The Sacraments: The Lord’s Supper Part 2 - 1 Sam 21:1-9; Mark 14:12-25

     I am struck in the reading of the Gospel of Mark that the disciples seem so willing to go and follow Jesus's odd and specific directions. Go and find a man with a water jug and he will lead you to a house and you are to ask the owner to celebrate in their guest room. Yet they followed exactly what Jesus said because they had their heart set on preparing for this special celebration. 

     And Jesus gave them space to go. To prepare. To serve in their particular way. He was willing to give them instructions to do so. He wanted to be with them. 

     Yet, at the same time, I thought about what I prepare for and how I go about it. Do I seek Jesus's direction in my life? Do I have a heart attuned to discernment? Or do I go about things in my own way, because I am afraid of what Jesus will say?

     For we are all called to prepare - but the hardest question is perhaps what we are preparing for. We may have one answer that we say in public, but I mean in our honest heart of hearts, what are we preparing for? And have we asked Jesus to lead us in that? 

“The Sacraments: The Lord’s Supper - Part 2” - 1 Sam 21:1-9 and Mark 14:12-25 Devo

 August 29th, 2021

Devotional

“The Sacraments: The Lord’s Supper - Part 2” - 1 Sam 21:1-9 and Mark 14:12-25

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: “Make Preparations” - Mark 14: 12

Special days are rarely celebrated without seasons of preparation. We celebrate the birth of a child after nine months of gestation. We celebrate the wedding of dear loved ones and friends, after a period of courtship and engagement. We celebrate anniversaries after we have made it through a year after an event, so we can commemorate it and how we have grown. We celebrate graduations after all of the hard work to took for a period of years. The same is true in the Christian church - celebrations are not divorced from periods of preparation. The two most notable seasons in the church calendar are Advent, which leads up to the celebration of the birth of the Christ child, and Lent, which leads us up to the empty tomb and resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday.

Think of Lent as an example. Lent is to be a time for us to become prepared spiritually for all that Easter means to us. For some people this looks like giving things up - such as a favorite food or fasting during the 40 days prior to Easter. For others it means adding a different spiritual practice to enhance their devotional life. And for others it may mean giving up a portion of money for the poor in the community. But whatever you choose to do during Lent it is all to the honor and glory of God.

But that does not mean that Lent and Advent are the only time that we prepare. Or the time that we can encounter God. We are to be prepared every day to serve our Lord and respond to his call. We must be prepared.

How do you prepare for each day? How is God part of your routine?

Prayer: God, we admit that sometimes we can get so caught up in preparing for the day with our cup of coffee, brushing our teeth, and getting everyone ready, that we forget that the most vital part of our day is preparing to be with you. Forgive us, O Lord. Give us hearts that desire to spend time with you, we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Go” - Mark 14: 13-15

  The disciples, too, find themselves preparing. Preparing for a meal. It was time for the celebration to top all celebrations in the Jewish year - Passover, a time when tens of thousands of Jews gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate that God had delivered them from slavery to Egypt. A time when both those who made it to the holy city and those who celebrate in their homes from a distance, were connected by their common heritage and religious story. Jesus and his disciples were amongst the crowds arriving in Jerusalem. In fact, they had arrived a few days early to the accolades of people shouting “Hosanna, Son of David” as Jesus came through the city gates. But Jesus had come to not only celebrate, but to die. Over the next few days his teachings and actions were heightened by his knowledge of what was to come. He became angry at the court of the Gentiles in the temple, a place of prayer for all nations, being converted into the marketplace for buying and selling goods for Passover preparations. He even overturned the money changers table, making the religious leaders angry. He taught about religious reform, challenging the leaders to the point where they plotted against him for his life.

Then on the day of the Passover celebration he sent two of the disciples to prepare the Seder meal. They gathered the necessary produce - bitter herbs, wine, salt water, apples, the unleavened bread, the lamb. They followed Jesus instructions and found a man carrying water, an abnormality as it was a job for women, and followed him home to a large home, finding the place where they could all meet together and set the table. At three o’clock they joined the line at the temple to have their lamb slaughtered. The priest would take each lamb and slit its throat, collecting the blood in a bowl to be poured at the base of the alter table. The priest would butcher the lamb and give it to back to the person bringing the offering. They would have cooked the lamb for three to four hours, before everyone gathered for the dinner at seven o’clock to remember the story of how God rescued the Israelites from the oppressive hand of Egypt.

How do you prepare for special meals in your home? How is this similar or different from the disciples?

Prayer: God, we thank you for the care that the disciples put into this meal - not even knowing that it would be their final one with you. Give us hearts that care to prepare with such diligence and detail. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Betray” - Mark 14: 16-19

The story goes that Moses had tried time and time again to convince Pharaoh to let Gods people go. Each time, after being struck by some sort of plague, he would agree only to relent later. So God brought forth one last plague, killing the first born of every Egyptian household. The night this was to take place, the Israelites were instructed to sacrifice a lamb to God and put its blood above their door post as a reminder to God to pass over their house leaving it unharmed. The lamb was then cooked and eaten as one final meal before their journey.

  Because God did such a great act in rescuing the people of God, Passover was (and still is) to be a time of celebration. A time to remember in order to look forward to the future. But Jesus changed the tone of the evening when he interrupted with the disciples knew, all of the ritual they had experienced since they were children, by taking the unleavened bread and breaking it. Then taking one of the cups of wine and saying it would be a sign of the new covenant. The disciples were probably confused. And to make things even more tense Jesus said that one of them would betray him.

Jesus was trying to tell his disciples, through his words and actions, that they were not yet truly set free, but that freedom was coming. 

How would you respond around the table if you heard Jesus say that “one of you will betray me?”

Prayer: Almighty God, we admit that we are broken people. Even in moments like this, where you are completely transparent about what is to come, we find ourselves responding like the disciples saying “not I Lord!” And yet, we have betrayed you - over an over again. Forgive us, L Lord, and set us free from the sin that has taken root in our lives. Amen. 

Thursday: “Body” - Mark 14: 20-22

Jesus’ ministry up to this point had been marked by parables that confused the disciples, but now Jesus was giving them something tangible, not simply a teaching. The bread stood for his body, the wine his blood that would be shed. Jesus was giving them one last thing to remember him by.

  Even more confusing, Jesus told them that this symbolized the new covenant. As Jewish meant they would have understood covenant, for this Passover meal celebrated the acts of their covenantal God. But Jesus was telling them that the blood of the Lamb that had been sacrificed earlier that day as a sign of the covenant would be replaced by his blood, shed for all people. Later we would understand that these words and this act were part of our life story - the story of human beings brokenness and need to be liberated from sin and death through the new beginning that Jesus offered through his sacrifice.

  This meal began the last 24 hours of Jesus life that tell the story of a God of boundless love, whose love could not be confined. In fact, it is a love so profound that Jesus, God’s son, was sent to lay down his life for all humanity. And this is what we now celebrate each and every time we come to the communion table, that God’s love is big enough to deliver us from sin and death. We come together and remember who we are defined through Jesus’ sacrifice. We remember who we were, who we are, and who we will be. And we come together to celebrate it as a community, not alone.

What comes to your mind when you celebrate holy communion?

Prayer: God of Grace and God of Glory, we are so humbled every time we consider how you gave yourself up for us. We are in awe of the depths and heights that you went just to reach us. We praise you, O Lord, and offer our hearts and lives in return. Amen. 

Friday: “Blood” - Mark 14: 23-25

  When Jesus celebrated this part of the Passover meal he did it with his friends. He ate with the people he was closest too in this earthly life. The people he choose to be with in this moment. If you knew you were going to have one final meal before you died, who would you want to be with you? What faces to do you see around the table? Jesus choose to gather with his spiritual friends, and we need spiritual friends as well. Those deep relationships where we encourage one another in the faith. Those relationships that you cannot possibly have with everyone in a church, but you can have in a small group. This is why small group ministry is so vital, it provides us a place to love one another and enter each others spiritual journeys in a profound way. That is why we are offering two different small groups as a church this Lenten season. Not only because their content is important, but because our lives matter to one another and we need others to walk this faith journey with us. We need a community marked by the communion meal.

No meal is more important to our faith then this last supper of Jesus. For those of you who have lost a loved one, think of their favorite meal. Do you still cook it? What memories do you have of that person when you eat it? My mom likes to cook Macarroni Salad. Every major dinner it seems to be on the table. But I don’t like it. My brothers don’t like it. My dad only eats very little of it. But she still cooks it because it was one of my grandma’s favorite dishes. So it is present, because it reminds my mom of her mom.

How do you share the meaning of this powerful meal with those in your life? How does Holy Communion invite you to live differently as a follower of Jesus Christ?

Prayer: O loving God, may we continue to grow in love for you and others. Shape us, mold us, and send us, we pray. Let us be the body of Christ for the world. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Mutual Consolation of the Saints” - Matthew 18:15-20. 

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

 Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: 1 Sam 21:1-9 and Mark 14:12-25

From the Sermon:

Jesus was saying that the _________ becomes __________ by God’s grace and mercy.

The disciples are so caught up in the concern of finding a place to celebrate and the present needs to prepare, that they almost miss the point - Jesus is about ____________________________________.

Jesus breaks through the spirit in that place with one statement, “One of you is going to _______ me.”

The Passover meal was about __________________.

On this particular night, Jesus is speaking of God establishing a new covenant - one that can withstand all of our betrayl and weaknesses. One that is as ________ as Jesus’s body and blood. 

Reflection Questions:

Do you think the disciples are they used to strange directions or has it become common place for them? Why or why not?

What does the celebration of Holy Communion bring to your mind?

Prayer:

Lord, allow me each day to remember your goodness and grace. Remember how you gave up your life out of love for me. Amen and amen. 

The Sacraments: The Lord’s Supper - Psalm 65 and 1 Corinthians 11: 17-34

       As a pastor, I have seen time and again folks approach the Lord's Table thinking about themselves. And in many ways, I understand this. For Paul in today's scripture passage calls for us to examine ourselves before coming to the table. However, if we just leave communion as something that is privately about the state of my own soul or my relationship with Jesus, then we set ourselves up to be part of the much larger issue that we see in 1 Corinthians. 

    Paul is upset because the table has become a place of exclusion and favoritism. And it got that way because folks were focusing on themselves. Therefore, he is ultimately calling on the church to remember who they are and why they celebrate the Lord's Supper in the first place. 

    He retells the story that we share in each time we come together for communion. But he also reminds the church that we are part of one body. In fact, it is one chapter later that he writes what it means to be the body of Christ. 

    Therefore, we are not only to think about ourselves at the table, but also the body, the church. And not just our local church, but the global church. How we are one in the body of Christ. 

    How does the Lord's Supper invite you into a posture of remembering your brothers and sisters around the globe? 

The Sacraments - The Lord’s Supper Part 1 Devo - I Corinthians 11: 17 – 31 and Psalm 65

 Devotional

“The Sacraments - The Lord’s Supper Part 1” - I Corinthians 11: 17 – 31 and Psalm 65

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: “Not for the Better” - 1 Cor. 11: 17-19

  Some of the most heartbreaking tales I hear as a pastor are the reasons why people left the church. Why the reasons may vary - gossip, pettiness, factions, etc. - at the heart it comes down to what the Apostle Paul is speaking of in today’s scripture passage - the church is not being the church. People have become so distracted by their own ambitions and desires that they have missed out on the purpose of the church - to share the good news of Jesus Christ. When we forget who we are as a church and what our true mission is, we are no longer meeting for the better, but for the worse.

But even in the midst of turmoil, Paul does not condemn everyone. He does speak of those who are truly genuine in their faith. We would do well in times of turmoil to seek out those with a faith that is rooted in the gospel. If we anchor ourselves with those deeply connected to Christ, all other factions will eventually fade away as the church becomes refocused on why we truly exist. 

  Have you ever felt like leaving the local church? What caused you to stay?

  How can you seek out those who are genuine in their faith during times of turmoil? Who is one person in the church who you consider to be a genuine spiritual anchor?

Prayer: God, we confess that sometimes the church does not feel like a safe space to grow in our faith. Instead, at times, we find ourselves fighting over things that do not truly matter in your Kingdom. We find ourselves steeped in the behavior of the Church at Corinth - behaviors that do not glorify you or proclaim your reign. Forgive us, Lord. Help us to set our priorities straight so that there are no divisions among us that cause harm to others. We pray this in your name. Amen. 

Tuesday: “The Lord’s Supper” - 1 Cor. 11: 20-22

The celebration of Holy Communion was a bit different during the early church. It wasn’t celebrated once a month or once a quarter - it was celebrated every time they gathered together. It was also more than just the bread and the cup - it was a full meal where people brought what they had to share with one another.

Only sharing at the feast was not happening. Those who were rich and powerful were eating first and making those that they deemed to be poor and unworthy wait until they were completely finished before being able to come and dine. As a result, most if not all of the food would be devoured before the poor could come. 

Paul is trying to remind the Church in Corinth that this is not the purpose of the meal - the purpose is to be a community together, with no distinctions based on gender, power, or wealth. This was to be a table for everyone. Otherwise, it is not truly God’s table. 

How does Holy Communion differ today from that of the early church? How is it similar?

  In what ways are you reminded during the celebration of Holy Communion that the table is for everyone? 

Prayer: Almighty God, we at times have corrupted your table. We have made it something it is not - by our human rules and regulations. Remind us, this day and always, that you invite all to come to your table and be fed, by the food present and by your love, mercy, and grace. May we be a church that truly exist for all people, not just those who are similar to us. Amen. 

Wednesday: “The Body” - 1 Cor 11: 23-24

  When we come together to celebrate holy communion we always retell the story of Jesus’s final meal on earth with his disciples. Paul does the same in today’s scripture passage. By retelling the story we remember exactly why we are celebrating this holy meal.

  On the night Jesus gave himself up for us, the night he was betrayed, the night before his death. By starting the story of the meal in this way we are reminded of exactly what Jesus went through on our behalf. He took the bread and broke it - as a sign that his body was soon to be broken and to remind us that we are one in the body of Christ. And he said to his disciples, “this is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 

We know that no one other than the son of God could offer a sacrifice for us in this manner. So when we gather around the table, we remember him, we remember his gift to us when he laid down his life. We remember that it is for our sinful nature that Christ’s body was broken. We remember so that we can live into the present reality of being the body of Christ. 

What do you think about during the celebration of Holy Communion?

  Why do you celebrate communion?

Prayer: God, we cannot begin to grasp what the mystery of Holy Communion means. No matter how often we celebrate it, there are still pieces of the story that have not sunk into our hearts; there are still realities about your life-giving sacrifice that we cannot fathom. Meet us in this holy meal, O God. And then use us, as your body, to minister to the world. Amen. 

Thursday: “The Cup” - 1 Cor 11: 25-26

The cup represents the new covenant made by Christ’s blood. A covenant where Christ has conquered the victory of sin and death by his death and resurrection. Different denominations approach the cup in different ways. United Methodist use grape juice. While some suppose this is because United Methodists are against alcohol that is not quite factually accurate. John Wesley noticed that the men working blue collar jobs were spending a large portion of their pay checks at bars on alcohol instead of taking the money home to their families. Additionally, the cost of creating alcohol, caused the price of grain to skyrocket. As a result he encouraged folks to steer clear of alcohol in order to provide for their families. 

Today, United Methodists continue the tradition of using grape juice at the table. We do so in order that all may be welcome at the table. We do not want the presence of alcohol to be a stumbling block for those who may struggle with addictions so we offer juice to all. In some places, both juice and wine are offered, giving people a choice, with the wine clearly marked to avoid any confusion. 

  What does the new covenant in Christ mean to you?

  What does the communion table remind you about your faith?

Prayer: God, we thank you for the cup of Christ. We thank you for the blessing it offers to us. As you remind us in the communion liturgy, make us the body of Christ redeemed by your blood for the sake of the world. Make us one with you, one with each other, and one in ministry to the world until you return and we feast with you at your heavenly banquet table. Amen. 

Friday: “Examine Yourselves” - 1 Cor 11: 27-31

We are not to enter into partaking the Lord’s Supper lightly. For some people that means take it as little as possible in order to keep it special, but that is not the teaching of the United Methodist Church. The UMC believes in the teaching of John Wesley which says to take part in the Lord’s Supper whenever possible.

Instead, examine yourself means to check your heart and confess your sins before coming to the table. This is one of the reasons I like the act of coming forward when I receive communion, it gives me time to confess my sins prior to partaking and time to silently praise God after receiving. There is no right or wrong way to receive communion, but however and whenever we receive we should check the state of our heart and confess anything sins we have not repented of in order to leave our hearts open to receiving the grace and mercy of Christ. 

How do you remind yourself to examine your heart prior to receiving communion?

What does examining your heart look like for you?

Prayer: We want to be people who are marked by your body and blood, O Lord. We want to be people who live into our faith every day of the week, not just Sundays. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Sacraments: The Lord’s Supper Part 2” - 1 Samuel 21: 1-9 and Mark 14: 12-25

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

 Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Psalm 65 and 1 Corinthians 11: 17-34

From the Sermon:

Paul eard rumblings that things were not going well in _______________.

Paul starts out this section of the letter by saying essentially, “I have nothing good to up lift about how you are celebrating the _________________, because you are harming one another through it.”

The Corinthians need to __________ what this Supper is all about in the first place.

It is really hard to communally remember, if you are _______________.

Jesus was celebrating the _____________, a whole meal that was steeped in remembering what God had done when he brought his people out of Egypt and the promise he made to be with them and be their God. 

Paul has no time for turning the table that is all about the forgiveness of sins into a place for ___________.

How do we pass on the meaning of this holy meal? 

1.

2.

Reflection Questions:

How do you remember communally, with other people?

How are memory and passing on the faith to future generations connected?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive us for the times we have not truly lived into the meaning of the gift of Holy Communion. Lead us to be people who share the story, not just with what we say, but in how we live. We pray this for the glory of your name. Amen. 

The Sacraments: Baptism Part 2 - Psalm 84, Romans 6: 1-11

      In some families there is a deep sense of honor tied to ones name. You try hard to behave a certain way simply because you bear the family name, and of course there are also folks who will go about things their own way for the same reason. But one does not want to betray the family name for its part of who you are.

      I have to wonder sometimes how we would live our lives if we did not want to betray the family name that we put on at our baptism -the name of Christ follower - Christian. For how we act (what we do) flows from who we are in our deepest core, in our heart. Are we living like our hearts has been changed because of Christ? 

     We won't get it perfect all the time, but the place to start is with the heart. And letting the grace of Christ change us from the inside out. 

The Sacraments - Baptism Part 2 Devo - Psalm 84 and Romans 6: 1-11

 August 15th, 2021

Devotional

“The Sacraments - Baptism Part 2” - Romans 6: 1-11 and Psalm 84

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: “Died to Sin” -Romans 6: 1-2

Paul has a problem. There is some poor theology going around the church of Rome connected to sin and grace. Sin and grace became so connected in their minds, that Paul asked a question that everyone should have already known the answer to - do you need to sin more in order to have more grace? Absolutely not! This would be akin to saying that you need to spill things more often in order to have an excuse to clean.

What Paul is really asking is what do we believe about Grace? On the surface what we believe is that grace is God’s free gift to us that isn’t based on us earning it - instead it is the gift of salvation given lavishly to those who believe. But sometimes we skew too far to one side- thinking that we need to earn grace, working hard in order to prove to God how good we are. Other times, we skew too far to the other side - thinking we can do whatever we want, even after we’ve accepted Christ as our Savior, because grace will cover it. It would seem that Paul is addressing the later false-notion in this particular passage. 

Instead, once we have accepted Christ we have died to sin. In other words, it is now Christ that rules our life, not our sinful self. Will we still stumble from time to time? Yes. However, grace does not give us permission to freely sin in order to live into the gift of grace. 

What are some of the false-notions that you have heard about sin and grace? How do you respond?

Prayer: God, we thank you for the lavish gift that we can never deserve, the gift of grace. We know sometimes, O Lord, that it can be so hard for us to wrap our minds around your live, that our human-selves get in the way and distort what you intended grace to be. Forgive us, Lord, and set us on the right path again. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Baptized” - Romans 6: 3-4

Baptism has always been a hot button issue for the Church. How do you administer baptism? Who can baptize folks? How much water do you need? Who can be baptized? Do you need to be a certain age? But Paul doesn’t address any of these hot button issues - instead he gets right to the heart of what baptism truly means - being dead to our sins, so we can be raised to new life in Christ. 

  I was reading a book this week that argued that sometimes we miss the beauty of baptism as the local church. We miss out on its power. Baptism proclaims that we find have a new identity - not as our own, but as Christ’s. Therefore, we become new creations, marked by the life-changing grace of Jesus Christ. 

What does baptism mean in your faith walk?

How do you support the people who are baptized into the body of Christ?

Prayer: Lord, we admit that sometimes we have made baptism into a ritual instead of a sacrament. We have argued away its meaning to the point where we forget that it is the offering of your very life and love. Forgive us, O Lord. Wash us anew. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Resurrection” - Romans 6: 5

  Why do we have the promise of a resurrection like Christ’s, according to Paul? Because we are united in his death. And how are we united in his death? By becoming dead to our sins through baptism. 

Many find Romans to be one of the most theologically dense letters that Paul has written. We can get so lost in the wording and concepts, that we can miss the heart of what Paul is trying to point out - that the fullness of redemption isn’t realized… yet. 

  Another book I was reading this week pointed out the phrases people sometimes use when they are not yet mature in the faith. One was about baptism and essentially said, I was baptized today, why am I still arguing with my spouse. Isn’t baptism supposed to change everything and make everything easier. 

The truth is that baptism does change us, but we are not fully there yet. Sometimes our humanness still gets in the way. Faith is a journey and a process on which we are meant to mature. We may not know the full glory of Christ until the Resurrection, but each day we proclaim our identity as one who is untied with Christ and keep growing more deeply in love with him. 

How has your faith in Christ changed your life?

What does being dead in sin mean to you personally?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the glorious promise of the resurrection. As we look forward to that day, Precious Lord, may we continue to seek your face and your will in all that we do with our lives in you. Amen. 

Thursday: “Slaves to Sin” - Romans 6: 6-7

  Somewhere along the way, we have bought into the lie that we have control over our own lives. While God has given us free will, it seems that far too often we use that free will to choose sin - to the point where it becomes something that controls us. 

Then sometimes we try to escape one sin only to find that we are throwing ourselves into another sin - and the cycle continues. 

  The only thing that can break the cycle is death to sin itself. Christ alone has the power to free us from our sin - we will never be strong enough to do this on our own. 

  How has sin lied to you?

  How has Christ freed you from the power of sin?

Prayer: Lord, today we praise you and the freedom you have offered us from sin. May we accept this gift in our lives. We know that too often, Lord, we want to hand control of our lives over to you, only to snatch it back. Forgive us Lord. May our lives be fully yours. Amen. 

Friday: “Alive for God” - Romans 6: 8-11

  We don’t just die to sin for our own sake - we die to sin so we can be unleashed into the world to proclaim Christ’s name. Interestingly enough, the early church put equal emphasis on individual salvation and the health of the Body of Christ. 

  When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior we are part of the much larger body of Jesus Christ - the Church. And the Church, with each of its members, is sent out into the world to proclaim the Good News - in the words of Paul to be alive for God. We are given not just a new life, a new identity, but a new purpose as well. 

  How are you “alive for God” in your daily life? 

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the privilege to be alive for you in the world every single day. Renew our passion for your Kingdom and open us up to opportunities to proclaim you name. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Sacraments: The Lord’s Supper Part 1” - Psalm 65 and 1 Corinthians 11: 17-34

Reblog from 7/2018

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

 Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Psalm 84 and Romans 6: 1-11

From the Sermon:

Paul is trying to remind the Christians in Rome about their ___________.

Your old self - that self before you knew the love of Christ - that self is ______.

For Paul baptism is like a new ___________ - a new path that God has created to bring us out of captivity to sin and into the promised land of new life in Christ.

To renounce the spiritual forces of _________, reject the __________ of this world, and repent of our sin.

Accept the freedom and power God gives us to resist__________________________________ in whatever forms they present themselves.

What we do, our actions, those can only flow from who we ______.

Reflection Questions:

What are we saved from? 

What are we saved for?

When you tell your story where do you begin and why?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help us to live into the fullness of our baptism and the true freedom it brings. Free us to serve you, we pray. Amen. 

The Sacraments: Baptism Acts 2: 37-42 and Psalm 46

     A very wise woman in my life will often stop me mid-sentence and ask a powerful question, "what does that feel like?" The 'that' that she is referring to is however what I just said feels in my body. 

     It seems odd until you realize that God created us to have bodies and they are quite attuned if only we would take time to listen. But we have grown up in a day and time that tells us that at best our bodies are a tool and at worst an enemy, so we dismiss what the body is trying to point out to us. 

     So I wanted to try a simple exercise with you today. If I asked you, 'what does forgiveness feel like?' how would you respond. If you are like most folks you will start to talk about what forgiveness is and keep it all up in your head. But what does forgiveness feel like? 

     Maybe it feels like a fresh start. A New Year's celebration. The last bell of the school year as a beautiful summer lies before you. 

     Sometimes kids are our best teachers about such things. There's a story where a pastor once asked this question during a children's message and one brave kiddo shouted out "Like my birthday!" A celebration. Another year of a new beginning. 

     How about you, friends. What does forgiveness feel like to you and how can you live into the gift of such forgiveness in our world today?

The Sacraments - Baptism I - Acts 2: 37-42 and Psalm 46

  May 8th, 2021

Devotional

“The Sacraments - Baptism 1” - Acts 2: 37-42 and Psalm 46

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: “Baptized by One Spirit” - 1 Cor 12:13

In today’s passage of scripture Paul is pleading with the people of Corinth – people he has spent well over a year with. Paul dwelt among them as a tent-maker, while telling people about the love of Christ. Eventually those people would come together and form a worshipping community. But after Paul left the people began to quarrel. The entire letter of 1 Corinthians is addressing the issues of the community as reported by someone on the inside. We don’t know if this person had the most truthful account, but we do know that they felt compelled to tell Paul, and that they were from the house of Chloe. 

And what were they arguing over. Baptism. It seems to be the discussion topic that never gets old. When to baptize a person. Should it be believer’s baptism? If so, at what age? If it’s an infant baptism, will we allow for a second baptism later? Should you be sprinkled or dunked? Should it be done inside of the church walls or out in nature? And that’s before we even get to the questions around what baptism means. While the topic is full of heated-debate topics, I don’t think I’ve ever heard one about who baptized someone.

What arguments have you heard about baptism? How do you respond? 

What does it mean to you to be baptized by one spirit?

Prayer: God of One Spirit, sometimes we forget that it is by your spirit alone that we are invited and accepted into the family of God - both with those we like and those we do not like. Keep us from fighting about those things that distract us from your unifying spirit. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Family” - 1 John 3: 1-7

By virtue of our baptism we are born into the church family. Our Christian brothers and sisters. Spiritual parents and siblings. Or in the words of the epistle, children of God. Just like our biological family, their may be things that we would like to change. There may be times that we wish we could be part of a different family, but at the end of the day, family is family. 

And what an unusual family it is. We are often mis-understood by non-family members. We may yearn to fit in with other people, but like Jesus, we will be misunderstood because we are the children of God. We don’t do things like everyone else around us. While everyone else seems to focus on the individual, and what is best for me, we preach community first. In a world that fights with one another in order to bring about security, we seek forgiveness and peace. And in a world where identity is marked by status and accomplishments, we find our identity in our baptism. We are surely an odd bunch.

What does the mark of your baptism look like in your life?

What does the family of God mean in your life?

Prayer:  Lord, we thank you for the family of God, untied not by familial resemblance but by the baptism of Christ. Let us love the family we have been welcomed into. Amen. 

Wednesday: “ Believe and Be Baptized” - Acts 16: 31-33

Kenneth Carder in his book Living Our Belief writes this powerful statement: “Without a memory of what the church is called to be, the church becomes what the people want it to be.” Let me repeat that: “Without a memory of what the church is called to be, the church becomes what the people want it to be.”

Every time we baptize people, welcoming them into the family of God we remember who we are, remember the scriptures around baptism, remember the legacy of Christ carried out through the church. 

Every year we also celebrate the baptism of the Lord Sunday, so we remember Jesus’s baptism and reaffirm the vows made at our baptism. While the founder of Methodism, John Wesley. believed you could only enter into the waters of baptism once, he also believed that we needed to remember. 

How do you remember that vows made at your baptism?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that we are simple creatures. Sometimes we forget too quickly. We forget the vows that were made our baptism. We forget who we are as the Church. Help us to remember. Help us to live into the vows of our baptism once again. Amen. 

Thursday: “Life Worthy of Calling” - Eph 4:1-16

In today’s scripture lesson we hear that the Church is the body of Christ, knitted together under the leadership of the Lord. Kenneth Carder writes, “the Church is our very identify, not an organization we belong to in accordance with our preferences or connivence.” Sometimes the Church looses its way and losses it memory about who we are and whose we are. When we make it about petty things its evident that we have forgotten who we belong to.  Just whose Lordship we are under. Just who we exist for. 

But even when we remember whose we are, we may still forget what we are supposed to be doing. Paul tells the followers in Ephesus that they are to live a life worthy of their calling. Here’s the thing about calling - we all have one - we just sometimes choose to ignore it. While pastors may have a very specific calling to lead the church, everyone who calls them-self Christian are called to some time of servanthood and ministry by way of their baptism. Its just that the calling varies. But in this scripture passage we are told that we all have gifts - its just that the gifting and calls vary. 

How are baptism and call related in your life?

How do you live out the vows made at your baptism as part of the local church, the body of Christ?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for our identity that can only be found in you. Help us embrace the calling and gifts that come with this identity so that your name can be proclaimed and glorified! Amen. 

Friday: “My Beloved”- Luke 3: 21-22

There is a good work that began in you. It began long before your baptism – the time when we publicly proclaim it as a church. It was known in the Heavens before you took your first breath on this earth. Because God created you. We live in a world that tempts us to forget that message, that we are God’s very own. That the creator of the universe called Jesus out of the waters with the Heavens proclaiming that he was God’s beloved, and the same claim is laid on each of our lives every day. We stand as witnesses in the tradition of the Saints and Jesus Christ saying that God has a purpose for our being, and we will surround all of those around us with love. We will let our lives be examples, like Jesus’ was for us, of the walk of faith – triumphs, joys, sorrows, struggles, and everything in between. We will nurture those around us to make disciples for the transformation of the world. And most importantly, we hold each others hand and proclaim that we are one family, united by one true Holy Spirit that has laid claim to each of our lives and calls us “Beloved”. 

What does the word beloved mean to you?

How do you claim your status as the beloved of God in your every day life?

Prayer: God, we are blessed to be counted among your beloved. Prevent us from forgetting this. Help us to claim the title of beloved. Amen!

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Sacraments: Baptism II” - Psalm 84 and Romans 6: 1-11

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

 Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Acts 2: 37-42 and Psalm 45

From the Sermon:

____________ is an outward sign of such powerful transformation. 

After the people have heard the Good News and have come to believe, they have a logical question, __________________?

If we are not careful, we can trick ourselves into thinking that this is a work ____ do.

___________ can only come from God.

Baptism is powerful because it takes this human thing - water - and gives it a holy meaning - that God _________________.

Reflection Questions:

What promise of God is Peter speaking about?

How does Psalm 45 relate to the sacrament of baptism?

What does baptism mean to you?

Prayer:

Lord, as I enter the water to bather, I remember my baptism. Wash me by your grace. Fill me with your Spirit. Renew my soul. I pray that I might live as your child today and honor you in all that I do. 

Letter to the Ephesians: Be Strengthened - Eph 6: 10-20

    What or who strengthens you? 

     This seems like such a simple question, but when we really dig deep into it, we find out so much about ourselves and where our heart is at. 

     Sometimes the beginning of this passage from chapter 6 in Ephesians is translated as "be strong", but when we are strong, we are relying on ourselves - what we can do. But the phrase "be strengthened" reminds us that it is an ongoing process of leaning into another person for strength. And for the author of Ephesians, we are strengthened in Christ. 

     How are you strengthened by Christ?

Letter to the Ephesians: Be Strengthened Devo - Eph 6: 10-20

 August 1st, 2021

Devotional

“Letter to the Ephesians: Be Strengthened” - Eph 6:10-20

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: “In His Mighty Power” - Eph 6:10

How often do you stop and just think about the mighty power of God? 

All too often, we seem to skip past or try to shortchange the power of God and as a result we miss the opportunity to claim that power in our faith lives.

The English translation of verse 10 says “be strong” in many of our favorite versions of the Bible. But when we think of being strong, we think of our own might, our own power. Doing things by our own strength. Therefore, a better way to approach this verse and the passage of scripture that follows is to think about being strengthened - being poured into and sustained by the power of God.

This is a transition from the way of the world - that calls us to rely on ourselves, to the new life we find in Christ - which calls on us to rely on our God alone.

What are some of the ways that you have experienced the power of God in your life?

Prayer: God, we confess that we sometimes get so caught up in your goodness and love that we overlook your might and power. But you are the Lord that brought the Israelites out of Egypt. You upheld your people by the power of your outstretched arm. You equipped your Church to perform miracles by your strength alone. Let us fully claim and live into your power, today, we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Full Armor of God” - Eph 6: 11-13

The earlier readers and hearers of the letter to the Ephesians would have been exceedingly familiar with armor. It surrounded them. They saw the Roman soilders in their region wearing it.

To which the author of Ephesians says I want to talk to you about another type of armor - the armor of God.

While the armor of the world was used to conquer lands and express earthly power, the armor of God is put on to conquer the darkness of the world. While the armor of the world is about getting ahead and prestige, the armor of the Kingdom of God is about love - the love of our Savior towards us.

The armor of God invites us into a whole new way of being.

Where do we see spiritual darkness today?

How can we be extreme in our peace and love?

Prayer: Lord, you said that you would never leave us or forsake us. Not only did you send the Holy Spirit to guide us, you remind us of the armor we have in and through you to face this world. Strengthen us, we pray. Amen.

Wednesday: “ Truth and Righteousness” - Eph 6: 14-15

When you get up in the morning and start to put on your clothes to go about your day, do you ever stop and think about putting on your spiritual protection as well? Do you think about claiming and putting on Christ’s truth and his righteousness to lead you about your day?

We are missing out on the opportunity to claim the one we follow, if we step into our days unprepared. If we don’t think about putting on all that Christ has gifted us with. 

Now do we literally put on truth and righteousness, as if we can shed and re-clothe ourselves with Christ? No. But when we stop and think about the truth and righteousness of Christ we are much more likely to live into them throughout the day.

As you start you day today, close your eyes and pray “Christ, help me stand firm with your belt of truth buckled around my waist, with your breastplate of righteousness in place over my heart. Amen.”

How did you notice Christ’s presence differently today after claiming his armor on your life?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your protection that allows us to face whatever may be in-store today. Let us lean into your truth, mercy, and grace, as your beloved child. Amen. 

Thursday: “Faith” - Eph 6: 16-17

It is important to note in this passage, even though we are all putting on the same armor, that does not mean that we are being told to confirm. In fact, it is exact opposite. By putting on the armor of God, we are being reminded to not conform with the ways of the world. We aren’t just to blend in.

Instead, by putting on the armor of God we are claiming our identity and roots in Christ, through faith.

Each time we envision putting on the armor of God it is an opportunity to renew our commitment to him and pray that we can be obedient to the will and way of God. 

How does the armor of God help remind you of who you are?

Prayer: Lord, we live in a world where it seems like everyone wants to define who we are. Remind us that our identity rests only in you, the one who created us and the one who called us. Amen. 

Friday: “Pray” - Eph 6: 18-20

In case we think that we can just put on the armor of Christ and go about our day, the author of the letter to Ephesians reminds us of the primacy of prayer in our daily lives. We pray for the people of God. We pray for opportunities to proclaim the Gospel. We pray for the strength we need. We are a people of prayer.

Why is there such an emphasis on prayer? Because it keeps our hearts humble. It gives us ears to hear and hearts to respond to the will of God.

Without prayer it becomes so easy for us to become stubborn, which is actually the opposite of standing firm. We need prayer to keep us ready to bear witness to the love of Jesus Christ in any way that we can.

What are some of the differences between being stubborn and standing firm?

Prayer: Lord, we pray for humble hearts that are bent towards you and give you all the glory. Let us not stand in our own will and strength, but follow you alone. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Sacraments: Baptism” - Psalm 46 and Acts 2: 37-42.