Scripture Nugget 11.9.2016

“So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us – one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection. So they proposed two, Joseph called Barabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Mathias. Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.” Acts 1:21-26

What the heck happened to Mathias? We don’t hear about him in any scriptures after his selection to serve. He apparently met the criteria in verses 21-22, “So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us – one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” He was prayerfully selected to serve and yet we hear nothing of him in the future ministry of the Church. Now it could be that he was one who went to the ends of the earth to serve; so I’m not judging Mathias based on what might have been. But he was selected to replace Judas, one of the original twelve Disciples, who for the most part stayed local in Jerusalem early on and only later went out temporarily as they were sent. What happened to Mathias? Did he quit coming and participating? Did anyone reach out to him? I think this struck me, having just completed preparations for Charge Conference and setting the leadership for 2017. Several months ago, I asked the congregation to pray about where God was leading them to serve and asked the Nominations Committee to pray that God reveal to us those who should be asked/selected to serve. It always interests me why some respond positively to the request to serve but then rarely show up for meetings much less get involved and help. We also had to conduct an audit of the membership role. What has happened to those listed as members but we haven’t seen for months or even years? Like Mathias we should ask where are they? We should reach out and not let them continue to wander alone. Who do I/you need to call, to visit, to check-up on?

Scripture Nugget 11.8.2016

“Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them, ‘Look, I am brining him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.’ So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, ‘Here is the man!’ When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.’ The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.’” John19:1-7

As I read this morning this phrase, “They kept coming up to him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ and striking him on the face.” leapt up off the page at me. My first thought was, yes, each of us who sin do the same thing and I believe that is true. But these were the guards, Roman soldiers, probably not believers – not yet, anyway, and they were under orders. They took advantage of an opportunity to bully and make fun of a high-profile prisoner. I’m not letting them off the hook, they are mocking the Savior, theirs, ours, mine and yours. Pilate can’t find a case against him, in other words he declares Jesus, Not Guilty! The Jews, the mob, the crowd, yells out, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him! – what a slap in the face! Pilate doesn’t back down, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” The Jews respond, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die.” Another slap in face! Then my mind raced back to yesterday’s reading when the Jews said, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” Which is it? The answer lies in the fact that the Son of God stands before them, all of them – sinners in need of a Savior. The Jews, the chosen, the ones who are on the lookout for Messiah to introduce others are blinded; the Romans, enemies of the Kingdom of God, dress Jesus properly present him as royalty. Both, slap him in the face, one group physically, the other figuratively/relationally/spiritually! Stop and assess which group you are in, how and when you slap the Savior in the face, thenfall on your knees and ask forgiveness.

Scripture Nugget 11.7.2016

“Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, ‘What accusation do you bring against this man?’ They answered, ‘If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.’ The Jews replied, ‘We are not permitted to put anyone to death.’” John 18:28-31

“Are not the Jews seeking to kill Jesus already defiled by their own actions and thoughts? Seeking the death of an innocent man must certainly defile one and preclude one from participating in the Passover Meal. How about in our own lives? What are the things we do to keep up appearances and yet we are defiled? Whatever comes to mind, stop, confess to God, ask for forgiveness.

Scripture Nugget 11.6.2016

“Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’” John 16:31-33

Life lived in this world is life lived in a fallen condition. Temptation abounds, persecution abounds. Those who would oppose God, those who desire me/you to join with them in opposing God are all around. Why? Because they haven’t experienced the love of God. They glorify themselves to a position of great importance – it is a false and unstable position. Until they topple into the loving arms of Christ they recruit others to their point of view, for there is safety in numbers and it makes them feel good. But deep down, those who live in this fallen condition – fully participating in the temptations of a fallen world, know there is something missing, something incomplete in their person. In the midst of persecution, will I, will you introduce our persecutor to Jesus? The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, how will we use it?

Scripture Nugget 11.5.2016

“But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’” John 12:4-8

In this passage we see the tension of stewardship. How are we to use our assets? How will we use our assets? We’ve heard this same sentiment expressed in our local congregations. “Why are we spending all this money to go to ___, to help people there when we there are hurting people in our own community? It is a great question. I believe I experienced an answer to that question a few years ago while in Costa Rica. When someone finds out that another has raised the money and taken the time to travel a long distance to say “Jesus loves you and so do I”, it has a positive effect. It may be that the person who travels must do so just to learn to say, “Jesus loves you and so do I” to a stranger. Having learned the lesson that person is then able to go home and do the same across town or even across the street. Good, faithful Stewardship of our resources is important, nothing should be wasted; but it isn’t always about the most economical way. This is a great example of the conjunctive, both/and not either or. Personal attitude is to be considered as well. Just as Judas wasn’t using the assets of the common purse to help the poor; one who complains about international mission taking away from local missions but hasn’t done any local mission work may want to take note. Before a gift can be wasted, it must be given and received. Jesus chose to give his life ….. will you receive the life he offers?

Scripture Nugget 10.4.2016

“... ‘For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’ … ‘… But if I do them even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’” John 10:17-18, 38

Our Savior lives! Though he died and was buried, he rose from the grave and sits at the right hand of the Father, our Savior lives. Do you believe it? Do you live like you believe it? The Savior of the World is my/your Savior, he did this for us! O how different this world would be if all, especially those tasked with watching for the Messiah, had believed! Here in 2016, God beckons all of creation to believe, to have faith, to live in and represent the life abundant, the eternal life he offers. Ask yourself today, “Am I embracing life with the risen Savior, or am I in some futile way attempting to arrest him?”

Scripture Nugget 11.3.2016

“‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ … The Jesus took the loaves, and when had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’ … So they said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing?’” John 6:9, 11-14, and 30

A large crowd is in Jesus’ presence. Whether the crowd is 5000 total or 5000 men with their families, that which takes place is a blessing and a miracle. I wonder, how many times I/you have been blessed, a miracle of abundant life has been experienced and yet we ask, “What sign are you going to give us?” The blessings of life abundant flow constantly. That is why we sing, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow; it is why we should pray the same over and over. Now ask yourself; what do I possess, that is in my life 5 loaves and 2 fish, that I am to share, to offer up for use by God? Have you shared? Will you? Who could be blessed? If you are holding on tightly, ask yourself why? Is it a lack of faith in the promise that all will be satisfied to overflowing and that even more will be leftover? Is what you are holding onto so tightly anywhere close in size or value to satisfying 5000 plus having baskets of left overs? Jesus came to give life, life abundant, will you receive that abundance? I’m confident that young boy sure did!

Scripture Nugget 11.2.2016

“Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?’ They left the city and were on their way to him. … Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because if his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.’” John 4:28-30, 39-42

What a wonderful cycle! One becomes a believer then a disciple then goes and shares their witness and testimony; others come, they hear and believe then become disciples who share witness and testimony. It just may be that what you share about Jesus may bring several more to a belief in Jesus. First, because of the simplicity and conviction you share your belief/faith even when all the dots aren’t connected, then second, they grow to a greater belief/faith because you introduced them to and they heard straight from Jesus. We all have a desire deep down inside to be connected to God, it is part of our image, our spiritual DNA; O how the sparks fly when the connection is made! “He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” O yes my dear friends he not only can he is the I AM, come and see, come and hear for yourself……

Scripture Nugget 11.1.2016

“But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God., who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” … “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world, to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” John 1:12-14, 3:17-21

Receive and believe; out of darkness into the light; from self-imposed condemnation to God given salvation and life. “God’s objective is salvation, not condemnation, but people cause their own condemnation by remaining in the darkness of evil, apart from Jesus the light.” (Wesley Study Bible, pg 1290)

Wesleyan Core Term – New Birth

“When John Wesley listed the four most important doctrines found in Scripture, new birth was included. The others are original sin, justification by faith, and inward and outward holiness. The inclusion of new birth reveals a very important theme in Wesley’s theology, and in all theology that calls itself Wesleyan. Martin Luther, of course, proclaimed that we are saved by faith alone and his theology of justification became the heartbeat of all Protestantism. But there is a key difference between justification and new birth in Wesley’s theology. Not only does Christ forgive us for past sins when we accept him as our savior, he also gives us a new life – a new life to live differently. Not only does Christ deal with the guilt of our sins, he also deals with the root problem that causes us to sin. In Wesley’s scheme, new birth is the beginning of the holy life, the beginning of sanctification.” Wesley Study Bible, pg 1289)

Scripture Nugget 10.31.2016

“All of them, asked, ‘Are you, then the Son of God?’ He said to them, ‘You say that I am.’ The they said, ‘What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!’” Luke 22:70-71

Wow, testimony heard directly from the Son of God; how awesome would that be? What is our response, yours and mine? Do we sing Hallelujah!! Or do we cry crucify him? What would my/your family and friends say, as they live life with you? The witnesses of Jesus life said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.” Luke 23:5 O that we as individuals, as families, as congregations and communities would stir up the people around us teaching about Jesus. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Sing Hallelujah, be guilty of sharing Jesus with others!