October 31, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for October 31st: Ruth 1:1-18, Psalm 146:1-10, Hebrews 9:11-14, Mark 12:28-34 Theme: loyalty in our relationships Song: Pass it on UMH 572 Ruth: There are only 4 women mentioned in Jesus lineage by name. Ruth is one of those people. She is not even Hebrew, she is an inlaw – but she loved everything about her mother in law. Perhaps she had no real family, perhaps she comes from an abusive home. For whatever reason, when her husband died, she refused to go home. As a woman, she had no life on her own, she had to survive based on her relationships. Eventually she marries into Ruth’s family and becomes David’s great great grandmother. Her story teaches us a lot of lessons about loyalty and love. Her story demands that as people of faith we need to be sensitive to people in need. Even though they are women, it is a love story. Not only is Ruth healed from her love, but her mother in law also gets a new lease on life. Mark: Jesus is being constantly questioned by the authorities. Jesus does not give the standard answers, but they find that they can’t question his theology. In this scripture they are asking Jesus what the most important teaching is. Love the Lord your God with your all love your neighbor as you love yourself. They don’t have a problem with the first part, but what is the point of loving our neighbor. Eventually Jesus tells them that our neighbor is God in person. Loving our neighbor is unique to Christianity. Others are taught to love family, but not those who are not related to us. But it is the same love that Ruth had for her mother in law. In the eyes of God we are all one family. And when someone is in need, does it really matter if they are related to us in order for us to help them. Jesus takes it one step further, when we help then, we help Jesus – that is the greatest love of all. Questions: Who are the ones who show you love? Who are the ones that you love and take care of? Do you have a relationship with your neighbor? How can you get to know them better?

October 17, 2021 - Laity Sunday

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for October 17th: Lamentations 1:1-6, 3:19-26, Psalm 137, Psalm 37:1-9, 2 Timothy 1:3-7, Luke 17:5-10 theme: Laity Sunday Song: What a Friend we have in Jesus UMH 526 Luke: Jesus is explaining what it means to be a servant. He feels that is an important lesson for leaders. Usually when we have servants, we Lord it over them and tell them what to do and give them no apologies. Jesus turns the tables and says that if we want to lead, then we have to be willing to serve. When we help people in need, we do it not for glory, but because it is what we are called to do as people of faith – it is our duty. He starts out by saying that we do not have to have a lot of faith to be effective – the faith of a mustard see will open the door and call God’s presence into the situation. Laity Sunday helps us to understand that all of us have a job to do, all of us have talents to give. Psalm 137: This psalm speaks to the situation of the church in the midst of the pandemic. How can we sing praise songs when there are so many problems in the world? The Hebrews had been taken away from their land, their heritage and they were being held hostage in a strange land. Their praise of God was also a celebration of being on their land, fulfilling the promises of God. God tells them that this terrible time will too pass. One day it will all make sense. One day the same people that terrorized the Hebrews will be terrorized themselves. But the good news of it all will be that they will once again be the apple of God’s eye. God will bring them home and restore their faith. When this pandemic is over, may God do the same for us. Questions: When have you had an opportunity to be a servant for God? When have you had an opportunity to be a leader for God? How has the pandemic affected your faith in the church? What will restoral after this is over look like for you?

October 10, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for October 10th: Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Psalm 22:1-15, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31 Theme: Jesus as our mediator; Song: God of Grace and God of Glory UMH 577 Hebrews: The Gospel of John says that in the beginning was the Word, the Word was God and was with God. Jesus was with God from the beginning of time. Jesus Christ is the word of God. Hebrews speaks of Jesus Christ being our mediator – the one who stands in between God and us. Sometimes we need to pray to Jesus in order for God to hear us. Sometimes Jesus needs to speak to God on our behalf to ask for mercy. Jesus is the mediator because he died on behalf of our sins. Our scripture says that the word of God is like a double edged sword. Sometimes it holds us accountable for our actions, and sometimes it inspires us to do good for others. Jesus lived our life, so he understands where we are coming from. His mission on earth – to tell us how earth can be more like heaven. Job: How do you cheer up a friend who is depressed? We realize that our words can never really be enough to make a difference. Job was depressed with his situation. His wife and 3 of his best friends tried to say things to cheer him up. But it only encouraged Job to be more determined to accept societies definition of the situation. The current wisdom was that if something happened it was your own fault and that God was too far away to make a difference. Job does not want to hear a word they are telling him. He also decides that if he can just talk with God, then perhaps he can feel better. But Job has no idea of where to find God, he too thinks that God is too far away and that God does not know him. He is afraid to talk to God directly. Eventually Job will get his chance to speak with God. God will not be angry, but God will also not give Job any solid answers. This is one issue he will have to contend with his own heart. Eventually he does find his way out of depression and blaming others. Questions: If Jesus mediates for us, what do you need him to say to God about your life? How has God’s word held you accountable? If you could speak to God what would you say? How has your faith helped you out of depressions?

October 3, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for October 3rd: Job 1:1;2:1-10, Psalm 26, Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12, Mark 10:2-16 Theme: World Communion Sunday, Song: One Bread, One Body UMH 620 Job: Have you ever had that feeling that the devil is out to get the best of you? Well that is Job’s story. He was trying to live a life of faith, and everything imaginable happen to him. All of his friends told him this was a good time to forget about God, in the way God seems to have forgotten about him. The whole book of Job is about his suffering and his struggle with being faithful in the midst of some dire circumstances. The lectionary tells this story over the next four weeks. This will be the only time that we look at Job’s story. His wife tells him that there is no hope, so he may as well just curse God and die. Job remains faithful and regains everything that he lost and more. I wish all of our lives were like that. Mark: When I was a new Christian learning about the bible, I distinctly remember that it was the book of Matthew that was very scary to me. But as we are going through the lectionary looking at Mark, it seems to have its fair share of terror text. And then there are those scriptures like this one that really mess with our modern sensibilities. Jesus talks about a number of things in this passage. But first and foremost he talks about marriage. Marriage is between a male and a female and that there is no reason for divorce. None of those things are true in the world any more. Yet we have to consider Jesus’ words in our life decisions. I am glad that is not the scripture that I am preaching on. Jesus continues to stress that who we are as disciples is determined by how we treat the little children. Questions: When was a time when bad luck turned into good luck for you? Who encourages you when you have no hope? What are you beliefs about marriage and Christianity? How are we letting the little children come to Jesus?

September 19, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for September 19th: Proverbs 31:10-31, Psalm 1, James 3:13-4:3. 7-8; Mark 30:37: Theme: living in wisdom, Song: I Surrender All UMH 354 James: This will probably be the only week this year that we will look at the book of James. James continues our lesson on what it means to live in wisdom. Wisdom always comes from God. It is always in our best interest. When we live in wisdom it affects how we make decisions and how we treat other people. Wisdom is the beginning of harmony in the church. When we are in touch with the world’s wisdom, then we put ourselves and our own needs first. James says that causes us to be jealous of other people. And that causes friction. If we want to stop friction, then we should learn to be humble. Proverbs: The whole point of proverbs is for the prince to find the right wife. This story tells what a “virtuous woman” will do. She is not just a romantic partner, but she has the ability to run a household. In today’s world this is a very idealistic perspective. But it does make a very good point about planning your life. About thinking about how to sustain yourself in the future. And how important hard work is to success. Not many women aspire to be a housewife in this day and age. But a home that is happy and taken care of is important. The key to any happy home is a willingness to put God first in all things. Questions: What does it mean to be humble? How does this scripture help to deal with church conflict? How do you personally put God first? What does it mean to be a virtuous woman today?

September 26, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for September 26th: Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22; Psalm 124, James 5:13-20, Mark 9:38-50; Theme: Song: They will know we are Christians by our Love TFWS 2223 Mark: Mark is at it again – giving some very hard sayings of Jesus. Mark likes to get straight to the point. This chapter with the disciples asking about someone casting out demons. Jesus uses this as an opportunity to remind us that even though people don’t agree with everything we do or say – we are all still united when we represent Christ. Jesus reminds us that a part of our faith is tolerance and understanding. And in the next moment he is saying that we should be mindful of the children and not discourage them from faith. In all of this Jesus is reminding us of what it means to be a disciple. In life we will have tough choices, where it is easy to follow the world – but we should always take the time to do what Jesus would do. James: It is fitting after the gospel lesson, that we would also be looking at James this week. James can also have some very harsh words of wisdom for those who are disciples. Today James is saying that the answer for all of our problems is to pray. We live in a world of suffering. It seems that lately , more and more people are getting sick. James also tells us that it is important for the church to pray together. The body of Christ has the power to heal, to change situations, to make a difference. But our power lies in the ability to pray together and to trust one another and to more importantly trust Jesus Christ. The prayers of the righteous truly make a difference. Questions: how do we treat children who come to church seeking Christ? What are the disagreements that we have with other Christians? How has God answered your prayers lately? How Has God answered the prayers of the church?

August 29, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for August 29th: Song of Solomon 2:8-13, Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9, James 1:17-27, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23: Theme: What’s on the Inside? Song: Just As I am, without One Plea UMH 357 Mark: Jesus tells us where real evil comes from. Evil is not a disembodied bad behavior, it comes from real people in the world. Many of us think that evil originates in the hearts of people that we don’t understand, agree with or know. But Jesus tells us that evil comes from the hearts of all of us – even if we go to church every week. When we are not checking our emotions and intentions, we are all evil. Jesus seems to be well aware of the fact that not all Jews have the same belief or are on the same page. Usually when we are around people who don’t agree with us, conflict arises. We want everyone to be on the same page. That is never going to happen. This argument because some of Jesus disciples did not wash their hands before eating. It sounds like a petty thing to argue about – but how do we treat people who do not fall into line with our beliefs. Sometimes it causes us to judge people instead of looking at their hearts. Jesus reminds us that God know the true intentions of all of us. Song of Solomon: This is the only time in the three year lectionary cycle that we will read from the Song of Solomon. On the surface it is a love story between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. But it is also the love story of God for the faithful, and Jesus for the church. The woman is telling everyone how much she is in love. She is so excited about her new love that she brags to anyone who will listen. Can you imagine Jesus doing the same thing in heaven. He Is telling the angels how excited he is about the church. Sometimes I think that we forget that we are Jesus beloved community. We forget how much Jesus loves us, and we totally forget to express our love for Jesus. This bible book reminds us how much fun it is to be in love and to be willing to express that love to anyone. Questions: Who are some people that you have strong opinions about? Have you ever taken the time to talk with someone in that group? How does Jesus expect us to deal with people that we do not agree with? How do you tell the world that you love Jesus? How would the church be different if we acted like Jesus’ beloved?

August 8, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for August 8. 2021: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 31-33; Psalm 130, Ephesians 4:25-5:2, John 6:35- 41-51; Theme: New Beginnings of School, Song: Take my Life and let it be Consecrated UMH 399 Ephesians: Being Christian is not natural. It requires us to constantly rethink our responses to life. Being angry is normal. Being a part of the church does not protect us from situations that infringe upon our spirit. The writer of Ephesians gives us specific instructions on how to fight life a Christian. In other words, when people make us angry how to do we respond to them? We should respond to them the way Christ would respond. And when Christ was crucified, he responded, but he responded in live. We are constantly reminded of what it means to live with the mind of Christ. the writer says once you were a part of the world and you would have done….but today you are new creation on Christ, so this is what you do now. We pause, we pray, we consider the consequences, we respond in a way that builds up the body of Christ, not tear it down. Psalm 130: David never thought that he would have to protect himself from his own flesh and blood. But his son Absalom has gone to war with him. As David’s servants struggle to keep the King safe, David asks them not to hurt his son. In the end Absalom is killed and David cries and prays. Psalm 130 is that prayer, I cry out to you o Lord. This is a difficult situation to deal with. David prays for forgiveness of his sins as well as the pain of the situation. He gives the message to the faithful to trust God in all situations. To wait for God and to trust God in all times. When we are in pain, when we are desperate, that is hard to do. But that is the point of being trained in faith – to be able to handle those hard times. Questions: What do you do when you are angry? How do you include Christ in your response to people? Have you ever had to pray a conflicted prayer with mixed emotions? How have you had to trust the wisdom of God in a situation recently?

August 1, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for 2 Samuel 11:26 – 12:13, Psalm 51:1-12, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35 Theme: The bread of Life Song: One Bread One Body UMH 620 John: This is the only time that we will study John 6 this year. Jesus is explaining what it means to be the bread of life. People are grappling to understand what that even means. When Jesus says that he is the bread of life, first they try to capture him and make him King – the provider who will take care of them and solve all of their problems. Jesus escapes, and they come after him. Jesus explains the leaders ability to provide comes from God, not from themselves. Jesus is not leading them to a better life in this world. A better life in this world leads them to God. Then they say that if Jesus is God, then he has to do miracles like in the bible. Some of the greatest miracles in life are the ones that we never notice. Jesus is the bread of life, those who believe will never be hungry in spirit. Ephesians: Paul seems to have a lot of advice on what it means for us to be the church and the work that we have to do on the earth. We are still reminded that even though we are different people, there is only one Lord, therefore there is only one mission. We have to strive to stay united on that one mission. Paul also talks about church growth. Today we tend to think of church growth at gaining recognition, as being popular, as being the fun church. Paul tells us that true growth is the church learning to come together beyond differences, learning to use our gifts, struggling to put Christ first in all things. “ The body (of Christ) makes itself grow in that it builds itself up with love as each one does their part.” Questions: What is it that you expect from Jesus? What type of bread does your spirit need right now? What do you need to do to achieve eternal life? What does church growth feel like to you? How is God at work in our church right now? How do we need to come together to achieve our mission?

July 25, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for July 25th: 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Psalm 14, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6: 1-21 Theme: Working for God Song: My Hope is Built UMH 368 Ephesians: We all know that our world is heavily divided by race and culture. The message of the gospel is that those are superficial differences and that God cares about us all the same and that we all have a place at God’s table. The writer of Ephesians is working hard to help us to create a church culture that helps us to get beyond our differences. We are reminded that we will not rise above our life on our own. It takes prayer, obedience to the bible and trust in God. the scripture says God can do far more than we can do. He also says that if we have Jesus in our hearts – then we will have to key to make a difference in life. John: Jesus tells his disciples that “I am the bread of life”. He then encourages them to go out and to give that bread to those in need. They have no idea of how to feed 5000 people with no money – but all things are possible with God. The bread of life is not just about eating, it is about living a life of abundance. In Jesus’ ministry, he pays special attention to the needs of the poor and the suffering. He wants them to understand that God will supply their needs. After the disciples realize that they do have the power to make a difference in the lives of others, Jesus takes them out on the lake to be alone. It is dark and they are afraid of the dark and the water, but Jesus once again shows them that the messiah cares about their direct needs. This story shows us that God cares just as much about our needs. Questions: What divisions in the world do we need to overcome? Does our church help us with this task? What does it mean to have Jesus in your heart? Who are the people who need to be fed today? What resources does God give us to make it possible to help others?

July 18, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for July 18th: 2 Samuel 7:1-14, Psalm 89:20-37, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Theme: The Unity of the Church; Song: Just a Closer Walk with Thee TFWS 2158 Ephesians: What is it that makes a group of strangers a team, a team a community, and a community a church? Well according to the book of Ephesians – Jesus Christ. There have always been fundamental differences within the people of the book, the body of Christ. At the beginning the fundamental difference where the people who were from the same culture that Jesus was from, and everyone else – the Jews and the gentiles. They started out as different, it took Jesus to say that we should put aside our differences and to live in unity. The author of Ephesians says that we come upon that unity by learning to build a house. A house that only God can build. The writer (who is probably not Paul) says that the foundation of our house is reading the bible and the teachings of Jesus and the disciples. Christ is building the church into a place where God lives on earth. That is a huge responsibility on those of us who dare to even come into the building – the church. 2 Samuel: Speaking of building a house – this scripture is about David wanting to build a house for God. He has held onto the tabernacle and has now settled in Jerusalem. As he is establishing his rule, he also wants to make sure that everyone knows that God is the head of his life. But the prophet of God – Nathan tells him that he is not the person intended to build that house. Now is not the time for God to be couped in the 4 walls of a structure. He needs to be free to move with the people. He wants to remain in a temporary tent that can be moved as needed. And yet he tells David not to despair, only will his son build the permanent structure – but the house of God will be evident in his rulership. There will always be somebody on the throne of David. Christ inherits that position. Christ builds the church to be the permanent house of God. Questions: How do you achieve unity with people you do not agree with? How does Christ bring different people together? What is your favorite church building? Why? How do you build a church?

July 11, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for July 11th: John 6:26-28, 35, 51-58; 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Psalm 24, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29: Theme: Helping those in need, Song: Blessed Assurance UMH 369 John: We are going off of the lectionary today so that I can tell a part of my personal journey in life. My experience as a homeless person was the entryway to going into ministry. I will always be truly grateful for all of the people who were willing to help during that time. But I felt that giving to the church was the best way to give back to God. John 6 is the scripture for much of the summer. Jesus feeds the 5000 – but he reminds us that giving people food goes much deeper them filling their bellies. It is feeding their spirits and emotions as well. Giving Jesus is about giving but it is also about caring for people and helping people to feel that they are worthy children of God. How do you respond to people in need? How do you feel about those people? How do we welcome them into the family of the church? 2 Samuel: Dynamic Awareness is a term that was used in explaining this scripture. I like that. David is just establishing himself as king. God is an important part of his life. So he literally brings the presence of God to dwell with him in his capital city Jerusalem. Carrying the presence of God is both dangerous and sacred. Once it is bought into the city, David calls all of the people to worship the presence of God. He does not build a special house for the presence, because God tells him that it is not time to settle down and that David’s son Solomon will be the one to build a permanent structure. David’s final act of worship is to feed the people, to give them all special cakes so that they know that God and the king care for them and for their needs. Jesus stands on a rich history of worshipping God and helping others as he tells us to continue to provide for those in need. Questions: What does it mean to be fed by Jesus? Have you ever had to feed someone who is hungry? Have you ever been fed by others? How do we extend hospitality as a church?

July 4, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for July 4th: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10; Psalm 48, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13; Theme: Freedom in Christ; Song: UMH 697- My Country Tis of Thee Mark: is never a mention of an earthly father in Mark’s gospel. For Mark, Jesus came from an ordinary family. A family that all of the normal issues. A family that was an integral part of the community. So when Jesus comes back to town to preach, they know all about him. They know him so well that there is no need to really listen to him or to even take him seriously. By this time Jesus has been all over the country teaching everyone about Jesus. But his hometown is so focused on what they think that they know about him, they cannot move beyond their everyday reality to see the Spirit of God in Jesus words. That is why it is so important for Jesus to train his disciples to go even farther then he to tell others about Christ. They are dependent on households taking care of them and being family while they are away from home. Hospitality is the currency of the gospel. Jesus tells them that if they are treated the way his hometown treats him, then those people will not be welcome in heaven. How do we encourage our children? How do we extend hospitality to others? 2 Samuel: This scripture chronicles a big shift In the life of the Isrealite people. This is the beginning of the rule of David. God promises David that there would always be a king from his family on the throne. Of course Jesus fulfilled that promise. David is not only a new King, he is a new kind of King. Saul was anointed privately. He was very authoritative. He expected people to take care of him. David was the shepherd King. He was anointed in public. His job was to take care of the people. He was able to unite people together. He was the people’s King. Interestingly, there is no mention of David in the history books. Jerusalem was his city that became the capital of the nation. The people were ready for a change. They were looking for someone who would make conditions better for them to survive. We continue to look for that today – who will lead in a way to take care of us. Jesus provides that leadership not just for Isreal, not just for Christians, but for all of the world. Questions: How do we treat prophets who come to town? What does Jesus teach us about hospitality? How does Jesus make our lives better? What is shepherd leadership?

June 27, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for June 27th : 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, Psalm 130, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43: Theme: loving one another : Song: There’s A Spirit in the Air – UMH 192 2 Corinthians: This scripture gets to the heart of the definition of stewardship. Paul is comparing the Philippian church with the people of the Macedonian Church. The Philipian church is rich, the Macedonian church is poor. Yet Paul uses the Macedonian Church as an example. They did not have much, so they were much more willing to share with others. Paul says that the reward for their willingness to help the mission of Paul is grace. God’s grace provides for all that they need. Paul is encouraging all of us to live in God’s grace and to trust that God will provide for us. That is called the economy of grace. Paul is urging the modern church to look at those in need and to be willing to help others no matter who they are and where they live in the world. Mark: Mark also gets to the heart of the matter in this text. Mark wants everyone to know that Jesus is indeed the messiah – a practical messiah who helps you at your point of need. This is a story of two people who come to Jesus because they have nowhere else to turn. A soldier is afraid that his daughter is about to die, and a woman has been struggling for years and no one can help her. Mark usually likes to sandwich two stories together to further drive his point. Jesus is travelling the countryside to save the Jews, neither of these people are Jewish, but Jesus listens to their pain and heals them anyway. He brings the little girl back to life in front of the authorities – and of course they are paying attention. Jesus knows what they will do in the end, but for now he tells both parties to say nothing about their healing, but to let their lives be a testament that the messiah lives. Questions: Are you rich or poor? Who is it important for you to help? What does healing look like for you? If a major problem of yours was solved- what would you do to thank Jesus for healing?

June 20, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for June 20th: 1 Samuel 17: 1-49, Psalm 9:9-20, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Mark 4:35-41 theme: Father’s Day; Song – this is my Father’s World UMH 144 Mark: All of us go through tough times in life. None of us want to hear someone tell us that we just need to be a stronger person and this would not be happening to us. The disciples were experiencing one of the worst storms in their lives, they had no answers and Jesus was no where to be seen. Suddenly Jesus appears and they cry out in fear. Jesus does not tell them the weather the storm – Jesus calms the storm and eases their fears. They realize that there is something different about this teacher, who is this who the storms obey and cares about them and responds to their prayers? The messiah has the ability to calm the storms of our lives, but he also helps us to realize that his answers are bigger than us. This story gives generations of people after the disciples the faith to believe that the messiah cares about us all. If he took care of the disciples on the Sea of Gailiee, he will also take care of us. 2 Corinthians: The second book of Corinthians is a stewardship message to help people to understand why they are giving to help others. This week and the next we will look at that message and think about what it means for us today. Paul starts out by telling us not to listen to this message in vain. It is intended for us to respond to this message. Paul starts to recount all of the elements of his mission. He has had some very productive times and he has had some very difficult times. Through it all, he never gave up on the message of Jesus’ salvation. He has stayed dedicated to the people he is talking to. He says that we should pay attention to what he is saying – Paul is telling us the story of a wonderful personable God who loves us so that we can love others. Questions: When have you been afraid in your life? How did Jesus calms the storm for you? Why is the gospel so important? How are we responding to learning about the love of Christ?

May 30, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for May 30th: Acts 2:1-21, Psalm 104:24-35, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27,16:4-15; theme: Pentecost, Song: O Spirit of the Living God UMH 539 John: We know that the red flame on the cross and flame stands for the Holy Spirit. But, beyond that many United Methodist do not have any idea of what the Holy Spirit does. Pentecost Sunday is a perfect time to think about the Holy Spirit. John promises that when Jesus is not with us, a companion will come to guide us. Much of the gospel in the last few weeks has been Jesus prayer for his disciples when he is no longer with them. He is concerned that the mission continues. Last week Jesus prayed directly to the Father. Today, He prays that the spirit of truth will take his lead and continue to guide the disciples in carrying out the mission of the church. Romans: Pentecost is both a beginning and an ending. During Pentecost a lot of things will fall into place and a lot of things will fall apart. Change is hard - it is not a time of peace, it is a time of uneasiness. Paul probably has an understanding of our time when he says that all of creation is groaning in labor pains. We are all wondering what the future will bring. As we look to the future, it is important to also look for the voice of the Holy Spirit. Paul says that as we are moving forward that we should look in our lives and in nature to see what the spirit is telling us. Jesus says that we should get our comfort in the spirit, not in the events that are going on around us. The spring will reveal itself and live in a beautiful summer. Questions: What does the Holy Spirit mean to you? Have you ever had a time in life where you knew that the spirit moved you? What do you think the future holds for the church? How do we know that the Spirit is leading us? are we willing to follow?

May 23, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for May 23rd: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17: 6-19 Theme: evangelism John: This is Jesus’ to God to watch over his followers and to give them what they need to be faithful. Jesus talks about the connection between him and God, he expands that connection to include us on earth. Jesus is concerned because life has gotten hard for those on earth – and he wants the faithful to know they are not alone. Jesus is the intecessor on our behalf. In John the world are the outsiders who persecute us. But we should also extend God’s love to the outside world as well as nature. Lastly, Jesus tells God that he has sanctified us – made us holy – so that we could continue his salvation work. Acts: This is the story of the dynamic church at work. Thousands have joined the church, they have defined what it means to be community. As they go forward, they realize that Jesus is not coming back to lead them. They have to commit to move forward. They have to realize what the resurrection means for each of them. They have to come up with how to trust the spirit in making the right decisions. This decision is who will replace Judas. Their means of discernment is to pray for guidance and to think about What Jesus would do. They were able to make a decision and to trust their judgement. Questions: Have you ever prayed on someone else’s behalf? Who is it that prays for you? How do we continue Jesus’ work today? Do you ever pray over a decision? What does discernment mean? How do you know if you are doing what Jesus wants in a situation?

May 9, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for May 9th: Acts 10:44-48, Psalm 98, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17 theme: Mother’s Day Song: What a Friend we have in Jesus UMH 526 Psalm 98: Psalms 90-99 are called enthronement psalms – they celebrate the fact that God is on the throne of the world and of our lives. We are gathered together to celebrate God’s reign in our lives. We are grateful for all that God has done from creation to the events in our lives. We thank him by praising God with Songs and with rejoicing. Mother’s day is a time to celebrate people in our lives who care about us. It is a time to celebrate the goodness in our lives. To celebrate the rebirth of nature. What better way to do that then to sing a new song? John: The theme of this verse is love. Once again it is the love of Jesus Christ. We find that the love of mother is a part of Jesus love, not the other way around. Jesus proves that he loves us by sacrificing his life, so that we can have a better life. He goes on the talk about the love of God which is powerful and life changing. It is also not something that we can choose or will to happen. In life we often do not get the choose the way love will manifest itself in our lives. But love is present in even the hardest of lives. This is the day we celebrate that love in the form of a mother or mother figure. Questions: how do you celebrate the presence of God in your life? What is it that you celebrate about nature? How does it remind you of God? How can you show love to your mother today? What can you do nice for those around you?

May 16, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for May 16th: Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 47, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53, Theme: Ascension – Jesus goes up to heaven Luke: Sometimes we don’t truly understand what someone is trying to tell us until they are no longer available to us. Perhaps this was God’s plan for sending Jesus into our lives all along. Jesus appeared to his disciples during the Easter season to help them to understand that the story was not over. But Jesus knew that as long as he was with them, they would look to him for answers. If they saw him ascend into heaven, they would remember all that he said, but they would also put their own faith into action. This is one more talk with the disciples before he goes. He tells them what to do, but he also tells the Holy Spirit what they will need to continue through. The words of Christ live on forever in the hearts of those who follow him. Acts: This is another version of the Ascension story – written by the same person, but for a very different reason. These are not words for the Holy Spirit, but words for the disciples. Luke once again tells how Jesus appeared after the resurrection. How Jesus brought them to the mountain with him, and then he went into heaven. Of course the disciples want to witness every moment of this event. Then ending is humorous, but helpful – two angels ask the disciples why they are looking up in the sky for nothing. Jesus is in the work here on earth that they are about to do, not in the cloud. So get you head out of the clouds. Good advice for us as well. Questions: Where do you look for Jesus today? Where do you find Jesus in today’s world? Who in your life, who has passed on, but you remember their words daily? How can we continue that work of the disciples?

May 2, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for May 2nd: Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 22:25-31, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8, Theme: the power of evangelism, Song: Joyful Joyful We Adore thee UMH 89 Acts: This book is intentionally written to be dramatic and over the top. And this story does not disappoint. A man is reading scripture, but he does not understand what he is written. The disciple, Philip is willing to break it down for him. When they both realize that the book of Isaiah is talking about the savior, they both get the holy spirit. Phillip disappears, and the man is so convicted that he goes throughout the countryside telling others what he heard. Have you ever got that excited reading the bible? Perhaps you should. But the lesson for us is to not be afraid to share our faith with others. And when we do, to look for the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit in us that brings understanding to the other person. We may not have the same results that Phillip did, but eventually we will make a difference in others. 1 John: We continue to learn about the power of love. God loves us so that we can show others love. Love is the foundation of our faith. We come to church in order to learn love. This book teaches us that we cannot love God and hate people. We cannot see God, but we can see the people in our lives. When we show love – that is when God is apparent, not in person but in our attitude. We have not been given a spirit of Fear. Love gives us the power to step out of our comfort zone. It gives us the power to put up with things from other people that we would not tolerate otherwise. Perfect love drives out fear. Questions: Have you ever been willing to share your faith with someone? When have you felt the power of God in your spirit? In your life? What are your afraid of? How can love help you overcome that fear?

April 18, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for April 18th: Acts 3:12-19, Psalm 4, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36-48; Theme: We are God’s Children; Song: God of Grace, God of Glory UMH 577 1 John: This is another scripture about the importance of community in the church. This is another scripture about how difficult a task that can be. But we are encouraged to understand that all things are possible with the power of God. There were many divisions in John’s congregation. There were also a lot of broken dreams. People were dying before the dream was fulfilled. It was becoming clear that this was a new community that had nothing in common with the Jewish community. So many started to believe that if the Jews were children of God, then the Christians were not. John is reminding us that in spite of everything, we are indeed children of God. Not because of anything that we may have done, but because of the powerful love of God. We are reminded that God loves us, God also calls each of us to love one another. It is that love that gives us a sense of community. Acts: After the Resurrection Peter and the other disciples go out into the streets to tell others of the amazing deeds of Jesus Christ. He does not explain how or why Jesus died. But he does tell us that because he died, we have salvation. Because he died we are initiated into the family of God. Because he died we have a fair chance for repentance in our own time and our own age. God always finds a way to bring us back into the fold of his love. Jesus showed us God’s love in our time. Jesus’ story is not over, it continues to expand. Until he returns, the story continues. It is important for us to see ourselves on both sides of the story – we are the cause of Jesus death, but we are the beneficiaries. When we look back at the story of salvation, we can be grateful, and more important repent and turn around back to God. Questions: Jesus is called the author of life – how is the resurrection to beginning of life? How does love help us to be in community with others not like us? How do you need to repent? How have you rejected Jesus teachings in your life?

April 4, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for April 4th: Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Mark 16:1-8; Theme: Resurrection of Jesus Christ; Song: Christ the Lord is Risen UMH 302 Mark: It is the women who always take the lead in the resurrection story. As Jesus had gathering his disciples together for a final teaching it is a woman who anoints his feet. Now we start out the resurrection story with the women needing to reach Jesus body to anoint the people’s king for a proper burial. While they are traveling in the dark, they have no idea that the true king has risen. He has already been anointed by God to lead the disciples to true spiritual freedom. During that dark morning, they have no idea of what they will see when they reach the tomb. They did not see anything but an empty tomb. But their hearts were still filled with heart. An angel is there to tell them that the mission continues, and they will find their own salvation in reaching out and helping others. Psalms 118: Easter is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. This psalm was more than likely a song sung as pilgrims finally made it to the temple in Jerusalem. It is also a special psalm for Christians because it recounts the salvation event from beginning to end. It starts out with persecution and doubt. The stone that the builders rejected turns out to be the cornerstone of faith. Martin Luther quotes this prayer when he writes on the wall of prison: “I shall not die, I shall live and recount the ways of the Lord”. Once he recounts how his life turned around from bad to good- then he celebrates the mercy of the lord. Easter is the day that we all celebrate the day the lord overcame all of our struggles. This is the Day that the Lord has made – Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Questions: Do you know the resurrection story by heart? What is new about this story this year? What have you overcome within this year? What gives you the strength to face the future?

March 21, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for March 21st: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 51:1-12, Hebrews 5:5-10, John 12:20-33, Theme: obedience, Song: Change My Heart O God TFWS 2152 Hebrews: The whole point of the book of Hebrews is to help us understand Jesus role as the high priest for all people. The high priest would take responsibility for the sins of the people. They would also intercede to God on behalf of the people. High priests are found in the temple. In this case, Jesus does not reside in the temple, he does not even have any formal training. Jesus works in the lives of the ordinary person. Jesus eventually resides in the most abhorred place in society – crucified on the cross. He becomes the sacrifice for our sins – and there is no need for another sacrifice. The lesson in chapter 5 is that Jesus salves us through his obedience of the cross. He does not argue with the will of God. The lesson is that if Jesus can be obedient, than so can we. Our way of forgiving our sins is in a decision to follow Jesus to the Cross. Psalms 51: This psalm is the classic Lenten psalm asking not only for forgiveness from God, but also asking for a renewed open relationship with God. This is the desperate prayer of someone who at one time was obedient and close to God. But because of life, they feel that door is now closed. They are asking God for a cleaning of the soul that they can return to that relationship. It is a trust that God will open that doorway again. It is good for us to think of lent as a time for us to renew our relationship with God. Time for us to realize how much life has gotten in the way. Time to admit that we are sinners in our life. It is time to trust that We are special in God’s eyes, and God is reaching out to us as we are reaching out to God. Questions: What does it mean to be obedient to God? What must we do to follow Jesus role model? How do you feel cut off from God? What practice do you need to start, that you have let fall by the wayside?

March 14, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for March 14th: Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 107: 1-3,17-22, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21; Theme: We live in the Grace of God; Song: Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me UMH 361 Ephesians: Ephesians is a continuation of Paul’s before and after, with and without theme. Here the author (probably not Paul) is comparing life with grace and without grace. Some of us may never know of a time in our lives when we were without grace. But lent is the time for all of us to grow in faith and to realize just how much of our life depends on God’s grace. The last paragraph of this verse says God’s grace is a gift. It is not something that we possess, not it is something that we can be proud of. It is not about us, it is solely on the shoulders of God. Yet there is a place for works in this lesson. God shows us grace, so that we can have the energy to do good for the rest of the world. Lent is about realizing that we are not perfect, but we can always try to do better. Psalms 107: This is a community psalm. People have gathered from all walks of life to be present together. As we gather for lent, all of us have different stories to tell. God has redeemed us in so many different situations, all that we can do is come together to say thank you. I love the last point, which says that even though all of us are redeemed, some of us are fools. We take God’s grace for granted and we do what we want to do. We pay the consequences, but God still comes to us to redeem us (once again). Those of us who are fools have all of the more reason to gather and sing God’s praises. Questions: How are you growing in faith this Lenten season? What does God’s grace mean in your life? When have you needed to ask God for forgiveness? What was your journey back to righteousness?

March 7, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for March 7th: Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2:13-22 Theme: Wisdom and Folly; Song: Take Time to Be Holy UMH 395 1 Corinthians: The Bible is full of words of wisdom. The Book of Proverbs makes wisdom a mother that we can all relate to. Even the Book of Psalms encourages us to make wise choices. But the message is clear is that wisdom only comes from God, not from the world around us. Paul goes one step further and explains that what makes common sense to the world, is the exact opposite of what God tells us to do. We all live in the world, so we are all tempted to use the worlds wisdom. Lent is our chance to be strong, to pull away from the world and to listen to God. The biggest challenge of Corinthians was divisions and strife within the Body of Christ. Paul is trying to remind us to take care of our disagreements according to the Bible and love, and not the world and revenge. Psalms: Psalm 19 is divided into three parts, but the message is for us to be able to identify God, for us to listen to God and for us to be Godly people. Where else can we find God but in nature? Every season God puts on a show that we can only marvel at. When we look at God’s handiwork all around us, we are reminded that God is also at work in us, in those around us, and in our church. When we have a prayer life, we have a relationship with God. We start to listen to God in making our decisions. I think the ending of Psalm 19 is important – it encourages us to think of our own redemption. No matter how good we think we are, we are sinners and we need to ask for God’s forgiveness before we can go on in a life of faith. Questions: Who do you look for when you are looking for wise words? What are some things that God tells us to do, that the world does not support us in? How does nature inspire you in this current season? What is your relationship with God like? How does it need to improve?

February 28, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for February 28th: Genesis 17:1-7,15-16, Psalm 22:23-31, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38 Theme: The Promise of Abraham: Song: Faith of Our Fathers UMH 710 Romans: The task of lent is for us to remember the promises of God. In our modern world, we spend so much time finding solutions for ourselves, that we forget that God promises to take care of all of our needs. We don’t give God time to show us things that we never though of before. In Romans, Paul reminds us that we are a part of the family of Abraham, because Jesus was a part of the family of Abraham. Abraham is our prime example of what it means to trust God with our lives. God responded by promising to make sure that Abraham had a legacy, even though the earthly means of having children did not seem to be available to Abraham. Paul says that God fulfilled that promise not just on Abraham’s behalf, but on our behalf as well. To show us that God is still here, in the midst of our discouragements, our broken dreams, our chaos and confusion. How is the promise alive and well today? Psalms: We are all familiar with psalm 23, but we don’t know a whole lot about psalm 22. Why is the singer of psalm 23 so comfy and cozy with God. Because he has spent to former psalms crying out to help to the Lord. In the beginning of psalm 22 he cries My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Our scripture is on the last part of psalm 22 – where he is praising God again. One of the major differences between the Christian bible and the Jewish bible is the way the chapters are numbered. In many ways Psalm 22 are two different psalms. Our focus in on the second part. Those who believe in God and follow Israel are invited to praise God. We can look at all of the times that God has worked for us and say thank you. Praise and acknowledgement are the precursor to the message of psalm 23 – God really does love me, God really does protect me from my enemies. Questions: What does trusting in God mean to you? What are the modern day promises that we need to hear? How has God protected you? How do you praise God for all that was done for you?

February 21, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for February 21st: Genesis 9:8-17, Psalm 25:1-10, I Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15, Theme: Rainbows Song: Come Thou Font UMH 400 Genesis: There is always something about rainbows that draw us to attention. As we begin the season of lent, this story is more than a story of rainbows in the sky. It is more than a story about God’s eternal love for all of creation. This the story of how we all start out as good people with a relationship with God, but then life happens. We get caught up in our situation, we forget to pray, we forget that God is even there for us. But have you ever noticed that something always happens, God always sends us a sign, and we return to love. The story of Noah and the Ark is a story of reconciliation. Humanity needed a reminder of God’s presence – and then the flood happen. The flood was a time of darkness and struggle. When it was over the rainbow came – the relationship was restored, God made a promise to love us always. Lent is the time for us to get in touch with the promises of God, and for us to realized that God never gives up on us, but in every time period something happens that makes us stray away. Psalms: This psalm is so popular that we will read it three different times this year. This psalm is the story of faith in its entirety. Life is a struggle, we often look for hope, and something happens to help us to realize God’s love. We live in thankfulness for all that God has done for us. This is the story of a faithful person who has decided to follow God. They ask for God’s direction, they ask for God’s love. The psalmist asks that God not remember the sins of his youth. That is a request of us all as we grow. As we become closer to God and as we get to know God, it is easier for us to include God in all that we do. When we live a life of faith, we are happier and more at peace. Questions: What hope to you feel when you see a rainbow? How will you reconcile with God this lent? What gifts have you gotten for living a life of faith? How has God revealed God’s self to you in your life?

February 14, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for February 14th: 2 Kings 2:1-12, Psalm 50:1-6, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9; Theme: The Love of God; Song: Open My Eyes, That I May See UMH 454 Shine Jesus Shine FWS 2173 2 Kings: Every time that I hear this story, I am inspired. This is a story about transition from the old to the new. It is the day when the famous prophet Elijah goes up into heaven and leaves his mantle for his student Elisha to pick up. Elisha is a very different person, but he does work to fill Elijah’s shoes. I think we all have the mentor that we ascribed to be like. And once they were gone, we did the best that we could be fill their shoes even though we were a different person, who lived in a different time. The good news of this story is that we come and we go, but the spirit of God lives on. God continues God’s work in each and every new generation. It is important for us to pay attention to the day of transition, when God moves from old to new. We have to be willing to see the chariot of God come to earth and to move forward in a mighty way Mark: We have reached an important transition time in the Christian Year. This is the last Sunday of Epiphany before lent begins. Every year we hear the story of Jesus taking his new disciples up to a mountain to pray and he is transfigured at his mentors Moses and Elijah visit him to give him strength for the journey ahead. This story is proof that God appears to us in each and every generation, and that God calls someone in that generation to carry on the building of God’s kingdom. It is also proof that in every transition, we have time to look back on the past, and to move forward into our work. The disciples did not realize what was happening at the time, but God was showing them what was next. As we read the stories of the bible, God is showing us what we must do in our time. It is time for us to get to work, but for us also to look for who in the next generation that will continue now so much our work, but the work of the Lord. Questions: Who mentored you in your current job? How did God speak to you to tell you what to do? What did you see as a child that you wished you had paid more attention to? How is God speaking to the next generation?

February 7, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for February 7th: Isaiah 40:21-31, Psalm 147:1-11,20; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39 Theme: God is hope in the midst of dark times Song: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms UMH 133 Isaiah: I think that we are all going through tough times right now. I think even the most faithful of us are questioning our faith and wondering how God could let this happen to us. We look at the bible, and get frustrated that it does not apply to our life. Isaiah is telling us that he understands how we feel because he and his people have been through it. Isaiah’s response to us: surely you have known, surely you have heard, surely someone told you, surely you understand how life works. Everything that we know about faith tells us that God will provide. Life needs to change, not God. We have to remember that the dark times are temporary and will not last forever. In time we will feel better and see God in the situation, and see how God has led us to a better day. Our faith is what gives us the patience to wait, actively wait. Mark: They say there is no rest for the weary. We have been following Jesus since he has been baptized, and we have not even made it out of chapter 1 yet. Jesus picks his inner circle. Interestingly, they are willing to leave dad in the fishing boats, but want to go home and check on mom. When they get to Capernaum, mom is not doing well. Jesus is the guest, but he does not hesitate to heal mom so that she can get up an cook that delicious dinner that he was promised. Not even mom gets to rests, she gets up and gets to work. We too are reminded how important it is for us to keep working, there is an awful lot that needs to be done. After dinner, Jesus tells the disciples that they need to head to the other side of the lake, there are too many people who need to hear the good news of healing. Who is it that is waiting on us, so that they can hear the good news and change? Questions: How have you been discouraged by the pandemic? Where do you find God in the process? What is it about being a Christian that makes you tired? Why is it important for you to keep working?

January 31, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for January 31st: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalm 111, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28; Theme: Even the Demons Obey him Song: Help Us Accept Each Other - UMH 560 Mark: We all recognize that there is negativity in the world. There is even negativity in the church. Mark is one of the few spiritual authors who is willing to address negativity head on. He clearly demonstrates that Jesus has authority even over the negativity in our lives. In this verse, Jesus starts to teach in the synagogues, and Jesus recognizes the demons and asks them to leave. Jesus does not destroy them, he just takes away their power. When others see this they spread the news that the messiah has the power to heal. The good news for us is that Jesus’ presence, words, and actions have that same authority over our problems in life and in church. We don’t have to find demons in other people and call them bad. We do have the power to look at our own lives and see what inside of our own spirit needs to be changed. 1 Corinthians: Paul picks up where Jesus leaves off in encouraging us not to judge the behavior of others. We are all different people, with different values. There are Christians that we do not agree with. We don’t have to criticize them, we can be an example for them. In Christ we have freedom to do anything and to be forgiven. But not everything that we do is on our best interest. As Christian, people tend to scrutinize our behavior more than others. We have to be aware of that tendency, but not be controlled by it. Our relationships with others should not be controlled by judgement, but by love. How do our actions affect other? Questions: Have you ever experienced Jesus healing? How does the spirit of Christ help you to overcome negativity? How do other people judge your behavior? How can you respond in love?

January 24, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for January 24th: Jonah 3:1-5,10; Psalm 62:5-12, I Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20 Theme: Come Follow Jesus Song: Softly and Tenderly Jesus is calling UMH 348 Mark: During the Epiphany Season, we have been looking at what it means to be follow Jesus to the Cross. We are looking at the way that God speaks to us and gives us marching orders in life. Jesus came to Earth to give the good news to people. Even though he was the messiah, he soon realized that he could not transform the world alone. We hear the story of how he was able to reach out and recruit 12 ordinary citizens into his mission. They were not ordained, they did not study the bible all of the time. They were ordinary men who were committed to the normal things in life. And yet each was willing to give all of that up to step into the mission of the messiah. They did not always get what Jesus was about, but they all remained faithful. They were willing to make faith a part of their ordinary life. They were able to truly make a difference. What would happen if we chose to listen to the call to come and follow me. Jonah: As a child, this was one of my favorite bible stories. I loved the pictures of Jonah in the belly of a whale. As an adult, as a pastor this is an important lesson. Jonah was willing to listen to the call of God. He just did not really care for the people that he was called to serve. And yet he learned that he could resist God’s instruction, but God always finds a way to make us pay attention. When Jonah was willing to obey, he was hoping that the people would not listen so that he could feel justified in hating them. But they listened and followed God. The lesson for us is that God loves everybody, even those whom we don’t agree with. Questions: How are you like the disciples? What is God calling you to do for the world? What group of people do you feel is not worth saving? What would happen if you thought of them as children of God?

January 17, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for January 17, 2021: 1 Samuel 3:1-20, Psalm 139:1-6,13-18, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51: Theme: Human Relations Sunday: Song: Here I am Lord UMH 593 Samuel: After reflecting on the meaning of baptism, this is the time to reflect on what it means to be called by God. This is one the most important call stories in the bible. The calling of Samuel. Samuel was left in the temple by his mother Hannah as an offering to God. Eli, the priest raised him as his own. Eli’s own children were priest, but they were not good faithful people. While Samuel was a child, heard God’s voice very clearly. He followed that voice all the way into adulthood. Interestingly, his children were not faithful followers either. Being called by God is a very personal thing, it comes from deep within your spirit. The story says that when God spoke to Samuel, he was not faithful either. But he was willing to listen to God and he was willing to grow in God. The scripture says that God’s word at that time was treasure like gold. I think today God speaks every day, but we don’t always listen. John: Every gospel writer tells a story of how Jesus was able to recruit the 12 disciples. Jesus got to know people and observed their behavior. He was able to recognize that relationship that they had with the spiritual. Then Jesus would get to know them personally and talk with them. Jesus must have had a magnetic personality that was able to draw people to him. Nathaniel was amazed when he realized that the Son of God had recognized him and wanted him to be a part of the team. Jesus tells him that as he gets to know Jesus he will be able to see even greater things in life. The disciples were so impressed with what they saw that they were willing to follow this person to the cross, through death to eternity. Questions: Have you ever heard God’s voice personally? What is the spirit leading you to do for the world? How far are you willing to follow Jesus? How have you convinced someone personally to be a Christian?

January 10, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for January 10, 2021: Genesis 1:1-5, Psalm 29, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11: Theme: Baptism of the Lord: Song: Spirit Song UMH 347 Genesis: Since it is the beginning of the year, it is fitting that we start at the beginning of the bible – the creation story. The story does not start at the beginning of creation, it starts at the beginning of order in the world. This story shows that from the beginning of order, God has wanted humankind to be a major part of that creation. It is our job to maintain that order. God has left a lot of responsibility in our hands. This verse covers the first day of creation. After God is done for the day – he says and it was good. And yet there is still 6 more days of work to complete. Perhaps God knew that there would always be unfinished business in creation for man to complete. There are some things that still need to be corrected in order to call it good. Psalm 29: This psalm is a celebration of being co-creators with God. We get to work, but as we see God’s creation first hand, we can’t help but to be in awe and to worship God. As we watch God in action, we see that his source of creation is his voice. All he has to do is to speak, and the world appears. Perhaps that is why Jesus Christ, who is also with God is the WORD – the one who makes it all so. As we watch God at work in creation, we too are blessed with peace and abundance. The beginning of the psalm calls us divine beings, created with the purpose of living a blessed life with God as the center. Questions: When have you watched God at work in creation? Do you see the awe of God when you are in nature? How can we speak the future into being? What does it mean to be a divine being?