Bad food...Good servants

Read It:  1 Corinthians 8:7-13

Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 “Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? 11 So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. 12 But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall. 

Learn It:

Paul is speaking with the people who lived in Corinth and the people there were a mixture of both former Jews and former pagans (gentiles).  Jews never ate anything sacrificed to idols but Gentiles did.  The issue Paul is addressing is an argument that Gentiles were still eating that food that was sacrificed and the Jews felt that they should stop doing that.  Paul addresses the issue by showing that since no other god exists but God alone then there really is no reason to be upset at the eating of this food.  At the same time, Paul also realizes that it will be harder for some people to accept this on both sides of the argument and encourages them to not point out this 'fault'.  Paul ends his talk on food by saying that he will never again eat meat if it means that by doing so people will continue to come closer to God in Christ Jesus.  Paul is willing to do what it takes to make sure that nothing stops people from following Jesus.  

Share It:

What are some things in your life that you see other people doing and it hinders your relationship with God?  It could be music, food, clothes, hair, tattoos, or anything else that maybe hinders you or even them from having a full and complete relationship with God.  What are some ways that you can encourage yourself or others to continue to have a strong faith and not allow those kinds of things to weaken it?  How could you help someone who does have something that is a stumbling block that you thought of above?  Talk about these topics and anything else that comes up during your conversation.

Live It:

Take this week and think about the things that might be hard for you or others and just pray about it.  Talk about it with your family and set goals to work toward having those things not bother or affect you as much as they do now.  Blessings!

What's with all the Commotion?

Read It: John 1:43-46 (NRSV)

⁴³The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee.  He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”  ⁴⁴Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  ⁴⁵Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.”  ⁴⁶Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  Philip said to him, “Come and see.”  

Learn It:

Nathanael may seem like a skeptic when his friend Philip tells him about this man named Jesus from Nazareth but it's helpful to understand that LOTS of people would have almost no idea where or what Nazareth was and those people who had heard of it knew that it was a TINY town that didn't really have much of anything going for it.  So to be fair to Nathanael his question is a legitimate one...little did he know that the messiah is the one who came from Nazareth.  My favorite part of this text is Philip's invitation to "come and see".  What a wonderful invitation.  He doesn't try to convince or persuade his friend he simply invites him to come and find out for himself what he is so excited about.  

Share It:

What are the things in your life that get you excited?  Why do those particular things get you excited or happy?  You can use this time as a show and tell if you want (bring something to the table to share with everyone else).  Now...what are the things that get you excited about Jesus and about your faith?  If you can't think of something then what things might you be able to do to help you get excited about the things that God promises you (love, support, forgiveness, everlasting life, community)?  Talk about these and other things that come up during your share it time together.

Live It:

This week I encourage you to find a way to find excitement in your faith.  Find something about your faith that really brings you joy and then invite someone to share in that joy.  Be like Philip and invite someone to 'come and see' the goodness and wonder of God.  

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Please post comments with your experience with the share it or live it part of this weeks post.  Let others know if you and your family found this useful.  

An Every Day Baptism

Read It: Mark 1:9-11 (NRSV)

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 

Learn It:

Baptism is very important as it connects us with the whole Christian family.  Baptism is also the time when we receive the Holy Spirit and we are forgiven of our sins.  Even Jesus was baptized which shows us just how important baptism is to being a part of this family of God.  Martin  Luther said that we should daily remember our baptism.  Baptism isn't a one time event that happened at some time past but it is a daily living out of our faith.  We should remember to daily live out our baptismal lives.  

Share It:

Talk with your family about the day everyone was baptized. Do this over dinner or during some family time.  Who was there?  Where was it?  Do you remember it?  If you have children talk about when they were baptized and what the whole experience was like.  What are your thoughts on why Jesus was baptized?  Share these ideas and anything else that comes up during your 'share it' time.  

Live It:

Remember Luther said we should daily remember our baptism?  One way he said to do that is that every time we take a bath or shower that we should say to ourselves, "I am a baptized child of God," and mark ourselves with the cross on our foreheads.  Try this out for a week and see how it might change your view of water or how baptism is really a daily living out our faith.  It is wonderful that at Faith we have our baptismal font on our way to receiving communion.  I want to encourage you next week when you are at church to use the baptismal font during communion to remind yourself of your baptism by signing your forehead with a cross.  It is a perfect way to not only remember your baptism but to also connect our two sacraments: baptism and communion.

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Please post comments with your experience with the share it or live it part of this weeks post.  Let others know if you and your family found this useful.  

Happy New Year