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Tuesday, 10 October 2017
1 Corinthians 1:25 For God’s “nonsense” is wiser than humanity’s “wisdom.”
And God’s “weakness” is stronger than humanity’s “strength.” 26 Just look at yourselves, brothers — look at those whom God has called! Not many of you are wise by the world’s standards, not many wield power or boast noble birth. 27 But God chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise; God chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the strong; 28 and God chose what the world looks down on as common or regards as nothing in order to bring to nothing what the world considers important; 29 so that no one should boast before God. 30 It is his doing that you are united with the Messiah Yeshua. He has become wisdom for us from God, and righteousness and holiness and redemption as well!
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We usually hear more about the verses that precede these (1 Corinthians 1:18-24). Many of us have family members or friends who consider the idea of a crucified Lord who rose from the dead just too much to believe. But then the apostle went on to say God not only presented a “foolish” sounding message. God also shared that message through “ordinary” people. That part of the message may have been harder on the Corinthians’ pride (and ours).
• Due to Paul’s training as a rabbi (cf. Acts 22:3), he must have known Deuteronomy 7:7-9. God told Israel that he chose them out of divine love, not due to any supposed human superiority. How did Paul’s humbling words to the Corinthians echo the Deuteronomy passage? In what way(s) is it a compliment, not a putdown, that God calls ordinary people, not just people who are “stars”?
• Some of Paul’s converts were, in fact, important and skilled. Erastus was a city treasurer (cf. Romans 16:23), and Lydia a dealer in high-end purple (the royal color) fabric (Acts 16:14). Paul himself, as noted above, was a graduate of his day’s top rabbinic “seminary.” What was his point in stressing, not those human credentials, but God’s choice of “what the world considers foolish…weak” (see verse 29)? How easy or hard is it for you to accept that, no matter your human credentials or accomplishments, you are one of the “ordinary” people through whom God works?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, ruler of the universe, you chose to walk this earth as an “ordinary” small-town rabbi. Tame my ego, and make me glad to be one of your “ordinary” people. Amen.
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Brandon Gregory
Brandon Gregory is a volunteer for the worship and missions teams at Church of the Resurrection. He helps lead worship at Vibe, West and Downtown services, and is involved with the Malawi missions team at home.
I’ll admit, even after writing GPS Insights for four years, I still get a little nervous any time it’s my day for the insight. I think I’m the only writer on here with no formal training on the Bible, and as if that wasn’t enough, I also have a serious mental disorder. I have a lot of marks against me. There are days I question whether I have anything worthwhile to add to theological conversations.
That’s why Paul’s words today in 1 Corinthians 1 are so encouraging to me. Paul was one of the foremost theological experts of his day. He was one of the smartest Pharisees, he had some of the best schooling, and he had risen to a position of power within the religious establishment. He had every credential you could think of that would have made him a spiritual leader. And yet, he didn’t begin his real ministry until he was shown a different path by a group of people with no real credentials. In his traditional pursuit of expertise, he had completely missed the point until he was shown the way by someone who had gotten there a different way.
Danish philosopher and theologian Soren Kierkegaard talked at length about the difference between an objective relationship with truth and a subjective one. An objective relationship with truth is very simple: you see something and accept the truthfulness of it. This is knowing what is right. A subjective relationship with truth is more nuanced: you accept something as true, and you decide what that means--how it will change you, how you will think of that truth, and how it will impact your view of the world. This is becoming right in response to what is right. In Kierkegaard’s eyes, how we believe is much more important than what we believe. We obviously need to have accurate views of truth, but fixing problems with a subjective relationship with truth is much harder than an objective one. It’s possible to believe all the right things but fail to let that truth change us. That’s what Kierkegaard was getting at, and that’s exactly what happened to Paul.
Saul (who later became Paul) was such an expert in the law that he turned his ministry into one of solely correcting others in their failures--even to the point of putting some to death. He was so zealous in his pursuit of truth that he completely missed the point on what all of those things meant. He believed all the right things--he believed more correctly than the vast majority of people in his day--but he still failed because his life and actions did not reflect the love of God.
Now, I’m not trying to downplay the importance of formal education and training in the Bible. If you have a chance to take a class on the Bible or pursue higher education, by all means, take it. But credentials like that are no magic bullet. People with advanced degrees in theology face the same faith problems as people opening it for the first time: they must choose to take what they know and let it change their lives. No matter where you are in your faith walk, this is a choice you will have to make every day. The good news is that this means that, no matter how far along you are, you will encounter truths that are worthy of sharing with others. In Christ, there are no formal barriers to truth: everyone has equal access to God and an equal place in His kingdom.
Brandon GregoryBrandon Gregory is a volunteer for the worship and missions teams at Church of the Resurrection. He helps lead worship at Vibe, West and Downtown services, and is involved with the Malawi missions team at home.
I’ll admit, even after writing GPS Insights for four years, I still get a little nervous any time it’s my day for the insight. I think I’m the only writer on here with no formal training on the Bible, and as if that wasn’t enough, I also have a serious mental disorder. I have a lot of marks against me. There are days I question whether I have anything worthwhile to add to theological conversations.
That’s why Paul’s words today in 1 Corinthians 1 are so encouraging to me. Paul was one of the foremost theological experts of his day. He was one of the smartest Pharisees, he had some of the best schooling, and he had risen to a position of power within the religious establishment. He had every credential you could think of that would have made him a spiritual leader. And yet, he didn’t begin his real ministry until he was shown a different path by a group of people with no real credentials. In his traditional pursuit of expertise, he had completely missed the point until he was shown the way by someone who had gotten there a different way.
Danish philosopher and theologian Soren Kierkegaard talked at length about the difference between an objective relationship with truth and a subjective one. An objective relationship with truth is very simple: you see something and accept the truthfulness of it. This is knowing what is right. A subjective relationship with truth is more nuanced: you accept something as true, and you decide what that means--how it will change you, how you will think of that truth, and how it will impact your view of the world. This is becoming right in response to what is right. In Kierkegaard’s eyes, how we believe is much more important than what we believe. We obviously need to have accurate views of truth, but fixing problems with a subjective relationship with truth is much harder than an objective one. It’s possible to believe all the right things but fail to let that truth change us. That’s what Kierkegaard was getting at, and that’s exactly what happened to Paul.
Saul (who later became Paul) was such an expert in the law that he turned his ministry into one of solely correcting others in their failures--even to the point of putting some to death. He was so zealous in his pursuit of truth that he completely missed the point on what all of those things meant. He believed all the right things--he believed more correctly than the vast majority of people in his day--but he still failed because his life and actions did not reflect the love of God.
Now, I’m not trying to downplay the importance of formal education and training in the Bible. If you have a chance to take a class on the Bible or pursue higher education, by all means, take it. But credentials like that are no magic bullet. People with advanced degrees in theology face the same faith problems as people opening it for the first time: they must choose to take what they know and let it change their lives. No matter where you are in your faith walk, this is a choice you will have to make every day. The good news is that this means that, no matter how far along you are, you will encounter truths that are worthy of sharing with others. In Christ, there are no formal barriers to truth: everyone has equal access to God and an equal place in His kingdom.
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"Jesus’ presence: with us every day"
Wednesday, 11 October 2017
Matthew 28:16 So the eleven talmidim went to the hill in the Galil where Yeshua had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they prostrated themselves before him; but some hesitated. 18 Yeshua came and talked with them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age.”
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When his disciples watched Jesus die on the cross, they feared they had lost his presence forever. Matthew’s gospel condensed all Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances into this one passage. But in it, he made the vital promise that “I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age” (verse 20). John’s gospel expanded on that—Jesus said the Holy Spirit was his presence with them (cf. John 14:16-18). The Holy Spirit, Jesus’ personal presence with each of us not just sometimes but every day, is a beautiful, supportive gift!
• Scholar William Barclay wrote, “They were sent out—as we are—on the greatest task in history, but with them there was the greatest presence in the world.” * What helps you to remember, and live into, Jesus’ promise that “I myself will be with you every day”? How can Jesus’ presence help you to love those in your circle of influence naturally and winningly?
• Scholar N. T. Wright said, “It is basic to the most elementary New Testament faith that Jesus is already ruling the whole world…. The claim is not that the world is already fully as Jesus intends it to be…but that he is working to take it from where it was—under the rule not only of death but of corruption, greed and every kind of evil—and to bring it, by slow means and quick, under the rule of his life-giving love. And how is he doing this? Here is the shock: through us, his followers.” ** How, on your most ordinary days, can you join in bringing the world under Jesus’ rule? How does his promise to always be with you make you brave?
Prayer: Lord God, right now, as I pray this prayer, you are with me. Thank you—and tune my heart and mind to more clearly sense your presence to guide, comfort and strengthen me. Amen.
* William Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Matthew—Volume 2 Chapters 11–28 (Revised Edition). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1976, p. 378. ** N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 16–28. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p. 207.
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"Our response: 'I will bless you every day'”
Thursday, 12 October 2017
Psalm 145:1 (0) Praise. By David:
(1) I will praise you to the heights, my God, the king;
I will bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you;
I will praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is Adonai and greatly to be praised;
his greatness is beyond all searching out.
4 Each generation will praise your works to the next
and proclaim your mighty acts.
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Most of us have days when gratitude and praise come hard, when we “just don’t feel like giving thanks,” don’t we? This psalm expressed gratitude and praise as a matter of choice, not of how that day felt: “I will bless you every day.” The commitment to daily praise was based on a purposeful focus on praising God’s mighty works. That was important to transmit to the next generation.
• If you don’t already have one, take steps to establish a daily habit of praising and blessing God. Examine the tools you already use to remind you of appointments and commitments, as well as your life rhythms. Create a “praise God every day” reminder in whatever tool works best for you. Depending on your patterns, you might want to include time to praise and bless God when you awake, on your commute to or from work or school, during your lunch hour or as you go to bed.
• We often gain insights by re-writing a psalm into language that fits today’s world. Read all of Psalm 145 (it’s only 21 verses). Use your imagination, and rewrite this psalm into an advertisement or brochure that lays out reasons for serving God. Humor is fine, but do not make the exercise a joke. Ask God to guide your thoughts as you creatively praise your maker.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, it’s Thursday, not Sunday. Help me to praise and bless you today, to start or continue doing that every day, and not just when I go to church. Amen.
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"Sharing about Jesus every day"
Friday, 13 October 2017
Acts 5:40 After summoning the emissaries and flogging them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Yeshua, and let them go. 41 The emissaries left the Sanhedrin overjoyed at having been considered worthy of suffering disgrace on account of him. 42 And not for a single day, either in the Temple court or in private homes, did they stop teaching and proclaiming the Good News that Yeshua is the Messiah., 16:4 As they went on through the towns, they delivered to the people the decisions reached by the emissaries and the elders in Yerushalayim for them to observe. 5 Accordingly, the congregations were strengthened in the faith and increased in number day by day.
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It was remarkable that the apostles, after a beating, “left the council rejoicing because they had been regarded as worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the name.” But in some ways, what followed was even more remarkable: “Every day they continued to teach and proclaim the good news.” Acts 16:5 also made the point that sharing the good news of Jesus was an everyday occurrence for the early Christians.
• When was the last time you told another person about a new restaurant, an entertaining movie, a helpful cleaning service, an impressive car you test drove or bought or (if you’re a parent) something great your kids did? Does sharing that kind of news on an everyday basis feel more natural and acceptable than sharing about what Jesus means in your life? If so, what might change that?
• “Public beatings were meant to shame…those so beaten. The person would be stripped and given a maximum of 39 lashes in a public place.” * In the U.S.A. today, we never see formal public beatings like the apostles suffered. In what ways do people at times face shaming for their sharing of Jesus? Have you ever faced treatment meant to shame you? Can you join the apostles in continuing to share every day?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, one sign of this world’s brokenness is the way that some people try, every day, to shame your followers. Give me the apostles’ courage and trust in you if I face that kind of behavior. Amen.
* HarperCollins Christian Publishing. NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, eBook: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Kindle Locations 248207-248208). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
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“The person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day”
Saturday, 14 October 2017
2 Corinthians 4:16 This is why we do not lose courage. Though our outer self is heading for decay, our inner self is being renewed daily. 17 For our light and transient troubles are achieving for us an everlasting glory whose weight is beyond description. 18 We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal.
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The apostle Paul knew firsthand about “the worst” in our world. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 he listed many difficulties he had faced. Those hardships took enough of a physical toll that the apostle said, “We always carry Jesus’ death around in our bodies so that Jesus’ life can also be seen in our bodies” (2 Corinthians 4:10). The apostle could have found reasons to think about giving up a life of serving Christ by counting his scars. Instead, he spoke of a daily reality that kept him going: “the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day.” Every ordinary day walking down a road, making tents or working with leather (cf. Acts 18:3), riding on a ship, or sitting in a prison cell, his connection with God kept Paul’s spirits renewed and encouraged.
• Scholar William Barclay wrote, “From the physical point of view life may be a slow but inevitable slipping down the slope that leads to death. But from the spiritual point of view life is a climbing up the hill that leads to the presence of God.” * How much daily focus do you give to maintaining your physical well-being? How much to nurturing your connection with God? What changes, if any, can you make to ensure that the person you are on the inside is being renewed every day?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I want strong muscles, and good lab results when I get checkups. Help me to desire with even greater eagerness a strong connection with you, one that renews me every day. Amen.
* William Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series: The Letters to the Corinthians (Revised Edition). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1975, p. 201.
Family Activity: Even religious families who believe in God often find themselves in their daily routines placing other things above God. As a family, review your calendar and budget. Examine how your family spends its time and money. Ask, “How well do our budget and schedules reflect that we worship God?” Discuss what changes you can make to live more God-centered lives every day. Create a “God is #1” poster or collage and include pictures and words reminding you to place God first. Spend time in prayer as a family, asking God to help you release that which holds you back from truly placing God first in your lives, not just on Sunday but every day.
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
•Steve Williams and family on the death of his wife Anne Williams, 10/3
•Debi Nixon and family on the death of her aunt Anne Williams, 10/3
• Larry Pandjaris and family on the death of his wife Cheryl Pandjaris, 10/1
•Connie Roberts and family on the death of her sister Cheryl Pandjaris, 10/1
•Brian and Scott Setley and families on the death of their mother Judy Setley, 10/1
• John and Susan Casaert and family on the death of their daughter Laura Casaert, 9/30
• Jerry Sommerville and family on the death of his wife Kim Sommerville, 9/27
•Sean McDowell and family on the death of his father David McDowell, 9/27
•Valerie Davis and family on the death of her mother Barbara J. Brown, 9/26
•Steve DeZeeuw and family on the death of his mother Ella DeZeeuw, 9/17
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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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©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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