Pulpit Preparation
Preparing our hearts, minds, and souls to hear and reflect upon the Word of God.

 

Prayer of focus

 

O God whose blessed Son made himself know to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

 

Readings

 

Luke 24:13-35

1 Peter 1:17-23

 

Reflection

 

He is risen! 

The reading from 1 Peter really begins at verse 13. I ask you then to read 1 Peter 1:13-23.  We begin at verse 13 because the verses 13-16 set the tone for the rest of the reading. The tone for the reading branches from verse 14 as the readers and hearers of 1 Peter are reminded that they are “children of obedience”. We know what it is to be a child. As a child we learn by hearing and doing; by listening to and following. As we listen, follow, and do there is an obedience that takes place. One might say that to be obedient is to attempt to replicate what we have seen and heard. In verse 14 the term obedience finds its root in the word to hear or listen. This perhaps is why for rabbis hearing comes through the reading of out loud the holy books (Scripture). Recitation of the readings or prayers or the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4ff) show that we know God by studying and keeping God’s law. As people of the book (Scripture) we receive what Jesus did and said by hearing (Mark 4:224; Matthew 11:4; Luke 2:20, Acts 2:33; and 1 John 1:1).

 

How do you hear the Word of God? Read out loud the Scripture passages for this Sunday. What did you notice in your hearing?

 

In our hearing we are καλέσαντα (called) to be ἅγιον (holy) in verse 15. To be called is to be invited. You and I have received an invitation to be holy. When you receive an invitation do you RSVP (French: Répondez s’il vous plaît, meaning “Please respond”)? Jesus has made an offer to you. What is your response? 

 

The offer that Jesus makes to us is to be ἅγιοι (holy). The invitation to be holy is to be “consecrated” or “sanctified” in living our lives focused upon God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In my mind to be set aside is to be “light, salt, and yeast” (Matthew 5:13-16) so the world may know how to live. Our holiness comes from Jesus’ crucifixion, death, descent into hell, and resurrection from the dead. We live a life of holiness because of what Jesus has done. A life of holiness as found in 1 Peter 1:22-23 “… by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God”.

 

Now we are back to verse 13 and being a child of obedience. In preparing for Sunday read 1 Peter. Take time to reflect upon the words Peter has written what does it mean to be “children of obedience” in the resurrection of Jesus? To live as a Resurrected People?

 

God bless you! See you online Sunday!

Pastor Tim

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