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

Contributed by Erik Ulstead, West Des Moines, IA

Warm-up Question

Would you rather do the bare minimum or overachieve?  Why?

Above and Beyond

New York City is poised to be the latest community to enact a law that requires businesses with at least fifteen employees to offer paid sick days.  Some business owners are wary of the new requirements.  They fear this law will be hard on medium-sized businesses that are already struggling.  “Not only will I have to pay the worker who stayed home sick,” said one businessman, “but I also have to pay another worker to cover the shift.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio supports the new law and wants to go even further.  He promises to “continue fighting until all families have this fundamental right.”  De Blasio believes there are already many small businesses that are offering paid sick leave to their employees.  “No one should be forced to lose a day’s pay, or even a week’s pay, simply because illness strikes. And by this time next year, 300,000 additional New Yorkers will be protected by that law. We won’t wait,” he said.

In the past few years San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C. have established similar laws.  San Francisco’s law, which requires all employers to offer at least five paid sick days per year, was enacted in 2007.  According to a 2011 study done by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, six out of seven San Francisco employers said their profitability didn’t suffer as a result.  Mayor de Blasio has watched these communities closely and feels strongly that paid sick leave laws are good for everyone.  Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, agrees.  “Most employers want to offer their staff paid sick leave – it’s good for morale.”  New York’s paid sick leave law is set to take effect in April.

Discussion Questions

• What’s the sickest you’ve been?  Did you miss school or work because of your illness?
• Why do you think the New York City mayor is so vocal in his support of the paid sick leave law?
• How do you feel about a law requiring business owners to pay employees when they miss work due to illness?
• What do you think about the companies who are offering paid sick leave even though they aren’t required to do so?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, February 16, 2014 (Sixth Sunday after Epiphany)

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Matthew 5:21-37

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

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

Gospel Reflection

The verses from Matthew are part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  He has moved quickly from the Beatitudes and talking about salt and light into some pretty controversial stuff – anger, adultery, divorce, and oaths.  At first glance, Jesus appears to be taking a rigid, legalistic approach to these topics.  Statements like “if you say, ‘You Fool’, you will be liable to the hell of fire,” and, “if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away,” are startling, if not entirely preposterous.

In those days, God’s people had become devout adherents to the letter of many of the laws of Moses.  However, they were neglecting the spirit of these laws.  For them it was about showing others how righteous they were, even though they were neglecting to look with loving-kindness on those in need.  More specifically, Jesus is adamant that men start treating women better.  In this sermon he has harsh words for men who look with lust upon a woman, assault women, or  divorce a woman for no good reason.

This section of Matthew has been debated for centuries.  What is Jesus saying about the nature of sin?  Does he really want people to cut off their hands?  Should someone really be thrown into prison for calling someone a ‘fool’?  Is it okay for a divorced person to get remarried?  These are good things to discuss and explore with your group.

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that the Sermon on the Mount is about the command to care for the lost, last, and least in society.  Jesus calls us to be mindful of how we treat others.  Our actions matter to God because God’s people matter to God.

Discussion Questions

• What’s the most startling thing you heard Jesus say in the gospel reading?
• Who are some of the people in your community who are among the last, least, and lost?
• How is God calling you to go above-and-beyond the letter of the law to show kindness to others?

Activity Suggestions

We’re on the heels of Valentine’s Day, a time when we are reminded to love others.  This activity is a call for Christians to emphasize love every day of the year, not just on February 14.  Consider making a “Wall of Love” in your meeting space.  Draw a large heart on a poster board or mural paper.  Decorate it as you see fit.  Use sticky notes to write ideas of how people can go out of their way to love others.  Post the sticky notes onto the Wall of Love.  Ask everyone to come up with at least three ideas.  Be sure to talk about ways to put these ideas into action in the week ahead.

Closing Prayer

God of love – you call us to be passionate about caring for those in need.  Help us look past the easy answers and be with us as we do the difficult work of justice and peace.  For the sake of Jesus, your Son. Amen.

Contributed by Steve Alloway, Granada Hills, CA

Warm-up Question

Do you cook, bake, or otherwise make food for yourself or others? What are some things you can do to make an ordinary lunch more interesting?

Called to be Flavorful

In Spain, tapas are a variety of appetizers and snacks, originally designed to be eaten with wine. But as the new exhibition, “Tapas: Spanish Design for Food” demonstrates, they’ve become much more than that over the years. The exhibition, held at the former home of the Spanish Ambassador in Washington D.C., highlights the art and creativity of food in a variety of different ways.

“Spain loves to play with its food, not just to eat,” says Juli Capella, the curator of the exhibition. “Because we were a poor country… people celebrate the food as a special party.”

“Tapas: Spanish Design for Food” features not just food, but also place settings, and a variety of culinary gadgets. There’s a coffee spoon, which has a pen on the other end of it, to sign your check. There’s an “Oxymoron Maker,” which can bake a brioche filled with ice cream without melting the ice cream. There are even tongue-in-cheek exhibits on the future of food, including food branded with logos to serve as edible advertisements.

“The creativity of the chef is not just in the food, but in the experience,” says Capella. “Tapas: Spanish Design for Food” seeks to give visitors that creative experience.

Discussion Questions

• Would the “Tapas” exhibition be something you’d be interested in seeing? What would you most like to see/experience there?
• Would you eat food that had been branded with advertisements? Why or why not?
• How do you think Spain’s history of being a poor country impacts its view of food as a party? How do you think their view towards food affects the rest of their lives?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday,  February 9, 2014 (Fifth Sunday after Epiphany)

Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12]

1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16]

Matthew 5:13-20

(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

“You are the salt of the Earth.” The expression “salt of the Earth” has come to mean a really good person: helpful, loyal. But what did Jesus mean when he said it?  In ancient times, long before the days of refrigeration, salt was used to preserve food. Adding a little salt to meat would keep it from going bad. So, are we supposed to keep the Earth from spoiling? In a way.

Verses 18-20 talk about the importance of God’s law. Not a single stroke of a pen nor even the dot over an i in the law can be ignored. The holiest, most righteous people of the day were the scribes and the Pharisees; Jesus says that we need to be even more righteous than they to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  Who can meet such a high standard; how can anyone enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Through Christ’s salvation. Christ is the perfect fulfillment of the law. We strive to live as faithfully as we can, but finally we are utterly dependent upon God’s mercy revealed in Christ’s  death and resurrection.

There’s more in this passage than just a call to be serious about keeping the law. Jesus says God wants us to be bold and distinctive in witnessing to what we have experienced in Christ. In this world, we’re surrounded by sin and evil.  Our job is to be salt, to share the gospel with the world. If we don’t do that we are hiding the light which a dark world needs, we become salt without power to preserve from decay.

Salt has another purpose: it gives things flavor. It makes them more enjoyable, better tasting. Without Christ’s salvation, the world is often sad, lonely, and bitter. The joy of salvation takes that bland world and adds flavor to it. It makes life happy, exciting, and worth living. By spreading God’s Word, we help to make life delicious.

Discussion Questions

• What would your life be like without Christ in it? In what ways does God’s salvation make your day-to-day life more flavorful?
• What are some ways you can add flavor to another’s life this week?
• Sometimes hiding your light under a bushel is easier than letting it shine. Have there been times when you’ve had the opportunity to share God’s Word, but were afraid to?
• How does it affect us if we lose our saltiness, or hide our light under a bushel? How does it affect those around us?

Activity Suggestion

Sing “This Little Light of Mine.” Look for songs, either sacred or secular, about salt. What messages do those songs convey? Write your own song about our role as “salt of the Earth” and what that entails.

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord, be with us in the coming week.  Let your Word and your love shine in our lives. Let us spread that Word to those around us, like a light shining in the darkness. Make us salt that helps preserve your creation and adds flavor to an otherwise bland world. Make us bold in showing your light to the world and distinctive in our witness. In all that we do, may we be beacons of your salvation. Through your Son, Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Contributed by David Delaney, Salem, VA

Warm-up Question

Has anyone in your group ever spent time in a very poor area, either as part of your own living experience, or on a mission or immersion trip to a developing country, or heard stories from those who have been to such places?

• What are some of the words that come to mind when you imagine or recall the lives of those who live day-to-day, hand-to-mouth, or under threat of disease, war, or oppression?  “Miserable,” “unfortunate,” “desperate,” “bitter,” “victim,” and “hopeless” are all words that might come to the minds of many.  Some people might include words that reflect stereotypes of the poor as mostly responsible for their own condition or dismiss poverty with a resigned shrug – “that’s the way the world is.”
• What would you do if you lost everything?  What would happen if your family disappeared, you had no income and no place to live, and you were left to blame for it all?  That might sound like an extreme scenario, but try to imagine it.  What words would you use to describe yourself then?

Whatever you might say, it is hard to imagine using the word “blessed” to describe someone else or yourself in a situation of poverty or any other kind of severe stress; that must be kept in mind as we reflect on Matthew 5.

Blessed to Bless

Many people use the term “blessed” to refer to some extra experience they have had for which they want to express some gratitude, even if they are not Christian or religious at all.  In mid-January, Sandra Bullock described herself as feeling “overwhelmingly blessed” after receiving an Oscar nomination for her movie Gravity.  Also in mid-January, the manager of the Liverpool soccer team praised one of his players, Daniel Sturridge, as being “genetically blessed” because of his remarkable ability to recover from injuries much faster than normal.

Discussion Questions

• Are these  good uses of the word “blessed”?  When you read Matthew 5, does it sound like Jesus is describing exceptional situations for exceptional people or the ongoing lives of everyday people?
• Are there ways for us to start seeing the constant experiences of our daily lives as blessings?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, February 2, 2014 (Fourth Sunday after Epiphany)

 Micah 6:1-8

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Matthew 5:1-12

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

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

Gospel Reflection

The setting for the many things that Jesus taught throughout the gospels varies greatly, but the physical size of the land where he conducted his ministry was very small – less than the size of the state of Vermont.  Most places could be reached by walking in less than a day, and even a trip from Capernaum to Jerusalem could be done in a little more than three days of brisk walking.  Because there was a lot of travel done for business, government, and military purposes, people could easily see the great difference between the wealthier areas of the country and the poorer ones.  They were often very close together.  Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth was one of the poorest agricultural areas of the county, yet a brief walk to the top of the hill just south of his town would allow someone to see into the Jezreel Valley, one of the agriculturally richest areas of the country.

The traditional site of The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7), from which this passage comes, is less than a day’s walk from Nazareth and is once again a very rich area.  So when Jesus talks about being blessed, people from all different walks of life and economic circumstances might have been listening to him.  Regardless of all of those differences, we read these verses knowing that everything – even life itself – is a gift from God.  How do you hear that from the standpoint of your own particular setting in life?

Discussion Questions

• In verse one, Jesus goes up on a mountain to teach and invite his followers to a new kind of “law” for life.   Who does this remind us of from the Old Testament (answer = Moses)?  Do you think Matthew wants us to think of Jesus as replacing Moses or building on what the Israelite law said?  (Look at Matthew chapters 22-23 to see examples of Jesus responding to questions about Israel’s law).
• If you list all of the various situations listed by Jesus in this set of verses, which ones sound like they are the result of something that has happened to someone (answers: poor in spirit, mourning, meek, experiencing persecution, being lied about), and which sound like qualities that someone might want to adopt or nurture (answers: righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking)?  Do they all have something in common?  (Possibly, all are situations in which the presence of God is needed and one might not recognize the need for God’s presence without them, which is why they are a source of blessing).  What do we learn about following Jesus from this?  Is the blessed life an active and willful life, or passive and receptive, or both?
• These verses in Matthew are traditionally referred to as the “Beatitudes” (pronounced be-AT-i-tudes), from the Latin word “beo” which means to bless or make happy.  There is a story about a child in Sunday School who had never seen or heard the word before and pronounced it “BEAT-i-tudes” and immediately added how much sense that made because these are RULES that BEAT you.  It is easy to see how these sentences that are intended to be comforting could be turned around to become a checklist of things you have to do in order to earn blessings.  How can we avoid thinking about them like that?
• How do we imagine that these blessings become real in the lives of people who experience the hardships Jesus describes?  Is it simply a direct line from God to the individual?  Or does the community have a role?  Do we who have experienced these things before or who are already equipped with the good news of the gospel and the means to relieve suffering serve on God’s behalf in bringing blessing to others?

Activity Suggestion

• On a sheet of paper that you will fold up and carry with you this week as a reminder, list the names of actual people you know to whom you can relate in a new way according to this list of promises from Jesus.   Is there someone in your life for whom you only have contempt or conflict?  How can you be “poor in spirit” in your conversations with them?  Do you know someone who is consumed by a lifestyle of destructive behavior or shallow thrill?  Can your “hunger and thirst for righteousness” provide a suggestion of another way to live?  Is there someone in your life who needs mercy and forgiveness from you or others?  Can you show mercy and forgiveness to that person, knowing that it may not be received or returned?   Are you afraid of the consequences of representing the love of God in Christ Jesus to others in word and/or deed?  Recall that the promise of verses 11 and 12 are not just that you have a heavenly consolation for your courage and trouble, but that there may be others nearby who have desperately needed to hear and see the witness of someone who believes that God’s grace can really make a difference.   Who in your life could benefit from that witness? Let this list of people be your personal prayer list for the week and also your reminder that God’s promises for following Christ as described here in Matthew 5 are true!

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, giver of every blessing, we rejoice that the wisdom and promises you first shared with your disciples have come down to us and still remain true today.  Help us to come to you as your followers did in those days and to welcome your word with gladness, even as it calls us to repentance and service.   We lift before you for your blessings all those whose spirits call out for relief and righteousness, all who mourn the loss of loved ones, who feel disenfranchised and isolated, and whose fondest desire is that they could feel strong enough to show mercy and forgiveness in the face of persecution and hatred.  Give us along with all your people joy and gladness for the reward that is ours in your kingdom.

Contributed by John Wertz, Blacksburg, VA

Warm-up Question

A few weeks ago, a researcher posted a video which proves that fish, don’t simply get caught, sometimes they do the catching.  Take a look at this video of  a fish catching a flying bird.  Do you think it is real or a fake?

http://newsfeed.time.com/2014/01/12/watch-fish-jumps-out-of-water-to-catch-bird-in-mid-flight/

Are We Running Out of Fish?

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, over 33 million adults in the United  States go fishing during the course of a year.  For many of those individuals, fishing is a source of relaxation and entertainment, but fishing is also a vital source of food for families around the world.   A study produced by the U.N Food and Agriculture  Organization revealed that the worldwide fish harvest in 2012 amounted to nearly 90 million tons of fish.

Given the amount of fish being caught in the oceans and harvested from fish farms on a yearly basis, there is genuine concern in some areas that over the next 50 years, the world’s fish population will diminish to dangerous levels.   Some groups like the World Wildlife Federation are working to raise awareness of the dangers of  poor management of fishers, overfishing and destructive fishing techniques which they claim have put over 53% of the world’s fisheries at risk (http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/problems/problems_fishing/).  Other groups, like Marine Stewardship Council  are working with fishers, retailers, processors, and consumers to encourage practices which safeguard the world’s oceans and create sustainable supplies of fish and seafood.   Hopefully by raising awareness and encouraging good stewardship of the world’s fish stocks, oceans, lakes and rivers,  there will be an abundant supply of fish to meet the dietary and economic needs of our ever growing world.

Discussion Questions

•  If you were going on a fishing trip, where would you like to go and why?
• How might your choices affect rivers, lakes, oceans and fish?  What could you do to be a better steward of these gifts.
• Share examples of ways that people work together to care for creation.

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, January 26, 2014 (Third Sunday After Epiphany)

Isaiah 9:1-4

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Matthew 4:12-23

(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

When most of us think of fishing, we probably think of a person either sitting in a boat holding a rod with a single line in the water or we think of a person standing in the edge of a stream, casting a bait covered hook into the water.  Unless you happen to be a part of a commercial fishing operation, very few people today would describe fishing as something you do with a net, but in Jesus’ time things were a little different.  For Peter, Andrew and the other fisherman around the Sea of Galilee, fishing meant casting a wide, broad net and pulling in whatever the net touched.  Fishing wasn’t about gathering one fish at a time.  Fishing was about  gathering as many fish as possible with the cast of a net.  When Jesus says to Peter and Andrew “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people,” he is inviting them to join him in a ministry that will cast out a broad net and potentially touch the lives of countless people.

When Jesus says, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people,” he is inviting Peter, Andrew and all of God’s people to join him in proclaiming the good news of God’s love for the world.  When Jesus says, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people,” he is inviting Peter, Andrew and all of God’s people to join him in gathering people in from a sinful and broken way of life so that they can experience the healing of a life in Christ.  When Jesus says, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people,” he is inviting Peter, Andrew and all of God’s people to join him in spreading a message of hope and salvation to a world that is searching for a future.   The fishing Jesus invites us to do is not about finding the right bait to trick someone into getting close to faith, so that the church can get its hooks into them.  The fishing that Jesus invites us to do is about gathering together God’s people from far and wide so they can be touched by the unconditional love, mercy and forgiveness of God.

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think Jesus invited Peter and Andrew to join him proclaiming God’s love to the world?
• How many people do you think are touched by your ministry in the world during a week?  How many people do you think are touched by the ministry of the people in your congregation during a week or a year?
• Jesus uses images from everyday life to help people understand God and God’s mission to love and bless the world.  When he invited Peter and Andrew to follow him, Jesus talked about fishing because they were fisherman.  If Jesus was inviting you to follow him, what example would he use to help you understand what he was inviting you to do?

Activity Suggestions

• Lay a bed sheet on the floor and place a ball in the middle of the sheet.  Invite the group to grab hold of the corners of the sheet and throw the ball into the air as high as possible using the sheet.   Now invite one person to try and match that result by themselves.  Talk about the ways that we can accomplish more when we work together.
• Jesus invites Peter and Andrew to help cast God’s story into the world.  Think of one way that you can share the story of God’s love with the world this week.

Closing Prayer

Loving God, you call us to follow you and fish for people.  Inspire us to be your hearts and hands and voices in the world and help us to use the gifts you have given us to make your love known to the world.  Amen.