Finding True Wisdom

For 9/30/2012

James 3:13 – 4:3

In today’s scripture the writer of James’ Epistle speaks to the nature of true wisdom – God’s wisdom – and as he similarly wrote of faith (faith without works is dead) tells us that wisdom is also revealed by our actions.

• How would you define wisdom? How do you know it when you see it?
• Why should we seek wisdom? How will wisdom make us better off?
• Is the degree of wisdom a person possesses necessarily in proportion to their level of intelligence?

Read on in our scripture for today and see what the writer tells us constitutes wisdom.

James 3:13-16 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.

• What about a person would cause you to feel that they were wise and understanding? How do you see wisdom described above, what are some specific ways we might see wisdom demonstrated?
• How does your list and those identified in the scripture compare? Are there any above that you question about or disagree with? Is there anything connected with faith or a relationship with God in them?
• He makes a broader point that trying to make ourselves look good ends up causing lots of problems. Can you think of instances from the news of people who were devious, gathered recognition and wealth, and in the end hurt themselves and others? This can also happen in little ways as when we get caught in a lie – have you witnessed events that make the point?

In considering the first scripture we looked at what could be some generally accepted descriptions of wisdom, now we read about real wisdom.

17-18 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

• Where does wisdom begin and what comes from it? What are some characteristics of real wisdom?
• Have you seen this kind of wisdom? What are some examples of people you think had real wisdom?
• The focus of living wisely is developing healthy relationships. Is it always easy to do this with someone with whom you have a loving relationship? Where does wisdom come into play in maintaining relationships and what should our faith bring as a resource for maintaining them?
• But this wisdom is to apply to all of our relationships in the community, even with some whom we may not feel a personal connection. What wisdom have you accumulated about maintaining relationships with folks whom you do not relate? What causes fractures? Has your faith played a role in overcoming issues that cause fractures in these types of relationships?
• But how does our faith bring wisdom, where should we turn to find it? Some scripture from Hosea for contemplation:

Hosea 14:9 If you want to live well,

make sure you understand all of this.

If you know what’s good for you,

you’ll learn this inside and out.

God’s paths get you where you want to go.

Right-living people walk them easily;

wrong-living people are always tripping and stumbling

• What are some resources for identifying God’s path in any given situation? Are the paths always easy to find especially when our emotions are involved? Have you ever been involved in a relationship crisis when you allowed your personal hurts overcome any desire to find an equitable resolution? How about the opposite, when you found a way to peace and overcame those urges? What made the difference? Was any wisdom involved?

Some last thoughts on what happens in the absense of wisdom:
4:1-2 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.
2-3 You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

• You might find this scripture offensive and feel that it does not apply to you but where in the news and throughout history have we seen the truth of these words? Do these words reach down to some of the basic causes for wars, crime and violence?
• But on the other hand can they also apply in diminished strength to the polarized society we seem to find ourselves in today, the unhealthy political climate, and the incendiary rhetoric? What wisdom do you have for bringing peace and community to our body politic? What must happen for us to move forward on God’s path?
• How would you sum up what you have learned about wisdom from James?

Closing Litany

The revelation of GOD is whole

and pulls our lives together.

The signposts of GOD are clear

and point out the right road.

The life-maps of GOD are right,

showing the way to joy.

The directions of GOD are plain

and easy on the eyes.

God’s Word is better than a diamond,

better than a diamond set between emeralds.

Amen

Next Week’s Scriptures: Job 1:1; 2:1-10 or Genesis 2:18-24, Psalm 26 or Psalm 8, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Mark 10:2-16



Going Backwards - Being Last is a Good Thing

For 9/23/2012

Today’s scripture from chapter 9 of Mark's Gospel follows Jesus’ admonishment of the disciples in verses 9:33-35 as they discussed among themselves who had the greatest stature: The silence was deafening—they had been arguing with one another over who among them was greatest. He sat down and summoned the Twelve. “So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all.”

Jesus teaches the need to be a servant of others on many occasions, with his washing of the disciple’s feet being the best known.
• Are you surprised that this discussion was going on among the disciples?

• How does the desire to be “first” manifest itself in our culture, what are some common things we see people competing for in their work and personal lives? Does this kind of jockeying for stature and status take place in faith communities and in the clergy? How have you seen this take place?

• How do we balance the pressures of the secular world with the call of our faith life to live as Jesus teaches here? Do we give up working to better ourselves?

We start with the set-up for the discussion in Mark 9:38 John spoke up, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t in our group.” 39-41 Jesus wasn’t pleased. “Don’t stop him. No one can use my name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath cut me down. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally. Why, anyone by just giving you a cup of water in my name is on our side. Count on it that God will notice.

• Down through the ages religious authorities at all levels and in every part of the past and present faith community have placed restrictions on who is “qualified” to carry out many different types of religious activities. What are some that you can think of and what reasoning might have been used to rationalize these restrictions? Do you think that there are some that should be maintained, are important to only be carried out by someone who is qualified?

• Bitter theological disputes plague Christianity as denominations and sects have sometimes violently confronted one another over differences throughout history. What causes this passion and what does Jesus suggest as an antidote?

• Mormons, Quakers, and the Amish proclaim Jesus’ name yet are seen by some Christians as not being ‘in our group’. Why is that the case? Again how does this illustrate Jesus’ words?

• Based on what Jesus says should a not for profit or church have any compunction about accepting aid from a casino, a convicted felon, or other “questionable” sources in support of a faith based initiative?

Mark 9:42 “On the other hand, if you give one of these simple, childlike believers a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck.

• What is Jesus talking about when he warns against being a problem for others? What are some examples of ‘childlike believers” we might encounter? Have you ever felt put-off or discouraged by the words or actions of other believers? How might we be well intentioned but yet an impediment for others?

Mark 9:43-48 “If your hand or your foot gets in God’s way, chop it off and throw it away. You’re better off maimed or lame and alive than the proud owner of two hands and two feet, godless in a furnace of eternal fire. And if your eye distracts you from God, pull it out and throw it away. You’re better off one-eyed and alive than exercising your twenty-twenty vision from inside the fire of hell.

• How do you react to this scripture? Some have taken this literally down through the ages, what does it mean to you? What are some examples of things in our lives that are very important to us but might get ‘in God’s way’? Can you think of anyone who has radically changed their lives in order to be closer to God?

• Are there changes that come with living faithfully that might cause us to appear to be handicapped for life in the secular world?

• Paul gives us some advice about eliminating spiritual impediments – what do you think about them?

Romans 12:2 Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Back to Mark 9:49-50 “Everyone’s going through a refining fire sooner or later, but you’ll be well-preserved, protected from the eternal flames. Be preservatives yourselves. Preserve the peace.”

• How can living faithfully cause us to go through ‘a refining fire sooner or later’? Is something missing if we do not have any faith related ‘fire’ experiences? Have you had any which caused your life to seem different?

• How does all that we have discussed pertain to preserving the peace? What words in today’s scripture contributes to your understanding of being a peacemaker?

• What do you take away with you from today’s discussion, what have you learned?

Closing Litany (Psalm 19)

God’s Word warns us of danger

and directs us to hidden treasure.

Otherwise how will we find our way?

Or know when we play the fool?

Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!

Keep me from stupid sins,

from thinking I can take over your work;

Then I can start this day sun-washed,

scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.

Amen

Next Week’s Scriptures: Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22 or Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29, Psalm 124 or Psalm 19:7-14,James 5:13-20, Mark 9:38-50

Get Real!

For 9/2/2012

James’ epistle had a tenuous journey before being included in the canon and seems to have some of the same characteristics of Proverbs – wisdom for a meaningful life. The writer speaks to us of the real meaning and obligations of living a spiritual life seven days a week. If for no other reason than for us to pause and reflect on the way in which our real life is affected by our faith we read today’s scripture:

James 1:16-18 So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

• What is the origin of the desirable and beneficial blessings of life? What do you think about his description of these gifts? Does that include good things and good deeds initiated by non-believers?

• What difference does being a person of faith make in being an effective conduit of God’s desirable and beneficial? Should/does our faith make us more effective givers of good things? How and why?

• How is God described? What are some attributes? What words would you use about God when thinking of gifts and life?

• Do you think that the writer has our physical birth in mind when speaking of God bringing us to life? What words are clues to what is meant? Read this from Ephesians 2 for some ideas about life and acting as God’s creation:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

• In what way does this creation of us to do good works happen, how are we equipped, what should make us effective?

More from James' epistle
19-21Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

• What does the writer suggest to us about suppressing anger? What is your experience; what brings anger to the forefront for you? What has helped you avoid angry reactions? What gets left out when anger takes over? How often have you looked back on an angry exchange with regret? When did you feel that it was appropriate?

• What is his suggestion for insuring angry reactions straggle along in the rear? In what attitude should we seek acting righteously and what should we use as a guide for change? Has your spirituality helped reduce the anger in your life?

22-24Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. 25But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.

• How good are your listening skills? Are there times and conditions when you listen well and not so well? Do you think that he is limiting our spiritual education to just listening or might this also apply to reading and observing? How do you learn best?

• What has been the source of your most useful spiritual wisdom? Where have you turned in times of doubt and confusion about the practical aspects of living a spiritual life?

• How has your spiritual journey been enriched and guided by practical application, testing, risking? Do you agree with the writer that acting and action are where we find “delight and affirmation” of our faith? Must the action have a happy ending to bring either delight or affirmation?

26-27Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

• How many times have we heard words like this? Do you think that talking about the ‘good game’ is a bad idea? Has hearing about events on the faith journey of others been helpful to you?

• But what is the bottom line on hearing – when does it become an empty game? What keeps us from moving past the talking to action?

• Are there action scriptures that have had particular meaning for you, helped you take action, and gave you inspiration for the experience of ‘real religion’?

• This might be both the essence of and most familiar words from this letter:

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Closing Litany (Psalm 15)

God, who gets invited to dinner at your place?

How do we get on your guest list?

"Walk straight,

act right,

tell the truth.

"Don't hurt your friend,

don't blame your neighbor;

despise the despicable.

"Keep your word even when it costs you,

make an honest living,

never take a bribe.

"You'll never get blacklisted

if you live like this."

Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 or Isaiah 35:4-7, Psalm 125 or Psalm 146, James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17, Mark 7:24-37



What is Wisdom and Where Do I Find It?

For 8/19/2012

All Scriptures are from The Message Version

Wisdom is a word we see repeatedly in Scripture, something to be valued, sought, and treasured. True wisdom is a gift from God which guides our lives along the right paths and saves us from folly. Jewish Wisdom literature includes several of the books of the Old Testament including Proverbs, Psalms, Daniel, and Job. In that tradition Wisdom is feminine and given a number of attributes as we can see from these words from Proverbs:

God sovereignly made me—the first, the basic— before he did anything else.

I was brought into being a long time ago, well before Earth got its start.

And then staked out Earth’s Foundations, I was right there with him, making sure everything fit.

Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause, always enjoying his company…

• What are some of Wisdom’s attributes? Are any surprising? What does the writer want us to know about Wisdom?
• Notice these similar words from John 1 about Jesus: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Today’s Lectionary Scripture is attributed to the Solomon, that man of wisdom. Proverbs is filled with practical advice about the benefits of wisdom and the downfall that comes with temptation and folly. Let’s look at today’s scripture for what it says about Wisdom - both the lady and the attributes:

Proverbs 9:1-10 Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home; it's supported by seven hewn timbers. The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted, wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers. Having dismissed her serving maids, Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place, and invites everyone within sound of her voice: "Are you confused about life, don't know what's going on? Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me! I've prepared a wonderful spread—fresh-baked bread, roast lamb, carefully selected wines. Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning."
…It's through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens, and the years of your life ripen. Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life; mock life and life will mock you.

• First of all what does this tell us about the dispenser of wisdom, how would you describe her? Does it appear that access to Wisdom is difficult?
• What words are used to describe wisdom and its benefits? How would you use to describe it? Is it different from knowledge?
• What would you point to as examples of wisdom in your life experience? What was the impact of the wisdom on your life? Who have been examples of wise people in your life?
• Have you connected wisdom with your faith life? Has your spiritual life been a source of wisdom? In what practical ways has this wisdom made a difference in your life?

Paul speaks repeatedly about wisdom, that of the secular world and that of the spiritual, telling both of the source and the failure of the worldly to grasp it:

1 Corinthians 2:6-10 … God's wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don't find it lying around on the surface. It's not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. The experts of our day haven't a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn't have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross. That's why we have this Scripture text: No one's ever seen or heard anything like this, Never so much as imagined anything quite like it— What God has arranged for those who love him. But you've seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you.

• What is your take on the way in which Paul describes wisdom? What do you agree with and what question? Would you add anything to his description? What is added to the ideas about wisdom in Proverbs?
• What is the heart of the wisdom he refers to, what is its source? Do you see Jesus’ life and teachings as a source of wisdom for us? What are some of them that are particularly important to you and help guide the way you live your life?
• It can sound like wisdom will bring us wealth and true happiness – what happened to the Master of the God-designed life? What does this say to us, how is it instructive in understanding the meaning and purpose of wisdom? Is the ultimate goal of the Christian life to live safely, comfortably and contentedly or are there other dimensions?

John’s Gospel has Jesus assuring his disciples the night before he was crucified:

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.

• Do you think that this scripture relates to God’s wisdom? How did the disciples receive wisdom from Jesus as they traveled with him and what happens now that he is leaving them? Do you think that his words apply to us?
• Have you experienced nudging, God moments, guidance, ah-has, or inspiration you attribute to your spiritual life? Have you sensed the presence of the Spirit in the day to day? Do you associate these things with the idea of wisdom?
• What are some ways we can strengthen this spiritual blessing to our daily lives? What are some things that shut it off?
• What would you now tell someone who asked you to describe wisdom? How does wisdom fit into your faith story, would you include it in describing the impact of your faith on your life?

Closing Litany

Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I've got—

Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation.

God's works are so great, worth

A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!

Splendor and beauty mark his craft;

His generosity never gives out.

His miracles are his memorial—

This God of Grace, this God of Love.

Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43 or Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18, Psalm 84 or Psalm 34:15-22, Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:56-69



What is Holding Me Back?

For 8/12/2012

All scriptures are from The Message Version

Abraham Maslow’s assessment of the human condition which he published in 1943 is familiar to any Psych 101 student.  His research led him to believe that the most basic desires of all humans which must be satisfied before any others are the physiological needs; food, water, warmth, rest. Humans will put satisfaction of these needs above all others and cannot effectively deal with other things until they are met. One of the confirmations of this assessment from New Testament times is the subsidized grain and entertainment (“bread and circuses”) that the Roman emperors used to satisfy the masses. Into this Jesus introduces a new take on building a foundation through giving us a new image of the “bread of life”. First let us look at Maslow’s pyramid:

The most fundamental and basic four layers of the pyramid contain what Maslow called "deficiency needs" or "d-needs": esteem, friendship and love, security, and physical needs. With the exception of the most fundamental (physiological) needs, if these "deficiency needs" are not met, the body gives no physical indication but the individual feels anxious and tense. Maslow's theory suggests that the most basic level of needs must be met before the individual will strongly desire (or focus motivation upon) the secondary or higher level needs...

Self Actualization: This level of need pertains to what a person's full potential is and realizing that potential… As mentioned before, in order to reach a clear understanding of this level of need one must first not only achieve the previous needs, physiological, safety, love, and esteem, but master these needs.

• What questions come to mind as you look at the levels? You can learn more than you want to at places like Wikipedia which is where the above come from and others if you do a Google search. Do you have other names you would give any of the levels?
• What does your life’s experience tell you about the validity of Maslow’s theory which by the nature of theories is on the surface simplistic? Can you think of specific situations in which these ideas might have had a role?
• Can you see this as we move from the third world economies to those of the more developed world with resultant improvements in quality of life, innovation, and stability?
• Do you think that some of the horrible acts of violence we see (other than mental illness) might be rooted in a persons’ struggle to deal with a failure to satisfy something that Maslow’s theory identifies?

Into this Jesus introduces the foundation of a new theory:

John 6: 35-38 Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don't really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don't let go. I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me. 39-40"This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants: that anyone who sees the Son and trusts who he is and what he does and then aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time."

• Jesus tell us that he is the bread of life, what does he mean by that? How does this compare with Maslow’s theory, what does a person who aligns with Jesus satisfy in their life? Do we have to be at some point on Maslow’s pyramid in order for us to be open to this message? Are there examples of people who in fact turned to Jesus when basic physiological needs are not being met?
• What does Jesus guarantee about himself to those who align themselves with him? What needs are met for us? Does it fit someplace on the pyramid or not?
• What does he tell us that God wants for us? What is offered? When will wholeness take place?
• How does this understanding of life compare to the picture Maslow gives us? Do they fit together or are they in some ways alternatives? The failure to move from level to level in Maslow’s pyramid mean a life restricted and constrained in some way, how does this fit against the life (pyramid?) Jesus offers?
• Could we construct a spiritual pyramid using various levels to show progression in growth in our faith life? There are many references to spiritual growth, “no prolonged infancies… please” in Ephesians, what are some stages you would identify which help us move from (my arbitrary levels-substitute your own) say conversion to faith? What must we satisfy if we are to grow into a true relationship with God our creator?

It appears that Jesus is offering an alternative to Moslow's hierarchy, telling us to move past the way in which we are wired up as human beings - set ourselves free and live life empowered by the Spirit not our human nature.  But looking at the powerful force that Maslow points out for us we can see how strongly we are pulled back to rely upon our human nature.

• Think about stages you have experienced as you have moved along your faith journey? When you feel stronger or weaker in you spirituality what is present or missing? What are the elements you strive for in growing your faith life?  Included in each of the three levels are some ideas for a Spiritual Pyramid, what would you include in yours? Some scriptures follow which might be useful for ideas, what other scriptures do you think are important?

Conversion

Confession of faith,

Baptism

Bible Study

Church attendance

Financial support of church

Belief

Recognition and use of Spiritual Gifts,

Familiarity with Scripture,

Established a personal theology,

Comfortable sharing personal faith story,

Confidence prayer is answered

Faith

Christlike life,

Loving acceptance

of others,

Sense of transformation,

God's Spirit guides life

1 Corinthians 10:15-18
I assume I'm addressing believers now who are mature. Draw your own conclusions: When we drink the cup of blessing, aren't we taking into ourselves the blood, the very life, of Christ? And isn't it the same with the loaf of bread we break and eat? Don't we take into ourselves the body, the very life, of Christ? Because there is one loaf, our many-ness becomes one-ness—Christ doesn't become fragmented in us. Rather, we become unified in him. We don't reduce Christ to what we are; he raises us to what he is.

Ephesians 4
He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ's followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

John 15:5-8
"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

John 15:11-15
"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.

Closing Litany (Psalm 16)

I'm happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I'm firmly formed.
You canceled my ticket to hell— that's not my destination!
Now you've got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face.
Ever since you took my hand, I'm on the right way.
Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 or Proverbs 9:1-6, Psalm 111 or Psalm 34:9-14, Ephesians 5:15-20, John 6:51-58



Get With It!!

For 8/5/2012
All scriptures are from The Message Version


We are not sure who wrote the letter to the church in Ephesus but it certainly is in the spirit of Paul to whom it is attributed. He writes to them about living life in the real world where being in community, especially in times of trial can be difficult. Paul speaks to the tools and power that those who rely upon the Spirit have to transform a group of people into a vital faith family. Think of those times when you had experienced a real sense of togetherness and those others when divisiveness seemed to pull your faith community apart – what lay behind success and failure? Reflect upon that as you read from Ephesians 4:

1-3In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.


4-6You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.


• Where does the letter come from, where is the writer? What does he want them to do for him? With what does he want to infuse the congregation?
• What are some ways that a congregation can determine just what road God has called them to travel? What do you think that your faith community is true to that process when it faces change or conflict? Would you have liked to have seen anything done differently during those times?
• What do you think that we should do to ensure that we stay on God’s path instead of wandering? What might be some signs that we are continuing to be faithful to this exhortation by the writer of Ephesians?
• Do you think that he suppose that it is easy to stay on the path, the natural thing to do? What does he warn against? How often have you seen these things happen in congregational life?
• What does he stress in verses 4-6? What have you seen as reinforcing oneness in the congregation and what be some ways in which oneness can be strengthened in the days ahead?
• What are some things that work against oneness? What might cause differences and conflicts? What do you suggest we do to combat them?

But what are some ways that the Spirit prepares us to be effective?
7-13But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. The text for this is,
He climbed the high mountain,
He captured the enemy and seized the booty,
He handed it all out in gifts to the people.
Is it not true that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ's followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

• How do you think that this scripture applies to life in your faith community? What do you take from it as encouraging and what questions do you have?  Have you seen evidence of these gifts in the work of your spiritual family?
• What are some methods and practices we can follow in order to maximize the emergence of the spiritual gifts we do have as a congregation? What will suppress them?
• Are the gifts we have necessarily limited to the talents of the members of the faith community? What else might the Spirit lead us to that could be considered as benefitting its life and work?
• What concerns do you have as you think about the next 6-9 months in the life of your faith community?  Does anything you have read so far seem helpful?

To be effective we need to grow up spiritually:
14-16No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.


• Where do you feel that truth telling has gone on in your life and the life of your faith community and where may it need to come into play in the future? What is the key to effective truth telling and what are some practical ways to do it?
• What is the last image he gives us of Christ’s presence? What does it mean to you? How does it apply to congregational life? Do you think that challenges and change can be a time of growth? How do we ensure that growth happens?

Closing Prayer

Holy One, whose love has been poured into our hearts through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit, and who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine, we pray that you would equip us for the work of ministry and for building up the body of Christ. Amen.

Next weeks Lectionary Scriptures: John 6:35, 41-51, Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2, Psalm 130 or Psalm 34:1-8, 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 or 1 Kings 19:4-8

How do we measure God's love

For 7/29/2012


Today's scripture come from Ephesians 3 in which the writer of offers a prayer on our behalf and which turns our attention to the working of God in our life, the dimensions it adds and the immeasurable extent to which God’s love encompasses us. How have you felt the immensity of God’s presence in your life?

3:14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

First of all, how does it feel to be prayed for by someone you don't even know?  Do you think that the prayer is appropriate for where you are today, fits today's circumstances, is welcomed?

What do you interpret verses 14-15 to mean? From a commentary:
Naming is about authorizing. Fatherhood, here, is not so much fathering or even parenting, as exercising power. It is a quaint of way of asserting that God is God and not allowing rivals, whether other gods or other claimants to power and authority. As a structure of thought it is interesting. There is a sense in which it means: any exercise of authority needs to be based on the way God is, if it is to have legitimacy. William Loader

• How important in the naming of a child are the persons (relatives, celebrities, ancestors) who have that name? How important to you is your name and with whom it is associated? What considerations are made in the process of naming anything (business, church, sermon) important to us?

• Can you think of instances of name changes or naming in the Bible which came from God or Jesus?
The power of naming starts at the very beginning of the Bible. God named the heavens and the earth. Adam was given the power to name all the animals—and his wife. naming denotes a sort of authority over that person. Karla Bohmbach

3:16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.


• The you in this scripture is a plural, he is writing to a church(es) and speaking to the collective body. What is the desire in verse 16 and what will make it happen?

• Have you felt inner strength because of the Spirit’s presence in your life? What put you into touch with this awareness?

• What are some things that we find dwelling in our hearts? Are they all necessarily good things? What is the result of those things presence on the way in which we live our lives? What should our spiritual life be doing to our hearts and its contents?

• What results from the presence of the Spirit? Do you know of people who seem to be rooted and grounded in this way? Have you had the experience of being motivated to react in a loving way because of your faith?

• How do these ideas pertain to a faithcommunity? In what ways have you seen the Spirit’s presence in your congregational life? What might we do to encourage our collective openness to the Spirit?

• One of the gifts of the Spirit is strengthening a faith community's “inner being with power through his Spirit.” What are some crucial areas in which your faith community could use inner strength as it moves ahead and how might it connect with that source of power?

• What do you think that the community is ‘rooted’ in now and how might it increase the presence of God’s love?

3:18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

• Have you ever come to grips with the incomprehensible magnitude of something that ‘surpasses knowledge”? Have there been events in your life or have you witnessed things that you never expected to happen? Have you thought about God’s love in these terms?

• The prayer asks that we be filled with the same incomprehensible love, “filled with the fullness of God.” How do you feel about that?

• What would happen if a faith community were filled with that fullness in the months ahead? How might it go about things so that love is shown?

20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

• What does the benediction ask that we be blessed with? Do you think that the presence of the Spirit can help us do “far more than all we can ask or imagine’? Have you experienced this in a congregational setting? What made it happen? Why can’t we connect with this ability more often?

• What is the reason that we are given spiritual power? How might we glorify God in our work ahead as a congregation?

Closing Prayer

Lord I offer my faith community as a living sacrifice, praying that it is holy and acceptable to you. I pray that we might be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we may discern what is your will—what is good and acceptable and perfect. Amen.

Adapted from Romans 12:1-2

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: John 6:24-35, Ephesians 4:1-16, Psalm 51:1-12 or Psalm 78:23-29, 2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13a or Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15