Continuing invitation to receive the Word of God as spirit and life

Since this blog began in March 2008, most of the posts have focused on the scriptures provided in the Revised Common Lectionary for each week’s worship service. Each blog post preceded the Sabbath or Sunday when the scriptures would be used. In that way, the dated blog entries were available to help lay members or clergy prepare for the next worship service.

There was also a more essential purpose for each of these posts. This purpose continues to be served by the posts at this blog about scriptures. That most essential purpose is to invite you, the reader of these blog posts, to receive the scriptures as spirit and life, for yourself. That essential purpose can be realized, no matter which scriptures, and which dates, are involved.

In addition to reflections on Scriptures, many of these archived posts include thoughts about how to receive scriptures as spirit and life. By reviewing these thoughts, and by reviewing the basic suggestions at http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html, you can grow in the ability to receive scripture as spirit and life.

Currently, weekly reflections on the lectionary scriptures are not being posted. However, please remember you can still use the archives to increase your capacity for receiving the Word as spirit and life.

In addition to providing the archives at this blog, I plan to establish a Facebook site soon in order to network about growing in worship. How are Christians growing in worship? How are individuals and congregations increasing their interest in and capacity for reverence? How are individuals and congregations growing in other foundational aspects of worship such as the human encounter with the divine; a sense of the holy; heart as center of whole person; repentance, confession and forgiveness; prayer as two-way communion with God; holy fear, and holy joy.
What congregations already have, or want to develop, a worship statement? How have they developed it? How are they using it to good advantage? How do they revise it? These are some of the questions I hope to raise and network about through Facebook.

Your responses here, or in the future at Facebook, are welcome.

Receiving February 14, 2009, worship scriptures

Scriptures for February 14, 2009
2 Kings 5:1-14
Psalm 30
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Mark 1:40-45

Part I - Receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself
What do you know about receiving the life in physical food? Many of us take a lot for granted when it comes to eating. Yet when we pause to think about it, when we pause to hear competent food experts, we discover that we have some choices about just how life-giving the food is that we eat. It doesn't take dialog with experts to hear phrases like "five a day" and "whole foods." When we pause to listen just a little and to think about it just a little, we discover we have choices about receiving life in physical food.
Just as we have choices about receiving life in physical food, we also have choices about receiving life in spiritual food. Jesus said his words are spirit and life. Staying aware of this, and receiving the Word as the spirit and life it is matters a great deal!
Here are a few suggestions to help you do this: http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html

Part II - Reflections on this week's Scriptures (one place for you to compare notes after you've received the Word as spirit and life for yourself)

Prayer for receptivity
The spirit of receptivity. Let it increase in me, please God.
Spirit of receptivity includes hospitality to You, includes loving and being drawn to what You give. Loving and being drawn to Your words as spirit and life. Thank you God for making them so! Thank You for increasing my receptivity; thank You for increasing my desire for greater receptivity. Thank You.

2 Kings 5:1-14
"If the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" (vs. 13)
What if it's much simpler than anticipated?!
What's a person to do when prophets act and talk in ways that stir up hurt and rage?

Psalm 30
"You have turned for me my
mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and
clothed me with gladness,
To the end that my glory may sing
praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks
to You forever." (vss. 11, 12)

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Run as the one winner in the race. Be temperate, certain, productive, disciplined. Consider how this passsage relates to loving and being loved--more and more.

Mark 1:40-45
"Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, 'I am willing; be cleansed.'" (vs. 41)
This leper and Naaman were both lepers, but did they each need the same kind of healing?

Receiving January 24, 2009, worship scriptures

Scriptures for January 24, 2009


Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 62:5-12
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20


Part I - Receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself

Let the Word be what it is--spirit and life.

As you prayerfully read a passage, does a particular word or phrase stand out for you? Let that be your starting point. The spirit and life in the Word will expand forever, as you prayerfully and faithfully receive it. The following links you to a few suggestions that may help you do this: http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html


Part II - Reflections on this week's Scriptures (one place for you to compare notes)


Prayer for receptivity
Receiving Your saving distance that combines with Your saving closeness, God. Your saving distance and Your saving closeness filling these words with spirit and life--this is what I want to enter into now.


Jonah 3:1-5, 10
"So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them." (vs. 5)

"Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it." (vs. 10)


Psalm 62:5-12
"My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.
Trust in Him at all times you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us."





1 Corinthians 7:29-31
"For the form of this world is passing away." (vs. 31b)


Mark 1:14-20
"Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.'" (vss 14, 15)



Today's scriptures are short. Their brevity emphasizes their message. They show me two things: Action, and repentance as the route. The Ninevites acted; they believed and repented. Jesus preached repentance. The disciples acted; they left everything, immediately, and followed Jesus. Wealth (Psalm 62:10), grief, rejoicing--everything, including the world, is passing away. The kingdom of God is at hand. Believe God. Repent and enter the kingdom of God. From that location and with that perspective, we are prepared to remain in the world that is passing away.

Receiving January 10, 2009, worship scriptures

Scriptures for January 10, 2009

Genesis 1:1-5
Psalm 29
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11


Part I - Receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself

For suggestions about receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself, please see http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html

Keep in mind that receiving is something to "grow into" (to learn more and more about) just like giving is something to grow into. Only there seems to be more stigma (isn't it selfish to want to receive?) and neglect (haven't even thought about learning to be receptive) connected with receiving than there is with giving.

Part II - Reflections on this week's scriptures (one place for you to compare notes)


Prayer for receptivity

In receptivity, God, I acknowledge Your otherness and Your closeness. Receiving You is not the same as receiving my own best thoughts or imagination! Show me how to receive You in Your Word, which is spirit and life.

Genesis 1:1-5

"Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light." (vs. 3)

Light shining in darkness happens at the very beginning of the Bible, at creation; it also happens at the beginning of the Gospel (see John 1). A few days ago Epiphany was celebrated by many Christians who recognize and value the Light.

Psalm 29

"Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." (vs. 2b)

This is a phrase that has long been familiar to a lot of God's people--from Old Testament times to today. As I received this familiar phrase this week, it occurred to me to ask how we do that. Here's what's opening up for me about it: The more we realize and enter into His holiness, the more worship can become what it's meant to be. Holiness is beautiful; it's appealing; it draws us when we approach it humbly, and with repentance and reverence. A little child who cautiously and eagerly tip toes forward into adventure is a teacher for us; a teacher about how to enter into holiness. Learning to repentantly, reverently relish holiness calls for all the child and wisdom in us, and it calls for the so-much-more of the Spirit who draws us into, and satisfies us with, the beauty of holiness.

"The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The LORD is over many waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful;
The voice of the LORD is full of majesty." (vss. 3,4)

Acts 19:1-7

"'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?'" (vs. 2a)

Belief (faith) and the Holy Spirit go together, at baptism and forever after. In fact, when we first believe anything Jesus was, did, or said, that initial belief needs to be combined with the Holy Spirit--in order for it to be life-giving, and not just a belief or a good idea. What about all the times we remember a belief? What about the times we recall a scripture? It's the same. We can ask ourselves, "Did I receive the Holy Spirit as I thought about that belief? Did I receive the Holy Spirit as I recalled that scripture?" The Holy Spirit and believing go together.

Mark 1:4-11

"... 'He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'" (vs. 8b)

Jesus "saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove." (vs. 10b)

"Then a voice came from heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" (vs. 11)

Light, baptism, Holy Spirit, and God's voice--there is so much in this week's scriptures to receive and love again and more fully.

One way of doing this is to let this week's portrayals of God's voice come together, especially the voice of God as portrayed by the Psalmist and the voice at Jesus' baptism. Rolling thunder helps put us in touch with the power and majesty in God's voice. It's a start anyway. I wonder just how small a start! This is the speak-light-into-existence voice of Genesis 1:3. Was that the way the Father's voice sounded at His Son's baptism? It's likely that some heard it as if it were thunder and nothing else. But how did Jesus, and perhaps John the Baptist and others, hear it? "My beloved." What's the dearest and best way you've ever said or heard that? What's the dearest and best way you can imagine anyone ever saying that? Remember the very, very best you've ever heard; then stretch your imagination to its very limits to make the best you've already known into the very, very best you can imagine. That's a start, and how small a start, toward hearing God say, "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."