Monthly Archives: January 2008

God’s Plan in Christ – to bring God’s Glory

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Week of 1/28-2/3 ~ Exodus 24:12-18 ~ 

12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.” 15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. (NRSV)

NOTES:

See also Matthew 17:1-9: Transfiguration of Jesus

Other Texts: Exodus 16 & 19; Deuteronomy 5:23-33; Lev. 26:11; Ezek. 37:27; Isaiah 6; Mark 15:38; Luke 2:8-20; John 1:14; John 14:9 – “…as you have seen me, you have seen the Father…”; Romans 5:2; Revelation 21:3;

 

Questions:

What other stories of “the glory of the Lord” can you remember from scripture?

In what ways has the church talked about “the glory of the Lord”?

Where do you see God’s glory in your own life and church?

What is the connection between “the glory of the Lord” and “giving glory to the Lord”?

Where do you see God’s glory out in the world that it could be pointed out to others?

What is our response when we see the glory of the Lord?

 

PRAYER:

Gracious God, We confess that we have neglected to see your glory: in your world, in our lives, and in the people around us. Give us eyes to behold, humility of heart to worship, and courage of voice to proclaim your glory to a world looking for something to worship.

 

Upcoming Texts:

 

Week of 2/4-2/10:  Psalms 51 & 32 – Repentance & Forgiveness

Week of 2/11-2/17:  Psalm 121 – Dependence

 

God's Plan in Christ – to bring God’s Glory

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Week of 1/28-2/3 ~ Exodus 24:12-18 ~ 

12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.” 15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. (NRSV)

NOTES:

See also Matthew 17:1-9: Transfiguration of Jesus

Other Texts: Exodus 16 & 19; Deuteronomy 5:23-33; Lev. 26:11; Ezek. 37:27; Isaiah 6; Mark 15:38; Luke 2:8-20; John 1:14; John 14:9 – “…as you have seen me, you have seen the Father…”; Romans 5:2; Revelation 21:3;

 

Questions:

What other stories of “the glory of the Lord” can you remember from scripture?

In what ways has the church talked about “the glory of the Lord”?

Where do you see God’s glory in your own life and church?

What is the connection between “the glory of the Lord” and “giving glory to the Lord”?

Where do you see God’s glory out in the world that it could be pointed out to others?

What is our response when we see the glory of the Lord?

 

PRAYER:

Gracious God, We confess that we have neglected to see your glory: in your world, in our lives, and in the people around us. Give us eyes to behold, humility of heart to worship, and courage of voice to proclaim your glory to a world looking for something to worship.

 

Upcoming Texts:

 

Week of 2/4-2/10:  Psalms 51 & 32 – Repentance & Forgiveness

Week of 2/11-2/17:  Psalm 121 – Dependence

 

God’s Plan in Christ – to bring freedom

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Isaiah 9:1-4       ~   Week of 1/21-1/27

1  But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4 For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. (NRSV)

NOTES:

Zebulun & Naphtali: the region of Gallilee, named for two of the tribes of Jacob – the outskirts north of Jerusalem – considered ‘country, hick, etc’ by the city people of Jerusalem.

John 3:14-21

19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.

 

1 Peter 2:4-12

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, F10 in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

 

Questions:

What freedoms were the people of Israel & Judah needing from God?

  

How did Jesus live out this ‘ministry of freedom’

 

Where in your own life do you need to be free?

  

How can you carry this freedom toward others? Where in your life have you done the opposite, binding and shackling others rather than setting them free?

  

PRAYER:

Gracious God, we give you thanks for the freedom we find in Christ. Forgive us when we misuse that freedom, rejecting it in favor of slavery to thoughts, habits, relationships and things. Set us free again, that we might in our freedom glorify you and offer your freedom to others. 

 

Upcoming Texts:

 

Week of 1/28-2/3: Ex 24:12-18; Mt. 17:1-9

 

God’s Plan in Christ? To bring Good News

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Sermon for 1/13/08

Isaiah 52:7-12
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! 8 The watchmen shout and sing with joy, for before their very eyes they see the LORD bringing his people home to Jerusalem. 9 Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song, for the LORD has comforted his people. He has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The LORD will demonstrate his holy power before the eyes of all the nations. The ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. 11 Go now, leave your bonds and slavery. Put Babylon behind you, with everything it represents, for it is unclean to you. You are the LORD’s holy people. Purify yourselves, you who carry home the vessels of the LORD. 12 You will not leave in a hurry, running for your lives. For the LORD will go ahead of you, and the God of Israel will protect you from behind. (NLT)

Paul takes up the theme – Romans 10:12-21.

And Jesus himself quotes from later in Isaiah 61 that He has been sent to bring Good News.

There is a theme running here – that of God’s desire that Good News be brought to those who need to hear it!

The setup of this text begins some 6 chapters earlier in Isaiah 46.

This text announces the coming redemption from Babylon that is foretold in Jeremiah 29.

Questions:
Where in our lives are we in need of Good News?

Who around us is in need of Good News for similar reasons?

What Good News do we possess that we might proclaim to others through what we do and what we say?

PRAYER: Holy God, give us the ears to hear your good news for us. Give us eyes to see those around us in need of hope and peace. Give us hands and voices to pass along the Good News you have given to us. In the name of Christ we pray, Amen.

Miscellani

Rush – “Good News First”

Anne Murray, Little Good News Lyrics

Michelle Shocked, “Good News” (yes, even Michelle Shocked!)

That’s quite a threesome, don’t you think?

Upcoming Texts:
Week of 1/14: Isaiah 49:1-7
Week of 1/21: Isaiah 9:1-4