The Difference Between Mugging Nuns and Mugging None
Memory Verse:
' Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. '
James 1:12
Sermon Sentence: Beware the desire to not be led and submit your life to instructions and teachings.
' Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. '
James 1:12
Sermon Sentence: Beware the desire to not be led and submit your life to instructions and teachings.
Day 1
Read Genesis 4:1-16
The goal of these devotions is to make us more familiar with the context of the sermon topics in the greater view of the whole Bible. Oftentimes we will look at themes that come up in verses we read, or we will even look up stories referenced. This week, in our text of Luke 11:37-54, Jesus uses two names to make a point, referring to them as “prophets.” A closer look at these two names let’s us see what Jesus was really trying to say. He brings Abel first. I am betting that when we are naming prophets in the Bible, that is not a name that comes up often or even one we would choose out of a list. But Jesus did. The story of Cain and Abel, the two brothers that had a story on the doorstep of the Garden of Eden, right after their parents were sent out eastward from the Garden, is one that probably has not made much significance in your life. Maybe the lesson is just don’t be murdering your brother. That is a good lesson and certainly an application that we should take up, but then again, the story seems to be given a bit more weight than that seemingly obvious application.
Many of you have Bibles on your phone or computer. In those Bible apps or programs, you can change the version and read it in a different version. Try that out. Choose a reputable version (New International Version, New King James Version, New Living Translation, or English Standard Version, etc.) What do you notice that is different and is that valuable in thinking about this story?
Why do you think Jesus used this story to make His point in Luke 11:35-54?
Maybe you are just totally confused about this story. What questions would you ask to understand more and who should you take those questions to?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
The goal of these devotions is to make us more familiar with the context of the sermon topics in the greater view of the whole Bible. Oftentimes we will look at themes that come up in verses we read, or we will even look up stories referenced. This week, in our text of Luke 11:37-54, Jesus uses two names to make a point, referring to them as “prophets.” A closer look at these two names let’s us see what Jesus was really trying to say. He brings Abel first. I am betting that when we are naming prophets in the Bible, that is not a name that comes up often or even one we would choose out of a list. But Jesus did. The story of Cain and Abel, the two brothers that had a story on the doorstep of the Garden of Eden, right after their parents were sent out eastward from the Garden, is one that probably has not made much significance in your life. Maybe the lesson is just don’t be murdering your brother. That is a good lesson and certainly an application that we should take up, but then again, the story seems to be given a bit more weight than that seemingly obvious application.
Many of you have Bibles on your phone or computer. In those Bible apps or programs, you can change the version and read it in a different version. Try that out. Choose a reputable version (New International Version, New King James Version, New Living Translation, or English Standard Version, etc.) What do you notice that is different and is that valuable in thinking about this story?
Why do you think Jesus used this story to make His point in Luke 11:35-54?
Maybe you are just totally confused about this story. What questions would you ask to understand more and who should you take those questions to?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 2
Read 2 Chronicles 24:1-22
In Jesus' closing points in Luke 11:37-54 at the Great Dinner Tirade at the Pharisee’s house, Jesus invokes two names that he refers to as Prophets. At this time, the known and accepted scripture was what is now known as the TaNaK. There is not enough space here to explain the depths of this, but it was like an acronym. The “Ta” stood for the Torah, or first five books of the Bible as we know them, the “Na” referred to the collection of the prophetic writings and there were twelve scrolls in that collection. The eleventh scroll, was by a prophet named Zechariah. Yesterday we looked at the idea of the declared prophet Abel, who was from the beginning of the Genesis scroll, right after the Garden of Eden story. This is then one of the last prophets mentioned in the book of the prophets teachings. Jesus was painting a picture of what he was trying to communicate. Zecharaiah’s story is told in 2 Chronicles in a historical fashion, but his teachings are contained in the scroll by his name. Jesus also talks about how Zechariah was killed “between the altar and the sanctuary.” Clearly, that story's scene is being used as a meaningful picture for Jesus. The story that you are reading in 2 Chronicles is giving you context for that picture.
Zechariah is seen here delivering the message that God sent Him to deliver. When he does deliver it, it is not received well. In fact, it is taken as threatening and therefore Zecharaiah has to pay for it with his life. The symbolic idea of him standing in the place that God’s words should be held up and received is the place he loses his life because of God’s word. The connection to the Abel story is an incredible display of capturing the whole story of the whole Bible in a thought out way. Abel too was murdered right outside of the place that God’s word should have been accepted, in the Garden of Eden…for doing what God’s word calls for. Jesus was a masterful teacher!
What connections between these two stories do you see that help make Jesus’ point in using them in Luke 11?
What do you think the message is that you should walk away from looking at this story with?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
In Jesus' closing points in Luke 11:37-54 at the Great Dinner Tirade at the Pharisee’s house, Jesus invokes two names that he refers to as Prophets. At this time, the known and accepted scripture was what is now known as the TaNaK. There is not enough space here to explain the depths of this, but it was like an acronym. The “Ta” stood for the Torah, or first five books of the Bible as we know them, the “Na” referred to the collection of the prophetic writings and there were twelve scrolls in that collection. The eleventh scroll, was by a prophet named Zechariah. Yesterday we looked at the idea of the declared prophet Abel, who was from the beginning of the Genesis scroll, right after the Garden of Eden story. This is then one of the last prophets mentioned in the book of the prophets teachings. Jesus was painting a picture of what he was trying to communicate. Zecharaiah’s story is told in 2 Chronicles in a historical fashion, but his teachings are contained in the scroll by his name. Jesus also talks about how Zechariah was killed “between the altar and the sanctuary.” Clearly, that story's scene is being used as a meaningful picture for Jesus. The story that you are reading in 2 Chronicles is giving you context for that picture.
Zechariah is seen here delivering the message that God sent Him to deliver. When he does deliver it, it is not received well. In fact, it is taken as threatening and therefore Zecharaiah has to pay for it with his life. The symbolic idea of him standing in the place that God’s words should be held up and received is the place he loses his life because of God’s word. The connection to the Abel story is an incredible display of capturing the whole story of the whole Bible in a thought out way. Abel too was murdered right outside of the place that God’s word should have been accepted, in the Garden of Eden…for doing what God’s word calls for. Jesus was a masterful teacher!
What connections between these two stories do you see that help make Jesus’ point in using them in Luke 11?
What do you think the message is that you should walk away from looking at this story with?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 3
Read Luke 19:1-10
Zacchaeus was a man that was not of the best reputation. He spent his days robbing people from a position of authority and in a system that he knew could work in his favor. This is the story of the time he met Jesus. The story is not very long, so to get any backstory would simply be assuming something from the story. I guess it is a safe bet to assume that he had heard about Jesus and was certainly wanting to make something like this meeting happen. When I am reading this story, it kind of frustrates me the lack of details that I find here. What did Zacchaeus do? He didn’t really do much except make a pledge to make some things that he had done wrong, kind of right. He was rich, and he was willing to give up all the ill-gotten wealth to continue this meeting with Jesus. It was at that place that his salvation was declared. It seems pretty basic and simple, and I know that salvation is supposed to be like that, but what about the rest of the story? Surely we are not to believe that this man’s only real sinful section in his life was in the area of finances, and he had but to only give up the wealth to be saved? I have wrestled with far more of my life that needed to be changed than that simple one part response.
I think the point of this story is pretty basic. Zacchaeus was a man that stole from people and cooked the books for his own good and that is how he became rich. Jesus met him one day, and Zacchaeus knew that he wanted to go with Jesus. In order to do that, he had to repent. Of what? His sin. What did that mean? Well, his testimony was that Jesus changed who he was…a rich man that robbed others and needed to stop. That is what it looked like for him to follow Jesus. There was more, but that was a great way of telling his story.
What does your story of repentance look like?
Why do you think that Luke recorded this story like this and didn’t include more details?
How does this help you understand what repentance looks like?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Zacchaeus was a man that was not of the best reputation. He spent his days robbing people from a position of authority and in a system that he knew could work in his favor. This is the story of the time he met Jesus. The story is not very long, so to get any backstory would simply be assuming something from the story. I guess it is a safe bet to assume that he had heard about Jesus and was certainly wanting to make something like this meeting happen. When I am reading this story, it kind of frustrates me the lack of details that I find here. What did Zacchaeus do? He didn’t really do much except make a pledge to make some things that he had done wrong, kind of right. He was rich, and he was willing to give up all the ill-gotten wealth to continue this meeting with Jesus. It was at that place that his salvation was declared. It seems pretty basic and simple, and I know that salvation is supposed to be like that, but what about the rest of the story? Surely we are not to believe that this man’s only real sinful section in his life was in the area of finances, and he had but to only give up the wealth to be saved? I have wrestled with far more of my life that needed to be changed than that simple one part response.
I think the point of this story is pretty basic. Zacchaeus was a man that stole from people and cooked the books for his own good and that is how he became rich. Jesus met him one day, and Zacchaeus knew that he wanted to go with Jesus. In order to do that, he had to repent. Of what? His sin. What did that mean? Well, his testimony was that Jesus changed who he was…a rich man that robbed others and needed to stop. That is what it looked like for him to follow Jesus. There was more, but that was a great way of telling his story.
What does your story of repentance look like?
Why do you think that Luke recorded this story like this and didn’t include more details?
How does this help you understand what repentance looks like?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 4
Read Matthew 6:1-15
Jesus often used the example of the Pharisees to teach lessons to His disciples. They were to be different. Not just different for the sake of being different, but unlike them in the way they lived and processed their faith. I wonder if Jesus, speaking here of the “hypocrites”, is not giving a small head nudge toward the Pharisees. That was a word that He used to describe them often. The Pharisees were known for their flashy lives. For Jesus, His disciples were almost told to do everything in private, out fo the view of others. They were to give like that. They were to pray like that. It is almost like Jesus was creating a lifestyle for them to hide their faith and not show it out. That is one way that we could interpret this teaching. But if we take that literally, then we also have to take the prayer itself literally and pray that back to Jesus. I know. Many people have done that. My point in all of this is to show that we are not meant to take all of this and create a robot life that never prays out loud and never gives unless it is anonymous.
Jesus point is that we should be people that are not doing these things for the attention and focus of other people. We are to do it from genuine hearts that are true. It is not a show and it is not for other people.
What do you learn about giving in this passage?
What do you learn about how you should pray here?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Jesus often used the example of the Pharisees to teach lessons to His disciples. They were to be different. Not just different for the sake of being different, but unlike them in the way they lived and processed their faith. I wonder if Jesus, speaking here of the “hypocrites”, is not giving a small head nudge toward the Pharisees. That was a word that He used to describe them often. The Pharisees were known for their flashy lives. For Jesus, His disciples were almost told to do everything in private, out fo the view of others. They were to give like that. They were to pray like that. It is almost like Jesus was creating a lifestyle for them to hide their faith and not show it out. That is one way that we could interpret this teaching. But if we take that literally, then we also have to take the prayer itself literally and pray that back to Jesus. I know. Many people have done that. My point in all of this is to show that we are not meant to take all of this and create a robot life that never prays out loud and never gives unless it is anonymous.
Jesus point is that we should be people that are not doing these things for the attention and focus of other people. We are to do it from genuine hearts that are true. It is not a show and it is not for other people.
What do you learn about giving in this passage?
What do you learn about how you should pray here?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 5
Read Luke 12:1-12
Five sermons worth is quite a lot of material for this series on just the few verses in Luke 11:37-45. Maybe I took too much time and maybe the idea was a bit much to consider through the whole summer? For me personally, I have found it extremely helpful. I need to be reminding myself how enticing the flavor of the Pharisees is. I like to believe that I am not very much exactly like them, but I do hate the fact that I really start to smell like them a bit too often. What was the hardest thing to do through this series, was break down the exact point of what I was trying to say, or what the text means. I can read it fast and I get the overall idea, but the details are important enough to merit some reflection.
So after I have done that, what should I know? That is why I am ending the series with this passage here. It is almost like Luke got that thought and so he closed it out on a reminder of what we should be focused on in light of what we just saw. We could start an organization that fought against the Pharisaical ideologies that are harming the modern day church, and maybe that would have been helpful. We could realize that a big bear was poked and see that this story is spiraling toward the killing of Jesus and therefore any of these ideas that he broke up this dinner party with are loaded up and full of danger. For you reading this, it may feel too far away for that feeling. This was a long time ago. So what should you say, or how should you respond? That is a good thing to wrestle with.
What do you think this passage has to do with the story at the end of Luke 11?
What does this passage say to you in light of what you have just read from this series of sermons?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Five sermons worth is quite a lot of material for this series on just the few verses in Luke 11:37-45. Maybe I took too much time and maybe the idea was a bit much to consider through the whole summer? For me personally, I have found it extremely helpful. I need to be reminding myself how enticing the flavor of the Pharisees is. I like to believe that I am not very much exactly like them, but I do hate the fact that I really start to smell like them a bit too often. What was the hardest thing to do through this series, was break down the exact point of what I was trying to say, or what the text means. I can read it fast and I get the overall idea, but the details are important enough to merit some reflection.
So after I have done that, what should I know? That is why I am ending the series with this passage here. It is almost like Luke got that thought and so he closed it out on a reminder of what we should be focused on in light of what we just saw. We could start an organization that fought against the Pharisaical ideologies that are harming the modern day church, and maybe that would have been helpful. We could realize that a big bear was poked and see that this story is spiraling toward the killing of Jesus and therefore any of these ideas that he broke up this dinner party with are loaded up and full of danger. For you reading this, it may feel too far away for that feeling. This was a long time ago. So what should you say, or how should you respond? That is a good thing to wrestle with.
What do you think this passage has to do with the story at the end of Luke 11?
What does this passage say to you in light of what you have just read from this series of sermons?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
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