Contributed by Paul Baglyos, St. Paul, MN

Warm-up Question

Is seeing believing, or is it the other way around?

Can You Confirm That?

Psychologists use the term “confirmation bias” to describe a behavior common to all people: the way we perceive and interpret information depends upon and tends to confirm what we already believe.  We tend to notice and endorse information that confirms our beliefs, while disregarding and denying information that contradicts our beliefs.  Examples of confirmation bias abound in our everyday lives and in contemporary society.  Think of the arguments surrounding global warming and climate change, or the arguments surrounding standardized testing in schools.  Think of how differently a person’s behavior will be interpreted by those who love and admire that person compared to those who despise that person.

In an article published earlier this month, one writer contends that confirmation bias not only affects the interpretation of information but also the availability and reliability of information – especially the information burgeoning on the internet.  Here is a link to that article: http://www.theguardian.com/media-network/media-network-blog/2014/may/13/internet-confirmation-bias

Discussion Questions

• Look up a few definitions of “confirmation bias” on the internet to share and discuss within your group.  What examples of confirmation bias can you point to in today’s society?
• What examples of confirmation bias can you point to in your own behavior?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, May 25, 2014 (Sixth Sunday of Easter)

Acts 17:22-31

1 Peter 3:13-22

John 14:15-21

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

In another gospel passage (Matthew 16:13-15), Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” and then, more pointedly, “Who do you say that I am?”  Presumably, everyone together at the right time and the right place shared the same information about Jesus; they could all see him and the things he was doing, they could all hear him and the things he was saying.  But very different interpretations of Jesus abounded. Was Jesus perhaps John the Baptist come back from the dead?  Was he Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets in a new appearance?  People interpreted the information about Jesus in many different ways.  Finally Peter said, to Jesus, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

Religious skeptics claim that faith in God is a distortion of reality, an example of confirmation bias that impairs judgment and critical thinking.  People of faith often make the same claims about skeptics, thereby participating in a tired and pointless argument that only manages to perpetuate itself endlessly.  People of faith might ask, for example, “How can anyone look upon the grandeur of nature and not see the existence of God?’ Skeptics might ask, “How can anyone look upon the extent of suffering and not see the absence of God?”  Each side engages in its own form of confirmation bias to support its claims and to denounce its detractors.

Confirmation bias, however, does not always or necessarily produce a distortion of truth and reality.  The fact that our perceptions are shaped by our beliefs does not necessarily mean that our perceptions are false and unreliable.  The Gospel of John deals with this matter extensively with regard to faith in Jesus.  Everywhere in John (with the exception of the story about Thomas in chapter 20!) believing precedes seeing and is necessary to it.  “You will see me,” Jesus promises those who believe in him.

But if belief leads to seeing, what leads to belief?  Jesus answers that question in our gospel text when he talks about “keeping my commandments.”  Here we have to do with the behaviors and practices that pertain to the Christian community, the church.  The church is called to do as Jesus does, to do as Jesus says, to do as Jesus teaches.  Such doing incubates belief and belief incubates seeing.

Discussion Questions

• Which Christian practices and behaviors have you found to be most supportive of your faith in Jesus?
• When have you had an experience of seeing Jesus?  Describe the context of that experience.
• What is your greatest challenge or obstacle to faith?  How might you best meet and seek to overcome that challenge or obstacle?
• How do you help others to see Jesus?  How do or how might others see Jesus in you?

Activity Suggestions

As a group, describe ways that you have seen Jesus in each person of the group or ways that each person helps others to see Jesus.  What, for each person in the group, is the most surprising about what others have said?

Closing Prayer

Pray together the prayer for “Enlightenment of the Holy Spirit”:

God Almighty, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Grant us, we pray, to be grounded and settled in your truth by the coming of the Holy Spirit into our hearts.  That which we know not, reveal; that which is wanting in us, fill up; that which we know, confirm; and keep us blameless in your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [page 86, Evangelical Lutheran Worship]

Contributed by Seth Moland-Kovash, Palatine, IL

Warm-up Question

Who are the people you trust most?

Keep the Secret

The effort to keep those who know too much quiet is a common theme in books, television, and movies. From gangster movies to Cold War spy novels to fantasy dramas, secrets must be kept at any cost. The stories get very dramatic based on the lengths to which the “bad guys” go to keep the witnesses from telling the secret. In Alfred Hitchcock’s 1934 aptly-titled movie “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” a girl is kidnapped to keep her parents from revealing an upcoming plot.

One of the biggest book and television phenomena of recent years has been the HBO series “Game of Thrones,” based on the books by George R.R. Martin. In the very first episode of this series, a young boy, Bran Stark sees something powerful people don’t want him to see. In order to keep him quiet, he is thrown from a castle tower. He does not die as his silencers hoped, but he is paralyzed and cannot remember the events leading up to his fall. Many of the events of the series that follows stem from this incident, from the attempt to keep the secret that Bran saw and to find out what really happened to him on that tower.

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever been asked to keep a secret that you felt uncomfortable keeping?
• What are your limits to keeping secrets for friends? How do you decide when you need to break a confidence?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, May 18, 2014 (Fifth Sunday of Easter)

Acts 7:55-60

1 Peter 2:2-10

John 14:1-14

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

The raising of Lazarus was not a secret. Many people knew about it. People had been there to watch him die; people had helped to bury him, and then they talked with him after Jesus raised him from the dead. But still, Jesus’ opponents thought that perhaps they could make it a secret once again. They plotted to kill Lazarus to stop people from talking about how he had been raised from the dead.

Lazarus was not killed by these opponents, at least as far as we know from the biblical record. And his story is still told 2000 years later. But even if he had been killed, his story would have been told. Some things just cannot stay secret. The life and hope that Jesus brings to the world cannot be kept secret. Even if Lazarus had been killed, even if all those who had seen him had been killed, the gospel light overpowers darkness.

Discussion Questions

• How can you help to not keep the secret of Jesus’ life and the resurrection promise that is for all of us?
• What do you most want to tell about what Jesus has done for you or for the world?

Activity Suggestions

Make a poster that shows how Jesus has touched the lives of your youth group. Post it in your church to tell the story. Don’t keep it secret.

Closing Prayer

Good and gracious God, help us not to keep your life and love a secret. Help us to tell the story with boldness and love. Amen.

Contributed by Jay McDivett, Waukesha, WI

Warm-up Question

How do you know who you should listen to in a world full of sounds and voices? What voices matter or mean more than others?

Which Voice Do You Listen To?

On Tuesday, April 29, Donald Sterling, the owner of the LA Clippers NBA team, was banned from the NBA for life, after the recording of a private conversation containing what virtually everyone considers racist comments became public.   The firestorm over these comments led to a silent protest by his own players, calls to boycott his team, and then these proposed sanctions.  The sanctions, which await only the rubber stamp of the rest of the owners, would likely force him out of the league.   Most agree that the owners will  move quickly to distance themselves from Sterling and his racist views. This is only the latest in a long line of racist comments and actions in Sterling’s life (all of which are part of the public record), but it is likely to have the longest lasting impact on him and the NBA.

Sterling now joins the growing ranks of folks who have probably always harbored racist views, but only get in trouble when their private thoughts become known by an ill-timed public rant or, in this case, a private conversation becoming public. In the wake of this most recent display of racism, it remains to be seen if this incident will provoke any lasting dialog regarding race and racism in the U.S.

History suggests that by the time this issue of Faith Lens is published, this incident  and any fruitful conversation about race arising from it  may well  be ancient history—until someone else lets his or her racist self out of the closet and stirs up the news cycle for 24-48 hours again.

Discussion Questions

• How do you feel about the way the NBA and the media have handled the Sterling case? How could any of this be handled differently or better?
• How often do you or your friends/family/classmates/teachers talk about race or racism in the U.S.? How comfortable are you with having a conversation about it?
• Who do you have in your life who can help you have a meaningful conversation about racism and diversity?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, May, 11, 2014 (Fourth Sunday of Easter)

Acts 2:42-47

1 Peter 2:19-25

John 10:1-10

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

Today, Jesus offers a powerful “figure of speech” to describe his relationship to those who belong to him.  They are like sheep who “know the voice” of the good shepherd. Sheep aren’t known for being brilliant, but they apparently are quite good at recognizing familiar voices  and they are trained to follow the voice of the one whose job is to care for them. If they follow that familiar voice, they will live. If not, chances are they will die. It’s hard out there for a sheep.

This is meaningful for us, because we live in a world where we are constantly surrounded by voices and sounds. It’s a noisy world, and some would argue that we’ve lost the ability to determine which voices are worth listening to and which are not. Parents? Friends? Teachers? Pastors and youth leaders? Authors? Politicians? Celebrities? Books? Blogs? Cable news? Who do we believe? What do these voices tell us about who we are? Who our neighbors are? What is important?

Today, Jesus both challenges and encourages us. He challenges us to pay attention to whom we pay attention. Whose voices do we act on? All of the folks listed above,  from parents to cable news, can disappoint us. Some try harder than others to be good and helpful and right, but all of us have forces inside us that come to the surface and twist our words and our world into something less than good or helpful or right. Like it or not, there’s a little bit of Donald Sterling in each of us – especially those of us who have gotten used to being in charge. And when the nasty stuff comes to the surface, it’s all too easy to wag the finger, make that guy out to be the bad guy and then move on, without taking seriously the fact that this whole system and culture and world in which we live is deeply troubled and plagued by sin and death.

But be not afraid: Jesus offers deep encouragement, too: If we can learn to listen for his voice, then his voice will lead us to life – abundant life. Listen and follow after Jesus, and you will know true life. Great news…and kind of hard to wrap our heads around.

So turn it around a little: If you want to know who and what to listen to, listen for what will lead to abundant life. Are your parents teaching you how to be safe and loving? Listen to them. Are your favorite celebrities teaching you to value the goodness inside of you and  everyone you meet? Listen to them. Are you hearing good news from your pastor or youth leader about how God loves you – and everyone – without condition or restraint? Listen to them. Are your friends leading you to do and say the things that make for joy and life? Listen to them. And follow them. Work with them to make abundant life real and possible for all people.

And when (not if’) any of those folks slips up and tell you something that makes you or anyone else less alive, less worthy, less valued, less lovable, don’t listen to them. When people you thought you admired or trusted say something stupid, hurtful, or wrong about you or anyone else, love and forgive them.  But don’t let them get away with it. You have a voice and a right to use it to help them and you become more fully alive – more loving, more encouraging, more hopeful. The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but we have a Savior who wants so much more for us and for this whole world: Real. Abundant. Life.

Discussion Questions

• What does the voice of Jesus sound like to you? How do you know you’re hearing Jesus’ voice?
• When have you been disappointed by someone you love and respect?
• When have you challenged someone, especially a friend or family member, when she or he has said or done something cruel or wrong?
• What would or could bring “abundant life” to the situation with the LA Clippers?

Activity Suggestions

You need blindfolds (or, in a pinch, they can close their eyes really tightly and promise not to open them). One person will be a “sheep” – and gets a blindfold. One person will be the “shepherd.” You also need a Leader. The “shepherd” speaks first: “I am the shepherd. Follow me.” Ask the sheep if  they heard the shepherd’s voice and can recognize it. If not, have the shepherd speak again: “I am the shepherd. Follow me.” Once the sheep knows the shepherd’s voice, spread out all over the room.

The sheep’s job is to find the shepherd. The shepherd finds one place to be and stays put. When the Leader raises her/his hand, the shepherd and all the other folks say: “I am the shepherd. Follow me” at the same time. The sheep then tries to walk towards the shepherd. All the other folks can move, but the shepherd stands still. The other folks should try and sound like the shepherd as much as possible. The Leader can turn the sheep around a few times, or help move the other folks in the way. Keep repeating the lines until the sheep finds the shepherd.

Closing Prayer

Good Shepherd Jesus, thank you for teaching us how to hear your voice and follow. help us to listen for you always. Lead us and your whole world into abundant life. Amen.

Contributed by Scott Moore, Erfurt, Germany

Warm-up Question

What is the first thing you notice about someone else?

Something About the Face

Both Facebook and the FBI are working very hard to develop current face recognition software to be able to perfectly identify any person with just a picture of their face. Face recognition systems rely on two features in order to be successful: a data base of pictures of faces  and biometrics, which are the way a computer measures all the details of someone’s face and turns them into a mathematical algorithm and plots them on a chart in the form of data that can be analyzed and compared. The more pictures the face recognition system has, the greater the chances are the computer can make more accurate comparisons.

The US government, according to some sources, wants to compile a database large enough to be able to identify every individual in the United States. Facebook, in comparison, is equally interested in growing their database of face prints, but not in order to catch terrorists. Instead, Facebook wants to make the user experience friendlier by being able to identify friends for you tag in your pictures and perhaps even sell information about where you have been and who you were with.

There are groups very concerned about this capture of our identity and its potential abuse. What would it mean if the government could identify us and our whereabouts and our actions at any given time? Even as exciting as some of this technology is, there seems to be something attractive about being able to remain anonymous when we want to. Can we have both?

Discussion Questions

• What is your feeling about face recognition software?
• Where do you think we should draw the line as a society concerning our personal identity?
• Have you ever had biometric data recorded? (ex. Finger prints at borders like at the airport when traveling?)
• Do you spend a lot of time posting lots of pictures (selfies) on various social media sites? Do you know how your images are being used?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, May 4, 2014 (Third Sunday of Easter)

Acts 2:14a, 36-41

1 Peter 1:17-23

Luke 24:13-35

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

Jesus has died a horrible death. His followers have been cast into fear and despair. The faithful women who went to the tomb, however, saw a vision of angels claiming that he is not dead. He has been raised. The crucified one is alive. One would think that his followers would be the ones that could recognize Jesus immediately. They’ve watched him and listened to him for years. They have spent days and nights with him. They would know his face anywhere. Yet, Jesus is able to walk up to faithful followers on the road and engage them in conversation without them recognizing who he is. He hears their grief and explains to them by interpreting scripture why all these things were supposed to happen.

As they reached their destination, Jesus starts to head on his way. The disciples offer him hospitality and ask him to stay with them because it is getting dark and dangerous on the road. He agrees and something crazy happens. Instead of them being the host, Jesus takes over the role at the dinner table and does something that he has done before. He takes the bread, blesses it and breaks it, and gives it to them.  Take, bless, break, and give. These are the actions of Jesus when he shared the last supper with his disciples. Take, bless, break, share. This is what we do when we gather at the Lord’s table today. Jesus face was hidden from them on the road. In Jesus action at the table they recognize the Lord. As soon, as they see him for who he is, he disappears. They are left with a memory of their entire walk. They see it all clearer now. They felt strong emotions of love and passion on the walk that they now understand, “were not our hearts burning within us?” they say.

This story of a simple walk among friends at a time of grief and pain becomes a model for our Christian walk. Jesus walks with us even when we aren’t able to recognize him. Jesus speaks to us even at our darkest hour even when everything around us tries to drown out his sweet voice. Jesus shares himself with us in holy words and in holy actions even when we find it sometimes difficult to see him in that. Jesus takes a conversation in grief and turns it into joy. Jesus takes simple bread that we have to offer and makes it into a meal where we can see and understand him, and maybe ourselves, in a new light. He blesses our walks through life, our talks about God’s word, and he blesses this meal that he has given to us. It is a gift that is supposed to open our eyes. It is meal that we are called to share in remembrance and recognition of him.

Discussion Questions

• When have you recognized Jesus in the Eucharist/Holy Communion?
• When do you feel more open to sharing in this meal of Holy Communion? When do you find it more difficult?
• When do feel like the Eucharistic meal is a personal meal and when do you feel that it is a community meal?
• In what other meals have you ever recognized Jesus?
• Have you ever felt that your “heart was burning” when you have been talking about the bible with others?
• What do you think your worshiping community could do in order to help everyone recognize Jesus more in this holy meal?

Activity Suggestions

Let’s Find Jesus Meal–Bring food for the participants (donuts, fruit, etc.) Invite them to take some food and either alone or in pairs to find a location within the church/facility where they recognize Jesus. Give them a few minutes to enjoy their meal. Invite them back to share where they ate and why.

Closing Prayer

Lord of Resurrection, you have walked with us along our journey in life. You have encouraged us and given us strength in difficult times and you have rejoiced with us in times of joy. Walk with us and share yourself with us now when we share in your word and when we break bread together. Show us your face and give us the grace to recognize you every step of our lives. We ask this in the name of the one who walks with us always, Jesus Christ, the Risen One. Amen

Contributed by Brian Hiortdahl, Overland Park, KS

Warm-up Question

What scares you?

Confused, Scared, and Depressed

Alex Hribal, a sophomore at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, sits in custody after a recent rampage during which he stabbed multiple people at his school with kitchen knives.  Hribal’s attorney describes him as “confused, scared, and depressed.”

Discussion Questions

• Do you feel any sympathy for Alex?  Why or why not?
• What do you think is the best strategy for keeping schools safe from violence?  What role do students play in school safety?
• Could something unthinkable like this happen in a church youth group setting?  Why or why not?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, April 27, 2014 (Second Sunday of Easter)

Acts 2:14a, 22-32

1 Peter 1:3-9

John 20:19-31

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

The gospel writer John presents the disciples looking just like Alex Hribal:  confused, scared, and depressed.  Their doors are locked in fear.  No doubt the authorities know that they are tied to Jesus, a criminal perceived to be so dangerous that he had to receive the death penalty.  As his known accomplices, the disciples are likely targets of some form of crackdown, especially now that a rumor is going around that Jesus has risen from the dead and is alive again.

 They also have reason to fear Jesus himself.  Most of them had denied him if not also betrayed him, running away and abandoning him in his darkest hour.  Will he confront them with their failure?  Will they have to answer to him for their terrible moment of disloyalty and cowardice?

The stone door of the tomb couldn’t keep Jesus in, and the locks on the disciples’ doors couldn’t keep him out.  He did confront them…with words of surprising grace.  Peace be with you, he said.  Then he showed them where he himself had been stabbed.

After this, he gave them his Spirit and a new mission:  forgiveness.  They were given the responsibility of giving to the world exactly what he had given them.  He is essentially reframing his commandment to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. One characteristic of this complete love is that it casts out fear.  (See John 13:34 and 1 John 4:18.)  Forgiveness banishes all of the brokenness in relationships (guilt, shame, distrust, fear, isolation), making those relationships safe enough that love can be possible and complete again, and hearts can live in peace.

This mission is tested immediately with Thomas, who was not present for the meeting.  Would they retaliate against him because he did not trust them?  Would they punish Thomas somehow for failing to believe their (rather unbelievable) news about seeing Jesus?  Or would they forgive him and include him in sharing the gift of peace they have just received from Christ’s open, wounded hands?

Discussion Questions

• Can Alex Hribal be forgiven by his victims?  Should he be?  What do you think Jesus would say to him?
• Do people fear Jesus and/or His church?  Why?  What can be done about it?
• Who is missing from your groups—at church, at school, at parties?  How can you break through their isolation with good news and include them?

Activity Suggestions

Identify someone you know who appears misunderstood, someone who seems to need more love and peace and compassion.  Pray for them.  Befriend them.  Invite them to accompany you at youth group or another social gathering.

Closing Prayer

God of second chances, we praise you for the resurrection of Jesus and his appearance to his frightened disciples.  Visit us with your peace and power.  Forgive us the ways in which we have wronged you and strengthen us to forgive others.  Replace our fears with faith and love and joy.  Bring all this bleeding world from death to life, in Jesus’ name. Amen