February 9, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for February 9th: Isaiah 58:1-12, Psalm 112:1-10, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, Matthew 5:13-20; Theme: a life that makes a difference Matthew: For the rest of Epiphany we will be looking at the lessons from Matthew 5. Jesus is using the lessons of Moses to teach us what it means to be a disciple of Christ. We are compared to salt and light. Salt is only important when it is applied to something else. Our actions are not about how we treat ourselves, but how we treat others. If we do not include others in our plans then we are not being a good Christian. Light is worthless within itself. Light illuminates other things and makes them shine. Jesus relates all of this to the ministry of Moses, by reminding us that as the messiah he is the fulfillment of everything that God said to Moses. That ministry is to do what is right for the world. To direct the rest of the world to what is right. The only way that we can get close to God is to be the salt of the earth – to be God’s representatives to help others. I Corinthians: Paul biggest point to the Corinthians is to make a distinction between the life of a Christian and the life of other people. Everything that Paul says revolves around Christ. Or Christ crucified, as Paul says. In chapter 2, Paul compares the wisdom of the world, with the wisdom of following Jesus. Wisdom was very important to the Greeks. Paul uses the definition of wisdom as a way to start a conversation about Christ. Wherever Christ is, so is the Holy Spirit. Paul says that it is the spirit that reveals God to the followers. Paul says that the wisdom of people and the wisdom of God are exact opposites. And God’s wisdom does not make sense to someone who lives in this world. When we listen to the spirit we have the opportunity to understand everything, but we may not be understood by others. Questions: How do you make your Christian light shine to others? How do you pursue the wisdom of God? What does it mean to have the mind of Christ?

February 2, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for February 2nd: Micah 6:1-8, Psalm 15, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12; Theme: Sermon on the Mount Matthew: Everybody has heard of the Sermon on the Mount, but have we really given any thought to what it really means in our life? What does it mean to be blessed? What does it mean to be happy? Will we really be satisfied if we do all of these things for our life? Jesus has now officially began his ministry to improve the lives of his people who are crying our for help. He has declared his mission, he has recruited his followers, and now he is announcing to the people that things will get better. There is nothing required of us as we listen to the sermon on the mount, these are promises that God will give to our lives. If we choose to join those new disciples. Jesus invites us to join a radical movement, that will change the world. All we have to do is to trust God and God’s promises. Micah: The old testament is written sort of like a legal brief of an ongoing court case between God and God’s people. God complains that the people have been unfaithful or the people complain that God is not listening to them. Micah is a complaint against the people. They are told the consequences of their unfaithfulness. So the people cry out – what is it that you want from us. They are attending worship, they are giving sacrifices, they even keep the church spotless. God calls out that none of that is enough. God does not care what the temple looks like, God cares about the hearts of the people. Are they thinking about others, are they giving mercy to others, do they have an active relationship with God? Jesus constantly tells us that God wants our hearts, not our outward appearance. How do we respond? Questions: Are you Happy? What does it mean to be blessed? Who is blessed and who is not? What does your relationship with God look like? Do you believe in the promises of God? How do they play out in your life?

January 26, 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for January 26th: Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1,4-9; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23; Theme: Following Jesus Matthew: Throughout the year, we are following in the life of Jesus. Jesus starts his ministry after he has been baptized. His cousin John the Baptist is soon captured and killed for telling people to repent. Jesus feels that he is next, so he goes to a safe place to hide and to pray. Not very soon after he is able to regroup does he start to call followers. He is by the sea of Gallilee and talking to the men that are present. They immediately leave their lives and start to follow him. How many of us are willing to give up our lives and follow Jesus and become fishers of men? This scripture tells us that one of the first things that Jesus did was to recruit disciples. We are very important to the ministry of spreading God’s love in the world. But it requires of to make a commitment, a full commitment to Jesus and his mission. 1 Corinthians: Paul’s whole point in writing Corinthians is encourage followers to put Christ first in everything that we do. We all live the same life, but Christians are called to respond to life, to situations and to people differently. I like his comment that he message of Cross is foolishness to the average person, but to us it is life. We are also encouraged to find unity with other Christians, there is no division amongst us – and when we discover them, we are to work to bridge them. There may be different denominations – different ways to follow, but there is only one Christ, so there is only one Christ body. Paul asks has Christ been divided? When we disagree with one another, we should also work to find our commonality in Christ. Questions: What does it mean to follow Christ? What are some ways that you follow Christ? What are some ways that you encourage others to follow Christ? What are some ways to overcome our church differences and to be one body of Christ? How does being a Christians affect your decisions?

January 19. 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for January 19th: Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40:1-11, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42 Theme: Human Relations Day Isaiah: Two weeks ago, we read to arise and shine for your light has come, that was from later in Isaiah once the people has returned home. Our passage today starts while they are still in exile. They are still hoping that someone will come and rescue them. The prophet promises that things are about to change and that God will send someone who can truly make a difference. Because of who we are, we will sabotage that persons efforts, and we will reject his help. The prophet reminds us that this person has been sent by God to make a difference. When God calls someone, then their mission will be fulfilled. We can be sure of that. John: John tells his version of the baptism story. John the Baptist calls Jesus the Lamb of God – the suffering servant that Isaiah talks about. In John’s story, God does confirm the calling of Jesus when he is baptized. But John also takes the time to explain what it means to be the messiah – that things that he will do. He is the lamb of God that will take away the sins of the world. The second part of the scripture talks about the calling of the disciples who follow the lamb of God. He has come to stay with a group of brothers. The brothers want to hear his teaching, so they invite him to their house. As a part of accepting them as teachers, he renames Simon to become Peter, the head of the church. Questions: What are the struggles of our present age? Who is God lifting up to make a difference? Are we supporters or sabotagers? What role does the messiah play in our world today? Who are the leaders of the church and the disciples of Christ today?

January 12, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for January 12th: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17; Theme: Baptism of the Lord Matthew: This is the second week of epiphany, the time where we stop to think about what it truly means to follow Christ. What does it mean to be a Christian. This week we look at the start of Jesus public ministry, his baptism. It would be easy for us to think that this story is also about our baptism. But it is not. Jesus gives us instructions about what it means to be baptism, but those instructions are actually at the end of Matthew, when Jesus has been resurrected. In this story, John the Baptist is telling his countrymen to repent of their sins. Jesus sees this as a chance to show others that he has been called to serve God. When John does baptize him, God confirms that he is on the right track – God is with him as he goes forward in his ministry. The lesson for us is that Jesus is indeed the messiah, and we are to follow him into ministry of service. But that service starts with repentance of our sins. Acts: There are times when the words of the bible are just as relevant for our time as when it was written. The first things that Peter says in this verse is that he is learning that God loves all people the same. God does not show favoritism for any of us. When Peter started his ministry, he tried very hard to be a good and observant Jew. But he started to realize that the strict rules of his religion were holding him down from reaching the people that God was interested. He had been taught that they were God’s Chosen people that is why those rules were in place in the first place. But as he met other people and learned other cultures, he realized that God loved them just as well. It was important for them to know the story of the gospel. In order to reach those people he had to put aside his preconceived notions about himself, other people and even about God. Questions: How does baptism call you to serve God? What have you done this year to show repentance? What preconceived notions do you need to put aside?