A Couple of Reflections on Matthew

I suppose in some ways to say that I'm now going to reflect on Matthew's gospel without having actually finished off the final chapters which record the very events that propelled the early church forward (death and resurrection of Jesus Christ), is like saying I'm going to give you a recap of my day at 9:00 a.m... but much can be accomplished in three hours and certainly the first 25 chapters of Matthew are not anything to breeze through just to get to the "good bits" at the end. So what can we take with us from these chapters that we've been going through as we enter into the Easter season.

1. Jesus as fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham.

³ I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”

One way to envision God's activity in history is ><.

The > represents the expansive story of creation in Genesis narrowing to God's specific activity in the life of Israel and then even more pointedly through the prophets right up to John the Baptist. Then the < represents God acting within that specific story to begin fulfilling his covenant with Abraham to bless all peoples on earth... a narrow story expanding. This all takes place as the > and the < converge in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. And we see from the beginning of Matthew's gospel and throughout, Jesus saving those who were stuck outside of God's story and inviting them into it. What is more, Jesus finally breathes fiery judgement on those who keep people from entering the Kingdom (people who think the story needs to stay narrow) and warns of a time when he will come again and those whom he finds doing the work of the Kingdom (which is to live a s a faithful citizen to the King) will inherit said Kingdom and those who are found otherwise will not inherit the Kingdom, but will suffer and receive what they have chose for themselves: a narrow self-centered story in which there is no graceful saving presence. So we are people of the < who ought to live in creative ways (rooted in Sermon on the Mount values) that communicate that to a > world around us.

2. Jesus is exactly who and what we need.

Want life? In Matt. 10:39 Jesus says that in order to find life you have to lose yours for his sake. What does that mean?

I think that Jesus' love for children is rooted in his knowledge that kids are dependent. Unlike their older counterparts they don't try to fill their lives with alternatives and additives (religion, goods dispersed via empire). Jesus came to meet a need that resides at the soul level of every human being. This is why "salvation" is the perfect term. We had or have a need and Jesus met that need thus he saved us. We live in a day and time when our real needs are obscured. Besides what do we need that we can't go buy at our local retailer. Right? Ugh...

Jesus' call to find rest and an easy way of life (11:28-30) in him could be spelled out like this:

-We were exhausted on a soul level because we were constantly living out of rhythm or contrary to God's grand song.

This is what it means to live in sin. In so far as we have lived out of sync with God and "missed the mark" we are guilty of perpetuating the song of death rather then God's song of life.

-This song of death is not easy. It tears us apart. We find ourselves assuming a role in our lives that only God can fulfill. Imagine that. Having God's job fall on your shoulders. What a weight... but we do this all the time when we live as if going it alone were better then building on the rock (7:24-27)

-So we have a need. A way to enter into God's song again and then instructions on how to live in it. This is the person and work of Jesus. Rejoice because everything that we ever have needed or will need is found in Jesus Christ. Wonder how this can be true? Call up a trusted brother or sister in Christ and begin to learn the story of God and be blown away by love and grace and an opportunity for new life.

I don't want to leave my story where it was so... Since we chose to perpetuate the song of death... death is what God gave us. But out of his love he also made a way out of death in the person of Jesus. Through Christ's atoning death on the cross our death has been died so that all that's left for us is the song of life if we can accept it. So live the song of life in everything you do cause in Christ that's all that we have... no condemnation. Does the song of death still haunt you. That's why Jesus is called a teacher. One of the beautiful rhythms we live by is needing to learn. Jesus is our teacher and this new song is one that we learn to live in. So love the journey of childlike need to learn from Jesus how to live the life of one who has been saved.

I just have to stop here because I actually want you to read this and if I go on anymore you will surely pass these thoughts over due to my inability to curb my lengthiness.

Grace, Peace, and Cheers,

Seth

Collective Discussion: Matthew 5 6 7

On Sunday November 21 I would like to engage in a slightly different sort of preaching than we usually do. My favorite thing about preaching is the small side discussions I get to have with folks when I've said my piece and they can weigh in on what was brought to the table that day. This Sunday we are going to engage in this sort of discussion as a sort of collective preaching. So if you could, read through Matthew 5, 6, and 7 and see if anything jumps out at you that you might like to talk about.

I'll update this post on Wednesday with some of my own notes that you can reference if you'd like.

Wednesday...Thursday...what's the difference? Okay, okay I'm a day late, but I still wanted to pass on some thoughts regarding the Sermon on the Mount (SM).

I've made a pretty big deal about how foundational and practical this teaching is, however it shouldn't be looked at as a new law; it's not practical in that sense. Jesus isn't trying to lay down "Ten Rules for a Better Life". What He does do is effectively point us back to the source or heart of the law giver, whom He equates himself with in chapter 5 (vs. 22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44). Thus, as we approach the SM it is helpful to always look for the "heart" or larger point behind Jesus' message. It is in these larger themes that Jesus points us to what characteristics will be present in our lives as we live in increasing accordance with Heaven's way that leads to life rather then destruction.

Notice the usage of contrast in chapters 5 and 6. Note the progression of ideas and their continuity as you read. Underline or note passages that you think really address the heart of the matter as Jesus teaches...ask him to show them to you.

Chapter 5

Jesus pointed His audience back to the heart of the law giver by stating what people were familiar with in terms of law obedience and then contrasting that with an attribute that would promote a lifestyle that kept the law without being enslaved by it. Example: In 5:21-26 Jesus contrasts Do Not Murder vs. Be Reconciled To Your Brother.

Try to identify the contrasts throughout the chapter.

Chapter 6

Similarly, in chapter 6 Jesus contrasts appropriate actions relating to worship, with those of the "hypocrite". Example: In 6:2-4 Jesus contrasts those who announce it [their gifts to the needy] with trumpets vs. when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. But once again it is important that we also look to the heart message of this teaching which is probably summed up in 6:1.

What broader lessons can we glean from this chapter? What heart issues are present?

Chapter 7

Backing up into the latter half of chapter 6 note the sequence of topics in chapters 6 and 7 and how they serve to conclude the SM. For instance how does Jesus' admonition not to worry tie into the fact that no one can serve two masters. How cohesive is the SM from start to finish? Think of Jesus' original audience when you transition from section to section...Does it have a flow that is natural? Should one section determine our understanding of the next? The popular statement in 7:12 is often considered the conclusion of the SM material and the remainder serves as illustration of all that was said. If that is the case, if living a Kingdom focused life means looking out for others the way we want to be looked out for, how are we doing? How can we do better? Can River become that caretaker or doer of good in Hillyard?

What says you?

See you this weekend.

River: A Missional Church

In the middle of a neighborhood in East Spokane there is a river.  This river, though, isn't exactly what you think.  You see, this river sits in the middle of a historic district, in a turn-of-the-century warehouse, on the main street.  It's not the sparkling, tumbling, river we see in pictures or postcards - but has become a source of living water for a neighborhood of thirsty people.  This river is made of people, faith, and an unmistakable desire to belong to the backdrop of people and families who call Hillyard home.  River, by functional classification, is a non-denominational church and came to exist in the Fall of 2005.  For John, the Church Planter, and a group of volunteers, River was a step into the unknown, but the need was always obvious.

River began meeting in Cooper Elementary and each Sunday, sometimes in the snow and cold, its members would faithfully unload a trailer full of equipment necessary for the hour-and-a-half service.  The ministry was not confined to four walls, but, instead, its edges faded, indefinable, into the neighborhood.  They took part in neighborhood festivals, cooked hot dogs at the skate park, handed out water at Bloomsday, and supported kids, some homeless, from the local Rogers High School.

A Letter to River

The following letter was received by River from an Intervention Specialist that works at the local high school:

Something struck me quite suddenly at the beginning of this school year as I was walking through the halls of Rogers.  I saw one, two, three, four...and more, students who had started as Freshmen, struggling with school and a lack of resources.  Now, many of these kids are catching up in their credits and are walking around our school with their heads held high, pushing to graduation.  One of the threads weaving through the lives of these kids is the help they get from our River Congregation.

Wrapped in the Skin of Hillyard

Fumbling through rooms and crowds, around tables of food and children playing, it is difficult not to feel an incredibly strong sense of community at River.  But what is it?  What makes this place different from the church down the street?  During the creation of this community profile that question continued to rise to the surface - that is, until the following white board, in an innocent children's classroom, offered an answer:

The Faces of River

River is collection of faces, stories, and second-chances - each representing a unique journey and role in the community.  What does River mean to the community?  What does the community mean to River?  I asked some of it's members to help us understand...



Thanks to each of those who volunteered their time in helping to make this video!

Music: "Keep on Moving" performed by Ton, off their album Dentro.