CreatingCommunity is an email devotion to guide your preparation for worship next weekend. Imagine how much more clear and relevant God's Word will be if you have had an opportunity read, reflect, and dwell in the Word prior to worship. You may do this devotion alone, with others, as a family, or over Zoom as a small group.

This devotion is to be done in preparation for Sunday, August 16, 2020, The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost.

Please follow these three steps:

1. Read through the text
2. Respond to the questions (select one of the sets of questions)
3. Offer a Prayer
Matthew 15:21-28
 21Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 27She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
No Experience Necessary Questions:
  1. What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?
  2. What delights me in this text?
  3. What stories or memories does this text stir in me?
  4. What is God up to in this text?
Family Questions:
  1. When have you said, Lord have mercy? We say that in worship on occasion. What else in the story reminds you of a worship service? Explain.
  2. In Jesus' day women and strangers were to be avoided. What does this story suggest to you about how Jesus would want us to treat people? Explain.
  3. In what ways can we as individuals and as a faith community be signs of comfort, healing, and justice for those in need today? Make a list.
Advance Questions:
  1. We often think that God loves everyone. How does Jesus' initial behavior toward the woman support or challenge that notion. What do you make of that?
  2. This women is an outsider. Who are the outsiders in our day, in our church, in our community, in our nation? What does this story suggest ought to be our attitude toward them? Explain.
  3. This story seems to suggest that Jesus was persuaded to change his mind. He first states that his mission was to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then, after talking with the woman, he enlarges his mission to others (all peoples?). What do you make of that? Explain.
Click here to listen to this week's CreatingCommunity song
“Crying for Crumbs".
Prayer
Within everything else I do today, Lord Jesus, give me the courage to carve out the time and space I need to honor You and listen to your voice. Calm me down, give me peace, free my spirit, clear my mind, and let me take a spiritual breath of fresh air from every moment spent with You. Hour by hour, Lord Jesus, change me for the better by the power of Your Holy Spirit: AMEN.
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