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This is a massive topic that I believe we were only scratching the surface on at our last gathering.

Some further questions and reflections

What are some attributes that come to mind when you think of the suburbs?

What are some of the idols in the suburbs?

Reflect on the following terms as it relates to the suburbs
- Families.  Affluence.  Cookie cutter houses.  Independence.  Waste.  Avoidance of interruptions.  Fragmentation.

Reflect on injustices that you’re aware of in our world.

Reflect on Luke 16:19-31

Why is there a separation between the nameless rich man and Lazarus?

Note how that in this scene no one is in heaven or hell due to doctrine or belief statements

Could it be that the ‘gate’ that the rich man put up, created an unreachable ‘chasm’ within his own heart?

Could it be that the rich man needed Lazarus just as much as Lazarus needed the rich man?

Note how the rich man continues to argue with Abraham and speaks of Lazarus in the third person telling him what he should do?  Why might his attitude in such torment be like this?

Suburbanism is also invading the suburbs.  Do some research on the term gentriciation and it’s implications.

What would it look like for the Kingdom of God to manifest in the suburbs?

Finally at the end of the reflections through the Book of Hebrews.

Chapter 13.

For an ex-terrorist Paul is incredibly empathetic.  I love how he urges us to be compassionate towards strangers, the prisoners, and the mistreated.  To really embody ourselves as one of them. 

The Scriptures also remind us again of this idea of being content with what we have, and that the type of sacrifice God is pleased with is that of doing good works and sharing with others.  How hard is it for us to believe this?

Submission to leadership is also alluded to here, not simply to honor God, but that the leaders work might be a joy and not a burden.  What would it look like for you to bring joy to your bosses, teachers, and leaders?

The most fascinating passage of the chapter was this:

 11The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Which could easily seem odd and obscure, but it really speaks towards how sacrifice happens outside of the holy place, outside of safety and comfort.  Huddling within the church may be nice, but there is something better that is to come.  There is something worth each of us leaving our safe places for, and sacrifice for…

Here’s the passage for those of you following along.

I was struck by how much God desires faith from us… it’s a really odd thing for the Creator of the Universe to desire from us humans.

It’s interesting how even realizing that God is the Creator of all things requires faith according to the Scriptures, which seems like it should be obvious to me usually.

I wonder what it means in our times to “long for a better country” (v16)…

What might a ‘better resurrection’ look like?

It’s also fascinating how the scriptures don’t only describe the communal link between all of us today, but that there is an ancient thread throughout history that we are part of in making things complete.

Continuing along in the Scriptures through Hebrews 8

- Hebrews talks about how in the past the priest and the sanctuary were simply a shadow of what is in heaven and something far superior was coming.  I wonder if some of the things we do are still simply ’shadows’ of the real thing?

- It’s interesting how God says that his ‘new covenant’ will not be like the old, where he ‘led them by the hand’, that maybe there’s something better than direct handholding of God?

- It’s amazing how it describes God putting prints of himself directly on the hearts and minds of people.  I guess to what degree we accept that is a different question, but He’s already right here, within every person in some way.

Continuing our journey through Hebrews

continuing the journey through Hebrews

- high priests have weaknesses

- those weaknesses can help them engage in the weaknesses of others

- priests need atoning for their sins as well

- what does it mean to be called by God?

- What does it mean for Jesus to have reduced himself to having to ‘learn’ certain things?

- If milk is for infants and solid food is for the mature - what do you feel you need to be feeding on these days?

So I’ll likely post weekly on reflections as I journey through Hebrews - you’re welcome to join along and comment or post as well.

A few thoughts

- Hebrews was written towards a Jewish context, like 30 years or so after the death of Christ

- There is no official author attributed to it, though some believe that it was either Paul or Apollos

- Christ is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being (we have no parallel to this in our world)

- Re-present - the same in character and action - but not the same in person

- Christ sustains all things - he is not just some humble teacher from long ago

- Father / Son relationship - from eternity - Do they ever wonder what was before them? Probably not.

- The son is king of the kingdom

- Christ hates wickedness - sometimes we worry about if we disappointed God, or everything wasn’t quite perfect… we need to realize sometimes there are other areas of our life, that are just plain wicked

- Angels are ministering spirits sent to serve those who inherit salvation - this is something given not earned - though sometimes when life gets rough and messy, you gotta wonder where those angels are…

- The same person that spoke the universe into existence, holds all things together in the fabric of his being, sustains your life

As a church this year, each week there are r.e.a.l. food (reflections and discussion questions) based on the message from the previous Sunday available here.
Here’s an example personal reflection on this past week’s message on The Fear of the Lord

(I just pick a couple questions and themes that resonate with me, I invite you to do the same on the blog, or in your life groups, conversations, families, etc.)

The question “What do you fear most in life” is a fantastic opening question. Truth is, I fear many things before fearing God often. I fear deceiving myself, rejection, disappointment, boredom, the list goes on.

Reflecting on the Scriptures call to fear the Lord, puts things into healthy perspective and reminds me who really has power and authority over my life.

One way I often think about it is that fear is what limits us. ie. If you fear heights, well you won’t go to high places. If you fear spiders, you won’t go near spiders. When we fear God who is infinite, and without limits, it actually eradicates all other fears.

Fear of God, frees us of all other fears, because there is no limit or boundary to what God might do. It reminds me that I can step out in following God, without fear, because really, what’s the worst that can happen?