with the Word online Bible study–seeing-believing

Mark 8.27-33

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

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What pops out at you in this story? Is there anything that makes you go “hmm….” or “huh?” or “hey!!!!” Are you reminded of any other stories–whether in the Bible, in literature/movies/music/TV, or in your own life? As you read, do you hear any music in your head?

Have you ever felt like Peter–getting it right and then immediately wrong in the next sentence?

In our world today, who do people say that Jesus is? who do YOU say that Jesus is? and who does JESUS say that he is? How do these three descriptions go together?

What does it mean that Jesus is the Messiah? What connotations does the word “Messiah” have for you/in our culture? How does Jesus meet those expectations (if at all)? What expectations does Jesus meet (if any)?

When have you, or we as a church, set our mind on human things instead of divine things? How do we get back on track?

What do you hear as the good news in this text? What do you hear as a challenge? What might this passage have to say to our community today?

With the World online Bible study–Golden Age-Promise

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron and said to him, ‘Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ Aaron said to them, ‘Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.’ So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from them, formed it in a mould, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, ‘Tomorrow shall be a festival to the Lord.’ They rose early the next day, and offered burnt-offerings and brought sacrifices of well-being; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.

The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshipped it and sacrificed to it, and said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” ’ The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation.’

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What pops out at you in this story? Is there anything that makes you go “hmm….” or “huh?” or “hey!!!!” Are you reminded of any other stories–whether in the Bible, in literature/movies/music/TV, or in your own life? As you read, do you hear any music in your head?

Statues of gods were common practice in the ancient world, but the God of the Israelites did not have a statue representation. How does that make it easier or harder to be faithful?

The Israelites are impatient waiting for Moses to come down the mountain–have you ever felt impatient waiting for God? What did you do while you were waiting?

The choice to make statues to stand in the place of God (and to carry attributes of God, like “brought you out of Egypt”) is in many ways a look back at the good-old-days, as the Israelites tend to do (you can often find them whining about how great Egypt was, compared to the wilderness…never mind that they were slaves in Egypt!). When you are tempted to idealize the past, what helps you to look forward at God’s promise instead?

It can be hard to look mystery in the face and still walk into it…sometimes the past we know (however good-bad-mixed it may have been) is easier and more comforting than the wilderness of promise and mystery. How do we discern which is the right way, and how do we then walk that way?

What do you hear as the good news in this text? What do you hear as a challenge? What might this passage have to say to our community today?

“where else am I dwelling?”

A video Bible Study on Psalm 23 by a wonderful rabbi. 6-1/2 minutes of wonder.

 

What do you think when you think of Psalm 23? How do you experience God’s comfort, God’s shepherding, God’s house as a dwelling place?

With the Word online Bible study–familiar-unknown

Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

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What pops out at you in this story? Is there anything that makes you go “hmm….” or “huh?” or “hey!!!!” Are you reminded of any other stories–whether in the Bible, in literature/movies/music/TV, or in your own life? As you read, do you hear any music in your head?

Can you imagine (or have you ever) leaving everything you know and heading out into the unknown? What might that be like (or what was it like, for those who’ve done it)?

Why was Abram chosen for this journey?

What choices did Abram have to make? Could he have heard this call and chosen to stay where he was? To go back to where his father had come from? To go somewhere else? What might have been the consequences of those choices, compared to the consequences of choosing to follow this call?

How do we make choices when we hear the call? How can we be certain it’s God calling, and what do we do when we think God might be asking us to go into the unknown? Does God ever call us to stay in the familiar?

What do you hear as the good news in this text? What do you hear as a challenge? What might this passage have to say to our community today?

With the Word online Bible Study: entrance-exit

Genesis 2.15-17, 3.1-7

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.’
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God say, “You shall not eat from any tree in the garden”?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.” ’ But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

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What pops out at you in this story? Is there anything that makes you go “hmm….” or “huh?” or “hey!!!!” Are you reminded of any other stories–whether in the Bible, in literature/movies/music/TV, or in your own life? As you read, do you hear any music in your head?

Is it possible for you to put away the ways you’ve heard this story interpreted and read it with fresh eyes? Try reading it out loud, doing sound effects, or visualizing it as a play or movie. How does that change how you hear the story?

What does it mean to know the difference between good and evil? Why would that be something God doesn’t want?

Is it possible that humanity NEEDS to eat from the tree in order to be fully human? Or was it a bad idea that was destructive of our humanity? (again–put away all the interpretations you’ve learned before and use your imagination!)

We know what happens after this–the first humans are ejected from the Garden of Eden and sent out into the world. Is that an entrance or an exit, or both? How? Why?

What do you hear as the good news in this text? What do you hear as a challenge? What might this passage have to say to our community today?

worship for October 12

Our focus for October 12 is Philippians 4.1-9:

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

 

 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

In the Lectionary Study Group (which still meets each Tuesday at noon!) we discussed the idea that it’s difficult to rejoice always, because we tend to be dwelling on (obsessing about?) the past and looking forward to the future, but rejoicing is something we do NOW.  We then thought that perhaps being in the present (instead of dwelling on things we can’t change in either the past or the future) is the key to the peace that passes all understanding.  This also made me think of my time in Egypt, where people add “insha’allah” (God willing) to everything they say–they say “see you tomorrow, insha’allah” and “we can meet on Monday morning at 10, insha’allah”…etc.  It used to drive me crazy, but at the same time I think it might be a helpful reminder that we are not in control of the future, only what we do right now.  And knowing that, we can be at peace and rejoice.  (TCP)

worship on October 5

October 5 is World Communion Sunday.  We will hear from the prophet Isaiah, chapter 55:

Ho, everyone who thirsts,
   come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
   come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
   without money and without price. 
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
   and your labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
   and delight yourselves in rich food. 
Incline your ear, and come to me;
   listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
   my steadfast, sure love for David. 
See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
   a leader and commander for the peoples. 
See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
   and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
   for he has glorified you. 

Seek the Lord while he may be found,
   call upon him while he is near; 
let the wicked forsake their way,
   and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
   and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. 
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
   and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
   giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
   it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
   and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 

For you shall go out in joy,
   and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
   shall burst into song,
   and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
   instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
   for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. 

 

On this day when we look out at the whole body of Christ, which spans both geography and time, we remember that even strangers are welcome at God’s table and that God’s vision for the world may not look like ours but is the better, more excellent way.

worship in September

In September we will be focusing on the theme of being formed as God’s people, being made into a community in God’s image, and what that means.  This will encompass how God’s people live together, what community means, learning to rely on God and God’s provision, and much more.  The texts for those days are below.

September 7:  exodus 20.1-4, 7-9, 12-20

Then God spoke all these words:

 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.

 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. For six days you shall labour and do all your work.

 Honour your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

 You shall not murder.

 You shall not commit adultery.

 You shall not steal.

 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.

 

September 14:  exodus 15.1b-11, 20-21

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
‘I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
   horse and rider he has thrown into the sea. 
The Lord is my strength and my might,
   and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
   my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 
The Lord is a warrior;
   the Lord is his name. 

‘Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he cast into the sea;
   his picked officers were sunk in the Red Sea. 
The floods covered them;
   they went down into the depths like a stone. 
Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power—
   your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy. 
In the greatness of your majesty you overthrew your adversaries;
   you sent out your fury, it consumed them like stubble. 
At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up,
   the floods stood up in a heap;
   the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea. 
The enemy said, “I will pursue, I will overtake,
   I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.
   I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.” 
You blew with your wind, the sea covered them;
   they sank like lead in the mighty waters. 

‘Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
   Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
   awesome in splendour, doing wonders?

 Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. And Miriam sang to them:
‘Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.’

 

September 21:  exodus 16.2-15

The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’

 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.’ So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, ‘In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?’And Moses said, ‘When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lordhas heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.’

 Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, “Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.” ’ And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked towards the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, ‘I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.” ’

 In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, ‘What is it?’ For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, ‘It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.

 

September 28:  exodus 17.1-7

From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarrelled with Moses, and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ Moses said to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?’ But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?’ So Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.’ Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarrelled and tested the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’

sermon text for August 17

Matthew 15.21-28

 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.’ But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.

This story is simultaneously one of my least and most favorites.  I hate the way Jesus seems so high-and-mighty, holier-than-thou (though if anyone is going to be that, I suppose Jesus has the most legitimacy…), the way he is so uncompassionate and insulting.  I love the woman’s tenacity and her spunk.  And then I love that Jesus seems to have learned something–he seems to change his mind, or maybe to grow a little in his understanding of God’s grace.  Grace isn’t just for the children (often interpreted to mean the Jews of Jesus’ day), but for all–and even a crumb is enough.  (TCP)

sermon text for August 10

for August 10 (Ordinary 19):  Matthew 14.22-33

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’

Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’

This is one of my favorite stories about Jesus and Peter.  I love Peter’s impulsiveness and his willingness to try something that seems impossible.  I love Jesus’ ability to go off by himself to pray even while people need him and then, not thinking about consequences, head out across the water to meet the disciples.  It’s interesting to think about the disciples, fishermen familiar with the Sea of Galilee, and their story–a dark and stormy night (no problem–been there, done that, yawn!), and then a strange vision of a man approaching through the early morning mist and through the crashing waves and rushing wind.  Clearly only the Son of God can do that–and also inspire someone else to try it.  I’m intrigued by the fact that Peter so wanted to be with Jesus that he was willing to take a huge risk and step out of the boat and into the stormy chaos where Jesus was.  In this first week of our transition, we may feel like we are floating in a storm–which, luckily for us, is just where Jesus is. (TCP)