Saturday, February 24, 2018

March 4, 2018

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for March 4th: Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22; Theme: Third Sunday of Lent 1 Corinthians 1:18-25: Paul is addressing the church of Corinth in order to convince them to support his mission trips to other areas. Paul knows that this is a modern church for a modern city. There are many different groups with the church: farmers, soldiers, merchants, laborers. They all have their own ideas about how to solve problems, they all have different ideas about what it means to be the church, they all have different ideas about who God is. Paul convinces them to remain united in the midst of their differences. Today, not only do we have those same differences, but we also have differences according to generations. Today, there are so many other things to do besides attend church. Many people think that going to church is going out of style. Believing in God is so 1970’s. Paul tells us that it is okay for the world to criticize God and church. But if we are faithful, we have to have a faith that calls us to have a relationship with God anyway. John: Jesus was not happy about what he saw going on in the world, and how wordly ideas had started to creep into the church. So he tried to overturn lot of what he saw going on. Jewish leaders asked by what authority did he have to criticize what he saw happening. Jesus knew that he had the spirit of God inside of him. He understood the original intention of the temple. And after the resurrection, his disciples saw clearly the authority he had. If Jesus was to come to our church today- would he approve of what he saw? Are we honoring the original intent of God? Or are we playing into what we see going on in the world? Questions: What criticisms does the world have of the church today? How do we respond to those criticisms? What does it mean to be faithful in the world today? If Jesus came to our church, how would we welcome him?

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