Chris Heavner, Clemson, SC

Warm-up Questions

• Is there a time when your world was turned upside down?
• What words do we associate with such upheavals in our lives?  (Devastated?  Abandoned? Forgotten?  Ignored?)
• Is there a time when you were wanting or hoping that the world would be turned upside down?
• How would you respond to this statement: “Those who are comfortable with the way things are don’t want change; while those who are considered the ‘underlings’ often demand radical change”?

Change is Coming

Our lives can be upended in an instant:

• A friend tells of waking to the warnings that a (seemingly distant) wildfire might reach his area.  In January 2022 Louisville, CO, was practically obliterated by those flames.  In just a few short hours, his family went from thinking, “Maybe we need to keep an eye on this,”  to fleeing so fast they forgot to close the backdoor.  The flames skipped over the house; but the interior was buried in the soot which seeped through the crack of that unlatched door.
• In the lands where Jesus lived, loved, healed, and taught, war is now leaving children without parents and parents without homes.
• In Sunday worship service we pray for the thirty-nine year old whose life is upended by a diagnosis of throat cancer.  We pray that radiation and chemotherapy will push back the disease.

Political ads offer very little in the way of plans and programs to deal with such disruption.  They excel only at warning us how horrible life will be if the other candidate prevails.  How our lives will be “upended” if we allow “them” to be in control.

In most instances, we turn to the Church and to our Messiah, hoping they will shield us from the changes which might upend our lives.  We turn to God as a protection against any reordering of our common refrain:  “Lord, deliver your servant.” But, what if Jesus is the one who is bringing the change?  What if  the path on which we presently tread is a one which needs to come to an end?  How do we interact with a God who insists that all things be made new?

When Martin Luther washed his face each morning he saw this as a reminder that in baptism we have promised to see each day as a new beginning and a new start.  Change didn’t happen once, 2000 years ago.  It wasn’t something that occurred on the day of our baptism and never again.  As we wash our face, we emerge with the awareness that on this day God is calling us to something different from our previous days.

As we begin the Advent season, we speak of how different the world will be when God’s Messiah is among us.  The songs and lessons of Advent are petitions to God to “make all things new.”  Isaiah 64:1 will be read in many church services this Sunday. “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence.”

What if God isn’t the one who protects or prevents upheavals?  What if God is the one who brings it — and possibly requires it?

Discussion Questions

• Does your neighborhood have those signs along the road calling on you to “Repent”?  What does the word “Repent” mean?
• Some hold to the notion of “once saved-always saved.”  Do you share that belief?  What exactly does that mean?
• How many biblical references can you find in which Jesus tells the disciples  to believe a particular thing.  How often does he. merely tell the disciples to “follow”?  In how many of those stories were the disciples fully aware where Jesus was leading them?
• Is your relationship with Jesus one which holds you firmly in place?  Does it also invite you to move in new directions?
• What is the difference between standing firm in faith and using religion as an excuse to avoid needed change in ourselves and society?

First Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 64:1-9

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Mark 13:24-37

(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 B at Lectionary Readings.)

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

Gospel Reflection

Mark 13 is written in the apocalyptic  style.  You are probably familiar with this type of literature from the final book of our New Testament,  Revelation. Daniel is an Old Testament book written in the same style.  In fact, many of the images we find in Revelation are repeated images from Daniel.  Our reading from Mark 13 includes at least four references to Daniel (Dan. 7:13, 9:27,11:31, 12:11.)  Mark’s instruction, “let the reader understand,” (v. 14) is another such reference.

Contrary to what we are often encouraged to think, apocalyptic writings are not intended to frighten or threaten us.  Apocalyptic writings are affirmations that God the creator and redeemer is always with us.   The world may be turned upside down, but that turning is the very thing which allows us to experience the world God prefers.

Apocalyptic writings affirm the faith community’s confidence that no matter how crushed we might be, God has not abandoned us.  No matter how hopeless we might feel, God’s gift of salvation remains.

As the words of Mark’s 13th chapter were being written, the followers of Jesus were experiencing hardships beyond our imagination.  Their communities were being destroyed.  They faced hunger and oppression for continuing with their family’s religious rituals.  The world in which they found themselves was harsh.  Religious and political powers threatened anyone who didn’t go along with the status quo.  

The faithful followers of Jesus joyfully anticipated the day when Christ would be among them and would right the wrongs they suffered.  They looked forward to the world being turned upside down.  They lifted their voices to God to ask for upheaval and a reversal of the way things are.

Let’s make sure to note that while Mark 13 expresses these affirmations, the gospel writer warns against trying  to predict the day or time when Messiah will come.  There is always a temptation to see events as indicators that the change we seek is about to happen.  Verse 32 suggests that even Jesus (the Son) doesn’t know.  The righting of systemic wrongs must be left in God’s hands.  Mark reminds his readers that there is no better place to be than in God’s hands.

We cannot – by our actions or even by our prayers – dictate the hour of God’s arrival.  Nor can we determine the contours of the New Earth.  Our role is to be ready.  Our call is to “keep awake,”  to dream of an upended world in which the way of Jesus is known and experienced by all of God’s children.  We must not shut our eyes to the way of Christ and the assurances of God’s justice.  Keep awake!

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever heard the word, “apocalyptic”?  What more would you like to know about this word and this style of literature?
• Ask yourself whether you agree with the suggestion that God may be the one who calls for an upending of the way things are.
• It is very important to remember that the call for change among the early followers of Jesus was a comfort.  In what ways might God’s call for reversal be a comfort to you?
• Are you one who makes New Year’s resolutions?  On this, the First Sunday of the new Church Year, what “resolutions” might we make?
• Our Advent songs are more than a memory about something that God did once upon a time.  Our songs ask that God’s Promised One will come to us now, here.  Where in your life and world is there a need for Christ to be born?

Activity Suggestion

During Advent, many of our congregations make use of Marty Haugen’s Holden Evening Prayer.  Experience the beauty of one of the songs in this liturgy,  “Annunciation and Magnificat.”  Lovely music, powerful affirmation of God’s favor.  But, do pay attention to the words.  Two options for you:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nABzv_TInaI has a printed copy of the words.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79GlnqXpp1Q is a congregation’s Advent service.  Discuss how Mary’s words might touch the upheavals those in your group are experiencing.

Closing Prayer

O God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, enter our lives on this day and reshape us so as to reflect the people you know us to be.  Through the assurances of those who have gone before us, allow us to face the new day with the confidence that your will is being done.  With boldness let us embrace the change which will make your peace and your justice a reality for those the world would overlook.  All of this in your time, O Lord. Amen.

There is no Faith Lens posting this week

Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices;
who, from our mother’s arms, has blest us on our way
with countless gifts of love and still is ours today.

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given
the Son and Spirit blest, who reign in highest heaven,
the one eternal God, who earth and heaven adore
for thus it was is now, and shall be evermore.
(Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 839)

Leslie Weber, Chesapeake, VA

Warm-up Question

What makes a thing valuable? What makes a person valuable?

Mattering

According to Dr. Gordon Flett, “mattering is a ‘core, universal human need,’ a necessary component for well-being.” Mattering is more than feeling like you belong or having good self-esteem, it is about feeling valued by others and believing that you add value to the lives of those around you.

Research shows all kinds of benefits for people who feel like they matter,  which lead to better relationships with themselves and with others. A “lack of mattering is associated with burnout, self-criticism, anxiety, depression, aggression, and increased risk of suicide.”

Dr. Isaac Prilleltensky says you can get a sense of how much you feel you matter by asking yourself just a few questions:

• Do you feel valued…
  • in your relationships?
  • at work (both paid and unpaid)?
  • in your community?
  • by yourself? (Do you matter to yourself, possessing a sense that you’re worthy regardless of what you accomplish or how you look?)
• Do you add value…
  • in your relationships?
  • at work (both paid and unpaid)?
  • in your community?
  • to yourself? (i.e. practice self-care)

There are steps you can take to increase your sense of mattering. You obviously can’t change your past or even some of your circumstances, but you might be able to change how they affect your current mental health and your relationships with others.

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever heard of this concept/definition of “mattering” before?
• How much do you feel you matter? (use the list of questions above to help answer this question. Depending on your group you might do this individually or collectively.)
• What was the experience like to think about “mattering” in this way?

Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Matthew 25:14-30

(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 A at Lectionary Readings.)

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

Gospel Reflection

Commonly referred to as “The Parable of Talents,” this passage is part of the section of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel of Matthew that directly precedes the Passion Narrative (when Jesus is arrested, tried, murdered, and resurrected). It is sandwiched between the “Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids” and the “Separation of the Sheep and the Goats.” 

“The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids” begins, “the kingdom of heaven will be like this” (Matthew 25: 1, NRSV), but this parable starts off with Jesus saying “for it is as if” (Matthew 25:14, NRSV). So, is Jesus describing what the kingdom of heaven will be like (as in its predecessor) or is Jesus describing how the world currently functions, contrasting it to God’s reign? Either way, Jesus wants us to learn from this story.

I have commonly heard this passage used for Stewardship sermons. The word stewardship comes from the words “sty” (as in where pigs live) and “warden” (someone who oversees or cares for something). Today, we use “stewardship” to refer to how we use what has been entrusted to us by God (time, talent, treasure, voice, vote…everything).

With that lens in mind, the word “talent” in the story easily takes on a double meaning. We can hear it the way we tend to think about talents today—strengths, abilities, things you are good at. But in Jesus’s day, a “talent” was a large denomination of currency, worth about 15 years of wages of the average laborer. Think 15 years of working full time for minimum wage. Regardless of whether you are thinking about money, or all the other things that God has entrusted to you, the message seems to be same—don’t just hide them away…use them!

It is true that God entrusts gifts to us, each slightly differently, and calls us to use them to do God’s work in the world. But I hesitate to directly equate the man in the parable with God, because the loving God I know is not a “harsh man” (Matthew 25: 24, NRSV) who calls us “worthless” (Matthew 25:30, NRSV) and dispossesses us if we do not earn enough return on investment. In God’s eyes, our worth is not tied to our ability to achieve. We are each made in the image of God and that is what gives us our worth. It is inherent. It is eternal. There is nothing you can do to change it.

That is the law and gospel of this parable: God entrusts us with great gifts and hopes that we will use them to do things like feed the hungry, provide water to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, cloth the naked, care for the sick, and visit the imprisoned (see next week’s Gospel—Matthew 25:31-46), but even when we fail at that, our God given worth as beloved children of God remains.

Discussion Questions

• Which slave do you most identify with? The one with five talents, two talents, or one talent? Why?
• How do you use your talents to add value? Do you feel valued when you do?
• What difference is there between how society measures your value and how God does?
• How do you use the gifts that God has entrusted to you?

Activity Suggestions

• Do you feel like your youth group matters to your congregation as a whole?
  • If so, how do you know?
  • If not, brainstorm how you might use the steps in the article to increase your perceived value (identify your strengths/gifts, assess your place in the system, adjust your relationships, express grievances and practice self-compassion).
• Identify your strengths using this spiritual gifts inventory.
• Map your assets (either individually or communally).

Closing Prayer

Giving God, you made all things and called them good. You made us in your image and declared us very good. Forgive us for the times that we do not live up to that. Thank you for all the gifts you entrust to us.  Guide us in using them to care for creation and serve people, knowing that all are worthy in your eyes. Amen.

Josh Kestner, Clemson, SC

Warm-up Questions

• What are some of the ways that you respond to difficult news stories? Do you pray? Do you research the context more deeply? Is it easier to try to ignore the news altogether?
• Where do you find hope in the world? How do you re-energize yourself when you’re exhausted? Who is someone in your life you turn to when you’re feeling weary?

Listening for Hope

There is no simple reaction or response to the terrifying stories that we’ve been watching regarding the war between Israel and Hamas. There are no easy answers to the questions we have about such a complex past and present situation. 

What is certain, though, is the pain and grief that accompany so much death and devastation. While it may be difficult to fully understand the who, what, when, where, how, and why of this war, it is necessary to condemn hatred and violence when we see it. We cry out with lament for those who have lost their lives, their livelihoods, their homes, their families, and their futures.

War is polarizing. Folks feel as though they must make instinctual choices to back one side or the other. We’re tempted to choose a “good guy” and a “bad guy”. But when it comes down to it, the evils of war are indiscriminate.

When we are faced with difficult news stories and discord in our societies, it is helpful to listen. Perhaps it is easier or quicker to demonize some and distance ourselves from what is going on. But listening to real stories from real people, who are directly impacted by war, creates empathy and enables us to respond in a meaningful way.  What has happened in their lives? How are they feeling? What are they afraid of? Do they have any hope?

Listening leads us to better understand the causes and consequences of conflict. And opening one’s ears before opening one’s mouth allows us to focus primarily on humanity of those involved and the ways that we can go about healing the wounds of war.

Discussion Questions

• What do you know about the history of the Holy Land? Where do you get most of your information and news? Do you have any personal connections to people who have been affected by the most recent war?
• What kinds of questions do you ask to better understand a difficult topic? 
• What does justice mean to you? What are some actions that you take to pursue justice?
• Evil is such an amorphous word and idea. What does evil mean to you? What does your faith teach you about dealing with evil?

Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Amos 5:18-24

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Matthew 25:1-13

(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 A at Lectionary Readings.)

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

Gospel Reflection

The gospel for this week includes a parable. Jesus’ teachings often come in the form of a parable. Perhaps it was easier to explain things using stories and images like this. Folks often say that they resonate with sermons and other educational moments in church when they include relatable stories.

The story that Jesus tells in this passage conjures up some fears and anxieties. How would you feel if you missed out on a long-anticipated wedding banquet and were left on the outside? One of the most pertinent feelings the bridesmaids express in this story is exhaustion. 

Have you felt exhausted recently? Maybe from all of the things on your to-do list. Perhaps from all of the things you’ve been hearing and reading in the news. Maybe from a newly broken relationship or a disappointing experience at work or in class.

The messages we hear in our communities of faith are often sprinkled with hope and love. However, our daily experiences in the life of faith can make us feel hopeless and lonely. We, like the ten bridesmaids in this story, find ourselves overwhelmed by exhaustion. Our eyes get droopy as we search for glimpses and signs of God’s hope and love in our lives.

How can we stay ready, even with tired bodies, minds, and souls? 

This parable does not necessarily leave us with a happy ending. But it does get us thinking about how we cope with some of the realities we face. We might find ourselves frustrated by the lack of control we have over what happens around us – but we can find some solace in the fact that we believe in a God who hears our cries and works alongside us to bring love, joy, and peace into the world.

Discussion Questions

• What are the things that drain your energy the most right now? What fills you with energy?
• What kind of world do you hope for? What does it look like? What does it feel like? How might we make that world a reality?
• What do you do when faith is hard? What do you do when you feel like you have no hope?
• Do you ever get mad at God? Do you ever ask God, “Why?”

Activity Suggestions

Do you pray before you go to bed? Sleep and rest are reminders of our human vulnerability. We cannot do it all, and while we sleep we have to surrender at least a few hours of control in our lives. We have to trust that God continues to work, even while we are asleep.

Write a prayer to keep in your pillowcase. Find meaningful words to convey to God some of your fears and anxieties, things that are causing you stress, things that exhaust you. Write them down and ask God to give you peace while you sleep. 

On the other side you can write a prayer to read in the morning when you wake up. Find meaningful words to ask God to empower you and give you the courage to take on the tasks set before you that day. Write them down and read them when you get out of bed.

Closing Prayer

God of hope, we are tired. While we lean into the faith and love we have from you, we are exhausted by the realities that surround us. Heal our pain. End our neighbors’ suffering. Strengthen our bodies. Empower us by your Spirit. Move us to work with you to bring justice and peace to all of your creation. Amen.

Alyssa Kaplan, Baltimore, MD

Warm-up Questions

• What does it mean to be blessed?
• When have you felt most blessed?
• What are the biggest blessings in your life?

More Than Merely Inspiring

Stella Young, in her TED Talk, challenges the common perception of disability and its relation to inspiration. She shares her own experiences, growing up in a small town and later becoming a teacher. Stella discusses how people often view disabled individuals as objects of inspiration rather than recognizing their everyday lives and challenges.

She introduces the concept of “inspiration porn,” where images and messages are created to inspire non-disabled people by showcasing disabled individuals accomplishing ordinary tasks. Stella argues that this approach objectifies disabled people for the benefit of others and perpetuates the idea that disability is a “bad thing.”

In line with the reflection on Matthew 5:1-12, or the Beatitudes, Stella’s message resonates with the principle of recognizing the intrinsic value of every individual, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. Matthew 5:1-12 emphasizes qualities like mercy, humility, and seeking justice, which can apply to how we perceive and treat disabled individuals. Just as Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5 urge us to challenge societal norms and values, Stella encourages us to question our preconceived notions about disability.

She emphasizes that disability is not what makes a person exceptional, but rather it’s their resilience, strength, and their ability to navigate a world that often fails to accommodate their needs. She advocates for a world where disability is seen as part of the norm, and where disabled individuals are valued for their genuine achievements, rather than being objectified for inspiration.

Stella’s message aligns with the idea that recognizing God’s presence and justice means seeing the value in every individual, regardless of their circumstances. It reminds us to challenge stereotypes and prejudices, and to treat disabled individuals with the respect and dignity they deserve, consistent with the Christ’s  call for empathy and compassion.

Transcript of Stella Young’s TED Talk

Discussion Questions

• Most of us have been inspired by stories of folks overcoming physical challenges.  So why does Stella Young say that these stories are “inspiration porn” and what does she mean by that term? 
• When you think of disability, what comes to mind?  Should we expand our concept to include unhelpful attitudes toward those said to have a disability?
• What will it take to change the way we think of persons with a disability?

All Saints Sunday

Revelation 7:9-17

1 John 3:1-3

Matthew 5:1-12

(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 A at Lectionary Readings.)

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

Gospel Reflection

At the start of Matthew 5, we witness a pivotal moment in Jesus’s ministry. He has become known far and wide for his teachings, the Good News he preaches, and his miraculous healings. People from all walks of life are drawn to him, seeking solace for their souls, understanding for their minds, and healing for their bodies. As Chapter 5 begins, Jesus takes his disciples up a mountain, likely contemplating the needs, hopes, and fears of the crowds that have been flocking to him.

Imagine the weight on Jesus’s heart as he encountered countless stories of suffering, saw the depths of loss etched on people’s faces, and felt the collective longing for liberation, love, and community. These interactions left Jesus and his disciples deeply moved and likely filled with questions.

As they ascended the mountain, perhaps they wondered about the possibilities and challenges that lay ahead. The crowds were growing, suffering was pervasive, and the yearning for a better world was tangible. This was just the beginning of Jesus’s ministry, and the journey ahead was uncertain.

No doubt, their hearts carried dreams of transformation, concerns about expectations, and a profound empathy for the pain surrounding them. In that moment, Jesus sat down with his disciples and shared valuable teachings on how to navigate days when the world seemed overrun by the weight of injustice and suffering.

Even when we intellectually understand that God favors the suffering, the oppressed, and the marginalized, it can be hard to feel it when faced with the world’s pain. It can appear that God has forsaken those in poverty, turned away from cycles of retributive violence, or abandoned the earth to our disregard.

Our culture shapes our perception of what is valuable and what is not. Yet, God offers a different set of values that challenge these cultural norms. It’s natural to be confused by these conflicting messages, as we must unlearn the ideas ingrained by ableism, white supremacy, patriarchy, and other corrupt systems.

From an early age, we are shown or even explicitly told that money equals happiness, power is the path to meaning and security, societal rejection implies worthlessness, self-interest prevails over collective well-being, conformity is best, and differences are threats. These narratives  maintain power structures, perpetuate shame, hinder transformation, and have been passed down through generations.

Our faith equips us to see beyond these illusions, to recognize the emptiness of excess, the deadening impact of participating in evil, and the false promises of power. Jesus offers us these teachings, known as the Beatitudes, as a counter-cultural guide to living with God’s perspective.

The Beatitudes affirm what we need to hear repeatedly: God’s favor, closeness, justice, presence, and love are always working to restore balance in the world. When we look around and see evidence of the world’s injustices, the Beatitudes guide us to perceive, live, and relate differently. They help us recognize that when crowds gather in pursuit of justice or to mourn the world’s pain, it’s a sign of the Kingdom drawing near—a testament to God’s presence and a source of hope for all.

Discussion Questions

Jesus’ beatitudes and Stella’s reflections serve to flip on our traditional understandings of blessedness and blessings on their heads.

• What do you think the ‘Beatitudes’ from Matthew 5:1-12 are trying to teach us about how we should live our lives? Are there any of the Beatitudes that stand out to you in particular?
• How do you see the principles outlined in the Beatitudes aligning with or differing from the values and expectations you encounter in your daily life and in society?
• In the context of the reflection we discussed earlier, how can we apply the teachings of the Beatitudes to address issues of suffering, injustice, and the treatment of marginalized individuals, including those with disabilities or other challenges?

Activity Suggestion

Stella Young uses a wheelchair. Walk around your worship space, fellowship halls, youth group space etc. Note which spaces she, or other wheelchair, users would have access to or not. Would Stella be able to participate fully in your worshipping community? How is ableism hidden in our worship spaces? What about your home or school? How could your youth group improve awareness of the limitations of our worshipping communities? What about folks whose disabilities are less immediately visible? How can we grow in relationship and justice for all members of our communities?

Closing Prayer

Dear Creator,

As we conclude our time together, we gather with gratitude for the wisdom found in your Word and the insights shared in our reflections. Thank you for your teachings that call us to recognize your presence amid suffering and injustice. We acknowledge the importance of embracing these principles of mercy, compassion, and justice. We also reflect on the issue of ableism, which can be a barrier to understanding the unique abilities and worth of each individual. Help us break down these barriers and challenge the biases that perpetuate injustice. Guide us, O Creator, to be agents of change, promoting justice, inclusion, and compassion. As we depart from this gathering, may we carry the light of the Beatitudes and awareness of ableism into our daily lives. May our actions align with your teachings and may we be beacons of hope and love in a world in need. In your name, we pray. Amen.