Good evening friends,
Acts begins where Luke's Gospel left off, since it is a sequel, with the disciples watching Jesus ascend into heaven. Jesus tells them to wait in Jerusalem until they receive "power from on high." In the power of that Holy Spirit, they will be witnesses to God's love in Jesus to the whole world starting from Jerusalem. We continue the calling to use the gifts God gives us for ministry to witness to God's love with our words and actions.
God bless,
Sam
Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Showing posts with label mission. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mission. Show all posts
Monday, June 2, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Thomas and the gang
Good evening friends,
I hope your Easter was joyful; with beautiful worship in three different sites, mine certainly was. Today's story takes us a little further in the story of the risen Jesus. Jesus appears to his disciples and they aren't quite sure what to do. He gives them a mission and the power to do it. We continue that mission today, with the faith and questions of Thomas and the others.
God bless,
Sam
John 20:19-25
19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
I hope your Easter was joyful; with beautiful worship in three different sites, mine certainly was. Today's story takes us a little further in the story of the risen Jesus. Jesus appears to his disciples and they aren't quite sure what to do. He gives them a mission and the power to do it. We continue that mission today, with the faith and questions of Thomas and the others.
God bless,
Sam
John 20:19-25
19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
Saturday, November 2, 2013
why?
Good afternoon friends,
Today's reading shows us Jesus' disciples asking an honest question. Who sinned, the man or his parents that he was born blind. We think that success and failure, illness and health are all connected to whether we're doing things right. The truth is sometimes we do everything wrong and things go well or we do everything right and things go badly. And when things go wrong, it's a great opportunity for us to help others. That's what we'll be digging into tomorrow in worship.
God bless,
Sam
Today's reading shows us Jesus' disciples asking an honest question. Who sinned, the man or his parents that he was born blind. We think that success and failure, illness and health are all connected to whether we're doing things right. The truth is sometimes we do everything wrong and things go well or we do everything right and things go badly. And when things go wrong, it's a great opportunity for us to help others. That's what we'll be digging into tomorrow in worship.
God bless,
Sam
John 9:1-7
As he walked
along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him,
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus
answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that
God’s works might be revealed in him.
4We must work
the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can
work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6When
he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread
the mud on the man’s eyes, 7saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of
Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
sent in mission like Jesus
Good afternoon friends,
Today in worship we talked about how our most important mission as Christians is how we live everyday in our work, with our friends and family, and in the other things we spend our time doing. Much of our ministry is in the world. Our passage for today is part of Jesus' great prayer to God the Father about the disciples. He prays about the tension that the disciples (and we) face: they are in the world, but connected to God beyond the world. Jesus sends the disciples into the world like the Father sent him. We are the sent people in mission to the world with prayer.
God bless,
Sam
20”I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on
behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21that
they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also
be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22The
glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we
are one, 23I in them and you in me, that they may become completely
one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even
as you have loved me.
Today in worship we talked about how our most important mission as Christians is how we live everyday in our work, with our friends and family, and in the other things we spend our time doing. Much of our ministry is in the world. Our passage for today is part of Jesus' great prayer to God the Father about the disciples. He prays about the tension that the disciples (and we) face: they are in the world, but connected to God beyond the world. Jesus sends the disciples into the world like the Father sent him. We are the sent people in mission to the world with prayer.
God bless,
Sam
John
17:15-23
15I am not
asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from
the evil one. 16They do not belong to the world, just as I do not
belong to the world.
17Sanctify
them in the truth; your word is truth. 18As you have sent me into
the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19And for their sakes
I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Come and see
Good evening sisters and brothers,
It was a blessing to serve with our friends at People's Ministry in Christ today giving away clothes and food to folks in the neighborhood. While some from Laurelton were serving there others were serving at Cafe, where we had 49 guests for breakfast. At the same time members of our congregation are getting ready to go to New Jersey to help folks rebuild from Super Storm Sandy. God is at work through our congregation, and that's an exciting thing.
As we think and pray about the mission God gives us, we also turn to scripture. Our story today is about John the Baptist introducing two of his disciples to Jesus and then those folks invite others. The invitation isn't pushy, it's just welcoming people to "come and see." We can invite people to come and see what it means to follow Jesus too. We don't have to have the answers, just welcome people to the surprising journey of grace which is discipleship.
God bless,
Sam
It was a blessing to serve with our friends at People's Ministry in Christ today giving away clothes and food to folks in the neighborhood. While some from Laurelton were serving there others were serving at Cafe, where we had 49 guests for breakfast. At the same time members of our congregation are getting ready to go to New Jersey to help folks rebuild from Super Storm Sandy. God is at work through our congregation, and that's an exciting thing.
As we think and pray about the mission God gives us, we also turn to scripture. Our story today is about John the Baptist introducing two of his disciples to Jesus and then those folks invite others. The invitation isn't pushy, it's just welcoming people to "come and see." We can invite people to come and see what it means to follow Jesus too. We don't have to have the answers, just welcome people to the surprising journey of grace which is discipleship.
God bless,
Sam
John
1:35-50
35The next day
John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36and as he
watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”
37The two
disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38When Jesus
turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you
staying?” 39He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where
he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock
in the afternoon. 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed
him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first found his brother
Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated
Anointed). 42He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said,
“You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated
Peter).
43The next day
Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44Now
Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip
found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law
and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46Nathanael
said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him,
“Come and see.”
47When Jesus
saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in
whom there is no deceit!” 48Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get
to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called
you.” 49Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are
the King of Israel!” 50Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I
told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than
these.”
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
going new places
Good morning friends,
Today's reading is interesting, first because of the direct guidance about travel that Paul experiences. The text doesn't give any reason why they were "forbidden" by God to preach in Asia, but the vision of the Macedonian man is a key image for missionaries everywhere. The other part of this passage that intrigues me is that in Philippi, instead of going to a synagogue on the Sabbath like he usually does, Paul goes outside the city to a place he thinks people might pray. I see this as a progression in the ministry to the gentiles; Paul isn't just looking for gentiles who already worship God. It's also a reminder that if we want to reach people, we need to go where they are, not just where we are most comfortable.
God bless,
Sam
Today's reading is interesting, first because of the direct guidance about travel that Paul experiences. The text doesn't give any reason why they were "forbidden" by God to preach in Asia, but the vision of the Macedonian man is a key image for missionaries everywhere. The other part of this passage that intrigues me is that in Philippi, instead of going to a synagogue on the Sabbath like he usually does, Paul goes outside the city to a place he thinks people might pray. I see this as a progression in the ministry to the gentiles; Paul isn't just looking for gentiles who already worship God. It's also a reminder that if we want to reach people, we need to go where they are, not just where we are most comfortable.
God bless,
Sam
Acts
16:6-15
6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having
been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7When
they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the
Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; 8so, passing by Mysia, they went
down to Troas. 9During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a
man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help
us.’ 10When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross
over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good
news to them.
11 We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to
Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, 12and from there to
Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for
some days. 13On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the
river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke
to the women who had gathered there. 14A certain woman named Lydia, a
worshipper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a
dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was
said by Paul. 15When she and her household were baptized, she urged
us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at
my home.’ And she prevailed upon us.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Christ's mission in the world
Good morning brothers and sisters,
As many of you know, Laurelton is part of a coalition of urban churches called Urban Presbyterians Together (UPT). The latest UPT project is an exciting one: we're building a house together. Along with Flower City Habitat for Humanity, UPT members and friends are building a house in the JOSANA neighborhood in Rochester. No prior experience is needed to volunteer, but you do need to be 16 or older. Work days run from 8:45 to 3:45 Wednesday through Saturday and Tuesday 9:45-3:45. You can only sign up for a full day. You can sign up on your own or with friends. The easiest way to sign up is through the Habitat website, which I've linked below. You can also call the Habitat office to sign up. It's not possible to sign up for part of a day. If you have any questions, please feel free to give me or Charlie Plummer a call or email.
http://urbanpresbyterians.org/
to sign up by phone: Kayla Himelein
546.1470 ext. 315
Our reading for the day is the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, commonly called just Acts. Acts is the sequel to Luke's Gospel, so going right from yesterday's close of Luke to the opening of Acts is fitting. Notice that Jesus gives his disciples a mission and tells them to wait for the Holy Spirit. The mission is to spread the good news of forgiveness and love in Jesus Christ to the whole world. Even before the Spirit comes, the disciples are praying, which is a great attitude for us too as we seek where God is leading.
God bless,
Sam
As many of you know, Laurelton is part of a coalition of urban churches called Urban Presbyterians Together (UPT). The latest UPT project is an exciting one: we're building a house together. Along with Flower City Habitat for Humanity, UPT members and friends are building a house in the JOSANA neighborhood in Rochester. No prior experience is needed to volunteer, but you do need to be 16 or older. Work days run from 8:45 to 3:45 Wednesday through Saturday and Tuesday 9:45-3:45. You can only sign up for a full day. You can sign up on your own or with friends. The easiest way to sign up is through the Habitat website, which I've linked below. You can also call the Habitat office to sign up. It's not possible to sign up for part of a day. If you have any questions, please feel free to give me or Charlie Plummer a call or email.
http://urbanpresbyterians.org/
to sign up by phone: Kayla Himelein
546.1470 ext. 315
Our reading for the day is the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, commonly called just Acts. Acts is the sequel to Luke's Gospel, so going right from yesterday's close of Luke to the opening of Acts is fitting. Notice that Jesus gives his disciples a mission and tells them to wait for the Holy Spirit. The mission is to spread the good news of forgiveness and love in Jesus Christ to the whole world. Even before the Spirit comes, the disciples are praying, which is a great attitude for us too as we seek where God is leading.
God bless,
Sam
Acts 1:1-14
In the first
book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the
beginning 2until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after
giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many
convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the
kingdom of God. 4While staying with them, he ordered them not to
leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he
said, “is what you have heard from me; 5for John baptized with
water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6So when they
had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will
restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He replied, “It is not for you to
know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth.”
9When he had
said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of
their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up toward
heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said,
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has
been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go
into heaven.”
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount
called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13When
they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were
staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew
and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of
James. 14All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer,
together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his
brothers.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Christ is Risen!
Good evening friends,
Today we're reminded that Jesus' death was not the end of the story. Christ rose again from the grave and met with his disciples to encourage them for their ministry to the world. With the resurrection a new phase of ministry began, a ministry we continue today. Our calling is to share God's amazing love in Christ with the world.
Blessings on your weekend,
Sam
Today we're reminded that Jesus' death was not the end of the story. Christ rose again from the grave and met with his disciples to encourage them for their ministry to the world. With the resurrection a new phase of ministry began, a ministry we continue today. Our calling is to share God's amazing love in Christ with the world.
Blessings on your weekend,
Sam
Matthew
28:1-10
After
the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the
other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And suddenly there was a great
earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled
back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning,
and his clothing white as snow. 4For fear of him the guards shook
and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not
be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6He
is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he
lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised
from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will
see him.” This is my message for you.’
8So they left the
tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly
Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his
feet, and worshipped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be
afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’
Monday, May 14, 2012
day one
Good morning sisters and brothers,
Our Laurelton team in New Orleans arrived safe and sound yesterday, did a little exploring and settled into our new home. Today was our first day at work with expert site supervision from Quint and Christine. We just came home after a good, hard day's work. Now it's off to the showers and dinner before we enjoy some music. Thanks for your prayers.
Today's reading continues Paul's argument that the resurrection is essential to Christian faith. His point in this section is that our faith gives us hope beyond death, which is why Christians are often willing to risk their life for their faith. When we know we're safe in God's arms even in death, we don't have to be afraid of any powers in the world. We can serve others, share faith and stand up for justice, even if the risks are great. God is with us always.
God bless,
Sam
Our Laurelton team in New Orleans arrived safe and sound yesterday, did a little exploring and settled into our new home. Today was our first day at work with expert site supervision from Quint and Christine. We just came home after a good, hard day's work. Now it's off to the showers and dinner before we enjoy some music. Thanks for your prayers.
Today's reading continues Paul's argument that the resurrection is essential to Christian faith. His point in this section is that our faith gives us hope beyond death, which is why Christians are often willing to risk their life for their faith. When we know we're safe in God's arms even in death, we don't have to be afraid of any powers in the world. We can serve others, share faith and stand up for justice, even if the risks are great. God is with us always.
God bless,
Sam
1 Corinthians 15:26-34
26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is plain that this does not include the one who put all things in subjection under him. 28When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all.
29Otherwise, what will those people do who receive baptism on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30And why are we putting ourselves in danger every hour? 31I die every day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you—a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32If with merely human hopes I fought with wild animals at Ephesus, what would I have gained by it? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34Come to a sober and right mind, and sin no more; for some people have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
great commission
Good morning brothers and sisters,
This morning I'm running in the Flower City Half-Marathon and then heading off to a conference/retreat for newer ministers. It's a great conference and I'm grateful to be able to Go. I'll still have access to email, and if you need me, feel free to call. I'll be back in town Thursday evening.
Today's passage is known as the "Great Commission" because in it, Jesus gives the disciples (and thus, the church) their mission for the rest of history. This is still a good way to think about what the church's job is. Not only do we claim Jesus' calling to make disciples and teach to the ends of the earth, we also claim his promise to be with us forever. What a great promise to put our faith in.
God bless,
Sam
This morning I'm running in the Flower City Half-Marathon and then heading off to a conference/retreat for newer ministers. It's a great conference and I'm grateful to be able to Go. I'll still have access to email, and if you need me, feel free to call. I'll be back in town Thursday evening.
Today's passage is known as the "Great Commission" because in it, Jesus gives the disciples (and thus, the church) their mission for the rest of history. This is still a good way to think about what the church's job is. Not only do we claim Jesus' calling to make disciples and teach to the ends of the earth, we also claim his promise to be with us forever. What a great promise to put our faith in.
God bless,
Sam
Matthew 28:16-20
16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
sent in mission, part 2
Good morning brothers and sisters,
Today's passage is similar to yesterday in that Jesus sends out disciples to heal, teach and prepare the way for his message. The difference is that here he sends out more disciples and gives more detailed instruction. We often think of Jesus as a "one man operation" or think only about him and the 12 disciples. This passage reminds us that there were many disciples and all played important roles. Where might Jesus want to send you?
God bless,
Sam
Today's passage is similar to yesterday in that Jesus sends out disciples to heal, teach and prepare the way for his message. The difference is that here he sends out more disciples and gives more detailed instruction. We often think of Jesus as a "one man operation" or think only about him and the 12 disciples. This passage reminds us that there were many disciples and all played important roles. Where might Jesus want to send you?
God bless,
Sam
Luke 10:1-12
After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ 6And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.
7Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
sent in mission, part 1
Good evening friends,
This weekend we'll be reading about Jesus' "Great Commission" to his disciples after he rose from the dead. To get us thinking about their mission and our mission we're going to take a look a a couple examples of earlier commissions from Jesus. In our passage for today, Jesus gives his disciples power and sends them out to heal and preach the good news of God's kingdom. That's still a core piece of the church's mission today. How can you live that out in your life this week?
God bless,
Sam
This weekend we'll be reading about Jesus' "Great Commission" to his disciples after he rose from the dead. To get us thinking about their mission and our mission we're going to take a look a a couple examples of earlier commissions from Jesus. In our passage for today, Jesus gives his disciples power and sends them out to heal and preach the good news of God's kingdom. That's still a core piece of the church's mission today. How can you live that out in your life this week?
God bless,
Sam
Luke 9:1-6
Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. 5Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
disturbing call
Good morning brothers and sisters,
If you ever needed biblical proof that God works through people this is the passage. God says he has heard Israel’s cry and will save them from Egypt. Then right away God says he’s heard Israel’s cry so he will send Moses to bring Israel out of Egypt. God is going to do this through Moses.
Not surprisingly, Moses has some hesitation about this plan. God promises to be with him and gives him God’s name to take to the Israelites. God’s name is I am who I am, which points to constancy and mystery. God also tells Moses that the people will worship God at the very mountain on which he and Moses are speaking. Moses isn’t entirely convinced, but the conversation continues.
God bless,
Sam
Exodus 3:7-15
7Then the LORD said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, 8and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. 10So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. 11But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.”
13But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’:
This is my name forever,
and this my title for all generations.”
If you ever needed biblical proof that God works through people this is the passage. God says he has heard Israel’s cry and will save them from Egypt. Then right away God says he’s heard Israel’s cry so he will send Moses to bring Israel out of Egypt. God is going to do this through Moses.
Not surprisingly, Moses has some hesitation about this plan. God promises to be with him and gives him God’s name to take to the Israelites. God’s name is I am who I am, which points to constancy and mystery. God also tells Moses that the people will worship God at the very mountain on which he and Moses are speaking. Moses isn’t entirely convinced, but the conversation continues.
God bless,
Sam
Exodus 3:7-15
7Then the LORD said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, 8and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. 10So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. 11But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.”
13But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’:
This is my name forever,
and this my title for all generations.”
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
sparrows and such
Good morning brothers and sisters,
Tonight at the Boulevard at 8pm we'll have our second to last discussion on Love Wins. We've had a very small group the last several meetings, and it would be great to have a few more. We're discussing up through chapter 6 tonight, though if you haven't gotten there you are still most welcome.
Jesus warns his disciples that they will face opposition from the world, just like he has. At the same time he encourages them that God will be keeping an eye on them. Even with God's help, the disciples may still face death, but God's love and power goes beyond death. It is hard for me to wrap my mind around God caring about each sparrow, but I'm glad even the small parts of life are important to God.
blessings on your day,
Sam
Matthew 10:24-33
24“A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! 26“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.
28Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32“Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
Tonight at the Boulevard at 8pm we'll have our second to last discussion on Love Wins. We've had a very small group the last several meetings, and it would be great to have a few more. We're discussing up through chapter 6 tonight, though if you haven't gotten there you are still most welcome.
Jesus warns his disciples that they will face opposition from the world, just like he has. At the same time he encourages them that God will be keeping an eye on them. Even with God's help, the disciples may still face death, but God's love and power goes beyond death. It is hard for me to wrap my mind around God caring about each sparrow, but I'm glad even the small parts of life are important to God.
blessings on your day,
Sam
Matthew 10:24-33
24“A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! 26“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.
28Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32“Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
Monday, June 20, 2011
sent with a message
Good morning sisters and brothers,
Today we're going back in time from where we have been in the Gospel story. We're doing that because in our worship life we follow the church year and take our worship readings from a calendar called the lectionary. The lectionary provides readings for each Sunday and festival from the Old Testament, Psalms, letters and Gospels. In the church year Easter is 7 Sundays, followed by Pentecost (last Sunday). Yesterday was Trinity Sunday which begins Ordinary Time. During Ordinary Time our readings follow the life of Jesus, so we pick back up in chapter 10, which is where we left the Gospel when Lent began. Over the next several months we will be following the Gospel of Matthew along with stories from the Old Testament and letters to churches.
In today's reading Jesus sends out his 12 disciples to heal the sick and possessed and to announce the good news of God's love. Imagine yourself in their position. How would you feel? Would you be excited? Scared? What mission do you feel God has given you this week?
Blessings,
Sam
Matthew 10:1-15
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food.
11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12As you enter the house, greet it. 13If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
Today we're going back in time from where we have been in the Gospel story. We're doing that because in our worship life we follow the church year and take our worship readings from a calendar called the lectionary. The lectionary provides readings for each Sunday and festival from the Old Testament, Psalms, letters and Gospels. In the church year Easter is 7 Sundays, followed by Pentecost (last Sunday). Yesterday was Trinity Sunday which begins Ordinary Time. During Ordinary Time our readings follow the life of Jesus, so we pick back up in chapter 10, which is where we left the Gospel when Lent began. Over the next several months we will be following the Gospel of Matthew along with stories from the Old Testament and letters to churches.
In today's reading Jesus sends out his 12 disciples to heal the sick and possessed and to announce the good news of God's love. Imagine yourself in their position. How would you feel? Would you be excited? Scared? What mission do you feel God has given you this week?
Blessings,
Sam
Matthew 10:1-15
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food.
11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12As you enter the house, greet it. 13If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
creation and calling
Good morning sisters and brothers,
Today we'll be worshiping in Christler Hall. Immediately after worship we will hold our annual meeting to elect officers for the coming year. I hope you will be there to support our new elders and share your opinion. Nominations from the floor are allowed also as long as the person you want to nominate is present and agrees to serve.
Our first reading is a beautiful Psalm praising God in wonder for the beauty of creation. As another beautiful day opens in Rochester, this Psalm feels very appropriate. The second lesson is Jesus' great commission to the disciples (including us). It's short, but there's lots going on, which we'll also talk about in worship. I hope to see you there.
blessings,
Sam
Psalm 8:1-9
1 O LORD, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
4 what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
*Sunday
Matthew 28:16-20
16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Today we'll be worshiping in Christler Hall. Immediately after worship we will hold our annual meeting to elect officers for the coming year. I hope you will be there to support our new elders and share your opinion. Nominations from the floor are allowed also as long as the person you want to nominate is present and agrees to serve.
Our first reading is a beautiful Psalm praising God in wonder for the beauty of creation. As another beautiful day opens in Rochester, this Psalm feels very appropriate. The second lesson is Jesus' great commission to the disciples (including us). It's short, but there's lots going on, which we'll also talk about in worship. I hope to see you there.
blessings,
Sam
Psalm 8:1-9
1 O LORD, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
4 what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
*Sunday
Matthew 28:16-20
16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Thursday, March 24, 2011
journey into Samaria
Good morning friends,
We dug into this story some on Sunday. Jesus is traveling through Samaria. The woman puts the division between Jews and Samaritans on the table right away. For much of Israel's history the nation was divided into a southern kingdom, Judah, whose capital was Jerusalem, and a northern kingdom, Israel, whose capital was Samaria. In 722 BC the northern kingdom was defeated by the Assyrian Empire and its people were taken into exile. The land was resettled with people from all over the empire. In an interesting twist, God sent wild animals to threaten and kill some of the new inhabitants, so the Assyrians sent back a few priests to teach the way to worship God. The people then worshiped the Lord, but also kept up their other observances.
With that history and the resulting jealousy, Jews thought of Samaritans as intruders in their land and as impostors in the faith. Jesus tells lots of stories about Samaritans because they were the hated minority in his culture. Jews looked down on them, and yet here is Jesus starting a relationship and offering living water. May we have the courage to do the same.
God bless,
Sam
John 4:5-15
5So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.6Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.
7A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8(His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)
10Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” 13Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” 15The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”
We dug into this story some on Sunday. Jesus is traveling through Samaria. The woman puts the division between Jews and Samaritans on the table right away. For much of Israel's history the nation was divided into a southern kingdom, Judah, whose capital was Jerusalem, and a northern kingdom, Israel, whose capital was Samaria. In 722 BC the northern kingdom was defeated by the Assyrian Empire and its people were taken into exile. The land was resettled with people from all over the empire. In an interesting twist, God sent wild animals to threaten and kill some of the new inhabitants, so the Assyrians sent back a few priests to teach the way to worship God. The people then worshiped the Lord, but also kept up their other observances.
With that history and the resulting jealousy, Jews thought of Samaritans as intruders in their land and as impostors in the faith. Jesus tells lots of stories about Samaritans because they were the hated minority in his culture. Jews looked down on them, and yet here is Jesus starting a relationship and offering living water. May we have the courage to do the same.
God bless,
Sam
John 4:5-15
5So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.6Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.
7A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8(His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)
10Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” 13Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” 15The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
outside in
Good morning friends,
Today we remember the attack on Pearl Harbor and the war that followed. We're grateful for the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform throughout our history, and we grieve for all the lives lost in conflict. We pray for peace, both in our cities and around the world.
Paul's letter to the Romans is different from his other letters in that he hadn't founded or previously visited the church in Rome. As he explains here, his mission throughout his ministry had been bringing Christ to places that didn't know him yet. Now he feels he has completed the first phase of the evangelization of the area and he wants to visit new places including Spain. As part of this plan he wants to come to Rome. Since he is writing to a community that is already established he recognizes that he is not their teacher or leader. He still feels he has something to offer them in terms of spiritual advise, because of God's grace to him. He relates his whole intent with them to the growth of harmony between Jews and gentiles in the church of Christ.
This passage encourages me to remember the constant need to share the good news with those who don't know Jesus. In our setting there aren't many people who have never heard of Jesus, but there are many who don't really know who he was or the good news of love he represents. Let's always be on the lookout for chances to share that joyful word with others.
God bless,
Sam
Romans 15:14-24
14I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15Nevertheless on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. 18For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ. 20Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation, 21but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him shall see, and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”
22This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you 24when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while.
Today we remember the attack on Pearl Harbor and the war that followed. We're grateful for the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform throughout our history, and we grieve for all the lives lost in conflict. We pray for peace, both in our cities and around the world.
Paul's letter to the Romans is different from his other letters in that he hadn't founded or previously visited the church in Rome. As he explains here, his mission throughout his ministry had been bringing Christ to places that didn't know him yet. Now he feels he has completed the first phase of the evangelization of the area and he wants to visit new places including Spain. As part of this plan he wants to come to Rome. Since he is writing to a community that is already established he recognizes that he is not their teacher or leader. He still feels he has something to offer them in terms of spiritual advise, because of God's grace to him. He relates his whole intent with them to the growth of harmony between Jews and gentiles in the church of Christ.
This passage encourages me to remember the constant need to share the good news with those who don't know Jesus. In our setting there aren't many people who have never heard of Jesus, but there are many who don't really know who he was or the good news of love he represents. Let's always be on the lookout for chances to share that joyful word with others.
God bless,
Sam
Romans 15:14-24
14I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15Nevertheless on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. 18For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ. 20Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation, 21but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him shall see, and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”
22This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you 24when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
resurrection and the body of Christ
Good morning sisters and brothers,
First, a huge congratulations to everyone who helped make the dinner and talent show a success. A lot of hard work went into the evening, and it seemed like all our guests (and hosts) had a great time. Second, remember to set your clocks back and enjoy an extra hour this morning. Third, our readings for this morning are also our readings for the service. After worship, we'll have a sermon talk-back session to give us an extra opportunity to dig into these readings. Start thinking of questions and insights now to make the most of the opportunity.
We hear a lot about Jesus' disagreement with the Pharisees, but less about his interactions with the Sadducees, another major religious group of his time. The Sadducees and Pharisees both took scripture and Jewish faith very seriously during Roman occupation. The Pharisees were mostly teachers in the synagogue, and in addition to the clear teaching of scripture they also believed in additional revelations from God through angels and the resurrection of the dead in the future. The Sadducees were more associated with the Jerusalem temple and the priesthood. They did not believe in angels or the resurrection. They want to explore/challenge Jesus' views on the resurrection with a scenario based on levirate marriage, the tradition of a man marrying his brother's widow if his brother had died without having children. This seems like a creepy custom to us, but the purpose was to provide for the widow (since women didn't really have other economic options) and to preserve the brother's inheritance, land and name.
Our passage from Ephesians reminds us of the importance of prayer and of the amazing power of God. When we face struggles in our lives or in the church it can be easy to forget God's wonderful love and power. Paul reminds his readers that God's power raised Jesus from the dead and put him above every power (emperor, council, jailer) imaginable. We are part of Christ's body as the church, so in that power we can do anything through Christ. We have an important mission as Christ's body, to seek and save the lost, to heal the sick, to comfort the lonely. With the Spirit's power there's nothing we can't do.
God bless,
Sam
Luke 20:27-38
27Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28and asked him a question, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30then the second 31and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32Finally the woman also died. 33In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her."
34Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive."
* Sunday
Ephesians 1:11-23
15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
20God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
First, a huge congratulations to everyone who helped make the dinner and talent show a success. A lot of hard work went into the evening, and it seemed like all our guests (and hosts) had a great time. Second, remember to set your clocks back and enjoy an extra hour this morning. Third, our readings for this morning are also our readings for the service. After worship, we'll have a sermon talk-back session to give us an extra opportunity to dig into these readings. Start thinking of questions and insights now to make the most of the opportunity.
We hear a lot about Jesus' disagreement with the Pharisees, but less about his interactions with the Sadducees, another major religious group of his time. The Sadducees and Pharisees both took scripture and Jewish faith very seriously during Roman occupation. The Pharisees were mostly teachers in the synagogue, and in addition to the clear teaching of scripture they also believed in additional revelations from God through angels and the resurrection of the dead in the future. The Sadducees were more associated with the Jerusalem temple and the priesthood. They did not believe in angels or the resurrection. They want to explore/challenge Jesus' views on the resurrection with a scenario based on levirate marriage, the tradition of a man marrying his brother's widow if his brother had died without having children. This seems like a creepy custom to us, but the purpose was to provide for the widow (since women didn't really have other economic options) and to preserve the brother's inheritance, land and name.
Our passage from Ephesians reminds us of the importance of prayer and of the amazing power of God. When we face struggles in our lives or in the church it can be easy to forget God's wonderful love and power. Paul reminds his readers that God's power raised Jesus from the dead and put him above every power (emperor, council, jailer) imaginable. We are part of Christ's body as the church, so in that power we can do anything through Christ. We have an important mission as Christ's body, to seek and save the lost, to heal the sick, to comfort the lonely. With the Spirit's power there's nothing we can't do.
God bless,
Sam
Luke 20:27-38
27Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28and asked him a question, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30then the second 31and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32Finally the woman also died. 33In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her."
34Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive."
* Sunday
Ephesians 1:11-23
15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
20God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
God's revelation
Good morning friends,
After some time immersed in Amos over the last several days today's passage from Luke is a bit of a surprise. We pick up with the second half of our passage from last Sunday's worship when Jesus sent out seventy of his disciples as an advance team. Today those seventy returned to Jesus rejoicing at the power of his name. They were able to heal and cast out devils. Jesus confirms their joy, saying in their victory over demons Jesus saw Satan's defeat. At the same time he reminds them not to be so excited about these wonders, but instead to rejoice in their salvation.
Jesus gives thanks to God for the way God reveals himself to the simple (like the disciples) instead of to the wise scholars (like the Pharisees). He doesn't get into why this is, but only that that is God's "gracious will." We can rejoice and be glad because we've been chosen to get to know and share God's mission today. It really doesn't matter if we feel up to the task, if we think we're qualified to be God's ambassadors or not. God has called us and in Jesus name God gives us all the power we need for our ministry.
God bless,
Sam
Luke 10:17-24
17The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” 18He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
21At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 23Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
After some time immersed in Amos over the last several days today's passage from Luke is a bit of a surprise. We pick up with the second half of our passage from last Sunday's worship when Jesus sent out seventy of his disciples as an advance team. Today those seventy returned to Jesus rejoicing at the power of his name. They were able to heal and cast out devils. Jesus confirms their joy, saying in their victory over demons Jesus saw Satan's defeat. At the same time he reminds them not to be so excited about these wonders, but instead to rejoice in their salvation.
Jesus gives thanks to God for the way God reveals himself to the simple (like the disciples) instead of to the wise scholars (like the Pharisees). He doesn't get into why this is, but only that that is God's "gracious will." We can rejoice and be glad because we've been chosen to get to know and share God's mission today. It really doesn't matter if we feel up to the task, if we think we're qualified to be God's ambassadors or not. God has called us and in Jesus name God gives us all the power we need for our ministry.
God bless,
Sam
Luke 10:17-24
17The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” 18He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
21At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 23Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
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