2022
Scratching the Surface episode 3
Our reading today is from Luke 5:1-11
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding round him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’
Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
What do you notice?
I notice that when Simon tells Jesus to go aways from him because Simon recognises his own failings Jesus tells Simon not to be afraid.
What do you wonder?
I wonder why Jesus said that? I wonder if he knew Simon was afraid? And what he was afraid of? Perhaps Simon was afraid of following Jesus. Perhaps he was afraid of being left behind.
What do you realise?
I realise that I spent a long time being afraid of following Jesus to where he was calling me to go. I realise that mostly that fear was unfounded but there are days when I’m still afraid. Simon Peter didn’t get over his fear that moment he followed Jesus. Far from it. He does loads wrong and messes up. But he changes. He learns as he follows. I hope I can do that too.
What do you notice? What do you wonder? What do you realise? And what do you think of what I noticed, wondered and realised? Let me know in the comments below!
2022
Scratching the Surface ep2
This week in Scratching the Surface we focus on Luke 4:21-30.
What do you notice?
I notice that the people are impressed. I notice that Jesus is the one who starts the argument!
What do you wonder?
I wonder why he did that? I wonder what he was trying to help them to understand? I wonder why they got so angry and wanted to throw him off a cliff?
What do you realise?
I realise that we all like to think we’re on the inside, that we have special access, and that we can all get pretty angry when we realise that’s not the case.
We can’t keep God in a box or write a list for God of who we think deserves help or attention. It seems like God’s list is made up of people who aren’t on the inside or on anyone’s list.
What do you notice? What do you wonder? What do you realise? And what do you think of what I noticed, wondered and realised?
I can’t wait to read what you’re thinking so leave your 3 answers in the comments and remember to check back to see how the conversation is going!
2022
Episode 1
Welcome to Scratching the Surface, our brand new series.
Each Tuesday I’ll be asking 3 simple questions about the bible passage we read in worship:
What do I notice?
What do I wonder?
What do I realise?
I hope that you’ll join in and be curious about the passage too and that you’ll post your answers either in the comments on the website at st-ninians-stonehouse.org.uk, just click the Scratching the Surface link and post in the comments, or on our facebook group. As well as posting your 3 answers to the questions we might even start to chat about all the different things we notice, wonder and realise.
So… here’s the passage for this week…
What do you notice?
I notice that one of the groups of people Jesus talks about are people who are blind. I notice he doesn’t talk about other physical conditions.
What do you wonder?
I wonder why? I wonder if he means actually physically unable to see? I know that Jesus does heal the blind but I wonder if he is also talking about vision? Helping people to see what is happening? Helping people to see God at work in the world…. I wonder what I fail to see?
What do you realise?
I realise that sometimes you have to stop and pay attention to something or someone before you actually see it or them. I realise that Jesus does that often and that I need to be better at it. I realise I need to look harder.
What do you notice? What do you wonder? What do you realise? And what do you think of what I noticed, wondered and realised?
I can’t wait to read what you’re thinking so leave your 3 answers in the comments below and remember to check back to see how the conversation is going!
2022
Scratching the Surface
Scratching The Surface is our brand new video and podcast series where we will ask 3 simple questions of our reading from this week’s worship –
What do I notice?
What do I wonder?
What do I realise?
Join me on Tuesdays on st-ninians-stonehouse.org.uk/ or our Facebook Group to join in the conversation and share what you notice, wonder and realise.