Resources For "Scandal of Grace" From Each Harderwyk Preacher
I. New For This Week
From Scandalous Stories – Daniel Emery Price & Erick Sorensen
“The biblical reality is that sometimes weeds become wheat. In fact, all wheat were formerly weeds. This transformation doesn’t happen through weeds trying harder to be like wheat. It doesn’t happen by weeds shaping up, acting better, or being more devoted. And it most certainly doesn’t happen by cutting them down and casting them out. So we can put away our judgmental evaluation of the person in the pew across from us and our critical assessment of all our neighbors. It seems we are in need of constant reminding that this transformation happens by the grace of God. It happens through the good news that because of the finished work of Christ, all may come and be part of the good master’s harvest, just as they are. To become wheat, you must come as a weed.”
Consider Joining A Scandalous Stories Discussion Group - Wednesday Night of Online. CLICK HERE and scroll down to information.
Simul Justus et Peccatur - This phrase translated as "at the same time righteous and a sinner" is typically associated with Martin Luther - himself a good example of "sinner and saint on person." CLICK HERE for an explanation of this phrase and its meaning and application for our own Christian life from the good people of Mockingbird.com. "All My Heroes Are Sinners Too" is Pastor Bill's blog on navigating life as both saint and sinner. - CLICK HERE for that post.
“Is Everything Sad Going to Come Untrue?”: Eschatology in the Lord of the Rings - CLICK HERE for a thoughtful - and understandable! - post on the problem of evil and suffering in our "right now world" in light of the hope that comes from the Gospel of God's Grace. - The End of Things, is Better Than The Right Now That We Are Living In
Celebration Sermon Outline - CLICK HERE for this Sunday's Sermon Outline.
II. From The Commentaries On This Passage
From Matthew - Douglas R.A. Hare
“A certain tension can be observed between the parable of the tares and its interpretation. In the parable itself emphasis is placed on the farmer’s patience: “Let both grow together until the harvest” (v. 30a). Perhaps Jesus used this parable to point out that human beings are not competent to make the kind of judgments implied in separating wheat from tares; in plucking out what they think are tares, they may very well be pulling up wheat. Only God can make such judgments, and in due course this will be done. In the meantime we must be more patient with one another. Taken in this way, the story becomes a parable of grace. In the strange world of the parable where separation is graciously postponed, it may even be possible for weeds to become wheat!”
From Matthew For Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1-15 – NT Wright
“Notice, in particular, what the servants say about the weeds. They want to go straight away into the cornfield and root out the weeds. The farmer restrains them, because life is never that simple. In their zeal to rid the field of weeds they are very likely to pull up some wheat as well.
Did Jesus, perhaps, have an eye here on the revolutionary groups of his day, only too ready to step into God’s field and pull up what looked like weeds? There were many groups, including some of the Pharisees, who were eager to fight against pagans on the one hand and against compromised Jews on the other. These ‘servants’ may have intended to do God’s will. They were longing for God to act, and were prepared to help him by acting themselves. But part of Jesus’ whole campaign is to say that that the true kingdom of God doesn’t come like that, because God himself isn’t like that.
At the heart of the parable of the weeds and the wheat is the note of patience—not just the patience of the servants who have to wait and watch, but the patience of God himself. God didn’t and doesn’t enjoy the sight of a cornfield with weeds all over the place. But nor does he relish the thought of declaring harvest-time too soon, and destroying wheat along with weeds.”
III. Ongoing Resources
1) Spiritual Formation Resources Page - CLICK HERE - This is still a work in progress, but be a part as we look to build.
2) Scotty Smith’s Heavenward Daily Prayers - CLICK HERE - to see the daily prayer blog of Scotty Smith. You will see an option to have them delivered to your email inbox each day as well.
3) Simple Lectio Divina Overview - CLICK HERE - for a simple introduction of the spiritual practice of a more personal way of experience the Word through contemplation and reflection.
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