Contributed by Danny Stone, Cedar Rapids, IA

Warm-up Question

Share a time when you were sick and needed someone to care for you?

Crossing Borders

Sanaz Nezam emigrated to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the fall of 2013.  The “Yoopee” seems like an unlikely home for a 27-year-old from Iran, but Houghton’s Michigan Tech is a top notch Engineering University.  Sanaz was a graduate of Tehran University, earned a degree in French translation, was fluent in Farsi, French and English and knew a little Spanish, German, Arabic and Swahili.  Like many young adults she had a Facebook page full of inspirational quotes.  She was a newly-wed, active volunteer and was a Muslim who also attended a Christian congregation.

On December 9th, 2013, Sanza was transported from Houghton to a larger regional medical facility, Marquette General Hospital (MGH) in Marquette, Mi. Sanza was brain dead.  Her husband, Nima Nassiri, was in the Houghton County jail facing domestic assault charges.

Nurses researched the special care required for a Muslim woman, but contacting Sanza’s family was difficult. Since the Iranian Hostage Crisis (1979 – 1981), the United States has not had an embassy in Tehran.  However, clever detective work by MGH nurses helped the medical staff  contact Sanza’s family.  Nurses worked with translators to communicate and eventually set up streaming video.  According to MGH nurse, Gail Brandley,  Sanza’s family “actually asked the nurses to stroke her hair, to kiss her forehead and provide that loving touch that they normally would. And it wasn’t just one nurse that they were able to connect with. It seemed like every nurse that came on just really wanted to help this poor family that was helpless 6,000 miles away. And the family could really see and feel the compassion from each and every nurse.”  (NPR’s Here & Now).

After having the chance to say goodbye via the video conference, Sanaz’s family agreed to donate her heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas and small intestine.  Her husband has been charged with murder, but Sanza’s death allows others to live.

Discussion Questions

• Nurses have a difficult job.  What difficulties did the Sanaz’s nurses face?
• What were some of the cultural concerns Sanaz ‘s nurses worked to overcome?
• Have you met someone who recently emigrated to the United States?  What was their experience like?
• According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year.  What are some things we could do to end the violence?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, March 23, 2014 (Third Sunday in Lent

Exodus 17:1-7

Romans 5:1-11

John 4:5-42

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

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

Gospel Reflection

The animosity between Jews and Samaritans can trace its roots Jacob’s  (aka Israel)  troubled family.  Remember the twelve sons, a special coat made for Joseph, jealous brothers selling him into slavery, Joseph’s rise in Egypt and the reunion with his half -starved family.  In his last days, Jacob blessed Joseph’s two sons to be great leaders of the tribes.  Their descendants founded the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah).

Israel, with its capital Samaria, was the first kingdom to fall.  Assyrians attacked and scattered the tribes in 722 BCE.   Israel’s survivors intermarried with colonists and mingled their religious traditions.  Judah was conquered and taken into Babylonian captivity in 600 BCE, but 43,000 were allowed to return to Judah and Jerusalem in 538 BCE.  The northern Samaritans resented the returning tribes with their religion influenced by time in Babylon, and the southern Jews despised their northern relatives for foreign intermarriage and paganism.  By the time of Jesus, Samaritan and Jewish animosity frequently bubbled over into violent clashes.  Both groups forbade all contact.

Jesus was breaking cultural norms by even talking with a Samaritan, yet alone a woman, yet alone a woman who had several marriages.  During the time of the Gospel, women generally only had contact with other women or male relatives. Women could not worship with men and were not educated.  In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus throwing out all the old cultural rules to model a new way.

Discussion Questions

• What are some of the social rules that have changed in the last 100 years?
• Have social rules changed for better or worse?  Why?
• Do cultures change quickly or over long periods of time?  Try to share concrete examples.
• Which of today’s social rules or social issues would Jesus challenge?

Activity Suggestions

Option 1:  Gather a wide variety of magazines that feature people of many ages, cultures and sub-cultures. Have small groups make collages that celebrate our cultural diversity.

Option 2:  Allow teens to pull out their phones and research Sanaz Nezam.  Small groups can give brief presentations from information they gather.

Closing Prayer

Dear God, Father of all.  Please, bless the work of nurses and all health care workers.  Their love and compassion is desperately needed in our all too violent world.  Bring comport to those who mourn, understanding to those who are intolerant, peace to those who hate, and forgiveness to those who act in violence.  In your holy and universal name we pray, Amen.

Contributed by Lindean Barnett Christenson, Bozeman, MT

Warm-up Question

Have you ever encountered a teacher on some other “turf” ­(a grocery store, the mall, a movie, some other place you weren’t expecting to see him/her)? What was your reaction? Did it change the way you thought about him/her? How? Why?

In Context

There’s a tough math teacher at St. Francis High School in La Cañada, California. Jim O’Connor is a Vietnam veteran, a no-nonsense educator, and not someone his students were likely to think of as “warm and fuzzy.”

It turns out that there’s a lot more to Mr. O’Connor than meets the eye, at least from his students’ perspective. During a field trip to a children’s hospital to learn first-hand about where school blood drive donations would go, a couple of Mr. O’Connor’s students were surprised when people said, “You go to St. Francis? You must know Jim O’Connor. Isn’t he wonderful?” The young men had no idea what people were talking about, until they learned that Mr. O’Connor has given more blood there than any other donor. In addition, the students found out he spends three evenings a week cuddling sick babies, like he has for the past twenty years. They had had no idea.

One of Mr. O’Connor’s students says that where before he respected him, now he tries to emulate him. Evidently, knowing the “softer side” of their tough teacher has not deflated the students’ opinion of Jim O’Connor.

Read more about Jim O’Connor and his students here: http://articles.latimes.com/2013/dec/23/local/la-me-beat-biggest-blood-donor-20131224

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think Mr. O’Connor never told his students about his work at the hospital?
• Is there something about you that might surprise people, or influence how they think about you (a hobby, an interest, an interesting experience)?
• Who are your role models? Is there someone you try to emulate? What is it about that person that inspires you to want to be like him/her?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, March 16, 2014 (Second Sunday in Lent)

Genesis 12:1-4a

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

John 3:1-17

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

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

Gospel Reflection

This passage from John includes some of the most familiar verses in the Bible. Unfortunately, more often than not, they are taken out of their context: a pretty interesting conversation between Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus. Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night – because he wanted to avoid detection? because that’s when he had time? because he had not yet been enlightened? – and he tries to understand what Jesus is saying in very literal terms (flesh). Jesus, however, keeps pushing him toward a new way of understanding (spirit). That Nicodemus doesn’t quite “get it” makes Jesus’ point: the kingdom of God is not something one can will one’s own way into; it’s not a matter of deciding, or doing all the right things and avoiding all the wrong ones. Being born of water and the Spirit is God’s work in and on us.

While John 3:16 is one of the most familiar verses in all of Christian Scripture, and is usually shared with the intent of demonstrating the love of God for the world (Martin Luther referred to this verse as “the gospel in miniature”), sometimes people hear it not as a word of hope, but as a word of judgment. Many Christians can tell stories about how the word “Christian” is associated not with grace, love, hope or service, but with judgment, hypocrisy, hatred and meanness.

Evidently enough people have had enough negative experiences with self-proclaimed Christians, that sharing even “good news” is seen as suspect. Perhaps we should always make sure that verse 17 follows verse 16 – 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 is in the saving, loving, forgiving, redeeming and rescuing business. For the sake of the whole world.

Discussion Questions

•  What do you know about Pharisees? What do you know about Nicodemus?
• In John 3:3, the Greek word which is translated “from above” in the NRSV, is translated “again” in the NIV, and “anew” in the RSV. All three translations are good ones. Which one is most familiar to you? Which one is most helpful in understanding what Jesus is saying? Why?
• If someone were to ask you if you have been “born again,” how would you answer?
• How have you seen/heard “Christians” portrayed in the news, TV, movies, etc.? Do you feel those depictions are accurate? Why or why not?
• Which verse is “better news” to you – John 3:16 or John 3:17? Why?
• John 3:16 may be the most popular/familiar verse in the whole of Christian Scripture – perhaps you have seen it lifted up on posters at sporting or other events. If you were going to choose a different verse to hold up, to “sum up” your faith, what would you choose? Why?

Activity Suggestions

• Read the rest of Nicodemus’ story in the Gospel of John: 7:45-51 and 19:39-42. What do you make of these other two mentions of Nicodemus? Does the rest of his story change the way you think about him?
• Ask several adults in your congregation how they answer the question, “Have you been born again?” See if the answers are different if you re-phrase the question (born from above/born anew).
• The Rite of Holy Baptism (ELW p. 227; “In baptism our gracious heavenly Father…”) connects baptism with these verses from John. Ask your pastor if your group can create a prayer station or some other way for worshipers to remember their baptism during/after worship this Sunday. If not, come up with a remembrance of baptism for your class/family to use.

Needed: Talk to the pastor ahead of time!

Possible supplies: pitcher and/or bowl; water; towel(s); glass marbles that look like drops of water; ribbon in water colors; shells – there may be no end to the possibilities.

• Watch the CBS video of Jim O’Connor at: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tough-california-teacher-has-a-tender-heart/ and discuss other insights into his story.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, you taught Nicodemus. Teach us. Fill us with your Spirit and send us into the world God loves. Amen

Contributed by Dave Dodson, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Warm-up Question

Have you even had to work with someone with whom you did not get along?  How did you handle the situation?

Walk the Talk

In 1996, the Ku Klux Klan, an ultra-racist group, decided to hold a rally in Keisha Thomas’ home town of Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Keisha, an African-American woman, was 18 years old at the time.  She and her friends decided to take a stand against the members of the Klan who has arranged this rally to say hateful things about people like her.  With other members of their town, Keisha and her friends created signs and tied bandanas around their faces, ready to protest the Klan rally.

The Klan rally and the town’s protest started off peacefully.  Though both sides were angry and tensions were running high, the groups were staying apart and their feuding was limited to words.

And then something happened.  From the back of the protesting group, a woman with a megaphone shouted, “There’s a Klansman in the crowd!”  The protesters turned.  Sure enough, there was a man standing near their protest wearing Southern-style clothing, with Confederate flags adorning his clothing.  To the protesters, this was the symbol of the hatred the KKK represented.  Howling with anger at this man, the protesters turned and began to chase him.

At first, Keisha ran with the group.  She was intending to help chase this man away from their protest.  But then the man was knocked to the ground.  He fell, and the crowd surrounded him.  The angry crowd began to scream insults at him, kick him, and hit him with sticks and their protest signs.

It was too much for Keisha.  As she put it, “Someone had to step out of the pack and say, ‘This isn’t right.’”  Keisha did just that.  She threw herself upon the fallen man, shielding him with her body.  She protected him from being hit any more, and she shouted at the crowd to stop and to leave him alone.

Keisha knew it was important to remember why she was at the protest at the first place.  She was protesting the hatred that she had seen come from groups like the KKK.  “I knew what it was like to be hurt,” she says. “The many times that that happened, I wish someone would have stood up for me.”

In this moment, Keisha found the strength to stand up for her convictions, even when it meant going against the crowd.

Discussion Questions

• When Keisha tells this story, she speaks of the “mob mentality” – that people act differently (and more harshly) when in large groups.  Why do you believe this is?
• Why do you think Keisha felt the responsibility to protect this man?
• Dr. Martin Luther King once said that “Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”  Do you think that Keisha’s actions would have changed the man she protected?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, March 9, 2014 (First Sunday in Lent)

Genesis 2:15-17

Romans 5:12-19

Matthew 4:1-11

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

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

Gospel Reflection

Immediately after being baptized, Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit.  He is away from his family and friends.  Since this occurs before his calling of the disciples, that means that Jesus is completely devoid of any human company for forty days.  And if that weren’t challenging enough, Jesus also fasts for forty days and forty nights.

Talk about a challenge of faith!  During this time of solitude and fasting, Jesus is approached by a figure that Matthew calls “the tempter” and “the devil”.  Three times, this figure tries to tempt Jesus to stray from God’s path for him. 

The first time doesn’t sound so bad.  Since Jesus is hungry, the tempter tries to convince him to turn stones into bread.  We know that Jesus could do that, of course – he would later go on to give sight to the blind and bring back Lazarus from the dead!  Yet Jesus’ refuses to perform this miraculous transformation.  He could have done it easily, but he chose instead to stay on the path that the Holy Spirit had set for him.

The second time, the tempter tries harder.  He suggests that Jesus should prove that he is the chosen one of God.  Just leap from a cliff – the prophecies of the Old Testament say that God will protect His messiah.  Again Jesus refuses, choosing to rely on faith rather than trying to test God.

Finally, the tempter abandons all subtlety.  He offers earthly power beyond compare if Jesus will kneel before him.  Of course, Jesus knows that true power belongs only to God, and it is only God to whom we should devote ourselves and direct our worship.

Perhaps the most important thing about this story is how Jesus resists these temptations.  In all three instances, Jesus’ answer to the tempter is to quote Scripture.  Alone and hungry, in one of his most trying times, Jesus leans upon the Word of God for support and guidance.

How inspiring!  Like the story of Keisha Thomas above, we get a wonderful glimpse of what is possible when someone truly “walks the talk” and lives out their beliefs.  It is how we act when we are confronted with difficulty and opposition that shows how faithful we truly are to our ideals.  Are we prepared to be faithful, even when the road is difficult?

Discussion Questions

• Jesus relied on Scripture for support during these temptations.  Are there any Biblical passages that you remember and rely on for support and guidance in trying times?
• What is the easiest part about being a Christian in your life?  What is the hardest part?

Activity Suggestions

Collect verses of strength, consolation, and guidance from members of your class.  Seek input from adult classes, too.  Write each verse onto a piece business card stock (available at any office supply store).  Place the cards into a bowl and distribute them randomly throughout your class.  Keep the cards in your wallet, purse, or car.  You might tape them to your mirror at home to refer to them whenever you need strength to face a tough situation.

Closing Prayer

God our Father and Guide, we thank you for the guidance you have provided for us in our lives.  We thank you for your Word, which offers us direction.  We thank you for your Son, who offers us inspiration.  And we thank you for our ability to love, which calls us to action.  We ask that you always show us how we can be your hands, outstretched to a world in need of you.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Contributed by Jen Krausz, Bethlehem, PA

Warm-up Question

Have you ever given something you really wanted to someone else? If so, how did that feel, or what happened? If not, how hard do you think it would be to give your most prized possession to someone else?

Mountaintop Sacrifice

When Lanny Barnes, 31, got sick with a bad cold on the weekend of the Olympic trials for the U.S. biathlon team in Italy, she couldn’t compete in all the selection races and didn’t qualify to make the Olympic team. Her sister, Tracy Barnes, did qualify to make the team. What happened next was a rare act of selflessness and love.

Tracy Barnes decided to give up her spot on the Olympic team to her sister, Lanny.

The twins had trained together, competed together and against each other, and both had dreams of being 2014 Olympic athletes, as they had both done in 2006, and Lanny had done again in 2010. Because of their ages, this Olympics is likely their last chance to compete.

Why did Tracy decide to give up her spot? She felt Lanny deserved the position more. “She had a stellar year,” she said of sister. “She just had a bit of bad luck getting sick. I would have loved the opportunity to represent my country but it meant more to me to give Lanny that chance. I think she’ll do great things.”

Lanny was reluctant to accept her sister’s sacrifice, but finally gave in to Tracy’s insistent wishes. “It shows if you care enough about someone, you’re willing to sacrifice everything,” Lanny said. “This is her dream, what she’s been talking about her entire life. It shows true Olympic spirit.”

Lanny is using her sister’s selfless action to motivate her even further. “It inspires me to push that much more, not only just for my country but for her as well.”

 Discussion Questions

• Olympic athletes train for many years and dedicate the majority of their lives to their sport. Knowing this, do you think you would be able to give up your last chance to make the Olympics to someone else? Why or why not?
• How would you feel if someone gave up their dream so that you could have yours? Would it be difficult to accept such a sacrifice?
• How do you think it feels to win a medal in the Olympics? How long would you want to honor or remember such an accomplishment?
• What excites or interests you most about the Olympics?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, March 2,2014

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

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

 Exodus 24:12-18

2 Peter 1:16-21

Matthew 17:1-9

Gospel Reflection

This text is referred to as The Transfiguration because of how Jesus’ appearance was changed, or transfigured. It was almost like the apostles who were with him got to see a bit of his heavenly glory. Obviously, the apostles were extremely impressed by this experience. It was an exhilarating, mountaintop moment. It may even be the event from which the term “mountaintop experience” originated. To see Jesus with Moses and Elijah, two giants of their history as Israelites, was deeply meaningful, something they never wanted to forget.

The apostles with Jesus want to build a shrine or a monument to him. As we often are tempted to do, they wanted to bask in the moment, to stay right there and celebrate this wonderful spiritual high. No doubt they felt special to be among only a few chosen to see this glorious event.

But as God often does, he interrupts their plans. He thunderously tells them where their focus should be: on following his son, Jesus. How terrifying that must have been for the apostles! So much so that Jesus has to console them when it’s all over. Then, instead of building a monument, they are cautioned to “tell no one.” They probably felt humbled and reminded of their humanity by the stern order of first God, and then Jesus.

I’m convinced that God never gives us a mountaintop experience just for its own sake. No, these experiences are always meant to move us to action, to inspire us to grow in our faith and share that faith with others. Following Jesus is never about staying in one place and honoring him. Rather, it’s about being his hands and feet to the needy people of the world and offering good news about forgiveness of sins that comes through him alone.

Discussion Questions

• What experiences have you had that you would like to hold on to or remember?
• What is your most intense experience of God’s presence in your life, up to this point? How did you respond to it at the time?
• How have positive faith experiences inspired you to be Jesus’ hands and feet?
• How can you tell your story and inspire others to follow Jesus?

Activity Suggestions

Take a few minutes to write out the story of your most intense experience of God. With your leader’s help, compile the stories and make a booklet of experiences. Share the booklet with others in your church and maybe even with visitors or new members.

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for revealing yourself to us in so many ways in our lives. Help us to use these experiences to follow you more closely as we have opportunities in our lives. May all the glory and honor be yours, Amen.

Contributed by Sylvia Alloway, Granada Hills, CA

Warm-up Question

We are often told, “Do your best and you’ll succeed.” Is this true? Why or why not? What other rewards are there for great effort besides winning and approval?

Above and Beyond

As any Olympic competitor knows, falling is terrible and falling just short of the goal is worse yet. Russian skier Anton Gafarov knows this all too well. As he entered the home stretch during the sprint portion of the cross-country skiing event, he fell on a treacherous turn. Determined to finish, Gafarov got up and continued, but his left ski was broken. The harder he tried the more damaged it became, until it shredded completely. He was about to finish the race on one ski, when Canadian ski coach Justin Wadsworth rushed to his side and quickly replaced the broken ski with one of his team’s own.

“It is just the essence of the Olympic Games, the Olympic spirit,” said Sochi 2014 spokeswoman Alexandra Kosterina.  International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams was equally enthusiastic “It is entirely to be applauded… one of the [reasons] why we all love the Olympics.”

Gafarov himself, disgruntled at losing the race, didn’t sound as impressed as others. A Russian sports website quotes his reaction.  “I just had one aim — to get to the end. Some foreigner then gave me skis from a different firm.”

It’s true that Gafarov came in last – but he finished upright on skis, not limping hopelessly across the finish line.

Discussion Questions

• What does it really mean to do your best?
• When do you strive most to do your best? When least?
• Why do you think Justin Wadsworth helped a member of an opposing team?
• What do you think is meant by “Olympic spirit”?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, February 23, 2014 (Seventh Sunday after Epiphany)

 Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18

1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23

Matthew 5:38-48

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

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

Gospel Reflection

“Do I have to?” How many times have you said this to a parent or teacher? There are times when just about everyone wants to get away with doing the least they can. So what does Jesus have to say about his? Never mind others, you need some “me time”? Don’t bother with people you don’t like?

It’s the world that talks like that. But Jesus disagrees. Our behavior should make us stand out from the world.

The Jews to whom Jesus was preaching hated Rome. Roman law said that if a soldier asked a civilian to carry his gear, the man had to do it – for one mile. He was not compelled to go any farther. Jesus says to go two miles voluntarily with that hated Roman.

If you are insulted*, Jesus says let the person insult you again. Lend to those who can’t pay back. Love (that is, behave in a loving manner to) your enemies.

This sounded just as outrageous to Jesus’ audience as it does to us. But is it any stranger than telling an Olympic hopeful she must practice eight hours a day? Keep pushing her body until every muscle aches and then push some more? And all this to win a few minutes of glory?

Spiritual training requires that same dedication. We must show the world our heavenly Father by behaving as He behaves. Our spiritual muscles must be trained through use, just as our physical muscles are. But Jesus who has made us children of God for eternity will not make us train alone. He has been through it all before us and will support us when we fall on the way to the finish line. Through his strength and by his grace we will reach not earthly gold, but eternal glory.

*To slap a person with the back of the hand (“on the right cheek”) was meant to insult, not primarily to cause pain.

Discussion Questions

•  Look at the phrases in this passage that have become common sayings: “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” “go the extra mile,” “love your enemy.” What do people mean when they use those phrases? Why do you think they have become well known?
• What goals in life are you striving for? What are you doing to attain those goals?
• Do you have spiritual goals? What are they? How can you attain them?
• We all become weary in our Christian lives sometimes. What can we do about it? How can we help each other?

Activity Suggestions

• Ask the class for specific examples from their own experience that would require a person to obey Jesus’ words in the passage, specifically behaving in a loving manner toward people we don’t like.

• Look again at the passage. What spiritual goals does it mention (see especially verses 45 and 48)? List the goals. Discuss what we need to ask God for as we work to attain them. Write the goals and needs for prayer on chart paper or a poster and display it in the classroom.

Closing Prayer

Blessed Savior, you ask much of us who would rather take the easy way out. But you have not left us alone. You have given us your Word, your presence and each other to bring us joy, strength and encouragement. We thank you, dear Lord, for helping us to show the world who your are and we pray for your power to act in love throughout the week, in Jesus’ holy name, Amen