Declared by Peter: International Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending February 14, 2010

Purpose: To affirm that a true confession of faith is the foundation of our Christian life

Scripture Text: Matthew 16:13-27 (NRSV)

Matthew 16:13-27
(13) Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ (14)And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ (15)He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ (16)Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ (17)And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. (18)And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. (19)I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ (20)Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

(21) From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (22)And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ (23)But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

(24) Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (25)For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. (26)For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

(27) ‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

This passage comes near the end of the Galilean ministry of Jesus, and He is preparing His disciples for the trip to Jerusalem. Caesarea Philippi was a city where Herod the Great had built a marble temple for the worship of Caesar Augustus, and was a center for emperor worship. Herod Philip renovated the city and changed its name from Paneas to Caesarea; the Philippi was added to distinguish this city from other cities called Caesarea throughout the Roman Empire and to honor the re-builder of the city Herod Philip. It was located about 20 miles north of the Sea of Galilee in a valley at the base of Mt. Hermon, the present name for this community is Banius, and it consist of about 50 houses and lots of interesting ruins. A spring located there was one of the sources for the Jordan River.

There were varying thoughts on who Jesus was, and what His role was as far as Jews and gentiles were concerned. King Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist resurrected; others thought he was Jeremiah, or Elijah, a prophet, teacher, healer, an insurrectionist, very few actually thought Him to be the Messiah or the Christ.

When Jesus asks the question, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” The original response was pretty predictable, but more importantly Jesus wanted to know who the disciples thought Jesus was. Simon Peter acting as a spokesman for the group says, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” The next few verses are some of the most important and misinterpreted in the New Testament. When Peter calls Jesus the “Son of the living God,” Peter separates God from all of the other Gods, because the other Gods are not living. Jesus responds by blessing Peter for his insight and correctly answering the question. Jesus states that just as Peter is the son of Jonah, He is the Son of God, or the Christ, and Jesus can say this because His Father in heaven has revealed that information to Peter.

It is somewhat astonishing that in a span of four verses Peter goes from receiving the praise of Jesus to receiving His scorn. Jesus no sooner hands Peter the keys to the kingdom than he has to chasten him for being “a stumbling block.” In an instant the Church was born and with its birth came the authority it would need to govern itself. In this small passage the concept of the church is born, and this body of believers are marked by the confession of Peter, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” this “church” would forever be marked off from the other people of the earth, the Greek term ekklesia signifying called out ones. All of this power and authority rest in Peter's confession, not in Peter himself.

Imagine the tension when so soon after proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus starts preparing them for His death on the cross. Of course Peter now says “God forbid it, Lord” How can the Christ build His church by dying, so Peter goes from hero to goat in a very short span, now Jesus is calling him Satan, and accuses him of being short sighted and only interested in the now, and not understanding the divine. I have often wondered which Peter became the first Pope, the Peter of verse 17 or the Peter of verse 23. One also has to ponder why God revealed the truth to Peter and then Satan used him as stumbling block to Jesus. Peter had gained this influential power, then he lets Satan use that influence he had gained to become a stumbling block. We must always be careful how we allow our influence to be used, and we should never lose sight of our mission on earth. Satan would love to use our influence for his fight.

Finally, Jesus carried the fact of His death and resurrection to its further point by providing a pattern for his disciples. The church would be built upon sacrifice, first by himself, and secondly, on the part of his consecrated followers. They as He must lay down their lives (psyche) that they may take them up again.

That Jesus was “the Son of the living God,” is the basis of our setting ourselves apart from the rest of the people on earth. With it comes power, but also responsibility, and we must have willingness to sacrifice.

Do you have influential powers? Are you using that to strengthen the church? Or are you guilty of letting Satan use your influence as a stumbling block?

Recognized by a Canaanite Woman: International Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending February 7, 2010

Purpose: To understand the inclusive nature of Jesus' ministry

Scripture Text: Matthew 15:21-28 (NRSV)

Matthew 15:21-28
(21) Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon.(22)Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.’ (23)But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’

(24)He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ (25)But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ (26)He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’(27)She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ (28)Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

This week's lesson from chapter 15 offers an interesting approach to the role of organized religion in our society and to the Church's role in the advancement of Christianity. The chapter starts with the Scribes and Pharisees complaining about Jesus and His disciples not obeying the “tradition of the elders.” Jesus proceeds to condemn them for following the traditions, but not obeying the intent of God's law of love; they had circumvented God's law for their own gain, by creating the “tradition of the elders.” I worry that we may be doing the same thing within our churches. When I was a young Christian, I use to say “it was harder to get into some churches than it was to get into heaven,” now I am more certain that it is a fact. Our “tradition of the elders” has grown stronger and following the simple moral law of Christ is less important than the “tradition of the elders,” “tradition of the elders” has become our new standard. Christ made it simple, “love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself.” Everything else is the “tradition of the elders.” I know good God fearing people that would like to join a church, but the “tradition of the elders,” says they must be indoctrinated first, even though they have been members of the denomination for many, many years, they have not heard the latest pitch or obligation. In verse 14 Jesus says “they are the blind leading the blind.”

That is some of the problem Jesus faced when he traveled to Tyre and Sidon in Syria/Phoenicia. One problem was a “women” wanted to speak to Jesus, which was not in the “tradition of the elders,” another was, she was a gentile or Canaanite women. Jesus appears to stick with the “tradition of the elders” and seemingly ignores her cries for an audience. But after the women bows down and worships Jesus and recognizes him as the promised Messiah, the Son of David, Jesus listens and grants her request. He did not do this without testing her faith and going into a dialog about how she is aware that God's chosen people are to be served first, but she is willing to eat the crumbs from the Kings table, she knew she was not worthy. This gentile/Canaanite woman had just met all the requirements needed to become the benefactor of God's promise of healing and love. She was humble, reverent, and full of faith. She had exhibited God's moral law, she loved the Lord with all of her heart mind and soul and she was willing to love others as she loved herself; she was not asking for herself but rather for a daughter that was demon possessed. This woman knew the power of Christ could overcome the power of evil that was in possession of her daughter.

The “tradition of the elders” in the first century taught men to say “Praise be to God that he has not created me a women.” One rabbi wrote, “Rather should the words of the Torah be burned than entrusted to a woman.” and the Talmud cursed the man who allowed his wife to say grace for him.

Jesus set aside all of these traditions and rewarded the Canaanite woman for her faith and trust, and she received a “foretaste” of things to come. She got in advance what all of us were afforded after His mission on earth was completed by His resurrection. This women had lots of reasons to be distressed, troubled and to feel unloved, but when she met the Master he blessed her and made her as important as any Jewish man of faith; that is the same with us, we have no right on our own, but after we have been received by His adoption, we can become joint heirs with Him.

How do you think God's message of love is best being spread today, by “the tradition of the elders” or by God's law of love, lived out in people’s lives?

"Revealed in Rejection" International Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending January 31, 2010

Purpose: To acknowledge that Jesus' message challenges our presuppositions and demands a response

Scripture Text: Matthew 13:54-58 (NRSV)

Matthew 13:54-58
(54) He came to his home town and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? (55)Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? (56)And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?’ (57)And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour except in their own country and in their own house.’ (58)And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

One of my favorite pastors used to say, “The most difficult part about preaching is thinking you can say anything that will impress your wife.” It is difficult to make an impression with those that know you best. That is the situation Jesus is in when he returns to his hometown of Nazareth. After the Diaspora, synagogues were established in almost all Jewish communities, and they were the cultural center as well as a center for teaching and sharing in the history of the Jewish people.

Jesus had probably attended the synagogue many times as a boy and young man, but prior to this he had never been asked to read from the scripture as far as we can tell. I experience some of the same thing when I return to my own little country church and the little “snotty nosed kids” that I knew when I was a young man are now the leaders of the congregation.

It is hard for us to accept that people are anything different than what we remember. When my wife and I were first married we went to a small church, but this small church was the home church for one of the leading evangelist in America at the time. He was known in church circles all over the world but if he happened to be home on a Sunday and chose not to come to church, he was the biggest sinner in town, according to some members. Of course, he felt, if he came, the pastor would automatically ask him to preach that morning, and he could not win.

In order to get a better understanding of this event you need to read it in Luke 4:16-30, in that passage we find that Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1-2a, which says "The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour,” When he had finished reading the passage he sat down and simply said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus had just told them he was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy and they should recognize that he had done all of the things mentioned in this passage. Of course this created quite a stir amongst the congregation and the leaders of the synagogue. They knew very well he was the brother of James, Joseph, Simon and Jude and his sisters, and the son of Mary, in fact wasn't he a carpenter's son. Where does Jesus get off trying to pass himself off as something other than what he was; “a carpenter's son.”

Probably for the same reason, our home town evangelist, never held evangelistic meetings in our church, Jesus “did not do many deeds of power” in the Nazareth community. It is difficult for us, because of our presuppositions, to receive the message that God is trying to communicate to us. Maybe that is why we hate to hear even constructive criticism from friends and family, we cannot separate the message from the messenger. We pay good money to hire a stranger to tell us what our friends and family already knows about us. Jesus could perform miracles and interpret scripture, but in Nazareth he will always be a carpenter's son. We should not make the same mistake! Jesus was God incarnate, and He came to redeem mankind and to proclaim “the year of the Lord's favour,” He came to us and He brought God's grace with him; the long-suffering Jesus became one of us. The fact that Jesus did not finish the passage from Isaiah that says “and the day of vengeance of our God” shows both his grace and His coming again, as judge.

If you read the entire story from Luke you will see it was not just Nazareth, but Jesus refers to the entire Jewish nation, when he speaks of the fact that there were many widows in Israel when Elijah went to Sidon to minister to a widow there, and there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, but none was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian. Jesus is preparing them for the fact that He has come to the entire world, not just to Nazareth and Israel. Just as Nazareth rejects Jesus, so does all of Israel. Do you get it?

Declared in Prayer: Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending January 24, 2010

Purpose: To embrace Christ's offer to know God and God's way through him.

Scripture Text: Matthew 11:25-30 (NRSV)

Matthew 11:25-30
(25) At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; (26) yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. (27)All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

(28) ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. (29)Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (30)For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Have you ever felt like you are getting nowhere? In the verses preceding our text (verse 20-24) Jesus is taking some time to reflect on his accomplishments and the response of the people He has ministered to. Jesus is in a rut and His ministry seems to be ineffective. It is a situation familiar to many churches today, an ineffective ministry. Jesus even goes so far as comparing his ministry to that of John the Baptist. John had been very effective at getting people to repent and change their ways, but Jesus, was disappointed His healing and miracles were not causing people to change their lives or repent. The people liked the show, but they were not interested in the message. Jesus goes so far as to say if Sodom had seen these miracles they would have been spared the destruction. In today's lingo we would say Jesus has hit a plateau, maybe he should have a focus group and reset His priorities. Instead of a focus group Jesus does what we should all do, He went to praying.

Jesus did not need to refocus, He only needed to converse with the Father and go over the things that were decided before He came to earth as a babe and a miracle worker. He realized that the smarter people think they are, the less likely they are to trust and believe in a God that can redeem and heal. The people Jesus was trying to minister to were too smart to learn. They knew the law and they knew what was expected as intellectual Jews. Jesus declares that the things of God have been hidden from the wise and intelligent. And instead of the academic community receiving the message it will be given to those that do not have the formal training, but rather to those that can accept these teachings and miracles as an infant, with no preconceived ideas of how God chooses to work. He goes on and says “nobody knows the Father, like the Son and nobody knows the Son, like the Father,” (my paraphrase) except those chosen by the Son to receive this revelation. So the question is; how do we become chosen?

I think Jesus answers that in the next verses, when He says, “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” One of the burdens the Jews were carrying was Moses' law had been expanded to 613 commandments and a host of precise rulings on those commandments. These 613 commandments had removed a lot of the spiritual enthusiasm. Maybe the same is true for our churches and our own lives, maybe as some have said, “we have become so heavenly minded, we are no earthly good.” Maybe our churches, with all of their enlightened learning, have lost the enthusiasm that comes from simply trusting and believing. Probably the quenching of enthusiasm has done more to destroy churches and denominations than anything else.

If you could go back to the very best years of The Methodist movement, you would find very few ordained trained pastors, but rather a host of enthusiastic lay pastors going everywhere spreading the gospel without the academics that is considered necessary today, yet it was the most fruitful time in the history of the church. Have we become too smart for our own good? I don't think it is a coincidence that the more education the less likely they “come to me.” Individuals that have obtained high degrees of learning, tend to depend on their own ability Jesus says, “Take my yoke... and learn from me.”

Sunday School Lesson: Demonstrated in Acts of Healing

International Sunday School Lesson For Week Ending January 17, 2010

Purpose: To discern in the healing presence of Christ the fulfillment of our human nature.

Scripture Text: Matthew 9:27-34; 11:2-6 (NRSV)

Matthew 9:27-34; 11:2-6
(27) As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David! (28)When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ (29)Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you.’ (30)And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, ‘See that no one knows of this.’ (31)But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.

(32) After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. (33) When the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, ‘Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.’ (34)But the Pharisees said, ‘By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.’

Matthew 11:2-6
(2) When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples (3)and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another? (4)Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: (5)the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. (6)And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.’

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

In order for us to fully appreciate this passage we need a sense of timing as far as Jesus earthly ministry is concerned. Today's text takes place after the “Sermon, on the Mount” but before the sending forth of His disciples. John the Baptist has been imprisoned and almost Jesus’ entire ministry, at this time, has taken place in Galilee. All of this is probably in the first year of Jesus’ earthly ministry. In total it takes about 1-1/2 years for Jesus to complete the call for His disciples, the call of our writer Matthew is recorded in verse 9 of chapter 9. Immediately preceding our text Jesus raises Jarius’ daughter and heals the women with an issue of blood (probably continual hemorrhaging) and then we get to our text.

Jesus ability to perform miracles of healing and even raising of the dead has made him a very popular figure around the northern area of the Sea of Galilee. It seems almost everybody has heard of the miracles and of His teaching, because of His sermon on the mountainside. The healing that Jesus does in our text is interesting because they come to people without hope. Anyone with any sort of disability was an outcast, and could not worship in the temple, indeed they were all considered social outcast in first century Judea and Galilee. The plight of those afflicted was believed to be God's judgment on them. Jesus later dispels this belief when He heals a man blind from birth. (John 9:2) In that light, it is easy to appreciate the courage that these two had in calling out to Jesus, and in Jesus compassionate response. In crying out “Have mercy on us, Son of David,” the greeting “Son of David” would have been messianic. Those around them may have thought they were asking for “alms” as in David's son Solomon, but Jesus knew that wanted to be healed. Notice the importance of faith and believing as Jesus grants their request. Jesus asks a simple question, “Do you believe I am able?” And then says, “According to your faith let it be done.”

The next case gets a little more complicated, the man is demon possessed and also a mute, or more likely a deaf mute. After Jesus cast out the demon and heals the man, immediately the Pharisees pounce, because they realize Jesus' popularity could get out of hand. As in that day, today too, the most devastating obstacle to the progress of Christianity has been the ruthless corruption at the hands of its own promoters, almost to the point that Christianity is hardly recognizable. How we have strayed from Jesus' teachings on the mount. Unless we are willing to practice what Jesus taught, it is useless to call ourselves Christians.

In the last part of our lesson from chapter 11, we find John the Baptist in a situation where his belief and understanding of what the Messiah was going to accomplish and what he saw Jesus doing was at odds. John was looking for the liberator as promised in Zechariah 9:11, a divine warrior who would set the prisoners free. (As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.)

As close as John was to Jesus and as in-tuned as he was to God, he still looked for something other than what was sent. Why was he still in prison? Didn't Jesus care? or maybe Jesus was not the Messiah, as John had thought. Its funny how, like John, we think it is all about us. Jesus on the other hand, gives John all the proof he needs to recognize that Jesus is the Messiah, but not so much that John does not have to exercise his own faith and realization that Jesus mission involved more than setting one prisoner free, even if he was a close relative and a man of God. Which should be a lesson for all of us, we might be called to suffer and sacrifice for the cause of Christ.

In a few chapters Matthew has shown Jesus command of nature, on the seas, healing, raising of the dead and casting out demons, and responding to John's inquiry. Today we do not hear a lot about healing, but I am sure most of you read of the Hermanstorfers of Colorado, who lost both the life of the mother and the baby for several minutes. The Doctors were sure of the death of both, but miraculously both came back to life in an unexplainable moment. By nature we are all skeptics, but we need to ask the question. Do you think Christ is able? Then, what is my roll in your kingdom? You might be chosen to be the one healed, or the one that suffers for the cause, always knowing that Christ is able. Our healing may come at the close of our life when we will be made like Him, perfect.

Strengthened in Temptation: Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending January 10, 2010

Purpose: To realize that in Christ we can defeat our temptation and cling to the will of God.

Scripture Text: Matthew 4:1-11 (NRSV)

Matthew 4:1-11
(1)Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (2)He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. (3)The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ (4)But he answered, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’

(5) Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, (6)saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’

(7)Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’
(8) Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; (9)and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ (10)Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written,
“Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” ’ (11)Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

My approach to this story might be different than most you may have heard. Certainly Jesus is both the means and example for those wishing to overcome temptation. But let's look at this passage from Jesus' point of view and understanding.

Evidence tells us that Jesus was aware of His mission, and understood that He was the Messiah. But, what if at that moment after His baptism, Jesus begins to recall His Pre-incarnation Knowledge. He along with the Father had planned this all out in heaven prior to the Incarnation, but at what point would Jesus' mind allow Him to remember His prior existence or it would be revealed to Him by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was “led up by the Spirit”, and from the first time that Jesus saw His mission till Golgotha, Jesus reaction was not unlike both Moses and Elijah who joined Him on the Mount of Transfiguration. Both Moses and Elijah had unusual deaths, if in fact they ever experienced death, as we know it. Both had fasted for forty days; Jesus would also join them in fasting for forty days.

Jesus in Pre-Incarnation knew who Satan, the tempter, the devil, was, but whether this was an appearance in person or in the mind and thoughts of Jesus we are not clear. After forty days of fasting, Jesus was attacked at His weakest point at that time, hunger. We know that Jesus could produce bread, because He did that to feed the five thousand, but this was not about Jesus doing something for mankind, but rather a selfish act of simply feeding himself. Jesus' temptation was similar to one's we face, being selfish and putting our comfort and self satisfaction before others and before our mission or calling. Only Jesus and the tempter knew that caving in to this desire or thought would disqualify Jesus for His mission.

The two then traveled in spirit to Jerusalem and the temple, where now the devil is quoting the scripture. Did the forty days of fasting and prayer have an effect on Jesus view of Himself and His mission? Was there a way He could avoid the cross? Interesting that one of Jesus best friends, James, the brother of John the beloved, would later be thrown from this very pinnacle of the temple and suffer a humiliating death, and no one came and saved him. Jesus knew His mission was to save the world, but how? Could He do it with miracles and marvelous powers or would He have to do it at the cross as He and the Father had planned?

At the next scene, the devil takes Jesus, whether in mind or in person, to a high mountain outside of Jericho, and displayed the world before Him and promised it all to Jesus, if He would just worship the devil. Imagine for a moment the power and respect Jesus could have had if He had chosen to use His powers for showing off and convincing men to follow Him because of these miraculous powers which he possessed or even compelling men to follow Him.
It may have been that all of the temptations Jesus faced were about avoiding the cross, usurping the plan put together by the Heavenly team of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But in facing these temptations, He also overcame what many of us face in selfishness, vanity, greed, materialism, secular power and thrill seeking.

Three men in scripture fasted for forty days, Moses, Elijah and Jesus. They represent the Law, the Prophets, and the Messiah. The location of Jesus’ temptation took place where He could see Mt. Sinai, where Moses fasted, and Elijah was on his way to the same mountain when he fasted for forty days, No wonder God was so pleased when they reunited on the Mount of Transfiguration, and declared victory over Satan. Companions in suffering would soon become companions in glory.

Do you think Jesus was impressed with what the devil showed Him, when He had seen it from a different view?


The devil wanted Jesus to compel obedience; Jesus wants to change our hearts. Our choice is to yield to our desires, or allow our desires to be changed. Where is your heart? What are your priorities for the New Year?

Proclaimed in Baptism: Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending January 3, 2010

Purpose: To understand how in Christ, baptism opens heaven to each of us

Scripture Text: Matthew 3:1-5, 11-17 (NRSV)

Matthew 3:1-6, 11-17
(1) In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,( 2) “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (3) This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
' Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.' ”

(4) Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

(11) “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (12) His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
(13) Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. (14) John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (15) But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. (16) And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. (17) And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

I would first like to talk about the place where the baptism of Jesus took place. I think the location can tell us about how important an event this was. I will start with Moses; it was about 15 miles to the east at Mt. Nebo where God showed Moses the Promised Land between the Jordan River and Mt. Neboi. It is also where the “chariot of fire” carried Elijah away to join Moses in glory. Five miles to the west was Jericho, where Joshua fought the battle. Just above Jericho, in the mountain fastness of the Brook Cherith, the ravens had fed Elijah. A little further up, on top of the mountain ridge, was Bethel, where Abraham built an altar, and Jacob had seen the ladder of angels ascending and descending, to which Jesus, just after His own temptation in this same area, referred in His conversation with Nathaniel, as a picture of Himself as the Ladder of Angels. Nearby southward, on the same mountain ridge lays Jerusalem, city of Melchizedek and David. To the south across the Dead Sea, lays the ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah. This is where Jesus’ ministry both begins and ends. You can easily see the importance of this area around the Dead Sea and the River Jordan; this is also the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls have been found, possibly left by some followers of John the Baptist.

Although John and Jesus were related and may have seen each other often in their youth, after John had made the decision to live and preach in this remote area, it may have been several years since the two had seen each other. John could have chosen to be a priest like his father, but instead chose to preach a new message, one of repentance and good works, doing what was right in the sight of God and forsaking the past and a life of selfishness.

As we read the scripture passage, I think it is noteworthy that it is Jesus that approaches John; Jesus makes the first move in this relationship. Also notice that it is John's humbleness that allows God's will to be done. The same is true in own lives, Jesus always calls us first, and then it is how we respond to that call, that results in “God's will being done on earth as it in heaven.” It certainly was not necessary for Jesus to be baptized, but it was important for John's ministry and for the anointing that Jesus would receive prior to entering His earthly ministry. It most certainly pleased God.

Baptism is a sacrament, (from Church Latin sacr?mentum vow, from Latin sacr?re to consecrate) it is a consecration of ourselves, a vow, that we will follow the leading of Christ and the Holy Spirit on our lives and it is pleasing to God. Our willingness to humble ourselves and be baptized is what opens up the glories of heaven to us both now, and for all eternity. Take time this week to remember your baptism, you can do that by putting your hand or fingers in some water and touching your head or heart and remembering that it pleases God for you to be obedient.

An Epiphany Blessing of Homes and Chalking the Door- Chalking of the door is a way of marking our homes, usually at the front or main entrance, with sacred signs and symbols as we ask God's blessing upon those who live, work, or visit throughout the coming year. In Exodus, the Israelites marked their doors with blood so that the Lord would pass over their homes; but in this service, we mark our doors with chalk as a sign that we have invited God's presence and blessing into our homes. Follow the link for a complete outline on: Chalking of the Door for Personal or Group Use

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Magi Confirm Messiah's Birth: Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending December 27, 2009

Purpose: To explore the potent mixture of joy, danger, and tragedy that surrounded Jesus' birth

Scripture Text: Matthew 2:7-9, 16-23 (NRSV)

Matthew 2:7-9, 16-23
(7) Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. (8)Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage. (9)When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.

(16) When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. (17)Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
(18)‘A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’

(19) When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, (20)‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead. (21)Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. (22)But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. (23)There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, ‘He will be called a Nazorean.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

King Herod had been declared King of the Jews by the Roman Senate in about 37 B.C. You can easily see his concern when the Magi arrive with this announcement about being in Jerusalem to celebrate the birth of the King of the Jews. Herod was not a decent man; he had three sons and a wife already murdered, as well as a good number of Priest from the Sanhedrin.

The Magi or wise men, were astrologers, and studiers of the latest writers and diviners. While they may have come from the land of Daniel, we have no record that they were followers of the Jewish religion, and were probably considered to be Gentiles. The fact that they impressed Herod shows they must have been counsels, or advisers to royalty, if not Kings in their own right. Because the Magi gave three gifts, we assume there were three of them, but that is not stated anywhere. However, their entourage would have been a much larger number and the arrival in Jerusalem would certainly have caused a lot of attention.

The star that the Magi followed is often explained as a conjunction of planets or a nova or exploding star, I would rather think it was more like the “pillar of fire” or “cloud of glory” that led the children of Israel through the desert. This was something God created for the far flung nations of the world and the academia of the day, to witness.

By the time the Magi had made the trip after seeing the star, at least 40 days had passed and Joseph had moved Mary and the Baby Jesus to a new home, or possibly a cave, where they could safely dwell. The gifts they brought were gifts that would be expected for royalty. It does not require a lot of faith to believe God's plan was in play, knowing this poor family, would need assistance to flee the country. A pound of gold was worth months of pay and even frankincense and myrrh were worth well over two months pay per pound. The gifts would finance the family for at least 2 years, until Herod had died and it was safe to return to the area, but not any place under Herod's former rule, they would go to Galilee and the city of Nazareth.

When Herod found out he had been duped, by the wise men, he immediately ordered the death of all male children born in the Bethlehem area under the age of two. Since Bethlehem was a small village this may have involved less than ten children, and it was not significant enough for historians to make mention of this massacre of innocent children. However, the Church does recognize, in some countries, the Holy Day of “Massacre of the Innocents” in recognition of this terrible event. Countries celebrate it on the 27th or 28th of December, depending on the country. Most followers of Christ consider the Innocents to be the first martyrs for Christ. It is also called the Mass of the Children in some churches.

Joseph may have taken his family to the home town of Joseph, the former ruler of Egypt, On also called Heliopolis (traditional), or to Alexandria. Alexandria had a large community of scholarly Jews that had translated the Old Testament from Hebrew to Greek. That translation is referred to as the Septuagint or LXX in most commentaries of the bible, because it was supposedly seventy of the brightest Jewish scholars in the world at that time. The book of Matthew uses this translation when he references the Old Testament.

The reference to Rachel may be due to the fact that Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin, near Bethlehem. Bethlehem was located in the area of Israel given to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin by Moses, under God's direction.

Joseph is still receiving direction from God on returning his family to Israel. God was not only the provider but was also the counsel for Joseph; he seemed to completely trust God for whatever the need, indeed he was a faithful father and husband as well as an obedient servant.
As it is with a lot of the events of our life, there is both joy and sorrow. In the months following September 11, 2001, at least 17 babies were born to women whose husbands died during the attacks that day. On the worst day of their lives, these women simultaneously carried within them one of life's greatest blessings. The births of these children, while occasions of great joy, were also no doubt filled with moments of deep sadness and fresh grief.

As you celebrate this Christmas season, you should be aware of the sacrifice of others, from our troops that have preserved our freedom, to the massacre of the innocents and both the early and modern day martyrs that give their life for their faith. While it is a time of great joy, lets us never forget the cost.

God bless you all this Christmas season.
Here is a Christmas Song to touch your heart and maybe bring a tear to you eye. Double click on the link: Mary Did you Know?

Emmanuel Is Born :Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending December 20, 2009

Purpose: To recognize Joseph as a model of a faithful husband and father

Scripture Text: Matthew 18-25 (NRSV)

Matthew 1:18-25
(18) Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. (19)Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. (20)But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (21)She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ (22)All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
(23)‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’(24)When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, (25)but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

This account indicates the unique parentage of the child Jesus. Mary was his mother. The Holy Ghost was his Father. He was truly man. He was truly God. Yet he was not merely man and he was not only God. He was both God and man, the God-man. God the Creator thus became a member of the human race, that he might lead mankind into his eternal kingdom. Obviously, this redemptive undertaking involves mystery, yet not so much mystery as to prevent reasonable faith.

I am always amazed by modern day theologians that claim Matthew copied his book from Mark. They claim ninety percent of Matthew appears in the Gospel of Mark. My question would be why a person that was present during almost all of Jesus ministry would copy someone that was not present. I believe Matthew was the disciple recorded as a follower and one of the twelve. He was in his own words a “publican,” a collector of Roman taxes, often an extortionist, and generally despised. Luke tells us that Matthew made a Great Feast for Jesus and forsook all to follow Jesus. Matthew's humbleness is refreshing and he is only interested in the rest of us knowing Jesus, as he knew Jesus.

Tradition tells us that Matthew preached in Palestine for several years, and then traveled to foreign countries; that he wrote his original book in Hebrew, and some years later, issued a more complete edition in Greek. One of the advantages of being in the tax collecting business was that it helped Matthew to pay attention to detail.

As our text unfolds, it should be noted that Mary spent the first three months of her pregnancy with her cousin Elizabeth, (Luke 1:36) it is during this time, prior to her return to Nazareth that Joseph has his dream. We know very little about Joseph, except that he was a descendent of David and righteous man. According to Matthew 13:55, 56 he and Mary had seven children, and he lived as a carpenter in the city of Nazareth.

The genealogies recorded by Matthew and Luke differ somewhat, Matthew goes back to Abraham, Luke goes back to Adam. One is descending, “begat”; the other is ascending,“was son of'”. The commonly held view is that Matthew gives Joseph's line, showing Jesus to be the legal heir to the promises given to both Abraham and David. While the gospel of Luke gives Mary's line showing Jesus as a blood descendant, “Son of David” according to Romans 1:3. These historical blood lines are not found anywhere else in our history, 4,000 years are traced; just that fact should give us a chill. It is unique in all of our history that this child's genealogy is recorded in this way.

Joseph certainly gives us an example of what a faithful husband and father should look like, unlike some of our modern day heroes. Joseph was prepared to spare Mary any embarrassment. Joseph was not only faithful to Mary, but he was a good earthly father to Jesus. We know he saved Jesus' life by moving the family to Egypt. When Jesus was twelve we know he took Jesus to Jerusalem to worship in the temple. By the time Jesus started his ministry Joseph had apparently died and we hear nothing about him after that.

What about Joseph do you find most impressive? What do you think Jesus learned from Joseph? Is there anything in this story you find difficult to believe?

Here is a Christmas Song to touch your heart and maybe bring a tear to you eye. Double click on the link: Mary Did you Know?

Prophets Foreshadow Messiah's Birth: Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending December 13, 2009

Purpose: To ponder how Isaiah's prophecy and Mary's choice have blessed all humanity.

Scripture Text: Isaiah 7:13-17 Luke 1:30-38 (NRSV)

Isaiah 7:13-17
(13)Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? (14)Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. (15)He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.(16)For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (17)The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on your ancestral house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria.’

Luke 1:30-38
(30)The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. (31)And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. (32)He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. (33)He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ (34)Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ (35)The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. (36)And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. (37)For nothing will be impossible with God. (38)Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Some historical background is essential to understand what was going on in Jerusalem at the time of Isaiah's prophecy. Remember that after the death of Solomon, the kingdom of Israel was split with Jeroboam ruling in the northern kingdom of Israel, and Rehoboam, ruling in the southern kingdom of Judah. Isaiah's prophecy is to the king of Judah at the time, who was Ahaz. Ahaz was a terrible king, he was only 20 years old when he became king, and practiced many of the pagan practices, including sacrificing his own son on one of the pagan altars. He was so enthralled by an Assyrian altar he saw in Damascus of the pagans that he ordered an exact copy built and he replaced the bronze altar in the temple with this heathen altar. No wonder God was fed up with Ahaz.

At this time in history there were two prominent powers, the Assyrians and Syrians, and it is easy to confuse who was fighting who. The northern kingdom had joined with the Syrians, hoping they would be the eventual winner. The southern kingdom of Judah was hoping for an alliance with the Assyrians. That is where King Ahaz had put his trust and faith, the prophet Isaiah on the other hand wanted King Ahaz to trust in the power of God and not any alliance with a heathen nation. Isaiah pleads with King Ahaz to believe that God can do the impossible and save Jerusalem. Knowing all of this helps us to understand Isaiah's pleading.

Isaiah's prophecy is about the lineage of David,(and also Ahaz) and how God will bring about a new kingdom, by the birth of a child. Isaiah wanted his prophecy to be enough for King Ahaz to believe that God could be trusted to bring this all about and save them from the invading Syrians and the northern kingdom of Israel. Unfortunately King Ahaz chose the alliance with the Assyrians over the sign provided by Isaiah.

In Luke's gospel we see Isaiah's prophecy of some 720 years earlier fulfilled. From the linage of David a Son will be born. What would seem harder to believe; the prophecy of Isaiah for Ahaz, or the proclamation of the visiting angel to Mary? Verse 37 reminds us “that nothing will be impossible with God.”

In the custom of the time Mary would have been available for betrothal at the age of 12, that could have lasted from 1 year to several years. We assume she was in the 12-16 year time frame when the angel appears. I find it interesting that Mary is very aware of where babies come from at this age and knows that what is being told is impossible since she is still a virgin. The angel offers Mary a sign of her own, in her cousin Elizabeth's pregnancy at this late stage of her life, something easily verifiable. Mary accepts everything the angel tells her and is a willing servant of whatever God wants of her.

Note the contrast between and evil King Ahaz, and the lowly virgin Mary. One has no faith or belief the other has only faith and trust and a willingness to serve. Mary becomes a type of Abraham, just as Abraham was the father of many different religions, such as Judaism, and Muslim as well as Christianity. Mary becomes the mother of all Christianity, from the Roman and Orthodox to all of the numerous branches of the protestant religion. Churches that fail to recognize Mary's position in Christianity are missing the proclamation of the angel. Mary was found favorable by God, and she was called in much the same way as Abraham. Her call required the same faith and obedience as Abraham's. Who of us is willing to say as Mary “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” How do you feel God's presence in your life? What are those holy moments that sustain you?

The Lineage of David: A Son Is Born -International Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending December 6, 2009

Purpose: To realize that we are chosen and empowered to serve the Lord not because of our past or our bloodline, but by His love and mercy.

Scripture Text: Ruth 4:13-17; Matthew 1:1-6 (NRSV)

Ruth 4:13-17
(13) So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. (14)Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! (15)He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.” (16)Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. (17)The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Matthew 1:1-6
(1)An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (2)Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, (3)and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, (4)and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, (5)and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, (6)and Jesse the father of King David. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Over the past couple of years I have made an attempt to track the genealogy of my grandfather, who came to the United States, by himself, when he was about 12 years old. I have found through old census reports, he claimed to have been born in Hesse, Germany, but that is where the trail ends. The story goes he came over to join his family, which had settled in the Bronx, New York. However, his father and mother already had a house full, so he and a sister were put on a train to go live with an aunt in Pennsylvania. Grandpa, did not like that idea, and never got off the train, later he was found wandering at the Chicago Worlds Fair, and was brought to Indiana to be raised by a family near St. Joe, Indiana. I have an old picture of him, as a young lad, given to us by an old family friend, and on the back it says “George Walter Vagabond.”

Looking back, some thing make sense, his favorite song was a little ditty that went “I've got shoe, you've got a shoe, all God's children got a shoe, when I get to heaven going to put on my shoes, going to walk all over God's heaven, heaven,everybody talks about a heaven aint a going there, heaven, heaven.” What vagabond wouldn't love that song? Thankfully Grandpa went on to serve in the Spanish-American War and was a successful potato farmer; hence, my father also became a potato farmer, about a mile from my grandfather’s farm.

The story of Ruth is also a story about a transplanted family. Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi and her husband had moved away from Bethlehem, their home town, and gone around the Dead Sea to Moab, because of a famine in Judah. While in Moab, one of Naomi's sons married a Moabite woman. When both of Naomi's sons and her husband died she decided to move back to Bethlehem where she still had rights to property, and she brought back with her the young Moabite woman Ruth. Ruth was fortunate to have a mother-in-law like Naomi, who understood the Jewish laws and traditions and she guided her to a distant relative, named Boaz, who was a successful farmer in the area of Bethlehem.

The story of Ruth and Boaz is a great love story, as well as story of a “kinsman redeemer,” Ruth was redeemed by Boaz, and he went to great lengths to make certain he did everything within his power, to see that the redemption was legal and proper, because of his love for Ruth. Like each of us, Ruth was brought into the family of God by love.

It is worth noting, that Boaz was also the benefactor of redemption, since his mother was Rahab, the innkeeper in Jericho that let down the scarlet cord and hid the spies that went into scout out the city before Joshua attacked. Rahab was also a Moabite woman, redeemed and married by Salmon.

The Moabites were descendents of Abraham's nephew, Lot. Moab was the son of Lot's eldest daughter. But, the Moabites did not worship God, they instead worshiped many different Idols, and their worship was an abomination to God.

What does all of this genealogy prove? The linage of David, as well as Jesus, was not perfect. From Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba, there were flaws in the bloodline. The good news is God was providing a way to redeem everyone, regardless of bloodline, because we are all flawed. Our duty is to ask for redemption, just as Naomi told Ruth to do. Naomi was a great councilor for Ruth, who was your councilor?

Just a little note about the legend; legend has it that the fields of Boaz are adjacent to or the same as the fields where Shepherds heard the proclamation from angels that Christ was born. It is also said that at the very stable where Jesus was born, once stood the house of Boaz and Ruth.

"A Hopeful People": Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending November 29, 2009

Purpose: To celebrate that waiting in hope for Christ's return is an act of faithfulness.

Scripture Text: 2 Peter 3: 1-13 (NRSV)

2nd Peter 3:1-13
(1)This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by reminding you (2) that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles. (3)First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts (4) and saying, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!’ (5)They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water, (6) through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished. (7)But by the same word the present heavens and earth have reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.

(8) But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. (9)The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. (10)But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

(11) Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness,(12)waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? (13)But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

This Sunday is the first Sunday of our church calendar, the beginning of a new year for our churches. It is also the first Sunday of Advent. Most of us think of Advent as a time of anticipation and expectation, awaiting the birth of the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. However, it is more than the birth of a babe, we should also be looking to the day when Christ will return in all His glory at the end of time as we know it, and we will join Him in a new creation. So Advent should also be a time of repentance, and searching our hearts, confessing our sins and looking for new ways we can point the world to a Christ that can save and redeem.

It is clear from this writing that Peter wants to make certain that the churches adhere to the words taught by Christ and the Apostles as well as the prophets of old. As we had stated in our commentary on 1st Peter, the fact that Christ had not returned was a bit of disappointment to Peter and the other Apostles. They fully expected the return of Christ in that first generation after the resurrection. Now realizing that it might not happen, Peter was preparing the community of believers for a later return of Christ.

In verse 5, Peter explains, in Near Eastern logic, the creation. Heaven and earth were created out of chaos. He goes on and says the present earth and heavens will be consumed and destroyed by fire. That will come as God judges the earth and the heavens, and all of civilization as we know it will be judged by fire.

It is God's grace that delays the end or Parousia (final judgment). Not because He is slow, but because He is patient. God does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance. Notice it does not say everyone will be saved, only those that come to repentance. It is God's choice that everyone is given a chance to repent.

We are called as followers to be holy and righteous in our living, and the sooner the message is heard the sooner the end will come. Those that have been repentant, and lived lives of holiness and godliness will be given a new home on a new creation, “Where righteousness is at home.”

What do you think repentance is? What does it mean to repent? When we say Christ will come again are we implying He is not here now?

A Faithful People: Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending November 22, 2009

Purpose: To grasp that our participation in the divine nature enables us to live godly lives.

Scripture Text: 2 Peter 1:3-15 (NRSV)

2 peter 1:3-15
(3)His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (4)Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants in the divine nature. (5)For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, (6)and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, (7)and godliness with, and mutual affection with love. (8)For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(9)For anyone who lacks these things is short-sighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. (10)Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. (11)For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

(12) Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. (13)I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, (14) since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. (15)And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

My thoughts on this particular passage may not express the same thoughts as those contained in the Adult Commentary for the UMC. I had trouble with the commentary as presented in the denominational teachers guide. The first was the authorship of this epistle; they imply that Peter was not the writer and would rather have us believe an individual that hijacked Peter's identity in the late 2nd century is really the writer. This is a modern belief because of writing style, rather than accept the fact Peter may have written several letters to the churches of Asia Minor, and this writing may have been penned by someone other than Silas/Silvanus that was the scribe of the first letter by Peter. Certainly if the writer was not Peter he was guilty of claiming to be Peter and to have witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus (v-18). I am amazed sometimes that those that are 2000 years from the event think they know more that those that argued for the canonization 1700 years ago. I am willing to step out in faith and accept Peter as the author and also accept it was a different scribe, which did the actual writing.

The reason for a second letter going out to the churches was Peter, as well as Paul and possibly John, was distressed that the church was deviating from the teachings of Jesus as witnessed by the true Apostles and starting to follow off chutes of Jesus and the Apostles original teachings. Peter attempts to bring them back to the original teachings of Paul and the other Apostles. From the text we can see that both Peter and Paul's time was growing short, it was obvious now that Christ would not return within their lifetime and they wanted those that they had witnessed to, to understand the importance of living a moral and good life.

To me this passage is about the divine power or Holy Spirit that has given us everything we need to live a successful Christian life. Part of that is our ability to be good, and to live a holy life. We have within us, by the divine power that is alive in us because of our faith in everything that we have heard and experienced, the power to overcome the corruptness and worldly lust that is all around us. It is our responsibility to respond to the love that God has shown to us, to live a holy and good life knowing it is not our own goodness or holiness that sets us apart for God, but rather our obedience to His call on our life.

Peter lists seven virtues that a person with the divine power in their life will exhibit:

• FAITH, the basis for belief in His promises;
• GOODNESS, or moral excellence, always our goal;
• KNOWLEDGE, not book smarts, but acknowledging God's gift of His Son;
• SELF-CONTROL, choosing how we handle life's temptations;
• ENDURANCE, putting our trust in God with knowledge that He is faithful for the long haul;
• GODLINESS, giving God the honor and glory he deserves by trying to emulate His goodness;
• MUTUAL AFFECTION, loving one another and respecting one another.

If we allow these seven virtues to work within us we will have productive and fruitful lives, and if we lack any of these virtues we are nearsighted and blind to all that God has done for us, including forgiving our past sins and transgressions.

In verse 10 Peter seems to be encouraging those that have made this commitment to be baptized, confirming the call of Christ on their lives. In the first century church there was no infant baptism, only a believer’s baptism.

Peter closes this portion by sharing that his death may be near, just as Jesus had told him. He also makes a reference that provides some friction between two beliefs, one that the soul is housed within the body (or visa versa) and while the body stays on earth the soul goes on to be with the Lord. Immortality of the soul was a common belief amongst the Greeks. The Jewish tradition teaches a second belief, that the soul and body are intertwined and one can not exist without the other, hence the importance of the resurrection. In our own beliefs, we recite the creeds that state we believe in the resurrection of the body, but many of us really believe in the eternal soul without the body, or that the two will be joined together again after Christ returns to claim and unite both body and soul.

Is your belief soul and body separate? Or is it that the soul remains with the body until the resurrection of the dead?

Peter is trying his best to make certain they do not forget his teachings, and will remember what he has taught them along with the other Apostles, and not listen to these other teachings that are coming from what some call the sub-apostles or a generation removed from those that walked and talked to Christ while He was on this earth.

A Suffering People: Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending November 15, 2009

Purpose: To consider what it means to share in Christ's sufferings

Scripture Text: I Peter 4:12-19 (NRSV)

I peter 4:12-19
(12) Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (13)But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.(14)If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. (15)But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief-maker. (16)Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name.(17)For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

(18)And ‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinners?’ (19)Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

First from a historical standpoint, Peter's letter is not being written to a group of believers in Asia Minor that is suffering persecution in the same sense as those that will suffer at the end of the first century. Christians under heavy persecution by the state would come a generation later as recorded in the Book of Revelation, by the Apostle John. Even Peter, who may have been feeling some pressure from Nero, was not being persecuted like he will suffer within a few years at the hands of the Roman government when Nero blames Christians for the great fire that destroys much of Rome, and Peter is crucified upside down (by his own request) because of his belief

The persecution that Peter speaks of seems to be more like segregation, becoming a Christian caused many to be segregated from their family and friends; they were in a sense cut off from community. Many may have lost jobs, and certainly friends because of their belief. Not unlike what happened to those in the African-American community during our first 200 years, or what is happening today to those from Muslim countries within our borders. Being a Christian in the first generation after Christ's death on the cross, cost people their family and friends.

In her book “Traveling Mercies; Some Thoughts on Faith” Anne Lamott tells of her hesitancy to leave a life of drugs, alcohol, and adultery. She knew she would have to give up her friends and the lifestyle she was living. She would be laughed at, and chastised because she would no longer be part of that community. Many of those within this new community of Christians that Peter addresses will suffer the same consequence.

We can sense Peter’s compassion and love for these early Christians, when he addresses them with “beloved.” Peter addresses both the “fiery ordeal” and the “joy” that comes from suffering for the sake of Christ. One thing this does not mean is that suffering pain because of sickness or injury, or being poor, or even breaking the law, is the same as suffering for our belief in Christ. While it is true that suffering some of life's hardships can bring us closer to Christ, that is different than suffering because of Christ. In the same way it is not always God's will that we suffer sickness or accidents or other catastrophes in our life, but we do have a chance to turn those events into positives when they allow us to become closer in our walk with Christ, and in our ability to share our faith with others.

Peter makes certain they understand the difference between suffering because they broke the law “by being a murderer, a thief, a criminal or even a mischief maker,” and suffering because they named the name of Christ. Notice in verse 17 the judgment begins with the “Household of God;” being a Christian does not remove you from God's judgment; it only forces you to trust in God's grace and mercy during that judgment, and to continue “to do good.”

Today there are parts of our own hemisphere where Christians are persecuted, like
Cuba and Venezuela. I would encourage you to go CSI website and see where Christians are being persecuted today. I would also challenge you “to do good,” until Christ returns.