John 3:1-17 Trinity Sunday, Year B “Born OK the first time,” the bumper sticker read. Many who read it likely wondered what it meant. Of those who knew what it meant, many of those were likely offended. A small handful of people knew what it meant and chuckled. Born OK the first time, no need to be born again. All is well here. I admit to being in the third category of people named above. I knew what the bumper sticker meant and I chuckled. A Presbyterian growing up in the South, I’d run up against being asked, “Are you saved?” or “When were you saved?” multiple times. I’d even been asked if I had been born again. Nope. Born OK the first time. Saved a few thousand years ago with Jesus’ death and resurrection. All is well. Nothing to see here. Thanks (no thanks) for asking. I stand by my Presbyterian response to the “Are you saved?” question. I lean toward the Study Catechism’s answer to question 38: “Will all human beings be saved? No one will be lost who can be saved. … [Read more...]
Day of Pentecost — May 20, 2018
Acts 2:1-21 Pentecost B Pentecost is revolutionary. An inbreaking of the Holy Spirit means a great equalizing has happened. The world as we have known it gets turned upside down and inside out. Men and women, young and old, slave and free — the Spirit pours over all. The distinct languages and cultures of the whole world’s peoples become the Word of the Lord. Direct communication of the divine deeds of power happens, no translation needed. Everyone is on a level playing field when it comes to the power and outpouring of the Holy Spirit. No wonder onlookers are amazed, perplexed, judgmental. Then, as now, human beings categorize and compartmentalize. Residents of Judea don’t hang out with the Egyptians. They don’t talk to each other because they can’t talk to each other. They literally and figuratively don’t speak the same language. Just like the cafeteria in any middle school, everyone knows who sits at what table: like sit with like and no one dares cross the … [Read more...]
Jesus teaches about righteousness (June 17, 2018)
UNIFORM LESSON FOR June 17, 2018 Scripture passage and lesson focus:Matthew 15:1-9 Presbyterians have traditionally looked to Scripture as the sole basis for orthodox doctrine. Sola scriptura was the watchword of our Calvinist ancestors in the faith. Our pastors, elders, and deacons vow to follow Scripture as their guide in leading God’s people. To know what God’s justice requires, faithful Christians have consistently looked to the example of Jesus as documented in the canonical Gospels and explained by the apostle Paul. In a definitive way Jesus proclaimed and practiced the justice and righteousness of God as taught in the Law of Moses and in the writings of the prophets. So it might appear that all Christians need to do is ask: What would Jesus do? As basic and straightforward as that sounds, it is easier said than done. Deep differences about how to interpret and apply Scripture have divided Christians just as they divided God’s chosen people, the Jews. The word of God must … [Read more...]
Parables of God’s just rule (June 10, 2018)
UNIFORM LESSON FOR June 10, 2018 Scripture passage and lesson focus: Matthew 13:24-29, 36-43 One thing that most politicians and preachers know is that a very effective way to make a point is to tell a good story. Stories can help a speaker connect with an audience in a personal and memorable way. Perhaps you can recall a sermon in which a well-told story had a “gotcha” moment that opened your heart to a deeper understanding of God’s grace. Jesus was certainly a very good storyteller. He grew up in a Jewish culture that loved good stories told by wise teachers. The Gospels tell us that Jesus frequently told parables, a special type of story that could focus the attention of his hearers on a single insight and elicit a personal response. Biblical scholars are aware that the parables of Jesus lose some of their impact when they are reduced to folksy illustrations of general moral principles or allegorized into clever symbols of proper or improper behavior. The ancient and … [Read more...]
Justice and Sabbath laws (June 3, 2018)
UNIFORM LESSON FOR June 3, 2018 Scripture passage and lesson focus: Matthew 12:1-14 The next several lessons are based on Scripture passages that have as their theme God’s justice and mercy. God’s justice in Scripture is enshrined in the Law of Moses. What justice is and how it is to be applied to human experience have been discussed since the days of the prophets by rabbis and sages, by apostles and martyrs, by theologians and philosophers. Mercy, too, has always received careful attention. As the psalmist noted: “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you.” Shakespeare’s lines from “The Merchant of Venice” have never been more timely than they are today: “And earthly power doth then show likest God’s when mercy seasons justice.” Jesus and his earliest followers had numerous occasions to respond when their behavior collided with the beliefs of some religious leaders who equated justice with their opinion about the proper … [Read more...]
7th Sunday of Easter — May 13, 2018
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19 Easter 7B What happens next? The seventh Sunday of Easter is all about what happens after resurrection and after Jesus’ ascension. The whirlwind of fear, grief, more fear, confusion, joy and nascent understanding gives way to a new normal. Judas (that one destined to be lost or the one allotted his share in this ministry depending how one wants to understand the betrayer’s role) has gone on to what? Glory? Judgment? Both? Now he fully knows and is fully known and I am hoping that with God’s great mercy even Judas is surprised by grace. The 11 feel compelled to be 12 again and the lot falls on Matthias. We hear nothing more of Joseph called Barabbas known as Justus. I suspect he is like so many other disciples through the ages: He keeps doing the work, doing his best to follow Jesus, trying to make his Christianity matter in his life and in the life of the world until he, too, meets God face to face. The 12, then 11, now 12 … [Read more...]
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