86: P25A (Oct. 26) Paul is such a sweet guy

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For Sunday October 26, Proper 25A/Ordinary 30A/20 Sundays after Pentecost. 
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SHOW NOTES -  10/26/2014
Episode 86: P25A (Oct. 26) Paul is such a sweet guy
For Sunday, October 26, 2014
image: Picture of “Sweet” Paul Lowe of http://www.sweetpaulmag.com/
Welcome the Pulpit Fiction Podcast, where two local pastors discuss the  lectionary reading for the week. This is episode 86 for Sunday October 26, Proper 25A/Ordinary 30A/20 Sundays after Pentecost.


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Introduction and Check-in

Featured Musician - "My Brother's Keeper" by Dan Holmes frm his album Have a Little Faith. More about Dan and his music at danholmesmusic.com. Follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dan.holmes.5895

Primary Scripture - Matthew 22:34-46 The Greatest Commandment
Initial Thoughts

  • Not supercessionist or anti-Jewish - an argumet between people of the same religion- NOT Christians vs Jews

Bible Study

  • Third Challenge:
    • Taxes (last week, Proper 24A, Mt. 22:12-22)- Pharisees and Herodians
    • Resurrection (skipped here, Mt 22:23-33) - Sadducees
    • Law (this week, Mt 22:34-40) - Pharisees and Lawyers
    • Jesus responds to each quickley and concisely
  • Two greatest commandments
    • Condensing of the 10 Commandments:
      • 1-4 = Love/honor God
      • 5-10 = Love/honor neighbor
    • Not radically different frmo other Rabbis
      • Rabbi Hillel (Died 6 years before Jesus was born) said,(when challenged by a Gentile to repeat the entire Torah on one foot) "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn"
  • What kind of Jesus is this? Not the cuddly, sweet, sterilized Jesus, but a Loving radical
    • Lance Pape (workingpreacher.com) "According to Matthew’s testimony, none of the things Jesus is caught doing in this context -- from physically trashing the display booths of the money changers (21:12), to trash-talking the biblical literacy of colleagues (22:29), to dropping the mic at the end of a scintillating piece of rhetorical and exegetical gamesmanship (verse 46) -- none of it violates the law of love."
    • Love is not the thing that allows all things, but confronts injustice and rejoices in the truth.

Preaching Thoughts

  •  Is love what pushes us to prophetically demand justice and gives us the courage to counter dangerous theology? Or is love the shield and blanket we use to hide from the difficult issues and avoid conflict?

"My Brother's Keeper" by Dan Holmes from his album Have a Little Faith. More about Dan and his music at danholmesmusic.com. Follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dan.holmes.5895

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Secondary scripture - 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Initial Thoughts

  • There’s not much to go on here.  Textweek cupboard is pretty bare.

Bible Study

  • In context of the church of Thessalonica, this is a much more powerful letter in general, and passage in particular.
    • “While it strikes many modern readers as benign religious encouragement, 1 Thessalonians affirms the Christian faith not merely as an alternative religion among many, but as a singure alternative to the assumptions, motivations, values, and social and political order of empire… Paul’s argument challenges us to think critically and faithfully about the church’s complicity in systems of domination that many of us take for granted.” (Stanley Saunders from the Discipleship Study Bible, introduction to 1 Thessalonians, p. 2010).
  • Paul’s message of the gospel is unique.
    • Not interested in flattery, which is an important part of the Roman patronage system.
    • The Gospel is difficult to sell to people who are comfortable.
    • When the system is working for you, it is difficult to see that the system is broken.
    • Reference to “might have made demands” or “thrown our weight around,” is direct attack at patronage system where “throwing weight around” was the only way to get things done.  Those in power exercised that power by offering services, than making demands.

Preaching Thoughts

  • What does it mean to be “entrusted with the gospel”?
    • What is the responsibility we bear?  With what are we entrusted?
      • “Trustees” of the gospel, or of the building, denomination, institution?
    • The pastor/church/denomination must serve the gospel, offer the love, grace, peace, and justice of Christ.  Not the other way around.  The Church has failed when it has created the institution to serve it.
  • “Share with you not only the gospel, but our own selves.”
    • Is it possible to share the gospel, and not our own self?
    • Can you share the love of Christ without also being willing to love?
    • How often do people share the gospel of love without living a life of love.  Is “Do as I say, not as I do?” an epidemic in many churches?

Tasty Wafers of the Week!

CLOSING
TY listeners

Twitter:

  • Follow @revlund we will be interviewing her next week on an upcoming Thursday Night Special to discuss her new book, Blessed are the Crazy:Breaking the Silence about Mental Illness, Family and Church. Feel free to send us any questions you want us to ask Rev. Sarah Lund.

Our Featured Musician-
Featured Musician -   "My Brother's Keeper" by Dan Holmes from his album Have a Little Faith. More about Dan and his music at danholmesmusic.com. Follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dan.holmes.5895

Thanks to Scott Fletcher for our voice bumpers, Dick Dale and the Del Tones for our Theme music (“Misirlou”), Nicolai Heidlas (“Summertime”) and The Steel Wheels for our transition music(“Second of May” from their album Live at Goose Creek) and special closing music this week is Richard Bruxvoort Colligan’s song “I Am for Peace”.

Feedback:

1 Thessalonians, All, Matthew, Proper 25AEric FistlerComment