August 5, 2018

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for August 5th: 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13; Psalm 51:1-12; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:24-35; Theme: Unity of the Church Ephesians: This is a continuation of the teaching on unity. It is important for us to be one church. The writer says that there is one God, one Christ, One Lord, so there is no reason that we can’t be one church. Unity does not mean uniformity, we are a symphony of people with many different gifts. The writer tells us what the gifts are, and he says that there cannot be unity without good leadership. It is the leaders who lead us in one direction. But they do not get that direction from themselves, but from God and studying the bible. John Wesley says that there should be diversity in how we express our love for one another, but unity in understanding the word of God. It is okay for us to disagree with one another, as long as we respect the persons that we disagree with. Unity is not something that comes all at one, unity is a process, a working relationship of understanding. John: This is a continuation on Jesus teaching on bread. This is one of the I am statements – I am the Bread of Life. Jesus starts our with the everyday understanding of bread, but he is trying to get them to look beyond that normal understanding to think about the real bread of life. Jesus says that man cannot live on bread alone, but on the word of God. But if you are hungry in your belly, then you are not able to listen to what God is trying to tell you. God wants us to be fed, but God also wants us to understand the meaning of life. He sent Jesus to give us both. Everything that Jesus does points to the work of God. We are empowered to continue that work. Questions: Who in your life has mentored you to understand what the bread of life is? Who is God asking you to feed and nurture? Is it possible for the church to be totally united in mission? What is it that keeps us separated from one another? What will it take to bring us all into unity?