Devotion for World Communion: Feed the World - Matthew 15:36

Matthew 15:36         Then Jesus took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. (NIV)

            One of the first pictures that I ever saw of Jesus was contained in a children’s book. In my mind’s eye I can still see it. Jesus is standing at the top of a hill with his hands held up in prayer to God. Before Him, on a rock, loaves and fishes have been placed. His disciples are gathered beside Him and a great crowd of people are around them, all over the hillside. It was a beautiful picture of the miraculous feeding of thousands of people and it has stayed in my heart ever since.

            As an adult, the nearest that I ever get to experiencing this bounteous beauty happens each month during the Communion service at the church I serve. About a hundred and fifty people are offered a little square of bread and a small cup of wine; they are spiritually fed and soulfully satisfied. They are at peace with God and filled with Christ’s love. It’s a wonderful church moment of grace and hope. Needless to say, I look forward to this experience each month.

            This Sunday, the whole world will be celebrating Communion across the entire globe. People from other lands will share in this amazing and wonderful feast. To me, World Communion Sunday is almost as important as Christmas Day, Easter, and Pentecost. It’s the one day in the year when Christians everywhere share in the blessings of Christ’s sacrificial love. It’s about as close to ‘peace on Earth’ as we will ever experience on this side of glory.

            So wherever you are this Sunday, let me urge and encourage you to join in this celebratory feast of Christ. Isn't it amazing that little squares of bread and small cups of wine will unite millions of Christians across the world? Isn't it wonderful that Christ’s miraculous feeding of His people is still experienced today?

Questions for personal reflection

What does Communion mean to me? How will my spirit connect to other Christians across the globe on World Communion Sunday?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, we thank You for the gift of Communion which has become a holy and precious experience in our lives. Thank You for the promises that are fulfilled through the giving of Your sacred body and blood on Calvary, as well as the receiving and partaking of the holy bread and wine that we are offered at Communion. Bless us and all Your people on Earth, especially during World Communion Sunday. In Your Holy Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make a comment about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing for World Communion Sunday. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Communion.

In The Beginning: Lesson 6 - A New Covenant

Connections Class 2014-2015

September 28 – In the Beginning

Lesson 06 – A New Covenant

Genesis 9

Comments and Questions

Genesis 9 relates to us the stories of Noah that took place after the Flood. God makes a promise, verified with a rainbow, never to destroy the Earth by flood. This promise is not only made to humankind, but to all life on the planet.

            Some early kosher rules about food and livestock are also present in this chapter, which furthers the idea that priests were behind the writing of these foundational stories.

            The last part of chapter 9 appears to come from a different source altogether, as if it is a separate tale which is related to Noah and his sons. The meaning behind the story of Noah’s drunkenness is to act as a vehicle for the origins of the peoples in the Middle East, as well as an explanation of the rivalry between Canaan and Israel.

            The first nine chapters of Genesis have taken us on a journey of faith, giving us an insight into the tribal processes and story-telling techniques of the ancient peoples. The wonderful thing to note is how special these stories still are, even in today’s world.

The questions that we have about Creation, Sin, Suffering, and Purpose will always be with us. For an ancient people living in simpler times, the use of tribal stories and religious origins contained all that they ever needed to know in order to be assured of God’s abiding presence and love. The questions are still being asked in our own generation; where we find the answers will involve our scientific knowledge, as well as our religious faith.

Questions for discussion

Why did God cause fear and dread of human beings to fall upon the animal kingdom? Why did He give us meat and plants for food?

What is the purpose behind the ‘lifeblood’ instructions of verses 4-7? Where did these instructions originate?

Why did God make a covenant with human beings and all living creatures on Earth? What does this tell us about His grace?

What makes the rainbow a perfect symbol of God’s promise? Why do we feel this assurance every time we see one in the sky?

What kind of covenants has God made with His people over the centuries? How are those covenants kept among us today?

Why are the sons of Noah mentioned in the concluding part of this story? What is their purpose?

What do you think about verses 20-27? Do you think they were an original part of the Flood story? Why/why not?

Why is Ham cursed? How is that curse passed down through his family? Is it still operative today?

What do you think Noah did for the 350 years of his life after the Flood? Why doesn’t this longevity continue in today’s world?

How do the first nine chapters of Genesis define our faith? What has this series of studies taught you?

How should the Church work alongside Science in order to evolve a relevant and effective faith today? What are our tribal stories?

Unison Prayer

O Lord of all life, we thank You for these foundational scriptures and the Genesis stories that have shaped our faith. Help us to understand how they still help our beliefs in today’s world.

Heavenly Father, keep us mindful of Your promises and covenants that are still operative in our lives. Help us to embrace Your loving and compassionate spirit of grace, truth, and love.

Grant us a deeper faith and help us to share the reality of Your existence with our families and friends. Grant us opportunities to share Your words of grace, hope, and love. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Further Notes

NEXT WEEK:

A New Series – The Life, Times, and Revelations of Julian of Norwich.

In The Beginning: Lesson 5 - The Flood

Connections Class 2014-2015

September 21 – In the Beginning

Lesson 05 – The Flood

Genesis 7 and 8

Comments and Questions

Genesis chapters 7 and 8 tell us of the destruction of the Earth by God, as well as the salvation of Noah’s family. It reveals to us the righteous anger of God against sin. At the same time, we see His ‘particular’ mercy in the special protection of Noah, his family, and all of the animals on board the Ark.

            Flood stories are mentioned in several different ancient religions which means that some sort of cataclysmic event took place in the Middle East region. Geologists and scientists have discovered signs of great flood and some have concluded that it may have occurred from a gigantic overflow of the Black Sea into the Mediterranean. Whatever the cause, epic stories of the Flood have been part of the ancient folklore and religious traditions since the beginning of civilization.

            Genesis 7 gives a description of who and what entered the ark. Humankind was saved through the protection of Noah and his family. The animal kingdom was preserved by the inclusion of many different types of animals in the ark. The whole journey lasted several months. This meant that a regular supply of food and water was necessary for both the people and beasts.

            Genesis 8 describes the end of the journey and the restoration of life on the planet. God makes a promise never to destroy the world again, or His creatures, even though people will keep on sinning. God’s salvation for the world does not depend upon what mankind will do. God will make and take the initiative to sanctify humanity through Jesus, His Son.

Questions for discussion

Why did God save Noah and his family?

Why did God save the animal kingdom, too? Why did He save more ‘clean’ animals than the ‘unclean’ ones? What’s the difference anyway?

Why did God personally shut in the occupants of the ark? If not, what would they have been tempted to do?

Using your imagination, how would you describe the conditions on the ark? How did Noah and his family survive?

According to the Bible, how did the flood occur? Why did everything outside of the ark perish?

How long did the waters flood the Earth? What caused it to stop?

What did Noah do to find out if the waters had receded? What was his initial response?

How does the dove indicate to Noah that the waters have receded? What does this symbolize to us today?

When does Noah and his family leave the ark? Where is Mount Ararat?

What does Noah do when he and his family walk on the dry land? Why?

How does God respond? Why?

Unison Prayer

O Lord of all life. We thank You for making all creatures great and small. Our world is blessed by the many varieties of life forms that it contains. Thank You for sustaining our planet; thank You for the great gift of life.

Heavenly Father, we praise You for keeping Your promises and holding on to Your word. We know that our sinful and wicked ways disappoint and anger You. We are sorry that we keep on sinning; we regret that we don’t appear to learn from both our history and mistakes.

Teach us the lessons of grace that we find in these scriptures. Help us to share Your goodness with others and enable us to remain committed to You and Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. Amen.

Further Notes

NEXT WEEK: GENESIS 9 -  A New Covenant

In The Beginning - Lesson 4 - Along Came Noah

Connections Class 2014-2015

September 14 – In the Beginning

Lesson 04 – Along Came Noah

Genesis 5 and6

Comments and Questions

Genesis chapters 5 and 6 reveal to us the many generations that came into existence after Adam. This is used as a chronology of names to link the ‘pedigree’ of Adam’s descendants. Eventually this list will link up with Abraham, bringing the Semite race into being.

            The ages of these ancient people are remarkably high. According to the Bible, life expectancy before the Great Flood was between 800-900 years old. Life expectancy in the 21^st century is about a tenth of that, so are these figures real or did they have a different way of counting the years back then?

            Genesis 6 may combine some ancient myths and folklore that were told throughout the region in ancient days. The Nephilim, who are mentioned, are very much like the ancient Greek demi-gods and Hindu avatars. Whoever they were, they symbolized a cross-fertilization between human and divine beings.

            This chapter also sadly reveals the evil state of the world. God’s creation had turned its back on Him and had become sinfully corrupt. God appears to be weary of the evil that men do, so He just wants to destroy everything that He has made, in order to begin again.

            However, there appears to be one man who remains loyal to God and so Noah is appointed to be saved from God’s wrath. In Noah, humankind is preserved and the link back to Adam is maintained. Noah’s story is one of divine separation and salvation – a story that those who believe in Christ will one day personally experience, too.

Questions for discussion

What do you think is the purpose behind this ancient genealogy? Are there any surprises? Why aren’t Adam’s other sons and daughters named?

What do you think about the longevity of the ancient people? Will we ever see that again?

Are there any characters on the list who intrigue you? Why?

What do you think about the first four verses of chapter 6? Who were the sons of God? Who were the Nephilim?

What does God feel about the sins of mankind? How does He respond?

Why do you think Noah found favor in the eyes of God? What made God want to save him?

How do you think Noah initially reacted when he heard of God’s intention to destroy the Earth? What do you think he told his family?

Why does God give Noah specific instructions about how to build the ark? Where else will we see this kind of building instruction in the Bible? What does that tell us about the Ark?

Why is God so intent on destroying every living thing? What does this tell us about the contamination of sin?

What does God command Noah to bring into the ark? Why?

Unison Prayer

O Lord of all Creation, You have the power to sustain life, as well as the authority to end it. We are merely creatures brought into existence by Your will. Help us to understand that we are not at the center of Your universe, but instead we exist in Your awesome and wondrous creation.

We are sorry, O Lord, for the sins we commit, as well as for the corruption that still exists on our planet. We thank You for Your mercy and favor, as well as for Your patience and love. Keep us from taking You for granted and protect us from foolishly believing that everything we say or do has Your blessing. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

NEXT WEEK: GENESIS 7-8 The Flood

In the Beginning - Lesson 3 - The Curse of Cain

Connections Class 2014-2015

September 07 – In the Beginning

Lesson 03 – The Curse of Cain

Comments and Questions

Genesis Chapter 4 sadly reveals the inhumane consequences of sin. Violence enters into the human world and anger erupts into fratricide. It is an awful moment in the history of humanity. Creation has already been marred because of disobedience; now it is horribly contaminated with murder, the most heinous sinful act that people can commit.

            Cain’s envious spirit estranges himself from his brother, his parents, and his God. This is what unchecked envy does. It depletes the human soul of value, esteem, and respect. Cain wants to be approved by God more than his brother. He seeks fame over faith and recognition over redemption. He is not truly sacrificing anything to God; he only does what he does in order to be rewarded.

            The difference between Cain and Abel may be thought of as the main difference between faith and religion. Faith encourages us to simply do things for God because we want to honor and respect Him. Religion demands that we do things, in order to be compensated by God for our deeds and rituals. Sometimes the most thankless of people are the most religious adherents. They do not know the joy of doing something simply for God out of love and devotion. They feel compelled to worship God rather than being attracted to praise Him.

Our Sunday morning experiences, prior to coming to church, may often indicate whether we are being faithful or religious. If we come to get something out of church, we come for the wrong reason. If we come to give something to God of ourselves, we do this with and by faith.

Questions for discussion

Why did Cain and Abel feel the need to sacrifice something to God? How did God respond to their actions?

What was Cain’s initial response? What do you think caused him to feel this way? Why did God have to speak directly to him?

Why did Cain deceive and murder Abel? How did he try to conceal this when confronted by God?

What was God’s response to Cain’s crime? Does this suggest anything to us about the pros and cons of capital punishment?

How did God respond to Cain’s request for mercy? Why did he mark Cain?

Where did Cain find a wife? How did this happen?

Verses 18-22 mention descendants of Cain. What were they famous for? Why do think this was included in the texts?

What does the story of Lamech tell us about human sin? Why is violence so much a part of who we are as human beings?

Why does God give Adam and Eve a new son called Seth? What will his purpose be?

Why did people begin to call upon the name of the Lord? What does this tell us about the origins of worship?

Unison Prayer

O Lord of all Creation, we are sorry for being sinful and violent creatures. Instead of living according to Your ways, we break all of Your commands and set aside Your words as if they mean nothing. Forgive us for being so foolish, rebellious, and defiant.

Teach us new ways and help us to learn the importance of the beginnings of our faith, species, and life. May we each become new creatures through Christ’s Spirit, so that we may be positive and encouraging witnesses of Your True Word and Everlasting Kingdom. In the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, we pray. Amen.

Further Notes

NEXT WEEK: GENESIS 5-6 – ALONG CAME NOAH

In The Beginning - Lesson 2 - Sin and Separation

Connections Class 2014-2015

August 31 – In the Beginning

Lesson 02 – Sin and Separation

Text: Genesis 03

Comments and Questions

Chapter 3 conveys to us the origin of sin in the world. Adam and Eve disobey God’s instruction and suffer the consequences of their sinful choice.

When God confronts them with their sin, they blame each other, and even the serpent. Adam also comes very close to actually blaming God.

Sin creates a gap between God and the human beings. Although God graciously clothes them, He also curses all of the participants in the act of disobedience and they are banished from the holy Garden of Eden.

The whole story is a means of communicating to people of faith that sin causes us to separate ourselves from God. As our sinning continues, that gap becomes immense, putting us in danger of never being able to reach God ever again.

The definition of ‘sin’ is different for each culture, nation, and generation on Earth. Different religions and denominations also have differing views of what sin is. This creates a dilemma for each generation of Christians when defining ‘sin,’ because the consequences of getting it wrong could mean that we again create a gap and drift away from God.

Questions for discussion

Do I believe that Adam and Eve actually existed? Why/why not?

What is the purpose of this story? How does it relate to our own wrong doing in the eye of God?

Why did God create the two trees with forbidden fruit? Why did He not want Adam and Eve to eat the fruit?

Why does the serpent represent evil in this story? How does he persuade Eve to eat the fruit?

Where was Adam when Eve was being tempted? Where was God?

How does Eve tempt Adam? What is the initial outcome of their sin?

Why do they hide from God? What causes them to lie to Him?

How does God deal with the situation? What does this convey to us about His judgment?

How often do we sin? What do we do about it? What does God do about it?

Any other comments/ questions?

Unison Prayer

Heavenly Father, we lower our heads before You and we confess that we have too often forgotten that we are Yours. Sometimes we carry on our lives as if there was no God and we fall short of being a credible witness to You. For these things we ask Your forgiveness and we also ask for Your strength.

Give us clear minds and open hearts so we may witness to You in our world. Remind us to be who You would have us to be, regardless of what we are doing or who we are with. Hold us to You and build our relationship with You, as well as with those You have given us on Earth. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

NEXT WEEK: GENESIS 4 – THE CURSE OF CAIN

In The Beginning: Lesson 1 - Creation

Connections Class 2014-2015

August 24 – In the Beginning

Lesson 01 – Creation

Texts: Genesis 1 and Genesis 2

CREATION

          Every religion on Earth has its very own Creation story. In the Bible, God is the Creator of the entire universe. In other faiths, creation occurs through animals, blood cells, as a divine side effect, or as an outcome of a battle between the gods. Even scientists have their own stories of Creation – the Big Bang theory, Dark matter explosion, or even accidentally out of nothing. Whatever the religion, faith, or science, people have been trying to explain life, the universe, and creation by whatever they believe and however they actually live.

          In the Bible, Creation is God’s wonderful gift to all living beings. He made the entire cosmos, bringing order and the laws of physics to what He makes. According to the Bible, His focus is upon our planet where He creates special creatures – human beings – made in His image. Life on Earth is a divine masterpiece and at the heart of God’s amazing works. He enjoys the act of creating and, when everything is finished, He sits back and rests in order to delight in all that God has created.

          Life, therefore, is not an accidental occurrence, it is a purposeful event, given by God to all sorts of creatures, including humanity at the pinnacle of His creative works. As it states in the old catechism, we are created to worship God and enjoy His creation forever.

          The purpose of today’s study is to look at the first two chapters of Genesis, in order to investigate and discuss the process of Creation as depicted in the Bible, and what that process means to 21^st century Christians.

Questions for discussion

What do I believe about the universe’s origin? What sustains it?

What do I think about evolution? Can it be equated with the process of Creation?

Why did God create anything? What is the purpose of existence?

What are the main differences between Genesis 1 and Genesis 2? Are those differences important?

How does Creation affect my life?

How should the Church teach Creation in the 21^st century?

Any other comments/ questions?

Unison Prayer

Loving Father and Creator of all, we come to You today deeply grateful for Your Creation. As we look around us, we are amazed at the greatness and majesty of all that You have made. Nature around us speaks of Your greatness - the vast expanse of the sky, the mountains, trees, lakes and streams speak of Your great design. You have given us such beauty in the colors of the rainbow, the beauty of flowers and fields.

Words cannot adequately express the magnificence of all You have created. We join in praise with the writer of the psalms when he says, "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the Earth." May we show our love and reverence to You, our Lord, by caring for all that You have created. We humbly give You praise and thanks. Amen.

NEXT WEEK: GENESIS 3 – SIN AND SEPARATION