Two Points - Luke 20:1-2

Luke 20:1-2 One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders 2 and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?” (NRSV)

I like today’s passage from the Gospel because it reveals to us the respect that Jesus had for the Jewish faith He grew up in. That may seem strange because He experiences a fierce confrontation with the religious authorities, but if we focus on the conflict and ponder over the parable Christ tells, we miss the first couple of points that Luke makes in his description of this event.

You see Jesus was teaching in the Temple. He was at the very center of His Jewish faith and He chose to teach the people and pilgrims, bystanders and passers-by there. In other words, Christ embraced the idea of a structured religious center where people could assemble to worship God, say their prayers, and bring their gifts. If Jesus was totally against any of that, He would never have taught there. Instead, He teaches us the importance of religious places as being centers of discipleship and worship, wisdom and knowledge for spiritual people.

The second point is that He preached the good news – the gospel – inside the temple courts, too. If this was a sacred and holy house where God’s presence resided, then what better place to preach about God’s grace and love, mercy and forgiveness? Christ could have rejected all of this and taken His ministry back into the hills where He came from, but instead, He treats the temple – after clearing out the money-changers – as a place of blessing, teaching, and faith; a spiritual oasis for weary pilgrims and a house of learning for seekers.

All over the world, people still gather in churches to praise God, say their prayers, and bring their gifts. The churches are also learning centers for the Christian faith we now embrace. In other words, we follow in Christ’s footsteps by being part of a religious process that He initiated – to be among His people in a sacred house of God – teaching the truth and preaching the Gospel.

Point to ponder

How is Christ’s ministry continued in the church I attend?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You teach the Gospel through Your words and deeds. You show us how to respect and revere God. You also offer us grace and mercy, hope and love. Encourage us to be with Your people and receive the blessings of Your teaching in the sacred places called church. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s new Holy Week drawings called ‘Passion.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Passion.

Church devotion: Church Blessings - Proverbs 5:23

Proverbs 5:23             For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.

            Yet another singer/celebrity has just been quoted as saying “You don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.” Really? Where did that idea come from? It seems to me that the house churches, Mediterranean worship centers, local synagogues, and even the Jerusalem Temple, were all used by New Testament Christians to congregate in and worship God. They all supported, served, and loved one another, so that church going became a joyful and important event in their weekly lives.

            To me, saying that “You don’t need to go to church to be a Christian,” is like saying you don’t need oxygen to breathe, or you don’t need food to grow, or you don’t need water to live. Church going is at the heart of our faith. On Sunday mornings, when I see folks at church, I observe a lot of people who are struggling with issues concerning their families, their finances, and their futures. They come to church, not because they are holy, righteous, or perfect, but because they need to hear that God is still in control, and that people of God care for them. It also gives every one of them the opportunity to offer support and help to the rest of the body of believers.

            When celebrities publicly say “You don’t need to go to church to be a Christian,” what they are really expressing is that they are not willing to humble and discipline themselves to go to church. They’ll follow their own path, make up their own minds, live life according to their own beliefs rather than allowing the Church to augment their lifestyles, give them guidance, or bless their lives. Unfortunately, they usually end up with no faith at all and the wise, warning words of Proverbs are yet again fulfilled: “For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.”

Questions for personal reflection

What does going to church mean to me? How can I help others to experience church blessings?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You call the Church Your Bride because You are committed to its well-being, life, and mission. You established church long ago and by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit, Your Church has grown into billions of followers on Earth, who regularly gather together to worship God and glorify Your Name. Thank You for this wonderful blessing of church, which helps us to become better Christians. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings for World Communion Sunday, which annually takes place all over the world in churches on the first Sunday of October. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: WCS.

Church devotion: Never on A Sunday - Psalm 40:4

Psalm 40:4    Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 

            For some reason, this verse bothers me a lot. It makes me wonder about the present state of Christianity. Do we trust the LORD completely, or are we too proud to humble ourselves before Him? Have we turned aside from the truth and replaced Christ with false gods of ambition and wealth, success and celebrity? Are we in danger of losing our life-long faith to short-term moments? Are we captivated by fictional characters rather than being inspired by Biblical ones? Are we more in tune with ourselves than we actually are with God?

            In recent years, I've seen less people in church on Sunday mornings than ever before. Folks are more into playing and partying than praising God. Church is becoming irrelevant and unnecessary; belief in God is a personal thing anyway, so why disturb a good Sunday morning’s rest by sitting on a hard pew for over an hour? Going to a restaurant for Sunday brunch, where people are happy, makes much better sense than being among somber and solemn people who appear to be God’s frozen chosen. Life is for living! Get out of church and smell the roses! “Go and play,” not “go and pray” should be the motto of our lives!

            And then I read today’s verse and it reminds me that proud people usually end up following false gods. Those of us who still go to church go there, not because we are any better than anyone else, but because we recognize that we are imperfect and need to humble ourselves before the One who created us. We sit in church because we understand our weaknesses and seek forgiveness for our failings. We are not religious people; we are grateful people.

            Perhaps when our society has wearied itself of following after false gods, instant gratification, reality idols, cable shows, and meteoric celebrities, it will seek real life. I hope so, because there is something grander than greatness, better than beauty, and more fulfilling than fame, which can still be found in church on Sunday mornings. J

Questions for reflection

Am I as closely connected to God as I once was? Who moved?

Prayer:          Lord God of Life, we have wandered away from You and followed our own paths. We think that we know everything, but we forget that only You know everything. Forgive our foolish notions and protect us from making false gods. Lead us back to Your Kingdom. Bring us back to Your Church. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask a question about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Good Friday drawings. It’s called “Tattoo Master,” which is an ink drawing of Christ on the Cross, tattooed with lashes, blood, and bruises. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Tattoo.