Saturday, April 24, 2010

May 2, 2010

Breaking Open The Scriptures
Scriptures for May 2nd – Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148, Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35
Songs: All Creatures of our God and King – UMH 62; In Christ there is no East or West – UMH 548; We will Glorify – TFWS 2087

Acts
Recently someone asked me if I had any dietary restrictions. My response was that as a pastor I make a point to eat anything. Eating, especially within the church is not just about nourishment, it is also about fellowship and sharing our lives with one another. Peter learned this lesson as he had this vision from God. As a Jew, he had lots of dietary restrictions, but he came to realize that his ministry was to reach all people, not just Jews, which meant that he had to expand his taste for food. At first the apostles were upset with Peter, but came to realize that we are all called to welcome all people, not just the ones that make sense to us. Fellowship is an important part of welcoming.

John
You have heard of Maundy Thursday – well this is Maundy Sunday. Jesus has washed to feet of his disciples and told them that they must do the same to one another. He commands us to love one another as he has loved us. That is what Maundy means – love one another. Not as we love, but as God loves. That is a huge commandment! In verses 31 and 32 Jesus says that his ministry glorifies God. His death glorifies God, his resurrection glorifies God, his life Glorifies God, his love for us glorifies God. Does our character and the way we treat one another glorify God also?

Questions: What things do we consider to be so sacred that they cannot be changed? When we declare things in our lives sacred, who are we excluding from fellowship? How do we make others who are not like us feel welcome in our midst? How do we intentionally love one another as God loves us? Would we see people differently if we were able to see them through the eyes of God and not our own eyes?

Friday, April 16, 2010

April 25, 2010

Scriptures for April 25th: Acts 9:36-43, Psalm 23, Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30 Songs:
Easter People, Raise Your Voices- UMH 304; Would I have Answered When You Called – TFWS 2137; Lamb of God – TFWS 2113

Acts
Today we focus on the good works of Tabitha. She was able to use what she had to help others. She had the ability to make clothes, which in turned helped those in need. As a saint in the early church, she was loved by many. Many were devastated when she passed away and they thought they had lost her and her gifts. But the acts of the faithful are always supported by the acts of the Holy Spirit. Peter is able to revive her and bring her back to life, just as Jesus would have done. The Holy Spirit was there, and remains wherever there is the story of the faithful.

John
This is known as Good Shepherd Sunday, because we focus on Jesus as shepherd of our lives. A shepherd spends so much time with his sheep, that when he speaks they listen for further direction. Jesus is being questioned by those who don’t believe. And yet he explains that if they were a part of God’s pasture – they would know who they were questioning. They asks if he is the messiah – and yet Jesus says that if you understood God’s plan you wouldn’t have to ask. Do we take the time to hear the voice of our shepherd? Do we know what Jesus is saying to us?

Questions: Who do you know in your life who has devoted their lives to charity and helping others? What do they do? How can we as a church honor them and use them as a example of who God calls us to be? Is Jesus really you shepherd? What is your response, when you hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you?

Note: Pastor Harriette’s sermons can be found online at http://www.aplaceforshalom.blogspot.com/ She also has a personal blog: Reflections on life at http://www.reflectionsoflife4me.blogspot.com/ Breaking open the scriptures can be found at http://www.breakingopenthescrptures.blogspot.com/ Newsletter articles can be found at
https://sites.google.com/site/apeacefulspace/ You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Saturday, April 10, 2010

April 11, 2010

Scriptures for April 18th: Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19; Songs: Spirit Song – UMH 347; It is Well with my Soul – UMH 377; Father I Adore You – TFWS 2038

Acts
Today we will deal with the call stories of the two most important disciples. Acts is the story of Saul persecuting the Christians, and Jesus comes to him on the road to Damascus and asks why he is persecuting Christians. This is not the moment that Saul is converted to Paul, this is the moment that he goes blind. Jesus tells him to spend time with Ananias – this is when he is converted from the kindness and forgiveness that he receives from those who believe. He finds community in the very place that he is trying to destroy community. In the world today – we don’t have to fight Christ’ battles, we have to believe that he is fighting on our behalf.
John
This is the commissioning of Peter. The Risen Christ tells Peter to go and “feed my sheep”. Christ has given the gift of the Holy Spirit to all of his disciples. This is the power to follow Christ in a world that could care less. But in that blessing, we are also given a job – to be Jesus for the world. Jesus knows where each of us is in our lives and in our faith. Jesus knows how much we love him and what we are capable of doing for him. All he asks of us is to show others how much we love him.

Questions: What is your conversion experience? Has there ever been a time in your life when you were asked to do something different in the midst of your sin? When have you experienced the love of other Christians? How did you change after that encounter? How are you being called to love others?

Saturday, April 3, 2010

April 11, 2010

Breaking Open The Scriptures

Scriptures for April 11th – Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 150, Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31
Songs: Up from the Grave He Arose – UMH 322; In the Singing – TFWS 2255; Lord of the Dance – UMH 261

Acts
Instead of reading from the Old Testament, we will read from the book of Acts for the five weeks of Easter. Easter day is only the beginning of the journey – We still have five weeks to realize what Easter means for us. Acts teaches us what it means to be a witness of Christ. To live the life of Christ , no matter what. Peter and Paul are on trial for witnessing to their faith. For them this is not a tragedy, but a perfect opportunity demonstrate their faith. Their defense to the court – we have to obey God rather than man. And through the events of the resurrection God tells us all to go out in the world and make disciples through the power of the Holy Spirit. So what is stopping you from obeying?

John
The rest of our scriptures for today seem to focus on what it means to be a witness. They are for people who know that Jesus us real, but don’t know what that means. John is for those who are not sure. They would witness, but have not reason to. And yet, Jesus is prepared in either scenario to give us what we need to go forward – the support of the Holy Spirit to live in Christ.

Questions: Is it wrong to doubt? Were we wrong to vilify Thomas?
Compare and contrast the disciples in John's account, doors locked for fear (John 20:19), with the disciples in Acts who refused to be silenced (Acts 5:28-29). Why are the disciples in John different from the disciples in Acts? [Digging deeper, are there similarities between either the disciples in Acts or those in John and members of your congregation?