Good morning brothers and sisters,
I just heard yesterday evening from our neighbors at the Fire Department that they are hosting an open house beginning at noon on Sunday. It sounds like a lot of fun, and it would be great for people to go. It also means that if you can, it would be best for you to park at the dentist's office across Helendale Rd from the church to free up the parking lot as much as possible. We'll also be meeting after worship to talk about youth ministry. We're also looking forward to the choir's return to worship led by Dr. Soo Yeon Kim. It's quite a full and exciting weekend.
It shouldn't surprise us that Jesus' tearing up the temple caused some anger and confusion among the religious leaders. They ask him what gives him the right to act the way he does. Rather than answering the question, he asks one of his own. He follows that up with a simple, but challenging question about what it means to do God's will. That's always a good question for us to reflect on: what does God want from us and how are we responding?
Blessings,
Sam
Matthew 21:23-32
23When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
28“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. 31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.”
Showing posts with label rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rights. Show all posts
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
setting aside our rights
Good afternoon friends,
Yesterday we saw Paul build a case for why he, as an apostle, has the right to be supported financially in his ministry. Today, he completes that thought by telling why he lays that right aside. He doesn't make use of his rights as a way to go above the calling God laid on him. We as a culture are so fixated on our rights, and they are important. If we had a bit more of Paul's spirit in terms of giving up our rights to serve others, our society would be more of a community and more healthy in many ways.
He also sets his rights aside to make the gospel free for all, so that more people can hear the gospel. Paul stresses that he reaches out to all kinds of people on their own terms, in language they can understand. To people steeped in Judaism, Paul speaks to them in the context of Jewish faith. To people from pagan backgrounds, Paul speaks about the gospel in ways they can understand too. That's our calling for today: reaching out to people with the good news of God's love in ways they can connect with. That means we have to know the people we seek to serve. Our calling is out of the church and in to the world around us, so we can bring hope and love to those in need.
God bless,
Sam
1 Corinthians 9:15-23
15But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this so that they may be applied in my case. Indeed, I would rather die than that—no one will deprive me of my ground for boasting! 16If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! 17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. 18What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.
19For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. 20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
Yesterday we saw Paul build a case for why he, as an apostle, has the right to be supported financially in his ministry. Today, he completes that thought by telling why he lays that right aside. He doesn't make use of his rights as a way to go above the calling God laid on him. We as a culture are so fixated on our rights, and they are important. If we had a bit more of Paul's spirit in terms of giving up our rights to serve others, our society would be more of a community and more healthy in many ways.
He also sets his rights aside to make the gospel free for all, so that more people can hear the gospel. Paul stresses that he reaches out to all kinds of people on their own terms, in language they can understand. To people steeped in Judaism, Paul speaks to them in the context of Jewish faith. To people from pagan backgrounds, Paul speaks about the gospel in ways they can understand too. That's our calling for today: reaching out to people with the good news of God's love in ways they can connect with. That means we have to know the people we seek to serve. Our calling is out of the church and in to the world around us, so we can bring hope and love to those in need.
God bless,
Sam
1 Corinthians 9:15-23
15But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this so that they may be applied in my case. Indeed, I would rather die than that—no one will deprive me of my ground for boasting! 16If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! 17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. 18What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.
19For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. 20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
Friday, February 4, 2011
freedom and responsibility, part 2
Good morning friends,
Our reading for today continues Paul's theme of giving up our rights sometimes for the sake of others. Yesterday he talked about how Christians are free from laws about food and, religiously speaking, have the right and freedom to eat food sacrificed to idols. The thing is for Christians what is most important isn't our rights, but how our behavior impacts others. So while we have the right to eat whatever we want, we are called to be mindful of others in our choices. For this reason, he warns that eating food sacrificed to idols might harm the faith of weaker believers who are used to idols and might get the wrong idea.
In today's reading Paul uses himself as an example because, as an apostle, he has the right to devote himself to the work of proclaiming the gospel without having to make a living besides that. In today's reading he spends a lot of energy explaining why he does have that right, tomorrow we'll see that he's making that case not to use his right but to show how he gives up that right to serve the community better. Service comes before self in the Christian family; responsibility has more weight than rights.
God bless,
Sam
1 Corinthians 9:1-14
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4Do we not have the right to our food and drink? 5Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7Who at any time pays the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk?
8Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same? 9For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever plows should plow in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop. 11If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? 12If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more?
Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is sacrificed on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
Our reading for today continues Paul's theme of giving up our rights sometimes for the sake of others. Yesterday he talked about how Christians are free from laws about food and, religiously speaking, have the right and freedom to eat food sacrificed to idols. The thing is for Christians what is most important isn't our rights, but how our behavior impacts others. So while we have the right to eat whatever we want, we are called to be mindful of others in our choices. For this reason, he warns that eating food sacrificed to idols might harm the faith of weaker believers who are used to idols and might get the wrong idea.
In today's reading Paul uses himself as an example because, as an apostle, he has the right to devote himself to the work of proclaiming the gospel without having to make a living besides that. In today's reading he spends a lot of energy explaining why he does have that right, tomorrow we'll see that he's making that case not to use his right but to show how he gives up that right to serve the community better. Service comes before self in the Christian family; responsibility has more weight than rights.
God bless,
Sam
1 Corinthians 9:1-14
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4Do we not have the right to our food and drink? 5Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7Who at any time pays the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk?
8Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same? 9For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever plows should plow in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop. 11If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? 12If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more?
Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is sacrificed on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
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