Good morning!
We're so glad you decided to join us today!
When we meet in person, we share our joys and concerns with each other. If you have prayer requests to share, you can add them to the comments on this post. When you are ready, use this prayer to get started.
Gracious God, it is so easy to become proud of our dedication to the church and to its ministries. It is so easy to hear and enjoy the praise of men and women and even to think it equates to God’s approval as well. But you know us in the depths of our being. You know us as we really are. You see us when we are at our worse, when we fall short, when our motives are not pure and our devotion wanes.
Lord, we want to be true followers of Christ in our hearts and not just people who go through the motions. Help us to be authentic Christians. And when we fail, help us to rely on Christ and the forgiveness we have through him. We pray this in his name. Amen.
This week's lesson is on Romans 2:12-24, 28-29.
Introduction and context
In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he expresses his full vision of the new community that God has created through Jesus Christ. It is not a community that breaks from the tradition of the Old Testament and the Law. Instead, it is a community that gets to the heart of why the Law was given to Moses in the first place. It is a community in which everyone is united by a common devotion to God, shown not just by their adherence to the Law of Moses but by a deep commitment to live in a way that pleases God. By the time Paul wrote this letter, the Jewish people had been practicing circumcision for 2,000 years. It was a sign of the covenant that God made with Abraham and that continued through all of his descendants. Neither the Greeks nor the Romans practiced it — the Greeks seeing it as mutilation of the ideal body. But for the Jews, it was extremely important. It served as a physical reminder to the Jewish men and to others that they were set apart and that they belonged to the people of the covenant. The church in Rome was made up of people who had come from both Jewish and pagan backgrounds. It seems likely that Christians who came out of Judaism would think themselves superior to those who formerly were pagans. This would have created a division in the church.
Just judgment (verses 12-16)
In Paul’s time, people often expressed the distinction between Jews and Gentiles by saying that Jews were “under the law” while Gentiles were “apart from the law.” The Law, of course, is the law that God gave the nation of Israel through Moses, embodied especially in the first five books of the Bible. The Jews had studied the law of Moses for centuries. They knew it well, and it served as the basis for their faith. Yet throughout their history they also knowingly broke the law and suffered for it. They could not avoid being judged for their violations. On the other hand, Gentiles had not been given the law. Still, in the first chapter of this letter, Paul points out that they could not avoid God’s judgment by claiming ignorance. Even those outside the law, he argues, have a law written on their minds and their conscience. They will be judged for violating that law as well. So both Jews and Gentiles are under God’s judgment. Paul points out, therefore, that there is no reason for a person to think more highly of himself simply because he is among the people to whom God gave the law. What matters is obeying the law. That is something that Gentiles sometimes do, even though they don’t have the law to instruct them. The example of righteous Gentiles reveal that the law is not a matter of following rules on a page but of following the precepts God has written on every human heart, although sin has obscured our ability to see and follow them. A day will come when God will judge everyone for who they truly are — not for their lineage or for the public face they put on for others. Lack of evidence might fool human judges and juries, but God knows who we really are. And none of us is without sin.
False faithfulness (verses 17-24)
Paul uses a series of propositions to remove the Jewish Christians’ feelings of superiority. If you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law; if you know God’s will; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, he says, then what are you teachers teaching yourselves? Jews in general, and Jewish religious leaders in particular, saw themselves as guides for those who did not know the law and teachers of the foolish. However, it seems that not all of them lived up to the standards they proclaimed. Paul must know of the general hypocrisy of some Jewish teachers. Even if he does not know of any specific circumstances, he must know that many of the teachers’ examples do not live up to their own teaching. And, as we said earlier, it is not having the law that is important. It is obeying the law. He asks if those who teach against stealing might be stealing themselves. He asks if people who teach against adultery are committing that sin themselves. People who teach the right thing but live their lives contrary to their own teaching are hypocrites. Instead of leading people to deeper faith, such teachers push people away. By shedding light on what is really going on, Paul is removing the Jewish Christians’ reason to see themselves as superior to their formerly pagan brothers and sisters. He is also pointing out that all Christians, regardless of their background, stand condemned for their sinful ways.
True identity (verses 28-29)
Next Paul redefines what it means to be a Jew — at least in the ideal sense. He says it is not about going through the rite of circumcision. Nor is it about publicly following meticulous rules for purity. Those are simply physical matters, but God wants us to go deeper. True Jews, he says, are the ones who follow God in the depth of their being. True Jews are those who have been circumcised by the Spirit in their hearts, so to speak. Paul is lifting the discussion from the human and physical level to the divine and spiritual. This is where God has always wanted God’s people to focus. In other words, God has always wanted a people whose hearts were circumcised, not just their bodies. Truly following God, whether we are Jews or Christians, has always been a matter of seeking God with our whole hearts, not seeking the attention and praise of people. Many places in the Bible remind us that God sees the heart and that God knows who we are deep inside. (See, for example, Psalm 44:21.) Ultimately, whether or not a person is circumcised physically or not does not matter. The thing that matters is spiritual circumcision that accompanies faith in Christ.
Conclusion
The idea of a circumcised heart was powerful for Mose and Paul, and it must be for us today. Can we humble ourselves and leave behind our tendencies to be stiff-necked? Can we trust fully in Christ for our salvation, not our own good works? Paul’s exposition for the rest of the book of Romans required both Jews and Gentiles to realize their need for God’s salvation because all are under the power of sin (Romans 3:9). For both groups, hope comes not from keeping the law, whether it be the law of the conscience or the Law of Moses. It comes from faith in Christ. Prayer Heavenly Father, may our hearts turn away from pride and sin and toward you in faith and hope. May our trust be only in your Son, Jesus. We pray in his name. Amen.
Questions for discussion
Benediction
This week's benediction is from the Message.
Next week's lesson is on Romans 7:1-12.
0 Comments
Today's guest speaker is Rev. Renny Domske.
Gathering Around the Word
Prelude: Choir Carol Smith ANNOUNCEMENTS: CALL TO WORSHIP: from Psalm 41 Blessed is the one who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers that person in times of trouble. The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; the Lord will bless him in the land and restore him. The Lord will sustain her on her sickbed and restore her from her bed of illness I said, “O Lord, have mercy on me; heal me, for I have sinned against You.” I know You are pleased with me in my integrity, for my enemy does not triumph over me. You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever, Praise be to the Lord our God, from everlasting to everlasting. INVOCATION
HYMN Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah # 65 Intro then 3 verses
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION: (unison) Why, O Lord, do You continue to be patient with us? Why, O Lord, do we continue to be selfish? Why, O Lord, do we continue to sin? Thank You for Your patience. Thank You for Your hope. Thank You for Your continual sustaining of our lives. Thank You for Your love. It is a love that brings us a cool breeze of forgiveness. We are sorry we have failed You. We are sorry we have sinned. * Time of silent prayer *Assurance of Pardon *Response – Gloria Patri *Passing the Peace L: The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. P: And also, with you. CHILDREN’S CHAT Prayer for Illumination Scripture I Thessalonians 1: 2 – 10 Diana D ll Timothy 2: 8 - 15 SERMON “Lisa and Keith------Tour Guides To Jesus” *HYMN “Jesus, the Very Thought Of Thee” #629 Intro then 5 verses *Apostles Creed Presentation of our tithes and offering Offertory *Doxology *Prayer of dedication Concerns and Celebrations Prayers of the People The Lord’s Prayer *HYMN “Softly and Tenderly # 418 Intro then 3 verses Benediction Postlude: Choir Carol Smith
BIRTHDAYS Honey (Lois) Moore
ANNIVERSARIES None this week SYMPATHIES Remember our food collection. And Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.” Please let Betty Fisher know of anyone within the community that may be in need at this time. We need to collect for the flower fund that Cheryl Bell oversees. We will be collecting on October 1st. Next Sunday is worldwide communion. Next Sunday is the start of our monthly dinners after church service. Please stay, eat and enjoy the fellowship.
Continuing Prayer List
Chuck Dicks, Frank Huffman, Tom Westfall, Sandy Stone, Sarah Wilson, Carl Weber, Jimmy Svetz, Ricci Amos, Haley Diedier Bedillion, Fred Wilkinson, Tiffany Cipoletti, Diane Anderson, Suzy Smith, Helen Provenzano, Donna West, Judy Donaldson, Marlene McFeely, Chuck Harton, Jean Westfall, Sue Gregg, Wendy Willard, Marley Smith, Kirkland Cipoletti, Ellen Morris, Dave Henderson, Ed Horne, Doris Ann Rowe, Sue Knox
Good morning!
We're so glad you decided to join us today!
When we meet in person, we take time to share our joys and concerns. Take some time to consider the last week. If you have any prayer requests, you can add them as comments on this post. When you are ready, use the prayer below (source) to get started.
God Almighty, shine the light of Jesus into my life and help me make my way through this world of darkness without stumbling. Guide me away from any false light, and help me to find and follow Jesus' light. Use me to share that light with others so they can find their way home to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's lesson is on John 8:1-11, 56-59.
Lesson Context
The first part of today's lesson occurred while Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Festival of Tabernacles. This festival celebrated the olive and fruit harvests. It was also a time to remember deliverance from slavery in Egypt. As part of the festival, many people would live in tents outside the city to reenact the 40 years the Israelites had lived in tents while wandering in the wilderness. The second part of today's lesson occurs while Jesus responded to questions from a crowd of both laypeople and Pharisees.
A Woman's Cause to Rejoice
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, probably as a way to be in his Father's presence. The next day, he went to the temple very early in the morning. The people gathering around him implies that they were primed to hear Jesus' teaching. Our book points out that there is no information about how the woman was found in adultery, but not her partner. It also states that there many have been some double standards about the judgment of women and the judgment of men in this situation. The Pharisees call Jesus "Teacher." This may have been done in a sarcastic manner, since they largely did not consider Jesus to have any authority to teach. It also may have put listeners on alert -- would Jesus answer as a learned teacher ought to , or would he reveal himself as a fraud? Jesus responded with what the Old Testament law stated. Both men and women were subject to being stoned. But then Jesus asked the Pharisees what they said about the situation. As they questioned Jesus further, he began to write on the ground. We are never told what he writes. Eventually, Jesus tells them that any of them without sin should cast the first stone. As much as the Pharisees tried to follow every letter of the law, they had all still sinned. At first the older teachers walked away, and then the younger, until none of them was left. They realized that they were all guilty of breaking one law or another. Now, there are no witnesses to condemn the woman. Jesus sends her to leave her life of sin. No further information is given regarding the woman's repentance.
Abraham's Cause to Rejoice
Before this passage, Jesus asserted that the crowd's actions showed them to be children of the devil. Calling Abraham their father implies that, if they were really his children, they would react as Abraham did from God's promise that his own family would bless the whole world. The crowd had a bad reaction to what Jesus had to say. Then, Jesus says, "before Abraham was born, I am!" We might recognize the "I am" as God's formula for self-identification in the Old Testament. In the gospel of John, we notice Jesus making frequent statements about himself that involve God's sacred name, I Am. When using this name directly for himself, Jesus is stressing his complete union with the Father. The crowd then tried to stone Jesus. Leviticus 24:16 states that anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord must be put to death by stoning. The crowd understood what Jesus was saying. They were unable to stone Jesus because his time had not yet come.
Conclusion
Jesus was completely within his rights to condemn the adulterous woman, but he chose to offer mercy with his call to repentance. Jesus could have refrained from revealing himself as I am, but he chose instead to make himself known. We certainly benefit from Jesus' self-revelation and his merciful call to turn to him. Considering who Christ is and who he calls you to be, what repentance is necessary in your life? What "stonings" will you divert because of your love for Jesus? What rejoicing will you spread? Prayer Lord, we all have sinned and fallen short of your ways. Lay our hearts bare so that we might repent and sin no more. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Questions for Discussion
Benediction
This week's benediction is from the New International Version.
Next week's lesson will be on Romans 2:12-23, 28-29.
Today's guest speaker is Rev. Renny Domske.
Gathering Around the Word
Prelude Choir ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL TO WORSHIP from Psalm 40 I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit; He lifted me out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on a rock, And gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth; He gave me a hymn of praise to our God. Blessed is the one who makes the Lord his trust. Here I am! I desire to do Your will, O my God. Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You have done for us are too many to declare. INVOCATION
*HYMN “When Morning Gilds the Skies” # 667
(intro & 4 verses) *PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Many are the ways I have failed You this week, O Lord. I have done things my way rather than consulting You. I have too often ignored others when I should be looking to their needs. I have not gone the extra mile for anyone but myself. Forgive me. Restore me. Allow me to desire Your presence above all. Help me to reflect Your Love to my family. Assist me in sharing Your forgiveness and hope with all whom I touch and meet. Thank You for constantly forgiving me. *Time of silent prayer: *Assurance of Pardon *Response – Gloria Patri *The peace of the Lord Jesus be with you. And also with you *Passing of the peace Children’s Chat Prayer of illumination Scripture reading James 1: 19 – 27 Mary Esselstyn Matthew 14: 22 - 35 SERMON: “Asking Directions in Western PA” HYMN “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” # 8 (intro & 4 verses) *Apostles Creed Presentation of tithes and offering Offertory *Doxology *Prayer of dedication Concerns and Celebrations Prayers for the people The Lord’s Prayer * HYMN “Lead On, O King Eternal!’ # 269 (intro & 3 verses) *Benediction Postlude Choir
BIRTHDAYS Janet Brach, Carol Stough, Ron Westfall
ANNIVERSARIES Nelson & Marlene Huffman Don & Lynn Herschell Tom & Chris Miller SYMPATHIES For the Keith McGill Family For the Mary Allen Schmidt Family Friend of Debbie Durila For the Georgia Manypenny Family Friend of Tim Knabenshue For the Shelvie Coulter Family For the Elaine Belcastro Family We need prayers for Doris Ann Rowe who is under Hospice Care now. Remember our food collection. And Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.” Please let Betty Fisher know of anyone within the community that may be in need at this time. We need to collect for the flower fund that Cheryl Bell oversees. We will be collecting on October 1st.
Continuing Prayer List
Chuck Dicks, Frank Huffman, Tom Westfall, Sandy Stone, Sarah Wilson, Carl Weber, Jimmy Svetz, Ricci Amos, Haley Diedier Bedillion, Fred Wilkinson, Tiffany Cipoletti, Diane Anderson, Suzy Smith, Helen Provenzano, Donna West, Judy Donaldson, Marlene McFeely, Chuck Harton, Jean Westfall, Billie Wilson, Sue Gregg, Wendy Willard, Marley Smith, Kirkland Cipoletti, Ellen Morris, Mike Durila, Dave Henderson, Ed Horne, Dorothy Caffrey, Doris Ann Rowe, Frank Baker
Good morning!
We're so glad you decided to join us today!
When we meet together on Sunday mornings, we take time to share any joys or concerns we have. If you have a prayer request, please add it to the comments on this post. When you are ready, use the prayer below (source) to get started.
Heavenly Father, I praise and thank You for the Word of truth and for opening Scripture to my understanding. Thank You that Jesus came to earth and was prepared to suffer the sneering taunts and shocking accusations from His own family members and His own nation, to die on the Cross so that by grace through faith I might believe on His name and be saved. Thank You that despite being rejected and crucified, Jesus is coming back to set up His eternal kingdom on earth. Give me a greater understanding of Your plans and purposes for mankind, and may I live and work for Your greater praise and glory. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.
This week's lesson is on John 7:14-24.
What does it mean to glorify God?
To glorify God is to honor Him with praise or worship. God is glorious, great and magnificent—He is grand in His nature and deeds. “Full of splendor and majesty is his work” (Psalm 111:3). Glorifying God means to acknowledge His greatness and splendor and praise Him for it. Revelation 14:7 tells us to direct our praise, adoration, thanksgiving, and worship to Him who alone is worthy. A great example of this is King David installing Asaph as Chief Minister. David’s instructions are:
In Asaph’s time, the offerings were in accordance with the Law of Moses; today, we are “to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. According to Romans 12:1, this is true and proper worship”. In 1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul teaches: By virtue of who God is, we have an obligation to glorify God at all times. We are to extol His attributes, praise His works, trust His name, and obey His Word. He is holy, faithful, merciful, gracious, loving, majestic, sovereign, powerful, and omniscient. His works are wonderful, wise, marvelous, and fearfully complex. His Word is “perfect . . . trustworthy . . . right . . . radiant . . . pure . . . firm . . . precious” (Psalm 19:7–10). His salvation is astonishing, timely, and near. No matter how loudly or widely we proclaim the glory of God, He is worthy of more.
Prayer
Lord, teach us to glorify you in all that we do. Diminish our desires to make a name or a fortune for ourselves and increase our desire to bring glory to your Name. May we rely on the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts, words, and actions. Thank you for the example we have in Christ. It is in his name we pray. Amen Thought to Remember Choose: your glory or his?
Benediction
Today's benediction is from the New King James Version.
Next week's lesson will be on John 8:1-11, 56-59.
Today's guest speaker is TJ Spruill.
Gathering Around the Word
Prelude Choir ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL TO WORSHIP People of God, worship the living God today! Remember that out of nothing God created the heavens and earth. Remember that God raised Jesus from the powerlessness of death to the power of his right hand. Remember that not even the gates of hell can stand against God’s purposes. All: Behold your God, who reigns now and forever! INVOCATION
*HYMN “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” 232
(intro then 4 verses) *PRAYER OF CONFESSION Have mercy on me, O God, in Your faithful love, in Your great tenderness wipe away my offences; wash me thoroughly from, my guilt, purify me from my sin. For I am well aware of my offences, my sin is constantly in mind. But You delight in sincerity of heart, and in secret You teach me wisdom. God, create in me a clean heart, renew within me a resolute spirit, do not thrust me away from Your presence, do not take away from me Your spirit of holiness. Give me back the joy of Your salvation, sustain in me a generous spirit. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth w3ill speak out Your praise. Sacrifice gives You no pleasure, burnt offering You do not desire. Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken contrite heart You never scorn., *Time of silent prayer: *Assurance of Pardon *Response – Gloria Patri *Passing of the peace Children’s Chat Prayer of illumination Scripture reading Romans 13: 8 – 14 Debbie Durila Matthew 18: 15 - 22 SERMON: “77” *HYMN “Open My Eyes, That I May See” # 451 (intro then 3 verses) *Apostles Creed Presentation of tithes and offering Offertory *Doxology *Prayer of dedication Concerns and Celebrations Prayers for the people The Lord’s Prayer * HYMN “My Faith Looks Up To Thee” # 829 (into then 4 verses) *Benediction *Postlude
Sympathy to the family of Keith McGill.
Good morning!
We're so glad you chose to join us today!
When we meet together on Sunday mornings, we take time to share any joys or concerns we have. If you have a prayer request, please add it to the comments on this post. When you are ready, use the Catholic prayer for healing below (source) to get started.
Lord Jesus, heal me. Heal in me whatever you see needs healing. Heal me of whatever might separate me from you. Heal my memory, heal my heart, heal my emotions, heal my spirits, heal my soul. Lay your hands upon me and Heal me through your love for me. Amen
Today's lesson is on Luke 14:1-6.
Loving God by Loving the Least
Our book opens with this story. As attendees at the memorial service for Dorthy Day (1897-1980) listened to the sermon they were reminded of the following quote from her writing: “You love God just as much as the one you love least.” This quote was her way of paraphrasing Jesus' commands in Luke 10:25-37 to love God and show love and mercy to others. The minister giving the sermon went on to describe how this quote anchored Dorothy's like and work. Demonstrations of mercy, love and justice have been the tenets of the Catholic Workers Movement, established by Dorothy and others in the 1930's. The movement consist of over 200 communities (houses) in 14 countries. Each house works to show hospitality and mercy to the most vulnerable members of their city. This work is done through their feeding of the hungry, tending to the sick, and providing stable housing for the unhoused. God desires that his people love him and love their neighbors. People can demonstrate such love toward others through acts of mercy. In doing so, God's people follow Jesus' command to “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). This lesson's Scriptures reveals how Jesus responded to a group of people who wanted to add boundaries and limitations to acts of mercy. This lesson depicts the third occasion in Luke's Gospel that Jesus shared a meal with a Pharisee. All three interactions share a common pattern of events. First, a Pharisee invited Jesus to join the meal. Second, a tense moment between Jesus and the host led to a conversation regarding issues of religious observances. Third, Jesus used the opportunity to instruct those in attendance on issues regarding how to follow God. In doing so, Jesus taught his fellow diners to act mercifully in their dealings with other people. The issue of doing work on the Sabbath is the primary concern in this lesson. The Jewish Sabbath was established based on the day that God rested after six days of creation. As a result, people were commanded to ceased work on the Sabbath. Such requirements regarding that day were a sign of holiness between God and his people. As the ancient Israelites left Egypt, they were commanded to take certain steps to prepare for Sabbath observance. Later, as the people entered the promised land, the Law of Moses provided further descriptions regarding proper observance of the Sabbath. Defiance of these commands brought harsh consequences to the people. The Israelites understood the Sabbath was a delight and day for worship. Even psalms were to be sung on that day. By the first century AD, certain expectations regarding proper adherence of the Sabbath had been established by the Jewish religious leaders. In the time between the testaments, an oral tradition later known as Mishna, (rabbinic law) attempted to define the rules regarding proper Sabbath observance. These included nuance definitions of work, as well as complex regulations regarding what was allowed and disallowed on the Sabbath. Such intricacies made it challenging for most first century Jews to accurately interpret how they should observe the Sabbath. Jesus never disputed the importance of the Sabbath. His high regard for it can be seen in his habit of teaching in the synagogues on the Sabbath. Further, he was willing to use the day to show mercy toward suffering people. As “Lord.. of the Sabbath”, Jesus demonstrated the true intent of the Sabbath: to remind God's people of his mercy. The day was not to be a religious burden or an excuse to limit work of love and mercy.
Luke 14: 1-6
Because Jesus was considered a rabbi by at least one member of the Pharisees, Nicodemus, the group likely deemed him to be an appropriate guest for a meal. They could discuss the law and its associated tradition and commentary. As a Pharisee, the host likely enjoyed some degree of wealth and probably held in high regard as a teacher of the law. The Pharisees who assembled for this meal treated Jesus with suspicion. They watched Jesus in order to find fault with him. In front of Jesus was a man who suffered abnormal swelling. This might have been caused by an underlying issue regarding the heart, kidney or liver. Today we would have treated this with diuretics, but no such treatment was available then. The man would have continued to suffer and would have depended on the charity of others to meet his basic needs. Jesus asked, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?' This question concerned the heart of the Law of Moses. The law was never intended to burden the people. And Jesus never abolished the Law of Moses. Instead, he wanted his audience to consider the principles of goodness and righteousness belonging to the Law of Moses. To heal on the Sabbath violated the Pharisees' strict reading of the law regarding what was acceptable on that day. God does not desire for humans to limit works of mercy, either regarding the timing or the recipient of those works. When the Pharisees remained silent, Jesus healed the man. Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” The Law of Moses required that people help lost or injured livestock of neighbors and enemies alike. An attitude of mercy, even to livestock, was at the heart of these commands. Without assistance, the stranded animal was at risk of suffering injury or facing harm from predators. Jesus expected that all of the guests at the meal would agree that showing mercy to an animal even on the Sabbath made sense. In that case, how much more legitimate was showing mercy to people on the Sabbath? Possible endangerment of a child would also be an appropriate and necessary reason for a person to act on the Sabbath. If a person showed effort to save livestock on the Sabbath, then that person would surely show more effort to save a child. Jesus could have waited until the next day to heal the man. However, the opportunity for Jesus to show mercy presented itself on the Sabbath. The Sabbath served human well-being, not the other way around. For the second time during the meal, the Pharisees were left speechless. The silence of the Pharisees did not end the meal. Instead, Jesus used their silence as an opportunity to question them and teach them. (Luke 14: 7-24, Parable of the banquet)
Conclusion
The emphasis of this story is not on the ailing man. Instead, this story at its heart is a caution against focusing on religious practices at the expense of mercy. Jesus was not trying to nullify the Pharisees' practice of observing Sabbath. Not only did the Sabbath require a pause on work, but it also provided time for people to consider how they could show mercy to others. Further, the question of whether or not the person could heal on the Sabbath was an obscure point. Most people are unable to heal another person on any day of the week. Only the one is the Lord of the Sabbath has the ability to heal on the Sabbath. Sometimes we unintentionally limit our expectations of what God ought to do. What are some traditions we hold to that perpetuated this? God's work is not limited by human expectations. We are to trust God and his timing of his work. When we exercise faith by trusting him in this way, we commit to live of mercy, following the ways of our heavenly Father. Twentieth-century Jewish scholar Abraham Joshua Herschel (1907 – 1972) describes the Sabbath as being an expression of holiness based in time. Although Christians today are not required to observe the Jewish Sabbath, we can still apply similar principles. The idea of observing specific time in order to show mercy in sustained and tangible ways. Although we may sometimes ge t tunnel vision and focus on other parts of our busy lives, we must remember to keep mercy at the forefront of our minds, regardless of the situation.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you have shown us great mercy, just as you have shown mercy to your people throughout history. We want to be people marked by lives of mercy. Heal us from spiritual ailments that causes us to act in unloving ways. Grant us deeper awareness of the needs of our neighbors so that we might show love and mercy. Help us be merciful, just as you are merciful. In the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
Questions for discussion
Benediction
This week's benediction is from the New International Version.
Next week's lesson will be on John 7:14-24.
Today's guest speaker is TJ Spruill.
BIRTHDAYS Carol Horne, Dana Wilson, Nora Beth Gill
ANNIVERSARIES John & Barb O'Hara, Dave & Susie Cummings SYMPATHY For the Lisa Hamilton family. We will surely miss you and your smile. Remember our food collection. And Jesus said, "You give them something to eat." Please let Betty Fisher know of anyone within the community that may be in need at this time. Missionary Meeting is Tuesday, September 12 at 9:30 am in the Social Hall of Church.
Continuing Prayer List
Chuck Dicks, Frank Huffman, Tom Westfall, Elaine Belcastro, Sandy Stone, Sarah Wilson, Carl Weber, Jimmy Svetz, Haley Diedier Bedillion, Fred Wilkinson, Ricci Amos, Tiffany Cipoletti, Diane Anderson, Tim Taylor, Suzy Smith, Helen Provenzano, Donna West , Judy Donaldson, Marlene McFeely, Chuck Harton,Wiley Myers, Keith McGill, Ron and Jean Westfall, Billie Wilson, Sue Gregg, Wendy Willard, Marley Smith, Kirkland Cipoletti, Ellen Morris, Mike Durila, Dave Henderson, Ed Horne, Dorothy Caffrey
Good morning!
We're so glad you chose to join us today!
When we meet in person, we share our joys and concerns with each other. If you have prayer requests to share, you can add them to the comments on this post. When you are ready, use this prayer to get started.
Heavenly Father, help us to be authentic Christians. Help us to set ourselves aside for a moment. In our lives, our thoughts and our prayers, help us to care deeply about what those around us are going through today, to think about the trauma, the pain and the grief others are experiencing and how we might lift their burden a bit through our words or actions. Help to us to think about times when our own words or actions might have added to others’ burdens or set a bad example. Forgive us, Lord, and help us to do better. Help us to live as Christians from the inside out. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.
Today's lesson is on Luke 11:37-44.
Introduction
After the creation of modern money, an inevitable invention followed: counterfeit money. For example, ancient counterfeiters minted coins made from metals that were less valuable than the authentic coins. The counterfeit coins were dipped in silver to mimic the real coins. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, fraudsters clipped the edges of authentic coins in order to extract bits of the precious metals. From those clippings, they would create a counterfeit coin. Contemporary money has undergone developments to limit counterfeiters. Many modern coins have grooved or milled edges to show that none of the valuable precious metals have been removed. These efforts, while preventing some counterfeiters, have not done away with the practice altogether. Profits await the successful counterfeiter. People sometimes “counterfeit” themselves by pretending to be someone they are not. Scandals arise when people say they believe or value one thing but act in a way that opposes that value. Jesus had no tolerance for hypocritical behavior, especially from the religious leaders of his day.
Lesson context
The Gospel of Luke, along with the book of Acts, makes up a two-volume work that describes Jesus’s life and teaching and how it continued in the early church after Jesus’s resurrection and ascension. Today’s scripture is part of a section in which Jesus teaches and heals while on his way to Jerusalem. In today’s lesson, Jesus shares a meal with a Pharisee. The Pharisees were the most pious among the Jewish religious leaders. They attempted to follow the Law of Moses faithfully. To help them do that, they established a set of traditions and rules for all aspects of life that would make it even more difficult to violate the Law. This was like a “fence” around the Law. However, their zeal for keeping these traditions sometimes kept them from seeing the purpose of the Law itself.
Two people (verses 37-41)
Jesus had been teaching the crowds along the way about wickedness and judgment. At this moment, a Pharisee comes up to him and invites him to eat with him. In Jesus’s time, it was a common practice to invite a teacher to a meal. It allowed the teacher to demonstrate his insight and wisdom in a more intimate setting. But sharing a meal together in Jesus’s time was also a sign of acceptance of the person with whom you ate. For this reason, when the teacher accepted the invitation, it brought a measure of honor to the host. That is also why people avoided extending dinner invitations to social outcasts. Hand-washing was one of the important rituals the Pharisees adhered to in a variety of situations, but especially before meals. In our passage for today, therefore, the Pharisee is surprised when Jesus does not wash his hands before the meal. It is clear from other passages that Jesus did not have any problems with washing itself. It seems, instead, that he did this intentionally, just to provoke a response that led to a teaching moment. When Jesus notices the Pharisee’s surprise, he talks about how the Pharisees make sure the outside of their cup and dish are clean, but they neglect the inside. It becomes clear that Jesus is not talking about literal tableware but about people, when he adds that “inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” In other words, he was saying, the Pharisees were concerned about external practices and appearances, but their attention should be on the inside — on their hearts and their minds. Jesus calls such Pharisees and people who think as they did foolish. He notes that God created human beings — both the external physical parts and our internal mental parts where character and affections are formed. We should not be concerned only about the outward part. We should be concerned about being the people God wants us to be on the inside. When that is our focus, acts of compassion and generosity will naturally flow from us.
Three woes (verses 42-44)
Next Jesus pronounces a series of “woes” upon the Pharisees and those who follow their example. The Hebrew prophets often used the term “woe” in the Old Testament to pronounce approaching pain and doom upon certain people. (See, for example, Amos 6.) The reason for the first woe is that the Pharisees paid diligent attention to relatively unimportant aspects of their faith while ignoring the most important aspects. Because the Law called for Jews to give a tithe of their goods, the Pharisees went as far as to give a tenth of herbs such as mint and rue, which often grew wild and would be difficult to estimate. However, when it came to seeking justice and loving God, they showed little concern. Such requirements should have been their greatest concern. The heart of the Law, as Jesus states elsewhere, is the command to love God (Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew 22:36-38) and to love others (Leviticus 19:18 and Matthew 22:39). God’s people observe the command to love God by loving others. Instead, Jesus says, the Pharisees were attempting to show their love for God with meticulous precision while completely ignoring the command to love others. What’s more, they took pride in their strict observances instead of living lives marked by mercy and justice. (Micah 6:8) That brings Jesus to the reason for his second “woe.” The Pharisees, he says, love public displays of importance. They love being seated in the most important seats of the synagogue and being greeted with respect in the marketplace. The problem, it seems, is that a major underlying reason for the Pharisees’s faith was to draw attention to themselves and not to show love for God or for others. The final “woe” is because of the example the Pharisees set for others. Because they were seen as leaders in the faith and as examples for others to follow, their misguided faith caused others to distort the faith as well. Jesus uses the analogy of people walking over an unmarked grave. Jewish people were deemed defiled and ritually unclean if they came in contact with a dead body. The Pharisees, Jesus is saying, were like unmarked graves which people walk over and thus become defiled without even knowing it. By example, they were promoting an idea that being a faithful Jew was only about adhering to ceremonial laws and not about caring for others. Those who saw them and followed their example might think they were giving pure and faithful lives. In fact, without realizing it, they were defiled by their lack of attention to the most important commandments, just as the Pharisees were.
Hypocritical behavior
Born into slavery in Edenton, North Carolina, Harriet Jacobs understood firsthand the horror of being controlled by other people. She suffered inhumane conditions as a slave. Her slave master sexually harassed her and, when she did not submit, he threatened to sell her children. Instead, she hid in a tiny crawl space under the roof of her grandmother’s house. For seven years she hid in the space so small that she could not stand up, until she managed to escape to the North, where she was united with her children and her brother. She detailed her experiences in her autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, which she wrote under the pseudonym Linda Brent. In the book, she questioned how the religious leaders of her day could ignore slavery or even use Scripture to justify it. She wondered whether they were blind or hypocrites. The Pharisees of Jesus’s day acted hypocritically. Although their public displays of observance to the Law portrayed them as devoted and faithful Jews, their actions toward others revealed hearts that cared only about themselves. They had failed to show mercy and justice. They had become prideful. They were a deadly influence on others. Hypocrisy is still an issue today. Where do hypocritical impulses arise in your heart?
Conclusion
In many ways, faults similar to those Jesus pointed out in the Pharisees can be found in people today. The Pharisees prioritized outward displays of holiness, while failing to do the important work of love, mercy, and justice. Pursuing counterfeit displays of holiness, while potentially easier than going after what God requires, leaves people as hypocrites. God wants his people to experience holiness in all aspects of their lives. Followers of Jesus must remember to honor the commands to love God, show justice, and demonstrate merciful love, above any other traditions. Only then will believers exercise a “pure” religion before God (James 1:27). A failure to do so indicates that one’s heart has not been transformed. Consider the following questions: Does your behavior lead you to love God more deeply? Does your behavior lead you to act justly or advocate for justice for others? If you can answer positively to both questions, then you are on the right track to loving God and your neighbor.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we desire to be holy people. Take away our need to impress others, and impress on us the image of your Son, Jesus Christ. Show us how we might be generous with the gifts you have given us so that we might love you and our neighbors. In the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
Questions for discussion
Benediction
This week's benediction is from the American Standard Version.
Next week's lesson is on Luke 14:1-6.
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