Grow! Pray! Study! from The United Methodist Church for Tuesday, 4 March 2014 "Sharing the message of reconciliation"

Grow! Pray! Study! from The United Methodist Church for Tuesday, 4 March 2014 "Sharing the message of reconciliation" 
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Daily Scripture:  2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died. 15 He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again. 16 Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold,[a] all things have become new. 18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Footnotes:
a. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
Reflection Questions:
Reconciliation—a powerful idea that often seems so hard to accomplish. The apostle Paul said humanity's spiritual problem is that we are alienated from God. But the good news, he said, is that God is NOT angry or alienated from us. God loves us, wants to be reconciled with us, and acted in Christ to bring that about. As we become a "new creation" in Christ, we make it our mission to call others to "be reconciled to God." Our goal at Resurrection is to offer that reconciling call to at least 10,000 people in the next 20 years.
•What historical event or person seems to you to present the most vivid picture of God's reconciling work in the world? In what ways did God work through that person to bring about reconciliation and wholeness? When have you seen anger and pain changed for the better as reconciliation takes place?
•The Message paraphrased verse 21 as "We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you." Do you picture God as eager to be reconciled with all human beings, or in some different way? How has your reconciliation with God made you "a new creature in Christ"? Who do you know who needs to hear that good news?
Today's Prayer:
Lord, help me peel back the layers of pain from my heart, so that each day I can have greater understanding, compassion and vision. Then as I become more whole, help me to see each person as your precious child. Amen.
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Insight from Karen Lampe
Rev. Karen Lampe serves as Executive Pastor of Congregational Care at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.
Read and Reflect:
(Head)
On December 5, 2013, we heard the news of the death of Nelson Mandela, a man who might have been the most well-known person in our lifetimes to embody the word “reconciliation.” Most of us knew parts of the story, yet we were eager to hear it again. He started as a young militant who was willing to fight for the rights of black people in South Africa under apartheid rule, until he was finally sentenced to life imprisonment. He spent decades incarcerated on Robben Island. Yet God used this time. Mandela continued to grow, change and inspire others in his prison cell until the day when he was freed. After his release he began to lead in ways that were noticeably different from the usual. He was calling for forgiveness across all the lines of division. He made bold moves that made people consider another way.
Without a doubt, his faith shaped his actions. One of his strongest allies and confidants throughout this time was Bishop Desmond Tutu. Bishop Tutu’s memoir of this time,
No Future Without Forgiveness, helps us understand the process of reconciliation. He explains that there must be an acknowledgement of what has happened, aligned with the magnificent understanding that we are children of God, and that calls for a higher vision for life. This begins the process of reconciliation.
In 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, we read the heart of Paul’s writings. He is calling for a transformation in us. He reminds us that Christ died for all so that we no longer live for ourselves. As children of God we are not allowed the luxury of seeing others from a human point of view (verse 16). Rather, we are to see the possibilities beyond our sinfulness. We are to believe and envision that a “new creation” is possible: “everything old has passed away, see everything has become new!” (verse 17). As we are reconciled with Christ, we are reconciled with each other. This is our way of salvation: for ourselves, and even for nations torn apart.
A story of reconciliation that could be any one of us:
Every Thursday a young man comes to church to work through his process of reconciliation. He sits in one of our chapels, usually alone. He is acknowledging and praying about actions of his own that caused his family pain, while he is embracing the hope of these verses in 2 Corinthians 5. It seems clear to me that he and his family have a future as he continues to understand that Christ has reconciled him to God, and that has made him a new creature in Christ.
Prayer and Meditation
(Heart)
Gracious God, we come to you knowing that you can offer us newness of life. We are awed by the stories of how you have healed the hurting places of others, bringing them newness of life. Lord, we confess and acknowledge our broken lives. We realize that we need you every moment of every hour. Help us peel back the layers of pain from our hearts, so that each day we can have greater understanding, compassion and vision than we had the day before.
Then, Healing God, as we become more whole, help us to see each person as your precious child. Allow all people to feel welcome in the doors of your church that it might feel like the home they have been searching for their whole lives. Let us be your welcoming arms, oh God, that the world might truly understand anew your message of salvation. All this in your Son’s holy name,
Amen.
Be, Do & Go
(Hands)
Before your big meeting today: acknowledge what negative emotion (anger, anxiety, frustration, etc) you are carrying that does not serve God.
Remember you are a child of God and release that emotion into an imaginary Ash Wednesday burning barrel.
For five minutes, practice a breath prayer: breathe in the peace of God, then while breathing out, vision yourself showing up in that meeting ready to bring in peace.
At the meeting, be the peace of God. Speak only words of peace as best you can. As you do this, you will find yourself becoming reconciled to God and others.
For Discussion:
Use this section to help prompt discussion with your spouse, children, small group, etc.
1. What major event can you acknowledge as life changing?
2. What historical event or person speaks to your understanding of God’s work in the world? How did God work to bring about change in the situation?
3. What do the words “a new creature in Christ” mean for your life?
4. With whom would you like to be reconciled?
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