“The Gospel of Luke: The Good Samaritan”

    Jesus responded to the religious lawyers questions with a story. I want to share with you a story that I have heard today as well:
    There once was a seminary ethics class that was preparing for their big final exam. It was a large chunk of their grade and students were stressing out about it - they needed this class to graduate from seminary. The day of the exam came and all of the students had to walk the same direction to get to the building the classroom was located in - past an ally. As each student walked past they heard loud moaning coming from the ally. It was clear that someone was badly hurt. But most students had the final on their mind - rushing past the ally, assuming that someone else would stop and check on that person. Who were they anyway? They didn't have medical training and they were going to be late. Some students thought about calling 911, but that would make them late for their exam, so they left that for someone else as well.
    A few students did stop and tended to the man, who indeed was in need of care. They knew that meant that they would be late, and possibly fail the exam, but this was too important to ignore.
    At the end of the class period, the professor told the students to rip up the exams they had been working so hard on, and explained that the real ethics exam was what happened in that ally that day. Those who walked past failed, while those who took care of the man in need passed.
    I can't remember where I heard this story from, but it is one that has often stuck with me. Jesus doesn't ask us to be good neighbors when it is convent or when it is someone we know and like. Jesus invite us to have a Christ like heart in all times and places-  a heart that is open to respond.

The Gospel of Luke: The Good Samaritan Deov

June 17th, 2018

Devotional

“The Gospel of Luke: The Good Samaritan” - Luke 10: 25-37

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Gain Eternal Life” - Luke 10: 25-26

When the lawyer asked Jesus what he had to do to gain eternal life - his definition was a bit different from ours today. When we think of eternal life, we are ofter referring to heaven, or where we will spend eternity. For Jews during Jesus’s time, eternal life was having the best possible life here and now, blessed by God. 

When we think about our definition of eternal life, sometimes we can get just as confused as the lawyer, however. Some people think you gain eternal life by being a good person. Other people think you can earn your way into heaven. Still others believe once you have accepted Jesus you can act however you want. The truth is, we cannot earn our way into heaven, but the love and grace of Jesus should so change us that we desire to serve God and make God’s name known. Therefore, eternal life, isn’t just about getting to heaven someday, its also about sharing about God and God’s kingdom here and now. 

What do you believe about eternal life?

How are eternal life and daily lives connected? 

Prayer: Jesus, we come to you today, just as the lawyer did so long ago, and ask what we must do to inherit the gift of eternal life. Open up our hearts to your guidance and grace and then send us out to proclaim your love, here and now, dear Lord. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Love” - Luke 10: 27-28

When you think of the law what words do you associate with it? Is the first word that jumps to your mind about the word law “love”? Probably not. Yet for ancient Israel, law and love were deeply connected. The law was a sign of the covenant between God, who brought the people out of slavery in Egypt, and the chosen people. The law wasn’t just a list of do’s and don’t’s, it was a sign of everlasting relationship.

Further, when the lawyer asked Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life, Jesus responded with his own question -asking what the law said. The two laws that the lawyer responded with both are about love - love of God and love of neighbor. You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Sometimes we get a bit confused about love - thinking its a feeling or emotion. But really, love is an action. We are to love God with all we have and all we are, and love our neighbors as ourselves. This isn’t something that varies from day to day, based on how we feel. Rather its a law - a constant. 

What does love in action look like to you?

How do we love God and love our neighbor?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your law, which is given to us as a sign of your abiding love for us. Let us share that love with the world, through both our word and deed. Let your love shine through us, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Neighbor” - Luke 10: 29

For the lawyer, being told to go and love God and love one’s neighbor was not a simple enough answer. Or perhaps it was too simple for him - something that he could not see himself doing. So he pushed Jesus further, asking who is my neighbor.

Included in the question ‘who is my neighbor?’ Is the list of everyone who isn’t one’s neighbor. If I say that this person is my neighbor, then I also exclude that person from being my neighbor. If its people who live on my block, then does that mean that it isn’t people the next town over? If its people I work with, does that mean I don’t have to act neighborly to the person in front of me at the grocery store that I don’t really know?

Perhaps we all have a little bit of the lawyer inside of us. We want Jesus to tell us who we have to love and who we are excused from loving. We want to know the perimeters that both bring people in and take people out. We want Jesus to clarify that we don’t really have to love everyone. But of course, that isn’t what Jesus does. 

How do you define who your neighbor is?

How does your definition of neighbor compare to Jesus’s definition?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes we would like to have stark lines that include some people and exclude others. We don’t like to think that when you tell us to love our neighbor that you mean everyone, even those who we do not like or those who are not like us. Forgive us, we pray, and open our hearts to what you truly means when you tell us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Amen. 

Thursday: “A Samaritan” - Luke 10: 30-35

In repose to the lawyers questions, ones that he was so sure that he had an answer to before he met Jesus, Jesus told a story. A story of what it means to be a neighbor - and also what it means to not be a neighbor.

Only nothing in the story goes as expected. A man is robbed and injured along the road. The people who should stop and help him, the religious folks, do not. But who does stop to help? The enemy. The one no one likes. The Samaritan. 

When we are thinking about this story from afar, it is so easy to judge the lawyer. To judge the priest and Levite in the story. But then we start to think about hard questions - like who would I pass by? Or perhaps, more hard hitting, who have I passed by before? The truth is, it is not easy to show love as the Samaritan did, yet, that is the example Jesus has given us. What does it look like to be a neighbor? To love those who would never love you in return. 

Who do you most identify with in this story? Why?

Prayer: Lord, we come before you today, asking ourselves hard questions and turning to you to examine our hearts. Illuminate to us those dark spaces within us Lord, where we are not good neighbors, and heal us from broken relationships. Heal us so we can heal others, most merciful Lord. Amen. 

Friday: “Go and Do Likewise” - Luke 10: 36-37

At the end of the story, Jesus has a question of his own for the lawyer - which of the people in the story was a true neighbor? You can almost imagine the lawyer not being able to look Jesus in the eye, just as he is not able to bring himself to say the Samaritan. He could not even bring himself to say the name - so instead he just said the one who showed mercy. 

Showing mercy is a mark of being a neighbor. Showing compassion. Granting forgiveness. Love in action. 

Jesus then told the lawyer to go and do likewise. We are not told whether he did or not, but we can imagine that this story was a challenge to him, especially when he was so sure when he started to test Jesus that he, the lawyer, had all of the answers. 

We too, sometimes act like we have all the answers. We act as if there are categories of people we are to show mercy to and those we can simply ignore. But this is not the case. Just as the lawyer was told to go and do likewise, so are we, as Jesus’s followers today. 

What does mercy look like in action?

Prayer: Lord, help us to break down the walls that we build between ourselves and other people. Build us up to be people who show mercy and love. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Gospel of Luke: Do Not Worry” - Luke 12: 22-34.

Family Activity: Talk about what it means to be a good friend. Who are we to be friends with? How can we be friends with people it is hard to be nice to? 

"The Gospel of Luke: Calming the Storm"

      In the midst of the many and various storms of life, both literal and metaphorical, what can the Church proclaim? What good news is there for folks whose lives seemed to be tattered by the wind and the waves? For those who are crying out to God and asking "why me?" or "why us?"
     Sometimes when we read scripture in English, we can miss a lot of what the Gospel written was trying to communicate with carefully chosen words. For Luke, the word he uses to describe Jesus in Luke 8: 22-25, is master. While master is a common enough phrase, he chooses a very particular type of master - one who is a commander, trainer, and/ or overseer. Because the disciples do not doubt that Jesus is Master, because they do not doubt that he cares for them, they can turn to Jesus even in the midst of the storm.
    I don't think when the disciples turned to Jesus for help they knew exactly what type of help he was going to give. In fact, they were in awe and wonder of the fact that he stopped the storm. They simply knew that they trusted Jesus and could turn to him.
    Do we have that same level of trust and confidence in Jesus today? Do we simply turn to Jesus, because of the relationship we have with him? Do we truly consider him to be master and one who cares for us deeply? Can we turn to Christ in the midst of the storm?

The Gospel of Luke: Calming the Sea Devo

June 10th, 2018

“The Gospel of Luke: Calming the Storm” - Luke 8: 22-25

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Set Sail” - Luke 8: 22

Lets be honest - if the disciples knew that a storm was coming - do you think that they would have readily agreed to cross the lake when Jesus suggested it? Probably not. While there are certainly some folks who have no fear about storms - even those who chase after storms - they are few and far between. Many of us, when we see a storm on the horizon, prepare and hunker down in one place, not setting out into the storm, unless absolutely necessary.

While we may see some storms in our lives coming, often they seem to crop up unexpectedly, while we are in the midst of smooth sailing. These storms can throw us off balance and make us question so much about ourselves and our faith. They make us wish for smooth sailing water again. Yet, Christ is with us, even in the midst of the storm. 

How do you most often respond to the storms of life?

Prayer: Gracious God, we know that life is not always smooth sailing. We recognize that we have faced storms in the past and will face storms again in the future. Yet, even with this knowledge we are surprised when the storms come. Remind us, Precious Lord, that no matter what, you are with us, in the smooth times and when the winds are raging. Amen. 

Tuesday: “In Danger” - Luke 8:23

We each have different definitions of what an emergency may be in our lives. Yet, even with these varied definitions, I think we can agree that gale-force winds and a boat filling up with water is an emergency. It was not the situation that those in the boat wanted to find themselves in, so they begin to panic.

Except for Jesus - who was asleep.

Even as a child, I was not a very good sleeper on trips. Once in a while I would be able to fall asleep. But if there was rain or snow or winds, I became hyper-vigilant. In contrast, one of my brothers could fall asleep in a car anytime. He could sleep through any storm it would seem. 

When we feel that our lives are in danger, many of us become hyper-vigilant. We may not know how to respond to danger, but we certainly know that we cannot seem to find rest as Jesus can in the midst of the storm. We let our anxiety take over, instead of sinking into the assurance of Christ. 

How do you react in a time of danger - by being hyper-vigilant or by finding rest? Why?

Prayer:  Precious Lord, we admit that we do not have the same peace that Christ had in this passage running through us. We let our anxiety get the best of us, instead of turning to you in trust and confidence. The view of the storm takes over, all too often, Lord. Give us your assurance we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Master, Master” - Luke 8:24

When the disciples realize what is happening, they go and wake up Jesus (who continued to sleep through the winds and the waves). They called Jesus, Master, and then stated that they were going to drown. 

The word Luke uses for Master is not a common one, though the title of Master itself was quite common, just simply a different Greek word. This word means commander, trainer, and/ or overseer. Who is Jesus Master over in this passage? The disciples probably use this word because he is the one training them in the faith, but the truth is Jesus is also the commander over the winds and the waves. He got up and ordered the storm to stop. And it did. 

Who is Jesus in our lives? Is he truly the one who is training us in the faith? The one who is in control of our lives? Do we just want Jesus to be the one in control of our circumstances instead of in control of all of us? 

How is Jesus commander, trainer, and/ or overseer of your life?

What areas of your life have you not yet made Jesus Master over?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes we want you to be master over the storms in our lives, but not master over the totality of our lives. We confess that we want you to change the aspects of our lives that are beyond our control without handing everything over to you. Forgive us, we pray, Lord. May you rule as Master in all of our lives. Amen. 

Thursday: “Awe and Wonder” - Luke 8: 25

The word “amazement” or “awe” is used quite often in the Gospel of Luke. The crowds were amazed. The disciples were in awe. In this particular instance, the disciples are in awe that Jesus was in control of even the wind and the waves. That everything obeyed his command. 

In what ways are we in awe of Jesus in our own lives? It is my fear, that we no longer act as a church who is in awe of Christ. The stories of scripture and even the way we pray has become so routine that we don’t expect Jesus to show up some days. Yet, Jesus deserves our wonder and amazement. For Christ is still moving in and through our lives today in a way that transforms our world. 

When are you in awe of Christ?

Prayer: Lord, we proclaim that we stand in awe of you, but sometimes we do not connect our words with actions. Our words leave our lips, but do not sink into our hearts. Forgive us, we pray. Renew in us a sense of awe and wonder, like that of the disciples long ago. Amen. 

Friday: “Clams the Seas” - Luke 8: 22-25

I cannot read this story about the sea without thinking about other sea-filled scriptures in the Gospel. Chiefly, when I read this story, I think back to when Jesus invited Peter to walk on water - which he did, until he realized what was happening, his eyes caught sight of the waves, and he started to sink.

Sometimes we pay far more attention to the storms in our lives - to what is going on - then to Jesus - the one who is the Master of even the wind and the waves. What do we need to change in our lives in order to put our focus back on Jesus, even when we are going through difficult things? 

How can we keep our focus on Jesus in the midst of the storm?

Prayer: God, we want to be people who are so deeply in relationship with Jesus, that we can focus on him, even in the midst of the storm. We know that relationships like this do not happen over night. Continue to sink our roots down deeply in our faith and trust in Christ, so that when the storms of life do come, we can continue to focus on him.

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Gospel of Luke: The Good Samaritan” -  Luke 10: 25-37

Family Activity: Talk about a hard day you had. Do you think Jesus was with you even during your hard day? Why or why not? Talk about how Jesus never leaves us, even when we cannot tell that he is there. 

“Life Together: Communion and Confession”

    Part of our life together as brothers and sisters in Christ isn't just confessing our generic sins corporately in worship, we also need a trusted brother or sister to share our sins with one on one or in a small group so that they can be exposed and snuffed out.
     Too many Christians believe that they need to hide their sin, and pretend that they have it all together. But that just makes us a body that pretends, and plays church, not a group of people who support each other in true confession and communion.
    Now this doesn't mean that you need to get up in front of everyone on Sunday morning and share your sin. But what would it look like if you found one or two people that you truly trusted and shared with them the sin that you are struggling with so they can pray for you and hold you accountable? These need to be folks who understand that they are sinners too, and won't judge you for your sin or share it with others. But they will encourage you to grow in Christ-likeness.
     Who are the people you can confess to and clear the baggage in your soul? And how does confession bring freedom and wholeness in your life?

Life Together: Confession and Communion Devo

June 3rd, 2018

Devotional

“Life Together: Confession and Communion” - 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Received a Tradition” - 1 Corinthians 11:23

There is something beautiful and powerful about memory. I was recently sitting with one of our parish shut ins, and she was sharing with me a book full of photographs. But for her they weren’t just pictures - for behind each picture was a story. A memory to be shared. 

For the people of Israel, they were called by God to remember constantly. To remember from where they had come - enslavement in Egypt. To remember where God had brought them - to the promised land. To remember that God had never left them. To remember the commandments. To remember the words of the prophets. To remember. 

But memory can sometimes be a funny thing. Sometimes we insert our own story into what we “remember”, which actually is a form of forgetting. Think of the Israelites as they were wondering around in the wilderness - claiming that they had it better in Egypt. Or think about the family story where we start to forget details like who was there and how they enriched our lives. Memory always lives in danger of forgetting, if not carefully tended after, just like the Corinthians were starting to forget the tradition that Paul received from Christ. 

How do you help yourself to remember big things?

How are memory and story interconnected? 

Prayer: God, we want to be a people who remember. Who remember not just our story, but Precious Lord, how our story connects with your larger story. Lead us to be part of the ongoing story of your grace and your Kingdom, we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Handed On” - 1 Corinthians 11:23

As I have visited with folks, they often spend time remembering how things used to be - telling me about times when you simply opened the church doors and people would come flocking in. They will often go on to tell me if we would only change this or that in society then the church could be back as it used to be. 

But that’s not the world we live in.

Memory isn’t just about looking to the past, for if it is used wisely it helps propel us into the future. For example, if we remember how the gospel changed our lives, we will be willing to do just about anything to offer that experience to someone else, even if the times and context and method are different. 

Paul is telling the church in Corinth that the tradition that was passed on to him, changed him, and he passed that tradition on to them to change them as well. If only they would let the gospel take root. 

How does remembering the past help you live into the present and the future?

How can we share the tradition of the faith with those who come after us? 

Prayer: Lord, sometimes we miss the point. Sometimes we so badly want to go back to better times that we remember, that we fail to live into the present, thus failing to share your gospel with this present generation. Help our memories transform us for the present and the future, we pray, God of all space and all time. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Given For You” - 1 Corinthians 11: 24

English is a funny language. Tenses sometimes confuse us. I remember that I learned a lot more about the English language as I studied other languages in high school in college. For example, you can actually mean two different things. It can mean you singular, as in one person, or it can mean you collectively (like you all). 

The church in Corinth were treating the breaking of the body of Christ, as something singular. And in a certain sense that was true. Christ would give up his life if there was even one of us sinking in sin. However, in the celebration of communion it goes beyond that. It isn’t just about us. It is about all of us together - Christ giving up his life for us not just as individuals, but for his bride, the Church, which is all of us together. 

Paul is getting upset with the upper-class believers in Corinth, because they were starting to act as if some people were more worthy of hearing the gospel than others. Their selfish behavior, seen around the agape table as well as other places, was not a testament to what Christ had given his body for, but instead was becoming a select club where only some were truly welcomed - missing out on the communal nature of being the body of Christ. 

What does it mean that Christ gave his body for you as an individual?

What does it mean that Christ gave himself for us collectively as the Church? 

Prayer: Lord, we thank you today for your sacrifice on the cross. A sacrifice that we remember every time we gather at the communion table. Help us  O Lord, to embrace the gift that was given for us as individuals, but also the gift that you gave for us collectively, as well look to you as our Savior, and head of your Church, the body of Christ. Amen. 

Thursday: “New Covenant” - 1 Corinthians 11:25

When we take the cup and celebrate together, we often say something to the effect of “Take and drink, the cup of salvation given for you and for many”. But it can also be called the cup of new life. And the cup of the new covenant. 

In Christ’s giving of himself for us, we were given all of those things, salvation, new life, a new covenant. It was a covenant that was signed and sealed by his blood shed for us. But it is also the blood that ushers us into a new way of being. 

Sometimes when new folks show up in worship we fail to show them much grace in the rituals and traditions we have, from when we sit and when we stand, to what we mean when we are describing the cup of life. We need to remember that when we were new Christians, we didn’t automatically know all of these things either. Just as Paul had to teach the Corinthians about the new covenant, so do we need to continue to be patient in teaching new Christians today, as they grow in Christ. 

How can we walk alongside those who are new to the faith in order to encourage them? 

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that the body of Christ does not being and end with us. We thank you that we are part of a legacy of faith being passed on and that you entrust us with passing that faith on to others. Help us to encourage new Christians, coming alongside them, as they grow closer to you. Amen. 

Friday: “Until He Comes” - 1 Corinthians 11: 26

We are eagerly awaiting the coming again of our Lord and Savior. But until he comes, we have beautiful reminders of his love for us and his love for others. Whenever we celebrate Holy Communion together, we look forward to feasting together at his Heavenly banquet. 

Bur for here and now, we are still creatures prone to sin. We won’t always get it right, just like the church in Corinth didn’t always get everything right either. But when we draw together around this table and confess our sin, the ways we have failed, we remember the gift of God’s grace given to us in the cross, and we have an opportunity to offer our hearts unto God anew. 

What does it mean for you to offer your heart to God?

Prayer: Lord, you are our beginning and our end. Help us when we gather to celebrate your Holy Meal to remember both what you have given for us and who you call us to be. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. 

Scripture: To prepare for next weeks sermon you are invited to read Luke 8: 22-25.

Family Activity: Talk to your family about what communion means to you. What does it make you remember? How is your life changed because of what Christ has given for you?