Lenten Devotional - Easter Sunday

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

“For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, … But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1 Cor. 15:3-4, 10)

  We gather today in worship to hear the familiar story of Jesus’ resurrection. The story of hope which concludes our Lenten journey. A celebration of the story we hear and tell about receiving God’s grace and eternal life through Jesus’ defeat of death. Jesus’ resurrection brings us to the same affirmation Paul states, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain.” (v. 10)

  Paul, tells the Corinthians the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, which was told to him, “Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand,” (v. 1) A story which is confirmed by the apostles and by over 500 brothers and sisters, some whom Paul and the Corinthians could have spoken to directly about what they had witnessed. We, as the church, give witness to the resurrection through the message shared with us throughout the ages.

  Numerous individuals living in our neighborhoods have their stories of resurrection to new life happening each day. They have stories to tell, some stories of heartache and overcoming great pain, stories of roadblocks preventing surrender, stories of love recognized and amazing grace experienced, and stories of new life which captures the authentic witness of the Holy Spirit telling a story of resurrection from the dead.

  Some of us in the presbytery have been joining in a conversation about how we can help our churches deal with a serious AOD problem. During Lent, we have shared our stories and witness, to paraphrase Paul, “we handed on to you which was of first importance to us and what we have in turn received.” We invite you to join us “Into the Light.” Our communities are in the grips of addiction and they need to hear stories that treatment works, recovery is possible and that stories of resurrection exist. As Paul confidently tells us, “Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.” (v. 11)

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: The presbytery’s Addiction Ministry Network and the conversations they are having to restore our communities and renew our congregations and pray for the Spirit’s leading others to join the conversation into the light.

Click Here PDF - Easter Sunday Devotion

Lenten Devotional - Day 33

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13-22 

“No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13)

  We all have trials and tribulations in life. Some of them are short, some are long, and some are ongoing. In fact, many of life’s challenges are created by our own doing, meaning we fall into temptation and create our own “demons” and barriers to overcome. Sometimes when we go through difficult times in life pushing through the moment can feel surmountable. It can also make us feel very alone—like we are the only one who faces this “problem.”

  However, we must remember even in our darkest moments that God is with us, and that we never walk alone. In fact, we often are not alone in our current circumstance. “No temptation is overtaken you that is not common to man.” What this means is, that there are others in life that are through similar circumstance as you. You are not alone. We are not alone. God tells us that we can find great love and comfort through the support of others when we open up our hearts to God and to others.

  In fact, there are many times in life where God tests us and through that test we develop a specific knowledge or skill set that can help others in the future. We must remember that it is okay to confide in our peers and speak about problems and concerns in life, because it not only helps us as individuals to process things it can also help others too.

  “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” We learn through scripture that we will have challenges throughout our lives; however, we can find comfort in the fact that God doesn’t give us more than we can handle. We all have those moments where we are amid a trial and think, God I’m really getting close to that breaking point here. However, these are also the moments that test our faith and build our faith too. These are the moments where we must remember that God is with us, and so are others in Christ who can help support us too. No matter how great the circumstance, God provides a way that we can endure it.

  As we continue into this Lenten Journey, let us remember that God is great, God is good, and God provides. Let us also remember to give our hearts to the Lord and to each other. To act as brothers and sisters in Christ to help others going through similar circumstance and to find peace in knowing that God makes sure that no matter what life brings use we will be able to endure.

Elizabeth Comer, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Individual who feel surrounded by only temptations and trials and find it difficult to see God's goodness.

Click Here PDF - Day 33 Devotion

Lenten Devotional - Fifth Sunday in Lent

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

“To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Cor. 9:22-23)

  In 1939 the story is told about the Nazis’ moving into the Netherlands. Dutch theologian, Henry Kramer was asked by a group of Christian lay people, "Our Jewish neighbors are disappearing from their homes. What must we do?"

  Kramer answered, "I cannot tell you what to do. I can tell you who you are. If you know who you are, you will know what to do." Later, these people became part of the Dutch Resistance Movement.

  During our moment under the sun, we are called upon to remember who our God is and that we are God's people. How we respond during the defining moments of our lives will determine and define our conduct and personal relationships. Walter Brueggeman once stated, "What God does first and best and most is to trust his people with their moment in history. He trusts them to do what must be done for the sake of his whole community."

  As we look around our communities, hear and read the reports of heroin overdose deaths and the social disruption due to other alcohol and other drug usage, we are being called to remember who we are. We could look around and declare, like the writer of Ecclesiastes, “I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.” (Eccl. 1:14) Or we could declare the same as Paul, “I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Cor. 9:23)

  If we had a choice to pick which social problems to solve, we might select something easier than AOD problems, but in our moment under the sun, this is the problem that God is trusting us to do what must be done. How do you feel about God entrusting you with your "moment in history?" What does this mean to you?

  We are called to “do it all for the sake of the gospel,” and like Paul, we are to search and find whatever means works to achieve our mission, so we “might by all means save some”. God is trusting us with our moment in history.

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: To know who we are as God’s people, which leads us to doing what is right.

Click Here PDF - Fifth Sunday in Lent Devotion

Informational Resources

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® - January 22–28, 2018

https://teens.drugabuse.gov/national-drug-alcohol-facts-week

Lenten Devotional - Day 19

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

“If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,” (1 Cor. 12:19-22)

  In teaching congregations about evangelism and hospitality, I have often emphasized that today’s visitor may be that special person God has sent us who will be essential to the future life and ministry of the church five or ten years from now. God often takes a long view of our church’s ministry, rather than just addressing or meeting our immediate, short-term ministry needs.

  In 1 Corinthians, Paul invites church members to realize and act upon their essential unity in Jesus Christ, instead of focusing on our differences in status, opinion and practice. In 12:12-31a, Paul continues his line of reasoning about the proper use of the gifts of God's Spirit within the life of the church. God's Spirit has chosen and empowered individuals to work closely together for the common good (v. 7). No one person has everything the church needs, and no one gift is possessed and used by every person; thus, every person's spiritual gift is needed. Diversity and unity are held together in Paul’s imagery of an individual as part of a collective, working together for the same purpose.

  Paul uses the parts of the body as an illustration for what it means to be the church and looks for ways each part of the body can function at its best. We are the eyes, ears, feet and hands. We are part of the body of Christ. We are dependent upon each other. We function best when we realize that despite our differences we all work together toward the same goal.

  Often churches want to increase their church membership, but they want people who are just like them. Unfortunately, the supply of people just like us has been depleted. Paul is telling us, we can’t all be feet, we need other body parts to be whole. The church that is faithful to their mission is the church capable of encouraging people who are much different than themselves with different stories, experiences, talents and skills. They can and will teach us many things about God we have missed and breathe new life into the church’s life.

  Each of us needs to accept our role and celebrate others role which are different than ours, and work for the common good of our calling in the Holy Spirit. We each have experiences, stories, views unique to us, which has the power through the Holy Spirit to impact the world around us. As Paul reminds us, “On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,” (v. 22) The stories and capabilities of those in recovery can play a prominent role in the future ministry of our church. God sends us others who will join with us in a common ministry and can help us recapture what it means to go and make disciples.

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: The ability to welcome those with different gifts.

Click Here PDF - Day 19 Devotion