The Scrolls is a weekly Bible study written by pastors and other leaders at Central Bible Church, based on that week’s sermon topic. Use The Scrolls as a personal Bible study tool, for family devotions, and for small group discussions. You can read part of it below. The downloadable PDF also includes discussion questions, more in-depth commentary, end notes, and a kids’ page designed for families to study the topic together. This lesson goes with the sermon "A Holy Kiss."
Have you ever felt invisible? Have you ever been at an event where you know the host but no one else there? Those gathered seem to know each other but know nothing about you. Awkward! Your host is making everyone feel welcome but has little time for you. Private stories and inside jokes go over your head. If you are an extrovert, you feel silenced. If you are an introvert, you fight the urge to bolt. You don’t want to stand in a silent corner but you also don’t want to stumble through contrived conversations. I was recently in such an awkward situation when far from home. I knew one other person at the gathering and he was preoccupied with much administration. I spoke a different language. I dressed differently. I did not share any vocational similarities with those gathered. I did introduce myself to a few people, but quickly learned that each cluster of people knew each other already and were easily chatting. I tried to be a good listener, but felt all alone. You can only stir the ice in your drink for so long.
This awkwardness continued until another guest approached me. This person shook my hand and asked me my name and where I was from. This person immediately smiled and showed appreciation for where I was from and was impressed at how far I had travelled. I was asked about my family, my work and what I thought of the local surroundings. I was invited to sit down with this person to talk. This person was genuinely interested in me and wanted to know my story. The program for the evening was about to begin and my new friend excused themselves. To my surprise, this person was one of the main speakers for the evening. I was so impressed that a person of this stature would take time to make me feel welcome and “seen.” I personally experienced that acknowledgement is an antidote to invisibility.
We are called to “sacrificially and unconditionally love others” [Core Competency – “Love”]. Love can be expressed in many different ways. Consider the idea of love as “acknowledgment.” Look around you. Are there people unknown and different from you? What would it look like for you to “sacrifice” your own comfort and “acknowledge” a stranger? Ask the person their name and where they are from. Invite them to sit with you. Share with them what you love locally and find out what they love. Making friends and sharing simple hospitality is a wonderful expression of Christian love. Romans 12:13 states, “Practice hospitality.” The Greek word for this practice is “philoxenos,” which means “love of strangers.” Helping a stranger feel welcome is an act of love. Making someone feel appreciated can be a priceless gift, especially to someone feeling invisible.
Even though our world has expanding arenas of social media, people feel more isolated and alone. Our phones, news feeds and streaming channels can become sinkholes. Social contagions like abuse, false accusation, scams, and the threat of litigation can drive many into seclusion. If we are not enticed by our devices to isolate, we may fear that getting involved with others may trap us with shame. The gift of hospitality as an act of love may be the harvest field for which the church has long been praying.
Faith in Jesus can also result in loneliness. The marketplace, the playground and the boardroom can quickly show you the door if your faith becomes too obvious. Christians need to be seen and known by other Christians, lest we think that all are against us. “Body aversion” happens in the church when believers congregate and ignore those different from themselves. How do we greet each other in our gatherings? How well do we make people feel welcome when they worship with us, study with us or pray with us? “Greeting one another” in Christ is not a mere convention. Making people feel known and loved is serious business. We should be courteous and thoughtful in our greetings, working hard to not make anyone feel uncomfortable. But we should not shy away from letting people know that they are seen and loved, especially those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s make it our mission to stamp out invisibility in our midst. Love others well with affectionate acknowledgement.
Central Message of the Text:
Make your experience of grace more than a private matter by praying, celebrating and enjoying God’s Word with brothers and sisters in Christ.
Family Talk:
May is the month when all the end-of-year activities collide with all the beginning of summer activities, resulting in a thunderstorm of parties, celebrations, endless teacher gifts, preparatory shopping and tackling the summer to do list. At some point I’m sure I’ll take a breath but right now I’m just getting through my day and honestly it feels stressful. I’m worried I’m forgetting something, dropping the ball or missing an important detail. I’ve had to remind myself of a few things and I want to share them with you. (1) This is God’s grace. This season points us to the principle of daily surrender and living in the moment. Matthew 6:34 tells us to focus on today and let tomorrow worry about itself. (2) God gave me this day, so I should rejoice and be glad about it. Today isn’t too hard; it’s a blessing and joy (Psalm 118:24). (3) His mercies are new every day and sometimes every moment. I need to show myself and others God’s grace (Lamentations 3:23). (4) This is a season; there is an end in sight. Ecclesiastes 3 reminds me that today isn’t the rest of my life, it’s just today. (4) God is faithful. He started a work in me and He is faithful to carry it on to completion (Phil 1:6). Paul’s closing remarks take this thunderstorm of feelings and settle us with a soft and gentle rain of trust. Paul pleads for prayer as he reminds his friends to continue on in the grace God offers. Let’s do the same. Let’s lift each other up in prayer. Let’s remind each other of His ridiculous grace.