Getting Lost in the Woods

Last month, Molly offered the first of two teaching sermons on the Christian Bible.  She focused on the  Hebrew Scriptures , and began by talking about the labels we use when referring to these sacred texts.  The Hebrew Scriptures are better known in Christian circles as the Old Testament , and are sometimes referred to as the  First Covenant .  Like Molly, I don't use the label Old Testament   because of its negative connotations.  Instead, like many others, we refer to these sacred texts as the Hebrew Scriptures .   For me, this label is a helpful reminder that Jesus of Nazareth, in birth and death, was a practicing Jew; and that these sacred texts were the ones he learned, inwardly digested, and informed his teachings of God’s love and grace. Today, I’ll offer the second teaching sermon on the Christian Bible, focusing on the Christian Scriptures.  These sacred texts are better known in Christian circles as the New Testament , and are sometimes referred to as the  Second Covenan

  How do we know if we have  enough  faith?   This is a question the apostles have some anxiety around when we meet them in today’s  gospel lesson .  They practically beg Jesus to,  “Increase our faith!”   (Luke 17:5) .   Now in fairness, they seem a bit overwhelmed by Jesus’ instruction a few verses earlier.  (Luke 17:1-4) Jesus had been speaking to them about the challenges of discipleship  (Luke 17:1-4).   He warned them against using their power and position to mislead the vulnerable.  He cautioned there would be times when the disciples sinned against one another.  Jesus was trying to prepare them for the inevitable reality that disciples would violate boundaries and norms that caused harm and fractured relationships.  He explained when this happens, they were to communicate this harm to the offending party, and if that person repented, they were to forgive them  (Luke 17:3-4).   Irrelevant of how many times they came up short, if they sincerely repented, they were to forgive one