Make-Up:
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts and video(s). We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
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On January 30th, we took a look at commandments 7 & 8.
Bible Text:
Luke 16:19–31; 1 Kings 3:16–28
Lesson Focus:
God calls us to be honest and fair and to protect truth and property—always!
Big Question:
Always be fair, honest, and truthful—am I supposed to be perfect?
Key Words:
HONESTY, SHARE, PROTECT, INTEGRITY, TRUTH
Definitions to Key Words
HONESTY: being willing and able to name what you understand to be true about a situation.
SHARE: letting others use or have what you consider yours. It can also mean everyone using something for the common good.
PROTECT: to find a way to safeguard someone or something. The prefix pro is Latin for "in front of."
INTEGRITY: being willing to live by and do what you say you believe.
TRUTH: often refers to facts but can refer to internal realities that cannot be proven.
Quick Overview
In a "look out for number one" world, it's no surprise that people steal from each other.
Whenever we try through unjust dealings to get what belongs to someone else, it's stealing.
We need to be able to trust that those things we call our own will remain safe.
From overcharging a customer to cheating on a test, it's all stealing.
We need to watch out for the safety of our neighbors' possessions and be sure they have their own daily bread.
When you know that God truly has provided all that you need, you begin sharing God's good gifts.
God values words highly and knows they have great power.
We use words sinfully by telling lies and half-truths, but also by undervaluing the power of words themselves.
Words can kill a person just as actual weapons can do.
God demands that we measure our words carefully and then use them to defend our neighbors.
We can use words as a life-giving gift to give witness to God's forgiveness and mercy.
Move Clip
This past week, we introduced a movie clip segment to our lesson. We grabbed one of the key words and found a video clip that emphasized the key word. The key word that we chose was share. Take a look at the clip and see the glimpses of share.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Make-Up: January 23: Ten Commandments Pt. 2
Make-Up:
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts and video(s). We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
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Bible Text:
John 2:1–12; Matthew 5:17–48; 2 Samuel 11:1–27
Lesson Focus:
God wants us to honor, respect, protect, and nurture all living things.
Big Question:
Honor, respect, protect, and nurture. . . how am I supposed to do all that?
Key Words:
RESPECT, NURTURE, INTERRELATEDNESS, HUMAN SEXUALITY
Definitions of Key Words
RESPECT: to show consideration and thoughtfulness to somebody or something.
NURTURE: to care for and/or provide for the needs of somebody or something.
INTERRELATEDNESS: every person is connected to the whole of the universe.
HUMAN SEXUALITY: the physical and emotional elements of how God created us as loving beings.
Doubt Movie Clip (Gossip)
Here is a clip from Doubt and it has a powerful message on "gossip". Gossip may be one of the aspects of life that can/does destroy middle school students. It ties in great with respect and interrelatedness.
Going Very Deep
In the first three Commandments, the focus is on our relationship with God. Beginning with the Fourth Commandment, we learn how keeping the First Commandment also pertains to how we regard the neighbors God gives. Since they live "next" to us for much of our lives, we may consider (as God does) our parents to be our "neighbors."
We often take for granted all the things our parents do for us. They have to manage a household. They try to make sure we have all the basics for daily life, such as food and clothing and shelter. God has given them the task of providing safety and security. They're called to make sure you are welcomed into each day with love and to bring you back to what's good and proper when you do wrong.
It's not easy being a mom or a dad. A huge revelation comes when you hold a child in your arms and know you have complete responsibility for the well-being of that little one. God knows what a big job it is too, so God expects children to honor those who have been given the job.
Honoring your parents is easier said than done. It means obeying them. It means respecting them. It means contributing to the well-being of the household they're in charge of. It means taking care of them when they are too old to care for themselves.
It's important to note the calling to be a father or mother is not a license to do anything you want to your children. When parents neglect or endanger their children, they need to be called to account for their sinful actions, and the children need to be protected. In these situations, parents' actions don't show care for their children. God provides for trusted authorities and other adults whose job it is to care for children in those situations.
Most people know their parents. But for some, their birth parents needed to hand their calling from God over to someone else: adoptive parents, grandparents, stepparents, or foster parents. They assumed the role of parents and have all the same responsibilities, and the commandment to honor applies to them because the job has been transferred to them.
In his explanation of this commandment, Luther speaks of "others in authority." God passes on some parental authority and responsibility to other people around you. They look out for your safety and protection when you are not directly under your parents' care. These are people such as teachers and principals, police officers and judges, camp counselors and coaches. While parents can do a lot for their children, they can't do everything. So these people add to what parents can do and, thus, as extensions of our parents, they also should be given the honor and respect the Fourth Commandment demands.
Matthew 5:17–48
God gives the Fifth Commandment in order to protect life. Even though we have life through our parents and they care for us, we don't spend all our time tucked away in the safety of home. We have to go out and about. We have to deal with people outside our families. The Fifth Commandment seeks to assure us of safety and security out in the world.
Sometimes we want to get even with our enemies by hurting them or taking their lives. In times of anger or resentment, violence or other kinds of retribution are too easy. But the damage is sometimes impossible to undo. So God speaks this commandment to protect others from you and you from your enemies.
There are some good reasons God wants to stop the trouble before it gets out of hand: so that we can approach our problems with others with a cool head and a warm heart, so that we can see our neighbors' actions in the best light, and so that we can begin to see our neighbors as a gift and be of service to them in return.
It's pretty obvious from the words of the Fifth Commandment what kind of behavior God seeks to prevent. The commandment demands that we refrain from hurting anyone physically. No injuring. No hitting. And certainly no killing. But there are ways to hurt, maim, and kill other than injuring another person physically. When our anger, fear, or jealousy works on us and we can't injure someone physically, we sometimes look for new weapons. Instead of fists, we'll try manipulation; instead of guns, we'll shoot nasty words. So this commandment also restrains us when we want to hurt others by shaking their sense of security, pushing them into doubt about their own gifts, or bringing them into despair over whether our God of life truly cares for them.
God created us to be God's working hands in the world. We were created to care for our neighbors, to help and support them. When we don't live out that care, we break the Fifth Commandment.
2 Samuel 11:1–27
The media is filled with highly sexualized images that promote a kind of "get what you can" attitude that's only distinguished from greed by the need it seeks to fill. By the time kids get to middle school, they've been barraged by advertising telling them that when they've fulfilled themselves in that way, or at least compiled an adequate list of experiences, they'll have it made.
But in the Sixth Commandment, God offers another view of sexuality. This Commandment claims that God, who creates life and demands honor for those who bring it into existence, doesn't see your sexuality as just another toy. God regards sex as so crucial yet so dangerous that it requires the protection of a commandment.
There's no doubt that sex carries some risk, emotional as well as physical. When intimate with another person, you let down your guard, opening up countless ways to get hurt (and not just by catching an STD).
Because God thinks sex can be a good and joyful gift for us and wants to keep people from getting hurt by it, God wants sex to happen in the safest possible place. God builds a safe zone for sex.
When someone promises you publicly, "I'm going to stick with you until death parts us," and follows through on the promise, you don't have to suffer the worries sex can create. You are free to give yourself to your spouse completely, knowing that at least that part of your future is certain. To those for whom marriage is a calling in life, this is a great comfort.
This safety zone also involves loving and honoring your spouse by keeping your promise. If you give yourself completely to your spouse, you can't hold part of you in reserve. And you can't take a piece of yourself to give to another person. If you're not true to your own promise, you damage the safety zone and damage your relationship. And when that happens, it undermines the stability that your marriage contributes to God's creation.
The Sixth Commandment isn't just about the sexual act, though. It also focuses on your attitude about sex. If God takes it seriously enough to give a specific commandment, you should take it seriously too. So the Catechism says we are to "lead pure and decent lives in word and deed." That means treating matters of sex with great honor. We ought to watch the language we use to talk about sex and make sure we speak of it respectfully.
God isn't just a giver of demands, of course. That's something to keep in mind when dealing with sex. All human beings make mistakes in this area, but in Christ God grants forgiveness to sinners.
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts and video(s). We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible Text:
John 2:1–12; Matthew 5:17–48; 2 Samuel 11:1–27
Lesson Focus:
God wants us to honor, respect, protect, and nurture all living things.
Big Question:
Honor, respect, protect, and nurture. . . how am I supposed to do all that?
Key Words:
RESPECT, NURTURE, INTERRELATEDNESS, HUMAN SEXUALITY
Definitions of Key Words
RESPECT: to show consideration and thoughtfulness to somebody or something.
NURTURE: to care for and/or provide for the needs of somebody or something.
INTERRELATEDNESS: every person is connected to the whole of the universe.
HUMAN SEXUALITY: the physical and emotional elements of how God created us as loving beings.
Doubt Movie Clip (Gossip)
Here is a clip from Doubt and it has a powerful message on "gossip". Gossip may be one of the aspects of life that can/does destroy middle school students. It ties in great with respect and interrelatedness.
Going Very Deep
In the first three Commandments, the focus is on our relationship with God. Beginning with the Fourth Commandment, we learn how keeping the First Commandment also pertains to how we regard the neighbors God gives. Since they live "next" to us for much of our lives, we may consider (as God does) our parents to be our "neighbors."
We often take for granted all the things our parents do for us. They have to manage a household. They try to make sure we have all the basics for daily life, such as food and clothing and shelter. God has given them the task of providing safety and security. They're called to make sure you are welcomed into each day with love and to bring you back to what's good and proper when you do wrong.
It's not easy being a mom or a dad. A huge revelation comes when you hold a child in your arms and know you have complete responsibility for the well-being of that little one. God knows what a big job it is too, so God expects children to honor those who have been given the job.
Honoring your parents is easier said than done. It means obeying them. It means respecting them. It means contributing to the well-being of the household they're in charge of. It means taking care of them when they are too old to care for themselves.
It's important to note the calling to be a father or mother is not a license to do anything you want to your children. When parents neglect or endanger their children, they need to be called to account for their sinful actions, and the children need to be protected. In these situations, parents' actions don't show care for their children. God provides for trusted authorities and other adults whose job it is to care for children in those situations.
Most people know their parents. But for some, their birth parents needed to hand their calling from God over to someone else: adoptive parents, grandparents, stepparents, or foster parents. They assumed the role of parents and have all the same responsibilities, and the commandment to honor applies to them because the job has been transferred to them.
In his explanation of this commandment, Luther speaks of "others in authority." God passes on some parental authority and responsibility to other people around you. They look out for your safety and protection when you are not directly under your parents' care. These are people such as teachers and principals, police officers and judges, camp counselors and coaches. While parents can do a lot for their children, they can't do everything. So these people add to what parents can do and, thus, as extensions of our parents, they also should be given the honor and respect the Fourth Commandment demands.
Matthew 5:17–48
God gives the Fifth Commandment in order to protect life. Even though we have life through our parents and they care for us, we don't spend all our time tucked away in the safety of home. We have to go out and about. We have to deal with people outside our families. The Fifth Commandment seeks to assure us of safety and security out in the world.
Sometimes we want to get even with our enemies by hurting them or taking their lives. In times of anger or resentment, violence or other kinds of retribution are too easy. But the damage is sometimes impossible to undo. So God speaks this commandment to protect others from you and you from your enemies.
There are some good reasons God wants to stop the trouble before it gets out of hand: so that we can approach our problems with others with a cool head and a warm heart, so that we can see our neighbors' actions in the best light, and so that we can begin to see our neighbors as a gift and be of service to them in return.
It's pretty obvious from the words of the Fifth Commandment what kind of behavior God seeks to prevent. The commandment demands that we refrain from hurting anyone physically. No injuring. No hitting. And certainly no killing. But there are ways to hurt, maim, and kill other than injuring another person physically. When our anger, fear, or jealousy works on us and we can't injure someone physically, we sometimes look for new weapons. Instead of fists, we'll try manipulation; instead of guns, we'll shoot nasty words. So this commandment also restrains us when we want to hurt others by shaking their sense of security, pushing them into doubt about their own gifts, or bringing them into despair over whether our God of life truly cares for them.
God created us to be God's working hands in the world. We were created to care for our neighbors, to help and support them. When we don't live out that care, we break the Fifth Commandment.
2 Samuel 11:1–27
The media is filled with highly sexualized images that promote a kind of "get what you can" attitude that's only distinguished from greed by the need it seeks to fill. By the time kids get to middle school, they've been barraged by advertising telling them that when they've fulfilled themselves in that way, or at least compiled an adequate list of experiences, they'll have it made.
But in the Sixth Commandment, God offers another view of sexuality. This Commandment claims that God, who creates life and demands honor for those who bring it into existence, doesn't see your sexuality as just another toy. God regards sex as so crucial yet so dangerous that it requires the protection of a commandment.
There's no doubt that sex carries some risk, emotional as well as physical. When intimate with another person, you let down your guard, opening up countless ways to get hurt (and not just by catching an STD).
Because God thinks sex can be a good and joyful gift for us and wants to keep people from getting hurt by it, God wants sex to happen in the safest possible place. God builds a safe zone for sex.
When someone promises you publicly, "I'm going to stick with you until death parts us," and follows through on the promise, you don't have to suffer the worries sex can create. You are free to give yourself to your spouse completely, knowing that at least that part of your future is certain. To those for whom marriage is a calling in life, this is a great comfort.
This safety zone also involves loving and honoring your spouse by keeping your promise. If you give yourself completely to your spouse, you can't hold part of you in reserve. And you can't take a piece of yourself to give to another person. If you're not true to your own promise, you damage the safety zone and damage your relationship. And when that happens, it undermines the stability that your marriage contributes to God's creation.
The Sixth Commandment isn't just about the sexual act, though. It also focuses on your attitude about sex. If God takes it seriously enough to give a specific commandment, you should take it seriously too. So the Catechism says we are to "lead pure and decent lives in word and deed." That means treating matters of sex with great honor. We ought to watch the language we use to talk about sex and make sure we speak of it respectfully.
God isn't just a giver of demands, of course. That's something to keep in mind when dealing with sex. All human beings make mistakes in this area, but in Christ God grants forgiveness to sinners.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Make-Up: January 16: Ten Commandments: Pt. 1
Make-Up:
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts. We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
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On Sunday, January 16th, we began our study on the 10 Commandments., We took a look at the first three commandments. Here is a small video and highlights of the lesson.
Bible Text:
Exodus 3:13–15; 32:1–20; Leviticus 25:1–12; Isaiah 43:1–7;
Lesson Focus:
Putting God first makes everything else fall into place.
Big Question:
What's most important to me?
Key Words:
PRIORITY, IDOLATRY, SABBATH
Definition of Key Words
PRIORITY: something regarded more or most important.
IDOLATRY: turning a good thing into an ultimate thing; turning something that is not God into a god.
SABBATH: a day set apart for rest and worship of God.
Highlight Points
When the First Commandment is fulfilled, the keeping of the others will follow.
Full trust in God recognizes that all things, from daily bread and breath to the past and future of creation, find their source in God.
The Commandments confront us with the truth: we don't put God first, we don't respect God's holy name, we don't set time apart to be with God.
We create other gods, but mostly we become our own gods, acting like we're in charge of our own future.
A person's name opens up to you a piece of that person's identity; taking God's name in vain is like identity theft.
When you're allowed to use God's name, it's a sign of how deeply God wants to be connected to you.
The Sabbath is kept holy when we receive the gift of rest from our work and from our bondage to the world.
God intends a real rest for us, not the same going and doing that fills the rest of our days.
With these commandments, God invites us into covenant promises: God will be our comfort and our Savior. Our past is forgiven and our future is assured. God's free promise of forgiveness in Jesus is the true and final sabbath, from which all others draw their meaning.
The First, Second, and Third Commandments put our priorities in order for a good relationship with God and a well-balanced life.
Thought to Ponder
The first idol was the knowledge of good and evil (see Genesis 3:1–7). As you read and think about this story, have a piece of fruit to snack on. Apples and pomegranates are often depicted as the fruit from the forbidden tree. How do we sometimes turn knowledge (a very good thing) into a false god?
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts. We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
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On Sunday, January 16th, we began our study on the 10 Commandments., We took a look at the first three commandments. Here is a small video and highlights of the lesson.
Bible Text:
Exodus 3:13–15; 32:1–20; Leviticus 25:1–12; Isaiah 43:1–7;
Lesson Focus:
Putting God first makes everything else fall into place.
Big Question:
What's most important to me?
Key Words:
PRIORITY, IDOLATRY, SABBATH
Definition of Key Words
PRIORITY: something regarded more or most important.
IDOLATRY: turning a good thing into an ultimate thing; turning something that is not God into a god.
SABBATH: a day set apart for rest and worship of God.
Highlight Points
When the First Commandment is fulfilled, the keeping of the others will follow.
Full trust in God recognizes that all things, from daily bread and breath to the past and future of creation, find their source in God.
The Commandments confront us with the truth: we don't put God first, we don't respect God's holy name, we don't set time apart to be with God.
We create other gods, but mostly we become our own gods, acting like we're in charge of our own future.
A person's name opens up to you a piece of that person's identity; taking God's name in vain is like identity theft.
When you're allowed to use God's name, it's a sign of how deeply God wants to be connected to you.
The Sabbath is kept holy when we receive the gift of rest from our work and from our bondage to the world.
God intends a real rest for us, not the same going and doing that fills the rest of our days.
With these commandments, God invites us into covenant promises: God will be our comfort and our Savior. Our past is forgiven and our future is assured. God's free promise of forgiveness in Jesus is the true and final sabbath, from which all others draw their meaning.
The First, Second, and Third Commandments put our priorities in order for a good relationship with God and a well-balanced life.
Thought to Ponder
The first idol was the knowledge of good and evil (see Genesis 3:1–7). As you read and think about this story, have a piece of fruit to snack on. Apples and pomegranates are often depicted as the fruit from the forbidden tree. How do we sometimes turn knowledge (a very good thing) into a false god?
Monday, January 10, 2011
Make-up: January 9: The Commandments Intro
Make-Up:
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts. We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
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On Sunday, January 9th, we introduced the Ten Commandment Series. We will be having a 5-week series on the Ten Commandments. This week, we gave the introduction. listed below is a recap of the lesson:
Bible Text:
Deuteronomy 30:15–20; John 15:8–17; Joel 2:12–14
Lesson Focus:
God's Commandments, given in love, protect our lives, our relationships, and the rights of all people.
Big Question:
Why does God give us all these rules?
Key Words:
COMMANDMENTS, COMMUNITY, PROSPERITY, ADVERSITY
Definitions for Key Words
COMMANDMENTS: from military orders to God's Decalogue ("10 Words"), things we must do because of the wisdom and love that's behind them . (These aren't merely suggestions!)
COMMUNITY: the state of being connected to those who both offer and receive love and support from one another.
PROSPERITY: doing well; experiencing goodness in life.
ADVERSITY: suffering greatly; experiencing hardship in life.
Going Deep
Keeping the Ten Commandments (the Decalogue or "Ten Words") can sound incredibly daunting. There's a big threat here: God promises to punish those who don't obey his demands. If you've only ever heard about what a kind and loving God you have, words like these can come as quite a shock. You might ask, "Is that really what God is like?" The answer is "Yes, but . . ."
As harsh as these words about the Commandments may be, God has a good reason to speak them to us. We must remember that we're sinners who neither fear, love, nor trust God, nor do we love our neighbors as ourselves. So God's threat in this conclusion lets us know how extremely important these matters are to God. In the Ten Commandments God gives clear boundaries for our behavior, our attention, and our desires. God tells us exactly what's expected of us. The Commandments show how much God cares for us and the creation. These demands from God provide limits for our lives and give us a lifetime full of work caring for our neighbors and the creation.
The Commandments don't just tell us what we should and shouldn't do. More than anything, they reveal our sinful condition by pointing out how much we don't do. Since we like to fool ourselves into thinking that we're not really such bad people, the Commandments force us to look at who we really are and to tell the truth about ourselves. The Commandments work like a mirror, forcing us to face the fact that we are sinners through and through. Luther's interpretation of the Commandments says that the threat is real: God angrily condemns those who don't keep the Commandments. When we break the Commandments and don't do what we're called to do, God promises we will see the effects play out for generations.
The truth is that not a single one of us keeps the Commandments. Sinfulness is our condition from first to last breath. The word "curses" in Deuteronomy 30:19 brings to mind the events of Genesis 3 and the separation that sin causes between human beings and God, one another, and all of creation. These curses are evident both in the real-life consequences for our failure to keep the Commandments as well as in the collateral damage that sin afflicts on us even when there's no fault of our own. These effects can be hurtful and heartbreaking both to creation and to our Creator. God is very serious about limiting the damaging effects of sin. We see that when the Luther's explanation to the First Commandment calls us to fear God above anything else, that fear is a real thing.
It's a good thing that God's laws are not the only word God speaks to us. If the Commandments ultimately leave us in fear and trembling, that is only half the picture, and more must be said for God's message to be complete. God knows that if we were to try to trust God by our own reasoning or willpower, it would never happen. The Commandments show us that much. As strong as the Commandments' demands are, God's promise in Jesus Christ is even stronger. As you and your confirmands study the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the sacraments, you'll learn what Christ has done for you. Jesus came so that in him you would have a flesh-and-blood God to whom you can cleave. He has endured death on the cross to give you forgiveness, life, and salvation. If your sin condemns you, God shows you in Jesus how much God is willing to do to create trust in you. Jesus rose from the dead and continues to be present for you whenever and wherever you hear the good news.
That's the kind of God we don't just fear. Luther reminds us that we can also love and trust God above anything else. And we can learn to let go of ourselves and start giving our lives for others. A demand from God might not be able to change our hearts, but when God shows up in Jesus for us, we can't help but become new people. The Commandments focus on the things in life that really matter: making sure others have enough to eat, defending someone's rights and reputation, being faithful to your spouse, worshiping in community with other Christians, and the like.
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts. We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
On Sunday, January 9th, we introduced the Ten Commandment Series. We will be having a 5-week series on the Ten Commandments. This week, we gave the introduction. listed below is a recap of the lesson:
Bible Text:
Deuteronomy 30:15–20; John 15:8–17; Joel 2:12–14
Lesson Focus:
God's Commandments, given in love, protect our lives, our relationships, and the rights of all people.
Big Question:
Why does God give us all these rules?
Key Words:
COMMANDMENTS, COMMUNITY, PROSPERITY, ADVERSITY
Definitions for Key Words
COMMANDMENTS: from military orders to God's Decalogue ("10 Words"), things we must do because of the wisdom and love that's behind them . (These aren't merely suggestions!)
COMMUNITY: the state of being connected to those who both offer and receive love and support from one another.
PROSPERITY: doing well; experiencing goodness in life.
ADVERSITY: suffering greatly; experiencing hardship in life.
Going Deep
Keeping the Ten Commandments (the Decalogue or "Ten Words") can sound incredibly daunting. There's a big threat here: God promises to punish those who don't obey his demands. If you've only ever heard about what a kind and loving God you have, words like these can come as quite a shock. You might ask, "Is that really what God is like?" The answer is "Yes, but . . ."
As harsh as these words about the Commandments may be, God has a good reason to speak them to us. We must remember that we're sinners who neither fear, love, nor trust God, nor do we love our neighbors as ourselves. So God's threat in this conclusion lets us know how extremely important these matters are to God. In the Ten Commandments God gives clear boundaries for our behavior, our attention, and our desires. God tells us exactly what's expected of us. The Commandments show how much God cares for us and the creation. These demands from God provide limits for our lives and give us a lifetime full of work caring for our neighbors and the creation.
The Commandments don't just tell us what we should and shouldn't do. More than anything, they reveal our sinful condition by pointing out how much we don't do. Since we like to fool ourselves into thinking that we're not really such bad people, the Commandments force us to look at who we really are and to tell the truth about ourselves. The Commandments work like a mirror, forcing us to face the fact that we are sinners through and through. Luther's interpretation of the Commandments says that the threat is real: God angrily condemns those who don't keep the Commandments. When we break the Commandments and don't do what we're called to do, God promises we will see the effects play out for generations.
The truth is that not a single one of us keeps the Commandments. Sinfulness is our condition from first to last breath. The word "curses" in Deuteronomy 30:19 brings to mind the events of Genesis 3 and the separation that sin causes between human beings and God, one another, and all of creation. These curses are evident both in the real-life consequences for our failure to keep the Commandments as well as in the collateral damage that sin afflicts on us even when there's no fault of our own. These effects can be hurtful and heartbreaking both to creation and to our Creator. God is very serious about limiting the damaging effects of sin. We see that when the Luther's explanation to the First Commandment calls us to fear God above anything else, that fear is a real thing.
It's a good thing that God's laws are not the only word God speaks to us. If the Commandments ultimately leave us in fear and trembling, that is only half the picture, and more must be said for God's message to be complete. God knows that if we were to try to trust God by our own reasoning or willpower, it would never happen. The Commandments show us that much. As strong as the Commandments' demands are, God's promise in Jesus Christ is even stronger. As you and your confirmands study the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the sacraments, you'll learn what Christ has done for you. Jesus came so that in him you would have a flesh-and-blood God to whom you can cleave. He has endured death on the cross to give you forgiveness, life, and salvation. If your sin condemns you, God shows you in Jesus how much God is willing to do to create trust in you. Jesus rose from the dead and continues to be present for you whenever and wherever you hear the good news.
That's the kind of God we don't just fear. Luther reminds us that we can also love and trust God above anything else. And we can learn to let go of ourselves and start giving our lives for others. A demand from God might not be able to change our hearts, but when God shows up in Jesus for us, we can't help but become new people. The Commandments focus on the things in life that really matter: making sure others have enough to eat, defending someone's rights and reputation, being faithful to your spouse, worshiping in community with other Christians, and the like.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Summer Trips
Our Wisconsin mission trip is filled. However, there are plenty of spaces available for Big Stuf and for the Kentucky mission trip (if you are an 8th grader). Here are two videos to give you a "taste" of what you might experience.
Big Stuf Promo
Kentucky Heartland Outreach
Big Stuf Promo
Kentucky Heartland Outreach
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Ten Commandments
This Sunday, January 9th, we begin a 5-week study on the Ten Commandments.
Series # 4 – Ten Commandments ( 5 weeks )
January 9th – Introduction to the Commandments
January 16th – Commandments Part 1
January 23rd – Commandments Part 2
January 30th – Commandments Part 3
February 6th – Commandments Part 4
Series # 4 – Ten Commandments ( 5 weeks )
January 9th – Introduction to the Commandments
January 16th – Commandments Part 1
January 23rd – Commandments Part 2
January 30th – Commandments Part 3
February 6th – Commandments Part 4
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