"Companions" podcast
Showing posts with label Luke 4:1-13. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Luke 4:1-13. Show all posts
3/06/2022
Companions -Luke 4:1-13 - Lent 1 - 3-6-22
3/10/2019
Companions
Sermon podast from today (3-10-19) at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Lent 1. Luke 4:1-13.
Video sermon preview
"Companions" podcast
Video sermon preview
"Companions" podcast
2/14/2016
Test
Sermon podcast from this morning at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. That time Jesus was in the wilderness and he was tempted. . .
"Test" podcast
"Test" podcast
2/11/2013
The Wilderness
The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness.
The “wilderness” can bring up different images in our mind. In this week's Bible reading from Luke 4:1-13, however, the term is trying to communicate some place where God is absent. In the Hebrew language it is called TOHU WA BOHU – the formless void that existed before God created. It was the place where there was no order – only chaos. (That come from the Greek “Khaos” and the word is the Greek equivalent of TOHU WA BOHU.) It’s a place where no one wants to be and no one would ever choose to be. But it is a place where Jesus was led. I don’t think this is a place where we ever have to go – though it may be a place that we sometimes feel as if we are.
But while Jesus was in TOHU WA BOHU, the Spirit was there.
If we ever feel like we are surrounded by chaos – that we are in TOHU WA BOHU – God is still never absent. As a matter of fact, TOHU WA BOHU – to follow the story of creation in Genesis – is the place where God begins to create.
The “wilderness” can bring up different images in our mind. In this week's Bible reading from Luke 4:1-13, however, the term is trying to communicate some place where God is absent. In the Hebrew language it is called TOHU WA BOHU – the formless void that existed before God created. It was the place where there was no order – only chaos. (That come from the Greek “Khaos” and the word is the Greek equivalent of TOHU WA BOHU.) It’s a place where no one wants to be and no one would ever choose to be. But it is a place where Jesus was led. I don’t think this is a place where we ever have to go – though it may be a place that we sometimes feel as if we are.
But while Jesus was in TOHU WA BOHU, the Spirit was there.
If we ever feel like we are surrounded by chaos – that we are in TOHU WA BOHU – God is still never absent. As a matter of fact, TOHU WA BOHU – to follow the story of creation in Genesis – is the place where God begins to create.
2/20/2010
Forty
This week's Bible study blog post for i.ucc (Tests) proved the background for this year's First Sunday of Lent sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL
"Forty" text
"Forty" podcast
"Forty" text
"Forty" podcast
2/15/2010
Tests
Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:
There are many tests we can prepare for
Tests for school
Tests for driving
Tests for professional licenses
Tests of skill
And there are many tests that are more difficult to prepare for:
Tests of patience
Tests of endurance
Tests of character
Tests of will power
This week’s Bible reading from Luke 4: 1-13 describes Jesus experience in the wilderness, After he was baptized, and before he began his public ministry, Jesus was tested. He wasn’t earning a degree or a license or competing for a prize. Jesus patience, endurance, will power, and character were tested in the wilderness.
He faced opportunities and decisions that are similar to ones we face.
No – we aren’t faced with opportunities to turn stones to bread, to become powerful world dominators, and to dare God to catch us when we jump from a high building. But we do face decisions about hunger, power and trusting God.
Hunger: Too many are overstuffed and far too many don’t have enough.
Power: Too many have a voice to speak to oppression and are silent
Trusting God: Too often we confuse trust in science with a lack of trust in God.
Perhaps we are being tested as well.
I think we’re failing.
There are many tests we can prepare for
Tests for school
Tests for driving
Tests for professional licenses
Tests of skill
And there are many tests that are more difficult to prepare for:
Tests of patience
Tests of endurance
Tests of character
Tests of will power
This week’s Bible reading from Luke 4: 1-13 describes Jesus experience in the wilderness, After he was baptized, and before he began his public ministry, Jesus was tested. He wasn’t earning a degree or a license or competing for a prize. Jesus patience, endurance, will power, and character were tested in the wilderness.
He faced opportunities and decisions that are similar to ones we face.
No – we aren’t faced with opportunities to turn stones to bread, to become powerful world dominators, and to dare God to catch us when we jump from a high building. But we do face decisions about hunger, power and trusting God.
Hunger: Too many are overstuffed and far too many don’t have enough.
Power: Too many have a voice to speak to oppression and are silent
Trusting God: Too often we confuse trust in science with a lack of trust in God.
Perhaps we are being tested as well.
I think we’re failing.
2/24/2007
Temptation
Tomorrow morning's sermon, (Part one in a three-part series called "Encounters with Reality") Temptation, is up and ready for a preview. I also posted a condensed version of it on i.ucc in the "Opening the Bible" blog area. Here's the condensed version: (Click on the sermon title for the expanded version)
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Update: "Temptation" podcast is, uh, podcasting.
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All too often we look for something simple that we can do when we read the Bible. I don’t think the account of the temptation of Jesus from Luke 4:1-13 works that way.
This account isn’t about the exacts. It’s about what is significant about the descriptions. It isn’t about defining what the Holy Spirit does and doesn’t do. It’s about the Holy Spirit’s presence even in the chaos. It isn’t about the scientific certainties. It’s about remembering the past, understanding that Jesus was tested and being challenged to understand more about temptation and what to do about it.
The devil tempted Jesus three times. First he tempted a famished Jesus to turn the stones into bread so he could eat. And Jesus responded with scripture – Deuteronomy 8:3: 'One does not live by bread alone.'
Why wouldn’t he make bread to eat if he could? I think this is the temptation that gives me the most trouble to understand. Some say that if Jesus did use his miracle ability to his own benefit, he would lose his credibility when he asked the disciples to deny themselves and follow him. But we’re not talking about anything extra here – we’re talking about bread for a famished person. What’s wrong with wanting to eat when hungry?My best explanation is that Jesus wasn’t going to do it just because the Devil dared him to do it. He’d eat soon enough.
The other two temptations are easier to understand. The second one, where Jesus was tempted take the easy route to power had an easy answer. Jesus answered with Deuteronomy 13:4: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'
I think the whole reality that Jesus wasn’t here as a political or military leader made this temptation easy to resist. I think it can remind us that attempts to rule politically and militarily by religious means aren’t what God calls us to do.
The third temptation is sort of fun. The Devil twisted scripture to try to get Jesus to hurl himself off the peak of the temple. He quoted from Psalm 91. , 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.' And Jesus responded with Deuteronomy 6:16: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'
The devil tempted Jesus by using scripture. He took the Bible and twisted it into something it is not.
I don’t know if these particular temptations are ones that we resonate with. They’re not that clever – and I think we are not easily fooled. But what kinds of things are we tempted by that aren’t so easy to identify?
Here one I can think of:
The temptation to do nothing to care for others because we have so much to do ourselves.
Jesus’ commands to love God and love each other aren’t qualified with “If you have time” or “If it makes you feel better.” They are simple – this is what you do.
Here’s another:
The temptation in assuming you have it all figured out.
Bible study, attending church, discussing “God-things” with other people help us to understand things more and more. But as soon as we think we’ve got it all figured out, we lose the blessing of being on a Journey with Jesus. We stop.
I don’t want to stop. I want to continue learning, experiencing and wondering what God will continue to reveal on the journey.
What do you want to do?
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Update: "Temptation" podcast is, uh, podcasting.
+++
All too often we look for something simple that we can do when we read the Bible. I don’t think the account of the temptation of Jesus from Luke 4:1-13 works that way.
This account isn’t about the exacts. It’s about what is significant about the descriptions. It isn’t about defining what the Holy Spirit does and doesn’t do. It’s about the Holy Spirit’s presence even in the chaos. It isn’t about the scientific certainties. It’s about remembering the past, understanding that Jesus was tested and being challenged to understand more about temptation and what to do about it.
The devil tempted Jesus three times. First he tempted a famished Jesus to turn the stones into bread so he could eat. And Jesus responded with scripture – Deuteronomy 8:3: 'One does not live by bread alone.'
Why wouldn’t he make bread to eat if he could? I think this is the temptation that gives me the most trouble to understand. Some say that if Jesus did use his miracle ability to his own benefit, he would lose his credibility when he asked the disciples to deny themselves and follow him. But we’re not talking about anything extra here – we’re talking about bread for a famished person. What’s wrong with wanting to eat when hungry?My best explanation is that Jesus wasn’t going to do it just because the Devil dared him to do it. He’d eat soon enough.
The other two temptations are easier to understand. The second one, where Jesus was tempted take the easy route to power had an easy answer. Jesus answered with Deuteronomy 13:4: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'
I think the whole reality that Jesus wasn’t here as a political or military leader made this temptation easy to resist. I think it can remind us that attempts to rule politically and militarily by religious means aren’t what God calls us to do.
The third temptation is sort of fun. The Devil twisted scripture to try to get Jesus to hurl himself off the peak of the temple. He quoted from Psalm 91. , 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.' And Jesus responded with Deuteronomy 6:16: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'
The devil tempted Jesus by using scripture. He took the Bible and twisted it into something it is not.
I don’t know if these particular temptations are ones that we resonate with. They’re not that clever – and I think we are not easily fooled. But what kinds of things are we tempted by that aren’t so easy to identify?
Here one I can think of:
The temptation to do nothing to care for others because we have so much to do ourselves.
Jesus’ commands to love God and love each other aren’t qualified with “If you have time” or “If it makes you feel better.” They are simple – this is what you do.
Here’s another:
The temptation in assuming you have it all figured out.
Bible study, attending church, discussing “God-things” with other people help us to understand things more and more. But as soon as we think we’ve got it all figured out, we lose the blessing of being on a Journey with Jesus. We stop.
I don’t want to stop. I want to continue learning, experiencing and wondering what God will continue to reveal on the journey.
What do you want to do?
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