Wind and Fire

For June 27, 2012


All scriptures are from The Message Version

Pentecost, the fiftieth day after Passover, was one of three pilgrimage feast to which all Jews able to do so were to worship at the temple. It celebrates the harvest and giving of first fruits to God. During Jesus’ time some associated it with the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, the birth of Judaism.

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 Textweek.com

For Christians Pentecost was a time when God’s Spirit descended upon the disciples just as it did at the time of Jesus’ baptism:

Luke 2: 21-22 After all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized. As he was praying, the sky opened up and the Holy Spirit, like a dove descending, came down on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life."

As we contemplate the scripture for today a question for all of us is when did the Spirit become a part of our lives? Was it sudden as in this story? What difference has it made?  Let’s look at the disciples story:

Acts 2:1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
5-11There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. They couldn't for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, "Aren't these all Galileans? How come we're hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?
Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;
Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;
Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes;
Even Cretans and Arabs!
"They're speaking our languages, describing God's mighty works!"
12Their heads were spinning; they couldn't make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: "What's going on here?"
13Others joked, "They're drunk on cheap wine."

• What catches your attention in the first four verses? What words are important? What do you imagine the disciples felt as they began to speak in “different languages.”

• How do you imagine the scene as the disciples began to speak? What was their tone of voice? Was any of the communication one on one? The reaction of some was that the disciples were drunk, what does that tell us about the event?

• Have you ever found yourself, as part of a Christian group, being caught up in an something unexpected? Was there a sense of the presence of the Spirit in the doing of it? Did your experience have any of the elements of this story?

• Can concern about the reaction of others a constraint to seeking or acting on the Spirit’s leading? How does this play out in our lives or the actions of a faith community?

• What were the disciples speaking about? What is the reaction of some to the description of God’s mighty works? What had been accomplished by the disciple’s reaction to the Spirit’s presence? What seemed to be the reaction to what the crowd saw and heard?

• Have you ever been so enthusiastic about your faith that you spoke to someone else about it? What were the circumstances and reactions? How important is it for us to be able to share our faith in ways that others can understand and relate to?

• What is Luke trying to tell us about the Spirit by these events; what are some attributes and what does the Spirit bring?

• What can we learn from this story about sharing of faith as a congregation? What does the story tell us has to be present?

• Do you think that this is an accurate description of what took place? Does anything seem contrived?

14-21 That's when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: "Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren't drunk as some of you suspect. They haven't had time to get drunk—it's only nine o'clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:
"In the Last Days," God says,
"I will pour out my Spirit
on every kind of people:
Your sons will prophesy,
also your daughters;
Your young men will see visions,
your old men dream dreams.
When the time comes,
I'll pour out my Spirit
On those who serve me, men and women both,
and they'll prophesy.
I'll set wonders in the sky above
and signs on the earth below,
Blood and fire and billowing smoke,
the sun turning black and the moon blood-red,
Before the Day of the Lord arrives,
the Day tremendous and marvelous;
And whoever calls out for help
to me, God, will be saved."

• Many of the listeners would have been familiar with Joel’s words. How might they have set the stage for answering the question asked by many, “What does this mean.” How might we use Peter’s strategy in the sharing of our faith?

• What words catch your attention in Joel’s prophecy? What is Peter telling the crowd about the disciples and the events they are witnessing? What does Joel’s prophesy tell us about God’s Spirit?

• What is Peter telling the crowd the event initiates? Who will be affected? Will it all be joy and peace? Who will be saved? Do you think that we today are in the Last Days?

• What are we told prophets do and who is to be a prophet? Do you see evidence of prophesy in our midst? Have you ever felt that some element of prophesy is part of your faith life?

• Are there any portions of Joel’s prophecy that you would like to see take place in your life and the life of your faith community? What is preventing it from happening?

Closing Prayer

Enter my heart, O Holy Spirit, come in and set me free.. Throw open the locked door of my mind and cleanse the chambers of my thought for your dwelling. Light there the fires of your holy brightness that I might find a new understanding of truth. Amen.

From George Appelton, Oxford Book of Prayer

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 29, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17

Jesus Promises A Friend

For 5/29/2011
All scriptures are from The Message

The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel is a place to find the essence of Jesus’ message during his ministry, what people heard from him during those three years. Although certainly not complete it gives us a sense of the radical nature of the change he urges us to accept and help initiate. In the same way John’s gospel gives us Jesus’ last words before his crucifixion in what is known as the Final Discourse in 13:31 - 17:26. Unique to this gospel it presents a picture of what life after Jesus’ ascension will be like for his disciples and by extension for us today. Included in the Final Discourse are several promises about the Holy Spirit, one of which we will look at today.

• The Holy Spirit is very alive in the litany and theology of significant portions of the Christian faith but for many it is an unexplored idea, possibly associated with some kind of experience like speaking in tongues. How would you summarize your understating of the Holy Spirit?

Let’s walk through some of the ideas that Jesus gives us about the Holy Spirit.

John 14:15-17"If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!

• What does Jesus tell us about demonstrating love for him? What would you include in a list of the things Jesus told us to do? Some examples might include the 10 commandments, the Great Commission that closes Matthew’s gospel, teachings like the Sermon on the Mount, and the example Jesus set for us.
• What word does Jesus use to describe the Spirit and what meaning does the word friend have for you? How long will the Friend be with us? What is your take on the term ‘another Friend’ in his promise? Why would these words be meaningful to the disciples who had been with him for so long? Are they comforting to you?
• There are a number of terms in scripture associated with the Friend that Jesus promises.

Advocate
Counselor
Helper
Comforter
Intercessor
Strengthener

What does each term mean to you? Which of these matches your experience with God’s Spirit? Are there other descriptors you would use?
• How do you interpret the idea of a “Spirit of truth”? John records Jesus speaking of the truth on many occasions as in this example:

John 16:12"I still have many things to tell you, but you can't handle them now. But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won't draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said. He will honor me; he will take from me and deliver it to you. Everything the Father has is also mine. That is why I've said, 'He takes from me and delivers to you.'

• What is your reaction to these words? What should we expect from the Spirit’s presence? How have you experienced the presence of the Spirit, was it clear to you at the time that the Spirit was present?
• Why does the world not see the Spirit? What are we told prevents their seeing? How does this teaching compare with your experience? Do you think that it is important to see the Spirit?

Jesus Continues with his promise:

John 14:18-20"I will not leave you orphaned. I'm coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you're going to see me because I am alive and you're about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I'm in my Father, and you're in me, and I'm in you.
21"The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that's who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him."

• How was the disciple’s condition going to be like that of an orphan? Do you think that these feelings might apply to our situation in any way? How are they reassured and how do you understand his promise to come back?
• Have you ever felt like an orphan in your faith life? What are some situations or conditions which might stimulate this kind of a feeling? Do Jesus’ words here offer any comfort? In your experience what has helped mitigate feelings of being a spiritual orphan?
• Jesus tells the disciples that they are about to come alive, what do you think that he is referring to? How were the disciples different after the coming of the spirit at Pentecost? Have there been times when you particularly felt the presence of the Spirit? Did it make a difference in the course of your faith journey?
• Jesus describes the relationship among the Father, us and him, what is it and how does it fit with your experience? Are there other ways you would describe it?
• How important is it to know Jesus’ commandments, what is it a sign of? How does he describe the chain of love that makes up our faith life? What should we expect to experience as a result of being faithful?

If you would like to comment click on comments at the bottom of this posting.

Closing Prayer
Holy God, Holy Spirit, you always seek our good and bless our lives. Come close to us this day. Empower us by your presence that your commandments might be written on our hearts. Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Acts 1:6-14, Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, John 17:1-11

Owning Up to Our Doubts

For 5/1/2011
All Scriptures from The Message
The Lectionary scriptures now move beyond the resurrection to the events that transformed Jesus’ followers into true disciples. Today’s Gospel scripture places a focus on “Doubting Thomas” which is indeed an important lesson about faith and doubt. When our faith intersects with the real world questions have to arise if we are serious about seeking God’s presence in times of trial. But there are a number of other ideas that the story about Thomas raises.. First let us look at a story only found in John’s Gospel as the disciples gather after Jesus' crucifixion:

John 20: 19-20 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." Then he showed them his hands and side.
20-21The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: "Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you."
22-23Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. "Receive the Holy Spirit," he said. "If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?"

· What would you have been afraid of if you were among the disciples that evening in Jerusalem? Were their fears justified? How do you feel about the way in which they were handling their fear, would you have acted differently?

Before the crucifixion Jesus makes a promise to them about bringing peace:

John 14: 25-27"I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught.

· How does Jesus describe the peace he will bring them and what role does the Holy Spirit have in bringing Jesus’ peace? What words does he use to describe the peace that will come to them?
· What does this say to us about the impact/benefit we should expect from a faith life in the real world of big and little fears? Will our faith necessarily make whatever threatens us go away? · Can you think of a time when your faith brought peace in a time of fear? Do you think that the Spirit had a role in bring about your peace?
· How does this story about the coming of the Spirit compare with the commonly remembered story from Acts 2:1-4, what differences and similarities do you see?

When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

· When did you first sense the presence of the Spirit? What were the circumstances? What was the role of the disciples in the coming of the Spirit? What is our role in making the Spirit real in our lives? Prayer? Faith? Openness?
· Jesus spoke to the disciples about their responsibilities now that the Spirit was present with them.  What were they?  Look at the Lord’s Prayer for similar words in the form of a prayer he taught the disciples.

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Now back to the Upper Room:

24-25But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, "We saw the Master."
But he said, "Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won't believe it."
26Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you."
27Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe."
28Thomas said, "My Master! My God!"
29Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing."

· What do you think about Thomas, how would you describe him and the nature of his questions? Should he be criticized for needing proof?
· Does having doubts put our faith in question? How do you deal with the doubts that you might have? Doubts are expressed in many places in Scripture, many in the Psalms, as in the following from Psalm 10:

God, are you avoiding me? Where are you when I need you?

· What are some healthy ways to deal with our doubts? Could one be accepting the fact that we will have them? (Why else do they call it faith as opposed to certainty?) Will sharing our doubts with others help us deal with them?
· Why do you think that Thomas doubted his fellow disciple’s testimony about Jesus? What might it say about his state of mind at what he perceived to be a major loss in his life? · What is Jesus’ response to Thomas’ doubts? What does it say to us about God’s response to us in times of doubt? Does God’s love for us vary with the level of doubt that we carry?
· What does Jesus tell us about doubt and blessings? What does he suggest we substitute for certainty (seeing)?

Closing Litany
God has made us an Easter people!
We have found grace in the wilderness God has made us an Easter people!
We shall recount the deeds of God. God has made us and Easter people!
We shall be raised to new life with Christ. God has made us an Easter people!
We move forward in faith, no longer afraid. God has made us and Easter people!

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Luke 24:13-35, Acts 2:14a, 36-42, Psalm 116:1-4, 17-19, 1Peter 1:17-23

The Hovering Spirit

For December 5, 2010

Isaiah’s prophecy was probably written during the exile in Babylon in the 6th century BCE. The kingdom of Israel and its lineage of kings were a thing of the past and Isaiah spoke of God’s promise for the nation’s future. This is one of the many scriptures that early Christians identified in the Old Testament (the only scriptures that existed at the time) as one that Jesus’ fulfilled. The question is – what, if anything, does it have to do with me?

Isaiah 11:1-5 A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse's stump, from his roots a budding Branch.

The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him, the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding,The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God.

Fear-of-God will be all his joy and delight. He won't judge by appearances, won't decide on the basis of hearsay. He'll judge the needy by what is right, render decisions on earth's poor with justice. His words will bring everyone to awed attention. A mere breath from his lips will topple the wicked. Each morning he'll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots, and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land.

Jesse’s stump
· Jesse was David’s father, how might the exiled Israelites relate to Isaiah’s characterization of the glorious memory of David now being a mere stump? What might it have said to them about God’s relationship with and covenantal promises to Israel?

· We all experience highs and lows in our faith life. Have there been times when you felt that your spiritual life could be likened to the stump of a cut down tree? If not that extreme how would you characterize the spiritual lows in your life?

· Does the image of a “green Shoot” springing from a spiritual low speak to you? Is there an experience that you would point to as an example of new growth in your faith life? To what do you attribute to its springing up and how was it nurtured?

Life Giving Spirit
Hebrew Scriptures often link God’s Spirit and their leaders: I Samuel 10:10, 1 Samuel 16:13

· What will be the driving force that animates and leads the new leader? (See the similarity in Genesis 1:2 of the Spirit’s presence in creation – and the spirit of God hovered over the surface of the water.) Write down those characteristics which result from the Spirit hovering over him?


· Christians link Isaiah’s prophecy to Jesus; do you see them in the gospel's record of his life? Are there any specific instances that come to mind?

· Is the promise of the spirit hovering over this new leader limited to Jesus? Reflect on these two scriptures:

I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. John 14:26

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

· How important is the sense of the presence of God’s Spirit to the health of your spiritual life? Review the list you made of the results of the hovering life giving spirit and write down what would you pray for from the Spirit this Advent season:


Lets return to Isaiah’s prophecy concentrating on the last half of the scripture.

Fear-of-God will be all his joy and delight. He won't judge by appearances, won't decide on the basis of hearsay. He'll judge the needy by what is right, render decisions on earth's poor with justice. His words will bring everyone to awed attention. A mere breath from his lips will topple the wicked. Each morning he'll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots, and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land.

· List the promise that Isaiah prophecies will come from this new leader. What examples of them can you remember from the Gospel’s recording of Jesus’ life? Were any not fulfilled?
Promise Example





· In the gospel of John (14:12) Jesus’ last teachings to his disciples, and by extension each of us, he makes an amazing statement and backs it with a promise:

The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it.

· How do you interpret these words, what do they mean to you? Can we actually do greater things than Jesus? Could this speak to the potential of the Christian community with each of us using our Spiritual gifts?

What characteristics do you relate to as either things you have strived for or experienced in your faith life? Given your thoughts to this point, what is the relevance of Isaiah’s prophecy for each one of us, how do his words apply to me as a person of faith?

· Is there something in Isaiah’s words that you are inspired to include in your Advent prayers:

Closing Litany

Holy Spirit, giver of light and life
Impart to us thoughts higher than our own thoughts
Prayers better than our own prayers
Powers beyond our own powers
After the perfect image of Jesus Christ
Amen

Adapted from Eric Milner-White
The Oxford Book of Prayer

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: James 5:7-10, Matthew 11:2-11, Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:47-55, Isaiah 35:1-10