Prepared Hearts for September 22nd

Hello Friends,

Welcome back to Prepared Hearts, the online lectionary-based Bible study of Wacousta Community United Methodist Church. This week’s lectionary texts include: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1, Psalm 79:1-9, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, and Luke 16:1-13. I’ll be preaching from Luke. The text is below, followed by starter thoughts.

Luke 16:1-13

Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.” Then the manager said to himself, “What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.”

So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, “How much do you owe my master?” He answered, “A hundred jugs of olive oil.” He said to him, “Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.” Then he asked another, “And how much do you owe?” He replied, “A hundred containers of wheat.” He said to him, “Take your bill and make it eighty.” And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

 ‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’

STARTER THOUGHTS

The Parable of the Dishonest Steward isn’t a favorite of mine, but it has a lot to tell us about how we handle resources. In this story, a deceitful manager gets caught ripping off his boss. In order to save his own neck, he continues to squander his master’s wealth and then gets commended for it! Personally, I like a story where the bad guy gets his comeuppance, not one in which he gets praised for being “shrewd.” Does this trouble or confuse you?

 One thing to keep in mind as we look at this scripture is that stories of tricksters and wise rogues were common in Jewish folklore. The steward in this story not only ensures his own future, but he extends benevolence on behalf of the master, something that will make the debtors even more obliged to pay their remaining debt. He is definitely very cunning. How does this apply to our own lives? What are some examples of times when you’ve needed to be shrewd? How was your behavior interpreted by others?

I really like Jesus’ statement, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” Stewardship is such a fundamental Christian principle that I think we lose sight of the fact that it is a journey of faith and a practice that takes time to develop. This particular parable deals with large sums of property and goods. Often when we think of “stewardship” our minds jump to big things: houses, cars, bank accounts, etc. Yet, how we care for the simple things (our clothing, our gardens, our tools or dishes, for example) train us for how to care for the big things. What are some ways you can build your stewardship muscles by taking better care of little things?  

There is a type of theology that is very popular in some churches that preaches that God wants Christians to be wealthy. “Prosperity Gospel,” as it is called, holds that wealth is not only okay, but that it is God’s will that we become rich. Needless to say, this teaching is very appealing to folks, especially Christians who are or wish to be wealthy. To be fair, an admonition is paired with this prosperity teaching that holds that the more wealth you have, the more money you can share (then folks are encouraged to give generously to the church as the pastor drives away in a shiny new Benz). 

As you can tell from the tone I use in writing about this way of interpreting the gospel, it makes my stomach turn. I just find it hard to believe that Jesus, who said, “Go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor,” wants us to spend our short time on earth accumulating large sums of money. I think it’s hard enough for any of us, regardless of our financial status, to not serve wealth in one way or another. What do you think? Can one have great wealth and not end up being a slave to it?  Where do we draw the line between being good stewards of our finances and allowing our concern about money or resources to trump our love of God?

As always, I look forward to your thoughts and reflections. You can email me or post here.

Peace,

Amee

Prepared Hearts for September 15th

Hello Friends,

This week’s Prepared Hearts comes to us from Andy Sass, who will be delivering the word this Sunday:

This week, we will be moving back to the lectionary, reading from Paul’s first letter to Timothy.  The text is below, followed by some starter thoughts.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

STARTER THOUGHTS:

In this text Paul reiterates the Good News of the Gospel – that even sinners are shown mercy.  When have you been shown mercy?

Paul talks about his history as a persecutor of the church, and says that, even so, God shows him mercy, gives him strength, and appoints him to His service.  Despite your failures or flaws, has God called you to his service?  When?  How?  How did you respond?

Paul talks about his having been a “blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man,” and goes on to say that, because of who he was, God showed him mercy, so he would be an example, for the honor and glory of God.  In doing this, Paul is using his prior failings to give honor to God.  Have you ever done the same?  Are you willing to give God whatever God asks, for God's glory? Even if God asks you to give him your failures? Your sin?

We know that Paul repented, and followed God’s will for his life, that he paid a price, according to this world, for his choice.  Have you paid a price for your decisions to be Christ’s disciple?

Feel free to email Andy or I your thoughts or post a comment here.

Peace,

Pastor Amee 

Prepared Hearts for September 8th

Hello Friends,

Welcome back to Prepared Hearts, the online Bible study of the Wacousta Community United Methodist Church. This Sunday I will be stepping away from the lectionary to address the topic of forgiveness, one that was suggested by a member of the congregation. The text I’ll be using is below, followed by some starter thoughts.

Colossians 3:1-17 (NRSV) 

3:1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7 These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. 8 But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

STARTER THOUGHTS

There’s obviously a lot to this passage. The portion about forgiveness is found in verse 13, but all of it supports us in this endeavor we call forgiveness. How does dying to earthly desire and being born again in Christ help in your journey toward forgiving others? What does it mean to you to forgive “as the Lord has forgiven you?” 

Forgiveness is an incredibly difficult topic to explore. For starters, there are different levels of harm and maltreatment that we experience in life. What are the things that you have found most difficult to forgive? What are some of the things that keep you from being able to forgive those hurts or losses? 

Forgiveness is often described as a journey. Rarely does it occur immediately, and it usually takes cycles of anger, grief and sadness for us to work through the pain we have experienced in order to find peace. What are some of the things you have learned in your journey of forgiving others? Has forgiveness gotten easier for you to practice over time or not? Why do you suppose that is?

In my work with survivors of domestic violence I often encountered women who heard messages of “forgiveness” at church on Sunday and interpreted this to mean that they needed to stay with their abusive spouses. Can forgiveness be a dangerous thing to preach and teach? 

As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts and reflections. Please feel free to email me or post a message here.

Peace,
Pastor Amee

Prepared Hearts for September 1, 2013

Hello Friends,

Welcome back to Prepared Hearts, our online lectionary based Bible study. This week’s lectionary texts include: Jeremiah 2:4-13; Psalm 81:1, 10-16; Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16; and Luke 14:1, 7-14. This week I’ll be preaching from Luke. The text is below, followed by starter thoughts.

Luke 14:1, 7-14 (NRSV)

14:1 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.

7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 9 and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. 11 For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 12 He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

STARTER THOUGHTS:

Jesus is quite the dinner guest, isn’t he? I try to imagine the responses he must have received as he was giving his two cents on hospitality and humility! I can envision everyone gathered at this nice dinner beginning to squirm and grumble. If I were the host, I think I would have responded with something like, “Really, Jesus?! Must you ruin a perfectly lovely Sabbath with your teaching!?” Are there times when God has chosen to share a lesson with you at a really inopportune time? How did you respond? If you were a guest at this particular dinner (or the host) what do you think your response would have been?

Jesus begins by giving some seemingly practical advice, sharing with folks how to choose a seat so that they won’t be dishonored. Then he goes on to make it clear that he isn’t just talking about feigning humility as a strategy for getting ahead. He states, “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” In fact, if he were suggesting using humility as a tactic, he would have recommended that folks take a seat or two lower than their station, not the “lowest place.” All of this reveals the fact that in God’s kingdom, honor is something that is bestowed, not earned.

In what areas of your life do you struggle with your seating arrangement? Are there particular situations or times when you try to earn honor or recognition? What would it mean for you to take not just a lower seat, but the lowest seat?

This teaching of Jesus is relatively easy to understand but hard to apply in our daily lives. We learn at an early age how to measure our worth based on recognition from others. How would your life change if you were to completely stop seeking the approval of your peers and focus singularly on approval from God?

Jesus looks at those gathered and then criticizes the host’s guest list. He explains that one should not invite the four groups of people that one is most likely to invite: friends, brothers or sisters, relatives, and rich neighbors. Then he gives a list of who one should actually invite: the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. This isn’t a random list that Jesus pulls out of thin air, it is a list of those folks who were explicitly forbidden by law to serve as priests and who were barred from entry into the community. What groups of people would make the “barred list” today? Who is forbidden to serve in leadership and excluded from our community (implicitly or explicitly)?

One of my favorite writings about humility is from Frederick Buechner’s book, Wishful Thinking. He writes:

Humility is often confused with the gentlemanly self-deprecation of saying you're not much of a bridge player when you know perfectly well you are. Conscious or otherwise, this kind of humility is a form of gamesmanship. If you really aren't much of a bridge player, you're apt to be rather proud of yourself for admitting it so humbly. This kind of humility is a form of low comedy.

True humility doesn't consist of thinking ill of yourself but of not thinking of yourself much differently from the way you'd be apt to think of anybody else. It is the capacity for being no more and no less pleased when you play your own hand well than when your opponents do.

What does being humble mean to you? How does practicing humility affect hospitality, both individually and as a church?

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

Peace,

Pastor Amee

Prepared Hearts for August 25th, 2013

Hello Friends,

Welcome back to Prepared Hearts, our online lectionary based Bible study. This week’s texts include: Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, Hebrews 12:18-29, and Luke 13:10-17. I’ll be preaching from Luke this Sunday. The text is below, followed by some starter thoughts.

Luke 13:10-17 (NRSV)

10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” 13 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. 14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.” 15 But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?” 17 When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

STARTER THOUGHTS

This isn’t the first or last time that Jesus heals on the Sabbath and catches flak for it, but it’s one of my favorites. As someone who has worked to end violence against women, I love the fact that Jesus was ahead of his time in recognizing that women were and are equal participants in God’s Kingdom. The woman in this story goes from being bent over to standing tall. Jesus transfers the shame she suffered into honor and bestows on her the title “daughter of Abraham.” The radical nature of Jesus’ treatment of women must be noted when we read this text. However, this radical acceptance of those who are seen as shameful, outcast, or “less than” by the larger society is normative for Jesus. Who are those in our society today that Jesus would call out to? Which persons or groups of people continue to be shamed? How can we, like Jesus, raise them up to places of honor?

The importance of honor and shame in the society in which Jesus lived cannot be overstated. Honor, much like material wealth today, was a rigorously sought and highly guarded commodity. Shame, once laid upon an individual or family was devastating. While we still have the concepts of honor and shame today, we don’t live by the same kind of strict honor code that existed in Jesus’ lifetime. The fact that Jesus lifts up the bent over woman to a place of honor and shames all of his opponents is a huge reversal in the status quo. Do modern day followers of Jesus still attempt to make these kinds of radical changes to the status quo? If so, where do you see this happening? If no, what do you think hinders us?

This Sunday we will be having a healing service. There will be anointing with oil and laying on of hands for anyone who is interested. What has been your experience of God’s healing? What areas of your life continue to stand in need of God’s healing touch?  

Whenever I read the stories about Jesus healing on the Sabbath, I’m reminded of something a friend of mine once asked me when I was going through a bitter dispute with a family member. She asked, “Would you rather be right or be kind?” Technically, the leader of the synagogue was right. The woman could have come any of the six other days of the week to be cured. However, Jesus was more concerned about showing grace and mercy than following the rules. Are there rules you absolutely don’t break? How do you respond to others when they break these rules? Are there times when you find it easier to be right than kind?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and reflections.

Feel free to email me directly or post a comment here.

Peace,

Pastor Amee

Prepared Hearts for August 18th

Hello Friends,

Welcome back to Prepared Hearts, the Wacousta Community UMC online Bible study. The Revised Common Lectionary texts for this week include: Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19; Hebrews 11:29 -12:2; and Luke 12:49-56.

This week I’ll be preaching from Hebrews. The NRSV translation of the text is below, followed by some starter thoughts.

Hebrews 11:29 - 12:2

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.

32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.

12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

STARTER THOUGHTS

The role of faith is an obvious focus of this text: By faith the people passed through the Red Sea…By faith the walls of Jericho fell…By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish. “Faith” is often described as believing or trusting. Some say that “faith” is a verb, not a noun (emphasizing the action behind practicing faith). Earlier in Chapter 11, faith is described as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” What does “faith” mean to you? How has your concept of faith changed over time?

Beginning in verse 32, the author starts name dropping heroes of faith: Gideon (Judges 6-8), Barak (Judges 4-5), Samson (Judges 13-16), Jephthah (Judges 11-12), David (1 Samuel 16), and Samuel (1 Samuel 1) and then describes what they were able to do “through faith.” Verse 35 begins, “Women received their dead by resurrection,” an allusion to the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-24) and the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:32-37) and the miracles God worked through Elijah and Elisha. Take some time to review some of the stories listed above. Are any of them particularly inspiring to you? Why or why not?

The next section of the text is very grim, as the author recounts unnamed persons who have suffered imprisonment and torture because of their faith. If you have the stomach for it, read 2 Maccabees 7 to get a fuller picture of what the author is referring to. I’ll be honest, having been raised in a society in which Christianity is normative, I have a hard time relating to the reality of this level of religious persecution. What is your response as you read this portion of the text? Where was God in the midst of all this cruelty? And what statement do you think the author is making in sharing these stories?

The author paints two pictures of a life of faith: one of triumph and one of torture. Then she/he delivers the rally cry, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…” The call is clearly for endurance. What are some examples of endurance or lack of endurance that you have seen or experienced in your life? (this can relate to faith or anything else). What is most helpful to you as you try to “run with perseverance?” Where do you find yourself stumbling on your course? Where do you think the church stumbles?

As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts and reflections.

Feel free to email me directly or post a comment here.

Peace,

Pastor Amee

Prepared Hearts for August 11th

Hello Friends,

Welcome back to Prepared Hearts, the online Bible study of the Wacousta Community United Methodist Church. I’ve decided for our special “Worship in the Park” this Sunday (note: service begins at 10:00AM), that I would forgo the lectionary.  I’ll be preaching from Matthew. The text is below, followed by some starter thoughts.

Matthew 25:31-46

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’

Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

STARTER THOUGHTS

This text is often entitled “The Last Judgment” and can be a hard one to read as we consider for ourselves, are we sheep or goats? This scripture requires us to consider how Jesus’ standard for judgment compares with our own standards for how we measure faithfulness. What is your first response to the text? Fear? Contemplation? Vindication?  

One of the difficulties the church faces in living out Christ’s call is that we often don’t draw in the “least of these” in God’s family. The poorest or most in need in our community don’t feel comfortable coming to worship on Sunday or can’t physically join in (i.e. the sick or imprisoned). At the same time, a lot of the church’s time and energy is spent on those persons already part of our community. While ongoing Christian education and supporting each other in discipleship is essential to a healthy and thriving community of faith, it doesn’t help us engage in ministries with the stranger or persons who are poor, sick, in great need, or imprisoned. How can we strike a balance so that the church can function both as a nurturing home for believers and as a launching pad for mission in the community?

Jesus gave examples of the “least of these.” They included those who lack clothing, shelter, food, water and those sick or imprisoned. Who are the “least of these” in our community and in our world today? Where do you see followers of Jesus being the hands of Christ to those in need? Where have we failed?

The practice of welcoming the stranger was normative and expected within the Jewish community in Jesus’ time. Things for us have changed, as we have the exact opposite social norm. Most of us are taught at an early age to avoid the stranger, a practice that we teach our kids for their own safety and security. While there are certainly times when we need to look out for our personal security, there remains a timidity and taboo around “the stranger” that can keep us from engaging others, even when the circumstances make it perfectly safe to do so (note: I say safe, not comfortable). How do we overcome this? How can we move beyond the “stranger, danger” mentality to offer hospitality to all we encounter, especially those who act or look “different?”

As Methodists, we seek to practice both “personal holiness” as well as “social holiness,” meaning that we believe in working toward both personal piety, as well as just and holy communities. When I hear the admonition to welcome the stranger, I think about our nation’s current immigration policies. The text also invites us to ask: How do we as a society best care for the sick? What obligation do we have to the imprisoned (especially in the United States, where we have the largest incarceration rates in the world)? What are some of the both personal and social actions this text is calling us to engage in?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and reflections.

Feel free to email me directly or post a comment here. 

Peace,

Pastor Amee