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We live currently in a nation-state that is at war and promoting rumors of wars. Forty-four percent of United States citizens support the use of torture. While persons speak of the “success” of the US attack on Iraq, particular “the surge”, on Sunday June 22, 2008 Dr. Juan Cole at juancole.com blogged a very different picture, with links to reports on what the mainstream press’ use of the data obscures. It is not a pretty picture.

The Scriptures this week speak images of conflict which makes us uncomfortable in light of the conflict such those in which modern nation-states, whether the United States, or Russian in Georgia, or Mugabe in Zimbabwe. Yet the cause of this conflict, and how disciples of Jesus participate in it, differs greatly. We can see this by moving from Isaiah to the Gospel. Then our Romans reading can give us insight on how we endure and persevere amid such conflict.

Isaiah 2:10-17
Who executes judgment in Isaiah? To whom and for what end? What is the offense of the people? In the context of this passage, what is “pride”?
Matthew 10:34-42
In looking through the passage as a whole, how is it that Jesus brings a sword to earth, not peace? What does this presuppose about the state of the “world”? Why would Jesus especially mention family-relationships?
Why would not be worthy of Jesus if you move a family member, more than Jesus? It is important not to abstract what a cross is; it is not any suffering, but the horrible, violent sponsor that the Roman governors and emperor imposed on persons who would not recognize their absolute and final authority and made this non-conformity evident.
Why would one lose one’s life when one finds it? How does the second part of the saying, how one loses a life for Jesus sake, really find their life? What is “life” here?
Why would it follow in this context about hospitality toward others? Who is the “you” that is welcomed when you are welcomed? Why would it the cup of cold water to a “little one” in the name of a follower of Jesus, not lose their reward? How can such hospitality and mercy toward others bring about the situation described at the beginning of this reading? How is it that Jesus is the issue in this passage?
Romans 6:3-11

The Romans passage speaks about death and life as well. How does this passage describe what it is to follow Jesus? Why is baptism important? How does death lead to life? What is the “newness” of life? What does it look like in our culture? Why is “sin” singular throughout this passage? What is it to “lose one’s life” for Christ’s sake in this passage? Why is it “okay” to lose one’s life? What is it to “find it”? What is it to be “dead to sin and alive to God?

Given these passages, how does one distinguish between conflict that arises out of sin and conflict that is a sign of holiness or taking up one's cross? What is the difference between the two in how one responds when one experiences either? How do we avoid self-deception? How does a return to reading the Isaiah passage help us?

Have a wonderful evening!
Have a wonderful evening!

Posted by johnwright at 3:00 PM | Comments (0)

The lectionary continues its parallel reading through Romans and Matthew, with the OT passage “matched” according to the Gospel reading. Tuesday I preached out of the Matthew passage at the Bread of Life. I was rather straightforward and honest about the passage. The response was very humbling from those who gather as part of our congregation there. I keep wondering whether we need to again start celebrating the Lord’s Supper before we eat the “agape meal” together for those so called.

The Romans passage provides the “foundation” for that which follows. Without the assurance that comes from the obedience of Jesus Christ, and faith in Him, the situations of the world and believer described in the Jeremiah and Gospel passage would be an act of despair rather than hope.

But we do not lose hope!

Romans 5:15b-19

The Romans passage tells a story of world history, a history in which we participate, a story that we have told for us in the Scriptures. It is important to note that “justification” means “forgiveness” and “to be made just/righteous”. Maybe you can sketch out the story that Paul is telling here, and the different “eras” that it represents. What are the key points in the story? Where do we live now (one might have to ask who “we” is)? How have we gotten there, whoever “we” is? What is the “free gift”? How does the passage presume that we participate in this free gift? What are the implications for our lives in participating within this free gift?

Jeremiah 20:7-13

The Jeremiah passage is one of the famous “lamentations” of Jeremiah. Crucial to reading the passage is where we enter it. What various categories, nouns, are in the passage? What are the persons/characters mentioned? What is the role of each character? What is the difference between the first person (I, me) and the none-divine third person plural (everyone/they/many)? How does the perception of “I” differ from the perception of “they” in relationship to the Lord/Him/You? How sees things more truthfully? Why praise the Lord?

Matthew 10:16-33

Here the “I” mirrors that in Jeremiah, while calling “you” to the same sort of perception, with resulting experience, as the “I” with “them” in the background. What is the relationship between “you” and “them”? Why will “they” hate “you”? Why should “you” have no fear of “them”? Why is the highest virtue here “persevering to the end”? How does Jesus presuppose is in “control” and “responsible”? Who is the weaker party? What “virtues” do “you” need to remain true to the mission that Jesus sends? Why? Why would such a situation lead to deep rifts within families, even to the point of one turning the other over to death? Do “you” ever exhibit the antagonism that “they” do? Why or why not?

If we notice, the Scriptures never call us to “be responsible”, though they do call us to mission of going out into the harvest. What is the difference between the two? Why do we fear appropriately? How does that relate to our usual fears?
Have a wonderful evening!

Posted by johnwright at 2:05 PM | Comments (1)

Our readings continue through Romans and Matthew during this “normal time”. The lectionary makes no attempt to coordinate them, as in other seasons of the church year. The OT reading, however, is matched up with the Gospel reading. This leaves us with an option – close continuous readings through Romans and/or Matthew or seeing how the passages work in their relationship with each other. As we re-organize for the summer, perhaps you could let me know what is best for the Bible study groups.

For this week, however, the passage has a wonderful progression from God’s reconciliation of us in Jesus Christ toward the mission to which God calls us as the body of Christ, and individually members of it

Romans 5:6-11

What is the basis of our reconciliation to God? What did we do to achieve this reconciliation? What does this reconciliation tell us about ourselves and about God? Having been reconciled to God through Christ’s death, what does that mean for us now and in the future? What is it to “boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ”? Why would one do this?

Exodus 19:2-8a

This passage from Exodus is rightfully read several times in the church year and through the whole three-year cycle of readings. The passage comes within a context of the story of Israel where God has freed them from slavery to Pharaoh in order to fulfill God’s promise to make Abraham’s descendants a blessing to all nations. The passage gives a mission for Israel, a rationale for the giving of the Law that is to come. Why should Israel obey God’s commands when they are given? Why is it that God gives commands? What will happen if they fulfill the mission for which God is giving them? How do the people respond?

Matthew 9:35-10:15

How does this passage begin? What is the impact of Jesus’ interaction to the people on Jesus when he sees the crowds? Is Jesus paternalistic or negative in assessment of the crowds? Why or why not? Why does Jesus call his disciples to him? What is the purpose of then the twelve? How do they relate to what Jesus has just seen and said? What are the particular instructions that Jesus gives to the twelve? How are the related to the mission to which they are called by Jesus? How does the “day of judgment” frame the mission of the twelve? When does/will the “kingdom of God” come in its fullness?

Given these passages, what is the basis for our mission in the world, individually and as a congregation? What is the mission? How might we better “boast in God through Christ”? These passages together might allow us to look at our mission statement together. On the basis of these Scriptures, what is your assessment of the statement? Can it be improved?
We believe that we are reconciled to God and one another through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ and recognize the power of the Holy Spirit to transform and sanctify the lives of all people. We therefore devote our lives to God and to one another, embracing the spirit of the early church, the Wesleyan vision, and the mission of the Church of the Nazarene, as we work together with other believers, extending God’s kingdom and grace through the proclamation of the gospel, sharing of the sacraments, and serving of Christ among the poor.

Have a wonderful evening!

Posted by johnwright at 2:59 PM | Comments (0)