The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem./ 2In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. 3Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 5O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
In today’s climate, do you see more differences or commonalities with the people around you (neighbors, family, colleagues, etc)?
New people to Sanctuary often want to know if it is Lutheran or Methodist. Does it matter? Do you ever think about it? If it matters, why does it matter? If it doesn't matter why doesn’t it matter?
Pastor Mark observed that the gift Lutherans gave to Christians is that God’s grace is complete and nothing can tear us away from it. Methodists gift to Christians is that we are called to respond to that gift. What do you think that looks like day to day - the “responding to the gift”?
In the passage from Matthew 24 about the hour and time of the end times we are encouraged to keep watch- to wait but be ready. What are you currently delaying or creating excuses or procrastinating to do? Is there anything you’re putting off?
In Isaiah, we see a vision of peace, a world where people stop making weapons and instead work together for the good of creation. God gives us hope that this type of world, that peace is coming. Hope is a powerful motivator, but also feels a bit abstract. What helps you feel hopeful in your daily life?
Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’ For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’
Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.’ So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, ‘In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?’ And Moses said, ‘When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.’
Pastor Mark suggests that discontentment can be a positive motivator which inspires innovation, creativity, compassion and change. When in your life has discontentment caused something good?
It seems as though discontentment inspires positive action when there is also hope. What are the tangible things in life that generate hope alongside discontentment?
What holds you back in your trying and striving when discontentment is a motivator? And what tangible things are present/not present when discontent leads to negative things such as depression or harmful actions?
Everything changes when it’s someone you know. What social issue in our culture right now do you feel closest to?
In this week’s scripture, God calls the disciples and they seem to drop everything and follow with little direction or promise. How do you discern a next step? This is a notably vast and abstract question when asked hypothetically, but we all have things that help us make decisions. What are some of those things for you?
