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Please click appropriate link on left.... Questioning Weeks: 5 Tagline: Who do you say that I am? Key Quote: "They found Jesus in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions." (Luke 2:46) Contributors: Rev. Robert Driver-Bishop, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, McLean, Virginia (Theme Statements); Enuma Okoro, All Saints United Methodist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina (Worship Texts); Rev. Amy Wiegert, United by Faith, Evergreen Park, Illinois (Scrapbook); Linda Holcombe, Christ Lutheran Church, Highlands Ranch, Colorado (Music Suggestions); Augsburg Fortress worship staff Theme Statement Asking questions can be scary. Being asked questions can be scary, too. Asking or being asked questions means you have to admit that you might not know something—or maybe it's putting someone else on the spot. You put yourself at another person's feet, hoping they can enlighten you or make a decision for you (or give you the "right" answer). Sometimes this feels weak or confrontational, so we avoid asking the questions we want answered or giving the answers that are truly needed. Jesus demonstrates that questioning can lead us closer to God and one another. Jesus asked more than 300 questions in his ministry. Jesus' first words in the gospels (as a young man in the temple) were questions to the elders. His final words on the cross included a question. Jesus often answered questions with questions. Jesus chose not to offer simple answers to the complex concerns in our lives. Neither should we. Questions help us examine our relationship with God, each other, and ourselves. Jesus challenges us to open up and struggle. God gave us the gift of thought. We are challenged to use it. Each week we'll look at how questions bring us to discover more and more who Jesus is.
"The unexamined life is not worth living." —Socrates Music "Gracious Spirit, Heed Our Pleading", ELW 401, Augsburg Fortress "Take, Oh, Take Me As I Am", ELW 814, Augsburg Fortress "All That I Need", Vicky Beeching, "At the Cross", Reuben Morgan/Darlene Zschech, "Blessed Be Your Name", Beth Redman/Matt Redman, "Come, Let Us Worship", Jesse Reeves/Chris Tomlin, Worship Together/Sixsteps Music "Everyday", Joel Houston, "Have Faith in God", Geoff Bullock, Word Music, Inc./Maranatha! Music "Here I Am to Worship", Tim Hughes, "Holy Is the Lord", Louie Giglio/Chris Tomlin, Worship Together/Sixsteps Music "In Christ Alone", Keith Getty/Stuart Townend, "Who Am I", Mark Hall, Worship Texts Confession and Forgiveness Our God is gracious and merciful. Let us confess our sins, together seeking forgiveness. Silence is kept for reflection. When we are filled with questions about the truth of your word, we fail to seek you for answers. When we are filled with questions about what it means to be a Christian, we fail to ask your Holy Spirit for guidance. When we are filled with questions about your love and acceptance for us, we fail to acknowledge the blessings and grace you offer in abundance. When we are filled with questions about where you are at work in the world, we fail to see your hand in the hospitality of strangers; we fail to offer hospitality ourselves as a sign of your presence to others. When we are filled with questions about our faith and beliefs, we fail to confess our doubts and fears to you; we fail to ask you to help our unbelief. Lord, in your mercy, forgive us and teach us to bring our questions to you. God, in love and mercy, has promised to answer all those who seek, knock, and ask. Receive the free love and forgiveness of God offered in Jesus Christ, who came that you might die to sin and rise to new life in the triune community of Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God. Blessing Give thanks for the freedom to ask questions, grow in faithful curiosity, patiently accept the gift of God's ongoing revelation, rejoice in the truth that all things will be revealed in time, and trust in God's presence and eternal love in the midst of all the questions. The God of grace + bless you now and forever. Amen. Copyright ©2008 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission under license.
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