Faith Lens

Jon Fry, Champaign-Urbana, IL

Warm-up Questions

How do you pass the time while traveling?
- What are your favorite traveling games/activities with friends or family?

Weird Internet Outage

A few weeks ago my newsfeed was blowing up with articles from medical professionals suggesting that abstaining from in-flight entertainment, food, drink, and sleep, on long flights was a bad decision. This was in response to folks on TikTok posting their record setting performances on multi-hour flights and boasting about their mental stamina.

Numerous doctors, self-help professionals, and meditation specialists began chiming in with their two cents on the trend. Most experts agree that detoxing from technology and spending less time on screens is a good practice; however, combining that with a fast from food, water, and sleep for upwards of seven hours is decidedly not.

Likely this is just another example in a long line of the internet freaking out about something for no reason. There is no real evidence that many individuals are actually committing to this “in-air fast.” In my opinion, it seems more likely that if one were to refrain from electronics, food, drink, and sleep, it wouldn’t result in a zen state but rather irritability and outbursts.

Discussion Questions

Have you ever fasted like this (intentionally or unintentionally)?
What is one of your worst travel experiences? How were you feeling?

Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost

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 at Lectionary Readings.

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

Gospel Reflection

Our Gospel reading for today finds Jesus setting out and traveling to the region of Tyre, where he wants to stay anonymous. Crowds of people had been chasing him and bringing their friends and family to be healed by him. He then had a very public discussion with the religious leaders who were concerned about the disciples eating with unclean hands, and it sounds like Jesus was a bit tired of all the attention.

When he’s noticed and approached by a Syrophoenician woman seeking healing for his daughter, he says that it’s unfair to “take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs”.

This text always makes me recoil a bit, as this isn’t the Jesus full of unconditional love that I’m used to hearing about. This Jesus is drawing a line between the Jewish people (the children) and the Gentiles (the dogs), those at the table and those on the outside.

Yet, this Syrophoenician woman doesn’t miss a beat saying, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” This woman was not deterred by Jesus’ harsh words and grumpy demeanor. She stands strong in her understanding of Jesus’ ministry and advocates for her place at the table.

It’s through her toughness, grit, and determination that we see Jesus’ love shine through. He commends her for her words and sends her home to a daughter who had been healed of her unclean spirit.

To me, Jesus’ “humanness” shines through in this story. His exhaustion and desire to get away from the crowds cloud his vision, and he doesn’t treat this Syrophoenician woman with the respect she deserves. It’s also “human-like” to be faced with a competing opinion and to change one’s mind.

We don’t need to make excuses for Jesus’ behavior and we can be frustrated with his treatment of this woman, but this story offers us a glimpse at a Jesus who has experienced the stress of human existence. Through this story, and because of this woman’s faith and determination, we see a God that is willing to change to show grace, forgiveness, and compassion to the world.

Discussion Questions

Have you ever changed your opinion on an issue or topic? What prompted that change?
How do you know when to hold onto your convictions like the Syrophoenician woman or to allow yourself to be changed like Jesus?

Activity Suggestions

Brainstorm “curious questions” you could ask when you are talking to someone with a different opinion than you. Practice both asking and being asked these questions in small groups. Then reflect together on questions and strategies that could be helpful in talking across difference.
Consider asking an older trusted person in your life about a time they remember changing their opinion on a topic. What prompted the change? How did it make them feel? What reflections can they share about their experience?

Closing Prayer:

God of compassion, open all your children to be changed by your unending love. Soften our hearts to see each person in the world around us as a reflection of you. Be with us when we are met with injustice, and inspire us to be like the Syrophoenician woman who never backed down. We lift these and the prayers of our hearts in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Jacqui Buschor, Little Rock, AR

Warm-up Questions

Do you like games where people compete against each other like Monopoly, or games where everyone works together toward a common goal, like escape rooms?
- Why do you think that is your preference?

Whose Side Are You On, Anyway?

Even if you’re not old enough to vote, I’m sure you’ve heard people talking about “the growing political divide in America.” Maybe you’ve seen evidence of it yourself on the news, in your church, or even in your own family. It seems like everywhere we turn we can find more and more evidence that people are less and less able to listen to each other, especially about politics. Sometimes it feels like the only thing anyone can agree on is how impossible it would be for us to agree. It can be pretty stressful to watch.

But what if our political divide isn’t as huge or even as real as it seems? A recent article in Time Magazine paints a very different story of our country. It explains that while a small number of people on both political sides are very divided, most average Americans actually agree a lot more than we disagree. Like, a lot more. Their survey discovered what they called “stunning agreement” on almost every single issue they asked about.

So why, if most Americans agree more than we disagree, does it seem like things are more divided than ever? Well, partly, because those small groups who are very divided are also very loud, so we hear them more often. But mostly, because of something called “learned divisiveness,” which basically means we think people are becoming more and more divided because someone told us that’s what’s happening, and because we’ve been told it’s happening, our brains collect evidence to support that story, even if it’s not entirely true.

Discussion Questions

How have you felt when you heard people talking about “the growing political divide”?
What might be possible for us if we realized we actually agreed more than we disagreed?

Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost

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

Beyond “Good Guy vs. Bad Guy”

If you’ve heard a sermon about this week’s gospel before, I’d be willing to bet that sermon went something like this: The Jewish leaders were trying to trap Jesus and accuse him of not following God’s laws, but Jesus flipped the script and told them they were the wrong ones, rejecting them and their strict religious laws. This story, like many others, is often used to support the narrative that Jesus, obviously the good guy, is always fighting off the Jewish leaders like they’re the evil villains in some cheesy superhero movie.

This “Good Guy vs. Bad Guy” showdown might make for a great movie plot, but when we try to cast Jesus and the Jewish leaders in those roles, we forget one pretty important detail. Jesus was Jewish. For his whole life. There are lots of stories that demonstrate Jesus following Jewish laws and customs (attending temple, celebrating Jewish festivals, studying the Torah), but we won’t find one single story in the gospels that suggest Jesus was ever trying to start a whole new religion. Instead, over and over the bible tells us stories of Jesus speaking (sometimes harshly) to the leaders of his own Jewish faith, pushing them to stretch and grow their understanding of God and God’s hopes for the world, challenging them to practice a more just and compassionate expression of the same Jewish faith they all shared. Jesus wasn’t fighting against the Jewish leaders as much as trying to work with them to build the kind of world God dreams of for everyone.

We’ve often heard stories that seem to pit Jesus against “the Jews” like they were on opposite sides of an impossible divide, but as a Jewish teacher himself, Jesus shared a lot in common with the leaders he so often challenged. They all loved God, they respected God’s scriptures, and they all wanted a safe future for God’s people, even if they didn’t always agree on how to get there. Read the gospel story again, but this time try reading it remembering Jesus doesn’t see the Jewish leaders as enemies.

Discussion Questions

Does reading the story this way change the way you hear Jesus’s challenge to the Jewish leaders? If so, how?
What kind of church do you want to be a part of?
What kinds of things do you want your church to stand for?
What kinds of ministry would you like to see your church do in the world?

Activity Suggestions

Conduct a survey of your own. Interview some people from your congregation about what kind of church they want to be a part of. Try to include people of different backgrounds or different generations.
- With your friends, discuss your results. Did you discover any surprising similarities or potential new allies? What new things might be possible if you joined forces with your new potential partners?

Closing prayer:

Loving God, In a world that often seems so divided, help us to remember that we are more alike than different. Help us to see your holy image in those around us, even when we disagree. Inspire us to find new ways to work together toward your dream of a world ruled by justice, peace, and love. In Jesus’ name we pray: Amen.

Leslie Weber, Chesapeake, VA

Warm-up Questions

What gave you life this week?
- Try this as a different way of asking for weekly highlights!

Life Just Might Find a Way

Since I can remember, I have heard scientists who work in the field of space talk about the fact that water is essential for life. So, as they continue to search for life on other planets, sometimes they are simply looking for evidence of water as a first step. Earlier this month (August 2024), new findings showed that there is an “ocean’s worth of water” very deep beneath the surface of Mars. This is based on studying the velocity of mars-quakes recorded by NASA’s Mars InSight lander; it has not been confirmed by drilling. The lead scientist, Vashan Wright, is clear to say the findings do not definitively mean that there is life on Mars, but simply that “there are environments that could possibly be habitable.”

You can read the whole article here.

Discussion Questions

Do you believe that there is life on other planets?
Would you travel to space if you got the chance? What about to the Moon? What about to Mars?

Third Sunday After Pentecost

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

Bread Again

Over the last five Sundays, we have read together from the 6th chapter of John, aka the Bread Chapter. We have heard Jesus tell the crowds that he is the bread of life that provides eternal life to all who partake. We have heard him try to explain that his flesh is the bread and his blood the wine. We have heard first the crowds, then some Judeans, and now some of Jesus’s own disciples not understand what he is trying to say. We have sat with them in the midst of the mystery of the gospel, at times confused, questioning, and trying to understand.

Some of them have given up on Jesus and trying to understand his over-their-heads metaphor about bread and eternal life. But thankfully y’all have stuck around even though “this teaching is difficult” and have maybe wondered at times “who can accept it?” (John 6:60, NRSVue).

This is where Simon Peter speaks from—this confusion, uncertainty, and loneliness—as more and more people give up on Jesus and his teachings.

At this point, “many of [Jesus’] disciples turned back,” so Jesus asks the twelve who remain: “Do you also wish to go away?” (John 6:67, NRSVue).

Simon Peter answers: “Lord, to whom can we go?” (John 6:68, NRSVue) There is no one and nothing else that offers what you offer. There is no one and nothing else on earth that promises eternal life. “We have come to believe that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:69, NRSVue). We need to look no further. Nothing else compares to what you represent and embody.

Simon Peter is not asking for his next assignment (of where to go), he is simply proclaiming the gospel in its simplest form.

He is not asking where he should go to serve God, but he is proclaiming that he serves the Holy One of God alone.

He is not asking where he should march in his armor, but he is simply stating that he recognizes that he has the protection of the armor of God. Truth, Righteousness, the Gospel of Peace, Faith, Salvation, and the Spirit are all present in the man standing right in front of him.

Peter does not have it all figured out. We know this because we know the rest of the story. We know that he will later get scared and end up denying and deserting Jesus, but right now he is sure that Jesus is the Holy one of God, and that is enough.

Peter knows that no other gods, not the gods of Egypt, not the gods of the Amorites, not the gods of materialism or gossip or fame or lust or sports, can provide anyone with eternal life. Only God can…and does!

Discussion Questions

Are there beliefs or teachings in the Lutheran (or more broadly Christian) church that you find offensive or difficult to accept?
Have you ever heard someone suggest that Christians are cannibals? This was a common criticism waged against the early church because of their practices around and beliefs about Communion. How did/would you respond?
How do you “go to”/connect with Jesus when you need reassurance, faith, life, and love?

Activity Suggestions

Brainstorm a list of teachings that people find difficult or offensive. Your list could be strictly religious or not. Respectfully discuss each with others and share whether they are deal breakers for you or not. If you need help with the “respectfully” part, here are some tips for discussing difficult issues (https://www.livinglutheran.org/2020/01/perspective-7-tips-for-discussing-difficult-issues/)
Do a mini refresher course on Communion. Luther’s Small Catechism is a great resource!

Closing prayer:

Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life! Help us to trust this always. Help us to live our lives in response to your promise of love and life. Be with us when we stumble and when we find your teachings difficult or offensive. You are the Holy One of God, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Warm-up Questions

What is your favorite thing to eat?
- What happens if you have too much of it?

Olympic Bread

With the Summer Olympics in Paris this summer, bread is playing a central part in the tourist experience. After all, France is known for their bakeries, from crunchy baguettes to sweet pastries and so much more. One bakery went so far as to imprint Olympic rings on the fifteen pound loaves they were baking. You can read more about that here or watch a short video on it here.

There’s something strange in that first paragraph. A loaf of bread that weighs fifteen pounds?! One the one hand, who doesn’t love bread? Even those with gluten allergies or Crohn’s Disease often seek the best gluten-free alternatives to traditional breads and pastas. But fifteen pounds is an almost unthinkable size for a single loaf of bread, even with all the extra people in town for one of the most popular Olympic events in memory. Does the biggest sporting competition in the world require the biggest baked good?

This all raises the question of whether it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. So let’s think about that.

Discussion Questions

Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? This could be something to eat, to watch, to do, truly any thing that is good.
What strategies might you employ to avoid overconsumption?

Third Sunday After Pentecost

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

Bread to Share

In this weeks Gospel–in fact, for many Sundays this year–Jesus talks about bread, even claiming explicitly in John 6:35, “I am the Bread of Life.” This reading also includes overtures to his coming death, communion metaphors, and the promise of eternal life. There’s lots of theological weight riding on this bread!

What makes this Jesus bread so different from the world’s bread–even a fifteen pound loaf–is not just what it does, but how it does it. Of course, regular bread doesn’t ensure rise again from death. Jesus even highlights that the manna God gave in the wilderness didn’t have that kind of power! The Bread of Life that is Jesus Christ is different because it raises us up to share eternity with God.

More than that, this is done by sharing this unique bread. There’s no such thing as too much of the Bread of Life because it’s meant to be shared. The bread comes down from heaven not just to fill one belly or satisfy one’s hunger, but to meet the needs of all who hunger physically and spiritually.

That reality, that the Bread of Life is meant for all, should also tell us something about how we use the bread–and all the resources–at our disposal. It’s really only possible to have too much of a good thing if we refuse to share it with others.

Discussion Questions

We meet Jesus at the Bread of Life in communion. How does participating in that ritual connect you closer to Christ?
If we’re meant to share the Bread of Life, how will that inspire you to share other resources that you have?

Activity Suggestions

Bake some bread to share. Perhaps this is making communion bread for worship, or making tortillas to share with your neighbors, or making sweets to celebrate a family member’s birthday. In this way, live out the sharing of bread in ways that give life to others.
Explore your home or church for signs of “too much.” Where do you have an abundance of resources? Talk with your family, roommates, or congregational leaders about ways those things could be put to use for the benefit of others.

Closing prayer:

Bread of Life, you fill us with good things. Help us to respond in kind, sharing the good things we have with others who need them most. Remind us that, in your abundance, there is always enough to share, more than enough to go around, for there is never too much of Good Thing is you: Amen.

Warm-up Questions

What does it feel like to have your plans disrupted?
What does it feel like to experience delays that are out of your control?

A Global Software Glitch

Just small mistake in a few lines of code. That’s all it took to cancel thousands of flights, lock hospital computers, freeze bank operations, and even temporarily shut down government operations. Throughout the globe, millions upon millions of people’s lives were impacted by just a small mistake in a few lines of code.

Some of you reading this may have dealt with the impacts directly. As I write this, I’m in a hotel room, hoping to make it home only 36 hours late, while others have been delayed as much as five days! I have friends who can’t access medical records. I’ve know family who can’t fully access their checking accounts. It’s a strange thing that, with just a small mistake, the world as we know it snarls into chaos.

You can learn more about how this worldwide event happened here. My takeaway? It’s not that this is a problem that could have been avoided, though that’s certainly at the forefront of my mind. Instead, it’s that a community of people is invested in figuring out what went wrong so we don’t have to repeat this mistake again.

Discussion Questions

Were you impacted by this global software glitch?
- If so, how?
How do you respond to other disruptions in your life?
- What can you learn from this experience?

Third Sunday After Pentecost

https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=588566519Jeremiah 23:1-6

Psalm 23

Ephesians 2:11-22

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

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

Responding to Disruptions

Jesus is no stranger to disruptions. It seems most of his ministry is shaped by the interruptions he experiences during his journeys. What’s so powerful about his witness is that Jesus doesn’t avoid the disruptions, nor does he simply look for someone to blame. Instead, Christ confronts the disruptions in ways that seek solutions.

This week’s Gospel includes two such circumstances. First, as Jesus boards a boat with his friends, an unexpected crowd rushes to greet him. Rather than raise the sails and run, Jesus instead takes time to teach these people who are so eager to hear a good word from God’s Living Word. Then, after finally getting to the other side of the lake, another crowd collapses around him, this time seeking healing. Once again, Jesus takes these interruptions in stride and heals all who come close to him.

This doesn’t make the interruptions easy for Jesus, nor were they necessarily part of his plan. What made them significant, even sacred, is that Jesus took the disruptions seriously and responded the best way that he knew how: with wisdom, compassion, and love.

Discussion Questions

If you were leaving to be alone with your friends, how would you respond if someone you didn’t know interrupted your plans?
Why do you think Jesus was so willing to respond to the interruptions that he faced during his ministry?
What can we learn about our responses to disruption from the example of Jesus?

Activity Suggestions

Play a game with a buzzer or countdown timer. Hot Potato, Heads Up, or Bamboozle would work well. After playing a few rounds, reflect on how it feels in our bodies and minds to face disruptions even when we know they’re unavoidable.
Make a list of people in your community, congregation, or family that have faced disruptions. These could be health challenges, changes at work, moving homes, or life transitions. Then, choose simple ways that you can offer support amidst their disruption. Maybe it’s a prayer. Perhaps it’s a homemade gift. It could be a helping hand. When other people face disruptions, we can follow Jesus and respond with wisdom, compassion, and love.

Closing prayer:

God of surprises, we often don’t know what to expect next out of this life. Help us to follow Jesus and be faithful to the sudden changes and surprising circumstances that we face. Remind us that, even amidst disruption, you are active and that you are working for the good. Help us to join you in responding well to these interruptions to our daily lives and find the goodness that is present, all in and through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord: Amen.

September 8, 2024–A Fully Human Jesus

September 1, 2024–Beyond “Good Guy vs. Bad Guy”

August 25, 2024–Finding Life

August 11, 2024–Too Much of a Good Thing?

July 21, 2024–And Then There Were Flight Delays