ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS via WordPress https://ift.tt/2WQPONY
0 Comments
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: In my sermon this morning, I focus on Priscilla who is, in my opinion, one of the great early followers of Jesus, yet I have only modest Biblical proof for making that statement. In Romans, Paul offered a couple of very affirming statements about Priscilla (Prisca) and her husband, but without a lot of detail. The stories of her bold faith were conceived mostly within my imagination, though I feel confident that my imaginative faculties underestimated all she did. These formulated stories are rooted in the real-life stories of women I have known, starting with my grandmother who lived a bold faith and mother is living a bold faith. Maybe I imposed a little of them on what I envisioned Priscilla to be…but it’s because I believe they both had a little Priscilla in them. Prayer: Holy Lord, Holy Light, provide us the capacity to see the bold faith of so many who have chosen to follow in the ways of Jesus. Amen. TODAY via WordPress https://ift.tt/3fAMxL7 ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: When Paul preached in Athens on Mars Hill, his words were being scrutinized by philosophers and the great minds of Greece. This was the place to be, and though many mocked and ridiculed Paul, there were some who “joined” (the Greek word means glue or fasten) Paul and became believers. Two names were mentioned – Dionysius, who would have been a member of the governing court of Athens and “a woman named Damaris.” It is surprising to find a woman in that setting as it was, for the most part, a place where men gathered to discuss and debate. What does it tell us about Damaris, and more specifically, why does the author of Acts mention her by name? A number of scholars suggest that when a person was mentioned by name in scripture, it was a sort of dropping of a name. People would hear the Book of Acts read and they would say, “Oh yes, we’ve heard of…” Though we will probably never know, it does entice one’s curiosity when trying to imagine what Damaris did that would have given her status worthy of a name drop, especially in a patriarchal culture. Prayer: Wisdom – Grace – Boldness – Strength of character — what gifts did Damaris have that caught the attention of Paul? Lord God, I am not looking for name recognition, but I hope my life gives reason for others to speak the name of Jesus and to seek his ways above all other ways. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/35HCHTc ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: For those who remember, the story of Lydia was the first sermon I preached when I returned from Greece last summer. One of the most impactful experiences was visiting the stream where Lydia and her family were baptized just outside of Philippi. There is a beautiful church on the site, and following a short visit inside, my two friends (Kelly and Kyle) and I walked down to the stream and stepped into the water. I pulled out my phone with my Bible App, and read this story as I stood in the brisk water. There are times when we can read the scriptures from the comfort of our home or church, and they speak clearly and powerfully. There are other moments when an opportunity arises that immerses us in the experience. Is the Spirit any more real in one or the other? I don’t believe so, but because we are creatures that receive information through our senses, standing in the cool water in that rich historic setting provided a near sensory overload. In this time when jumping in the car or on a plane and traveling somewhere is not an option, I have been using images, old photos and YouTube videos to take me places – a secondhand immersion. There is a plethora of opportunities at our disposal. I tell you this because one of the pictures I came across was that of my grandmother, a woman who did very little traveling in her life outside of visiting family. Yet she could tell you Bible stories with such detail – what the terrain was like, the temperature, even what vegetation you might see. It was a good reminder that we can immerse ourselves in the stories themselves and through our imagination (maybe some assistance from the Spirit), we can find ourselves in the story. Prayer: Gracious God, use my knowledge, the tools at my disposal and the creativity of my imagination to transport me into the stories of the faith. Allow me to hear the conversations; to experience the emotion of the moment; to come alongside the Lydias of this world whose faith would even inspire someone like Paul. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/3fvjMj2 ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: This was part of my studies yesterday, focusing specifically on the story of a servant named Rhoda who, in her excitement, left Peter standing outside the locked gate of the home where many of the followers of Jesus were meeting. Peter had been in prison, but the Spirit moved in a powerful way according to the story, and he was liberated. When Rhoda announced Peter’s presence, the gathered community said, “You’ve lost your mind!” How often are those who society assumes to be less knowledgeable or not holding the proper title devalued or dismissed? Now I am currently on a big kick in regard to listening and respecting experts and not those who have their degree in creating inventive commentary on subjects for which they have no qualifications. But Rhoda was very qualified to announce Peter’s presence, and though her excitement got the best of her (as it would have me), it is troubling how those gathered in the home of John Mark’s mother were so quick to scoff at her suggestion with a derogatory comment. How much of it was based on the fact that she was a woman? Or was it because she was a servant in the household? I do not want to pretend to know the answer with certainty, but we are the very community called to represent Jesus who showed compassion and listened intently to those who lived in the shadows. Yet historically, we have too often looked past the very people for whom Jesus showed the most respect. Who in your life provided a wonderful message that others were too quick to dismiss? Prayer: Holy God, your Gospel appears through the many voices and actions of a great and diverse multitude. I pray for wisdom and discernment to know when a person has the qualifications of a spirit-filled messenger. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2xGNU9U ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: Joppa was a city along the Mediterranean coast, approximately 50 miles away from Jerusalem. It’s interesting that Joppa is mentioned in the story of Jonah, the port city where he jumped aboard a boat in an attempt to escape God’s calling. It is in this city, centuries after Jonah, that we find a disciple whose life overflowed with good works and compassion. How many of us do good works, but do so reluctantly? Have you ever done a good work, but complained about it or secretly desired some recognition? For something to overflow (the Greek word is related to our English word, plethora = an overabundance) suggests the vessel from which the overflow is occurring is more than full. Observers may only witness what spills over the rim, but the assumption is that the overflow represents an excess that simply could not be contained. What does it say about Tabitha that she overflowed with good works and compassion? The assumption one might make is that she had been on the receiving end of good works and compassion in splendid abundance. When we think about God’s love, we use words like unconditional and everlasting. When scripture references God’s kindness, there is imagery that suggests its copious nature. As our mission at the church suggests, it all begins with God whose love and kindness are shared beyond anything we can imagine, and when such gifts are allowed to be poured into someone, the result is always an overflow of good works and compassion. Prayer: Great God of Heaven, we are thankful for Tabitha and all those like her who were an open vessel into which your life-giving love was poured. May her example provide us a model that challenges us to be more receptive and open to all the gifts you seek to pour into our lives. Amen. TODAY via WordPress https://ift.tt/3cbnjAG ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: I often overlook this verse in the Book of Acts. There is a tendency to focus on the Ascension of Jesus (earlier in chapter 1) and then jump to the Day of Pentecost (chapter 2). Can you imagine what it was like for Mary the mother of Jesus? Her son had been tortured and executed. He was dead and in the grave for three days, and then news comes that he has been raised. It doesn’t sound as if Mary got much quality time with her son before the Ascension. In that sacred time of waiting for the coming Spirit, she was invited into the inner-circle of his followers – “united” in a commitment to prayer. What were Mary’s prayers like in that moment? For a mother whose emotions had run the gamut in a rather short period of time, what were her petitions and supplications? We all probably hold Mary in high regard, but she was very human – a mother – and not just the mother of Jesus, but the mother of Jesus’ siblings. Tradition tells us that James, the brother of Jesus, was killed for his faith. That possibility must have been weighing heavy upon her heart. When your prayers are this mixed bag of poetry and gibberish, beauty and blunt emotion, sensible requests and selfish laments, remember that you are in excellent company. Prayer: Thank you for meeting me in this space, O Generous Spirit. Thank you for having no expectations in regard to the words I utter or the span of my silence. Thank you for coming and sitting with me as I seek to unite with you in this time of prayer. Amen. REMEMBER via WordPress https://ift.tt/2W2K6cw ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS via WordPress https://ift.tt/2KTBmz4 ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: I reference some of these words in this morning’s sermon, specially those who “call out” to the Lord. Though I added for this devotional vs. 9, and the reference to how the Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. Is there a possible alternative translation here? When the author spoke of “all,” could it also be translated as a lot or many or a few more than some? Some might be surprised, but those are not option. The Hebrew word could be translated as “every” or “whole” which kind of keeps the same basic meaning. While there are many more exclusive passages found in the Old Testament, we need to pay attention to phrases and words like this that speak of God’s all encompassing love and concern. When this Psalm was written, these words were beyond radical. Religion, in every corner of the world, was exclusive – our god cares only about our people. It is passages like this one where, I believe, we begin to see with clarity the God who is genuinely concerned about every single human being, even the ones I don’t like. God is calling me to love my enemy because God already does. That’s a challenging word for today. Prayer: I can always take a verse or two from here or there and build an argument for why I should hate someone, yet you, Gentle and Loving God, continue to sneak in with a generosity of grace that is embraces everyone…including me on my worst days. Thank you! Amen. TODAY’S WORSHIP Join Pastor Bruce via WordPress https://ift.tt/2WpGrEs ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: I stayed with the same passage from yesterday as there was too much good stuff in these two verses to move on. Let me begin by saying how this passage sounds, on the surface, to be an excellent argument for a preacher’s job security. Without us, how could anyone have faith, because faith requires people to hear the preacher. It sounds good, but I feel certain that was not the intention of the Apostle Paul. The word translated as preacher is: Kerusso – similar to Robinson Crusoe, but only similar. It describes, not so much a formal paid position, but anyone who openly (and with some authority) proclaims a message. Paul makes a pretty straightforward argument that those who have yet to meet Jesus must hear an announcement of the Good News, which often requires some travel plans. In today’s world, I am intrigued by our church’s capacity to share the Good News well beyond our immediate surroundings without making those travel plans. Our online services have been watched in multiple states, and even a few other countries. Someone from South Korea has watched three of the last four Sundays. Now we shouldn’t stop supporting missionaries, but Paul used Roman roads to move the message in his day and maybe we need to take even more seriously the digital highway as a means of sharing what we call the Love First Life. Prayer: Gracious God, inspire us to employ whatever tools can assist in bringing a word of hope and love to another human being. Increase the preaching capacity found in each of us, for there is a good word in need of sharing this day. Amen. TOMORROW via WordPress https://ift.tt/2KSdnjJ |
AuthorRev. Bruce Frogge Archives
April 2024
|