Contributed by Scott Mims, Virginia Beach, VA

Warm-up Question

•   (Activity) Give each person some Play-Doh or similar material and have them create a sculpture or a symbol that represents or relates to their faith.  After a few minutes, have everyone share their creation and what it symbolizes.  Take note of how many people incorporate a cross in their sculpture.
• Do you think it is easy or hard to be a Christian today?  Why?
• If you had to create a single text message that shares the gospel with someone, what would it say?

Take Up Your Cross

Should a person be fired for wearing a cross, especially when co-workers of other faiths are allowed to wear items symbolic of their beliefs?  Is it appropriate for Christians to refuse to provide services to homosexual couples if doing so conflicts with their personal religious convictions?  These are the issues underlying what some are calling “a watershed moment” in Great Britain.

Four Christians in England, who each claim to have lost their jobs because of discrimination against their Christian beliefs, have recently been granted a hearing by the European Court of Human Rights.  Their case has further fueled debate in England over how to appropriately balance the rights of people to practice their faith with the protection of the rights of others in society.  In recent times British courts have ruled overwhelmingly against Christians, occasionally comparing their beliefs unfavorably with secular principles.

Discussion Questions

• What do you think it means to be a Christian?
• Do you think that being a Christian is more a matter of what you believe or how you act?
• Do you feel comfortable wearing jewelry or clothing that identifies you as a Christian?  If not, why not?  If so, are there places or situations where you would feel uncomfortable or that doing so would be inappropriate?
• Do you agree or disagree: our overall culture is becoming increasingly indifferent, if not openly hostile, to Christianity?  Why?
• What limits, if any, should there be on religious expression?  For example some religions have mandates regarding facial hair or head covering.  Should employers be able to require a shave or a bare head?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, September 16, 2012 (16th Sunday after Pentecost)

Isaiah 50:4-9a

James 3:1-12

Mark 8:27-38

(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

This particular passage is often called the fulcrum or “hinge” of Mark’s gospel account.  Not only is it the midpoint of the book, it also marks several important turning points in the story.  Geographically, Jesus has been working mostly in the region of Galilee, but now his ministry will lead him steadily onward to Jerusalem and the cross.  Theologically several shifts also occur.  Up to this point, Mark has focused on who Jesus is as shown by his words and his works of power.  The conclusion he hopes that we, the readers of the gospel, will reach is the same one that Peter voices – Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ.  So, from here on out the gospel will focus much more on what it means that Jesus is the Christ, and subsequently, what it means to those who call themselves Christians.  That is to say, there is a shift at this point from the invitation to follow Jesus to what discipleship – following Jesus – truly looks like.

So, what does discipleship look like?  Another important feature of this passage is that it contains the first of three instances, three “passion predictions,” in which Jesus foretells what lies at the end of his journey to Jerusalem (verse 31).  Here, as in the other two instances (Mk. 9:30, 10:32-34), those closest to Jesus fail to understand what he is talking about.  Peter rather famously pulls Jesus aside, as if Jesus is the candidate and Peter the campaign manager, and begins to rebuke Jesus for saying such things.  Jesus just as famously puts Peter in his place.  “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”  And here is the essence of the matter, it is not the disciple’s place to define what “Messiah” or “Christ” mean, for it is Jesus alone who gets to define these things.  The disciple’s place is simply to get behind Jesus, to take up her or his cross, and to follow.

But what does it mean to take up one’s cross?  Is it simply to deal with the problems or troubles that come your way with as much patience, determination, and faith as possible?  We often hear of “bearing our cross” in terms of such things.  Yet Jesus has something else, something deeper in mind than getting through life as best as we can.  After all, the cross that awaits Jesus in Jerusalem is not an accidental event or circumstance for him to “get through,” it is a direct result of his own work to confront the powers of sin, evil, and death.  Jesus defined Messiah in terms of his identification with the outcasts, the forgotten, and the oppressed, bringing to them in word and deed the promise of God’s coming kingdom.  This has important implications for all who would follow Jesus.  “Taking up the cross means being at work where God is at work in the world to relieve suffering and injustice, to rescue the weak, and to bring peace and justice to bear in the human community.” (R. Alan Culpepper, Mark)  Because God has gifted each of us with a unique set of gifts, talents, abilities, and experiences, each of us has a unique opportunity to take up our cross and participate in God’s redemptive work in the world.

Discussion Questions

• One often hears that all you need to do in order to be a Christian is to “believe in Jesus” or to “accept him as your personal Lord and Savior.” How do such statements compare with what Jesus calls us to in this passage?  Can a person follow Jesus apart from believing in him?  Can a person believe in him without following?
• If you were either to paint a picture or to make a list of what it means to take up your cross and follow Jesus, what are some of the things that you would include?
• How far would you be willing to go in order to be a disciple?  What things in your life right now would you be willing to give up, change, or take on in order to follow Jesus?
• Even after listening to him teach and witnessing the things that he did, Jesus’ disciples still had a hard time fully understanding what he was up to.  Are there ways in which Christians today misunderstand Jesus?

Activity Suggestions

• Baptismal Connections    Examine together the Affirmation of Baptism service, and especially the description of our baptismal covenant (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, pg. 236; Lutheran Book of Worship, pg. 201).  How is this a description of what it means to be a disciple?  Brainstorm together some practical, every day ways you can live out these promises.  For example, what does it look like to live among God’s faithful people?  How does one proclaim the good news of God in word and deed in real, actionable terms, or strive for justice and peace in all the earth?
• Gifted to Serve   Use a spiritual gifts inventory, or other such instrument, to help participants identify and claim some of the ways in which God has gifted them.  Challenge them to consider how they might use their specific gifts and abilities to participate in God’s redemptive work in the world.  How can using their gifts become a way of taking up their cross and following Jesus?  One such inventory can be found on the ELCA website:

http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Discipleship/Christian-Education/Program-Planners/2005/SpiritualGifts.aspx

Closing Prayer

Gracious and loving God, in the waters of baptism you name us and claim us and make us your own.  Thank you for the gift of new life and for the invitation to experience that life in the community of your church.  Fill us with your Spirit, call deeply to our hearts, and lead us to more fully and faithfully follow Jesus.  Guide our thoughts, our words, and our actions, that we may be your hands and voice in a world so hungry to experience good news.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Contributed by Aaron Matson, Toronto, SD

Warm-up Questions

To what groups do you belong? What makes you a part of those groups? What are the symbols or signs of belonging to those groups or any characteristics members of those groups share?

Us and Them

The ancient philosopher Aristotle once argued that “Man is a political animal.”  He meant that we humans tend to form groups, and groups of groups, and even cities (the Greek word polis means “city”) and civilizations. The Biblical witness seems to affirm this observation. In Genesis, at creation, God gives Adam companions, because “it is not right for man to be alone;” first animals and then a female to be an equal partner, Eve.

Groups are good, they offer protection, support, belonging, and order. Faith is meant to be lived in community. Sure, individuals make up communities, but Christians in the Bible are always with others who are believers too.

Yet, groups are not always good. When they become exclusive or jealous and become “us and them,” they turn from good to bad. It can start as innocently as a hurtful word and can escalate to the use of weapons. When large groups turn bad there can even be war and genocide.

Discussion Questions

How do you know whether a group is good or not? What characteristics does it have or lack? How do you know what to look for?

 Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, September 9, 2012 (20th Sunday After Pentecost)

Isaiah 35:4-7a

James 2:1-10 [11-13] 14-17

Mark 7:24-37

(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 Syrophoenician Woman is part of a group that you don’t usually see at church. She isn’t really accepted by the regular folks. If she belonged to your congregation, she would be the type of person who might come to church, but you’d never see her reading the lessons, helping serve communion, or attending a bible study. Those activities are for the “good” people who do things right. She is not one of those women. She doesn’t have the right skin tone or the right upbringing to really be a part of the “good” crowd of the church.

Jesus is part of a different group. He is a Jew. He’s come to save the Jews. He hasn’t come to take care of this woman, and in his eyes he doesn’t need to be concerned with her. She’s not the reason he’s in Tyre. She’s merely an annoying whining woman who won’t leave him alone. She is a woman who doesn’t understand her place. She shouldn’t even be speaking to him in this place in this way.

In reaction to the woman’s plea for Jesus to heal her daughter of the demon Jesus responds by letting her know that he doesn’t need to heal her daughter. He hasn’t come to save people like her and her daughter. Then the woman comes back at him with a statement he can’t refuse. She gets him to realize he might not have come for her, but even people like her get the leftovers of his teaching, healing, and saving work.

Jesus realizes she is speaking the truth. He says that her daughter is made well and she can leave. Jesus’ mind is opened by the words of a woman so different from him that he was ready to deny her daughter healing, but a desperate mother calls him back to his senses and her daughter is healed.

This encounter is hard to hear. Jesus doesn’t just take care of the need he needs to be called out. He needs to be confronted.

Discussion Questions

• What situation in your life makes you so desperate you’d be willing to enter a place you weren’t invited to plead for someone you love?
• Who do you feel is so different from you that you’d ignore their needs when you could give them what they need without it costing you anything?
• How do you react to what seems like very harsh words from Jesus to the woman in the lesson?  How does this story affect your image of Jesus?

 Activity Suggestions

• Look up the word “dog” to see how it is used throughout the Bible.
• Research what life would’ve been like for a Gentile woman in the world of today’s text.
• Invite a Jewish friend to talk about their faith life.
• Go through a newspaper and see how many examples you can find of conflict rooted in group identity which excludes those of another group.  Discuss what it would take to break down the barriers separating the groups.

 Closing Prayer

Gracious Lord, there are times when we feel alienated from you, bring us close to your love every single day. There are times when we feel so different from those around us that we turn our back when we could offer a hand in help. As the Syrophoenicain woman turned you to heal her daughter, jolt us out of our complacency, expand our vision, and turn us toward all our neighbors. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Faith Lens is not published during the summer.

We hope you value this resource and look forward to its return September 4.

Contributed by Angie Larson, Clive, Iowa

Warm-up Question

When is it ok to use photoshop on a photo?

Who Will You Advocate For?

Fourteen year old, Julia Bluhm has begun a petition to ask Seventeen magazine, a magazine geared towards teenage women, to cut back in using Photoshop on their photos.  She started a petition on change.org and has so far had over 70,000 people sign that petition. Bluhm believes that cutting back on the amount of photo alterations would benefit the young women who read and subscribe to the magazine.  Bluhm wrote, “The media tells us that ‘pretty’ girls are impossibly thin with perfect skin. Here’s what lots of girls don’t know. Those ‘pretty women’ that we see in magazines are fake. They’re often photoshopped, air-brushed, edited to look thinner, and to appear like they have perfect skin. A girl you see in a magazine probably looks a lot different in real life. That’s why I’m asking Seventeen magazine to commit to printing one unaltered — real — photo spread per month.”  Bluhm is advocating for thousands of girls who compare themselves to the photos in the magazines.

There is debate concerning  this advocacy program.  Some say that selling magazines is what it’s all about; it’s just business and putting Seventeen’s best look forward is what sells.  Others say that the unrealistic and unachievable perfection of  photo-shopped photos are partially to blame for eating disorders and low self –esteem.  At this time Seventeen has not issued a response.

Discussion Questions

• If you had a zit on your face during the day of your yearbook photo, would you want it computer altered to make you look more flawless?
• What do you think of Julia’s advocacy campaign?
• Would you be willing to sign Julia’s petition or do you agree with the magazine’s perspective?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, May 27, 2012 (Day of Pentecost)

Acts 2:1-21

Romans 8:22-27

John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15

(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 part of John’s Gospel Jesus tells his friends that the Advocate will come.  By the “Advocate” he is referring to the third part of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.  As Christians we try to grasp an understanding of God the Father from Scripture.  We also know Jesus through the Gospel, but our understanding of the Holy Spirit can be confused.  The Holy Spirit is just as much at work as God the Father, or Jesus the Son.  However, the Spirit’s work is more mysterious.

When the disciples heard Jesus talking about the Holy Spirit as an advocate who will come when He is gone, they were confused.  They couldn’t understand what he was saying about his upcoming death, resurrection, and ascension. He also calls the disciples to testify to the truth about who Jesus is.  Jesus knows that he must leave in order for the Advocate to come.

The Advocate or Spirit will come to “convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment.”  At the same time it will “guide you into the truth.”  Both the good and the bad will be revealed.  The Holy Spirit is our advocate, it will guide us in areas that we need someone to help us to understand the true nature of the world.  The Holy Spirit will help us to see accurately, un-airbrushed, the reality of who Jesus was.

Discussion Questions

•  How do you see the Holy Spirit’s movement in your own life?
• Having read the Scripture text, what do you think was the disciples’ original reaction?
• Who are some that do not know Jesus yet?  How can you share with them the truth?

Activity Suggestions

•  Make a list of causes you think you can advocate for.  What world concerns do you think need to be pointed out as issues?  Choose one issue or cause. Brainstorm ways that you can witness and testify to others about what you understand to be the truth.
• Create a mock trial situation.  On one side, have a “lawyer” explain and call witnesses about why Jesus is the Son of God.  On the other, have a group explain why he is not.  Put together your own trial and practice apologetics in order to learn how to better testify.  Then switch sides.

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for blessing us with this time together.  Open our hearts to your Holy Spirit, your Advocate for us.  Help us to see your activity in our lives and in the lives of those around us.  Help us to know your love and care for us in our own unaltered state. Please use us Lord for your kingdom. Amen.

Contributed by Paul Henrickson, Salem, VA

Warm-up Questions

What if Jesus prayed for you?

• Would it be the same as the prayer in John 17 which he prayed for his disciples?
• Would he pray that you would be “sanctified?”
• Would Jesus pray for your PROTECTION or for your PURIFICATION or both?

Caps and Frowns

Begin by reading following online articles about job prospects for new graduates.  Note the chart “Caps and Frowns:  Job prospects for the class of 2012.”

http://www.decisionsonevidence.com/2012/02/limited-job-prospects-and-earnings-for-high-school-diploma-only-workers/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304020104577384410323391198.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

Whether you’re in high school or college, the employment outlook is not encouraging.  This raises some important questions for people of faith.

• Would God really call us to be unemployed?
• Do we need a broader understanding of “calling?”
• How do faithful people respond to the “new economic reality?”
• What is our true “vocation?”

Discussion Questions

• What do you envision as your future?
• What is your dream?
• What are you planning to do after graduation from High School/College?
• What is your calling?
• Are you looking for security or meaning?
• Do you want to be Protected or Purified?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, May 20, 2012 (Seventh Sunday of Easter)

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

1 John 5:9-13

John 17:6-19

(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

This is part of the “Priestly Prayer” of Jesus in the 17^th Chapter of John.  These four verses seem to sum up the core of the prayer of Jesus for his disciples – for Jesus’ disciples today:

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.^*  They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth

There are three points worth noting:

We are IN the world, not OF the world.

• We have been claimed by Christ to be those redeemed.
• We are no longer under Satan’s rule (this world), but God’s rule.

We are protected.

• “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
•  The power of evil gets too little attention from today’s Christian.
• From Luther’s Large Catechism: “If you could see how many daggers, spears, and  arrows are at every moment aimed at you, you would be glad to come to  the sacrament as often as possible.”

We are being “made holy.”

• We have been “sanctified – made holy”  from Late Latin sanctificāre, from Latin sanctus holy + facere to make

Discussion Questions

•  How would you live your life today if you really believed that God was doing His work on you to “make you holy?”
• What does it mean for you to be IN the world not OF the world?

Activity Suggestions

•  Write a prayer that Jesus might pray for you.
• Imagine a day in your life where your sanctification was a 24 hour activity.
• Read the newspaper and find places where sanctification is required.

Closing Prayer

There is no better prayer for protection and sanctification than Psalm 141.  In your group, slowly read the psalm together as a prayer, perhaps pausing briefly after each verse.  As you read, think of those who are in particular need of God’s care, and pray for them.