October 21, 2012

Scriptures for October 21st: Job 38:1-7, 34-41; Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45; Theme: Laity Sunday Song: Are You Able? UMH 530 Job: This is the moment that we have all been waiting for in the book of Job. We have all been wondering, when is God going to speak and address some of these issues. We have heard from Job as he laments his condition, we have heard from his wife as she feel sorry for him, we have heard from the friends who try to give him some comfort. Finally scripture says that the eternal one speaks out of a whirlwind. But God does not give Job any answers. He instead asks Job questions, where were you when I created the world? What do your friends really know about the truth of wisdom. If they knew anything they would shut their mouths. But that is always the challenge for us in this life, do we sit in silence and accept what it happening, or do we stand up and protest. The bible says that God answers those who speak. We just have to be sure that when we speak to God that we are in total awe of what God has done for us and for the world. Mark: As we approach laity Sunday, this text has an important message about what it means to be a leader in the church. Being a leader is not about how much honor we receive, it is about our willingness to serve. And we have to be willing to serve out of love for God, not our expectation to get a reward. And we all know what this verse id saying, but what does leadership mean in our lives, and in our churches. Sadly, we sometimes would rather be the boss in control, than to even have to right information. We will do anything, even if we know it is wrong in order to be the leader. Perhaps that is why our country seems to have such a problem with leadership and having faith in our leaders. We have to follow the example of Christ and be willing to serve others. Let them honor us, not us demanding honor ourselves. To be a Christian leader is to drink from the cup that Jesus drunk from and to share in his suffering, so that we may ultimately experience his gain. Questions: How does nature affect you when you are in it? Do you experience the presence of God? When you have a question or a problem how do you seek out the presence of God? Does it help you, or do you leave still needing to hear a word from God? How does our church view leadership? Do you have a biblical model of leadership, or a worldly model? What does it mean to drink from the cup of the lord?