From just hearing to sharing in the joy

For April 15, 2012


All scriptures are from The Message Version
This post is intended to help the reader personalize the words and thoughts in the scriptures. It works well if shared between two or more people as a conversation but there is much to be gained by just considering the questions for yourself. Commentaries for the lectionary scripture can be found on Textweek through this link
http://www.textweek.com/epistlesrevelation/1john3a.htm
This week the Lectionary scripture is from 1 John and begins with words which would come from an actual witness to Jesus’ ministry, crucifixion and the resurrected Christ. This begins a teaching about living the life as Jesus’ followers when we did not share that life changing time with him. The related Lectionary gospel scripture for today is John 20:19-31 which tells us about Thomas and his doubts about the risen Christ which has some similar themes.

1 John 1:1-2 From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we're telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.
3-4We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!

• What does the writer tell us he experienced? How did it impact him? How would it have impacted you if you were there and saw with your own eyes?
• Does this testimony carry any weight with you? Why or why not?
• Has your faith journey been affected by the personal faith stories of others? Are there any which are memorable? Have you ever encourage anyone with your own experiences about the impact of your faith on your life?
• Do those who are committed to a faith journey have an obligation to encourage others with their faith stories? Why or why not?
• What does the writer want us to share with him? What does “communion with the father and his son” mean to you?
• What is his motive for writing? Has your faith life brought you times of joy? What were the circumstances?

The writer tells us how we can experience what he did:

5This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there's not a trace of darkness in him.
6-7If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we're obviously lying through our teeth—we're not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin.
8-10If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we've never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.

• What is the essence of his message? What do his words about God being pure light mean to you? What might be the traces of darkness he assures us are not in God?
• He tells us not to stumble around in the dark, what does that mean to you? Where do we find the light for our faith journey? What brings you insight to your faith life and helps you maintain balance?
 Practically how do we “experience a shared life with one another”? What can we share? Can there be instances when it is hard to share – why? What is the example he gives us of Jesus’ sharing his life? What does this tell us about the limitations we consciously and unconsciously place on our willingness to share with others?
• Is it always easy to confess our shortcomings to ourselves? How do we shield ourselves from admitting them? How does hearing or reading the word sin affect you? How do you fell about the degree of honesty you have in acknowledging your shortcomings?
• What is the reward for being honest with God about ourselves? Who are we kidding if we are not? Who suffers the consequences? Has the willingness to face personal shortcomings been a positive for you in your life? What have some benefits been? Have some been very painful? Have you sensed forgiveness when prayerfully sharing them with God?

We get this scripture’s final assurance from the writer:

1 John 2:1-2 I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world's.

• What are the chances we will steer clear of sin throughout our lives? What is our assurance? How was the “sin problem” solved?
• What does this say about the understanding we should have about our relationship with God? How should we visualize the God with whom we are urged to be honest about and request forgiveness from for our sins? Does God want to hear and forgive?
• What is one thing that you will take away from the scripture and you meditation today? Are you going to find an opportunity to share it with someone else? The writer did.

Closing Prayer

Loving God, I offer what I am to what you are. I stretch up to you in desire, my attention on you alone. I cannot grasp you, explain you, describe you, only cast myself into the depths of your mystery. Let your love pierce the cloud of my unknowing that I might walk in the light. Amen

Adapted from George Appleton – Oxford Book of Prayer

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Acts 3:12-19, Psalm 4, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48



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