Uniform Lesson for October 18, 2020 Scripture passage and lesson focus: Luke 10:25-37 Just after hearing Jesus teach us about how to respond to those who would slap our cheeks, take our clothes and rob us of our goods, Jesus tells a story about a person who “fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.” He tells this story in response to a question that might set boundaries on the expansiveness of our love: “But wanting to justify himself, he [the lawyer] asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” All of this becomes focused on the person who, like God and like Jesus, is merciful (Luke 6:36 and 10:37). Our passages are again talking to each other, and we are told to “go and do likewise.” Luke 10:25-30 — The view from the ditch Having wondered last week how we would respond to various assaults on our person and our communities at the hands of enemies, it might be beneficial to place ourselves first in this story — in the ditch. … [Read more...]

Uniform Lesson for October 11, 2020 Scripture passage and lesson focus: Luke 6:27-36 There is some risk as we move from the story of David, son of Jesse, to the teachings of Jesus, son of Mary, that our talk of inclusive love shifts toward emotional if not sentimental notions of love. We might be tempted to jettison the hard edge of struggles over kingship and succession to the throne and move instead toward encouragements to be nice or kind to those with whom we disagree. While such attitudes might be preferable to being mean or rude toward others, Jesus’ commands regarding love of enemies must remain grounded in the list of actions such love requires and in the example of God’s costly love this teacher has chosen to embody. Jesus is talking about real enemies, not just loud uncles or disagreeable friends. And so, to be faithful, must we. Luke 6:27-31 — Love in action Love in Scripture has always been described in actionable terms. You love your neighbor not by talking nicely, … [Read more...]

Uniform Lesson for October 4, 2020 Scripture passage and lesson focus: 1 Samuel 19:1-7 We begin a unit in our series titled “Inclusive Love.” Paradoxically, we lead off with a family even more dysfunctional than Joseph’s: that of King Saul. Here the story is not so much about the problem of divisions within a family as the possibility of love and friendship outside the family. This is the story of Jonathan, son of Saul, and David, son of Jesse, and the “steadfast love” (Hebrew: hesed) they lived out for one another — even at the risk of their lives. 1 Samuel 19:1-3 — “I have rejected him from being king” At the heart of the dysfunction within Saul’s family is one of the deep mysteries in Scripture: God’s rejection of Saul as king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:1). In the Joseph story, God has a dream for one member of the family that leads to divisions in the ranks. In the story of Saul and David, God chooses Saul as king over Israel, then decides to reject Saul as king based on … [Read more...]

Uniform Lesson for September 27, 2020 Scripture passage and lesson focus: Genesis 45:1-8, 10-15 Our story builds to its climactic scene, where Joseph is revealed to his brothers as they, in previous chapters, have been revealed to him. Another presence is now revealed: someone who not only can assist in interpreting dreams, but can work in all things toward the good (Romans 8). While this someone is bound to secure justice, this someone is committed to something even greater and more precious — the reconciliation of a family that has struggled with love from the very beginnings of its story. Though Joseph will later point out that these brothers had intended to do him harm (Genesis 50:20), here he interprets the entire story from the perspective of a God who sends in order to preserve life and, we might add, give life abundantly (John 10:10). This abundant life is embodied in at least three ways. Genesis 45:1-4 — Joseph’s weeping Joseph, at the beginning of this story, gets … [Read more...]