BIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS

I often get the question about what bibles I recommend for people to purchase. There are so many translations and study bible options complete with notes and questions and comments for a plethora of interests. I think it's good to have a strong, literal translation study bible with scholarly notes and good maps and articles with intros to each book and then to supplement with other faithful paraphrases or versions, print or electronic.

My recommendation for study bibles:

Harper Collins NRSV

Oxford Annotated NRSV

New Interpreters' Study Bible NRSV

Lutheran Study Bible NRSV (I like the concept of this one but find the format a bit less user friendly) There's also many good study bibles with other translations. Their study notes will come from more of a conservative, evangelical perspective while the NRSV has more of a liberal protestant and catholic bent. I do like the NIV Study Bible as well. NRSV is the translation we use in worship at Hope.

Then, in terms of expanding your understanding of the text, being able to compare a particular passage in its literal translation with a contemporary English paraphrase that is faithful to the text can be extremely enlightening. For this, I highly recommend the Message by Eugene Peterson, which can be purchased all over the place.

For on the go: get the You Version Bible App

For online: www.biblegateway.com which has all sorts of translations just not NRSV...even has the Message.

To learn more and supplement your reading: www.enterthebible.org which is a free online resource by Luther Seminary.

Hope this helps!

My somewhat lengthy reflections on the first alternative worship style gathering at Hope:

We started out our conversation about Alternative Worship with the following questions -

What is worship?

What does worship mean to you?

What worship styles have meaning to you?

As we proceed along this journey, I invite you to reflect on your experiences by keeping a worship journal. As we have experiences and conversations together, a journal can be very helpful to collect your responses and learnings. I have also included this conversation as part of my blog and will continue to update things through that portal as well as by email from now on. You are welcome to participate in an ongoing conversation about worship there as well.

Calling what we are doing together a “conversation” means that we are seeking to understand one another as well as to express our own perspectives. As we talked, I became particularly aware of the diversity of perspectives among those gathered as to what worship means to each person. Quite often in established churches this conversation never progresses beyond arguing where to put the baptismal font or what instrument is most appropriate for song leading. My hope for all of us through this process is that we would experience a deep unity even in the midst of our diversity; that we could come to an experience of recognizing what worship practices have personal meaning (and why) while maintaining an openness, appreciation, and respect for the perspectives of others. If we can do that, we will experience a bit of what the New Testament calls “Church” and we will do a great deal for renewing worship within our faith community. This means, however, that we must begin with our own internal renewal.

When I think about the theology of worship two key scripture passages come to mind:

 Mark 12: 29-31 “Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

And Romans 12:1-2  “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-- what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

In the first, Jesus connects the love of God, which encompasses the entirety of the human experience, being wholly devoted heart, soul, mind, and body, with the experience of loving other people. Jesus seems to be suggesting that to love God is to be so exclusively and completely devoted to God with every aspect of one’s being that it transforms us into people who love others as we love ourselves. In the second passage, Paul equates worship with offering one’s very body as a “living sacrifice,” that is, one’s entire life is to be one of worship, devotion, and service (there’s no narrowing worship to a one-hour event in Paul’s theology). And, for Paul, this “living sacrifice” of spiritual worship contributes to a transformation of the mind which renews the way we perceive the world so that we are ultimately able to discern the will of God. This transformation of the mind, however, comes through the initial offering of one’s body, one’s whole self, to the service of God.

So, we can add another question to our list: Have you ever experienced a wholistic mind/body transformation such as Jesus and Paul suggest? In Christian worship or elsewhere? What were the components that contributed to your transformation?

Thanks for taking part in this conversation!

4G Faith: How's Your Connection?

2 Corinthians 5:19 “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.”

How’s your connection? In the 21st century, we have a much greater capacity to be connected to people than ever before in history – through the World Wide Web and mobile technologies with 4G satellite networks – while at the very same time our modern existence can be incredibly isolating. We stand on street corners, in restaurants, or in our homes connected to a global network of information and communication at the touch of a screen and yet struggle to relate to the people living next door or sitting across from us. Furthermore, if you have ever had a dropped call on your mobile phone or waited in a long line at an automated airport check-in kiosk, then you know that technology is limited in its ability to create connections.

There is one, however, with whom our connection is never lost and to whom our calls never get dropped. While technology and modern life fail to fulfill our need for connection, God’s capacity for connection is limitless. In fact, God will stop at nothing – not even death on a cross – to make a connection with us and reconnect us to each other. God’s loving intention in creation, which was affirmed and fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus, is for us to experience a connection greater than the latest satellite technology. We were reconciled to God through Christ to live a life of deep and trusting connection to God and to one another, a life of 4G Faith!

We were created for connection and in Christ we have been made new to carry, to a world in desperate need, the true, meaningful connection God is dying to provide. As the apostle Paul says, we are ambassadors of Christ entrusted with a ministry of reconciliation, or ‘reconnection.’ This is why we Gather. It is how we Grow. It’s our reason for Giving and our motivation to Go! Because God’s capacity for connection is limitless, God’s pursuit of us is relentless, and God will stop at nothing to connect and reconnect us to God and one another. So how's your connection?

Chris

Working Yourself Out of a Job

Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good. You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.  Exodus 18:17-18

Have you ever felt overwhelmed in a task and not known where to turn for help?  Have you ever been unwilling to ask?  Well, you’re not alone.  Even Moses found himself overwhelmed with his task of serving as judge for the people and felt like he had to do it all himself.  When he finally turned to his father-in-law, Jethro, he got a little dose of reality and a lot of sound advice. Jethro told Moses, “Let them sit as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every important case to you, but decide every minor case themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will go to their home in peace.” Moses took the advice of his father-in-law and things went a lot better after that.

The task of ministry is too heavy for us to do alone. When the bulk of responsibility is carried by a few, people are likely to wear out just like Moses. The wisdom of Jethro is just as pertinent today as it was then. By involving many, many people in the tasks of ministry, the burden is light and the joy of shared purpose is great. Sharing the heavy load of ministry strengthens communities, inspires individuals, and enables God’s servants to endure over the long haul.

I will never forget a nugget of wisdom that my first supervisor in ministry shared with me. “Ministry is about constantly trying to work yourself out of a job.” This was not the most welcome wisdom at the time because I had just started my first job as a youth director. As I continued in ministry, however, I discovered what that phrase really means. As we teach others the job we’re currently doing – working ourselves out of one role – our job shifts into more of an overseer, leader, or developer. We will always have a ‘job’ in ministry, but it is constantly changing as we involve and equip others to share the load with us.

In my role as pastor, I am constantly thinking about ways to ‘work myself out of a job’ by teaching and involving others in ministry. That is, I believe, what ministry is all about. Moses learned it from Jethro and Jesus modeled it for his disciples. In going about ministry this way, I have discovered that God always seems to find more – and different – work for me to do.

Whether you are just now considering sharing your gifts or you have been a committed servant on multiple committees for decades; whether you have loads of time and are longing for volunteer opportunities or you are able to offer one hour a month; I invite you to join with all the many gifted members of our faith community in sharing the load of ministry so that the joy of serving will endure in this church for another 84 years.

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Chris Steubing