Holy Week Challenge

Holy Week begins on Sunday, April 9 with the Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday.
I have a challenge for anyone interested in a different spiritual exercise from the usual.  It will take a little self-sacrifice, perhaps self-denial and humbling of self.  I pledge to do it with you, though I have done it many times.

After going to a Lutheran church since I was 10, knowing that I was called to ministry when I was 13, going to college and Seminary for 9 years in the study of Theology, and after 9 years of ministry in the Lutheran Church, I finally focused on what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for His followers to live in the world, as we have that in the Gospels.  It changed my thinking and direction in life and ministry.  It opened me up to Kingdom of God values and a more holistic love for God with my whole heart, MIND, soul and strength.  For 22 years, I have spoken, written and lived according to my new found understanding.  I would like to open to you that path, if you would like to consider it.  So...

During Holy Week...
   Turn off the TV and Radio for four evenings and perhaps five before Easter/Resurrection Sunday.
   Each evening read ONE of the Gospels...
      Monday - Mark, written first
      Tuesday - Matthew
      Wednesday - Luke
      Thursday - Acts (2nd half of Luke, by the same author)
      Friday - John (if you like, keeping in mind that John is a VERY different kind of document)

This time, when you read these Gospels... (I recommend the New Revised Standard Version Bible)
   Focus on the words of Jesus - highlight or underline them, if you wish
      What Jesus taught - words of enlightenment about the Kingdom, like parables and statements
      What Jesus commanded - Imperative statements "Do this..."  "Don't... "
      What Jesus showed in how to live with one another in this part of God's Kingdom,
          as they exemplify what Jesus taught and commanded in His words
      Especially focus on what Jesus says about LOVE
      Suspend what you have been taught or heard
      Separate this from any ideas around American Civil Religion, Prosperity, Church Growth
      Purely take in what Jesus says, considering that
          JESUS is our authority on Kingdom of God values... Savior, Lord, fulfiller of Law and
                  Prophets, Judge, Rabbi, Son of God and Son of Man
      * with ACTS - consider it as an account of how Jesus' followers lived what Jesus
                  taught, commanded and modeled for how to live in this part of God's Kingdom
                  and consider what impact it is reported to have had when they lived it

OK?
It will take 2 or 3 hours per evening... a Good Lenten Discipline during Holy Week
     They were meant to be read or performed in one sitting, aloud... please feel free to do so...
     Even gather family, spouse, friend(s) or others together for the reading
          If you do it with others, take turns reading, if you wish... give pad and pens for notes
               to discuss AFTER it has all been read that evening...
Warning: this could radically change how you understand Jesus (in the Gospel accounts),
                how you look at your faith and how you live your faith...

If you do this, let me know how it went.

Pastor Jamie