December 6 - 2 Corinthians 10-13: Paul Defends His Authority and Ministry

Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 10-13

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Paul boasts of his impressive résumé and calls it the ranting of a raving lunatic.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

We use God's Tools to tear down barriers and building new, healthy habits. I don't change. I am equally as harsh—as you will soon learn.
Let me present my credentials. I am both a sterling example of a Jew and a Christian with battle scars. I was even given a handicap to keep me humble.
Look at me blather on like an idiot!
I fear our frustrations will prevent us from working the next time I visit. Test yourself—make sure Christ is in you.
Continue setting things right. Everyone here greets you.
May Christ's Grace be with you.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Paul must defend his ministry.

Of all the books we have read so far, 2 Corinthians is by far the most personal. Today's reading has little to do with systematic theology—the process of organizing all religious truths—and more to do with Paul trying to mend his relationship with a congregation that is being torn apart by people denying his authority. It is very personal, emotional, and makes Paul look vulnerable. Scripture is not a disorganized jumble of propositional truths. These are letters from writers to people they love dearly. It is a shame that 2 Corinthians is ignored as much as it is.

God gives His Chosen People tools to tear down barriers between Him and everyone else.

God does not want us to become great marketers, convincing people to do things they do not want to do. God does not want us to manipulate others with promises of treats or threats of punishment. God wants us to shine His Light into the Darkness, tearing down walls and mirroring His Love to people blocked by sin. We help people build lives of integrity. We set things right. That is our goal.

Boasting of your background means nothing to people setting things right.

I love how Paul preemptively apologizes for sounding like a crazy person when he boasts about his impressive résumé. We will understand why including these self-deflating barbs was important to Paul as we read more of his letters. In reality, your background and certificates mean little to God. All God cares is if you love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Do not judge a teacher based on the person's curriculum vitae. Investigate their teachings.
For me, Paul reminds me of myself. Although my résumé is nowhere near as impressive as his, I am blessed more than many in this world. Yet when it comes to setting things right, I cannot allow my background to lull me into slumber. I must set things right to be acceptable to God.

We should be willing to have our congregations test to make sure we are still in Christ.

This is a theme Paul will continue in the books ahead. Christianity is not a personal religion only between you and God. We are to submit to each other—and one way to do that is by allowing our brothers and sisters to test to make sure we have tangible evidence that Jesus is in us. By testing each other we are able to keep each other from going off the deep end.

Do you use God's Tools to tear down barriers or make a more comfortable place for you to lounge around in?

November 26 - Acts 17-18:18: The Jews Stalk Paul; Paul Reaches the Athenians where They Are

Today’s Reading: Acts 17-18:18

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The Jews are following Paul and Silas as they go from city to city.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Paul and Silas customarily taught Jews first. In Thessalonica, some believed. Others tried stopping Paul.
Next, they taught in Berea. Gentiles and Jews believed.
Thessalonian Jews followed Paul. He escaped to Athens.
Paul grew angry at Athen's sea of idols. Paul spoke at the Areopagus against idols and about God wanting everyone to set things right because of the eventual Resurrection. Some mocked and some believed.
Aquila and Priscilla were expelled from Rome alongside the Jews.
The Corinthian Jews would not listen. So Paul taught the Gentiles.
God strengthened Paul's resolve.
He was arrested but the charges were dismissed.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Paul first went to the Jews.

God opened His Chosen People for the world to join. However, God made a covenant with Abraham, too. Therefore, when Paul and Silas went from town to town they first stopped in to help God's Original Chosen People understand why Jesus had to die. God will never give up on His Chosen People.

The Jews cared more for their way of life than God.

Notice how their charges against Paul and Silas are not about them being wrong about God but instead go against their culture. God may still want His Chosen People to change, but they were still too headstrong to change. God cannot set things right when His Chosen People want to keep their lifestyles instead of setting things right.

Paul's lesson in Athens was different than Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost and in the Temple.

Paul could go into the Old Testament and show them that Jesus must be crucified as he did with the Jews. He could tell them that their sins put Jesus on the cross, as Peter did. He doesn't do either of those. Instead, he points out that they have idols to a god they don't know and he wants to introduce them to Him. The irony for them is that God doesn't want their carved images because He created the world. Paul begins there because that is their mindset and what is in front of him. God begins where we are to help us connect to His Message. Don't teach the same message to everyone. Not everyone has the same mindset. Start with where they are and they will want to set things right.

The Jews were kicked out of Rome.

This will be important next week when we start Romans.

God would protect Paul.

God protects His Chosen Messengers. God always has and always will.

Do you care to keep your religious way of life or do you want to set things right?

November 14 - Matthew 28; Mark 16: Jesus is Risen from the Dead!

Today’s Reading: Matthew 28; Mark 16

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You've made it through two of the four Gospels and have 25 books to go in the New Testament. Keep going!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The Jews' rebellion did not end God's Plan! He is risen!

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Two women, both named Mary, went to visit Jesus' tomb. Suddenly they felt an earthquake and saw an angel sitting inside the now-empty tomb. "Don't fear, Jesus has risen!" the angel said, "Go and tell the Disciples."
Jesus met them on the road and asked that they tell the Disciples to meet Him in Galilee.
The guards were bribed to lie and say the Apostles stole Jesus' Body.
Jesus came to the Apostles and told them, "I have all authority. Go, make Disciples, baptize them, and teach them what I taught you. I will be with you forever."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Jesus is risen!

It is today's and tomorrow's readings that provide the foundational belief of Christianity: the resurrection of the body and its reconnection to the spirit. Christianity does not hinge on a cross. It hinges on Jesus coming back to life! Jesus' Crucifixion meant we could all have our relationships set right with God. Jesus' Resurrection means we will all one day be alongside Him. Praise God! Death will not have the last say!

The Jews wanted everyone to believe Jesus' Body was stolen.

There are a few alternative theories about the Resurrection. What I want to point out here is that the Jews did not want the guards to say that Jesus stayed alive and walked out of the tomb. They wanted the guards to say His Body was stolen by the Apostles. One major theory over the last few centuries goes against that narrative and is believed even though there is no credible evidence in that direction.

Jesus wanted the Disciples to go, make more disciples, and teach them what Jesus taught—in that order.

Allow me to get a little technical—especially since this is one of my favorite texts in scripture. Notice that baptism wasn't the goal. The goal was to make disciples. The rest, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to do everything Jesus taught the Apostles, happened to disciples. A disciple who is baptized wants to know how to set all things right. A baptized person wants to continue in their religious practice and may care little for setting things right.
One of the major issues churches have today is that they go out and baptize people and then try to make them disciples. That's backwards! It is similar to Israel when they played "religious games" instead of promoting mercy and justice. I fear we do the same when we focus on baptism. Make disciples, not baptized people. Teach baptized disciples to set things right.

He is Risen!

October 4 - Matthew 3; Luke 3; Mark 1 - John and Jesus Teach the Same Message: Change Your Life

Today’s Reading: Matthew 3; Luke 3; Mark 1

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

John the Baptizer's message was simple but difficult for people accustomed to going along with the masses.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

John the Baptizer fulfilled prophecy by teaching his message: repent, the kingdom is near; being Abraham's descendents did not guarantee a good relationship with God; and soon one would clean lives and baptize with the Holy Spirit.
John baptized Jesus over his's initial objections. God showed His Approval.
After 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus' began teaching "repent, the kingdom is here."
Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John.
Jesus taught with confidence, excising demons and healing. Many flocked to be healed.
Early the next morning he left Capernaum. Soon he was unable to move freely because of the crowds.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

John's message was clear: get ready for the Kingdom by changing your life.

John wanted to make sure everyone was ready for God's Presence. His message was clear—change your life. The three examples given in the text are a sample: give to those in need when you have more than you need, work honestly, and do not defraud others. This is how Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled and the Jews readied for Jesus' appearance.

"Chosen" status does not give a person an automatic right relationship with God.

What the Pharisees and Sadducees missed in their rush to join the masses in baptism was John's message—change your life. They thought by being Abraham's descendents ("God's Chosen People") God would bless and accept them regardless of how they acted. John's response was firm—being "Chosen" does not equal "right with God". God wanted them to be more righteous than the surrounding nations, but they preferred their status and forgot their holiness. The reason they were to be better than the nations around them was God's righteousness is better than the world's righteousness. In one conversation John has explained the problem Israel had their entire history.
The obvious parallel to today is humbling. We cannot use our "Chosen"—or to use a common word heard in churches today "Saved"—status to do as we wish. Our "saved" status is meant to push us to tell others about God. We are not holy because we are great. We are holy because God is Great. God does not "need" our obedience because He is too weak to work outside of us. We are His Lighthouses to the world that His Way works!

God's work in setting things right came together in Jesus' baptism.

As a Jew, Jesus was circumcised eight days after he was born. This was the sign a person was part of the Covenant with Abraham. Later, Jesus would change the "initiation" into Abraham's Covenant from circumcision to water baptism. Jesus' baptism bridged the two and merged the two worlds.

Jesus taught with confidence—not needing backup to prove his point. He only needed to prove His Authority.

People were greatly impressed with Jesus' teaching style. He did not need to rely on scholars or theologians to provide a foundation to His words. He spoke from the Word because He was the Word. His Authority, on the other hand, needed to be proven. The works that Jesus did from here on out were meant to show His Teachings were legitimate because He was from the Father.

Jesus came to set things right in the world, not only to heal the sick.

One of the biggest debates Christians have, especially between "conservative" and "liberal" Christians is over whether we should be concerned more over spiritual or physical issues. Should we focus on everyone becoming holy or helping the poor? Jesus provides a concern for both when He healed the sick and taught the powerful not to abuse their power. However, when Jesus was presented the opportunity to continue healing the sick He moved on because His Purpose was to teach people how to set things right, not to perform miracles. The miracles were meant to help legitimize His Authority.

Those healed by Jesus became His greatest evangelists.

When Jesus excised the demons, he told them not to speak to anyone. When Jesus healed the leper he also told him not to speak to anyone. The leper, however, could not keep the news to himself. Eventually Jesus could no longer travel outside without a crowd because they knew what He could do. People healed by God become the greatest bearers of Good News.
In churches today people who have the worst pasts are often the most ashamed to share it. I think the problem is two-fold and on both sides: churches are seen as the "museums of the faithful" and people who have been healed of great sin are afraid/ashamed to share their past. When we consider if our congregations are addressing this problem or not, we need to ask how much time we set for telling our healing story. If we do not have time for it, we are a museum. Churches should encourage people with bad pasts to share how God has removed their guilt and shame. This should be done to individuals and the whole congregation, if possible.

Have you changed your life or joined the crowd to be baptized?