Checking Our Lenses

In one paragraph

Pastor Ray opened with a question about how we read Scripture, and the whole message turned on that question. He worked through three accounts of Jesus healing blind men near Jericho, showed where they appear to conflict, and then asked the congregation to examine the lens they bring to the Bible before they conclude it cannot be trusted. The word hermeneutics came up early. Pastor Ray defined it...

Read together

1. Psalm 107:1-2 opened the service: give thanks to the Lord, he is good, his steadfast love endures forever, let the redeemed of the Lord say so
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus
3. Luke 18:35-43 blind man approaching Jericho crying out Son of David have mercy on me, covered the previous week
4. Mark 10:46-52 Bartimaeus named by Mark leaving Jericho, crying out Son of David have mercy on me, throwing off his cloak and following Jesus
5. Matthew 20:29-34 two blind men leaving Jericho, Jesus touched their eyes and they followed him
6. Matthew 19:1-12 Pharisees testing Jesus on divorce, Moses permitting certificate of divorce, hardness of heart, what God has joined together no person is to separate
7. Mark 10:1-12 Pharisees questioning Jesus on divorce, hardness of heart, whoever divorces and marries another commits adultery
8. Genesis 1-2 God created male and female, it was good, not good for man to be alone, two becoming one flesh
9. Psalm 143:10 closing prayer: Lord teach me to do your will for you are my God, may your good spirit lead me on level ground

Talk about it

1. Pastor Ray described a 'hermeneutic of goodwill,' the idea of coming to Scripture trusting that God is good and wants to communicate something helpful to us. What has shaped your own default posture when you open the Bible, and where did that come from?
2. The three Gospel accounts of the healing near Jericho differ in details, and Pastor Ray said those differences don't shake his trust in the text. Have you ever hit a passage or a seeming contradiction that tested your trust in Scripture? How did you work through it?
3. Pastor Ray read the angry letter from a traveler who felt turned away, and said that if we are determined to be upset with God or with a church, we will find reasons to be. Have you ever approached a situation, a person, or a scripture passage already expecting the worst? What did that cost you?
4. Jesus told the Pharisees their hardness of heart was the real issue, and Pastor Ray said hardness of heart is essentially the same thing as pride, telling God 'I know better.' Where in your life right now might a softer heart change how you are relating to God or to another person?
5. Pastor Ray closed by saying forgiveness is the way forward, and that God's forgiveness of us is what makes it possible to forgive others and not move through life bitter and guarded. Is there something you are carrying right now that a hermeneutic of goodwill toward God might help you lay down?