UNIFORM LESSON FOR February 10, 2019 Scripture passage and lesson focus: Psalm 48:1-3, 9-14 Many of us have a place that is special and even holy in some way. These places are linked to memories of fond feelings of acceptance, warmth, home and the divine. For some of us, these memory places might include a park, swimming hole or campground that we frequented with our friends and family. I remember, for example, a pond in Texas where my father, brother and I would fish when I was young. Though I do not like to fish and did not like it then, this place is special because of the time we spent there together. Similarly, the psalmists recount their love and fondness for their special place, Zion. Psalm 48:1-3 — Mount Zion, the joy of all the earth The psalmists begin their song by praising the Lord as well as the place where God is said to dwell or be intimately present: Zion. The love of Zion is evident in the psalmists’ description. They describe Zion as beautiful in height, the … [Read more...]

UNIFORM LESSON FOR February 3, 2019 Scripture passage and lesson focus: Philippians 3:7-14 Paul empties himself of any claims he might have to confidence in the flesh (3:4) in order to lift up his hope toward attaining “the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:14). Paul is willing to “go low” in terms of any righteousness he might claim for himself, in order to be “lifted high” through his unity with Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:7-9 — Emptying the trash As Jesus was willing to empty himself of any claims to equality with God (2:6-7), so Paul is willing to toss out like rubbish any gains he might have made in pursuing his own obedience to the law. Paul had far more than perfect attendance pins. The most zealous clerk of session could not surpass him in service to God’s people! Not only had he been to the best seminary, but he had persistently followed the best practices in ministry all the way up to his encounter with Christ. With regard to righteousness under … [Read more...]

UNIFORM LESSON FOR January 27, 2019 Scripture passage and lesson focus: Philippians 2:1-11 If Paul was singing in the jail referenced in Philippians, one of the songs might be at the heart of our lesson for this week. You can tell by the way our text is formatted that we are dealing with poetry. Most likely, these are stanzas from an early Christian hymn. But this is no children’s song or Vacation Bible School ditty. This is a song for mature disciples. It has to do with the shape of the mind of Christ, and the way that mind and that life should shape the minds and lives of his followers. We will begin with the music, then see how this music might seed and shape the thoughts and lives of its singers. Philippians 2:5-11 — The song The shape of this song is parabolic. It begins in heaven and returns to heaven, having traveled to all places between. At its core is a verb translated “emptied” (2:7), and this is the central chord that makes the whole song work (the word in Greek … [Read more...]