New Normal: Do Not Be Conformed To This World

Welcome to Wednesday.  You’ve made it to mid-way!  And we’re on the way in the Pastor’s Workshop to a wonderful Sunday worship.

This week, as we continue to ‘train ourselves in godliness’ in a ‘New Normal’, we are focused on ‘renewing our minds’.  We’re lifting up three areas for attention: knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.  Our theme verses are Romans 12:2 (Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect) and Proverbs 2:6 (For the Lord gives wisdom;    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding).  We’re bringing forward this challenge: “What would it mean to make one healthy choice for one positive change in any one of these three areas of attention?”

On Wednesday we put our texts into their contexts.  We look at the world into which the original Scriptures spoke and the times in which we live to discover more fully the power of the Word.

As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome he knew they faced pressure to conform.  There was a relentless undertow to be and become like everyone else.  He knew how powerful cultural peer pressure could be. It was a formidable force, often in opposition to their growth in faith. So he challenges them – “Don’t be conformed to this world…” Think about things differently.  Take an alternative perspective on life.   Know there is a greater truth that can be a light for learning.   “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

The Teacher In Proverbs 2 says, “make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understand, seek it like silver.”  He knows knowledge, wisdom, and understanding are important because, “(they) will save you from the way of evil, from those who speak perversely, from those whose paths are crooked and are devious in their ways.”  He says there are those who, “walk in the ways of darkness” and so the light of truth is essential.

In our world we know the pressures to conform.  We are familiar with influences that would impede our growth in faith.  We know there are sometimes subtle yet significant forces that sideline our best efforts to make healthy choices and positive changes.  We know how important it is to “focus on” what is good and “filter out” what is detrimental. Jot down what those influences and temptations are for you.  What would a healthy choice be for you?  What might that positive change mean for you?  Again, write down your reflections.   

As we move towards Sunday, it is this dynamic tension that provides the motivation for the message.  How we choose not to conform but be transformed is critical. How you and I choose to use and renew our minds matters!  That is our title for this ‘New Normal’ message: My Mind (Your Mind) Matters!

I look forward to exploring more fully tomorrow what that all means and how our Sunday message might look like.  

In that grace, we’ll see you Thursday!

Prayer:  Gracious God, we know there can be gaps in our knowledge, weaknesses in our wisdom, and shortcomings in our understandings.  Yet in your grace, you shine your light of truth and love into our lives through your Word, that we might be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  We give you thanks for that gift and for the ways that this week you would work that blessing.  This we pray in the name of the Light of Life, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.   

New Normal: Be Transformed By the Renewing of Your Mind

Good day! It’s great to be together on Tuesday in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Yesterday we introduced our ‘New Normal’ focus for the week – our minds.  Our theme for our message – our minds matter!

Today we look at the nature and structure of our text (or texts).  How are they written in ways that advance our message?

This week is unusual for us.  We’re working with three Scriptures: Romans 12:2, II Chronicles 1:7-12, Proverbs 2:1-15.  They approach our theme from different perspectives.

Romans 12:2 is an exhortation. It’s a statement of broad principle by the Apostle Paul to the believers in Rome. It’s a call into the transformed life found in following Christ.  “Be transformed by the renewal of your minds”.  He’s inviting them to think differently about life, to adopt a different perspective on their priorities.  How they’re using their minds really matters.

II Chronicles is a personal illustration.  It’s an encounter between God and Solomon.  Solomon had ascended to being king of Israel.  God, in faithfulness to the covenant with Israel, ‘asks’ Solomon, “what should I give you?” It is Solomon’s big opportunity to express his heart’s desire.  He is guided in his request by the greater responsibilities that are now his.  He asks for ‘wisdom’.  God is pleased.  ‘Wisdom’ seeks a greater good than personal gain.  ‘Wisdom’ uses knowledge in ways that others are blessed.  ‘Wisdom’ equips Solomon to live into the unique purpose God has opened for him.

Proverbs is a word of instruction.  “Make your ear attentive to wisdom and incline your heart to understanding.” (verse 2).  As we make our choices about how we focus our minds the teacher of Proverbs wants us to know “the Lord gives wisdom: from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (verse 6).   These three, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, will “guard paths of justice” and “save us from the ways of evil” (verses 8 and 12).

As we “train ourselves in godliness” (our overall theme verse) this exhortation, illustration and instruction all work together.  They provide us a principle, a picture and a practice all moving the message forward.

What do you see in these texts?  Does one ‘speak’ to you more than the others?  What do you think is most important about what they are lifting up?  What do they say to guide your growth in knowledge, wisdom and understanding?  Make sure to write down your thoughts!

Today will look at the texts. Tomorrow we look at the contexts.  What are the contrasts that add deeper meaning to the message?  I look forward to investigating that blessing with you!

Prayer: Gracious God, you give your Word through your Scriptures.  Open our minds by your Spirit that the words of the Bible would be for us a light of truth.  Help us to exercise our minds in faith that we might enter more fully into the knowledge, wisdom and understanding you would give through Jesus our Lord, who is the Way, Truth and Life. In his name we pray. Amen

New Normal: Renewing Our Minds

Good morning on this Monday in the Pastor’s Workshop.  It’s a new week.  It’s a clean slate.  It’s time to start thinking again about the message for Sunday.  It’s time to trust God to lead us in this creative process.

As you know we are in a series entitled ‘New Normal’.  We began two weeks ago focusing on ‘training ourselves in godliness’.  Our theme verse was I Timothy 4:7.  Our guiding question, ‘How do I use this time of ‘sheltering in place’ to make healthy choices for my life?’  We want to make the most of these difficult days by making a change (or two) that would become a healthy habit. We hope to build God’s best into our daily ways, not only for now but for the ‘new normal’ ahead.

Last week we got specific about this ‘training’, beginning on the most basic level – our bodies.  Our theme verse was I Corinthians 6:20.  Our leading thought was ‘glorify God with your body’.  We saw how the Apostle linked physical fitness and exercising our faith in ways we realize what’s best for our bodies is also good for our spirits.  We looked at healthy choices we could make in the areas of eating, exercise and sleep.  We received a challenge to make a change that would glorify God with how we care for the trust of our bodies.

This week we shift to a higher level – our minds.  We’ll be using several texts: Romans 12:2, II Chronicles 1:8-12 and Proverbs 2:1-15.  Our theme verses will be Romans 12:2 and Proverbs 2:6.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  (Romans 12:2)

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6)

As you see from these texts we’ll be looking into renewing our minds with the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that the Lord gives.

As on every Monday I invite you to read through all the texts silently and then aloud.  Note what words and phrases catch your eye and ear.  Be sure to record these.  They are the stirrings of the Spirit that are the start of the creative process.

If you have time, after you have read and recited, paraphrase one or two of the texts.  How would you tell these truths in your own words?  This will help you internalize the message.

It’s always exciting to see how God will use a Scripture to bring forward a light of truth we can live by.

In that blessing I look forward to ‘training ourselves in godliness’ by ‘renewing our minds’ in the week ahead.

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for the gift of a fresh new week.  Thank you for the gifts of fresh new thoughts.  Thank you for fresh new leadings of your love through your Word.  In that grace thank you for how you’ll be renewing our minds in Jesus, who is the way, truth and life.   In his name we pray.

New Normal: Preparing A Sermon

We've made it through another week! I'm glad we've done it together.

I'm also thankful we've taken time to think about our bodies and our faith! I'm grateful we've spent time in the Scripture (I Corinthians 6:19-20). I know God has blessed your time of study and reflection.

Saturday is our final day of preparation in the Workshop. We've got our message written and ready. But we're not done.

Today is a day we also "practice preach." We preach the sermon aloud at home. My refrigerator has been "converted" more than most fridges! You don't want your time in the pulpit to be the first time you ever have voiced a message.

There's a "shaping" that happens as a message is said aloud. "Rough edges" are rephrased and 'bumpy' sections are smoothed. It's key to the preparation process.

On Saturday we also "prepare with prayer." We place the worship hour in God's hands. We ask God to work, opening our minds, and encouraging our hearts. We pray that the preached word would give voice to the Spirit's call, drawing us closer to Christ and his ways for our lives.

This week particularly I pray we would see this time of sheltering as an opportunity to make healthy choices for our bodies. I hope we might start a habit or two that would be a "training in godliness." I ask God to help us make a holistic connection between our body and our spirit. I pray we would take a step to build God's best into our bodies as an exercise of faith.

Sunday worship is a time when God works. Worship anchors us in grace. It centers us in Christ's love. It strengthens us to serve our family, neighbors, and world in Jesus' ways. In that gift God gives in Jesus Christ I look forward to being with you tomorrow! (Our viewing time now starts at 6:00 am. Since we're taped you can tune in any time!)

See you then!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this final day to rest up and get ready. We pray you would work in a special way in our lives as we worship you tomorrow. We are grateful that even as we shelter in place we can worship together in Spirit. In that blessing we have in you, we give you thanks for our week past and our worship tomorrow, in Jesus' name. Amen

In Christ,

Paul

New Normal: An Exercise in Faith

Grace and peace on this Thursday!  It’s good to be with you in the Pastor’s Workshop today.

This week we’ve been working on a Sunday message based on I Corinthians 6:19-20.  In this Scripture the Apostle Paul reminds us that our bodies are a gift of God, a temple of the Spirit.  He encourages us to treat our bodies with respect and to care for them in ways we honor God.  The phrase he uses is, “glorify God with your body”. 

Thursday is when we take all our thoughts from the week and see how they come together.  What is the message emerging from your written notes and creative musings?  What is God speaking to you?  Where do you need to listen to and to follow?

As I look backwards on my notes and forward towards Sunday morning here’s the message shaping up for me.

We all are blessed with a body.  How we treat our bodies is important.

Our bodies require ‘constant maintenance’.  We call that ‘training’ – physical training.

We all know that. What we don’t often think about (and what the Apostle reminds us of when he says, “Do you know…”) is that our physical training is also an exercise in faith. Our physical training can be a ‘training in godliness’. When we do something good for our body, it is also good for our soul.  When we do something good for our bodies, we are also building God’s good will for our health, well-being and strength into our lives. 

 The Apostle drives home his point with these insights noted in the text: 1) Our bodies are a “temple of Holy Spirit” abiding in us; 2) our bodies are a gift “we have from God; 3) are bodies are a trust, “they are not our own”; 4) are bodies are invaluable to God, “we were bought with a price”.  All that being said, the Apostle says our opportunity is to “glorify God with our bodies”.

The question is, “What does that mean?” – to “glorify God with our bodies?”

To focus that challenge specifically, what is one change you can make in how you care for your body which would be not only a physical act, but also an act of faith?  What choice can you make where you say, “this is a way I want to glorify God with my body?”  How can you can build healthier choices into your daily routine so you might be more fit to serve others and be the blessing God would have you to be? Jot down your ideas.

There are three core areas of health where changes will be considered in this message: food, exercise, rest.  In looking at these areas many things we already know.  The question becomes where do I need to act?  What change do I need to make to be more physically fit and faithfully engaged ?  The message will go more in depth on these.

As we make these changes, as we move into this personal “New Normal”, we experience a blessing.  Our message will close with a good illustration of “feeling Gods’ pleasure”.  But more than that you’ll want to tune in because John Tarver’s postlude captures the closer magnificently!

As always this is just the basic outline.  Sunday morning’s message will be enriched and expanded to make it more engaging and allow for deeper exploration.  I hope you’ll want to view how it all is proclaimed.  (It is now available as of 6:00 am on Sundays – thanks to our new filming schedule and wonderful production crew!)

I look forward to being with you then.  And even before, I’m glad we can join together on Saturday for the ‘prayer that prepares’. 

In that anticipation have a great day and I’ll see you on Saturday in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for Word.  Thank you for your Holy Spirit and the ways the Spirit speaks to our hearts through your Word, bringing us into your Holy Will.  Lord, let us live faithfully to how you guide, so that we might live more fully into who you would have us to be in Christ Jesus.  For that gift of your grace you offer us today, we thank you in Jesus’ name.  Amen

New Normal: Glorifying God with our Bodies

Welcome to Wednesday!  As we shelter in place, it’s good we can be in God’s word together.

A Recap of our week: 

On Monday we focused our series, ‘New Normal’, on the most basic level of who we are – our bodies.  We selected I Corinthians 6:19-20 for our spiritual guide. (Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.)

On Tuesday we looked closely at this text.  We saw how many ideas were in these two verses!  “Do you not know”… 1) that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit; 2) is a gift “which you have from God”; 3) is a trust from God, we “are not our own”; 4) is invaluable to God, we were “bought with a price”; 5) In conclusion, “therefore”, here’s what we need to do – “glorify God in your body”.  Lots to think about!  From this Scripture we see more clearly how our acts of physical fitness are an exercise in faith.

On Wednesdays we look into the world in which the Word was originally spoken.  We also look at our world in which the Word speaks today.   What is the context for the text?

In the Greek culture there was a glorification of the human body – for the body’s sake. The statues you see from the day have “perfect bodies”.  Not only was there a glorification of the body, there was an indulgence of the body.  You see that reflected in Chapter 6, verses 12-18.  The body was for pleasure.  Paul writes to the Corinthian Christians because they were struggling with these cultural values.  He was providing a different perspective on our human bodies as creations of God.

What about today?  You might say, “Doesn’t seem like things have changed a lot!”  We live in a very ‘body conscious’ culture, where ‘body image’ is elevated.  So many people you see in magazines or  movies are perfect, have an ‘ideal body’.  When this is projected as reality, what happens to our satisfaction with our bodies?  What pressure does this put on our youth, particularly girls?  And in our culture, how much of the thinking about our bodies revolves around pleasure?  How is that projected?  And how is it being lived out?  In many ways we find ourselves in the position of the Corinthian Christians, we need a ‘bigger perspective’ on how we view and treat our bodies.  This Scripture provides that alternative view. We can ‘glorify God’ by how we treat our bodies.

Our theme verse for this series has been I Timothy 4:7.  “Train yourself in godliness”.  We recognize today, what is good for our bodies is also good for our souls.  We realize when we do something good for our bodies, we are building God’s good will for our health, wholeness, well-being and strength into our lives.  God has given each of us a great platform In our bodies to glorify God.  How you and I take care of ourselves and treat our bodies matters to us and to God!

In that thought and that blessing, I look forward to joining with you tomorrow as we see how all our ideas come together in the message for this week.  See you then!

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for your Word.  It helps us live in our world.  Your Word provides a perspective we need to hear.  Your Word calls us into health and wholeness, well-being and strength which is your gift of grace to us.  In that blessing we give you thanks for how we can use our bodies to glorify You.  In Jesus’ name. Amen

New Normal: The Blessing of our Bodies

Good afternoon! Glad to be with you, together on Tuesday!

Yesterday we highlighted this week’s emphasis for our series, ‘New Normal’.  Our focus will be on fitness – physical fitness.  We noted how physical fitness and fitness in faith go together.  We decided on  I Corinthians 6:19-20 as our theme verse to spotlight this connection.

On Tuesdays we look at the structure of our text.  What are key thoughts, building blocks, of this Scripture?   How are they organized?  How do they work together to advance the message?

Like much of the Apostle Paul’s writings, this text is ‘dense’.  There is so much packed into just two verses! As we begin to examine this Scripture you’ll see how each phrase provides a thought provoking avenue for reflection.

In verse 19 alone there are at least four distinct thoughts.

1.     He opens with an ‘attention getter’, ‘Do you not know…’  It’s an invitation into an awakening, an awareness that the Apostle is about to introduce.

2.     ‘Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit’. This is a statement about the sacredness of your body.  It’s not our souls alone that are sacred to God.

3.     Your body is a gift.  The body you have is ‘from God’.  As with any gift are you enjoying it? How are you using it?

4.     Your body is a trust – ‘it is not our own’. How you treat your body is a matter of stewardship.

Verse 20 continues with two more insights.

5.     Your body is so worthy of your care.  It is invaluable.  ‘You were bought with a price’.  The cost of redeeming us (all of us – our body, mind, soul and strength) was the Cross of Christ.

6.     The Apostle closes with a summary. ‘Therefore, glorify God with your body.’ 

There are lots of ideas in a short space.  They provide plenty of opportunity for reflection and meditation.

As we think about each of these insights they deepen our appreciation of our bodies.  More than that, as you put all these thoughts together, as a collective witness they provide a powerful call into ‘training in godliness’ (our theme verse for our series from I Timothy 4:7).

As you look at the Scripture what do you see?  What ideas stand out for you?  Are there ways the ideas ‘flow’ or ‘build on each other’?  Write down your insights!

As you begin to move towards tomorrow how do these reflections about our bodies contrast with current cultural thinking?  How does the ‘body image’ proclaimed in this Scripture inform and maybe even transform your current thinking about your body?  Jot down your thoughts!

In a society that is so ‘body conscious’ this Scripture has a relevant message for us to hear.  I’m glad to be listening with you as we walk through this week and move into our ‘New Normal’ together.

Prayer:  Lord, we thank you for the gift of today and the blessing of our bodies.   Let me be grateful for everyday when I enjoy good health.  Let me be prayerful in those times when I need your healing mercies.   Let me treat my body as your trust in ways that I would grow in faith through fitness training in godliness.  In your strong name I pray.

New Normal: Our Body is a Temple

Good Morning!  Glad to be with you and start the week together.  Today we begin our new week with new work on a ‘New Normal’.

‘New Normal’ is the title of our new series.  It’s based on the premise that as we come out of the pandemic and re-engage ‘regular life’ there will be a ‘new normal’.   The question we raised, “What will determine this ‘new normal’?”

Our answer, and our affirmation as people of faith, is that Easter and the Resurrection would be the shaping force for our future.   Jesus Christ rose and in his rising offers us the gift of risen life in himself.  We build this ‘risen life’ into our lives by ‘training ourselves in godliness’. (I Timothy 4:7)

Our message last Sunday (April 19 – available on our website svumc.org) focused on ‘training ourselves in godliness’.   What does that mean?  For us it meant working God’s good will and good ways into our will and ways.  ‘Training in godliness’ is comprehensive, covering all areas of life – our bodies, minds, emotions, spirits, homes and families, our friends and community, and our world.  The ‘training challenge’ – what one change can you make during this time of ‘sheltering’ (even, one change in each of the above areas) to initiate your ‘new normal’?

So much for background!  Now on to our beginning!  This week we’re going to start our ‘training in godliness’ at a most basic level – with our bodies.

Our Scripture is I Corinthians 6:19-20. (“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” ) As we explore this text together we find our Christian faith does have something to say about our physical fitness.

On Monday we immerse ourselves in the Scripture of the week.  So I invite you to read and reread these two verses, silently, then aloud.  Listen to the words and phrases.  Do any of them ‘stand out’ for you?  Jot down those words and phrases.   

Then as part of your ‘immersion process’ copy these two verses.  If you have time, copy the two verses from several translations.  (As I have shared before biblegateway.com/passagelookup is a great source for multiple translations of a text.) 

Then, finally, paraphrase the Scripture in your own words.  If you were the Apostle Paul writing to the church at Corinth what would you be saying about ‘our bodies’ and how they are the ‘temple of the Holy Spirit’? 

Do these verses help you to think any differently about your body?  About how you approach your physical health?  In what ways? 

As you think about your body as being ‘from God’ and ‘not our own’ what might those phrases mean for how you treat your body? 

How valuable is your body – since you were ‘bought with a price’?

And finally, how am I ‘glorifying God’ by how I relate to and treat my body?

This short text gives us lots to think about as we ‘train ourselves in godliness’ and establish our ‘new normal’ in God’s good will and ways.

That’s enough for now.  I’ll let you get to work – in your ‘immersion process’ and in your thoughts.  As always, make sure to ‘capture’ them all – write them all down!  You never know how God is going to use one of your thoughts to bring forward a message for you this week!

Enjoy your work and I’ll see you tomorrow in the Workshop!

Prayer:  Lord, thanks for the gift of Monday and a fresh start in a new week.  Use your word to guide us into your good will and good ways for our will and ways.  Strengthen us by your Spirit as we ‘train ourselves in godliness’.  This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord!

New Normal: Using This Time Deliberately

Good to be with you this Saturday!  Glad to come to the end of another week together in the Workshop.

At the close of each week, we give God thanks for a good time of preparation.  We’re grateful for whatever message we’ve written, believing that the Spirit has been active in our minds and hearts as we’ve done our work.

We’re also aware that whatever is on our pages is not the “final product”.  

Preparation is phase one.  The proclamation is another critical step in bringing a message.  Part of our prayer on Saturday is to ask God, that just as the Spirit has been with us in getting ready, the Spirit would be with us in presenting the message.  We pray the message would be delivered clearly, concisely and compellingly.

But that is not the end of our Saturday prayer.  Thirdly, we pray for impact.  We ask God to bless the message in the lives of the hearers.  We pray the message works in minds and hearts, inspiring, encouraging and strengthening us to be faithful followers of Christ. That’s the end goal of every message – that it might be a word communicating God’s Word, connecting worshippers with the Lord in ways we grow up in God’s grace. 

With all that said, what about our prayer for this week? What impact would we specifically ask?

My prayer is that as we hear this word from I Timothy, to “train ourselves in godliness”, as a calling into an opportunity.  I hope we realize how sheltering in place might offer a blessing.  It is a time to build God’s goodwill and God’s good ways into our will and ways.  It is a chance to pursue a purpose that is personally productive.   We can be deliberate about cultivating one or two new habits that would be beneficial for us and for others. 

My second prayer is that we realize “training ourselves in godliness” can extend beyond this season of sheltering.  This training can be part of our “new normal”.  In the Resurrection of Christ, God constantly invites us to embrace and grow in lives of love and service.  The theological term for this is “sanctification”.   “Training myself in godliness” is how I intentionally and faithfully cooperate with God in this growth.

Those are two prayers I ask God to work in our lives through this message and through our worship tomorrow.  What are your prayers?  What are your prayers for yourself? For other worshippers? For our church? For our community?  How might a blessing grow and spread if you “train yourself in godliness”?  Make sure you write down your prayers.  Then you can see how God will answer them!

I know God hears our prayers as we lift them in Christ’s name, for the Kingdom’s sake.  In that trust, I look forward to being with you in worship tomorrow.  I’m excited about all God will be working as we “train ourselves in godliness” as our new normal!

See you tomorrow!

Prayer:  Lord, we work hard to get ready and prepare for Sunday.   The message we bring and present in worship is an offering.  It doesn’t have the spiritual power required to do transforming work in the heart until you fill all with your Spirit.  So in your grace, we pray for this blessing.  Let all that has been prepared and proclaimed be to your Glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray.  Amen

New Normal: Becoming Fit in our Faith

Welcome to Thursday!  It’s always good to be together in the Pastor’s Workshop!  I enjoy being with you in the Word and listening for Sunday’s message.

Thursday is the day we “put it all together”.  We look at our thoughts and musings from the week and see how they fit into a larger “whole”.

Again, as we move towards Sunday: our title is “New Normal”; our Bible verses are I Timothy 4:7-8; and our focus is “train yourself in godliness” (4:7b).

With these as our framework, what might a message be?

Here’s how my thoughts come together:

As we “shelter in place” for weeks on end, we are cultivating “new habits”.  We are establishing a new normal.

“New Normal”, that’s the term being used for what’s ahead.  What will things be like when this season of sheltering is over?  Equally as significant, what will shape or determine our “new normal”.

As you listen to commentators and pundits it’s easy to be concerned that the “new normal” will not be a “better normal”.  Possibilities of a Corona Reoccurrence, continuing Economic Distress, and Societal Stress along socioeconomic and racial lines are all lifted up as “shaping forces”.

Yet in the midst of this trouble, we remember that last Sunday we celebrated the Resurrection!  We are Easter people! Jesus Christ is our Risen Lord.  He invites us into risen life.  Easter calls us to embrace “resurrection reality” as the guiding grace that shapes our new normal!

In our faith, we have a term for a life shaped by resurrection.  The word is “Godliness”.

“Godliness” is a good word!  It’s good because it begins with “God” and God is good all the time! 

Godliness is about working God’s goodwill and God’s good ways into our will and ways.  It’s about God’s goodwill and good ways bringing healing and wholeness, well-being and strength into our daily living.

Godliness is a comprehensive word.  God’s healing and wholeness, well-being and strength would bless all facets of our lives: Body, Mind, Heart, Soul, Home, Church, and Community!

This Scripture challenges us to build that blessing into our lives as the Apostle calls us to “Train yourself in godliness”. 

Training is Exercise!  It is becoming Fit in our Faith. Like all Training, there are steps we need to take.  In this Sunday’s message the steps outlined are:  Be Mindful, Be Decisive, Be Deliberate.

And there are benefits from this Training in Godliness.  As the Apostle says, training in godliness holds promise for the present life and the life to come. We’ll look at some of these too!

The bottom line, our hope for the message is that “Training in Godliness” would become our “New Normal”.

This is just the outline.  Sunday’s message will explore and expand on these talking points.  As always, I hope that the message will not only present thoughts and proclaim God’s truth, but also invite us into action, call us to follow our Risen Lord more fully and more faithfully.

As you put your thoughts and musings together, what message came to you?  It’s always amazing how the Spirit will speak to one person one way and another person another way.  How did God’s Word in I Timothy speak a transforming word to you? 

I look forward to being with you on Saturday for the “prayer that prepares” and on Sunday as we worship together. 

In that coming blessing, I’ll see you on Saturday!

Prayer:  Gracious God,  we thank you always for how you would use your Word to speak to our hearts, awaken our minds, strengthen our spirits and call us to life with you and for others.  In that grace, which is ours in Christ, we go from the workshop into our daily work today in Jesus’ name.

New Normal: Being Deliberate.

Welcome to a blue-sky, warming up Wednesday.  In the Pastor’s Workshop, we’re hopefully halfway through our work on the message!

On Monday I announced we’re beginning a new series, an Easter series, “New Normal”.  The hope is, as we “shelter in place”, we can put in place some positive, life blessing practices that grow us in God’s grace.

Our theme verse is I Timothy 4:7-8. “ 7 Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness, 8 for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Our focus is “Train yourself in godliness”!

Knowing the Biblical context for this text enriches its meaning and empowers its message.  The older Apostle, Paul, is writing to his younger protégé, Timothy.  Even while Paul is still leading in the churches, he is conscious of “training up” newer, younger leaders who will faithfully carry on the ministry.  This was a heavy responsibility for Paul and for Timothy.  There were other leaders in the church who were deviating from Paul’s core message of salvation through faith In Christ.  Instead, they were focusing on minor concerns that didn’t empower followers into lives of love and service.  Paul is calling on Timothy to stay strong in his faith in Christ, training himself in godliness, that he might train up others in a strong “walk” with the Lord.

Our modern context is different.  But the importance of the call, “Train yourself in godliness”, is equally valid.

The “threat” we’re facing is not doctrinal.  It’s existential.  As we move through this time of sheltering in place, we each are establishing a new normal for our lives.  Six to eight weeks of doing anything continuously forms habits.  The question is, “Will I be deliberate in deciding what I want my new normal to be?”   

“Sheltering in Place” can be more than “passing the time”.  It can be “training in godliness”.  It can provide the time and opportunity to focus on one or two areas of your life where you want to grow in God’s grace.  “Training in godliness” is about building God’s best into your life.  It is about being fit in your faith. It is about practical piety put into place, where we make the most of this time in maturing in our walk with the Lord.

As you think about “new normal” what does that phrase mean to you?  What do you think about using this time of “sheltering in place” to establish your own “new normal”?  How might you follow the call to “Train yourself in godliness”?  What are one or two things you could start that would bless your health and well-being either physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually?  Jot down your thoughts.

The Apostles says there are benefits “in this life” to this training.  The clearer we are on the benefits, the more motivated we will be in following through. What would be the benefits if you did what you listed above to “train yourself in godliness” and establish your new normal?  Record your answers.  Review them.  Pray about them.  As you meditate on them do you find motivation in them?

Tomorrow, Thursday, we’ll begin to put all “your pieces”, all “your notes” from Monday-Wednesday together and see how the Spirit might speak to you. What message is God giving you?  I look forward to being with you at that time as we continue together in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer:  Lord, when we think of the world we live in and the challenges we face, we see how the call to “Train yourself in godliness” would be a blessing we need.   By your Spirit draw us ever more deeply into that discipline of development so we might grow in your grace and bless our family and friends through our faith in Jesus Christ.  In his holy name, we pray.   Amen   

New Normal: Training in Godliness

Being together on Tuesday, what a blessing that is!  Glad to be with you in the Pastor’s Workshop in these days after Easter. We continue to plan for the first Sunday in this season of Resurrection.

Yesterday I announced that we’re beginning a new series.  Its title: “New Normal”.  Its concern: What’s happening in our daily lives (to our daily lives) as we go through this time of “sheltering in place”?  Its hope: We might use this time productively, to “train ourselves in godliness”, to build God’s blessings of health, wholeness, well-being and strength into our daily living.

The Scripture we’re using as a “theme text” is from I Timothy 4:7-8.  “Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness, 8 for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

If you’re regular in the Workshop you know on Tuesday we look at the structure of the Scripture.   What are elements you see that make up this text?  How do those fit together, function together to convey the message?

Even though this Scripture is short, it has a “good” shape. 

It starts out with an admonition, a warning.  The Apostle Paul is alerting his protégé, Timothy, not to “buy into” some of the common wisdom of the day.  It’s wisdom that doesn’t “hold water”.  He calls it “profane myths” and “wives’ tales”.  Other translations phrase these as “silly stories” and “folklore”.  

The specific reverence Paul is pointing to in this text are errant thoughts about Christian doctrine.  But as we think about “training ourselves in godliness” we’re going to broaden the perspective to think about God’s will and ways in all areas of our lives.  Are there things we think, practices we engage in, that are non-productive or maybe even detrimental to our health and wellbeing?  The Apostle’s admonition is calling us into self-examination.

After the admonition he makes an exhortation. “Train yourself in godliness”.  By training he means deliberately disciplining ourselves towards a desired end or goal.  He uses a clarifier in the next phrase as he references “physical training”.  We all know what it means to go to the gym!  It’s about “working out” so you can “work in” strength and stamina.  In this case he’s not talking about physical training.  He’s referencing piety that’s practical!  The Apostle is speaking about taking your faith and beliefs in God and applying them into every arena of your life you can grow stronger physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, spiritually, congregationally, and societally. The invitation is to build God’s will and ways into all our ways so that we would reflect a wholeness, well-being, strength and stamina that is of Christ.

What are some ways that you would like to grow stronger?  How might you use this time of “sheltering in place” to discipline yourself in God’s will and ways of grace for your wellbeing and strength?

Thirdly, the Apostle notes that this “training in godliness” has immediate positive benefits.  He says they “hold promise for this life and the life to come.”  What would be the positive benefits you envision for yourself and others if you use this time to grow stronger in “godliness” (God’s ways in your ways)?

It’s always nice when a text has a straightforward “flow” to its logic.  This Scripture has a one, two, three – admonition, exhortation, and benefit – that helps guide our thoughts.

I look forward to being with you tomorrow as we look at the context for this text, the world into which this word spoke originally and currently.  As we set the Apostle’s words in context we find meaning and power the Scripture held for Timothy and has for us.

See you tomorrow!

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for your Scripture.  We pray these words would lead us into your Holy Word.  We ask that as we examine a text you would shine your light of truth into our minds.  Lord, for that blessing and the ways you would guide us into “training” ourselves up in your ways, we give you our thanks and praise this day in Jesus’ name.

New Normal

Welcome to the Pastor’s Workshop on this Monday after Easter.  To be truthful, I’m not in the workshop today (and most pastor’s aren’t on the workshop on the day after Easter).  Holy Week is busy and today is a day of rest (so this was pre-written!).

We’re about to embark on a new series entitled “New Normal”.  It’s a term that keeps cropping up as people think about what life will be like after the pandemic passes.

The basic question that arises, “What will determine our New Normal?”  Will the Coronavirus and all its consequences be the major factor in what shapes life ahead?

Or will we remember that just yesterday we celebrated Easter.  Just yesterday we rejoiced in the Resurrection of Jesus.  We praised God that we live in a world with a Risen Savior who is calling us into a Risen life.  The condition of our human mortality is now embraced by Resurrection reality.

Our series “New Normal” will reflect on that Resurrection reality. It will invite us to integrate that Easter faith into practical choices we make during this time of “sheltering in place”.

The Scripture we will be working with this week is a short, two verses.  It’s I Timothy 4:7-8.  As the older apostle writes to his younger protégé he’s encouraging him to keep the faith and “train yourself in godliness”.

“Training” ourselves in godliness is a worthwhile, healthy focus.  It invites us to deliberately examine how we “do” life during these days. It calls us to decide for God’s best in our choices.  It challenges us to look at how we make one decision at a time and take one step at a time for our holistic health. 

As we train in godliness the Apostle says it has positive consequences.  The quote of this Scripture, training in godliness holds “promise for both the present life and the life to come”.  

I look forward to this series.  I hope it will provide a focus for us as we move through these next weeks of sheltering in place. I pray that it will help all of us build blessings of God’s best into our lives. 

I pray that it as we train ourselves in godliness, the reality of resurrection would be the determining factor in our “New Normal”.

In that blessing I look forward to what is ahead in this Sunday’s message and in this new series.

Prayer: Gracious God, we praise you as the God of Resurrection.  We rejoice that Jesus Christ arose from the dead and is our Risen and Living Lord.  We thank you that you call us into Risen Life.  Be with us in these days in a way that we would make deliberate and practical choices to build up our lives in you.  As we train ourselves in godliness let us be built up in your grace, all to your glory!  In Jesus name we pray.

Outbreak of Grace: Holy Saturday

Welcome to the Pastor’s Workshop on this Holy Saturday.  As you know, Saturday is the day we prepare with prayer for what will happen tomorrow.

Holy Saturday is an interlude.  As Jesus lays in the tomb there is a “rest” between what just happened in the Crucifixion and what is about to unfold in the Resurrection.  How will we pray in this time of “sabbath rest”?  How will we pray in ways that get our hearts ready for Easter?

This year, more than ever, we need to hear the good news of Easter.  In our world, where mortality is a dominating darkness, we need to know that the light of resurrection is the ultimate reality. 

And so much of our prayer would center on asking God to let the victory of the Risen Christ and the triumph of Life and Hope in him ring through loud and clear!

I would also pray that we would know that his victory is our victory.  The Apostle wrote about it like this, “Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. 

So I pray we would know that his resurrection has assured us of a forever life with him beyond this world.  As Jesus said, “Because I live you shall live also.”

I also pray we understand that this risen life with Christ starts now.  Just as with Mary, we are witnesses to the resurrection as we live out our faith in our living and loving Lord daily.   Each day holds a promise of Easter!

The good news is that “He is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed! My hope is that this glorious good news would fill our worship and lift our hearts.  My prayer is that our worship would be part of how God would bring this Easter blessing to all!

What are your prayers for this Easter?  For yourself? Your friends and family? Our church? Our world? Tomorrow’s message?  Tomorrow’s worship?  Jot them down.  Lift them up!

Know that as you offer your prayer in Jesus’ name and for the sake of Christ’s coming Kingdom, God hears and answers to advance the saving purpose for which Jesus died and rose!  Easter day – Every day!

Prayer: O “resting Lord” who is soon to be our Risen Savior, we pray you would fill this Easter with the hope that we and all your world need in these days.  Raise up in us an assurance in your Risen Presence.  Let that faith rise up to newness of life in our hearts, all to your glory!  In the glorious and precious name of Jesus Christ our Risen Lord we pray. Amen.

Outbreak of Grace: There is More!

Glad to be with you on Thursday in the “Pastor’s Workshop”.  By now you know, Thursday is when take all the preparatory work of our week and “put it all together”. 

As you remember we’re working with John 20:1-3, 11-18 and I Corinthians 15:51-58.  These two great and contrasting texts both witness to the glory of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Yesterday we noted how these “contrasting” texts are set within a contemporary contrast.  What’s happening in our world with the Coronavirus stands side by side with the message of Easter morning.  In some ways, the contrast between death and life could not be more dramatic.  Through this contrast, our need for the Easter hope could not be made more clear. 

Our desire for our Easter message is to give voice to this contrast in ways that we experience not only our heartfelt fears but also our life-giving faith.

Our message will begin with how we are experiencing a deep sense of our own mortality.  The signs of this are everywhere. 

Out of the depth of our mortality come significant questions.  Questions not only about death but also about life.  Is life in this world all there is?  Is life simply a “biological phenomenon”?  What comes next?  More? Nothing?

Easter speaks to those questions.  It begins in that place of “Nothing”.  Mary comes to the tomb in the darkness and finds emptiness.

Easter then asks its own set of important questions.  “Woman, why are you weeping?”  “Whom do you seek?”  These are “leading questions”.  They are awakening questions.  They begin to prepare Mary for the encounter that will transform her life forever, in a split second moment.

The Gospel of John leads us through Mary’s life change in a most beautiful way.

Easter would lead us into that same life-changing encounter.  Easter proclaims that there is a reality which overarches our mortality.  It is the Reality of Resurrection!

As Mary runs from the tomb her heart is no longer empty.  Her spirit is filled with incredible joy.  “I have seen the Lord!”  There is More! 

When we ask what comes next we can know – There is More!  So much More!  So much more beyond this life, Easter assuring us that after this life there is ongoing, forever Life with God.  So much More right now – today and every day.  Easter calling us to live a Risen Life with Christ, possible in every moment. 

The Apostle puts it all in a grand perspective.  What is mortal has “put on” immortality (15:53).  Death has been swallowed up in Victory (15:54).  Thanks be to God who gives us that very Victory in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (15:57).

Even as the signs of our mortality are everywhere, the signs of resurrection are everywhere as well.   Even as we see the one in fear, we can also see and be the other in faith.

That’s a brief “walk through” of what’s ahead for Sunday.  Of course, it will be expanded and enhanced!

What are your thoughts?  How did you “put your pieces together”?   What might be the message these Scriptures “preached” to you this Easter?  Jot down your thoughts. Outline your message.  I know God has been saying something to your heart that is worth putting to paper (or computer).

It is a blessing to be with you as we work through the message each week.  And particularly on this Holy Week, I am so grateful to be together.  It’s in that gift of our shared faith I look forward to joining you again on Saturday for “prayer that prepares” and on Sunday for a glorious Easter worship!

Prayer:  Gracious God, we always pray that the message of Sunday morning is not our own, but Yours.  We ask that our thoughts would be Scripturally grounded and Spiritually inspired.  We pray that you would be at work in ways that our words give a faithful voice to your Holy and transforming Word.  In that blessing which trusts that your Love in Christ would always be lifting us into the Life you have for us and all in Christ, we raise this prayer and message to you in Jesus’ name.  Amen

Outbreak of Grace: Two Different Realities

Welcome to Wednesday!  We’ve made it to the middle of the week.  Our preparations for Easter Sunday are well underway!

This Easter we’re working with two well known texts:  John 20:1-3,11-18 (Mary in the Garden with the Risen Lord) and I Corinthians 15:51-58 (“Death is swallowed up in Victory”).  Their contrasting perspectives on the Resurrection, one being close-up and the other cosmic, provide us a broad view of what God is working in Christ’s rising.

Today we look not only at the contrasting perspectives of the texts, but how the Reality of Resurrection contrasts with the ways of our world.   On Wednesday we always explore the life context for the Scripture text, the world into which the word speaks.

Throughout this series, Outbreak of Grace, the backdrop for our Biblical study, the world into which the Word speaks is so different than usual.  It is conditioned by Covid-19. In its worldwide impact everyone has had to face into the reality of our mortality.

The signs of this have been everywhere: rising rates of infection and death, overflowing emergency rooms across the country, refrigerator trucks rolling into New York City,  sheltering in place in every community, masking in public in your going out and coming in. It’s a new, sobering and somber normal.

Jot down your thoughts about our “new normal”. Where do you see signs of the “reality of our mortality”?

It’s a grim picture. It’s that “reality of our world” that sets the stage for the “reality of Resurrection”.  As we “connect” with all that is happening in our world, we can hear ever more clearly the power and hope of Easter.  We can receive with joy the proclamation of Paul as he rejoices, “this mortal body has put on immortality”. (53)  And “Death has been swallowed up In Victory” (54).

I look forward to celebrating with you how what is “grim” gives way to what is “glorious”.  Tomorrow as we make construct a draft of that Easter message, I’m glad that our hope in the risen Christ will lift our hearts.  In that blessing I’ll see you again tomorrow In the Pastor’s Workshop!

Prayer:  Gracious God, as we look at our world there is so much that burdens and breaks our hearts.  There is so much to wonder and worry about.  Who knows what lies ahead?  At the same time Easter encounters us with this Good News, Life rises above Death and Hope conquers our Despair.   In that blessing, which is your gift to us in the Risen Christ, we embrace what is before us knowing you are with us.  In that goodness of your risen glory we give you our thanks even as we lift this prayer and live our lives in our Risen Savior’s name. Amen

Outbreak of Grace: Witnessing a Miracle

Good to be with you on this Tuesday in the workshop!   Today we dive deeper into two great Easter texts, John 20:1-3,11-18 and I Corinthians 15:51-58.

As we noted yesterday, even though both texts reflect on the resurrection they come from contrasting perspectives.  The John text is up close and personal.   The Scripture from I Corinthians is cosmic and eternal.  When you put the two together you get a fuller sense of the true majesty and glory of Easter!

John reflects on Mary Magdalene’s experience.  A bit of background on Mary helps us understand the depths of her feeling. Luke in his gospel shares this insight into Mary: “Soon afterwards he (Jesus) went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.”  (Luke 8:1-3)

As the text witnesses Mary had been blessed by Jesus’ healing and freeing ministry. As such she knew the power of the Master in a personal way. Out of that direct ministry of Jesus, she became one of his followers from early on.  She witnessed many of the teachings and miracles Jesus performed.  Of all the followers perhaps she was one of those most connected to Jesus. Maybe that’s why when we come to this scene at the tomb she is the one who comes first and stays last.

As John sets the scene, the darkness of pre-dawn (Mary “came to the tomb early, while it was still dark” (vs. 1) reflects the inner darkness of her grief.  And her assumption that Jesus’ body was stolen (“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him”) (vs. 2), mirrors how any comfort she might find mourning at Jesus tomb was “stolen” by the stone being rolled away. Yes, hers was a situation that seemed to go from very bad to worse!

In this text Mary’s experience at the tomb is contrasted with that of Peter and John (“the other disciple”).  While they came and saw (and the “other disciple” even believed) they did not stay.  They “went away again to their own homes”(vs. 10).   It is Mary, who in her love for her Lord, is led into the Easter encounter.  She is the one who faces into the great Easter questions, asked by the angels and by Jesus,“Why are you weeping?  Whom are you seeking?”  As with so many of the great questions of our faith, these questions lead to a breakthrough of grace.

As the risen Christ calls Mary by name we sense the intimacy of the Easter miracle. And as she runs to tell the disciples, she becomes the first witness to the resurrection.  She opens the way for all the rest of Christendom to follow, as we too seek to be witnesses of Christ’s resurrection by how we live and lead our lives in love.

The text from I Corinthians was written to a body of believers who were proud of their enlightened faith.  In chapter 1 Paul writes “you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge” (vs.5).  Yet even as they were “enriched”, Paul writes to this church to correct many misconceptions they have about living in faith. 

Perhaps the crowning correction is saved for this final theological thought in the book.  In verse 12 of this chapter he writes, “Now if Christ is raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?”  Obviously there were some In the church in Corinth who denied the resurrection.

This whole 15th chapter is an argument for the resurrection in the grandest of terms.  Starting with the initial experience of the disciples (vs.1-7), he moves into his personal encounter (vs. 8-11), he goes back to Adam contrasting the man of dust with the man of heaven (vs. 21-22, and vs. 45-48), and then finally he sets the resurrection in Creation itself (vs. 36-44,48-50). 

He wraps his discourse up with these final verses 51-58 where he says “Behold, I tell you a mystery…”  And what a great mystery indeed!  And perhaps one of the most “mysterious” things about this mystery,  it’s not simply Christ’s miracle. Through Jesus Christ the resurrection is his miracle for us all.  “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Two glorious Scriptures witnessing one wonderful, living giving miracle!  I look forward to how we’ll celebrate that miracle together on Sunday as we rejoice in the resurrection together!

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for your word of Scripture; how it opens to us the fullness of your truth in Jesus Christ.  We pray that as we continue with our study this week you would awaken in us a greater sense of your glory.  And as we know this blessing let it lead us into deeper worship of you and fuller service of our neighbor through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose name we pray.   Amen.

Outbreak of Grace: Jesus' Final Days

Welcome to Monday of Holy Week in the Pastor’s Workshop.  Holy Week in the workshop is a week of extremes.

On one hand, during the course of the week, we find ourselves spiritually walking through the final days of Jesus’ earthly life.  Highlights of the week including gathering at the table of the Upper Room and, in solemnity, remembering how Jesus joined with his disciples in a final meal.  Then, we move from that evening and turn to the cross.  There we experience how the sacrament witnesses to sacrifice.  We bow with wonder as Jesus gives his life in love.

Even as we are commemorating all of this, we are preparing to celebrate the ultimate victory of life and love that is Easter morning.  We are reflecting upon Jesus rising from the grave.  We hear the Scriptural witness of his resurrection how his resurrection opens the promise of eternal life with God for us all.

I’ve chosen two Scriptures for our focus this Easter.  One is an intimate encounter between a grief-stricken Mary and a gentle Christ.   This Scripture is John 20:1-3, 11-18.  It is Mary’s discovery of Easter.

The other text tells us a “mystery” of cosmic proportions.  It proclaims that death as a principality and a power has been “swallowed up” in victory.  We’ll be reading and reflecting upon I Corinthians 15:51-58.

And so, as invite you to do every Monday, please read each text, silently at first and then aloud.  As you read, listen:  listen for words that capture your attention, the powerful words for you; listen for emotions, the depths, and height of the human experience; listen for breakthroughs, how “Easter emerges”; listen for the glory of the great triumphal announcement, coming in all subtlety and in all majesty.  Listen for how the Holy Spirit would “speak” to you through the Scripture.

And as the Spirit speaks, write it down.  Don’t let your inspirations get away from you.  They are the stirrings of creativity that will make for a message later in the week.  And what a wonderful message it will be, as we proclaim the “mystery” of Easter and the miracle of the Victory of Jesus Christ!

Prayer: Lord, as we begin our work this week, open our ears, our minds, and our hearts.  As we read the Scriptures let us hear with wonder and joy the “word” you would speak to us - a “word” of help and hope.  Minister your “mystery” and “miracle” of love and life to us in ways that we might know a fuller joy this Easter morning.  In your Holy Name, we pray.   Amen

Outbreak of Grace: Lord, Save Now

Welcome again to Saturday!  We’ve come to the end of another week in the Pastor’s Workshop.  And as you know, Saturday is the day we shift from the Work Room to the Prayer Room.

As we prepare for Sunday we understand that a morning message is not just a presentation with a speaker and listeners.  What we believe about worship is that God would be in these sacred moments, blessing the word of Scripture in a way that it would be a helpful, healing, hopeful word – that it might be a holy word for us.  Our prayer is that the word of scripture, read and proclaimed, would comfort our hearts, enlighten our minds and inspire our living as people of love.  Only God can do that!

And so as we prepare for this Palm Sunday with prayer, what will you lift up?

In the midst of all we face In these days, the prayer of Palm Sunday, Hosanna, “God, Save Now” has particular poignancy.  That is part of what I pray for on this Palm Sunday, “Lord, Save Now”.

I pray that as I lift that prayer we would be open to how God would answer this prayer by Christ’s coming to be with us. Just as he rode that donkey into Jerusalem to be with the people of that day, I pray that he would come to us in our day.  I pray that we would have an abiding assurance, a core courage, an inner encouragement that is a reflection of his presence.

I pray that we would know that Christ comes to embrace the Cross; that we would be awed, again and  always, how our Lord makes this choice of ultimate, self sacrificial love so we might have the gift of life in his compassion.

But more than that, I pray that even as Christ comes to be with us in compassion, to join with us In our places of fear and frustration, that we would be with others in that same “Christ spirit” of compassion.  I pray that we would see and seize the opportunities around us to offer help and hope.  I pray that we would pick up our cross in compassion and be God’s blessing to those around us who are crying out, “Save Now”.  I pray this would be part of our Holy Week witness.

What are you praying for this Palm Sunday?  For Holy Week? For your life and our world in this week of all weeks? Jot down your thoughts.  Lift up your prayers!

Prayer:  Gracious God, as we cry out “Save Now”, you come as Christ in all compassion, to embrace the Cross and to be God with us, even in our darkest days.  Strengthen us in this assurance and empower us to live as those who follow you by picking up our cross and being people of compassion in the opportunities these times give us.  This we pray through Jesus Christ, our humble King.  Amen

Outbreak of Grace: The Good Shepherd Leads Us Through

It’s Thursday in the Pastor’s Workshop.  Today we take the work of our week and see how it all comes together in a sermon.  As always, we pray the message will be a story of grace for our lives.

As we noted on Monday we are preparing for Holy Week.  Holy Week is the climax of Jesus’ ministry and the culmination of his saving work.  Palm Sunday, which is this Sunday, is our entry into this high drama of God’s grace.

Our Scripture for following Jesus as he “moves ahead to Jerusalem” has been Luke 19:28-44.  It is the story of that first Palm Sunday “parade”.

On Tuesday we noted how this Scripture reflected the Messianic hope of the people, the opposition of the leaders and the resolute purpose of Jesus in fulfilling God’s saving will.

Yesterday we highlighted how important this message of Palm Sunday is, particularly in our troubling times.  The praise of the people, as they sang “Hosanna”, is also the prayer of our hearts. They hoped for God to “save now” (the meaning of Hosanna), and so do we!

So how might the message of Palm Sunday reflect this hope?  And how might Jesus’s triumphal yet humble entry into Jerusalem fill us with an encouragement of Christ’s unswerving dedication to God’s saving purpose?

For me Sunday’s message begins to come together like this:

The praise and prayer “Hosanna”, lifted by the followers of Jesus on that first Palm Sunday, is a cry of the heart.

The literal meaning of “Hosanna” is “save now”.   That prayer is particularly poignant with all we are facing.  We deeply desire for Jesus to “save now”.  There is an urgency!

Just as with those first followers, we also have our ideas of what “save now” might look like. Often our thoughts have “miraculous overtones”.   “Save Now” might be an incredible breakthrough, an amazing deliverance, a turning of events that immediately lifts the sense of threat and returns life to normal.

When Jesus came on Palm Sunday he entered into that expectation. But he did not embrace the people’s vision of how that would happen.   Instead of God miraculously “lifting us out”, Jesus came in humility to “lead us through”.

What those first followers found, and what we find, is that Jesus enters into life with us.  He is Immanuel – God with us – in the best moments of life, and also in the darkest, hardest, most difficult, “lost” moments of life.  As he rode the donkey, he knew that he would embrace the Cross.  In that ultimate act of grace Christ shows us how salvation is lived out in compassion.  Compassion which means to “suffer with”.

And so when we pray “save now” we realize how Jesus, our Humble King, would be our Good Shepherd.  In embracing the cross Christ walks with us through the valley of the shadow, the shadow of these days and every dark day.   His presence is our strength and our ultimate hope.

In that strength and hope, we seek to follow Jesus, the Cross bearer, by “picking up our cross”.  In these days part of the way we share in “save now” is to connect with each other in Christ’s compassion.  As we share in each other’s suffering we are part of bearing Christ’s hope to others.   

 Our message seeks to move from a plea of “Save Now” to a position of “Stand With”.  As has been said, we will make it through all this – together! Together with Christ and together with one another.  In that faith we would join with the first followers in singing “Hosanna. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Prayer:  Lord, as we get ready for Palm Sunday, prepare our hearts and minds to receive your message so it would be light of truth and a guide of grace for how we would live our lives with you and one another in these difficult days.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen