From just hearing to sharing in the joy

For April 15, 2012


All scriptures are from The Message Version
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
http://www.textweek.com/epistlesrevelation/1john3a.htm
This week the Lectionary scripture is from 1 John and begins with words which would come from an actual witness to Jesus’ ministry, crucifixion and the resurrected Christ. This begins a teaching about living the life as Jesus’ followers when we did not share that life changing time with him. The related Lectionary gospel scripture for today is John 20:19-31 which tells us about Thomas and his doubts about the risen Christ which has some similar themes.

1 John 1:1-2 From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we're telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.
3-4We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!

• What does the writer tell us he experienced? How did it impact him? How would it have impacted you if you were there and saw with your own eyes?
• Does this testimony carry any weight with you? Why or why not?
• Has your faith journey been affected by the personal faith stories of others? Are there any which are memorable? Have you ever encourage anyone with your own experiences about the impact of your faith on your life?
• Do those who are committed to a faith journey have an obligation to encourage others with their faith stories? Why or why not?
• What does the writer want us to share with him? What does “communion with the father and his son” mean to you?
• What is his motive for writing? Has your faith life brought you times of joy? What were the circumstances?

The writer tells us how we can experience what he did:

5This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there's not a trace of darkness in him.
6-7If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we're obviously lying through our teeth—we're not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin.
8-10If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we've never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.

• What is the essence of his message? What do his words about God being pure light mean to you? What might be the traces of darkness he assures us are not in God?
• He tells us not to stumble around in the dark, what does that mean to you? Where do we find the light for our faith journey? What brings you insight to your faith life and helps you maintain balance?
 Practically how do we “experience a shared life with one another”? What can we share? Can there be instances when it is hard to share – why? What is the example he gives us of Jesus’ sharing his life? What does this tell us about the limitations we consciously and unconsciously place on our willingness to share with others?
• Is it always easy to confess our shortcomings to ourselves? How do we shield ourselves from admitting them? How does hearing or reading the word sin affect you? How do you fell about the degree of honesty you have in acknowledging your shortcomings?
• What is the reward for being honest with God about ourselves? Who are we kidding if we are not? Who suffers the consequences? Has the willingness to face personal shortcomings been a positive for you in your life? What have some benefits been? Have some been very painful? Have you sensed forgiveness when prayerfully sharing them with God?

We get this scripture’s final assurance from the writer:

1 John 2:1-2 I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world's.

• What are the chances we will steer clear of sin throughout our lives? What is our assurance? How was the “sin problem” solved?
• What does this say about the understanding we should have about our relationship with God? How should we visualize the God with whom we are urged to be honest about and request forgiveness from for our sins? Does God want to hear and forgive?
• What is one thing that you will take away from the scripture and you meditation today? Are you going to find an opportunity to share it with someone else? The writer did.

Closing Prayer

Loving God, I offer what I am to what you are. I stretch up to you in desire, my attention on you alone. I cannot grasp you, explain you, describe you, only cast myself into the depths of your mystery. Let your love pierce the cloud of my unknowing that I might walk in the light. Amen

Adapted from George Appleton – Oxford Book of Prayer

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Acts 3:12-19, Psalm 4, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48



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Paul's Motivation

For February 5, 2012

All Scriptures are from The Message Version
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. Commentaries for these scriptures can be found on Textweek.com through this link
http://www.textweek.com/pauline/1cor9a.htm

Paul spent most of his ministry in some sort of conflict. He raised the ire of both Jews and pagans as he preached the gospel message, argued with other Christians about the Jewish dietary laws and the need to be circumcised, and suffered personal criticism from members of the congregations he help found. In this section of the letter he is dealing with discord among members of the Corinthian Church, urging them to avoid practices, in this case dietary, which might offend others. He uses his own example of not accepting financial support from the congregation for his work even though he strongly supports the obligation they have to do it for others:
1 Corinthians 9:16- 18 If I proclaim the Message, it's not to get something out of it for myself. I'm compelled to do it, and doomed if I don't! If this was my own idea of just another way to make a living, I'd expect some pay. But since it's not my idea but something solemnly entrusted to me, why would I expect to get paid? So am I getting anything out of it? Yes, as a matter of fact: the pleasure of proclaiming the Message at no cost to you. You don't even have to pay my expenses!

• Here Paul speaks about his motivation for proclaiming the gospel. What words stand out for you and what are the feelings and emotions behind his ministry? He is even more blunt in 1 Corinthians 9:1-2:

Haven't I been given a job to do? Wasn't I commissioned to this work in a face-to-face meeting with Jesus, our Master? Aren't you yourselves proof of the good work that I've done for the Master? Even if no one else admits the authority of my commission, you can't deny it. Why, my work with you is living proof of my authority!

• Where is Paul coming from in this argument? What is the essence of his view of the work he is doing in bringing the gospel message to Corinth? How do you picture Paul as he dictates these words to his secretary – demeanor, attitude, voice? Do you see the powerful feelings that are behind his long and demanding journeys to spread The Message?
• Do you react to his assertions? Would you have liked to be around him for any period of time?
• Do you feel all Christians have an obligation to share the gospel message with others? Paul felt personally called to do it, should we? What do you understand to be the gospel message we are to share? Have you ever done it? If so how did it work out?
• What do you think that people really might want to hear from us about our faith life? Will they necessarily immediately relate to the Good News or is hearing about other aspects of our faith journey a better path for building understanding among non-believers?
• We have all had the gospel message shared by someone with us, apparently effectively. What made the Christian faith something you wanted to commit to? Have there been persons who shared the message with you that you that was offensive or in some way made you uneasy? Is it bad to be made uneasy?
• What would have happened if you had not had the message shared with you? Would your life have been different? How so?

Paul continues with some comments about of his approach to sharing The Message:

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

• What is Paul’s strategy to effectively share the gospel message? What does he really mean by this description of his approach to others? Does it involve any compromises? If so do you think that ends justify the means?
• Do you think that this is good advice for us as individuals? What are some of the plusses and minuses of taking this kind of approach? Did Jesus take this approach through the sometimes questionable (in the minds of his contemporaries) character of the company he chose to keep? Can you think of any examples of people who have chosen to minister to those who might be looked down upon?
• What is your response to the word evangelism? Does it have a positive or negative connotation to you? What is behind the feelings you have about this word? What has motivated you to share your faith in the past? What inhibits you?
• Where did the power behind Paul’s work come from? Do you think that that power and a similar call to share our faith comes to us from the same place?

Closing Prayer

Holy one, who makes all things possible, empower us so that we are truly feel free to share the story of our faith with those who need to hear it. Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Mark 1:40-45, 2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

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