Tag: faithfulness

Stones Alive
Psalm 148, Acts 7:37-53, Hebrews 2:9-13

…[Jesus’] followers began to shout and sing…”Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” [Jesus] replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” (Luke 19:37-40, NLT)

All of Creation knew and knows the Creator (Psalm 148). Jesus’ walk upon the earth was even transformational for the non-human aspects of Creation. Creation has its own part to fulfill, and that was to second what humanity was crying out. In the law, a testimony wasn’t true without at least two witnesses. As a whole, Jesus’ followers were witnesses, and Creation wasn’t going to be silent either!

In the story of Israel, piles of stones or a single large stone were physical memorials (i.e., witnesses) of what God had done. When Jesus says the stones would cry out it was reminiscent of the stones of witness.

Stephen (Acts 7:37-53) reminds the Jews of what God had done, sending witnesses (prophets) to remind them of who God is. While they were alive, sometimes the Israelites would listen, but after they died, their hearts were dead stone. In other words, their hearts of stone were unable to proclaim God’s glory, unlike the stones that were on the road that Jesus walked.

Jesus, who for a time was slightly lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:9), brought the world to life, so that Creation (that man too often thinks of as mute) wanted to sing out the redemption of the world.
- 1/KD) What would you do if a stone started singing (or shouting), “Great is the Lord!”?
- 2) Does thinking that all of Creation celebrates redemption through Christ change how you celebrate?
- 3) What symbols (e.g., stones) do you use/have that remind you of God’s faithfulness and love?
2018-12-26
Beyond Hope

Luke:1:46b-55, James 5:7-10, Hebrews 12:1-2

Mary’s song/poem of praise is often called the Magnificat in the Protestant/Roman Catholic tradition, or the Ode of the Theotokos (Bearer of God) in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. It is a joy-filled response to God by Mary that appears to be a response to Elizabeth’s joy-filled pronouncement of the Sprit-filled joy of John the Baptist (in utero, of all things) to hearing the voice of the Mother of God (Jesus).

The double-meaning of Mary’s praise of “…my spirit rejoices in God my savior…” is the Jewish understanding of God (the Father) as the savior of their people, along side the coming salvation of Jew and Gentile through the death of Jesus (God the Son). There is the reality of God as past, present and future savior.

The Jews knew many experiences of God as savior. The expectation for the coming Messiah was built upon an understanding of a God that was faithful and would fulfill promises made.

As a Jew, James had the same Jewish understanding as pregnant Mary, and he had seen fulfillment of the Messiah’s coming and salvation. Now James is passing the hope on. It is the expectation based upon God’s faithfulness that the Messiah will come again and the hope that remains strong in the face of adversity.

In Hebrews, the author notes that Jesus went to the cross joyfully, not because Jesus was looking forward to the pain, anguish, betrayal and death. Jesus was looking beyond the cross, beyond the grave, and even beyond the Resurrection. The author notes that Jesus’ prize was the throne of God. Though the author doesn’t say it here, the other prize was you and me before the throne of God, not in fear of judgement, but as Children of the Most High God.

Elsewhere, the author of Hebrews notes that Jesus, our Savior, is continually interceding on our behalf and for all eternity. No matter how you feel about yourself being worthy, it doesn’t matter. As shirts and bumper stickers read, “I may not be perfect, but Jesus thinks I’m to die for.” That is our hope and joy.

1) Are hope and joy the same thing?

2) Why are having hope and joy important for a Christian?

3) Why is it important to look at the Old Testament in regards to salvation?

KD) Why does the author of Hebrews compare faith to running a race?

2018-12-17
Joy and Expectation

Job 33:14-30, Psalm 126, Luke 1:35-45

In many respects, joy is both easy and incredibly difficult to truly understand. On one hand, we understand that joy is something much deeper than the feelings of the moment. Yet, on the other hand, we use the word joy often when we really mean happy or maybe happier than usual, but still happy.

It is time for us to claim joy. This is not a “name it to claim it” kind of thing. We must have a definition that makes sense within the context of Christianity and that helps us use the word in a similar way. Let us define joy as a deep-seated emotion that provides assurance, resolve, positive outlook, and is life-giving through building up of self and others, and is based upon the character and nature of God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

As we look through most translations of scripture, we can see where joy is not used in the above way and that’s okay. This word is for us to use when we especially talk about the joy of Christmas.

Reminiscent of Abraham and Sarah, Elizabeth and Zechariah were expecting their first child in their advanced age. This pregnancy was a result of God’s faithfulness (not Zechariah’s) and was life-giving in two ways. First, Elizabeth and Zechariah were ashamed (life-taking) due to the lack of a child. Second, their child would go before the Messiah, announcing the Messiah’s coming (giving life and hope to others).

Many years ago, I heard a Christmas Eve sermon that was startling. In fact, my family and I were appalled at the sermon. It started with, “Tonight, we are all pregnant.” It took me many years to actually understand—more than just intellectually—what he meant.

With wanted pregnancies, the two biggest emotions are joy and expectation. These are the two (or should be) biggest emotions of Christmas. Not for the presents or family or food or parties, but for Jesus. The Savior of the world, and of you and me.

1) Are you really looking forward to Jesus coming?

2) Christmas looks: to the past when Christ was born in a manger; to the now for transformed lives; to the future when Jesus comes again. How does that perspective change how you view Christmas this year?

3) It’s easy to get into the habit of “just” another annual celebration with Christmas (as with any holiday or observance). What will you do to keep it fresh this year?

KD) If you knew you were not getting any presents this year for Christmas, would you still look forward to Christmas? Why, or why not?

2018-12-16
The Family Story

Psalm 25:1-10, Nehemiah 9:26-31, Luke 21:20-24

“All the Lord’s ways show faithful love and truth to those who keep his covenant and decrees.” (Psalm 25:10)

“But they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They flung your law behind their backs and killed your prophets who warned them.” (Nehemiah 9:26)

“…Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24)

It not a new thing that people praise God and then turn their backs on God later.
Nehemiah recalls that people were inconsistent, following a Godly-ish leader, then falling away, falling to sin and oppression, then being restored. Could Nehemiah be wondering if the Israelites—finally returning home from Babylonian captivity—will last in their faithfulness, or if they will fall away…again. Throughout the bible there is an optimism that God is gracious and compassionate, and as bad as things get, God is still there.

God also never intended the story to be just about the Israelites. Through Jesus, the whole world (the Gentiles) has the opportunity to be part of God’s family and part of God’s redemptive story. So much of the story of God is about God seeking to restore right relationship between him and his chosen people, including us today.

1) Christmas is culturally a family time of celebration. Who are some people who don’t have family around, that you could invite to be part of your family this Christmas season? Or, do you need a family, just for a short time this season? Do we need framily?

2) God’s story is redemption and family. Is there a family relationship that needs to be restored? Is there a friendship than needs restoration?

3/KD) We are called to be like Christ. How can we show others, especially during Advent, what a redeemed life and a life with family (or framily) looks like?

2018-12-01