March 31, 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for March 31st: Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32, Theme: Lenten celebration Luke: The story of the prodigal son is one of the most popular stories in the Bible. We hear it so much that it can be easy for us to forget the true lesson of the story. Jesus is involved in an argument with the pharisees. They don’t understand why Jesus and his disciples refuse to follow protocol. If Jesus claims to be such a holy man, why does he spend so much time with questionable characters? Jesus tells three stories of things that were lost and were found. Each time the lost things was found, there is a celebration. If a woman can celebrate about finding a penny on the floor, then surely, a family can celebrate the return of a lost child. We are that lost child and God rejoices when we repent and return to him. Lent is a strange celebration, where God rejoices when we set life aside and take God more seriously. Imagine how God must feel about Easter? Psalm 32: Confession is good for the soul. The psalmist tells us how important it is for us to be honest with God about our lives. When we hold our sins inside, they can destroy us. The psalmist says that my body is wasting away. I am suffering because I am keeping the darkness inside of me. But once I talk with God and let the light in, things get better. He (the psalmist )is saying that having a relationship with God makes all of the difference in the world. It can be such a healing experience. But it can also save you from getting caught up in what is happening in the world. You can resist sin, by focusing on your relationship with God. This is a great reminder for lent – to think about the time of repentance as a great time to enjoy the benefits of God. Questions: How have you stepped away from God? What part of your life do you need to rededicate to God? What do you feel self-righteous about and refuse to celebrate? How is confession a part of your life? How do your feel about your relationship with God? Yo

March 24, 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for March 24th: Isaiah 55:1-9, Psalms 63:1-8, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9, Theme: Lenten repentance Luke: Jesus, first answers the question of why do bad things happen to good people. As we watch the news, we can see countless stories all over the world where innocent people who are involved in tragedies that they did not create. We can’t help but to wonder why God allowed this to happen. Jesus is addressing a mass killing in his time – a group of Galileans who were killed when they entered into Jerusalem. – did they deserve to die? No, Jesus says that they did not deserve to die. God loves them just as he loves everyone. But Jesus uses this as an example of why we need to repent and return to God while we can. Lent is the season of repentance – of renewing our relationship with God. It is our chance to use our personal strength in order to change. He goes on to talk about a fig tree, which gets a second chance to produce fruit. The tree has been given grace, and God grants us second chances in order for us to have a chance to blossom. Isaiah: God starts out this passage with a promise of fulfillment. God is the source of well being, so God invites others to come, make God the center of your life and all that you are missing will be fulfilled. This promise comes as the end of the part of Isaiah where God has promised a savior, who will be the earthly agent to fulfill those promises. I love the end of this verse, why God reminds us that our ways are not his ways. We don’t always think like God does. We can get comfortable thinking about ourselves, rather than thinking about others. We can fill our pockets, and watch others who have empty pockets. God says that when God fulfills, it is in a way where everyone is happy and fulfilled. The promises of God extend to all people, not just some. But in order for us to be a part of those promises, we have to repent and make the walk back into God’s good graces. We have to put aside our ways and accept God’s ways. Questions : How do you pray about the victims of senseless violence? When have you been given a second chance? What promises do you need to see fulfilled in your life?

February 17, 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for February 17th: Jeremiah 17:5-10, Psalm 1, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 6:17-26: Theme: What does it mean to be blessed? Luke: This text is commonly called the sermon on the plain or sermon on a level place. It gives us 4 blessings and 4 woes in living a faithful life. Jesus gives blessings to those who are poor, those who are hungry, those who are grieving, and those who are unfairly persecuted. He gives woes to those who are rich, those who have enough and don’t share, those who laugh when others cry and those who are spoken well of. God has a habit of turning the tables on life, and this is what he is doing. He encourages us to pay attention to those in need, and to know that God has heard their cry. That is why it is called the sermon on a level place, it reminds us to stay balanced in life. To know that our fate in life in in the hands of God. Life is not intended to be all wonderful, there will be struggle. But when that struggle comes, God will get us through. In our times of struggle, we have to know that we are blessed children of God, and God is on our side. 1 Corinthians: In this whole chapter, Paul is speaking of the resurrection. Paul is reminding us that the faith that we inherited frim Christ, is a faith in the resurrection. If we believe that Jesus was resurrected, there is no reason to believe that God won’t do the same for us. We will be able to celebrate. As a matter of fact, the real work of the soul does not begin until we die and we are brought to life by God. That does not mean that we are to take life for granted. God put all of us here for a reason. We need to help others in mission. We have to teach others the definition of resurrection. Life brings death, but faith in God brings life. When we are born, we take on death. We have no choice that is the world that we are born in. In order to be resurrected, you first have to die. Christ brings us hope and power to overcome death. Questions :How do you use the power of resurrection in your everyday life? How does life drain you? How are your restored in your belief in God? What are your doing to help the poor, hungry, grieving and persecuted? How are you blessed in your individual situation?

February 10. 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for February 10th: Isaiah 6:1-13; Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11 Theme: the things are faith is made of. 1 Corinthians: This is Paul’s witness to the gospel message. Paul testifies that even though he was not an original disciple, the Jesus did come to him. Paul is a witness to the spiritual resurrection. He is recounting not how Jesus died, but why Jesus died. Jesus died to free us from our sins. He was making a sacrifice for us. We are forgiven when he is resurrected. That is why it is so important for us to follow Jesus and to live out his mission. We need to tell our story of salvation, but we need to make that story available for others. The spirit of Christ appeared to Peter, then to Paul and now to you and me. There is still work that needs to be done, that is why Jesus is still alive and working within us. Luke: This is the story of how Jesus came to meet the disciples and to get them to follow hm. They were fishers, Jesus comes and watches them at work. At first they are discouraged because they have not caught anything. Jesus is not a fisherman, but Jesus tells them how to get more fish. When they are successful, Jesus says that they will become fishers of men. Jesus does not know much about church growth – but he knows what it is that attracts people. – Love and care. This boat belongs to Peter, and Peter eventually becomes bishop of Jesus church. He starts out skeptical, listening to Jesus, but not understanding a word. He continually doubts Jesus, but time and time again, Jesus comes through and helps Peter to understand what true faith means. Questions: Why do we celebrate the resurrection? How do we tell the faith story to new people? How are we like Peter, questioning everything that Jesus says? What does it mean to become fishers of men? When was the last time when our efforts made a difference and saved lives?

February 3, 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for February 3rd: Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-6; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 4:21-30. Theme: Love is the greatest and hardest commandment 1 Corinthians: It is fitting that the chapter on love comes up during the week before Valentines Day. It is important to realize that Paul is not talking about romantic love between two people in this text. As a matter of fact, Paul is talking to a congregation that is divided and cannot cooperate in order to get anything done. So Paul tells them the love bears all things, love is not self serving, love learns to bear all things. In other words Paul is teaching us to be patient with one another. It is a prescription to get along with anyone. It is a prescription to put the overall mission before whether we really like people. It tells us how to treat other people, whomever they are. The most important verse to remember, that we treat all people with hope, faith, peace and most importantly love. Afterall – God is pure love for all people. Luke: Last week Jesus talked about his calling and he preached to the congregation about what it means to be called by God to fulfill a task. As the congregation listened, they were amazed at what he had to say. Luke like to point out that whenever he spoke, people were amazed at his ability to expound on the things of God. He had a gift for explaining things in a very clear way. Ultimately, it was this gift that got him kicked out in the street. He was a little too comfortable with God. He had an understanding that others did not have. Jesus continued to teach, but out in the streets where the people were. He went throughout the countryside performing miracles and healing people. But he was never able to do much of any of that in his own hometown. The people there refused to take him seriously. But he was able to transform the rest of the world, with his gift of bringing God to the people. Questions: How seriously do you take Jesus? Can Jesus still perform miracles in our world today? Do you show God’s love to all people or just the ones you like?

January 27, 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for January 27th: Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Luke 4:14-21; Theme: fulfilling God’s call Luke: Jesus went on a spiritual retreat in the woods to get closer to God, but he encountered the devil instead. He is able to overcome temptation and to truly understand what God wants him to do. Jesus regularly goes to temple, so he goes to share his experience with God. He gets to read scripture. He read from Isaiah – the spirit of the Lord is upon me. He not only reads, but tells the people That the spirit is indeed upon him. God has indeed called him to serve the community. He explains that he is the fulfillment of that scripture, he is the one that Isaiah was talking about. The people think that he is being egostitical. No one can fulfill God’s mission. But Jesus wanted to help them to understand that everybody can – if they just follow the ways of Jesus and serve and make a difference. 1 Corinthians: Paul takes more time to flesh out what spiritual gifts are. He talks about the body of Christ. We all have a different purpose. We are not to judge others. We are not to think that our gift is more important than others. We all work for the common good. Our gift, helps others to bring out their gifts. If we are able to work together as a church, we make each other stronger. Once again Paul spells out the gifts. This helps us to look around to see who has those gifts. The most important thing is that the mission is fulfilled. The only way the mission can be fulfilled is if we work together. Questions: How is the spirit of the Lord upon you? What are your spiritual gifts? How can you use them in the church? Do you feed others, or visit those who are sick? How are you using your gifts in the church? How is Jesus an example to you in your church life? Questions: How is the spirit of the Lord upon you? What are your spiritual gifts? How can you use them in the church? Do you feed others, or visit those who are sick? How are you using your gifts in the church? How is Jesus an example to you in your church life?

January 13, 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for January 13th: Isaiah 43:1-7, Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22; Theme: Baptism of the Lord Luke: This is a continuation of the story of John the Baptist, and his ministry to bring people to God. The people are expecting a messiah, and they are wondering if John is the one. Jesus hears John’s message and he comes forward to be baptized. Jesus knows that he is the intended messiah, but he needs to identify with those who are present and coming forward to be baptized. This was the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Our baptism is also the beginning of our ministry. At this moment, God comes forward and also speaks to the people, that this is indeed the messiah. The good news has played out and now a life of salvation may begin. We relive this moment every year, to have a chance to renew our ministry. We have a chance to remember our baptism, to remember God’s love for us, and wants us to fulfill the ministry of revealing the messiah to the world. Isaiah: This passage from second Isaiah has a word of hope. It is more hopeful than most. During this time in history, the Isrealites had been exiled, because of their disrespect for God. But at some point God told them to come back to and start their life anew. God promised to be with them through the hard times so that things could get better. God takes full control of recovery of the redeemed. God says I will be with you though the waters, all nations will look to you, the children will come back, and life will be wonderful. The presence of God always ends with a family reunion. Divisions will disappear and everyone will be together, having a feast with God. Questions: What does your baptism mean in your life? How do you live out your baptism? What would be the perfect family reunion to you? What needs to happen in the world to make that happen?