Hello Everyone, Grace and Peace to you.
This week I will be finishing up the current sermon series, "The Outsiders". This week's focus is on "The Neighbor". Beginning on Sunday, July 17 and running to September 25 our sermon series will be "A Future with Hope" based on Jeremiah 29:11. "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." This new series is not based on the Lectionary but I will continue to send out this email with the appointed Lectionary readings.
This week our lessons are:
Amos 7:7-17 - Verses 7-9 is the last of three visions that the Lord gives Amos: locusts eating all the crops, fire consuming all the land, and the plumb line set in Israel by which God will judge. (Amos is a prophet during the time of King Jeroboam of the northern kingdom of Israel.) A priest at the temple in Bethel named Amaziah complains to Jeroboam about Amos' prophesies of the destruction of Israel. Amaziah then orders Amos to go back to Judah but Amos responds with some pretty tough language. I will leave it up to your imagination about what Amos said, OR, you could read it for your self.
Psalm 82 - This is an odd little psalm. In it God calls together all the gods in council (verse 1). God then charges the gods with ruling unjustly (vs. 2). God gives the evidence against the gods (vss. 3-5). God then renders judgment against the gods (vss. 6-7). Finally, God alone is the judge of the earth and all nations belong to God.
OR Deuteronomy 30:9-14 - The last half of verse 10 is the theme of this passage: "because you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." This commandment is not too hard because it is not in the heavens or beyond the seas; it is in our hearts (vss. 11-14). The result of turning to God will be "abundant prosperity". Please read carefully because this passage, along with a handful of others, can lead to "prosperity thinking" and eventually to a "prosperity gospel."
Psalm 25:1-10 - The answer to the reading in Deuteronomy is in this psalm. "Let me know again your ways, God. Teach me your truth. Love me with your steadfast love, forgive my sins, and remember me." All the ways (paths) of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness. Amen.
Colossians 1:1-14 - For the next four weeks we will be reading portions of Paul's letter to the Colossians. There is some dispute about whether Paul wrote this letter or if someone used his name and authority when writing (this was not unusual in the ancient world). Also, Paul did not start the church in Colossae or in nearby Laodicea. In these opening verses, Paul mentions that when he heard of their existence and ministry he began to pray for them. He prays for them to be filled with spiritual and understanding from God. In his prayers he also gives thanks to God for them.
Luke 10:25-37 - This is the passage where Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan and is unique to the Gospel of Luke. We all, I hope and pray, know the story. In fact the phrase "good Samaritan" has entered our vocabulary referring to someone who has done a good deed for another person, usually someone she/he doesn't know. Rather than retelling the story here are some questions for you to ponder. A lawyer challenges Jesus. What does he want to know (verse 25)? Jesus in turn asks him what questions (verse 26)? What does the lawyer answer (verse 27)? After Jesus told him to go, do that, and live, the lawyer asks him the question that leads to the parable. What was his question (verse 29). At the end of the parable, Jesus asks the lawyer one final question. What was it (verse 36)?
Have a great week serving God by serving your neighbors.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Monday, June 20, 2016
Readings for Sunday, June 26, 2016
Hello Everyone,
I am now back from my final one week vacation. About the only thing Cheryl and I did was go to St. Croix Falls, Osceola, and Stillwater for the weekend to do some "touristy" things. We visited several antique shops, a tea shop, an "oils and vinegar" shop (WOW, what wonderful flavors), ate at a fancy Italian restaurant which is built at the entrance of a cave, and ate a banquet dinner on a riverboat. We had a wonderful time.
Wow, I am really behind on posting my lectionary comments; nearly two months. I resolve that I will post every week (until I don't)!
This week is busy so I am feeling like I can't do full justice to all of our texts for this coming Sunday. Maybe enough the whet your appetite for the readings. This Sunday our sermon series on "The Outsiders" focuses on "The Homeless".
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 - It was time for the prophet Elijah to turn his ministry over to his protege Elisha. Elijah tries to dissuade Elisha from following him out into the wilderness but Elisha insisted. The last time Elijah talks to Elisha he ask Elisha what he could do for Elisha. The response, "Give me twice the spirit you have." Elijah tells him to watch and if he sees Elijah being taken up, he will get his request. When all is done, Elisha put on Elijah's mantle and used it to part the waters of the Jordan. What took Elijah up to heaven?
Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 - In the opening two verses the psalmist cries out to God for relief from his troubles. In the other ten verses, she remembers all that God has done in creation and in redeeming his people.
OR
1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21 - After Elijah's encounter with the "still small voice" on Mount Horeb, he is instructed to go back to anoint a king for Israel and anoint Elisha as his successor.
Psalm 16 - After opening with a plea for protection and a statement that those who do not worship God will sorrow, the psalmist tells her hearers why she has chosen to follow God.
Galatians 5:1, 13-25 - Paul urges the churches and the church people in Galatia to not be re-enslaved to the Law and/or to the desires of the flesh. He seems to be using these words, law and flesh, as synonyms. But if you think about it, when we fall into the desires of the flesh we often rely on Law to counteract it, usually failing. If we have been freed from the desires of the flesh then we will be freed from using the Law, against ourselves and against others. In our reading this week, Paul give us a list of "the desires of the flesh" and a counter-balancing list of the fruits of the Spirit (there is no law against these) which come to those who have been set free from the law. Finally, if we allow the Spirit to guide our lives we will not fall back into rivalry.
Luke 9:51-62 - There are two sections to this reading. For the first section, my Bible has the title "A Samaritan Village Refuses to Receive Jesus". The various titles in our Bibles are placed there by the editors of the edition we are reading. I think that the title in my Bible is wrong. A close reading will show that Jesus has "set his face to go to Jerusalem". Perhaps Jesus decided to bypass the town because of the urgency of going to Jerusalem. Perhaps the town planned a big reception for Jesus but because he needed to keep moving they were not able to "receive" him. The disciples then try to blame the citizens of the town and want Jesus to do what God did to Sodom and Gomorrah. They are "Samaritans" by the way. (The story of the "Good Samaritan" is coming up in two weeks.) Are we like them when we want to blame someone when thing don't go as planned?
The second section of our reading is about various people's excuses for not following Jesus immediately. One want to follow but Jesus reminds him that there will be no place to rest. Jesus asks another but that one needs to bury his father (who may not even be dead yet). And a third says that he must say go and say goodbye to his household first to which Jesus says that those who look to the past are not fit for God's (in-breaking) Kingdom.
The synopsis for this week's sermon series is:
So, how are we as followers of Christ ministering to a homeless world? Is there any urgency?
May God bless you in the reading of scripture this week.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
I am now back from my final one week vacation. About the only thing Cheryl and I did was go to St. Croix Falls, Osceola, and Stillwater for the weekend to do some "touristy" things. We visited several antique shops, a tea shop, an "oils and vinegar" shop (WOW, what wonderful flavors), ate at a fancy Italian restaurant which is built at the entrance of a cave, and ate a banquet dinner on a riverboat. We had a wonderful time.
Wow, I am really behind on posting my lectionary comments; nearly two months. I resolve that I will post every week (until I don't)!
This week is busy so I am feeling like I can't do full justice to all of our texts for this coming Sunday. Maybe enough the whet your appetite for the readings. This Sunday our sermon series on "The Outsiders" focuses on "The Homeless".
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 - It was time for the prophet Elijah to turn his ministry over to his protege Elisha. Elijah tries to dissuade Elisha from following him out into the wilderness but Elisha insisted. The last time Elijah talks to Elisha he ask Elisha what he could do for Elisha. The response, "Give me twice the spirit you have." Elijah tells him to watch and if he sees Elijah being taken up, he will get his request. When all is done, Elisha put on Elijah's mantle and used it to part the waters of the Jordan. What took Elijah up to heaven?
Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 - In the opening two verses the psalmist cries out to God for relief from his troubles. In the other ten verses, she remembers all that God has done in creation and in redeeming his people.
OR
1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21 - After Elijah's encounter with the "still small voice" on Mount Horeb, he is instructed to go back to anoint a king for Israel and anoint Elisha as his successor.
Psalm 16 - After opening with a plea for protection and a statement that those who do not worship God will sorrow, the psalmist tells her hearers why she has chosen to follow God.
Galatians 5:1, 13-25 - Paul urges the churches and the church people in Galatia to not be re-enslaved to the Law and/or to the desires of the flesh. He seems to be using these words, law and flesh, as synonyms. But if you think about it, when we fall into the desires of the flesh we often rely on Law to counteract it, usually failing. If we have been freed from the desires of the flesh then we will be freed from using the Law, against ourselves and against others. In our reading this week, Paul give us a list of "the desires of the flesh" and a counter-balancing list of the fruits of the Spirit (there is no law against these) which come to those who have been set free from the law. Finally, if we allow the Spirit to guide our lives we will not fall back into rivalry.
Luke 9:51-62 - There are two sections to this reading. For the first section, my Bible has the title "A Samaritan Village Refuses to Receive Jesus". The various titles in our Bibles are placed there by the editors of the edition we are reading. I think that the title in my Bible is wrong. A close reading will show that Jesus has "set his face to go to Jerusalem". Perhaps Jesus decided to bypass the town because of the urgency of going to Jerusalem. Perhaps the town planned a big reception for Jesus but because he needed to keep moving they were not able to "receive" him. The disciples then try to blame the citizens of the town and want Jesus to do what God did to Sodom and Gomorrah. They are "Samaritans" by the way. (The story of the "Good Samaritan" is coming up in two weeks.) Are we like them when we want to blame someone when thing don't go as planned?
The second section of our reading is about various people's excuses for not following Jesus immediately. One want to follow but Jesus reminds him that there will be no place to rest. Jesus asks another but that one needs to bury his father (who may not even be dead yet). And a third says that he must say go and say goodbye to his household first to which Jesus says that those who look to the past are not fit for God's (in-breaking) Kingdom.
The synopsis for this week's sermon series is:
"There are homeless people all around us, some are without a physical home and others without a spiritual home. This passage reminds us that even Jesus was homeless. Even Jesus was cast out and turned away. [A reference to the Samaritan village, but see my thoughts above.] Whether we are welcoming those without a physical home or confronting our own need to find a spiritual home in Christ, this week we claim the reality of a new home as followers of Jesus. To claim our home in the Kin-dom requires us to let go of our former home and look toward our home with God."
So, how are we as followers of Christ ministering to a homeless world? Is there any urgency?
May God bless you in the reading of scripture this week.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Readings for Sunday, May 8, 2016
Hello Everyone,
This coming Sunday is “Ascension Sunday” when the church remembers Christ’s ascension on the 40th day after his resurrection (which is technically this Thursday. It is also the Seventh Sunday of Easter AND it is Mother’s Day!
The readings for Ascension Sunday are:
Acts 1:1-11 – In the first five verses, Luke writes his friend Theophilus that the first letter he wrote, the Gospel of Luke, he told the story of Jesus’s ministry, death and resurrection. In the resurrection Jesus appeared for 40 days to many people and with convincing proofs. In verses 6-11, Luke recounts the last meeting Jesus had with the disciples. They want to know when God and Jesus will restore the kingdom of Israel. Saying that know one can know that time he send them to be witnesses in “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.” Jesus then rises into the air and disappears in a cloud. Two men in white robes (angels?) then tell them that Jesus will one day appear in the same manner as he left them. We, the followers of Jesus, must still remember the charge he gave us: to go and be witnesses in Long Prairie, Grey Eagle, Todd County, Minnesota, and all the world. Even if we can’t go into all the world, are we being witnesses where we are?
Psalm 47 – The psalmist praises God who is the Ruler of all Nations.
OR Psalm 93 – The psalmist declares that God is the king over all creation and even the crescendo-ing sound of the floods and the crashing thunders of the waves do not compare to the majesty of the Lord.
Ephesians 1:15-23 – Paul gives thanks to God for the church and people of Ephesus. He prays that God will give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they should know the hope of God’s calling, the riches of God’s inheritance, and the greatness of God’s power for believers. The connection to Ascension Sunday is in verses 20-23: God raised Jesus from death, gave him a seat in heaven above all authority, power, rulers, dominion, and every name here on earth.
Luke 24:44-53 – This is Luke’s first version of the disciples’ last meeting with Jesus and it actually begins in verse 36. (In verse 41 Jesus asks for some fish to eat.) It is not exactly the same as the Acts 1 version. The meeting with Jesus is longer here in Luke and the ascension portion of the story is longer in Acts. Once again, we hear Jesus command the disciples, “Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. You are my witnesses of these things.” Are we being witnesses for Repentance and of Forgiveness? You don’t need to go to “all the nations” but are you witnesses where you are (and where God has put you)?
The readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter are:
Acts 16:16-34 – Paul and his co-worker Silas are working in Philippi. A young girl, a slave, who can fortune-tell, follows them for many days telling people that Paul and Silas are proclaiming the way of salvation. Now it seems to me that Paul and Silas would like the free publicity because she is not saying anything false. However, Paul gets annoyed and casts out a demon that gives the girl her power. The owners of this girl were making a lot of money off of her power and when she lost that power their revenue stream suddenly ended. (Note, never mess with a person’s revenue stream.) They complained and the authorities threw Paul and Silas into prison. Around midnight, while singing and praying, a mighty earthquake opened the prison doors and broke their shackles. The jailer, thinking that Paul and Silas escaped, feared for his life because he would be blamed. Paul and Silas did not leave and they reassured the jailer that everything would be OK. The jailer wanted to know how he could be saved. “Believe in the Lord!” they answered and the jailer and his entire household believed and were baptized. Does it take a dramatic event to bring people to the Lord? Sometimes. But we can’t wait for those events. We must be declaring God’s salvation to all people.
Psalm 97 – Once again the psalmist declares that the Lord is king. Using imagery of earth, coastlands, clouds and darkness, fire and lightning, mountains and heaven, the psalmist declares that all of creation praises the Lord God. And the Lord will look after those who oppose evil, are faithful, and are righteous. Rejoice and Give Thanks!
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 – As is typical of the Lectionary, it skips those verses that prove to be problematic. Verse 15 is one of those verses. Verses 18 and 19 are warnings to the readers that no one should add to or subtract from what is written. This was a common practice for documents that were circulated amongst many groups so that the author may have some assurance that other readers will not receive defective documents. These are the final words from Jesus and God and they end with a blessing.
John 17:20-26 – In the Gospel of John Chapter 13, Jesus gathers with his disciples for their last meal together and where Jesus washes his disciples feet giving them a new commandment. Jesus then teaches them about getting through the next several days. This teaching, along with the disciples’ questions, are recorded in Chapters 15, 15, and 16. Jesus finishes the teaching with a prayer that is recorded in Chapter 17 where our reading comes from. In verses 1-5 Jesus prays for himself. In verses 6-19 he prays for the disciples. In our verses this week Jesus prays for future followers; us. He prays that we may be one together in him. In being one together the world will know God’s love. Over the centuries the Church the Jesus established has splintered into thousands of pieces: Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant; Reformed, Lutheran, Anglican, and Anabaptist; Fundamentalist, Evangelical, Mainline. How can we claim to be the One Church that Jesus prayed for?
I pray you have a blessed week serving God by serving the neighbors in need.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
This coming Sunday is “Ascension Sunday” when the church remembers Christ’s ascension on the 40th day after his resurrection (which is technically this Thursday. It is also the Seventh Sunday of Easter AND it is Mother’s Day!
The readings for Ascension Sunday are:
Acts 1:1-11 – In the first five verses, Luke writes his friend Theophilus that the first letter he wrote, the Gospel of Luke, he told the story of Jesus’s ministry, death and resurrection. In the resurrection Jesus appeared for 40 days to many people and with convincing proofs. In verses 6-11, Luke recounts the last meeting Jesus had with the disciples. They want to know when God and Jesus will restore the kingdom of Israel. Saying that know one can know that time he send them to be witnesses in “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.” Jesus then rises into the air and disappears in a cloud. Two men in white robes (angels?) then tell them that Jesus will one day appear in the same manner as he left them. We, the followers of Jesus, must still remember the charge he gave us: to go and be witnesses in Long Prairie, Grey Eagle, Todd County, Minnesota, and all the world. Even if we can’t go into all the world, are we being witnesses where we are?
Psalm 47 – The psalmist praises God who is the Ruler of all Nations.
OR Psalm 93 – The psalmist declares that God is the king over all creation and even the crescendo-ing sound of the floods and the crashing thunders of the waves do not compare to the majesty of the Lord.
Ephesians 1:15-23 – Paul gives thanks to God for the church and people of Ephesus. He prays that God will give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they should know the hope of God’s calling, the riches of God’s inheritance, and the greatness of God’s power for believers. The connection to Ascension Sunday is in verses 20-23: God raised Jesus from death, gave him a seat in heaven above all authority, power, rulers, dominion, and every name here on earth.
Luke 24:44-53 – This is Luke’s first version of the disciples’ last meeting with Jesus and it actually begins in verse 36. (In verse 41 Jesus asks for some fish to eat.) It is not exactly the same as the Acts 1 version. The meeting with Jesus is longer here in Luke and the ascension portion of the story is longer in Acts. Once again, we hear Jesus command the disciples, “Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. You are my witnesses of these things.” Are we being witnesses for Repentance and of Forgiveness? You don’t need to go to “all the nations” but are you witnesses where you are (and where God has put you)?
The readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter are:
Acts 16:16-34 – Paul and his co-worker Silas are working in Philippi. A young girl, a slave, who can fortune-tell, follows them for many days telling people that Paul and Silas are proclaiming the way of salvation. Now it seems to me that Paul and Silas would like the free publicity because she is not saying anything false. However, Paul gets annoyed and casts out a demon that gives the girl her power. The owners of this girl were making a lot of money off of her power and when she lost that power their revenue stream suddenly ended. (Note, never mess with a person’s revenue stream.) They complained and the authorities threw Paul and Silas into prison. Around midnight, while singing and praying, a mighty earthquake opened the prison doors and broke their shackles. The jailer, thinking that Paul and Silas escaped, feared for his life because he would be blamed. Paul and Silas did not leave and they reassured the jailer that everything would be OK. The jailer wanted to know how he could be saved. “Believe in the Lord!” they answered and the jailer and his entire household believed and were baptized. Does it take a dramatic event to bring people to the Lord? Sometimes. But we can’t wait for those events. We must be declaring God’s salvation to all people.
Psalm 97 – Once again the psalmist declares that the Lord is king. Using imagery of earth, coastlands, clouds and darkness, fire and lightning, mountains and heaven, the psalmist declares that all of creation praises the Lord God. And the Lord will look after those who oppose evil, are faithful, and are righteous. Rejoice and Give Thanks!
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 – As is typical of the Lectionary, it skips those verses that prove to be problematic. Verse 15 is one of those verses. Verses 18 and 19 are warnings to the readers that no one should add to or subtract from what is written. This was a common practice for documents that were circulated amongst many groups so that the author may have some assurance that other readers will not receive defective documents. These are the final words from Jesus and God and they end with a blessing.
John 17:20-26 – In the Gospel of John Chapter 13, Jesus gathers with his disciples for their last meal together and where Jesus washes his disciples feet giving them a new commandment. Jesus then teaches them about getting through the next several days. This teaching, along with the disciples’ questions, are recorded in Chapters 15, 15, and 16. Jesus finishes the teaching with a prayer that is recorded in Chapter 17 where our reading comes from. In verses 1-5 Jesus prays for himself. In verses 6-19 he prays for the disciples. In our verses this week Jesus prays for future followers; us. He prays that we may be one together in him. In being one together the world will know God’s love. Over the centuries the Church the Jesus established has splintered into thousands of pieces: Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant; Reformed, Lutheran, Anglican, and Anabaptist; Fundamentalist, Evangelical, Mainline. How can we claim to be the One Church that Jesus prayed for?
I pray you have a blessed week serving God by serving the neighbors in need.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
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