Possessions, Worry, and Security - Rich Toward God?

Scripture: Hosea 11:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-9, 43  • Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 and Psalm 49:1-12  • Colossians 3:1-11  • Luke 12:13-21

In "Soul Investment," The Rev. Kathryn M. Matthews asks us what makes us secure, and what is of value to us - what do our possessions mean to us, and what do we do with them.

Notice the contrast between Joseph storing up grain in preparation for famine and the rich farmer in Jesus' parable. What are the differences in perspective, what they do, and who they do it for?

What do we worry about? This is particularly relevant today, not only in finances and economics, individually, nationally and internationally, but in terms of security. What is Jesus' answer to our priorities, and worry?

As Debie Thomas says in "Rich Toward God,"we don't like talking about money. She wrestles with Jesus' answer to the perfectly good request of the man who asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide an inheritance with him. He was not asking for unfairness or something unreasonable. What was Jesus' reply? It helps to see what Jesus sees - what is going through the man's mind and experience. What do you get from the parable of the rich man who planned to build more barns to store his wealth to enjoy in his retirement, but whose life was taken from him that night. So it is, Jesus says, with those who store up treasures for themselves, but are not "rich toward God." What doe he mean? As Debie Thomas says "Be rich toward God. Don't shy away. Be brave and wrestle with what this invitation means, because the richness we spend on God is the only richness we'll keep in the end."

The Gift of the Kingdom

Scripture: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20  & Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23  • Genesis 15:1-6 and Psalm 33:12- 2  • 

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16  • Luke 12:32-40

 

How are you at receiving gifts? In this week's gospel, we are told it is God's pleasure to give us the kingdom! what does that tell us about God? What does that mean? Are we ready to receive such a gift? How can we be ready to receive this gift? What happens when we receive the gift of the kingdom? See The Rev. James Jewell's "God Wants to Give You Something."

 

This lesson about God's good gifts to us, of righteousness, peace and joy, also teaches something about possessiveness. Consider Fr. Rick Morley's "selling out for Jesus: thoughts on Proper 14C."

 

What is our relationship with God?

Scripture: Hosea 1:2-10 and Psalm 85  •  Genesis 18:20-32 and Psalm 138  •  Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)  •  Luke 11:1-13  

 

As we think about this week's lesson, consider what our relationship is with God, individually, and as a church. Then pray about it considering how Jesus taught us to pray. What do we learn about God's relationship with us?

 

This week's articles:

 

"For the Sake of Ten" by Kosuke Koyama

 

"Exuberant Gratitude" by Walter Brueggemann, and

 

"Lord, Teach us to Pray," by Daniel P. Clendenin.

 

 

 

 

What is our relationship with God?

Scripture: Hosea 1:2-10 and Psalm 85  •  Genesis 18:20-32 and Psalm 138  •  Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)  •  Luke 11:1-13

 

 

As we think about this week's lesson, consider what our relationship is with God, individually, and as a church. Then pray about it considering how Jesus taught us to pray. What do we learn about God's relationship with us?

 

This week's articles:

 

"For the Sake of Ten" by Kosuke Koyama

 

"Exuberant Gratitude" by Walter Brueggemann, and

 

"Lord, Teach us to Pray," by Daniel P. Clendenin.

Martha and Mary - hospitality and the best portion

Scripture: Amos 8:1-12 and Psalm 52  •  Genesis 18:1-10a and Psalm 15  •  Colossians 1:15-28  • Luke 10:38-42

This week we learn about God's hospitality from the Genesis account of Abraham's hospitality to the three men and the blessed news of a child to be born, to the story of Mary and Martha's hospitality to Jesus. While Martha diligently worked to make Jesus comfortable, Jesus tells her Mary has chosen the "better part." What did Jesus mean?

In "Sir, please do not go beyond your servant," John W. Martens says that Paul, in his letter to the Colossians,  tells us that the greatest gift of hospitality any of us can offer is to invite all to participate in the welcoming of Jesus as his servants, in order "to make the Word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generation, but has now been revealed to his saints."

In "Watching Til the Ego Yields," Peter Woods challenges us to go beyond artificial and superficial hospitality, and helps us get beyond our egos, in order to invite the Christ into our lives, like Mary, so that we might share his gift of eternal life, love and forgiveness with

others.

In "Living with Martha," The Rev. Stephanie Frey turns the tables on us , so to speak, as Jesus often does, and helps us see past our own agendas, even when we think we are "doing the Lord's work." We are called to realize that Jesus, not us, is the host. What is the significance of that?

Read Debie Thomas' "Only One Thing," as she wrestles with the text and values in Martha's hospitality work, and Martha sitting at Jesus feet, listening. She says "I wonder if we can hear Jesus’s words to Martha, not as a criticism, but as an invitation.  Not as a rebuke, but as a soothing balm.  Jesus knows that we ache to be whole.  Jesus knows that we place brutal and devastating expectations on ourselves.  Jesus knows that our resentments, like Martha’s, are often borne of envy. Martha longed to sit where Mary sat. She longed to take delight in Jesus’s words.  She longed to surrender her heavy burden and allow Jesus to host her.  Maybe we long for these good things, too.”

Jesus is visiting his dear friends, but he is the Host of God's hospitality for all of us.

Who is our Neighbor?

Scripture: Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82  •  Deuteronomy 30:9-14 and Psalm 25:1-10  •  Colossians 1:1-14  •  Luke 10:25-37

This week Jesus gives us the parable of the good Samaritan.  What is a good Samaritan? What is involved in being a good Samaritan? See The Rev. David Lose's "Who is our neighbor?" for an interesting insight into what Jesus says, not only about our neighbors, but also about caregivers - about all of us.

In "Meeting the Good Samaritan," The Rev. Dr. Thomas Long also tells us there's something deeper going on here than the moral of helping those in need. He says something has to happen to us to be good Samaritans. What does he mean? Why do we have "Good Samaritan laws?"

As in most parables, Jesus teaches us to examine ourselves. What will we find?

Make a Joyful Noise!

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-14 and Psalm 30  •  Isaiah 66:10-14 and Psalm 66:1-9  •  Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sometimes what we need to experience wholeness is right in front of us and we don’t notice it or  we choose to ignore it.  Sometimes the solution to our problems is right in front of us, personally and as a community.  "See Bruce Epperly's "The Adventurous Lectionary for July 7: Transformation is Right in Front of You" with reference to the healing of Naaman in the passage from 2 Kings, Paul's comments in regard to legalism in the passage from Galatians, and how we should live out our vocation in the passage from Luke's gospel.

In "The Joy of Judgment" John W. Martens discusses the theme of "judgment" and the joy of God's judgment offered to us in the Isaiah passage and the joy Jesus offers us as he send us out to bring God's joy and hope to our fellow sojourners.