too large or to small. The same think applies with our lives. You may go through life never comparing yourself against God’s “gauge.” And you might be as happy as a lark. But your gauge will still be off! Being ignorant of the truth doesn’t make our true reality go away. In fact....look at verse 20..... it’s precisely in measuring our gauge that we become conscious of our shortcoming. The gauge standard is what points out to us the truth about ourselves, that we can never meet the gauge. III. Another Gauge Sounds like bad news, huh? But it isn’t! Let’s read on. Have someone read Rom. 3:21–26. Verse 21—A righteousness from God apart from the Law. Aha! There is a new standard! Question: And what is this new standard of righteousness? (Jesus) Jesus has measured up to the gauge of righteousness. And the good news is that we’re not measured against our gauge. We’re measured against his. Vss. 23–24—Question: Does anyone make the gauge on their own? No! The product of our own doings will always fall short. All fall short, and all “make the gauge” in the same way: through the product of Jesus’ doings. This is the good news: We don’t make the grade. Jesus makes it. He has “made the gauge” and in him we meet the standard. Teddy Bear Sweater, Week One Romans 3:19-26 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law,  so that every mouth may be s ilenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For “no human being will be justified in his sight” by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and t he prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; 26 it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.