Lithopolis United Methodist Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Lithopolis United Methodist Church
Join us as we invite people to be in relationship with Jesus and each other so that lives and communities are changed. Welcome home!
Today's devotional was written by Safiyah Fosua, Professor of Christian Worship and Ministry at Wesley Seminary.
No matter what our daily work, no matter the limitations of our circumstances, no matter how often we have failed, God is still calling us to something more. Just look at how God cares for and is present with the ones on the margins. Look at the higher calling to which God called Jonah who had already been called to the life of a prophet. Look at how God called Isaiah and overcame his guilt and self-condemnation. Look at how far God will go to even write his covenant on our hearts so that everyone from the least to the greatest will know God!
In case we didn’t notice, there’s a national election next month. One observer noted that sometimes politicians say ANYTHING they can think of if the believe it will help them get elected. We can expect promises to be made… all kinds of promises. During our “That’s Promising” series, we’ll be focusing on promises that are bigger than anything we can expect during even the most heated election season. Hearing God’s promises might be just what we need right about now when it comes to staying grounded and living by faith our highest values and purposes.
Join us for worship today as we kick off a new series on the parables of Jesus that teach us of how he pursues us.
Humility is a prerequisite for transformation - it makes room for God’s mercy, love, and grace. With it, there's room for the Spirit to be at work. This is the good news of Jesus modeled in the life of Paul.
Let’s pursue God together in response to God pursuing us.
In the Gospels, Peter teaches us that lives of consistency aren't required for God to use us. Try as we might, our actions don't always match up to our beliefs, yet God still wants us to be a part of His work. Can you identify with that paradox? Maybe we all can relate to Peter too.
"Oh, Lord, please send someone else." Those might have been the words you cried out in frustration this week, but they're also the words spoken by Moses when he found out what God was calling him to. Moses was faced with a life-altering change in that moment. His response and God's reply speak to us even today.
Is your life being redefined these days? Are situations and circumstances around you changing so many of your plans? What does it look like to seek God, to truly trust him, in the midst of the change we're experiencing?
This year has had its fair share of stress - politics, a pandemic, racism, protesting, the list could go on. In this midst of all of this, how are we supposed to follow Jesus's command to "not worry"? How in the world, in this world, are we supposed to have peace? Let's share together in how to live in a way that truly matters.
Sometimes the Bible can be confusing or hard to apply to life today. Can you relate? Here are some tips on how to read the Bible.....and interpret what you read.
Discussion Questions July 26, 2020
1) What role has studying the Bible (individually or with others) played in your relationship with God? Has it been a significant part of your spiritual journey? Why or why not?
2) After trying out one of the methods of Bible study listed below, reflect on that experience. Was this method helpful? Could you see yourself using it again? Do you think this would be a beneficial way to study the Bible with others?
3) Prayerfully consider how God might be inviting you to make Bible reading/study a more regular practice in your life. If that were to happen, what do you anticipate you might gain from it?
Studying the Bible for Spiritual Formation
Allowing the Holy Spirit to TEACH, SHAPE, and GUIDE our lives through the study of Scripture
For a narrative text (a passage that tells a story):
- Tell what happened: Summarize the passage in your own words.
- Empathize with the characters: Put yourself in the shoes of each character in the story. What are you thinking and/or feeling?
- Acknowledge what you know and don’t know: What things do you know for sure? What questions do you have?
- Central Point(s): What main point(s) do you think we can take away from the passage?
- How it relates: How does this passage relate to your life, or our
shared life together, in light of what you/we are currently experiencing?
For an instructional text (a passage that is part of a letter or sermon):
- Summary: Explain the passage in your own words.
- How it fits: How does this passage fit within the context of what was happening and/or what was being addressed by the author? How does it fit within the rest of the letter or sermon?
- Acknowledge what you know and don’t know: What things do you know for sure? What questions do you have?
- Point(s): What is the central point(s) being made?
- Examine & Enlighten: As you consider the things that are happening in your own life (or in our world), how does this passage speak to
your situation and/or feelings? What is God revealing to you through it?
For a poetic text (ex. a psalm):
- Genre: What genre is the poem (hymn of praise, lament, prophesy, etc.)?
- Underlying Circumstances: What situation prompted the writing of the poem?
- Images & themes: What prominent images & themes are present? - Direction: What is the movement of the poem? Are there any
repeated elements or patterns?
- Examine & Enlighten: As you consider the things that are happening in your own life (or in our world), how does this passage speak to
your situation and/or feelings? What is God revealing to you through it?
Do you want to be changed? To grow in grace? Do you want to be more loving towards others? These are the side effects of generosity. Giving, not because you have to, or because you should, but giving under love's compulsion - giving in God's way.
Discussion Questions July 19, 2020
2nd Corinthians 9:1-15 (6-9, 15)
1. Let’s begin by trying to recall something truly generous that another human being has given to us. What feelings come to you from that memory?
2. Do you find it easier to accept someone’s generosity toward you, or to do something generous on behalf of someone else? Why?
3. When it comes to God’s generosity toward us through Jesus, we talk about accepting the gift of Salvation, the gift of Forgiveness for our sins through Jesus. If it’s hard for us to accept generosity, what has to happen in our hearts so that we actually accept God’s gift of love, forgiveness, salvation?
4. If you read the whole of 2nd Corinthian 9, you’ll see how the emergency need for the people of Jerusalem becomes an opportunity to do something generous out of faith in Jesus Christ. Don’t we often have similar opportunities when there’s an earthquake or flood or other disaster even in far away places? Let’s do a heart-check about those kinds of opportunities. Do you feel compassion and a desire to be generous? Why or why not?
5. For many of us, it’s in the counting of our blessings that moves our hearts to be generous in our own giving. How open are you to taking a step along the way of living the means of God’s grace which is generosity? Is there even a small step that God is helping you take at this time?
6. Finally, let’s reflect on what Paul wrote in verse 15: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” To help us grow in generosity, let’s name before God and one other person, three blessings for which we are thankful today.
By now, we can all probably relate to the phrase "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone". But what about "you don't know what's got you 'til it's gone"? That one can be harder to admit to. What can we do to help re-center our lives and get back to the heart of what God desires for us?
Discussion Questions July 12, 2020
Read Matthew 6:16-21
1) What has been your experience with the practice of fasting? Have you ever considered fasting as a regular spiritual discipline? Why or why not?
2) If someone followed you around, saw how you spent your time, and knew your thoughts, what would they say you treasured?
3) Jesus wants our hearts to be free to love him and to love other people. Sometimes are hearts are not free to do that because we are holding onto so many other things—and those things are holding onto us. What might you need to let go of for a time in order to move toward greater freedom in Christ?
4) Fasting is both a letting go and a taking up. It is saying “no” to one thing in order to say “yes” to another. Often in the Bible fasting is linked with prayer. When we give something up it creates space and time for us to intentionally be with God. Why do you think it is important to emphasize both the “no” and the “yes” when it comes to fasting?
Putting it into practice...
Consider your answer to question #2 and pray that God would show you what to fast from this week. Choose a day and time period that is doable for you. Remember the intent is not to be a super- hero disciple, but simply to grow in relationship with God. Often spiritual growth comes through a series of small steps.
If you are thinking about fasting from food maybe just do one meal sometime this week. Take the time you would have given to meal prep, eating, and cleaning up afterward and instead spend it in prayer or Bible reading or taking a quiet walk in God’s creation. If you find it to be fruitful, you could consider doing two meals the next week. If, for example, you are fasting from spending money on Amazon, you might need to have a longer time frame than a few hours! Try something that makes sense for you and take time to reflect on, and thank God for, the experience afterward.
Discussion Questions July 5, 2020
1st Corinthians 11:17-27
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In today’s sermon, there are two Sacred meals mentioned: A Love Feast and our Lord’s
Supper (or Holy Communion). And the apostle Paul is writing a note of correction and
guidance about how to be a faithful church when it comes to these meals. When did you
experience the sacrament of Holy Communion in the most meaningful way for you? What
made it so meaningful? -
In the United Methodist tradition, an Open Table of Communion is proclaimed. Everyone
who gathers for worship is welcome at our Lord’s table. What do you find reassuring about
that tradition? What might sometimes also make it hard? -
Bible scholars tell us that the letters of Paul to his church at Corinth were written even
before the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were written down. So when Paul
describes the practice of the Communion meal, it is our oldest source of information about
this Christian tradition that Jesus began and which we still continue. How does the means of Grace which is Holy Communion help you and strengthen your faith? -
The guidance Paul offers to the church is how to value and regard people of different
means (wealth). He instructs that no one should be sent away hungry from a Love Feast.
How do you see our church trying to care for the hungry and live out the acceptance of others that Paul describes? How can we do more to live this out? -
Have you ever heard the saying: “Confession is good for the soul”? That’s an old Scottish proverb although it sounds like it comes from the Bible because of the many places in scripture that describe the spiritual practice of confessing our sins. How does it help you to spend some time in spiritual soul searching and confession and repentance? And are you also willing to hear for yourself as well as for others, the reassurance of the Good News that through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven?
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What questions come to you about Communion and about the United Methodist practice of this sacrament?
Discussion Questions June 28, 2020
Matthew 28:16-20
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The Sacrament of Baptism is also known as a Means of God’s Grace. What do you
remember about your own Baptism, or, if you were Baptized as an infant, what did your
parents or relatives share with you about that special day? -
In the United Methodist tradition, baptism is entirely about God’s grace and unconditional love poured out for everyone whether we even realize it or not. To celebrate Baptism for an infant, how are we trusting God and how are we praying for an infant when it comes to the child’s own faith formation and personal decisions of faith?
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I love celebrating Baptisms for adults or children and infants too. It’s my favorite part of
being a pastor (or one of my favorite parts). And I always try to remind the church that after
the Baptism is celebrated, it’s up to us to show and demonstrate God’s love to the child in all the years ahead. In many ways, it’s what we as a church do that helps a child come to trust that God’s love through Jesus Christ is real. What are some of the ways others have lived which has helped you along your faith journey? -
When Jesus met with his disciples just before the ascension into heaven, he stated that
“all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”. How might that authority be the “why” when it comes to continuing his ministry even though Jesus was going away? -
When it comes to “making disciples” and the ministry of Baptism, how do you as an
individual and as part of a church, figure into the fulfillment of Jesus’ commissioning words? -
What questions come to you about Baptism and about the United Methodist practice of
this sacrament?
Discussion Questions June 21, 2020
Read Colossians 3:12-17
1) From last week to this week, we shifted from being (silence/stillness) to doing (acts of service). How would you describe the relationship between being and doing in our life
with Christ? Why are both important?
2) What does the interplay between being and doing look like for you? As you consider that, is there anything that you sense God’s Spirit leading you to let go of or to take up?
3) In verses 12-14, Paul lists several characteristics that we are to “clothe ourselves with”—compassion, humility, meekness, patience, gratitude, and love. Which of those are
most well formed in you? Which ones are most in need of further growth? Take a moment to share these with God in prayer—thanking God for the growth that has been nurtured in you and asking for God’s help in fostering further growth in Christ.
4) How have you experienced acts of service during this pandemic? Take a moment to thank God both for the opportunities to serve others and for the ways others have served you.
Putting it into practice…
What is one intentional way that you can serve someone else this week? Someone in your household? A neighbor? A friend? A stranger? Choose one act of service and do it this week. Also, pay attention for opportunities to serve others that pop up throughout the week. Our service of others can be planned out in advance, and it might also be an unexpected response to the Spirit’s leading in a given moment.
The Bible is no stranger to tension, protesting, frustration, fear, and anxiety. In the midst of all of the noise, God is still speaking. Sometimes it's through loud and extravagant ways, but other times, it's in a still small whisper. How are you making room to hear God speak through the noise?
Discussion Questions June 7, 2020
Luke 22:7-20
1. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is known as a Means of God’s Grace. How has the experience of this sacrament helped your faith?
2. Known both for its immense mystery and also the simple nature of the meal, Communion can at the same time be both spiritual and also physical. Why might that kind of irony help us remain more fully connected to Jesus in our every day lives?
3. There is a difference between remembering something from the past and also being re-membered as a part of a relationship. How do you understand those elements when it comes to the practice of Communion?
4. Our Sermon Series for the next several weeks is “Surprised By Grace” and we’ll be focusing on various Means of God’s Grace. How have you been surprised by God’s Grace in recent days and weeks?
5. Are there ways God is calling you to be part of the ways God desires to be with others in the coming days? How might God need even us to continue to surprise others with gifts of God’s Grace?
Discussion Questions May 30, 2020
Read John 16: 7, Acts 2:1-4, 1 Corinthians 12:1-23
1) In John 16:7, Jesus says it is for the benefit of the disciples that he leaves. How could Jesus leaving be of benefit to them? What does this show us about the power of the Spirit in our lives?
2) The second half of Acts 2 describes what the early church looked like as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit. What do you observe from this passage? How does it compare to what you read in 1 Corinthians 12?
3) The early church found its definition in the sacrifice and victory of Jesus. How can we continue to find our definition in the same place in our current circumstances as a church? As individuals?
4) What is the relationship between knowing Jesus and looking like Jesus? How can we grow in our relationship with Jesus this week? How might that change the way we love our neighbors?
5) Paul pushes for believers to be about the business of the “greater good” of the body of believers. How do we go about determining the greatest good? What are some things that distract us from that good or prevent us from pursuing it?
Putting it into practice:
How can you preach the resurrection and your trust in Jesus in your actions this week?
Keep in mind that we do so not as a means of earning a place in God’s future—that is purely grace and purely gift!—but as a means of living now inspired by it. Your answer to this question may not involve doing something else or more, it may simply mean seeing the things you are already doing in a new way!
Discussion Questions May 17, 2020
1st Corinthians 13:1-13
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am
nothing. 3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. 9 For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; 10 but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
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The irony of finding this amazing chapter about love in a letter to the Corinth community is that there was such disagreement and disputes between the people of that new Christian church. The whole community of Corinth was known for its diversity and for a variety of cultures. How is that similar to communities in our world today? What challenges does that bring?
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In the sermon, I described how this chapter expresses God’s vision for what love is. In
what ways does this chapter describe things that contrast from a more popular or cultural
understanding of what love is? -
Jesus once talked about LOVE when he was asked about the greatest commandment.
His answer is often summed up: “Love God, Love one’s neighbor, Love oneself.” Do you
think those commandments are deceptively simple? What makes them anything but simple in practice? -
What about when it comes to someone with whom we greatly disagree? What if your
politics or world-view, or Bible view is vastly different from others? Does the description of
what it means to love someone change when there’s significant differences? When it comes to relationships and people with whom there are big differences, what’s the faithful response as a disciple of Jesus Christ? -
Since we’re living through a time of great disagreement about how to deal with the global pandemic (especially in terms of when or how to re-start public gatherings and our economy) what are some practical decisions we might make or approaches we might seek to live, that will help us adhere to what Paul refers to as “a still more excellent way.” (1st Corinthians 12:31) which he then shows in chapter 13 with his description of Love?
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Discussion Questions May 10, 2020
Read Acts 18:1-11 & 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
1) Can you think of a time in your own life when your efforts
produced “mixed results”? What emotions accompanied that
experience for you?
2) In Corinth, Paul was “opposed and reviled” by some, but there
were others who became believers, dear friends, and co-partners
with Paul in mission. How do you imagine this experience felt for
Paul?
3) How was the response to Paul’s message similar to what Jesus
experienced during his time of ministry? What can we glean from
both Paul & Jesus related to our own ministry efforts among our
neighbors and in our community?
4) Paul received multiple sources of encouragement during his time
in Corinth: the hospitality of Aquila & Priscilla, the arrival of Silas
& Timothy, and a vision from the Lord. What sources of
encouragement have you received in these past several weeks?
Pause to thank God for them!
5) In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul addressed divisions within
the church. Throughout this pandemic, where have you seen or
experienced prior divisions being overcome? Where have you
seen or experienced new divisions forming?
6) Paul’s appeal for the Corinthian believers to be “united in mind
and purpose” is rooted in the “power of the cross”—through
which boundaries and divisions are overcome. How can we, as the
church, be “united in mind and purpose” even when there are
disagreements among us?
Putting it into practice:
Paul offered encouragement, guidance, and blessing through writing
letters. Even when he wasn't able to be with people, he found
meaningful ways to stay connected. How could you offer
encouragement, guidance (where asked for), and blessing to others
during this time? What will you commit to do this week?
Discussion Questions May 3, 2020
Acts 17:1-5
17 After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.” 4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplaces they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason’s house.
1st Thessalonians 1:1-3
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace. 2 We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. The reading from Acts 17:1-5 describes the earliest days of Paul’s missionary work in Thessalonica. How did he experience success through his efforts? How did he experience hardship?
2. The ones mentioned as his adversaries are referred to as “the Jews”. Did all the Jews he met at Thessalonica become his adversaries? Were any of those who became part of the new Christian community established also parts of the Jewish community?
3. If all you had to go on was the Acts 17 description of Paul’s earliest experiences there, what would be your assessment of Paul’s initial ministry among the Thessalonians?
4. The reading from 1st Thessalonians 1:1-3 includes the first few verses of Paul’s letter. Some time has passed since his missionary work among the people of that community. What’s surprising about the thankfulness in Paul’s letter even after “the uproar in Thessalonica” described in Acts?
5. Let’s take careful note of what Paul is so thankful about... and what he is not thankful for. He never mentions being thankful for the uproar. But he is thankful for what he remembers from the people of that community and he describes as “works of faith” and “labors of love” and “steadfastness of hope”. How is it possible to be thankful for the biggest things, even when also living with or through hardships in life?
6. When it comes to the power of Christ’s resurrection, lives and communities get re-defined. The mission statement of LUMC connects to this power of God through Jesus Christ (“Inviting people to relationship with Jesus and each other so lives and communities are changed.”). Can you identify a way that your life or community has been re-defined lately and that you are less than fully thankful for? How about something you are also experiencing from God about which you, like Paul, are thankful for?
Join us for worship as we ask the questions "what if...".
Discussion Questions April 26, 2020
John 20:24-29
1. In today’s sermon, we were invited to ask some “what if” questions about Judas. What if Judas would have waited longer before ending his life? Long enough that he encountered Jesus risen from the grave? What do you think it would have been like for Judas and Jesus to have met each other at some point on that first Easter Sunday?
2. In the reading from the gospel of John, we hear the story of Thomas and Jesus’ other disciples which took place a week after Easter Sunday. What is your understanding of Jesus’ words of greeting when he miraculously appeared: “Peace be with you”?
3. When Jesus responded to Thomas’ declaration of faith, he said in vs. 29” “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” What’s been helping us lately to believe even though we are not always seeing? And what are we truly seeing lately, that is also helping us to believe?
4. The mission of Lithopolis UMC is all about inviting ourselves and others to relationship with Jesus and each other. What if we focused on living out that mission even now? What if either on Facebook or in other ways, we offered to share our online worship videos? What if we started making plans now for when small groups of people can once again safely gather together (like hosting a “watch & worship party” or home-study group)?
5. Here’s a more personal question that we may be okay sharing with others, or possibly we might choose to consider this more in our own hearts and thoughts. Can you identify some memories from over the years that might cause you to ask yourself, “What if…?” So, what if we left our regrets in God’s hands and looked with hope toward what God will do? How would that make a difference in our lives?
Our story doesn't end with Easter...or the coronavirus. Before we go decide to go back to "normal" or Palm Sunday people, let's see what God is wanting to change in and around us right now.
Discussion Questions - April 19, 2020
Read Acts 1:1-8
1) Can you think of a time in your own life when you found yourself asking the question: Now what? Share about that experience. What ended up happening next? How was that experience formative for you?
2) What do you think prompted the disciples to ask the question: “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” In what ways might we be asking similar questions today?
3) What is your initial reaction to Jesus’ response? How do you think the disciples felt about Jesus’ response to them?
4) In his message, Alex talked about death and resurrection as not only a history-changing event, but as “the divine pattern for transformation.” How have you seen that pattern at work in your own life and in your own heart?
5) Where have you already seen that pattern at work in our current crisis? Where do you see potential for that “divine pattern for transformation” to be present in the days ahead?
6) Do you agree that “this is our chance to define a new version of normal”? Why or why not? How do you feel about that “opportunity”? What do you envision that “new version of normal” will look like for you? What things in your life might best remain “torn down”—or on pause—when we come to the other side of this crisis?
Join us for Easter Sunday. Let's celebrate the risen Lord together!
The Seven Next Words of Jesus after he rose from the tomb:
- “Who are you looking for?” (John 20:15)
If you take seriously that Jesus has conquered death for all who follow him, how might that make a difference in who or what you are looking for in life?
- “Greetings… Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 28:9-10)
How is Jesus’ word of reassurance helping us where we might be afraid today?
- “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” (Luke 24:17)
Is there sadness you too could describe to Jesus as he invites you to share your heart… as he invites us to know that he listens?
- “Peace be with you” (Luke 24:36; John 20:19)
Jesus talked about peace a lot. Peace on earth as in “the things that make for peace”… Peace of heart and mind as in “Peace be with you”… After seeing Jesus die on the cross, perhaps as much as anything, what was not filling the hearts and minds of the disciples was in fact, PEACE.
Remember John 14:27… not long before Jesus’ arrest…
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
The message that Jesus is risen from the grave is meant to change everything. And if we embrace that good news, it truly does.
Where are you in need of the peace of God through Jesus Christ?
- “Go into the world” “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:45-49; John 20:21)
“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” attributed to St. Francis of Assisi.
How might God be calling you right now to go into the world at your place of work or your neighborhood… to be sent by Jesus to share the good news by word and action?
- “Have you caught any fish? (John 21:5) ...No? Then cast your nets on the other side of your boat.
Where are our lives RIGHT NOW teaching us or showing us that there are things which haven’t been working for a long time and that we can do something different?
- “Wait for the gift” (Acts 1:4)
This word refers to the gift of God’s presence through the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide and teach and empower us. Jesus’ seventh word after he arose tells us to: “Wait for what God will do… wait for the gift that is to come.”
What are you waiting for God to do in you? Are you open to living a life more focused on God as you wait for God’s gift?
Join us for worship!
Discussion Questions:
Read Mark 11:1-11
1) How would you describe what you are hoping (and praying) for right now? Does that hope feel more rooted in your own will or in God’s will? How do you discern the difference between the two?
2) Palm Sunday is typically a celebratory day. We sing “hosanna” and our kids parade through the sanctuary with palm branches, even though Good Friday is right around the corner. What does it look like (and feel like) for you to celebrate the kingship of Jesus right now, even in the midst of the collective uncertainty, hardship, and sorrow we are all living with?
3) What one thing can you do this week to intentionally remind
yourself of the truth that God is in charge?
(Having difficultly thinking of something? Here are a few suggestions.)
Bible Readings for Holy Week:
Monday – Mark 11:12-33
Tuesday – Mark 12:1-44
Wednesday – Mark 13:1-37
Thursday – Mark 14:1-31
Friday – Mark 14:32-15:41
Saturday – Mark 15:42-47
Sunday – Mark 16:1-20
Some possible ways to connect with God & be reminded of God’s faithfulness...
- read Scripture daily (you could start with our Holy Week readings!)
- watch the sunrise or sunset (and be thankful for the gift of a new day or the day that is drawing to a close)
- post a Bible verse on your bathroom vanity or in another prominent location in your house (maybe even try to memorize it by the end of the week!)
- take a break from the news to listen to worship music or your favorite hymns
- call a friend to encourage them (and be encouraged by them!)
- write out your prayers in a journal
- go for a walk in the woods (and pay attention to the new growth that is popping up!)
- pray with a liturgy
Here are a couple online options:
commonprayer.net sacredspace.ie
- read a daily devotional
There are several that are free and available online. Here are just a few:
Our Daily Bread – odb.org
The Upper Room – upperroom.org
God is with Us (from our district superintendent, Tim Bias) –
transformingmission.org/god-is-with-us
Daily Hope with Rick Warren - pastorrick.com/devotional
Daily Meditations from Henri Nouwen –henrinouwen.org/resources/daily-
meditation
Discussion and Reflection Questions – March 29, 2020
How are you... really? What one word would you use to describe how you have been doing over this past week?
What might be one thing that would help you today, or tomorrow? Something specific.
Our Bible reading today seemed to start out with a casual observation about the Temple of Jerusalem and the huge stones used to construct the ancient buildings. But Jesus pointed out how temporary are even the most impressive human achievements. What has the Coronavirus experience begun to teach us about temporary things on which we might often depend? Are there more valuable parts of life that you are appreciating more under these circumstances? What are they?
Today’s sermon brought up something that often makes us uncomfortable: not knowing. Can you think of some questions you have, that for now are unable to be answered? What makes that hard? And how can our faith in God through Jesus Christ help with our limited knowledge and understandings?
The Bible makes it clear that no one can know the when, and people often get confused (or do not agree) about the what when it comes to the 2nd coming of Jesus and the end of the age. So we rightly turn to a focus on how to live in the meantime. Can you identify 1, 2 or 3 things you might list that you will choose to do as a way to live out your faith even in a season like this with so many questions?
Today’s sermon shared several things that are happening through the church and there are many, many creative things people are doing to help the community in our homes, extended families and neighborhoods. Please feel free to share an email or phone call to the church to tell about how you are living in the meantime as a person of faith (office@lithopolisumc.org; 614-837-2230).
Our world is filled with uncertainty these days. The Israelites faced also had their fair share of uncertain times and challenging situations. Instead of capitalizing on their fear, the prophet Jeremiah spoke words of truth and comfort to them. He wanted to fill their hearts and minds with God's truth - "do not fear", "I am with you", "I will hear you". Join us as Pastor Alex walks us through Jeremiah 29 and the hope God give us.
Our series during this season of Lent brings an invitation that we: “Love God, Love People, and Live Like Jesus”. That may sound deceptively simple. If you’ve ever tried to love someone, let alone love God, you’ve probably discovered that there are several things always involved. Decisions about our highest priorities. A willingness to look at a matter from someone else’s point of view. In short, what’s always involved is what Jesus both taught and showed: that living his way means putting ourselves last and seeking to serve others rather than seeking to be served. The six weeks of Lent are meant to help us take stock of our lives and open our hearts to God in ways that lead to spiritual growth and even to changed lives. Here’s something I try to remember that always helps with such a thing: It is always much less about what I can do for myself (even with great determination) and always so much more about what only God can do to transform and renew my nature from the inside to the outside. Growing spiritually taps into God’s grace in just that way.
It can sound deceptively simple. Jesus’ teaching on which commandment is the greatest is often summed up like this: Love God, Love others as we love ourselves. And our sermon series sums it up in a similar way: “Love God, Love People, Live Like Jesus”. Simple. To the point. Uncomplicated. Until we actually commit to living it. I’ve been asking people over the past couple of weeks about what makes this “greatest commandment” hard, and the answers have been intriguing. Some talk about how sometimes it’s hard to know how to love someone else. Others talk about how hard it is to love someone they disagree with. Our personal hurts and our personal struggles sometimes make it feel impossible to find the room to love ourselves let alone anyone else. What about you? Do you sometimes find it challenging to love God, love people, and live like Jesus? Our Sundays during Lent are meant to help us with that. We set aside these six weeks as a season of intentional spiritual growth where we find ways to pay extra attention to God.
"Lent". It begins on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 26th) and includes the coming six Sundays. Alex and I have been praying about and discussing what might most help us grow spiritually and be renewed as we share this season which traditionally is all about spiritual preparation for the great celebration of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We felt drawn to come back to the basics of what Jesus stressed by way of his teachings and his example. Sometimes we call it the "Great Commandment": Love for God, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. So the sermon series that begins this Sunday is "Love God, Love People, Live Like Jesus". Here's the thing- it sounds so simple. What could be more clear? But in the day to day living and loving, somehow it's not always so easy. Even in our homes and between our very best friends, it's not always easy to live the love we intend. Once I heard it said that Jesus' teachings were clear, to-the-point, and so doable: Just love God and others. That's what all four of the gospels show us over and over again. But after those first four books of the New Testament come all the letters to the various churches that reveal how challenging it proved to be when it comes to doing what Jesus commands us to do. Fast forward to our modern setting and we might notice the very same dynamics. No wonder the tradition of Lent came along- a season dedicated to spiritual renewal, repentance, and forgiveness. I don't know about everybody else, but I know how much I need a season like that in my life! I hope you choose to "keep Lent".
Transfiguration. For the past three weeks, we've been talking about connecting our purposes with our passion for life and what could be more transformational? This Sunday, that is what we find as Jesus and his closest friends experience the spiritual mountain top of transfiguration. It's an awesome thing. A mysterious thing. Once I remember the suggestion that if the eyes of Jesus' disciples were always fully open to who Jesus is, they would have noticed that gleaming light, the transfigured presence that was there all the time. But for them and for us, sometimes our eyes open in the ways most needed at a special moment. A mountaintop moment. Here's the thing. Something as mysterious as a mountain top moment, is also often what leads to a new clarity and understanding that can make a difference in all the experiences and moments that follow. I like to think about our worship times on Sundays as those kinds of moments. And I pray that God will use our hearts of worship turned toward God, as a way to also reach toward us and transform our lives to what glorifies God. We're about to enter that spiritual-growth season of Lent (the first Sunday of Lent is March 1st). Ready to be transformed?
What if our personal connection to Jesus Christ changed everything? What are the areas of our lives where we'd like for that to happen? Would we include our daily work or tasks, the things that take up so much of our time, energy and focus? Where would our relationships fit in, the areas of our lives that show up as love for others through service and generosity? Are there ways we would feel led by Jesus to even sacrifice something, to give or do even more so that others may also come to know about God's love just as we are being transformed as we grow spiritually and know God more? Our sermon series "On Purpose: Finding our Passion for Life" continues this Sunday as we listen in on a conversation between Jesus and some of the religious experts of his day. Here's a hint: they did not agree on how best to follow God and God's ways (Laws). If you sometimes feel like that, we might be reassured that some of our dilemmas are nothing new.
What if our passion for life and our main purpose truly connected? With a deeper connection like that, how would it feel to be so fully alive? And what about when we sense a Calling or leading from our Lord that might plant us on new ground? As our Sermon Series continues this Sunday, things go even deeper for Jesus' followers. Sometimes following Jesus will mean doing something completely new. Sometimes following Jesus will mean living the same life, but in a completely new way.
What if we could re-find our passion for life? Or, what if we discovered in a new way what it means to truly live on purpose? I don't know about everybody else, but that sounds good to me. Join us this Sunday as we go deeper into the gospel of Mark and get to know Jesus more. I'm thinking of the words from the old hymn ("Rescue the Perishing"), "...feelings lie buried that grace can restore." Let's carve out the time and space we need to truly live on purpose.
Our message for this Sunday is "Unbound" and we'll hear about a man in one of the most desperate situations we can possibly imagine. Trapped in a self-destructive and other-destructive cycle, he was completely out of control. He was "bound" by his own inner and outer struggles, but he was powerless to control the very things that had taken over his life. The reality is that thousands of us know exactly what that's like. It can seem so hopeless. And yet, with the miracle of God's power and presence which we know through Jesus, people are set free from what binds them. It happens every day.
I don’t know about everyone else, but beginning out the new year with a series on Wellness has felt like a season of renewal for my life. I’ve been thinking about how good that feels at the start of a new year. Sometimes we start over and do the same things (good and bad) bringing little transformation to our lives. But with God’s help, we can begin again... in new ways. And life itself takes on new meaning and purpose. Renewal. Our series moves to the theme of Physical Wellness this Sunday. You won’t want to miss it as there are several opportunities to connect with it that can help us to a new life of Wellness. In fact, we’re going to be announcing something new that is available to people of LUMC and we hope that many of us will take advantage of this new opportunity. God is always doing new things. The gift of Creation is not in the past, it’s still happening. In the 2nd letter of Corinthians (5:17) we read this: So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
What is a life of wellness to you? What is it like to feel that "it is well with your soul", just as it is put in that place in the 3rd Letter of John? Over these first three Sundays of 2020, we are focusing on some of the most important areas of life. Aspects of life that we all experience. Spiritual, Financial, and Physical wellness. This Sunday, we turn to Financial Wellness and it may not be what you'd expect. The economy of God's grace is a "kingdom economy". And how we engage in life is impacted in every way by how we receive Jesus' teachings and apply them to our every days.
As we look to 2020, what are you hoping for? Asking that might be a good way to begin the year and our Wellness Series is meant to help. For the coming three Sundays, Alex and I will be talking about Wellness in three ways. I'll begin this Sunday with Spiritual Wellness and then Financial Wellness on the 12th. On the 19th, Alex will bring a message about Physical Wellness. For each of these Sundays, we'll have opportunities to respond by taking a step along life's journey in 2020. Spiritual growth can happen for all of us as we discover in a personal way that even as we are seeking God, God also is seeking us! That's the good news of our Christian faith and it makes a difference in all our lives. It is God's delight to be with us in all the ups and downs of our every days. Plan on being here on this 3 Sunday series as the new year begins. Let it be a year of hope!
I don't know about everybody else, but sometimes when Christmas finally arrives it feels to me like the whole year has reached it's peak. Christmas is all about God's gift of Jesus providing for us the "sign" of Emmanuel, which means "God is with us". What a wonderful thought! Our sermon series during the weeks leading to Christmas has been, "The Wait" and God-with-us is what so many of us have been waiting for. It's what I am waiting for when experiencing the ups and downs of life. It's what the people I spend time with are waiting for as they experience medical struggles or other life-experiences that create in us a God-sized empty place that can only be healed with God's own gift of God-with-us. The assurance of our faith is that even when we feel alone, we are never alone. Even when we experience death or loss, death is not the end. Even when we are searching, we are also being searched after by our God who comes to earth as one of us, so that no matter how we are waiting, we are never waiting alone. Christ is born. God is with us. And may our Savior be born in our hearts over and over again.
The waiting is almost over. Mary and Joseph are arriving in Bethlehem. The Shepherds are out in the fields with their flocks though with no expectation that they'll be part of the greatest birth story ever told. The angles of heaven may be quivering with excitement as they await their assignment to spread the word and announce the holy birth. A new star is about to be born in the cosmos. The waiting is almost over. Everything will soon be different! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is coming to earth in a powerful, new way. That's Advent... it's what we're waiting for! How are things going when it comes to what you are waiting for in your life today? May the gift of God-with-us help us no matter how we're waiting.
"Are we there yet?" is a question parents (and grandparents, among others) may find exhausting if our little ones keep asking during a long car ride. Well, we're not "there" yet when it comes to our Advent journey. But we're nearly there. Our waiting season connects to a cosmic wait this Sunday as we remember the promise of Jesus' 2nd coming. This too is an Advent matter and one that looks to the future rather than only to the birth of our Savior those centuries in the past. The call is to prepare and get ready. The mark of faithfulness is to live a life that is always ready for the coming of the Lord. We may all have questions about the end times and our Lord's return. There can be lots of things we do not understand. And there is also much we understand full well.
We’ve begun an amazing journey. Last Sunday, our children helped us pay attention to some of the things that are part of many journeys. “Waiting” is one of those dynamics. And we’ve already discovered that most of us would (given the choice) rather not wait. But sometimes in life, we just have to. What kinds of things have you experienced that made you wait? That is an Advent question. Advent season happens over the four weeks leading to Christmas Eve and the word “advent” means “coming”. We keep focused on what it means to wait and prepare for the coming of God into the world through the birth of Jesus. What helps you when you have to wait?
The weeks leading to Christmas might sometimes seem like a long wait. For some of us, it's been a long wait already as we've counted the months leading to cherished church and family traditions. A season that just naturally includes some of our best memories along with very possibly the inclination to try and re-create them. Our sermon series over the coming weeks will invite us to reconnect to the many ways the story of Jesus' birth includes the dynamic of waiting. Mary and Joseph waited through a long and difficult journey to Bethlehem. The shepherds may have waited their whole lives to encounter God as they did on the night of the Savior's birth. The magi from the East experienced their own wait. Possibly we might most of all identify with the world-wide waiting for God to come with the gift of salvation. That's a lot of waiting.
I wonder if people in those ancient days, and in our own days, would have ever expected that God coming to save us would mean God coming as one-of-us! Do we ever truly understand what we are most of all waiting for? I hope we all join together on the Sundays of worship throughout December as we wait for what only God can do.
We've been counting blessings lately. And this coming Sunday is the week before our national day of Thanksgiving. For once, the world around us and the life of faith are in much agreement! Have you been counting the blessings of your life, and if so, have you been surprised by how high your count is? I have. And I've found that just the practice of being thankful touches something in my heart and is making a difference in my life. What if that is truly how God is changing the world... through our hearts, through our lives, through our thankfulness.
As it's put in the famous worship song from the ancient world "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." That's from Psalm 100. I'm hoping for everyone to enter God's gates (at 80 N. Market St., Lithopolis, Ohio) and to celebrate and reconnect to what it means that God is faithful to this and to all generations! How can we resist giving thanks?
I don't know about you, but I often need to be reminded of something that can be absolutely counter-intuitive. I'm talking about counting blessings. Sometimes, at the end of the day, I try to look back and find things for which to thank God. Things that took place. Something I saw or heard from someone else. Anything. My experience with this is often very similar to most of the times I try and do it. As I look back on the day, usually my first thoughts are of my struggles. The things I'm not really thankful for at all. The frustrations of the day, or any sense of failure on my part when it comes to achieving something. Those are usually the first things that come to mind as I look back at the day. Then, when I intentionally look for something for which to thank God, I'm often surprised. Surprised because those things are there. Sometimes the blessing-to-count list begins with something like, "well I'm thankful that I only said that one thing that came out so wrong, when I could have said lots of things I regret". And then, somehow, the flood gates open, and more and more things to truly thank God about seem to invade my thoughts and feelings, my mind and heart. And the stresses seem to decrease. And a sense of peace seems to return. No wonder the apostle Paul spent so much time thanking God for all sorts of things and people he's known and loved. And that's when he describes things like a "peace which passes understanding". Oftentimes, he described that kind of experience while writing from prison. I'm not making that up. Our "#blessings" series continues this Sunday and I'm going to share about some of the things I'm most thankful for as I look over some years of ministry and sharing life with people of various churches. We'll re-connect to the apostle Paul's 2nd letter to his church in Corinth. This is a season for giving thanks and yet we live in a world where counting blessings is often far from the norm. Let's open our hearts in worship of God and count blessings and share a blessing with others.
Is it a good thing to count blessings and be thankful? We believe it is and the Bible says so too. It may not always be easy to stop and count blessings, but it will always be helpful. As a national Thanksgiving observance will soon be upon us, our sermon series beginning this Sunday is #blessed. Even in the midst of hardship, there are still blessings to count. And in large and small ways both, God is changing the world through how we “say” and “do” thank you. I want to be part of that! And I hope you do too.
What if I told you there's a little known secret to generosity that can make a spiritual, emotional, psychological and relational difference in our lives? How about if it also made a community and world difference? What if the difference it makes even tapped into the creative power of God? And here's one more, what if the difference being made turns our feelings about having hardly enough of what's needed, into a life that is filled to overflowing? One of the most important stories ever told about Jesus describes the miracle of when thousands of people were fed with nothing more than what people already had... actually the people were over-fed.
When we asked the church about how they’d complete the sentence: “I used to think I’d be happy if I only had ___” we had no idea about the answers that would come back. But we felt certain that a focus on what we “had to have” to be truly happy would bring up priorities and learnings about life and faith and the things in our hearts that matter most of all. And we were not disappointed! I personally wondered if many people from the church would even respond to our “crowd sourcing” question. But you did and your own considerations and self awareness has been an inspiration as Alex and I have been praying about our sermon series “If I Only Had...”. Even eternal life comes up as a would-be follower of Jesus asks about what was required for that! Talk about the things in our hearts (and lives) that matter most of all! Hear some of what Jesus had to say about what truly matters, and what it looks like to live that way (his way).
We'll share the message of God’s economy that changes everything about what anyone must possess to truly be happy. We'll be focusing on Jesus' teachings about the "haves" and the "have nots" and about what to do with what we have, and with the life we have to live. All this to bring everyone the gift of abundant life in Jesus' name.
We’ve been talking about dealing with what it means when life brings us to a breaking point. Last week we were invited to take the first and most important step by relying on God for what only God can do in us and for us and through us. In other words, “God’s part” through the gift of redemption and salvation. Guess what? There is also “our part” and that’s what I’ll be sharing about at church this Sunday. I’ve been searching the scriptures for what we discover about God’s way of helping us when life takes us to the breaking point. I hope you can join us as we worship God and hear from God’s word of life and hope and peace. See you Sunday at one of our services at 9 or 10:30.
Charles Martindell, Pastor
We're facing enormous challenges. Worry keeps us up in the night. Uncertainties on a world-wide scale and also in our own hearts and homes make us wonder how we can possibly cope. Not only that, but the next presidential election is about a year away and our national "community" is anything but. And it seems like everything is changing. Again. How can anybody keep up, let alone thrive during such times? Is it any wonder that people so often feel at the breaking point? For the next two Sundays, our Sermon Series is "Breaking Point" and we'll lean heavily on God's Spirit to help us navigate just such a time as this. Here's a hint: we're not the first ones to feel as though at a breaking point. And we're not the first ones to rely upon God for what only God can do. Join us as we discover the message of faith that upholds us at our breaking point.