Read Think Pray for 29September - Proper 22C

30 September – 4 October
Read Think Pray

Monday

[I have to apologise for getting my weeks mixed up!  This should be next week's reflections.]

 

Read Psalm 37:1-9

Think

Psalm 37 is full of wisdom.  One thing it challenges me to do is be a little less greedy – and learn to be content.  It makes me think of Paul’s words:

…I have learnt to be content with whatever I have.

- Philippians 4:10

Pray

Be still before the LORD,
and wait patiently for him.

- Psalm 37:3

Tuesday

Read Habakkuk 1:1-3; 2:1-4

Think

In the 7^th Century before Christ the prophet Habakkuk stood up to speak out against the corruption of those who were powerful.  I particularly like 2:3-4.

You might be tempted to be a part of the corruption – a part of the injustice of the world.  But know that ‘your spirit will not be right within you’.  ‘The righteous live by their faith.’

 Pray

Lord, sometimes I want to take things into my own hands in order to get what I want.  Help me to let go of what I want, and trust you for what I need.  So that my Spirit would be right within me.

Amen.

Wednesday

Read 2 Timothy 1:1-14

Think

Paul speaks so fondly of his friend and son in the faith.  What seems to stand out for Paul as he writes is Timothy’s ‘sincere faith’.  One of my dictionaries describes the word as: ‘lacking in pretense or show.’

Paul is fond of Timothy and he seems to be encouraging him to ‘just be himself’.

Pray

Lord, help me to remember who you created me to be.

Thursday

Read Luke 17:5-10

Think

It might sound strange.  But sometimes we admire ourselves for our own righteousness. In verses 8-10 Jesus speaks about how slaves simply do what they are commanded to do without congratulating themselves for doing it.

Perhaps we ought to a bit more like humble slaves in our service of God?

Pray

Lord, help me to serve you just because you are God and I am not.

Friday

Read Luke 17:11-19

Think

In this story Jesus cleanses all ten lepers but only one of them is ‘made well.’  The one that returns to Jesus to give thanks.  Interestingly; it is not Jesus who makes the leper well.  It is the leper’s faith.

Pray

Spend some time giving thanks for all that God has done for you.

Read Think Pray | 23-27 September

23-27 September

Read Think Pray
Monday

Read Psalm 113

Think

I like the way that this Psalm is divided into two sections.  Verse 1-6 paint a picture of God’s greatness and power.  Verse 7-9 remind us that God is involved in the world at our level.

Raising the poor from the dust (Verse 7).

This is the God we serve; God who comes down to be with us in our difficulty and struggle.

Pray

Tell God what barrenness / dust / ash heaps you need help to get out of.  Concentrate more on telling God what’s happening than on telling him how to rescue you.

Tuesday

Read Amos 8:4-7

Think

Eugene Peterson translates verse 4-6: “Listen to this, you who walk over the weak, you who treat the poor people as less than nothing…”

How have you been a victim of injustice?  How does it feel to hear that God is keeping tabs on what people are up to?

How have you been a perpetrator of injustice?

Pray

Lord I’m very aware of when people are unfair to me, but not very aware of when I am unfair to others.  Help me to see more clearly.

Wednesday

Read 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Think

Paul calls us to pray for kings and all those in high positions, so that we may lead a ‘quiet and peacable life in all godliness and dignity.’

That is what God wants for the world – peace, godliness and dignity.  Paul reminds us to pray!

Do you pray for our countries leaders in business and politics?

Perhaps we should.

Pray

God bless Africa, Guard her children, Guide her leaders.  And give her peace.  Amen.

Thursday

Read Luke 16:1-13

Think

This really is a very confusing story.

In the light of chapter 15 (the story of the lost coin, lost sheep and prodigal son) I think it is about being generous with God’s grace.

Believing that God can forgive sinners like us.  But also knowing that God can forgive other sinners too.  It’s not up to us to do the judging.

Pray

Lord you forgive me so graciously but I am so reluctant to forgive others.  Help me.

Friday

Read 16:19-31

Think

If I listen to this parable as myself I hear it as hard or bad news.  I’m more like the rich man than like Lazarus.

But if I were poor; I would hear this story as incredibly good and hopeful news. The news that justice will prevail.

Pray

Lord help us to recognize Lazarus at our gate.

Read Think Pray | 15 September | Proper 19C

16-20 September
Read Think Pray
Monday

Read Psalm 51:1-10

Think

The background story to this Psalm is David’s adultery with Bathsheba.  The prophet Nathan confronts him with his sin and he repents.  What is interesting is that David doesn’t see what he has done wrong until someone actually tells him.

Pray

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

- Psalm 50:10

Tuesday

Read Exodus 32:7-14

Think

So God heard the cries of the Israelites in slavery in Egypt.  He sent Moses to set them free. Moses led them to freedom and he went up the mountain to receive the ten commandments from the Lord.  This commandments were the constitution of the new Kingdom. 10 rules to set them free.

Meanwhile, the people were impatient; they quickly made an idol for themselves.  This kind of behavior would ultimately lead them back into oppression; this time not by the Egyptians; but their own oppression.

God decides to end it here; but Moses begs for mercy; and God relents.

Pray

Lord, you do everything in your power to set me free but I keep on doing the things that keep me in bondage. Be patient with me I pray.
Amen

Wednesday

Read 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Think

In this passage Paul is speaking. Paul who murdered Christians; who supervised the stoning of St Stephen.  He uses himself as an example of what God can do with even the worst of sinners.

Pray

…the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.

- 1 Timothy 1:14-15

Thursday

Read Luke 15:1-10

Think

Excuse the old language; but in John Wesley’s sermons on the sermon on the mount he writes:

Let us observe, who it is that is here speaking, that we may take heed how we hear. It is the Lord of heaven and earth, the Creator of all…

- John Wesley, Sermon 21

In these parables; God is telling us what God is like.  God is like a shepherd who risks himself to go looking for one lost sheep.  God is like a woman who looks for one lost coin and rejoices when she finds it!

Pray

Lord, sometimes I am so mindful of my own sin that I forget the extent of your love for me; I forget how you value me.  Help me to see myself and others through your eyes. Amen.

Friday

Read Luke 16:1-13

Think

This is a very confusing parable.  The best I can make of it is that it is a call to practice grace and generosity.  This means forgiving the things that others do; it means being humble; it means being ‘graceful.’

Pray

Lord, help me to be generous.

9-13 September | Read Think Pray

9-13 September (18C)
Read Think Pray
Monday

Read Psalm 1

Think

Psalm 1 is a very simple Psalm, presenting two paths.  The two paths are defined by what we pay attention to.  Those who pay attention to the advice of the wicked are not happy / blessed.  Those who pay attention to the ‘law’ of God are.

Pray

Pray for discerning ears and eyes; that we wouldn’t let the ‘advice of the wicked’ overwhelm the still small voice of God in our hearts.

Tuesday

Read Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Think

Choose life. “Loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you…” (Dt 30:19-20)

Yesterday’s Psalm spoke of those who pay attention to God as well watered trees.  This passage invites us to make God our number 1 priority – in so doing we are choosing life.

Jesus reveals God’s heart to us: “I have come to give you life and life in abundance!”

The key word is ‘choose.’

Pray

Lord, I often complain about things that rob me of life. But if I’m honest; I choose them for myself. Help me to choose rightly.

Wednesday

Read Philemon 1-21

Think

This is a fascinating letter.  Paul writing to a slave owner about an escaped slave who has become a Christian; it turns out that the slave owner is also a Christian and Paul knows him. So the escaped slave returns to his owner with a letter from Paul asking for forgiveness for escaping and release from slavery.  (It would make a great movie!)

Pray

Lord, following you is sometimes quite difficult.  But it is the only way in which I truly become free.  Set me free from my addiction to so many other things and voices so that I can follow you in joy and freedom.

Thursday

Read Luke 14:25-33

Think

It seems strange; but Jesus seems to be trying to discourage people from following him.  He invites us to count the cost. Do we really want to follow Jesus?

Pray

Lord, following you is costly.  Help me not to lose heart.

Friday

Read Luke 15:1-10

Think

I love the parable of the lost coin; verses 8-10. In my mind’s eye I try to picture the woman’s face from the coin’s perspective.  Bending over – peering into a dark corner; her eye’s and face lighting up with joy at the relief of finding her treasure.

This is the face of God.

Pray

Lord, help me to see myself as you see me.

2-6 September | Read Think Pray

Monday

Read Psalm 112

Think

Verses 1-2 point to the idea that when we get our relationship right with God – we also put things right with our families.

Verse 4 reminds us that even if we are ‘righteous’ there will be times of darkness – but with God’s help they will rise through it and serve as a light to others.

The Psalmist points to the many blessings of putting things right with God; and only gives verse 10 to the wicked!

Pray

At the beginning of this week – I want to be right with you Lord.

Tuesday

Read Proverbs 25:6-7

Think

This Proverb relates to the gospel reading for this week.  It is better to be told, ‘come up here’ than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

Pray

Lord, do I need to be lifted up? Or do I need to be brought low?

Wednesday

Read Hebrews 13:1-8 (and 15-16)

Think

So much wisdom in Hebrews 13:1-8.  Show hospitality.  Remember those who suffer – as if you were them!  Look after you marriage.  Keep your life free from the love of money.  Be content with what you have.

Pray

Lord, help me to say with confidence:

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can anyone do to me?”

Also remember those who minister to prisoners in your prayers today.

Thursday

Read Luke 14:1 & 7-14

Think

Life is full of comparing ourselves to others.  Either to feel good about ourselves, or feel bad about ourselves.  Jesus encourages us to take a default position of considering ourselves to be the lowest of the low.  This is helpful – because Jesus is particularly helpful to the lowest; constantly lifting them up.

Pray

Lord, I think you that in my brokenness; your strength is revealed.

Friday

Read Luke 14:25-33

Think

This is a difficult passage.  Jesus seems to say that if you’re not 100% committed to following him – you might as well stop.

Pray

Lord; help us to give you 100%.

26-30 August Read Think Pray

Monday

Read Psalm 103:1-8

Think

I love verse 8 of this Psalm.

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

As you read through Vs 1-7 think of all the reasons you have to ‘Bless the Lord.’

Pray

Perhaps verse 5 is a good focus for your prayer.  Perhaps you are feeling run down and tired – in what areas of your life do you need God to ‘renew your youth like the eagle’s?’

Tuesday

Read Isaiah 58:9b–14

Think

“If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil…”

The yoke is a symbol of oppression – a way of tying oxen together to make them pull ploughs.  One of the things that oppresses us is our constant blaming each other (pointing fingers) and negative speaking (speaking of evil).

We could be a much more positive influence in our world if we spent less time complaining and more time doing.

Pray

One of the lines of the Lord’s prayer is ‘Thy Kingdom come.” Spend some time praying for God’s just Kingdom to come into our world.

Wednesday

Read Hebrews 12:(12)18-29

Think

The writer to the Hebrews describes worship in the Old Testament – a moment when God made a covenant with Israel and there was fire and thunder.

From 22-29 the writer seems to describe worship after Jesus has come.  Part of that is listening to and obeying the words of Jesus.

Pray

‘Our God is indeed a destroying fire.’

Ask God to purify you – to cleanse away those things that keep you from obedience to Jesus.

Thursday

Read Luke 13:10-17

Think

Religion that is meant to set us free can easily oppress us.  Jesus wanted to show that the Sabbath was for good – not for oppression.  So he healed people on the Sabbath and got into trouble for doing it.

We always need to check ourselves – to see that our faith is liberating, rather than oppressing.

Pray

‘She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight.’

Bring ‘the burdens that bend you’ to God.

Imagine Jesus placing his hands on you – and feel the weight of those burdens lift.

(Verse 13)

Friday

Read Luke 14:1 & 7-14

Think

How do we move from being people who are almost always selfishly motivated to being people who are motivated by generosity.  Jesus suggests we should put ourselves last – he suggests we should give to those who have nothing to give in return.  Our culture tells us to look after ourselves.

Pray

Ask God to help us become less self focused and more outwardly focused.

What one generous thing can you do without hope of reward this weekend?

Getting the Most out of the Sunday Service

Make an Effort

It’s hard to do on a Sunday morning, but my first word of advice for worshippers is that you should put something in.  Give God your best; you’re on time and alert for work, why not for one hour on Sunday – a gift from God, a day of rest. 

Prepare:  If readings have been given before the service take a moment to read through them, especially the gospel reading, maybe on the evening before or in the week before Sunday.

Pray:  Ask God to speak to you and help you to listen and obey.  With God all things are possible.

Greet:  There is a good reason we don’t stay in bed and watch church on TV.  God created us for community.  Bless those around you by taking a genuine interest in them; as full of the spirit and joy as you may be – the person sitting next to you may just need your encouragement today.  Be aware of the community around you – as you sing you are singing to God and to each other; like flames – when you burn together you burn much brighter.

Imagine:  As you worship and pray don’t just sit there – use your imagination – if you sing about Rocks that praise God, form a picture in your mind, trees clapping hands; all the nations of the world singing God’s praise – the word pictures that we use in our prayers and songs warrant the use of our imagination.

Listen:  Whoever the preacher is, whether you like them or not, they are there to challenge you and stimulate you in your faith.  God works in spite of us, so even if you disagree with the preacher, allow the preaching to stimulate your thoughts on the faith.  Consider different perspectives, ask yourself why you like or dislike what the preacher says.  If you are a mind wanderer take notes to help you keep focused.

Elements of the Service

Opening

The first part of the service is normally a call to worship – a chance for us to think about why God is worth worshipping, and to call each other to worship through song. 

Psalm

Almost every week we read from one of the Psalms, the Psalms challenge us with God’s might and authority, they put words in our mouths that we might not think to use in our prayers.  They are honest – the Psalmist speaks his pain as well as his joy. 

When we pray the Psalms we remember communities who over thousands of years have prayed these prayers with us, and the God who remains the same from generation to generation.

Confession

In this moment we admit to God that we are not as holy as we like people to think.  We come to God honest about who we are and what we have done, and we boldly ask for more grace and forgiveness.  Looking to the cross we remember what Christ has done; and accept / receive forgiveness; and the possibility of God’s transformation of our hearts and minds.

Praise and Thanks

Jesus’ grace to us is worth some celebration – once we have confessed and remembered Jesus’ words of graceful forgiveness to us we usually celebrate with appropriate songs of thanksgiving.

Offering

Part of our response of praise and thanks is giving ourselves to God, the money that we offer on a Sunday morning is symbolic of our life and work.  It is a very important link between Sunday’s worship and our busy working lives.  When you make an offering you symbolically put your work life in the plate (or bag) too; if you have no money; simply offer yourself.

Sermon

Sometimes sermons don’t meet OUR needs, sometimes they challenge more than comfort, sometimes we agree / sometimes we disagree with what the preacher has to say.  Always, God is probably saying something to us – it is not up to the preacher to tell you what that is; sometimes hearing God’s voice through a sermon demands attention and meditation on your part.

Intercession

After the sermon we normally take a moment to ask God to help us to not only hear what it is God may have been saying.  But also, to put it into practice.  We also lift up the very real needs of the community around us, present our needs and state our longing for the coming of the Kingdom of God.  We pray – not because God has to listen to us because we’re such wonderful people; but because we know that God loves us (we see this in Jesus’ death on the cross) and because God loves us – God answers us (not always with the answers we had hoped for).

Grace / Benediction

At the end of the service we say the grace to each other. Reminding each other that in the difficulty of walking through life as a Christian; God is there to help us; and God has given us a community that supports us.