It is sometimes very disappointing to us who want to control the future rather leaving the future to the Lord of History. It is much more exciting to dismember 16:28 from the Transfiguration and think that Jesus must have misunderstood the signs of the times. After all we cannot ourselves experience the Transfiguration as those disciples did. Perhaps we have missed the suffering that lay ahead for Jesus and the radiance that goes with suffering and sacrifice. That is why the heretical formulation of the so called rapture that will take us away from this world before the tribulation is so seductive. Obviously the rapture, so called, comes at the end of history with the advent of judgement and the coming of Jesus to judge the world. If we wish to have the radiance without the suffering there are plenty of speakers who will separate Christ from the historical situation and give us, as Bonhoeffer said, "cheap grace." The problem we have now is to see Christ transfigured in the reflections of our own suffering before we taste death. That is what it means to take up the cross and follow him. Stowell Kessler
It is rather ironic that the same Peter who said you are the messiah is now called Satan because he can not accept that this messiah would have to suffer. the mystery of suffering is so hard to face when it is the face of a loved one. As we minister to those who are dying it is a grace to see the face of Jesus in those suffering. A big part of our ministry is to help the people see that suffering as making a difference in their own lives and its transforming power. Suffering and its power to change us.....most likely homily at this point. Fr in Iowa
I'd like to tie in the holiday of Labor Day with the texts for this Sunday. Beyond our vocations of work, we also have a vocation as Christians to follow Jesus--even when it means suffering. The lesson from Romans has some pretty straight forward advice for what it means to live out one's Christian vocation: "Let love be genuine." We have a "labor of love," as it were, which is totally alien to this world we live in. GB in MI
Verse 21 reminds me of a time in my first parish. I had four little churches as a student appointment. At one of the churches, I had told the story of a student asking Barth if Jesus could have forgiven Judas. The professor shook his head and said something along the lines of "You just don't get it. Judas betrayed Jesus once, while we betray Jesus over and over again. The good news isn't that Jesus could have forgiven Judas, but that Jesus can forgive you and forgive me." We had communion that morning, and half the congregation (6 persons) practically ran to the altar, because they had heard that Jesus had forgiven them. The other half sat in the back, arms crossed and refusing communion from me, because I had said they were worse sinners than Judas. The joyful ones listened all the way to the good news, while the angry ones stopped listening at the bad news.
Peter hears Jesus talk about suffering and being killed -- but apparently doesn't hear the part about being raised on the third day!
How often do we quit listening when we get to something that challenges us, and then become a stumbling block to the will of God?
OLAS
I believe the good news is that Jesus forgives me a sinner and would have forgiven Judas too. And maybe He did forgive Judas, if in his last breath he prayed and asked for God to forgive him his terrible sin...Fr in Iowa
This weeks' text explains why Jesus "sternly warned them not to tell anyone that he was the Messaih."
Prior to this, his followers would have (and will still manage) to get the concept of a suffering Messaih all mixed up with a Messiah of glory.
We have a new church in town that offers classes on how to "live cash positive in God's Kingdom." and "how to turn around you business and pay less taxes". "This new organizations advertises the God wants his people to eat good food, wear nice clothing, and drive fine cars"
The only passage that comes to mind when I see the ads in the paper is: "Jesus wept."
Does Christanity have an obligation to publucally distance itself from such twisting of the Gospel?
Pr.del in IA
Verse 16:24 my emphasis I think... 1. Deny yourself-sacrifice 2. Take us cross -heavy burden,work 3. And follow Jesus. Like the idea of Labor day , spelled Labour Day. ( Oh MY two 3 point sermons in a row, classic rextbook preacher turning into) LOL may tie in Exodus passage- moses would have to deny his life good living to go be deliverer...a burden...but he was obedient...What can this teach us sacrifice leads to obedience? Godly Sacrifice...Work for the night is coming, should be the hymn sung...Pastor Mary in OHIO
Pr.del in IA
Ouch! I believe most Christians realize the fallacy of those advertisements, while we live them! I hope those who are enticed into that fallacy will be inspired either to get out, or to lead that "church" into repentence, selling all that it has and giving to the poor.
Michelle
I'm thinking of focusing mainly on verses 24-26 and entitling my sermon "Saving Your Own Life." I'm not sure how it will be fleshed out, yet, but of course the way to save your own life is to give it away as Jesus did.
Still very early in the week.
I check in from time to time, although I don't contribute often. Appreciate everyone's inspirations.
Mel in NE
My first inclination is to talk about setting our minds on human, rather than divine things.
Setting our minds on human things allows for evil to creep into our lives. In the theater they call it "pulling focus," a way to upstage someone.
After last week's too-complex sermon from Romans, I'm going to KISS (keep it simple, Sally) this week.
Sally in GA
My sermon title is "Get Outa Here" and I want to focus on evil. The questions then become: Who or what is evil/Satan and what does the bible say about it? Any thoughts? mcp
some of you who are better at Greek than I am may need to help me here, but I have always been fascinated that Jesus keeps Peter in close community. He does not tell Peter "go away and don't come back." No, Jesus, tells Peter to take his proper place in the community, as a follower of Jesus, wherever that leads. Peter has shown that he is quick to believe, but that he can lose focus almost as quickly (sound like anybody you know?) Yet, Jesus never givesup on Peter, whether he is sinking below the waves or worrying about what's going to happen next.
Early thoughts
revgilmer in texarkan
Has anyone noticed the ongoing pun with Peter's name--Rock? Last week he was the rock on which Christ's church is built.
The week before he was the rock trying to walk on water, but of course, sinking. This week he is a stumbling block for Jesus--bringing temptation that threatens to trip him. Pondering Pastor in IL
Peter is also a kind of "block-head" who just doesn't get what Jesus is trying to tell him. It's reassuring that Peter is so very human...there is hope for all of us to be leaders, as well. Pondering Pastor in IL
This passage, of course, follows on from last week, where the disciples have finally voiced their belief in Jesus as the Messiah.
As soon as they do this, Jesus starts to reveal what he is to suffer.
What an irony! They have finally worked out that Jesus is the saviour of the world and now he is telling them about his demise. No wonder Peter got a little upset.
But that is the point. Each step of the spiritual journey prepares you for the harder ones which will follow. Each part of our spiritual growth is a progressive movement into deeper and harder truths. What a devastation for the disciples to discover that the Saviour, the deliverer is to be killed.
Yet that is the paradox of all spirituality. That which is, isn't. That which was, wasn't.
Jesus is simply leading the disciples into a deeper awareness of their own prospect, if they dare to seek to understand the world from God's perspective.
How devastating it is from a priest's perspective, to see people again and again back away from the truth, because they began to see the cost of it. Preferring to live in the lie, simply because it was more comfortable.
They may gain the whole world, by such deceit of themselves, but to me, they have forfeited their life. Their true potential.
I love our Lord, but his teachings are certainly tough on the soul!
Regards to all for a great week.
KGB in Aussie.
I am drawn to the prominence of sacrifice in the passage.
The nations involved in the war on terrorism expect sacrifice of their patriots. We see this war as a real conflict of good and evil.
What about the conflict that Peter is in? At one moment he his confessing what God has revealed to him; the next moment he is personified as Satan. Is this not the constant conflict of every confessor of Christ?
We who are Christians are in the ULTIMATE WAR between good and evil, or God and evil I should say. Sacrifice in the battlefields of everyday life, (the willingness to set aside our own selfish desires and wills for the sake of obedience to the teachings of our master), needs to be considered just a normal part of allegiance to the cause.
So often you will hear someone who has performed some act of heroism say this..... "I was just doing what anybody would have done." Wouldn't it be nice if Christians took that attitude toward self-sacrifice?
GC in IL
The New Interpreter's Bible follows these passages with reflections on "Christology" in-the-making within Matthew and the emerging community of believers. Bonhoeffer's "The Cost of Discipleship" as well as "Christ the Center" may have relevance to stumbling, bumbling, Pete the Rock, who represents us, working out his Christlology. Who is this Joshua the Messiah any way? Do we prefer the Greek form Jesus the Christ, rather than the Hebrew form Joshua the Messiah, for some reason...in our working out our Christology? Is it important for us to become a Jew in some sense in order to understand who Joshua/Jesus is? Do the Greek salvation myths and/or worldviews attrack us more than the covenant history of Judaism? in what sense is the New Testament stories an "anamnesis", a reliving, a recapitulation, of Old Testament/Torah history? Do we do the worship/work of Incarnation and/or sacramental spirituality today in our modes of worship and in our daily life within the common place? Do we understand the new Testament from the framework and/or worldview of the first century or do we unconsciously project our modern meaning-making images, language, and/or worldview upon this sacred literature of the past without regard for what it meant from those people of faith whose "kerygma" is given to other people of faith, including us today? What Chritological frame lies within the depths of our souls, and is functional, and operative in our practice of hermeneutics as we seek to hear, see, taste, feel, touch, interpret, digest, the Word/words in eating the sacred scroll? Does this Christological costly grace gospel tell us about costly discipleship? Does it witness the Wounded God who actively is alive still working i n the world with and for and in the midst of wounded world...with us or without us...with the Church or without the church...where God's mission is still calling the people, the Church, the world to awaken! How does our Christology connect to the mission/Kingdom of God, to the ministry of Jesus? Is our Christology too liturgical rooted, involving spiritual formation (personal holiness) at the exclusion of mission (and/or social holiness)? For me Bonhoeffer's references above may address some of these question. More significant than what others think, experience, and believe, however, is my faith "answers" to these questions in the Christological affirmations I, as well as Peter the Rock, live out! Can our liturgical frame be dynamically tied to our mission/social justice/Kingdom-come frame? (just reflecting PaideiaSCo in north GA mts.)
Could it be that our "Holy Ground" and "Burning Bush" experience can occur when we see our vocation be it Dr. Lawyer, Clerk, Miner, Truckdriver, Waitress, Student or Retired as the setting for our "Call." It becomes holy ground as we pray for our experiences there and the people we encounter there, it becomes a buring bush as we are transformed by our "living our faith" - "carrying our cross of love" by caring for those around us and into the situations we encounter.
Cortana
PaideiaSCo in north GA mts,
You touch a chord with me, in regard to Peter's setting his mind on human things and not divine things.
It is so difficult to exactly decipher when and where I am thinking in human terms and not according to the will of God.
Often determining whether we are listening to our own thinking or the will of God, is the most difficult aspect of spirituality. Many people have believed they have received a message from God, only to have it revealed that they were deluding themselves.
Peter's response to Jesus, probably seemed quite reasonable and logical to anyone standing around. It probably would have been Jesus's outburst that seemed illogical.
Of course, we have the benefit of hindsight in these matters and we sometimes forget, that Peter and Jesus were on very human terms of relating.
I am still trying to determine what influences I am responding to in my own understanding of Jesus and I thank you for the contribution, which reminds me that others have also struggled with that through the ages.
Regards,
KGB
Holy Ground....Hmmm. Then how do we view "suffering?" Could it be that the suffering we must endure as Christians might be compared to the creating of a beautiful garden? We have to keep the weeds at bay. That is painstaking work. If not, the weeds overtake and choke out and we must plant the seeds again. I don't really know where I am going with this on this Tuesday. Suffering comes with uprooting the weeds of our spirit. So for Peter to stand in the way of Jesus being authentic to his calling--some of you used vocation--was to let the bind weed take over. Just keep the conversation going. Something is stirring. Blessings! lp in CO
revgilmer in texarkan
You posed an intriguing thought, so I looked it up. Yes, the
Greek word for behind may be a contraction of the words which mean "to follow"
but it is uncertain. The word does function the same way in English, as in "Are
you behind me on this? Will you back me up?" Wonderful!
Also, I checked on Jesus' use of the word, "satan." In our
English translations, it is capitalized, as if a name. However, in the Greek, it
is not. I had thought of Jesus using the term like, "Get behind me, you tempter
you," but the meaning of "satan" is more specifically "adversary" or "accuser."
It is used at times for enticement, but I'll need to do some more work on this.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Michelle
I've been thinking along the same lines as KGB's post of the
28th. My simplified version of those probing thoughts brings me to a question (
and a sermon focus): What troublesome and offensive things is Jesus 'saying' to
us now? What would move us to grab Jesus by the arm and say, "We'll have no more
that bunk around here, thank you!"? I'd be grateful for a few examples of us
playing Peter's role in this ongoing drama. Joe in Zion
Joe in Zion asked:
"We'll have no more that bunk around here, thank you!"? I'd be
grateful for a few examples of us playing Peter's role in this ongoing drama.
How about the dreaded "E" word - Evangelism --"What, Jesus? You
want me to talk to people about religion?"
Blessings, Eric in KS
Michelle;
Thanks for your help. You realy helped clarify my somewhat
jumbled thoughts on this.
Found a teriffic quote from William Barclay in The Daily Study
Bible about Peter trying to tempt Jesus to deny his fate, how Peter is trying to
protect the boss out of misguided love for Jesus.
"The hardest temptation of all is the one that comes from
protecting love.There are times when fond love seeks to deflect us from the
perils of the path of God; but real love is not the love which holds the knight
at home, but the love which sends him out to obey the commandments of the
chivalry which is given, not to make life easy, but to make life great."
So here's a hard question for all us desperate preachers- do we
preach to make life easy comfortable) or to make life great(challenging)? What
would Jesus call us to do?
As Mr. Twain once said, "it's not the parts of the Bible I don't
understand that give me problems; It's the parts I do understand that give me
problems."
revgilmer in Texarkana
I'm just full of puns today
jmj: Oops! You did it again! :o)
and I haven't seen this joke yet: "Peter had ROCKS in his head!"
:o)
Thank you all for the deep reflections. While I want to keep it
simple, I don't want to be shallow, either.
I'm thinking of the phrase "Shut up!" as what the kids say as an
exclamation today. It also reflects what Peter said to Jesus, and what Jesus
said to Peter. and the shock of the true nature of our salvation.
Sally in gA
How's this for a title: "Skimming the Surface" - Peter, rock -
what we skim, and how we sort of "jump" in the gray area of our understanding of
good/evil, human/divine. Our knowledge, like Peter's, is just skimming the
surface.
Any thoughts?
Sally, again.
This year I have been sensing a different tone of voice in Jesus'
response to Peter. Normally I have read it as a commanding and authoritative
rebuke. This time Jesus' sentences sound like he is saying, "You ARE a Stumbling
Block to ME." i.e. Was Jesus authentically struggling with how much he wanted
Peter's rebuke/consolation to be true?
This exchange between Jesus and Peter contains one of those
sentences of Peter's that makes real sense to me. 'God forbid that you should
suffer, you whom I love so much.' Aslanclan
Joe in Zion asked "What would move us to grab Jesus by the arm
and say, "We'll have no more that bunk around here, thank you!"?
Yes, Eric, evangelism would be one. But something keeps leading
me to look at even less "threatening" examples. How about some of our
entertainment choices? How about the "little white lies" we use every day? Some
time ago, George Barna released the results of one of his surveys that revealed
many Christians have similar views on certain issues (such as cheating,
abortion, homosexuality, sex before marriage, etc.) as non-Christians. Are we
slowly becoming indoctrinated into the ways of the world? Are we, in a sense,
becoming like Peter, and saying, "Not your way, Lord, but our way?" When the
scriptures talk about bearing a cross, they're talking about the suffering (of
any size or shape) we encounter when we take a stand for Christ, not only from a
salvation standpoint ("Jesus is the only way...") but from a sanctification
standpoint. A seminary friend of mine once said that if you're NOT experiencing
any such sort of suffering or difficulty, if your NOT experiencing persecution,
great or small, then perhaps there's something wrong with how you live out your
faith.
Couple of other thoughts on such a direction: 1) This is one that
I believe is more effective and sincere if the preacher uses the plural pronoun
("We do this...we do that...) instead of the singular ("you do this...etc.).
Let's face it, we're human, we do our share of compromising Christ, too. 2) Here
is where Satan would plant seeds of doubt in our hearts, telling us we shouldn't
get too specific, nor too pointed. To a certain extent that's true, because we
could spend our whole time listing ways we avoid the cross. At the same time,
speaking too generally doesn't get the point across.
We need to pray and let the Holy Spirit give us the right words
in the right amount. But perhaps it's time for us Christian leaders to bring the
standard back up to where God put it long ago, and hold our parishioners AND
ourselves to that standard, instead of bringing it down to us.
DD in CA
OLAS, I am what you once were, My first charge, 4 point or four
churches, rural small, and seminary student...SLP I guess I would qualify as a
second vocation pastor... hmm like Moses LOL... I was a teacher and social
worker in a past life LOL. (But still under 40) you know the small PTLP or SLP ,
going to school, oh they say, you are a student first...yes you are, but you are
a pastor to these people, you preach, teach, marry, bury... (so, what's the
difference between an ordained elder and Student Local Pastor) SALary and a BIG
Church!!! the obedient duty to our people is the same-we can do the same
ministering! I looked at this analogy Licensed practical nurse is to Registered
Nurse as Licensed Local pastor is to Ordained Elder... hmmm like that all SLP's
here??? SLP pastor Mary in OH
Hm-mm, a stumbling block pretty much has to be in front to do
much damage....How many times do we become a stumbling block to Jesus, heading
out to do it our way when we have promised to follow? There is a lot to be said
for taking time out to listen, and maybe get back on the right track. It may
cause a little suffering, tho' 'cause it looks so much like doing nothing.
That's for preachers. It seems that some of the problems in the life of the body
of Christ in all its parts could be that there are so few Peters. Not many even
want to walk on water, or would dare open their mouths in Jesus' presence. Have
we scared them or don't they care? Just some rambling, but I like the idea of
the 2 "get behind me"s. Thanks to you revgilmer and Michelle. Max in NC
To SLP Mary in OH
Your question--what's the difference between an ordained pastor
and a SLP? A retired preacher told me once, "The difference is--as an ordained,
when they tell you to sit down and shut up, you don't have to." :)
AUGGIE in TN
The divine message of hope for those suffering by evil oppression
as God children in Egypt is the same message for humans suffering in the bondage
of being sinners. Some one is coming whom will make a change. The one coming is
one whom has been here before. Like Peter we would like to hear of the change in
our lives being an improvement to our comfort zone. Make the Romans give us our
land back, we need more money, we need more ... Instead the change is not a
human thing, it is a divine thing. The divine desire of God was for Jesus to
give his life, to rise on the third day and be the One to come again and free us
from the burden of serving the errors of our human life. Jesus had his test, we
have ours. To make a loving decision to be learners of Christ Jesus and follow
his path. A path that will allow some of us here today to see Jesus entering his
role as the Savior bringing us and others into the kingdom of God. I recently
heard a song titled "Some One is Coming" performed by Russ Taft, that for me has
connected this week's Good News with the account of Moses and the burning bush.
Greetings Randy in TN
I am new to this site and this is my first time responding. I am
a seminarian doing internship this year and have appreciated the conversations
thoughts and ideas that you all have shared. Connecting this weeks text with
last weeks I compare it with a good thunder and lightening storm, the battle
between the lightening flashs and the darkness. The flashes of lightening are
like Peters confession those times when we see clearly the path we are to
follow. The darkness that falls between the flashes as our human nature taking
regaining control again that stops us from following Jesus. The battle is the
constant struggle between taking up the cross and following and our human nature
the that wants us to follow are own path. After all the darkness hides alot of
things.The Good News for me is that Peter did not stop Jesus from following his
Father's will and through his suffering, death and resurrection we are
reconciled. That where I think I headed this week. Some rambling thoughts from a
new-comer. Vicar J.
Joe in Zion asked "What would move us to grab Jesus by the arm
and say, "We'll have no more that bunk around here, thank you!"?
What about forgiveness and restoration. I made the mistake a few
weeks ago of asking our Wedensday night Bible study group what they would do if
they held the responsibility of the Roman Catholic Bishops (We are baptist, by
the way) in dealing with the child molestation cases.
I didn't hear much about the possibility of serving in any
capacity.
While I would never advocate placing a child in a dangerous
situation, I felt very uncomfortable with their responses.
There was no allowance for the possibility for Christ to change
hearts and restore lives. The way I see it. If He can't do that, I quit because
I surely can't.
Now before anyone gives in to the desire to correct my
understanding of forgiveness and the gravity of pedophilia, please consider that
I am just making the point that we are often offended at the prospect of Jesus
forgiving such vile behavior.
GC in IL
On Tuesday of this week we "put to bed" our monthly parish
newsletter. In it the treasurer included a report that August has been a
particularly bad month income-wise (as is typical, I suppose) because of low
attendance during this last-month-of-summer-vacations and, thus, low Sunday
offerings.
On Wednesday we received two checks in the office totalling
nearly $15,000! One was a tithe of the insurance settlement received by the
widow of a very active member who died in a motorcycle accident last month. One
was a check sent by a lady who went into the hospital today for major surgery
which will keep her away from church for (probably) several weeks of
recuperation.
These two checks more than solve our shortfall for August and
then some.
As I have pondered these receipts it has seemed to me that they
are evidence that God answers prayer, but that frequently the answer comes in
ways we could not have anticipated. I would never suggest that God is
responsible for the death and illness of these two parishioners, but through
that death and that illness God has sustained the families of the parishioners
and the parish, spiritually and (now) financially.
It seems to me that somehow this connects with both this Gospel
lesson and the Exodus pericope; that this is evidence of how "the Great I AM" is
with us in our journey, even the hard parts of it, vis. the burning bush story,
and that this is evidence of how taking up one's cross even if that entails
suffering and death leads to "finding life". It also seems to me that this is
something that needs to be shared with the congregation.... but how to say it in
ways that will NOT make it seem that God causes death and suffering, and NOT be
wounding to the suffering families....
Any ideas?
Thanks and blessings, Eric in KS
Came across this defintiion of skandalon- anything along your
path, i.e., a rock or stone that could cause you to fall. Also, Matthew uses
this word and its forms more than any other writer in the Bible, and it most
often refers to Jesus as offense or stumbling block.
is it possible that this is a play on words- I hope so, since my
sermon title is From Faithful Rock to Stumbling Block-also, Matthew could be
pointing out that Peter here tries to palce himself in an equal or even superior
position to Jesus
revgilmer in texarkana
Amen to Harold's comment! All the years growing up I heard about
"them" "those people" and as a young highs school kid I thought "they" are just
like us. Why did I hate Blacks? Why did I look down on Jewish people? Because I
had been taught too. Harold we need to change (try to change) attitudes and live
the attitude of Christ....Love! Ed in Iowa
Is it just our area, or is everyone being overwhelmed with
requests for emergency funding? What on earth is going on out there?
Pr.del in IA
Eric in KS got me thinking. Suffering and death is a side effect
of life. We all know we will get sick, we all know we will die. As the author of
life, God has placed suffering in our lives, I believe as an opportunity for
growth. The most difficult times in my life, have been the ones that sparked the
most growth. The touchy question - is God involved in the timing of suffering.
Did God cause the motorcycle accident, or cause the problem that sent your
parish member to hospital for surgery. I doubt any of us want to say yes. Yet in
response to Peter, and with His own pending suffering clearly in mind, Jesus
says look guys, you'll have to get through some difficult times. The measure of
who you are is how you handle the times of difficulty,how you handle when it
seems you get a raw deal. A widow who remembers her church with life insurance
money after a tragedy and a person going to the hospital who contributes in
advance, seem to be handling it well, trusting in God for the strength to deal
with what life brings. You've raised a real issue. My sermon this weekend will
deal not with suffering, but how we handle it, how we react to it. Do we let it
steal our faith, or do we see it as faith building. Perhaps that's a way to
ensure that it's a positive, not a wound, for those who are suffering. For what
it's worth New Guy in London, Ont
New Guy in London, Ont writes: "As the author of life, God has
placed suffering in our lives.."
I'd have to respectfully disagree with that premise. My
understanding of that our exercise of freewill and misapplication of it
indivdually and coporately that results in suffering and brokenness invading all
of creation.
God may redeem suffering, but God does not cause suffering. If he
did that would make him an agent or power that acted over and against life- the
power of death itself.
God is life!
Pr.del in Ia
THANK YOU to the person who talked about the everyday ways we set
up stumbling blocks. I still don't have a title I like - can I borrow the
"Faithful Rocks and Stumbling Blocks?"
Eric - that's great! I rejoice with you.
Sally in GA
Eric, Maybe you could focus on the discipleship of these two
persons in the midst of suffering, in "Contributing to the needs of the saints,"
and altho' I would not say that they are precisely overcoming evil with good,
they have not been overcome by their suffering, to pull in the Romans lesson.
And a little simplisticly, they may be "burning bushes" for the rest of the
congregation. Max in NC
It's the start of a new school term, and we have students leaving
home for the first time to go to University ... and others facing new challenges
We will use the Gospel and the theme 'The cost of loving'
The bones of it might be ...
Loving is hard isn’t it ? There is a cost.
The more we love, the higher the cost (A member of the church has
just buried his wife of 32 years at age 54 ... Of course I won't mention thi,
but we know that the cost of loving for him will be almost unbearable)
From the Gospel What was the cost of loving for God what is the
cost of loving in our lives ...
I will interview our twoi students leaving home and ask them ...
Now you’re both about to start at University ... just tell us
where you’re going and what course
What are you looking forward to ? What are you nervous about ?
What’s been the hardest thing about being a Christian so far ?
Then later on in the service ... I will paraphrase the Gospel
inclusing a bit from last week's reading
Peter says... Jesus, you are the Messiah (Peter thinks it's about
power) Jesus says ... The Messiah must suffer (Jesus is saying - No Peter, it’s
not about power. Mostly, it’s about love)
Jesus is saying ... There will be a cost for me, you have to
understand that, and there will be a cost for you too
Then I will ask the congregation for ideas What do you think is
the cost of loving ?
Then we will listen to a song by Coldplay Here's the chorus
Nobody said it was easy it’s such a shame for us to part No body
said it was easy No one ever said it would be this hard O take me back to the
start
Rev in Bev UK
It seems that Jesus is giving the disciples bad news and good
news, but Peter stops listening after the "bad news" and doesn't hear about the
resurrection. I'm wanting to begin the sermon with a good news / bad news joke,
but can't think of any. Anyone know a good news / bad news joke? Pastor Ed in
Ohio
Pr.del in Ia: God will be who God will be. You better believe I
want a God who will not put me to the test, who will not place suffering in my
life. But God is God. Look at Abraham - he was put to the test when God
instructed him to sacrifice his son. God did provide an out but that was quite a
test! Then there was Job. God let Satan have his way. Just do not destroy my
servant Job. Then there are times when we bring suffering upon ourselves. The
bottom line is we do suffer. And I agree with New Guy that the issue then
becomes how we deal with it, how we react to it. Faith-stealing or
faith-building? I can work with that. Reverend KJ
First, regarding a "Good News/Bad News" joke. I like the one
about the commander of the prison camp who addresses the prisoners who have worn
clothes for weeks which are dirty and torn. He states that he has good news and
bad news. The good news is that you get to change clothes today. The bad news
is, "Prisoner 5 change with prisoner 2, prisoner 7 with 10...." The plus is that
you could refer to Peter as one who saw Jesus as "new" - the Messiah - but then
immediately retreats to wearing the same old clothes of "glory", unable to see
the suffering Messiah who would truly introduce the new life. My thoughts this
week have centered on the threatening comments toward Iraq and the on-going
action in Afghanistan. Relevant question for me is: Will we sacrifice the moral
high ground for the sake of self-preservation? Do we make a first strike because
we want to protect ourselves and then forfeit our values? I think Jesus wants us
to see fear as an unworthy motivator for most of life - it leads us to
rationalize many things and is very dangerous. Jesus wants us to gain life
through the sacrificial values of love, forgiveness and faith. SJS
