Notes on “Inspired: Church Stories”

This is the last week of our worship series “Inspired” based on the book Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans. Those who wish may purchase the book, and it’s also available in the LJUMC library.

The letters from the Apostle Paul are our earliest glimpses into the early Christian church. Far from the narratives of the Gospels and Acts, these letters are directed to various faith communities who had expanded and grown from those first small groups. These letters highlight the struggles and gifts of these communities, and how they were encouraged (and sometimes reprimanded) by one of the earliest church leaders. As churches struggle today, we may find comfort in knowing we don’t struggle alone and we may find new ways of learning from these ancient letters.

Colossians 3:1-17 (CEB)

¹ Therefore, if you were raised with Christ, look for the things that are above where Christ is sitting at God’s right side. ² Think about the things above and not things on earth. ³ You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.⁴ When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

⁵ So put to death the parts of your life that belong to the earth, such as sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). ⁶ The wrath of God is coming upon disobedient people because of these things. ⁷ You used to live this way, when you were alive to these things.⁸ But now set aside these things, such as anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language. ⁹ Don’t lie to each other. Take off the old human nature with its practices ¹⁰ and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it. ¹¹ In this image there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all people.

¹² Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other. ¹⁴ And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ The peace of Christ must control your hearts—a peace into which you were called in one body. And be thankful people. ¹⁶ The word of Christ must live in you richly. Teach and warn each other with all wisdom by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him.

Consider these questions:

1. How has the apostle Paul been regarded in your own mind and/or in your faith community? Is he lauded to the point that he is held in as high esteem as Christ himself, or is he grumbled about and largely ignored? Do you see his words as illuminating, brilliant, problematic, sexist, outdated, timeless—or perhaps something else or all of the above?
2. The epistles (letters) of the Bible are very different from the Gospels and Acts. Why do you think they were included in Scripture?
3. Consider the wisdom stories that we explored a few weeks ago. Do you think there might be any parallel in reading those wisdom stories to the experience of reading the epistles?
4. Have quotes from the Bible’s epistles ever been used to justify cruelty or injustice against you or someone you love? How did that affect your view of the Bible? How did it affect your view of the apostle Paul?
5. What’s your reaction when you hear that the Bible says, “slaves obey your masters” and “wives submit to your husbands?” Do you know the context of these instructions? Does adding context change the way you understand them?