Only six months ago Christians in Pakistan lived in fear for their lives when terrorists bombed a church as worship ended. Hundreds were killed or injured.
Last week, leaders sent some pictures drawn and crafted by their children. Here are just a few. Enjoy.
There is a continuity to the book of John. The story moves from one personal encounter with Jesus to the next.
Start today’s story by reminding your learners of last week’s gospel. Jesus met (at night) with a well-known community and temple leader, Nicodemus.
Today’s lesson has a road-weary Jesus stopping to rest at a landmark well—the well built by Jacob and given to Joseph. The disciples have left Jesus alone as they go into town to find food.
Along comes a woman.
Keep in mind that in Jesus’ day social lines were strictly drawn. Men did not enter into conversations with random women. Jews did not engage Samaritans in idle chatter. The righteous would not seek out those who break the social codes. They certainly wouldn’t drink from the same cup—or well, for that matter.
But today, Jesus, the son of the Israelite’s Jehovah, meets a Samaritan woman of low social rank. It is not in the middle of the night. It is high noon.
The Samaritans were cousins of the Jews, descendants of Joseph. This Samaritan had every right to be dipping into this well! Their differences date to the Babylonian exile.
Jesus will strike up a conversation. There is no one else present—at least when they first meet. No one to interfere and point out the social rules.
Theirs will be a different kind of conversation than that of Jesus and Nicodemus, but one thing is the same. Jesus is again addressing Baptism and Living Water.
Remind your learners that the learned Nicodemus didn’t understand what Jesus was teaching. Compare Nicodemus’ response to the exchange with the Samaritan woman. Point out that Jesus does not talk down to the Samaritan woman. In fact, he is more critical when he speaks to Nicodemus!
Point out that the gospel writer, John, remembers Nicodemus by name. The Samaritan woman, who engages Jesus in an equally deep theological discussion, has no name.
Isn’t it odd that today the rite of Baptism is colloquially called “christening”—the giving of a name? And there’s that word “Christ.” starting the word. In today’s gospel, there is much talk about living water but no names.
Jesus knew all about this woman. He surely knew her name. Why did John not record this information?
Her name will be today’s “object.” If you need a physical object mock up a license plate like the one in today’s featured photo.
Start the conversation by pointing out the meaning of the name “Nicodemus.”
Greek origins mean “victory of the people.” In Israel it might also mean “innocent of blood.” The second meaning points to the role Nicodemus will play later in the gospel story as defender of Jesus and as the person who provided spices and ointments for Jesus’ burial.
Knowing Nicodemus by name helps us to concentrate on all the good things that were part of his life.
And then we get to the Samaritan woman filling her water jug from the well that reminds its users of Jacob, the great forefather of the Israelites.
The Samaritan woman knew her place. She has no illusions. She does not try to impress the stranger. She is a Samaritan who has lived a life that violated the social standards of both cultures. She makes no apology. She is who she is. And we, centuries later know her by her faults. Perhaps John omits her name to protect her from criticism!
Take the time to tell her story, especially what happens when she returns to the village.
Ask your congregation to suggest names for her. Ask them to put as much thought into their choice as they would the name of their own child. Have them explain their choices.
You’ll want to have a lively discussion.
Prime the pump with stories of your own name or of naming your own child. Explain the various considerations (heritage, culture, popularity, meaning, hopes for the future).
Be ready to point out the meanings of some famous biblical names. Adam—man. Mary—wished-for child, rebellion, bitter. Jesus/Joshua—God saves. Peter—rock.
As you get a lively discussion going, be ready to point to the scriptural references that will support the various choices. The Samaritan woman is, in her own way, very influential. She manages to witness to her community with significant effect and grace — despite all that society holds against her. (Hey, Grace—that’s a possible name).
Write the choices on a chart. At the end of the discussion, have your congregation vote.
Remember the name your congregation chooses. It could come in handy!
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You will receive a weekly slideshow (which you can use on your church website or during worship), an object lesson and many other church planning ideas—all geared for small church use.
Slides are in editable form. Individual slides can be posted on websites or converted to jpgs for use in a bulletin or newsletter. (Please include appropriate credits.)
Thank you.
[jetpack_subscription_form]2×2 Reaches Grajewo, Poland
Church of the Holy Trinity, Grajewo, Poland (courtesy of Wikipedia)
Perhaps the most fascinating part of having a blog is the ability to reach the world without lifting your computer from your lap.
Redeemer Lutheran Church in East Falls, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, began its online ministry, 2x2virtualchurch.com, in 2011. For the first six months we were lucky to have a dozen viewers. This month we will have about 10,000. As we grow in numbers we grow in reach.
We have a little app in our widget bar (Cluster Maps) that tells us the locations of the last ten visitors. That’s how we know 2×2 has reached well over 100 countries and every state in the Union! You can see for yourself!
We have no idea the quality or purpose of these visits, but it is interesting to note that for some reason someone, somewhere, somehow answered our timid knock on the door.
Each Saturday, we’ll feature the location of one of our site visitors. What better way to prove what we’ve been saying about the potential reach of Social Media!
This week, someone from Grajewo, Poland, visited 2×2.
Grajewo is a small town of about 24,000 people in northeastern Poland. Its Wikipedia site features a neo-Gothic Church (Holy Trinity). It has a rich Jewish history, including some noted Jewish leaders and rabbis. It undoubtedly suffered during the Holocaust as one of its prominent community members is credited with a Holocaust Memorial Book. Wikipedia also mentions without much detail a history of roadside chapels dating to the 1800s. Wish there were more information available in English—or that we could read Polish!
Welcome, Grajewo!
Tell us where you are!
Church leaders are groping for elusive answers to pervasive problems. Here and there a few bright stars shine but most are dimming.
Perhaps taking a journalist’s approach to problem-solving might be helpful.
I still remember a few nuggets of wisdom from my journalism training forty years ago.
One tip impressed upon us was to make friends with the secretaries—they know what’s going on and are often gatekeepers to people with answers who are harder to reach. Translation for non-journalistic ventures—the workers know a few things—important things—the good and the bad. Don’t ignore them.
Who knows the nuts and bolts of your congregation? The secretary? The sexton? The head of the women’s group? A retired, respected elder? All of these?
Don’t see them as threats to authority. See them as allies in mission—sources of helpful information. That’s probably how they view themselves!
Second, and more difficult for some, is to approach interviewees or news sources as a novice. This is hard! You see this advice ignored by TV journalists spoonfeeding sound bytes to their interviewees every day!
Allow your interviewees to be the experts. That way you’ll learn what THEY know, not spout what you know.
In short, adopt a beginner’s mindset. For real. Don’t just pretend. That comes off as patronizing for good reason.
Journalists find this approach empowers the source. By listening, they’ve given credit to the source—made them feel important—encouraged them. Result: they learn more than they expected.
What would happen in the Church if leaders listened to the people they expect to do the work?
What would happen if in looking for answers, church leaders approached questions as if they know nothing—not with a long list of traditions and rules?
As we approach the season of church assemblies and general meetings, take some time to listen. Avoid the temptation to play the expert. Be a blank slate looking for fresh ideas and the true reasons people are falling away from church.
Adopt a beginner’s mindset. Change may be around the corner.
A cross-Lutheran resource site, lutherancentral.com, is running a poll.
The poll asks one question and gives three answer options.
Here is the current result. You can go to lutherancentral.com and add your vote if you like.
I voted for number three—more focus on social media. I don’t think it is the most important necessarily, but it is the only practical way to achieve the first two options and is therefore the best answer.
OPTION ONE-22%
Electing more outward & future focused leaders for senior district and/or national level positions
Lutherans have a very difficult time identifying talent. Present-day hierarchical leanings make the talent pool difficult to replenish. You don’t get elected to high office in the church without meeting the approval of those already in office. Those in power tend to surround themselves with those who support their ideas. In a church craving diversity and innovation, you end up with more of same—even when diverse and innovative ideas are at hand.
This creates a powerless church. The only ones with power are self-absorbed.
OPTION TWO-55%
Focus on discipleship of members to serve, lead and evangelize
This is a crying need, for sure. It is almost impossible to meet without the leadership of independent thinkers. So, OPTION TWO depends on OPTION ONE.
It would be interesting to know the demographics of Lutheran Central readers. It is likely to be highly read by professional leaders. If so, are the voters really interested in empowering the laity or are they looking for more help? It is interesting that this is the most popular choice—and probably the easiest to achieve. Just do it!
There is probably a difference in lay discernment of their talents and potential contributions and what professional leaders expect.
Both OPTION ONE and OPTION TWO can be achieved with OPTION THREE.
OPTION THREE-23%
More focus on social media & better communication across generations & communities
The Church is pitifully behind in adopting modern media. It may be that leaders don’t know how to use it and are afraid to hand the reins to laity, who use it in every aspect of their lives every day.
Clergy are way behind leaders in other professions. In business, medicine, education, entertainment, and government, leaders are finding new ways to reach and expand their audiences. In the Church, we are still using the pulpit and newsletters posted as PDFs on static church websites.
Social Media scares the socks and stockings off church leaders. It empowers laity. It gives new ideas platforms. One person with a new idea must no longer spend years climbing the toady ladder to be heard.
Church leaders have nothing to worry about. Almost no churches use Social Media with any kind of mission strategy in mind. Most church leaders are busy figuring out where the next good leaders wiil come from and how to get laity to work harder.
Genesis 12:1-4a • Psalm 121
Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 • John 3:1-17
There is that part of human nature that leads us to question.
A great deal of religion revolves around two words: Trust and Obey.
In the wrong hands, reliance on trust and obedience can be disastrous.
It leads to cults like the Jim Jones group suicide a few decades ago. That’s the extreme example. Less extreme is the everyday tendency to trust church leaders for no other reason than they are church leaders. Abuse is inevitable and there are plenty of church scandals to prove it.
The reliance on trust and obedience may be the root of church decline. We pray. We trust. We fail to question and act.
Today’s scriptures juxtapose two key Bible figures that illustrate the extremes of trust and obey vs questioning what we hear. Finding the balance between trust and curiosity is an important concept for mature Christian faith.
Early in biblical history, Abram (soon to be Abraham) trusted. God said “move.” He packed his camels and traipsed hundreds of miles from Ur to Canaan, through unknown territory occupied by all kinds of hostile strangers. Abram was a loyal follower.
He would display the same trust when God told him to sacrifice his favorite son, Isaac.
Things worked out pretty well for Abraham. His trust in God resulted in a long life and three major world religions.
A few thousand years passed between Abraham and Nicodemus. Things had changed. God sent Jesus to live among his people.
Nicodemus had a front row seat for some of Jesus’ ministry. He was aware of Jesus’ and John the Baptist’s growing following. Jesus’ miracles had caught his attention. No doubt about it. God was involved.
Nicodemus was s pretty smart guy. A Pharisee. Educated. Rich. Influential. A religious and community leader.
He had accepted God’s ways for most of his life. He could quote scripture with the best of them. He was probably used to arguing Jewish law with colleagues. It was not hubris that made him seek Jesus out. He had good questions. But there was danger in the air.
Jesus wasn’t your everyday temple leader. He was attracting a lot of attention—some of it threatening. Nicodemus wasn’t about to risk his status in the community and perhaps his life to trust and obey this maverick.
Some things weren’t making sense. He wanted answers. He was not ready to trust and obey. Nicodemus needed to get Jesus alone.
Was he wrong? Was he a poor candidate for discipleship with Jesus? Should he simply accept—trust and obey?
What do these two very different stories teach us?
Today’s object is a paper bag or sack large enough to fit over an adult head—your head. Take a marker and draw a big question mark on the paper bag.
You are going to play both Abraham and Nicodemus.
Start talking about Abraham and his trust. Put the bag over your head and ask a congregation member, perhaps a youth, to lead you around the nave while you demonstrate obedience and trust. Plan this ahead of time and make sure you are led to a couple of pre-arranged spots.
At first, accept being led. Ask questions such as ”Where next?” “Are we there yet?’
But at some point start asking less trusting questions. “Haven’t we been here before?” “Why are you taking me here?” Stumble a bit and comment that this may not be such a good idea.
Start mimicking Nicodemus. “I know you are of God.”
Make sure one of the stops on your guided tour is the baptismal font. Here, you can address Nicodemus’s first question about being born again.
Stress Jesus’ answer:
This is a pivotal doctrinal verse. We have this verse because Nicodemus asked a good question.
You can stop at the pulpit and address Nicodemus’s second question and Jesus’s answer:
You might end your tour at the altar and cross.
Because Nicodemus questioned Jesus, we have the perhaps the most famous and foundational verse in the Bible.
John 3:16. It is so well-known that people make posters with just the reference on it.
Nicodemus took big risks in questioning Jesus. He risked his safety. He risked his status. He risked feeling like a fool as he sat at the feet of the greatest teacher.
Take a minute to thank God for Nicodemus and his questioning ways. Face it, we were wondering some of the same things! The answers Nicodemus risked his life to ask are just as pivotal to the growth of Christianity as Abram’s trusting obedience was to the growth of Judaism.
photo credit: NoHoDamon via photopin cc
Slideshow: Questioning God
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You will receive a weekly slideshow (which you can use on your church website or during worship), an object lesson and many other church planning ideas—all geared for small church use.
Slides are in editable form. Individual slides can be posted on websites or converted to jpgs for use in a bulletin or newsletter. (Please include appropriate credits.)
Thank you.
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I work at home by myself. Sometimes I turn on the TV for company.
I was half listening to dramas — most of which I’d seen before. At noon, the news came on. I first noticed that I didn’t recognize any of the neighborhoods mentioned. Where were these terrible things happening?
The “local” news was coming from Chicago. I live in Philadelphia.
In recent weeks, I noticed that the anchor team is now making a point of welcoming viewers from all over the United States. They are still telling Chicago’s story. It’s refreshing to hear about someone else’s crime and corruption, peppered with an occasional disaster and good deeds.
I suspect Chicago’s journalistic venture is somewhat experimental. I’ve noticed little competition. No local broadcasts from Phoenix or San Francisco. There are some news broadcasts from Britain and Asia, etc., but they tend to be national ventures, not local.
Some questions:
2×2 is the project of a small, urban, neighborhood church, Redeemer Lutheran Church in East Falls, Philadelphia. We broadcast the Good News all over the world. We are using modern tools to tell the old, old story. We don’t have all the answers. We are largely ignored by our denomination and larger churches—but we are growing. We are finding that having readers all over the world, shapes our local ministry.
It will be interesting to watch how the Chicago news station adapts their message as their viewership grows.
It is always interesting to see where our ministry is going!
Chart below shows our monthly growth since October 2011. We should surpass the 7500 mark this month.
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 • Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Psalm 51:1-17 • 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
Today we are going to talk about our God and His love of secrets.
You get to choose an object today. But don’t tell anyone. It’s a secret.
Here are some ideas for objects:
If fact you might use several of these! It will add to the fun and the understanding of keeping and revealing secrets.
Begin today’s lesson with a question.
Help your congregation remember that last week was Transfiguration Sunday. Jesus and his selected disciples climbed a mountain. There, they met in dazzling light with Moses and Elijah. Then they came down from the mountaintop with Jesus, and Jesus said . . .
God loves a secret.
And then we move to today’s lesson where God is repeatedly described as seeing and hearing in secret.
You might think that such hush-hush behavior would create a distance between God and us, His people.
But think about it.
Doesn’t it draw us closer? It’s Lent. We search our hearts. We find what God already sees. And it’s our secret. In these secret moments, it is just God and you. Secrets create bonds.
The only ones likely to break this secret bond are we.
So how do we keep our mouths shut? Does God really expect us to keep quiet? The revealing of a secret can be like a dam breaking!
One way is to keep in touch with God. Keep sharing our secrets. God knows them anyway. But he doesn’t mind hearing from us from time to time. Jesus put a time limit on keeping the secret of the Transfiguration. The timing for the revelation of our secrets is up to us.
This is one of those “adult” object lessons that also works with children. Children understand secrets—perhaps better than adults.
As you talk about the God who sees and hears in secret, share your secret object(s). You can just hold one in your closed palm or you can have it nested in a small candy or jewelry box. If you use more than one object, alternate. Your secret will be different from listener to listener.
For extra mystique, you might pre-plan to leave one person out. Make sure people realize that someone is being left out.
Allow your congregation to figure out what to do about that.
That’s part of the power of the secret . . . wondering exactly what we mortals are supposed to do with it!
VARIATION 1: You might ask each member of the congregation what meaning they find in the object revealed to them — without revealing what object they saw. This will create some intrigue when a person who sees a band-aid or needle and thread talks to the people who saw a ring or chocolate kiss.
VARIATION 2: If you use this object lesson with a larger group or as a camp or youth skit, you can have a few young people circulating through the gathering, each showing a different object. This technique would be a way of engaging younger members of the congregation.
photo credit: Naenia Ivella via photopin cc
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2x2virtualchurch adds a new object lesson to our library each week. There are nearly 100 in our collection. If you like our easy, interactive approach to teaching adult learners, please consider subscribing. You will receive a weekly slideshow (which you can use on your church website or during worship), an object lesson and many other church planning ideas—all geared for small church use.
Thank you.
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