Love Carved in Stone:A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments Lesson 6: EXODUS 20:14; GENESIS 2:18-25; JOHN 8:1-11 Many years ago, a large group of us gathered at a church to watch the black and white movie, “It Happened One Night,” on a large screen. It starred Clark Gable as a reporter looking for a story, and Claudette Colbert as a runaway heiress. The characters were well developed and there was not a risqué moment in the film. There was almost a kiss, but the couple’s moment was interrupted. In disappointment, the audience said, “Aw.” Today, we would be hard pressed to find a television show or movie as innocent as the film we viewed. Instead we are exposed to dating couples who move from a passionate kiss to intercourse almost immediately. Sex is portrayed as casual and adultery as common. In actuality, infidelity is common to about 20% of Americans. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy reported: “National surveys indicate that 15 percent of … [Read more...]
Asking rightly (Feb. 23, 2020)
Uniform Lesson for February 23, 2020 Scripture passage and lesson focus: Luke 11:5-13 We end our unit on true worship by shifting Gospels and, apparently, key themes. While Jesus has just taught us to ask for our daily bread, the person in this passage asks for three loaves. While Jesus has warned us against asking God for special protection as God’s children, here Jesus states that if you ask, “it will be given you” — an “it” that seems to cover a lot of ground! While Jesus had earlier warned us that some offers can undermine our calling to worship only God, here Jesus promises us the gift of Godself. Luke 11:5-8 — Food for others It is worth pointing out that the imagined person in this passage is not asking for bread for himself or his children. He and his children are asleep in bed having, we assume, received enough daily bread to grant them rest. But then an unexpected guest shows up, and the host’s cupboard is bare. Now he needs to practice proper hospitality, but he needs … [Read more...]
Pray this way (Feb. 16, 2020)
Uniform Lesson for February 16, 2020 Scripture passage and lesson focus: Matthew 6:9-15 Having offered us a primer on public piety and prayer, Jesus now offers us an example of the kind of prayers God is seeking. It is perhaps ironic that this particular prayer has become the most public of all Christian prayers — and that, rather than using it as a template, we repeat it verbatim. Rather than arguing over the details of this most familiar of Jesus’ prayers, we shall use it as a model for true worship. More particularly, how does this model prayer help us stare down our daily tests regarding honoring God? Matthew 6:9-10 — Hallowed be your name At the risk of gross oversimplification, it should be noted that this prayer begins with a turning away from ourselves toward God. Yes, this prayer addresses God in a familiar way: Father. And yes, it seems to locate God in heaven in a way that goes against the way this God has come to earth in the very person who is teaching this … [Read more...]
True worship of God (Feb. 9, 2020)
Uniform Lesson for February 9, 2020 Scripture passage and lesson focus: Matthew 6:1-8 We shift now to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in the Gospel according to Matthew. Here we have two lessons concerning honoring God with true worship. The first one focuses on the problem of worshipping or practicing piety “before others in order to be seen by them.” Unless you are a hermit, it is hard to worship without anyone else around. In fact, some public demonstrations of piety may potentially be good for the character of the community. (I have served as a minister, a mayor and a trustee – all in public!) But, as with our previous lesson, it is very easy to do good things for bad reasons. Jesus, with his public teachings and living, attempts to help us out. Matthew 6:1-4 — Public giving Everybody who practices almsgiving (for both religious and secular causes) has been asked if they would allow their names to be used in some public fashion (either directly or indirectly, as in: … [Read more...]
2nd Sunday after Epiphany — January 19, 2020
Isaiah 49:1-7; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42 Ordinary 2A God called you. God is faithful. This refrain of God’s initiative and God’s trustworthiness resounds through all three readings this week. Questions on our part remain. The chosen one in Isaiah expresses deep discouragement and God’s response reassures the doubting, despondent servant that divine will may be delayed but will ultimately be accomplished. The epistle reading reminds a nascent Christian community of Christ’s ongoing work among and within them. Christ not only called them, Christ continues to strengthen them. No spiritual gift is lacking — not now, not ever. John lifts up the utter unexpectedness of a transformative encounter with Jesus. Mere curiosity on the part of John the Baptist’s disciples ends in a new vocation, a new purpose and, in the case of Simon, a new name. God calls us. God, the Alpha and Omega, is faithful throughout the journey no matter what we encounter along the way. Ministers of … [Read more...]
Lenten devotions — Year A (2020)
Are you looking for theologically sound, inspiring and affordable Lenten devotions for the congregation? 5 weeks of Lenten devotions plus bonus prayers for Holy Week — $19.99 Letting go and holding on The liturgical season of Lent invites us to refocus on God as we prayerfully examine our priorities, actions, thoughts and expectations. Often, we give something up for Lent as a way of reminding us daily of Jesus’ sacrifice. We might also take on additional spiritual practices or acts of service so as to follow Jesus more closely. These devotions invite you to both let go and hold on. Each week offers you the opportunity to let go of that which distracts from discerning God’s presence and instead hold on to that which God promises. Week 1 asks us to let go of that which separates us and hold on to communion with God and others, trusting God’s promise to never leave us. Week 2 calls us to set aside empty words and hold on to God’s wisdom, knowing that God promises to give … [Read more...]
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