Reflexion, A Spiritual Community

I feel like we’ve taken an intensive course – on prayer Luke provides lessons Jesus taught on prayer that are not not found in the other gospels – he has also reported times Jesus prayed than no one else recorded • so it has taken us a long time to get this far • Luke is a rich source information and it is helpful to learn what he has to tell us – the prayers we’ll look at today are pretty basic •...

I try not to say much about prayers that go wrong There is no good reason to feel nervous about praying – we’re children coming to a good, loving Father to ask for bread • in fact, Jesus taught us to use prayer to rid ourselves of anxiety ◦ we can ease into prayer and find rest in God’s presence • you will pray right, if your heart is right – so we pray with confidence, but we also know that praye...

Before we jump into these verses, take a breath Remember who is telling the story – he is not a stranger – we know this person – this storyteller • we met him when as children we were dragged to church ◦ or when a friend first introduced us ◦ or when we picked up the Bible and read one of the Gospels • we know Jesus, we trust him with our lives, and we love him – it’s good for us to occasionally c...

A friend once told me, I had changed his thoughts about Jesus This man was a few years older than I, and a deep thinker - he had an unusual perspective on things that I found interesting • what he said was that the way I talked about Jesus had bugged him • he had a very manly, tough and unflinching image of Jesus ◦ but I emphasized his tenderness, kindness, and compassion ◦ he equated those qualit...

Jesus asked a question, and immediately we see that it is rhetorical He wasn’t looking for an answer – he was making a point - when we went through the previous parable, we learned, • when Jesus began a question with, "Who among you?" ◦ the answer is already known and always negative ◦ “None of us would act this way” or “No one would do such a thing” - Jesus poses this question in a stor...

Jesus has just used a parable to encourage his disciples to pray He is about to illustrate a condition of prayer with another parable - but between the two parables, he does something unusual • Jesus tells them how to respond to these parables And I tell you could be translated So I tell you or Likewise, I tell you ◦ Jesus connects the statement in verses 9-10 to the parable that came before • mos...

We have come to an important waypoint in our journey A message that has been forming the behind curtain is brought onto the stage – alongside the story, Jesus has taken time apart to pray • the difference here, is that Luke uses the disciples to make this point explicit Lord, teach us to pray

In any series of talks I give it's helpful to have a reminder We are following Jesus through Luke’s gospel learning prayer, - by listening to Jesus and by watching him • I sometimes forget the absolute necessity of prayer ◦ when that happens, I treat prayer like it’s optional • many people think prayer is asking God for things, ◦ and if they don’t get what they want, ◦ they decide it doesn’t...

In the first half of this chapter, Jesus launches a campaign Of course, like Jesus himself, the operation is modest - there’s no funding and its reps are unskilled volunteers • but it’s the crew Jesus chose and the plan is simple and low-key • there is a twofold purpose for this mission: ◦ prepare people for Jesus’ arrival and ministry ◦ for these disciples to experience their first solo-flights i...

I like the strange passages that call attention to themselves – and force me to pay closer attention to what is there • I would not say I did my best Bible reading this past week ◦ I took three of my grandchildren to Flagstaff, Arizona, ◦ where we shared a hotel room – so there was no private space for me to read and pray • nevertheless, I tried, but with many apologies to the Lord – so yesterday...

There are three words in these verses I want to highlight “and was praying” - between the time Jesus was immersed in water and the heavens opened, • he was praying – and this intrigues me ◦ in the life of Jesus, this is the first mention of him praying • of course we have only a glimpse of his childhood ◦ but those snapshots reveal someone already conscious of God And the child grew and became str...

Cheryl Brodersen

 Last week, Naomi set the plot in action - we could say that her maneuvering was relational; she was working with people • this week, Boaz sets the plot in action, and his maneuvering is legal; he is using the law - moving through the interaction that takes place in this scene, • is an important factor that we could miss in all the action • that is, the reality and depth of Boaz’s devotion to Ruth...

Intro: This past week was about getting things done Not everything on my to-do list–not even one, one-hundredth - one appointment was scheduled several weeks ago • another one that I had to plan and prepare myself to complete ◦ I’ll have more to say about this later • my point is that in our day-to-day passage through life, ◦ I am no different than you ◦ we all have to deal with schedules and appo...

Ruth Chapter 2 Intro: In the apartment complex where my son Scotty lives, There’s an old vending machine where residents can buy sodas - Calum was six the first time I bought him a cola drink from it • we inserted the money, he pressed button, machine rumbled, ◦ and a can of soda dropped into the slot at the bottom • then before we could insert more money, the machine rumbled again and another sod...

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons Ruth 1:1 Intro: With these words, we walk through a gate and into what may be the most enchanting story in all of scripture - but because it took place long ago and in a strange culture far away, • we need some help orienting our...

How did we wind up in Genesis this morning? Many preachers have their sermons lined up for the whole year - I’ve never been that organized or thought that far ahead • it’s when I finish a series of talks that I think about what’s next • usually that has a lot to do with what is pulling on my heart in that particular moment - so we’re in Genesis, because it provides a seed for my talk • I’m not sur...

Whenever you come to instructions in the Bible, Remind yourself, “I don’t have to do this alone” - God made us to become these new persons that we are • and we have to do some of the repairs and maintenance • however, he doesn’t expect us to do even that part on our own ◦ we can trust Jesus – his burden is light and his yoke is easy - we’ve learned what to take off (old self with its vices) • and...

 Peter is celebrating Jesus’ resurrection  His first line is praise to God (the English Standard Version adds an exclamation mark) - his specific point is what Jesus’ resurrection means for us • I’ve been reading in Acts this week and this is the same message Peter and the apostles preached there • Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead ◦ and doing so, he opened a new way to know God and be ri...

The story of Palm Sunday is told in all four gospels  John’s account is the most streamlined, Luke’s account is the most dramatic - that is where Jesus warns that if the crowd remained silent, the rocks would cry out • but prior to any gospel, there was a message hidden the Psalms The stone that the builders rejected  has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing;  it is marvelous in our ey...

Preparing this talk was difficult Not because there is nothing to say about love - we could line the freeway from here to San Diego with books and papers written on love • clinical studies, philosophical essays, poetic explorations, ◦ not to mention all the books by religious authors • but all this information has made little impact on our nation - maybe it was just a tough week week for me – too...

Before fire engines, cities relied on the "bucket brigade" Volunteers would rush to the scene of a fire and form a human chain - beginning at a source of water–a well, river, or pond if close by–, • draw water, and hand the bucket to the first person in the chain ◦ then the bucket would be passed from person to person until poured on the fire ◦ empty buckets would be returned down the ch...

 I remember reading through Colossians many years ago - in the first chapter, I came across a “power verse” • what I mean, is a verse that makes a prayer for, or a promise of spiritual energy ◦ for instance, this is what Jesus did for his disciples: [Jesus] called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases (Lk. 9:1) Or, . . . you will receive power w...

The first detail to notice, is where we find meekness on list Meekness is hiding behind humility - we wonder, was it even necessary to include meekness in addition to humility? • if we were to be honest, we don’t take meekness seriously ◦ it is a virtue no one wants – like patience or submission • we read that Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek” ◦ but it doesn’t leave a strong impression on us ◦ it...

Working our way down this list of virtues we come to humility When I began thinking about this talk,  - it occurred to me you don’t need this message – look where we are • this is not the hot spot on Sunday mornings– ◦ the place to be seen – you can’t brag about being here