TGIMMstyle

June 23
[media presentation below] GospelThink Saturday, June 23 MATTHEW 7:1-5 The Wooden Beam Prayerthoughts a. How much do I judge others? Do I take the time to pray for them when I know that I am judging them? b. As I study my thinking when I judge others, what primarily am I judging them about? Why? c. As I think of myself seriously, what do I consider my main fault? What in particular can I do about it? d. Do I try to “see clearly” in every situation in which I am involved? e. My prayerthoughts…. Today I will write a prayer on behalf of those I judged yesterday.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy JESUS’ DIRECTIVE TO “SEE CLEARLY” + Jesus gives us one of the keys to the serious spiritual life as Matthew closes off the Sermon on the Mount - namely, to be able to see clearly - the context of the statement is very important because the Lord is talking about how we pass judgment on others - we definitely have to pass judgment at times - but Jesus’ point: we have to be able to clearly see, that is, to be objective, in order to do it well + Some thoughts might be in order to understand what “seeing clearly” means - to do it, we have to take care of our own personal problems before we judge that someone else should get rid of the problems in their lives - if we are to follow Jesus’ directives, anyone who thinks about the conduct of another must first consider his/her own behavior - it should be automatic for the Christian - and more often than not, the person who is really honest will see that his/her behavior leaves much to be desired, especially in the area where the judgment is made - it can be seen, for example, with maturity - we will judge something or someone not to be very mature, and then realize that we are not so mature ourselves in other areas + Seeing clearly also involves an element of understanding who is in charge or the concept of obedience - we don’t know much about Abram’s wandering days, - but we know that the life of a nomad or wanderer—as Abram was—was the life of a pretty independent person - Abram and his clan were used to doing things on their own - and taking directions from no one - all of a sudden, as the dawn of the redemption of humankind begins, Abram must obey God - and he does so, seemingly, with very little difficulty, at least from the way the book of Genesis describes it - actually, it was probably with a lot of difficulty - because obedience is one of the most difficult virtues to learn - Abram was able to see clearly to understand that he must obey God in every way + Our prayer today is to see clearly - to see clearly in order to make our judgments well - to see clearly enough to always obey God.
MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “The Door” (Teddy Swims) I SAVED MY LIFE

The Gospel

JOHN 4:16-19

Jesus said to [the Samaritan woman], "Go, call your husband, and then come back here." "I have no husband," replied the woman. "You are right in saying you have no husband!" Jesus exclaimed. "The fact is, you have had five and the man you are living with now is not your husband. What you said is true." "Sir," answered the woman, "I can see you are a prophet."

Gospelthink: Jesus tells us that sometimes men and women only act like they love and they really are not loving.

“I took a page out of your favorite book. You sold me lies just by the way you look, taught me a language that I’ve never speak. That ain’t for me. You took me higher than I ever flew too many times, gave you a second chance. I’m just a man. No more thinkin’ about you late night, no more runnin’ around with your friends now, done pickin’ up pieces of my soul up off the floor. I said I would die for you, but I can’t take this pain no more. I thought I was willin’ but tonight I save my life when I showed you the door. I can’t play this game no more.”

It is clear over and over again in the Scriptures that Jesus knew human nature. He could easily read what people were doing and thinking. So, as he visited with the person that we have come to call the "Samaritan woman," Jesus knew that she had problems. Not only were there moral problems with multiple love relationships, but He determined that she was hurting herself with the way she was living.

We obviously do not know the problems that the Samaritan woman was having with love, but even the casual observer of the relationships would see that “someone is playing games with love” in that relationship and actually there was no deep love at all in those relationships.

Modern love psychology would address the problem with the thought that playing games with a person’s love interest may on the surface make one feel like they have true love because it makes them feel good and gives temporary happiness. But the bottom line is that a person cannot earn someone’s love with such a mindset.

It may very well have been the case with the situation of the song “The Door” from Teddy Swims. For some reason the other in the relationship simply did not want to make a solid commitment of love. So, the man in the song sings, “Tonight I save my life when I showed you the door. I can’t play this game no more.”

In a love relationship we can’t merely “say” the words of love or “do” the actions of love. We must work at developing and making the love present and get it across to the other person—all the time in their relationship. Too many divorces happen because people play games in love relationships.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, Your Son was able to understand human nature very well, and in the area of love relationships, He was able to discern when we are not really loving when we should be. Help us truly understand what we mean when we truly love someone. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Playing games with love is not love at all.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What does the song "The Door" teach young people?

2. What is most striking about the story of the Samaritan woman in John’s Gospel?

3. Describe a “game” that people play when true love is not present.

4. What “game” about love does a couple most commonly play?

5. What characteristics are absolutely necessary for a man and woman to marry?

6. What do you think is the most common reason for a couple to get divorced?

JESUS’ DIRECTIVE TO “SEE CLEARLY”