April 3, 2016

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for April 3rd: Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31 Theme: Jesus appears Song: Soon and Very Soon UMH 706 Acts: It is important for us to read the book of Acts during the Easter season. It shows the transformation of the disciples. This is what happens when they come out of the upper room mentioned in John. They are confident to challenge what they see going on and they pay the price for it. But they also change the world, and bring in lots of new disciples. The very people who brought Jesus to trial are now questioning the disciples. They killed him, so why are they continuing on his crime. The disciples explain that overall they have to obey God. And God has called them to reach out to others. They are examples to us that when we obey God, the Holy Spirit will forgive our sins, prepare us, and even work ahead of us to make a difference in the world. John: This is the first encounter with Jesus after the resurrection. He appears to the disciples at their biggest time of need. They are locked up in the upper room. They are convinced that all is lost and they fear for their lives. Thomas is honest about his doubts. This is still all a bunch of nonsense. Jesus realizes how important it is to guide them and to bring them forward. He also realizes how important it is to bring us forward. He tells us that we are not as lucky as Thomas. We will not be able to feel the nails in his hands. We will have to read the words and to go forward anyway. We still have a chance to see the spirit move and do its work in our world and in our time. Questions: How do you see Jesus’ presence in the world today? Who would challenge Jesus ministry today? How do you depend on the spirit in your life and work? What can you learn from the disciples about spreading the gospel? Who needs to hear the message the most?

March 13, 2016

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for March 13th: Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4-14; John 12:1-8; Theme: Keep going forward; Song: What Wondrous Love is this UMH 292 Isaiah: During the season of lent, we have talked about what it means to be reconciled with God. We have talked about coming to God’s table to get fed, we have talked about putting old things aside and making everything new. Now it is time to talk about putting it all together. We don’t have to wait until we go to heaven in order to celebrate with God. The messiah came to this world to make it possible for us to celebrate in our lives. We don’t have to wait until everything is perfect to live our lives in Christ, we can start right here and now. In the midst of our pain, our suffering, our sin, our yearning we can start to have hope. Hope is the doorway for the spirit to come in and to make a difference. God is telling us to just keep going forward and to not look back. When we are renewed, we do not need to be nostalgic. Life is not about going back, it is about creating a new future and stepping into it. John: March is the month of celebrating women. It is a time of acknowledging that God uses women, just as much as he uses men. Women were disciples of Jesus also. This is the story of the woman who mourned over Jesus and gave him some expensive perfume to anoint his feet. She showed her deep devotion to her savior. Of course the men felt that all that she was doing was a waste of time. But Jesus saw it as preparing him for the next steps in his journey. There are always people who do not understand devotion and who will think that it is a waste of time. There are always people who do not think it is necessary to sit at the feet of Jesus. There is too much mission work in the world to be done. But we have to do both, first we have to sit with Jesus in order to have the resources to go out in mission. What do you have in your alabaster jar? And how do you give it to Jesus? Questions: What old habits do you need to put aside for Christ? What are the new things that you are willing to replace it with? What new things is Christ doing for you? What about the world? How do you spend your treasure on Christ?

March 6, 2016

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for March 6th: Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15: 1-3,11-32; theme: the stewardship practices of lent; Song: What Wondrous Love is this? UMH 292 2 Corinthians: The whole point of this Lenten journey is to be reconciled with Christ. It is for us to get out life together. No matter who far we think we come, we still have so far to go. It is time for us to become a new creature in Christ. It all starts with us, no really, it starts with God. God calls out to us, and waits for us to answer. For is to realize that we need to be forgiven. But when God forgives us, it is because he expects us to forgive others. Paul says that we are to be ambassadors of Christ. Don’t hold the trespasses of others against them. It is your forgiveness that helps them to realize that God is calling for them also. Show mercy to others. Instead of just arguing with others, why not try to solve the conflict. Come up with a solution that serves both parties, instead of trying to win. We are in unity and reconciled, then everybody wins. Luke: This is a very old story with a lesson that we need to learn time and time again. The power of unconditional love and the reminder that we are all in need of it. We are all the prodigal son with a prodigal father. We don’t realize how good we have it, until we lose it. We are spoiled children trying to make our way in this world. We have to realize that even though we may call our belongings ours, they are all a gift from God. We did nothing to deserve this love, we can do nothing to lose it. And those hard times in life are intended to bring us closer to home, not farther way. When we stop complaining, when we stop worrying, when we stop wishing for other things. Then we can settle down and do our work and make a difference in this world. And understand our place in God’s family. Questions: Where in your life do you need to receive mercy? Who do you need to show mercy? How is God working to reconcile you right now? How do you listen to God’s call for your life? What in your life are you taking for granted? How can you thank God without having to lose that thing? How can you say think you to God for giving you grace?

February 28, 2015

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for February 28th: Isaiah 55:1-9; Psalm 63:1-8; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9; Theme: service , Song: There is a Balm in Gilead UMH 375 Isaiah: Fasting is a major part of the Lenten experience. Some of us are hesitant to deprive ourselves of something. Fasting is more than doing without. It is anticipation of what is to come. It is preparing yourself for a feast. These words are preparing for a feast, not doing without. There are lot of people who really don’t have what they need. There are people who are really thirsty. Isaiah is assuring people that when God comes, everyone will have all that they need. This verse is a song that would have been sung. The last words say that our ways are not God’s ways. We cannot speak for God. We can work for God, but God is still in control! But we can celebrate that God’s plans are for us to have the best life possible in this world and the next! Let’s get ready to party! Luke: This verse continues our themes for lent, fasting, repentance, service. Jesus is told about those who Pilate killed while they were offering sacrifices. Jesus sympathizes, but also reminds us that the same fate is in store for us as long as we are sinners. We have to not only repent, but we have to change our lives in order to be prepared for the great feast. We don’t have to look at this text as a threat. Jesus continues to talk about a fig tree that did not produce fruit. Jesus destroyed it in favor of the fig tree that was able to produce. If we are faithful in our hearts and souls then we will always produce fruit. If we are faithful with just our mouths, then things will not turn out so well. Fasting is to help us to get in touch with what is going on in our souls, so that our hearts can produce fruit. Questions: Why is it so hard for you to fast? What can you do to get better at it? What is it that you thirst for in your life? How can you prepare for God to quench that thirst? How are you producing fruit in your life? What do you need to repent of in our service to God?

February 21, 2016

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for February 21st: Genesis 15:1-12,17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35; Theme: second Sunday of Lent: Song: Great is Thy Faithfulness UMH 140 Philippians: What does it mean to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God? Paul uses terms that any Roman citizen would be familiar with, but he redefines them for the Kingdom of God. That is what the ministry of Jesus was all about – transforming us from citizens of this world, to citizens of God’s world. Jesus could have very well taken claim to this earthly kingdom. That is what a lot of people wanted him to do. But he refused. He wanted us to expect something more than this. Paul’s biggest advice to us is a reminder that we are to stand firm and persevere. We are to endure the troubles of this world and wait for something better. Jesus came into this world, so that we could realize for ourselves that there is something else, if we just hold on and trust God. Luke: Jesus mourns and weeps for the city of Jerusalem, much like we mourn for the city of Chicago today. They are killing in Chicago, and Jesus says that Jerusalem is the only place that will kill its prophets. Jesus is warned that if he hangs around too long that he will be killed. They tell him to get out of Jerusalem before it is too late. Instead of running away, Jesus weeps and mourns for a city that thinks nothing of killing its prophets. He has no plans to stop his ministry, he cannot afford to hide, not now. We cannot afford to stop ministering for the city of Chicago. Like Jesus we have to cast out demons and heal the sick. Jesus sees all that we are doing. Jesus sees all that we are going through to do it. Jesus will fulfill all of the work that we do and bless us for doing it in his name. Questions: Who do you imitate as a role model? How is Jesus your role model in living your life? What are the things that you have to endure to serve Christ? What is your prayer for the city of Chicago? Who or what kills the prophets of this town? What blessings do you receive for remaining faithful to Christ?

December 27, 2015

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for December 27th: I Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52: Theme: First Sunday after Christmas; Song: Joy to the World Colossians: What did you get for Christmas? Usually when we were children we go the toys that we wanted, but also under the tree were new outfits. New clothes for the upcoming year. Colossians is encouraging us to put on our new clothes and to model them for everyone else. It encourages us to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. All things that should be renewed with the coming of Christ. We should be better than we were last year. And we should be even more stylish than we were last year. All of these qualities take time to develop. All of these qualities are the mark of a true Christian. All of these qualities make all of the difference in the world to another person. Paul is saying that we all should have received these qualities, not just for one person. And that if the whole community can put on its Christmas clothes, people will truly know that this is a house of God. Luke: This is the time when we learn about things that happen after Jesus is born. There is a different story for each section of the lectionary. This year is the story of Jesus traveling with his family to the temple. When they are on their way home they discover that Jesus is not with them. Jesus is still at the temple, learning and also teaching. We don’t know much about Jesus life until he turns 30 years old. We don’t know how he is educated, we don’t know when he received his calling, we don’t know how God interacted with his only son in order to mold and teach him. We do know that God was well led, and that he had a strong calling to understand the ways of God. We do know that he did not enter the standard methods of being taught – he preferred to stay in the streets with the people. But we are grateful that the Lord kept Jesus through this time and guided him to spread his knowledge on to us generations later. Questions: Are you a different person this year than you were last year? Did you get anything new for Christmas? When have you had to use gentleness, kindness, and patience within the last week? What do you think happened to Jesus as he was growing up? What were the lessons that you learned about Jesus as a child?

December 13, 2015

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for December 13th: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18; Theme: third Sunday of Advent; Song: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus UMH 196 Zephaniah: This is the Sunday where we get the assurance that things are going to get better. There is light at the end of the tunnel. We have to remember who to give the credit for bringing us through a very dark situation. God. All of our scriptures for this whole season are more like poetry and songs in honor of God. This is the song of Zephaniah the prophet. This is a song of celebration for the exiles. This is the time for them to go back home and to be reunited as a family again. But once we get to the promised land, we have to still remember God. Just because things are wonderful, that does not mean that we can forget God. We still have to praise and thank God for all that we are and all that we have. But today, the journey is not over, we are almost there, but we still have a long way to go. Luke: This is the second week that we hear the story of John the Baptist. John gives a deep message to us about repentance. It may have been partly our fault that we were exiled in the first place. There may have been no other way for God to teach a lesson. And now he sees that we are ready to go back home. John is surprised that so many sinners are ready to go back home, and are willing to get baptized and to repent. He is exited, but knows that some of these people have some deep ingrained sin. Some of these people don’t even recognize their own dark side. Even when the best of us confess, it is by God’s grace that we stay on the side of righteousness. It is by God’s grace that we are able to live into our baptism. We still have to wait for the coming of the Lord. Humans can baptize with water, but the Holy spirit uses fire, which is longer lasting. Questions: How do you feel like an exile? How does God bring you back home? At what time of the year do you take the time to say thank you to god for what he has done for you? What does living into your baptism mean for you? How are you helping the whole community by living into your baptism?