Consider the Word, February 25, 2021

Consider the Word, February 25, 2021
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Meeting ID: 923 9542 3097
 
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Readings for February 28

• Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
• Psalm 22:22-30
• Romans 4:13-25
• Mark 8:31-38

 
Collect

Almighty God,

whose Son was revealed in majesty

before he suffered death upon the cross,

give us faith to perceive his glory,

that being strengthened by his grace

we may be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Mark 8:31-38

Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

 
Reflection Questions

1. What does it mean for us to take up our cross and follow Jesus? 
2. What does the Cross signify for us?
3. This passage seems to suggest that the mission of Jesus and his disciples is to suffer and die, but could it be that the mission is to give life? Think in terms of, for Jesus, his mission is not death, but that his faithfulness to God inevitably resulted in his death. 

 
Closing Prayer

Artist of souls,

you sculpted a people for yourself

out of the rocks of wilderness and fasting.

Help us as we take up your invitation to prayer and simplicity,

that the discipline of these forty days

may sharpen our hunger for the feast of your holy friendship,

and whet our thirst for the living water you offer

through Jesus Christ. Amen.

 
The Message: Mark 8:31-38

^30-32 Jesus warned them to keep it quiet, not to breathe a word of it to anyone. He then began explaining things to them: “It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and after three days rise up alive.” He said this simply and clearly so they couldn’t miss it.

^32-33 But Peter grabbed him in protest. Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe, Jesus confronted Peter. “Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works.”

^34-37 Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?

³⁸ “If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels.”

 
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
 

Consider the Word, February 18, 2021

Consider the Word, February 18, 2021
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/92395423097
Meeting ID: 923 9542 3097
 
Printable Version
 
Readings for February 21

• Genesis 9:8-17
• Psalm 25:1-9
• 1 Peter 3:18-22
• Mark 1:9-15

 
Collect

Almighty God,

whose Son fasted forty days in the wilderness,

and was tempted as we are but did not sin,

give us grace to discipline ourselves

in submission to your Spirit,

that as you know our weakness,

so we may know your power to save;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Mark 1:9-15

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

 
Reflection Questions

1. What’s the relationship between Jesus and the movement that John the Baptist started? Why did Jesus repent? What sins did he have to confess?
2. What is the relationship between prayer and doing?

 
Closing Prayer

God of the wilderness,

your Son battled with the powers of darkness

and grew closer to you in the desert:

help us to use these forty days

to grow in wisdom and prayer,

so that we may witness to your saving love

in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Common Worship (2000) alt.

 
The Message: Mark 1:9-15

^9-11 At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God’s Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.”

^12-13 At once, this same Spirit pushed Jesus out into the wild. For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by Satan. Wild animals were his companions, and angels took care of him.

^14-15 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: “Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
 

Consider the Word, February 11, 2021

Consider the Word, February 11, 2021
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/92395423097
Meeting ID: 923 9542 3097
 
Printable Version
 
Readings for February 14

• 2 Kings 2:1-12
• Psalm 50:1-6
• 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
• Mark 9:2-9

 
Collect

Almighty God,

on the holy mount you revealed to chosen witnesses

your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured:

mercifully deliver us from the darkness of this world,

and change us into his likeness from glory to glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Mark 9:2-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

 
Reflection Questions

1. In this Gospel lesson, Jesus is not transformed (changed inwardly) but transfigured (changed outwardly) and thus shown to be different. What does this transfiguration tell us about Jesus?
2. What is the significance of having Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus?
3. How might the transfiguration of Jesus transform us?
4. Think about a time in your life when you’ve had a mountain top experience and what it was like to switch to whatever came afterwards.

 
Closing Prayer

God of glory, by the grace of your Spirit, reveal your Son to us now in the message of the prophets and in the witness of the apostles, so that we may heed his voice and receive him in faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Opening Prayers (1997) alt.

 
The Message: Mark 9:2-9

^2-4 Six days later, three of them did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus.

^5-6 Peter interrupted, “Rabbi, this is a great moment! Let’s build three memorials—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah.” He blurted this out without thinking, stunned as they all were by what they were seeing.

⁷ Just then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him.”

⁸ The next minute the disciples were looking around, rubbing their eyes, seeing nothing but Jesus, only Jesus.

^9-10 Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. “Don’t tell a soul what you saw. After the Son of Man rises from the dead, you’re free to talk.” They puzzled over that, wondering what on earth “rising from the dead” meant.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson