Prepared Hearts for June 22nd, 2014

Hello Friends,

Welcome back to Prepared Hearts for June 22, 2014. This week’s lectionary texts include: Genesis 21:8-21; Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17; Romans 6:1b-11, and Matthew 10:24-39. I’ll be preaching from Matthew. The text is below, followed by starter thoughts.

Matthew 10:24-39 (NRSV)

24 “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25 it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! 26 “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

STARTER THOUGHTS

One of the Bible commentaries I use divides the scripture above into two sections entitled: “The Call to Courageous Confession” (verses 24-33) and “The Cost of Discipleship” (verses 34-39). I would have probably lumped them together and entitled it all “Confusing and Disturbing Teachings of Jesus.”

Are any of the rest of you confused and/or troubled by his comments here? One moment he seems to be sharing something I find very profound (“Do not fear those who kill the body…fear him who can destroy both soul and body”) and the next minute he doesn’t sound like Jesus at all (“I have not come to bring peace, but a sword”).

This scripture raises SO MANY questions, I hardly know where to begin! First of all, what do you make of this passage? What do you like/dislike/understand/find confusing?

How do you handle scripture that is difficult or contradictory to other passages of the Bible (i.e. Prince of Peace with a sword)? Also, how do you address scripture that contradicts your own belief system (children being set against their parents)? What is your measuring stick for determining what the critical themes of scripture are for you?

The first portion of the text is about letting go of one’s fear, especially of letting go of the fear of proclaiming the Gospel. Do you struggle to claim your faith and to declare/share it with others? Do you think the church does a good job of preparing disciples to acknowledge God before others?

This text reflects a reality that existed in Matthew’s church that people sometimes had to choose between their family and their faith. Even today, some people find closer ties within the family of God than they do with their natural families. How is the church like a family? Do you think, as a family, we encourage each other to let go of fear of what others may think and place our loyalty to God above all else?

I look forward to your thoughts and reflections. Feel free to email me or post a comment here.

Peace,

Amee

Prepared Hearts for June 8th

Hello Friends,

I apologize that I haven't gotten Prepared Hearts out the last couple weeks. This week I figured it was better late than never!

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, sometimes known as “the birthday of the Church” because of the coming of the Holy Spirit.  The lectionary texts for this week include: Acts 2:1-21, Psalm 104:24-34, and 35b; I Corinthians 12:3b-13; and John 7:37-39. 

I'll be preaching from Acts, which is below, with “Starter Thoughts” to follow.

Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 1Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 1Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

“In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

   and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

   and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

   in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

     and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

   and signs on the earth below,

     blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness

   and the moon to blood,

     before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

STARTER THOUGHTS

First, some background info: the word “Pentecost” means “fiftieth day.” It was a daylong festival also known as the “Feast of Weeks” and took place fifty days following Passover. Pentecost was one of the pilgrimage feasts, which is why Jews from every land were gathered together in Jerusalem. This is the context in which the Holy Spirit comes upon them.

The story of Pentecost from Acts 2 is a familiar one to many because we read it every year. Like most familiar stories it is well worth examining again (and again). What stands out to you this time as you read it? What intrigues you?

At Pentecost God’s Spirit is poured out upon the entire community of believers. It isn’t a personal gift but a gift that rested on “each of them.” What does this tell us about the nature of the Holy Spirit?

The presence of the Holy Spirit leads to the miracle of speaking in unknown foreign languages. How is the Holy Spirit at work in the church today bridging differences?

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, fire is often associated with God’s presence. What does that imagery mean to you?

We read: All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’Who do you relate with more, the amazed and perplexed folks or the skeptics who try to explain away what they are witnessing by claiming they are drunk? What do you make of these two very different responses to the same encounter?

At Pentecost the Holy Spirit was heard and seen as wind and fire. How do you encounter the Holy Spirit today?

May the Holy Spirit work in your heart as you pray your way toward this Sunday.  

Peace,

Amee