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Sunday, October 2, 2016 – “Keep Looking Over Your Shoulder”
Scripture: Matthew 20:1 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who went out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the workers on a wage of one denarius, [the standard daily wage,] he sent them off to his vineyard. 3 Then, on going out at about nine in the morning, he saw more men standing around in the market-square doing nothing, 4 and said to them, ‘You go to the vineyard too — I’ll pay you a fair wage.’ So they went. 5 At noon, and again around three in the afternoon, he did the same thing. 6 About an hour before sundown, he went out, found still others standing around, and asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day, doing nothing?” 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ ‘You too,’ he told them, ‘go to the vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and ending with the first.’ 9 The workers who came an hour before sunset each received a denarius, 10 so the workers who came first expected they would get more, but each of them also received just a denarius.
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Prayer Guide:
As I sit down to write this week, I have Adam’s most recent message on Moses on my mind. With my son due in just a few months I have found that things are getting me in the “mommy feels.” Adam’s reminder of God’s charge given through Moses to share the faith with those who come after us caught my attention. In certain ways, though, it brought up more questions than answers.
I was thinking about this as I looked back on Autom’s “My Little Book of the Ten Commandments” that my parents found when they were cleaning out my childhood room. It is clear that I was a perfectionist and that I was called to ministry when I look at the fact that I was gauging my faithfulness in elementary school. By each commandment I had evaluated myself. Take a look – this one should bring comfort to all of us:
The rest of my responses were as follows:
- You shall have no other gods before me: Good at!
- Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain Need to work on!
- Keep the Sabbath holy: Work on, almost there!
- Honor your father and mother: REALLY need to work on!
- Don’t commit adultery: Not there yet!
- You shall not steal: ?
So this week, I challenge you to write a prayer expressing the ways that God has changed your life. As you write, pray that you might have the courage to share this with someone younger than yourself. Trust that when it comes time to share, the Holy Spirit will be with you. As John 14:26 reads:
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”[Katherine Ebling-Frazier, Pastor of Prayer]
Join us for worship today – click here for information on worship times and locations. If you are not in the Kansas City area, you can take part in our worship via live Web stream at rezonline.org.
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"A story about inflated expectations"
Monday 3 October 201616
Matthew 20:1 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who went out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the workers on a wage of one denarius, [the standard daily wage,] he sent them off to his vineyard. 3 Then, on going out at about nine in the morning, he saw more men standing around in the market-square doing nothing, 4 and said to them, ‘You go to the vineyard too — I’ll pay you a fair wage.’ So they went. 5 At noon, and again around three in the afternoon, he did the same thing. 6 About an hour before sundown, he went out, found still others standing around, and asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day, doing nothing?” 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ ‘You too,’ he told them, ‘go to the vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and ending with the first.’ 9 The workers who came an hour before sunset each received a denarius, 10 so the workers who came first expected they would get more, but each of them also received just a denarius.
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Reflection Questions:
In Jesus’ day, agricultural field workers had even fewer rights than they do today. So the
landowner in the story Jesus told was amazing—hiring extra workers near the end of the day, and basically overpaying them. The “all day” workers in the story watched those who’d only worked an hour get paid the same amount that they had agreed to work for. (We can imagine their pro-rated mental calculations. “Maybe we’ll get 8 days’ wages!”) But they got a full day’s wages, too—exactly what they had agreed to.
• Does the master’s way of paying the workers in this story feel unfair to you? “It was not
unfair, of course. No one was underpaid; it was just that some received ‘unreasonable’
generosity. That is what the kingdom of heaven is like.”1 In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul said Christ was treated as we deserved, and we are treated as he deserved. In what ways does that “unfair” exchange draw your heart toward Christ?
• Many people, psychologists as well as preachers, have observed that we humans tend to ask “Why me?” about bad things that happen to us, but not about good things. Like the “all day” workers in Jesus’ story (“they thought they would receive more”), we’re usually inclined to think we deserve more. When have you found yourself inflating your
expectations because of what you’ve seen someone else receive? What helps you
counteract this natural tendency?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, if I’m a recent arrival in your kingdom, thank you for welcoming me
generously. And if I’m one who’s been here longer, help me to celebrate your generosity and seek to share it with others. Amen.
1 R. T. France, article “Matthew” in New Bible Commentary, 21st Century Edition. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press, 1994, p. 930.
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"Resenting someone else’s unfair good fortune"
Tuesday, 4 October 2016
Matthew 20:11 On receiving their wages, they began grumbling to the farmer, 12 ‘These latecomers have worked only one hour, while we have borne the brunt of the day’s work in the hot sun, yet you have put them on an equal footing with us!’ 13 But he answered one of them, ‘Look, friend, I’m not being unfair with you. Didn’t you agree to work today for a denarius? 14 Now take your pay and go! I choose to give the last worker as much as I’m giving you. 15 Haven’t I the right to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 Thus the last ones will be first and the first last.”
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Reflection Questions:
Jesus heard lots of grumbling during his earthly ministry. The religious leaders seemed to really resent him offering salvation to tax collectors and sinners who hadn’t worked “the whole day in the hot sun.” The landowner’s questions were God’s questions: “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you resentful because I’m generous?”
• Salvation, eternal life with God, is a greater gift than we could possibly earn. Yet at times we are tempted to think “service time” should give us extra privileges, or rank us above “newbies” (cf. Luke 15:25-32). How long have you served God? Do you generously accept newcomers to God’s Kingdom, as Jesus did (cf. Luke 23:32-33, 39-43)?
• In another place, Jesus described God’s generosity by using the forces of nature almost as a parable: “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). In what ways have you experienced God’s grace, his lavish generosity? What aspect of God’s generosity most encourages and amazes you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, shape me and grow me into a person who has the same generous attitude toward others that you have toward me. Amen.
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"Faith, not 'deserving,' impressed Jesus most"
Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Luke 7:2 A Roman army officer there had a servant he regarded highly, who was sick to the point of death. 3 Hearing about Yeshua, the officer sent some Jewish elders to him with the request that he come and heal his servant. 4 They came to Yeshua and pleaded earnestly with him, “He really deserves to have you do this, 5 for he loves our people — in fact, he built the synagogue for us!” 6 So Yeshua went with them. He had not gone far from the house, when the officer sent friends who said to him, “Sir, don’t trouble yourself. I’m not worthy to have you come under my roof — 7 this is why I didn’t presume to approach you myself. Instead, just give a command and let my servant recover. 8 For I too am a man set under authority. I have soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 9 Yeshua was astonished at him when he heard this; and he turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Isra’el have I found such trust!” 10 When the messengers got back to the officer’s house, they found the servant in good health.
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Reflection Questions:
A “centurion” commanded 100 soldiers, part of the Roman force occupying Palestine. Most of
them were despised, but this centurion was decent and wise. He had been generous with the people of Capernaum. They told Jesus he “deserved” help. The centurion, though, said “I don’t deserve” (verse 6), and put his trust in Jesus’ power. His faith impressed Jesus far more than his “deserving” actions.
• We tend to relate to Jesus first in terms of what we know best. How did the Roman
centurion draw on his military experience to express his trust in Jesus’ power? How did
Jesus’ response to that foreign military officer point ahead to a church that welcomed
Gentiles and Jews as equals before God (e.g. Galatians 3:29)? Which of your life
experiences help you better grasp and trust God’s power?
• Scholar William Barclay noted other worthy traits in the Roman. “Roman law defined a
slave as a living tool… a master could ill-treat him, even kill him if he chose.” What’s more, “The Romans… spoke of Judaism as a barbarous superstition. Anti-Semitism is not a new thing.”1 How did this centurion reveal what John Wesley called “prevenient grace”—God at work in a person who’s not formally one of “God’s people”? When have you seen this in yourself or in others?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you saw this Roman centurion, not as a foreign occupier, nor even as a benefactor who did good things for your people. You saw the human being, the man with a heart of faith and trust. Give me eyes like yours. Amen.
1 William Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Luke. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, revised edition 1975, pp. 84-85.)
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"When the undeserving one came home"
Thursday, 6 October 2016
Luke 15:1 The tax-collectors and sinners kept gathering around to hear Yeshua, 2 and the P’rushim and Torah-teachers kept grumbling. “This fellow,” they said, “welcomes sinners — he even eats with them!”
11 Again Yeshua said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that will be mine.’ So the father divided the property between them. 13 As soon as he could convert his share into cash, the younger son left home and went off to a distant country, where he squandered his money in reckless living. 14 But after he had spent it all, a severe famine arose throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch.
15 “So he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him any.
17 “At last he came to his senses and said, ‘Any number of my father’s hired workers have food to spare; and here I am, starving to death! 18 I’m going to get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.” ’ 20 So he got up and started back to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him warmly. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son — ’ 22 but his father said to his slaves, ‘Quick, bring out a robe, the best one, and put it on him; and put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet; 23 and bring the calf that has been fattened up, and kill it. Let’s eat and have a celebration! 24 For this son of mine was dead, but now he’s alive again! He was lost, but now he has been found!’ And they began celebrating.
25 “Now his older son was in the field. As he came close to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked, ‘What’s going on?’ 27 The servant told him, ‘Your brother has come back, and your father has slaughtered the calf that was fattened up, because he has gotten him back safe and sound.’ 28 But the older son became angry and refused to go inside.
“So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 ‘Look,’ the son answered, ‘I have worked for you all these years, and I have never disobeyed your orders. But you have never even given me a young goat, so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 Yet this son of yours comes, who squandered your property with prostitutes, and for him you slaughter the fattened calf!’ 31 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ said the father, ‘and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead but has come back to life — he was lost but has been found.’”
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Reflection Questions:
Jesus told this story to “tax collectors and sinners,” people who had given up on God. Why
not? They thought God had given up on them. The “church people” they knew criticized Jesus for even talking to them (Luke 15:1-2). But Jesus also directed the story to those very people who criticized him. He added the older brother, the “good” son, who thought he deserved more honor and was not glad that his brother had returned. At story’s end, the father pleaded with the older brother to join the party: “We had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive. He was lost and is found” (verse 32).
• The phrase “burning your bridges behind you” came from generals who wanted their
soldiers to know there was no chance of retreat if they lost a battle. Now it often stands for ruined relationships. The younger brother had surely burned his bridges. Are you near God or far away? If far, what’s blocking you from “going home”? In light of Jesus’ story, can you picture God waiting with open arms for you?
• The servant in the story said, “Your brother has arrived.” When the father came out to him, the older son said, “This son of yours returned.” The father shifted the relationship back: “This brother of yours,” he said. In your imagination, argue the older brother’s case: why didn’t the younger one deserve to be welcomed home? In what ways was the “good” brother’s reaction out of harmony with the father’s wishes?
Prayer: O Jesus, I’ve wandered away from you many times, either in short or long distances. Thank you that each time I come home, you run down the road to embrace and welcome me. Amen.
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"If we deserved it, it wouldn’t be grace"
Friday, 7 October 2016
Romans 4:2 For if Avraham came to be considered righteous by God because of legalistic observances, then he has something to boast about. But this is not how it is before God! 3 For what does the Tanakh say? “Avraham put his trust in God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness.”[Romans 4:3 Genesis 15:6] 4 Now the account of someone who is working is credited not on the ground of grace but on the ground of what is owed him. 5 However, in the case of one who is not working but rather is trusting in him who makes ungodly people righteous, his trust is credited to him as righteousness.
6 In the same way, the blessing which David pronounces is on those whom God credits with righteousness apart from legalistic observances:
7 “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered over;
8 Blessed is the man whose sin Adonai
will not reckon against his account.”[Romans 4:8 Psalm 32:1–2]
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Reflection Questions:
In today’s reading, the apostle Paul took over an accounting metaphor that was first used in Genesis 15 to convey a key Christian truth: God “credits” our faith to us as righteousness! Psalm 32 used the flip side of that image: “Happy are those whose sin isn’t counted against them by the Lord.” God’s grace sees us as much more than we are. God sees us as we can become as committed members of his family.
• Paul quoted Psalm 32. The psalmist (likely King David himself) wrote of a time when he hid his sin, and things got worse and worse. “Then,” he wrote, “I acknowledged my sin to you… and you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5). When have you found peace and
renewed life by acknowledging how much you need God’s forgiveness, and accepting it?
• School grades, workplace paychecks, promotions—Paul said we get those, not as gifts, but because we deserve them. But God counts us as having a clean slate, and eternal life, even though we don’t deserve them. When did you last thank God for heaven’s gracious way of accounting, and really mean it? Why not thank God right now?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that instead of a stern, unbending standard, your heavenly
accounting toward me follows the generous standard of forgiveness and grace. Amen.
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"A parable came to life—on two crosses"
Saturday, 8 October 2016
Luke 23:32 Two other men, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to the place called The Skull, they nailed him to a stake; and they nailed the criminals to stakes, one on the right and one on the left. 34 Yeshua said, “Father, forgive them; they don’t understand what they are doing.”
They divided up his clothes by throwing dice.[Luke 23:34 Psalm 22:19(18)] 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at him.[Luke 23:35 Psalm 22:8(7)] “He saved others,” they said, “so if he really is the Messiah, the one chosen by God, let him save himself!” 36 The soldiers too ridiculed him; they came up, offered him vinegar[Luke 23:36 Psalm 69:22(21)] 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 And there was a notice over him which read,
THIS IS
THE KING OF THE JEWS
39 One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him. “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other one spoke up and rebuked the first, saying, “Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same punishment as he is. 41 Ours is only fair; we’re getting what we deserve for what we did. But this man did nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Yeshua, remember me when you come as King.” 43 Yeshua said to him, “Yes! I promise that you will be with me today in Gan-‘Eden.”
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Reflection Questions:
Luke’s whole gospel showed Jesus’ love for all who are outcast and looked down on. That did not stop even when the Romans crucified Jesus—the most painful and humiliating form of execution they could devise. Acceptance and generosity often seem to come more easily
when we are safe and comfortable ourselves. That’s what makes this story so remarkable.
Even from the cross, Jesus’ prayer for the soldiers crucifying him, and his pledge to the man who asked for a place in his kingdom showed clearly that he wanted to extend grace to absolutely everyone. He had not a word of reproof for the thief not having worked all day—he graciously welcomed him home.
• While soldiers rolled dice to see which of them would get Jesus’ clothes, and religious rulers sneered, Jesus asked God to forgive them. They were not seeking forgiveness, and we do not know how many of them Jesus’ generous prayer reached. But what an extraordinary request the crucified thief made! What made him think this man crucified next to him would ever even have a kingdom? Have you ever felt (or known someone who felt) that “I’ve done too much—waited too long—I can’t turn to God now?” What does the thief’s request and Jesus’ response say to that attitude? Have you ever felt “unforgivable”? Can you accept that Jesus is willing to forgive you, no matter what you’ve done that needs forgiveness?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, your cross was all about forgiveness—and your actions made it plain that forgiveness was (and is) much, much more than just some religious theory. Thank you that every day I, like the thief crucified next to you, can trust in your forgiving heart. Amen.
Family Activity: God’s love is for all people. Consider ways your family can include others and let them know they are welcome in God’s family. You might invite a family or some friends to your home for a celebration of God’s love. Design colorful placemats, prepare a simple and fun meal and sing songs of praise to God! Maybe you would like to visit someone who is lonely or make cards for them. Name some of the gifts God has given you and plan a way to use them to share
God’s love. Pray that God would help you celebrate, give thanks for and spread God’s love.
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
•Tracie Wright and family on the death of her father Elven Stoddard, 9/23
•Bob Herndon and family on the death of his father Eugene “Gene” Herndon, 9/20
•Bill Gapske and family on the death of his sister Barbara Glenn, 9/20
• Jennifer Guttu and family on the death of her brother Rick Glenn, 9/20
•Vicki Meeks and family on the death of her brother Ron Malone 9/20
• Lisa Passmore and family on the death of her father Richard Pennington, 9/19
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
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