power from heaven

Good morning friends,
Today's reading starts the story of Pentecost, and is many ways the birth of the church. Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they receive power from heaven. In today's passage that power comes, and the disciples (including women) begin their ministry.


God bless,
Sam


Acts 2: 1-13

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.


5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Body of Christ

Good evening friends,
Today's reading is a familiar reflection on what it means to be the community of faith, the church. We are Christ's body. We're not just folks who gather for worship or who use the same hymnal, we are Christ's body together. Each one of our gifts are important and we need each other.

God bless,
Sam

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

¹²For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

¹⁴Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. ¹⁵If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. ¹⁹If all were a single member, where would the body be?

²⁰As it is, there are many members, yet one body. ²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²²On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; ²⁴whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, ²⁵that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. ²⁷Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

gifts for service

Good afternoon friends,
First thing, tonight we'll be back at the Boulevard to talk about big questions of life and faith. All questions are welcome and the only rule is respect for all. We start at 8:30 and go to about 10. On Sunday after worship we'll host a potluck lunch to sustain us as we decorate the sanctuary for Advent and Christmas. We'll also touch base on where we are with our mission redefinition as a part of New Beginnings as well as an update on where other congregations are.


Today's reading is short and sweet. Paul reminds his readers that different people have different gifts. A big part of our job as Christians is to prayerfully figure out what gifts God has given us and how we can use those gifts to serve God and help others. As Paul lifts up some specific gifts, he'll continue tomorrow with the most important gift God gives all of us.

Blessings,
Sam

 

1 Corinthians 12:27-31

²⁷Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

one body, many members

Good morning friends,
Today's reading continues Paul's meditation on the church. The church is the body of Christ. Even though we are all different, we are part of one body. Our differences strengthen the body as a whole. So when we think about someone who is getting on our nerves because they see things very different than we do, try thinking about how that person's difference adds something the church needs. We are all part of Christ's body and we need each other.

God bless,
Sam

1 Corinthians 12:12-26

¹²For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. ¹⁴Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. ¹⁵If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. ¹⁹If all were a single member, where would the body be? ²⁰As it is, there are many members, yet one body. ²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 

²²On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; ²⁴whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, ²⁵that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

favoritism

Good afternoon brothers and sisters,
I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and you're getting a chance to relax today. James continues his train of thought about living our faith with an example. He talks about the temptation to play favorites, while God calls us to treat everyone equally. The church should be one place where everyone is welcomed and everyone's gifts and questions are accepted.

Blessings on your day,
Sam

James 2:1-13

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? ²For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, ³and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” ⁴have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

⁵Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? ⁶But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? ⁷Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

⁸You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ⁹But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. ¹¹For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ¹²So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. ¹³For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

content in prison

Good morning brothers and sisters,
This closing piece of Paul's letter seems to have been written in response to a gift he received from the Philippian church. Throughout his ministry, Paul took pride in working to support himself, rather than being supported by the communities he served. It seems that the Philippian church was a bit of an exception, since they did support him and continue to support him in prison. Paul's comments about being able to be content in any circumstances through Christ is a helpful piece of encouragement, though we also know that as Christians we are called to serve those in need material and not just serve spiritual needs.

God bless,
Sam

Philippians 4:10-22

10I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. 11Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 12I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. 13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.



14In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress. 15You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone. 16For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once. 17Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that accumulates to your account.



18I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.



20To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 21Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The friends who are with me greet you. 22All the saints greet you, especially those of the emperor’s household. 23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

bearing gifts

Good morning sisters and brothers,
As Jacob nears Esau he plans to send a generous gift ahead of him to soften his brother up. He sends this present in groups with servants bearing greetings accompanying each drove. Through repetition and generosity, coupled with the humility of calling Esau "lord" Jacob hopes he will be received well, or at least peaceably. We'll see how the plan plays out in future readings. Please make time today to pray for VBS and for our music director search.
Blessings on your day,
Sam

Genesis 32: 13-21

13So he spent that night there, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, 14two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15thirty milch camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16These he delivered into the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on ahead of me, and put a space between drove and drove.”


17He instructed the foremost, “When Esau my brother meets you, and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?’ 18then you shall say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob; they are a present sent to my lord Esau; and moreover he is behind us.’“ 19He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, “You shall say the same thing to Esau when you meet him, 20and you shall say, ‘Moreover your servant Jacob is behind us.’“ For he thought, “I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterwards I shall see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” 21So the present passed on ahead of him; and he himself spent that night in the camp.

using our talents

Good morning friends,
Luke says that Jesus told this parable because people were expecting the kingdom of God to appear immediately. With that introduction, we expect to hear a parable about the kingdom of God. The parable puts that kingdom sometime in the future. The landowner goes to receive royal power. Jesus already has royal power, but it's not obvious. The fullness of power comes to him through the cross and resurrection, but still won't be obvious until he returns again in power at the end of history. During his journey the landowner leaves his servants/slaves with his money to make good use of it. When he returns he judges the efforts of each servant.

The parable invites us to think about how we use our gifts. God gives us different abilities to use while we are alive and before Christ returns in power. We can use them well to make the world a bit more like God's kingdom or we can be fearful and use them poorly or not at all. We can also expect the kingdom to come in the future or reject God's rule. In the end Christ will be king and we will answer for how we used our time and talents.

Blessings on your ministry this week,
Sam

Luke 19:11-27

11As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12So he said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. 13He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’ 14But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’

15When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. 16The first came forward and said, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.’ 17He said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.’ 18Then the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ 19He said to him, ‘And you, rule over five cities.’

20Then the other came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, 21for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22He said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.’ 24He said to the bystanders, ‘Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ 25(And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) 26‘I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.’”

training in Godliness

Good morning folks,
This is one of my favorite parts of Paul's letter to Timothy because the encouragement is personally meant for Timothy and yet still applicable to all Christians and especially to those in leadership roles. In particular the comparison of physical training with "training in Godliness" challenges me and reminds me that I need my spiritual exercise even more than physical exercise. There were certainly times over the last few months that I have neglected personal Bible reading to go for a run; Paul reminds me what's really important.

Paul puts faith in God front and center. Because we have "our hope set on the living God" we can struggle for justice and for the gospel. This faith strengthens us in hardship and allows us to be faithful in our ministry. Paul also reminds Timothy, "Do not neglect the gift that is in you..." That word is meant for all of us because God has given each of us gifts for ministry. If we develop and use our gifts we will find incredible blessings in service. If we neglect them we waste a wonderful opportunity from God.
Blessings as you use your gifts for ministry today,
Sam


1 Timothy 4:7-16

7Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness, 8for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. 10For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 11These are the things you must insist on and teach.


12Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. 14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. 15Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. 16Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.