Uniform Lesson for August 9, 2020 Scripture passage and lesson focus: James 1:19-27 As we move further into James, the reverberations from Proverbs grow louder and clearer. This is advice that’s practical, tangible and specific. James has little concern for wisdom that is limited to diplomas or creeds. James is looking for wisdom that has legs. James 1:19-21 — Acting fast and slow The world’s wisdom has a special place for quick responses — in sidewalk banter, board room discussions and presbytery deliberations. And yet, just as several authors are touting the benefits of thinking slow versus fast, so James advocates being quick to do one thing (listen), and slow to do two others (speak and get angry). Imagine, if you would, a meeting where everyone was as quick to listen as they were to speak. Have you ever noticed that, in a discussion, the one who waits longest to speak often has the most to say? And Lord have mercy on us regarding anger. The old adage about counting to 10 … [Read more...]

Uniform Lesson for August 2, 2020 Scripture passage and lesson focus: James 1:1-11 We wrap up our study of the “Many Faces of Wisdom” with five weeks in James, a practical counterpart in the New Testament to Proverbs in the Old. Many similar themes and subjects appear here. There is an emphasis on binary choices, like the invitation to the house of Woman Wisdom versus that of Woman Folly. There is a distrust of any thinking that does not translate into practice, though here the discussion shifts from wisdom and her deeds (Matthew 11:19) to faith and its works. There is a lot of talk about how we use the parts of our body, though while Proverbs talks much about the feet and their paths, James focuses more on the hands (extended in care) and the mouth (particularly the tongue). In this first lesson, we will recognize the call away from double-mindedness (James 1:8), but we may be surprised by what James has to say regarding riches and suffering. James 1:5-8 — Double-mindedness The … [Read more...]

Uniform Lesson for July 26, 2020 Scripture passage and lesson focus: John 14:1-14 Our last stop on this Wisdom/Gospel tour is John. Once more, this is a very familiar passage approached from a quite different perspective. Rather than hearing this as a word of comfort for a service of Witness to the Resurrection, let us hear the passage as a lesson from Wisdom to her class. How is Jesus, in John, portrayed as a teacher of wisdom as he prepares to depart from his students/disciples? How can Woman Wisdom help us hear the truth of Rabbi Jesus as we seek to follow in his and her way? John 14:1-6 — A homecoming invitation Way back in Proverbs, at the beginning of this series, we heard of Woman Wisdom’s invitation to come to her house: “Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table” (Proverbs 9:1-2). Here, Jesus talks about his Father’s house with many dwelling places and promises to go and … [Read more...]