1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20...
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1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
Years later, Mick reflected upon his being swindled out of half his lifesavings. He reasoned that his small-town raising affected his analysis of the business proposition. In his small town he grew up hearing people say, "She comes from a good family," or "He comes from a disreputable family." One's family counted for too much Mick discovered.
He and seven others in town threw their money behind a high school classmate. He came from a "good" family. However, if they'd investigated carefully, they'd have discovered that he cheated in high school, was expelled from college, and had lost a number of jobs before returning to his (small) hometown to trade on the reputation of his family.
For all that family counts, Mick and Samuel discovered that one doesn't always inherit the morality of one's parents, no matter what one's "town" expects.
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
How good a listener are you?
* Since you think about four times faster than a person usually talks, do you use this time to think about other things while you're keeping track of the conversation?
* Do you listen primarily for facts rather than ideas when someone is speaking?
* Do you avoid listening to things you feel will be too difficult to understand?
* Can you tell from a person's appearance and delivery that there won't be anything worthwhile said?
* When someone is talking to you do you appear to be paying attention when you're not?
* Do certain words and phrases prejudice you so you cannot listen objectively?
* When listening are you distracted by outside sights and sounds?
(from Leadership, Vol. 1, No. 4, p. 99)
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
It's hard not to smile if you're reading an Amelia Bedelia book to your favorite youngster. If you haven't heard about this bumbling housemaid, grab the nearest five-year-old and take a trip to the library. Amelia Bedelia's adventures are too good to miss. The thing about Amelia Bedelia: she's very literal-minded. She does exactly what she's told. For example, when they tell her to "run home" during a game of baseball, she cheerfully sprints right out of the park and all the way to her own front porch. Amelia Bedelia's sponge cake involves just that -- real sponge. Her antics remind both young and old alike how much trouble miscommunications cause. Young Samuel is no Amelia Bedelia, but he also misinterprets a message. Samuel's message, however, is from God. Luckily, this message doesn't spell disaster for God's people. Instead, it gives us a valuable lesson: God may call us when we least expect him.
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
As the sun sets each evening, our vision is lessened. Night vision doesn't hold a candle to what we can see in daylight. Young Samuel and the old priest Eli live in an era when the word of the Lord was precious, but rare. There is "no frequent vision." Today as well there often seems to be no word or vision.
When Eli finally realizes the source of the voices Samuel keeps hearing in the night, he tells Samuel to say, "Speak, for your servant hears." When Samuel does, God breaks the silence.
Many years later, God again breaks the silence, this time between heaven and earth. God sends a child to seek and save the lost of the world, as well as to bring God's word to all. Jesus comes into the world bringing a new vision.
Philip invites the skeptical Nathanael to "come and see," to experience new vision in Christ. God is still calling you to come and see. Are you yourself ready to respond as young Samuel did with, "Speak, for your servant hears"?
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
In Thomas Cranmer's marriage ceremony from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, after the vows were exchanged, the man would offer the woman a ring, and would say these words: "With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow."
"With my body I thee worship." It's a beautiful promise, offering to make the physical love at the heart of marriage into a holy thing. Some have worried, over the years, about that word "worship" in this context, thinking it idolatrous -- although "worship" in those days also meant "honor" in an ordinary sense (some judges were addressed as "your worship").
"With my body I honor you." That's another way to put it. This ancient vow recognizes that we humans have bodies as well as souls and that our bodies are bound to the way of Jesus Christ, just as our spirits are.
Sadly, this phrase of Thomas Cranmer's didn't make it across the Atlantic Ocean. As the Anglican Book of Common Prayer went through future editions here, those words were quietly removed. Just enough of the fear and loathing of all things physical had crept back into the church. Yet, the promise remained a part of the culture. "With my body I thee worship" has continued to be remembered, and has even been restored in some modern marriage celebrations -- although nowadays, both bride and groom repeat those words, not just the groom. As they do so, they witness that we are whole people, body and soul.
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
A study at a Midwestern school showed that 80% of the women who had intercourse hoped to marry their partner. Only 12% of the men had the same expectation.
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Teen facts. Since the popular push for contraceptives for teens began, teenage sexual activity and pregnancy have increased 400%. Of unwed teen mothers, 70% will go on welfare. Of teens who marry because of pregnancy, 60% will be divorced in five years.
(from Josh McDowell, Family Happiness is Homemade, Vol. 14, No. 6, June 1990)
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Are we being desensitized by the present evil world? Do things that once shocked us now pass us by with little notice? Have our sexual ethics slackened?
Where do our minds wander when we have no duties to perform?
What are we reading? Are there books or magazines or files in our libraries that we want no one else to see?
What are we renting at the local video stores? How many hours do we spend watching TV? How many adulteries did we watch last week? How many murders? How many did we watch with our children?
How many chapters of the Bible did we read last week?
(from Paul Borthwick, Leading The Way [Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1989], pp. 120-121)
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Carol grew up attending church but stopped once she started college. "I wanted to sleep in," she explains, "but mostly I wanted to exercise my newfound freedom from my parents."
The lifestyle she chose was common among young adults, "one that encouraged freedom, independence, and self-reliance" she says. With each step Carol took, she distanced herself from God. Years later at one low point in her life Carol told her parents, "God has forgotten me." Her parents assured her that God had not deserted her but continued to love her. They encouraged her to attend church.
"When I returned to church," she says, "it was like coming home. I felt welcome, not just by the congregation but by God as well." God reached down in infinite love and grace and Carol says, "Rescued me from the ruin I had made on my own. God gave me a new life."
The apostle Paul discovered in his own life that following the letter of the law did not yield to salvation. Paul learned to rely on God's grace, which he encourages his readers as well as us to do.
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Dale needed a bigger working surface on his desk at college. Figuring the old desk would never be needed after his years at college, he purchased a sheet of plywood and nailed it to the top of his desk -- instant surface area! But the plywood gave slivers, so Dale purchased a piece of laminate and some contact cement. He applied the cement to each surface and laid the laminate down. His plan was to lay it on the plywood and slide it gently into place. Little did he know that once the two pieces touched they were instantly and forever joined. Now he had a desktop that was decidedly askew. He tried his best to remove it. The laminate splintered and broke. He had to pry off the pieces that stuck, which resulted in chunks of plywood being pulled off. It was a mess.
Paul suggests that when two people become one sexually, they may be able to separate, but like Dale's experience with the laminate, the break is never clean -- something is always left behind. Abstinence is the better option.
John 1:43-51
On the Sunday before the season's first football game Pastor Matt always talked about football in the senior high youth group. "It's important you realize," he said, "that humans tend to dehumanize if not demonize other groups. We split humanity into 'them and us.' The Greeks saw only Greeks and the rest barbarians. Jews called all others Gentiles. And, as Doctor McIntosh used to say, there are the Scots and those who wish they were." He got a laugh with that.
"Jesus surprised Nathanael by being the Messiah from a neighboring small town," Pastor Matt said. "So, when you compete against another high school, try as hard as you can, but realize: a bunch of your opponents will be your friends in college. If that's not enough to convince you," he winked, "I'm old enough to know that lots of kids in this high school will marry kids from rival high schools."
John 1:43-51
At the close of life, the question will not be, "How much have you gotten?" but "How much have you given?"
Not "How much have you won?" but "How much have you done?"
Not "How much have you saved?" but "How much have you sacrificed?"
It will be "How much have you loved and served?" not "How much were you honored?"
John 1:43-51
Clarence Jordan, author of the "Cotton Patch" New Testament translation and founder of the interracial Koinonia farm in Americus, Georgia, was getting a red-carpet tour of another minister's church. With pride the minister pointed to the rich, imported pews and luxurious decoration. As they stepped outside, darkness was falling, and a spotlight shone on a huge cross atop the steeple. "That cross alone cost us $10,000," the minister said with a satisfied smile.
"You got cheated," said Jordan. "Times were when Christians could get them for free."
John 1:43-51
If you're not from Ohio or Michigan, it's hard to understand the rivalry between the University of Michigan and Ohio State. The rivalry engulfs the majority of each state. Even people who don't particularly like football dress in their state's colors and root for their boys when the UM-OSU game comes around each year. Students at the universities sometimes riot out of the fervor created for the game. The competition's intensity often as not reaches ridiculous proportions. If the president of the USA himself, dressed in any combination or variety of blue or yellow, walked up to an OSU fan during the big game, there's a fairly good chance that that fan would get him kicked out of the stadium. So those from the Ohio-Michigan area can identify with Nathanael's question if we tweak the words just a little: Can anything good come out of Michigan? Or, from Ohio? Or, imagine your Savior and Lord coming from some low-class hick town. Is that what you would expect? Would you be able to get past your preconceptions and follow him?
John 1:43-51
"Come! Follow me." "Come and see!" The words of Jesus, echoed by Phillip, to the men on the shores of Galilee must have been powerfully persuasive. They leave their jobs and follow, not knowing what lies ahead. The instant faith of Philip causes him to find Nathanael, who also believes, after hearing that Jesus knows him thoroughly. Jesus' words made a difference to people then. Would we drop everything, leave family and friends, a lifetime of work, and change everything because Jesus asks us to?
That is exactly what we do when we continue to live out our baptismal covenant. Faith comes by hearing, we are told in scripture. We have heard the voice of Jesus and have walked forward in faith, slowly, perhaps, and even fitfully, but we walk toward the one whose word is true.
Years later, Mick reflected upon his being swindled out of half his lifesavings. He reasoned that his small-town raising affected his analysis of the business proposition. In his small town he grew up hearing people say, "She comes from a good family," or "He comes from a disreputable family." One's family counted for too much Mick discovered.
He and seven others in town threw their money behind a high school classmate. He came from a "good" family. However, if they'd investigated carefully, they'd have discovered that he cheated in high school, was expelled from college, and had lost a number of jobs before returning to his (small) hometown to trade on the reputation of his family.
For all that family counts, Mick and Samuel discovered that one doesn't always inherit the morality of one's parents, no matter what one's "town" expects.
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
How good a listener are you?
* Since you think about four times faster than a person usually talks, do you use this time to think about other things while you're keeping track of the conversation?
* Do you listen primarily for facts rather than ideas when someone is speaking?
* Do you avoid listening to things you feel will be too difficult to understand?
* Can you tell from a person's appearance and delivery that there won't be anything worthwhile said?
* When someone is talking to you do you appear to be paying attention when you're not?
* Do certain words and phrases prejudice you so you cannot listen objectively?
* When listening are you distracted by outside sights and sounds?
(from Leadership, Vol. 1, No. 4, p. 99)
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
It's hard not to smile if you're reading an Amelia Bedelia book to your favorite youngster. If you haven't heard about this bumbling housemaid, grab the nearest five-year-old and take a trip to the library. Amelia Bedelia's adventures are too good to miss. The thing about Amelia Bedelia: she's very literal-minded. She does exactly what she's told. For example, when they tell her to "run home" during a game of baseball, she cheerfully sprints right out of the park and all the way to her own front porch. Amelia Bedelia's sponge cake involves just that -- real sponge. Her antics remind both young and old alike how much trouble miscommunications cause. Young Samuel is no Amelia Bedelia, but he also misinterprets a message. Samuel's message, however, is from God. Luckily, this message doesn't spell disaster for God's people. Instead, it gives us a valuable lesson: God may call us when we least expect him.
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
As the sun sets each evening, our vision is lessened. Night vision doesn't hold a candle to what we can see in daylight. Young Samuel and the old priest Eli live in an era when the word of the Lord was precious, but rare. There is "no frequent vision." Today as well there often seems to be no word or vision.
When Eli finally realizes the source of the voices Samuel keeps hearing in the night, he tells Samuel to say, "Speak, for your servant hears." When Samuel does, God breaks the silence.
Many years later, God again breaks the silence, this time between heaven and earth. God sends a child to seek and save the lost of the world, as well as to bring God's word to all. Jesus comes into the world bringing a new vision.
Philip invites the skeptical Nathanael to "come and see," to experience new vision in Christ. God is still calling you to come and see. Are you yourself ready to respond as young Samuel did with, "Speak, for your servant hears"?
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
In Thomas Cranmer's marriage ceremony from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, after the vows were exchanged, the man would offer the woman a ring, and would say these words: "With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow."
"With my body I thee worship." It's a beautiful promise, offering to make the physical love at the heart of marriage into a holy thing. Some have worried, over the years, about that word "worship" in this context, thinking it idolatrous -- although "worship" in those days also meant "honor" in an ordinary sense (some judges were addressed as "your worship").
"With my body I honor you." That's another way to put it. This ancient vow recognizes that we humans have bodies as well as souls and that our bodies are bound to the way of Jesus Christ, just as our spirits are.
Sadly, this phrase of Thomas Cranmer's didn't make it across the Atlantic Ocean. As the Anglican Book of Common Prayer went through future editions here, those words were quietly removed. Just enough of the fear and loathing of all things physical had crept back into the church. Yet, the promise remained a part of the culture. "With my body I thee worship" has continued to be remembered, and has even been restored in some modern marriage celebrations -- although nowadays, both bride and groom repeat those words, not just the groom. As they do so, they witness that we are whole people, body and soul.
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
A study at a Midwestern school showed that 80% of the women who had intercourse hoped to marry their partner. Only 12% of the men had the same expectation.
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Teen facts. Since the popular push for contraceptives for teens began, teenage sexual activity and pregnancy have increased 400%. Of unwed teen mothers, 70% will go on welfare. Of teens who marry because of pregnancy, 60% will be divorced in five years.
(from Josh McDowell, Family Happiness is Homemade, Vol. 14, No. 6, June 1990)
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Are we being desensitized by the present evil world? Do things that once shocked us now pass us by with little notice? Have our sexual ethics slackened?
Where do our minds wander when we have no duties to perform?
What are we reading? Are there books or magazines or files in our libraries that we want no one else to see?
What are we renting at the local video stores? How many hours do we spend watching TV? How many adulteries did we watch last week? How many murders? How many did we watch with our children?
How many chapters of the Bible did we read last week?
(from Paul Borthwick, Leading The Way [Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1989], pp. 120-121)
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Carol grew up attending church but stopped once she started college. "I wanted to sleep in," she explains, "but mostly I wanted to exercise my newfound freedom from my parents."
The lifestyle she chose was common among young adults, "one that encouraged freedom, independence, and self-reliance" she says. With each step Carol took, she distanced herself from God. Years later at one low point in her life Carol told her parents, "God has forgotten me." Her parents assured her that God had not deserted her but continued to love her. They encouraged her to attend church.
"When I returned to church," she says, "it was like coming home. I felt welcome, not just by the congregation but by God as well." God reached down in infinite love and grace and Carol says, "Rescued me from the ruin I had made on my own. God gave me a new life."
The apostle Paul discovered in his own life that following the letter of the law did not yield to salvation. Paul learned to rely on God's grace, which he encourages his readers as well as us to do.
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Dale needed a bigger working surface on his desk at college. Figuring the old desk would never be needed after his years at college, he purchased a sheet of plywood and nailed it to the top of his desk -- instant surface area! But the plywood gave slivers, so Dale purchased a piece of laminate and some contact cement. He applied the cement to each surface and laid the laminate down. His plan was to lay it on the plywood and slide it gently into place. Little did he know that once the two pieces touched they were instantly and forever joined. Now he had a desktop that was decidedly askew. He tried his best to remove it. The laminate splintered and broke. He had to pry off the pieces that stuck, which resulted in chunks of plywood being pulled off. It was a mess.
Paul suggests that when two people become one sexually, they may be able to separate, but like Dale's experience with the laminate, the break is never clean -- something is always left behind. Abstinence is the better option.
John 1:43-51
On the Sunday before the season's first football game Pastor Matt always talked about football in the senior high youth group. "It's important you realize," he said, "that humans tend to dehumanize if not demonize other groups. We split humanity into 'them and us.' The Greeks saw only Greeks and the rest barbarians. Jews called all others Gentiles. And, as Doctor McIntosh used to say, there are the Scots and those who wish they were." He got a laugh with that.
"Jesus surprised Nathanael by being the Messiah from a neighboring small town," Pastor Matt said. "So, when you compete against another high school, try as hard as you can, but realize: a bunch of your opponents will be your friends in college. If that's not enough to convince you," he winked, "I'm old enough to know that lots of kids in this high school will marry kids from rival high schools."
John 1:43-51
At the close of life, the question will not be, "How much have you gotten?" but "How much have you given?"
Not "How much have you won?" but "How much have you done?"
Not "How much have you saved?" but "How much have you sacrificed?"
It will be "How much have you loved and served?" not "How much were you honored?"
John 1:43-51
Clarence Jordan, author of the "Cotton Patch" New Testament translation and founder of the interracial Koinonia farm in Americus, Georgia, was getting a red-carpet tour of another minister's church. With pride the minister pointed to the rich, imported pews and luxurious decoration. As they stepped outside, darkness was falling, and a spotlight shone on a huge cross atop the steeple. "That cross alone cost us $10,000," the minister said with a satisfied smile.
"You got cheated," said Jordan. "Times were when Christians could get them for free."
John 1:43-51
If you're not from Ohio or Michigan, it's hard to understand the rivalry between the University of Michigan and Ohio State. The rivalry engulfs the majority of each state. Even people who don't particularly like football dress in their state's colors and root for their boys when the UM-OSU game comes around each year. Students at the universities sometimes riot out of the fervor created for the game. The competition's intensity often as not reaches ridiculous proportions. If the president of the USA himself, dressed in any combination or variety of blue or yellow, walked up to an OSU fan during the big game, there's a fairly good chance that that fan would get him kicked out of the stadium. So those from the Ohio-Michigan area can identify with Nathanael's question if we tweak the words just a little: Can anything good come out of Michigan? Or, from Ohio? Or, imagine your Savior and Lord coming from some low-class hick town. Is that what you would expect? Would you be able to get past your preconceptions and follow him?
John 1:43-51
"Come! Follow me." "Come and see!" The words of Jesus, echoed by Phillip, to the men on the shores of Galilee must have been powerfully persuasive. They leave their jobs and follow, not knowing what lies ahead. The instant faith of Philip causes him to find Nathanael, who also believes, after hearing that Jesus knows him thoroughly. Jesus' words made a difference to people then. Would we drop everything, leave family and friends, a lifetime of work, and change everything because Jesus asks us to?
That is exactly what we do when we continue to live out our baptismal covenant. Faith comes by hearing, we are told in scripture. We have heard the voice of Jesus and have walked forward in faith, slowly, perhaps, and even fitfully, but we walk toward the one whose word is true.
