Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

The recent wave of severe storms that swept through our communities caused great loss – more for some than others. We saw the events in Alabama, Missouri, and now here at home in Oklahoma. Our hearts and prayers go out to those who suffered injury, loss of life and loss of property.
 
For all of us, the storms brought the more than subtle reminder of how very little we can control. Who can harness the storm? Who can direct the tornado? We are reminded of our total dependence on God every day of our lives. One day the weather is calm, the next it is stormy, the next it may be deadly.
 
A man once asked his teacher when he should repent. The teacher told him that he should repent on the day before the last day of his life. The man correctly asked, “But how will I know when the last day of my life will be?” the teacher responded, “You cannot, so repent every day.”
 
There are few things we have much control over. We can control our part of our relationship with God. The Bible reminds us of his nearness: “‘in him we live and move and have our being’;” (Acts 17.28). Stay close to God no matter what may come!

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Do you remember the old Revolutionary War song, “Yankee Doodle”? In the song, Yankee Doodle stuck a feather in his hat and called it, “macaroni.” Have you ever wondered what pasta had to do with Yankee Doodle’s hat?

This is one of those lost definitions. In the late 18^th Century, saying something was “Macaroni” was like almost saying it is “phat” or “hot” today. Even those words’ meanings are easily lost in time.

When we study the Bible we can discover words or ideas with which we are not familiar. We either pass over them or we make an educated guess to the meaning. We may develop two entirely different views and both are off base. Yet, we will make them a point of contention without knowing the facts.

The Yankee Doodle legend has to do with the shabbily dressed American soldiers facing the immaculately dressed (Macaroni) British. The Americans stopped at a farm before fighting the Brits. The farmer’s daughter saw their attire and decided to help out. She plucked a chicken and gave the Patriots a feather for their hats. Once they placed the feathers in the brims, they called it “Macaroni.”

Studying the scriptures involves many things. It is more than finding a proof text or two to use in winning an argument. It includes understanding the original intentions of the writers. It involves digging into original meanings of words as well.

Study the scriptures. They testify of Jesus, the source of eternal life (John 5.39). He is the One we follow (John 14.6).

Keep The Light Burning!

Dr. Perry Greene

One of my favorite things in Bible study is to look at the symbolism that God uses to describe various things that he did. I have heard that some rabbis teach multi-levels to the words of God. The first level is the historic event. Embedded in the event is symbolism of things to come. The use of a lamb at the initial Passover and the annual feast, reminds us, of course of what he would do in Jesus. Jesus, as the Lamb of God took away the sins of the world to deliver us from its condemnation and power over us.

There is symbolism in the numbers used – 3, 7, 12, etc. There is symbolism in the feasts of Israel such as Passover; Shavuot (Pentecost); Trumpets; Tabernacles; Yom Kippur; etc. These feasts, in some way, point to the work of Jesus, some of which is yet to be fulfilled.

The Tabernacle (and later the Temple) also contains great symbols. I won’t describe all of them here. The Tabernacle was divided into a Holy Place (where only priests could go) and the Most Holy Place, where only the High Priest could go into the very presence of God. In the Most Holy Place there are numbers of symbols. The Ark of the Covenant contained the “Mercy Seat.” This was the “residence” of God.

What strikes me about this is that it is the MERCY seat. Pilate sat on the JUDGMENT seat (Matthew 27:19) and sentenced Jesus (and others) to death. God, in his MERCY, wants to give life.

Our picture of God, especially in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible), is that he is angry and wanted to condemn the Hebrews (and us). We seem to think that he is lurking in the shadows, watching our every move so that he can pounce on us with, “Aha! Now I’ve got you!” Maybe you had a teacher like that in school, that through his insecurity he could not let you have a good grade. He had to find something wrong with your work so he would not have to give you an “A.” Not so with God.

He sat on the MERCY seat. THEIR view of God was that he was there to HELP them through his instructions/commands and his PRESENCE. While that was an awesome thing, it was a privilege for them. They did fear God in admiration and appreciation of his presence. It was not a burdensome to do his will. It was a privilege that they looked forward to because he is merciful, not vengeful (at least not until pushed to his limit – see Jeremiah).

Jesus has opened the way for us to personally go into the Most Holy Place of heaven today. We may daily come confidently into that place and make our offerings of prayer and worship to our God (see Hebrews 4.14-16). Here we remember that God wants to give us MERCY not JUDGMENT.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 In his accusation of Job, the Adversary makes an important point. He asked, “Does Job fear God for no reason?” (Job 1:9, ESV). We often operate under the assumption that if we serve God, we receive. When difficulties come, we tend to stop serving and start complaining. Job ultimately comes out of his trial realizing that God deserves our worship regardless of what we “get” from him.

Jesus was the ultimate example of the correct attitude. He came to serve God – period. Note his teaching on serving in Matthew 20:25-29. A key to following God is not to seek reward but God.

The night of his betrayal and arrest was action-packed. He met with his disciples and ate their final Passover meal. As the meal unfolded, Jesus demonstrated the power of God in the emblems that he would use regarding his death, burial, and resurrection.

During the supper, Jesus also took off his outer robe, put on the towel and washed the FEET of the disciples to demonstrate the right thing in serving one another. He washed the feet of his betrayer. He washed the feet of the one who would vocally deny him. He also washed the feet of the “disciple whom he loved.”

Jesus did not pick and choose. He did not decide to wash John’s feet and then omit Peter and Judas – or the others who fled for their lives. He served them all with no strings attached – either to them or to God. It is always right to do right things. We may not always receive a reward for it, but it is right to do right.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 When I was a kid I built model airplanes and ships. I put together the Japanese Zero, the German Stuka dive bomber, the British Spitfire, the American Mustang and others. I would hang the planes from the ceiling in my room and let them have have imaginary dogfights. At one point I even put together a biplane or two.

I discovered that I could put the models together without reading the instructions but they did not look like the picture on the box and I generally had parts left over. When I started following the instructions an amazing thing happened. The models looked like the picture on the box AND, I used all of the pieces.

We typically view the Bible as a “Rule Book.” It contains facts to be believed and commands to be obeyed — like it or not. Too often that translates into a harsh view of God.

What if we changed our perception just a little? What if we saw the Bible as an Instruction Manual instead of a “rule book” or even a “text book” of facts?

There are still facts and commands but the feeling is a little different. Our actions are different. Instead of a drudgery, Bible study becomes a joy. There are remedies for our problems! There is a God who cares deeply that we know Him!

Why do we view the Bible as a harsh set of rules? Perhaps it is because of translation options. We have the ten commandments and the law of Moses (and Christ). Those words could have been translated as “instructions.” By translating as “command” or “law,” we perceive God as a celestial policeman waiting to pounce on us for even the smallest infraction.

However, if we see the words of God as “instructions,” we have a different view of Him. He still has standards. He still is holy and just. However, he is the respected Coach, leading us on to victory. It changes how we perceive God and his will. It is no longer, “I have to obey God.” It becomes, “I get to obey God.”

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 Rabbi Akiva was once famous in Judea. He said that a disciple should be so close to his rabbi that he would be covered in the dust from the rabbi’s feet. It reminds me of my little dog. She apparently likes me so much (or at least is curious about what I am doing) that she walks right in front of my feet. I often stumble in my attempts not to step on or fall over her.

I imagine that being a disciple of Rabbi Jesus means that we want to be so close to Him that we walk “under his feet.” We want to hear every word he speaks and understand every lesson he teaches. We want to be just like him. That requires a close walk.

Rabbis were people of the text. They:

• Learned the Text
• Lived the Text
• Taught the Text
• Prayed the Text, and
• Died the Text

Jesus, as the incarnation of the Word (John 1:14), did all of the above. He also expects us to follow in his steps. He expects us to be people of the text – as he was.

What will it take for each of us to be that kind of disciple? Maybe it is getting up a little early to study the Bible. Maybe it is just putting a little more of God’s word into my life, heart and mind today than yesterday.

In whose dust are you covered? The confusing times in which we live show our need for God’s direction. We gain and share that through Jesus.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

When my daughter was young we often flew back from Texas to visit her grandparents in Tennessee and Kentucky.  On one flight, when the flight attendant gave her mandatory instructions, my daughter became upset. You see, the attendant told us that if we had need for oxygen masks, to put ours on first and then help our children.  In my daughter’s mind, she should be taken care of first.  In reality, if the adults take care of themselves first, they are more capable of taking care of their children.

That principle holds true in many situations.  Elders; Deacons; Teachers; HOME Group Leaders (etc.) need to take this to heart. As they lead groups, teach lessons, shepherd, and serve, they must not neglect themselves.  One of the best things church leaders can do for the church is to maintain a strong relationship with God.  The stronger they are, the more able they will be to lead and help others, especially in times of need.

Church Leaders, regardless of your capacity, let me encourage you to take the time to study God’s word – just for you.  Take the time to pray, not only for your others’ needs, but for yours as well.  Take time to practice spiritual disciplines.  Take the time to worship in spirit and truth.  You will be glad you did and so will your Church Family!

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

This thought came to me early this morning. Here is a challenge with the help of my good friend, David Gross’ editing.

The Bible calls us to be like Jesus, and the most remarkable thing about Jesus is that he is so often serving (Matthew 20:28).  So, like Jesus, I need to give (Acts 20:35); I need to be humble (1 Peter 5:5-6); I need to wash feet (John 13), and serve in all of the other ways that we see Jesus serve.

However, serving is not the whole story about Jesus — the Bible also shows him receiving.  Jesus accepted the anointing and foot washing of a sinful woman (Luke 7).  In John 12 he received a meal service from Martha and the anointing of the pure nard by Mary.

Oddly, many Christians find it easier to serve than to receive. If we are to be like Jesus, we must be both a humble giver and a gracious receiver.

How did Jesus do this?  First, he kept his ego in check.  It did not offend or thrill him to serve or be served.  We are subject to the temptation to think we are more than what we are, but Jesus knew exactly who he was.

Second, he knew something we often forget:  that to receive another’s gift gives opportunity for their faith, hope, and love to grow as they exercise their spiritual gifts.  To reject another’s gift is to stunt their growth.  If giving is to be a blessing, it requires a gracious receiver.

God both gives and receives. He expects the same from us.  If we keep our egos in check and our hearts focused on benefiting others through the receiving, we become more like him.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

God’s intent in giving his word to us is to aid in the transformation of our lives (see Romans 12:1-2). If we are not changed by it, we are probably not practicing it. I came across a story that reminds us of the power of God’s word.

In 1787, William Bligh led the H.M.S. Bounty to the South Pacific. He appointed Christian Fletcher to his second in command. The crew spent six months in Tahiti, living life to the fullest in the newly discovered paradise.

On April 28, 1789, Mr. Christian staged the famous mutiny. He and his fellow mutineers set Captain Bligh and loyal crew members adrift in a small lifeboat. The mutineers immediately began quarreling among themselves.

Christian led the crew back to Tahiti. There they left some of the mutineers and kidnapped women and slaves. They sailed a thousand miles to the uninhabited Pitcairn Island. There the group imploded. They learned to make alcohol from a local plant and lived lives of debauchery. Drunkenness, disease, and murder took the lives of all of the men but one — John Adams (AKA, Alexander Smith).

An amazing thing happened. Smith discovered the ship’s Bible. He began reading it and then began teaching its principles to the women, children, and slaves. The message of Christ transformed their lives. Twenty years later, when the crew of the Topaz disembarked on the island, they found a small, happy, Christian society which was free from crime, disease, murder, and even mutiny.

The power to change did not come through a self-help seminar. It came by the word of God. Maybe we make things too complicated. My dad used to say, “When all else fails, read the instructions.” Maybe we just need to read and follow the instruction manual.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 How we Americans love our independence! It is independence that makes us who we are. We have even named some of our cities after it, i.e., Independence Missouri. When we think back on our history, we realize what a great price our “Founding Fathers” (and “Founding Mothers”) paid for our freedom and independence from tyranny. Americans hate being controlled by someone else (I think we fought a Civil War over that issue).

That attitude of independence also spills over into our spiritual lives. We tend to be independent and self-directing. We resist direction from leaders and often resent our preachers and teachers when they tell us what to do. After all, they are just people like me, what do they think they are doing?

I recently read a statement that has given me pause. “God does not create us for INDEPENDENCE, he creates us for INTERDEPENDENCE.” What a powerful reminder of God’s intentions and our needs!

Think of the various Bible scenarios where “people need people.” In the creation God gave Adam a helpmeet named “Eve.” He needed the interaction and encouragement of a person as well as God.

Roll the tape forward to the book of Acts after the church was formed. Even the great Apostle Paul would feel the need for interdependence. He encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, was struck blind, and was told to go into the city. There he encountered Ananias and received his sight as well as his baptism. Later, he would need Barnabas to help and direct him. Even later he would need some of the other disciples’ help to survive and continue his preaching ministry all the way to Rome.

Paul certainly needed help from other disciples. Yet, there is something that God puts in us that also shows our need to be helpers. Paul was trained under the Jewish Rabbi, Gamaliel. He becomes a rabbi himself. As a follower of Jesus, Paul takes his rabbinical training and applies it to the church. He trains disciples like the other rabbis did – just like Rabbi Jesus did. One of those disciples was the outcast, Timothy. Paul took him in and trained him to follow Jesus. He later becomes the lead Minister at Ephesus. He learned his lessons well.

We could go on and on with examples. Jesus had his twelve who had one another and then later their own disciples to train. All through the New Testament we read the “one another” passages and are reminded of how interwoven we must be. We are not independent, we are interdependent.

Somewhere I heard or read that the average person will know fifty people by sight and name. If our church is about fifty, we can know everyone and feel connected. The average church in America is somewhere around 100, twice the number we are able to know on average. Bible classes and small groups then become a crucial part of the interdependence we need. Large church services foster the “independent spirit” where we stand alone, unrecognized and uninvolved in the lives of others.

In the smaller settings we become aware of others. We recognize their needs and serve them. They recognize our needs and serve us. In all of this, we continually point one another to Jesus. We are interdependent, not independent!

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene