Faith meets real life

For September 26, 2010

Today we look at the final piece of advice the writer of 1 Timothy gives in Paul’s name to Timothy but really intends for people like you and me. He speaks to the benefits of a life of faith and warns against listening to alleged religious leaders who will lead Timothy, and certainly us, down the wrong path.

Before reading the scripture take a moment to reflect on the benefits in your life from walking a life of faith, as imperfect as our steps on that walk may be. How have you been blessed and what do you think has changed in the things that are important to you in the way in which you live and priorities you set daily?

1 Timothy 6
6-8A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough.
9-10But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.
11-12But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.

· What does the writer tell us we should and should not expect from a devout life? Are there religious leaders who declare that a devout life will bring material wealth? Are there other things/benefits that religious leaders promise that you feel are misleading?

· Have you experienced the rich simplicity of being yourself before God? This speaks to a very different idea of wealth. What must go and what must we develop in order to reach this kind of relationship with God? Can you think of anyone who would be an example for you of living this way?

· We know that we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless; the problem is living the in-between. Do you think that the writer would find fault with working to have the resources to feed and clothe ourselves and our family? What is the point of departure; how do we know when we are losing our way and straying off the path of a spiritual journey? Do we have to be below some level of wealth or possessions to be ourselves with God?

· How does the writer describe the downside of living with a lust for money? Does your life’s experience confirm this observation? Has losing footing in the faith ever happened to you or someone you know of?

· The writer tells us what to run from but also what to run to, a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. What practical advice might you give someone about finding these things based on your spiritual journey? What questions do you have about how to incorporate them into your life?

· What does the writer say we should seize? What advice would you give someone about seeking both these blessings and at the same time dealing with the realities of providing the material things we need?

· What does the writer’s use of the word seize and run hard and fast in the faith say about the nature of our competing priorities in life? Is seeking the path to a faith filled life easy? What are some things that have energized your faith journey?

1 Timothy 6
13-16I'm charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn't give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don't slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He'll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He's the only one death can't touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He's never been seen by human eyes—human eyes can't take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes.
17-19Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.

· What do you think is the point of the writer’s illustration of Christ before Pilate? Do you see Jesus’ life as one of running hard and fast in the faith? What have you taken from his life and incorporated into your spiritual journey?

· The writer gives us his testimony about Jesus, who he is the promise of his return. How do you understand the relationship between God’s work in Jesus and you own life. In one group several images of Christ were discussed:

Christ as sacrifice for our sins
Christ as victory thru his resurrection
Christ brings us God’s forgiveness for our sins
Christ as liberation and reconnection – thru our baptism and birth in the Spirit
Christ as a moral example
Christ as a sign of God’s love

· Verses 17-19 seem to say that it is OK to be rich under certain conditions. First, what is your definition of rich? When do we enter that realm? Do you in any way consider yourself rich? Can we be rich in things other than material wealth that we should not hoard?

· Two of the richest men in the world have donated the bulk of their wealth to the Gates Foundation (Bill Gates and Warren Buffet). Bill Gates has also called upon the very wealthy, particularly in our country, to pledge a percentage of their personal wealth to worthy causes. What do you think motivates them, what had to happen to essentially give away almost everything that their business careers has brought to them?

· What examples inspire you in the choices you make in managing your material possessions? Do you think that you spiritual journey has changed your thinking about this important facet of our life and living?

Closing Litany

Don't put your life in the hands of experts
who know nothing of life, of salvation life.

Mere humans don't have what it takes;
when they die, their projects die with them.

Instead, get help from the God of Jacob,
put your hope in God and know real blessing!

God's in charge—always.
Zion's God is God for good!

Hallelujah!



Next Week’s Scriptures: Luke 17:5-10, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Psalm 137 or Psalm 37:1-9, Lamentations 1:1-6; Lamentations 3:19-26

First Priority - Prayer

For September 19, 2010

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. 

The letters to Timothy were probably written after Paul’s lifetime by someone who was familiar with his teachings. It was written at a time in which the faithful had come to terms with the fact that Jesus’ return was not imminent. They formed faith communities which would have had questions and sought guidance for their life together their relationship with the world in which they lived. This scripture contains some advice typical of that found in the two letters: It was also a time with many different interpretations of Christ; who he was and what his presence meant, all competing to be the mainstream Christian theology.

1 Timothy 2
1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.
4-7He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we've learned: that there's one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.

Prayer

· How important does prayer seem to be to the writer? What is your personal experience; how important has prayer been to your faith journey? If prayer brings so many benefits why does it seem that we need to be encouraged to pray; what keeps it from being self evident and contagious?

Martha Grace Reese has written in Unbinding the Gospel:

After years of talking with pastors and laypeople in churches that are thriving and churches that are failing, I am clear that the only way to do ministry successfully, to lead a church or to live a life in today’s United States is to pray deeply. We must hand ourselves over to God in clear-headed, accountable, non-naïve prayer. We need to rely as much on God for pragmatic guidance as we can stand! Without God vividly in the mix, we drift, life declines.

· What is your reaction to her conclusion? How do you feel about the role of prayer in our faith community’s life? Do you feel that we have grown in the past year in relying on prayer? How? What else should we be doing?

· Do you think that these words can also apply to our personal prayer life? Is it really natural to rely as much on God for pragmatic guidance as we can stand?

· How do you feel about praying with others? Is this something we should strive for in our personal and congregational prayer lives?

Pray For Everyone You Know

· What person has given you the most personal grief in the recent past? How do you feel about praying for them and what would you pray for?

· What group or groups do you feel most threaten us as a country? What might we pray for them and ourselves?

· What is the purpose of praying for everyone? Could it be the first words from verses 4-7, “He wants not only us but everyone saved”? How should this impact the nature of our prayers?

Pray For Our Rulers

· What was the environment for Christians at the time; what percentage of the population were they, how were they treated, what influence did they have in society? What role did the people have in the selection and influence on their rulers and governments?

· Based on the above realities what reason is given for praying for their leadership; what does the writer want for them?

· What should we include in our prayers for the government in today’s reality? How should a spiritual person connect with the politics and policies of governing the country? Should we be seeking going quietly about our business or something else? Should one of our prayers be for Christian leadership or something else?

Salvation

· One of the major reasons for prayer is seeking salvation for all, what are some of the reasons scripture and sermons say we should be seeking salvation? What has been your experience with personal salvation; what have you connected with as benefits during your faith journey?

· What do you think is behind it all, why does God provide for and desire that all find salvation?

· What is the path to salvation given to us by the writer? If you were to describe your path to salvation what words would you use and what has helped you move closer to God?

· Should we pray for people who are devoted to God through another faith? Should we be concerned about them? In the end who sets the terms of any individual’s salvation and what should our role be in supporting other seekers?

Closing Prayer

O Holy Spirit impart to us thoughts higher than our own, and prayers better than our own, and powers beyond our own, that we may spend and be spent in the ways of love and goodness. Amen. Eric Milner-White

Next Week’s Scriptures: Jeremiah 32:1-3, 6-15, Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16. 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31

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