Good Samaritan United Methodist Church

Use Bible Gateway to Read Acts 15, 16, 17, 18

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Read Acts 15: 1-21 Scott Murray

These passages describe a time of transition in the development of the early Christian church. As Paul and Barnabas spread the "message of the good news", they are challenged by those who would put conditions on the new believers, specifically that adherence to Mosaic custom is necessary to be saved. After "much debate" Peter asks why they would give new believers a "yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?"

I see parallels to the discussion we have been having in the Relaunch of Good Sam, in which we have affirmed the principal of standing with our neighbors wherever we find them, rather than defining our neighbors as those who stand for the same things we do, as people who are like us. It is not for us to define certain behaviors or specific rituals as requirements for salvation. "On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will." I believe this is at the core of Christianity, and of what it means to be a Good Samaritan.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Read Acts 15:22-41 Rev. Anthony Petrotta

I think it is fair to say that many of us feel like we’re living in “disturbing” or “troubling” times. It’s true in our society, but also, equally true in the Church. Whether it is “worship wars”, sexual ethics, or any number of other issues, many of us don’t know what to think or what to do. This dilemma is not new to the Church, as we see this story from Acts: Some have gone out and “disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said” (Acts 15:24).

Two things strike me in this story. First, the “solution” is not simply “personal preference.” There was considerable debate and seeking guidance and wisdom from the Holy Spirit. When faced with “troubling” or complex issues, we are not left alone, but God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide us and comfort us in decisions. Furthermore, the “decision” that was made was “encouraging” to those who received it. A mark of the Holy Spirit is encouragement; also, comfort, joy, unity, and so forth.

The second thing that struck me was that the decision in this complex circumstance focused on what I would call “basics.” The decision was not convoluted, complex, filled with jargon or murky. It was to the point and clear as to what was required. It was basic “stuff” required, going back to God’s covenant with Noah (no idolatry; not eating of blood [which was “life”, hence belonging to God, not humans; see Genesis 9:4-6]; and no sexual immorality).

During Lent, I will endeavor to kept this story in mind as I preach, teach, and pastor my congregation. Pointing them to the “basics” of our faith, and the grace, guidance, and consolation of the Holy Spirit.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Read Acts 16:1-10 Dave Paulson

In today’s reading, Paul and Silas are early in the second missionary journey strengthening the churches and Timothy joins them. Paul wants to go to Bithynia but the Holy Spirit does not allow them to go. They go on to Troas and Paul has a vision telling him to go to Macedonia. They obey and the gospel is brought to Europe for the first time. Clearly the church is being led by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit chose the right time to bring the church to Europe and the church responded in obedience.

As we have been preparing for the relaunch of Good Sam we have been praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Today’s reading sounds like Paul experienced very crisp “Don’t go here”or “Go here” direction. I have experienced guidance of the Holy Spirit but it has not been that crisp. One important help for me has been regular meetings with the other lay leaders. The sharing and discussion has helped clarify a sense of direction. As we share together in the Life Together groups we find help in discerning the Holy Spirit’s leading for our lives I find that kind of help and support necessary.

Wednesday, March 17,2010

Read Acts 16: 11-40 Carolyn Robbins

The slave girl was profitable to her owners because of her physical and spiritual enslavement. Her fortune/truth-telling profits were interrupted, however—and then eliminated—when Paul and Silas came on the scene, since she followed them for days on end, claiming that the Most High God had sent them. Out of mercy or annoyance (depending on the translation), Paul cast the spirit out of her.
Although we don’t hear anything more from the slave girl at this point, her owners are furious. A temporary cessation of profits while she followed around Paul and Silas was one thing, but the complete elimination of those profits was quite another.
The slave girl’s predicament presents an interesting parallel for our own lives. We often find ourselves physically and spiritually “enslaved” by the many obligations, people, and pressures in our lives that demand us to be profitable. So long as we keep telling the cultural “truths” that the spirit of our age endorses, we remain profitable to those around us. But what if we become aware of a stranger, bigger truth, one that pulls us away from our profitably normal functioning?
We don’t know what happened to the slave girl, but we can assume her life got harder as she became less profitable. She had no cloth-dealing business to fall back on like Lydia, no miraculous earthquake to free her like Paul and Silas, nor any near-death experience of mercy to prompt a dramatic religious conversion like the jailer. Despite her continued physical enslavement, she did, at least, find spiritual freedom from her clairvoyant possessor.

May we all encounter a truth that causes us to forget about profitability and experience that same level of spiritual freedom in our own lives, even as the daily constraints of schedules, work, culture, sickness, etc continue to own us.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Read Acts 17:1-15 Carl Schulenburg

The reputation of Paul and Silas had proceeded them—troublemakers! In fact, they were known to have caused trouble all over the world.

This scripture tracks the steps of Paul as he stays one step ahead of the Jewish establishment as he proclaims Jesus as the risen Christ. While I have no doubts that Paul and Silas knew the risks they were taking, my thoughts turn to Jason-the man who welcomed them into his home in Thessalonica.

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the drama of what is happening to Paul that we could easily blow past the role of Jason in this passage. If Paul’s reputation was indeed widely known as is suggested here, then anyone who would host him as a guest in his house would be taking a significant risk. While Paul and Silas could flee in the middle of the night, Jason couldn’t and found himself arrested by a riotous mob. No doubt he was forever labeled from that date forward as a “troublemaker” himself.

I don’t know what Jason did for a business, but I would bet that if he had any Jewish clients before that time, he no longer did after this incident.

I wonder...would I take a risk like this? Would I risk my freedom, reputation, and business for Christ?

Left up to the logic of my mind, I think the answer would be no. But if I leap to allowing it to be a decision of my heart, then perhaps I see the opportunity to take the risk - to share in the proclamation of Christ. But oh, my mind seems ever so much stronger than my heart.

I pray today for strength of heart, for bravery to stand in controversy and courage to proclaim Christ as Savior. Amen

We know from Catholic tradition that Paul appointed Jason to be bishop of Tarsus and was eventually venerated as a saint. A risk taker and a saint. Jason truly proclaimed the word of Christ.

Friday, March 19,2010

Read Acts 17:16-24 Tom Schworetzky

As a young man, I can recall trying to order my surroundings into something I could control and make sense of. This trait stuck with me as I grew older and started my career and family. It seemed to aide me in moving me forward and in trying to help my children in their journey through life. Yet somehow, despite all my good intentions, things seemed to take their own path. This desire to order things seems to be a trait many of us share, especially those living in Silicon Valley. This was brought home to me many years ago listening to our former District Superintendent, the Rev. Ardith Allread. In her final Church Conference with us she reminded us that as Engineers we like to control things and order things but life isn't like that and God has other ideas for us.

As Paul debated with the Athenians and eventually convinced many of them, hopefully we too can see the Lord’s hand in all things. God has a plan for us and he aids us in the form of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are all his children and a piece of him is within us. If we just listen carefully to that still small voice inside of us we may come to realize this. It will help make us whole and allow us to let go of thinking we are in control.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Read Acts 18:1-17 Barbara Shev

I have difficulty with this text as I do with any text that labels “the Jews” as the enemy, for I know that this characterization was later used to justify widespread persecution of the Jews. Jesus and al his disciples were Jews, as was Paul. This text indicates that a schism was beginning to take place between those Jews who believed that Jesus was the Messiah and those who did not, just as did during the reformation there was a schism between Christians who called each other “Papists” or “heretics” to justify Persecution or killing one another. Even the judge, Gallio, says the argument is one of “words and names and your
own law.”

The key to the text, however. is verses 9-10 when the Lord comes to Paul in a vision and tells him not to be afraid but to continue to speak for ”I am with you.” In every church there will inevitably be differences but we must continue to listen to the Lord as Paul did, and have the courage to speak the good news, not just to people who agree with us, but to those who differ as well.