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SHARING WORLDS APART - from Sunday, May 28, 2017

5/29/2017

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We can experience different worlds quite often. Ever heard of dabbing?  Ask a kid - in their world, it's commonplace. We're in different worlds. This is like the disciples who must negotiate between the sacred and the common. 

In Acts 1, Jesus gets to answer (again) the question about when the Kingdom is coming. However, it continues to be framed in terms of the restoration of a David-like monarch who would overthrow the Romans. Jesus seems a bit testy in deflecting that question.

Jesus promises them the Holy Spirit, like he's trying to get them focused on the right thing instead of silly distractions. It is to be power for them as witnesses for him and his ministry.

Jesus' ascension was certainly intended to be humorous, poking fun at those who are waiting for Jesus to return rather than doing the ministry that Jesus taught them. The angels chastize them for their failure to focus on what Jesus was telling them.

Their staring heavenward is a reminder that there are two worlds at play for them now, the sacred and the sinful, and they have a new job to perform. It involves negotiating the two in advocating for the ways of God's Kingdom while situated amid this world.

This gets better portrayal in John 17 as Jesus shares his final prayer for his disciples. Here is where the statement is clear that the disciples are not of the world any longer, but remain within the world.

How do you negotiate between the sacred values of the Kingdom and the more profane values of the world? The sermon video below may be helpful, and note the downloads below the video panel.

05-28-17-ff-answers.pdf
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05-28-17-sharing_worlds_apart.pdf
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FINDING GOD CLOSE - from Sunday, May 21, 2017

5/22/2017

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I am not God or Jesus or the Spirit, yet each is close to us, we're told. What does it mean when scriptures say God is close by, or when Jesus promises the Counselor and tells disciples that he is in them? And what trap awaits if we fail to understand what this means?

During the post-Easter period, there is no Old Testament lesson per se, but readings from Acts. In Acts 17 this week, we find Paul in Athens, preaching and teaching. He has intrigued some philosophers who want to hear more about his insights. He's invited to the Areopagus, a location near the Acropolis on Mars Hill where court is held, and where philosophers engage in debates.

Paul uses a monument to "An Unknown God" as a foil for his argument that he knows the truth about what they call "unknown." He explains the universal nature of the God of all, and tantalizes some in the crowd when he shares: "... so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us." Some scoff and walk away, but others want to learn more, and some of them become disciples.

Knowing from recent sermons on Jesus's resurrection appearances, like to Mary at the tomb and to the disciples traveling toward Emmaus, that Jesus was no longer in readily recognizable form, we realize that Jesus may indeed be near, but we're left asking, How? How is God or Jesus "not far from each one of us"?

In his Final Discourse to the disciples in John, a long sequence of teachings that follows the foot washing scene, Jesus promises the coming of another when he departs, the Counselor or Advocate (in Greek, the Paraclete, a unique word only to John's gospel). He adds: "You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you."

Jesus continues to weave this three-way inter-relationship, using that difficult phrase: "I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." Then he does it again, using the term of love to describe the inter-relationship.

Love ends up being at the heart of knowing the presence of God and Jesus. Indeed, it brings resurrection anew. To find out how, you'll need to check out the sermon video below, or use the downloads below the video panel.

05-21-17-ff-answers.pdf
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05-21-17-finding_god_close.pdf
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CHANGED DIRECTION - from Sunday, April 30, 2017

5/2/2017

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Are you headed in the right direction? Once we realize that everything has been changed by the resurrection, we share the original disciples' dilemma. What now? Then we realize that God has been changing peoples' direction quite regularly. 

It's quite a list of people who have had their direction changed: Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Samuel, David, Elijah, and on and on. Then there's Moses.

Moses thought his life was set as a shepherd for his father-in-law until that burning bush that wouldn't burn up showed itself. Moses gets the call to go and confront the most powerful ruler in the western world, and demand the release of his slaves. Sure, the one place and the one person that Moses wanted nothing to do with, that's where God wants to send him. Moses has some complaints and protests about this assignment, but God isn't changing the divine mind on this one. Moses will change his life's direction. Moses will learn that his job is to be faithful and leave the outcome in God's hands, something we're quite reluctant to do ourselves. 

Then in Luke, we have the story of two disciples fleeing what could be an imminent persecution in Jerusalem. They're on the road to neighboring Emmaus, final destination unknown. As they chat about the events of that day - news about the missing body of Jesus - and the events preceding, they suddenly discover another fellow walking along with them.

This stranger shockingly knows nothing about what has been happening in Jerusalem. They fill him in, expressing their disappointment that this Jesus fellow wasn't the Promised One like they'd hoped. The stranger scolds them for misunderstanding what this fellow Jesus was all about.

As they decide to stop for the day, they invite the stranger to join them. In breaking bread together, they realize who it is. What do you think Jesus says to change their direction? The answer will surprise you.


Find out where things are headed with the sermon video below and downloads below the video panel.

04-30-17-ff-answers.pdf
File Size: 23 kb
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04-30-17-changed_direction.pdf
File Size: 154 kb
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