Never Disappointed

Read It: Romans 5:1-5 (NRSV)

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. 

Learn It:

It seems interesting that Paul suggest that we should boast in our suffering.  Many times in our lives I think we look at our suffering and think of the things we did wrong or things we could have done different to avoid whatever suffering is going on in our lives.  We then use that information to either make the suffering right or we don't do those actions again so that we can avoid it.  But Paul lets us know that it's ok to suffer.  It's ok to mess up at times in our lives because the end result is a hope that will never disappoint us.  Never being disappointed seems like a pretty nice deal in the end.  We boast because we have hope which has been given to us by the Holy Spirit who made us right with God...who justified us. Think of the first two verses as the result of the rest of the verses.  Paul is giving us the end result first and then telling us how we get there.  The end result is pretty amazing...look at the verses again.

Share It:

What kinds of things have you suffered from?  Share a story about a time when you had to endure some kind of hardship.  What was it like when it first happened and then what was it like when you realized you were past it?  Then talk about how you view the experience now.  Did you learn anything?  Have you grown in faith or in character because of the experience?  Did you rely on God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to get you through the suffering?  Can you use the stages that Paul describes in verses 3 &4 and fir that with what you experienced?  Have everyone share and remember that we all experience different levels of suffering, but for us they are very real.

Live It:

The next time you experience some kind of suffering, whether big or small, think about boasting instead of wallowing in the pain or hurt.  Think about these verses from Romans and how much we have to be grateful for because of what Christ has done for us.  Think about how you will never be disappointed in the hope that God provides for us daily through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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Spirit Born

Read It: John 3:4-7 (NRSV)

4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’

Learn It:

As Christians we all have two births.  This isn't something that we often talk about but we truly are given new life (born again) when we are baptized, and of course we are born when we first came into this world.  But, Jesus does not say that the new birth trumps the old.  We must be born of both water and Spirit.  We must be both of this world and not of this world.  We must be people of God living for the kingdom that Jesus promises, and we need to be people who truly do live in this world.  It is being in this world that we are able to connect and interact with others.  It is how we can teach them about baptism and about what it means to be born of both the physical water and of the Spirit that God gives us through the waters of baptism.

Share It:

Talk with your family about if you have ever had a time when you felt you were truly just a plain "old" human and were there times when you just felt that you were being used by the Spirit.  What was it like?  When did you realize that  the Spirit was working through you?  Do you often think of your baptism as having given you a new life and having been born again?

Live It:

In the next week while you are at work, school, playing, relaxing or whatever you find yourself doing, pay attention to the times when you might see how you were born of the Spirit.  Maybe you find yourself praying for someone on the side of the road; helping someone who needs a hand; maybe you talk to someone about God.  There are things that we do because we are born of the Spirit.  Because we have a new Spiritual life in Jesus we do things differently, so pay attention to those moments when you do something that makes you think about how you are blessed with that new Spirit birth.

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Grounded

Read It: Matthew 4:1-11 (NRSV)

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.3The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple,6saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” 7Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor;9and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”10Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” 11Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Learn It:

The temptations of Jesus is a very famous passage and many people know all about Satan coming and tempting Jesus three times and Jesus denying every time. One of the best parts of this passage is a great example of how well Jesus knew scripture. When Jesus says that "One does not live by bread alone..." he is quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. Then again when Jesus says, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test," comes from Deuteronomy 6:16. When Jesus is tempted a third time he quotes, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him," which is a quote from Deuteronomy 6:13. Jesus was able to fend off temptation which is great, but the amazing example that he gives us is that he is able to do it so well by quoting the Bible.

Share It:

Look again at the first thing that Jesus is tempted with...food. Not all temptations in our lives are BIG things. What are some of the things that tempt you in your life? What are some of the ways that you have been able to resist that temptation? Have you ever used scripture to resist temptation? Talk with your family about some of these things and other ways that you are tempted either by friends or things.

Live It:

Spend some time as a family or by yourself and search through the Bible for some scriptures that you think would be great verses to say to yourself when you are experiencing times of temptation. You could also use the scriptures that Jesus used in the verses above. Write down or think about what ways that Word of God was able help you resist temptation. God's Word is a very powerful tool.

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Mountains

Read It: Matthew 17:1-8 (NRSV)

1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 

Learn It:

Take a look also at these readings from today's lectionary readings: Exodus 24:12-18 and Psalm 99.  They are both about Moses going up to the mountain to talk with God.  There are many things that happen that are important when God's people go up to a mountain.  Moses received the 10 Commandments, Jesus is transfigured in front of the disciples, Jesus teaches and preaches from the tops of  mountains like when he tells us about the Beatitudes.  Jesus is also at the top of a mountain when he ascends into heaven after his resurrection.  The tops of mountains are special places for God's people.

Share It:

Because of these wonderful and profound experiences that God's people and God's own son have experienced on the tops of mountains people today call special spiritual moments "mountaintop experiences".  Have you ever been somewhere or done something that was a mountaintop experience?  Share with each other what the event was about what was so special about it.  In what ways was it life-transforming?  How did it touch you and why do you remember it so well?

Live It:

Plan to attend a Bible study or retreat either through the church or through an organization.  Many times you will find that mountaintop experiences happen when you are away from your usual elements and are taking some time to spend intentionally with God.  See how taking some intentional time with God can be a way to open yourself to experience more mountaintop experiences.

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