Bible Study Summary - Upcoming Sunday's Scriptures

Here at Lancaster First UMC, I am privileged to be part of two weekly bible study groups that study the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday worship services.

Below are the notes from this week's bible study:

Rock Music Sermon/Worship Sunday Reflections (Sept. 26)
- Counter Cultural like the biblical prophets – Bono & U2
- Helps to release our anger and frustrations in appropriate ways. (See many of the Psalms)

This Week – Jazz Music
- How does Jazz music keep us in concert with God?

Scripture – Ephesians 2:1-10
- Read together.
- Key verse for the sermon is verse 10 – “…created in Christ Jesus for good works…”
- Context of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian Christians
1. Three of the earliest manuscripts from 3rd & 4th centuries don’t mention “in Ephesus.” This letter was probably written by Paul to the churches in the surrounding region of Ephesus. As copies of letter were made, the word “Ephesus” was left out because it was probably assumed. Paul was in prison when he wrote this. The other letters he wrote while in prison are Philippians, Colossians, & Philemon.
2. Ephesians is the only letter that was meant for circulation by Paul.
- First 3 verses – Show how human beings left to ourselves, often get life wrong. A naturally angry person may think that it’s OK to be angry and rude all of the time since that comes naturally.
- Verses 4-7 - How can we go the right direction? Jesus and his resurrection life!
- Verses 8-9 – People often don’t realize how wonderful God’s grace is because they don’t realize that they are going the wrong way in life (verses 1-3.) Paul talks about being “saved by grace.” Salvation means being rescued from our old way of living.
- Verse 10 – “Good Works” is not contradictory to being “saved by grace.” Paul says that we are God’s workmanship. We are meant to be fully human in the way that we were created to be. Our good works are to be a reflection of our new life in Christ.
- What happens when we live our lives without an awareness that salvation is only possible because of God’s grace? Read Luke 7:36-50.
- How aware are we of our need for God’s grace? And how can this awareness and appreciation lead to a life of “good works?”

Jazz Music
- What are some connections between jazz music and how God calls us to live our lives through his grace?

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Dave's Deep Thoughts

Here's Pastor Dave McDowell's weekly devotional that he sends out to members of his church. Dave is my brother and serves as the Music Minister at Stewartstown UMC in PA.

Life is all about routines.
Most of us depend on routines
to keep our lives and schedules orderly.

We like to sit in the same pews....
We wake up to a specific schedule to get our day started.
We shop at grocery stores where we know the layout.

When routines are broken,
we take notice........usually.

During the summer
as I was building my house,
my mother walked up the hill from her farmhouse.
That may not seem unusual,
except that my mother has Alzheimers.

It has been four or five years since my mom
last came to my house on her own initiative

If you know someone that has Alzheimers,
you know that as they gradually lose control of independent thinking,
they more and more become people of habits

They repeat the same phrases.
They practice the same activities.
They live in the same memories.

So on a beautiful summer afternoon,
as I was installing a window,
I noticed my mom walking up the hill,
carrying a glass.

I thought that it was strange that she was doing this
but I was so preoccupied with my window
that I didn't think much of it.

I was having a difficult installation.
What I expected to be an easy job
was turning out to be an exercise in frustration.
To install the window,
I had to carry it up a ladder.

I had only expected to carry it up once.
It was on my 12th trip up the ladder,
that my mom arrived.

Looks like you're working hard.
Why don't you stop and take a break.

She handed me a glass of iced tea.

That's odd, I thought.
She hasn't done that in years.

She offered to help me with the window project
but there wasn't much to offer an 83 year old Alzheimer patient
when I was dealing with a 12 foot extention ladder
and a 30 pound window.

Why don't you just sit and watch, I suggested.
I could use the company.

What I expected was
the same 2 or 3 questions over and over again,
or the same comment every 2-3 minutes.
I have long since learned the routine.....

Just answer the question,
just reply to the repeated comment.
Don't upset her by correcting her.

The disease has long since robbed her of the ability
to live anywhere but inside the moment.

It was on the 14th trip up the ladder,
that my patience was really being tested....
but not by mom, but by this elliptical window that wouldn't fit.

It was then that I began to realize
that I was having a lucid, normal conversation with my mom.
Not only did she not repeat herself,
but she entered new thoughts into the conversation.
She was connecting the dots....

I had not had a conversation like this with my mom in years.

I realized that on this beautiful summer afternoon,
that for a little while,
I was being given
the gift of the mom that I thought had been lost.

As I struggled with the window,
she tried to help me by steadying the ladder......
despite my protestations.
That was the mom I knew as a child.

As I told her what I was trying to accomplish,
she offered me encouragement.....
That was the mom of my growing up years.

As I finally installed the window successfully,
she cheered me on.
That was the mom who raised me.

Later that evening,
I went down to the farmhouse.
Mom was busy watering her flowers for the 4th time
She asked me if I had been at the church all day.

I smiled and said yes.

Life is about routines.
They give us comfort.
But on a beautiful summer afternoon,
I was given the gift of a mom
who was freed from her routines for a few precious moments....
and I found great comfort in that.

Every good thing bestowed
and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.
James 1:17

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The New Testament Word/Phrase of the Week

The New Testament bible scholar, Dr. Tom Wright, has produced a glossary of New Testament words/phrases that is really helpful for the study of scripture. What I like most about his definition of New Testament words is that he helps us to know what a Jewish person from the 1st century would have understood these words/phrases to mean. Too often, we allow our 21st century world view to get in the way of the original meaning.

The New Testament Word/Phrase of the Week: Scribes

In a world where many could not write, or not very well, a trained class of writers (scribes) performed the important function of drawing up contracts for business, marriage, etc. Many would thus be legal experts, and quite possibly Pharisees, though being a scribe was compatible with various political and religious standpoints. The work of Christian scribes was of vital importance in coping early Christian writings, particularly the stories about Jesus.

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What's Your Apgar Score?

A big thanks to a new friend serving a nearby church who gave me a tool (APGAR) that can be used to assess the health of a particular church.

Named after an anesthesiologist (Virginia Apgar) in the 1950s who devised a score to help save babies who were born malformed or too small or just blue and not breathing, she gave nurses a way to rate the health of babies at delivery. These newborn scores led medical personnel to become more intentional in doing what was needed to improve the infant survival rate. Thanks to this scoring system, instead of 1 out of every 30 babies dying at birth, today it has dropped to 1 out of 500.

Translating this to the health and vitality of a local congregation, a scoring system has been developed that does not focus primarily on how many attend worship, but on five key areas of health. There are two variations on using an Apgar scoring system for a church (based on Acts 2 or Revelation 2.) Both of these use a point system of 0, 1, or 2 (2 being the strongest.)

Acts 2 (Apgar)

A - Apostolic Teaching/Worship

P - Power - Wonders/Miraculous Signs

G - Generosity - Giving

A - Association - Fellowship Gatherings

R - Reproduction - People coming to Christ

Revelation 2 (Apgar)

A - Apostolic Faithfulness - Sound Theology

P - Patient Endurance - Strong Faith

G - Godliness - Pursuit of Holiness/Sanctification

A - Active Service - Involved in Outreach & Missions

R - Repentance - Humility & Willingness to Repent

I'm going to have our church leadership team give scores using both of these assessments to see how we're doing on our Apgar church health. It would be interesting to have several churches do this separately and compare the results.

Sunday Worship Preview - October 3

October 3 - (8:15 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Traditional Services & 9:45 A.M. Praise Service) & Wednesday, October 6 (6:30 P.M. Casual Service @ Crossroads, 2095 Fair Avenue)

Sermon - "In Concert with God - Jazz Music"

Features - 19th Sunday After Pentecost & World Communion Sunday
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Scripture - Ephesians 2:1-10 & Luke 17:5-10

Theme - On this Sunday, we are in the final part of a four part sermon series on the theme, “In Concert with God” and we focus on jazz music which even though is the least popular style of music according to a 2009 survey by Pew Research, offers an important dimension to our faith. How does this type of music help you to be “in concert with God?

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Coaches Joe & Jay Paterno - Topic: Religion & Tolerance

Jay Paterno, Penn State Quarterback Coach and son of Joe Paterno has an interesting article on religion and tolerance. While not giving a specific opinion on the Mosque/Ground Zero issue, he offers thoughtful comments on this overall subject and what his father has done to promote religious tolerance and peace throughout his life.
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On college football game day, this article reminds us of what is more important than which team wins or loses - it's how we treat others, including those from other faiths.

Bible Study Summary - Upcoming Sunday's Scriptures

Here at Lancaster First UMC, I am privileged to be part of two weekly bible study groups that study the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday worship services.

Below are the notes from this week's bible study:

I. Review last Sunday’s theme on music and being “in concert with God.”
- Country music reminds us that we are sinners in need of God’s grace. God can reshape and mold us into the people we are called to be like a potter who fashions clay. (Jeremiah 18)
- Country music helps us to express our grief and the frustrations we experience in life.

II. This Sunday – “In Concert with God – Rock Music”

A. Psalm 150
- Creation’s hymn of praise to God.
- Other Psalms end with a doxology. Psalm 150 serves as a doxology for the Book of Psalms. Psalm 146-150 serve as one long final doxology. Worship comes from both the sanctuary (v.1) and creation itself (v.2)
- All types of music are used for this praise & worship.
- Humans & animals offer their praise. (v.6)
- Charles Wesley wrote a hymn on this – “Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above”

(Connection between Rock Music & Biblical Prophets)

B. Malachi 3:1-4
- Last book of Old Testament
- Collection of prophecies to Jewish community in early 5th century BCE after first waves of exiles had rebuilt the temple & before Ezra & Nehemiah had arrived on the scene.
- Malachi is a call to holiness & social justice. The theme of repentance preceding the appearance of the Lord is picked up in the gospels with John the Baptist preparing the way before the appearance of Jesus.

C. Matthew 3:1-12 (Like the prophet, Malachi, John the Baptist is a prophet.)
- Scene: Think of president arriving in a town for an appearance. People gather.
Think 2,000 years ago & rumors of a king returning. People gather in a desert. (Long awaited Jewish hope!) People get ready! But the people weren’t ready.
They knew that repentance needed to precede arrival of the king. (see Malachi) This is why John the Baptist calls forth repentance.
- Baptism in the river symbolized the crossing of the Red Sea. This will be an even greater crossing and conquest!
- Warning: Axe to cut down tree for a bonfire or be a fruitful tree. (verse 10)
- Meaning of God’s Kingdom – Later, even John the Baptist was confused. (Matt. 11:2-6)

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The New Testament Word/Phrase of the Week

The New Testament bible scholar, Dr. Tom Wright, has produced a glossary of New Testament words/phrases that is really helpful for the study of scripture. What I like most about his definition of New Testament words is that he helps us to know what a Jewish person from the 1st century would have understood these words/phrases to mean. Too often, we allow our 21st century world view to get in the way of the original meaning.

Here is the New Testament word/phrase of the week: John (the Baptist)

Jesus' cousin on his mother's side, born a few months before Jesus; his father was a priest. He acted as a prophet, baptizing in the Jordan - dramatically re-enacting the Exodus from Egypt - to prepare people, by repentance, for God's coming judgment. He may have had some contact with the Essenes, though his eventual public message was different from theirs. Jesus' own vocation was decisively confirmed at his baptism by John. As part of John's message of the kingdom, he outspokenly criticized Herod Antipas for marrying his brother's wife. Herod had him imprisoned, and then beheaded him at his wife's request (Mark 6:14-29). Groups of John's disciples continued a separate existence, without merging into Christianity, for some time afterwards (e.g. Acts 19:1-7).

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I'll Hug Your Elephant If You Kiss...

Yesterday, I was behind a car that had this political statement bumper sticker: "I'll hug your elephant if you kiss my *$#^*. "

I'll let you fill in the blank there which shouldn't be too difficult to figure out. Suffice it to say that this person was not a Republican and was well aware of different words that can be used to describe the symbol of the Democrat Party and the seat portion of the human being.

This bumper sticker is just one example among many of the sharp dividing lines visible on our nation's political landscape. America at its best is a country that is willing to listen to both sides of the debate and make political decisions that will best serve the people of our country and world.

Like politics, the church can too easily fall into labeling, name calling, and closed mindedness when it comes to dealing with issues. Perhaps this is why so much of the Apostle Paul's letters focus on the importance of unity in Jesus Christ in spite of our differences.

A good example of this unity can be seen within the twelve people Jesus chose to be in his inner circle. You would think that Jesus would have picked people who had similar ideas to his, but instead they were often all over the map in terms of their religious viewpoints.

The disciple, Matthew who appears on the church calendar today was a tax collector, a social outcast during the biblical time period. Tax collectors were Jews who worked for the despised Roman Empire to collect taxes for the government and take more than they should for their own pockets.

It would be difficult to imagine this not being an issue with some, if not most of the other twelve disciples, especially with Simon the Zealot (not to be confused with Simon Peter.) If Simon the Zealot was actually connected with the 1st century Zealot movement (similar to our modern day militia groups who are against the government) which he could have very well been since this word is connected to his name, imagine what some of the conversations must have been like between these two guys!

You couldn't have two people at more opposite ends of the political spectrum than Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot.

Even though the disciples often bickered and fought among themselves throughout the gospel accounts, they still displayed a remarkable unity and for the most part, stuck together despite their many differences.

What kept them together was their desire to be followers of Jesus of Nazareth.

I would imagine that during that first year or two, the disciples were tempted to use similar bumper sticker slogans against each other like the one I saw on the back of a car yesterday. How they were able to overcome their differences is an interesting thought. But I'm sure it had something to do with the one who called them to be his disciples.

Sunday Worship Preview - September 26

September 26 - (8:15 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Traditional Services & 9:45 A.M. Praise Service) & Wednesday, September 29 (6:30 P.M. Casual Service @ Crossroads, 2095 Fair Avenue)

Sermon - "In Concert with God - Rock Music"

Features -18th Sunday After Pentecost
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Scripture - Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 150; & Matthew 3:1-12

Theme - On this Sunday, we are in the 3rd part of a sermon series on the theme, “In Concert with God” and we focus on rock music which is the most popular style of music according to a 2009 survey by Pew Research. How does this type of music help you to be “in concert with God?”

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A Paragraph Every United Methodist Should Read

A big thanks to Wesylan scholar, Kevin M. Watson for this paragraph that every United Methodist should read from his recent sermon in Perkins Chapel, Southern Methdodist University. Thank you, Kevin.

“Becoming”
Revelation 2:1-5
Perkins Chapel
September 15, 2010
Kevin M. Watson

A study of denominations in the United States found that in 1776 American Methodism was a tiny, little-known, and insignificant sect. By 1850 American Methodism had become the largest denomination in the country, by far! One way of glimpsing the dramatic growth of Methodism during this period is that in terms of the overall percentage of religious adherents in this period, the largest percentage increase among groups other than Methodists during this period was Catholics, who increased by 77% from 1776 to 1850. During this same shift Methodism increased by 1,368%! The growth of American Methodism during this period was explosive! One of the reasons for this growth was that every single Methodist met in a weekly small group to check in with one another, to give an account of how they were doing spiritually. In fact, one historian of American Methodism has called the class meeting “the building blocks of Methodism.”

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Bible Study Summary - Upcoming Sunday's Scriptures

Here at Lancaster First UMC, I am privileged to be part of two weekly bible study groups that study the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday worship services.

Below are the notes from this week's bible study:

Last Sunday Overview:
- II Chronicles 5/Classical Music Sunday Reflections

This Sunday (Sept. 19) – Country Music & Our Faith
- Main Text – Jeremiah 18:1-11

Jeremiah 18:1-11
- Overview of Text
The Lord wants Jeremiah to go to Potter’s house to show how God can shape and remake us and a whole nation. It’s a call for the people to repent from their sins.
- John Wesley said this is God being a “just judge”
- The clay is Judah and specifically, Jerusalem. God can rework us into a new vessel. But God wants us to participate by turning from sin and toward God. Great skill is needed in working at a potter’s wheel. It’s not easy!
- Other details from the text:

- This passage reminds us of God’s calling of Jeremiah – See Jeremiah 1:10.
v. 4 “Making” is the Hebrew, “Yasar” which is the same word in Genesis 2 when God creates man.
- Verses 7-10 offer a good discussion on the relationship between free will and our dependence on God to act and forgive.
- Verse 11 – Repentance does make a difference!

Discussion & Thoughts on the Text
1) How do we reconcile free will with our dependence on God? John Wesley’s focus on God’s prevenient grace which is the grace which stirs within us to turn toward God.
2) What happens if the clay becomes dry and hard? How does this image fit into our ability/inability to repent and change? Or does the clay/potter metaphor break down?
3) How do you think country music ties in with our faith? How can it help us to be “in concert with God?”

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The New Testament Word/Phrase of the Week

The New Testament bible scholar, Dr. Tom Wright, has produced a glossary of New Testament words/phrases that is really helpful for the study of scripture. What I like most about his definition of New Testament words is that he helps us to know what a Jewish person from the 1st century would have understood these words/phrases to mean. Too often, we allow our 21st century world view to get in the way of the original meaning.

Here is the New Testament word/phrase of the week: Baptism

Literally, 'plunging' people into water. From within a wider Jewish traidtion of ritual washings and bathings, John the Baptist undertook a vocation of baptizing people in the Jordan, not as one ritual among others but as a unique moment of repentance, preparing them for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus himself was baptized by John, identifying himself with this renewal movement and developing it in his own way. His followers in turn baptized others. After his resurrection, and the sending of the Holy Spirit, baptism became the normal sign and means of entry into the community of Jesus' people. As early as Paul it was aligned both with the Exodus form Egypt (I Corinthians 10:2) and with Jesus' death and resurrection (Romans 6:2-11.)

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Bible Moths

The early 18th century Methodists received a lot of criticism from inside and outside of the established Anglican Church for their daily disciplined reading of the bible. They were given the name, "bible moths" since they were often seen out in public with their bibles.

Instead of being called "Methodists" which was another derogatory name, what if "bible moths" became the name of this movement? Instead of the United Methodist Church, maybe we would be called, the Church of the Bible Moths or something like that.

Yesterday, as I was in a coffee shop reading my bible, one of the workers, noticing that I was reading the bible said, "That's great that you're reading the bible." I asked him, "Do you read the bible too?" And he said, "Every day! I can't imagine going a day without reading it."

As I have reflected on our conversation, I started thinking about all of the bibles that I use on a daily basis. I begin the day by reading scriptures directly from the internet for my morning devotional time. When I go to a coffee shop, I carry a bible in my carrying case. My Wesley Study Bible sits on a book shelf in the study of my house which I refer to almost daily. A small bible resides in my car for hospital visits. I often refer to the bible on my smartphone which is way too convenient. And last but not least is the bible that I use Sunday mornings in worship which I keep in my church office.

The moral of the story? Surround yourself with a bunch of bibles. Hover over them like a moth. Read the bible for all its worth. Allow the massive story of God's salvation history to sweep you up and carry you forward throughout your day.

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Bible moths? Consider it a compliment.

Another Evangelical Voice We Need to Hear Regarding 9/11

This past Friday, I posted an article regarding misplaced anger that many people in our country have (especially in the Christian community) that Islam in general was responsible for 9/11 and not just Muslim extremists/terrorists.

I experienced this misplaced anger firsthand during my previous church appointment when a Muslim community desired to build a mosque in our area a couple of years after 9/11. A church located in the general vicinity where the mosque would be located made hundreds of phone calls to residents of the community to warn them that a Muslim presence in the community would potentially lead to more terrorism.

After writing a letter to the editor of the local newspaper that this particular church's anti-Muslim position was not a view that was held by me or by many other Christians within my denomination, I ended up receiving some letters in the mail from citizens who read my editorial stating that I was blind to Muslim propaganda.

As this misplaced anger continues to rear it's ugly head from time to time, particularly around the 9/11 anniversary, thank God for people like Dr. Ben Witherington, an evangelical New Testament bible scholar who offers this voice of reason in a recent post on his excellent blog on Belief Net.

On 9/11, we remember those who lost their lives and their surviving family and friends, and the police and fire fighters who risked their lives. We pray for peace in a world in which terrorists would do such horrible acts of violence, and pray for our global leaders as they pursue justice and peace in our broken and torn world.

And yesterday on the 9/11 anniversary, I gave thanks to God that I was part of a church that took gifts of appreciation to our local police and fire departments to let them know that we were thinking of them and supporting them in their vital work in our community.

Last but not least, on every 9/11 anniversary, I think about a member of my previous church whose brother died in the World Trade Center. As a way of responding to such a painful event in the life of their family, the following year, they chose to help build a home for an impoverished family in Mexico in loving memory of her brother.

They chose to respond in this way because as Christians, we are called to the way of the cross and to the way of sacrificial love.

Misplaced anger doesn't do any good. But the way of the cross makes all the difference in the world.

Sunday Worship Preview - September 19

September 19 - (8:15 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Traditional Services & 9:45 A.M. Praise Service) & Wednesday, September 22 (6:30 P.M. Casual Service @ Crossroads, 2095 Fair Avenue)

Sermon - "In Concert with God - Country Music"

Features -17th Sunday After Pentecost
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Scripture -Jeremiah 18:1-11 & Matthew 4:12-25

Theme - On this Sunday, we are in the 2nd part of a sermon series on the theme, “In Concert with God” and we focus on country music which is the 2nd most popular style of music according to a 2009 survey by Pew Research. How does this type of music help you to be “in concert with God?”

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We Like Drama

The sad events in which a small church in Florida is threatening to burn Korans and the accusation from the church that a Muslim leader lied to them regarding a deal to not proceed with the burning if the proposed Ground Zero mosque is located elsewhere, just goes to show how much we like drama.

Don't get me wrong. Drama can be a good thing. Plays, a good story, a moving book, or movie, can help us see things from new perspectives. But the drama that is going on now with this church in Florida is a sad commentary on serious issues that are facing our world.

The media knows that we like drama or why bother to cover a story several weeks ago about a small church wanting to burn Korans on the 9/11 anniversary. To add to the drama, now we have troops in danger, the inciting of violence, and dirty laundry being aired of a pastor's miscommunication with a Muslim leader.

And all of this on the eve of the 9th anniversary of 9/11. I honestly thought this was the kind of drama we were going to have next year on the 10th anniversary. But remember, we like drama so why not start early.

I don't think we would have this level of drama on the eve of 9/11 if this one basic truth would be embraced: "Extreme Muslim terrorists were responsible for the acts of 9/11, not the Islamic faith in general." When a peace loving and observant Muslim reads about extreme Muslim terrorists hijacking his/her faith through terrorist acts, this doesn't mean that the peace loving and observant Muslim is a terrorist as well or that Islam is a terrorist based religion.

Or if a dishonest used car salesperson continually cheats his/her customers, this does not mean that all car salespeople are dishonest or that all car dealerships are unethical.

Or if a professed Christian abuses family members in the name of his/her religion, this does not mean that all Christians are abusers or that Christianity promotes abuse.

Or if a small church in Kansas protests at military funerals by spewing hate language at those who are grieving and those who have a particular sexual orientation, this does not mean that all churches have a propensity toward this kind of behavior.

Quietly and with no fanfare, a dear friend sends me an e-mail this morning which I receive while I'm watching this Florida pastor being interviewed on the Today Show. The e-mail says that she will be attending a Christian/Muslim gathering at a nearby mosque today as a display of how different faiths can coexist in peace and promote peace throughout our communities and world.

This peace gathering won't make CNN or Fox News. No, today we'll get a steady diet of segments about a certain church in Florida that has not embraced the basic truth mentioned earlier in this post, that "extreme Muslim terrorists were responsible for the acts of 9/11, NOT the Islamic faith in general."

Why won't we hear anything about my friend's inter-faith gathering today?

It's sad, but true. We like drama.

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Quote of the Week

A big thanks to New Testament scholar, Ben Witherington in his recent blog article for the quote of the week:

"If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Weekly Bible Study Notes

Here at Lancaster First UMC, I am privileged to be part of two weekly bible study groups that study the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday worship services.

Below are the notes from this week's bible study:

- Overview of “In Concert with God” sermon series:
1) Music and the Christian faith have a strong connection – explore this connection.
2) Different styles of music – how can the different styles inform our faith?
3) My New Testament professor in seminary would play a musical composition on the piano following his teaching on the scriptures that would capture the theme/emotion of the text we studied. This experience inspired me to put together this sermon series.
4) Fun series, especially for potential visitors and people new to the faith. Music is a good bridge to help people connect with their faith.

- Classical Music this Sunday (Sept. 12) Without giving away the sermon this Sunday, the bible study today will only focus on the main text which is about the importance of music and faith.

- Overview of II Chronicles:
1) Begins with the reign of King Solomon, continues with the kings of Judah, and goes to the Babylonian exile and the destruction of the Temple.
2) I Chronicles ends with King David preparing for the eventual fundraising and building of the Temple. Draw comparisons with our present “Living Vine” campaign for our new Crossroads facility.
3) II Chronicles begins with the new reign of King Solomon with a heavy focus on the new Temple.
4) Sunday’s reading is a parade like atmosphere where the ark is processed through the city and into the Temple and Solomon will later give a dedication speech.

- Read II Chronicles 5:2-14
1) Key verses for our “In Concert with God” are 11-14 which highlights the music of this special day of dedication for the Temple.
2) How this relates to classical music – find out this Sunday!
3) List all the instruments:
Levitical singers, cymbals, harps, lyres, 120 trumpeters
4) Lyrics of music – “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
5) Glory of the Lord fills the place. The priests couldn’t continue to lead in worship because of the glory of God. That’s what we want for this Sunday!

- General Thoughts about Music and Our Faith
1) Some churches discourage singing. Charles Wesley helped Methodists to sing their faith. Methodist theology!
2) Music is a touchy subject like the temperature of the sanctuary. Goal is to appreciate different styles of music.
3) We often focus on the melody more than the lyrics. We should focus on the lyrics, too.
4) Do you like/listen to classical music? Why? How does it help you connect with your faith?

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The New Testament Word/Phrase of the Week

The New Testament bible scholar, Dr. Tom Wright, has produced a glossary of New Testament words/phrases that is really helpful for the study of scripture. What I like most about his definition of New Testament words is that he helps us to know what a Jewish person from the 1st century would have understood these words/phrases to mean. Too often, we allow our 21st century world view to get in the way of the original meaning.

Here is the New Testament word/phrase of the week: Last Days

Ancient Jews thought of world history as divided into two periods: 'the present age' and 'the age to come.' The present age was a time when evil was still at large in its many forms; the age to come would usher in God's final reign of justice, peace, joy, and love. Ancient prophets had spoken of the transition from the one age to the other in terms of the 'last days,' meaning either the final moments of the 'present age' or the eventual dawning of the 'age to come.'

When Peter quotes Joel in Acts 2:17, he perhaps means both: the two ages have overlapped, so that Christians live in the 'last days,' the time between God's kingdom being launched in and through Jesus and it being completed at Jesus' return. The New Testament gives no encouragement to the idea that we can calculate a precise timetable for the latter event, or that the period of history immediately before Jesus' return will be significantly different (e.g. more violent) than any other (see Matthew 24:36-39.)

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Music & Faith

Beginning this Sunday and over the course of the next four weeks, I will begin a new sermon series called, "In Concert with God." For each of these Sundays, I will focus on a particular type of music and find connections with that type of music and the Christian faith.

The idea behind this sermon series is to tap into something that almost everyone enjoys; music, and relate it to how we can be more faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

As I prepare for this series, in the back of my mind is one of my New Testament professors in seminary who would play a particular type of music on the piano to convey the particular scripture that he had just covered in his teaching. In a similar way, I want to explore ways in which different types of music can bring out the meaning of various themes and scripture passages throughout the bible.

This is a sermon series that can be a little "touchy" because we tend to be passionate about our favorite styles of music. My hope is that even if we cover a style of music that we don't appreciate personally, that we will still be able to find connections between all types of music and our multi-faceted faith journey.

For this first Sunday of the series, we focus on classical music. I am spending as much time as possible listening to this type of music in preparation for the sermon and finding connections with my own faith journey as well as the composers who wrote the music.

What are some of your favorite classical pieces and what are the connections you can make in your faith journey as you seek to be in concert with God?

A Labor Day Prayer

For the Unemployed

Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday Worship Preview - September 12

September 12 - (8:15 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Traditional Services & 9:45 A.M. Praise Service) & Wednesday, September 15 (6:30 P.M. Casual Service @ Crossroads, 2095 Fair Avenue)

Sermon - "In Concert with God - Classical Music"

Features - 16th Sunday After Pentecost & Full Sunday School Schedule Begins
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Scripture - II Chronicles 5:2-14 & Luke 15:1-10

Theme - On this Sunday, we begin a four part sermon series on the theme, “In Concert with God.” For each of these Sundays, we will focus on a particular type of music to see how it connects with our faith. For this Sunday, we begin by looking at classical music. How does this type of music help you to be “in concert with God?”

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Context, Context, Context

What are the most important words in real estate? Location, location, location, right? Well for biblical studies, we need to change those words to context, context, context.

The reason I mention this is because of this past week's Book of Acts readings from "The Daily Office." Have you ever noticed just how much of the Book of Acts is comprised of big picture narrative, to the point where it's almost a bit humorous because it's difficult for us to relate?

For example, one of the readings this past week was from Acts 13 where the Apostle Paul took the opportunity to talk about the good news of Jesus Christ during a visit to a synagogue. But instead of presenting something simple and concise like the four spiritual laws or only talking about the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus, he instead reviews the history of the Hebrew scriptures which the people would have known inside and out. But this didn't stop Paul from erring on the side of context.

The humorous part for me in this particular passage was when the Jewish people in the synagogue invited Paul to speak and his first words were about when Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years which led him to talk about how Israel took over the land of Canaan, and on and on he went through those well known stories.

I can imagine seeing the people rolling their eyes and wondering, "When is this guy going to get to the point? Yeah, yeah, we're Jews like you, can't you speed up the story a bit?"

But that would be to look at the bible from my 21st century worldview which tends to follow much of contemporary biblical undertakings in which people screen out the larger theme and plot of the bible, thinking that we can bypass those parts to get to the "good stuff" like how can I get to heaven when I die?" Yes, that is some good stuff, but it's even better if we continually think about Jesus in the context of the larger story. By doing so, we just might find something even bigger in the bible than it just being an answer book on how people can go to heaven. We will find ourselves in the midst of the big stories as well as the little stories of the Bible to the point that we will be in a better position to appreciate how Jesus' life, death, and resurrection is meant to change the whole world, including me!

One of the great prayers in the church is what is often used during the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion called, "The Great Thanksgiving." It's a lengthy prayer which tells the story of God's mighty acts of salvation with periodic responses from the congregation. The temptation is for the congregation to doze off during this longer than usual prayer, when instead, we should be on the edge of our seats whispering words of thanksgiving to God as we hear this prayer. Come to think of it, one of the responses during the prayer is, "It is right to give our thanks and praise."

It is right to give our thanks and praise because we are reminded of what God has done for us beginning with the creation of the world, the covenant that was made to God's people, the fulfillment of that covenant through Jesus Christ, and the expected return of Christ to reign over all creation.
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So when reading the bible, think context, context, context. Let's not let our limited attention spans prevent us from celebrating God's mighty acts of salvation, even though we think we already know those parts of the story.

The New Testament Word/Phrase of the Week

The New Testament bible scholar, Dr. Tom Wright, has produced a glossary of New Testament words/phrases that is really helpful for the study of scripture. What I like most about his definition of New Testament words is that he helps us to know what a Jewish person from the 1st century would have understood these words/phrases to mean. Too often, we allow our 21st century world view to get in the way of the original meaning.

Here is the New Testament word/phrase of the week: Son of God

Originally a title for Israel (Exodus 4:22) and the Davidic king (Psalm 2:7); also used of ancient angelic figures (Genesis 6:2). By the New Testament period it was already used as a messianic title, for example, in the Dead Sea Scrolls. There, and when used of Jesus in the gospels (e.g. Matthew 16:16), it means, or reinforces, "Messiah", without the later significance of "divine." However, already in Paul, the transition to the fuller meaning (one who was already equal with God and was sent by him to become human and to become Messiah) is apparent, without loss of the meaning "Messiah" itself (e.g. Galatians 4:4).

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