If you were to ask someone to name a parable or two, I am sure that the Parable of the Prodigal Son would be near the top of the list of favorites. Some have said it’s the world’s greatest short story. But more than that, it is our story — in particular, it is our story in relationship with God. I look forward to our worship on Sunday when I will share some insights from this beloved parable.
This Sunday in Sanctuary worship we’re wrapping up our series, “A Healthy Spirituality for Our Time” with a look at the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and how we move through difficult times from suffering to hope.
Sunday we’ll be looking at Psalm 139, which speaks of the nearness of God. God is with us to trouble our souls when we are complacent and when we let things stand that should not be. God is near to stir our souls; to make us human, to make us whole.
In this time in our world, there are many, many “thorns”— those things which torment. It is so easy to see the thorns and miss seeing the Grace. It’s so easy to see the pain around us and hear the crying prayers and miss God’s answer: “My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness.”
How are you conformed to the world? How have you been “transformed by the renewing of your mind?” I invite you to think about conforming and being transformed and what that means for you as we go out to be God’s people in the world, today.
What does it mean to have the mind of Christ in us? Or, to put it in the words of the CEB, what does it mean to adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus? Join us this week in sanctuary worship as we continue our series, A Healthy Spirituality for Our Time, with “Having the Mind of Christ.”
I think we have thought of prayer so much as something we do—an activity in which we mostly ask for something from God — that it may be hard for us to think of prayer as constant attitude, orientation to God, and awareness of the presence of God. I invite you consider some questions: What is your prayer life like? When and how do you most often pray? What do you find most difficult about praying? What would it mean for you to “pray continually” or to make “all of life a prayer?”
What are those things in your life that distract you from being present in the moment? What stands in your way of attending to the presence of God in your life? This week, I invite you to consider your worries and distractions and how they may be keeping you from being fully present to what is most important.
It goes without saying that these are anxious times. It also goes without saying that worry is a part of life. You could say that anxiety is just a part of being human in normal times.
What do we mean by “spirituality?” What is a “healthy” spirituality? Perhaps an even more important question is Why do we need a healthy spirituality? What is the goal of “spiritual growth,” especially in this trying time we’re in?
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