Faith Lens

Amy Martinell, Sioux Falls, SD

Warm-up Question

What is the one sight you want to make sure to see in your life?

Seeing the Unseen

Last weekend a video surfaced of members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the University of Oklahoma singing a racist chant while traveling on a bus to a party. The chant, which included references to lynching and racial slurs, has caused quite a backlash. The fraternity house has been banned, the students have moved out and the leaders of the chant have been expelled from the university. Several protests have been held on campus including the Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops and his football team walking arm-in-arm across campus.

Discussion Questions

Racial issues have been in the news a lot over the last few months. What are your thoughts on race in the United States? Where has progress been made? Where are there still gains to be made?
Many organizations, like the Oklahoma football team, have marched in protest of the video. When have you stood up for something you thought was wrong? When have you stayed silent even when you know something is wrong?

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Hebrews 5:5-10

John 12:20-33

(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

“Sir, we want to see Jesus”

I wonder what the Greeks were looking for when they came to the disciples with this request. Did they simply want to see the man who was drawing all the attention? Were they hoping to see a sign for themselves? Were they there to request a healing or ask a question?

Whatever caused them to seek Jesus out, I doubt they expected everything that they would see and everything that would happen. But as Jesus responds to the relayed request, he seems to say if you want to see me; then be ready because what is coming is what you must see. Life with Jesus is more than spectacular signs and stories. Life with Jesus is serving others, life with Jesus is sacrifice, and life with Jesus is laying down your life.

Jesus death on the cross is a sign of solidarity with the suffering of humanity. His death promises that no matter what terrible thing you are going through Jesus has been there and will go there again to be with you. This promise brings us comfort, but it also means that when we go looking for Jesus we may have to look to the places we’d rather not see. ‘

An Oklahoma student said racism has been a problem on campus for a long time, but no one wanted to see it. As disciples we are called to see the evil and ugliness in the world even when we would rather look away. Jesus spent his life among the sick, poor and marginalized and that is where Jesus is found today. We can feel powerless against evils like racism and it seems easier to try not to notice all that is wrong. Yet, Jesus is found among the unseen and unheard and we are called to follow him there trusting that with Jesus on our side even the most insurmountable situations can be changed.

Discussion Questions

What are some of the evils in the world you would rather not see or think about? How is pretending these problems do not exist easier than working for change?
Who are the unseen people and what are the unseen problems in your community? In your church? What would you like to change? How can you make that change happen?
How have you seen or felt God’s presence in the low times in your life? Where do you see God in the situation at the University of Oklahoma?

Activity Suggestions

There are many people in our own life that we rarely notice or interact with even though we see them on a daily basis. Brainstorm the unseen people in your life (bus drivers, janitors, cafeteria workers, etc.) and chose one to write a thank you note to for all they have done for you.
Make up your own positive chant about what you like or what you’d like to change about your church.
Go to the movie Selma and continue the conversation on race in the United States.

Closing Prayer

Dear Jesus, We give you thanks for your promise to be with us no matter what we are going through. Open our eyes to all the injustice in the world and give us the courage to stand with those in need. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Brian Hiortdahl, Overland Park, KS

Warm-up Question

What color is the dress?

Sight Lines

A photo of a blue and black dress (or is it white and gold?) went viral recently, launching a widespread color debate that captivated the internet.

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(photo from Caitlin McNeill’s Tumblr site.)

Celebrities and scientists were among the millions who weighed in and the New York Times took up the question. Thescience suggests that it has something to do with light and how human eyes receive it.

Discussion Questions

Why do you think the debate about the dress colors was so intense?
How many other examples can you list of people seeing the same thing differently—and passionately arguing (or even fighting) about it?

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Numbers 21:4-9

Ephesians 2:1-10

John 3:14-21

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

Gospel Reflection

Presenting his gospel like a stage play director, John has turned down the lights. Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night because John wants us to see that he is in the dark, in sharp contrast to Jesus, the light of the world (see also John 1:9, 8:12, 9:5).

In their conversation, Jesus is trying to get Nicodemus to see things in a different way, but with limited success. Their disconnect mirrors a passionate divide that runs throughout John’s gospel between those who accept Jesus and those who reject him. Those who accept him believe, and those who do not “are condemned already” as they shun the light in favor of darkness.

Jesus is like the dress: the same phenomenon seen very differently, but always sparking a strong reaction.

But John, seeing him differently, would say that Jesus is the light. The world is the dress. (The Greek word for world iscosmos, which has various shades of meaning itself—humanity, “the way things are,” the powers that resist God, all of creation. John, whose writing covers many levels at once, probably intends all of these simultaneously.) Jesus the light shines upon the world and reveals its true colors.

But Jesus also reveals to us the true colors of God’s heart: God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. God loyally loves the fickle world. The designer’s eyes consistently see the world as worth saving.

The price tag attached is steep: Jesus will end up black and blue on the cross. Yet the colors of Easter are white and gold. The Light changes everything.

Discussion Questions

How do you see Jesus? How is your view different from how others see Jesus? Does he bring love or judgment…or both?
How do you see the world? Is it good or evil…or both? If the world were two colors, what would they be?
Are there things in your life you keep in the dark because you are afraid they will be exposed?

Activity Suggestions

Review the colors of the church year. What do those seasonal color choices reveal about about God’s love and our lives?
Interview someone who is blind, or colorblind. How do they “see” (receive and process what is happening around them in) the world? What do they notice that people with sight do not?

Closing Prayer

Light of the world, shine God’s love into our lives. Train our eyes to see your truth, and transform our works into bright witnesses to God’s beautiful grace, in order that those who see us would be drawn not toward death but into life. Amen

Ellen Rothweiller–Ames, IA

Warm-up Question

Have you ever experienced the destruction of a place that held emotional significance for you; A home, church, school or city? What was that like and how was it different than the loss of a person?

Rebuilding Detroit

The city of Detroit, MI is being rebuilt. Many new businesses are popping up in the downtown area and there are plans for a new streetcar line that will transport people from Downtown to Midtown. Some who fled the city are returning to be a part of the rebuilding of this great American city. There are signs of new life in Downtown Detroit, but areas outside the city center are still in decline. Housing is crumbling with many vacant buildings and lots. One part of the city booms while the rest continues to decline, making the chasm between rich and poor grow.

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Residents of these outlying areas argue that it will take more than just an infusion of money and industry in one part of Detroit to rebuild this city. Jocelyn Harris has lived in one of those “challenged” outer Detroit neighborhoods, about six miles east of downtown, all her life. “We used to have everything: department stores, grocery stores, all of it,” Harris said. “Now the sewage backs up, the park is locked, the school is closed. If we only had more repair dollars, people could have stayed here. It’s been a lot of fighting just to keep it like this.”

Developer Dan Gilbert has bought up more than 60 buildings in downtown Detroit and has been called everything from a missionary to a super hero-despite the fact that his company has been accused of aggressive sales practice. He and others insist that these pockets of wealth will succeed in rescuing the city and that this boom in economics will have a trickle-down effect on the more challenged areas of the city.

Many who care about the future of this city are working to rebuild it, but not all are in agreement on how that should happen. The decline of this city did not happen overnight, and neither will its rebirth.

Discussion Questions

What do you know about the decline of the city of Detroit? How did it happen?
Do you agree more with Gilbert or Harris about the best way to rebuild Detroit?
How does greed play a role in this situation?
How does hope play a role in this situation?

Third Sunday in Lent

Exodus 20:1-17

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

John 2:13-22

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

Gospel Reflection

This event, often described as Jesus’ cleansing of the temple, is included in all four Gospels so it is safe for us to assume that this is a key moment in Jesus’ ministry. The temple was a place of worship and also where the community gathered. It was the hub of the Jewish culture at that time with significant spiritual and emotional ties for many. The temple where this story takes place is the second temple. The first was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 B.C.E. This second temple, constructed after the Jews returned to their land from exile in Babylonia in 539 B.C.E. was leveled by the Romans in 70 C. E. and never rebuilt.

We know that Jesus was not referring to the physical temple building, but his body in John 2:19-21, but those who heard his words that day may have felt that he was threatening to destroy this holy and significant place once again, just to prove a point!

Just as the Jews had suffered the loss of their temple and homeland, many in Detroit are feeling the loss of their city. Jesus’ claim that he could rebuild the temple in three days may have been received with the same offense that many are taking from the “trickle-down” economics being applied in Detroit. It was in part greed that got Jesus so mad about the money changers in the temple. Greed can be a powerful force in a culture and in a city and can play a part in the destruction and rebuilding of temples old and new. Ultimately this story ends with the destruction and resurrection of the temple of Jesus’ body. That is where we must place our hope and trust.

Discussion Questions

What are some current examples of temples that have been destroyed? (twin towers, etc.)
Why might it be important to rebuild those temples?
How might it be idolatrous to be so bound to a physical place?

Activity Suggestions

Google two sides of this story: “rebuilding Detroit” and “decline of Detroit”. Compare and contrast the stories told.
Brainstorm buildings or neighborhoods in your area that are being rebuilt. Talk to someone involved in that process and see what you can learn about that process. Was there a meeting of social and economic resources for this project? How is that working?

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord, we thank you for your church, a place where we can gather in community. We pray for this community and for the community of Detroit. Heal what is broken in these places and people. Give us the courage to put our hope and trust in you, and not in the physical things of this world. Amen

Bob Chell–Sioux Falls, SD

Warm-up Question

What has been the happiest day of your life? What made it so? Does it give you any insight into how to achieve happiness in the future? Is happiness the goal or key to a fulfilling life? If not, what is?

Losing to Gain

Paul Dolan, a professor who studies happiness suggests there is a disconnect between what we think and how we feel. Sometimes the things we think will make us happy do not. Perhaps the person you’ve crushed on for months has returned your interest but over time you realize you miss other friends, hobbies or even your ‘old self.’ Dolan suggests we pay attention to what makes us happy on a daily basis. His formula for happiness suggests we organize our lives around those things which give us pleasure and purpose.

Discussion Questions

How would you rate the following in their ability to provide pleasure and purpose to your life;

Things
Experiences
Relationships
Faith

Does the time and energy you spend focusing on these areas reflect which you value most and which you value least?
What is it that gives meaning to life? Happiness, Peace, Power, Faith, Love, Work, something else? Why?
Professor Dolan doesn’t mention faith in this article on achieving happiness. Does meaning come from deep within ourselves or from something outside and beyond ourselves?

Second Sunday in Lent

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

Romans 4:13-25

Mark 8:31-38

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

Gospel Reflection

He was 30 years old when he came into the prison where I am pastor. He will become eligible for parole when he is 65. He will complete his sentence when he is 100 years old. One could easily say he has ‘lost his life.’ His life is routine and regimented, each day much like the last. On holidays he, like everyone else, is locked in his cell all day because shops are closed and so more staff can have the holiday off. He earns 25¢ an hour at his prison job. There are four men for every job, so he is happy to be working. The money can only be spent at the prison commissary where prices are high and selection is severely limited. One popular item, Ramen noodles, costs 37¢ each.

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Here is what he has told me about coming to prison.

“This is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“Coming to prison saved my life.”

“I lost everything to gain everything.”

If you are skeptical about this I don’t blame you. I would be too if I didn’t see his smile when he says these things. If I didn’t witness how he lives his life day to day. He came into the prison unfamiliar with the Christian faith. He was baptized a year ago and serves on the church council for our prison congregation now. His faith dwarfs my own and his sense of inner peace is astounding to me.

Discussion Questions

This man lost his life because of his crime not for Jesus’ sake, do these verses about losing your life to save it apply to him?
Is a cross something we freely choose or something that happens to us?
What is the cross in your life today? Are you carrying it or nailed to it? Explain.

Activity Suggestions

Ask someone you trust and respect what gives meaning and purpose to their life? What is one piece of advice they would give to someone looking for meaning purpose and happiness in life.
Imagine the prisoner described above could have lived one hour of your life last week. What hour would he choose? (My answer is below. Read it after you decide on your answer.)
How would you answer someone younger who asked you the key to happinessn life, success in High School, or inner peace?My answer: As a prison pastor I’ve come to realize I know 700 plus men who would relish the day to day tasks I dislike. I thought of it this week when, running late, I realized I had snow to shovel before leaving home. To me, an hour of cold, hard work and inconvenience. To the men I serve; an hour outdoors, an hour alone, an hour of quiet and peace, an hour to relish the beauty of gently falling snow, cold wind on their cheeks and the tired feeling of well used muscles.

Closing Prayer

Jesus, open our eyes to the hiddenness of your kingdom. To joy in hard work, meaning in loss and peace in the midst of turmoil. Amen.

John Wertz–Blacksburg, VA

Warm-up Question

Have you ever lost a book, or your phone or one of your favorite possession? What did you lose? How did losing the item make you feel?

Three Days in the Wilderness

On a Wednesday morning in late January, Julie Abrahamsen, a 20 year old Norwegian native, set out for a day of snowboarding in mountains of British Columbia. Intent upon exploring some of the wilderness areas around her resort, Ms. Abrahamsen decided to leave the marked trails and ski out of bounds. Initially, Ms. Abrahamsen connected with a group of backpackers, but she quickly became separated from that group and found herself lost and alone in the wilderness.

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Since Ms. Abrahamsen had only intended to be gone for a short time, she wasn’t carrying an emergency beacon, she didn’t have any extra dry clothing and she only had a small packet of noodles to eat. While it would have been easy for Ms. Abrahamsen to panic, she stayed calm and made it her mission to get out alive. During the day, she hiked through the deep snow looking for signs of civilization. At night, she found cover under rock overhangs and used fir branches for ground cover. On her third day in the wilderness, Ms. Abrahamsen tried unsuccessfully to hike through a creek which left her soaking wet.

Meanwhile, Ms. Abrahamsen’s father became concerned when she didn’t call him on Wednesday night. He reached out to people in the area where she was staying. By Thursday, local officials and her housemates began to search for her. After two days of unsuccessful searching, people began to worry that they might not find her alive.

Thankfully, after 72 hours alone in the cold Canadian mountains, Ms. Abrahamsen’s tracks were spotted by a rescue helicopter and she was plucked from the wilderness and returned to safety.

Discussion Questions

Whhat do you think was the key to Ms. Abrahamsen’s survival in the wilderness? Do you think she would have made it home without the help of the rescuers?
What do you think Ms. Abrahamsen learned from her experience? What can we learn from her experience that could help us in the event that we ever get lost?
What do you think it felt like to be one of the searchers when she was still missing after two days? How would you feel if you had been the one to spot her tracks and help bring her home?

First Sunday in Lent

Genesis 9:8-17

1 Peter 3:18-22

Mark 1:9-15

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

Gospel Reflection

Can you imagine spending 40 days in the wilderness? Can you imagine spending 40 days with the wild animals away from the comforts of home? Can you imagine spending 40 days being tired, hungry and uncomfortable plus facing temptation by Satan? The 40 days in the wilderness following Jesus’ baptism, couldn’t have been much fun. It would have been easy for Jesus to get discouraged, scared, or feel run down by the experience. With the help of God, with the presence of the Holy Spirit, and with the assistance of the angels, however, Jesus not only survives his forty days in the wilderness, but he emerges from the wilderness immediately begins to proclaim the good news of God’s kingdom to the world.

Hopefully, you won’t every be physically lost in the wilderness, but chances are that someday, you will face a wilderness time in your life – a time when you feel alone, uncomfortable or unsure about what to do next. The wilderness you face might come from a problem with a family member or friend. It might come from an issue at school or at work. Your wilderness time might be the result of a poor decision or an illness. Wilderness moments can pop up in an instant and, in some cases, it can feel like you will never find your way out. Thankfully, as Jesus’ experience reminds us, with God’s help, it is possible make it through the wilderness.

When we find ourselves in the wilderness, we can find hope in the good news that Jesus has gone to the wilderness before us and overcome the temptation and confusion that wilderness can bring. When we find ourselves in the wilderness, we can find comfort in the knowledge that God will be with us, just as God, through the angels, was with Jesus. When we find ourselves in the wilderness, we can find encouragement in the knowledge that when Jesus left the wilderness, he was more fully prepared for the life and ministry that was before him. Just like Jesus, when we face and overcome difficult times, we can emerge stronger, more confident and more connected to God.

Discussion Questions

Why do you think the Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness following his baptism instead of sending Jesus to immediately begin preaching and teaching?
What is one lesson you have learned from going through a difficult time?
While Jesus is in the wilderness, the Gospel of Mark says that the angels waited on Jesus. Who helps and supports you when you face difficult times?

Activity Suggestions

Work together to make a list of resources that God has given you to help you when you face wilderness times. Be specific. Include resources like the names of individuals who can help, cite specific passages from the Bible that offer hope and list local community agencies that can help in times of crisis.
Jesus emerged from the wilderness and began proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Create a series of tweets, Facebook posts or images for Instagram that you or your congregation could use to proclaim the kingdom of God to the world.

Closing Prayer

Jesus, our good shepherd, you are present with us in our times of need. Help us to know that nothing will ever be able to separate us from your love. Guide us through the wilderness times in our lives and help us to proclaim your Word to a hurting world. In your name we pray. Amen.

March 22, 2015 Seeing the Unseen

March 15, 2015 Sight Lines

March 8, 2015– Rebuilding Detroit

March 1, 2015–Losing to Gain

February 22, 2015–Three Days in the Wilderness