Bethlehem Lutheran Church

I watched one of my favorite movies recently.  The film is about people who want to learn to ballroom dance.  One of them danced with energy, skill and passion:  everything I aspire to on the dance floor.  This magnificent dancer however overlooked his talents and the gifts he had to share with his friends.  He focused instead on what he saw as his imperfection:  his follicly challenged head.  He wouldn't dance unless he wore a long flowing wig. 

This dancer was so obsessed with covering his head that it interfered with his performance.  When the wig came loose he ignored his dance steps and his partner to rearrange it in an effort to hide his head.  It was only when his partner yelled at him that people were there to watch him dance not look at his head that he threw the wig to the floor and showed how well he could dance.  The audience exploded with applause shouting "we love you baldy" as he danced his way to the finals.

Consider:

• Have you ever focused so much on what you perceive as your imperfections that you forget to celebrate and share your gifts?
• How did you learn to focus your gifts and how you could share them with others?

Grow

Perfection:

The dancer wanted to be perfect because he was afraid he would be rejected:  by other dancers, his coworkers and the audience.  It was only when he realized that they loved him as he was: that they accepted him, that he was free to share his gifts.

Read:

• Romans 15:7 "Christ has accepted you"

Consider:

• Describe a time when you were accepted in spite of what you perceived as your imperfections

• What did you learn from this experience?

Theme: You've got a Story to Tell

Sharing our imperfections to help others.

Chris called on us not to pretend we're perfect but to be "...open and honest-in a community of people who all know that we are accepted by god-loved and forgiven by God..." and that "...God can use our stories in the lives of people we meet."

Read:

• Matthew 9:12 "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick"
• sermon

Consider:

• What story do you have to share?
• How could your story help those who also struggle? 

Close

Raise me up!

My life has been blessed. Keep hungry my heart for your love.

You, our rock!

Our lives have been blessed. Feed us with your life-giving bread.

Prepare

Words for the Week

Try this contemplative approach to reading scripture called lectio divina.
Take a deep breath and find a little silence within yourself. Then:
Read the verse a few times with a listening heart filled with unhurried expectation.
Reflect on this question, "What are you saying to me in this verse today, God?"
Respond by talking to God about your real feelings, thoughts, questions, and doubts.
Rest by simply being with God who knows you and loves you.

Monday

• 1^st Peter 2: 9-10

Tuesday

• Isaiah 43: 4-7

Wednesday

• Ephesians 1: 3-6

Thursday

• Isaiah 43: 9-13

Friday                                                             

• Matthew 9: 9-13

Saturday

• Luke 7: 44-48