The Long Range Plan

For 1/2/2011

Thursday is Epiphany, celebrating the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus. The story of their visit, in which they paid homage to him through worship and gifts, is recorded in Matthew 2:1-12. The giving of our gifts of time, talent and resources is an important part of our worship of God. But we will focus today not on the giving of gifts but instead on the many gifts we have received from God through a Lectionary scripture taken from the letter to the Ephesians.

The writer of Ephesians begins his letter with a long, one sentence in Greek, doxology of praise to God. It serves as a reminder to us of the meaning of this past Advent season; just how God’s love for us played out through the gift of Jesus Christ. Some think that this scripture might have been sung or recited as part of worship in the early church. But it is hard to see rhythms and word patterns unless one can read the original Greek which few of us can do.

Ephesians 1:3-6 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

• What is your reaction to this scripture? Are there things in here that surprise you or raise questions?

• Summarize the relationship God decided to establish with us, what are God’s intentions and how are they to be carried out? When was it decided that we (you and me) were to be chosen as a focus for God’s love? Does it seem that we have a choice in the matter?

• When you think about the infinity of the universe how stunning are is the assertion that we were selected as the focus of God’s love? Why would God do this? What have you added to your understanding of God from this scripture?

• The scripture begins by reminding us of the wonderful blessings God brings to us. Is there anything you want to add to the writer’s words which describe the reasons you would celebrate the blessing God is for you?

7-10Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

• What has happened as a result of Jesus’ sacrifice? What word is used repeatedly to describe our status? What does he focus upon as that which we have been freed from? Do you have a sense of freedom because of your faith? Would you use the words “abundantly free” to describe it? What might be some things that constrain or we allow to constrain our sense of freedom?

• What picture are we given of God as this planning is done? What about the plan do you think made God particularly happy? In what ways have we been let “in on the plans he took delight in making”?

• Once again the ideas is raised that what is happening to us is part of a long range plan. Do you think that each believer was individually named long ago in the plan? If we were where is the sense that we individually have the freedom to make a choice to either believe or not believe?

• What role is Jesus to play in the long-range plan? What do these words mean to you? How do you think that this has or will come about?

11-12It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
13-14It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.

• What in your relationship with Christ has helped you understand who you are and what you are to live for? What conditions, situations or experiences have contributed to the learning experiences in your life?

• For a third time we learn that we are part of an overall plan. How do you interpret the idea that Christ “had his eye on us”? Is this a collective term or does it mean you and me specifically? Do you feel like you are part of an overall process which will lead to “glorious living”?

• Some ideas in this scripture could be seen as an endorsement of predestination; we really don’t have free will but are fated to a preplanned destiny. Another understanding is that God has a plan for an abundant life of which we can chose to become a part. Where do you see yourself, what serves as the basis for the role of your will in your relationship with God? Who does the writer see as being in charge in our relationship?

• What must happen in order for us to be ‘home free’? What sources do you feel brought you real understanding and helped your faith life grow? Have you been a source for someone else during your faith journey?

• What serves as the down payment on the promises of this plan? What role has the Spirit played in your faith life, is it a valuable down payment for you? When has this component of you faith life been particularly important to you?

Closing Litany (Psalm 150)

Hallelujah!
Praise God in his holy house of worship,
praise him under the open skies;
praise him for his acts of power,
praise him for his magnificent greatness;
Let every living, breathing creature praise GOD!
Hallelujah!

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Matthew 3:13-17, Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 29, Isaiah 42:1-9

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