How and Why to Engage the Scriptures PART 1: The LAW

This is the beginning of a new series on How and Why (and for Whom) to engage the scriptures. Nikayla gave this sermon on how to read the Law or the Pentateuch and she talks about how God choose the least of these from out of the dominant and dominating culture. The dominant culture did not and DOES not recognize this God or know this God's name. The Pentateuch is the stories of the "least of all people" being chosen by God, rescued by God, and established by God as a treasured possession. The Law isn't only about morality or right behavior - it's about how to stay OUT of Pharaoh's throne, avoiding the trap of power, and how to stay within the shared  memory; connected to the community and to the land. The LAW needs to be read through a Kingdom Lens and it needs to be read because the least of these continue to be unnoticed, unnamed, unfavored here in our city. We read it so that we might avoid the temptations of power and be people who remember.

 

DISCUSSION: Read Exodus 1-5 and notice which characters have names and which characters don't have names. Who are God's people? Consider the gospels: Who are the people who recognized and trusted Jesus?

 

Anna lead us in Communion this week and her reflection and teaching on communion is shared here after the sermon recording. For this series we will post the communion time as well as the sermon for any who have missed out on the Sunday gathering.