{"id":6021,"date":"2016-11-29T07:51:21","date_gmt":"2016-11-29T12:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?p=6021"},"modified":"2016-11-23T12:14:14","modified_gmt":"2016-11-23T17:14:14","slug":"december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/","title":{"rendered":"December 4, 2016&#8211;Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stephanie Opsal, Farmington, NM<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Warm-up Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Are you good at determining right from wrong (in your actions or in others\u2019 actions)?<\/li>\n<li>How do you make choices; what is your guide?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/11\/shutterstock_286988390.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-6027\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/11\/shutterstock_286988390-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"shutterstock_286988390\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/11\/shutterstock_286988390-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/11\/shutterstock_286988390-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/11\/shutterstock_286988390-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/11\/shutterstock_286988390-525x350.jpg 525w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/11\/shutterstock_286988390.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>A psychological research study published in April of this year suggests that children, from a very young age, can recognize and respond to people exhibiting negative behaviors.\u00a0 An experiment commonly labeled \u201cbribing babies with graham crackers\u201d reveals evidence that children, ages 1-8 have a tendency to avoid interactions with persons exhibiting certain behaviors.<\/p>\n<p>Children often show acceptance of another person by their willingness to receive gifts from them.\u00a0 In step one, children ages 5-8 were offered one sticker from one character and multiple stickers from a second character.\u00a0 They had to choose from which person they would accept gifts.\u00a0 Not surprisingly, the kids accepted stickers from the one offering more.\u00a0 Step two presented the same situation, except character one was a kind person and character two was a bully who hit kids at school.\u00a0 In this case, 80% of kids preferred to take one sticker from a nice person rather than 2-8 stickers from a mean person.<\/p>\n<p>A similar activity involved one-year-old infants.\u00a0 With two equal puppet characters offering graham crackers, babies also accepted the one who was offering more of the snacks.\u00a0 However, when puppet #1 acted out, hurting a lamb stuffed animal, and puppet #2 helped a lamb stuffed animal, babies chose to receive fewer crackers from the good-hearted giver (puppet #2).\u00a0 This research suggests that people can recognize right moral actions from wrong ones and choose to deal with people who act kindly and justly, even if it means a personal cost of fewer gifts.<\/p>\n<p>How do young kids know right from wrong?\u00a0 Have they learned already, or do they innately understand?\u00a0 God said he has \u201cwritten the law on their hearts\u2026while their conscience also bears witness\u2026\u201d (Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:15, Hebrews 10:16).\u00a0 As we see in the gospel reading, John the Baptist bears witness that God can see into immoral hearts, despite our efforts to hide our intentions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Discussion Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What do you think of this research?\u00a0 Were you surprised to read this?\u00a0 (Full article:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/wonk\/wp\/2016\/04\/25\/the-disturbing-thing-you-learn-when-you-bribe-babies-with-graham-crackers\/\">https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/wonk\/wp\/2016\/04\/25\/the-disturbing-thing-you-learn-when-you-bribe-babies-with-graham-crackers\/<\/a> )<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The research also suggests that subjects will &#8220;do business&#8221; with the less attractive giver if the reward for doing so is particularly high (16 stickers).\u00a0 Does this suggest that everyone has a price?\u00a0 At what point are you willing to &#8220;deal with the devil?&#8221;\u00a0 What are your limits beyond which you will not go?<\/li>\n<li>Have you ever interacted with a person or situation that simply did not feel right? Do you think this had to do with your inner sense of right v. wrong?<\/li>\n<li>Do you avoid people with questionable character? Why?\u00a0 Do you think you should?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Second Sunday of Advent<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=346842682\">Isaiah 11:1-10<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=346842719\">Romans 15:4-13<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=346842747\">Matthew 3:1-12<\/a><\/p>\n<p>(Text links are to <a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/\">Oremus Bible Browser<\/a>. 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 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.elca.org\/Our-Work\/Congregations-and-Synods\/Worship\/Lectionary\/YearB\">Lectionary Readings<\/a><\/p>\n<p>For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic <a href=\"http:\/\/www.agnusday.org\/\">Agnus Day.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gospel Reflection<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In today\u2019s passage, Jesus had not yet appeared on the scene at the Jordan River, but John the Baptist was busy preparing the people for His arrival.\u00a0 John lived a life very different from the culture.\u00a0 He ate locusts and wild honey in the desert and wore clothes of camel\u2019s hair.\u00a0 More important, he lived humbly as a servant of God, while some religious leaders lived greedy, self-promoting lives.\u00a0 This stark contrast drew people to his message.<\/p>\n<p>John\u2019s message proved counter-cultural.\u00a0 He proclaimed the coming of the Lord and called leaders and common people alike to repent of their sins and be baptized. \u00a0Many call him the first true prophet in 400 years.\u00a0 His focus on praising God alone and boldly speaking the truth caught people\u2019s attention.\u00a0 He did not seek \u201cfollowers of John\u201d but rather people prepared to follow the coming Christ.\u00a0 John\u2019s message challenged those who lived self-righteous lives which looked good but were rooted in wrong motivations.\u00a0 God desires that our obedience arise out of love for Him, rather than out of a desire to complete a checklist of superficially pious actions.\u00a0 John baptized people to signify a person\u2019s public confession of sin and repentance, an outward sign of inner cleansing of the heart.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, not every people group who visited John wanted baptism for the right reasons.\u00a0 Some believed they were righteous without any need to change their attitudes.\u00a0 They did not see their imperfection and looked down on \u201csinners,\u201d treating others poorly and acting to promote their own interests instead of God\u2019s.\u00a0 John called them out, warning them that God has the power to save or destroy, and the way a person lives and acts reflects their inward beliefs about God.<\/p>\n<p>We are called to live aware of our need for Jesus and to \u201cproduce good fruit,\u201d(3:8) from the heart in response to all He has done for us.\u00a0 Verse 10 of Matthew 3 states: \u201c\u2026every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The passage closes with a reminder than John\u2019s baptism was to prepare people for Jesus\u2019 coming.\u00a0 Soon, the true Lord Jesus would baptize them also with the Holy Spirit., giving His life for others.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Discussion Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Have you been baptized? What does baptism mean to you?<\/li>\n<li>Do you practice what you preach? Do your actions show what you believe?<\/li>\n<li>Why do you think John looked different than other religious leaders?<\/li>\n<li>Lutheran have confessed that we are all simultaneously saint and sinner, always imperfect but ever beloved by God.\u00a0 How do you think John would have responded to that insight?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Activity Suggestions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Matthew 3 describes how John looked and ate.\u00a0 Use the Bible\u2019s words to draw a picture of your interpretation of John the Baptist.\u00a0 Next to it, draw a picture of a pastor or religious leader as you would generally picture him or her.\u00a0 Compare pictures among yourselves and discuss why John may have looked and lived so differently from other priests or leaders.<\/li>\n<li>Act out the story of Matthew 3, including roles of John (the Baptizer), a humble person who wants to repent and be baptized, an arrogant Pharisee, and a popular Sadducee. Add your own ad lib commentary and emotions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Closing Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lord Jesus,\u00a0 we praise you for showing evidence of your coming throughout the Bible and through people such as John the Baptist.\u00a0 Guide us to live lives that line up with your teaching and reflect our inner devotion to you and gratitude for all you have done for us.\u00a0 Thank you for coming to save us.\u00a0 In your holy name, we pray. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; Stephanie Opsal, Farmington, NM \u00a0 Warm-up Questions Are you good at determining right from wrong (in your actions or in others\u2019 actions)? How do you make choices; what is your guide? Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit A psychological research study published in April of this year suggests that children, from a very young age, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1400],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-post"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>December 4, 2016-Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit - Faith Lens<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"December 4, 2016-Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit - Faith Lens\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"&nbsp; Stephanie Opsal, Farmington, NM \u00a0 Warm-up Questions Are you good at determining right from wrong (in your actions or in others\u2019 actions)? How do you make choices; what is your guide? Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit A psychological research study published in April of this year suggests that children, from a very young age, [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Faith Lens\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-11-29T12:51:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/11\/shutterstock_286988390.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"667\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"faithlens\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"faithlens\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"faithlens\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7\"},\"headline\":\"December 4, 2016&#8211;Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-11-29T12:51:21+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1137,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/shutterstock_286988390-300x200.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Post\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\\\/\",\"name\":\"December 4, 2016-Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit - Faith Lens\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/shutterstock_286988390-300x200.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-11-29T12:51:21+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/shutterstock_286988390-300x200.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/shutterstock_286988390-300x200.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"December 4, 2016&#8211;Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/\",\"name\":\"Faith Lens\",\"description\":\"Weekly Bible studies that engage youth and young adults in connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday life.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7\",\"name\":\"faithlens\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"faithlens\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/author\\\/faithlens\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"December 4, 2016-Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit - Faith Lens","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"December 4, 2016-Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit - Faith Lens","og_description":"&nbsp; Stephanie Opsal, Farmington, NM \u00a0 Warm-up Questions Are you good at determining right from wrong (in your actions or in others\u2019 actions)? How do you make choices; what is your guide? Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit A psychological research study published in April of this year suggests that children, from a very young age, [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/","og_site_name":"Faith Lens","article_published_time":"2016-11-29T12:51:21+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":667,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/11\/shutterstock_286988390.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"faithlens","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"faithlens","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/"},"author":{"name":"faithlens","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#\/schema\/person\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7"},"headline":"December 4, 2016&#8211;Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit","datePublished":"2016-11-29T12:51:21+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/"},"wordCount":1137,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/11\/shutterstock_286988390-300x200.jpg","articleSection":["Post"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/","url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/","name":"December 4, 2016-Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit - Faith Lens","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/11\/shutterstock_286988390-300x200.jpg","datePublished":"2016-11-29T12:51:21+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#\/schema\/person\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/11\/shutterstock_286988390-300x200.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/11\/shutterstock_286988390-300x200.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2016-prepare-repent-bear-fruit\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"December 4, 2016&#8211;Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/","name":"Faith Lens","description":"Weekly Bible studies that engage youth and young adults in connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday life.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#\/schema\/person\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7","name":"faithlens","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"faithlens"},"url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/author\/faithlens\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6021","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6021"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6021\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6028,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6021\/revisions\/6028"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}