Sunday, March 5, 2017

Notes for March 5 Sermon

First week Of Lent March 5
Mt 4-not obviously temptations toward evil  but more of a test a trial between the typical path of human beings and a different way. Would jesus sees his power as being a lottery winner or would he see it as an opportunity for others ?They all could put detours from his path-all would combine to stop the way of the cross-son of God for the caesars-40 noah, moses, elijah-how would Jesus use his power? Look back as a representative of Israel in the wilderness-a weapon is using Scripture all form a little section in DT.

Genesis 2-3? I find it more helpful to look at this story as one about human nature. They live in a paradise, and they have but one prohibition, and they fixate on that. The Fall tempt/test/try the issue of trial putting God to the test. The serpent is a very clever and talkative animal "that the LORD God had made" (Genesis 3:1).  The serpent is one of God's own creatures who poses some questions and alternative explanations concerning God's motivations in creation for the humans to consider.  At any point in the conversation, the humans could have resisted  the serpent.One little limitation and they cannot resist breaking it. Why disobey? (See Trible)  But there was something already in the human that resonated to the suspicion that the serpent offered as one option for interpreting the words and actions of God. (Olson) She contemplates the deed and moves toward her thought process.Irenaeus: wisdom v. crafty/sly love story gone awry. You will be as gods is the fundamental human temptation. The fundamental sin against the humility of limitation.Human beings can be in paradise and figure out a way to ruin it. A marriage begins in the intoxication of the paradise of love and  it gets tangled into something else.nakedness to  hiding. We are not wise.anxiety seems to be controlling.Phyllis Trible notes that the couple as a unit reflect our dance with sin as one is active and one is passive.their   eyes are indeed opened, but not with innocence- “now they know “helplessness, insecurity,and defenselessness.”They want to conceal, to hide., to cover up.

Romans 5-The men’s bible study on Monday has been marching through Romans. Paul re-interprets the story from Genesis and makes  2 types Adam and christ. Jesus as new type of human being.original sin/ trespass language justification/rectification made right-aligned properly This is not what Paul says that God offered in Christ. God offered this and so much more. God offered justification, right relationship- realignment to the way of God -- God shared God’s character, God’s own self, with us; offered us the possibility of becoming like God’s self.And so, in verse 17, Paul stresses that through the one man Jesus Christ we are offered the opportunity to receive the abundance of the gift of righteousness. we will reign in life.  

Ps 32 imputes no iniquity deals with guilt as well psychosomatic action-I don't know how much power penitential psalms have any more as guilt seems to be a declining reaction to sin.
How do we use our power? When we call sin mistake or a poor choice, we are draining it potential for guilt.

It seems Lent is fundamentally a period of preparation for Holy Week. Jesus  faced the trials of living out a faithful life, just as we  do. That intense period of the biblical number 40 connects us with the story of Scripture. It provides space and opportunity for seeds of the spirit to be planted and growth for already flourishing  foliage

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