Go Tell Peter!

It is with great joy that we announce that the tomb is empty!

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

Mark 16:1   When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.  2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.  3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”  4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back.  5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.  6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.  7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”  8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 

Questions for Personal Reflection from Jerry Tankersley

What is your earliest memory of Easter Sunday?  Did it have anything to do with church?

Does it matter that Jesus really died and was raised from the dead?

If the story of Easter was proven to be a fiction how would it affect you?  Do you think there would be a church?

In John 21 Jesus restored Peter and reversed his threefold denial. Why was this necessary?

Truth and grace were the foundational realities of the mission Jesus gave to his disciples.  What is the relationship between truth and grace?

What is the mission of the church?

Are we intended to turn inward, enjoy the truth and the grace we have received, and never tell anyone the story?    

Who was it that told you the good news of Jesus Christ?

Name one person you need to tell.

Take a moment as you read this to pray for them.

Alleluia!  Christ Is Risen!

Facing Love at the Cross

April 17, 2011, Passion Sunday

The Scripture reading is from Mark 15:16-39

Mark 15:16   Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort.  17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him.  18 And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”  19 They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him.  20 After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. 

Mark 15:21   They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.  22 Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull).  23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it.  24 And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. 

Mark 15:25   It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him.  26 The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.”  27 And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left.  29 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days,  30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!”  31 In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.  32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him. 

Mark 15:33   When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.  34 At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.”  36 And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.”  37 Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.  38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  39 Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” 

Questions for Personal Reflection from Jerry Tankersley

Can you remember a day in which it was dark as night at midday?

Some of us are afraid of the dark.  Why are we afraid of the dark?

The Gospel text in Mark 15:16-39 tells us that on Good Friday the sun was darkened at noon until 3 p.m.  What caused this?  What was its meaning?

The centurion  who crucified Jesus saw  and heard something that called forth a confession of faith.  What was his confession and what did it mean?

Have you ever experienced spiritual darkness?  How long did it last?  How did it end?  What helped?

Why is the passion and suffering of Jesus important for Christians and the church? 

If Good Friday were the end of the story, how would we feel, or what would we do?

Prayer

"The Crucifix" by Evelyn Underhill

To look at the Crucifix and then to look at our own hearts;

to test by the cross the quality of our love–

if we do that honestly and unflinchingly

we don't need any other self-examination.

the lash, the crown of thorns, the mockery,

the stripping, the nails–

life has equivalents of all these for us

and God asks a love for himself and his children

which can accept and survive all that 

in the particular way in which it is offered to us.

It is no use to talk in a large vague way

about the love of God;

here is it's point of insertion in the world.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

"What Wondrous Love Is This" 

Words: Alexander Means. Music: William Walker, 1835.

Leaves But No Fruit?

April 10, 2011, 5th Sunday in Lent

The scripture reading is from Mark 11:1-20

Mark 11:1  When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it.  3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’”  4 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it,  5 some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”  6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it.  7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it.  8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields.  9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,  “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 

Mark 11:11   Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. 

Mark 11:12   On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.  13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. 

Mark 11:15    Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves;  16 and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.  17 He was teaching and saying, “Is it not written,  ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’?  But you have made it a den of robbers.”  18 And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching.  19 And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. 

Mark 11:20   In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 

Questions for Personal Reflection from Jerry Tankersley

Have you ever had a fruit tree in your yard that produced leaves but no fruit?  How did it make you feel?

How did you address the problem of the tree’s fruitlessness?  Did it work?  Did the tree ever bear fruit?

Why do you think Jesus cursed the fig tree in Mark 11?

Were you surprised that the tree withered?

If the tree represented the Jerusalem temple,

what did Jesus’ parable mean for the temple’s future?

If each Christian’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, what fruits should we be producing? 

(See John 15:1-17;  Galatians 5:16-26)

If the Christian church has become the temple of the Living God, indwelt by the Spirit of God, what fruits should the church bear? 

(See Ephesians 2:11-22; 3:14-21)

How would you assess the fruitfulness of Laguna Presbyterian Church, or your home church?

Prayer

Lead us, O God, in the way of Christ.

Give us courage to take up our cross and, 

in full reliance upon your grace, to follow him.

Help us to love you above all else

and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves,

demonstrating that love in deed and word

in the power of your Spirit.

Give us strength to serve you faithfully

until the promised day of resurrection,

when, with the redeemed of all the ages, 

we will feast with you at your table in glory.

Through Christ, all glory and honor are yours,

almighty Father,

with the Holy Spirit in the holy church,

now and forever.

Amen.

RANSOMED

April 3, 2011, 4th Sunday in Lent

The scripture reading is from Mark 10:32-45

Mark 10:32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, ³³saying, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; ³⁴they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.’ 

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ ³⁶And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ ³⁷And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ ³⁸But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ ³⁹They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; ⁴⁰but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’ 

41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. ⁴²So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. ⁴³But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ 

Col 1:13-14  He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Questions for Personal Reflection from Kathy Sizer

What do you mean when you describe someone as “great”?  What qualities do you expect in: a great friend? a great leader? a great church?

How does “servant leadership” fit into your definition of greatness?

Where have you observed “servant leadership” at work, community, home, church, other?

Where in your life do you see yourself as being a “servant leader”?  Where would you like to change?

Jesus says he came “to give his life a ransom for many.”  As you consider his imminent suffering and death, what difference does it make to you that he will “give” his life?  How might that insight change the way you view the events of Holy Week and Easter?

In what way is Jesus’ death a “ransom”?

Prayer 

O Lord Jesus Christ,

you are enthroned in the majesty of heaven,

yet you gave up that heavenly perfection 

to become a servant.

We adore you for laying aside your glory

and clothing yourself

in complete humility as one of us.

Teach us to do as you have done.

Deliver us from pride, jealousy, and ambition,

and make us ready to serve one another

in lowliness for your sake,

O Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

KINGDOM ECONOMICS

March 27, 2011, 3rd Sunday in Lent

The scripture reading is from Mark 10:17-31

Mark 10:17   As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.  19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’”  20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.”  21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”  22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. 

Mark 10:23   Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”  24 And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!  25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”  26 They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?”  27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.” 

Mark 10:28   Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”  29 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news,  30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.  31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” 

Questions for Personal Reflection from Steve Sweet

How do you define "being rich"?


How has your definition changed over the years?


Have you found that money can complicate life, if so, how?


If a friend asked you what they must do to inherit eternal life, what would you say to them?


Should a Christian desire to be rich?  Why or why not?

What is the most difficult thing for you to surrender to God?


What has Jesus been calling for you to surrender to God lately?

Why do we have such a difficult time understanding that everything that we own belongs to God?

Have you found for yourself that your expenses always have a way of filling your income?  Why does life work that way?

How does giving guard our faith from being choked out by worldly things?

If you could take a gigantic risk for Christ, and you were assured of its accomplishment, what would it be?

Prayer:

Loving Father,
so many times I turn away from you
and always you welcome me back.
It is your mercy, your example of humility,
your faithful love, your promise 
that you will never leave or forsake me
that gives me confidence to give, 
and to give, and to give some more.
Thank you for the invitation to share 
what you have given me stewardship over,
to fast during this season of Lent
from things that distract me from your love, 
and to pray so that you can form a new heart within me.
Your powerful compassion for my weaknesses
leads me to ask for mercy
and await with great hope 

the Easter joy you share with us.

Laguna Presbyterian Church, Sunday March 20, 2011
Photo by John Cullings

HELP MY UNBELIEF!

March 20, 2011, 2nd Sunday in Lent

The scripture reading is from Mark 9:14-32:

When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him.  He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”  Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.”  He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.”  And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.  Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.  It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.”  Jesus said to him, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.”  Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”  When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.”  But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand.  When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”  He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.” 

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it;  for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. 

Questions for Personal Reflection from Jerry Tankersley

Can you remember a serious illness you had as a child? Or maybe a serious illness a sibling experienced? What happened?

Do you remember visiting the doctor’s office when you were a child and how you felt about it?

Did your parents teach you to pray any particular prayer?

Did you ever have a question about God that you could not answer?  What was the question?

Have you ever doubted the existence of God?  What caused you to doubt?

Have you asked God to answer a prayer and then experienced God’s answer?  Explain.

Is there a prayer you have made to God that still has not been answered in the way you asked? How has the lack of an answer impacted your faith worldview?

Prayer:

Good Shepherd of all, 

help me to hear your voice of assurance when I am lost and hopeless.

Let me find rest and safety in your presence.

Though I may be tempted to be full of fear and self-pity, 

though I may wish to run away from you, 
please never give up on me.
I believe, help my unbelief!  Amen.

- Prayer by Henri J. M. Nouwen, from the book, Lent and Easter, compiled by Judy Bauer.