Contributed by Jennifer Krausz
Bethlehem, PA

Warm-up Question:  Is our current government doing a good job running the country? Why or why not?

A recent national poll found that Americans are largely angry at their government and disappointed by the lack of ideas from both political parties.

Although Republicans, who are currently out of power, were angriest at 90 percent, 44% of Democrats identified themselves as somewhat or very angry. 78% of independents were also somewhat or very angry with their government.

59% of respondents across all political parties said that they were more angry now than they had been during the previous administration. And 60% say that neither Democrats nor Republicans have the answers to the problems the country currently faces.

30% of respondents said they were not really angry, including 10% who were not angry at all.

The poll did not seem to answer the question of why respondents were angry. Many Americans seem preoccupied with economic conditions, which have been slow to improve. Health care reform has also been a deeply divisive issue.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think people are so angry with the government right now?
2. Do you think their anger is reasonable, even if you are not angry yourself? Why?
3. Given what you know of the two major political parties (and trying to be objective and respectful in your response), what do you think most Republicans are angriest about? What do you think most Democrats are angriest about?
4. Do you think it’s easier to get angry, or to be satisfied with the way things are? Is it easier to be against something or someone who you don’t agree with completely or who is different than yourself, or to find a way of trusting and working together?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, September 27, 2009.

(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.

• Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
• Psalm 124 (7)
• James 5:13-20
• Mark 9:38-50

Gospel Reflection

Here’s a rough church history lesson in 3 sentences:  The church started out as fairly unified; yes, there were major conflicts, but they managed not to immediately break off into major different sections. A significant portion evolved into the Catholic Church. Luther started the Reformation, and the Christian church has spawned hundreds, if not thousands, of different denominations, off-shoots, and factions.

Throughout history, people have fought bitter and bloody battles over religious differences and divisions.

So, what would Jesus think of all our different varieties and flavors of faith, theology, and traditions?

We walk a fine line between theological correctness and the unity of our belief in Jesus Christ. We walk a fine line between upholding our own familiar traditions and practices and being open to the traditions and ideas of others. In each case, both are important. We can disagree on how to baptize, how to take communion, build structures and organizations, and many other things, but let’s hope we never disagree about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who showed us how to live as compassionate servants, died on the cross for our sins, conquered death, and who gives us eternal life by grace through faith — a life-giving gift for everyone.

Jesus took it even further than that though. He suggests that just because someone isn’t ‘one of us’ doesn’t mean we should reject that person’s actions or intentions. If they are showing unselfish compassion and concern for others, give thanks and don’t shrug them off. If they are trying to help or care for us, then accept it and give thanks. Encourage them; don’t reject them. It is possible for others to do God’s work even though they are not members of our denomination or official members of our congregation.

Jesus asks us to seek peace and justice in the world, both outside the church and within it. What would churches everywhere be like if we were to do as Jesus told his disciples in this case? What would it be like if we treated all people — professing Christians or not — with the same sincere respect and compassion Jesus demonstrated? What if we encouraged and supported all people to live boldly in ways God desires for us.

Discussion Questions

• From your perspective and faith, how do you think God wants all people to live — throughout the world? Try to be specific.
• What are some of the burning current issues and problems in the world and in our country that we can be working on together even though we come from many different perspectives of faith, culture, life experience, and politics? In what ways does our Lutheran Christian faith influence our participation and what we do?
• What do you think different denominations and faith groups can do to be more unified or to work together? Name some examples of how the ELCA is working with other churches or faith groups. What if it means sometimes bumping heads over theology, beliefs, traditions, or values? How should the church work through times of conflict or disagreement with others (or each other)?
• How does grace, forgiveness, and compassion enter into all of this?

Activity Suggestions

Are there inter-faith groups in your community (e.g., local council of churches, informal unity groups, ministerial groups, youth ministry leader groups, ecumenical youth ministries, etc.)? Find out if your church has a representative and invite him or her to speak with your class for a few minutes about the group and what it does.

• Where do they find common ground and support for each other, and where do they tend to disagree, or agree to disagree?
• What are the benefits of working together even when you do not see eye-to-eye on everything?

Or…

Make a list of denominations, faith groups, or religions that you know little about but that make you feel uneasy or stir up strong impressions and feelings within you (e.g., mistrust, anger, suspicion, curiosity, or even hostility). Choose one or two and find out more about its specific beliefs and practices. Sources for more information or links to other faiths and denominations:

• The BBC Religion & Ethics Web site
• ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations
• ELCA Ecumenical Youth Resources
• World Religions Index
• Interfaith Youth Core

Sometimes, getting more information helps us feel less uncomfortable about something and helps us sort through information or perceptions that may not be accurate or true. If possible and appropriate, invite someone from that faith or denomination to meet with your group for mutual learning. Be careful not to make it a battlefield for trying to convert each other or for argument.

Closing Prayer

Dear God, we thank you that you have made us all so different in so many ways. Help us to remember that we all worship the same God, our creator, who loves us in spite of how we often disagree with each other. Let us find unity in our faith through your Son, Jesus Christ, who showed us how to live with compassion and forgiveness for each other, and gave up his own life for the sake of all people. Amen. 

Contributed by Jay Gamelin 
Pastor of Jacob’s Porch, ELCA campus mission to The Ohio State University

Warm-up Question:  What is a tradition in your family you would love to see continue? Perhaps think of holidays or vacations or eating dinner together. What is a tradition you wish would go away? Perhaps how mom always asks you to recite the Gettysburg address every July 4th, even though you’re not 8-years-old anymore.

The traditional -- and very messy -- tomato food fight of La Tomatina Fiesta of Buñol (Valencia), Spain.

The world is the canvas and festivals are the paint. Every year, people gather in campgrounds, state fairs, amphitheaters, back yards, city streets, and parks to celebrate culture, music, and tradition. One thing you can count on — each festival maintains its own identity by highlighting the fun, local, and sometimes downright weird. Here are a few unusual festivals occurring around the United States and abroad.

The Wooly Worm Festival of Banner Elk, NC, celebrates tiny wooly caterpillars that come out in droves each fall. The highlight of the festival is the wooly worm race in which contestants race their own segmented caterpillar up a piece of string against other worms. The winner leaves with the pride of their worm being the fastest of the festival.

And what is a festival without a certain amount of saliva hurled at great speed? The Rossville, KS, Tall Corn Festival highlight is a corn kernel spitting contest. The Blenheim Cherry Fest (Ontario, Canada) includes a cherry pit spitting contest. However the most serious about the art of spitting seeds must be the people in Luling, TX, in the Luling Watermelon Thump festival. This is the home to the world championship of watermelon seed spitting, the record being 68 feet, 9 and 1/8 inches by a local man in 1989. In addition to the watermelon spitting contest, the Luling Watermelon Thump includes a watermelon carving contest which would not be so unusual if it were not a requirement that the carving be worn like a hat.

In Tibet, on their annual new year festival, Buddhist monks pay tribute by creating enormous colorful sculptures from yak butter. Sculptures of the Buddha, flowers, birds, ancient people, and homes attract 150,000 people annually. Sculptures can take anywhere from a few days to a month to create.

Some other unusual festivals include the Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling Contest in Gloucester, England, the Frozen Dead Guy Days of Nederland, CO, which celebrates all things macabre, the Australian Darwin’s Beer Can Regatta where competitors build boats of beer cans, and the famous La Tomatina Fiesta of Buñol (Valencia), Spain, which hosts the world’s largest food fight. More than 90,000 pounds of tomatoes are hurled about the town square resulting in one fun, gooey, sticky time. Remarkably, within hours of the event, the town square is back to normal. The smell however takes a few days and a perhaps a few rainstorms to get rid of.

Discussion Questions

• What traditions does your town, school, or state have that one might find unusual? Try to see them from an outsider’s point of view and describe the tradition.
• What sort of traditions does your church have that you think are important to your identity as a parish? Make a list of some of the studies, programs, and events your church does regularly. Would you call these unique to your church?
• How would you describe your worship? Traditional? Contemporary? Mixed? Something else? Describe the traditions within your service that would make it recognizable as such.

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, August 30, 2009.

(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.

• Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
• Psalm 15 (1)
• James 1:17-27
• Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Gospel Reflection

Tradition is a beautiful thing. It helps ground us in our history. In a way, it is how the ancient continue to teach us today, by handing down ideas and thoughts and habits through our traditions. Tradition’s roots are to be honored and adored and truly respected. But what happens when we begin to lose sight of these roots and begin to focus on tradition itself? What happens when we begin to honor the tradition rather than what tradition points to?

In our lesson today, the Pharisees confront Jesus for not holding to ceremonial washing traditions. These traditions probably come from important reasons; ways to keep hands, food, and dishes clean so that diseases do not get passed on. Or perhaps the traditions help ingratiate the washer with thankfulness toward God who has provided the meal, the dishes, the time, and everything to put a meal together. The tradition comes from holy roots, roots designed to teach us about ourselves, God, and how to care for one another’s health. However, the Pharisees have focused so much upon the tradition that they have forgotten the reason. Tradition existed for its own sake, to be done because it was “supposed” to be done, not because it pointed beyond itself.

Jesus points out that cleanliness does not come from activity alone but from a place much deeper. What does it mean that someone follows all the rules of hand-washing but does not care for the other? (see the list from Mark 7:21-22) Cleanliness is not what we do, but is a way of life. Tradition is not the point. It is what the tradition points to, that is the point.

When we think of tradition in the church, we often think of worship. For many, traditional worship is a holy experience, a beautiful and transforming act that re-centers us in God and our community. In more contextual worship, or what you might call contemporary, they too come with their own traditions and ways of doing things, if done a little different from so called traditional worship. But isn’t it easy to go through the motions in either and not think about what we are doing? It isn’t like us to get so tied in what we are supposed to do that we forget why we do it? Isn’t the goal about “who” we worship and not “how” we worship?

Many of our own worshipping traditions have grown out of our theology, and also from our culture. Just like the festivals, worship is born of where they were grown. A wooly worm festival would not work in a place where there are no wooly worms. Butter carvings would melt in Arizona sunshine and some people just might find a Frozen Dead Guy festival too dark and depressing to attend. For their culture, it makes sense, but for others they may feel strange. So too, our worship reflects the culture from where they were born. For some, our culture is a white, western European, culture. This culture gave birth to what we may call “traditional” Lutheran worship. For others, they worship from an African American culture, Caribbean culture, Native American culture, or just about any culture you can imagine; these, too, are “traditional” in that they may be born of their culture’s traditions in worship.

This doesn’t mean that one group worships the right way and the others do not, it only means we can worship in many ways with many traditions and in many languages. God is present in all these places of worship, no matter how comfortable or uncomfortable you are. The goal is not the act of worship but the God in and with whom we worship. This is the root of all worship, traditional and contemporary and cultural.

When we invite someone to worship with us, we invite them not to the “usual” but to the “unusual” of our particular congregation. We invite them into our own traditions and ways of worshipping. It is our hope to invite them into our traditions not as an act but as a way of pointing to God. Our hope is that we may not find ourselves so tied to the outside cleanliness of the act that we forget where our tradition points us, to an unfettered relationship with the Creator.

Quotables:

• “Traditions are group efforts to keep the unexpected from happening.”
  Barbara Tober, president of Acronym, Inc
• “Tradition is a guide and not a jailer.”
  W. Somerset Maugham, English Playwright and Novelist
• “Traditions are the guideposts driven deep in our subconscious minds. The most powerful ones are those we can’t even describe, aren’t even aware of.”
  Ellen Goodman, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist
• “Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about.”
  G. K. Chesterton (1874 – 1936), theologian
• “Traditionalists often study what is taught, not what there is to create.”
  Ed Parker, Grandmaster, American Kenpo

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever been to a worship service that made you feel uncomfortable or like an outsider? What was it that made you feel this way?
• Do you think there is a wrong way to worship? Share your thoughts on why or why not.
• Think about your church and the worship service(s). Imagine you are a guest to the church, you have never been to church before in your life and you have never heard of Jesus. What are things you do in your church, things you may call a tradition that a guest might find strange or unusual? Kneeling? Raising hands? What points to and describes our relationship with God?

Activity Suggestion

Resident Alien

Have the group walk through their usual worship service. Think of everything they do as a part of normal worship: standing, sitting, kneeling, how the pastor dresses, the songs that are sung, musical instruments used, confession, passing the peace, raising hands, laying on of hands, folding hands, bowing heads, languages spoken, how Communion is distributed, who helps lead worship, art and symbols, how you enter and leave worship, etc. Make a list of these things on a black board, newsprint, or just a sheet of paper. Now take a look at these things from an outsider’s point of view.

Discuss:

• Describe how it may feel as a guest to encounter these things.
• Discuss what you think the point or purpose of these acts may be. Why do we kneel? Why do we or perhaps just the pastor hold hands a certain way when praying? Why do we use some instruments and not others to lead the service?
• What do you think your worship says about your church? What things would you say are important to your congregation, and are shown by what you do or do not do in worship? What does your worship say about you? What does it say about God? About Jesus? The Spirit?
• Lastly, what would happen if someone tried or did something unusual in your service? How would people react? Are there good reasons for this reaction? What are they? How about negative reasons? What are they?

Closing Prayer

Jesus, you teach us not to focus on the outside things but rather the inside deeper cleanliness you have given us through your death and resurrection. It can be so easy for us to be distracted by how we worship that we forget it is you to whom we give thanks and praise. Forgive us for claiming we know best, and open our hearts so that we may worship you with our hearts as well as in our holy traditions. Help us to remember the reasons for our actions. We pray this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Contributed by Sylvia Alloway
Granada Hills, CA

Warm-up Question: What is your idea of a perfect society? Where would it be located? What would people do there? How would they be governed?

If the San Francisco-based Seasteading Institute has its way, the City by the Bay may become the City out in Ocean. Seasteading, a variation on the word “homesteading,” is the process of building human dwellings on the high seas.

The Institute is currently researching ways to put habitable buildings on supports similar to oil platforms. These structures would be modular, that is, the parts would be interchangeable. They can be taken apart and put back together in different forms, so that change and movement will come easily and the physical environment can be altered to fit the ideas of the people.

Why do the sponsors of this endeavor want to form communities on the ocean? Unlike homesteading, where the idea was simply to gain more space for people to live, seasteading has deeper purpose: to try out new ways of governing and arranging society. Ideas presented by the 600-member organization include legalizing marijuana and owning all artistic works in common. Some group other than the family may be the basic unit of socialization, or alternatively, families may live as separate units and float together for “festivals.”

What does not work will be discarded, and what does work will be recombined into a new system of government. They believe that no specific ideology is necessary and constant change is good.

An engineer working on the project said that a prototype may be ready in as few as three years.

Discussion Questions

• Many attempts have been made to create a utopian, or perfect society (artistic and religious communities, the hippies of the 60s, etc.). Most have failed to form anything close to a perfect, lasting society. Why do they fail? Why do people keep trying?
• How can you tell if a form of government is working or not? What are some signs of a good or a bad system? A just or unjust system?
• Think about a society in which nothing is fixed. Behavior that was acceptable yesterday is not so today and vice versa. Can human beings really live this way? Why or why not?
• Young people often want to get away from old rules and ways of doing things. What are some rules and behavior in your world (school, church, family, friends, job, etc.) that you would like to change? Why? With what would you replace the old ways?
• What are some rules and behavior you would like to change about the world in general?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, May 31, 2009.
(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.)

• Acts 2:1-21 or Ezekiel 37:1-14
• Psalm 104:24-34, 35b (30)
• Psalm 104:24-35b (30) or Acts 2:1-21
• John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

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

Gospel Reflection

Jesus’ disciples were all strongly grounded in the traditions of Judaism. The Ten Commandments, the sacrificial system for forgiveness of sins, the required feasts and fasts had been the foundation of their lives since birth. But in today’s Gospel, Jesus informs them that a change is coming. Jesus himself is going to return to the Father and in his place he will send the Advocate (also translated as “Comforter” or “Helper”), the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit will lead them into a new way. The NRSV says that he will “prove the world wrong” in its view of sin, righteousness, and judgment. What he teaches will be not a truth, but the truth; the permanent, unchanging plan of God for the salvation of the world. Their Lord will not let them drift around unguided.

At the time, the disciples did not know what Jesus meant. Even after his resurrection, as they obeyed his command to “wait for power from on high,” they still did not know what form the power would take. And then… Flames! Wind! Beautiful flowing speech! There could be no doubt that this was the power Jesus promised, the Advocate who would teach them all things.

The world tells us to depend on ourselves for moral and spiritual guidance. Truth is relative. Absolutes spoil all the fun and feel oppressive. But Jesus says to depend on his Spirit to guide us into truth. In him we will be gloriously empowered, free to live in God’s purpose and love in the world with the promise of eternal life. We are free to give witness to a different truth that is God’s truth… a truth that calls for compassion, justice, humility, change, service, faith, and obedience.

Discussion Questions

• What are some common (not necessarily Christian or religious) views of sin, righteousness, judgment, and the world? In what way does the truth of Christ prove these ideas wrong?
• We know that God has given us his Spirit, but we don’t always “feel” his presence. In what ways can we encourage each other in “dry” or difficult times when we feel alone or abandoned by God?
• Create a list of what you consider to be rules or values that are consistent with your faith in Christ. Do this quickly as individuals and then compare your lists. How are your lists alike and how are they different? Make up situations in which somebody breaks what you as a Christian consider to be “a rule.” How might a community striving to follow Christ (a church, family, youth ministry group, or school) handle the situation? How might those who believe in a fluid and changing morality deal with it?
• How can we work with and live with each other compassionately and with a desire to respect each others differences and opinions while at the same time being concerned about God’s will and desire for us?

Activity Suggestions

Expand on question 3.

In groups or as a class, make up a story about a seasteading community. It might be fun to frame it as science fiction or based on existing and developing technologies. They have decided on a way to rule themselves, for instance, having all things in common. A problem comes up that their system doesn’t cover, for example, is there any such thing as stealing or trespassing in this kind of community? They try to work it out among themselves. Resolve the story in a way that demonstrates the need for the guidance of the Spirit.

Extension Ideas: Have the class cooperate in writing out and illustrating the story by hand; write out and illustrate the story in a computer publishing program; dramatize the story and perform and/or film it.

Whose rules and why?

Talk about what “rules” there are in your congregation or that you believe are rules or values of being a Lutheran Christian. List them. Some jumping off points for discussion:

• Where did the rule or value come from? Who decided that it was important?
• What is the purpose of the rule? (To honor God, protect children, safety, to keep a room neat and tidy, to respect and welcome visitors, to save money, to guide your behavior, etc.) Is it changeable or permanent? Why? How do congregations decide?
• What practices and rules may have come about through history or through decisions made by a congregation based on their neighborhood, community, or cultural context? (e.g., use of religious art in the sanctuary, providing worship and other things in more than one language, allowing coffee in the sanctuary during worship, worship times and styles, etc.)
• What changes would you propose for your congregation? What existing practices, values, or rules you would like to affirm?
• What’s the best way for the congregation, or a group within the congregation, to reflect on whether or not a rule, value, or policy is consistent with what God encourages or expects us to do?

For help in facilitating group discussions that may stir up diverse reactions, opinions, and emotions, check out the ELCA resource “Talking Together as Christians about Tough Social Issues” (PDF).

Suggested Songs

• “Lord of All Hopefulness,” Evangelical Lutheran Worship, #765
• “Praise to the Father (for his loving-kindness),” Lutheran Book of Worship, #517

Closing Prayer

Gracious Father forgive us for seeking our own way when we should be turning to your truth; for believing the inventions of world, instead of finding our way in your Word; for chasing after the changeable and temporary, instead of resting in your eternal Spirit. We thank and praise you for the forgiveness we have received through your beloved son, Jesus. Through the power of the Comforter, remake us in Jesus’ likeness and manner. We pray this is his blessed name, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Warm-up Question: Share a rule you have to follow at school, home, sports team, or perhaps even at church that you feel is not fair. Why do you obey?

An Ohio man acting as the drum major for a band in the presidential inaugural parade nodded and gestured to President Barack Obama and was suspended from the band for his actions. The leaders of the Firefighters Memorial Pipes and Drums stressed to the whole band that they were participating as a military procession and all decorum would be required. The band leaders stressed not to look at or gesture to the president. During the parade, the drum major made eye contact with the president who smiled then waved at the major, and the drum major gave a wave in return.

As a result of the suspension, the drum major has resigned his place in the band saying that the glow of being in the parade has worn off and that he no longer wished to be in the band. The band has received criticism for their decision but has not wavered despite critical e-mails and phone calls.

Discussion Questions

• Share whether you think the decision to suspend the drum major was fair. What can you say about both sides of the argument.
• If this was you and you knew you were not supposed to look at the president, but he was walking right by the platform, what do you think you would do?
• Why do you think the rule was there to begin with? What reasons might you give to hold to this rule rigorously?
• When do you think it is OK to break a rule?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, February 1, 2009.
(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.)

• Deuteronomy 18:15-20
• Psalm 111 (10)
• 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
• Mark 1:21-28

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

Gospel Reflection

In the text in 1 Corinthians, the question is whether it is OK to eat food set aside for idols. What would happen is that an animal would be sacrificed to an idol. The animal would then be butchered for meat and sold. According to Jewish law, this food would not be kosher and therefore would not be food that a Jewish person could eat. But what happens when the rules change? What happens when following the law no longer defines you but something else all together? What happens when Jesus comes and changes everything?

Paul explains that the food has no intrinsic value, and is neither good nor bad — it is just food. They are free to eat whatever they wish and no law defines them. So you would think Paul is saying, “Go ahead and eat!” But this isn’t the case. He realizes that others who are hearing the good news and are Jewish may be put off by the apparent disobeying of a law by Christians that others may think of as very important. Just because they are free from this rule and it has no place in the new covenant in Jesus, he asks the church to follow the rule so that it does not become a stumbling block to others. In other words, the rule is silly and they don’t need to follow it, but they gotta so people won’t freak out and not listen to them anymore. It may seem silly that the drum major can’t make eye contact with the President of the United States, but for the whole group this was the rule and it needed to be followed by all.

As Christians, we know a freedom of living. We are free from the old rules and laws and trying to achieve perfection so that God will love us. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the divide between humanity and the Lord is torn down and we are fully loved. This means we are free. Luther would say we are “Lord of all, slave to none.”

But this same freedom is not something that we take lightly. It comes with a message and way of living that reflects what it means to be free. Yes, God will love us even when we make mistakes. God will love us even if we make poor choices. These actions will not change God. We are free from any laws or rules that are meant to move or force us into relationship with God. But, if we ignore all the rules, we may forget that the world is watching us and we are communicating something important by our actions, words, and lives. They are looking for God and we need to reflect the goodness of God. Even though we are free from the law, we are still called to obey the law for the sake of the world.

Here’s another way to look at it: Imagine your parents or guardians have promised you a new car and purchased it for you. They have said that no matter what, they will always buy you a car and will take care of it, no matter what. Does this mean you drive it recklessly? Would you purposely drive your car into a tree just because you know your parents will buy you a new one? Do you take a milkshake and pour it on the floor just because your parents will fix it and clean it? No, you still follow some rules. You care for your life and do what you can to show your parents that you are thankful for their gift. You take care of the car as your way of saying “Thanks for the car!” How you drive is an expression of how you feel about your parents. And in all of this, others are watching too. They will know how you feel about them by how you drive!

How much more should you take care of your life? How you live expresses how you feel about God and your thankfulness for what God has done. Yes, the rules will not change how much God loves you, but we follow them as our way of saying thank you and as a way of showing our love and respect for God.

Discussion Questions

• What rules does your church have about the building or grounds? (e.g., no drinks in the sanctuary, no running around the altar, pick up after yourself, etc.) What are the reasons for some of these rules?
• What are some rules you have for yourself? (e.g., be kind to friends, listen when one is talking, return things I borrow, etc.) What are the reasons for these rules?
• What are some rules you think God may have for you? (e.g., praying daily, caring for our bodies by not turning them over to worldly things, worshiping, etc.) What are the reasons for these rules? Why would God want these things from us, even if they don’t change God?

Activity Suggestion

Throwing it Away

Bring a bag of candies or a snack to church with you; something in wrappers like Hershey Kisses, Reese’s Cups, or snack chips. Before the class, set up with one student that when you give out the candies and promise them another if they ask, he or she will find ridiculous things to do with the candies like throw them away without unwrapping them, tossing them behind bookcases, stepping on them, or any other creative way to “waste” the snack. Before class, give each student some candy and promise them another piece if they ask. During the class and discussion, the student should be asking for more of the candy or snack and then obviously doing silly things with it. Be careful this does not go overboard to the point of distracting from the rest of class or causing chaos. Let it happen, then both student and leader should move on to the discussion.

• Discuss with the class how it felt to see the student waste the free gift of candy. Did it seem right? How should he have behaved?
• Since he or she received a free piece of candy no matter what, why would it matter what they did with the other pieces?
• What opinion do the other students conclude about the student wasting things?
• What does his or her behavior say about the person and how they feel about the teacher?
• Compare this to life and the decisions we make. If we are forgiven anyway, why do we need to respect, follow the rules, and live a life worthy and pleasing? What does our behavior say about how we feel about God?

Closing Prayer

God, there is nothing we could do to make you love us any more and there is nothing we could do to make you love us any less. With such a gift, how can we not praise and thank you! Give us courage to live lives pleasing to you, not to make you love us but because you already do. Help us to live everyday as a thank you for your gift of life. Amen.

Contributed by Jay Gamelin, pastor of Jacob’s Porch, the Lutheran Campus Mission to The Ohio State University, OH