February 3, 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for February 3rd: Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-6; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 4:21-30. Theme: Love is the greatest and hardest commandment 1 Corinthians: It is fitting that the chapter on love comes up during the week before Valentines Day. It is important to realize that Paul is not talking about romantic love between two people in this text. As a matter of fact, Paul is talking to a congregation that is divided and cannot cooperate in order to get anything done. So Paul tells them the love bears all things, love is not self serving, love learns to bear all things. In other words Paul is teaching us to be patient with one another. It is a prescription to get along with anyone. It is a prescription to put the overall mission before whether we really like people. It tells us how to treat other people, whomever they are. The most important verse to remember, that we treat all people with hope, faith, peace and most importantly love. Afterall – God is pure love for all people. Luke: Last week Jesus talked about his calling and he preached to the congregation about what it means to be called by God to fulfill a task. As the congregation listened, they were amazed at what he had to say. Luke like to point out that whenever he spoke, people were amazed at his ability to expound on the things of God. He had a gift for explaining things in a very clear way. Ultimately, it was this gift that got him kicked out in the street. He was a little too comfortable with God. He had an understanding that others did not have. Jesus continued to teach, but out in the streets where the people were. He went throughout the countryside performing miracles and healing people. But he was never able to do much of any of that in his own hometown. The people there refused to take him seriously. But he was able to transform the rest of the world, with his gift of bringing God to the people. Questions: How seriously do you take Jesus? Can Jesus still perform miracles in our world today? Do you show God’s love to all people or just the ones you like?

January 27, 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for January 27th: Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Luke 4:14-21; Theme: fulfilling God’s call Luke: Jesus went on a spiritual retreat in the woods to get closer to God, but he encountered the devil instead. He is able to overcome temptation and to truly understand what God wants him to do. Jesus regularly goes to temple, so he goes to share his experience with God. He gets to read scripture. He read from Isaiah – the spirit of the Lord is upon me. He not only reads, but tells the people That the spirit is indeed upon him. God has indeed called him to serve the community. He explains that he is the fulfillment of that scripture, he is the one that Isaiah was talking about. The people think that he is being egostitical. No one can fulfill God’s mission. But Jesus wanted to help them to understand that everybody can – if they just follow the ways of Jesus and serve and make a difference. 1 Corinthians: Paul takes more time to flesh out what spiritual gifts are. He talks about the body of Christ. We all have a different purpose. We are not to judge others. We are not to think that our gift is more important than others. We all work for the common good. Our gift, helps others to bring out their gifts. If we are able to work together as a church, we make each other stronger. Once again Paul spells out the gifts. This helps us to look around to see who has those gifts. The most important thing is that the mission is fulfilled. The only way the mission can be fulfilled is if we work together. Questions: How is the spirit of the Lord upon you? What are your spiritual gifts? How can you use them in the church? Do you feed others, or visit those who are sick? How are you using your gifts in the church? How is Jesus an example to you in your church life? Questions: How is the spirit of the Lord upon you? What are your spiritual gifts? How can you use them in the church? Do you feed others, or visit those who are sick? How are you using your gifts in the church? How is Jesus an example to you in your church life?

January 13, 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for January 13th: Isaiah 43:1-7, Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22; Theme: Baptism of the Lord Luke: This is a continuation of the story of John the Baptist, and his ministry to bring people to God. The people are expecting a messiah, and they are wondering if John is the one. Jesus hears John’s message and he comes forward to be baptized. Jesus knows that he is the intended messiah, but he needs to identify with those who are present and coming forward to be baptized. This was the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Our baptism is also the beginning of our ministry. At this moment, God comes forward and also speaks to the people, that this is indeed the messiah. The good news has played out and now a life of salvation may begin. We relive this moment every year, to have a chance to renew our ministry. We have a chance to remember our baptism, to remember God’s love for us, and wants us to fulfill the ministry of revealing the messiah to the world. Isaiah: This passage from second Isaiah has a word of hope. It is more hopeful than most. During this time in history, the Isrealites had been exiled, because of their disrespect for God. But at some point God told them to come back to and start their life anew. God promised to be with them through the hard times so that things could get better. God takes full control of recovery of the redeemed. God says I will be with you though the waters, all nations will look to you, the children will come back, and life will be wonderful. The presence of God always ends with a family reunion. Divisions will disappear and everyone will be together, having a feast with God. Questions: What does your baptism mean in your life? How do you live out your baptism? What would be the perfect family reunion to you? What needs to happen in the world to make that happen?