Missionary Renegade: The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States for Saturday, 11 June 2016

Saturday, June 11, 2016

The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States for Saturday, 11 June 2016 - “When the owner comes, what will he do?”

The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States for Saturday, 11 June 2016 - “When the owner comes, what will he do?”
Daily Scripture: Matthew 21:33 “Now listen to another parable. There was a farmer who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower; then he rented it to tenants and left. 34 When harvest-time came, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the crop. 35 But the tenants seized his servants — this one they beat up, that one they killed, another they stoned. 36 So he sent some other servants, more than the first group, and they did the same to them. 37 Finally, he sent them his son, saying, ‘My son they will respect.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance!’ 39 So they grabbed him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They answered him, “He will viciously destroy those vicious men and rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the crop when it’s due.” 42 Yeshua said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the Tanakh,

‘The very rock which the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone!

This has come from Adonai,

and in our eyes it is amazing’?[Matthew 21:42 Psalm 118:22–23]

43 Therefore, I tell you that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to the kind of people that will produce its fruit!” 44 [Matthew 21:44 Some manuscripts include verse 44: Whoever falls on this stone will be broken in pieces; but if it falls on him, he will be crushed to powder!”]

45 As the head cohanim and the P’rushim listened to his stories, they saw that he was speaking about them.

Reflection Questions:

Jesus told this story, too, just days before his arrest and crucifixion. Israel’s religious leaders loved to think of themselves as “God’s vineyard,” based on the image in Isaiah 5. Jesus used that image for a grim story. A landowner rented his vineyard to tenants and left them in charge. When it was time to pay what they owed, the tenants refused. They beat some of the owner’s messengers, and killed others. When, as a last resort, the owner sent his son, they killed the son, deluding themselves that now they would own the vineyard. Matthew said the religious leaders “knew Jesus was talking about them”—but, ironically, it just made them want to kill him more.

The answer to Jesus' question was too obvious to avoid. His hearers pronounced sentence—on themselves. 2000 years later, it is easy to look down on those religious leaders. They heard God in the flesh tell them that vivid story, knew he was talking about them, but still refused to submit to his calling. To what extent are you willing to trust and submit your life to Jesus? What people and experiences have shaped your willingness to respond to Jesus, either positively or negatively? What steps can you take to ensure that you are not like the wicked tenants in the vineyard?

Today’s Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me continue growing into a faithful, responsive servant in your vineyard. Let me bear a rich harvest, not for my glory but for yours. Amen.
Family Activity:
Read John 14:27[John 14:27 “What I am leaving with you is shalom — I am giving you my shalom. I don’t give the way the world gives. Don’t let yourselves be upset or frightened.]. Even in difficult, challenging times, Jesus was a person of peace, and wanted his followers to be people of peace. Intentionally spend some quiet time together as a family—take a brief walk, spend some time reading, listen to some peaceful music, or whatever you choose. Encourage each person to ask God to calm their heart and fill them with peace during their quiet time. Ask each person, during the quiet time, to choose a word or item that will help them to carry that peace with them every day. Share your experience as a family and pray God’s peace for one another. Move toward starting each day by asking God to help you be a person of peace no matter what your circumstances.
-------Insight from Sam Johnson

Sam Johnson is currently serving as the High School Program Director for Rezlife Student Ministries. She’s been a congregant at Church of the Resurrection for 9 years and loves serving students and families. She also really loves waffles.
During last week’s sermon, Pastor Wendy Chrostek talked about the three ways we should be asking questions to others, to God, and about ourselves. When it comes to asking questions about ourselves, questioning our own motives and beliefs is crucial to understanding how we’re doing and where we’re going.
As a follower of Christ, I’ve learned one of the most important questions I need to ask myself daily is, “To what extent am I willing to trust and submit my life to Jesus?”
I’ve learned it’s really easy to submit my life to Jesus when His requests are small and comfortable, but when His requests are heavy and uncomfortable, I’m not as willing to trust in His will for my life.
I was recently hired as the High School Program Director for The Church of the Resurrection. If someone looked at my life right now, they might think I’m crazy for agreeing to take on a full time job. Not only am I a youth minister, but I’m also 22 years old and a college senior. Most college students don’t attempt to take on a full time job while trying to finish school. In other words, I chose to live a life that’s uncomfortable. The reason I chose to be a youth minister and a college student is because I asked myself, “To what extent am I willing to trust and submit my life to Jesus?” Some days, my schedule is too big of a cross for me to bear alone. Juggling classes, homework, youth group programming, meeting with students and parents, taking care of my family, and attempting to have a social life makes me feel like I’m standing in a tornado of crazy. I start to question whether or not I made the right decision. Then suddenly, while standing in the craziness, I remember that I’m crazy about Jesus.
Trusting your life to Jesus can look small and comfortable, but more often than not, it’s heavy and uncomfortable. When submitting your life to Christ, you’re submitting your own control and your own plans. When you submit your own control, it’s easy for life to feel a bit unsteady or crazy. My hope for you is that when life feels crazy, it’s because you’re crazy about Jesus.
As you go through this week, I encourage you to ask yourself, “To what extent am I willing to trust and submit my life to Jesus?”
Prayer: Lord, I submit my life to you. Though it’s difficult to surrender my own control and my own plans, I trust in Your plans for me. Help me to trust in Your will every day. Amen.