How Should I Respond to God?

For August 29, 2010

The apostle Paul’s theology is not all that complicated, even though some of his writings make it appear inscrutable. Much as Jesus, he was into relationships as the foundation for our faith life. In his letter to the church in Rome he lays out the role we are to play in our relationship with God. But we begin elsewhere.

The writer of Ephesians is thought by some to be written by the Apostle Paul. Regardless the person who wrote the letter certainly captured much of Paul’s theology we begin with words Paul certainly would endorse:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. Ephesians 2:8-10

1. What is the basis for our relationship with God? What is not a part of that relationship? What is the sole requirement on our part for connecting with God?
2. How are we to be transformed by our bond with Jesus Christ? What does it prepare us for?
3. Who has taken the lead in our connection with God? How do you feel as you reflect on this assertion?

With thoughts like this Paul’s includes the word "therefore" in the beginning of our scripture from his letter to the church in Rome. Notice the imagery he uses to describe the transformation we should find ourselves making:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1. What is Paul’s appeal to us? What meaning does being a living sacrifice have for you? How does he describe the kind of sacrifice it is to be? How is it possible for us to do this as mere humans? Are we to be cleaned up and shiny or will God take us as we are and work with us?
2. Why do you think that Paul describes this as an act of worship? Does this fit into your description or understanding of worship? Is this kind of worship evident in the life of our congregation?
3. What does Paul tell us we need to change? How are we to be transformed and what does it bring? Have you had your mind transformed; thought about something or acted differently because of insight, maturity, or experience? Has it happened in your faith life?
4. Can our minds be transformed in bad as well as good ways? Can you think of examples of those who appeared to be people of faith whose actions made it seem that their minds were transformed in a bad way?
5. How do we ensure that we are doing what is good and acceptable and perfect? What does he tell us is the starting point for good works, whom should we seek to please? By extension who should be secondary?

Paul continues:

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

1. What are we warned against? How are we to assess ourselves? What does evaluating ourselves with ‘sober judgment’ imply? What should we include as a part of making this evaluation?
2. Have you made a recent evaluation of your personal strengths and weaknesses? Where would you begin in evaluating your faith life? Is this something we should do on a regular basis?
Paul continues:

4For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

1. What analogy is used to help us understand who and what we are? What are some important criteria we should use as we assess who and what we are?
2. What does it mean to you that we are “members one of another”? What is critical in order for the body to function in this way?
3. What happens if parts of the body function poorly or are hyperactive? How would we know if we are fitting into one or both of these categories?
4. What do you consider to be God given gifts or talents? How did you discover them? How do you feel about using these gifts?
5. How have you been either encouraged or discouraged in using what you consider to be gifts or talents in a congregational setting? Do we have a responsibility to encourage one another in developing and using our gifts? How might a congregation improve member recognition and sharing of their individual gifts?

Closing Litany from Psalm 138

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
before the "gods" I will sing your praise.

I will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,

for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.

When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted.

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;

your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.

Amen


Next Week’s Scriptures: Jeremiah 18:1-11 or Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 or Psalm 1, Philemon 1-21, Luke 14:25-33