Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Monday, 24 & Sunday, 23 & Saturday, 22 & Friday, 21 & Thursday, 20 & Wednesday, 19 & Tuesday, 18 November 2014“Jesus came to serve"
Daily Scripture: Matthew 20:20 It was about that time that the mother of the Zebedee brothers came with her two sons and knelt before Jesus with a request.
21 “What do you want?” Jesus asked.
She said, “Give your word that these two sons of mine will be awarded the highest places of honor in your kingdom, one at your right hand, one at your left hand.”
22 Jesus responded, “You have no idea what you’re asking.” And he said to James and John, “Are you capable of drinking the cup that I’m about to drink?”
They said, “Sure, why not?”
23 Jesus said, “Come to think of it, you are going to drink my cup. But as to awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. My Father is taking care of that.”
24-28 When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers. So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.”
Reflection Questions:
James and John (and probably their mom, though Mark left her out in his version of the story in Mark 10:35-45) thought they'd get their bid for power in before the other disciples. Jesus kept talking about his kingdom. Well, weren't "kingdoms" about seeking places of power? "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. In the Kingdom of Heaven, there is no status seeking. In my Kingdom, we serve.
We have a good idea (as James and John did) what power, privilege and importance look like. Down deep, most of us wish for some of the perks that go with power. But Jesus' view was succinct and direct: "that's not the way it will be with you." Jesus said he didn't come to be served, but to serve, and even give his life. In what specific ways does living like Jesus change your approach to life?
Jesus told James and John, "You WILL drink from my cup." James was the first apostle martyred (Acts 12:2). On the other hand, Christian tradition said John, serving and writing, lived for many years. In what ways did John, as well as James, "drink from Jesus' cup"? In what ways, if any, has your life so far called on you to do that?
Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank you that your love's transforming power can motivate me to live a servant life. Teach me how to treat others as you treat me. Amen.
"In God's kingdom, greatness = service"
Daily Scripture: Matthew 23:4-7 “Instead of giving you God’s Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn’t think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called ‘Doctor’ and ‘Reverend.’
8-10 “Don’t let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don’t set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of ‘Father’; you have only one Father, and he’s in heaven. And don’t let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ.
11-12 “Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.
Reflection Questions:
In Jesus' day (and still today), many leaders (even religious ones) sought exalted, lofty titles. Scholar William Barclay wrote, "The Pharisees liked to be addressed as Rabbi and to be treated with the greatest respect. They even claimed…greater respect than that given to parents, for, they said, a man's parents give him ordinary, physical life, but a man's teacher gives him eternal life." By contrast, Jesus said his Kingdom was not about high-status titles, but about greatness in serving others.
Scholar N. T. Wright noted that the Pharisees were not just religious, but also political and social leaders. He asked, "What are today's equivalents? Some might be the leaders, elected or unelected, in our wider societies, who…rejoice in their 'celebrity' status, make grand pronouncements about public values while running lucrative but shady businesses on the side, use their position to gain influence for their families and friends, and allow their private interests secretly to determine the public policy of their country….What matters is the huge and humbling principle of verses 11 and 12." How easy or hard do you find it to lay aside human ideas of greatness in favor of Jesus' definition of greatness as service?
Does verse 9 mean it's wrong to send a Father's Day card, or otherwise honor your earthly father? No—Jesus often used a teaching style called "prophetic hyperbole," overstating to make a point. Here he probably referred to men who demanded the title of Elijah the great prophet (cf. 2 Kings 2:12) and other "fathers" of the faith. When have you noticed in yourself a wish to make yourself feel more important by demanding your "rights" of role, status or title?
Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, keep purifying my motivations as I serve. May my meaning and sense of worth come more from you each day—until my service is about you, not me. Amen.
"I have given you an example"
Daily Scripture: John 13:3-6 Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?”
7 Jesus answered, “You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.”
8 Peter persisted, “You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!”
Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.”
9 “Master!” said Peter. “Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!”
10-12 Jesus said, “If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you’re clean. But not every one of you.” (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you.”) After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.
12-17 Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.
Reflection Questions:
Jesus didn't just talk about service; he movingly modeled it. On the night before he was crucified, Jesus washed his disciples' feet. It was shocking—washing guests' feet was usually the lowest ranking slaves' work. Then Jesus told the disciples they were right to call him "Teacher" or "Lord." His lesson for them (and us) was that by acting as a servant, he did not abdicate leadership, but redefined our ideas of glory and power. His life was guided by God's standards, not earthly ones.
John, a very precise writer, quoted Jesus saying, "I give up my life so that I can take it up again" (John 10:17). He used the same Greek words to describe Jesus "taking off" and "putting on" his robes before and after he washed the disciples' feet. In what ways was Jesus' action not just practical, but an acted-out parable of the way he would give himself for us on the cross? Have you ever had an experience in which acting humbly toward someone else felt almost like dying?
John stressed that Jesus knew what Judas would do later, but still washed even Judas' feet. Can you imagine the yearning in Jesus' heart as he washed the betrayer's feet? "Washing feet" was a practical act in a dusty land where people wore sandals. What are some practical ways you can serve another person that will tangibly make their life better? Who is God leading you to bless with a concrete act of service?
Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, what an example of humility you gave us! Soften my proud heart. Make me willing to take up the towel as you did, to set my power aside for the good of others. Amen.
"Serve each other through love"
Daily Scripture: Galatians 5:13-15 It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?
16-18 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?
Reflection Questions:
The Apostle Paul started new churches in Galatia (modern day Turkey), but they had fallen into disagreement and struggle. False teachers came to the churches and began convincing them they still had to follow certain rules and laws in order for God to accept them. Paul's letter resisted the false teachers. He urged his readers to claim their freedom in Christ, but to use that freedom to "love your neighbor as yourself."
In verse 13 Paul bluntly stated a truth that can be painful to admit. We all have selfish impulses, especially when given the ability to choose freely. He pointed his readers to the one who can give us the ability to live out the Golden Rule: the Holy Spirit. Paul said, "Be guided by the Spirit and you won't carry out your selfish desires" (verse 16). In what areas of your life do you want to invite the Spirit to empower you to deny your selfish desires and love your neighbor as yourself more fully?
Macmillandictionary.com defined "freedom" as "the right to do what you want, make your own decisions, and express your own opinions." The apostle Paul, shaped by Jesus' servant model of greatness, defined it differently. "God has called you to a free life," he wrote. "But use your freedom to serve one another in love. That's how freedom grows" (The Message). In what ways have you found it freeing to let the Spirit guide you into loving and serving others, rather than having to follow all your impulses?
Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you came to set me free. I like being free from other people's demands, and from bad things. Help me also value the times when you set me free from my own self-centeredness. Amen.
“You have done it for me”
Scripture: Matthew 25: The Sheep and the Goats
31-33 “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’
37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
41-43 “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—
I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’
44 “Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’
45 “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’
46 “Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.”
After talking about the Temple’s destruction and the end of the world (in sometimes puzzling
terms), Jesus gave a word picture of the final judgment. His story about the judgment clearly
conveyed his Kingdom’s priorities. Kingdom people, he said, care for the hungry and thirsty, the
poorly-clothed and strangers, the prisoners and the sick—the people whom Jesus called “the
least of these brothers and sisters of mine.”• There’s a Christian song that begins, “I met Jesus today, and I really must tell you, he didn’t look
at all like the pictures … He was a hungry child, a sick friend of mine, a stranger who needed a
coat.” In Jesus’ story, both those accepted and the ones who were turned away were surprised.
They expected to meet Jesus in “religious” places, with choirs and lights, not in the streets
among the needy and poor. But Jesus’ story said we should notice all people in need of help,
and treat them as if it were Jesus himself in need. In what ways can you sense God reshaping
your attitudes toward “the least of these” in your community and the wider world?
Prayer: King Jesus, show me the “least of these” in my wealthy neighbor who struggles
emotionally or spiritually, my poor friend who suffers financially, my sick friend who needs your
comfort while dying—and in myself, who needs more of you in my life. Amen.
Family Activity: As a family, choose something that you will all give up for a period of time (e.g.
dessert, screen time, shopping, cell phones). Decide how long you will commit to living without
this thing. Now choose to substitute something that is more oriented to help others for whatever
you have given up. For example, if you give up screen time, practice hospitality by inviting friends
over for a family game night. If you give up dessert, save the money you would have used and
give it to an offering at church. Add more prayer time in place of shopping or visit neighbors
instead of texting. How might these new practices influence your sense of serving others, not just
yourself? Pray for God’s guidance and grace.
Prayer Requests
Prayers for Health and Healing: Mackenna Berg, Shirley Betts, Elliott and Elise Davis,
Mike Fordella, Shirley Hicks, Jennifer Obermueller, Marilee Schwist, Aleta Spreer,
John Anderle, Chip Hardage
Praise for the Birth of: Mia Annelise Schmidt, 11/3
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• Helen Burbridge and family following the death of her husband, Ralph Burbridge, 11/8
• Steve Chisholm and family following the death of his mother, Barbara McGruder, 11/5
• Dan Christians and family following the death of his father, Albert “Chris” Christians, 11/8
• Mark Corey and family following the death of his mother, Joan E. Corey, 11/6
• Keith Ehrich and family following the death of his father, Ivan Ehrich, 10/28
• Lori Engelmann and family following the death of her husband, Jeff Flottman, 11/10
• Lisa Hiteshew and family following the death of her mother, Elizabeth Ann Lewis, 11/4
• Bruce Thomas and family following the death of his mother, Helen Thomas, 11/5
Prayers for Members of Our Church Family Receiving Long-term Medical Care: Individual names
are available online at www.cor.org/prayer.
Prayers for Members of Our Church Family Who are Serving in the Military: Individual names are
available online at http://www.cor.org/ministries/care-and-support/serving-all-who-serve/
"Prayer Tip"
This week, our church community we will be focusing on grace. I don't know about you, but when I think of the word "grace," I hear the voice of my wonderful grandmothers at the holidays: "Who wants to say grace?" As a child, I was quick to avert eye contact, hoping no one would call upon me. I mean everyone is hungry---staring at a plate full of the family's favorite foods and the party is just getting started, stopping to pray just seemed like cruel punishment. Am I the only one who has felt this way?
Pausing just a moment for a story---this morning as my husband and I were preparing to head out on a road trip, we realized we had some extra food lying around the house that would go bad if we didn't gift it to another. We were excited by the opportunity to share with our neighbors and very quickly developed a list of our neighbors who we thought were fitting candidates. We thought of those who had given us tomatoes this summer, a pleasant elderly woman we have shared stories with and a young single mother who has a kind smile. My husband was able to hand off the goodies, but when he came back he seemed a little concerned. He explained to me that we had forgotten to think of those for whom the gift could have been a sign of grace. (He's a deep thinker, I know). The family that is loud and obnoxious and the quiet neighbor that creeps us out---they didn't make our list. Aren't they likely those most in need experiencing grace?
I am sure there are many lessons I could learn from our experience this morning, but one that sticks out to me is not a new one---stopping to say grace matters deeply in our lives as disciples. This is the pattern my grandmothers were suggesting I live into. How might my husband and I's decision this morning have been different if we would have paused to remember God's grace demonstrated towards us before we acted? Do we believe saying grace is important to our ability extend grace?
G.K. Chesterton highlights the importance of saying grace beautifully. In "A Prayer for Sunday," he writes:
"You say grace before meals.
All right.
But I say grace before the play and opera,
And before the concert and the pantomime,
And grace before I open a book.
And grace before sketching, painting
Swimming, fencing, boxing, watching, playing dancing;
and grace before I dip the pen in ink…"
If we are to become a people filled with grace, I think we are called to be a people who say grace in all things.
So, this week, I challenge you to do two things:
Have the courage to say grace at your family gathering, as a witness to your belief in your need for God's grace.
Write a prayer that is a reminder of God's grace, which you can pause and pray in moments where it is the most challenging to share God's grace.(Reverend Katherine Ebling-Frazier)
"Make sure that no one misses out on God's grace"
Daily Scripture: Hebrews 12:12-13 So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!
14-17 Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
Reflection Questions:
Our guest speaker, Phillip Yancey, quoted Hebrews 12:15 at the start of his book Vanishing Grace. The letter went to Hebrew Christians tempted to give up their faith under the pressure of social and political persecution. The writer clearly told them that pursuing holiness and pursuing peace were part of the same mission, not polar opposites between which Christians had to choose. Our central mission as Christ-followers is to share God's grace in all we do.
In Vanishing Grace, Yancey wrote, "We are called to proclaim good news of forgiveness and hope, yet I keep coming across evidence that many people do not hear our message as good news….I think of my friends…who support such causes as human rights, education, democracy, and compassion for the weak, most of which stem from Christian roots. Yet they now view Christians as a powerful threat to those causes…. Often, it seems, we're perceived more as guilt dispensers than as grace dispensers." What experiences have triggered feelings in you similar to those Yancey finds? When have others been "grace dispensers" to you, and when have you been able to do that for others?
Today's Prayer:
O God, I would not be the person I am had you not dispensed your grace so generously to me. Help me keep growing into a grace dispenser for all the people around me. Amen.
____________________________
Insight from Rev. Doyle Blanton
Rev. Doyle Blanton is a Congregational Care Pastor at Resurrection, serving the 9 a.m. worship community, assisting with the 5 p.m. Sunday community and shepherding the Thursday night care night. He and his wife Christy moved to Kansas in June and have two children, Matt and Heather.“What is it that you want?” Jesus asked the wife of Zebedee and mother of their two sons rather directly. For this mother, most likely for her sons and the rest of the disciples, they wanted to share the perceived power and glory that was coming to Jesus upon entering Jerusalem, upsetting the powers of Rome, and setting up his Kingly Reign. Let’s face it, they wanted the best seats in the house. When it comes down to it, who of us doesn’t want the best seats in the house–whether it’s at the theater, game, or even Christmas at Resurrection!
As I read the text for today, this question Jesus asked seemed to jump out at me, and insist on being answered. “WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT?” As I pause with this question in mind, I realize the answer has changed over the years of my life and ministry. I first wanted to make it through school without too much debt. I have always wanted to have a happy life and marriage and to effectively serve the church. Since my early 20’s, I have wanted to save appropriately to provide amply for my family in our retirement. As I now move into this new decade of my life, one of the driving answers to this question is–I want to live a life that honors God in all that I do. Yes, I want to live a life that pleases God, makes a contribution to the coming Kingdom of God, and serves faithfully the church I so greatly love.
This answer to the central question proves to be very clarifying for me in regards to daily priorities and decisions. Some of the former priorities are fading as I bring my life back to center on my calling and desire to please God in all that I do. The lure of power and position continue to wane in my soul as I release my future into God’s hands, for as God has held me in the past and in the present moment, I trust my future is also secure. I would ultimately want that assurance for everyone who is wrestling with their answer to this clarifying question: “What is it that you want?”
Insight from Angela LaVallie
Angela LaVallie is the Worship Logistics Program Director at Resurrection. She oversees preparing the Sanctuary for worship, supports Vibe worship and volunteers in the Student Center, provides oversight for Holy Communion at the Leawood campus, and assists with worship logistics at conferences.I have to confess, I like recognition for a job well done. Several years ago, I read the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. This book explains the five primary ways each of us feel most loved. After taking the quiz, I wasn’t at all surprised to learn that my primary love language is “words of affirmation.” If you haven’t read the book, this means I feel the most loved and appreciated when people use words to build me up. This doesn’t mean that I serve in order to hear what a great job I am doing. It does mean I have to be careful to do my best even when I know I won’t be acknowledged for serving.
There are nearly 100 people who come in on a rotating monthly basis to prep the attendance notebooks, the seatbacks, and the candle carts for weekly worship. These people give generously of their time every month (and some more often) to do a job that benefits every person who attends worship; they usually work in the empty Sanctuary (or Wesley Chapel) and they receive little to no recognition. I mention these servants because I get to work directly alongside them, but there are countless other volunteers who serve both at the church and out in the community. Some of them are leaders, and everyone knows who they are. Some are made examples of in sermons and newsletters. Some, like those I mentioned earlier, humbly and quietly go about their service behind the scenes.
I know it’s okay to enjoy the recognition we get from a job well done, but how much more will we bask in the glow of God saying to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” when we aren’t working to hear those words here on earth?
Insight from Mike Wilhoit
Mike Wilhoit serves at The Church of the Resurrection as Local Missions Director.Acts of humble service tend to have a lasting impact.
On April 28, 1999, my wife gave birth to quintuplets at the University of North Carolina Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC. The birthing room was packed. In addition to two obstetricians and an anesthesiologist, each child had a 3-person team consisting of a doctor, nurse & respiratory therapist waiting for their arrival. Everyone seemed to have a role, except one woman standing quietly near the side of the room.
I was sitting by my wife’s head. When the scheduled cesarean delivery began, the babies came fast. First, Noah, followed by Mia, Ben & Zach. Finally, Chloe was born without breath or heartbeat. She was stillborn. Then the quiet woman from the side of the room introduced herself. She was a Social Worker, trained in grief therapy, and she coached us through the delicate process of saying goodbye to a child we had just met.
This humble act of service during a very challenging moment remains incredibly comforting to both my wife & me.
Insight from Darren Lippe
Insight from Darren Lippe
Darren Lippe helps facilitate Journey 101 “Loving God” classes, guides a 7th-grade Sunday school class, is a member of a small group & a men’s group, and serves on the Curriculum team.Today’s passage referencing freedom prompted me to visit with Mr. Lawrence Iberty, Professor of Philosophy and author of “This Book is Not Free – But You Are!”
DL: While browsing at the bookstore, I was intrigued by your book’s discussion about freedom & liberty
L. Iberty: Huh. No offense, but you don’t seem like the type to be browsing the philosophy section of the bookstore.
DL: No offense taken! Actually, it was in the bargain bin….
L. Iberty: (Sigh.)
DL: …right next to the “Math for Dummies” book which had a special offer: 1 for $9.95 or 2 for $28.05.
L. Iberty: A-n-y-w-a-y. You were asking about my book. When thinking of freedom most people think of the writings of great thinkers like John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, & John Stuart Mill, while others might focus on my colleagues’ various studies like the Index of Economic Freedom or the CIRI Human Rights Data Project, but most people aren’t even aware that some of the earliest writings about freedom are actually Biblically based.
DL: Really.
L. Iberty: Oh yes. Think of the Exodus story of the Israelite slaves’ dramatic escape to freedom from the Pharaoh’s brutal regime, or the Year of Jubilee celebration specified in Leviticus, or even Paul’s letter to the Galatians.
DL: How so?
L. Iberty: Paul’s letter to the Galatians is sometimes referred to as the Magna Carta of Spiritual Liberty or the Declaration of Independence for Christians. Paul’s thinking here is theological & philosophical dynamite. The Galatian church was tempted to fall into a briar patch of superstitions, ceremonies, rituals, and “labor for the sake of labor” in order to earn salvation. But Paul quickly blasts that thinking. Not only are we freed from the bondage of sin via Jesus’ awe-inspiring sacrifice on the cross, but also we are free of the burden of trying to earn our way into eternal life. We are saved by grace and by grace alone. Martin Luther, the initiator of The Reformation, considered Galatians to be one of the greatest theological essays in the Bible.
DL: So we are free, free to do whatever we like?
L. Iberty: This is where Paul’s thinking becomes truly revolutionary. Yes, we are free citizens of the Kingdom of God. But, after we attain this citizenship we then have a responsibility: to love your neighbor as you love yourself. You see, when our hearts are filled with God’s love, we will then feel compelled (in a good way) to show charity to our brothers & sisters. Imagine not needing a Byzantine collection of laws/rules/regulations to tell us what we can or can’t do. This is liberating. This is emancipating. This is true freedom.
If you’d like, I’d be happy to inscribe your copy of my book.
DL: Oh! Um, I…didn’t bring it with me. But, I would be happy to buy you lunch if you are, you know…
L. Iberty: Free? No thanks, I have tickets to an Andy Williams Retrospective: Born Free
DL: Were the tickets expensive?
L. Iberty: Nah. They were buy one, get one…
Insight from Yvonne Gentile
Insight from Yvonne Gentile
In his sermon last weekend, Pastor Adam said the overarching lesson in this passage is that – whether we like it or not, whether we’re even aware of it or not – how we live our daily lives is a reflection of what’s in our hearts. The way we think about and interact with other people either confirms our faith in a tangible way, or it contradicts our faith. James 1:21 says, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” It’s one thing to say I’m a Christian and come to church every weekend, but it’s another thing entirely to pattern my whole life after Christ’s. That requires considering others’ needs before my own. When I ask myself, “Are my actions consistent with what I say I believe?” the truthful answer is: “Not as consistent as I’d like them to be.”
I read a blog post last week in which the author, John Sowers, talked about the importance of “showing up” for the people who are in your life. You can read the full post here. The author said that the people who have the biggest impact on our lives aren’t necessarily those who do extraordinary things, but are those who show up in small ways – day in and day out. They are there with us in the messiness of life. It’s not that they fix things, but their very presence demonstrates to us that we matter.
Often when we read today’s passage, we understand it as a statement that we are called to enter “the mission field” – to serve the poor, the sick, the disadvantaged in our cities and across the globe. It IS important to serve those who are disadvantaged. It’s equally important to live out our faith with (show up for) the people who are part of our everyday lives, to see Jesus in a co-worker who’s poor in spirit and needs encouragement, a friend who’s feeling anxious and hungering for security, a family member who’s sick and needs care, or the cashier at the grocery store who’s having a bad day and simply needs a kind word. Your mission field is as close as the person next to you – and so is mine.
I’m practicing showing up for the people in my life. I don’t do it nearly as well as I want, but with practice, I hope to improve. John Sowers suggests some things to practice: “We can slow down, turn off our phones, see the person right in front of us, and be fully present. Our calling is the person right in front of us.” Who do you need to show up for?
Insight from Donna Karlen
Donna Karlen serves in Campus Communications at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.You know those emails you get that share a wonderful message about Jesus – and then try to guilt you into forwarding it to all your contacts. “You will forward a joke,” the condemning text reads, “but most people will not forward this.”You’re right, I won’t. (Actually, if the main message is really good, I will forward it – after I delete the guilt language at the end of it.)While guilt may be a powerful motivator, I wonder if it would bring God much joy to have a kingdom full of people who are there only because they “got should on.”But guilt can do far worse things than just dampening the enthusiasm of those who actually want to spread the good news of God’s amazing grace. Trying to guilt someone into accepting Jesus could become the “bitter root” that today’s scripture talks about – turning them off from any desire to discover and follow Christ – and turning them away from God’s grace.Certainly guilt has its place in our lives. Feeling guilty about our sins generally is the prerequisite to repentance and asking to be forgiven. But maybe we can make the road to finding Jesus less of a guilt trip, and more about coming along on one amazing journey!
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