Journey Lectionary Lesson 13 Dec 2009

Journey Class Lectionary Dec 13th 2009

Reference Scriptures
Zephaniah 3:14-20 • Isaiah 12:2-6 • Philippians 4:4-7 • Luke 3:7-18

We are looking at two different passages: Zephania 3:14-20 and Luke 3:7-18

Zephaniah 3:14-20
3:14 Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!

3:15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.

3:16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak.

3:17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing

3:18 as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.

3:19 I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.

3:20 At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.

Comment: The passages from Zephania are replete with promise and hope of being renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth. How do the passages in Luke that recount the message being presented by John the Baptist to the crowds of his day differ from the Zephania passages? Or do they?



John has good news and bad news...which do you want to hear first?

Luke 3:7-18
3:7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

3:8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

3:9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

3:10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?"

3:11 In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise."

3:12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"

3:13 He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you."

3:14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."

3:15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,

3:16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

3:17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

3:18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

See you Sunday...

Walter Morton for Journey Across the Line

It's Thanksgiving, It's Advnet

Journey Lectionary Year C
First Sunday of Advent
Nov 29 2009

We have a juxtaposition of events this Sunday for our study.
It is Thanksgiving weekend. It is a time in which we stop to recognize that and those for what and whom we are thankful.

But it is also the first Sunday of Advent when we celebrate the coming of hope and fulfillment for our lives and the identity and construction of a community so we might live in the light of God.

As you prepare yourselves for this time of study, how do the occurrence of these two important celebrations bring a sense of meaning to you and to others with whom you relate?

Promise of Advent

Jeremiah 33:14-16
33:14 The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

33:15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

33:16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness.


Hope and Fulfillment in Community

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
3:9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?

3:10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.

3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.

3:12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.

3:13 And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Lectionary Nov 22 - The Reign of Christ

Where Do We Put God...?

Reign of Christ -
November 22, 2009
2 Samuel 23:1-7
or
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 Psalm 132:1-12, (13-18)
or
Psalm 93 Revelation 1:4b-8 John 18:33-37


Dear fellow Journey classmates:

In thinking about the lectionary lesson for this Sunday the 22nd. I was impressed by the restlessness of David to find a “place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.’

Of course, David was most likely referring to the temple and it’s use as the abode of the ark, considered God’s presence on earth. But what does it mean to “find a place for the Lord today, with us? How does that work out? Do we simply see him as occupying time and space? Is that limitation to his being? Or is that the very way he is revealed?

Psalm 132:1-12, (13-18)
132:1 O LORD, remember in David's favor all the hardships he endured;

132:2 how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,

132:3 "I will not enter my house or get into my bed;

132:4 I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,

132:5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."

132:6 We heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.

132:7 "Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool."

132:8 Rise up, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.

132:9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your faithful shout for joy.

132:10 For your servant David's sake do not turn away the face of your anointed one.

132:11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.

132:12 If your sons keep my covenant and my decrees that I shall teach them, their sons also, forevermore, shall sit on your throne."

132:13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation:

132:14 "This is my resting place forever; here I will reside, for I have desired it.

132:15 I will abundantly bless its provisions; I will satisfy its poor with bread.

132:16 Its priests I will clothe with salvation, and its faithful will shout for joy.

132:17 There I will cause a horn to sprout up for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one.

132:18 His enemies I will clothe with disgrace, but on him, his crown will gleam."


In John 18 we have the classic rhetorical exchange when virtually anyone who confronts Christ with a question is answered with a question? How does this exchange go to the heart of everyone’s relationship with Christ?

John 18:33-37
18:33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

18:34 Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"

18:35 Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?"

18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."

18:37 Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."


The heart of Christian Identity...Who do you say that I am?

What Does it Mean to Have Hope...?

LECTIONARY READINGS FOR NOVER 15th 2009
1 Samuel 1:4-20 or Daniel 12:1-3
1 Samuel 2:1-10 or Psalm 16
Hebrews 10:11-14, (15-18), 19-25
Mark 13:1-8

Lectionary Study for November 15th for Journey Class

What does it mean to have hope in the midst of trial and despair?
What can we say about hope being an integral part of our selves in daily living?
What happens to those who we assume have no hope?
Is hope only expectation or is it a “reality” we should pursue?
How is your hope? Will it die with you or live on?

These are some issues we can probe this Sunday in class regarding the lectionary verses.

Two characteristics stand out for me about these verses.
First: They all relate to issues of going through trial or despair.
Second: They all end in a response of Hope.

Read the final verses of the passages below to see the hope statements expressed.
They are: 1 Samuel 1:20, Daniel 12:3, 1 Samuel 2:10, Psalm 16:11, Hebrews 10:23-25, and Mark 13:7-8

What different kinds of hope are expressed here in the last verses of the passages below?

1 Samuel 1:4-201:4
On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters;1:5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb.1:6 Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.1:7 So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.
1:8 Her husband Elkanah said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?"
1:9 After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the LORD. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.1:10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly.1:11 She made this vow: "O LORD of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head."
1:12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.1:13 Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk.1:14 So Eli said to her, "How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine."
1:15 But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.1:16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time."
1:17 Then Eli answered, "Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him."1:18 And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your sight." Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer.1:19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.1:20 In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, "I have asked him of the LORD."

Daniel 12:1-312:1
"At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.12:2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.12:3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

1 Samuel 2:1-102:1
Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory. 2:2 "There is no Holy One like the LORD, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.2:3 Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.2:4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.2:5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.2:6 The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.2:7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts.2:8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world.2:9 "He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail.2:10 The LORD! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed."

Psalm 1616:1
Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.16:2 I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."16:3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.16:4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.16:5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.16:6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.16:7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.16:8 I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.16:10 For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.16:11 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Hebrews 10:11-14, (15-18), 19-2510:11
And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins.10:12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God,"10:13 and since then has been waiting "until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet."10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.10:15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,10:16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,"10:17 he also adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."10:18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
10:19 Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,10:20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh),10:21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,10:22 let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.10:23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.10:24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds,10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Mark 13:1-813:1
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!"13:2 Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."13:3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,13:4 "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?"13:5 Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray.13:6 Many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray.13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.13:8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.

Walter Morton for JourneyAcrosstheLine

Lectionary Nov 8, 2009: Responsibility to the Poor?

Lectionary Lessons for November 8th , 2009

Psalm 146
146:1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long. Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD!


Mark 12:38-44 As he (Jesus) taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!
They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 1For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."


The music group U2’s Bono said the following at the presidential prayer breakfast this past summer:

Thus sayeth the Lord: ‘Bring the homeless poor into the house, when you see the naked, cover him, then your light will break out like the dawn and your recovery will speedily spring fourth, then your Lord will be your rear guard.’ The jewish scripture says that. Isaiah 58 again.

That is a powerful incentive: ‘The Lord will watch your back.’ Sounds like a good deal to me, right now.

A number of years ago, I met a wise man who changed my life. In countless ways, large and small, I was always seeking the Lord’s blessing. I was saying, you know, I have a new song, look after it… I have a family, please look after them… I have this crazy idea…

And this wise man said: stop. He said, stop asking God to bless what you’re doing.
Get involved in what God is doing—because it’s already blessed.

Well, God, as I said, is with the poor. That, I believe, is what God is doing.
And that is what He’s calling us to do.

I was amazed when I first got to this country and I learned how much some churchgoers tithe. Up to ten percent of the family budget. Well, how does that compare the federal budget, the budget for the entire American family? How much of that goes to the poorest people in the world? Less than one percent.

There is a continent—Africa—being consumed by flames.
I truly believe that when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for three things: the war on terror, the digital revolution, and what we did—or did not to—to put the fire out in Africa.
History, like God, is watching what we do.

How do the haves help the have nots??

All Saints Day, celebrated in November?

This image above is normally called "Icon of the Second Coming" but is also used to illustrate "All Saints Day." It is from an anonymous Greek author from about 1700 A.D.

All Saints Day...celebrated in November?
In a church staff meeting sometime early in the year, some of the ministerial staff were attempting to iron out some dates during the fall months for events at the church. An event for late October, early November, was being mentioned that would also be the “theme” for a Sunday’s Worship service. When Sunday, the first of November, was mentioned as a possible date for the emphasis, the Music/Worship Minister spoke up and said, “Nope, that’s All Saints Day.”

The discussion then turned to other possible Sundays to use for the emphasis in question. The discussion ended up being tabled for another meeting. But the minister who had suggested using Sunday, the first of November for the event, then asked, “What is All Saints Day?”

You know you’re in a Baptist staff meeting when someone asks...

The senior pastor answered that it was a celebration of the persons who have been lifted to sainthood by church tradition. And “all saints” day is purposefully set aside to ensure all persons are recognized as such whether they have a specific day or tradition that celebrates their sainthood individually or not.

But is a blanket celebration, covering all the bases just to make sure we don’t leave out any saints, all the reason there is for the celebration by Christianity? Why is it November? What other celebration is pretty darn close to it? How are they related...particularly in a spiritual sense that can even speak to our selves today?

For more info on the history of “All Saints Day,” check out this Wikipedia page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints_Day , so I don’t have to copy the info and get picked up for plagiarism.

See all you saints on Sunday...

Journey Lesson for Aug 30th. The lesson of Love

Journey Lessons for August 30th 2009
The Lesson of Love

Hebrew Scriptures: Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Hebrew Scriptures: Psalm 45

In Song of Solomon we have a song of passion and desire for each other, a poem of love. Many times this has been interpreted in spiritual terms, but it is also seen by certain interpretations (feminism) as simply the desire of erotic love. What is wrong with seeing as both ways? Would this be a normal Jewish interpretation of these passages?
In the 45th Psalm, we have what has been considered a Wedding song or ritual for a wedding ceremony. It is a public event in which each is committed to the other. It is supposedly the only Psalm directed to another human being. It is grand and eloquent.

Christian Scriptures: James 1:17-27
Christian Scriptures: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15,21-23
James admonishes that real faith requires action. After James lays the foundation for faith in God himself and the endurance needed to stay faithful, he then responds that real faith is equated with real action. In other words, one is not possible without the other?
In Mark we have the telling of the disciples being criticized for not properly following the ritual hand cleaning required by religious law. Jesus responds that if the heart is not in the practice of the faith the external signs mean nothing.

Comment:
I believe all four verse selections have a theme here today, It is the theme of passion that is necessary in all of our living practices. In the Hebrew scriptures there is a synthesis between the Psalm and Song of Solomon. There must be passion in a marriage or it may only be an empty ritual in the end, no matter how great and impressive the ceremony. This follows the synthesis of the physical and the spiritual which were more accepted as the proper model of the human in the Hebrew scriptures than it has been interpreted in the Christian.
For Jesus and James, in the Christian scriptures we have the interpretation of the necessity to have a faith that has real action from the heart. It is important to show with the hands our respect for God in ritual but the gestures are empty unless those hands are reaching out to the needs of our fellow human beings.
I once heard someone say that “every story is a love story.” Simply put, where is the passion, the personality, your personal action in expressing the Love of God to others? Is it merely trapped in the illustration of ritual or does it freely express itself in true passion for others? Whether meeting human physical needs or the spiritual concerns of another, the story should always be one of love.