Thoughts on...
May 10: 5th Sunday of Easter
New Testament Lesson: Acts 8:26-40
Our Lesson this week is a message for those who...
believe they are not good enough
have done too many wrongs
ask the question, how can anyone love me?
experience humiliation and who have been ostracized by society.
The Ethiopian Eunuch was beautiful, rich and powerful yet in the eyes of the Jewish tradition he was an outcast and was forbidden to even enter the temple. No one was allowed to talk with him, or have a meal with him, or even touch him.
He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, he knew there was something there that he wanted and yet he did not find the very thing in which he sought. Only in the desert did he find Philip, a deacon walking along the road, who the Spirit of God had placed there for just such a time as the Eunuch's passing.
So it was in this right place, at the right time, reading the right scripture that the Holy Spirit changed the Eunuch's life. All the shame, humiliation, desperation, and rejection was erased and he felt the acceptance of Christ through the words and actions of Philip as he explained the Isaiah passage, (the suffering servant text) to him.
Thank God for Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Thoughts on...
April 26: Third Sunday of Easter
New Testament Lesson: Acts 3:(1-11), 12-19, (20-21)
Are you looking for a miracle? Who isn't? Miracles remind us of God's presence in the world. They assure us that we are not on our own but there is a God who is bigger and stronger than any of us.
The early church must have felt powerless. Jesus had been crucified and they were powerless to stand up to the Roman government because of their fear. Following the resurrection, the apostles were charged to go out into all the world sharing the message of Christ but how could they present the power of the risen Lord without the risen Lord physically present?
In Acts 3, the Apostles are given the power to perform a miracle and the crowd gathers around them in curiousity, fear and amazement. And here opens up a teaching moment. This miracle is followed by a sermon explaining the basis of the miracle itself.
In the crowd's ignorance, they misunderstand the miracle. The miracle is not that the lame man was healed, although it is an amazing event in his personal life, the miracle is that God's power is still at work in a world that sought to kill it. This miracle reveals the power of God and our need for repentence as we doubt and even ignore the power of God in our life everyday.
We look for visual miracles that are easy to see and have the wow factor. Visual miracles definitely affect us. But there are quiet miracles that bring greater comfort in the midst of our everyday life, quiet revelations that offer us hope, peace and even faith. In repenting of our sins, and turning to God our sins are wiped out and remembered no more. That is the greatest miracle, that in our ignorance we are granted forgiveness and a deeper relationship with the one we often times ignore.
God is at work in this world offering us power for life, repent and believe the Good News. We are forgiven.
April 26: Third Sunday of Easter
New Testament Lesson: Acts 3:(1-11), 12-19, (20-21)
Are you looking for a miracle? Who isn't? Miracles remind us of God's presence in the world. They assure us that we are not on our own but there is a God who is bigger and stronger than any of us.
The early church must have felt powerless. Jesus had been crucified and they were powerless to stand up to the Roman government because of their fear. Following the resurrection, the apostles were charged to go out into all the world sharing the message of Christ but how could they present the power of the risen Lord without the risen Lord physically present?
In Acts 3, the Apostles are given the power to perform a miracle and the crowd gathers around them in curiousity, fear and amazement. And here opens up a teaching moment. This miracle is followed by a sermon explaining the basis of the miracle itself.
In the crowd's ignorance, they misunderstand the miracle. The miracle is not that the lame man was healed, although it is an amazing event in his personal life, the miracle is that God's power is still at work in a world that sought to kill it. This miracle reveals the power of God and our need for repentence as we doubt and even ignore the power of God in our life everyday.
We look for visual miracles that are easy to see and have the wow factor. Visual miracles definitely affect us. But there are quiet miracles that bring greater comfort in the midst of our everyday life, quiet revelations that offer us hope, peace and even faith. In repenting of our sins, and turning to God our sins are wiped out and remembered no more. That is the greatest miracle, that in our ignorance we are granted forgiveness and a deeper relationship with the one we often times ignore.
God is at work in this world offering us power for life, repent and believe the Good News. We are forgiven.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Thoughts on...
April 19: 2nd Sunday of Easter
New Testament Lesson: Acts 4:32-35
Sharing is the first word that comes to mind when reading this Acts passage.
Questions for reflection:
What is easy to share? What is hard to share?
What would make you want to share?
How much should you share?
When should you share?
With whom should you share?
Think about children sharing: if you want something you cry "Share" but if you have it and someone asks you to share there are a couple of reasons for not wanting to share.
1. you are still playing with it
2. you're afraid of what someone will do to it - will they break it? will they refuse to give it back?
The early church was founded on sharing. "The whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions..." vs 32 The question begs to be asked, is this the way the church today is suppose to be? Are we to sell everything and put it into the church pot and then have the church redistribute it among the members as they have need? Many a cult has been born out of this concept. If this idea of sharing no longer works in our world today, what can we glean from this passage? What can we learn from the sharing of the early church?
Caution against consumerism?
What unites us as a congregation?
Rallying together when someone is in need - phyisically, emotionally, spiritually.
Giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
Join us Sunday at Efland Presbyterian Church to find out just what direction the sermon takes.
April 19: 2nd Sunday of Easter
New Testament Lesson: Acts 4:32-35
Sharing is the first word that comes to mind when reading this Acts passage.
Questions for reflection:
What is easy to share? What is hard to share?
What would make you want to share?
How much should you share?
When should you share?
With whom should you share?
Think about children sharing: if you want something you cry "Share" but if you have it and someone asks you to share there are a couple of reasons for not wanting to share.
1. you are still playing with it
2. you're afraid of what someone will do to it - will they break it? will they refuse to give it back?
The early church was founded on sharing. "The whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions..." vs 32 The question begs to be asked, is this the way the church today is suppose to be? Are we to sell everything and put it into the church pot and then have the church redistribute it among the members as they have need? Many a cult has been born out of this concept. If this idea of sharing no longer works in our world today, what can we glean from this passage? What can we learn from the sharing of the early church?
Caution against consumerism?
What unites us as a congregation?
Rallying together when someone is in need - phyisically, emotionally, spiritually.
Giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
Join us Sunday at Efland Presbyterian Church to find out just what direction the sermon takes.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Thoughts on...
March 22: Fourth Sunday in Lent
Gospel Lesson: John 2:13-22
I'm struck by the journey of life and its many ups and downs. Each major life event presents us with an opportunity to choose how we respond. Will we be graceful or fight it tooth and nail? John sets before us a journey that takes us either to the light or to the darkness.
"For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God." (20-21)
John is a fan of dualisms in his gospel. It's either black or white. Are you attracted to the light or to the darkness? An optimist or a pessimist? Do you seek after goodness or evil? We control how we respond to life changes. A thin thread of light can grow into a radiant beam over time as our faith grows stronger in the decisions we have made and as we put our trust in God.
March 22: Fourth Sunday in Lent
Gospel Lesson: John 2:13-22
I'm struck by the journey of life and its many ups and downs. Each major life event presents us with an opportunity to choose how we respond. Will we be graceful or fight it tooth and nail? John sets before us a journey that takes us either to the light or to the darkness.
"For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God." (20-21)
John is a fan of dualisms in his gospel. It's either black or white. Are you attracted to the light or to the darkness? An optimist or a pessimist? Do you seek after goodness or evil? We control how we respond to life changes. A thin thread of light can grow into a radiant beam over time as our faith grows stronger in the decisions we have made and as we put our trust in God.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Thoughts on...
March 15, 2009: Third Sunday in Lent
Gospel Lesson: John 2:13-22
What does it mean to be the church? Is the church defined by its building, those gathered, its worship?
Jesus was outraged by what he found at the temple as he went to celebrate Passover. People were selling animals and changing money. It was all about what was happening inside. Folks were travelling a good distance and would need an unblemished animal for sacrifice. What was going on inside was not technically out of bounds, it was all a part of the worship process.
What's wrong with the money changers and sellers setting up close to where their wares would be sacrificed? Jesus cries out, "Stop making my Father's house a marketplace." This isn't worship, this is convenience. You are too comfortable. You are going through the actions but it has lost its meaning.
Jesus shakes up the comfortable temple and leaves those gathered asking by what authority do you do this? Jesus says, "Destroy the temple and I will raise it in 3 days." Jesus has stopped talking about the physical building and is now refering to his death and resurrection that is to come.
The church is all about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is not about the comfort that you find in a particular building with familiar people surrounding you in worship. The church is to be on the move. Knocking over the tables of complacency and tearing down the walls that separate us from the community. To be the Church is to reach out with the love of Christ and minister to those around us.
March 15, 2009: Third Sunday in Lent
Gospel Lesson: John 2:13-22
What does it mean to be the church? Is the church defined by its building, those gathered, its worship?
Jesus was outraged by what he found at the temple as he went to celebrate Passover. People were selling animals and changing money. It was all about what was happening inside. Folks were travelling a good distance and would need an unblemished animal for sacrifice. What was going on inside was not technically out of bounds, it was all a part of the worship process.
What's wrong with the money changers and sellers setting up close to where their wares would be sacrificed? Jesus cries out, "Stop making my Father's house a marketplace." This isn't worship, this is convenience. You are too comfortable. You are going through the actions but it has lost its meaning.
Jesus shakes up the comfortable temple and leaves those gathered asking by what authority do you do this? Jesus says, "Destroy the temple and I will raise it in 3 days." Jesus has stopped talking about the physical building and is now refering to his death and resurrection that is to come.
The church is all about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is not about the comfort that you find in a particular building with familiar people surrounding you in worship. The church is to be on the move. Knocking over the tables of complacency and tearing down the walls that separate us from the community. To be the Church is to reach out with the love of Christ and minister to those around us.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Reflection Questions
Reflection Questions from Fredrick Buechner's book, Listening to Your Life.
When you look at your face in the mirror,
what do you see in it that you most like and
what do you see in it that you most deplore?
If you had only one last message to leave to the handful of people who are most important to you, what would it be, in twenty-five words or less?
Of all the things you have done in your life, which is the one you would most like to undo?
Which is the one that makes you happiest to remember?
Is there any person in the world, or any cause, that if circumstances called for it, you would be willing to die for?
If this were the last day of your life, what would you do with it?
When you look at your face in the mirror,
what do you see in it that you most like and
what do you see in it that you most deplore?
If you had only one last message to leave to the handful of people who are most important to you, what would it be, in twenty-five words or less?
Of all the things you have done in your life, which is the one you would most like to undo?
Which is the one that makes you happiest to remember?
Is there any person in the world, or any cause, that if circumstances called for it, you would be willing to die for?
If this were the last day of your life, what would you do with it?
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Thoughts on....
March 8, 2009: Second Sunday of Lent
Gospel Lesson: Mark 8:31-38
Mark 8:31 begins "Then he began to teach them..." this is a new phase in Jesus' ministry, Jesus begins to give private instruction to the disciples and public instruction to the multitude that is gathered. In the first of three teaching moments, Jesus informs the disciples that "the Son of Man" must undergo great suffering, rejection, be killed and after three days rise again.
Peter rebukes Jesus, stop this talk about suffering, rejection and death. These are worldly experiences not something to be experienced by the Messiah. Show us the glory.
Peter did not like the way Jesus was allocating his time. The Messiah is to reign in glory not spend time suffering, being rejected and dying. Peter thought he was focusing on the divine as he tried to protect the status of the Messiah. But Jesus was showing the disciples another way.
Human thinking would have us focus on happy times, the glory-filled times when our connection with God is clear. Human thinking would have us forget about what goes into discipleship, the struggle and the denying of self. Jesus shows us that how we spend our time in the process is important. We can't jump from the baptism, to the transfiguration, and the resurrection, we can't have only the happy, glory-filled times. Jesus in the suffering, rejection and death made a more complete picture of a Messiah that comes to us in all of life, not just the good times.
March 8, 2009: Second Sunday of Lent
Gospel Lesson: Mark 8:31-38
Mark 8:31 begins "Then he began to teach them..." this is a new phase in Jesus' ministry, Jesus begins to give private instruction to the disciples and public instruction to the multitude that is gathered. In the first of three teaching moments, Jesus informs the disciples that "the Son of Man" must undergo great suffering, rejection, be killed and after three days rise again.
Peter rebukes Jesus, stop this talk about suffering, rejection and death. These are worldly experiences not something to be experienced by the Messiah. Show us the glory.
Peter did not like the way Jesus was allocating his time. The Messiah is to reign in glory not spend time suffering, being rejected and dying. Peter thought he was focusing on the divine as he tried to protect the status of the Messiah. But Jesus was showing the disciples another way.
Human thinking would have us focus on happy times, the glory-filled times when our connection with God is clear. Human thinking would have us forget about what goes into discipleship, the struggle and the denying of self. Jesus shows us that how we spend our time in the process is important. We can't jump from the baptism, to the transfiguration, and the resurrection, we can't have only the happy, glory-filled times. Jesus in the suffering, rejection and death made a more complete picture of a Messiah that comes to us in all of life, not just the good times.
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