Growing in God

 

Philip asked the Ethiopian, 

“Do you understand what you're reading?” 

He replied,“ How can I,

unless someone guides me?” 

Acts 8:30-31 

I think these short sketches show the God of Abraham planting a desire for growing in God's love without boundaries

  

I had questions while reading the novel, No Heaven for Good Boys. Questions like, Who are talibe? What is a daara? What is a marabout? 

Knowing no one from Senegal, I googled "talibe". They are students, ages 6 to 15, sent to a daara (school) to memorize the Quran taught by a marabout (teacher of Quaran). 

A dangerous part of the experience includes begging in city streets for rice, sugar cubes, and money to cover the needs of the daara and marabout. Failure to meet goals often results in punishment.

In Philips' story, an Ethiopian eunuch, a passenger in a chariot, is reading Isaiah 53:7-8. He is wealthy, politically powerful, scripture-reading, and God-worshiping.

An angel sends Philp to the Gaza road and the Spirit directs him to join a chariot. Obeying the Spirit, Philip catches up to it and asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 

The Ethiopian says, "How can I unless someone guides me." Philip climbs into the chariot, sit beside him for Bible study and interprets the scripture because there is more than one "correct" meaning.

My responsibility as Pastor meant teaching a Confirmation class. I met with high school students teaching them by using the Apostle's Creed and the Scriptures. This was intended to enrich their understanding of their baptism vows. The conclusion of the class was renewing their baptism vows before the congregation. 

Imagine this; an exploited talibe boy, a marginalized Ethiopian eunuch with Philip, a confirmation class. Three different teaching/learning experiences in three different cultures with the purpose of growing in the love and knowledge of God.

Think about this during the week: How is God growing you in your love and knowledge of God?

The Stoning of Stephen

While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, 

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 

Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, 

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

Acts 7:59-60

In Stephen's story, Luke continues his major theme of traveling the Way and spreading the Word empowered by the Spirit. 

Stephen's martyrdom backstory begins in Acts 1:8. Jesus tells the apostles they would receive power from the Holy Spirit to be his witnesses in "Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

The first century church is organizing, leaving the apostles too busy to to distribute food to the widows. Stephen, a minority Greek Christian, is ordained for the ministry of food distribution. 

Stephen takes this commission seriously and, empowered by the Spirit, exceeds this ministry by preaching and wonder-making.  

Stephen is brought before the council of apostles. He delivers a jeremiad of accusing, betraying and murdering the prophets and Jesus.  A conspiracy develops based on false testimony. 

As he's questioned, Steven gazes into heaven saying, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 

The crowd, already angry, rushes at him, drags him into the street and begins stoning him —the equivalent of a lynching. Stephen kneels praying, as Jesus did, for the crowd's forgiveness and gives up his spirit. Stephen’s final protest marks him as a faithful witness, a martyr.

Steven, empowered by the Spirit, leaves Jerusalem heads towards Judea and Samaria, is arrested, falsely accused and lynched.

Here are two observations of based on Stephen's story. OR here is the Good News

One is that when we feel as though life is overwhelming us, by gazing to heaven, Jesus gives us a better vision of life. 

Another is that when we are engaged in a ministry caring for or defending the oppressed, Jesus empowers us through our faithfulness.

Every Christian's Journey

"When he was at the table with them,

 he took bread, blessed and broke it,

 and gave it to them.

Then their eyes were opened, 

and they recognized him."

Luke 24:31,32a

To me there there all kinds of road trips. They all have similarities such as destinations and travel experiences.

Years ago Elaine and I took a camping trip out West. We drove Utah's Route 12 between Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon National Parks. This part of the road trip meant enjoying God's beautiful creation. One of the experiences we still laugh about was the constant daily lunch menu of PB&J sandwiches.

Luke's major theme is traveling the Way. In the gospel, Jesus travel TO Jerusalem. In Luke's Acts, the disciples travel FROM Jerusalem proclaiming the Word Empowered by the Spirit.

On the Emmaus road trip from Jerusalem, two disciples, probably Cleopas and his wife, experience a stranger's presence. The stranger reveals himself as Jesus by explaining what was said about him in the Scriptures. He accepts their invitation, stays with them, and at a meal takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and gives it to them. They immediately recognize him.

It’s Jesus' blessing, breaking, and sharing with friends at a meal where we catch a glimpse of Jesus’ transformative kingdom. It's the unfolding awareness that transformed their despair over Christ's death to faith in his resurrection. 

For me the Emmaus Road story with the sharing of bread and cup, deepens, transforms and sustains my Christian journey.

If that is true for me, I am certain it is true for you. 

As you read the Emmaus Road story (Luke 24:13-35) ask yourself what insights and you have that might guide your Christian journey and be helpful to someone else.

It's Unbelievable!!!

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?

He is not here, but has risen” 

(Luke 24:5).

I am not a morning person. So, leading Sunrise Services was something of a challenge, especially on hilltops, in snow showers, drizzle, around a campfire in fog, and assorted settings. In ways, I'm a lot like Peter, it takes my coffee to get me going or it takes a soul shocking experience.

A soul shocking experience happened when Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women arrived early in the morning to prepare Jesus’ body for the grave. They discover an empty tomb and “two men in dazzling clothes” (24:4) who  explain what happened and say, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (24:5). 

They tell this unbelievable story to skeptic apostles who don't believe them. Except Peter. He runs to the tomb and sees the unbelievable. 

How do we believe the unbelievable? We live in a confusing, violent time with soul shocking experiences. Children separated from families, racially motivated brutality, and random mass shootings.  How does the power of the resurrection fit into all of this? 

Easter calls us to move beyond basic knowledge of the resurrection to believing the unbelievable.  Believing in the resurrection isn't just knowledge, it's also a transforming experience.

Easter belief can to transform our everyday life right here and now. It transforms soul shocking experiences so tragedy becomes triumph and victim becomes victor. 

It works like this. For me, Sunrise Services culminated a  physically and spiritually stressful Holy Week.

Easter transformation begins with people gathering for Easter worship. An excitement, a refreshing spirit filled the church. As we began singing "Christ the Lord is Risen today" my stressed spirit was transformed to one of celebration and new life.

For you, how has Easter been a transformation experience?