November 10, 2019, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

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I.
This week we focus our attention on the first few sentences of a letter of Paul to the church in Thessaloniki. After the typical start to Paul’s letter where he invokes “grace and peace” for the community he writes, “We always give thanks to God for all of you and ….”

Why? Why do Paul and Silvanus and Timothy “always” give thanks for that community?

Read over these sentences often enough so you come away with the same sense of thanksgiving that Paul and his companions had for those folks.

II.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (*New Revised Standard Version)

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

III.
So, what do you hear? What in Paul’s description of the these folk would give you cause for thankfulness?

Faith – Love – Steadfastness – Beloved and chosen by God – power in the Holy Spirit – conviction – imitators of Jesus – persecuted yet joyful – examples to others – welcoming – idols left behind – serving God – patience

Do Christian folk like this provoke you to thankfulness?

IV.
But wait – do we have to read about these kind of Christians in the first century to be provoked to thankfulness?

Where have you encountered this kind of Christ-like life style today?

In what churches, Sunday School classes, small groups, mission groups, classes, homes, workplaces … have you seen this way of being face to face?

Now – I don’t want to just ask this question, and have you read these words and then go on to ask another question or make some other statement.

I want us to stop right where we are and using Paul’s description as our template find where we have encountered this style of being Christian.

Maybe you want to get some paper and pen/pencil and write down specific places, times, people who have provoked you to this level of thankfulness and prayer.

So, who, where, when, what do you recall …. ?

We’ll talk more later.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 3, 2019, 2 Corinthians 13:1-11 – Post 3

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XI.

Before we leave this portion of Paul’s letter, allow me to mention one more item Paul writes,

Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves.

XII.

Maybe we could start to implement Paul’s direction by going over this letter and find the things, the ideas, the behaviors, the relationships that to Paul indictes one is “living in the faith.”

Then we could create a checklist so we could check off if all of us are doing the things we should be doing.

But sometimes such a checklist could lead us astray.

XIII.

There is nothing wrong with a careful reading of the letter to see what Paul writes about as “living in the faith.”  If we do embark on that path, please include 1 Corinthians in your careful reading.

But if we take our checklist and being applying it to the others in our community, our church, to see how they live up to list, we have taken a first step I don’t think Paul intended.

He encourages us to examine ourself, to test ourself.  Not to start by testing the walk of others.

XIV.

A checklist might take us astray in another way also.

Paul speaks to us about “living in the faith”

The faith we live in is not just a matter of do’s and don’ts.  It is about what we do but it is more. It is about behavior, but it is more.

It is about relationship.  I don’t think Paul would disagree with Jesus when Jesus said we are first to love God.  To me loving God includes seeking God, giving ourselves to God and paying attention to what God is about in the world.

XV.

And that brings me one more thing to mention today, The Prayer of Examen.

In its simplest form the Prayer of Examen is taking time, with God’s help, to review your day, to seek what in the day drew you close to God and what in the day hindered your closeness to God, and then to consider what that tells you about “living in faith” tomorrow.

At Discipleswalk.org I have posted several times about the Examen.  You can find links to those posts here http://discipleswalk.org/?s=examen&x=0&y=0 

XVI.

Friends,  Go in Peace to live in the Faith, more and more each day.

charles

{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 3, 2019, 2 Corinthians 13:1-11 – Post 2

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VI.
What is Paul’s overarching concern as he gives these closing words to the church at Corinth?

He does mention his authority as an apostle. If you skim back over previous remarks in the letter you will see that has been under attack. But to my reading while that is still on his mind, it is not his primary worry.

Let me share some things I notice.

VII.
Paul writes –

Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?
We pray to God that you may not do anything wrong.
This is what we pray for, that you may become perfect.
Put things in order,

Being “in Christ” is phrase encountered a number of times in Paul’s letters. And if they are “in Christ” and “Jesus Christ is in you,” then he pleads with them to see the path they are on.

Is isn’t just to do a few things “right.” It is to “become perfect,” and “to put things in order.” To live as we are called to live as one who belongs in the family of Jesus, as a disciple of Jesus, as one brought to the Kingdom of God.

That word, “perfect.” Too much? I don’t think Paul is setting up a standard that is impossible for us. I think he is calling us toward being all we can be “in Christ.” I recall Jesus calling us to “perfection” Does it help to hear it as a call to maturity. A call to living more and more as a citizen of the Kingdom of God? And does it help to know you are not alone. You are “in Christ.”

VIII.

agree with one another, live in peace

I suspect Paul is not simply telling us, “get along with each other.” I suspect he is reminding us we live in community with one another. Just as we are “in Christ,” we are also “in community” with one another. We are there to stand with each other and support each other on the walk to maturity.

IX.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves.

And he asks us to take his warnings, his instruction, his encouragement not just as words to be heard and forgotten, but as a means to “examine” ourselves and notice the places we are already on the path to maturity and the places we need to correct steps that are not on the path to maturity.

X.
Have I been fair with the words of Paul? How do you read him?

We’ll talk more later.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 3, 2019, 2 Corinthians 13:1-11

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I.
This week we turn to the closing sentences of 2 Corinthians. We hear Paul bring to a close (at least until he is able to visit them again) the several conversations that went on between him and the church at Corinth.

I am convinced these verses will demand our reading them more than once or twice so let’s start with a first reading. As your read it the first time, what stands out to you most. How would you characterize his words.

II.
2 Corinthians 13:1-11 (New Revised Standard Version)

This is the third time I am coming to you. “Any charge must be sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” I warned those who sinned previously and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again, I will not be lenient— since you desire proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful in you. For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed. But we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. This is what we pray for, that you may become perfect. So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come, I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

III.
So what did you hear? How does Paul sound to you as he writes to this church?

Let me confess that as I read over it I heard a strong negative tone. Well, actually, I thought Paul was very harsh! Was he “unloading” on them in his final words to them? Am I reading more into his words that is actually there?

IV.
Let’s read it a second time, but wait just a moment. First, go to the end of this passage and reread these words –

Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Hold that in your mind and with that “tone,” that concern for the people, reread the entire passage.

V.
Now, spend some time noticing what you can see as truly affirming in his words. And, no less what you see as critical. You might think of it as seeing the passage in two columns, one the affirming and positive and constructive, and the second as the critical, corrective and (can we say ?) judgemental.

Who is this man that writes such to these people he has spent time with? What do you see in his heart as he writes to them?

We’ll talk more later,

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

October 27, 2019, Luke 7:36-50 – Post 3

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VIII.
Earlier this week the following quote from Dallas Willard came to my inbox. I am convinced it is the best way to close our reflections for this week.

IX.
Who deserves your blessing?

“You are really walking in the good news of the kingdom if you can go with confidence to any of the hopeless people around you and effortlessly convey assurance that they can now enter a blessed life with God.”

“Who would be on your list of “hopeless blessables” as found in today’s world? Certainly all of those on Jesus’ lists, for though they are merely illustrative, they also are timeless. But can we, following his lead as a teacher, concretize the gospel even more for those around us? Who would you regard as the most unfortunate people around you?”

From: The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God by Dallas Willard

X.
Thanks for your time spent with the Scripture this week and your hearing of Dallas Willard’s insight.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

October 27, 2019, Luke 7:36-50 – Post 2

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IV.
Today let’s turn our attention more to the uninvited guest, the woman, and the reactions her presence and actions seem to precipitate.

Our narrator tells us she is “a woman in the city, who was a sinner” who when she learned that Jesus was at the Pharisee’s house made her way to the Pharisee’s house, with a jar of ointment she obtained from someplace. Not only did she go the Pharisee’s house with a jar in hand, but then made her way into the house, to the dinner table where the guest’s were and then placed herself “behind [Jesus] at his feet.”

And if she hadn’t broken decorum enough and pushed herself past the socially accepted way people enter another’s house, she begins to cry, let her tears fall on Jesus’ feet, wipe her hair against his feet, kiss his feet and pour oil on them. You might ask (as some at the dinner probably did), “Doesn’t this woman know how to behave around proper people”?

V.
While we do not yet see Jesus reacting, we do see the Pharisee reacting.

He reacts first to the woman by judging her a sinner (as did our narrator), and then by Jesus not reacting to the woman as the Pharisee thinks correct, and given the Pharisee’s idea of how a proper prophet should behave, he judges Jesus to lack the character and standing of a proper prophet.

Do you think the Pharisee is getting more than he bargained for at this dinner?

VI.
Now Jesus reacts by getting Simon’s attention and saying he wants to speak to Simon. And Simon gives Jesus permission to speak. All that seems very proper.

Jesus puts a question to Simon about cancelled debts and love and Simon answers correctly.

Then our attention is turned to the woman, and he directs Simon’s attention to the woman. Jesus has a few choice words for Simon about his failure as a proper host, the woman’s actions, her love and her forgiven sins.

VII.
It seems Jesus can move from being a proper guess to being an impolite guest quickly. Surely it is impolite to so criticize a host in front of guests.

But then, isn’t it the case that so often Jesus steps outside the cultural norms? Why? Because he likes breaking the rules, he likes stirring things up, he likes seeing the know-it-alls taken down a notch or two?

That might be why we would do that, or maybe not?

Or, might Jesus so want others to know the Kingdom of God is breaking in and the Kingdom is breaking down the barriers we put up that he doesn’t want to miss a chance to remind us the Kingdom is within reach of all of us.

What do you think? Could Jesus have said one day, “The Kingdom of God is like a dinner party at Simon’s house, when ….. “

We’ll talk more later.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

October 27, 2019, Luke 7:36-50

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I.
This week’s Scripture takes us to a Pharisee’s dinner table a number of his invited guests, one of whom is Jesus, and one uninvited guest, a woman of questionable moral standing.

That could make for interesting conversation around the table. But we’re not given a report about the importance of the Torah. Instead our attention is focused on the uninvited guest and Jesus’ remarks about forgiveness and faith.

Let’s start by reading the Scripture passage slowly (several times?) and pay attention not just to words but to the actions of the people and the emotions they all bring to the table.

II.
Luke 7:36-50

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table.

And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.”

Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

“Teacher,” he replied, “speak.”

“A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”

Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

III.
Pay attention to the Pharisee who invited Jesus to his table for a few minutes.

How does he act toward Jesus? How does he act toward the woman? What are the differences in how he relates to each? Why? Does the way he relates to each give you any clues to how he respects, or disrespects or values or discounts either? What do you think gives rise to how he sees each and how it changes during the course of this incident?

Spend some time with the Pharisee now and when we get back together we’ll move on to other items in the narrative.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

October 20, 2019, Luke 7:1-10 – Post 2

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VI.
I am a little later getting back to you than I intended, but let’s take a couple of moments now to continue our reflection on this passage, a few questions and see what speaks to us.

VII.
What do we learn about the Centurion?

(1) He has a slave near death he wishes to be healthy again. (2) He had heard something about Jesus, and probably that “something” included information about Jesus healing people. (3) He build a synagogue. Does that speak to generosity? (4) Jewish elders told Jesus he “loves our people.” So he values his slave highly and loves the Jewish people. Does that suggest he is willing to disregard the usual culture and class distinctions that separate people? (5) He had a firm grasp of the meaning of authority (and I think we can say “power” also) at least as it pertained to giving and receiving commands. (5) When he sends word to Jesus that feels himself unworthy for Jesus to enter his home, would you count that as humility or something else?

What else would you want to call to our attention?

VIII.
And in his amazement Jesus tells the crown following him to the Centurion’s home, “… not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”

In what did Jesus see this great faith?

An action of the Centurion? An attitude of the Centurion? In this love for some people? In his show of generosity? His hope/belief that Jesus could/would heal his slave?

All of these or none of these?

IX.
What is it that we use the word “faith” to describe or name? A set of theological ideas, a creed, a relationship. Is it the same as belief or trust or something different?

And I wonder how this Centurion came by his faith. How, or where, or when did his life, his actions, his work lead him to such a faith?

And that leads to one more question – How does faith come to maturity in us? What happens for us day by day that can give rise to a maturing faith.

X.
As I have spent time this week with the Centurion and Jesus one thought has impressed me.

I have come to suspect that when we hear Jesus’ remark about the Centurion’s faith and think that refers simply to the Centurion’s confidence that Jesus can heal the slave, we miss something. Notice all we are told about the Centurion. Could it be that all this is in view as Jesus sees faith in this man? His faith is something that inhabits his whole being, his whole way of living, is lived out in all his relationships?

That makes me wonder how deeply rooted and lived out faith has become for me.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

October 20, 2019, Luke 7:1-10

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I.
This week we turn our attention to a Roman army officer, a Centurion. A person of responsibility in the military forces that were occupying Israel. A man who could demand respect not only from those under his command but also from those whose land he and his army were occupying.

And this man of authority sends word to Jesus asking for Jesus’ help.

Let’s read the brief account.

II.
Luke 7:1-10 (New Revised Standard Version)

After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.” And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

III.
As you read over the passage a few times look for all you can learn about the Centurion.

For instance, he asked for help from Jewish leaders, he was generous (maybe), he could get others to do his bidding – among other things.

What stands out most to you about this man.

And, from what you learn of this soldier, does that come by what you hear/read him say or what others say of him?

IV.
Do you agree with Jesus that you find “faith” in this man?

What kind of “faith”?

How do you think he comes by this “faith” that Jesus seems to so highly regard?

V.
That’s probably too many questions for a Monday, but I want us to try to look deeply at the Centurion.

I’ll be back later, as we continue to spend time with the Centurion, his “friends” and with Jesus.

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

October 13, 2019, 1 Kings 17:7-16 – Post 3

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IX.
Before we leave our travels with Elijah, let’s take a few minutes to retrace his steps.

First we find him in King Ahab’s court speaking to Ahab, The Lord’s word that a drought will come.

Then it seems with the same sense of assurance that The Lord’s word has come to him, he is called to leave the court and go east where he will find water at a certain Wadi (can we call it a creek bed?) and even have food provided to him by ravens.

Scripture reports, “So he went and did according to the word of The Lord …”

X.
He finds water there, and food, and later a dry creek bed.

It seems he has been on track in understanding what The Lord calls him to say and do, even to the point of the predicted drought having come.

“Then … “ – so many times there is a “then.” Sometimes we may be ready for it, sometimes we may not be ready.

The creek bed is dry. For how long before “ … the word of The Lord came to him … “ we are not told. Did that time pass in a flash or did that season linger long enough to make Elijah ask “what comes next.” We are not offered any insight into that.

But, the word comes, and what a word it is.

“Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there … “

It’s nice when The Lord leads you to a great creek bed with good water, but what about The Lord telling you to get up, leave your home, leave your countrymen, and go to a foreign territory. Not just a foreign territory but a city in Sidon of Phoenicia.

In the command to go Elijah is also told The Lord has “commanded a widow there to feed you.”

So, The Lord first provides for Elijah’s well being with water at the creek bed and food delivered by ravens. That might make an impression, but now he is to depend on a Phoencian widow for his food? Elijah is pushed out of his county and asked to depend on someone in a foreign country who might be pressed to even provide for herself.

How much trust does The Lord expect of Elijah? How much trust in The Lord? How much trust in foreigners?

XI.
He does travel to Zarephath and arrive at the city gate. There he is not met by a woman telling him she has already heard from his God and he is invited into her home to eat with her and her son.

No, he sees a woman gathering sticks and tells her to bring him water to drink, and she sets off to bring him water. But as she is going and before she is out of earshot, he tells her to bring him some bread.

Then we hear from the widow who in no uncertain terms tells Elijah her life is not at a high point. She says she has no food prepared and in reality has only enough meal and oil for a last meal for her and her son and nothing to count on after that except starvation.

XII.
We then hear Elijah speak with the voice of faith and hope saying go ahead and do what you started to do but first make some bread for me then some for you and your son and don’t worry – “Do not be afraid” – your will not run out of food for your family.

“She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days.”

Elijah speaks hope and faith to the widow.

The widow chooses to live in that hope and faith.

XIII.
Was this journey given to Elijah to nourish his faith/trust/hope in The Lord?

Was it given to Elijah to nourish the faith/trust/hope of the widow and her household?

What journeys have you been given to nourish your faith/trust/hope?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}