November 29, 2020, James 2:1-13, ISSL Reflections, Post 2

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IV.
Here is how this week’s Scripture is translated in The Message –
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A1-13&version=MSG

James 2:1-13 (The Message)

My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, “Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!” and either ignore the street person or say, “Better sit here in the back row,” haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved that you are judges who can’t be trusted?

Listen, dear friends. Isn’t it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world’s down-and-out as the kingdom’s first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. And here you are abusing these same citizens! Isn’t it the high and mighty who exploit you, who use the courts to rob you blind? Aren’t they the ones who scorn the new name—“Christian”—used in your baptisms?

You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: “Love others as you love yourself.” But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can’t pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God’s law and ignoring others. The same God who said, “Don’t commit adultery,” also said, “Don’t murder.” If you don’t commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? No, you’re a murderer, period.

Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.

V.
“… don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith.”

Does “public opinion” determine how we interpret and apply the “Christian faith”?

I guess we might ask, “Which public?”

That’s fair. There are certainly competing opinions on what is the right way and wrong way to act toward one another. And the “public” we identify with surely impacts those interactions.

VI.
Reread this Scripture and pay attention to how James contrasts the right way and the wrong way to act toward one another.

What one thing does he say that you want to accompany you in your interactions with those you meet today?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 29, 2020, James 2:1-13, ISSL Reflections, Post 1

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I.
The very first sentence in this week’s Scripture assumes we act with “favoritism.” I guess in some circumstances “favoritism” might be a good way to act, but the passage makes it clear that is not what is in consideration here.

As you read the passage, pay attention to the ways in which “favoritism” and “partiality” is described.

II.
James 2:1-13

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

III.
James described ways he saw favoritism and partiality in Christian communities of his time.

How do you notice it today?

Can you think of a time or place you noticed such? What was your reaction?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 22, 2020, Acts 4:32-5:11, ISSL Reflections, Post 3

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This week’s passage can be reread here –
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+4%3A32-5%3A11&version=NRSV,CEB

VII.
“… everything was held in common…”

Was it?

We read how three people “shared” their “possessions.”

Notice what we are told about Barnabas, Ananias and Sapphira.

What differentiates their “sharing”?

From whom did you learn to share? When I was “growing up,” I did not always have great examples of how to share? Did you?

VIII.
“ … everything was held in common….”

What is it you have in common with those in your congregation, in your community, in your neighborhood, in your town, in your world, in the world?

Maybe in recognizing our commonness and commonalities we can be better at expressing love for one another?

How common are we?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 22, 2020, Acts 4:32-5:11, ISSL Reflections, Post 2

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IV.
Let’s focus here for while –

Acts 4:32, 34-35
Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common…. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

V.
“… no one claimed private ownership of any possessions…”

Really?

How “literally” am I supposed to take this for “Christian” behavior today?

Let’s acknowledge that other translations express this with different words,

No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. (NIV)

no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. (ESV)

None of them would say, “This is mine!” about any of their possessions, but held everything in common. (CEB)

They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. (The Message)

But, maybe the words used in the NRSV, “private ownership,” forces us to the heart of the matter more quickly and directly.

VI.
I spent some time looking at what some commentators wrote regarding this passage and the notes in several study bibles.

It was interesting to me how often some writers are very interested in telling us what his passage does not imply. For example, at https://bible.org/book/export/html/21323 , I read –

“They felt and acted like a family. This was the church’s first attempt to finance ministry. It was voluntary and mutual, not mandatory. Love and concern, not government or social leveling, was the motive! … The church felt a responsibility for one another. Those who had, gave freely to those in need (cf. v. 35). This is not communism, but love in action.”

So, is it more important to note this is not about “ … social leveling … communism…” or to pay attention to how these folk felt and acted out of a sense of “responsibility [and love] for one another.”

Is there still another step or two to consider?

How do we understand the behaviors toward one another grace called forth in those folk?

How seriously do we take that call on us today?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 22, 2020, Acts 4:32-5:11, ISSL Reflections, Post 1

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I.
I’ll get us started on our text for this week as I do most weeks asking you to read over the passage a couple of times.

For our first reading let’s read the entire passage without stopping to pay particular attention to any one part of the passage.

Then, let’s pause for a moment in silence and let the passage settle into our minds.

Then read the passage again and notice (or even make note of) what draws you in the most deeply to these scenes.

II.
Acts 4:32-5:11

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!” Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.

III.
There’s a lot going on here and a lot to draw our attention.

There is a description of the behavior of this group of people in regard to how they behaved toward one another; The apostles as a group are described in regard to their proclamation. The behavior of several individuals is mentioned, Barnabas, Ananias, Sapphira, Peter and a group (or groups) or young men..

What did you focus on?

Did this draw your focus as something to affirm or as something that was problematic to you?

Take some more time with this Scripture passage and we’ll get back together later to share our collective focus on a couple of things.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 15, 2020, 1 John 3:11-24, ISSL Reflections Post 3

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You can read this week’s Scripture focus here –
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%203%3A11-24&version=NIV,CEB

VI.
Do you ever wonder about the people who first received this letter?

Or maybe even why the writer sensed a need to write these words to them, as opposed to other words?

VII.
Did John want to encourage them on the journey of love they were already on?

Did he sense something was getting harder for them on that journey and they needed these words from him?

VII.
Those thoughts lead me to think about what brings me to these words today.

What do I need to hear from John today?

Perhaps in my imagination I can sit with John for a while and ask him what provoked him to write as he did and maybe even why I should pay attention to him today.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 15, 2020, 1 John 3:11-24, ISSL Reflections Post 2

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This link will take you to the week’s passage from both the NRSV and The Message translations,
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%203%3A11-24&version=NRSV,MSG

IV.
Why don’t we revisit these words from 1 John today,

1 John 3:14-19

We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him

V.
What can it be like to live in the life, the world, John describes for us?

Can you see life the way John describes it?

When are you in touch with this kind of life?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 15, 2020, 1 John 3:11-24, ISSL Reflections Post 1

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I.
As you read these words from 1 John what stands out to your? What do you take as the theme of this passage?

II.
1 John 3:11-24 (NRSV)

For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

III.
The word “love” occurs over 40 times in 1 John.

From the first sentence of this passage we read that the recipients of this letter are not being told something new, but something they have heard before, “… from the beginning.”

We also read that “love” is something that “exists” between them … or “should” exist.

Read the passage again and pay attention to how love is described and what love does.

What parallels do you see in this passage and the readings from the Gospel of John we have read in the past several weeks.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 8, 2020, John 15:4-17, ISSL Reflections Post 3

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You will find this week’s Scripture from New Revised Standard Version, the Common English Bible and The Message here –
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2015%3A4-17&version=NRSV;CEB;MSG

VIII.
Let’s follow up on 5 ways we can abide in Jesus.

Would you mind if I share a few thoughts I had since my last post?

IX.
First, let’s step back to our Scripture from last week, John 13:1-15,

[Jesus] got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him…. “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.’”

Do you think as Jesus sets an example he is giving us a clue to how we abide with him?

X.
Then I recalled the words of Jesus from Matthew 25:31-46,


“… just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me…. Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”

When we do something “to” Jesus, might that be abiding with him. Likewise, if we fail to do something “to”Jesus, have we walked away from abiding with Jesus?

XII.
And in our passage for this week Jesus tells us,


“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you…. You are my friends … I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

Do friends “hang out” with one another?

What can you think to add to our list of ways we might “abide in” Jesus, “abide with” Jesus, spend time with Jesus?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 8, 2020, John 15:4-17, ISSL Reflections Post 2

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You will find this week’s Scripture from New Revised Standard Version, the Common English Bible and The Message here –
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2015%3A4-17&version=NRSV;CEB;MSG

IV.
Notice how Jesus speaks of “abiding” –

Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. (John 15:4-11)

V.
If someone asked you to name 8 ways or means you “abide” in Jesus how would you answer?

My suspicion is the first three things people might say would be, “Read the Bible, pray, go to church …”

Does that sound about right to you?

VI.
Notice how this is translated in the Common English Bible,

Remain in me, and I will remain in you.

… and in The Message,

Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you.

VII.
Let’s describe 5 ways we can “abide in” Jesus without repeating the three I mentioned above. What 5 ways do you think of?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}