For 3/10/2013
Lent is traditionally a season of reflection and prayer with a good dose of that classic Christian imperative - repentance. But what is repentance all about? Really with all of my other stuff, why repentance? We will explore that today and begin with the Prodigal Son, a story about lots of things but with a big dose of repentance. We will not deal with the whole story but instead focus on the son's return:
Luke 15: 12-16 “So the father divided the property between them. It wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.
17-20 “That brought him to his senses. He said, ‘All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I’m going back to my father. I’ll say to him, Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.’ He got right up and went home to his father.
20-21 “When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.’
22-24 “But the father wasn’t listening. He was calling to the servants, ‘Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have a wonderful time. The Message Version
· What is your picture of the son, his age (he is the second son), appearance, reliability, and intelligence?
· So let's get to the obvious, what is your assessment of the son's behavior after he got his inheritance. Know anyone like him, ever acted like him in a small or big way? Ever gotten something (like a tax return) and spent it on something frivolous? Ever made a bet on an investment, too good to be true and it was too good to be true?
· Look at his repentance; what brought it about, what were the elements of repentance (just words?), was he sincere, do you think he was really changed?
· Have you ever vowed to make a change in your life (be honest)? What contributed to a successful change? What contributed to an unsuccessful effort? Did your spiritual life influence your desire to change and what role did it play in helping you successfully change?
· Any backsliding? What then? Again what role did your spiritual life play as you struggled? Paul writes in Romans 7 the following:
21-23 It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. The Message Version
What is Paul saying to us about the reality of the human condition and what does it say about our need to repent?
· Look at the father and the son; who were the son's words of repentance important to? Did the father care about them? Why was it important for the son to verbalize his repentance; what was gained? What was really important to the father? Does it say anything to you about the impact of our repentance on others, what about our spiritual relationship with God?
Look at Psalm 32 below for more thoughts on repentance.
Psalm 32
Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be—
you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean.
2 Count yourself lucky—
God holds nothing against you and you’re holding nothing back from him.
3 When I kept it all inside,
my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans.
4 The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up.
5 Then I let it all out; I said, “I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to God.”
Suddenly the pressure was gone— my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared.
6 These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray;
when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts we’ll be on high ground, untouched.
7 God’s my island hideaway,
keeps danger far from the shore, throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.
8 Let me give you some good advice;
I’m looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight:
9 “Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule that needs bit and bridle to stay on track.”
10 God-defiers are always in trouble;
God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around.
11 Celebrate God.
Sing together—everyone! All you honest hearts, raise the roof!
Psalm 32
Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be—
you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean.
2 Count yourself lucky—
God holds nothing against you and you’re holding nothing back from him.
3 When I kept it all inside,
my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans.
4 The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up.
5 Then I let it all out; I said, “I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to God.”
Suddenly the pressure was gone— my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared.
6 These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray;
when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts we’ll be on high ground, untouched.
7 God’s my island hideaway,
keeps danger far from the shore, throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.
8 Let me give you some good advice;
I’m looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight:
9 “Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule that needs bit and bridle to stay on track.”
10 God-defiers are always in trouble;
God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around.
11 Celebrate God.
Sing together—everyone! All you honest hearts, raise the roof!
The Message Version
· What words of wisdom do you see in verses 1&2? What is the key to a real relationship with God? Do we kid ourselves when we think that we can hide things from God?
· Verse 2 speaks of not holding things back. What words does he use to describe our condition when we are suffering because of shortcomings and disappointments in our lives? Have you ever experienced or seen this happen in someone's life? What happens to those around us when we behave in this way? What destructive behaviors can flow from these pressures and regrets?
· What words of wisdom do we get in verse 5, what did the writer go through? When have you experienced true forgiveness and what made it memorable?
· Can we experience some of the same emotions when we are in the position of needing to forgive others? What does this say about the father's behavior toward the prodigal son - was it an important act of forgiveness?
· What do verses 6&7 speak to; what is at the core of these words of wisdom? In this life of ups and downs how important is a vibrant prayer life and sense of God's presence in our lives?
· Verses 8-10 speaks among other things to the benefits of repentance - what words strike you about being real with God? Repentance can be associated with sackcloth and ashes, sorrow and depression, what do these two scriptures give us as both alternative pictures and encouragement? Do you feel better about including repentance in your faith life? Lent is a good time to work on it.
Loving God, we are still bound, old habits the we cannot throw off, old customs that are so much a part of our lives that we are helpless to live the new life that You call us to live. Give us strength to break the bonds and the faith to believe that with Your help we cannot fail. Amen. From a prayer from Taiwan – The Oxford Book of Prayer
Next Week's Lectionary Scriptures: Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126 or Psalm 119:9-16, Philippians 3:4b-14, John 12:1-8
0 comments:
Post a Comment