The Lenten Guide Week 3: March 14 - March 20, 2022 Devotions & Bible Studies Commentaries & Bible Studies by Marben Bland
Repent OR Die
Luke 13:1-9 The Parable Of The Barren Fig Tree
REPENT OR DIE A fire and brimstone preacher is telling her parishioners if they don’t repent, they will die face Hell’s damnation cutoff for eternity from God’s love. In “The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree” (Luke 13:6-9) Jesus uses a fig tree, barren without fruit as a metaphor for the sinner who has not repented. The owner of the tree is frustrated because for three years no fruit has been produced by it. The owner says the tree is a waste of soil, he orders the gardener to cut it down. Concerned the gardener proposes a deal; let the tree live for one more year. During the year he will dig around it and put manure on the tree. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, the owner can “cut it down.” Consider the Gospel of Jesus as the manure being spread around by gardeners. The pastor who digs in deep with her parishioners and everyone else to tell the story of Jesus. Some may call it fire and brimstone however, she is teaching, preaching, and living this simple fact repent or die. For God so loved you and me that He gave us Jesus. And if we believed in Jesus, repent of our sins we will not die but will have everlasting life. So, the question is what type of tree are you and what are you doing with the manure and the digging going on around you? It’s not fire and brimstone rather it’s life or death, its repent or die.
Monday - March 14, 2022
Isaiah 55:1–9
8 The Lord says, “My thoughts are not like yours. Your ways are not like mine. 9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.
Thought God's thoughts are not our thoughts. God is up to something and that something is new and surprising.
Prayer
Holy God, invite us into your vision, and fill us with your promise. Bring your good news to us through word, song, and the actions of your people. In Christ, your Son, we pray. Amen.
Tuesday - March 15, 2022
Psalm 63:1
God, you are my God. I am searching so hard to find you. Body and soul, I thirst for you
Thought I think it is fair to say that at this point, in a pandemic that has engulfed our world, our souls are longing for something more.
Prayer
Holy God, be a refuge for our weary souls and bring us to the feast of your grace. Be our sanctuary in this storm and a place of rest for our souls. In Christ, your Son, we pray. Amen.
Wednesday - March 16, 2022
Luke 13:5
....unless you repent, you will all perish
Thought The Greek word for repent, metanoeō, also means to change one's mind.
Prayer God of change, direct us on a pathway of new possibilities. Amen.
Thursday - March 17, 2022
Acts 4:10,12 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.
Thought Proclaim the risen savior
Prayer
Father thank you for Jesus our risen savior! Amen.
Friday - March 18, 2022
Luke 13:5 The gardener said let the tree alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Thought The tough season we are in will not last forever; there is the promise of good here.
Prayer
God of grace, enfold us in your love. Point us in the direction of good soil; nurture our spirits, and tend to our hearts. In Christ, your Son, we pray. Amen
Saturday - March 19, 2022
Joshua 5:11-12 On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land
Thought
God’s promise feeds us every day in unknown ways.
Prayer
God of promise, you carried your people through the wilderness; carry us now through the complexities of life, the anxieties and despair, that we may again rejoice in you and in one another. Amen.
Sunday - March 20, 2022
Isaiah 58:9 “When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond
Thought
Our spiritual transformation goes hand-in-hand with just actions. Our spiritual renewal enables us to care for others. Caring for others renews us spiritually.
Prayer
Dear God, let Lent be a time of internal renewal as well as outward actions. Lead me to care for those in need. Help me take practical actions to rebuild and restore those around me. Amen.
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@ G T S N E
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Click on this link to listen
Lent is a significant season in the year for Christians. A time of solemnity and self-reflection. At Greater Saint Peter, we will celebrate Lent with these services and activities: March 2nd Ash Wednesday Virtual Service @ 10:00 AM, 6:00 PM, 8:00 PM on all GSP online platforms April 10th Palm Sunday In-person and online service 10:00 AM April 14th Maundy Thursday Virtual meal and service 6:00 PM on all GSP online platforms April 15th Good Friday Virtual Service @ 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 6:00 PM, 8:00 PM on all GSP online platforms April 17th Easter Sunday 10:00 AM In-person and on all GSP online platforms
Lenten Bible Study: Luke 13:1-9 7:00 PM ET Thursday, March 10, 2022
www.zoom.us Meeting ID: 695 669 5487 Zoom Conference Call 301 715 8592 Meeting ID: 695 669 5487
Opening Thoughts Repent Or Die A fire and brimstone preacher is telling her parishioners if they don’t repent, they will die face Hell’s damnation cutoff for eternity from God’s love. In “The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree” (Luke 13:6-9) Jesus uses a fig tree, barren without fruit as a metaphor for the sinner who has not repented. The owner of the tree is frustrated because for three years no fruit has been produced by it. The owner says the tree is a waste of soil, he orders the gardener to cut it down. Concerned the gardener proposes a deal; let the tree live for one more year. During the year he will dig around it and put manure on the tree. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, the owner can “cut it down.” Consider the Gospel of Jesus as the manure being spread around by gardeners. The pastor who digs in deep with her parishioners and everyone else to tell the story of Jesus. Some may call it fire and brimstone however, she is teaching, preaching, and living this simple fact repent or die. For God so loved you and me that He gave us Jesus. And if we believed in Jesus, repent of our sins we will not die but will have everlasting life. So, the question is what type of tree are you and what are you doing with the manure and the digging going on around you? It’s not fire and brimstone rather it’s life or death, its repent or die. Read: Luke 13:1-9 in either the Message translation or the New Revised Standard Version.
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Luke 13:1-9 The Message Unless You Turn to God 13 1-5 About that time some people came up and told Jesus about the Galileans Pilate had killed while they were at worship, mixing their blood with the blood of the sacrifices on the altar. Jesus responded, “Do you think those murdered Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans? Not at all said Jesus. Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die. And those eighteen in Jerusalem the other day, the ones crushed and killed when the Tower of Siloam collapsed and fell on them, do you think they were worse citizens than all other Jerusalemites? Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die.” 6-7
Then Jesus told them a story: “A man had an apple tree planted in his front yard. He
came to it expecting to find apples, but there weren’t any. He said to his gardener, ‘What’s going on here? For three years now I’ve come to this tree expecting apples and not one apple have I found. Chop it down! Why waste good ground with it any longer?’ 8-9
“The gardener said, ‘Let’s give it another year. I’ll dig around it and fertilize, and
maybe it will produce next year; if it doesn’t, then chop it down.’” Luke 13: 1-9 New Revised Standard Version Repent or Perish 13 At that very time there were some disciples present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus asked the disciples, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way, they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you, said Jesus; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, said Jesus I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree 6
Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! 2
Why should it be wasting the soil?’ 8 He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” Breakdown Verses 1-5 Luke chapter 13 is part of a conversation with Jesus, his disciples and the crowds that have gathered to listen in that started in chapter 12. These are wide ranging discussions where the disciples are asking various questions. In verse one the disciples ask Jesus to comment on the recent deaths of Galileans worshipers killed by Pilate’s army. Pilate soldiers show their contempt for the worshipers by mixing their blood with the blood of the animals that were sacrificed at the altar. The disciples asked Jesus this question: “Were these Galileans worse sinners than all other Galileans because of the way that they died?” Jesus replied no, these Galileans were not worse sinners; however, he reminded the disciples that unless they repented, they would perish without the everlasting life promised by the Lord. In verse four Jesus. reinforces his point, referring to the eighteen people who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them. He turns the table asking the disciples this question: “Did they believed the eighteen killed at the tower to be worse sinners than the Galileans worshipers killed by Pilate’s army? Before the disciples could answer, again Jesus said, “Without repentance a person would perish.” Dying without the everlasting life promised by the Lord. Questions In reading verses 1-5 of chapter 13, how do you think Jesus views sin, repentance and death? 1. Are some sins greater than others? 2. Are our sins tied to death? 3. Will those who sinned greatly face a more difficult, painful, and tragic death? 4. In these verses (1-5) why is Jesus calling on the disciples and us to repent?
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree Paul in Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Due to the sins of Adam and Eve in the garden, we are all now subject to divine judgment. In verse 1-5 and in “The Parable of Barren Fig Tree”, Jesus has come to announce in no uncertain terms, that unless we repent, we will perish without the everlasting life promised by the Lord.
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The parable is set in a garden where for three years a fig tree, a common source of food during the time is barren going nearly three years without delivering fruit. The disgusted owner declares that the plant is a waist of soil, and it must be cut down. However, the tree has an advocate, a garden, who makes this proposal to the owner: The garden wants a year to work with the tree, to dig around it, and put manure on it. If the tree bears fruit next year wonderful, if not it will be cut down. This is the hope offered in Jesus’ parable of the Fig Tree. The imagery is reminiscent of the Scriptures in which the people of God are compared to a garden planted and tended by the Lord (Isa. 5:1–7; Joel 2:22). Though some have made attempts to read this allegory literally— understanding the “three years” as representative of Jesus’ ministry, the tree itself as the Jewish nation—it is perhaps best to focus simply on the notion that the fig tree is reflective of the apathy and indecision that is widespread among those who hear Jesus’ message. In reading “The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree” how do you think Jesus views sin, repentance and death? 1. How many years had the fig tree been barren? / How many years was Jesus’s public ministry? 2. What would happen to the tree if it did not yield fruit? What happens to a person who does not repent? 3. Why did the garden want to give the tree a year to bloom? Why did God send Jesus to the earth?
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BIBLE STUDY VIDEO
Click on this link to watch the episode of the Twilight Zone entitled “You Drive”
Questions 1. What sin did the paper boy commit? / Did he die because of his sin? 2. What sin(s) did Ollie commit? / Did Ollie die because of his sin? 3. Why did Ollie sin? / What were the consequences of Ollie’s sin(s) 4. According to Jesus was Ollie’s sin big or little? 5. At the end of the episode, we see Ollie walk into a police station perhaps to turn himself in and confess his crime. What else should he do?