I am anxious to hear how my laity address this Scripture. I want to see and hear how God has spoken to them.
Shalom
Bammama
Is anyone using this text? I once heard a Christian ask a Jewish rabbi why he did not believe Jesus is the Messiah. And he answered with this text saying, "In Jeremiah 31:33 states,'I will put my law within them. I will write it on their hearts. ' and the next verse says no longer shal they teach one antoher to know the lord...' and I don't see any Christian with the law written on their heart." How would you answer that? Rev.J
Rev. J, I'd probably just chuckle wryly and say, "I hear you" and let it be.
As to this text: One of my predominant "themes," if you will, is that one aspect of spiritual maturity might be measurable by the degree to which we're self-accountable (rather than being reliant upon religious professionals). Is not the law within our hearts our own self-accountability?
Sally in GA
I guess I would respond Rev J, that I don't know where the Rabbi has been, but I have seen Christians responding to Jesus' reiterating of the "Thou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and your neighbor as your self, as having the law written on Christians' heart. Frankly I find our need ( and here I referring to all religions) to have another's belief prove its worth. I am grateful to God for the path that I have been given to follow. I am willing to share my faith, but do not need to defend it.
Shalom
Bammamma
I'm having some trouble with the completeness of this text. My lectionary group fell through this week so I haven't been into the commentaries yet, but we have moved Laity Sunday to next week as we will start a Revival this Sunday night. We also will (finally!) be celebrating Promotion Sunday and honoring (in some small way) the Sunday School teaches and the importance of that ministry. So the coming days of the inscription on our hearts... that is our persistent prayer, but until then... Also, somebody talk to me about what Jeremiah's audience would have been hearing? Were they going into exile? already in exile? I still have difficulty sorting all of that out. We are doing a lot of great things in our church... but according to our hierarchy (and to ultimate truth, I'm afraid) we are so far a "barren church" this year... we've had no professions of faith and in spite of all of the good relationships we are building and all of the incredible outreach we have started, we have only had 2 people join the church the whole year. In addition, we will be announcing to the congregation that the finance committee is projecting a year-end shortfall of about $9000 in conference connectional giving...and ask people to "step up" their giving. In light of all this, there is something profound (I'm sure) to be said about covenant and committment and promises of ongoing future relationships... but at present I'm not able to unpack it anymore. Sorry for this long post, I'm just really struggling this week. Any and all help appreciated! Shalom-RevAmy
The New Interpreters commentary mentions this is the only time "New Covenant" is mentioned in the Old Testament. As for promotion Sunday, I think it is great when we honor our teachers. I don't understand, "No longer shall we teach ..." That verse is a puzzle. Is it saying there comes a time the law is what we desire instead of what is put upon us? A friend and member once said he wanted to hit his boss, I piped up, "Oh, don't do that, you could be arrested" He said, "YOu don't understand. I don't fear jail. I have been there done that. I don't want to hit the man because Christ died for him as well." I see that friend of mine as internalizing the law, not just obeying out of fear. Rev. J
Bammamma- but indeed you are defending it and your answer is even defensive. Many apologist through the ages have been willing to defend and even die for their faith.
whoever responded to me, I know my response was defensive, that is why I'm glad that God is leading me to move beyond that attitude. Rev. J seems to have the right response to her own question.
Shalom
Bammamma
In this text I have been drawing out the faithfulness of God and God's covenant. (God is good all the time; All the time God is good) We are God's people and in these days and in the days to come we will need to be covenant people. We need to be in the compassion business for the long-haul. We are just beginnng to see the repercussions economically and socially from 9-11. If God's law of love, mercy and compassion are written on our hearts - ours will be the genration when the chain of broken covenants is no more.
Whoops! That's from Hillary in Ca -- pondering on a Wed.
Hillary -
I've even chosen "Great is Thy Faithfulness" as the hymn of preparation!!! I've entitled mine "Cross My Heart," (I'm pairing it up with the 2 Tim)and will explore ways in which the cross of the new covenant, promised in Jeremiah, DOES become written on our hearts. The ol' Methodist thing is "going on to perfection." I need illustrations - I'm always stuck for illustrations!!!!
Sally in GA
Sally - Here's a story you may like to use this week. A man died and went to heaven. He found people separated into 2 groups; the hard-hearted in one hall and the compassionate in the other. Around mealtime he entered the hall of those who were hard-hearted and was surprised to find the people there thin and hungry looking. When the angels began to serve dinner, large platters of delicious food were placed at the table, but before anyone was seated, another angel came along and strapped a long iron spoon to each person’s arm. The long handle of the spoon was fastened to the wrist and biceps making it impossible to bend the arm.As a result none was able to lift the spoon to his mouth. Walking over to the hall of those who were compassionate, he was surprised to find them well fed and happy. Dinner was already on the table and and angel had finished strapping the long iron spoons to the arms of the diners. Each person then dipped their spoon into the food and fed the person seated across from them.
This Financial Stewardship month we have been using Weslesy's saying. This week it's "For as Long as Ever..." Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."
May your heart be rnewed this week! Hillary in Ca
A late idea . . . (one I was going to use, but laid aside for another one--see post under 2 Timothy reading).
"Out of the Box" is a children's show on Disney our 4-year old loves. The premise is that ordinary cardboard boxes--whether stacked together as a tunnel or playhouse or used for storage of toys and various objects--harbor lots of ideas for fun, creative play. I think Jeremiah is engaged in helping the people let God "out of the box." Of course, the covenant appears to be dead--rightly so: God made it and set the boundaries, and the people did not do their part, therefore God is entitled--no EXPECTED--to make the "old covenant" of no effect. But that is to limit God. God is faithful, but not predictable--in fact, God is SO faithful that God is UNpredictable. God has the power to make a new day for an old way. This understanding must underlie the sermon before turning to consider how this new covenant is brought to bear in the words and work of Jesus--Jeremiah still must be allowed to speak a fresh and free word to us who live on this side of the Cross. BECAUSE OF the "new covenant," Jeremiah has a new voice. In what ways do we put God "in a box"? What have we made of no-effect that God is at work to renew? Jeremiah tells us that at the end of earthly reality, heavenly possibility breaks forth. What delights await when God gets "out of the box."
Blessings, TK in OK
I didn't mean to imply that Jeremiah was talking about Jesus; but the promise of something more - something (or, rather, someone) we SAY we know personally, ought to also be growing in our hearts. Children cross their hearts when they're making promises; too often adults don't do that (metaphorically speaking) when we're making promises - as in the promise we make to God when we decide to live as God's children. How nice it would be if the law WERE written on our hearts so that we COULD grow into the infinite promise of God. We put our hands over our hearts when we pledge allegiance: the gesture is symbolic! How much more full would our hearts be, not with something OVER them, but with something IN them - God's word, active and alive.
Rambling a bit, but after a long state cross country meet 50 miles away (my daughter placed 24th out of 51, and it's only her first year), I'm just now putting "pen to paper," so to speak.
Sally in GA
Previous:
Aha! They have left this particular space for we who are truly desperate and have waited until Saturday to prepare our sermon - will any one propose to be more desperate than I? On to the task at hand.... Jeremiah is left behind when the leaders of Jerusalem were shipped off to exile. But this scripture is a bit of a letter he sent to them. He's saying those who predict the exile will be short are wrong. Instead the exiles need to settle in for the long haul - build houses - plant gardens - even pray where they are. He's trying to remind the exiles that God's bigger than they imagined and God hadn't been defeated or left behind. God is with them. Eventually the exile will end, and even if they never see the homeland again, their kids will. Maybe the church is living through an exile right now. We aren't taken very seriously by the world in which we live. That makes me wonder how we stay true to our faith and keep from being swallowed up by the big world around us? Actually, I think this passage works with 2 Timothy. We are a community put together by Jesus and we need to endure in the faith. God will be faithful to us, no matter what or where. Living in exile can be a productive place. It is more than wishing for the good old days. It doesn't justify compromising the faith. And, if we can keep a clear memory of what God has done in the past, we can have a clear hope in God today. In the process, our influence on the big world around us may be greater than what we think...
The Iowa Star
Darn it! I meant to put my contribution under the Jeremiah passage for October 11 - oh well, that's how it goes when you are truly desperate!
to Greg of Memphis, What a passage of GRACE. This is a love passage from a Forgiving God to a sinful people. I'm sure this is no surprise to you. I just wanted to comment on your dilema of the women leaving your new pastorate and the mess that is there. I have served several churches, most of the time as the first woman pastor, so possibly you might listen to some insights gleaned from the lessons from God in these situations. This is a church is chaos with a lot of pain that has not been recognized or addressed. There is probably a feeling of abandonment and betrayal caused by the previous pastor (or so they think). As women, they may feel that this women has publicly (as their representative) shown women to be unreliable, not worthy of leadership, etc. They may be questioning their own gifts and graces. This may not be the case but I suspect that there is some of this going on. I have always tried to simply love them with the love of Christ and affirm any word or action that would encourage Faith. Krystol-NY
Krystol in NY....Your kind words to Greg in Memphis reflect your own graciousness, as well as encouraging words to Greg. Your pastoral style in the midst of your congregation's many woes maternally reflects God's "husbandering" love for the people as Jeremiah recounts it in this weekend's Scripture portion. Frequently in DPS postings the preacher's model of pastoal care is a beautiful rendering of the text's spirit. Thank you, Krystol, and peace to you Greg. Gregory in Dot,MA
Iowa Star:
Desperate or not, your contribution relates well with this week's gospel ... the challenge of persistent faithfulness.
Keep thinking ahead. You'll probably catch up with yourself.
OKBob
This is seminary Sunday for the UCC and I also have a baptism. I love verses 31-34 as emblematic of God's covenant expressed in baptism and the congregation's covenant with the child. But I can also see it expressing God's covenant with the ministry to help open and write on the hearts of God's people, to remind them of God's forgiveness and of their part of the bargain to know, honor and love God in return.
Jane in Lenox
My First Posting: Does anyone see the opportunity for a pre-Advent here in this text. I feel a clear message that this is the coming covenant of Jesus. The forgiveness of each person individually. The forgetfulness, this is the grace of God in it's most blessed form. here a people divided from their land and homes from the very essence of their lives, and God comes and says there is a better day coming A day when I will show you even more of my glory, even more of my grace, even more of my forgiving nature. With Advent only five weeks away this is a wonderful chance to begin preparation not only for advent but also the trtaditional time of thanksgiving-- Thanksgiving Day. Rich in NC
I will be preaching this text. I am thinking about the difference between religion from the outside in and from the inside out. Religion from the outside in would be the acceptance of someone else's beliefs, values, etc. Religion from the inside out is when God's word is written on our heart. When we experience God's power and spirit working within us to change who we are. Faith from the inside out comes from knowing the Lord. No longer will it be necessary for someone else to be our teacher. Notice that this inside out faith has its source in God's forgiveness. I read that the hebrew word for covenant making means literally "to cut." If God makes a new covenant, cutting it upon our hearts, perhaps it cuts through the hardness, the callousness of our hearts to heal our deepest hurts, fears, guilt and sin.
DavidOK
Saturday afternoon -- I didn't even realize this text was for this weekend; we're finishing our spiritual renewal / finance campaign and I've been out of the lectionary. Our worship planning team chose Jer. 31:31-34 along with 2 Cor. 3:1-6a as the focus for our "covenant Sunday." Wish I'd realized the coincidence earlier in the week! Anyway, 2 Cor. is definitely worth looking at with Jer. I'm certain that Paul had the Jer. passage in mind when he wrote it. Especially helpful for the "pre-Advent" idea. I'm thinking about what a priveledge it is for God to choose to write this new covenant on our hearts for all the world to read. Kay
I'm using the alternate Psalm (19) which also tells of the wonder of God's law but it begins with the wonders of creation "telling the glory of God." I am then moving to the Jeremiah text. Here is the progression:
The psalm compares Natural Law (which informs us about God's glory) with the revealed Law of Moses (which informs us of God's character) Then Jeremiah speaks of a new law, not written in stone (cold, harsh, unyeilding, external) but on our hearts! That new Law is God Himself and is the basis of the New Covenant in Jesus' blood. "Christ in us the hope of glory!" How I will put all that into a sermon, I'm not sure, but that's what I'm thinking (desperately on Saturday!)
KenTucky