Restoration Ministries

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Reflections: Luke 5:17-26

Luke 5:17-26

One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord's healing power was strongly with Jesus.

Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus, but they couldn't reach him. So they went up to the roof, took off some tiles, and lowered the sick man down into the crowd, still on his mat, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

"Who does this man think he is?" the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to each other. "This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins?" Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you think this is blasphemy? Is it easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Get up and walk'? I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the authority on earth to forgive sins."

Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, take your mat, and go on home, because you are healed!"

And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped to his feet, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe. And they praised God, saying over and over again, "We have seen amazing things today."

• What did you hear as you listened to the reading?

• What is revealed about who God is in this passage? What is revealed about Jesus?

• Where do you notice freedom and love in this passage?

• Where do you notice bondage and fear?

• Pray and ask God for what you need.

• Offer thanks.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Reflections: Luke 15:11-32

The story in scripture that we are sitting in this week is the story of the lost son. I would imagine most all of us can identify with one or more of the characters in this parable that Jesus shared. As you read the passage, take some time to consider what God might be inviting of you during this Lenten season. What in your life might be keeping you from truly knowing your Heavenly Father?

Luke 15:11-32

Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, 'I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. "A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money on wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed his pigs. The boy became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. "When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, 'At home even the hired men have food enough to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired man."'

"So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. ‘“But his father said to the servants, 'Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began.

"Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 'Your brother is back,' he was told, 'and your father has killed the calf we were fattening and has prepared a great feast. We are celebrating because of his safe return.' "The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, 'All these years I've worked hard for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have.' "His father said to him, 'Look, dear son, you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'"

• What did you hear as you listened to the reading of the Word?
• What attitudes or emotions do you hear in the younger son? The older son?
• What is God inviting you to see within your own heart?
• Have a dialogue with one of the characters in the story. What is revealed through the dialogue?
• What does this passage tell us about who God is?

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Reflections: Ephesians 3:12-21

As we sit in the season of love and Valentines Day, we invite you to reflect on your own love relationship with God. As you read the following scripture and the reflection questions below, take some time to notice what picture begins to form. What words describe your experience?

Ephesians 3:12-21

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome….

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you
mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.

And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts
as you trust in him.

May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should,

how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.

May you experience the love of Christ,

though it is so great you will never fully understand it.

Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us,

he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus

forever and ever through endless ages.

Amen

• List all of the feeling words that you experienced as you read and contemplated this text.

•Do you have memory of being loved? Write a bit about that experience.

• Are you willing to receive God’s love tonight? Stay with this question. Pray with this question.

• Is there a picture or image that comes to you about you receiving God’s love?

• What is it like for you to have Christ at home in your heart? Is your trust growing? How do you notice that?

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Reflections: John 7:11-18

The third and final feast of the Jewish year is the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast, again, required a journey to the temple in Jerusalem in order to worship and offer sacrifices and offering to the Lord. Jesus traveled alone to this feast stepping forward only when the time was right.

John 7:11-18

The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him.

There was a lot of discussion about him among the crowds. Some said, "He's a wonderful man," while others said, "He's nothing but a fraud, deceiving the people."

But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.

Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach.

The Jewish leaders were surprised when they heard him. "How does he know so much when he hasn't studied everything we've studied?" they asked.

So Jesus told them, "I'm not teaching my own ideas, but those of God who sent me.

Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.

Those who present their own ideas are looking for praise for themselves, but those who seek to honor the one who sent them are good and genuine.

• What are you hearing as you listen to the text? Write a few sentences about what you heard.

• How do you know truth when you hear it?

• Do you notice your discernment growing and sharpening? What is that like for you?

• What is your inner sense when something isn’t right?

• What do you feel when you know something is right and true?

• Have you ever feared getting into trouble if you voiced the truth?

• Talk to God about sharpening your discernment.

• Are you growing into your own authenticity and inner rightness in all aspects of your life? Ask the Spirit of truth to reveal anything that isn’t right within you. Write about what you hear. Thank God for freedom, truth and righteousness.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Reflections: John 2:1-11

This story takes place on the third day, at a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The wedding feast in this time was a significant celebration and would often go on for days. Running out of wine was an embarrassment to the family as there were standard expectations for hospitability.
Jews would become ceremonially defiled during normal circumstances of daily life and they were cleansed by pouring water over their hands. Having six large stone jars on hand at the wedding would likely be necessary for a large group of people over several days.

John 2:1-11

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.

Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples put their faith in him.

What did you hear as you read the Word?

What do you wonder about in this story?

Considering that Jesus had not yet performed a miracle, what might have inspired Mary to ask this of Him?

What might be significant about the use of the jars for ceremonial washing?

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Reflections: Luke 2:41-51

Luke 2:41-51

Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.

His parents didn't miss him at first, because they assumed he was with friends among the other travelers. But when he didn't show up that evening, they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there.

Three days later they finally discovered him. He was in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, discussing deep questions with them. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. His parents didn't know what to think. "Son!" his mother said to him. "Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere." "But why did you need to search?" he asked. "You should have known that I would be in my Father's house." But they didn't understand what he meant.

Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them; and his mother stored all these things in her heart.

• What did you hear as you listened to the reading of the Word? A word or a phrase? Write about what you heard.
• What do you notice about this family and how they relate with each other?
• What do you notice about Jesus? What do you observe about him?
• What might there be in this story that intersects with your story?
• Where are you in your desire to find Jesus and not be away from him?

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Reflections: Luke 2:22-35

Following the law of Moses written out in Exodus 13:2, 12 and Leviticus 12, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to be consecrated to the Lord. In the scripture that follows, we see God continue to reveal His divine plan through those who wait, watch and listen for Him.

Luke 2:22-35

When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all people,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel."

The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

• What did you hear as you listened to the reading of the Word? A word, a phrase?
• Have you experienced the Holy Spirit “compelling” you to move or act? What has that been like for you?
• Reflect and write about how you notice, hear, or sense the Spirit’s leading within you.
• Are you aware of when you are in a “waiting” period for God’s revelation or promise to occur? Are you waiting now?
• Do you notice a desire growing within you to live a pure and consecrated life?
• How is it that the “thoughts of many hearts are revealed” because of Jesus Christ?

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