The Eight Blessings: The Sermon on the Mount

April 28th, 2019

Devotional

“The First Blessing” -

Matthew 5:3 and Mark 12: 41-44

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: “Poor in Spirit” - Matthew 5:3

  Imagine the scene. People have come to Jesus hoping to be healed from whatever ails them but instead of finding healing they find a teaching. And not just any teaching but a teaching that pointedly challenged everything that they believed, as Jesus started with the words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

You can almost imagine a gasp going up can you not? This is not exactly what people have been taught and certainly not what their lives show that they believe up to this point. And if we are honest, this is a teaching we still struggle with today. 

So we try to wiggle out of it. We try to think about how the Beatitudes line up with our eyes of worldly success - only to find that they do not. Or we start to wonder if the Beatitudes are just for some people and not others - but that isn’t true either. 

The Beatitudes, starting right off the bat with Matthew 5:3, invite us into a different way of living, a Kingdom way of living. Starting right with the word “Blessed”. Blessed does not mean that we get everything we want or that things always go the way we imagine, or that we will never have a need in our life again. Instead, blessed, means that we are connected with God and reflecting the hope of the Kingdom of Heaven. 

What is your definition of success? How does it align for the Beatitudes?

Prayer: God, we admit that at times we struggle to see the blessing in the Beatitudes, especially with the idea of being poor in spirit. Sit with us this week, O Lord, as we reflect on your word and open up our hearts and minds to receive it so it can transform us for your Kingdom. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Rich” - Mark 12: 41

What does it truly mean to sacrifice? To give something up so that others do not go without. We are a country that honors and upholds sacrifice. We praise our service men and women for being willing to lay down their lives and those who leave their homes to go clean up after natural disasters or are life long missionaries to other countries, leaving behind everything they know for the sake of the gospel. We smile when we hear stories in the news about children giving up every penny they had in their piggy bank to help other children in need. We honor and praise sacrifice as long as it isn’t a hardship to us. As long as we are not the ones being called to sacrifice. As long as we can give like those in this verse out of our abundance. 

For if we are honest with ourselves, this Bible passage probably frightens us a bit. Is Jesus really asking us to give up everything we have? Isn’t this type of sacrifice dangerous? When we dwell on the widow’s sacrifice itself, Jesus’ call to us can seem too daunting. Too risky. So we don’t try to sacrifice anything at all - at least not anything that means something to us. But what if the story isn’t about the widow or the gift she brought? What if it wasn’t so much about how much she gave but rather her attitude behind it? What the widow shows us today is what it means for a disciple to have a heart of devotion, a heart that lives into the Beatitudes.

How is a heart of devotion related to the poor in spirit?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes we would rather be able to give out of abundance than make a sacrifice. We admit that we would rather be rich than poor. Rather be strong than weak. Rather be seen as lifted up than lowly. And yet. And yet, as we look at the widow’s heart of devotion, focused on you, we see a new way of living, a Kingdom way, that emerges. Invite us to walk the path that leads to life abundant, Lord, as we focus on you. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Poor” - Mark 12: 42

The dictionary defines devotion as a profound dedication, consecration, or an appropriation to a person or cause. In lay man’s terms when one is devoted they are sold out, all in, or dedicated to with all they have. But in order to be devoted we must sacrifice - sacrifice of our time, money, and talents. For our sacrifice is an act of worship.

Devotion is not so much a matter of the head, or knowing something, but a matter of the heart. Devotion cannot be hidden for long under the guise of long prayers or other acts of worship that are meant to make you appear a certain way. Devotion is about what we believe becoming the way that we live. 

That is why Jesus pointed out the widow bringing her offering to the temple. Not so much for what she gave, but the heart that was behind it. For while the woman gave a lot less then the scribes that Jesus was warning against, she gave her offering as a sacrifice and as an act of faith. She was so faithful that some would call her foolish. Just as others may describe us as foolish if we are poor in spirt. She gave absolutely everything she had - not knowing where the money would come from for her next meal let alone anything down the road. She simply trusted that God would provide and she gave. She didn’t give just what she could, she gave more then what anyone thought she should, and isn’t that what we admire about the sacrifices that others make? We admire how much others are willing to risk for what they believe in.

What risk is there in giving like the widow?

Prayer: Lord, as Jesus looked at the widow, he didn’t see her poverty, but her heart. Give us eyes to see the hearts of those around us. Let us not define people by the standards of the world, but rather the standards of your Kingdom. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen. 

Thursday: “Put in More” -Mark 12: 43

  The widow offering was also an act of devotion because of how she gave. She didn’t give so that others would notice her or in such a manner where she would draw all of the attention to herself. Instead she gave in such a way that would bring the honor and praise to God, not herself. How often have you found that some of the most devoted people you know are the unsung heroes? The people who do things in the church you never even knew about until one day they are no longer with us to give of their time and talents?  Being poor in spirit is about shedding all egotism or greed that we may have, any desire we may possess for bringing attention to ourselves, and taking on the characteristics or God, chiefly those of humility, love, and sacrifice. 

How would you describe someone who is poor in spirit?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your word, that sometimes comforts us, and other times challenges us. But at all times, O Lord, we look to your Word to lead us into deeper relationship with you as it reveals your character to us. Speak to us, O Lord, not just of who you are, but also, what you desire from us this day and always. Amen. 

Friday: “Put in Everything” -Mark 12: 44

  While devotion literally means giving of your whole self, your whole life, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it comes easily. Devotion requires faith and trust. But just because it is hard does not give us an excuse not to try. As Christian disciples we strive to be growing deeper in love with God and our neighbor every day. And that striving is an act of devotion itself. There are going to be times when others will think our devotion is misplaced or foolish. But we know the truth, that which is foolish to man is priceless in the eyes of God. For it is in ability to love Christ so deeply that we are willing to risk it all that we can truly begin to understand the love that Christ showed for us on the cross and the devotion he had to the kingdom of God. May we try each day to fall a little more deeply in love with God, as we set aside our desires and our worldly definitions of what it means to succeed and instead look to becoming poor in spirit, all for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Do you find it easy or difficult to make the Kingdom of God a priority? Why?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that we aren’t always devoted to you as we should be. Yet, O Lord, you invite us to come to you anew, in an attitude of confession, and find forgiveness and grace to try again. Forgive us, Precious Lord, for the times we have failed to be poor in spirit, for the times we have tried to make our own way happen, for the times we have judged ourselves worthy by the world’s standards while abandoning yours. Meet us in our need and embolden us to live anew for your Kingdom. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Second Blessing” - Matthew 5:4

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Matthew 5:3

                            Mark 12: 41-44

From the Sermon:

Ss rich as we may be in terms of things or money or wealth, the truth is that we are also all ____.

___________ are the ________________, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

We could say this verse translates as blessed as those who are ________ and __________, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

The widow gave more abundantly, even out of her _________ than those giving much larger sums.

Jesus is turning the _________________ sideways and upside and down and says this, this is a new way to live.

Reflection Questions:

What is the Kingdom of Heaven about? How is it different from the world?

What is the blessing in this Beatitude?

How are you rooted in God?

Prayer:

 Lord, we see your words Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven, and we confess that we chaff a little. We do not want to be considered poor, yet it confronts us right here in your word. Let us look to you, O God, for our worth, instead of the world. May we look to you to be the source of all we have and all we are. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

The Empty Tomb - Luke 24: 1-12

The Sabbath is over. The day of rest. But the women cannot rest. All they could think of was the body of their Lord.

They wanted to care for it properly. To anoint it with spices and re-wrap it with linen. 

Proper. None of this seems proper. He was dead. Jesus was dead. They could barely bring themselves to say it out loud. They had watched just a week earlier as he had road the colt through Jerusalem. Now. Now they had killed him. The same crowds that had welcomed him had cried for him to be crucified. The disciples had fled. All except John. 

No one spoke as they walked through the darkness of day, carrying their spices. Going to anoint the body of their friend,  their teacher who had died too young. As they got closer to the tomb someone must have started to wonder exactly how they were going to be able to entered the tomb since it was sealed with a stone. 

Oh the stone. The stone that the Roman guards had placed over the entrance so that no one would steal Christ’s body. Did they really think they would do that? That Christ’s disciples who didn’t even have the courage to watch him die would steal his body? Didn’t they know Jewish custom? That touching a dead body would make them impure? No touching the body was women’s work, and the women certainly weren’t going to steal his body. Now that foolish stone was blocking them from what they had set out to do. 

 Then as they reached the tomb, it became a non-issue. The stone was rolled away. A stone that would have taken several men to move was rolled away. The women bravely top another step forward, entering the tomb, where they saw two angels.

And sure enough as the angels spoke their worlds were altered - Jesus is risen! Jesus’ body was no longer there. There was no ritual cleansing and anointing to perform. For he had risen. Just like Lazarus! And they were to go tell Peter and the other disciples this news - news they could hardly believe. Oh Lord, help their unbelief. 

So the women went forth from the tomb, first in a daze then in a panic followed by a rush of excitement. They went forth as the first evangelists to proclaim the good news - Jesus, Jesus was not dead. He was risen. How could this be? He is risen! What does this mean? He is risen! He is risen indeed!

"The Empty Tomb" Devo - Luke 24: 1-12

April 21st, 2019

Devotional

“The Empty Tomb” -

      Luke 24: 1-12

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: “The First Day” - Luke 24: 1

  Jesus died around three o’clock in the afternoon on Friday. As the Sabbath was about to start at sundown, in a mere three hours, no one had time to properly prepare Jesus for burial. Instead, Joseph of Aramathea, a member of the Sanhediran, volunteered to give Jesus’ followers a place to lay the body of the one whom they loved. He and Nicodemus, brought over 100 pounds of precious oils and salts to prepare the body, but simply left them to be applied until after the celebration of the Sabbath.

Sunday morning, at the breaking of dawn, three of the women who had followed Jesus approached the tomb with more spices. They intended to give their Lord the proper burial he deserved. No one else had dared to visit the tomb over the Sabbath - Pilate had went as far as to post a guard in front of it at the prompting of the Jewish leaders to make sure that Jesus’ followers did not try to come and steal his body in order to claim that he had risen. The eleven were in hiding, fearing their own arrest and sorely disappointed themselves for abandoning Jesus in his time of need, just as he had predicted.

What do you weep over? Does it draw you closer to him or distract you from seeing him in the world around you?

Prayer: God, we thank you for these women who were compelled to go to the tomb on the first day of the week so long ago. We thank your for what they saw and experienced and how they went forth to testify. Raise a song in our hearts this week and send us out to testify, too, we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Tbe Stone” -Luke 24: 2-4

But the women were brave as they went to honor Jesus memory that morning in the best way that they knew how - by burying him properly. So Mary the mother of James, Mary Magedaline, and Salome took their spices and went to the grave. As they approached they started to wonder who would roll away the heavy stone for them. But a surprise awaited them at the tomb that morning as the sun rose in the sky - the stone had already been rolled away. A stone too heavy for one or two grown men to roll on their own was aside and two angels, in a white robes, messengers from God, were there and told them that Jesus has been raised and that he had been raised! Just as Jesus predicted!

What questions do you face when you look at the empty tomb?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for even allowing the stone that was rolled away to be part of the women’s testimony. Use all we are and all we experience to proclaim that you are risen! Risen indeed! Amen. 

Wednesday: “Remember” - Luke 24: 5-9

Each of the four gospels tells the story slightly differently, but they share one central tenant in common - the idea that Jesus had been raised from the dead was unbelievable to those who heard it. Even to those who experienced the empty tomb with their own eyes and heard the messenger from God. Jesus had told them time and time again that this would be the case - that the grave would not even be able to hold him three days, but they still did not always remember everything Jesus had said or understand what they are experiencing. 

But that is part of our faith story as well, isn’t it? Even in the midst of unbelief and a lack of fully understanding, we are beckoned to believe the unbelievable, because we worship a God who does not simply do what we expect or what we want or even what we are able and willing to believe. We worship a God who is bigger then our expectations! We worship a God who is found in the midst of the absurd and through that absurdity transforms people! Praise God! 

This week is a week that begins in celebration and testimony. Are we compelled to go and tell the story?The story of who Jesus is in our lives and what the cross and empty tomb means in our lives. Are we willing to share our story, as Easter people?

How are you going to live into being an Easter Person? What does being an Easter Person mean to you? 

Prayer: Lord, your love has transform us. Your grace has called us. Now send us as people who have encountered the power of the resurrection to go and share it. Send your Holy Spirit before us, so hearts and live can be touched by your mercy, we pray. Amen. 

Thursday: “They Told” - Luke 24: 8-10

  We may have doubts and question, but at the end of the day, the cross and empty tomb mean something to us. The empty tomb may not be as easy to portray in a picture or on a piece of jewelry, but it is just as important to our faith as the cross, for they go hand in hand. With the empty tomb, Jesus conquered death so we can say, “death where is your victory, O’ death where is your sting?” The empty tomb gives us hope, even in the midst of hopeless situations. It is why we can sing, “we have a hope in Jesus that all things will be well in the Lord!” The empty tomb proclaims into the darkness that God has victory over the powers of evil and sin and all that separates us from God.

For God gave humanity an uncontainable gift with the empty tomb, but we still must choose it. We must choose to let go of being slaves to sin and death. And there are those that we know, those whom we love and care for, who do not even know that they have a choice. Why would you keep that good news from them? We are forgiven and offered a priceless gift. What a message to share! 

  How do you embrace the empty tomb and make it’s victory a reality in your life?

Prayer: Lord, we know that this message of your resurrection is not meant to be kept a secret. Is it meant to be shared. So, O Lord, let your Holy Spirit lead us in the best ways to share it with our community! In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.  

Friday: “Amazed” - Luke 24: 11-12

  We are a Resurrection people! We gather in community week after week to remind each other that the worst things in life will not last and we have a hope that sometimes doesn’t seem to make sense and sometimes seems absurd, but we believe it in anyway. In fact, our faith stands on it. Even when we doubt, even when we do not understand, we gather as a statement that the life, death, and resurrection of Christ matter and that on this day, the third day, all of the injustice in the world and power of hell, were defeated We gather together to live out our faith, and transform lives with our service and message. I can think of nothing else so exciting. I can think of nothing else that has transformed the world in such a powerful way. My hope and prayer, this week, is that it excites you to be part of that story as well.

How did you come to believe in Christ? How has the claim that “He is Risen” transformed your life?

Prayer: Lord, we stand amazed in your presence. We stand amazed at both the cross and the empty tomb. Lord, as we look back, it is hard to believe just how much you have changed our lives, in a way that only you can. Lord, thank you, this day and always, for Jesus Christ! Amen.

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Eight Blessings” - Matthew 5: 3-12

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Luke 24: 1-12

From the Sermon:

“Why do you look for the _______ among the ______? He is not here, but has risen”

Jesus is not where the group expected him to be, but he is also exactly where he _____ them he will be.

Jesus told his disciples while he was alive that he would die, but behold he would be ______ forevermore and he would hold the keys over _______________. 

The women believed and they were moved to _________.

God calls us to both ________________ and then _________________.

Reflection Questions:

What are some of the ways we look for the living amongst the dead?

How do you testify to God’s goodness and grace in your life?

Prayer:

Precious God, we want to be people who share with all we have and all that we are that you are alive and that we are alive because of you. Transform us we pray then send us out to transform this world through the power of your resurrection. Amen. 

Beginning Again - Luke 7: 36-50

    Restoration and forgiveness are tied up together in a way that sometimes makes it hard to distinguish, but forgiveness and restoration are also both very hard and at times very counter cultural. Have you ever noticed that there are just some folks that are really hard to ask forgiveness from or offer forgiveness to? Folks, who will say things like "well, that's your problem not mine" or "I did nothing wrong, so I don't need to apologize". It can continue the cycle of hurt.
    But we can also be part of that cycle of hurt and blame when we do not offer sincere apologies when we are in the wrong. Saying things like "I'm sorry you..." instead of apologizing for truly wounding someone.
   We need to get better at apologizing if we hope to find a path towards restoration. We need to be able to be vulnerable enough to confess what we have done wrong and to ask for forgiveness, both from other people and from God.
   Do you struggle with apologizing? Why or why not?

Beginning Again Devo - Luke 7: 36-50

April 14th, 2019

Devotional

“Beginning Again” -

      Luke 7: 36-50

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: “A Woman” - Luke 7: 36-37

  In the first few verses from the passage in Luke we meet an unlikely guest at the Pharisees house. The gospel writer describes her as “a woman who lived a sinful life”. This is the last person that you expect to be at the home of a Pharisee. You have to wonder how she even got into the home. She had to have known that the Pharisees looked down upon her and considered her to be unclean. She was not allowed to be at the table with them, and could have probably been stoned for even entering. Yet, she made it through the door of the home and knelt before Jesus.

The woman had to know the hight cost of coming uninvited into this house, yet she risked it all to do so anyway. Why? Because the reward was greater. The reward of being redeemed and seen differently in the eyes of God than of her neighbor. 

How are we called to risk it all for God today? 

Prayer: God, we thank you for the example of this humble woman who risked everything to come before Jesus in this way. May we, too, risk it all for the sake of holding high the name of Jesus and his Kingdom. Amen.

Tuesday: “Weeping” -Luke 7: 38

As the woman knelt at the feet of Christ she began to weep. When I imagine this scene, I see a woman so broken by her sin that she is lamenting her very presence before the Lord. She knows that she is not worthy to be before the Messiah, but she feels indebted to him. The tears are a mixture of shame, guilt, and pain. But they are also a sign of joy. That she knows that she has been forgiven from all that she bears. 

So we have this weeping woman who is risking her very life by being in a home that she should not be in. She has made herself completely vulnerable to Jesus by kneeling and crying before him. And then she takes down her hair and whip his feet, kissing them. 

All too often, as we have removed ourselves 21 centuries from this scene, we get a mixed up image of what the washing of feet actually looked like. Yes, people generally washed their feet when they entered a home, but they usually did this for themselves. Once in a while a person of high status would have a servant whip their feet, but it would be someone of the same gender. This woman has broken all of the cultural rules as to how a woman should approach a man. This woman is intimately showing her love for Christ.

How do we show our love for Christ today?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that often we may say we love you, but we don’t always show it with our actions. In fact, at times, we do not even know how to begin to show it. Show us the way of love, dear Lord, and stir our hearts so we cannot help but respond. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Debt” - Luke 7: 39-43

At this point the Pharisee standing off to the side had to have been in shock. A sinner has touched Jesus in an intimate way and has expressed love to him by offering this lavish, expensive gift. Why isn’t Jesus saying something to reprimand this woman?

In Jesus’ style, he responds by telling the Pharisee a parable of two men owing two different sized debts. One man was behind paying about 50 days worth of wages, but the other was behind 500 days worth of wages. Both couldn’t pay back the moneylender, but he canceled both of their debts. While both would have expressed gratitude the one with the larger debt would have been elated. Especially considering what would have happened if the moneylender wouldn’t had been forgiving; they would have been in debtors prison until they could pay off the debt. The chances of the person who owed 500 denarii ever getting out did not look good.

What debts has Christ paid for you?

Prayer: Lord, we stand before you acknowledging that we, too, are debtors in need of forgiveness. Our debt is one that we could never pay on our own, so you offered to do it in our place on the cross. Thank you, Precious Lord, for giving it all for our sake. Amen. 

Thursday: “Do You See?” - Luke 7: 44-46

  At this point you can just imagine Jesus turning towards the woman still drying his feet and acknowledging her debt, but also praising her for having enough strength for being in the presence of her very brokenness. Her love for Christ consumed her to act in ways that put her life at the mercy of Christ and all of the rest of the people in the room. She was truly grateful for the gift of being in Jesus’ presence. And there stood the Pharisee dumbstruck.

I think this woman’s faith was best expressed not in her strong self-sufficient power, but her utter brokenness before Christ. When is the last time you were vulnerable before Christ? 

It takes brokenness to heal brokenness. Ponder that statement for a few seconds. It took the broken body of Christ to heal us of our sins. But even on a very human level, we connect and can positively impact the lives of people who are struggling with things that we have struggled with. When we are working towards being healed, we offer hope to someone who only sees tears of frustration and pain. We offer much needed in sights to the people who are trying to hide from the tears by not acknowledging that anything is even wrong. But even knowing that it takes the broken to heal the broken, all too often we adopt the stance that we can make it on our own.We may sing songs and pay lip service to being set free from our chains of our wrecked lives, but sometimes we don’t really know what it feels like to be recreated by God because we want to be in control of our own lives.

  Do you find it easy to readily come before Christ broken? Why or why not?

Prayer: Lord, may we turn to you, both in our joy and sorrow. May we come to you, when we feel broken and when we feel whole. May we come to you for grace and healing and leave, as the woman did so long ago, a new person by your love. Amen.

Friday: “Forgiven” - Luke 7: 47-50

  The cost of following Christ is giving up complete control to him. It is the hardest price that humans can pay – being vulnerable. We have been hurt so many times by other people and disappointed that we don’t want to give control to the Creator. And with every inch of our lives that we reclaim we are blocking God from turning our ashes into beauty. We fear that he will change us and we won’t like who we have become.

We need to actually acknowledge our brokenness, as the woman did. God knows that we are broken already. He knows us intimately. And as the Christian community we know cognitively that we all are broken in one way or another. Yet, because we do not acknowledge our struggles with one another because of pride we are hindering each other and creating this feeling that we are alone in our sin. Hiding that does not make us righteous. When we acknowledge our sin with one another and to God we are letting it go and emptying ourselves so we can be filled with the things God wants for us.

We need to claim who we are in the eyes of Christ. There was no doubt in the woman mind from Luke’s gospel story today that God was madly in love with her as he forgave her of all of her sins, even when others labeled her as “a woman who lived a sinful life”. We need to open up our eyes and hearts and see as God sees, see the beauty in the ashes.

How do we struggle, as Simon did, to see people through the eyes of God?

Prayer: Lord, sometimes we do not see people as you see them. Sometimes we let the labels of the world define us, instead of your love. Forgive us, O Lord, and let us first and foremost see ourselves and others as your beloved children, we pray. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Empty Tomb” - Luke 24: 1-12

Forgiving - Matthew 18: 21-35

At the start of today's scripture Peter is asking Jesus a hard question that I think we all wrestle with in one form or another - is there ever an "out" Jesus on this forgiving thing? How much forgiveness is required of us? How much is too much?

 Jesus is speaking to Peter here about a more basic problem as well - how do you forgive others who do not seem to repent? Those who can’t say they are sorry or aren’t even aware that they have wronged us. Those who don’t change their behaviors or don’t know how to ask for forgiveness. In those cases it is so much harder to forgive or say that you will only forgive if someone asks for forgiveness. But remember that these are people you are in relationship with, so you need to ask, is this worth losing a relationship over? In most cases, the answer is going to be no. So we keep forgiving, but are in conversation with the one who wronged us, slowly chipping away at the wrongdoings.  

Forgiveness is difficult. It requires us to examine ourselves, to pray, to choose mercy over justice, and to remember that forgiving is not the same as condoning. But forgiveness also becomes easier the more we practice it and the more we remember that we are forgiven by God.

What are some of your struggles with forgiveness? 

Forgiving Devo - Matthew 18: 21-35

April 7th, 2019

Devotional

“Forgiving” -

      Matthew 18: 21-35

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: “Forgive” - Matthew 18: 21-35

  Part of life is being hurt. Its an ugly, but true fact. But this is not how God imagined or wanted life to be for us. Emotional hurts are a direct result of Adam and Eve disobeying God, they are a consequence of free will, and stumbling into sin. God wants us to repent of the harm that we cause others (which we will be discussing more next week) and wants us to seek to forgive others for the pain that they cause us, though this is often easier said than done. 

Because the world we live in is filled with brokenness, forgiveness is essential to life. In fact, if we do not forgive, we often perpetuate the cycle of hurting others. But as Christians we believe that Jesus taught us a counter-cultural way to live by both his example and teachings on forgiveness. Jesus ultimately did as he taught, forgiving even the people who called for him to be crucified and those who mocked and beat him as he hung on the cross. He suffered pain and humiliation that is hard for many of us to even fathom, yet he asked God to forgive those gathered around the cross that day. And he forgave his disciples even though they turned their backs on him, only one staying by his side as he died. But Jesus also calls us as his followers to live into his example of forgiving others, even asking the disciples to go to the very ends of the earth announcing the forgiveness of sins. However, we know the actual act of forgiveness can be unspeakably difficult at times.

Do you find forgiveness easy or difficult? Why?

Prayer: God, we know that you call us to the way of forgiveness, yet, O Lord, at times it can be so difficult. Be with us this week as we examine who you are calling us to forgive and give us the strength to do so. We pray in Jesus’s name. Amen. 

Tuesday: “The Kingdom” -Matthew 18: 23-27, Matthew 6: 14-15

One of Jesus’s first teachings to the disciples about forgiveness came as part of the Lord’s prayer, which he repeated throughout his time on earth - “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us”. We pray this prayer together each and every Sunday, 52 weeks a year. But have you let those words capture your soul? Do we mean what we pray? We are asking God to forgive us as we, or in the same way, that we forgive others. Thats powerful. How would God respond to you if you are being judged in the exact manner that you judge others? Would God quickly forgive you? Hold a grudge? Try to let things go, but find that they keep coming up in your mind and spirit?

How does the Lord’s Prayer transform your life?

Prayer: Lord, as we look at the parable of the King this day, we see with new eyes how you have forgiven us. O Lord, we want to share this forgiveness with others. Show us the way, dear Lord, we pray. Amen.  

Wednesday: “100 Denarii” - Matthew 18: 28-29

God does not judge us as we judge others, but I think if we let the Lord’s Prayer transform us from the inside out, if we mean what we pray, then we will be more prone to forgive. But I also think that one of the reasons we are slow to forgive is because we don’t exactly know what forgiveness means or looks like in our daily lives. Even the best relationships in our lives have conflict. Most of the conflict are small things - irritations and disappointments - but if we don’t actively choose to forgive the small things, they often fester and infect our soul. Other conflicts are like boulders, weighing on us. But whether we have to make a decision about forgiving small or large conflicts, it boils down to the same basic question: are we going to choose justice or mercy? 

What grudges do you notice that you hold on to?

Prayer: Lord, while the Lord’s Prayer calls us to a radical way of living, we confess that we do not always do so with grace. At times we hold on to bitterness and grudges. Free us from those things that have deep roots in our hearts that keep us from living your way and your truth. Amen. 

Thursday: “Anna” - Matthew 18: 30, Col 3:13

  At times justice may seem really appealing, so why would we choose mercy? Because God choose to show mercy to us - by offering us life through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Through his example, teachings, death and resurrection Jesus modeled for us what it looks like to love someone instead of seeking to punish them. 

We also get confused because we don’t know what to do if we have a conflict with someone or if we have been wronged. In Paul’s letter to the Colossians he writes that we are to forgive whenever we have been wronged. But how is this possible? Especially when righteous anger seems to simmer inside of us? First, and most importantly, we are to pray for those who hurt us, bringing our pain before God. As you pray to God, remember your own shortcomings. Remember ways that you have harmed others in relationships, by doing so you may be more able to offer grace because of the grace you have been freely offered. As you pray, pray for the person by name. Pray that God blesses them, even in the midst of your hurt.  Praying this type of prayer often helps us let go of our need, our right, for retribution and opens up our heart to offer mercy. 

  Do you find yourself wanting justice when you are wronged or showing mercy? Why?

Prayer: Lord, sometimes justice looks like it will be so sweet when we feel wronged, however, we know that justice is yours alone. So as we wait on you, O Lord, work in our hearts to learn anew how to forgive with grace and mercy. We pray in the name of the Christ. Amen. 

Friday: “Forgive from the Heart” -Matthew 18: 31-35

  A few words of caution about approaching forgiveness. First, notice that you are talking to God about what you are struggling with about another person, not running first to share it with other people. Often we have a tendency to gather people in our corner when we feel we are wronged, as if we are preparing for battle. It just makes it easier to perpetuate hurt feelings and hide behind anger. Second, through this prayer, God may prompt you to sit down and talk to the person face to face. This is difficult, but is much better than telling everyone else about our problem instead of telling the person directly. But when we choose to show mercy, we shine forth the light and message of Christ, who forgave us. 

  Lastly, we are confused about what it means to continually forgive. I’ve heard every message there is about forgiveness from you need to be a doormat who allows people to mistreat you because its what Jesus would do, to you need to seek vengeance is the form of an eye for an eye, because its scriptural. But here, Jesus is telling Peter to continually forgive. To forgive more times then you could possibly remember. But this does not mean that we forget, or that there are not consequences to the pains that we face. Forgiveness is not the same as condoning. Sometimes people have hurt us so deeply that even after we choose to forgive them that we still must seek to rebuild trust.

What does forgiveness look like for you with flesh on it? In other words, how do you live into forgiveness in your daily life?

Prayer: Lord, forgiveness can sometimes be confusing and we confess that we sometimes do not do it well. Lord, next time we need to offer forgiveness prompt us to first come to you in prayer asking for your guidance and truth. Speak to our hearts, we pray. Amen.

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Beginning Again” - Luke 7: 36-47

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Matthew 18: 21-35

From the Sermon:

Every week we pray together the Lord’s Pray, which includes “Forgive us our ________ as we forgive those who _________ against us.”

The King showed mercy and ________ the debt entirely.

God has lavished us with forgiveness because of the cross, what witness does it show in the world when we do not ______ as we have been _________?

Sometimes we don’t forgive because:

1.

2.

Reflection Questions:

What holds you back at times from forgiving others?

Have you ever tried to place limits on the forgiveness you offer?

What does unforgiveness do your heart?

Prayer:

Lord, we want to bring before you this day any unforgiveness that we are carrying around within us. Lord, we know that there are times that it is so difficult to forgive that we don’t know how we can ever do it, so we come to you and ask us to strengthen us and teach us what forgiveness looks like in this particular situation. Be with us, we pray. Amen.