Talking to God

For July 11, 2010

All Scriptures are from The Message Version

It is helpful to use this blog as a discussion starter for two or more people but it will also stimulate some thoughts if used by one reader. The material is used by a Sunday Study Group at Hamilton Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri. Commentaries for Psalm 25 can be found on Textweek.com through this link http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm25.htm

There are many different kinds of prayer with intercessory, prays for others, being most common. Today we look at prayer for ourselves, between us and God. Many times we do not think about praying for or about ourselves but it is an important part of our relations with and connection to God. The form this part of our prayer life takes can be shaped by our image of ourselves and our picture or image of God. Below are two psalms from today’s lectionary and a prayer by a Franciscan monk that we will explore for insights and inspiration.

• How do you picture God in prayer about prayer time? Do you think that this image affects the way in which you pray and your choice of words? Is having a mental picture of God important to us for a meaningful prayer life?
• Are your prayers made directly to God or are the Spirit and Jesus part of your approach to prayer? Why have you chosen to pray in this way?

Psalm 141:1-2 God, come close. Come quickly! Open your ears—it's my voice you're hearing! Treat my prayer as sweet incense rising; my raised hands are my evening prayers.

• Where is the psalmist coming from as he makes this prayer? What words catch your attention, what would be your response if they were addressed to you in this way?
• What does it tell us about the person and his picture of who God is and what he assumes the nature of the relationship between them is?
• What do you relate to in his method of addressing God; does anything make you uncomfortable? Are the words and form of prayer important – if so how?

Psalm 25:1-2 My head is high, God, held high; I'm looking to you, God; No hangdog skulking for me.
3 I've thrown in my lot with you; You won't embarrass me, will you? Or let my enemies get the best of me? Don't embarrass any of us Who went out on a limb for you. It's the traitors who should be humiliated.
4 Show me how you work, God; School me in your ways.
5 Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth. You are my Savior, aren't you?
6 Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God; Rebuild the ancient landmarks!
7 Forget that I sowed wild oats; Mark me with your sign of love. Plan only the best for me, God!
8 God is fair and just; He corrects the misdirected, Sends them in the right direction.
9 He gives the rejects his hand, And leads them step-by-step.
10 From now on every road you travel Will take you to God. Follow the Covenant signs; Read the charted directions.
11 Keep up your reputation, God; Forgive my bad life; It's been a very bad life.

• What do verses 1-3 tell us about the picture the psalmist has of himself and God? What do you think he is assuming as he speaks these words? Would you be comfortable speaking words like this?
• What does he ask for in verses 4-6? What do the words, “You are my Savior, aren’t You” say about him? Would you ever take this kind of attitude in your prayer life?
• Do you like the bluntness of verses 7 & 11? What is he assuming about the impact of bad behavior on his relationship with God? How does he handle it in his prayer/psalm? What is your feeling about your actions and the impact it has on your relationship with God?
• Does he ask for forgiveness of specific acts? Do you think that it is important to ask for forgiveness of specific acts? Why?
• What do verses 8-10 tell us about his picture of God? Is it reflected in the way in which he addresses God and the words he uses in his prayer? Write down some feelings you have about the nature of God and reflect on how it impacts your prayer life – the frequency, what you do and do not pray about, what you expect to happen or not happen as a result of a prayer time?

Reflect on this prayer by a Franciscan Monk

Lord, I want to love you, yet I’m not sure.

I want to trust you, yet I’m afraid of being taken in.

I know I need you, yet I’m ashamed of the need.

I want to pray, yet I’m afraid of being a hypocrite.

I need my independence, yet I fear to be alone.

I want to belong, yet I must be myself.

Take me, Lord, yet leave me alone.

Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief.

O Lord, if you are there, you do understand, don’t you?

Give me what I need but leave me free to choose.

Help me work it out my own way, but don’t let me go.

Let me understand myself, but don’t let me despair.

Come unto me, O Lord - I want you there.

Lighten my darkness - but don’t dazzle me.

Help me to see what I need to do and give me strength to do it.

O Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief.

Bernard SSF

• What is your reaction to this prayer? How would you characterize what he is doing; what is he praying for? Can you relate to anything in these words? Are there any which you feel are inappropriate?
• How would you describe his picture of his faith life? How must he perceive God in order for him to verbalize these thoughts? What are some things that prevent us from being honest and straightforward with God?
• The prayer seems to indicate that he wants his relationship with God to be on his terms. Is it about that or something else? Is an underlying desire to establish a relationship with God while we retain some control an unusual human impulse? What are some negatives that this might bring to a meaningful prayer life?

Your Prayer

Reflect on your responses to the questions and compose a prayer about yourself and what you would like from God.

Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9, Romans 4:13-25, Psalm 22:23-31, Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

Please comment by clicking on the word comments in the sentence “Posted by John at XXXX “ at the bottom of the page



Don't Be So Sure of Yourself

For February 19, 2012

All Scriptures are from The Message Version

It is helpful to use this blog as a discussion starter for two or more people (if alone there is always Skype, instant messaging, etc.) but it will also stimulate some thoughts if used by one reader. The material is used by a Sunday Study Group at Hamilton Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri. Commentaries for these scriptures can be found on Textweek.com through this link  http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/mark2a.htm

Today we look at Jesus taking on conventional wisdom, easy judgments of others and the sense of false superiority we might have about ourselves as we compare ourselves to the ‘other’.  In the gospel Lectionary scripture Mark gives us another healing story with a different teaching objective:

Mark 2:1-5 After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that he was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When they weren't able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, "Son, I forgive your sins."

6-7 Some religion scholars sitting there started whispering among themselves, "He can't talk that way! That's blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins."
8-12 Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, "Why are you so skeptical? Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, 'I forgive your sins,' or say, 'Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking'? Well, just so it's clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both . . ." (he looked now at the paraplegic), "Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home." And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then praised God, saying, "We've never seen anything like this!"

First let’s look at the paraplegic and his friends

• Here we have the crowds again, the curious, those who want to learn, those who might be suspicious of this Jesus person. What does the crowd of people pressing in around Jesus tell us about his ministry? What was he doing when the paraplegic was brought to the home?
• What would it take to motivate you to fight crowds, confusion and claustrophobia to see for yourself, to be a part of an event? Are there any contemporary persons or groups that have this kind of attraction for you? What are some of the characteristics of a setting, an individual, theology, etc. that would strongly draw you to a “teaching of the Word”?
• Have you ever made an extraordinary effort to help someone in need try to improve their situation? What motivated you? Did you have any help? Would it make a difference in your response if it were family, a friend or someone who was a stranger?
• Have you ever had someone go the extra mile for you? How do you feel as you look back on it? Was your life changed?

Now let’s look at Jesus’ response and the lessons the writer of Mark’s Gospel might have intended by including this story:

• Imagine the scene, people climbing on the roof, breaking in, lowering the paraplegic, dust, dirt, confusion, Jesus turning from teaching to this spectacle. What is his reaction to being interrupted? How do you feel about interruptions in your routine or concentration on a task by someone with a different priority? What place does flexibility and sensitivity to situations have in our faith life? See the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37)
• What did Jesus diagnose as the paraplegic’s most pressing affliction? How would you feel if you were the man, had gone through all of this hoping for healing and got, “I forgive your sins”? Now there was a strong sense at the time, and even to some extent today, that and other difficulties are visited upon us because of some sinful act or acts we have committed so this might be an interpretation, but still how would you feel either in his place or if you were one of the stretcher bearers.
• Ah the voices of religious orthodoxy speak, “blasphemy”! First what does it say that “religious scholars” were present? What might have drawn them? Who might be some contemporary academic, denominational, or congregational positions which might be filled by those considered “religious scholars”? Does this story suggest we should have some reservations about what we hear from them?
• Can our religious heritage, training, and theology prevent us from seeing God’s presence in our day to day lives? Paul expressed it this way in Romans 2 (fill in the blank with your religious or cultural preference):


If you're brought up _____, don't assume that you can lean back in the arms of your religion and take it easy, feeling smug because you're an insider to God's revelation, a connoisseur of the best things of God, informed on the latest doctrines! I have a special word of caution for you who are sure that you have it all together yourselves and, because you know God's revealed Word inside and out, feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God. While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you?

• What response do you have to Paul’s words? What should we beware of as people of faith? Can we in any way claim we know what God’s thinks or how God interprets the actions of others? What do we need to be sure is going on in our faith lives to keep us out of this trap?
• What is your reaction to Jesus’ response to the “scholars”? Is it too in your face? What is the reaction of the crowd – do you think that Jesus wanted them to respond in this way? Would he have healed the man if the scholars were not there or had kept quiet?
• The man picked up his stretcher and walked away – how powerful is that imagery for you? Jesus tells us in John’s Gospel that we will do even greater things that he did (John 14:11-14), does that include physical healing? How would you react if you saw this healing occur today, what would it take for you to believe it was a true healing?
• So you have gotten this far, what is your take-away, what are your questions, what one thing have you learned? Feel free to comment at the bottom of this post.

Closing Litany

Dignify those who are down on their luck;

you'll feel good—that's what GOD does.

GOD looks after us all,

makes us robust with life—

Lucky to be in the land,

we're free from enemy worries.

Whenever we're sick and in bed,

GOD becomes our nurse,

nurses us back to health.

Amen

Psalm 41

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15, Genesis 9:8-17, Psalm 25:1-10


Please comment by clicking on the word comments in the sentence “Posted by John at XXXX “ at the bottom of the page

Jesus' Dilemma

For February 12, 2012

All Scriptures are from The Message Version

It is helpful to use this blog as a discussion starter for two or more people but it will also stimulate some thoughts if used by one reader. The material is used by a Sunday Study Group at Hamilton Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri. Commentaries for these scriptures can be found on Textweek.com through this link http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/mark1g.htm

This story come from early in Jesus’ ministry as he travels through Galilee, begins to establish the nature of his work and immediately finds that people are most responsive to his ability to heal their broken bodies:

Mark 1: 32-34 That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to him, the whole city lined up at his door! He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew his true identity, he didn't let them say a word.
35-37 While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with him went looking for him. They found him and said, "Everybody's looking for you."
38-39Jesus said, "Let's go to the rest of the villages so I can preach there also. This is why I've come." He went to their meeting places all through Galilee, preaching and throwing out the demons.

• Can you imagine the scene as all of the sick and afflicted were brought to Jesus? What would the sights, sounds and odors have been? What would the behavior of the people have been as they sought Jesus’ presence? How long must it have gone on? Do you think that he was able to heal everyone?
• Are you or have you dealt with a serious physical or mental problem or have you been around someone who has? How strong was the desire for a cure and what amount of effort went into finding one? Would travel, discomfort, long waits, scrambling for attention from the cure have been a problem?
• Do you believe that we can be physically and mentally healed through our relationship with God? How does one go about being healed and are there limitations and conditions associated with the degree of healing that takes place? What priority does this approach to healing have for you?
• We see here one of the many cautions Mark’s Gospel records that Jesus gave to those he healed to keep quiet about his true identity. This has been a subject of conjecture down through the ages but what might be some reasons that Jesus would want to hide his identity at this point?
• What do verses 35-37 establish as of the bedrocks of Jesus’ ministry? If Jesus is God incarnate, the son of God, why does he need to pray? What do you think that he prayed about that night? What does this tell us about the importance of prayer on our faith journey?
• When and how does he pray? What conditions are most meaningful for your prayer time?
• What do verses 38-39 tell us are the reasons Jesus came among us? What role does healing play in his ability to be effective in his preaching? What is the dilemma that it brings?

Mark's Gospel continues with another healing story:

40 A leper came to him, begging on his knees, "If you want to, you can cleanse me."
41-45 Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, "I want to. Be clean." Then and there the leprosy was gone, his skin smooth and healthy. Jesus dismissed him with strict orders: "Say nothing to anyone. Take the offering for cleansing that Moses prescribed and present yourself to the priest. This will validate your healing to the people." But as soon as the man was out of earshot, he told everyone he met what had happened, spreading the news all over town. So Jesus kept to out-of-the-way places, no longer able to move freely in and out of the city. But people found him, and came from all over.


• How do you visualize the appearance, voice, and attitude of the leper as he approaches Jesus? What do his words to Jesus tell us about him, what is the only reason he would not be healed? How would you address Jesus if you were seeking healing?
• What do you learn about Jesus from his interaction with the leper? How does he respond to the lepers, “If you want to…”? Might Jesus have ignored him or told him, “I do not want to”?
• One of the biggest questions people of faith have concerns prayer and certainly the leper’s words to Jesus were a form of prayer. How have you come to deal with what seems to be unanswered prayer during your faith journey? Have you formed any thoughts on why some seem to be healed and others not? Is it because God picks and chooses or is something else going on? Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13 – is this what it comes to?

12We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

• Jesus tells the man to use the cleansing process for those cured of leprosy as dictated by the Jewish law (Leviticus 13) so that the source of his healing is hidden. But what does the man do? Is this surprising? Don’t you think that the others who had been healed also excitedly pointed toward Jesus? And what happens here?
• What do you think that people are missing if they focus so much on his acts of physical healing? What do they need to hear from him that might be more important? Are there some really big things that form a basis for the totality of your faith life?
• What is your take away from this scripture? What have you learned about Jesus and yourself? Might our closing litany be the feelings we should have about the blessings of our faith life?

Closing Litany

God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together.

God, you pulled me out of the grave,

gave me another chance at life

when I was down-and-out.

I can'tkeep quiet about you.

God, my God,

I can't thank you enough.

Amen

From Psalm 30

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Isaiah 43:18-25, Psalm 41, 2 Corinthians 1:18-22, Mark 2:1-12

Please comment by clicking on the word comments in the sentence “Posted by John at XXXX “ at the bottom of the page

Paul's Motivation

For February 5, 2012

All Scriptures are from The Message Version
It is helpful to use this blog as a discussion starter for two or more people but it will also stimulate some thoughts if used by one reader. The material is used by a Sunday Study Group at Hamilton Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri. Commentaries for these scriptures can be found on Textweek.com through this link
http://www.textweek.com/pauline/1cor9a.htm

Paul spent most of his ministry in some sort of conflict. He raised the ire of both Jews and pagans as he preached the gospel message, argued with other Christians about the Jewish dietary laws and the need to be circumcised, and suffered personal criticism from members of the congregations he help found. In this section of the letter he is dealing with discord among members of the Corinthian Church, urging them to avoid practices, in this case dietary, which might offend others. He uses his own example of not accepting financial support from the congregation for his work even though he strongly supports the obligation they have to do it for others:
1 Corinthians 9:16- 18 If I proclaim the Message, it's not to get something out of it for myself. I'm compelled to do it, and doomed if I don't! If this was my own idea of just another way to make a living, I'd expect some pay. But since it's not my idea but something solemnly entrusted to me, why would I expect to get paid? So am I getting anything out of it? Yes, as a matter of fact: the pleasure of proclaiming the Message at no cost to you. You don't even have to pay my expenses!

• Here Paul speaks about his motivation for proclaiming the gospel. What words stand out for you and what are the feelings and emotions behind his ministry? He is even more blunt in 1 Corinthians 9:1-2:

Haven't I been given a job to do? Wasn't I commissioned to this work in a face-to-face meeting with Jesus, our Master? Aren't you yourselves proof of the good work that I've done for the Master? Even if no one else admits the authority of my commission, you can't deny it. Why, my work with you is living proof of my authority!

• Where is Paul coming from in this argument? What is the essence of his view of the work he is doing in bringing the gospel message to Corinth? How do you picture Paul as he dictates these words to his secretary – demeanor, attitude, voice? Do you see the powerful feelings that are behind his long and demanding journeys to spread The Message?
• Do you react to his assertions? Would you have liked to be around him for any period of time?
• Do you feel all Christians have an obligation to share the gospel message with others? Paul felt personally called to do it, should we? What do you understand to be the gospel message we are to share? Have you ever done it? If so how did it work out?
• What do you think that people really might want to hear from us about our faith life? Will they necessarily immediately relate to the Good News or is hearing about other aspects of our faith journey a better path for building understanding among non-believers?
• We have all had the gospel message shared by someone with us, apparently effectively. What made the Christian faith something you wanted to commit to? Have there been persons who shared the message with you that you that was offensive or in some way made you uneasy? Is it bad to be made uneasy?
• What would have happened if you had not had the message shared with you? Would your life have been different? How so?

Paul continues with some comments about of his approach to sharing The Message:

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

• What is Paul’s strategy to effectively share the gospel message? What does he really mean by this description of his approach to others? Does it involve any compromises? If so do you think that ends justify the means?
• Do you think that this is good advice for us as individuals? What are some of the plusses and minuses of taking this kind of approach? Did Jesus take this approach through the sometimes questionable (in the minds of his contemporaries) character of the company he chose to keep? Can you think of any examples of people who have chosen to minister to those who might be looked down upon?
• What is your response to the word evangelism? Does it have a positive or negative connotation to you? What is behind the feelings you have about this word? What has motivated you to share your faith in the past? What inhibits you?
• Where did the power behind Paul’s work come from? Do you think that that power and a similar call to share our faith comes to us from the same place?

Closing Prayer

Holy one, who makes all things possible, empower us so that we are truly feel free to share the story of our faith with those who need to hear it. Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Mark 1:40-45, 2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Please comment by clicking on the word comments in the sentence “Posted by John at XXXX “ at the bottom of the page