Contributed by Erik Ulstead, West Des Moines, IA

Warm-up Question

What’s the most heroic thing you’ve seen someone do?

Daring Danger

Firefighters are often called into dangerous circumstances.  Typically, they are asked to rescue people from burning buildings and fiery explosions.  Earlier this month, local firefighters in Kokomo, Indiana found themselves trying to extract a dog from a partially frozen creek.

Like most dogs, Chancellor (or Chance, for short) loved to chase squirrels.  “He’ll chase anything with fur or feathers, but he always comes back,” remarked owner Jimmy Prestler.  Chance pursued the squirrel to a nearby park and onto a patch of ice.  “I’m guessing the squirrel made it across the creek, but the dog didn’t,” said Dave King, battalion chief with the fire department.  A person driving through the park saw the dog fall through the ice and stopped to help, but he was unable to save Chance and called the fire department.

Firefighter Derek Pounds was given the chilly task of rescuing Chance.  After a few minutes Pounds was able to slide across the creek pull the dog out of the water, with the aid of a cold-water rescue suit and an ice sled.  Chance was shaking violently and had icicles frozen to his face.  Pounds wrapped him in a blanket to warm and dry the dog.  King said the dog likely would have died if he’d been in the creek much longer.  “It’s lucky someone saw what happened and called,” he said. “Had he not seen him, the dog would have frozen to death.”

Prestler expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the rescue.  “I think I would have to get therapy if he didn’t survive,” Prestler said.  “Whenever I come home, it’s like seeing my brother after five years.  Chance just goes nuts every time.  They not only saved his life, they saved mine, too.”

Discussion Questions

• When have you seen public servants (firefighters, police officers, road construction workers, etc.) in action?
• What do you think about the owner’s comments about his dog?
• Have you ever been asked to help someone in need? How did you respond?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, February 24, 2013 (Second Sunday of Lent)

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Luke 13:31-35

(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

There’s a lot going on in these few verses in Luke 13.  Jesus had just wrapped up a teaching and healing spree in various communities outside of Jerusalem.  With each stop along the way, the crowds grew larger.  Everyone wanted to see this Jesus they had heard so much about.  However, not everyone was a fan of Jesus.

Herod, the ruler of that region, recently beheaded John the Baptist, Jesus’ friend and mentor.  Many Pharisees (the nice ones, not the mean ones) were concerned that Herod would come after Jesus next.  They told Jesus to leave Jerusalem and go into hiding.  However, Jesus was defiant, insisting that the work of casting out demons and performing cures was too important for him to hide.

He also pauses for a moment to express his dismay for the whole city of Jerusalem.  Jesus is sad for the way Jerusalem has treated the people God has sent there as prophets and ministers.  Furthermore, he knows that he will suffer a similar fate when he returns (for what we now know as Palm Sunday).

We learn a lot about Jesus in this passage.  First, it’s clear that Jesus is one who protects and heals people who are sick or broken.  Second, we see that Jesus is committed to complete the tasks to which he was called.  Finally, we discover that, regardless of their past, Jesus still has concern for the well-being of the entire community.  Through all of this, Jesus reveals that God has a heart for particular places and times.  God cares about your town…your school…your family…your church.  Like a mother hen covering her chicks, or a firefighter rescuing a dog,  Jesus seeks to protect us – and calls us to shelter others in need.

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think the Pharisees are warning Jesus about Herod’s plot?
• Did Jesus make the right choice to stay in Jerusalem?
• Who are some people God is calling you to protect and care for this week?

Activity Suggestions

• Grab some craft sticks and glue.  Attempt to build a building that can’t be knocked over by someone blowing on it.  Talk about how different structures are used to protect people from bad weather or evil people.
• Contact a local animal shelter.  Offer to bring your group to learn about the work they do.  Consider volunteering some time to care for animals or do repairs around their facility.

Closing Prayer

God, we thank you for sending your Son to care for us.  May we provide comfort, hope, and peace to the people we encounter this week.  In Jesus name, amen.

Contributed by Seth Moland-Kovash, Palatine, IL

Warm-up Question

When was the last time you took a standardized state or national or school district-wide test?

Standardized Test

The trend in the last couple of decades in education has been toward more standardized tests. They’re often controversial in negotiations between teachers’ unions and school districts, and in elections. Some people think that teachers should be assessed based on their students’ standardized test scores and some think we need many more factors in assessing how teachers are doing and how much they should be paid. There are more standardized tests given today than ever and lots more importance is given to the results.

One reason for this emphasis on standardized tests is a fear that our education system in the United States is not doing the best job that it could in preparing students. Studies are cited about the performance of American students when compared to students from other countries around the world. People argue about why those results are what they are.  Standardized testing is one of the reasons often cited for the difference and one of the solutions often given for fixing the problem. Here is one example: in this story  The education system of Finland (which is often cited as the best in the world) is also written about as having no standardized testing. One more piece in the argument.

Discussion Questions

• Do you think there is too much emphasis placed on the results of standardized tests in your school? Too little?
• Do you think teacher’s salaries should be determined (a little, or mostly) by the results that their students get on standardized tests?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, February 17, 2013 (First Sunday in Lent)

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Romans 10:8b-13

Luke 4:1-13

(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

As we begin the season of Lent, Jesus is given a test. We cannot be sure if this was a standardized test that the devil gave to lots of people, or if it was only for Jesus, which seems much more likely. But the results were surely very important. Jesus was not tested on his knowledge of math or reading or basic geography. Jesus was tested on his faithfulness and his trust in God. Because that’s what faithfulness is all about. We sometimes talk about faithfulness and think it means knowing the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer.  Maybe we think it means doing the right things and feeding the poor. Those are all important. But faithfulness is really about trusting God.

Jesus aced his test. He demonstrated trust in God in resisting the devil’s offer of bread, human authority, and doing an amazing trick. Jesus aced his test. This does not mean that we are always going to do the same. We are not always going to have the same kind of trust in God. And the good news of this story is that we do not have to. Jesus trusted God. Jesus resisted the devil. Jesus defeated the devil and all the powers of evil, so we are free. We are free to trust God. We do not HAVE to trust God in order to be safe, we are free to trust God. And, because of Jesus’ faithfulness, even when we do not, we are forgiven and loved by God.

Discussion Questions

• Jesus had some tools that helped him resist the temptation. What do you think they were? How was Jesus able to resist?
• How can you build your own trust in God?

Activity Suggestions

People do not live on bread alone, but God has given us much to share. Bake bread as a group and share it with a food pantry or shelter, demonstrating that you trust God to provide enough so you can share.

Closing Prayer

Good and gracious God, we thank you for the faithfulness and trust of Jesus. Help us to trust you more and more each day. Amen.

Contributed by John Wertz, Blacksburg, VA

Warm-up Question

The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus famously said, “The only constant in life is change.”  Name three things in your life that have changed since the beginning of the school year?

Transcendent Moment

Chances are that you or someone in your family was one of over 115 million people who watched the Super Bowl last weekend.  When the game was over, Joe Flacco was  named as the Most Valuable Player for the game.  Now to be sure, Flacco is still the same person he was before the game, but by shining brightly in the biggest game of the year, Flacco will now be seen in a different light by those around him.  People around the world will suddenly know his name.  Companies will ask him to endorse their products.  He’ll be lifted up by fans and celebrated as a hero in his community and eventually his team, or another team interested in his abilities, will probably pay him more money in his next contract.  Thanks to this one event on this one day his life will change.

Most of us will never play professional sports, but our lives often have transformational moments when our gifts are revealed to the world.  These moments may happen on a large public stage, like the Super Bowl.  These moments may happen in the quiet of a family room.  These moments may happen through a paper written for school.  We rarely know when these moments will occur, but when they happen, the people around us –our family, our friends, and our peers, begin to discover who we are and what we are capable of accomplishing.

Discussion Questions

• Have you experienced transformational moment when you discovered something new about yourself or someone else?  How did you react?  How did the people around you react?
• Can anyone in the group name the last five Super Bowl MVP’s?  What do you think makes some transformational moments lasting and others only temporary?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, February 10, 2013 (Transfiguration of Our Lord)

Exodus 34:29-35

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

Luke 9:28-36 [37-43]

(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 our Gospel reading today from Luke, we see Jesus undergo a powerful transformational moment of his own.  Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him to the top of a mountain to talk to and listen to God in prayer.  In Luke, we see Jesus praying at his baptism (3:21).  We see Jesus praying the night before he calls the apostles (6:12).  We see Jesus praying following the feeding of the five thousand (9:18) and during his final days, we will see him praying in the Garden of Gethsemane (22:41) and on the cross (23:34, 46).  For the disciples, seeing Jesus in prayer would have been a fairly normal part of their faith and life, but their experience on top of the mountain with Jesus was certainly unique.  While he was praying, his clothing became dazzling white; his face began to change, and Moses and Elijah appeared in their glory.  Just as Peter appears to be getting a handle on what is happening, a terrifying cloud moves over them and a voice from heaven says, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”  Within moments, the whole experience was over.  Jesus’ face and clothing returned to normal.  Moses, Elijah, and the cloud disappeared.  The voice faded away, but the there is no doubt that the disciples and Jesus were changed by this transformational moment.

In this time of prayer on top of a mountain, Jesus’ true nature is revealed by God’s presence and power.  For Jesus and the disciples, prayer was not an afterthought or something you only did at meals.  Prayer was an important part of a relationship with God and a place where they expected God to be present and active.  The dazzling clothing, the appearance of Moses and Elijah, and the booming voice from heaven during this time of prayer affirm Jesus’ mission and ministry and make it clear to the disciples that Jesus is more than just a teacher, miracle worker, and prophet.  Now certainly every time of prayer in scripture is not accompanied by a dramatic transformational event, but the story of the Transfiguration reminds us that through prayer we can experience God’s presence in our midst and we can discover more about who we are and who God is calling us to be.

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think Jesus took Peter, James and John with him to pray?  How is praying with a group different than praying alone?  How do you think you would have reacted if you had been on the mountain top praying with Jesus?
• The voice from heaven affirms that Jesus is God’s Son, just as it did at Jesus’ baptism, but the focus of the overall message changes.   At the Baptism of Jesus, the voice says,  “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”  At the Transfiguration, the voice says, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”  Why do you think the message changed?  What does this message at the Transfiguration mean for Jesus? for the disciples? for all of us?
• Prayer is clearly a part of Jesus’ relationship with God.  How is prayer a part of your relationship with God?  What is one question you have about prayer?

Activity Suggestions

• Try a one-word prayer.  Say a prayer by having everyone in the group say one word.  Pick someone to start and then have the person to their left add the next word.  For example, the first person might say, “Dear,” the second person might say, “God,” and the third person might say, “we”.  Have people continue to add words until you get a complete prayer thought.
• If your congregation participated in the Super Bowl of Caring, find a creative way to share the story of how your donations will help fight hunger in your community.  If your congregation did not participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring, use their website: souperbowl.org to learn about this exciting ministry.

Closing Prayer

Loving God, we give you thanks for sending Jesus to be a light in the world and a model for ministry.  Transform us by your presence with us and inspire us to be your hearts and hands and voices in the world.  Amen.

Contributed by David Delaney, Salem, VA

Warm-up Questions

•  For anyone who has grandparents, what are some of the most wonderful things they’ve ever said to you?
• Who is the oldest person you know?  What is your relationship to him/her?  What is s/he like?
• Have you ever seen a very old person interact with a very young person, like a new baby in the family?  Describe what the old person’s face looks like.  Chances are it is full of joy, delight, and wonder.  What must that older person be thinking?
• If you have an older mentor or someone else who has guided you or looked after you at some point – maybe a youth leader or employer or the parent of a friend – how would your life be different if that person suddenly disappeared?  What has she/he meant to you?

What’s in a Name?

On Dec. 3, 2012, England’s royal family announced that Kate Middleton, wife of Prince William, is expecting the couple’s first baby.  Immediately people started speculating about what sort of child this would be.  The institution of royalty is evolving in England, so lots of things are unknown.  Of course everyone wonders if will be a boy or a girl.  But beyond that, people sort of wonder what it means to be royalty anymore.  What sort of life will the child lead?  What will s/he become as an adult?  One very interesting question that is, oddly enough, very related to that, is what the child will be named.  This is apparently a huge deal, because the name the child gets can suggest a particular relationship to the past, a relationship to the present, and even a relationship to the future.  For example, if a boy is named George or Edward after one of the 20^th century British kings, then that suggests a desire to preserve tradition and recent memories.  A girl might be named Elizabeth in honor of the current queen, so that name would carry a different kind of symbolic responsibility.  If, however, the couple names the child something offbeat and unconventional, like Raine or Electra, that would suggest that the child is expected to break norms and resist being forced into traditional roles.  In any case, a royal child is very special.

Discussion Questions

• What are the stories behind the names of participants in your group?
• What kind of future would you envision for such an extraordinary child?  What could she or he accomplish simply by virtue of being the heir to the British throne that an ordinary kid would probably not be able to do?
• Imagine you were traveling back from the future to the time of your own birth and could tell your own curious parents how awesome you were going to be?  What kinds of things would you predict?  What advice would you give?  What warnings would you give?
• Do you remember that scene in “Back to the Future” where Marty McFly advises his own parents that when their future 8-year sets fire to the living-room rug that they should “go easy on him”?  Is there anything you wish you could tell your own parents about your future as they held newborn you?
• Some people think this idea of having a “destiny” is ridiculous.  Others think that everyone has a pre-planned future that they must discover.  What does your group think?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, February 3, 2013 (Fourth Sunday after Epiphany)

Jeremiah 1:4-10

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Luke 4:21-30

(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

One can scarcely imagine receiving news as jarring and honest as that which Simeon delivered to Mary.  She had already suspected the way God works in engineering reversals of fortune in society (see Luke 1:46ff) but now it was getting real for her.  Her son was being singled out as one who would become a very disruptive influence in the lives of otherwise comfortable people.  It was surely one thing to have God bring about change from heaven, but quite another to have her son undertake the extremely risky business of opposing people who could have him killed!  Yet Simeon makes it clear that this will happen.  And, as we often find in the old and wise, Simeon knows better than to spare Mary from the truth, which is that she will feel deep grief and pain because of the work that her son Jesus will have to do.

In our baptismal and confirmation promises, we pledge to be diligent about things like worshiping, studying scripture, loving others in the church and outside, and living a life of service and advocating for justice.  The work that we have been called to do might sometimes cause grief even to our families because God’s intentions for us do not always square with the hopes and fantasies our families may have had.  Yet it is difficult to know how we could possibly accomplish some of those important tasks without the blessing of those who have gone before us in the faith – the Simeons and Annas of our lives.  We should never be afraid to seek them out!

Discussion Questions

•  Back up one verse to 2:21 and notice that the family was very careful to follow the prescribed Jewish rituals for how to treat a newborn.  This rite of circumcision was more than simply the removal of extra skin from the infant boy’s penis for health or other reasons.  From the time of Abraham (Genesis 17:12) it was a tie back to a very long history of parents making promises on behalf of their children, making sure they were included in an unimaginably long line of ancestors and given certain rights and responsibilities by being born into that family.  In that way, circumcision bears a certain resemblance to our sacrament of baptism.  What do you know about your own baptism?  Do you know the date?  Who performed it?  Who was there besides your parents?   How does your congregation prepare families for baptisms of their children?  If you don’t know how that is done, it might be interesting to find out!
• Two Jewish rites are being referred to in Luke 2:22-24.  One is for the benefit of the mother who, having given birth, was regarded as “ceremonially unclean.” Ancient Israelites made a careful distinction between human activities that were very private and personal (toilet duties, menstruation, sexual activity, childbirth, etc.) and activities that were public (eating, worship, work, etc.), partly to protect people’s privacy and partly to make sure that public and communal activities could be enjoyed without the unpleasantness of dealing with some of those private matters.  One thing Israelite law always did was to require a little more time than you might think was necessary between a private activity and a public activity to make sure that people (who can sometimes be impolite) were quite done with their messy personal business before participating in an event where no one would really want to hear the gross details.   There were all kinds of guidelines for these things, and the rule for childbirth was 40 days following the birth of a boy or 70 days following the birth of a girl, as prescribed in the Old Testament book of Leviticus 12:2-8.  (No one has exactly been able to explain why there was a difference in the waiting period between boys and girls. It may have been due to the belief that infant girls were more susceptible to sickness than infant boys, so the mother and baby should be sequestered longer).  In any case, we know that Jesus was 40 days old in this passage.  Note, however, that in this Luke passage the reason for the ceremony is because of the special status of the first child in a family – designated as holy to the Lord.  Once again, the time of waiting before the dedication and purification could be thought of as a time of reflection about what God might have planned for this child.  Do you think God has a purpose for you that may have gone back as far as when you were 40 days old?
• If we read Leviticus 12:8, we realize that the reason Mary and Joseph brought two turtledoves for the offering was that they were poor;  otherwise they would have brought a lamb as prescribed in the law.  Some old traditional commentators have remarked, “But they *did* bring a lamb!  It was Jesus!”  Do you think of Joseph and Mary as having very little in the way of money or other assets?  What kind of mental image do you have when you think of Jesus living and growing up in very poor circumstances?
• Luke’s gospel gives the readers little geographic clues as to what the points of his stories are.  Threre are two older people in the story whose names suggest two different areas.  Simeon reminds readers of the southernmost Israelite tribe, the tribe of Simeon.  We are then told that Anna is from the northernmost Israelite tribe, Asher.  So it is as if the entire country is coming together to welcome the baby Messiah.  This means a great deal because for nearly a thousand years the tribes of Israel had been involved with some-or-other kind of internal strife, even when parts of the nation had been destroyed or other parts had been carried to exile.  Can you think of groups of people in our culture or in your daily life who need something as powerful as a Messiah to come before they could possibly come together as one?
• The other reason that Mary and Joseph were at the temple was to dedicate their first-born son to God.  Simeon describes how this special calling will happen in the life of Jesus – pagans (=Gentiles) who have had no knowledge of God will be informed of God’s love and sovereignty, and people will discover the vast riches of wisdom and God’s providence in the long history of Israel.  In baptism this happens in a different way to all of us – we all receive a calling to reveal God’s love and God’s history to those around us who may be blindly devoted to shallow, pointless activities or habits that are deeply hurtful or unjust to others.  How can we imitate Jesus’ calling to be a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel?

Activity Suggestions

• Arrange to have some of the senior members of your church come to visit with younger members and exchange faith stories.  Ask them about their earliest memories of worship, favorite hymns, people who were important to them in their faith development, and so forth.  And then ask them for their blessing;  there is nothing more essential in life than receiving the blessings of our elders. We do not do enough of this in our congregations, and this story is the ideal place to begin!
• Prepare gift packages for all the parents of children who will be baptized in your church in the next year.  Collect promises from the scriptures and write them on small cards and collect them in a fancy envelope or little basket and present them to the families.   They can be brought out and read to the newly baptized children as they grow older.

Closing Prayer

The Prayer of the Day for the Presentation of Our Lord (Feb. 2):  Almighty and ever-living God, your only-begotten Son was presented this day in the temple.  May we be presented to you with clean and pure hearts by the same Jesus Christ, our great high priest, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Contributed by Stephanie Opsal, West Des Moines, IA

Warm-up Question

Have you ever felt like someone close to you did not truly understand you?

Misinterpreted at Home

Although he was a shining star to many football fans a year ago, Tim Tebow spent the 2012 season with the New York Jets as a second-string quarterback.  In addition, Coach Rex Ryan chose to play the third-string quarterback over him when the starting quarterback, Mark Sanchez, was taken out of the game against the San Diego Chargers on December 23.  On top of that, it is unclear whether Tebow refused the opportunity to play in a wildcat offensive formation during the game.  In a later article, Tebow reported that the conversation with his coach was misinterpreted.  He simply asked for the opportunity to play his favorite position, quarterback, though he was willing to do anything for the team.

An article by Greg Couch on FoxSports.com describes Tim Tebow’s situation.  Couch writes that, in his opinion, Tebow’s coach used him for the quarterback’s image and popularity without giving him a chance or intending to play him much. Similarly, Couch stated that Tebow’s previous coach on the Broncos called the wrong plays, trying to expose Tebow’s weaknesses to his adoring fans.  Instead, Tebow found success and helped lead the team to the playoffs.

Couch describes Tim Tebow as a man who simply wants to be a good person and play football, but many others do not accept his approach.  People have viewed him as hypocritical, attention-seeking, selfish, and not having what it takes to play in the NFL.  After the mix-up at the Chargers game, many onlookers bashed his character and criticized him, saying that he “quit on his team”.

Greg Couch offers some closing thoughts on this possibility:

‘Here’s hoping Jacksonville sees him as a man and not a stunt or political statement.  After his college greatness at Florida, though, you wonder what they’ll see him as, football player or incredible ticket-seller. Fans there will pressure coaches more than they did in Denver.  At least Tebow knows what to watch for. He is learning.”

Sometimes our “home” environment or hometown becomes the very place that fails to fully understand us.

Discussion Questions

• What are your opinions of some specific people in the spotlight (actors, celebrities, athletes)?
• Have you ever formed an opinion about another person based on rumors or incomplete news without knowing the whole story?  Tell a partner about it.
• Can you relate to Tim Tebow?  Do you ever feel like you try your best at something and yet other people do not support you?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, January 27, 2013 (Third Sunday after Epiphany)

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

Luke 4:14-21

(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 this passage, Jesus returns to Nazareth, his hometown, and goes to the regular weekly service in the synagogue on the Sabbath day.  I compare this to our weekly church services.  He followed Jewish customs, which included being the reader and teacher of the (Old Testament) prophets’ writings in the scrolls on occasion.  Jesus, however, was not just any other weekly Bible reader.  Because Jesus is God in human form, He spoke the prophet Isaiah’s words with power and proclaimed that these words of prophecy came true through Him that very day!  That is amazing news.  Hundreds of years after God spoke to the man Isaiah about the coming Messiah, Jesus Himself humbly goes to the synagogue as usual, but He shares with the people that He is in fact the One to come and set the captives free, open the eyes of the blind, preach good news to the poor, and announce the year of the Lord’s favor.  Verses 20-21 explain His extraordinary reading of the familiar text which captured everyone’s attention.

However, people in Jesus’ hometown did not fully understand His purpose.  The heading of this passage in some Bibles is “Jesus Rejected at Nazareth”, so the meaning can be partially missed if we do not read the rest of the section through verse 30.  Luke writes that “everyone praised him” (15) and “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips” (22).  But this is followed by, “‘isn’t this Joseph’s son?’” (22B).

Jesus goes on to describe how the old prophets Elijah and Elisha were sent to other places to do God’s work, because the people in their hometown, Israel, would not truly accept God as the source of the healings at those times.  “No prophet is accepted in his hometown” (24).

When Elijah visits a widow in Zarephath during a famine, asks for food, prays to God, and raises her son from the dead, she proclaims, “‘Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth’” (1 Kings 17:(7-23), 24).  Similarly, Naaman, an army commander from Aram who had leprosy, had servants who trusted in the prophets of God in Israel.  Elisha told him to wash in the Jordan River seven times to be cleansed, and when it worked, Naaman proclaimed, “‘Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel’” (2 Kings 5:15).

However, the people in Jesus’ home ground in the Nazareth synagogue only claimed, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”  I think this message is exemplified more clearly in the version of the same story in Matthew’s Gospel.  I encourage you to look up Matthew 13:53-58.  He states the people’s reaction this way:

“‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?’ they asked.  ‘Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?  Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?  Aren’t all his sisters with us?  Where then did this man get all these things?’  And they took offense at him.  But Jesus said to them, ‘Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.’  And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith” (Matthew 13:54b-58).

Since the people in the synagogue of Christ’s hometown saw Him grow up, as any average kid would, they did not accept that God was the source of His power and authority.  They did not recognize Him as God or respond in faith like the outside peoples healed by Elijah and Elisha did.  Even though they were amazed, they were skeptical that “Joseph’s boy” was growing up to be great.  They could not open their eyes to see that God, His true Father, was working through Him with an authority and power that was out of this world.

Can you imagine returning home like Jesus did, only to find that no one really understands who you are?  He wasn’t just another Nazarene; He was God!  Maybe this relates to how Tim Tebow may have felt when his coach viewed him only as a popular icon, when he wanted to be a godly football player.

Have you ever felt this way?  Maybe you went on a life-changing trip that truly opened your eyes to another people’s culture, but when you try to explain it to your loved ones at home, no one fully appreciates the experience.  Maybe you feel that your own parents do not even comprehend what you are going through.  Maybe you worked at a Bible Camp all summer and grew really close to God and experienced His power and love in miraculous ways, but your friends back at home think you are weird or do not want to hear about it.  To you, these things make up part of who you are, but others won’t try to see it from your perspective.

Take hope that Jesus went through the same thing, and He understands you and loves you perfectly, no matter where you are.  And one more piece of food for thought: the next time someone else tries to tell you something really cool they experienced that may seem to be of no interest to you, take the time to listen and see if you can begin to understand his or her perspective so he/she too does not feel unaccepted.

Discussion Questions

•  Does it surprise you that the people in Jesus’ hometown have trouble seeing Him as God?  Why?
• When have you experienced this misunderstanding or rejection from people around you?
• Do you think you have strong faith and trust in Jesus to work in your life?   How can you choose to respond in faith like Naaman and the widow in Zarephath?
• Do you feel comfortable talking about your faith with your friends?  How can you start a spiritual conversation with a friend and try to understand each other’s beliefs and experiences?

Activity Suggestions

•  Is there anyone you feel bitterness or judgment toward right now?  Ask God to soften your heart to understand the reason for these feelings and forgive them and yourself.  Write a letter of apology, explanation, or thanks to them or someone else important in your life.  You can choose to give the person the letter or keep it to remind yourself not to judge them before you fully understand their situation.
• Choose a partner and try to see life from that person’s perspective.  You can ask each other questions for five minutes, and then you’ll have to “be the other person” when your leader gives you scenarios (e.g. an amusement park, the mall, school hallway, at home, eating dinner, waking up on a summer morning, etc.)  You can either act out, write down, or draw how you would act as that person in those situations, and think about how they are different from your own perspective.  Discover how each person’s background makes every person’s take on life a little bit different.
• In what area of your life do you struggle to trust God to help you or lead you?  Your grades?  Work?  Future?  Friends?  Pray to God, saying you believe in Him, and ask Him to do a mighty work in your life.  Expect Him to act, and look for the results with eyes of faith.  If you have any cool “coincidences” or God moments, share them with your group!  Feel free to journal or write down your prayers.
• God wants us to be surrounded by people who know Him and will take the time to listen to us and understand us as Jesus does.  He also loves to answer our prayers when they line up with His desires for us.  Pray for God to give you people in your life that understand you, and believe that He will answer.

Closing Prayer

Jesus, we love you so much.  Thank You for first loving us and for revealing to us how much you can relate to our struggles, like not feeling like we belong, at times.  We believe that you walk beside us through all the days of our lives, and you understand us perfectly, better than we even understand ourselves!  We trust that you will provide the true home for us, and we ask that you empower us to relate to other people who need an understanding friend.  Make us more like you every day, Lord.  In your holy and precious name, Amen!