Reflexion, A Spiritual Community

Paul describes a frustrating struggle, a losing battle with himself – suppose he wanted his readers to feel that frustration for themselves • if so, Dr. Seuss could not have done a better job of creating confusion • however, my guess is that Paul wrote it in a state of frustration – early on, he had put every effort into living a sinless life • but every time he thought he had achieved it, ◦ a new...

 I have been mulling over something this past school year Two days a week I drove three of my grandchildren to school – two of them attend school in what I refer to as a new suburbia • the residents are almost exclusively young families ◦ everything is new – new expensive houses and condos ◦ and new apartments, a few of which are low-rent properties • none of the houses, condos or apartments have...

Imagine this . . . While you’re at work, out shopping, or on vacation – a family parks a moving in front of your home • they break into, and unload used, worthless furnishings inside • then they redecorate your home with their junk ◦ and to make matters worse, they glue or nail everything in place – ridiculous, right? • but all of us have allowed others to do that with our brains • by words, actio...

This short psalm tells a story It is about a person who was abused as a child – yet the child became an adult without being defined by abuse • at least, that’s how the first line reads ◦ but the second line corrects our understanding,

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the prophet’s call was an important event Each of the three major prophets tell elaborate stories of their initiation – typical features of a prophetic call include: • a God-encounter • instructions regarding their ministry and message • a warning of what they are up against • an attempt on the prophet’s part to dodge the call ◦ they argue their disqualification • God rej...

Last week we learned what neuroscience has taught us about repentance – at a practical, biological level repentance means changing our brains • the brain is control center for all the activity of the mind and body  • how do we repent? How are we changed, transformed? Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will...

We began two weeks ago with the first word of Jesus’ message: “Repent” – a change of mind that leads to change of everything – the Bible uses other words for change: turn, convert, transform • I’ve tried to point out, that this means changing our brains • brain activity that has become automatic and unconscious – Paul has an interesting way of illustrating this change, he says, put off your old se...

50 days after the resurrection the apostles are waiting to be equipped, empowered - day of   Pentecost

This one last time, I will remind you what we’ve been tracking – John wrote a gospel that’s very different from the Synoptic gospels • the other three follow the same outline, tell the same stories • John is surprising in how much he leaves out and what he puts in – during Jesus’ life the disciples did not always understand him • some times he said things that: ◦ had to do with the future ◦ contra...

Quite prayer lead by Chuck Smith Jr

Way back at the beginning of John’s narrative of Jesus’ ministry, when John the Baptist first saw Jesus, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God. who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29) John’s source for the image of the lamb was the sacrificial worship of Israel – this symbol was embedded in Israel’s collective memory  • the offering of a lamb provided atonement for Israel’s sin  • “atone” mean...

Last week we jumped to the end of John’s gospel, because it was Easter Sunday – today we return to night of Jesus’ arrest prior to his crucifixion • think of what we are doing this way: ◦ some films include flashbacks to events that occurred prior to the current period  ◦ flashbacks supply explanations or fill in important details  • so this week and next, will be like flashbacks for us  ◦ scenes...

Here in the last chapter of John, we find an interesting correlation – in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, at beginning of Jesus’ ministry, • he encounters four fishermen whom he calls to follow him ◦ Andrew and Peter are casting their net into the water ◦ James and John are in their boat mending their nets • the Gospel of Luke tells us Jesus saw two empty boats by the shore ◦ he explains that the...

Did you know Gospel of Mark does not have proper ending? Women came to Jesus’ tomb, the body was gone, but an angel met them there and instructed them to go tell his disciples that he had risen. Then the last words of Mark’s gospel are: they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid (Mk. 16:8) – Christian...

But just before reaching the end, there is this amazing crescendo! – Jesus goes to the grave of a dead man and calls him back to life – this is one of those points where John’s story differs from the Synoptic gospels • Matthew, Mark and Luke say nothing about Lazarus’ resurrection • in Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus’ ministry comes to an end ◦ but in John’s gospel, it is only Jesus’ public ministry...

 Let’s review important terms Jesus has used – first, there is the living water • he offered it to the Samaritan woman (Jn. 4:10) • he also offered it to everyone in the temple (Jn. 7:37-38) – next, Jesus said, I am the bread of life (Jn. 6:35) – more recently he said, I am the light of the world • and he promised to those who followed him the light of life (Jn. 8:12) Notice how these same themes...

Intro: It is not easy to follow the thread of John chapter 7 So I will begin with a quick synopsis of what is here: – in Galilee, Jesus’ brothers told him he should “make an appearance” in Judea • if he wanted public recognition, he should show himself to the world ◦ apparently they assumed that he wanted a measure of fame • this was not friendly advice, For not even his brothers believed in him ◦...

This is the only miracle Jesus performed that is reported in all four gospels In Matthew, Mark, and John this miracle is immediately followed by another–when Jesus walked on water – Mark adds an intriguing footnote to that event regarding the disciples: And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened (Mk. 6:51-52) • he indicates that so...

Last week a friend asked why we read passages from two gospels each week We are tracking comparisons and contrasts between John and Synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) – John wrote long after the Synoptics had been in circulation • he was at a different stage of spiritual insight than when he walked with Jesus • so what he provides is like a spiritual commentary on the other gospels ◦ he p...