Harvest
House Group notes for Harvest- Creation Sunday 2,10.22.
“Thanksgiving and Care”
Prepared by Christine Bailey
Ice-breaker.
Think back to when you were introducing your new boy/girl-friend to your brother/sister/ parents for the first time; or showing-off the new car you'd just bought to your best mate as you stood there, patting the bonnet in besotted joy!
How did you react to their reactions?
The Study.
First passage: Psalm 104. 14-15.
The whole of Psalm 104 is an animated praise to God for Creation. Sometimes the psalmist addresses God directly [you]; at others he uses the third person singular, [he], addressing the hearer/reader of the psalm. I imagine someone 'showing off 'a new wife/husband, to their friends for the first time, and going back and fore between “Isn't s/he wonderful/ beautiful/ talented/ generous?”, and then turning round to look into the beloved's eyes and saying, “You are just the best!”
The whole psalm is worth a read, but time may not be on your side in the limited period of a house-group session.
The verses we are specially looking at are 14-15. After describing the wonders of creation, of the infra-structure of the earth, -land, seas, rivers, -they show God's provision of food and shelter for animals and birds etc. And then come our two verses about God's provision for humankind, too.
Read v14-15
Q: Notice and discuss the list of things God provides in these verses. What is different about the items provided for humankind?
Q: How do you react to the expressed motives of God in giving these three gifts?
Q: Throughout the psalm there is much care expressed for the needs of animals. Discuss what might be a 'Godly' relationship between animals and people, as expressed here.
Q: What does the psalm say about a)generosity and b)dependence?
Second passage.
The beginning of this chapter contains warnings Jesus gave to his disciples about various things: hypocrisy, - because eventually all things will be uncovered; about those who might endanger their spiritual vitality, being worse than those who endanger life. And also encouragements: that they could be assured of their value to God and that the Holy Spirit will be with them in future trials and dangers.
Then there is recorded a warning parable:
Read Luke 12: 13-21
It is prompted by the request of 'someone in the crowd'. This description seems strangely impersonal, after reading Psalm 104.
v13. Teacher, tell my brother... [it's abrupt and directive to the 'teacher'!]
To divide the cash [ahh...wealth is involved]
v14. And, for once, Jesus' response is equally abrupt. He addresses the man impersonally, and won't get involved in the dispute. Is this the 'gentle Jesus, meek and mild' we thought he was?!
Q: Imagine, for a moment, Jesus' tone of voice here. How might you feel if he spoke to you like that?
V15 Then he speaks to his disciples about greed.
The Parable:
Q: v16 Why was the crop particularly good? Was this mere chance?
Q. v17 What do you think of his 'problem'? Have you ever been in a similar situation? Is this one of those 'windfall tax' situations?!, or just the reward for his farming skills?
Q:v18. His solution: was it what you would have done?
Q: v19. Oops! He goes a step too far. Describe how he went wrong?
V20. The tragic ending: in what way was he a fool? [Compare with v15]
v21 This verse gives us the complete picture of the man's error.
Q: Could we have deduced from the story that the man was not rich towards God?
Q: Do we not all store up riches for ourselves to some extent? So where does the balance lie between prudence and greed? And how do we be 'rich towards God'?
Conclusion:
Perhaps you might share specific ways in which the possessions we store could become 'riches for God'.
Share instances you know of, where there is a need which we could meet in some way.
What needs are we not meeting in our society/culture?
To finish:
Pray for some of the suggestions above.
Pray for a balanced view of wealth and possessions, which does not destroy our Earth.
Pray for specific needs you know of, in these uncertain times. Perhaps, if appropriate, share your own needs.
Give thanks for all that we do have.