Faith Lens

Danny Stone, Marion, IA

Warm-up Questions

What are some of the items that have been passed down in your family? Were there any hard feelings that followed the inheritance?

Inheritance

Rock legend Prince (Prince Rogers Nelson) died from a fentanyl overdose on April 21, 2016 at his Minnesota home, Paisley Park. Fans were stunned that this star with a reputation for clean living was another victim of the opioid epidemic.

Prince had a near messianic following with his fans. Your parents grew up listening to “Purple Rain,” and the world celebrated the new millennium with “1999.” His performance during the 2007 Super Bowl was legendary. Prince even made the news the winter of 2016 when his new passport photo went viral. His gaze was past Blue Steel – it was epic. His cool expression, pouty lips, flawless makeup, and amazing hair were the quintessential Prince. No one can doubt he was rock royalty. (Have one of the kids look up this passport photo on their phone.)

Soon after his funeral and the investigation that uncovered the drug addiction, 35 people filed claims with the Minnesota probate court hoping to get a piece of Prince’s $300,000,000 estate. Prince was married and divorced twice and had an infant child who died soon after birth. Unfortunately, Prince did not have a will which could have illuminated his wishes. In July, nineteen claims were dismissed. One spurred claimant purported that she and Prince were married in a secret CIA ceremony. Remaining heirs include four paternal half-siblings, two maternal half-siblings, a niece and grandniece.

Prince’s family has turned Paisley Park into a Graceland-style attraction. Fans can pay to see the inner sanctum where he recorded, held invitation only concerts and kept his collections of outfits and instruments. As with Michael Jackson, Tupac, and Elvis, his heirs can make money for generations from unreleased studio recordings and selling memorabilia.

Discussion Questions

What do you know about Prince? Have you ever listened to his music or seen Purple Rain?
Why do you think that the ordinary and salacious deaths of rock stars make the headlines?
Have members of your family talked about having a will? What are their plans? Who gets what?
Many communities are struggling with the opioid epidemic (heroine, morphine, codeine, Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet). How has your family, congregation, school and community been affected?

Christ the King Sunday

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Colossians 1:11-20

Luke 23:33-43

(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 B at Lectionary Readings

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

Gospel Reflection

We know this story well – it’s the crucifixion of Jesus — one of the corner stones of our Christian faith. “Christ has died, Christ is risen. Christ will come again.” Jesus was proclaimed “King of the Jews” by the snarky Roman soldiers as they gambled over his meager possessions. However, we understand the rich irony. Jesus is truly the King. He is the king of love, forgiveness, hope, and the true Son of God.

Crucified between two criminals is far from a regal end. Jesus owned only the clothes on his back. He was not rich and had seen his trusted disciples scatter in fear. In his final minutes, one of the criminals dying next to him uttered mocking taunts. When you think of the death of a king, many imagine a gray-bearded monarch peacefully passing in bed. Family and trusted aids would gather to hear the final words and the king would pass. As children of the Christmas story, we should not be surprised that the king born in a manger would be the king dying on the cross. Jesus life was focused on this moment. He was born to live as us, to walk as us, and to die as the most cursed of us. He was born to die on the cross to save us from sin and death.

The “other” criminal defends Jesus. The promise of Verse 8, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” is not just for the criminal. It is a promise – a gift – for all of us. Jesus is the king of love, forgiveness, hope and the true Son of God. We are all welcomed into paradise.

Discussion Questions

Our actions and the stuff we pass along are our legacy. What do you think Jesus wanted his legacy to be? What do you think he wanted to be remembered for?
How did Jesus prepare his disciples for his death? What are some specific Gospel stories?
How have people in your family, faith community and community prepared for their death?

Activity Suggestions

Review the obituaries of church members who were honored on All Saints Sunday. What can we learn from their lives? What were their legacies?
Brainstorm a list of places where families can seek assistance in coping with addiction. Who are the go-to people in your community? Trusted school counselor? Pastors? Youth workers?
Invite a trusted member of your congregation to share their 12-step story.

Closing Prayer

Dear God, our blessed parent, you sent your son to be our King of love, forgiveness, and hope. Through Jesus, we are freed from sin and death. Please, help your children who struggle with the loss of loved ones and crippling power of addiction. Hold us in your merciful hands and help us the reach out those in need. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

Bill King, Blacksburg, VA

Warm-up Question

Where do you get your information each day? How do you decide whether something you read or hear is true?

Echo Chamber

A recent cover story in the The Atlantic, entitled “How Social Media Got Weaponized,” explores how terrorist groups exploit social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to spread misinformation, recruit volunteers, and conduct a public relations campaign throughout the world. The task of such groups is made easier by the fact that we are remarkably resistant to testing the truth of what we read.

One study found that “the likelihood of someone believing and sharing a story was determined by its coherence with their prior beliefs and the number of their friends who had already shared it—not any inherent quality of the story itself.” In other words we are much more likely to believe things which reinforce our biases and reflect the views of our peers than to allow new information to challenge our beliefs.

This fact is even more troubling when you consider that most of us seek out information from a limited number of sources which tend to support our beliefs. Not only do we resist believing challenging information, we resist even hearing it. Some have said this results in the “echo chamber effect;” our pre-existing beliefs reinforce themselves, echoing in our heads until all we hear is what we have spoken into the chamber.

Discussion Questions

It is common knowledge that the algorithms used by companies such as Google and Facebook give us ads and unsolicited news feeds which reflect choices we have previously made online. How aware of these practices are you when you use social media? How do you think they influence your beliefs and buying habits?
When was the last time you went out of your way to read something which you knew would challenge your beliefs? Think about how you felt as you were reading; did you become angry, confused, energized, or more empathetic? Did it change you in any way?
How do we break out of the echo chamber?

Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Malachi 4:1-2a

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Luke 21:5-19

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

Gospel Reflection

Scholars debate the degree to which this week’s gospel lesson reflects the church’s expectation of an imminent second coming and the degree to which it is trying to offer consolation following the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, an event which ushered in massive social, religious, and political upheaval. The text probably reflects both purposes.

One thing is clear. We are not the first to live in times of anxiety and transition. We are not the first to think our world is about to be turned upside down by political forces or personal tragedy. Nor are we the first to deal with the temptation to obsess about “what might happen.” Jesus speaks of war, insurrection, conflict, famines, plagues, and what some take to be portents of a dire future—in short, the stuff of our daily headlines or news feed.

With all of this upheaval, Jesus says, you can expect persecution. In times of crisis and change people get scared—and when they get scared they look for scapegoats. It is not easy to be the follower of the Prince of Peace when the social climate clamors for law and order. It is hard to trust God when it feels like the wheels of society are coming off.

But that is exactly what Jesus invites us to do. “You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.” This is no glib promise that we will be bullet proof in the face of all adversity, but a promise that whether the fear that haunts us is a cyber-troll or what might happen following an election God will sustain us, if we dare to follow in the way of Jesus.

Our world invites us into echo chambers of fear. We get stuck in narratives of anxiety, repeating dire predictions of doom to ourselves until they become “truth.” Jesus invites us to hear another word. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (NIV)

Discussion Questions

What is one thing you depend on to give your life stability?
What is your greatest fear? What can you do to waste less time in pointless fretting?
It is an undeniable fact that many Christians have suffered physical harm because of their faithfulness. So how do we make sense of the promise, “…not a hair on your head will perish”?

Activity Suggestions

Martin Luther is reputed to have said, “If I knew that tomorrow was the end of the world, I would plant an apple tree today!” Church Historian Scott Hendrix has said, “”This statement has not been found in his writings. Scholars believe it originated in the German Confessing Church, which used it to inspire hope and perseverance during its opposition to the Nazi dictatorship.”

Authentic to Luther or not, the saying speaks of acting in hope. Discuss with your group an action which you might take together to demonstrate confidence in God’s care in times when we are tempted to become fearful and despairing.

Closing Prayer

Faithful God, who brought all things into being, pushing back the chaos and establishing life on this planet, grant that we may trust to your ongoing care for your creation. When the foundations of our world shake, give us both the courage to speak your name in hope and the peace to rest in your abiding love. Amen.

John Wertz, Blacksburg, VA

Warm-up Question

If you woke up from a 30-year coma and turned on the news, what do you think would surprise you most about the world today?

Working Together Despite Disagreement

On Tuesday, November 8, Americans will go to the polls to vote elect a new president. Whether Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton is elected, chances are that at least 40% of the country will be bitterly disappointed with the result. Sadly this election season may have set a new record for mean-spirited exchanges, dirty tactics and vocalized anger. Instead of offering solutions for how we might feed the hungry, lift up the poor, or work for peace in the world, the campaigns have focused on personal attacks, on lifting up negative news about our country, and on reinforcing partisanship. If one estimate is correct, our country will have spent $5 billion dollars on this campaign season which has sowed seeds of division and highlighted the worst traits of our political system.

Regardless of who wins the election, there are real issues in our country which need to be addressed.

How do we provide assistance to those who are unemployed or underemployed?
How do we lift up those without a voice who are left out of mainstream life?
How do we work for racial equality and erase socio-economic segregation?
How do we create safe communities for all citizens and safe working conditions for those who serve and protect others?
How do we prioritize governmental functions like protection, infrastructure, and social services?
How do we care for those who are sick in mind, body, or spirit?

The answers to these questions and hundreds of others will be hard to find, but one thing is sure, they will not be found without cooperation and compromise.

The campaign we just experienced and the last 30 plus years of political discourse have created an “us verses them” mentality in the political realm, but regardless of which political party you support, you and I are each citizens of the same country, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, and brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. We may not all agree about tax rates, military budgets, or health care, but if we commit to working together, to showing love to our enemies, to offering kindness in the face of hate, and to treating others the way we want to be treated, then despite our disagreements we can began to seek the common good and build up the whole community.

Discussion Questions

Would you ever consider going into politics? Why or why not?
If you could change one thing about our political system, what would it be?
If you had 5 billion dollars to spend to make the world better, how would you invest it?

All Saints Sunday

Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18

Ephesians 1:11-23

Luke 6:20-31

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

Gospel Reflection

During his ministry, Jesus encountered plenty of opposition. Some religious leaders saw him as a threat and disagreed with his teaching. Some political leaders worried that he might start a rebellion. Some neighbors were stirred to anger by his words and refused to hear him. In his place, you or I might have given up on our mission, but not Jesus. Jesus continues to speak God’s Word in the face of opposition – lifting up a vision of God’s kingdom and calling God’s people to faithfulness. Jesus words may not have always made him friends, but they provided hope, inspired introspection, and offered a better way forward for the world.

For those who were struggling in life, the hope Jesus proclaimed was undeniable. “Blessed are you who are poor,” Jesus said, “for yours is the kingdom of God.”(Luke 6:20) In that time, kingdoms weren’t for the poor. Kingdoms were for the rich and the social elite and if you weren’t born into money or status, it was virtually impossible to change you station in life. Jesus, however, makes it clear that God’s kingdom welcomes the poor and the outcast, not just the rich and well-connected. God’s kingdom is a place where all are on equal footing and welcomed to God’s table of grace. For the poor, the weeping, the reviled, and the excluded in this life Jesus is essentially reaching out with loving arms, embracing them and helping them know they are loved by God.

For those who are rich and prosperous, Jesus’ words invite introspection and repentance. “But woe to you who are rich,” Jesus says, “for you have received your consolation.” (Luke 6:24) In that time if you were wealthy, it was thought to be a sign that God favored you. Jesus, however, offers a different interpretation. Wealth, Jesus seems to be saying, is fleeting, so if you have invested your whole heart in simply accumulating and enjoying the riches of this world, then you have invested poorly. Instead of investing your heart in worldly wealth, invest in building a relationship with God and in sharing the gifts you have been given. The abundance of God eternal kingdom far exceeds what you can accumulate for yourself in this world.

Interestingly, Jesus follows his words of hope and his call for repentance by offering advice for all of God’s people to help them live more effectively in relationship with one another. Love your enemies,” Jesus says, “do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. . . . Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:27-28, 31). Worldly kingdoms and political parties may try to eliminate their enemies, may speak out against those who disagree with them, and may strike back against those who oppose them, but God’s kingdom is different. Whether you see yourself on the “blessed” side of the equation or the “woe” side of the equation, Jesus suggests that the way forward in life is love, not hate; generosity, not selfishness; prayer, not retribution.

The problems in our world today are complex. The division between groups is deep, but if we can commit to following Jesus’ advice and treating others the way that we want to be treated, then perhaps we can start to make progress in building both healthier, stronger relationships with one another and a healthier, better world for all God’s people.

Discussion Questions

When you are facing problems, where do you find hope and help?
Loving your enemy is hard. What does it look like for you to love your enemy? What does it look like for a country to love its enemy?
How do you want others to treat you at school, at church and at home? Give one example of how you might treat someone in the way that you want to be treated.

Activity Suggestions

Circle of Complements:

Option 1: Have the group sit in a circle and invite each person to offer a complement to the person next to them. If the group doesn’t know each other well, you might need to prompt that you could offer one positive statement about the other person’s appearance.

Option 2: Have the group sit in a circle and invite each person to offer one positive statement about themselves. Encourage the group to affirm and support the statements.

Declare Random Act of Kindness Day:

Invite the members of the group to undertake one random act of kindness per day for an entire week. Encourage the group to be prepared to talk about what they did and how it made them feel the next time the group gathers.

Closing Prayer

Loving God, we give you thanks for your presence with us in times of joy and in times of need. Be with our country as we prepare for the presidential election. Regardless of the results, help us all seek ways to work together to build up the whole community. Inspire each of us, by your love and by Jesus’ teachings, to care for one another and to treat others as we would like to be treated. Amen.

David Delaney, Salem, VA

Warm-up Questions

In the United States, what day of the year do we most associate with freedom? It’s probably the Fourth of July. With election day coming up, some may also think about that. Does anyone think of Easter Day or even Good Friday? It’s nice to celebrate national freedom, but what about freedom from sin, or freedom from death? And Reformation Day is all about those!
It has been 499 years since the event that we remember as the symbolic beginning of the Reformation. What’s a good way to visualize that many years? Compare it to the age of your house or of your town or city, or of the United States, or anything else that feels like it has been around a long time.
On Oct. 31, 1517, Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany in order to get the attention of professional theologians and start a conversation about salvation. What would you do today to get people’s attention and start a conversation about salvation?

You Will Be Free

Two different stories about freedom:

In late September, billionaire Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, announced a 3-billion dollar initiative for research aimed at eradicating chronic diseases, especially things like infectious disease, heart disease, cancer and neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and autism. It may sound like a wildly irrational idea, but some influential scientists think that it’s not as unrealistic as it sounds at first, given how far the science of medicine has come in the last century. The goal would be to make the human species “disease-free” by the end of the current century.

For more information: http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/09/23/495184078/whats-the-prognosis-for-mark-zuckerbergs-3-billion-health-plan

Around the same time, the new president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duerte, announced that one of the major foreign policy goals for his administration was going to free the country from a “shackling dependency” on the United States for military aid, which some say brings with it a similar dependence on American business and political interests for southeast Asia.

For more information: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-10-07/rodrigo-duterte-wants-to-free-philippines-from-us-shackles-foreign-minister-says

Discussion Questions

Freedom is a tricky idea. What are some differences between these two kinds of freedom represented in these stories – freedom from disease and freedom from outside influence and control ?
In yet another recent news story, Microsoft announced that its xbox360 subscribers would be getting two new games “for free” in October. Which of all of these do you think is the most powerful version of the word “free”?

Reformation Sunday

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Romans 3:19-28

John 8:31-36

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

Gospel Reflection

Recall that in Jesus’ day, the Jewish people in Israel’s ancient homeland were living under political and military occupation by the Roman Empire, so “freedom” was a disputed concept for them. For some, it had to mean ejecting the Romans from their country and reestablishing their own government, and for others it meant a defiant worship and religious behavior in spite of the Roman presence. Either way, God’s people there thought often about freedom.

Here in John 8, Jesus is deep into an argument with Pharisees (a group committed to strict religious observance) and the official religious leaders (called “The Jews” in John’s gospel). We get the impression that they are people who are really very anxious to have someone who is honestly sent from God and can lead them not only into deeper faith in God but also possibly answer this question about what makes for true freedom. If one reads all of John 8 starting at verse 12, it becomes clear that they have difficulty understanding him. And yet the bottom line that we have here in 8:36 is that the most important freedom one can experience is the kind of freedom from sin that only Jesus gives.

On every Reformation Sunday, we read this lesson along with a set of parallel lessons from Jeremiah 31 and Romans 3. The readings help us recall that the ministry of Martin Luther had at its core the goal of getting the church back to its job of proclaiming God’s grace that sets us free from servitude to our sinful desires and enables us to stand against the large forces of sin that lead to the brokenness and injustice of this world.

Discussion Questions

What is your definition of freedom? Do you personally feel free? Where in your life are you under some kind of unavoidable obligation or relationship? Are there invisible or secret things in your life that have a kind of control over you so much that you don’t feel free? What would it take for you to feel “free indeed”?
Do you know young people who live with so few boundaries and restrictions that it seems like literally no one can tell them what to do? Do they seem free? What are some ways in which people who seem to have an outward freedom are still not free on the inside or whose habits and addictions are so powerful that they clearly have to obey them?
How does Jesus grant true freedom? One answer is to recall that his death and resurrection overcomes the first most powerful motivator in human life – fear of death. Another is to note that his call to follow his word and orient our lives toward the will of God the Father overcomes the second most powerful motivator in human life – the fear of being meaningless and the fear of being left out or missing out – and replaces that fear with a promise of a life filled with possibilities for serving others and inviting them to also share in the goodness of God’s will for us.

Activity Suggestions

Illustrate how crippling the power of bondage can be with a game where students wrap a rubber band (not too tight!) around their fingers and thumbs and then try to unwrap a piece of candy. They may eventually get to it, but it will be difficult. To make it harder, tie plastic shopping bags over their hands. They may *think* their hands are free, but when it comes to trying to unwrap a piece of candy again, it is very difficult with the slippery bags on their hands. Where else in life are we fooled into thinking we are free when really we are tied up?
Luther’s 95 theses are easily found by doing a Google search. Many of them require explanation based on the historical context, and if your group is interested in that, there are also many easy-access internet sites that can summarize their purpose. Have the group read through those and identify any that still seem to make sense even without needing a lot of historical explanation.
If the group were going to write “theses” to call the church to faithfulness today, what would they say? You will probably not have time to get to 95, but maybe 9!
In this anniversary year prior to October 1517, there are many resources available from the ELCA, from church publishing houses, and from synods and congregations that help us to explore the ongoing significance of the Reformation for ourselves. Help your students locate some of those and consider undertaking a year of study together on one of Luther’s important writings (like the Large Catechism).

Closing Prayer

God of freedom, we are thankful that you have sent your Son Jesus to bring us freedom and salvation. Make us good stewards of that freedom, not using it for our own self-indulgence, but embracing the opportunity to serve and support others, even while we enjoy the freedom to look at ourselves with true and honest eyes and experience the forgiveness of sin that comes from repentance.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Chris Heavner, Clemson, SC

Warm-up Questions

Do we learn anything about another person if all they do is tell us how they compare to someone else? Why are we so tempted to rank ourselves? Why can’t we simply, honestly say where we fit in?

Suffering by Comparison

Regardless of the candidate you prefer for President of the United States, this has been a campaign season like nothing we have ever seen. Donald Trump secured the Republican nomination without ever having been previously elected. He emerged from a field of seventeen, many of whom had lots of previous political experience. Hilary Clinton finally pulled away from Bernie Sanders. Senator Sanders ran as a Democrat even though he was an Independent in previous election cycles.

This campaign has been notable for other reasons as well. Many voters are frustrated that the Clinton and Trump spend more time comparing themselves to the other than telling us about themselves. Polling experts are probably advising them to do so. Saying how much “better” you are than the other candidate seems to result in more votes.

It seems to work, even though most of us say we don’t like it. Is there something deep within us which moves us to compare one person to another? Do we just naturally look around in order to know whether we measure up? Do we need to denigrate others in order to affirm our own value and feel desirable?

Let us hope this isn’t the case.

Discussion Questions

Why do you think the Presidential candidates spend so much time comparing themselves to the other?
Would we prefer to know who or what someone “isn’t,” more than we would like to know who they are?
To whom are you inclined to compare yourself?

Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

Luke 18:9-14

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

Gospel Reflection

Who are you, a Pharisee or a tax collector?

In reading this parable, it is way too tempting to think of ourselves as the humble man who returns to his home “justified.” And yet, if we are reading this blog or discussing the readings for Sunday we probably have more in common with the Pharisee.

Remember that the Pharisees were a group of folks who took seriously their walk with God. They attended youth group, they went to summer camp, they took turns as acolyte and communion assistant. They also responded well to the fall stewardship campaign. When the Pharisee in this story speaks of his honorable actions he is not exaggerating. Nor is he totally wrong in noting the transgressions of the tax collector.

Tax collectors in Jesus’ day were not merely employees of some Internal Revenue Service. They oversaw no set tax rates or income brackets. They schemed ways to collect the most that they could, taking their income from collecting more than the authorities expected. The tax collector may have cause to think he had transgressed the 7^th commandment. Luther’s Catechism reminds us that we break this commandment when we acquire our neighbor’s money or property using crooked deals. We sin, according to this commandment, unless we help our neighbors improve and protect their property and income.

Neither the Pharisee nor the tax collector should be our role models. Each is way too focused on himself. When we enter the Temple, synagogue, or church our eyes are to be on God. Instead of worrying about how we stand in comparison to those around us, we look to the one who justifies. It is not our actions, nor our avoidance of particular behaviors, which makes us right in God’s eyes. Rather, our salvation is found in the promise of Jesus.

Discussion Questions

Can you find reasons to admire the Pharisee in today’s reading? Discuss how our congregation might look were all the members to be like this man (regular in prayer, in giving, in studying scripture).
Acknowledging our sins is essential to forgiveness being offered. Why do we find it easy to admit, even in the silence of our own hearts, the things we have done and failed to do?
Is there a hierarchy of wrongful deeds; are there some sins which are worse than others? Is the difference in how they affect others?

Activity Suggestions

Using pencil and paper, make a list of the transgressions you committed in the past week. This is your list; no one will see it. Now ask yourself: “Does knowing no one will see it allow you add other items to the list?” A prayer guide asks God to help me with the sins I have labored so mightily to hide from others that I have hidden them from myself.
Even before you think “Why,” write the name of someone in your community of faith whom you admire. Now, note the why. What is it that they do, what is it they say, or how they live their life which has led you to think highly of them?
The denomination sponsoring this blog (the ELCA) has a set liturgy for Individual Confession and Forgiveness [Evangelical Lutheran Worship, pages 243-44]. This is a powerful experience. Discuss with your pastor the possibility of participating in such a service.
Engage yourself in a political discussion. Ask those around you what they know about the Presidential candidates, and observe whether they use statements which seem to compare the candidates rather than say what they think of either as individuals.

Closing Prayer

Gracious God, train our eyes to look to you rather than on the faults of our brothers and sisters. Help us not to focus on what we have done but on what you have done on our behalf. Amen.

November 20, 2016–Inheritance

November 13, 2016–Echo Chamber

November 6, 2016–Working Together Despite Disagreement

October 30, 2016–You Will Be Free

October 23, 2016–Suffering by Comparison