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“He appointed twelve and called them apostles”
Thursday, 24 August 2017
Mark 3:13 Then he went up into the hill country and summoned to himself those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve to be with him, to be sent out to preach 15 and to have authority to expel demons:
16 Shim‘on, to whom he gave another name, “Kefa”;
17 Ya‘akov Ben-Zavdai and Yochanan, Ya‘akov’s brother — to them he gave the name “B’nei-Regesh” (that is, “Thunderers”);
18 Andrew, Philip, Bar-Talmai, Mattityahu, T’oma, Ya‘akov Ben-Halfai, Taddai, Shim‘on the Zealot,
19 and Y’hudah from K’riot, the one who betrayed him.
Then he entered a house;
16 Shim‘on, to whom he gave another name, “Kefa”;
17 Ya‘akov Ben-Zavdai and Yochanan, Ya‘akov’s brother — to them he gave the name “B’nei-Regesh” (that is, “Thunderers”);
18 Andrew, Philip, Bar-Talmai, Mattityahu, T’oma, Ya‘akov Ben-Halfai, Taddai, Shim‘on the Zealot,
19 and Y’hudah from K’riot, the one who betrayed him.
Then he entered a house;
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We learn a lot about Peter from the fact that in Mark’s list of the twelve, and also in the lists in Matthew 10:2, Luke 6:13-16 and Acts 1:13-14, Peter’s name was always first. That no doubt reflected his vivid, outspoken personality, but also (here’s another spoiler alert) the words Jesus spoke to Peter in Matthew 16:15-18. (We’ll look at that passage in greater depth later in this series.) Peter was an important leader and spokesperson during Jesus’ time on earth and after.
Ø Scholar William Barclay wrote, “It is significant that Christianity began with a group. The Christian faith is something which from the beginning had to be discovered and lived out in a fellowship. The whole essence of the way of the Pharisees…separated; the very name Pharisee means ‘the separated one;’ the essence of Christianity was that it …presented [people] with the task of living with each other and for each other.” * Why is this reality essential for Christians in an age of division? How, if at all, have you experienced this?
• We also see key strength of Peter’s. Strong leader that he was, when God later called Paul to a key responsibility, he recognized and supported Paul’s calling, rather than opposing or minimizing it (cf. Galatians 2:7-10). What enables leaders whose character God has shaped to be confident in their calling while accepting others with important leadership gifts and responsibilities? Have you ever seen a competitive spirit become corrosive to the mission of Jesus' kingdom?
Ø Scholar William Barclay wrote, “It is significant that Christianity began with a group. The Christian faith is something which from the beginning had to be discovered and lived out in a fellowship. The whole essence of the way of the Pharisees…separated; the very name Pharisee means ‘the separated one;’ the essence of Christianity was that it …presented [people] with the task of living with each other and for each other.” * Why is this reality essential for Christians in an age of division? How, if at all, have you experienced this?
• We also see key strength of Peter’s. Strong leader that he was, when God later called Paul to a key responsibility, he recognized and supported Paul’s calling, rather than opposing or minimizing it (cf. Galatians 2:7-10). What enables leaders whose character God has shaped to be confident in their calling while accepting others with important leadership gifts and responsibilities? Have you ever seen a competitive spirit become corrosive to the mission of Jesus' kingdom?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me a spirit willing to step up to whatever responsibilities you call me to, while never feeling rivalry with others you call. Make me a humble leader like Peter. Amen.
* William Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Mark (Revised Edition). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1976, pp. 73-74.
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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.Jesus called twelve men to help him start his ministry. He could have done it all by himself, but he called twelve. Together, with Jesus, this group of twelve paved the way for the future of the Christian church. We have our faith today because these twelve spread the good news to people who spread it to people who spread it to others for centuries to come. How amazing it would have been to be a disciple, to be called on this journey by Christ himself!
But did you ever think of all the people he didn’t call? There were thousands in the area (maybe millions – I’m no historical scholar), and he called just twelve for that inner circle. It was just twelve he chose for that highest calling, those who would leave everything they have ever known to join Jesus on this monumental journey? Just twelve.
I mention this because there are times when we might feel discouraged when we don’t feel God calling us to be a pastor, a missionary, or biblical teacher. We think our lives are somehow less significant to the kingdom because we aren’t doing professional ministry. We aren’t given a special name like Simon was. We aren’t called to leave our nets.
But here’s the thing; we aren’t all called to leave our nets. Certainly some are, but most aren’t. This doesn’t mean that we can’t all be a part of the ministry of Christ. It just means that there are different ways of doing this. Even in the times of Christ many others contributed to the ministry without being in the inner twelve. There were those who welcomed disciples into their homes, those who supported the mission financially, those who fed disciples and crowds, those who gathered people to hear Jesus, and all sorts of others who played very important roles. They just weren’t part of that key group of twelve.
Today God still calls people to be in professional ministry, but the majority of us will never hear that call. That doesn’t mean that our lives play no part in the kingdom. Jesus called twelve, but he relied on so many more in those early days – just as he does today. We need people ministering to others in banks, hospitals, offices, and restaurants. Even in the church, a good portion of the positions are not in direct ministry, yet they are still key to making ministry happen. No matter what you do for a living or how you choose to serve, you matter. Whatyou do matters, and how you do it matters. God may only call a select few to leave their nets, but he calls all of us to join him in building the kingdom of grace, hope, and salvation.
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.Jesus called twelve men to help him start his ministry. He could have done it all by himself, but he called twelve. Together, with Jesus, this group of twelve paved the way for the future of the Christian church. We have our faith today because these twelve spread the good news to people who spread it to people who spread it to others for centuries to come. How amazing it would have been to be a disciple, to be called on this journey by Christ himself!
But did you ever think of all the people he didn’t call? There were thousands in the area (maybe millions – I’m no historical scholar), and he called just twelve for that inner circle. It was just twelve he chose for that highest calling, those who would leave everything they have ever known to join Jesus on this monumental journey? Just twelve.
I mention this because there are times when we might feel discouraged when we don’t feel God calling us to be a pastor, a missionary, or biblical teacher. We think our lives are somehow less significant to the kingdom because we aren’t doing professional ministry. We aren’t given a special name like Simon was. We aren’t called to leave our nets.
But here’s the thing; we aren’t all called to leave our nets. Certainly some are, but most aren’t. This doesn’t mean that we can’t all be a part of the ministry of Christ. It just means that there are different ways of doing this. Even in the times of Christ many others contributed to the ministry without being in the inner twelve. There were those who welcomed disciples into their homes, those who supported the mission financially, those who fed disciples and crowds, those who gathered people to hear Jesus, and all sorts of others who played very important roles. They just weren’t part of that key group of twelve.
Today God still calls people to be in professional ministry, but the majority of us will never hear that call. That doesn’t mean that our lives play no part in the kingdom. Jesus called twelve, but he relied on so many more in those early days – just as he does today. We need people ministering to others in banks, hospitals, offices, and restaurants. Even in the church, a good portion of the positions are not in direct ministry, yet they are still key to making ministry happen. No matter what you do for a living or how you choose to serve, you matter. Whatyou do matters, and how you do it matters. God may only call a select few to leave their nets, but he calls all of us to join him in building the kingdom of grace, hope, and salvation.
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“You are…a people who are God’s own possession”
Friday, 25 August 2017
1 Peter 2:3-9
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Peter saturated his description of what it meant to belong to God’s people, the church, with quotations and allusions to the Hebrew Scriptures. Peter, like Paul, saw the Jesus movement as an extension and fulfilment of the call God first gave to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. Peter’s reflection on belonging to Christ expressed what scholar N. T. Wright wrote about the story in John 1: “What Andrew and Simon Peter thought they were doing was looking for the Messiah. What they didn’t realize was that the Messiah was looking for them.”
* • Pastor Paul Cedar wrote, “A spiritual temple requires a very specific kind of building material. It is to be built of living stones—the very lives of those who have become spiritually alive through faith in Jesus Christ. And such building must begin with Jesus Christ.” ** How did you come “spiritually alive,” to become a “living stone”? How has that shaped your life? What connects you with other members of this “temple” God is building?
• In what ways do you resonate with the idea that you have been “called out of darkness” into God’s amazing light? What type(s) of darkness has God had to dispel in your life? Have you ever stopped to ponder the idea that, in Christ, you are a member of “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession”? How can that reshape your sense of mission and purpose in life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you came looking for me, maybe before I even knew I needed you. Thank you! Help me to live a life built on you, not one that stumbles over your call. Amen.
* N. T. Wright, John for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1–10. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p. 14. ** Paul Cedar, The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 34: James / 1 & 2 Peter / Jude. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1984, p. 137.
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God trusted Peter (and us) to speak of his wonderful acts
God trusted Peter (and us) to speak of his wonderful acts
Saturday, 26 August 2017
1 Peter 2:9-10
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Peter carried a profound sense of responsibility. Jesus had called him, not just to relax and bask in God’s love, but to “fish for people.” That was the calling for all the Christian converts to whom he wrote, too. “Peter uses OT words and images to apply Israel’s special identity to his Gentile audience. Israel is God’s chosen race (Isaiah 43:20), royal priesthood (Exodus 19:6), holy nation (Exodus 19:6) and a people who are God’s own possession (Exodus 19:5). The same can now be said of these believers in Jesus.” * Peter knew that God calls all Christ followers, like Israel, to be a blessing to all the people of the world. Ø As one of God’s people (“a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession”—wow!), how do you or will you live so that others can know God’s love and mercy? How can the faith community to which you belong show God’s grace and light in ways you can’t do alone? How can a sense that together we are God’s hands in the world help you more clearly and deeply understand the meaning of “church”?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you changed Peter from an ordinary fisherman to a man from whose life and writings we learn over 2000 years after his death. Empower me to live in ways that will have eternal value as a member of your “royal priesthood” on earth. Amen.
* Jeanine K. Brown, study note on 1 Peter 2:9-10 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 464-465 NT.
Family Activity: Jesus was an incredible encourager. He saw the best in everyone no matter what they had said or done, as he did in Peter. Read 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17. As a family, think of the people who see the highest potential in each of you. Create a list of those encouraging people in your lives. Talk about who cheers you on, builds you up and offers you hope. What characteristics do they have that identify them as encouragers? Find a way to thank those people this week. You might bake a treat, create a card or simply thank them for who they are in your lives. Ask yourselves how you can be more encouraging to others. How can you lead others by living out this quality of Christ? How can you see the best in people? Pray together, thanking God for seeing the best in you and in everyone. Ask God to help you grow as an encouraging person.
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• Ruth Jones and family on the death of her sister Elsie Maxine Majewski, 8/12
• Tiffany Anderson and family on the death of her husband Stanley L. Anderson, 8/11
• Laura Gray and family on the death of her mother Carole Gray, 8/11
• Sheila Gill and family on the death of her father David Cole, 8/11
• Timberly Apple and family on the death of her husband Craig Apple, 8/10
• Tony Collichio and family on the death of his nephew Mike Marino, 8/5
• Katie Howe and family on the death of her father Daniel Rollheiser, 8/4
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You might also like
Jesus: God’s final word
The apostle Paul’s thoughtful quoting of the Bible
Jesus lived the Bible’s eternal principles
“Open my eyes”
What the Bible is meant to do
Or download this week's printable GPS.
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©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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You might also like
Jesus: God’s final word
The apostle Paul’s thoughtful quoting of the Bible
Jesus lived the Bible’s eternal principles
“Open my eyes”
What the Bible is meant to do
Or download this week's printable GPS.
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©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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