D. Bonhoeffer says some where - Jesus calls us to come and die! What does that mean for us, especially clergy, who are caught up in this narcissistic culture as everyone else. In our day we have been called to entertain, to say positive and upbeat things, to keep our nose and the nose of our congregation out of the manure of living selfishly. How do we let go of our selves, give up our lives, all for the sake of the Gospel? We have replaced the words 'lady' and 'gentleman' with 'christian' - we have watered down the message so that we could preach it and not feel guilty - how will we preach this?
tom in ga (on vacation)
I was thinking of going with the disciple angle for this passage. what does it mean in 1999 to take up our cross and follow Jesus TMJ
As I look at this passage from Matthew I'm reminded of the work of Thomas Keating, describing the nature of our"false self" and our "true self." When Jesus is asking us to deny our "selves" which "self is He talking about? What 'self' tells us that we cannot be generous? That we have to be careful whom we love? During a course on Christian Spirituality that I've been part of over the last seven years the leader suggested that we ought not be frustrated when we find it difficult in praye to move to" a quiet centre" where we can be open to God. They asked us "How many years have you been working shaping and developing who you are now?" For all of us it has been years. He likened our walk in prayer and meditation as those of a child. Perhaps we have such a visceral reaction to this passage, understand Jesus' words as "hard" because they are addressed to false self we live within almost every day. When Jesus asks us to "Deny ourselves" maybe what we are being called to is the choice between our true selves, that we are capable of following the example of Christ, and that our cross-bearing is the struggle that will take place between our well developed, false selves and the true self God sees we are. Perhaps, rather than hitting each other over the head with the words "deny yourselves!" We could invite each other to see ourselves differently. That what Jesus is inviting us into is a true freedom, to be what we truly are in God's eyes. This is the direction I will go. An invitation to freedom in Christ not to the battle with the ego in all of us. That part of us is simply too developed to be defeated with a frontal assault. But to ask the question of that ego, that false self in all of us "by what authority do I make and choose these things?" May open the way for the true self God see's to become the guide to God and to service and love for one another. Peace and strength for our journey. Mark in Canada
I am supply preaching that day: titile so far is all I have:"Get Thee Behind Me Satan....and Push!"
I am supply preaching that day: titile so far is all I have:"Get Thee Behind Me Satan....and Push!"
Andrea...Upstate NY
How does Satan tempt Peter? And how does he tempt us?
This lesson teaches us to see beyond what we can see and touch. This lesson also teaches us to go beyond the worldly value system and our common sense; and create the value system which will never cease (think divine).
I had two funeral during my summer vacation one was with baptism and the other without. When I prepared the service, with a title, "A Celebration of life of NAME," I realized that what counts most of one's life is not how much one enjoyed his or her life, but how much that person live the life of love and compassion. In other words, the life directed towards others, open to others make one's life beautiful. We call that a blessed life.
What the common sense tells us of a happy life is to manage an economically moderate or a little higher standard life with a good family; enjoy weekends and holidays; meeting good friends on weekends and have nice fun talk; and go to summer resorts and/or cottages and spend winter in Florida, etc… most people would think that this is a good life one can have. But is this really a good life? Can we say that to live this way is the purpose of our lives?
I would say NO to these questions. It is because we are not created only for having fun. It is because we cannot find our value of life in this way. And it is because we are created by God's image. Is there any exception? No. There is no exception, because all the human beings are created by God's image. Live and manage one's life for this a sort of life that gives only a superficial happiness. No one will find the real joy only by pursuing this superficial happiness.
We are called to seek a valuable life. This is what Jesus teaches us in this story - to see beyond our common sense. We remember that Jesus answered to the law teacher's question: What is the great commandment? Jesus' answer to love God and to love neighbours. This love does not mean only the charity work. The real meaning of Jesus teaching is to live the life that is directed not towards self but to others. This is the way to celebrate the life. This is how we get into the eternal life.
When Jesus said that he must undergo great suffering. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, This must never happen to you. But Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." At this moment we can hear what Jesus speaks us: Seek the greater value. Do not end what you can see and touch. Seek the real value that last forever. Seek the eteranl life that is directed not towards you only but to others. Know that we are not alone. God is with us. Setting your mind on divine things. Jesus even at this moment invites us to celebrate the life that God has given and blessed for us all to share.
TO John
This lesson teaches us to see beyond what we can see and touch. This lesson also teaches us to go beyond the worldly value system and our common sense; and create the value system which will never cease (think divine).
I had two funeral during my summer vacation one was with baptism and the other without. When I prepared the service, with a title, "A Celebration of life of NAME," I realized that what counts most of one's life is not how much one enjoyed his or her life, but how much that person live the life of love and compassion. In other words, the life directed towards others, open to others make one's life beautiful. We call that a blessed life.
What the common sense tells us of a happy life is to manage an economically moderate or a little higher standard life with a good family; enjoy weekends and holidays; meeting good friends on weekends and have nice fun talk; and go to summer resorts and/or cottages and spend winter in Florida, etc… most people would think that this is a good life one can have. But is this really a good life? Can we say that to live this way is the purpose of our lives?
I would say NO to these questions. It is because we are not created only for having fun. It is because we cannot find our value of life in this way. And it is because we are created by God's image. Is there any exception? No. There is no exception, because all the human beings are created by God's image. Live and manage one's life for this a sort of life that gives only a superficial happiness. No one will find the real joy only by pursuing this superficial happiness.
We are called to seek a valuable life. This is what Jesus teaches us in this story - to see beyond our common sense. We remember that Jesus answered to the law teacher's question: What is the great commandment? Jesus' answer to love God and to love neighbours. This love does not mean only the charity work. The real meaning of Jesus teaching is to live the life that is directed not towards self but to others. This is the way to celebrate the life. This is how we get into the eternal life.
When Jesus said that he must undergo great suffering. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, This must never happen to you. But Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." At this moment we can hear what Jesus speaks us: Seek the greater value. Do not end what you can see and touch. Seek the real value that last forever. Seek the eteranl life that is directed not towards you only but to others. Know that we are not alone. God is with us. Setting your mind on divine things. Jesus even at this moment invites us to celebrate the life that God has given and blessed for us all to share.
TO John
I am sorry for many mistakes and duplication. TO John
EXCHANGE OF SOUL
Jesus ust asked his disciples about the stories about the son of man and Peter declared him the Messiah from God's right hand
Now may we get straight to Jesus' point the son of man is the second Adam who will be killed at Roman hands
Herod believed that Jesus was John rose from the dead but only the son of man could be raised in that stead
Satan manifested himself in the very on who confessed for to be son of man only to God could he seek redress
Now may we get straight to Jesus' point the son of man is the second Adam whom God alone must annoint
The son of man has a kingdom built upon eternal life for he said he would be raised on the third day and put an end to death's strife
Jesus just asked his disciples about the stories about the son of manand Jesus declared that only resurrection will restore him to the father's right hand
Matt 16:21-28 X August 29, 1999
---Copyright c 1999
TO John: An interesting and helpful post. But I am currious about your statement, "The real meaning of Jesus teaching is to live the life that is directed not towards self but to others. This is the way to celebrate the life. This is how we get into the eternal life." I would agree whole heartedly with your first two quoted sentences, but the third seems to say we buy our salvation ("get into the eternal life") through good works. Am I misinterpreting you? Is not salvation a gift we receive through GRACE, and good works our RESPONSE to that grace? Eph 2:8-9 says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV) (Works without faith is worthless although faith without works is not real faith.) I guess I am just confused about what you meant by that one sentence. revup
Hello,
I'm new to this site and have been following your great discussions for the last few weeks. I must say that it has helped my preaching emensely (not my spelling however!) But one thing I wish people would remember in their contributions is to give credit where credit is due! Last weeks Romans and Matthew discussions of passages seemed to have some very close ties to articles from William Barcly. Particularly the geographical information. I refuse to mention names, you know who you are, and although I don't think we need to get into the whole realm of footnotes I think at least the mention of a source would be more Christian. Think of it as a task given to you by Jesus to a living sacrifice! :~)
DM in BC!
Hello,
I'm new to this site and have been following your great discussions for the last few weeks. I must say that it has helped my preaching emensely (not my spelling however!) But one thing I wish people would remember in their contributions is to give credit where credit is due! Last weeks Romans and Matthew discussions of passages seemed to have some very close ties to articles from William Barcly. Particularly the geographical information. I refuse to mention names, you know who you are, and although I don't think we need to get into the whole realm of footnotes I think at least the mention of a source would be more Christian. Think of it as a task given to you by Jesus to a living sacrifice! :~)
DM in BC!
I appreciated, especially, the comments of Mark in Canada and thank you Mark for your insight and directon.
I am intriqued, at least now, about Peter's response to Jesus' prediction about what kind of Messiah he is to be. At least here in matthew, Jesus knows what he is about. He knows the path he is to follow, and from here through the rest of the gospel all actions, thoughts, etc., on the part of Jesus are directed toward Jerusalem.
But this is now the Messiah of Peter's vision. Thus his response. Could it be that part of denying oneself is the courage to step back from our own agendas, our own "ideas" of who Jesus is meant to be? Could it be that denying oneself is an act of allowing Jesus to be who Jesus is, rather than imposing our own parameters by which he must operate? One of the hardest disciplines for me has been to step back and let Jesus set the agenda; to let Jesus decide for himself who he will be and to not impose my own theological criteria for him. This, to me, is Peter's mistake, if you will, and why he must be rebuked.
I am reminded that Satan in the wilderness did just this very thing. The battle was over just what kind of Messiah Jesus would be...the battle over his true identity. And here it is again, only this time from the lips of one his own. Perhaps others may want to comment further on this as the week progresses so that I might glean thoughts from others of you.
Be well Richard....Cambridge, Illinois
Several scattered thoughts, early in the week.
The connection between Peter being called Satan, and Satan's tactics during the temptation, have already been mentioned. Certainly Peter's objections to Jesus' statement are related to what he thinks it means for Jesus to be the Messiah, and how Jesus understands it. But this Peter/Satan link has been established a few chapters earlier (Matthew 14:22-33, the reading for Aug 8), Peter says to Jesus "Lord, if it is you..." Satan uses the same time of phrase in the temptations: "If you are the Son of God..." While Jesus responded to his request, some would argue that Peter fails, not by sinking in the waves, but by demanding proof of Jesus' identity. Here again the identity issue becomes the crux of a faith crisis. (Thanks to Gail O'Day, in the New Interpreter's Bible for this insight, among others)
Secondly, I think the whole issue of self-denial is a two edged sword. We can go to extremes at either end. We can water down the self denial language because it makes us uncomfortable, or we can make self-denial an end in and of itself.
I have always struggled with the self-denial stuff, in part due to my maternal grandmother, who turned self-denial into an art form. She believed that being a good Christian meant never saying what you wanted, never being angry, never complaining, and suffering as much as possible. She even tried to instill these values on her boys, in part by making them suffer occasionally. Fortunately not by physically abusing them, but by making them eat corn meal mush, so they could understand "real suffering" like those who went through the Depression. There was just one problem: all three boys loved corn meal mush! She didn't know whether to be pleased they liked her cooking, or mad that they ruined her object lesson.
When I came along, she decided that my parents weren't teaching me enough about suffering, self denial, etc., and took it upon herself to do so. It didn't exactly make for a good grandmother/granddaughter relationship. While I'm a lot older now, and understand a lot of the background that led my grandmother down that path, I still think she didn't get it.
For her, self-denial became an end in itself. I think on some levels she was proud of her martyr status, her ability to deny what she wanted, even as in other was she resented all that she "had" to give up. Part of her problem with me was that she was jealous of all the opportunities I had, and the choices I could make as a woman, that she felt she could never have. Self-denial had become a duty, almost a way to get into heaven, rather than a response that was aimed at living out a life-giving Gospel.
When self-denial becomes a ends in itself and/or a way to salvation, or a way of proving one's faith, it becomes death dealing. When self-denial is a response of faith, born out of a willingness to give all of ourselves and our agendas over to God, it is live-giving. Yes, it may mean persecution and pain, even death, but ultimately it provides a freedom, a peace, and a life that is beyond our ability to comprehend if we stay stuck in either selfishness or death-dealing self-denial.
It saddens me that my grandmother, and so many others, never understood this. She would have lived a much happier life, had she been able to understand the difference between giving herself over to God and smothering herself. She also would have been a far better witness to grace, and true self denial. Nevertheless, I rest in the promise that, having died as a woman of faith, she now sees all clearly, far more clearly than I, and is healed of all that plagued her in this life.
Lorinda in IA
I just discovered I misattributed the New Interpreter's Bible commentary on Matthew. The correct author is M. Eugene Boring. Sorry for the error
Lorinda in IA
For verse 16:28 "Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." I believe the Kingdom did come before some standing with Jesus died. I believe, as I have posted before in people seeing the Kingdom in three ways, a trinitarian Kingdom, if you will. The Kingdom is a place (Heaven), a condition of one's heart (receiving Christ puts one's citizenship in the Kingdom) and as a time to come (when Jesus returns and establishes His earthly Kingdom.) In that way it seems the Kingdom did surely come to some of those surrounding Christ at the time of this statement. Any other interpretations of verse 28 out there? revup
I'm preaching this text paired with the Jeremiah option for Proper 17A. Anyone else going that direction?
Art in McLean, VA
The Reformatiom was a reformation of the Church, which certainly had need of reform, as any historian can testify. But it was never the purpose of the Reformers, however, to start a brand new chruch. They just wanted to reform what needed to be reformed in the church at that time. (Only because they were excommunicated did various "churches" arise.) This implies that there were components in the church that did not need reforming. What were some of these components? Well the copies of the Bible, that had been carefully handed down; the essential truths concerning God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, i.e., the incarnation and redemption; grace and its action in Christians. And here I come to something that I think can be helpful: watching God's action in the lives of exceptional Christians. If you dont believe in asking saints to pray for you the way you ask your friends, fine, but I do think we can take a look at saints' lives the way we take a look at secular heroes (Washington, Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr.) and be stimulated by the ways that God worked in their lives: what inspirations did He give them, how did they act out their faith with God's help. And to make this more appicable to today's readings, in what ways did they "give up self" in order to "put on Christ?" At the moment I have become interestd in Dorothy Day, who worked with the homeless in New Yor City for many years. When I was younger I was turned off by her pacifism (still am) but now I want to study her life to try to grasp her motivations. I am fascinated by biographies of all sorts, biographies from Thomas Edison to Adolph Hitler, I think mostly to catch the nuances of their motivations. I find it helpful to study "the sants" in this way because they are truly the works of the Lord and not of themseves, as they themselves adamantly testify. Were it not for all the scandals in the church that called for a reformation and had there consequently not been a reformatioin I think we all would have kept a lively interest in the lives of the saints, because it is so natural to be interested in people who are doing the same things we are doing and who do it well and since the advice of well-lived lives can serve us in our struggles to live out our call and our salvation in christ. Joe from Maine
Art asked about linking Jeremiah and Matthew. These ruminations occurred to me about linking all 3 lessons. In Matthew Jesus says the Son of Man will repay everyone for what they have done. Paul in Romans, quoting Deuteronomy, says, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." The question is, however, who are God's enemies? Paul suggests we should not assume they are the same as our own. Who rather is on God's side? (Not is God on my side, but am I on God's side?) Jesus would suggest that those who are not on God's side are those who idolatrously pursue wealth, or their own ends, or a self-centered existence. As for Jeremiah, God has to chide him (don't speak what is worthless). Maybe Jeremiah was assuming he was always God's man, and that wasn't necessarily the case. The whole thing gets turned back on self-examination. Are we following Christ? I don't know exactly where I'm going with any of this, or even if any of this will wind up in my sermon. But I'd like to hear what anyone else has to say. --Mike in Maryland
Richard's comments about Peter placing an identity on Christ really struck me. What kind of identity do we place on Jesus, and how does this identity impact how we interpret the phrase, "Take up my cross?" It seems that the framework in which we place Christ will interpret how we are to serve Christ. If we serve a condemning Jesus, then we will condemn ourselves. If we serve a Jesus offering us freedom, then how do we proclaim this in our own life?
I have also had a part of the Scripture in 16:26 running through my brain: "For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?" The first question is so often quoted, that I have never taken the time to reflect on the second question. Any suggestions on how better to understand this question? KS in Texas
It seems that in so many ways the "context" of our preaching is similar to that of the early church. Our culture is hostile - or apathetic, at best. Read this passage from Matthew's gospel with the thought that it is addressed not to individuals, but to a "household of faith" - a priesthood of believers - who are being sent into the fray to lift up a way of life that is totally foreign to the culture in which they live. So much of the time, it seems to me, we want to individualize this message. It is always, however, being addressed to a community of believers who are actively supporting one another, and always in opposition to the world around them. Jim H in Raleigh
Thanks KS for the affirmation and the thoughts....I believe you may be on to something that is perhaps a bit uncomfortable for us. I know it is for me. And that is this: how much of who we believe Jesus to be, and to be about, is the projection of our own thoughts, our own issues? Could there be a danger in the exercise of reading into the gospels what is reading our own stuff, our own wishes about who we want Jesus to be?
In AA, we often ask the question as to how far is one willing to go to walk the journey to recovery? How surrendered to the way of recovery is a person? This may be a clue to your musings about the second question.
Richard
I am offering Disciple Bible Study to my congregation this fall. I have heard all the reasons why people will not want to come: too much time spent in preparing; too long an evening for the class; too long period (34 weeks)!! I wonder if that might be a direction for a modern-day "take up your cross" meditation. Let's turn off the tv and spend some time with the word of God. Betty in rural NY
KS in Texas--
"For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?" The first question is so often quoted, that I have never taken the time to reflect on the second question. Any suggestions on how better to understand this question?
Your comments got me thinking and admittedly I have not really checked into it yet, but . . . If gaining the whole world means losing one's life, could it then be the case that in order to regain one's life, one must give back the world in return? I don't know quite where to go with this, and some further study will no doubt help. But any thoughts out there?
And to Art in McLean, VA--
I find myself wanting to tie this in with the passage from Jeremiah: "Therefore thus says the LORD: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you to them . . ." (Jer. 15:19).
ml in pa
With this passage I will use it along with the Exodus passage of the calling of Moses. What I see of these two passages together is a calling and a response. We are called to ministry by God during our normal ways of life as in Moses. Moses was doing his thing of tending the sheep and other shepherd stuff. In his normal everyday life, God calls Moses for a specific ministry, in this case, free the Israelites from slavery under Pharoh and Egypt. Moses is not happy with this because he feels unworthy for such a task, but eventually goes on to answer the call. In our answering of our own call, we too react in an unworthy way but hopefully we will answer the call, even after boxing with God. Once we answer the call then the Matthew passage comes into play because we like Peter want to find the easy way to do the ministry, but as Jesus reminds Peter that is of Satan and not of God. Answering the call is the easy part, the hard part comes in doing it God's way and in God's time which we like Peter would rather do it our way and in our time.
K.M. Illinois
Tues AM
Revup- Some commentators think that refers to the next section, the Transfiguration.
I see the commands of God as a theme in most of the lessons. What dilutes or detracts from those commands I'm sure can be described in thousands of ways; Perhaps the preacher can encourage everyone simply to listen to this voice, for it is only in following the command of the Lord that we can get our "sea legs" to deal with life's storms.
AEA
Tues AM
Revup- Some commentators think that refers to the next section, the Transfiguration.
I see the commands of God as a theme in most of the lessons. What dilutes or detracts from those commands I'm sure can be described in thousands of ways; Perhaps the preacher can encourage everyone simply to listen to this voice, for it is only in following the command of the Lord that we can get our "sea legs" to deal with life's storms.
AEA
Hi. This is Jude in Washington. I hope you don't mind, but I am commissioning missionaries during the service on Sunday. Where can I find a good litany to use for this purpose? I'm a fairly new pastor and do not have all my ducks in a row yet.
About the scripture. I haven't done my homework yet, but I think the scripture points out that we human type people naturally want to go the easiest way. We don't want our friends to have bad things happen to them. We don't want to do the "hard work" if we possibly can avoid it.
Jesus knows He's here to do the "hard" work. And if we are to be his disciples, we better realize that when we are tempted to take the easy way out, that we may be flying in the face of what God's will is for our lives.
Maybe I'll have something else to contribute after doing my research on the passage. I could sure use a good litany! In Christ, Jude
Oh Paula...Baby! Where are you this week?
I am supply preaching that day: titile so far is all I have:"Get Thee Behind Me Satan....and Push!" Andrea...Upstate NY
Andrea:
Thanks for this. I am struck on the simple line, ". . . and follow me."
It always seems like Jesus is on the move . . . When you read the Gospels you can almost hear the disciples panting as though they are on an atomic treadmill. The earliest followers of Jesus were called the people of "The Way."
Maybe part of the "cross" is always being called to move on . . . to go on the journey . . . to move on.
To what extent do we Christians really push forward . . . move on . . . to what extent do we "take up our cross and follow after the sprinting Jesus?"
WJA in CA.
TO Jude in WA: The United Methodist Book of Worship, page 740 has a litany for the commissioning of missionaries. Do not forget to put them on your prayer concerns list and pray for them each week. If you have no prayer concerns list, it is a good time (excuse?) to start one! revup
Don't know if this is exactly on topic but somehow it rings true about denying ourselves and tasking up the cross and the true menaing od discipleship. Take it for what it is worth.
A True Story...
When Pastor Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual politically correct generalities.
However, on January 23, 1996, what they heard instead was a stirring prayer, passionately calling the United States to repentance and righteousness.
The response was immediate - with a number of legislators walking out during the prayer. In six short weeks, Central Christian Church logged more than 5,000 telephone calls, with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. Commentator Paul Harvey aired Pastor Joe Wright's prayer on the radio and received a larger response to this program than any other program Paul Harvey has ever aired. In addition, Central Christian Church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer From India, Africa, and Korea. The prayer is reprinted below as an encouragement and challenge for each of us to stand for the truth of the Gospel wherever the Lord gives us opportunity.
"Heavenly Father, we come before You today to ask Your forgiveness and seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe on those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.
We confess that:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism; We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism; We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle; We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery; We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation; We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare; We have killed our unborn and called it choice; We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable; We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self- esteem; We have abused power and called it political savvy; We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition; We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression; We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by You, to govern this great state. Grant them Your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your will.
I ask it in the name of Your Son, the Living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen."
Neil in Cleveland
I am an lay preacher in the West Virginia Presbytery and have enjoyed this site for several weeks and have found it helpful in organizing and validating my thoughts.
My first thought on reading Matt. 16: 21-28 is that here is a battle of wills. Peter's need to have a Messiah that he can see and feel and hear vs God's will that Jesus is to be savior for all times. After all that Christ has tried to teach the deciples, Peter still does not get it. Nor would have I.
We all feel the struggle between the selfish desires we have for ourselves and those whom we love and God's will for us.If we are to lose our life to Christ we must first seek God's will for us, not just move to, as Lorinda warns, self denial for no good reason.
This seems to be the skeleton of the message that speaks to me from this passage. Now I just need to add some flesh to the bones.
Critical comments are welcome.
Earl in West Virginia.
Just noticed my MANY typos in the first posting but it gives me a whole new idea with which to approach this topic. I mistakenly typed "tasking" up the cross rather than "taking" up the cross. Seems to me this has possibilities. What TASKS does our takiing up the cross impel us to perform for our brotherrs and sisters and the world around us.
The task of preaching? The task of Forgiveness? The task of reconciling? The task of healing? The task of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, housing the homeless?
You get the idea. Taking up the cross calls us to TASKS as we die to self to live unto him alone!
Neil in Cleveland
This month I have been focusing on the Miracles of Jesus according to the Gospels. I believe healing comes from the inside out, and that the ultimate healing is our relationship with God. However, we often limit Jesus to do our healing here on earth: in our sickness, in our marriages, in our careers. This is all well and good, but how much healing does it on the outside before we are healed on the inside.When do our eyes become open that we can see that what Jesus came to do was heal our souls. When do we wake up and see that Jesus power and authority is more than just a routine prescription for our daily problems, but that He has the power to save us and transform our lives? How much is a miracle (savior)worth to us? --MM in NC
I haven’t gotten through all of this week’s posts yet, but wanted to contribute the following. Years ago, long before I went to seminary, I had hit a particularly rough patch - it was the beginning of many events that eventually led me to answer God’s call to ministry in the affirmative. Anyway, I was thumbing through something I came across the following admonition from noted theologian/preacher Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), that in picking up our cross (and it is *our* cross, not Christ’s) to follow Jesus, that the heaviest end of the would always rest squarely on Jesus’ own shoulders. That, my friends, is a powerful image - and one which I lose sight of often. Peace to you all. MW in MA (doing much better, thanks for the kind words and prayers a couple of weeks back)
A contemporary story of "human things versus divine things;
Griffin O'Neal has accused his father, actor Ryan O'Neal, of turning him onto cocaine at the age of 13. In an explosive interview, a bitter Griffin also charged that his womanizing dad encouraged him to follow in his footsteps. Griffin -- then just 11 – became sexually active. Now 23, and the veteran of 2 1/2 years on a drug rehabilitation program, Griffin recalled the day he was introduced to coke 10 years ago. "We were going to a movie and Dad said, 'Let's do a little of this to get us through. It's a long film.' He pulled out some coke, and that was that. I'd smoked hashish before that with him. There were always drugs in the house. I was an old hand at smoking pot when I was 6. Dad would rather I did drugs with him than with some person I didn't know and perhaps get myself killed," he says. "I think he was trying to prepare me for the atmosphere I was going to grow up in. Dad never gave me any fatherly sexual advice, because I was 11 going on 30 and I didn't need it. He just said, 'If it feels good, go ahead.'" Griffin claims that these days, he gets no advice at all from his dad, Ryan. In fact, he says, they haven't spoken for more than a year. "He has rejected me and considers me scum," say Griffin. "My own father gave me cocaine and yet he won't take any blame. If he'd given me a stronger fatherly message against drugs, who knows? My life could have been different." Griffin -- Ryan's son from his marriage to actress Joanna Moore -- lived with his mother after his parents divorced. But then her own drinking problems drove him to move in with his father. "It felt great for a while, but it comes down to the fact that it was all dangerous, all wrong. My father was older and should have known that. The only time he changed his attitude was when I started to do drugs on my own. He realized it was getting out of hand. But he had started it." He says his wild behavior was partly caused by sister Tatum's success. She had won an Oscar at 9 for her work in Paper Moon, which she co-starred with their father. "I felt like a puppy that wasn't petted," says Griffin.
I don't know if people "in the pews" will relate to this. (Note: Paper Moon was a story of a "con artist" with no morals raising his daughter to be like himself. Maybe the movie was truer to life than anyone realized!) Any feedback, can people relate to this? revup
WHY the reaction from Peter? WHY does he get this so wrong when he was so right concerning Christ's identity? It seems that the catalyst for Peter's outburst is Christ's revelations of his suffering. Perhaps, Peter doesn't want or cannot envision a Messiah who suffers. I was at a youth revival last night and most of the sermon dealt with power images. And while there is some of that aspect in the gospels, it's interesting that we don't want to preach about, we don't want to hear about, we don't want to see a suffering Messiah. Nothing powerful in that image. Perhaps we don't want to accept the fact that part of our calling as Christians is that we will suffer for Christ,
STAN in TN
WHY the reaction from Peter? WHY does he get this so wrong when he was so right concerning Christ's identity? It seems that the catalyst for Peter's outburst is Christ's revelations of his suffering. Perhaps, Peter doesn't want or cannot envision a Messiah who suffers. I was at a youth revival last night and most of the sermon dealt with power images. And while there is some of that aspect in the gospels, it's interesting that we don't want to preach about, we don't want to hear about, we don't want to see a suffering Messiah. Nothing powerful in that image. Perhaps we don't want to accept the fact that part of our calling as Christians is that we will suffer for Christ,
STAN in TN
WHY the reaction from Peter? WHY does he get this so wrong when he was so right concerning Christ's identity? It seems that the catalyst for Peter's outburst is Christ's revelations of his suffering. Perhaps, Peter doesn't want or cannot envision a Messiah who suffers. I was at a youth revival last night and most of the sermon dealt with power images. And while there is some of that aspect in the gospels, it's interesting that we don't want to preach about, we don't want to hear about, we don't want to see a suffering Messiah. Nothing powerful in that image. Perhaps we don't want to accept the fact that part of our calling as Christians is that we will suffer for Christ,
STAN in TN
I've greatly enjoyed this site since I started my first preaching appointment in July. I wondered how I'd get through sermon prep every week, but you all have made it so much more enjoyable, enlightening, and enriching. Finally I think I have something to contribute. I had decided a few weeks ago to use the Romans reading this week, with the sermon title "Zealous Love." As I looked at the gospel reading and the Exodus passage for this week, I was struck with the love message in both of them, too, so I'll be tying the three together this week. Wasn't God's promise to the people of Israel an act of LOVE? And wasn't the death and resurrection of Jesus an act of LOVE? Isn't this what Paul was talking about when he spoke of the marks of a true Christian? Isn't LOVE what taking up one's cross and following Jesus all about? Wasn't Moses' leadership all about LOVE? I think the prayer of Pastor Joe Wright to the Kansas State Senate mentioned in an earlier posting is speaking directly to the Pauline message. It cuts right to the heart of naming the evils which need to be countered by Christian love, and putting our energy into transforming them through true Christian love. The Interpreter's Bible mentions that if we are to bless our enemies, we must be willing to be used as the channel of change, not simply offer a blessing and then let God handle it. Wow, that's tough! Not only do we have to bless instead of curse, but be a willing participant in the blessing. Talk about taking up one's cross! Thanks for the opportunity to ramble and wander through some ideas with you. RevKAS
What are the "stumbling blocks" we let get in the way of encountering Jesus as the Christ? As several earlier posts noted, Peter's protestations are not far from what Satan tried in the wilderness: to define for Jesus what his ministry was about. How dare they! How dare we ... let our own agendas, theologies, prejudices, biases, preconceived notions about how the Good News is supposed to look get in the way.
It is nothing less than the grace of God that enables us to transcend that temptation -- grace that seems far too scarce in these days of polemic and polarization.
This is what I'll preach on Sunday:
THE FRIENDLY LIZARDS FROM BUNNYLAND - Susan in SanPedro
We were ready. The snacks had been sorted. The craft supplies were organized. The nametags were printed, the story circle set up and the "Welcome to Vacation Bible School" banner hung in the parish hall window. The children who would form our VBS'99 community began to arrive and the cheerful chaos mounted. They found their group leaders and gathered -- ready to tackle the first task of the week: select a name for their group . something from Creation ... to be announced in our opening chapel service.
So far so good. Our littlest ones - the 4's & 5's --quickly settled on "The Roses": something that grows. Two other groups followed close behind: from the heavens we had "The Super Stars" and from the seas "The Dolphins." What teamwork! What cooperation! Wouldn't it be wonderful is groups of adults could come to consensus so easily! All right then - let's line up and go into chapel, boys and girls!
But wait. The 6's & 7's were deadlocked. Divided sharply and evenly along gender lines, the boys were shouting "lizards" and the girls yelling "bunnies." Schism - the ever present threat to Christian unity - loomed. The dialogue deteriorated into name calling. "Bunnies are dumb." "Lizards are icky." There seemed to be no way to reconcile the two without stepping in and making a choice that nobody would be happy with. And then, grace happened. Brian, the middle schooler assigned to help with the group for the day, gathered the warring factions around him. "Let me handle this," he said. And we did.
And after much whispering, head shaking and nodding finally came the announcement: "We've got a deal. We're going to be 'The Friendly Lizards From Bunnyland.'"
"How did you do it?" I asked Brian later. "Well, I told them we couldn't get on with Vacation Bible School until they found something to agree on - and then I just kept listening to them until we came up with something they could all live with." The Friendly Lizards From Bunnyland - an icon of the power of dialogue to transform the chaos of entrenched disagreement into the creation of something wonderful.
Yes, it would be grand if we could all agree as easily and happily as the Roses, Dolphins and Super Stars. Maybe when the Kingdom comes that's how it will be. But in the meantime, we can learn much from the Friendly Lizards From Bunnyland. We can seek and serve Christ each other: even if I'm a bunny and you're a lizard. We can recognize that the arguments we're so fond of are often what keep us from getting on with the work ahead of us: building the Kingdom of God - proclaiming the Good News of God in Christ Jesus. And we can give thanks for those among us willing to facilitate authentic dialogue where the Spirit can once again brood over the chaos and bring about creation.
"Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them;for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs." Luke 18:16
Concerning the vexed issue of self-denial: It seems to me that as preachers and interpreters of the Bible we need to be aware of the large gulf between on the one side those in our society who are (still) suffering from an oppressive Christian tradition and on the other side those who are quite untouched by this negative trait and may tend to see Christian discipleship as simply another method of self-improvement and self-fulfilment. Which side are we likely to come down on ourselves and what about those in our congregations? DW in London
I want to talk about sacrifice. That is the gift God gave us when he died on the cross. (Ever notice that when we say God we generally settle upon just one part of the trinity?)
Sacrifice is really what being a Christian is all about. Sacrificing my desires to take a comfy vacation, or have a comfy office or drive a comfy car or ... whatever -- sacrificing these desires to serve as Christ served us.
But -- how do we shift to the sacrifice a congregation makes? Sacrificing the new roof for which we long so much -- for a kitchen fit to feed the hungry. Sacrificing a nifty new meeting room for a youth center to reach out into the community. How do we make that shift? At what point do we as the body of Christ say, "We mean to follow Jesus with all our hearts and bodies and souls and all our money, time and effort?"
That is the leap, the transformation, for which I believe my little church yearns. Are we ready to make that leap? If not, can we still call ourselves Christians?
HW in HI
PS to Joe in Maine -- no offense meant, but some would argue that Martin Luther King Jr. belongs in the sacred context. As a Baptist minister, his pulpit was his first venue, Christ his refuge.
I have enjoyed eavesdropping on this forum for a few weeks now. I find it tends to get the juices flowing.
I wasn't sure how I was going to approach the sermon this week until I read something in a wonderfully challenging book by Eugene Peterson called "Under the Unpredictable Plant". I highly recommend this book for people struggling with what it means to be a pastor. But that's another matter. Inspired by Peterson I think the way to look at this passage is to approach it eschatologically. Jesus is challenging his disciples about their future. If their end is to be tied with his they will have to take up their crosses. Broad is the religious road of self-idolization in a security obsessed world.
Ross in Ontario, Canada
My sermon title for this week is "Who am I?" which is a carry over from last week, I know. But I think the two lessons go hand in hand.
Last week, Jesus asked, "Who do you say that I am?" Once his messianic identity was out in the open, he focused then on his suffering and death - the cross he must bear for our sins.
IN LIGHT OF THAT, who are YOU? What is the path you are to follow? Sins forgiven, future in GOD's hands. How does that affect your life, your plans, your actions, the way you live your life?
We must ask ourselves, in the shadow of the cross of Jesus, "Who am I?" and what must we do to follow... if that's the path we choose!
Happy preparations!
Charlie in OH
This post draws from the Episcopal Lectionary’s use of Romans 12:1-8 (last week’s reading for many of you) and Matthew 16:21-27.
Paul Achtemeier (Interpretation Series: Romans) says this: “Paul tells his readers that their proper response to their Creator is the shaping of their total lives by his gracious will. Like the burnt offering given wholly to God, the Christian is to be a total sacrifice to God, and that sacrifice is to consist of the whole of life. That, says Paul, is the logical response to the history of God’s grace he has been reciting. That logical response consists in shaping our lives to the structures of grace rather than to the structures of the world.” He says another way to understand vs. 2 is: “Do not let yourselves be shaped by what everyone else does, but rather let yourselves be transformed by a whole new way of thinking, so you can discern what conforms to God’s will, namely what is good, and pleasing, and perfect. . . That is grace at work: to be able to hear—and obey!—such admonitions.”
When I think of shaping our lives to the structures of grace rather than to the structures of the world, isn’t this another way of understanding Matthew’s gospel that says: what does it profit to gain the world and lose one’s life? What can one give in return for one’s life? Seen in the light of Romans, couldn’t the gospel statement be a case of living in the power of grace rather than the power of the world—thereby giving up (or back) the world and all its holds on us (that is, our tendency to be motivated by the structures and interpretations and motivations of the world) in order to gain a life of grace (which is motivated by the structures and interpretations and motivations of the Gospel of Christ)? Moving away from conformity to the world and into a transformation toward a life of grace.
What prompts my thoughts is that it seems many of our churches are motivated to reach out into the world for simply benevolent reasons. We do good things for others, but are we motivated by the Gospel imperative that Christ has given or are we motivated by the same sense of service one would find in Rotary Club? What makes the Christian community different from any other club? Have we put Christ in the middle of our life, our actions, our service? Or are we still conforming to the world’s motivations (which I am concluding do not put Christ in the center)?
Still musing and struggling with this one, but having a tough time letting it go. Any thoughts?
ml in pa
There is a children's game in which the first person comes up with a place that starts with A and an object which starts with A, to say something like, "I am going to Atlanta, and I am taking apple. The second person then goes on to the letter B, saying something like, "I am going to Boston, and I am taking a book." Here in this passage from Matthew, Jesus tells us that he is going to Calvary, and he is taking a cross. This is no game, however. Jesus is deadly serious.
Mark in WV
Charlie in OH --
"Who am I?" ... 'sounds a little like Bonhoeffer? Good stuff.
'just a thought ... last week -- I concluded the message with challenging our people to turn Jesus' question back to him, "Jesus, who do you say that I am?" ... different from asking people to state who they think they are ... but, what does Jesus see? ... I took it so far as to have the closing prayer simply be a unison question, "Jesus, who do you say that I am?" Then, we repeated it filling in our first names. It was moving for some. Others commented later that it was too close at first, but -- throughout the week, conversations about that question have continued. I value that kind of dialogue. 'just some thoughts. --meredith in va
Deny yourself, take up your cross.... what does it profit to gain the world, yet,lose your life?
My Guess is that most people sitting in the pews this Sunday - or preaching for that matter, are pretty sure what this passage is about. Why we might even find comfort in believing that we try to live by what we understand it to mean. We try to recognize God's path/will. We try to follow with our own lives. We definitely wouldn't, like Peter, try to stop another from living out God's call on their lives. Right?
So I was wondering about a demonstration. Let's take one of our promising high school kids and have her/him stand before the church and ask everyone to imagine the possibilities. Where might they envision this person in ten, fifteen, thirty years? What do you see? What sort of positon, what prominence, what creative impact, what contributions do you imagine will be associated with this person? What is their potential? Just imagine it - don't speak it...
Now, drop your expectations for a moment and place yourself in God's shoes. (Yes, they are rather large, but you don't have to walk in them long.) Just look at this same high school aged person and tell me if the vision of the future is the same.
Get the behind me _____!
Christians are often accused of not practicing what they preach. I believe that when it comes to actually encouraging people to identify the path that God has for others to follow and encouraging them to walk on, we may just be failing to even preach it.
What are our real expectaions for ourselves or others? Do they have much to do with God's expectations?
Still thinking, Tom OK(?)
Last week, Peter was so bold, stepping out in front of the other disciples the way he did! Now he is sinking in the storm of disbelief, missing the full meaning of messiah, which of course for Jesus was Ebed Yahweh, Suffering Servant! He is more like the Peter at the trial warming his hands, I don't know the man! - for truly Peter once again misses the mark, and misunderstands the messiahship of Jesus. Who is Christ? Remains a question for ourselves, he calls us, but he is always beyond us, and the only way we will come to know him is surrendering to him our lives, following him in spirit and in truth. We will never know him as long as we remain on the side lines, only as admirers of his good deeds. We are called to pick up our cross.
tom in ga
The most basic of human needs is security. Practically every decision we make is based upon one’s need to save one’s life. To make one’s universe safe and secure.
To make ourselves secure, society has devised a code of ethics to govern our actions, as well as the actions of those with whom we come into contact each day.
Trouble is, that ethic, that moral code, simply does not make us secure, and we know it!
The great Catholic Biblical scholar, John Mackenzie once wrote that there is a chasm existing between rational ethics and Gospel ethics.
On the one hand, rational ethics has as it’s primary value, survival. We do not lie, we do not kill we do not commit arson, we do not steal … except when our survival is threatened. And then, we can justify lying, stealing, and even killing because it is our survival that requires such deeds.
But this is a very unsafe universe we live in. Einstein called it a “radically unsafe place for a human being” And survival cannot be delivered at all by rational ethics.
At best, by fighting, lying, or stealing for our survival we may be able to lengthen our life a short bit
On the other hand, Gospel ethics says that any act that is not an act of Christ-like love is morally worthless.
Corinthians 13 If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (imagine Mount Wachusset obeying my command to sit down in the median of 495!)
However, as we can see from Romans 8, if we act out of Christ-like love, survival is guaranteed
Romans 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So where are we to find this elusive thing we call security? Where it can be absolutely guaranteed, with the Gospel … not where it is impossible to achieve, with the world.
In today’s reading from Romans 12, Paul tells us to keep the world from squeezing us into it’s mold. Don’t believe them when they tell you there’s security in a 401K. Don’t believe any law is going to make your schools safer, Don’t believe that certain weaponry will make you better off Don’t believe them when they tell you how secure you’ll be with that special alarm system
Nothing the world can offer can ever deliver to us the safety we naturally seek as human beings. No police force, no army, no Yale locking system, nothing but the love of God can guaranteed deliver us from this unsafe universe.
The good news that Jesus brings to us is that God is our Father. But Jesus called Him Abba, in the Greek, it is much more intimate than Father … Abba translates better as daddy. The God of creation, He who made the stars so numerous as to outnumber the grains of sand on the face of the earth, this creator of all things that ever existed or will exist, is our loving daddy.
Story about the two children … First one does everything right … she goes to the right school, good job, marries the right man, big house, great investments. Every Christmas she gives her parents beautiful expensive gifts. Oh, she’s so very lucky in all she does. The other does everything wrong. For him there's only two kinds of luck. Bad and worse! He quits school, gets into dead end jobs, never can settle down with a nice girl, is homeless most of the time, often begs money from his sister who always totally ignores him. She doesn’t hate him, she just pretends he doesn’t exist.
When the first child asks her parents what they want for Christmas this year, don’t you know that the parents will tell her? "Just love your brother!"
Which child do the parents love? Both of them, of course! That’s how a good father and mother are, they cannot choose one from the other. So if a human parent is like that with her children, how much more is our ultimate Father loving us?!
It is a God who is so very rich in mercy that Jesus came to reveal as our daddy. This mercy is the most stupendous attribute of our creator!
We can only save our lives, we can only make our lives meaningful, if we surrender ourselves to that loving father. Give Him our entire being. Notice and love those of our brothers and sisters that are not as lucky as we. Not to do so is to give our entire being to the world, and that leads to a lack of survival.
=-=-=-=gary=-=-=-=
For me there is a world of difference between "self- denial" and "denial of self." Lorinda in IA told the story of her grandmother and her self-denial-- doing without things. As stated by Douglas Hare in his "Matthew" in the Interpretation series, "such denial runs the risk of being centered on the self ...Self-denial for the sake of self-denial is an expression of the self's need for control, not of submission to God's thinking." That is the opposite of denying the self. To deny oneself is to discount the self--to focus not on the self--ourselves--but on God and others. If we are self-centered, we focus on ourselves (as society says we should--I,I,I). If we deny ourselves, we can center on God and doing God's will and obeying the commandments to love God and neighbor. Mary in NY
To Betty in rural NY, and the rest of us who have this problem...AMEN, Sister! I have taught Disciple several times and many come without even one day read. It's frustrating for me, their pastor, but also to others who have done the lessons and are ready to discuss the scriptures with others. Thanks for the idea that has been in front of my face!!!
RPin OH
I'm intrigued by the question "whose self?" are we denying and "whose life?" are we seeking to lose or gain? Romans 6:4 occurs to me...We are baptized with Christ into his death. AND...as God raises Christ, we too walk in newness of life. Is it inappropriately "Greek" or Platonist so say that when we forfeit our own puny vision of life (and stop clinging to it) we find the REAL life God intends for us; a life in Christ? Thanks for all your contributions bc in MT
hi, friends. i've seen a different connection between the gospel and the exodus passage, and would appreciate feedback. the sermon title is "mountains and valleys." in exodus, the structure of the passage could be described as "mountain, valley, mountain" - first, moses here's a voice from the bush, and realizes that God is speaking to him: mountain. then, God calls moses to go back to a place where he's a wanted man, and to do something about the suffering there that God has heard: valley. finally (well, not really finally, but at least for the passage at hand), God gives moses God's very name: mountain.
the gospel for the day could be seen as the "valley" between two mountain-top experiences: peter's naming of Jesus as the Messiah, (last week) and the transfiguration story (which comes just after this, though doesn't make it into the lectionary for a while yet). the "valley" in this passage again involves a calling to do the hard work of denying oneself, following Jesus into places of suffering. that's just what moses had to do, too.
my focus for the sermon is that our "mountaintop experiences" with God - however they may be manifested - call us into responsibilities in the valleys of life. the view from the cross, "high and lifted up," is the ultimate place both of vision and calling.
any thoughts? nwolc/ct
Is anyone looking at this late in the week and know the quote regarding being crucified with Christ that says something like: "one who is crucified has no plans of his own and is facing only one direction." I think there is a third attribute...anyone know? And where did it come from? Thanks if you can help. RevKK
Perhaps "self-denial" could be interpreted "self-forgetfulness"
tom in ga
I find it interesting that this is the third week on "the ROCK." First Peter thinks that a rock can walk on water (the naming comes in the second week) and the message from Jesus directs Peter back into the boat (the church?) that floats on the stormy waters; next Peter (or the faith expressed by Peter) is the rock that breaks open the gates of hell; this week we have the rock that becomes a stumbling block (a toe stub-er) for the ministry of Jesus. Sometimes we are rocks that seem to cause the ministry of Jesus in this world to stumble; sometimes we walk on water; sometimes we are even able to "break open" the gates that seem to shut people out.
Interesting also, for those with an expanded text, that we go to verse 28 (particularly verse 27). Is Matt hinting at doing is more valuable than confessing (Lord, Lord - not all who do so will get in)? It may be that we believe it easy to confess Jesus as Lord, but we can't just "lie" there, like a rock in the road that becomes an easy thing for people to trip over. As the church of Christ (and individual members of it) maybe the call is to become a "rolling stone" (pick up the cross and follow) that carries out this ministry for others in the world.
Bogie Everly, IA
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"If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Taking up our cross is not about the crosses we bear if we understand them to be those situations we endure (the in-law, the boss, the difficult child or friend, etc.). Rather, taking up our cross refers to something in us we let die because it needs to die. Call it denying self, or call it following Christ (to the cross), or even call it forgetting self (per tom in ga), but the end result is the crucifixion of that which needs to die within us. It involves losing one’s life in order to save it, and by so doing we find it. How? (and this is always the question) By setting our minds on divine rather than human things. Conforming one’s life not to the world, but letting that life be transformed into a life of grace (Romans 12). Now for examples that will connect with the reality of our daily living. . .
ml in pa
One more thought:
The Good News is that in Christ, resurrection follows crucifixion. It is necessary, therefore, to let those things die in our life that need to die (take up our cross) in order to find resurrection life.
ml in pa
As I have read and reread some of the comments at this site, I am moved to tears for my congregation. The line from one which says we are no more a Christian by sitting in the pew every Sunday than we are a car if we sit in a garage every day really struck me. How many of our congregants (and if we are honest, how many of us - pastors) really feel that what we do and how we feel about Christ, knowing Christ as our Saviour and acting on that knowledge the best we can daily, should be enough. That is enough "cross carrying" for any one individual! We believe, thus we are "Christian." But Jesus tells us that much more is involved. We need to turn away from the way of the world, turn away from "business as usual" and die to that old way. Crucify that life and turn and follow Jesus. Peter, wonderful, impetuous Peter, even gets it wrong after getting it so right just a short while before. Moses sees a burning bush that doesn't burn up, hears God calling his name, and finds himself standing on holy ground as he is called to take up his cross and follow God's leading. Peter, too, is standing on holy ground as Jesus speaks his words of rebuke, because holy ground is where we are when we face challenges, when we face the reality of who we are and WHOSE we are! My sermon title is just that: "Holy Ground." "Because God is present and where He is is Holy." God is everywhere and in everything we attempt. God is present as we struggle over and prepare these messages each week, even as God is present with our congregations as they struggle with how to live out their faith each and every day. And like Peter, we all fail from time to time, but God's grace is sufficient for us. Read on, my brothers and sisters, "Six days later Jesus took Peter..." (Matthew 17:1) Jesus did not reject Peter, nor does he reject any of us for our denial of suffering and pain. Sorry, I ramble, but these are the thoughts I am going to attempt to share tomorrow. Peace to you all, and God's blessing. Betty in rural ny
to betty in rural ny. you wrote- <<My sermon title is just that: "Holy Ground." "Because God is present and where He is is Holy." God is everywhere and in everything we attempt. God is present as we struggle over and prepare these messages each week, even as God is present with our congregation>>
we are constantly reminded that we are not rescued by our own efforts, closer to Christ because of our better understanding or cleverness, better than non attenders/outcasts......... we are called to be be present to rejoice that we have be permitted by God's Grace to be servants..... the maid servants and men servants in the Body of Christ. I am aware on only one place where Jesus mentions the standard by which we will be judged in the end of time.... and that will be how we servants treat the poor, the outcasts.... "I was hungry, naked, in prison...." As for carrying crosses.... recall that we are not asked to carry the cross of Jesus.... we have our cross..... we don't choose it but can choose whether to lift it up of not. Too often person claim they are carrying a cross.... but in reality is is just a burden they might have not picked up and could have better dropped, or gotten some help in handling it. be sure what is a cross, and some container of trash.
pastordon, elmira ny (near rural ny)
I find some irony in the story from Lorinda and her grandmother. She told of an understanding "self denial" as suffering. It seems to me that in order for Lorinda's grandmother to deny herself, she needs to stop suffering.
Mr Ed in Iowa
I used lines from two of robbie williams songs as an illustration: "You think I am strong, you're wrong, you're wrong." (Strong) and "I suppose even the Son of God finds it hard sometimes" (Jesus in a Camper Van)