One Little Word

Fed by God

Lessons:
     Isaiah 55:1-5
     Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21
     Romans 9:1-5
     St. Matthew 14:13-21
     Semicontinuous Reading and Psalm
          Genesis 32:22-31
          Psalm 17:1-7, 15

Prayer of the Day:
    Glorious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation with abundance. Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

^14.13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. ¹⁵ When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” ¹⁷ They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” ¹⁸ And he said, “Bring them here to me.” ¹⁹ Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ²⁰ And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. ²¹ And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

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St. Matthew 14:13-21, New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there.”

An ominous way for a Gospel lesson to begin, isn’t it? What did Jesus hear? Why did it impact him to such a degree that he withdrew to a lonely place where he hoped to be alone? It was, of course, the devastating news that his relative, partner in ministry and respected friend, John the Baptizer, had been murdered by King Herod. And so he went, as St. Matthew tells us, to “a deserted place by himself.” A deserted place where he could find solace and healing. A deserted place where he could be alone in prayer with God. A deserted place where he could find spiritual, physical and emotional renewal, in order to continue the ministry God had entrusted to him.

That renewal would have to wait, of course. The crowds (5,000 families?) followed him, and his time alone wouldn’t come until after he had spent a day healing, teaching and feeding them. Yet it is interesting to note that even Jesus found it important to take time to be alone with God – to be renewed in body, mind and spirit. In fact, the Gospel writers portray him as doing so quite regularly, and often immediately before making important decisions or taking important actions.

Jesus models for us what God expects of us. We too find ourselves in need of renewal on a regular basis. The responsibilities given to us as parents, as students, as friends, as employees, as citizens… are significant. The ministries entrusted to us by God can, at times, be quite demanding. Much is expected of us, and God wants to be part of the strength that makes it possible for us to do well. So, since the early days of God’s covenant people, we have been commanded to find Sabbath time. Time to be alone with God. Time to immerse ourselves in word and prayer. Time to be renewed as only God can renew us.

As you read this devotional, my family and I are on our way home from a one-week stay at Holden Village, a Lutheran Retreat center in the Cascade Mountains of central Washington State. This is a long trip, in some ways. And whenever we’re gone, we miss being part of the rhythm of this congregation’s life together. Yet it is important for us to find time to escape the daily demands of work and home – a time to be together as a family in a more relaxed setting. Holden Village is a terrific place for just that to happen. Each day includes Bible study, worship, fellowship, exercise, reading, eating healthy food and relaxing together. I am grateful to be serving a congregation that supports these kinds of renewing experiences. And I am grateful for places like this retreat center that make it possible.

I expect that, as usual, we’ll come home (unlike many “vacations” we have taken) refreshed and renewed, and reminded of how important it is to take time away to be near God. I hope you found time like that this past summer too. And I hope you are wrestling (as we are) with how that can be a more regular part of your life’s pattern. God expects it of us. And we need it if we are to be all that God asks us to be.

I look forward to hearing of the ways you have made this part of your life, and exploring how we can learn from one another. A good Sabbath to you all!

David J. Risendal

Exploring This Week’s Text:

1. What must it have been like for Jesus to receive word that John, his relative and colleague, had been murdered?
2. Why did he seek to spend time alone in a deserted place?
3. What does it say about Jesus that he put his own need for renewal aside for long enough to minister to the crowds that followed him?

Connecting with This Week’s Text:

1. When have I felt a particular need (physical, emotional, or spiritual) for renewal?
2. What are the resources I made use of to fill that need?
3. How can I establish regular times to be alone with God, in order to remain strong for the ministry God has entrusted to me?

The New and the Old

Lessons:
     1st Kings 3:5-12
     Psalm 119:129-136
     Romans 8:26-39
     St. Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
     Semicontinuous Reading and Psalm
          Genesis 29:15-28
          Psalm 105:1-11, 45b
          (or) Psalm 128

Prayer of the Day:
     Beloved and sovereign God, through the death and resurrection of your Son you bring us into your kingdom of justice and mercy. By your Spirit, give us your wisdom, that we may treasure the life that comes from Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

^13.31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; ³² it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” ³³ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. ⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; ⁴⁶ on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. ⁴⁷ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; ⁴⁸ when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. ⁴⁹ So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁵¹ “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” ⁵² And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

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St. Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, New Revised Standard Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

I have long been a history fan, and admire those whose understanding of events past runs deep. I used to love hearing Professor Tim Lull discuss Luther and his time. His grasp of Luther’s life, ministry and theology was powerful – and he would share those old stories with us in a way that made us want to live and think and believe in the same ways. Likewise Shelby Foote, in the “Civil War” series presented by PBS years ago, seemed to make the past present again when he spoke of how our nation evolved during those tumultuous years. I love learning from a good historian. They teach us about our past in a way that helps us live more wisely in the present.

I also enjoy learning from those who have insights into what the future holds. Whether it is in congregational ministry, political science or economics, there are those who seem to know where events are leading us; people who can provide insights into what might make for a strong future. They help us shape our present in a way that allows us to most effectively address the future.

In this weekend’s Gospel lesson Jesus teaches us that both of these viewpoints are essential if we are to be about the work of God’s kingdom in a way that truly makes a difference. God’s people sometimes find themselves polarized – with some claiming that faithfulness is all about being true to our past, while others are claiming that adapting to the present and preparing for the future is our primary task. Jesus teaches us that “every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” Faithfulness has to do with living amidst the interchange between the ancient word handed down from our ancestors and the creative insights about where God’s future is leading us.

Beverley R. Gaventa, Associate Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary, writes these words:

Not every new wind is a Nor’easter that will shake the church’s very foundations. Neither is every stone in the foundation the makings for a prison. Both the new and the old belong in the householder’s treasure. Both the new and the old may serve the church. Both the new and the old may reflect the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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“Both the New and the Old” from Christian Century, June 30-July 7, 1993, page 669.

She reminds us that whether we are embracing that which is old, or experiencing that which is new, it is important to measure them both against what we know about God in Jesus Christ. How do our traditions (and our traditional beliefs) point us to the one who died and rose on our behalf? How do new insights (or new beliefs) draw us into those things that mattered most to Jesus?

May be faithful in asking just such questions together.

David J. Risendal

Exploring This Week’s Text:

1. What do these parables teach us about the kingdom of heaven?
2. Are the images Jesus uses here old images or new images?
3. What new insights does he provide into God’s kingdom?

Connecting with This Week’s Text:

1. What aspects of our (Christian or Lutheran) tradition are most meaningful to me?
2. What new ways of being God’s people have stirred me most deeply?
3. How have the old and the new worked together to help me better know God?

Weeds, Wheat, and the Kingdom of God

Lessons:
     Isaiah 44:6-8
     (or Wisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16-19)
     Psalm 86:11-17
     Romans 8:12-25
     St. Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
     Semicontinuous Reading and Psalm
          Genesis 28:10-19a
          Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24

Prayer of the Day:
     Faithful God, most merciful judge, you care for your children with firmness and compassion. By your Spirit nurture us who live in your kingdom, that we may be rooted in the way of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

^13.24 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. ²⁶ So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. ²⁷ And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ ²⁸ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ ²⁹ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. ³⁰ Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

³⁶ Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” ³⁷ He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; ³⁸ the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, ⁴² and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!”

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St. Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 

This weekend we turn our attention back to the words of Jesus, and the world of planting, nurturing, and harvesting wheat. Jesus offers us an image that stands clear in the minds of any who have grown up on the farm — or, for that matter, any who have spent time out back in the garden. It is the image of a field of wheat being overtaken by weeds.

I once converted a portion of our back yard into a garden. We enjoyed the sight of sweet corn, peas, tomatoes, pumpkins, squash, strawberries and the rest of our crop. But that is not all we saw back there. We also saw an incredibly persistent and resistant collection of weeds. We had decided to make ours an organic garden, so the only option left to us was pulling those weeds. There were days when it seemed that you’d pull a weed, turn your back, and another one had taken its place. Those garden weeds were a tremendous nuisance. Not only because they looked bad, but also because they robbed the soil of nutrients we intended would benefit our vegetables. And so we tried to get out there every other day or so to pull the weeds and clean the paths and nurture the plants.

The weeds that Jesus describes in this week’s Gospel lesson are not the innocuous pieces of grass and clover that creep their way into our backyard gardens. These weeds are Bearded Darnell. They are vicious and aggressive weeds, planted by the farmer’s enemies, and designed to destroy the crop. It is a weed that looks remarkably similar to wheat, a weed that spreads and grows quickly. As Jesus’ disciples indicate, the temptation is to head out into the field with a hoe, and dig them up. But Jesus, reflecting the common wisdom of the day, cautions them against such a reaction. To take after those weeds with a vengeance would mean destroying wheat in the process, and it wouldn’t be worth it. Wait, Jesus says, until harvest time. Once the grain appears, it is easy to tell them apart. At that time, the weeds can be destroyed and the wheat can be gathered and stored.

It is a powerful yet frightening image for the life of faith, isn’t it? Our God, the Lord of the Harvest, is busy sowing seeds of faith among us. These seeds prosper and grow, and issue a harvest of hope and joy and peace. There are times in our lives when God’s harvest is quite evident: and not just in good times. When we face adversity or fortune with peace and contentment, because of our faith; when we are grateful for life, and willing to offer back a portion of ourselves in thanksgiving; when we find ourselves so touched by the promise of the Gospel that we look for ways to share it with others – then we can know the seeds God has sown among us are having their intended effect.

Yet God’s enemy is also at work, sowing seeds of discontent. In the book of Colossians, Paul writes from prison, encouraging the people of Colossae to resist the kind of living that displeases God. In his words:

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed. [Colossians 3:5]

Paul here refers to the seeds of disobedience and destruction that are sown in our lives by God’s opponent. We are tempted to lash out at these intruders, as if our words and efforts could hold at bay the evil that runs rampant in this world. If we could weed this kind of sin out of the garden of God’s creation, or at least if we could weed out the most evil souls among us, then the harvest of faith and hope and joy would have a better chance of prevailing.

Yet the responsibility of judging and separating and destroying is not given for us to exercise. We are instructed, instead, to stay with our original commission: that of spreading the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all corners of the earth. In word and action, being the presence of Christ in this world. Advocating for love and kindness and justice and righteousness.  Bearing the fruit of the Spirit, so that as others see what God has accomplished in our lives, they too might be drawn to the God who makes it all possible.

There is much that needs to be weeded out of our lives. And the evil of our world needs to be named and opposed by God’s faithful people. But we don’t do so under the illusion that our efforts will eradicate the presence of evil. The enemy continues to sow seeds of discontent, and the best of God’s harvest continues to be surrounded by weeds. But let us not lose courage, and let us take strength from these words of our Lord. As we stay true to our calling; as we concentrate on being a healing and renewing presence in our community; as we stay focused on strengthening people’s faith; God will bring in the harvest. In our lives, and in the lives of those who come into contact with us.

Let us continue to plant, and water, and pray for the harvest, trusting that God will use our efforts to bring the gifts of faith and hope and joy to all the world.

David J. Risendal

Exploring This Week’s Text:

1. How does Jesus’ parable shed light on the battle between good and evil in this world?
2. What is an example of bad seeds threatening the produce of good seeds?
3. Does the destruction of the weeds seem to be a word of hope or a word of despair?

Connecting with This Week’s Text:

1. What good is God producing in my life?
2. What weeds threaten me?
3. How can I stay faithful in worship, prayer, study, and service – so that God is able to nurture the good that has been accomplished in my life?

Sowing Seeds; Sharing Faith

Lessons:
     Isaiah 55:10-13
     Psalm 65:[1-8] 9-13
     Romans 8:1-11
     St. Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
     Semicontinuous Reading and Psalm
          Genesis 25:19-34
          Psalm 119:105-112

Prayer of the Day:
    Almighty God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your word. By your Holy Spirit help us to receive it with joy, live according to it, and grow in faith and hope and love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

^13.1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ² Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. ³ And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. ⁴ And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. ⁵ Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. ⁶ But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸ Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹ Let anyone with ears listen!”

¹⁸ “Hear then the parable of the sower. ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. ²⁰ As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹ yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. ²² As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. ²³ But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

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St. Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Message

What a waste of good seed! Who is this Sower, who so indiscriminately throws these seeds? Some seeds end up on the path. Some seeds end up in rocky ground. Some seeds end up among thorns. Oh yeah, and there are also a few seeds that actually end up in good soil… Who is this Sower, so careless with these seeds? What a waste!

These days, a Sower like that would never make it. Farming is a much more competitive business now, and planting techniques are much more sophisticated. A farmer in Iowa has his combine hooked up to a laptop computer, and communicating with GPS satellites, to tell him the exact yield of every square foot of his field. In the following season, he’ll adjust his planting and fertilizing strategies to increase the yield in every section of the field.

The contrasts between the simple methods of a first century sower and the technological wizardry of today’s farmer are remarkable – but not the point of this parable. Neither, for that matter, is this parable an invitation for preachers to exhort their listeners to become richer, more productive soil (as if the Sower could have convinced the ground to be less hard, or less thorny…).

No, Jesus told this parable to answer one simple question: “Why isn’t it working?” By Mark’s thirteenth chapter, it is becoming apparent that not everybody is enamored with the teaching and ministry of the Rabbi from Nazareth. Chapters 11 and 12 make it painfully clear that many are choosing to have nothing to do with Jesus. King Herod imprisons John, and Jesus’ primary promoter voices his doubts (11.2). The people of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum are unimpressed with his preaching (11.20). The Pharisees challenge his ministry, and begin planning how to destroy him (12.14). They accuse Jesus of being in league with the devil (12.24).

What does all of this mean? Why are so many set against him? Why are the strength of his signs and the brilliance of his teaching unable to win them over? With this parable, Jesus offers the simple explanation that there are powers in this world which work against the will of God. The evil one is real, and has the ability to snatch believers away from true faith. Trouble and persecution can lead to disillusionment and dismay. “The cares of the world and the lure of wealth” can leave no room in a believer’s heart for the word of God.

Yet (and this is important!) the word of God is still, in certain instances, able to overcome all the odds, and faith grows: thirty-fold, sixty-fold, one-hundred-fold.

When we study texts like this one, we find ourselves wondering, with the listeners to Peter’s Pentecost Sermon (Acts 2:37), “What then shall we do?” At the very least, we believers are called to continue working with God to sow seeds of faith, regardless the result. We may not come up with tidy formulas about when and where God’s word is most likely to take hold, but we know that it happens. And so we persevere, even in the face of failure and disappointment.

And if we are concerned for our own faithful well-being, we would do well to keep at arm’s distance “the cares of the world and the lure of wealth.” They, above all other distractions, are mentioned by Jesus in this passage. We would do well to go back and meditate on the Sermon on the Mount (6:25-34), and pray for the faith and strength to trust in God’s word.

There is an epic struggle taking place for our souls, yet we who are people of faith continue to live in hope. Thanks be to God, whose Spirit empowers our faith and our faithfulness!

David J. Risendal

Exploring This Week’s Gospel:

1. What disappointed the disciples about how people did (or didn’t) respond to Jesus?
2. What forces does Jesus mention, that work against the power of faith?
3. What word of hope is found in this passage?

Connecting with This Week’s Gospel:

1. When have I evaluated a situation and determined that “it just isn’t worth it” to share my faith?
2. In what situation, or with what person, will I pledge to share my faith in the coming week (trusting that God makes all things possible…)?
3. What, in my life, works against what God is trying to make possible in me and through me?

Freedom: Gift and Responsibility

Lessons:
     Zechariah 9:9-12
     Psalm 145:8-14
     Romans 7:15-25a
     St. Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Prayer of the Day:
     You are great, O God, and greatly to be praised. You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you. Grant that we may believe in you, call upon you, know you, and serve you, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

^11.15  I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.

²¹ So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. ²² For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, ²³ but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

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Romans 7:15-25a, New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

What Lutheran theologian doesn’t like the opportunity, from time to time, to reflect on the Apostle Paul’s words in his letter to the Romans?

“Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (3:23-24) “His faith was reckoned to him as righteousness.” (4:22) “Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God.” (5:1) “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (5:8) “We have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” (6:4) “The wages of sin is death, but he free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (6:23)

There are enough proof texts in Romans to keep us Lutherans in bumper stickers for another couple of millennia.

This weekend’s text, however, reminds us that the Apostle’s thought runs much deeper than your average bumper sticker. From a distance, the Lutheran movement has occasionally been accused of embracing what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called cheap grace. “God loves to forgive, so then let’s not bother trying to live good lives. Sin away, and let grace take care of it.” But a closer look reveals that Paul would have none of that, and neither would Luther. Paul addresses that in chapter six: “What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!” (Romans 6:15)

In this weekend’s text, we see the depth of Paul’s desire to grow in grace, and live a life that is worthy of the Gospel. Already forgiven by Christ, assured of his place in God’s family, Paul is free from worrying about his relationship with God. Yet he is still consumed by a desire to live in a way that pleases God. For Paul, freedom is not a license for lax living. It is a gift and a responsibility. And the deeper his gratitude for the freedom God gave him: the deeper his desire to live in a way that is worthy of it.

On Independence Day weekend, it might do us well to study the Apostle Paul for what he could teach us about being Christians – and about being Americans. We have been given by God, and by virtue of our citizenship, a great and precious gift. Yet to take that gift for granted is to misunderstand its power. We are freed to give ourselves in service to the One who authored that freedom. We are freed to live in a way that rises above self-interest and takes seriously those concerns that lay at the heart of our Lord’s ministry: breaking down barriers between people; caring for the hurts and needs of the human family; working for justice and righteousness throughout the world. Let us celebrate our freedom this weekend. And let us renew our desire to use our freedom in a way that becomes a blessing for the whole world.

David J. Risendal

Exploring This Week’s Text:

1. How did the Apostle Paul describe the inner conflict he experienced between wanting to do what is right, and being drawn to do what is wrong?
2. What, from your understanding of Luther’s theology, did the Apostle Paul and Martin Luther have in common, regarding their understanding of sin?
3. Paul ends with a word of hope. How does that address his inner conflict?

Connecting with This Week’s Text:

1. How has the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ set me free?
2. What do I appreciate most about the freedom I have as a Christian? As an American?
3. How am I using my freedoms in way that blesses others?
4. What hopes do I have for my church, or my country, and the influence it can have on the world?