Scripture

Week 12

Ezra and Nehemiah

G-d doesn't want us to leave things unfinished. The book of Ezra begins as a fresh start for the Israelites. G-d gives them another chance and they get to rebuild Jerusalem. In the history of the Israelites, there is this cycle: the Israelites here G-d, they obey for a short time, they disobey, G-d saves them, and they get another chance. Nehemiah chapter 9 describes this cycle... as explained in chapter 9: they hear the laws of Moses, then they disobey the laws, then G-d forgives them; G-d gives them kingdoms and nations and many sons, then they disobey G-d, then G-d has compassion on them. But as the Israelites struggle with disobedience, G-d is patient with them every time. Even when it takes them 40 years of wandering in the desert, G-d provides them with manna. G-d waits for them and even provides for them while they chose to be disobedient. It brings up a question: how do we respond to G-d? Do we hear and take action?

So often, the Christian life can seem passive. We hear from G-d, but don't take action. But G-d doesn't call us to be passive. G-d wants us to act. This is a constant theme throughout Ezra and Nehemiah.. After Ezra realizes that a covenant needs to made, Shecaniah says, "Rise up. This matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it." And again, in Nehemian 4:9, Nehemiah says, "we prayed to our G-d and then posted a guard day and night to meet this threat." The message in both of these verses is that we need both prayer and action. When G-d speaks something to us, G-d wants us to ACT on it. 

But why? Why is G-d so persistent? Why does G-d care about finish something that G-d has started in us? Because G-d desires relationship! G-d cares so much for us that He will pursue us for 40 years- our whole lives, even, just to bring us closer to Him. G-d will provide for us as long as it takes, but G-d doesn't want to leave things unfinished.

Week 10

Jonah, Amos, Micah

Context: Author unknown.

1. What’s unique about the book of Jonah?

The book of Jonah is unique among the other prophetic books in the Old Testament because it talks about an actual story in Jonah’s life rather than simply a prophesy or teaching for a group of people.

2. Why did Jonah resist going to Ninevah?

When G-d called Jonah to go to Ninevah, he resisted because the Ninevites were enemies of Jonah’s homeland- it seems that he didn’t want G-d to save his enemies…

I love that the book of Jonah is a lot of ways calling us to action. It says:

“You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend to it or make it grow…” Jonah 4:10

“A ship in harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are built for.” John A. Shedd

If we want change, we have to act. 

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Week 8-9

Mini-Outreach in Ukraine!

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Week 7

Daniel


Context: Written around 165 BCE


"...Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scooted, and there was no fire on them." 
-Daniel 4: 26-27

Being saved from the fire requires stepping into the flames. How often am I only lukewarm? One cannot be saved from the flames until they enter the furnace. As I get ready for outreach, I'm challenged to speak up- to know where I stand and be confident. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, standing up for what I believe requires stepping into the flame... "No guts no glory" (Ms. Purcell).

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Week 5-6

Exodus

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Week 3

Ephesians

Context: Written by Paul around A.D. 60. Addressed to the Churches near Ephesus.

Theme: A Leap of Faith

“…Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge.” –Ephesians 3:17-19

Christ dwells in us through faith- and the love of Christ “surpasses all knowledge…” It’s hard not to let my head get in the way of knowing G-d. My mind tells me that I need to understand Christ fully. Yet Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reminds me that I will never fully intellectually comprehend G-d’s love. Through faith, though, it’s possible to know love. Paul is brings things to simplicity- maybe I can’t ever wrap my intellect around G-d’s love, but with faith, things can become clearer.

But then Paul complicates things with his description of spiritual warfare-

“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, you must take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” –Ephesians 6:12-13

Philippians

Context: Written by Paul about A.D. 60, as an encouragement to the Church in Philippi. Paul was in prison at the time.

Theme: Rejoice!

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ." -Philippians 1:9-10

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Week 2

Acts

Context: Written by Luke in A.D. 62-64, as a letter to his friend Theophilus.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people” (Acts 2:42-47).

“Church” began as a gathering of Jesus’ friends to celebrate G-d and to share in a meal together. So why do people often see the modern Church as dry and unwelcoming? It seems that “religion and relationship” (as Louise put it today) have been split. But what caused the shift?

     
Today Ryan focused a bit on the history of the Church… About the Constantinian Shift and the change from the Church being a community of followers to an organization ruled by the elite. Taking into account the history of the Church (and the implications it might still hold for modern Christianity), what are the roots of “Church” that should be an example for us today? According to Acts, community is key. But what does it mean to have true community- to have fellowship? Acts describes worshiping together, sharing everything (from food and possessions to thoughts and ideas), and serving those in need together.. So how do we live this out in 2012? It's something to think about.

   
This idea of fellowship was what stood out most to me when reading Acts. But there’s another key idea: the Holy Spirit.

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

I regularly think about G-d, and about Jesus, too. But the Holy Spirit? Hardly. In Acts, Luke makes it clear that it is only with the power of the Holy Spirit that Paul and the disciples could do miracles and really share the power of Jesus with others. After the Holy Spirit comes upon the apostles at Pentecost, Acts goes on to account the many miracles encountered- a lame man who Peter commands to walk, healing of those who were sick and “afflicted with unclean spirits” (Acts 5:16), the bedridden Aeneas getting up after Peter heals him, Dorcas rising from the dead, the list goes on.. As I read of the miracles and consider the power of the Holy Spirit, what does all this mean for me? For the modern Church?

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Week One 

“Better one handful with tranquility than two with toil and chasing after the wind” 

-Ecc 4:6

Artistic inspiration thrives at YWAM! Dave, a member of the YWAM staff in England spoke to us last week about using his identity as a portrait artist to communicate G-d to others. He talked about the power of making peace with our identity- we've been given certain talents, and once we know and accept what really drives us, only then can we fully thrive using our gifts... So I ask myself, “What are those essential parts of my identity that I want to focus on?”

The past few weeks, finding focus has been on my mind. Over the weekend, we read, “Better one handful with tranquility than two with toil and chasing after the wind” (Ecc 4:6). A sermon last Sunday reminded me to “let go of what doesn't matter” so that I can “fight for what does matter”- again, reinforcing the idea of focus.

All this being said, focus continues to be a battle here in Herrnhut. I'm surrounded by many talented artists and find myself torn between music and photography. Even my journal is more colorful than usual. Hearing Dave's testimony about drawing street art to share a message of love challenged me to continue “fighting for what does matter” and to find creative ways to use my gifts to serve. Most importantly, I’m being challenged to be aware of G-d’s presence in everything I’m doing- whether it be photography, music, work duties, meals… at all times.