Category: By Rob Woodrum

The Bread of Life

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When politicians make remarks that create a stir or a drop in polls, they are usually quick to back-pedal and spin their comments in a positive way in order to retain the public’s favor. That’s so common place that we actually expect it. We learn in the passage we’ll be reading this Sunday that Jesus was no politician. He makes bold statements that confuse his listeners and causes them to bristle and push back – but Jesus never flinches. He keeps right on pushing an agenda and worldview that completely upended the religious expectations of the day.

We’ll be exploring John 6:22-59 this Sunday. It’s the famous “Bread of life” discourse that Jesus gives.

As this section begins, Jesus makes a pretty clear delineation between  physical and spiritual bread. What do think an example of spiritual bread is? How was looking for physical bread revealing bad motives for the crowd? When you consider your own relationship with Jesus – what kind of bread do you prioritize?

When the people realize that Jesus is describing something more than normal bread, they ask what they must do to work for the bread Jesus is describing. What is his answer? What does this tell us about our attempts to earn God’s favor?

Jesus ignores the growing hostility of the crowd and takes things even further – describing himself as the bread come from heaven that the manna from the Exodus story was simply  foreshadowing. He describes his flesh and blood as elemental food and drink – what does that make us think of immediately? Jesus said that the bread that gives life to the world (v51) is his flesh. What do you believe this is a reference to? In what way does Jesus’ flesh give you life?

The language Jesus uses for eating grows progressively more intense as the discourse goes along. He begins by using a word that simply means to consume, but in the later verses of this passage, he says feed, which in the Greek is the word trogo, meaning to chew, crunch or gnaw. He’s talking about how it is that we believe on him – the intensity of the word he uses is trying to tell us something. What do you think it is?

This will be an admittedly heady study. It’s just the nature of this passage, and we certainly won’t plumb the depths of it by any means. We’ll only scrape the surface, but that in itself is a lot to wrestle with. Hope to see you Sunday!

When Life Gets Stormy

Rob Woodrum1 Comment

2011-01-14-43I’m really excited about being back at Eastgate this Sunday! I had a great vacation, but I’m stoked about getting into the Gospel of John again! This Sunday we’ll be reading the account of Jesus walking on water, found in John 6:16-21.

Right after the miracle of Jesus multiplying bread so that more than 5,000 people could eat and have leftovers, we step out into troubled waters. Life seems to have that pattern to it, doesn’t it? We go from this idyllic scene where Jesus has everyone sitting on soft, green grass and is handing out snacks, to a scene where all hell breaks loose and Jesus seems nowhere to be found.

We’ve all experienced that sort of thing, haven’t we? It may not be literal boats and waves, but storms have a tendency to hit our lives. The Bible doesn’t ever seem to indicate that we won’t face times of trouble.  But this short account of this amazing event can clue us in on what significance our storms may have.

As you read this story – consider a few questions: Was Jesus really nowhere to be found in their crisis? Where did Jesus make himself known to them? What was the biggest issue facing the disciples, and how did they respond to it? How effective was the disciples’ rowing against the wind in getting them to their destination? What changed so that they finally reached the shore?

When you consider the storms you face(d) in life – what lessons can you glean from this account? In what way does this story encourage or challenge you as you deal with circumstances that oppose you in life?

When the waves are buffeting you and the wind is resisting you – take a moment to listen, you may just hear “It is I; do not be afraid”.

See you on Sunday!

Do You Want to be Whole?

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What are the plans you had for life – the ones you thought for sure would complete you as a person? Was it a relationship, a career, some possession you wanted to acquire? Did you ever find yourself frustrated from achieving that plan? Did you ever feel like people not only let you down but even got in your way to keep you from getting what you thought was the solution for your life?

You’re not alone, you know that, right? In fact, there is an account we’ll be reading this Sunday in John 5:1-15 where a guy faced those same frustrations (albeit, a little differently) but actually found that what he really needed for a whole life was an encounter with Jesus.

Archaeologists have identified where the pool of Bethesda is located in Jerusalem.

When Jesus meets the man who has been unable to walk for 38 years, he asks if he wants to be healed (or come into existence as a whole person). That seems like such an obvious thing, why do you think Jesus asked the man this question?

What is the man’s response? What do you think he had in mind when Jesus asked him this?

As usual, our perceived solutions for life are in stark contrast with Jesus’. This man had one idea about how to become well, but Jesus had a plan to make him whole. What are the bubbling pools that we stare at, what places are we hoping to get to that we think will change our life for the better? What can we learn about our perceived solutions in light of this story?

If Jesus were to pass by your pool today, what would he ask you? What would he tell you to do?  How can we take steps to find our solutions in Christ?

Good stuff to ponder – hope to see you Sunday!

Can We See Our Part in God’s Plan?

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How often do you find yourself thinking that you’re too busy to take time to pray? Do you ever dismiss the urge to share about Jesus with someone because it feels uncomfortable? Let’s face it, there are a lot of routines in our lives that the claims of the gospel and the work of God’s kingdom can really have a tendency to disrupt.

But what if, in the midst of those things that we marginalize in order to maintain our routines, the actual key to fulfillment is found?

This Sunday we’ll be reading John 4:31-45 – which is basically the falling action after the story of the woman at the well.

Once again, we have a situation where Jesus is talking about one thing but his hearers are talking about another. He talked about living water with the woman earlier, but she took it to mean literal water. He tells his disciples he’s got food they don’t know about, and his disciples are looking for the snack machine that Jesus got his stash from. But in both cases, Jesus is talking about something BELOW the surface. He compares his cooperation with God’s plan to rescue people with food. Why food? What does food do for the human body? What is Jesus trying to tell us about the source of fulfillment in our lives?

The question is…how is your diet? If you look at your normal idea of food/fulfillment and compare it to Jesus’ – how do our food groups compare?

By saying that the fields are white, Jesus is describing wheat that is ripened and ready to harvest. By saying that the fields are white, are ready, what does that mean to us right here and now?

This will prove to be a challenging study for us – but I think it will be well worth it! Hope to see you Sunday!

The Boundary Busting Love of God

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This Sunday we’ll be reading a long passage, John 4:1-30.

It’s one of my favorite stories from the New Testament.  It’s the longest conversation that Jesus has with someone recorded in the gospels. It’s delightful to me because it is so outrageously improper and scandalous in almost every detail. The fact that Jesus is talking to a woman in public (something not done and especially by a rabbi) – the fact that she is a Samaritan (the folks North of Judean territory whom the Jewish people hated) – the fact that she has a history of serial marriage and divorce – it’s like a perfect storm of cultural and religious taboos which Jesus unhesitatingly dives into.

John’s gospel is trying to instruct us that if we want to know what God is like we have to look at Jesus – if we want to know what God is doing we have to look at what Jesus does. This is a startling picture of God indeed. A God who’s love is not restricted by any boundaries enforced by culture or religion.

Have you ever felt far from God – ashamed or embarrassed by choices you’ve made or the lot you find yourself in? Does this picture of God tell you anything about how God views those who are outcasts?

She arrives at the well at noon – in the heat of the day. Most people would do that chore early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sun wouldn’t be as hot. What does this tell us about her place in the village society? Have you ever felt like her?

Jesus knows all her secrets – by her admission, he knows everything she’s ever done. Does he seem mad at her in this conversation? Does he tell her to get her life together or change some things before he offers her the living water of a new life?  What does that tell you about God’s disposition toward you?

As the church – as those who represent this Christ – do we represent this sort of scandalous grace very well? Who are the Samaritans of our culture and time? What can we learn about how we should be interacting with the world around us in light of what Jesus does in this story?

There’s an awful lot of stuff in this passage – layers of stuff. We’ll pick out a few gems, but take your time and read this over. Try on the characters for size – the woman, the townsfolk of Sychar, the bewildered disciples who find their Rabbi talking with a strange woman in public.  It should be an interesting study – hope to see you there!

By the by – I did a retelling of this story in my webcomic Rabbi Encounters – you can read it HERE.

The Triumphant Decline

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Have you ever worked really hard on some idea only to have someone else come along and take credit for it, even indirectly? What emotions did you feel?

The human need to be significant and important, at very least for recognition is universal. Ego is a tough wrestling opponent. Yet, as we’ll read in this week’s text, John the Baptist was able to find joy and peace by putting his own ego last and Jesus first.

This Sunday we’ll be reading John 3:22-36 as we continue our exploration of the fourth gospel.

John’s gospel is the only account that indicates that Jesus and John had a time when their ministries overlapped. Jesus began with John the Baptist’s endorsement, and now, we find that he is present when the first hint of controversy arises. His disciples are jealous at the rising popularity of Jesus and his message. John was very popular, probably more popular than Jesus at this beginning stage…he had all the trappings of what passes for successful ministry. Yet it was his joy to step aside for the elevation of Christ.

What reason does he give for that in v27?

Does that help you in any struggles you may have in embracing an intentional humility?

v30 is a powerful statement. It sets the tone for the entire church movement. We haven’t always been very successful in remembering who it is that everything orbits around. How do you think it can bring you joy, like it did for John the Baptist, to allow the reality of Jesus to increase in your life? What would be decreasing in your life as this takes place?

In yet another way, the kingdom of God moves counter to the world’s assumptions, we we find ourselves flourishing through this triumphant decline.

Hope to see you on Sunday!

Nick at Night

Rob Woodrum1 Comment

It’s one of the most famous stories from the Gospels – the story of a religious leader who has a nighttime meeting with Jesus – where Jesus cryptically conveys the scope and power of his plan – where those famous words were uttered: “For God so loved the world…”.

We’ll be reading John 3:1-21 this Sunday.

I actually did a version of this in my webcomic Rabbi Encounters – you can read it HERE.

While v16 of this section is probably very familiar – much of what surrounds that text is pretty mysterious stuff. Nick wasn’t the only one who got confused – scholars have had multiple interpretations about some of the things Jesus says here for more than a thousand years.

It says the Nick is a ruler of the Judeans – which means he’s on the Sanhedrin. That being the case, he must have been well older than Jesus, a respected man in the community as well as the temple, and he must have been a person from a wealthy family. What do you think was going through his mind as he met with this young, homeless Rabbi from the sticks?

Based on what he says, does he seem friendly or hostile to you? By the end of the gospel, in ch7 and ch19, he clearly becomes a disciple.

Jesus’ answers certainly don’t fit the paradigm that Nick tries to set up. Jesus talks spiritual rebirth and Nick talks obstetrics…it’s sort of a mess.

In trying to make sense of Jesus’ statements about being born of water and spirit, read Ezekial 36:25-26 – what insight, if any, does this give you about what Jesus may be referring to?

What condition does Jesus put on receiving eternal life? What does this condition mean to you?

Read v17. Read it again. If God’s purpose is not to condemn the world, how do you understand v18-21? (read it in the Message…it really helps to make sense of what is being said).

God’s purpose is not to condemn – how well do you think the church has presented that truth? How can we better embody what the gospel message is?

I’m really looking forward to Sunday – see you there!

The Sign in the Wine

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Our passage for this Sunday is John 2:1-12 as we continue our study in the Gospel of John.

It’s a very famous story – Jesus doing the remarkable thing of transforming ordinary water into extraordinary wine. It is the opening story in a section of stories that have the theme of the old being replaced by the new.

According to v11, why does John include this story in his gospel?

The function of a sign is to reveal where something is – this sign that Jesus does reveals, according to John, the glory of Jesus. His glory is the reality that he is the Son of God bringing God’s reign of grace and truth to this world (1:14).

So – of all things, Jesus chooses THIS setting and THIS miracle as his first sign to reveal what the kingdom of God is coming to do. I find that really interesting. What does this sign reveal to you about the nature of God’s inbreaking kingdom? How does it compare with the way the church represents the kingdom of God – is there a difference?

Think about the nature of water and the nature of wine – what can we discern about God’s presence in the world that is revealed in that contrast? Think about the amount of wine that Jesus creates – what does that tell us about the life God has in mind for us?

The water jars were used for ritual purification. Jesus looks at those reminders of human uncleanness and re-purposes them completely. What lesson does this sign teach us about the nature of what God is up to in our lives?

Have there been times in your life when the wine ran out? How about now? What does this sign encourage you to do about it?

Hope to see you on Sunday!

Following Jesus

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What does it mean to follow someone? It really depends on the context. If you follow someone on Twitter it simply means you have an interest in keeping up with what that person writes in 140 characters or less. If you follow a football team, it basically means you’re a fan – you cheer for them and wear their team logo on your person.

To be a follower of Jesus implies much, much more. Jesus’ first disciples will be the topic of our study in the gospel of John this Sunday.  We’ll be reading John 1:35-51.

To really understand the dynamic of what is transpiring in this text, we need to become familiarized with the 1st century practice of rabbis and their disciples. Here is an EXCELLENT article about that subject. Please, please do yourself a favor and take the time to read it.

As you read this account of Rabbi Jesus gathering his first Talmidim (disciples, followers) – what do you observe about following Jesus; what did it meant to them? Did they have questions, and what were they? What was their first order of business after they met Jesus? What significant thing happens with Simon (whose name means sinking sand) – and what might it imply for him?

As the disciples tell their friends about Jesus – what is the invitation they give?

What would you invite others to “come and see” about Jesus?

Here are the songs for this Sunday from the Eastgate Hymnal – its a good practice to meditate on what we’ll sing together and heighten our sense of worship.

“Love Song”
“Bless Your Name”
“There is No One”
“No Other Name”
“From the Inside Out”

Embracing a Life in God

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This Sunday as we continue our study in the gospel of John, we’ll be reading John 1:19-34. 

This is the start of the narrative proper. Without any sort of deeper introduction, we get thrown into the middle of a scene that is already underway – there is conflict and tension, and we have to be familiar with the other gospel accounts to even understand who we’re reading about and what’s going on.

Here is an excellent source of information about John the Baptist, not only from Scripture, but also quotes from the ancient Jewish historian Josephus. I highly recommend you taking the time to read it.  It is very possible that John the Baptist was influenced by, or even in direct contact with the Essene community. It’s likely that his practice of baptism evolved from their practice of ritual cleansing.  Here’s a cool breakdown of the religious movements that dominated the cultural landscape of Jesus’ day.

John is sent to sound an alarm that Messiah is not just at hand, but here. His purpose is to encourage the right response from the covenant people of Israel. As we read this section of the narrative – what do you learn about John the Baptist’s view of himself, and how does that instruct us about how we should view ourselves in light of Christ?

What do we learn about Jesus and the Messiah’s ministry from John the Baptist? How does that effect us – what does it mean to our lives as 21st Century Christians?

Hope to see you Sunday!