MMC: Attitudes about Faith and Worship

Each Monday I send an email to members and friends of Bethlehem with some announcements and thoughts on the text for the upcoming Sunday.  Below is this week's email. 



Good Morning!

Is it really Monday again?  Where did the weekend go?  

Some announcements and reminders as you go about your week.  

• Due to travels and busy schedules, the weekly bible studies are canceled for the rest of the month.  Look for details about their return in early September
• If you like to cook or have a favorite dish you like to prepare, consider signing up to make and deliver meals to our homebound members and others in need of a good meal.
• We are in the process of creating a photo directory, you can sign up to have a family picture taken by Ellen after worship one Sunday or you can email her a picture 
• This week's Book of Faith Puzzler is: Who lived the longest: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob or Joseph? If you know the answer (even if you have to do a little research to find it) email me the answer by noon on Wednesday to be entered into our weekly drawing. 

Now onto the text:

Our first lesson for Sunday is Isaiah 58:9b-14.  The beginning of this passage promises that if you stop speaking evil about others and offer your food to the hungry, your despair will go away.  When have you helped another and ended up receiving more in return?  Starting in verse 13, the passage talks about if you honor the sabbath "then you shall take delight in the Lord."  How does your attitude about worship effect how you worship?  When have you changed your actions in order to change your mind?  

The second lesson is Hebrews 12:18-29.  In all honesty, I had to read this passage 3 times just to gleam a general meaning.  The passage begins by saying that faith cannot be touched.  Does it ever annoy you that faith is not tangible?  Or is faith not being tangible something that comforts you?  The passage ends by saying that since our faith and the kingdom of God cannot be touch, therefore it cannot be shaken and for this we should give thanks through worship.  How do you give God thanks for your faith?

The gospel lesson is Luke 13:10-17.  Jesus healed on the sabbath (and in a synagogue to boot) much to the dismay of the leader of the synagogue.  Jesus response by saying the woman's ailment was a bondage and just like any animal she should be freed from her bondages on the sabbath.  How have illnesses been a bondage for you?  What else keeps you in bondage?  How does worship help free you from these bondages, even if only temporarily?  How else do you become free from those bondages?

I hope these questions start to bring some thoughts and discussion to your mind and with others.  Please feel free to respond with either your answers to these questions or your own questions on these text or faith in general.