Where Do You Go When Life Seems Hopeless?

Rob Woodrum2 Comments

This Sunday we’ll be returning to our exploration of the Gospel of Luke, and we’ll be reading Luke 8:40-56.

There is so much jam packed into this story…a critical life and death drama which sandwiches a pitiful tale of wreckage and restoration.  Beyond the spiritual significance of our text, there is no denying that it’s just good story-telling.

This is one of those passages that we will never be able to do justice to in the short time we have to explore it on Sunday mornings…there are so many ways to approach the lessons inherent to it.  We could explore the characters of the drama, consider their faith and the example it leaves us.  We could consider how Jesus is revealed as One with authority over sickness and death, just as he has authority over nature and spiritual evil.

I’ve decided to look at something that may not get talked about as much…and that is, how this story reveals to us that Jesus is a solid basis for finding hope when life seems hopeless.  As you read the text, what reasons can you find for placing your hope in Christ when circumstances seem beyond the reach of hope?  I know that’s not much to go on…but mull it over, and see what comes to mind.

Remember, we still have two services now…9 and 11am.  Hope to see you there!

The Hero’s Power to Restore (or, “Jesus Makes Deviled Ham”)

Rob Woodrum4 Comments

Hey everyone…it’s been a few weeks!  Hope everyone is cool with the Big Room makeover.  If you have any suggestions about it, lemme’ know (albeit, a suggestion that we put a drop ceiling in will be ignored  😛 )

I want to remind everyone that we are going back to two services starting this Sunday (August 1st), at 9 and 11am.

We’re going to continue our study in Luke this Sunday, reading Luke 8:26-39 .

Evil is a real force in our world.  What characterizes evil as you read the description of this man…what effect does evil have on him?

We have a lot of different views about how to tackle the problem of evil in our world, but I would say that this passage shows us the ultimate answer.  The answer is obvious as we read this, but is it the answer you go to when struggling with a particular temptation or habit in your own life?  Jesus has the power to restore us to God’s original intent for our lives, but way too often we settle for chains, don’t we?

Why do you suppose Jesus grants the request of demons and pagan hostiles, but NOT the request of someone who sincerely seems to appreciate Him (v38-39)?  What lesson can we learn about our OWN lives from that?

This should be an interesting exploration…hope to see you Sunday (at 9 or 11am).

Listen Up!

Rob Woodrum4 Comments

Hey everybody, I’m home!  It’s good to be back

This Sunday we’ll be exploring Luke 8:16-21.

It is a section that expands on what Jesus was saying in the previous verses as he told the story about soil conditions and crop yields.  As he explained the purpose of using parables, he made the statement that he told truth encased in mundane stories so that “seeing they wouldn’t see, and hearing they wouldn’t understand”.

The part we’ll be reading is sort of Jesus’ qualifying of that statement.  So that we wouldn’t get the wrong idea and assume Jesus was trying to hide the truth, he makes it clear that his purpose is to make the truth plain…as clear as a lamp on a stand.

But then Jesus exhorts us…to what?  What does he caution us about?  What key component ties these verses together, resolving in v21?  What does it mean to your life, your walk with God?  Any thoughts?

See yaz Sunday!

The Slow and Secret Kingdom Growth

Rob Woodrum3 Comments

Well…how did/do you like the one service idea for the summer?  K said to me “It’s hot, it’s crowded, and I LOVE it!”  That made me happy.  D said “I was so hot it was almost distracting.”  That made me less happy, but concerned about people’s experiences.  We did have an issue with the air conditioners not coming on early enough…so lets hope this week is a little cooler.  Let me hear your thoughts if you have any on this subject.

sower_with_setting_sunThis Sunday we’ll be looking at the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8:1-15 .

It’s a story that Jesus tells which causes us to normally focus on the types of soil that the seed of God’s word gets planted into.  What type of soil am I, hard like pavement,  stony (as in covered with rocks, not being stoned…c’mon!) or full of weeds, or good soil that is receptive to God’s word.  That’s a legitimate way to consider this story…but this Sunday I want to look at an underlying message in this parable.   A message about HOW the kingdom of God is being advanced on this planet.

As you read this, what do you think is the all important factor to having a crop…that is, to having people accepting the rule of God over their lives and the difference that makes?  Why do you think Jesus doesn’t explain who the “sower” is?  What do we learn about the efforts of the sower, and the control he has over the situation?  Things to think about before we cram together this Sunday!

Honoring Christ (Without Being a Religious Jerk)

Rob Woodrum2 Comments

This Sunday we’ll be reading the rest of Luke 7, so, it will be v36-50.

The passage is the account of a dinner party thrown by a Pharisee named Simon.  It’s a party Jesus is invited to…maybe even as the guest of honor.  The cultural etiquette was different from our day.  In that culture, dinner parties were often held in courtyards or in rooms adjacent to courtyards.  The general public could stop by and observe, or listen to the guest of honor if he happened to be a rabbi or respected teacher.

The diners would recline on couches that surrounded a table called a  triclinium .

While the dining customs and etiquettes are vastly different from ours, the odd behavior of the woman and her crashing this party would have been just as awkward and weird as it would be today.  There are so many ways to look at this scene…we can view it from the Pharisee’s vantage point, and consider his rudeness and self righteousness.  We can see it from Jesus’ standpoint, the total grasp he had on the situation, and his willingness to associate with people who are marginalized.  Or we can consider it from the woman’s perspective…her lavish expression of love and devotion.

This Sunday, I’m going to focus on the woman’s expression of honor and love to Jesus.  We’ll consider the implications to our own lives as we seek to be people who honor and worship our Lord.  What do you notice about her, about Jesus’ reaction to her, about the Pharisee’s reaction to her.  How would we apply her expression of worship to our own?  Those are the things to think about and discuss for Sunday.  See yaz then!

Honest Doubt When We’re Disappointed

Rob Woodrum5 Comments

Me, myself and againThis Sunday, we’ll be returning to our study in the Gospel of Luke, and we’ll be reading vs 18-35.

John the Baptist reappears in our narrative.  We read back in Luke 3:19 that Herod, Rome’s puppet king over Palestine had put John in prison because he was publicly speaking against his marriage to his brother’s wife.  While he is sitting in jail, awaiting the rise of the Messiah/King/Conquerer…he hears stories about Jesus being nice to tax collectors, and healing servants of Roman officers…and he is suddenly and quite understandably, nagged by doubts about Jesus being the Messiah.

How does Jesus respond to John’s obvious doubt and concern?  Do John’s doubts influence Jesus’ summary of John’s ministry?  What is the basis for John’s doubts…why does  he begin to doubt Jesus?  What can we learn from that as we examine our own struggle with doubt?

Those are some of the things we’ll be looking at on Sunday.  Hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend, and please don’t forget to pray for the families of those who have been lost in our country’s wars.

Processions to Parades

Rob Woodrum9 Comments

Hey gang!  This Sunday we’ll be looking at Luke 7:11-17 . As you look at that passage, what are the characteristics you notice about this collision of two different groups?  What strikes you about Jesus in this passage?  If you were to take this story of a miracle and try to make a present and personal application of it…how and where would you see yourself in this story?

A few other things: Remember that we are having Burning House this Sunday (a week earlier than normal, because the following week is Memorial Day weekend, and Riley will be out of town)…so make a note of it!

Also, don’t know if you know Dave Lloyd, but he’s a writer/blogger who hangs with Eastgate, and I read this post he wrote about Tweeting in church…check it out please!  Here’s the thing, if you Tweet, I’m encouraging you to start following Dave’s example and Tweet while I teach.  His reasoning is really sound for doing this, and I love how interactive our exploration of the Bible becomes in this.

To start, follow Dave on Twitter. (you don’t HAVE to do this step, but since he started this, I thought it would be cool to sort of rally around his tweets)

Next, during the teaching time on Sunday mornings, have your Twitter app open, and copy the main bullet points you see on the screen.  Then, as you are listening and thinking about what the text is saying, add your OWN thoughts about it, and use the #eastgate hashtag Dave started.  That way, we can all look at the various insights the Holy Spirit has provided during our examination of the passage.  Personally, the whole thing sounds like so much fun!!! PLEASE give it a try! (Howbeit, if your first question is “what is a tweet?”, this may not be for you…but if it IS for you, do it!)

See you Sunday!

The Counterculture Ethic (2) – Mercy and Commitment

Rob Woodrum2 Comments

Before we get to the verse we’re studying this Sunday (Mother’s Day, in case you forgot)…I want to run something by you.

I was talking with my friend Allen Newton, the pastor of Woodlawn UMC, and he told me he felt God laid it on his heart to ask local Christians to join in on a specific time for prayer, concerning our community…the oil spill, the economy…the whole thing.  Instead of this being a big, organized, publicized deal, his thought was “let’s just tell Christians to go to the beach, whatever one they like or frequent, at 5pm on Sunday afternoon, and pray for our beach.”  I love the idea…it sounds like a move of the Spirit to me.  No program or huge organizational arrangement…just something organic and honest.  Just knowing that at 5pm, Sunday afternoon, Christians will gather all along the beach to ask God for His mercy on our community and His help in our lives…quietly, but confidently…just gets me stoked.

So, to recap: This is not an organized outreach or publicity deal…there is NO rally point…just go to the beach at 5pm on Sunday, May 9th, and pray. How long you stay is up to you.  Ask God for His mercy, ask Him to help stem the flow of the oil spill, ask Him to meet the needs of our community….ask that His kingdom comes, and His will be done, here and now like it’s done in His realm.  Who knows what the Lord may do if we ask Him.

Also, if you read this before 6pm on Thursday May 6th, there is a prayer meeting concerning the oil spill being rallied by West Bay Advent Christian Church (soon to be named Salt Life Church), at the City Pier out by Pier Park.

This Sunday we’ll be reading Luke 6:37-49

We’re going to consider Jesus’ counterculture ethic which calls us to avoid a critical spirit, be forgiving and generous…and also challenges us to a radical commitment to what he’s taught us about life.

Lets be honest…these are hard sayings by Christ.  Of all these things he mentions…which is the hardest to swallow?  Is it easy for you to forgive?  Do you feel like you apply the same standard to yourself that you apply to others?

The Counterculture Ethic – A Radical Love

Rob Woodrum4 Comments

Hey Ever’body!

This Sunday we’re going to look at the teachings of Jesus that I warned you about last Sunday.  My warning was only tongue in cheek, but what we will read is definitely something believers have struggled with since Jesus first uttered it.  We’re going to look at Luke 6:27-36.

Jesus makes some powerful and profound statements about God’s definition of love.  It is all very familiar stuff, and could easily be read past as a nice reminder to follow the “golden rule”…unless we make it personal.  Imagine someone in your life who’s hurt you.  Whether they cheated you or told a lie about you or abandoned you…whatever it may be.  Imagine that person, and then read all that Jesus says here about how love thinks and acts, and imagine doing what he says for the person who wronged you.  For that person.  It certainly isn’t the easiest of things to do, is it?

It would have been one thing if he just told us not to retaliate…we can usually find the nerve to grit our teeth and not fight back.  But he pushes the boundaries so far out…he tells us to be active in showing love to difficult people.  Jesus gives us a few reasons why we would do this, and a bit of an idea what it will result in.  What are those things?

How do you see this part of Jesus’ teachings effecting your own life?  Is this something you struggle with or ignore (I don’t offer the option of it being something you do well because I don’t want to tempt you into lying, … no one does this well).

What are your thoughts on this passage?  Do we take it literally, or is it just a nice thought, or something for the future, or an ideal couched in hyperbole?  What is your take?

See you Sunday.

A Change of Priorities

Rob Woodrum2 Comments

Hey everyone! Hope your week is going well.  This Sunday we’re going to be looking at Luke 6:12-26.

The narrative transitions from the conflicts Jesus had with the Pharisees to the choosing of the 12 apostles and the establishing of the Kingdom ethic.  As we explore this passage this week, I’m going to try and focus on the change in priorities that Jesus introduces us to.  A change from the standard priorities of this broken world to the values and priorities of Jesus’ kingdom project (to use a phrase coined by N.T. Wright).

v 12-16 we have the account of Jesus selecting his 12 apostles.  This occurs after an all night prayer session that Jesus has.  As I look at that list of names, something occurred to me as I considered Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot both being included on the team.  Considering the differences between the values these two men may have embraced, what, if anything, does it speak to you about our priorities and purposes in the community of Christ’s followers?

v 17-19 describes Jesus ministering to the multitudes.  If you were to try and summarize with one word the priorities revealed in these verses, what would it be?

v 20-26 begin what is referred to as “the sermon on the plain“, where Jesus teaches many of the same things, with a few variations, as he taught in the “sermon on the mount”.  With this opening salvo of “beatitudes”, or blessings, and the contrasting “woes”…what kind of picture do we see emerging about the values of the kingdom project?  Where does personal comfort place in these values?  Do these verses comfort or disturb you (or both)?

This should be a very interesting study…you never know, it may even get me into trouble.

See yer’ Sunday!