Passing the Baton

We have had a wonderful time on our trip and in class in Cambridge, England over the past two weeks. Before we jump into our lesson for this week, I want to thank you all for allowing me to have this time to work on my Doctor of Ministry degree. I feel blessed to be able to be part of this program, and believe God is using it to help us continue to grow, as a congregation, into the call for which we have been set aside. 

As you reflect on the message from this week, either on your own or in your Small Group, we encourage you to spend time in the Scripture by reading 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 (printed below) and then work through the questions provided. 

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

2Kings 2:1 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. ² And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to Bethel.” 

But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!” So they went down together to Bethel.

2Kings 2:6 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to the Jordan River.” 

But again Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together.

2Kings 2:7 Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. ⁸ Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground!

2Kings 2:9 When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” 

And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”

2Kings 2:10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”

2Kings 2:11 As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. ¹² Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress.

2Kings 2:13 Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. ¹⁴ He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.

Thoughts & questions for reflection…

When we read this passage, like many other Old Testament passages, some people get caught up in the events of the miraculous, such as Elijah being taken up to heaven in the chariot led by flaming horses; and they either fight the battle over proving the event or write it off as a fable, but the key in studying this and similar passages is to look at the foundation of what is happening in the text. Here we see a Mentor (Elijah) getting ready to leave his Mentee (Elisha), and within the transition the desire on Elisha’s part to inherit the power and wisdom of his mentor, Elijah. In this, we can all learn.

1. Can you name a mentor in your life who really helped you grow as a person? What made the relationship a mentoring relationship?
2. What was it like to lose that mentor? Did you grieve the loss of the relationship?
3. What are you doing to mentor new mentees for the future? 

I hope you have fun going deeper with God this week through this Old Testament lesson, and that in all things, you seek to grow in Christ as the ultimate Mentor of our faith.

Blessings,

Jim

A Trinitarian Father's Day

This weekend I look forward to being at the Summerhill Campus as we celebrate both Father's Day as well as Trinity Sunday. I look forward to connecting with you all at our Saturday and Sunday Services!

I invite you to reflect on the Sermon and the Scripture from this week's message in your devotional time or within your small group. Below you will find our Scripture passage (John 14:27-28; 15:1-8) and a few study questions to help you in your reflection.

John 14:27    “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. ²⁸ Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.

John 15:1    “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ³ You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

John 15:5    “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. ⁷ But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ⁸ When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

Questions for reflection:

1. What is the gift that Jesus leaves us (read all of chapter 14)? What is the significance of the gift of the Holy Spirit for the church today? 

2. What does it mean to be connected to the "vine" in 15:4? How does fruit reveal our connectedness with Christ?

Have a great week and enjoy your time with God. 

Pentecost Sunday

(Hortus Deliciarum, Pentecost and the sending of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles)

This has been a great week for NCUMC! This week we have been part of our Annual Conference in Lakeland, Florida and on Saturday, Pastor Kristyne will be ordained as a Deacon in Full Connection and Pastor Ellen will be commissioned as a Provisional Deacon (if you are new to the UMC you can read more about what it means to be a Deacon in this week’s newsletter). On Sunday we will come together to celebrate Pentecost. 

As you reflect on the Pentecost this week, either on your own or within your Faith Formation Group, we encourage you to spend time in Scripture by reading Acts 2:1-21 (printed below) and then work through the questions below. 

Acts 2:1    On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. ² Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. ³ Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. ⁴ And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Acts 2:5    At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. ⁶ When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

Acts 2:7    They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, ⁸ and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! ⁹ Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” ¹² They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.

Acts 2:13    But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”

Acts 2:14    Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. ¹⁵ These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. ¹⁶ No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:

Acts 2:17    ‘In the last days,’ God says,

‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

Your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams.

¹⁸  In those days I will pour out my Spirit

even on my servants—men and women alike—

and they will prophesy.

¹⁹  And I will cause wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below—

blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

²⁰  The sun will become dark,

and the moon will turn blood red

before that great and glorious day of the LORD

  arrives.

²¹  But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD

will be saved.’

Questions for Consideration:

1. Why do you think God sent the Holy Spirit into the church? What was the impact of the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2?
2. What happened in chapter 1 of Acts before the Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Jesus?
3. How does the Holy Spirit work within the church today?

Spend some time within your group reflecting on how you are surrendering your life to Christ (or not) and what impact that is having on your life.