Daily Scripture
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.” (Complete Jewish Bible).
Reflection Questions:
Jesus made it plain that once God has found us, we don’t just sit idly by and watch God search for others. Jesus' “marching orders” to his followers were that we be his witnesses, making disciples, baptizing and teaching, actively participating in God’s work of calling humans back to God. And we never pursue that mission alone—Jesus promised to be with us every day.
- This passage offered a command, and a promise. Jesus addressed the command to all his followers: “Go… make disciples of all nations… baptizing them …and teaching them.” In what ways are you gifted to help carry out this commission? How does Jesus' command to live out his mission shape your understanding of what it means for Resurrection to be “the church”?
- The risen Jesus' promise grew out of his declaration that “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth.” In that sweeping authority, he said, “I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” In the first century, that meant that not even the Roman Empire could block him from being with his followers. And no power on earth today has the authority to make Jesus abandon you. How can knowing Jesus is with you give you courage, strength and peace? How can it make us fearless as a congregation?
Lord Jesus, amazingly, challengingly, wonderfully, I am, and we together, are your strategic plan to reach the world. Grow me into a person who joyfully lives my role in carrying out your marching orders. Amen.
Read today's Insight by Randy GreeneRandy Greene is a part of the Communications team at the Church of the Resurrection. He helps develop and maintain the church's family of websites. He is also a student at Central Baptist Theological Seminary and loves to write stories about faith for his blog.
When the disciples of Jesus saw him, resurrected and in the flesh, some still doubted. They worshiped him, but they had questions. They went up to the mountain, just as he’d asked them to do, but they were unsure of what they saw there with their own eyes.
I love that some of those closest to Jesus didn’t know what to do with his resurrection. We Christians have had 2,000 years to ponder it, but there are times that I still don’t know what to do with Jesus’ resurrection.
Jesus knew the hearts and minds of each person in the room, yet he didn’t divide them into believers on the left and doubters on the right; he didn’t tell the doubters to go home until they came to believe. No, Jesus made no distinction between his disciples. He gave them all the same mission, regardless of their level of belief – he commissioned each of them to make disciples of the nations.
God doesn’t want me to wait until I feel strong in my faith. God asks me to devote myself to making disciples now. Today. No matter my level of belief, my depth of faith, the call of God is to yet be the hands and voice of God in the world, trusting that God is ever by my side.
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Daily Scripture
Luke 19:1 Yeshua entered Yericho and was passing through, 2 when a man named Zakkai appeared who was a chief tax-collector and a wealthy man. 3 He was trying to see who Yeshua was; but, being short, he couldn’t, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed a fig tree in order to see him, for Yeshua was about to pass that way. 5 When he came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zakkai! Hurry! Come down, because I have to stay at your house today!” 6 He climbed down as fast as he could and welcomed Yeshua joyfully. 7 Everyone who saw it began muttering, “He has gone to be the house-guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zakkai stood there and said to the Lord, “Here, Lord, I am giving half of all I own to the poor; and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much.” 9 Yeshua said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, inasmuch as this man too is a son of Avraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost.” (Complete Jewish Bible).
Reflection Questions:
Many of us know at least the outline of Zacchaeus’ story. This tax collector was small, not just outwardly but inwardly. Jesus invited himself to the man’s house, and Luke wrote, “Everyone who saw this grumbled,” not just a few self-righteous priests. It was as though Jesus replied, “Of course I’ve gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner’—that’s why I came.” This wasn’t just a story about Jesus and one man long ago. His actions and words defined the mission to which he called his followers, including us.
- Zacchaeus was so eager to see Jesus that even as a wealthy public citizen he climbed a tree to offset his shortness. Jesus was so eager to reach Zacchaeus that he very publicly invited himself to a meal at the house of one of the town’s most despised “sinners.” Are you willing to set aside worries about your social dignity and status to “see” Jesus more fully, and to reach others with Jesus' love? How might that spirit shape our congregation’s choices?
- Jesus somehow saw in Zacchaeus, the self-serving tax collector, a man who could be generous. To the townspeople’s amazement, he turned out to be right. Zacchaeus said, “I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.” Do you know anyone who radically reoriented their life after meeting Jesus? What good qualities has Jesus drawn out or magnified in you?
Lord Jesus, you didn’t reach out to Zacchaeus grudgingly. You cared deeply about the good, generous person he’d nearly forgotten to be. Give me, and our congregation, your eye for the good possibilities in everyone. Amen.
Read today's Insight by Melanie HillMelanie Hill is the Guest Connections Program Director at Resurrection.
A big part of my job here at Resurrection is helping our new guests feel welcomed and to help them get connected to both our ministries and to each other. I don’t do it alone – there are hundreds of volunteers who give their time to help welcome and connect our guests.
I guess this is why I love the story of Zacchaeus. At its core, it is the story of someone desperate to meet Jesus. I think this is true of the guests who come to visit Resurrection too. They all come with their own stories; maybe they’ve started a family and they think this is what they “should” be doing next, maybe they are facing a crisis and they come seeking hope, or maybe they don’t even know how they ended up here, but here they are nonetheless.
As I think about what Jesus would say to us as a church in relation to the story of Zacchaeus, I think he would ask us, “How well are you welcoming others?” Are we, like Jesus, noticing those around us who might be new or look lost (or up a tree!), or do we just look for the familiar faces? Are we looking for opportunities to do the hard, sometimes uncomfortable, work of making everyone feel welcomed and included? Think about the last time you were in worship and the pastor asked you to stand and greet someone around you. Did you look around for the guest sitting by themselves and go over and welcome them, or did you stay in your own seat?
Creating an environment of authentic welcome and care is the job of everyone at Resurrection. We have great serving teams that help greet guests outside the doors, and hardworking ushers who serve in worship, but they can’t reach everyone. We need you to do that.
Think back to your first time attending Resurrection. How did you feel? Maybe a little overwhelmed? A little lost or unsure? Did you know it only takes 30 seconds for someone to make a first impression and that within 7 minutes a guest will decide if they are going to return the following week? That’s often before a song has been sung or a pastor has started their sermon. That means that you are the front line for helping us reach guests for Jesus. You’re essential!
So how do we do it? Over the years we’ve come up with two “rules” to help us as a church make sure we are extending hospitality to everyone. These are simple and easy ways you can help:
- The 10 Foot Rule: Take responsibility for greeting those seated or standing within 10 feet of you, especially if they’re alone. If everyone was doing this, it would be hard for someone to miss being greeted and welcomed.
- The 3 Minute Rule: Spend at least 3 minutes before and after worship (or any event) talking to someone you don’t know very well. This can be as simple as inviting someone else into your conversation with friends and making introductions.
Today I heard a story from a new volunteer named Sue about her first visit to Resurrection. When they got to the doors to the building they were greeted by one of our volunteers. They said they were new and asked if they just kept following the hallway until they got to the Sanctuary. The volunteer asked them to wait one second and proceeded to ask the next couple who walked in if they were regular attenders. When they said they were, he asked them if they would show our new guests to the Sanctuary. The couple took Sue and her husband to get coffee and invited them to sit with them in the Sanctuary. Sue said that was the moment they decided Resurrection would be their home. They joined two days later at Coffee with The Pastors.
I could share story after story of how you all have made our guests feel welcomed and cared for. I’m proud of you in so many ways. Keep it up! Every day is someone’s first time at Resurrection... and the way we welcome them can change their lives.
Like this post? Share it!
You might also like:
- Prayer Tip: What Would Jesus Say to Church of the Resurrection?
- Don’t live in fear of what humans can do
- Jesus was on the children’s side
- From dangerously deranged to peaceful and sane
- “If only you knew… the things that lead to peace”
- Or download this week's printable GPS.
©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
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