-------
"Peter the Rock became a stumbling rock"
Thursday, 7 September 2017
Matthew 16:21 From that time on, Yeshua began making it clear to his talmidim that he had to go to Yerushalayim and endure much suffering at the hands of the elders, the head cohanim and the Torah-teachers; and that he had to be put to death; but that on the third day, he had to be raised to life. 22 Kefa took him aside and began rebuking him, “Heaven be merciful, Lord! By no means will this happen to you!” 23 But Yeshua turned his back on Kefa, saying, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because your thinking is from a human perspective, not from God’s perspective!”
-------
When Jesus told his closest followers that he faced suffering and death, Peter (outspoken as usual) tried to talk Jesus out of the idea. Perhaps he thought Jesus was just a little down, being too negative. Or maybe he was fending off the fear in his own heart as he saw the religious leaders’ strong negative response to Jesus. Regardless, Jesus pushed back forcefully, telling “the Rock,” “You are a stone that could make me stumble.”
• Peter, like almost all first-century Jews, expected a conquering Messiah, a figure of intimidating power. That made it hard for him to grasp Jesus’ understanding of his self-sacrificing mission. What assumptions about life, success and greatness do you have that make it harder for you to accept Jesus’ teaching about a truly great human life? What has helped you move beyond those inherited cultural assumptions?
• In the fourth century, when the Roman emperor Constantine became a Christian, he transformed the faith into a source he credited with his worldly success or power. We see the same urge surface in some Christian ministries today. In what ways in a prosperous, tolerant first world setting does Jesus still call us to accept his teaching about his suffering and death, rather than pushing it away as “too negative”? How can we honor the divine principle Jesus held to that led him to rebuke Peter?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, transform my mind and heart so that I see life as you do. Give me the inner strength to follow and trust you, so that I can pray, with Julian of Norwich, “All shall be well… and all manner of thing shall be well.” Amen.
-------
Janelle Gregory
Janelle Gregory serves on the Resurrection staff as a Human Resources Specialist. Janelle finds that her heart is constantly wrestling with the truth that she needs a Savior, and the times when she's at her very best are when she's just too tired to put up a fight.
When my husband and I were first married, I couldn’t wait to throw him a birthday party! It would be a themed party, but not just any old generic themed party. No, it had to be a Three Wolf Moon party (Three Wolf Moon being the hilarious viral internet craze of the time. You can read about it here)! I made plans for who we’d invite, I ordered a custom-made Three Wolf Moon cake, I made decorations, I bought gifts (including a Three Wolf Moon shirt), and I took extra care to make sure it was all personalized for him. It would be the perfect birthday party! He would love it! Our friends would love it! And I would love it, knowing that I had made him happy.
In the midst of my preparations, I went over the long invitation list with him. He looked at the list. He looked at me. He looked back at the list and sighed. “What?” I asked. “Did I leave someone out?”
“No, it’s not that,” he said. “I was thinking we could just have a few people over for a low-key dinner.”
“No way, Jose! You deserve a party, and that’s what you’re going to get!”
“But I don’t really want to have that many people. I was thinking about having just three or four.”
“Three or four?! That’s not a party!”
“I’m not really into birthday parties.”
“What?! Of course you are! Everyone is into birthday parties!”
“No, YOU are into birthday parties. I don’t really like them.”
He was right. I am into birthday parties. I had made assumptions and projected my feelings on him. I was way down the path of plotting and planning what I knew he would think was the perfect party. The problem is, I never even asked him what he thought.
In many ways I find myself doing the same thing with God. I project my own thoughts and opinions on God. If I feel passionately about something, I assume God does as well. If I think something is unimportant, then I imagine God agrees with me. You can see how this quickly gets dangerous. If my beliefs about God are just my own thoughts, then who, if not me, am I worshipping?
I imagine that I’m not the only one who does this. I think it’s easy for us all to make assumptions about what God thinks. And I get it – understanding the will of God or what God would say about a situation is difficult. But how are we to even begin to try to know what God might think when we never bother to stop and ask? Without checking in with God, we’re only growing into more of who we already are. By being able to separate our thoughts from the thoughts of God, we have a clearer understanding of who God calls us to be and the plans he has for our lives
Janelle GregoryJanelle Gregory serves on the Resurrection staff as a Human Resources Specialist. Janelle finds that her heart is constantly wrestling with the truth that she needs a Savior, and the times when she's at her very best are when she's just too tired to put up a fight.
When my husband and I were first married, I couldn’t wait to throw him a birthday party! It would be a themed party, but not just any old generic themed party. No, it had to be a Three Wolf Moon party (Three Wolf Moon being the hilarious viral internet craze of the time. You can read about it here)! I made plans for who we’d invite, I ordered a custom-made Three Wolf Moon cake, I made decorations, I bought gifts (including a Three Wolf Moon shirt), and I took extra care to make sure it was all personalized for him. It would be the perfect birthday party! He would love it! Our friends would love it! And I would love it, knowing that I had made him happy.
In the midst of my preparations, I went over the long invitation list with him. He looked at the list. He looked at me. He looked back at the list and sighed. “What?” I asked. “Did I leave someone out?”
“No, it’s not that,” he said. “I was thinking we could just have a few people over for a low-key dinner.”
“No way, Jose! You deserve a party, and that’s what you’re going to get!”
“But I don’t really want to have that many people. I was thinking about having just three or four.”
“Three or four?! That’s not a party!”
“I’m not really into birthday parties.”
“What?! Of course you are! Everyone is into birthday parties!”
“No, YOU are into birthday parties. I don’t really like them.”
He was right. I am into birthday parties. I had made assumptions and projected my feelings on him. I was way down the path of plotting and planning what I knew he would think was the perfect party. The problem is, I never even asked him what he thought.
In many ways I find myself doing the same thing with God. I project my own thoughts and opinions on God. If I feel passionately about something, I assume God does as well. If I think something is unimportant, then I imagine God agrees with me. You can see how this quickly gets dangerous. If my beliefs about God are just my own thoughts, then who, if not me, am I worshipping?
I imagine that I’m not the only one who does this. I think it’s easy for us all to make assumptions about what God thinks. And I get it – understanding the will of God or what God would say about a situation is difficult. But how are we to even begin to try to know what God might think when we never bother to stop and ask? Without checking in with God, we’re only growing into more of who we already are. By being able to separate our thoughts from the thoughts of God, we have a clearer understanding of who God calls us to be and the plans he has for our lives
-------
"Jesus’ words when no one wore a cross necklace"
Friday, 8 September 2017
Matthew 16:24-28
-------
Peter’s rebuke didn’t lead Jesus to back away from his seemingly downbeat talk about suffering and death in Jerusalem. Far from it. Jesus “doubled down,” saying that he calls ALL his followers to “take their cross.” Don’t forget: when Jesus said this, no one sold “cross” jewelry. A cross was a horrific implement of torture and death, a thing “respectable” people avoided at all costs. Pastor John Ortberg quoted columnist Garret Fiddler as writing, “Really, the cross does not belong on the Christian; the Christian belongs on the cross.” Ortberg added, “The cross is a reminder that there is something in me that needs to die.” *
• Jesus asked what the point would be of gaining earthly wealth or prestige in a way that cost eternity. “Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives?” Today, virtually no one anywhere dies on a cross. So what do you believe it means for you to “take up your cross” and follow Jesus? What is there in you that “needs to die”? In your journey with Christ so far, have you had to decide whether to “take up your cross” in any life-shaping way? In what ways are you asking God to help you more clearly understand and commit to finding your true life by losing it? In what ways has Jesus already showed you your true self as you follow him?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, so many voices tell me that avoiding pain and sacrifice is the way to a good life. Give me a clear vision of your counter-cultural call. Let my lesser self die, so that a greater self shaped by you may be born. Amen.
* Garret Fiddler, Yale Daily News, April 21, 2011 quoted in John Ortberg, Who Is This Man? Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012, p. 192
-------
-------
"Peter ('Rock')—a genuine servant-leader"
Saturday, 9 September 2017
Acts 2:12-16, 15:7-8, 13-14, Galatians 2:7-12
-------
We’ll return to Peter’s later life in more detail in this series’ last sermon. But this peek ahead shows us the kind of leader Peter became. He let Jesus shape his bold, outspoken nature into a compelling preacher, bravely declaring the power of the crucified and risen Jesus. He forcefully spoke out on behalf of the legitimacy of Gentile believers, whom he had seen receive God’s Holy Spirit without conforming to all Jewish regulations. But he also accepted James (Jesus’ brother) presiding over the Jerusalem conference. He welcomed Paul to the ranks of apostles, and agreed to focus his mission in a way that didn’t conflict with Paul’s. We hear and read a lot about “servant leaders.” We see Peter living out that kind of leadership.
• Would Peter have been a stronger, more worthy leader if he had required James to step aside and allow him to preside over the Jerusalem conference? If he had told Paul, “You weren’t there when Jesus said I was the rock on which he’d build his church. I will preach wherever and to whomever I please. You will just have to adjust your work to that”? In whatever leadership areas you have, from the largest business or church settings to the smallest, homeiest ones, how can you emulate Peter’s confident and humble model of leadership? Which aspects of Peter’s example are hardest for you to live out?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, when I need rebuke, make me as willing as Peter was to accept it. But when I need to stand firmly for you, give me his courage and boldness. Amen.
Family Activity: Invite each family member to share the name and special qualities of their favorite teacher. Remind everyone that Jesus was a teacher who spent much of his time helping others learn about God and God’s kingdom. As a family, talk about ways you are teachers of God and God’s ways. How do you teach with words, telling others about God and his love? How do you teach with your actions as you serve other people? Maybe you teach others about God by being kind, patient, generous, or a good listener. Commit to intentionally teaching someone about God’s love this week. Share your stories and experiences with your family. Write a note to your favorite teacher thanking her/him for being so important to you. Pray for one another and for all teachers to share patience, kindness and love with everyone.
-------
-------
Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
•Dick Walker and family on the death of his daughter-in-law Stacy Walker, 8/30
•Tom McCabe and family on the death of his mother Margaret McCabe, 8/29
•Colleen Aegerter and family on the death of her sister Cindi Hutchinson, 8/26
• Linda Reppell and family on the death of her brother-in-law Loren Martin, 8/19
-------
©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
-------
-------
©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment