John’s gospel has Jesus challenging the customs of the religious ‘establishment’ from the beginning of his ministry. His passion causes a scene, and upsets the status quo. How passionate are we about our faith, and how open are we to asking questions about the customary way we do things?
Worship this week with Holy Communion – Saturday 5:00 p.m. in chapel
Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional worship
10:30 a.m. Contemporary worship
Education and fellowship hour at 9:30 a.m including ‘Fireside Chats’ for high school and older, Sunday School for ages 3 and up.
January 19, 2014
John 2:13-25
Key Verses: “He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!’ His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’” John 2:16-17
Time: 27-30 CE
Background: In the Gospel of John, the cleansing of the temple was Jesus’ first act once his ministry began. (In the other three gospels, it happened just before his crucifixion.) In John’s gospel, Jesus used signs to point toward God, always redirecting people’s attention away from himself, and toward God in heaven.
When Jesus overturned the tables, the Jews asked him for a sign to show that he had authority to do what he had done. They didn’t realize that Jesus was already beginning to perform signs that God had sent Jesus to reveal God to the people.
Community: What questionable behaviors or customs does your community practice that are so embedded in your community, they have not been examined for a long time? What would need to happen to begin to make changes to those customs?
At Home: What signs have you sought or seen to indicate that God is present in your life? Where will you look for God this week?
Read This Week:
Monday, Jan 20, God’s Blessing in the Home, Psalm 127:1-2
Tuesday, Jan 21, God’s Blessing in the Home, Psalm 127:3-5
Wednesday, Jan 22, The Happy Home of the Faithful, Psalm 128:1-2
Thursday, Jan 23, The Happy Home of the Faithful, Psalm 128:3-4
Friday, Jan 24, The Happy Home of the Faithful, Psalm 128:5-6
Saturday, Jan 25, Prayer for the Downfall of Israel’s Enemies, Psalm 129:1-8
Next Week: Sunday, Jan 26, Nicodemus, John 3:1-21
