Psalm 51:1-12 • 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a • Ephesians 4:1-16 • John 6:24-35

Receiving mercy from the Bread of Life is this week’s theme. Our call to worship Psalm focuses on David’s repentance after the 2 Samuel story of taking another man’s wife, then murdering her husband. While David received consequences for his sinful actions, God showed him mercy and David sought restoration from the Lord. In Ephesians 4, Paul explains how believers should respond to the mercy and grace we have received in Christ by living in unity. Paul also details the systems Jesus has put in place to spiritually develop his followers and keep them united. John 6 points out that Jesus fed the 5,000 even though many followed him for superficial reasons. In this passage, Jesus reminds them that he is the bread of life and the one who sustains us.

Making Every Effort

Ephesians 4:1-16

Recently, a major news outlet featured an article about the significant political divisions in America. The journalist spotlighted a mother who was told by her son that he would never speak to her again because of the presidential candidate for whom she voted.  It seems wrong that an ideology would interrupt such an important relationship, but this story is not uncommon. This is one example of the fractured relationships we see in the news, read on social media, and hear in diners and barbershops across the U.S.

You may want to use a local story to make this point in your area of the world.

Some of you may have experienced this directly and can testify of the pain that comes when the ties that bind us together are severed. This is not the most divisive period America has faced, although to some it could feel that way. It could feel like the political, racial, socioeconomic, and other divisions are so deep that they cannot be healed. Unfortunately, this condition is not only an American problem. It seems that many countries are struggling to heal divisions across various lines. Are we falling apart? Are the divisions in our society insurmountable? Where is God in the midst of our divided world? What is our role?

In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul addressed a divided church. Among other challenges, Jewish and non-Jewish (Gentile) Christians were having a hard time figuring out how to live together. One of Paul’s goals for writing the book was to exhort the church to be united. Notice what he writes:

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:1-16)

We should first note that living worthy of our calling in Christ does not have anything to do with some kind of individual standard of worth. Rather, to live worthy of our calling—our personal invitation to participate in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ—has everything to do with how we live in community.

In order to address the divisions in the church in Ephesus, Paul first needed them to understand that when God calls us, he calls us into something. He calls us into the body—the church. Our response to the mercy and grace of Jesus’ saving work is to be lived out in the community of faith and the world. As hard as it may be, we must resist the temptation to think of our relationship with God as something separate from our relationships with other people. In fact, our relationship with God is demonstrated, tested, and proven by how we care for our fellow humans.

An individualized view of our relationship with God can fuel divisions because we act outside of the truth that we belong to each other. The truth is, we depend on each other. We cannot become who we are supposed to be without each other. Because of Christ, I cannot make a decision that is good for me if it harms you. Because of Christ, I cannot be unaffected by your suffering just because it does not affect me directly.

Let’s be honest. What I am describing makes a lot of sense when we are talking about people around whom we feel comfortable. It is not hard to care for those who think and act in ways that are familiar. But what about people who rub us the wrong way? What about people who are different from us? What about those with different beliefs? Without the leading of the Spirit, I would not love people I do not like! Thankfully, God does not leave room for me to decide whom I will love.

After explaining the necessity of community, Paul makes it clear that unity and peace require us to “make every effort.” In other words, it takes work and sacrifice to connect and stay connected. More accurately, it takes proactive work and sacrifice to connect and stay connected. Our natural tendency is to focus on ourselves, so we cannot sit back and just hope to form genuine relationships with other humans—we have to make the effort. It cannot be done within our comfort zone at a time convenient for us. The status quo will not bring unity or peace, especially in a fractured community. Being a Christ follower means that we are willing to sacrifice ourselves in order to be united to our brothers and sisters.

While working for unity is a challenge, there is good news. Paul poetically states that there is one gospel, and to believe and follow that good news means that we enter into a unique type of unity with other believers—a unity that is forged and maintained by Christ himself. Not unity from a human perspective, but unity “in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.” Unity does not depend on our own strength or knowledge. Rather, unity begins when we seek to see others as Christ sees them. We work for unity when we try to participate in the relationship Christ has with our fellow humans. We maintain peace by standing with Christ against the things that divide us or dehumanize those made in the image of God. And, because of Christ, we can have faith that all divisions can be healed. Jesus’ resurrection means that he has triumphed over every enemy of humanity, even death itself. In him there is healing for all that ails us, including the things that divide us.

God, in his mercy and grace, invites the church to be the mechanism he uses to spread his unique brand of unity. Verses 7-16 list some of the roles in God’s new society that Christians can assume to bring about “unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.” (For a different perspective on these verses, see Jeff Broadnax’s article, “Fitly Framed Together”.) It is also in these verses that Paul begins to explain the texture of Christian unity. Although God facilitates our unity, Paul is saying that unity is our responsibility as the church. It is something we must actively pursue and bring about by using our God-given gifts. Christ catalyzes spiritual growth, diversity in gifting, and the unity of the church. He is the standard by which the church measures its progress towards its goal, as well as the goal itself. Every believer has a part to play in the church, and we can only achieve unity when every body part does its job. Here, Paul balances the collaborative goal of the church with individual responsibility.

Now that we understand the role of the church in bringing unity to the world, we have to ask an uncomfortable question: If the church is empowered and equipped by Christ to bring unity to the world, why do we see so much division in our society? Perhaps we have allowed things like politics, race, and economics to convince us that we are more different than similar. Perhaps it is easier to be divided than do the hard work of making “every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit.”

In a recent interview where he was asked to comment on the racial reckoning taking place in America, theologian N. T. Wright stated the following:

The real problem here is that the church has forgotten its vocation. The church’s vocation is to be a place where there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, no male nor female because all are one in Christ Jesus…The church has forgotten that that’s what church life was supposed to be like. And, we thought that as long as we are preaching the gospel and taking people to heaven, we don’t need to worry too much about what happens down here, because that is just social work or table manners or something. And I want to say, “Absolutely not!”…Who you sit down and have fellowship with is a sign of whether you really believe that on the cross Jesus won the victory over all the powers of darkness or not.*

We should note that unity does not mean uniformity. Like the Triune God, the church is meant to experience diversity in unity. Our churches should be places where everyone belongs, and every story is valued. Like Jesus, we should actively resist prejudice and systems that promote injustice because these things disrupt unity. At the same time, we must be humble enough to admit that we have a lot to learn about those with different backgrounds. We may have to educate ourselves on the stories of others and how to have challenging conversations. It will not be easy, but isn’t that what we have been called to do? As followers of Christ, we should ask ourselves, “Am I making every effort to promote unity? Is my congregation?” Realizing we cannot perfectly promote unity, are we dedicated to trying to do our part with the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit? Are we seeking relationships with others so we can be changed by their story? Do we value the mutual humanity in those with whom we disagree?

There are no easy answers to these questions, and I cannot tell you in a single sermon how we heal our society’s divisions. However, what I can do is remind you that Jesus is Lord, and he is still on his throne. I can tell you that he has been given a name that is above every name, including racism, sexism, and every other ism you could imagine. I know enough to say that Christ has taken the responsibility to unite humanity upon himself, and he cannot fail. I can let you know that Christ can heal all wounds.  He sacrificed all, even his very life, to make us well. And I am a witness that he is not blind to our problems and even now is working to bring an end to all suffering.

When faced with a fractured church, Paul reminded them of their unity in Christ. He reminded them that Christ has empowered and equipped the church to participate in his work to bring unity to all humanity. Paul’s message to the church in Ephesus is still relevant for us today. I pray we do not lose hope. I pray our hearts do not grow cold. I pray that we roll up our sleeves and join Jesus in making peace and unity.

*Dr. N. T. Wright in an interview with Way Nation on June 27, 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBShzeTy_Xg

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-families/you-are-no-longer-my-mother-a-divided-america-will-struggle-to-heal-after-trump-era-idUSKBN27I16E

Small Group Discussion Questions

Psalm 130:1-8 • 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 • Ephesians 4:25-5:2 • John 6:25, 41-51

The theme for this week is the God who restores. The call to worship Psalm is a cry out to God, waiting for his restoration. 2 Samuel 18 tells us about how David is brought back to kindness and mercy, even while mourning for his rebellious son. John 6 is about Jesus, who steps into the metaphor of the bread of life who sustains and restored Israel, and now restores us. Our sermon is on Ephesians 4. Paul gives us part of what it means to live as people being restored into the image of Christ.

Listening to That Other Voice

Ephesians 4:25-5:2 ESV

We’ve all been through transitions. Some of them were scary, some exciting, some disappointing, but all of us went through them. Think about that moment—the first time you put on your Army fatigues and crawled into that creaky bunk. That first job when you learned the sales pitch, how your feet ached when you stood at the register for eight hours that first day. How it sounds in a dorm room on the first night, all the other freshman there just as scared as you.

This is a good moment to share a life transition story of your own.

 “Change is the only constant,” said the Greek philosopher Heraclitus. Maybe he overstated the case, but transition is everywhere in life. You have to get used to new landscapes, new habits, languages, even new smells. We all know the rough feeling of unfamiliar clothing and (hopefully) the rush of confidence when you’re able to navigate that new space.

Paul writes about that period of transition in our lives as God’s people. He talks about dropping the old self and putting on the new self. The old is corrupted by sin—its perspectives and motives are stained. The new is being shaped into the image of Christ, showing the buds of the fruits of the Spirit.

This is a huge theme for Paul, appearing throughout his writing. Be who you are. Be how you are now in Christ. It hinges on identity—not on trying to buy God off with good behavior, not in trying to be good because you “just should,” but in acting out of who you are as a person in Christ.

He’s fully aware that the transition is a process. Paul isn’t under the illusion that you flip a switch and become Christlike. He just presents us with the tools and coordinates of what it is like to live in the new country.

The common critique we hear in the modern world is that the Bible is full of “dos and don’ts,” or that the Bible is just fancy moralizing and as tiring as any other motivational speech. With even a short study, this assessment is obviously untrue, and the only time Paul gets close is in a passage like this.

His object and his approach are more three-dimensional than simple moralizing. He gives not just what but why, and not just behaviors but the logic behind them.

We can orient ourselves a little before our passage today when Paul addresses the Ephesians directly.

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. (Ephesians 4:17 ESV)

There’s a subtle detail here that we can miss easily. The Ephesians were decidedly a Gentile (non-Jewish) audience. Why would Paul address them this way?

He seems to be calling them no longer Gentiles, and they aren’t Israelites; they are something different; we are something different. We are God’s people, and our identity has shifted.

Our passage begins with a discussion of this resurrection identity in more detail.

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25 ESV)

Members of one another. This is discussion of a new identity. Paul doesn’t just come out wagging his finger—he tells them the reason behind it.

We are family now—dependent on one another, connected in relationship. We don’t lie to each other because of that connection. This is part of what means to be in Christ.

Paul is not just saying, “You’re a Christian now, this is what you do.” He is saying: “This is who you are.”

He lays this out as our new identity as we go through the transition to Christlikeness. We don’t earn our way there—it’s true from the beginning. He calls us to live out of that reality.

Think of that transition in your own life. In the American military, your name is changed as soon as you come in. You’re called by your rank and then, even more generally, you’re called “soldier,” “airman,” or “sailor,” depending on which branch you’re in.

It’s an identity given that you grow into—through rugged training, intensive education and just plain time, you become who you are as a soldier. In the same way, we are given our status as Christ’s family members and we grow into it from there.

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:28-29 ESV)

Paul also goes from resurrection identity into what we might call resurrection action. The two concepts build on each other.

First though, it’s important to note that Paul doesn’t just tell them a blanket “don’t.” Aiming simply to not do something often doesn’t work—our psychology has nothing to wrap itself around.

Ask anyone in recovery from addiction. If an alcoholic sits around the house just trying not to drink, failure is usually close at hand. In 12-step recovery, going to Alcoholics Anonymous or other meetings is a replacement behavior for the bad habits and hangouts that used to lead to drinking.

Early in the program, a participant might even do “90 in 90”—ninety AA meetings over as many days to give structure and alternative activity to their life. We need something to aim at, not simply to aim away from.

So Paul sets out this ideal, based on kingdom logic. The thief will become the giver; gossip and insult will turn to encouragement. Because the “we” are one family and connected, we no longer steal from each other because it is like stealing from the self. Because we are part of bringing in God’s kingdom, we use our words to build up rather than tear down; we don’t waste words in crassness and blasphemy.

Sometime later in a 12-step program, participants will get involved in “service work.” This involves volunteering time and work for the joy of giving without any thought of compensation. In giving freely, the addict participates in joy and spontaneity rather than in the gloomy self-focus of indulging an addiction.

Instead of focusing just on what we shouldn’t do, Paul focuses on what we should do. He talks about resurrection action, which is possible only when the resurrected Lord is in charge.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30 ESV)

The conversation here goes back to identity. In ancient times, royalty would put their seal or stamp on something that was theirs. In their physical absence, their seal symbolized their presence, and the penalty for breaking or ignoring a seal was severe.

God’s seal on us is the Holy Spirit. The Spirit in our hearts, shaping us into his image and changing us, is the seal that we are his, no matter what. We are in the “time between the times” waiting for that day of redemption. This arrangement is temporary, but our future is sealed, taken care of, guaranteed.

C.S. Lewis describes well this intermediate moment where we find ourselves as children of God who are learning to act like it by the power of the Spirit. He writes:

It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind. (Mere Christianity)

Listening to that other voice—that inner voice that calls us to resurrection identity and action.

Experienced saints can attest to this. Allowing God into those spaces of our lives that are desolate and gloomy has some uncanny results. You find yourself with sudden patience for that difficult coworker. You find strength to resist old temptations and awareness of your own self-centeredness and distraction. You find echoes of an inner peace in the noisiness of modern life.

I say “allowing” only as a placeholder. Hang around Jesus and you’ll find he quits asking permission. He starts to change you and awaken you where you didn’t even know you were sleeping.

Ignatius of Loyola is an interesting example. A decorated 16^th century Spanish soldier, he was once severely injured by a cannonball. After a brutal process of setting bones without anesthetic, his leg finally healed, but at a strange angle that didn’t allow him to look as good he wanted in his ornamental outfits.

He ordered his leg re-broken and reset so he could walk without a limp and look striking in his soldier’s boots. As he recuperated, he started reading the sacred books at the hospital because that was all they had. He found that reading about the lives of the saints and about Jesus gave him a joy and satisfaction that his own dreams of fame and glory never gave.

Slowly, he began “listening to that other voice.” As his leg healed from the break, his spirit began to heal from its vanity. He finally left the place he was convalescing, still walking with a limp, and went on to become one of the greatest saints in European history.

The absurd insatiably of his ego led him to literally break bones and risk his own life in medical procedures. It was only in that dark place that he began to finally hear that other voice calling him away from the cruelest god of all: the self.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV)

This section from Paul ends where it began. Why do all these things? Why join in the struggle to listen to that other voice? Because you are beloved children.

You don’t do this and that to become beloved children, to someday obtain this coveted status. You act like children of God because you are children of God in Christ. Your royal status is where it starts. The next step, as Paul says, is to be who you are and imitate the one who made you who you are.

Conversion is a lifelong process. In our modern emphasis on just the initial decision to “get saved,” we miss out on this journey sometimes. The truth is it takes a lifetime to soften hearts, shed favorite habits and embrace our resurrection identity.  But Jesus is that “other voice” that calls us, not with bland moralizing but with invitation, to the best life, the freest life and life as it was meant to be.

Small Group Discussion Questions

Psalm 111:1-10 · 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14 · John 6:51-58 · Ephesians 5:15-20

The theme for this week is wise choices and the well-lived life. The call to worship Psalm expands on how developing “the fear of the Lord” includes a healthy dose of gratitude as part of a well-lived life. Solomon’s prayer for wisdom, rather than long life or riches, is detailed in 1 Kings 2. In John, Jesus, the Bread of Life, explains how the sacrament of Communion nourishes us with its symbolism about the bread and the way that Christ dwells in us, becomes part of us, and guides our lives, enabling us to astutely move through the world. Our sermon text comes from Ephesians 5, where Paul exhorts us to spend our time carefully considering the choices and opportunities before us, using prayer and gratitude to tune into God’s guidance.

Choose Wisely

Ephesians 5:15-20

The 1993 movie Groundhog Day features actor Bill Murray as TV weatherman Phil Connors who becomes snowbound in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on Groundhog Day. If that weren’t bad enough, he becomes caught in a time loop where he repeats Groundhog Day (Feb. 2) over and over. The original script for the movie indicated that Phil was caught in the time loop for 10,000 years, but later director Harold Ramis said it was probably 10 years. You might be wondering why Phil Connors would need to remake his choices over and over for ten years. At the beginning of the film, Phil is a narcissist, intent only on serving himself, but after he experiences the negative consequences of his choices (not once, but many times), he begins to modify his behavior and make better choices.

As he relives Feb. 2 again and again, Phil begins to care about the people of Punxsutawney, and he averts a number of disasters (because he knows they are going to happen) to keep them safe. For example, in an early scene, a child falls out of a tree and breaks his leg. After that, Phil Connors manages to be under the tree to catch the boy at just the right time. In another scene, a man chokes on a piece of steak in a diner, and Phil makes sure he is present right then to save the man by performing the Heimlich maneuver. As Phil’s choices become less self-centered and more focused on helping others, he changes, ultimately breaking the “Groundhog Day curse” and moving on to Feb. 3.

Having the power to make choices is God’s plan for humanity. Free will or free moral agency gives us the ability to choose to love God or not. We remember verses like Deuteronomy 30:19, where life and death have been placed before us, and while most of our choices don’t directly seem to lead to either of those, we recognize that our choices have consequences. The consequences of those choices can be blessings or can feel like curses we put on ourselves or others. In the letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul talks about carefully considering the choices we make. Let’s look at the text.

 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:15-20 NRSV)

What can we notice about this passage?

• The theme of the passage contrasts wisdom and foolishness. Other themes earlier in the fifth chapter include love vs. lust and light vs. darkness. Bible writers used this technique, called antithetical parallelism, to grab readers’ attention, much like advertising today sometimes relies on exaggerations or extremes to gain an audience.

• In the Message translation, verse 16 says, “So watch your step. Use your head.” Paul is making it clear that we’re to carefully consider our choices. We’re encouraged to consider how we spend our time. “Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” reminds us that we are presented with opportunities, both for good and evil, and we must choose properly by thinking through the implications of what we do.

Human decision-making is easily influenced. Psychology Today reports that making decisions comes from “the interactions between reflection and emotion.” As you might think, the emotional aspect is more spontaneous and doesn’t always consider the consequences of a choice while the reflective side tempers that, if given adequate time and thought. One example of this is the way our emotional side wants dessert, but our reflective side knows that dessert might not help us meet our health goals. Because the emotional brain tends to dominate and “flood” our consciousness, we don’t always understand why we do the things we do. Becoming more aware of how our choices can be driven by emotion helps us take extra time to allow our reflective side to consider the consequences more carefully.

• 18-20 – We’re encouraged not to drink too much alcohol, as it leads to an overindulgence in pleasing the self in sensual pleasures. This cheapens our life, impairing our judgment, leading us to making unwise decisions and even affecting our speech. Perhaps more importantly, it cheapens our view of ourselves and others.

However, drinking too much is not the only way to think less of ourselves and others. Lacking empathy for others or ourselves creates judgmental attitudes that devalue human beings, forgetting that we are created in God’s image. Refusing to be open to new information that might change our opinions is another way we fuel judgmental attitudes that generate feelings of superiority and create division between people.

• Instead, verse 19 says to be filled with the Holy Spirit—drink deeply of all that Jesus is and what he gives to us. Sing hymns and praises, making melody in our heart for the Lord. The implication is that being in tune with the Holy Spirit guides our choices and creates thanksgiving and joy. We treasure creation and have eyes wide open to see the goodness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit at work in our ordinary circumstances. We offer thanksgiving and praise (v. 20) “giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

These verses encourage us to show our reverence for what God has given us: the breath of life, each other, and time on Earth. What we do and how we live is how we honor God. Numbing ourselves—with alcohol, lack of empathy, or selfishness—limits our ability to experience the fullness of life filled with the Holy Spirit.

Application:

• Carefully consider the consequences of your choices, understanding how easily human beings are driven by emotions. This may mean pausing and taking a deep breath before responding in a heated conversation, or telling someone you’ll get back to them with a decision so you have time to think about it.
• Prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. This will take the shape of contemplative prayer, which is more of an unveiling than a list of requests. Asking for wisdom, insight, and loving kindness for all keeps the focus on the ultimate outcome of any decision you make rather than the individual steps needed to get there.
• Become aware of how you might “cheapen” your own life or others’ lives. Though drinking too much alcohol might not be an issue, a lack of empathy, kindness, and acceptance of yourself or others rejects the Imago Dei (“image of God”) in each of us. Notice attitudes of comparing yourself with others (Galatians 6:4-6), and strive to remember God’s unconditional love for all.
• Incorporate gratitude for God’s presence in our lives. Recognize ordinary joys, like your morning coffee or tea, a warm bath, or the smile of a loved one. Offer praise to God each day for what’s bringing a smile to your face.

This passage invites us to think deeply about our choices and how we might exercise our God-given right to free will in the most loving way. Too often we make our decisions hastily, without taking the time to consider the consequences, pray for wisdom, or notice the blessings around us. We forget that our emotions can push us to make choices without considering the consequences. However, we don’t need to be trapped making the same poor choices over and over, like Phil Connors in Groundhog Day. Careful consideration of consequences, prayer, self-awareness, and gratitude help us enjoy this God-given gift of life.

For Reference:

https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/04/groundhog-day-horror-movie-quarantine/610867/

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107048/trivia

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-choice/201705/who-is-actually-in-charge-when-we-make-decisions

Small Group Discussion Questions

Psalm 84:1-12 • 1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43 • Ephesians 6:10-20 • John 6:56-69

The theme for this week is God’s romance with us. The call to worship Psalm talks about being in God’s loving presence (“courts”) better than being anywhere on earth. 1 Kings tells the early story of this romance, the ancient memories of the Ark of Covenant and God’s covenant people. John 6 is the strange and beautiful story of Jesus being with us and uniting himself with us at the Lord’s supper. Our sermon is from Ephesians 6, the story of us taking on our Lover’s armor, which he took on first for us.

The Second-Hand Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-20

One of the runaway hits of 2021 is the Disney series The Mandalorian. This science-fiction saga set in the Star Wars universe follows the nearly silent Mandalorian bounty hunter on his adventures through space.

This warrior strikes quite an image, and the first thing you notice is his iconic armor. Made of a mysterious indestructible metal, the suit is one of the main keys to his success in battle. It’s hundreds of years old and forged by artisans who learned the esoteric trade through the centuries.

The Mandalorian never removes his armor.

In the end of Ephesians, Paul gives us his iconic armor image by describing the full armor of God. The belt, the breastplate, the shield, the boots and of course the sword have made their way into Christian imagery for centuries, from dynamic art to cheesy plastic costumes. This is our tradition as Christians, to suit up in this armor—millennia old—not just when the armor is needed but, like the Star Wars soldier, as a way of life.

There’s been plenty of misuse of this kind language on the Bible. We’ve been too fast to interpret this as “us versus them” when we think of people outside of the faith. At worst, people have committed violent acts claiming they are in the Lord’s army and doing his will. Think of those who blow up abortion clinics claiming they are doing God’s work.

How do we approach this passage from Paul responsibly? How does it resonate with us in a digital age where wars are fought by drones? What does it mean to wear God’s armor not as art of battle but, like the Mandalorian, as a part of daily life?

Let’s look at three realities about the armor of God that we can pick up from Paul’s famous passage.

Armor Reality #1: It’s not who you think

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:11-13 ESV)

In Paul’s day and all through Jesus’ life, the question was always when would Israel be restored to power? They had been perpetually conquered and persecuted. Their latest ruler, Rome, was the superpower of the ancient world. They believed the Messiah would be the conquering king who would drive Rome out. Paul speaks to that sentiment here.

He reminds them the problems are further upstream, so to say. This is an evil much deeper and older (and smarter) than Rome. Dark spiritual forces are at work—Satan and all that comes with him. This evil is worse than tyranny because it’s the reason tyranny exists.

So instead of the fight against your neighbors, Paul is talking about who the real enemy is. Satan’s campaign to destroy humanity in subtle, insidious ways is not a military battle but a centuries-long war.

The weapons he recommends—truth, righteousness, salvation, peace—are the way to true victory. Our worldly weapons of power, intrigue and violence are no match for the strength of true armor. They will fall away and burn themselves out, but the metal (and mettle) of the kingdom is indestructible.

In our own time, we fall into our own “flesh and blood” distractions from where the true enemy resides. As the age of faith passes from much of the world’s culture, we Christians find ourselves with a lot less influence. We panic. We fixate on a political candidate to either hate or venerate as a savior. We judge celebrities harshly, wagging our heads as if they are the only thing going wrong in the world. Or we get angry and react with Islamophobia, homophobia and other bigotry rather than showing love, even to those we disagree with.

As we fixate on the flesh and blood in front of us, we lose sight of the bigger picture—standing firm in God’s power while he builds his kingdom through us. This brings us to reality number two.

Armor Reality #2: It’s primarily defensive

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:13-17 ESV)

Growing up in Sunday School in the last few decades, you may have heard the song “I’m in the Lord’s Army.” Going through various military images, the song crescendos with “I’m in the Lord’s Army! Yes sir!” The song itself, like every other Sunday kids’ tune, is as harmless as it is tedious, but it can point to an unhelpful sentiment.

We begin to see ourselves as aggressive and anti-, as if we are the “all the way good” guys against the “all the way bad” guys. The reality, vividly woven from Genesis to Revelation, is that we’re all equally “lost guys” who need help. Author Donald Miller put it well: “Jesus taught that we are all bad and He is good, and He wants to rescue us because there is a war going on and we are hostages in that war.”

So the armor that Paul gives us is primarily defensive—it’s mainly about standing firm and remaining standing through the onslaught of whatever our enemy (see above) comes up with. Let’s look at each piece of armor:

• The Belt of Truth

The gospel never claims to give us only an exciting new perspective or a dynamic three-step scheme—it claims to give us the truth with a capital T. The gospel is the bedrock truth about the universe that holds it all together; Jesus is the quantum equation that sums it all up.

Not only do “church realities” of theology and religious practice make sense in the gospel, but all realities—science, history, art, music, psychology and astrophysics—come together in the truth of Jesus. This belt of truth holds everything together, and when we are assailed by temptations to sin or despair, holding on to that truth keeps us from falling apart.

Again, is this a command from Paul to go pick fights and squabbles? Is Paul telling us to beat people over the head with this truth until they acquiesce? No. Absolutely, we will stand for truth when necessary, but this is not a call to come out with an angry, judgmental voice—which is really just a vent for our own rage—and call it God’s work.

A belt does what it does, holds things in place, holds things together.

• The Breastplate of Righteousness

This word encompasses more than just virtue or ethics, although those things are important. It also speaks to the historical reality of God putting the world to “rights” – reforming and reconciling and one day completing the process. God vindicated Jesus through the resurrection, set all to “rights” even though Jesus was burdened with all our sin, and he put us to rights as well within him.

This Christian status of “being in the right” before God is the breastplate we need to have firmly in place. The devil’s assaults are rarely the kind of theatrics we might see in a movie like The Exorcist. He’s much more likely to whisper garbage to you like “You aren’t good enough” or “You won’t make it” or “You aren’t loved, so numb yourself with this work/sex/drug/entertainment addiction.” One of his main weapons is to remind us of our insignificance.

The breastplate we need in place is that we are loved, accepted, and set to rights before God in Christ. We are part of the legacy and family of salvation that began with Israel and will one day end when Jesus returns.

• Shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace

Again, standing firm. The “peace that passes understanding” that we have access to as God’s children gives us strength to stand ready through battle. When you’re at peace, you are prepared. Much of martial arts and other kinds of hand-to-hand combat is about stance, having your feet in the right place, and everything else follows.

• Shield of Faith

The “flaming darts” of the enemy take all shapes and forms—everything from the temptation to despair, to slip into entangling sin or simply to be so distracted by life that we never grow. Standing against these things is not a matter of putting out every last arrow that comes your way—that will drive you mad, and while you might extinguish one, you are liable to get hit by twenty more.

Your faith in Jesus and loyalty to him is what stands against all of these at once. We don’t try to match arrow-for-arrow in battle—we take shelter behind the shield that will deflect them all.

• Helmet of Salvation

Keeping the reality of our completed salvation close to us gives us protection. Knowing that the main battle—for our own souls—is completed and won gives us strength to face whatever other skirmish comes our way.

It’s interesting how close the helmet is to the brain. We are continually charged with keeping our minds on things above, taking every thought captive, setting our focus on the realities of the gospel. This is our helmet, which we should always keep in place to protect our minds, and by proxy, our hearts and everything else.

Our last piece of armor, the only offensive weapon, brings us to our final armor reality.

Armor Reality #3: It’s second hand

This armor reality sounds completely strange until we consider the source material for Paul’s famous arsenal.

Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. (Isaiah 11:5 ESV)

He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. (Isaiah 49: 2 ESV)

He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head. (Isaiah 59:17 ESV)

All of these images, obviously echoed in Paul’s words, most likely describe the coming Messiah. Throughout the OId Testament, this shadowy figure of promise appears, described in superhuman terms, and brings together God’s plan that everything is leading to.

So, in one sense, all this armor belonged and belongs to Jesus first. He is the Messiah figure described in Isaiah, wearing this armor and bringing forth God’s epic plan of salvation. We can wear this armor only because he wears it first.

• The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God

Here we get to the only piece of offensive weaponry. The Sword of the Spirit is wielded by Christ; we can only put our hand on it. This does not refer to Scripture when it says “Word of God.” Although this phrase is commonly understood to be Scripture in our time, the Scripture itself wasn’t complete yet when Paul wrote these words; the New Testament hadn’t been completed.

Paul is most likely referring to the “word” in the sense of the gospel word in which God accomplishes his work in us. In short, the “word” here is the gospel itself.

Paul refers to this in the previous chapter, verses 25-26:

…as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word. (Ephesians 5:25-26 ESV)

God’s word, in this sense of God’s gospel action, is the sword that slices into the darkness of the world, cleanses hearts and changes lives. If you’ve been on the receiving end of this blade, you know it can be very invasive, cutting out old habits and mindsets and trimming the spiritual fat we all gather over time.

Jesus can use us in the process, wielding us for his purpose as we sharpen each other through encouragement and coaching. He also uses the circumstances of our lives and the truths of the gospel to grow us, transform us and change the world.

Again, we aren’t given an “us versus them,” aggressive image here, but the image of God’s holy work being done in us and through us. We can wear this hand-me-down armor only because it was and is worn by Christ. As we are “in him” we are in his armor as well.

• It’s not who you think
• It’s primarily defensive
• It’s second hand

These are the realities of the armor of God—the counter-intuitive, three-dimensional, second-hand armor of God which is stronger and older than anything the Mandalorian might put on. Our stance is not aggressively chasing down every last “enemy” we may think arises, but holding firm and letting the darts of the true enemy extinguish themselves. Our strength is not in our ingenuity and strategy, but in the faithful, everyday holding of truth in place in our hearts and minds. Our power is not our own, because the armor is not exclusively worn by us.

Small Group Discussion Questions

Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9 • Song of Solomon 2:8-13 • James 1:17-27 • Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

This week’s theme is receiving God’s Word. The call to worship Psalm and the passage from Song of Solomon paint in lavish terms a relationship of lovers attuned to one another’s voice, and point to how we build relationship by hearing and responding to God’s voice. The reading from James displays the generosity of the Father whose words of salvation can be received as a blessing flowing from a trust relationship with him. The Gospel reading presents Jesus as the Word to listen to over and against the traditional interpretations aimed at avoiding the purposes of the law.

Do Not Be Deceived

James 1:16-27 (ESV)

Begin by reading James 1:16-27 ESV.

As we get into our text today, it is important to remember why James is writing this letter. Primarily, James is writing to encourage a church that is going through various trials. Are you going through “various” trials? If so, this letter is also written for you. What James says to us in these verses today is not a simplistic platitude to make us feel better. James is grounded in a reality that puts our trials into a proper perspective. When it comes to trials, small or great, a reminder of what is true is very important. Notice how James addresses his church in the face of trials. He does not tell them to get over it and pull themselves up by their bootstraps. He does not blame them for their situation and guilt them to change some behavior. He also does not tell them to “turn that frown upside down” or encourage them with some form of “positive thinking.” No, what James does is to remind his beloved church of who God is and who they are in relationship to him. We all need people in our lives who will come alongside of us during our challenges and trials to remind us of the reality we see in Jesus Christ. Today, that person is James, the author of this letter that the Holy Spirit has inspired to be preserved for you and me.

Leading up to our reading today, we find that trials and temptations are closely linked. When our circumstances seem to turn against us, we may be tempted to believe that God has turned against us as well. The temptation James wants to warn against is the temptation to stop trusting in God and to place our trust elsewhere. When trials come our way, there is a temptation to doubt God’s character. Giving in to this temptation will have dire consequences. So, James begins our section today with a warning against being deceived. That is the danger that comes along with trials. We can be deceived into falsely believing that God is not faithful to us, that he is not good and is not for us. So, James is emphatic:

Do not be deceived, my beloved. (James 1:16 ESV)

James is not just softening his statement here; he seems to be reminding them of who they are in relationship to God as his “beloved.” That is ultimately what we are tempted to doubt when trials come upon us. We may be tempted to believe that we are no longer loved, or maybe that we never were loved in the first place. This is a very powerful deception that James sees will grow and lead to death (James 1:15).

After James warns his readers about being deceived, he then goes on to remind them of the truth. Verses 17 and 18 offer a rich reminder of who the Father is. This truth buffers us against the deception that God is not the faithful, loving God of grace that we see in Jesus Christ. In these two verses James reminds us of God’s character and his purposes for us.

In verse 17 James seeks to build our faith by reminding us of the Father’s unchanging character.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17 ESV)

What an amazing insight James has given us here.

• First, God is a “generous” giver. He does not give begrudgingly or with strings attached. Have you ever been given a gift by someone you know was only given to obligate you in the future? We may be tempted to think this is how the Father is towards us as well. But James is clear that this is not how our Father gives. His giving flows out of who he is as a generous giver.
• Second, James lets us know that “every” good gift is from the Father. James is emphasizing the inclusivity of all the good that comes our way. Think of some good things that have been given to you. How often do we attribute these good things to luck or chance? Or maybe we attribute it to our own skill and cleverness or hard work. We may be tempted to think that it is not a gift but something we have earned. Like the scene in “The Simpsons” when Bart was asked to say the dinner blessing: “Dear God, we paid for all of this stuff ourselves, so thanks for nothing.” When trials come our way, we may be tempted to believe that God is not a generous giver. We may think the bill has come due or perhaps we just need to work harder for God’s blessings.
• Third, James does not want us to be deceived about the gifts the Father gives. His gifts are good and perfect. The goodness of the gift means it is intrinsically good whether we know it or not. His gifts are perfect, meaning they are complete and not lacking.
• Fourth, all these good and perfect gifts come down from “the Father of lights.” James lets us know with this description that there is no dark side to God’s giving. God does not trick us with gag gifts. Even in times of trouble we can depend on God to give us his very best, exactly what we need in our time of trouble. We may not always know what that is, and we may even confuse some of his gifts as contrary to what we need, but we can trust that he will be faithful to his generous heart towards us. After all, this is who he is, and he does not change like shifting shadows that distort reality. Have you ever mistaken a shadow for something that was not real? We don’t have to worry about that happening with our Father of lights.

After James establishes God’s character in this way, he then tells us in verse 18 about the Father’s purposes for us.

Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18 ESV)

It’s good to remember that God’s gifts and his purposes for us are not opposed. If you were to give ice cream to your kids for breakfast everyday, your “gift” of ice cream would not fit the purpose of raising healthy kids. We can trust that God’s gifts contribute to his purpose for us. We may want ice cream for breakfast every day, but that would not be a fitting gift from a Father who loves us towards the good and perfect purposes he has for us. Let’s take a closer look at what James is telling us about the Father’s purposes for us:

• First, notice the intimate language of our origin. It was God’s will, his desire to bring us forth. Even the word translated as “brought forth” refers to conception and birth. You are not an accident, but you are a deliberate choice of the Father. He didn’t have to bring us forth—he wanted to. We may not feel like that during a difficult trial, but we can trust that God is as intimately involved in our situation as he was in our creation. In fact, he is more concerned about us than we are of ourselves.
• Second, James lets us know that we are brought forth by “the word of truth.” This takes us back to Genesis, where God’s speaking is our beginning. And what’s more, this “word” that spoke us into existence is a “true” word. Our beginning is not from a false word of deception but from the depths of reality itself. You never have to doubt if you should have been born. God wanted you, and that is the rock bottom truth of it.
• Third, our “being brought forth” has a further purpose of being “a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” The Old Testament’s understanding of “firstfruits” meant the best, or the “cream of the crop.” God created us to be the pinnacle and crown of his creation. This is what God is up to and this is the very good and perfect gift he is giving us in Jesus Christ. God is faithful in completing the good and perfect work in us as the gift he refuses to rescind. The only thing that will keep us from God’s good and perfect gift is being deceived not to receive them.

So, you can see why James is adamant in telling us not to be deceived. Our trials can be used to whisper lies into our ear that we are not loved, that we do not matter and that we have no future. Don’t believe it! Remember who God is and who you are in relationship to him. In doing so we will be in a better place to receive all the good and perfect gifts God is giving us as he brings us to completion even during our times of trial.

In light of what James has said about who God is and what his good purposes are toward us, he now goes on to encourage his readers to receive what God is giving. And he begins doing this by once again referring to them according to the reality of who they are in relationships with God:

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:19-25 ESV)

Again, his address to them reflects the reality of who they are—beloved brothers. This reality also has implications of who they are in relationship with one another. Their “beloved” status unifies them together as “brothers,” which, rightly understood, includes both male and female. James addresses them as fellow brothers and sisters, for that is his true relationship with them. Knowing who we are in Christ, and therefore who we are in relationship with each other, will change how we address one another. We belong together in the same family as beloved children of our Father of lights.

With this address, James then encourages us to be “quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” These three commands are not detached from what James has been saying. He is not digressing into a different topic on effective communication or conflict management. He is telling us how we can respond and receive what our generous God is giving us in our times of trial.

• Quick to hear: This first command might lead to the question, “hear what?” Looking further in our passage gives us the answer. James is going to refer to “the word” three times. He tells us to receive “the implanted word,” as well as to be “doers of the word” and not just a “hearer of the word.” He is not focused on just being good listeners to one another for the sake of good communication, as true as that may be. He is pointing us deeper to listening to God’s word spoken to us. This is the word we need to hear in our trials. This is the word that will guard us from being deceived. This is the word we are told to receive.
• Slow to speak: This naturally follows the first command. Notice he doesn’t tell us “not” to speak but to be “slow to speak.” Why is that? Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who is not listening but just trying to find a pause in the conversation so they can get their own word in? It can be frustrating. That’s not really a conversation but more like parallel monologues. When we speak without first listening and understanding what the other person is saying, our words become disconnected from that person. Our speaking will not reflect or take into account what the other person has said. If James is telling us primarily to hear God’s word to us, then being slow to speak is letting our words first be formed by what we hear. James is telling us to speak only after we receive the “word” we hear from the Father. When we rush to say something to another, or to ourselves, we may want to pause and ask ourselves: “Is this what the Father is saying to you?” When we are under pressure from our trials, we may be tempted to try to control our circumstances with our tongues. We may fear that we need to speak up quickly or things may get worse. But James wants us to know that God is faithful to speak to us his word of truth and life. Out of trust in the Father of lights we can listen to him knowing that he is a “generous giver” who does not hold back his word from us during our times of trial. When we are not deceived about our generous Father who loves us, it becomes easy to obey the command to be “quick to hear” and “slow to speak” because we will know that the Father is speaking exactly what we need to hear.
• Slow to anger: The word James chooses for “anger” is not referring to just a momentary loss of temper but rather a continuing and permanent state of opposition. James is warning us to be slow at coming to a place that anger and wrath is our way of handling problems. Anger can consume us and lead us down very destructive paths. I’m sure we can all recall times when we said or did something out of anger that we regretted. This momentary outburst can be very damaging but imagine if this becomes our default way of thinking and behaving. This is where James is cautioning his beloved brothers from arriving. It’s been said that anger may be a good way to identify a problem, but it is never a good way to solve a problem. That is so true and important to remember in times of trial. When we are going through difficult circumstances, we can be tempted to view ourselves as victims who are powerless to better our situation. We will want things to be made right and we will be tempted to try to make it right by words and actions fueled by our wrath. We have seen this approach to trials played out many times in destructive riots and violent protest aimed at setting an injustice right. This is not the approach for a beloved brother or sister. And James gives us the reason to obey this command: “for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”Biblically speaking, “righteousness” means setting things right. But it is “the righteousness of God” that we need to trust, not our own. We are not very good at knowing what is “righteous” most of the time. God holds the bigger picture of his good purposes for all his children as what determines true “righteousness.” This bigger picture may take more time to come into view than our quick responses of anger will allow. So, we must be “slow to anger,” giving way for God to work his righteousness in and through us as we receive and respond to his word spoken to us. James doesn’t say we should never be angry. There can be a “righteous” anger but even this anger is not how God sets things right. It may point to an injustice and sin that needs to be set right, but it does not provide the means to that end. Only God can do that.

With these three commands James is pointing us in a direction where we place our trust in the Father rather than in ourselves. When we use our tongues and anger to gain control during trials we are being deceived into believing that the Father is not faithful to us during difficult times. We are deceived to grasp our own identities and “righteousness” rather than hearing and receiving what the Father is saying and giving. We are created to flourish by hearing God’s word spoken in Jesus rather than our own voice spoken in anger. In light of this James connects the rest of the passage with “therefore.” James is going to fill out more fully what it looks like to be “quick to hear.”

Being quick to hear also includes getting rid of anything that comes between our trust in God and receiving the saving work he is doing in our lives. James tells us that we must “put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness.” By doing this we are making room to “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” Notice the “word” is “implanted.” We are to receive something that we already have. Just because it has been “implanted” doesn’t mean it doesn’t take constant work and attention to receive—especially during trials. The weeds of doubt and deceit can spring up and crowd out our trust in the Father if we let our circumstances speak to us more than the “implanted” word. So, we must “put away” anything that tempts us to not put our trust in the Father’s word to us.

This “implanted word” is not a weak word with no effect. James tells us that it is “able to save your souls.” This is the word we need to hear during our times of trial. We will hear and find God’s answer and provision for what really needs to be set right. And we are encouraged to put this word to work by being “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Otherwise, we deceive ourselves. James is telling us to put our full trust and weight on God’s word spoken to us. This means we act on it, we let it, rather than our circumstances, tell us our identity and purpose. James uses an illustration of a mirror to make his point. When we come face to face with our true identity in Christ, we are not to walk away and act as if we are someone else.

It may be helpful here to see the “mirror” as Jesus himself. Jesus not only reveals to us who the Father is, his character and love to us, but Jesus is the “implanted word” who reveals what it means to be the Father’s children. As we listen to Jesus, he is like a mirror that confronts us with our true identity. When we see Jesus, we see who we really are as the beloved children of God. If we forget who we are in Jesus, we will act as if we are not blessed and beloved. True listening leads to transformed lives of blessing and freedom as we continue to live out our “face to face” relationship with the Father, Son, Spirit.

James concludes this section by contrasting a religion that’s worthless with a religion that works.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:26-27 ESV)

A worthless religion is where we place our trust in our own words rather than trusting in the Father’s word to us in Jesus. When we are using our words as a means of control, then we are not trusting or receiving the “implanted word” that brings us salvation. In this way we are seen to be “deceived.” Then James tells us that a “pure and undefiled” religion is “to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

In James’ day the orphans and widows were those who were powerless with no influence or status. In short, they had nothing to offer in return. James is not just telling us to do good to the marginalized but rather to have all our actions toward others come from a place of fullness from receiving from the Father. Our actions are not motivated by what we can get in return but rather are motivated by what we have already received from the Father. When our trust is firmly rooted in the Father, we are free to act towards others with no other end in mind. We can speak to and care for others with no need to get something for our service. What an amazing blessing this would be if we approached all our relationships from this place of freedom!

When we see that our Father truly loves us and visits us in our time of “affliction,” then we can rest in his love with a freedom that opens us to be with others in a real and authentic way. We can become more like our Father, who gives generously with no strings attached.

Last, a “pure and undefiled” religion is “to keep oneself unstained from the world.” This is similar to James’ admonition to put away “all filthiness and rampant wickedness” so we can receive God’s implanted word. In short, anything that tempts us to put our trust in any word other than the Father’s must be avoided. Just as Adam and Eve listened to the voice of the Serpent in the Garden, so is the stain that spreads in our world. We are continually to keep ourselves from being stained by such mistrust. James is encouraging us to place our full trust in the Father so we can receive his word that gives us a righteousness that we cannot give ourselves.

Small Group Discussion Questions