Living - 1 Timothy 2:1-7- Pentecost 19 - 9-18-22

 

 Sermon podcast from the Sunday, 9-18-22 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. 1 Timothy 2:1-7

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Peaceable

Sermon podcast from earlier today at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  1 Timothy 2:1-7. It's not easy to pray with only an agenda of love

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"Peaceable" podcast

Cup of Salvation

Maundy Thursday sermon from St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL
"Cup of Salvation" text
"Cup of Salvation" podcast

What God Desires

Is there a disconnect between this week's Bible study post (Quiet and peaceable) and what is now Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational UCC in Somonauk?  I'd read on and see.

"What God Desires" text
"What God Desires" podcast

Quiet and peaceable

When someone says, “First of all” it is safe to think that what they say after that part is probably something important:

• First of all, eat a good breakfast.  or
• First of all, do you homework before you play. Or 
• First of all, pay attention to what someone says after they say ‘first of all!”

In this week’s Bible reading from 1 Timothy 2:1-7, there’s a “first of all” instruction.

First of all . . . Pray for everyone.  Pray for leaders.  Pray hard so that you can live quietly, peaceably, and respectfully as you focus on listening for God.

Can I add something?

When you pray for everyone, pray that they are blessed.  Pray that they feel love.  Pray that their dreams will come true.

Don’t pray that they start thinking like you do.

Pray for everyone.  Be quiet and peaceable.   Seek God.

I have a hard time doing that.  I don’t want my adversaries to have their dreams come true.  I want my adversaries to have dreams that include love for everyone.  I want my adversaries to stop looking for more power and wealth and to start seeking systems where everyone is treated fairly.

So I am praying for everyone.  I am seeking God.  I don’t think I’m being quiet and peaceable, though. 

I don’t think the context of this week’s reading demands that I don’t show up, stand up, and speak up.

And I’m still going to pray for God’s blessings and love will be poured out over everyone.

A quiet and peaceable life

This week's "Opening the Bible" blog post (Praying for everyone) -- part of a great Bible Study discussion this week over at i.ucc.org -- grew into this week's sermon at Union Congregational Church in Somonauk.

A Quiet and Peaceable Life text
A Quiet and Peaceable Life podcast

Praying for everyone

Here's this week's 'Opening the Bible' blog entry for i.ucc. We're having some great conversations in our Weekly Bible study -- why not join in?

This week’s Bible reading from 1 Timothy 2:1-7 has a ‘First of all’ instruction. It sounds like something to pay attention to.

Pray for everyone.
Pray for leaders (kings and all who are in high positions) so that we may live together in peace.

I wonder what we can do with a little context? This “pray for kings and all who are in high positions” part is often used with Romans 13:1 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities” to convince Christians to follow the “party line” when it comes to supporting governmental leaders. Our support is to be unwavering unless, of course, we disagree with our leaders, and then we are to lambaste them and warn of God’s wrath on our nations because we have such wicked leaders, right?

I’ve seen it from both sides and I’m sure I’ve been guilty of leader-bashing when I am at odds with something our leaders do. And I think this week’s reading is addressing people who are in a similar – though not exactly the same – situation.
The readers of this letter endured persecution at the hands of the government – yet the instructions in the letter are not to lambaste, but to pray for all – that all might have peace.

Who are we at odds with? Is it our governmental leaders? Is it leaders of other nations? Is it leaders of other movements?

I think the call on us from this Bible passage is to pray for all – not just the ones we like.

And I don’t think the call is to pray something like "Please, God, make the evil people stop being evil and make them think like we do.”
I think the prayers are to ask God for the wisdom and the love to live in peace with all. I think the prayers are to ask God for ways to make God’s love evident to all.

What do you think?