Friday, Ordinary 27, Proper 22, Oct 3
ChapLynne
Posts: 31 Member
Meditation
Friday, Ordinary 27, Proper 22 established the three festivals to celebrate each year—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks/Harvest, and the Feast of Shelters/Ingathering. Each were to give God glory for the way that he blessed them. It was worship. The focus was on God and worshipping him, like the Psalmist declared the heavens reflected the glory of God.
The New Testament lesson in Philippians narrowed the focus of worship on the behaviors of believers. It began with “do all things without complaining and arguing” – for service to the Lord could involve sacrificing many things. Believers were to give up things for the sake of God. But when people do things for God, they shouldn’t spend time whining about it.
I was involved with a church community supper program. My husband had been cooking up a multi-course dinner and serving it on Friday nights. We would arrive at 4:00pm and leave about 7:30 pm after the clean-up. It was growing and 40-50 people would show up between 5-7 pm. Word was spreading and it was growing. We spent about $40 a week on food and offered an entrée, sides, salad bar, coffee/tea bar, desert bar at an all you can eat buffet. We gladly donated the food and our time. We didn’t feel it was too much.
An elder said they didn’t want us to cook and they ordered a $100 platter of croissant sandwiches which served 20. The food ran out and they had no other options. So we had a church meeting to discuss the problems with the event.
Several key leaders were upset because it was too much time to give and too much money. We pointed out that only those who felt called to do it should do it. No one needed to feel pressure to clean up or spend too much money or time. I pointed out that Dave could shop for great deals so the cost remained low…e.g. pork chops at a ridiculously low rate. Another leader said, “We shouldn’t be giving the poor pork chop dinners. That is too nice.”
The group was divided between the whiners/complainers and those that saw unlimited potential of God’s grace. I suspect that the Philippian church had some who whined and complained. They argued about things that ultimately showed a lack of trust in God.
My mother used to say, “We make a choice based on what is right, not on how much it costs or the time it will take. God will provide the money, the time and the energy to do what is right. We must trust God for that.”
The church was to focus their energies on Christ. Everything was to show God’s glory, not the glory of the individual. When our focus is skewed, the ministry suffers. When we put our trust in God the service blooms.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 27, Proper 22
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 19;Exodus 23:14-19;Philippians 2:14-18; 3:1-4a&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;NIV (multiple versions)
Friday, Ordinary 27, Proper 22
Psalm 19
Exodus 23:14-19
Philippians 2:14-18 Philippians 3:1-4
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Philippians 1:21
King James Version (KJV)
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Philippians 2:14-18
King James Version (KJV)
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
Philippians 3:1-4
King James Version (KJV)
3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, help us not to take credit for the great things you do. Instead may we not be complainers and arguers, but rather worshippers of you, giving you all the glory and honor. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Friday, Ordinary 27, Proper 22 started with how the law of the Lord was perfect and the Hebrew people could celebrate it. Furthermore, he shared how creation declared the magnitude of God’s excellence. It was a rather upbeat reflection.
The Old Testament lesson continued with the party spirit and announced three feasts to honor the time of the Hebrews eating unleavened bread during the Exodus and the celebrations of beginning the Harvest and the end of the gathering of food—all reminders of how God provided for the Hebrew people.
The New Testament lesson reminded the early church in Philippi of how God provided for his people and they shouldn’t take credit for what he was doing for them. In fact, Paul denounced their whining and complaining, their fixation on arguing about things that were not essential to the Gospel message. Circumcision was a source of contention—those who believed they should follow Jewish law and those who disagreed. Paul spoke repeatedly about not becoming embroiled in these discussions, which didn’t help spread the good news.
Churches, today, who would rather argue about baptism or liturgy or things that are not fulfilling the great commission—to make disciples—are missing the point. That is not to say that people can’t dialogue about views on these issues. There is a difference between discussing and becoming hostile to people with differing views. Arguing. Complaining. These were what Paul criticized. Our churches must put those things aside and do what we can to spread the good news.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Friday, Ordinary 27, Proper 22 established the three festivals to celebrate each year—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks/Harvest, and the Feast of Shelters/Ingathering. Each were to give God glory for the way that he blessed them. It was worship. The focus was on God and worshipping him, like the Psalmist declared the heavens reflected the glory of God.
The New Testament lesson in Philippians narrowed the focus of worship on the behaviors of believers. It began with “do all things without complaining and arguing” – for service to the Lord could involve sacrificing many things. Believers were to give up things for the sake of God. But when people do things for God, they shouldn’t spend time whining about it.
I was involved with a church community supper program. My husband had been cooking up a multi-course dinner and serving it on Friday nights. We would arrive at 4:00pm and leave about 7:30 pm after the clean-up. It was growing and 40-50 people would show up between 5-7 pm. Word was spreading and it was growing. We spent about $40 a week on food and offered an entrée, sides, salad bar, coffee/tea bar, desert bar at an all you can eat buffet. We gladly donated the food and our time. We didn’t feel it was too much.
An elder said they didn’t want us to cook and they ordered a $100 platter of croissant sandwiches which served 20. The food ran out and they had no other options. So we had a church meeting to discuss the problems with the event.
Several key leaders were upset because it was too much time to give and too much money. We pointed out that only those who felt called to do it should do it. No one needed to feel pressure to clean up or spend too much money or time. I pointed out that Dave could shop for great deals so the cost remained low…e.g. pork chops at a ridiculously low rate. Another leader said, “We shouldn’t be giving the poor pork chop dinners. That is too nice.”
The group was divided between the whiners/complainers and those that saw unlimited potential of God’s grace. I suspect that the Philippian church had some who whined and complained. They argued about things that ultimately showed a lack of trust in God.
My mother used to say, “We make a choice based on what is right, not on how much it costs or the time it will take. God will provide the money, the time and the energy to do what is right. We must trust God for that.”
The church was to focus their energies on Christ. Everything was to show God’s glory, not the glory of the individual. When our focus is skewed, the ministry suffers. When we put our trust in God the service blooms.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 27, Proper 22
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 19;Exodus 23:14-19;Philippians 2:14-18; 3:1-4a&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;NIV (multiple versions)
Friday, Ordinary 27, Proper 22
Psalm 19
Exodus 23:14-19
Philippians 2:14-18 Philippians 3:1-4
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Philippians 1:21
King James Version (KJV)
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Philippians 2:14-18
King James Version (KJV)
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
Philippians 3:1-4
King James Version (KJV)
3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, help us not to take credit for the great things you do. Instead may we not be complainers and arguers, but rather worshippers of you, giving you all the glory and honor. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Friday, Ordinary 27, Proper 22 started with how the law of the Lord was perfect and the Hebrew people could celebrate it. Furthermore, he shared how creation declared the magnitude of God’s excellence. It was a rather upbeat reflection.
The Old Testament lesson continued with the party spirit and announced three feasts to honor the time of the Hebrews eating unleavened bread during the Exodus and the celebrations of beginning the Harvest and the end of the gathering of food—all reminders of how God provided for the Hebrew people.
The New Testament lesson reminded the early church in Philippi of how God provided for his people and they shouldn’t take credit for what he was doing for them. In fact, Paul denounced their whining and complaining, their fixation on arguing about things that were not essential to the Gospel message. Circumcision was a source of contention—those who believed they should follow Jewish law and those who disagreed. Paul spoke repeatedly about not becoming embroiled in these discussions, which didn’t help spread the good news.
Churches, today, who would rather argue about baptism or liturgy or things that are not fulfilling the great commission—to make disciples—are missing the point. That is not to say that people can’t dialogue about views on these issues. There is a difference between discussing and becoming hostile to people with differing views. Arguing. Complaining. These were what Paul criticized. Our churches must put those things aside and do what we can to spread the good news.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
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