Everything depends upon where you start. Better yet, it all depends on where you are. No, I want it to be more accurate: not where you start or where you are but who you are in the location where you are and therefore your starting place. When you and I read the parable of the “good” Samaritan in Luke 10 much depends on who we are when we read or listen or encounter that parable. Preachers are often driven by some golden nugget that will drop into the mix and give a leading idea to preach a text everyone seems to know already. Scholars read that parable to see if they can somehow say something new, or connect it to something they know about that most don’t, or shape it anew in light of a current method for reading the parable. Most Christians, dare I say, read it to learn all over again that they can be like the good Samaritan and take care of the wounded on the path they may walk today.
This is challenging. At my church we’ve been reading through Ezra. In our mid week Bible studies, several of us have been troubled by the determination of the Judahites to disallow the neighbouring tribes (many of them Samaritans, who counted themselves as Jews but appeared to also worship other gods)- from helping build the Temple. We’ve looked at why they may want to cut these people out- attributed all sorts self serving motives to them, to justify the Judahites’ decisions. It would take more study of the history at the time, but showed us how long this Jew-Samaritan feud had been going on.
This article brought up the systemic suspicions we see in Ezra. That pits people who may have a lot in common and ‘could’ be good neighbours - against each other. You’re right- the parable brings up so much more than at surface level.
Timing. I, generally, like to begin where I am, who I am, where they are and who they are. Every once in a while, somebody will say, “But this is just your opinion. What does The Bible really say about this!” When pushed, they will add, “I mean, what does God say?”
The people in the weekly Bible study we have, where I’m serving, have recently decided to study The Gospel of John, starting with the background material for each section we look at. A retired pastor is a part of the congregation. He suggested John, with the statement that “John will take us throughout the Bible.” He and I get along very well, and enjoy playing off each other. Parables and all, it is always more fulfilling to start with the great questions we have here.
Just for fun, I’m the pastor of 2 small United Methodist churches. One is in a rural village that is the center of a school district. The othe is a few miles from the city limits of A midwestern city.
I am currently part of a local theatre production of a musical called “Jack and the Giant.” It’s a nece take on “Jack and the Beanstalk.” I play “Pa”, the father of “Jack.” Personally, I’m going to turn 68 this coming Monday. “Ma”, Jack’s mother/my wife, is played by a high school student.
The last lines that Jack, joined by the entire cast, sings: (Jack) “I can see that our future will be bright. I dream about a place that’s full of color, full of light. I hear the lovely music, I hear the sounds of laughter. Oh, life will turn out grand!”
(All). “Oh, yes, life will turn out grand.
Imagination, I open up my mind.
Imagination, I look and I can find,
A special place, a wondrous world beyond compare.
I know that there’s a better life out there!”
Okay, back to reality. (End of possible sermon: “Naaman got angry because God’s man, Elisha, wouldn’t even come to see him, in person. Then, he gave Naaman the instructions to take a bath seven times in the Jordan River, and he would be cleansed of leprosy. Naaman wanted Elisha to come to him, say some magic words, and cure him by waving his hand over him. Remember, just do what ‘God’s man’ tells you and you will see a miracle. Let us pray.”
Okay, a little sarcasm, but, who I am, and where I am, etc. will be playing a much bigger part in this week’s message!
I cannot accurately express how this reaches to the depths of my soul. Thank you. I have shared it.
This is challenging. At my church we’ve been reading through Ezra. In our mid week Bible studies, several of us have been troubled by the determination of the Judahites to disallow the neighbouring tribes (many of them Samaritans, who counted themselves as Jews but appeared to also worship other gods)- from helping build the Temple. We’ve looked at why they may want to cut these people out- attributed all sorts self serving motives to them, to justify the Judahites’ decisions. It would take more study of the history at the time, but showed us how long this Jew-Samaritan feud had been going on.
This article brought up the systemic suspicions we see in Ezra. That pits people who may have a lot in common and ‘could’ be good neighbours - against each other. You’re right- the parable brings up so much more than at surface level.
Thank you . This is a s a great insight and where I am right now needed to read this
Timing. I, generally, like to begin where I am, who I am, where they are and who they are. Every once in a while, somebody will say, “But this is just your opinion. What does The Bible really say about this!” When pushed, they will add, “I mean, what does God say?”
The people in the weekly Bible study we have, where I’m serving, have recently decided to study The Gospel of John, starting with the background material for each section we look at. A retired pastor is a part of the congregation. He suggested John, with the statement that “John will take us throughout the Bible.” He and I get along very well, and enjoy playing off each other. Parables and all, it is always more fulfilling to start with the great questions we have here.
Just for fun, I’m the pastor of 2 small United Methodist churches. One is in a rural village that is the center of a school district. The othe is a few miles from the city limits of A midwestern city.
I am currently part of a local theatre production of a musical called “Jack and the Giant.” It’s a nece take on “Jack and the Beanstalk.” I play “Pa”, the father of “Jack.” Personally, I’m going to turn 68 this coming Monday. “Ma”, Jack’s mother/my wife, is played by a high school student.
The last lines that Jack, joined by the entire cast, sings: (Jack) “I can see that our future will be bright. I dream about a place that’s full of color, full of light. I hear the lovely music, I hear the sounds of laughter. Oh, life will turn out grand!”
(All). “Oh, yes, life will turn out grand.
Imagination, I open up my mind.
Imagination, I look and I can find,
A special place, a wondrous world beyond compare.
I know that there’s a better life out there!”
Okay, back to reality. (End of possible sermon: “Naaman got angry because God’s man, Elisha, wouldn’t even come to see him, in person. Then, he gave Naaman the instructions to take a bath seven times in the Jordan River, and he would be cleansed of leprosy. Naaman wanted Elisha to come to him, say some magic words, and cure him by waving his hand over him. Remember, just do what ‘God’s man’ tells you and you will see a miracle. Let us pray.”
Okay, a little sarcasm, but, who I am, and where I am, etc. will be playing a much bigger part in this week’s message!