God is Near: Week Four

Our Plan, God’s Plan

I have about ten Christmas Movies that I try to watch every year during the holidays. One of these classic movies is Christmas Vacation, staring Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold. Christmas Vacation is one of those movies where I will sit and roar in laughter for two hours straight. What connects most with me about this movie is the fact that our own christmases past are all reflected in the crazy things that happen to Clark and his family! Let’s be honest, we Americans have the ability to make Christmas into a crazy, hectic, totally stress-filled holiday, instead of the time of simple peace that it should be. Throughout this movie we realize that Clark has a plan for every part of his Christmas experience, but that his plans never come to fruition. When I think of the story of Jesus’ birth I realize that Joseph must have had plans for his future and that his plans most certainly did not include the revelation that his betrothed, Mary, was pregnant. As you prepare for this Sunday I invite you to watch the video, read the Scripture and then spend a few minutes pondering the reflection questions below.

Matthew 1:18-25

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Reflection Questions:

1. What do you think about Joseph’s reaction to finding out that Mary was pregnant? What would your reaction be if you received news of what appears to be blatant betrayal?
2. What if God called you to a path similar to Joseph’s path; the path of forgiveness and acceptance? What would it take for you to be able to follow a similar path?
3. Where is God calling you today to offer love or forgiveness in the face of betrayal or injury or injustice? 

God Is Near: Week Three

Nothing Is Impossible With God

This Sunday we continue our reflection into the thin veil between heaven and earth during the incarnation. Messengers are sent back and forth to bring good news that the long-awaited Messiah, the savior of the world, is on the way. The messengers break into humanity’s history to bring unexpected news. I wonder if we have had messengers bring unexpected news into our own personal stories. Many of us serve in ministries because God has called us into unexpected paths. I wonder if Rev. Kris Shonewolf ever dreamed, she would be doing ministry among the Lowell Correctional Women today? Or whether Jonathan and Donna Baker knew they would travel to faraway lands such as Congo to bring news of running drinking water? I wonder about our Christmas shoeboxes traveling all around the world.We had such fun filling them up and soon they will make their way into little hands and smiley faces. I wonder about those who work with Messy Church or mentoring children? I wonder how they knew to respond… “Ok, Lord, I will do it,” “Yes, Lord, let it be as you have decided.” As you read the scripture below, grab a comfortable chair, find a cozy spot and submerge yourself into the story. A mighty and powerful angel coming to a young teenage girl. This power of light comes to interrupt this young woman’s story and her response, “Yes, Lord, Let it Be” challenges us to respond in the same fashion. Come Sunday expectant of what news God might have for us!

Luke 1:26–55

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
 For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.
 He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.
 His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
 He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.
 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands.
 He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful.
 For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”

Reflection Questions:

1. Has God ever interrupted your plans with news of a different path for you to take? What was your reaction?

2. Often our response to unexpected news is “why?” Reflect on what might be a better response (i.e. “Lord, this is happening… how do you see this? What do you want me to learn? Who do you want to be for me at this moment in life? Yes, Lord, Let it Be.”

3. Are there people around you who are experiencing either exciting or difficult news, how can you be a support to them through their circumstances?

God is Near: Week Two

Waiting and Hoping

Have you ever waited and hoped for something that just seemed to never come? I know I have and it can become frustrating! Loida and I had something in our lives that we waited on for almost 10 years. We so wanted Loida’s mom to be able to come and visit us in the US and for many reasons she simply was never given a the tourist visa needed for the visit. We worked for it, prayed about it and even made plans for what would happen if she was able to get the visa and yet God never seemed to answer our desired wish. I have to admit that we finally just gave up on all the work and resigned ourselves to the fact that her mom would probably never be able to come to the US, when out of the blue, her mom called one day to say she had gone down to the US embassy (without our knowledge) and they had given her a Visa! 

This Sunday we are going to examine what to do when God seems to not be answering our prayers and then how to handle when God does answer our prayers.  As you prepare for Sunday I invite you to watch the video, read the scripture and then spend a few minutes thinking through the reflection questions below.  See you Sunday!

Luke 1:1-25

Luke 1:1    Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. ² They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. ³ Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, ⁴ so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.

Luke 1:5    When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. ⁶ Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. ⁷ They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

Luke 1:8    One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. ⁹ As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.

Luke 1:11    While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. ¹² Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. ¹³ But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. ¹⁴ You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.^{a 16} And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

Luke 1:18    Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

Luke 1:19    Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! ²⁰ But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

Luke 1:21    Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. ²² When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

Luke 1:23    When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. ²⁴ Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. ²⁵ “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever waited for something so long that you finally give up on it?
2. How would you react if an Angel came to you and expressed that God was going to give you that thing you had given up on? (read verses 11-19 to see Zechariah’s response)
3. How do you stay connected with God even when the longing of your heart is not being answered? 

God is Near: First Week of Advent

What About Angels

I love Thanksgiving week. I love the long weekend and the cool of fall (although sometimes this doesn’t happen in Florida!), I love the turkey and dressing and the pies that our family typically makes. More than anything else, I love that Thanksgiving is a time to be close to family and friends! At our very core, we were created to be people of relationship and it is so special to be near to those we love. We have had a couple of Thanksgivings alone and if you are in this situation, our hearts are with you. Next year we may need to create a Thanksgiving meal at the Lake Deaton campus for those who are not close to family so that we can share our nearness with each other. 

This Sunday we begin the Advent season, a time of year to celebrate Christ taking on human form and coming to earth. During this season we celebrate the fact that through Christ, God is near, 2,000 years ago as well as today. As you prepare for this weekend’s worship, I encourage you to watch the video, read the scripture below and then spend a few minutes thinking through the reflection questions. 

I am so happy to be back after my Sabbatical leave and can’t wait to see you Sunday!!!

Scripture:

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. ² And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. ³ The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. ⁴ This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names. 

5 For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus: “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.”

God also said, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.”

6 And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, “Let all of God’s angels worship him.”

7 Regarding the angels, he says, “He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire.” 8 But to the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. ⁹ You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”

10 He also says to the Son, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands. ¹¹ They will perish, but you remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing. ¹² You will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing. But you are always the same; you will live forever.” 13 And God never said to any of the angels, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”

14    Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.  Hebrews 1:1-14

Reflection Questions:

1. The author of Hebrews begins this letter by introducing the glory of God come to earth through Jesus Christ. Why do you think they also wrote so extensively about angels within this introduction?
2. How does this introduction about Jesus and the place of angels apply to us today?
3. Verse 14 sums up the ministry of Angels. What does this ministry have to do with you today?

Storm-Worthy Faith

This weekend we are blessed to have Kris Schonewolf with us at Lake Deaton to bring the message. Please take time to watch the video, read the Scripture and reflect on the questions and we will see you Sunday!

Mark 4:35-41

Mark 4:35    That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

Mark 4:39    He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Mark 4:40    He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Mark 4:41    They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Reflection Questions:

In this week’s scripture we see Jesus calming a storm when the disciples were afraid for their lives. The curious thing is that after he calms the storm Jesus admonishes his disciples for having no faith.

1. How does that make you feel?

2. Was his response justified? Was Jesus being too hard on them?

3. What about us? What would we have done in the storm?

4. What do we do in the storms of our lives today?

5. Would Jesus accuse us of having no faith?

SERVE: Week Four

Called to Serve the World

It may seem kind of weird to you, but I think Halloween is the perfect time of the year to talk about Serving the world. On this one night every year we can retreat into our homes, lock the doors, turn off the lights, and hide from the world, or we can very simply express love for our neighbors through the giving of a bunch of candy! This Sunday we will connect with Jesus as we examine the little and the big ways in which we can live out our faith through serving the world around us. I invite you to take a few minutes to watch the video, read the Scripture below, and then reflect on the questions. I look forward to joining with you to worship Christ this Sunday!

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14

Questions for Reflection:

1. What do you think it looks like to be “free” in Christ today?
2. How do you use your freedom to serve others? How have you used it to serve yourself? 

SERVE: Week Three

Body Health

This week I have been in Seattle, Washington, for advanced training on the Dinner Church. While here we have experienced two dinner churches and been blessed to see what a Christian community can do when they are working together to serve God, each other, and the world around them. Over the next two Sundays we will hear some of the stories of these few days. I invite you to watch the video (I’ve thrown in an extra for your enjoyment) read the scripture and then spend a few minutes reflecting on the questions below as you prepare for this Sunday.  

See you Sunday!

Romans 12:3-8

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. ⁴ Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, ⁵ so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

Rom. 12:6    In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. ⁷ If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. ⁸ If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Reflection Questions:

1. How does the local church look like the human body?
2. What happens when one of our body parts is not working right?
3. What does it feel like when everything within your body is going well? 

SERVE: Week Two

Laity Sunday

This weekend we will be celebrating that God calls all of us into ministry as we celebrate Laity Sunday. I am so excited that Mike Herzberg and John Adams will be sharing with us how God has worked within their lives and from their stories we will identify ways God is working in our lives as well as discover new ways that we can serve.

As you prepare for worship this week, I invite you to watch the following video, read the scripture passage and then reflect on the questions below.

1 Peter 3:15-16

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

Reflection Questions:

1. What does it look like to worship as Lord of your life?
2. How does this call of worship connect with explaining our hope in Christ?
3. What would it look like today to live your life in a way that is ready to give others a clear hope of you as a believer?

Serve: Week One

When I was a kid, my mom always gave my brother and me chores around the house so that we could “contribute” to the family! At the time, I did not see how doing the dishes helped me “contribute.” Today, I am able to look back and realize that my mom’s call for us to serve was very important to giving us a sense of value within our family and allowed us to mature in our faith. Over the next four weeks we are going to be talking about the spiritual principle of service and we are going to find ways to plug in both within the community as well as outside of the community to be active in our participation of community living and so that we can reflect the love of Christ for the world around us.

Please take time to watch our short video, read the scripture passages and reflect on the questions below. 

Scripture:

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45

“But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:26–28

“The greatest among you must be a servant.”

Matthew 23:11

Reflection Questions:

1. What does Jesus’ call to serve others look like today, in the 21st century?
2. How can we live out service to others today?
3. What would be some of the benefits to serving others?

World Communion Sunday

“Sent”

This weekend we celebrate one of my favorite Sundays of the year, World Communion Sunday. While not an old tradition, beginning in the 1930’s, I believe World Communion Sunday is very important. This is a day when we remember that all over the world Christians, who do not look like us, sound like us, or even believe the exact things that we believe are joining together with us to share the common meal of Jesus Christ. Today we need to remember our focus on the humility of our Christian walk and Jesus’ call that his disciples will show their faithfulness to the gospel by our love for one another. 

As you prepare for worship this weekend, take a few minutes to watch the video, read the scripture and think through the reflection questions below.

John 20:19-22

That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. ²⁰ As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! ²¹ Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” ²² Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 

Reflection Questions:

1. When Jesus came to the disciples they are huddled in a locked room, afraid. Why do you think they are described in this way?
2. How does Jesus’ call to “be sent” stand in contrast to how they were described above?
3. What does being sent look like today?

Dinner Church 2.0: Week Three

Christ at the Home Table

This week we bring our series, on the three tables that Christ inhabits, to a conclusion. As we examine the table of the home my prayer is that Christ will give us a new vision for sharing the love of Christ in a way that every one of us can do. As you prepare for Sunday I invite you to watch my short video, read the scripture below and then answer the reflection questions.

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Acts 2:46–47

Reflection Questions:

1. What would this description of the early church look like today in the 21st century?
2. What would have to change for this description of the church to happen today?
3. What’s the first thing you would need to change to begin to live into this vision?

Dinner Church 2.0: Week One

Welcome to the first of our three-week sermon series called Dinner Church 2.0. Over the next three weeks we are going to examine three tables that Jesus inhabits and learn ways to join with Jesus at these tables in practical ways that help us to share His love with the people in and around our lives.

As you prepare for our service this weekend I invite you to take time to watch the video, read the scripture passage and reflect on the questions below. 

John 6:51-58

 ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

⁵² Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.

⁵³ So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. ⁵⁴ But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. ⁵⁶ Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. ⁵⁷ I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

Questions for Reflection:

1. What do you think Jesus meant when he said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven?” (Vs. 51)
2. How did the people take his illustration that to live they must eat him? How do you interpret this today?  
3. What would it take in your life to fully identify with Jesus? Have you done this? If not, what is stopping you from fully identifying with Him?

Making Disciples for the transformation...

… of lives

… of families

… of schools

… of communities

… of ______________

As we prepare for this weekend, I encourage you to watch the video, read the scripture and then spend some time answering the questions below. 

Mark 2:13    Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. ¹⁴ As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.

Mark 2:15    Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) ¹⁶ But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?^b”

Mark 2:17    When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Reflection Questions:

1. Why do you think the Pharisees objected to Jesus' dinner companions? 

2. What does Jesus' response say about what his ministry is all about?

3. What do you think are some implications of Jesus' response for us within the church today?

Team Spirit Sunday!

This is it, the official week one of College Football is upon us. Already commentators and couch potatoes are speculating who will end up National Champ on January 13, 2020 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Believe it or not, our support of College football has many similarities to this passage from Luke where Jesus talks about being first. As we prepare for this weeks worship I invite you to take some time to watch the video, read the scripture and then spend a few minutes thinking through the questions for reflection. 

Don’t forget to support your favorite team this Sunday as we come to worship enjoying the presence of Christ and of each other. 

This is the perfect weekend to bring a friend to church!!!

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Luke 14:1    One Sabbath day Jesus went to eat dinner in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and the people were watching him closely.

Luke 14:7    When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: ⁸ “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? ⁹ The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!

Luke 14:10    “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. ¹¹ For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 14:12    Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. ¹³ Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. ¹⁴ Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”

Questions for reflection:

1. What did Jesus notice when they were preparing for dinner? (vs. 7)
2. Have you ever experienced or witnessed a similar situation to the one that Jesus describes in verses 8 and 9? What was the outcome of the situation?
3. What are some practical ways in which we can live out a life of humility in our 21st century world? 

Living into the Sabbath

Over the years I have found that many people have great confusion over the Sabbath and God’s call to his disciples to celebrate Sabbath day rest. I myself have struggled through different ideas of what it means for us to live into a Sabbath. This week we are going to examine a wonderful story of healing and redemptive love in this story of Jesus healing a woman on the Sabbath day. As you prepare to worship this week I invite you to read through the scripture below and take a few minutes to reflect on the questions at the end.

Luke 13:10    One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, ¹¹ he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” ¹³ Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!

Luke 13:14    But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”

Luke 13:15    But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? ¹⁶ This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”

Reflection Questions:

1. How you have observed (or not observed) the Sabbath in your life? 
2. Why do you think Jesus healed the woman on the Sabbath? And, why do you believe the leader of the synagogue was so upset?
3. What questions do you have about the Sabbath? (if you email them to me by Saturday @ jdivine@ncumcfl.com I will try to address them)