Preparing for God's Presence

For October 2, 2011
All Scriptures are from The Message Version

The Book of Exodus is a mixture of very early oral material which has come from different Jewish traditions and joined together. Just as we have four gospels telling us in somewhat different ways about Jesus Christ so the Jews have different memories of the root of their faith. Christians recorded them in four different gospels, but in the first five books of the Old Testament the traditions are all mixed together which can result in varying repetitions of the same event.  This is true for the transmission of the 10 commandments by God to the people of Israel.  The first is recorded beginning in Exodus 19 and the second Exodus 31-34 which tells of the construction of the golden calf and smashing of the stone tablets.  We will look at the first telling today:

Exodus 19:10-13 God said to Moses, “Go to the people. For the next two days get these people ready to meet the Holy God. Have them scrub their clothes so that on the third day they'll be fully prepared, because on the third day God will come down on Mount Sinai and make his presence known to all the people. Post boundaries for the people all around, telling them, 'Warning! Don't climb the mountain. Don't even touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain dies—a certain death. And no one is to touch that person, he's to be stoned. That's right—stoned. Or shot with arrows, shot to death. Animal or man, whichever—put to death.' "A long blast from the horn will signal that it's safe to climb the mountain."

 ^14-15 Moses went down the mountain to the people and prepared them for the holy meeting. They gave their clothes a good scrubbing. Then he addressed the people: "Be ready in three days. Don't sleep with a woman."

·       God orders Moses to get the people ready to meet God – what are the specific preparations they are to make for this event?  How were they to behave and what were they to do?  What do these preparations tell us about the Israelites picture or understanding of who and what God was? 

·       What would the people know in three days, what did God promise God would do?  Is knowing God is present something that is an eternal and universal desire?  In what ways has God made God’s presence known to you – was it something you experienced, saw, or some other way?

·       What does God caution Moses to be sure to do to protect the people from God’s presence?  What is he to do to enforce these boundaries?  What does this tell us about the Israelites understanding of God, is God not to be approached, is God’s power enough to kill one who approaches too closely or something else?   Is God a constant presence or does God come and go while keeping an eye on them?   

·       How do you picture God; is it like the Israelites or in some other way?  What would your behavior be in the actual presence, the physical proximity of God?  Do you see God as being remote or in a more personal way?  John 14:23-24 records one of the last of Jesus’ teachings which speaks of God’s presence:

Because a loveless world," said Jesus, "is a sightless world. If anyone loves me, he will carefully keep my word and my Father will love him—we'll move right into the neighborhood! Not loving me means not keeping my words. The message you are hearing isn't mine. It's the message of the Father who sent me.

Read it and compare it to the picture of God in Exodus scripture.  Are there any similarities/differences and what preparation might be made for God based on the scripture from John?  What are the ramifications of having God in your neighborhood?

·       Are there any parallels in the practices of individuals and congregations at worship today which reflect a conscious or unconscious preparation for the presence of God?

Exodus 19 continues:

 ¹⁶ On the third day at daybreak, there were loud claps of thunder, flashes of lightning, a thick cloud covering the mountain, and an ear-piercing trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp shuddered in fear.

 ¹⁷ Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God. They stood at attention at the base of the mountain.

 ^18-20 Mount Sinai was all smoke because God had come down on it as fire. Smoke poured from it like smoke from a furnace. The whole mountain shuddered in huge spasms. The trumpet blasts grew louder and louder. Moses spoke and God answered in thunder. God descended to the peak of Mount Sinai. God called Moses up to the peak and Moses climbed up.

 ^21-22 God said to Moses, "Go down. Warn the people not to break through the barricades to get a look at God lest many of them die. And the priests also, warn them to prepare themselves for the holy meeting, lest God break out against them."

·       What would be the understanding of God for those who were present at Mount Sinai that day?  What would be the basis for their relationship with God, i.e., fear, love, discomfort, concern, welcoming? 

·       What is the basis for your relationship with God, where does it come from?  If you were asked to describe God what would you say?  Should any healthy relationship with God include an sense of either fear or awe?  What should we fear?  Where should the awe come from?

Exodus 20:18-20 records the Israelites reaction to this experience:

All the people, experiencing the thunder and lightning, the trumpet blast and the smoking mountain, were afraid—they pulled back and stood at a distance. They said to Moses, "You speak to us and we'll listen, but don't have God speak to us or we'll die."  Moses spoke to the people: "Don't be afraid. God has come to test you and instill a deep and reverent awe within you so that you won't sin."

·       Is the Israelites reaction surprising, what would yours have been.  What reasons does Moses give for God choosing to appear in this way?  Do you think that a dose of fear as a reason to not sin is a good thing?   

·       What is the best way to prepare ourselves for the presence of God and when should we expect God to be present with us?

Closing Litany - Reflections on God’s presence from Psalm 19

The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together.

   The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.

   The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy.

   The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes.

   God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee.

   Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Matthew 22:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23, Exodus 32:1-14

Laboring in God's Kingdom

For September 18, 2011

All Scriptures are from The Message Version

One of the consistent teachings of Jesus concerns the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven.  He uses analogies to describe something that can be very difficult to grasp as it exists both today and in the future.  Today’s scripture is one of those analogies.  But first you can read some thoughts about the Kingdom of Heaven by one writer:

The Present and Future Kingdom of God

"Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." John the Baptist and Jesus proclaimed the nearness of God’s kingdom (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Mark 1:15). A literal translation is "has come near." The long-awaited rule of God was near. This message was called the gospel, the good news. John and Jesus preached a soon-coming kingdom, something that was near in time to their audiences. The message said something about what people should do now; it had immediate relevance and urgency. It aroused interest—and jealousy. By proclaiming that changes were needed in government and in religious teachings, the message challenged the status quo.

Jesus’ announces a kingdom not of this world (John 18:36). When he talked about the "kingdom of God," he used a phrase the people knew well, but he gave it new meaning. He told Nicodemus that God’s kingdom was invisible to most people (John 3:3)—to understand it or experience it, a person must be renewed by God’s Spirit (verse 6). The kingdom of God was a spiritual kingdom, not a physical organization.

No matter how much we try to live in a way that reflects God and his kingdom, we cannot transform this world into God’s kingdom. It must come through dramatic intervention. Apocalyptic events are needed to usher in the new age. Satan must be completely restrained.  Numerous verses tell us that the kingdom of God will be a glorious future reality. We know that Christ is a King, and we yearn for the day he will exercise his power in a great and dramatic way to stop human suffering.

Excerpts from an article by Michael Morrison, 1993

http://www.wcg.org/lit/gospel/kingdom.htm

·         After thinking about it what is your picture of the God’s Kingdom?

Let’s take a look at one of Jesus’ descriptions as recorded by Matthew in Chapter 20:

¹"God's kingdom is like an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

·         What is your picture of day laborers?  What perceptions do you have about the people who gather in a designated location in hopes of finding short term work?  Who might find themselves in this job market?  Who might hire them?

·         From this first sentence what do you expect the following story to illustrate?  Who might the Estate Manager and workers represent?

² They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work. ^3-5"Later, about nine o'clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. They went.

 ^5-6"He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o'clock. At five o'clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, 'Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?'

 ⁷"They said, 'Because no one hired us.' "He told them to go to work in his vineyard.

·         What wage was offered to the first group?  What was offered to the succeeding groups?  Why do you think they accepted it?  What does it say about their condition and evaluation of the manager?

·         What role did the laborers have in their hiring?  To what did the last group attribute their lack of a job?  What must have been their reaction to his invitation?

·         What does the hiring pattern tell us about the landowner?  What seems to have motivated the addition of workers later in the day, particularly the last group?  Does it seem to have gone beyond his actual need for labor?

·         What images about day laborers are reinforced or changed by this scripture?

 ⁸"When the day's work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, 'Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.'

 ^9-12"Those hired at five o'clock came up and were each given a dollar. When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, 'These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.'

·         What is the order of payment to the laborers?  Do you think that this has any other meaning other than to be a storytelling technique?

·         How would you have reacted if you were in the ‘first group’?  Does what was done make sense, is it fair?  What do you think that Jesus might intend for us to understand from the paying of equal payment to all of the groups?

^13-15"He replied to the one speaking for the rest, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn't we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can't I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?'

·         What do you think about the landowner’s response to the grumbling laborers?  What does it tell us about living in the kingdom?

·         What do we learn about fairness in this kingdom?

·         What does it say about the reality of who is in charge of the kingdom, where do we stand and who decides how the kingdom operates?  Do you like this arrangement?  Does it matter whether you do or not?

"Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first."

·         Think of pairing (rich/poor) that describe being first and last in today’s definition of the terms?

·         Which category do you feel you fall into the most?  Evaluated from your perspective do you think that this is fair and appropriate announcement?

·         What does this admonition tell us about the way we will live in the literal kingdom of heaven?

·         What lessons should we take away from this story about just what our behavior as people of faith should be today?  Are we cast in the role of both manager (those with something to give) and worker (needing something) as we live our lives?  What does the story teach us about serving either role?

·         What might the “usual daily wage” be for those of us living in the kingdom of heaven?  What do you receive from acts you perform as a response to your faith

·         What has to change for us in order to make us better able to respond as this story seems to teach?

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Exodus 17:1-7, Exodus 17:1-7, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32

Building A Healthy Faith Life

For 9/4/2011
All scriptures are from The Message Version
Please pardon the spacing the Yahoo Blog software is not cooperating

What is really important, what are the critical elements in order for us to maintain a healthy faith life? Our psalm today speaks to just what it is all about, the essence of a healthy faith life as we travel along on our faith journey. See what the writer gives to us:

Psalm 119:33-40
God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course.
Give me insight so I can do what you tell me— my whole life one long, obedient response.

Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love traveling this freeway!

Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot.

Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way.

Affirm your promises to me— promises made to all who fear you.

Deflect the harsh words of my critics— but what you say is always so good.

See how hungry I am for your counsel;

The psalmist identifies seven requests he has for God that are important for him to build a strong faith life. Psalm 119 is written as an ode to the Jewish law and these are some specifics that he wants to find from his relationship with that law and thru it his relationship with God.
· What is the first request for God and what is his goal? What are some practical ways in which you believe that God (your faith) has given you “lessons for life”? Has this been important for you and if so how?
· What is the second request and his goal? What do you think is his source for understanding “what you tell me”? Where can we go to find what we are called to be and do? Could we stand some insight?
· In the third request he sites his knowledge of the commandments – what does he want, how would you describe it? What has he discovered when he has traveled this road? I thought of this song from Godspell:

Day by day

Day by day

Oh Dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly

Love thee more dearly

Follow thee more nearly

Day by day

· What is the fourth request, how would you state it in your words? Where can we find “words of wisdom”, are all words of wisdom written down? Piling up loot is one distraction from words of wisdom, what are some others? What are some practical ways you have found help you focus on words of wisdom?
· How difficult is it for us to focus on the pilgrim way? What do we have to reject in order to make it happen? What has helped you grow in your ability to change priorities?
· What does he ask God to do about God’s promises? What might cause him to make this request? What are some real world ways that this happens for us? What promises are important to you?
· He seeks God’s help with critics, does this have any meaning for you? What can people say that might deflect us from seeking an healthy and energetic faith life? Can we be our own worse critics?

What would you include in a psalm you might write about in a psalm of requests to God that would enrich and energize your faith life?

In the second scripture Jesus speaks to the disciples about his reasons for using parables and stories in his teaching. Let's see if it has some relevance to our discussion today:

From Matthew 13: The disciples came up and asked, "Why do you tell stories?" He replied, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn't been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they're blue in the face and not get.

· What does Jesus tell them is the key to “insight into God’s Kingdom”? Why is it important?
· He speaks of the lack of receptivity by people what is he trying to do? How does telling stories or parables create receptivity? What makes you receptive – is it different things at different times?
· Have you ever helped someone else become more receptive to hearing the Gospel message? What is the most important thing that others can hear from us that will increase their receptivity? What made you receptive to the Gospel message?
· What have you learned today? What might you remember this week?

Solomon’s Prayer
With you is wisdom who is aware what is acceptable to you and in keeping with your commandments. Bid her come down, so that she may labor at my side and I may learn what is pleasing to you. She will guide me prudently in whatever I do. Amen
Condensed from Wisdom of Solomon 9:9-11

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Exodus 14:19-31 or Genesis 50:15-21, Psalm 114 or Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21 or Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35

How To Treat Others

For 9/28/2011
All scriptures are from The Message Version

Today we look at three scriptures that deal with and give guidance on living in community with one another. This is a theme that runs throughout the bible, both the formal rules of the Old Testament Law and the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. First we will look at a teaching by Jesus that sets the stage for understanding the foundation for living together as a faith community. The context is Jesus telling his followers that he is going to Jerusalem and that he would be crucified and what would be required if they were to follow him but there might be a wider application:

Matthew 16:24-26 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?

· Jesus reminds his disciples (us) that we are followers; what is the essence of that reminder? This is easy to hear in concept but how should we apply it in practical terms to our daily lives? How do we relinquish being in the driver’s seat as we face the issues and decisions of daily life?
· How do you react to his words on suffering and self-sacrifice? How is our true self revealed thru accepting these things; have you had experiences that gave you insight on your true self (for better or worse).
· Can you relate any of this to what is needed to live successfully as a faith community and also with those whom we come across each day?

Next we look at specific advice Paul gives for living faithfully with others. Read the entire scripture and then come back and reflect on each section. As you read this are you reminded of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7?

Romans 12: 9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

· What do you relate to in these verses? What is called for as the scripture begins? Can you relate this to Jesus’ many, many teachings – This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you (John 15:12)
· What is Paul’s bottom line and how much practice does it take to play second fiddle?

11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

· How do we avoid burn out? Is that a problem with our church leadership pool today? What are some ways in which we can recharge our spiritual batteries as individuals and as a faith community?
· What practical advice does he give for hard times and how might they fit into the life of your congregation today?
· Should we only help needy Christians?

14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

· Do you relate to the thought that you might have enemies in the congregation?
· How do you feel about your congregation's expression of Paul’s encouragement for relationships with one another? Can you think of specific examples?
· Have you had the experience of discovering beauty in someone you didn’t like? Was it helpful?

20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

· There are lots of stories about taking positive steps to mend a relationships between two people who did not like one another, do you have one?
· Might there be a difference in applying this to believers as opposed to non-believers? Should we be selective in with whom we seek to repair a broken relationship?

Lastly Paul speaks to the understanding and reality that we need to embrace in order to be an effective person of faith, to incorporate the good we have been discussing into our lives.

Romans 12:3 I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

· What is the key to understanding ourselves and motivating us to be proactive in living ou our faith in everyday life? Does it give you any new insight?
· What will you take away from this discussion today? What would you like to know more about?

Closing Litany
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
The Lord's Prayer - The Message Version

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Matthew 18:15-20, Romans 13:8-14, Psalm 149or Psalm 119:33-40, Exodus 12:1-14 or Ezekiel 33:7-11

Questioning Jesus

For 8/6/2011
All Scriptures are from The Message Version

Today two of Jesus' teachings which raise some interesting questions for us and teach us that we need to look closely at what he said and consider some troubling issues his words convey. Jesus has just been chastised by the Pharisees (possibly including the future Apostle Paul???) for repeated violations of the Jewish law including dietary and cleanliness laws. Jesus responds:

Matthew 15:10-11 He then called the crowd together and said, "Listen, and take this to heart. It's not what you swallow that pollutes your life, but what you vomit up."
12Later his disciples came and told him, "Did you know how upset the Pharisees were when they heard what you said?"
13-14Jesus shrugged it off. "Every tree that wasn't planted by my Father in heaven will be pulled up by its roots. Forget them. They are blind men leading blind men. When a blind man leads a blind man, they both end up in the ditch."
15Peter said, "I don't get it. Put it in plain language."
16-20Jesus replied, "You, too? Are you being willfully stupid? Don't you know that anything that is swallowed works its way through the intestines and is finally defecated? But what comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart. It's from the heart that we vomit up evil arguments, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, and cussing. That's what pollutes. Eating or not eating certain foods, washing or not washing your hands—that's neither here nor there."

· What is your picture of Jesus as he responds to the Pharisee’s questions – his emotion, his tone, his body language? Have you ever reacted, even internally, to someone who was correcting you based on their understanding of correct thinking or behavior?
· Consider the Pharisees – they believed that a specific standard of behavior and choices were needed in order to be right with God. Is it a problem that they express their feelings and reactions to practices which seems to violate these beliefs?
· Do contemporary Christians display the same behavior – do they all come from the same place theologically - when is it appropriate to voice our opinions? Do we know the mind of God or are we drawing conclusions based on our interpretations. What does this say about what it is appropriate for us to be vocal about when taking our faith public?
· What is Jesus’ problem with the Pharisees? What does he foresee will happen to them? Does it seem fair that they should be condemned because of the way in which they understood God should be worshipped?
· What does his caution about blind guides say to us about the people we should believe are credible in spiritual matters? Is a blind guide necessarily only a person or are there other kinds of blind guides? How do we choose? In the end who is responsible for the content of our spiritual lives?
· In this paraphrase Jesus makes some indelicate allusions in making his point about what emanates from us. What is his point?
· In dismissing what we swallow as irrelevant Jesus seems to be referring to dietary and hand washing laws. But does this extend to other outside influences. Can we be influenced by our culture with inappropriate attitudes and beliefs? What are some ways that we can bring balance to those things we “swallow”, what can we turn to that we can have confidence is nurturing our hearts?
· Do you think that there are elements of our religious practices that might fall into Jesus’ evaluation “that's neither here nor there" or does observing custom and tradition have spiritual value for us? What do we need to careful about in observing them to keep them from being subject to the same criticism Jesus made of the Pharisees?

The second scripture raises even more troubling questions as he encounters a woman after a time of intense teaching and healing:

Matthew 15:21-22 From there Jesus took a trip to Tyre and Sidon. They had hardly arrived when a Canaanite woman came down from the hills and pleaded, "Mercy, Master, Son of David! My daughter is cruelly afflicted by an evil spirit."
23Jesus ignored her. The disciples came and complained, "Now she's bothering us. Would you please take care of her? She's driving us crazy."
24Jesus refused, telling them, "I've got my hands full dealing with the lost sheep of Israel."
25Then the woman came back to Jesus, went to her knees, and begged. "Master, help me."
26He said, "It's not right to take bread out of children's mouths and throw it to dogs."
27She was quick: "You're right, Master, but beggar dogs do get scraps from the master's table."
28Jesus gave in. "Oh, woman, your faith is something else. What you want is what you get!" Right then her daughter became well.

· What is your reaction to this story, what do you like and dislike about it?
· Being both gentile and a woman would make it inappropriate for Jesus to speak or deal with her according to Jewish religious practices. Does this seem to fly in the face of the criticism that he just made of the Pharisees? What are some possible reasons he might have fallen back so seemingly easily into this practice?
· Do you think that this story might point to the human component of Jesus’ complex presence on earth? Can you think of any other examples of human reactions or actions? Jesus agonizing prayer at Gethsemane seems to be one (Matthew 26:36-46).
· Across the Christian spectrum there are categories of people who for religious and real or perceived moral issues are condemned and given a status that Jesus gave to the woman. What does this story tell us about dealing with those we consider outsiders?
· What is the key to the woman being heard, what tactic did she use? Do you think that there is any parallel for us in approaching God with our problems?
· Jesus responded to the woman because of what he perceived to be her faith. What did she have faith in? Does it say she declared herself to be a faithful follower of Jesus or of God? What is your minimum requirement for someone to be understood as being faithful?
· What do you take away today as things you learned from these two stories? Do you leave with more questions than answers? If we look closely that is one of the purposes of scriptures - invitingt us to explore them in depth and try to apply them to our life today.

Closing Litany (from Psalm 67)
God, mark us with grace and blessing! Smile!
The whole country will see how you work, all the godless nations see how you save. Let all far-flung people become happy and shout their happiness because
You judge them fair and square, you tend the far-flung peoples.
God! Let people thank and enjoy you. Let all people thank and enjoy you.
Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Matthew 16:13-20, Romans 12:1-8, Psalm 124 or Psalm 138, Exodus 1:8 - 2:10 or Isaiah 51:1-6