sanctuarycg

S. O. A. P.

Sunday night we talked about the Bible as one of the places God always meets us. I put it in terms of story. If you know my story, my story becomes a passage-way into relationship with me. If you don't know my story, you might recognize me, but you won't really know me.

I also promised an outline of the way we do our biblical devotions at CrossRoads. It's very simple. We use the S.O.A.P. method.
S=Scripture. When reading the Bible, note the one or two verses that stick out most prominently.
O=Observation. Write out what you observe about the passage.
A=Application. Write out what you feel God is asking you to do in this passage.
P=Prayer. Write out a prayer in response to what you have encountered.

We are encouraging all people at CrossRoads to join us in a common trip through the Bible. The daily reading schedule can be found at www.mealgroups.org. Just click on "Online Devotional."

If you'd like to check out my devotional page, you can find it here.

Reading God's Story

Dave Foster is a friend of mine, part of the Sanctuary community, and one of the many 20-somethings among us seeking to live out the story of God. He recently sought to read the entire Bible in one month. Read what he discovered!

In preparation for Sunday night...

Sunday night we will explore one of the most challenging passages in the Bible, and most discussed on this blog (Matthew 25.31-46). What questions spring to your mind as you read it?

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Truth...

A question came up Sunday night and below in a thread of comments that I thought would be good to wrestle with a bit more. The question was stated as follows:

If you were born in Saudi Arabia and had Muslim parents, would you still have been able to to discover the truth of the Bible and the falsity of the Koran?

To this question I would add: How did you discover the truth of Christianity?

Comments?

Jesus, Civil Rights, Justice, Righteousness

I had a discussion lately with someone regarding the Civil Rights movement. The discussion revolved around whether the Civil Rights movement was just a good thing or a movement of the rule and reign of God. The next morning after the discussion I read the first chapter of Isaiah (give it a read if you have a chance). I saw a glimpse of how often God is ticked at the Israelites for not promoting two key biblical concepts—justice and righteousness.

At Sanctuary we have talked about the two as follows:
Biblical justice is not just giving people what they deserve. It’s giving people what they need.

Biblical righteousness is not just right action, but right relationship with God and others (The concept of shalom springs from both of these concepts as well).

Then I did a quick search of how often the two concepts are linked together, and was blown away at how these two words are uniquely tied to God’s actions with and through God’s people. Then I looked at Jesus’ actions through the two lenses of justice and righteousness. Everything Jesus did was to bring righteousness (right-relationship with God and others) and justice (what people need), and all of the above gave me a renewed vision of us as Kingdom people. We are called to be people of justice and righteousness. We are called to be a church where people are finding right relationships with God and others, AND we are called to help provide people what they need. 

Have you ever thought about the importance of righteousness and justice in relationship to your faith?

BTW: here’s a quick glance at the pairing of the words through some of the Old Testament…

Ge 18:19 

No, for I have chosen him, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice; so that the Lord may bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."

2Ch 9:8 

Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the Lord your God. Because your God lovedand would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness."

Job 29:14 

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.

Job 37:23 

The Almighty we cannot find him; he is great in power and justice, and abundant righteousness he will not violate.

Ps 33:5 

He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

Ps 72:1 

Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son.

Ps 72:2 

May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.

Ps 89:14 

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

Ps 97:2 

Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Ps 99:4 

Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

Ps 106:3

Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times.

Pr 1:3 

for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;

Pr 2:9 

Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;

Pr 8:20 

I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

Pr 21:3 

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Ec 3:16 

Moreover I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well.

Isa 1:27 

Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness.