September 6, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for September 6th: Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 149, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20 Theme: Iiving in love part II; Song: Love Divine All Love’s Excelling UMH 384 Romans: This week we continue to think about what it means to live in love. The theme of Romans is that when we join the Christian community and start to follow Christ, then we gain a new mindset about life. Life is no longer about what is common sense, or what we see everyone else doing. Life is about showing love in every situation. It is about realizing that love does have a practical place in our lives. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul encourages believers to be practical. To live within society and to obey political leaders. To always be willing to give people the respect that they deserve. To use the bank, but not to get into debt, except the debt of love, which we will always owe. Matthew: The gospel also carries the theme of how we should live in love. Jesus is talking specifically about conflict in the church. He says that we should not gossip about that is going on in the church. We should take our concerns directly to the person we are at odds with. Then we should take it to the elders. If the person is not willing to listen, then throw them out of the church. No we don’t through them out, we listen to them, we guide them, we give them a chance to redeem themselves. Jesus is still reminding us that Christian community is of the most powerful forces on earth. If we are connected we can overcome any conflict. We also have to power to help the world to overcome its conflicts. And in the world today, there are a lot of them. Questions: What conditions and injustices are happening that we need to become aware of and fix? How do we support our leaders and be Christian at the same time? How do you deal with church conflict? How do you feel when you are gathered in church with others?

August 30, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for August 30th: Exodus 3:1-15, Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28 Romans: Jesus gives the keys to heaven to the entire church. The purpose of the keys is to unlock love and kindness into the world. It is important for the entire church to strive to be an example for all of the world. Paul has talked about the gifts that the church has been given in order to fullfill the mission. So now Paul reminds us that love is behind all of our actions. So Paul spells out specific ways to spread that love. Love undergirds the way that we treat people in the world and especially the church. Next Paul will talk about how evil struggles to undermine all of that. That is why it is so important to be intentional about showing love to all brothers and sisters. Matthew: Peter continually goes back and forth in his faith. One minute he is the rock of salvation, and the next minute, he is at the bottom of the heap. Jesus has been leading them on a journey. Jesus did not want to go to Jerusalem until he knew that the disciples were ready to take over his ministry. That moment has come. So Jesus tells them what is about to happen. Peter is the first person to protest, that this cannot happen. Jesus explains that Peter cannot and should not stop history. In order for God’s story to prevail, Jesus must die. The only way you get to resurrection is through death. The Kingdom of heaven is a common theme for Matthew. Jesus explains that the Kingdom is also coming. And soon its reign will be heaven and earth Questions: What difference does love make in how you treat others? How can the church show love? What stands in the way of you totally claiming Christ as the messiah? What is the kingdom of heaven?

August 26, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for August 23rd: Exodus 1:8-2:10, Psalm 124, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20; Theme: Jesus trust us to lead; Song: Rock of Ages UMH 361 Matthew: This passage marks a time of change for the disciples. It is sort of a graduation. Jesus has taught them all there is to know to go out into the world and to save the people of God; Two Sundays ago Jesus said Peter was a man of little faith. Today Jesus makes Peter the head of the church. Peter now sees that he is talking to God himself. Jesus is so impressed, that he tells him that only the Holy Spirit could have revealed that to him. Jesus also changes his name and says that he is a rock. He is the one who will teach all future disciples what it means to be a faithful disciples. Peter remembers this day for the rest of his life. All future bishops of the church receive the hand of faith that was passed on to Peter that day. If we have the keys to the kingdom, what would we do with them? We have been given the keys to the church – let us bring others into our circle of faith. Romans: When you read the book of Romans, it tells all you need to know about being a disciple. First Paul tells us that we are free to be disciples because we are covered under the mercy of God. God’s mercy gives us freedom from death, from sin, from a need to sin, and it gives us the promises of the faithful. Being a part of the church is a faithful experiences that helps us get closer to God. The closer to God we are, the happier we are. We should be happy to express our personality in the church and to give service to the church. Life is a living sacrifice to the service of God – where we all win in the end. Questions: What does it mean to have the keys to the kingdom? Do you have faith or doubt when it comes to Christianity? What things are you doing in service to God? What spiritual gifts do you have? How are you using to benefit the church?

August 16, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for August 16th: Genesis 45:1-15, Psalm 133, Romans 11:1-2,29-32, Matthew 15: 10-28 Theme: The faith of everyday people in everyday situations Song: Standing on the Promises Matthew: We have been following along with Jesus bootcamp for his disciples. He is preparing them to continue his ministry. Now Jesus is ready to take them into the real world and to deal with the real problems of others. He takes them to cities that have a reputation for being rebellious and do what they want. He takes them to meet people who have no religious training. Ironically these people do have faith that Jesus has the power to heal them. A foreign woman comes to him and asks for healing for her daughter. At first Jesus is unprepared, and says no. But she persist. How many of us would do anything to help our children? Jesus at that moment realizes that the love of God is available to all kinds of people. Jesus admires her faith and grants her request. She asks for Jesus to have mercy on her and her situation. Our God is a God who always responds to honest prayer. Genesis: The story of Joseph’s reunion with his brothers after all those years in Egypt is one of the most heartwarming stories in the bible. Years ago these were the same brothers who sold him out of the family in jealousy. They come to Egypt because they are starving and willing to do anything. They do not recognize their brother. He is willing to do whatever he can to help them. He never thought he would see his father and brother again, and now they are all back together. All of us have family drama in our lives. All of us are at odds with someone in our family. A lot of times the rift has gone on for so long that we just accept that is the way it is. Perhaps there is nothing that we can do, but God can do everything. God can restore relationships. This reunion formed a whole new religion, based on the relationship of these 12 brothers. Questions: What regions of the country do you think are hopeless, with lots of nonbelievers? How do you respond to help of people who are not like you? What family rifts do you need to pray for? What can you do to bring about reunion?

August 9, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for August 9th: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Psalm 105:1-6,16-22, Romans 10:5-15, Matthew 14:22-33; Theme: In order to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat Matthew: Jesus just wants some time alone in order to pray and regroup. Finally he is able to get rid of the crowd. He and his disciples are alone in a boat, traveling to the other side of the river. A storm rises. They see Jesus is outside of the boat -communing with the water and the waves. Peter wants to try to, but of course fails. The disciples cant wait to tease him on his failure. Peter never learns to walk on water, but he does learn to stay focused on Jesus. It is an important lesson for many of us still in the boat. The boat is the church, it is intended to be our safe supportive place. Jesus provides a boat so that we will be together and safe. But a boat is not designed to stay still – its purpose is to take us to the other side to find more people to minister and to invite them into the boat. Romans: When we are convinced if something, it breaks our hearts that our friends are not as passionate about it. Paul was heartbroken that he could not get his Jewish brothers and sisters to understand the Christian faith. So he is trying to spell it out for them. He tells them that Jesus is not here to compete with Moses. He is here to fulfill the words of Moses for a new day. But he also explains that Moses is not enough. This verse has the famous confession that Jesus is Lord as the beginning of having a new faith. Jesus is the new Moses. Jesus is here to save both gentiles and Jews. Jesus loves us all the same, but we have to believe in the power of Jesus in order to have the faith of Jesus. Questions: When have you stepped out on faith and failed, what did you learn from the experience? How does the church support your faith? Who would you like to see become a faithful Christian? Do you accept others who do not believe the same as you, as fellow Christians.