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...]

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...]

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...]

Uniform lesson for February 2, 2020 Scripture passage and lesson focus: Matthew 4:1-11 This passage is traditionally called “the temptation narrative,” but for our purposes we might call this “a battle of proximate versus ultimate goods.” God loves us and wants to give us what we need as human beings, including such things as provisions, protection and even power. But none of these gifts should be received at the expense of true worship — by Jesus at the beginning of his public ministry, or by us today. Matthew 4:1-4 — Provisions God knows we need food to eat. After 40 days in the wilderness, even the Son of God is famished. God fed Israel manna when they were in the wilderness (Exodus 16). Elijah demonstrated that he was a true prophet by providing provisions for the widow of Zarephath and her son (1 Kings 17). Jesus will later perform miracles of feeding himself and declare that whenever someone or some people provide food for the hungry, they do it for him (Matthew 25). God … [Read more...]

Uniform Lesson for January 26, 2020 Scripture passage and lesson focus: 1 Kings 8:54-61 The service is now almost over. Solomon rises up from facing the altar, stands before the people and offers a blessing of the assembly “with a loud voice.” This is the portion of the Service of the Lord’s Day that is called the Sending. At its heart is the charge and the benediction. Solomon may have some things to teach us about how the charge and benediction should function, and what these final elements of worship seek to accomplish. 1 Kings 8:54-56 — Resting on the promises Solomon begins by blessing God for giving God’s people rest. This could be rest from enemies of Israel or the church (see 2 Samuel 7:11). This could be rest from worries over violations of the laws and ordinances of God, which is granted or given through God’s forgiveness of sins (see the discussion of the previous week). But Solomon broadens this rest at the conclusion of this prayer by claiming God’s gift of rest … [Read more...]

Uniform Lesson for January 19, 2020 Scripture passage and lesson focus: 1 Kings 8:22-30; 52-53 Solomon now stands before the altar, in the presence of all the assembly, and spreads out his hands to heaven. For those familiar with the Service for the Lord’s Day, this is the posture of the liturgist at the Great Thanksgiving. To quote the Book of Common Worship: “At the table, facing the people, the pastor shall lead the people in prayer to the triune God: giving thanks for God’s creative power, providential care, and covenant faithfulness.” While Solomon stands at the altar rather than a table, and while no meal accompanies this Israelite liturgy, the content of the prayers have some remarkable similarities. Solomon celebrates God’s covenant faithfulness, petitions God to hear and respond to Israel’s prayers and reminds God of Israel’s special claim as God’s heritage among all the peoples of the earth. Kings 8:22-24 — No God like you The primary purpose of the opening acclamations … [Read more...]