October 4, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for October 4th: Exodus 20:1-4,7-9,12-20; Psalm 19; Philippians 3:4-14; Matthew 21:33-46; Theme: World Communion Day; Song: One Bread One Body UMH 620 Exodus: The book of Exodus is an invitation to community. An invitation to a new community. It is an unknown journey into the future, with an opportunity to find God walking along side of you. Exodus 20 is the 10 commandments. One of the most important documents of our faith. It is important for us to connect this with the lessons from the chapters before. The Isrealites learned that God was with them by complaining about what they didn’t have. God provides, but first God says follow my directions. They complain again and God provides but says this is a test to see if you are listening. Once again God provides, and says these are my rules of community. The Ten commandments are rules to treat others in your community. The Ten Commandments are also a covenant – an agreement between us and God. We promise to obey these rules, God promises to provide in all situations. It is the basis of the church, but it is also the basis of our municipalities. Israelites means the Sons of Israel. It means it is a promise to be loyal to God. When we pledge that loyalty we give up loyalty to other things. But God also says that when God is first, all other things fall into place in our life. Matthew: The book of Isaiah refers to the vine and the vinegrower. It is clear that the vine is the community and the vine grower is God. Jesus knows that everyone would know this analogy. It was not uncommon for people to rent land from the owner to grow their grapes and olives. Jesus story is about horrible tenants and a frustrated manager of the lands. The tenants want to do what they want. – they become nonproductive for themselves and for the landowner. It is a reminder that we do not own anything in this world – it all belongs to God. We are the tenants, and sometime we really do get out of control and think we are most important and the things that we have belong to us. Jesus reminds us that one day, God will reclaim all that belongs to God including ourselves. Questions: Which of the 10 commandments is most important to you? Do you think these rules only apply to the faithful, or to the whole community? How do you feel about your possessions? Do they belong to God or you? What are you giving to God?

September 27, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for September 27th: Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 78:1-4,12-16; Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32 Theme: God responds and asks us to trust him, Song: Come Thou Font of Every Blessing UMH 400 Exodus: This is a continuation of the story of the Israelites complaining and God providing for them. Last week they were hungry, this week they are thirsty for clean water. Moses strikes a rock and water comes out. But we also learn after this event that God is tired of them complaining and never forgives them. As a matter of fact, when asked why the people were banished from the promised land, God says because they never stopped complaining. It is only human to complain when things don’t go the way we expect them. But at some point we also have to look for solutions. We have to honor our covenant with God. We have to keep up our end of the bargain. There is nothing wrong with complaining to God, but we cant let that be an open door for despair and hopelessness. God always does something to make the situation better. We have to be intentional in trusting God. Matthew: Jesus has been teaching all over Israel. People are listening to what Jesus has to say. Jesus is encouraging them (and us) to think about life in a whole different way. To think about power in a whole new way. And to think about our place in life in a whole new way. Instead of looking for power in the leaders, look for power in the vulnerable people. Instead of a leader getting the best of life, the leader is the one who is in the trenches with everybody else. Instead of waiting for permission to speak, speak from the heart. Instead of looking for power in this world, look for power in the world to come. Jesus seems to be turning the world upside down with his teaching, which makes the authorities in the world even angrier. Jesus even says that those who we look down on, are closer to heaven then we are. We as Christians have no choice to think about what it means to be loyal to God. Is it in being important? Or is it in being giving and humble? What would Jesus do in our situation? Questions: What are your present complaints to God? What is it that you need to entrust to God? Does being a Christian challenge your social status with other people? How do we need to change our hearts and minds today?

September 20, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for September 20th: Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105”1-6, 37-45; Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16, Theme: The Lord will provide in all situations; Song: And are we yet alive UMH 553 Exodus: It seems universal, that when situations get difficult, that people tend to get angry and tend to take their frustrations out on the people around them. When God calls the Isrealites out of bondage and into freedom in the desert; the people don’t see the freedom all they see is the hardship. They have to adjust to a new way of living, and at every challenge they ask why – why are they here. The are blaming Moses and Aaron for leading them out here. But it is God who speaks and says that they are okay and that God intends to take care of them. In response to the cries of the people God sends bread and quail for them to eat. When God provides, God tells them not to get greedy and store up what they have. God also sends a light, a presence to be with them throughout all circumstances so that they know they are not alone. That still does not stop the complaining. In this verse alone the people complain about 14 different things. The good news is that God hears their complaints all 14 times. The bad news is that God holds the complaining against them for a very long time. Philippians: Most of us don’t want to think about the day that we die. Today I am mourning the loss of a facebook friend, whom I enjoyed his post. The last post that he gave was mourning the loss of a friend, and celebrating that he was a cancer survivor. A friend came into his office to go to a funeral and found him slumped in his chair. He died at the hospital hours later. Death has taken away his life, but not his legacy. When Paul writes this letter, he is imprisoned. He has come to terms with the fact that he may be killed while he is in custody. He is okay with that, so he says the he will be present with God in life and in death. Less than two years later, he is indeed killed. He realizes that the mission that he has started in the church will go on long past his death. He is encouraging all of us who follow Christ to do all that we can while we are alive, and to realize that Christ will still be with us when we complete our mission. Paul wants to encourage us all to keep going forward, and the know that Christ has already won our battle. Questions: Have you ever complained to God about something? What was it? What was God’s response to you? How is God present in difficult situations? Have you made preparations for the day you die? What do you hope others when carry on when you are dead?

September 13, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for September 13th: Exodus 14:19-31, Exodus 15:1-11,20-21; Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35; Theme: God loves us no matter where we are in life Song: Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah UMH 127 Romans: As Paul gets to the ending chapters of Romans Jesus is calling all of us to put the love that we learned into action. Love is not just about being nice to strangers, it is about learning to accept church members that really get on our nerves. It is about learning to understand that even when we are united in Christ, we are different people, we live different lives, we see life differently. And God loves us all equally. The Roman church would have been a diverse group of people. Paul was reminding them and us all that Jesus established the church to be a place where people can learn to accept each other no matter what. Paul says that every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. I always wonder how that is going to happen with so many different religions. But all things are possible with God aren’t they? If God can solve the differences in the world, he will also solve the differences in our church. Matthew: When we practice the law of love, inevitable someone is going to take advantage of us, and get us to become resentful. When we are tolerating people that we do not understand, or don’t know inevitably we are going to get offended. That is why love and forgiveness go hand in hand. Forgiveness has been a lesson for the last two lessons. Jesus explains that we will never be above forgiveness, it is a continuous practice. When we forgive, we are not doing the other person a favor. It frees us from burden. Jesus also reminds us that just as we need to forgive others, we must not forget that we may have done that and more to someone else. If they are willing to forgive us, we can surely forgive others. We should be working to free everyone from the burden of hurting others. Sin is just missing the mark. Forgiveness helps us to get back on track. Questions: What are some of the diversity present in our church? How do we build bridges to understand strangers? Who do you need to forgive? Who needs to forgive you?

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?