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The delightful story of how God goes about retooling an exile, Paul’s inspiring exhortation to be authentically Christian in the latter half of Romans 12, and Matthew’s inclusion of the memorable right answer/wrong conclusion between Peter and Jesus are easily listened to and announced proclamations for this Sunday.  Enjoy!

Exodus 3:1-15—Turning Aside, Hearing the Call, Discovering the Missioner

In this lesson, God seeks to derail Moses from his career track as a shepherd of sheep into a new line of work that will require a new type of shepherding skills.  Two events make this story memorable: the burning bush and the divine name.  The burning bush gets Moses attention (I must turn aside and look at this great sight), and then the realization hits him that he has ventured from the profane into the sacred.  Transfixed by this phenomenon, a voice speaks out of the bush that reveals God’s mission for Moses.  It is a one-sided conversation, but Moses does manage to raise a hypothetical “what if” question.  In answering the question, we encounter the second memorable event: the Self-Naming God. 

Romans 12:9-21—Take This Gift and Use It!

What a marvelous enumeration of character-building ideals and Christian action!  Short sentences and action verbs rifle through the passage—be genuine, hate evil, love, outdo, don’t lag, be ardent, serve, rejoice, be patient, persevere, contribute, extend hospitality, bless, etc.  Regardless one’s giftedness, the bottom line of all spiritual gifts is authentic love that serves the common good of the community and never showcases personal performance.

Matthew 16:21-28-No Way You’re Going To Do That

What began in last week’s lesson with a powerful and bold confession of who Jesus is (“You are the Messiah!”) now comes unraveled in light of Peter’s response to Jesus’ announcement. Jesus breaks the silence about his imminent future-that he must go to Jerusalem and there “undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribe, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (v. 21). So the reader/listener now has to reassess the impact of such a bold and clear statement of who Jesus is in light of one who chooses, rather than avoids, suffering.