If I am not present on Sunday morning take a quick glance at the scripture lesson and you will have the first clue as to why. This Sunday we deal with perhaps one of the most difficult passages in Luke’s gospel. It is a passage that makes us uncomfortable. As a preacher it is the one week where we think ‘I should have taken vacation’ because it deals with hard truths.
This Sunday’s gospel message deals with how the message of Jesus will split and fracture us. We receive from Jesus the opposite of what we expect. Instead of peace, love and grace we find fire, destruction and division. We scratch our heads and ask who is this guy and where did he come from?
This Sunday we will explore this troubling piece of scripture and determine what call it places on our lives.
Text: Luke 12: 49-56
Questions for Sunday
- How do you feel after reading this passage?
- What do you think Jesus is trying to tell us?
- How should we respond to these words from Jesus?
Prayer for Sunday
Gracious God, at times your word can be difficult and troubling for us. We read it with confusion and bewilderment seeking to make sense of your call in our lives. With the aid of your Holy Spirit guide us, inform our living and open our hearts and minds to the possibilities that exist with you. Amen.