Monday, May 23, 2005

This week, we are working on Unit 4, Life in Christ

Focus Scripture for the Week: Colossians 2:6

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him.

Today's scripture: John 11:17-27

Notes:

-- the scripture today about Lazarus doesn't focus on Jesus raising Lazarus, but rather Martha's interaction with Jesus when he arrived. It is in these verses that we can see what Martha believed, and how deeply.

-- this is another scripture where Jesus asks one of his trusted believers what they believed. In Luke, Jesus asks his disciples "who do you say that I am?" Here is John, he asks Martha, again another devoted follower, "do you believe this?"

-- it is interesting to me that these questions get asked of his most trusted and devoted followers, not the crowds of the curious and the new believers. And I think that the process of answering that question, both for Peter and Martha, helped to solidify their faith. There is something about saying something out loud; of answering a direct question directly, that builds up our commitment and faith. When we join the church, we are asked a direct question about what we believe, but we are rarely asked again, and we rarely have to answer again.

-- the Reflections section of our reading for this week, in a way, asks us that direct question about what we believe. In that reading, there is a real challenge for us to answer. Early on in that section, it says that "the simple spiritual disciplines of regular worship, Bible study, prayer, participation in the Lord's Supper and doing good, is not all that life in Christ includes". We are in four weeks into a study that is already challenging us to make more time each day for expressing our faith, and now it is telling us that that isn't enough. That could be a discouraging, but don't let it be.

-- think on it this way -- our initial commitment to this study, is about making time - say 15-30 minutes -- during our day to spend time focusing on Jesus and his word. This section is about how we approach the other 23+ hours each day -- how we live out what we have learned, about how loudly we answer the question "do you believe this?" with our lives.

Today's prayer request: Monica's nephew, Alex Lloyd

Alex is going to have a long-term presence on our list, due to the condition of his hip and the long term nature of his treatment

Today's class member prayer:

Andrew Peebles

Have a great week.