March 15, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for March 15th: Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42 Theme: Third Sunday of Lent Exodus: Exodus is the story of the Israelite’s journey into a new life. It records the ups and downs of that life. Today we focus on one of those down moments. God has promised to take care of them and yet they still worry. At first they worried about what they would eat, and God provided manna. Now they are worried about what they will drink. God will eventually provide a spring. And yet God is also tired of their complaining. As a matter of fact, this is the last straw and God never quite gets over the fact that they do not trust God to provide. As a matter of fact, we are still complaining, and each time God tells us to trust and to seek new faith, we say that God will not provide. How do we learn to trust that if God calls, then God will equip is to do what it necessary? Romans: Paul continues his conversation on righteousness. To be righteous means to follow and obey God. Paul makes it clear that we cannot just decide to be righteous – it is a gift from God. But once we have it, then we have to live it out is a way that others can see clearly that God is a part of our life. Romans spells out very well the difference between a saint and a sinner. We are all sinners, but we are not all saints. Some of us strive to be better and some of us do not. God’s grace is available to us all, but we have to make a choice to use it. Paul starts to outline the journey of grace. It was John Wesley who believed that we are saved by three types of grace, prevenient grace, justifying grace, and sanctifying grace. He gets this belief from Paul talking about a grace that is with us, but justifying grace which brings us closer to God and sanctifying grace which keeps us there in the midst of a sinful world. Questions: When we a time when you trusted God, and then felt you made a mistake? What did God do to make you trust again? How have you experienced God’s grace? Are you more of a sinner or a saint?