July 5, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for July 5th: Genesis 24:34-38,42-49, 58-67; Psalm 45:10-17, Romans 7:15-25, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30: Theme: freedom Matthew: Matthew starts out by asking to what will I compare this generation? When he says generation, he is talking about all of the people that do not go to church. It is sort of like asking what is the world coming to. I think that as we look at the news, many of us are asking the same thing. It seems that going to church and having a sense of morals just does not make any sense. We have always had differences in opinion, but our whole world seems to be divided by those differences. Jesus is reminding us all that in the midst of our differences, he is what holds us together. We need to stay focused on Jesus and on what Jesus calls us to do. Where ever we find Jesus, we will also find peace. Genesis: So the story of the first family continues to the next generation. Right before this story, we learn that Sarah dies at 127. Legend says that Sarah died when she heard what Abraham tried to do to Isaac. Nevertheless, if Isaac is supposed to be the father of many generations, he first must have a wife. One of Abraham’s servants is sent to relatives to find a suitable bride. The servant is worried so he asks for God’s guidance. He then goes to Abraham’s brother in law and finds Rebekah – Laban’s daughter. She is willing to marry Isaac site unseen. They live happily ever after. So the promise of God is fulfilled to the next generation. Questions: What are your concerns about this modern generation? How do you think Jesus will show up in the problems of the world today? How is your families story similar to the family of Abraham? How is God’s promise of faithful servants still happening today?

June 29, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for June 28th: Genesis 22:1-14, Psalm 13, Romans 6:12-23. Matthew 10”40-42 Theme: What would you sacrifice for God? Genesis: It is interesting that we are once again asked to make the best of a bad situation. To look at a story about a father being willing to kill his son, and to ask what can we learn from this situation. Killing someone is killing someone. Being willing to kill your son is even worse. Would God really tell Abraham such a thing? This is a fundamental story of our faith. It teaches us that God always provides. We should always be on the look out for our “ram in the bush”. God is the source of all of our gifts. Even the bible says, the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. If our gifts belong to God, will God take them away from us. And how are we supposed to react to losing what God gave us. How does this foster trust and obedience to God? Matthew: This is the last part of Jesus message to the disciples to be willing to go out into the world and recruit people to your cause. Jesus encourages them by telling them that they shall receive the reward of a prophet. A reward, that seems like a positive thing. But what is the reward of prophet? That reward is hatefulness, spite, punishment, resentment, accusations and mistrust of what you say. How is a prophet’s reward a good thing. Jesus words have been preparing them to learn endurance. If they can endure all of that, then they will get a prophet’s reward. A special place in heaven. Jesus will welcome them with open arms for doing the right thing. In the end, people may not admit but they do take the prophet’s words to heart and eventually change their behavior. Questions: What does the familiar story in Genesis teach you about obedience to God? Do you agree with that teaching or not? When have you been a prophet of God to others? How did they receive your teaching? When have you had to endure as a Christian? You can view Breaking Open the Scripture online at https://breakingopenthescriptures.blogspot.comYou can view Pastor Harriette’s sermons online at https://aplaceforshalom.blogspot.com

June 21, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for June 21st: Genesis 21:8-21; Psalm 86:1-10,16-17; Romans 6:1-11, Matthew 10:24-39: Theme: The responsibility of a Disciple Matthew: What role does fear play in your life? What role does fear play in your participation in church? If fear has no role in your church involvement, then are you really involved in church? Every time an angel approaches someone with a mission from God, the first thing said to that person is “Fear not”. All of God’s missions call us to step out of our comfort zone and to be bold and courageous. That is why this passage on fear comes after the commissioning of the apostles. The apostles are the ones who are sent out on a mission from God. In this passage, Jesus says that disciples will experience the same fate as the teacher – resistance and oppression. But we are told not to be afraid of those who can hurt our body, but to fear God who can hurt our soul. He goes on to say that being a disciple is our first role in life, much more important that the relationships that we have with others. We have to put God first in all that we do, and know that if we are not afraid to listen to God, then we are not really listening. Genesis: This is a celebration of God’s promise being fulfilled to Abraham and Sarah. The son that Sarah never thought she could have has been born. Now that he is growing up, she becomes worried about the relationship he has with his older brother Ishmael. She becomes so worries that she demands that both he and his mother Hagar are banished. Reluctantly, Abraham banishes them both to the desert. It is in Hagar’s deepest moment of despair that God tells her that everything will be okay. That Ishmael will grow to be a part of the promise and have a family of his own. Everything turns out for the best. Ishmael becomes the father of the muslim nation. Questions: What are you afraid of in your service to God? What struggles have you had to overcome to be a faithful follower of Jesus? When has a time of struggle turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to you? What does it mean to be a child of Abraham?