Faith Unseen, Unheard

Mesa Grande Academy joins us this Sabbath to lead in worship and help us explore the final segment in our series on Choosing our Faith.  Through bells, choir, drama, and listening in as Pastor Dustin and several of the youth talk about their faith experiences, we have the opportunity to explore what we believe from the perspective of many of our young people.

Listening.  That's a significant part of the question, and the conversations we have, whether we verbalize it or not.  How do we hear God's voice?  Does God still speak?  How does the way God speaks change with time, situation, circumstances?  Or, is the question less one of God speaking or us listening?  How do our assumptions and expectations help or hinder our ability to hear?  These, and others, are the questions explored.

To listen to what Pastor Dustin and the young people from Mesa Grande Academy shared with us, click here.

If you were not able to be with us in person, here is a sample of Mesa Grande Academy's choir leading out in worship through music.  

Some Scripture Passages in the Conversation 

John 1 (TNIV)

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

    6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

    9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

    14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only [Son], who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. . .

. . . John 6 . . .

  26 Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

    28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"

    29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

    30 So they asked him, "What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"

    32 Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

    34 "Sir," they said, "always give us this bread."

    35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All whom the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 

. . . John 13 . . .

33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

    34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

. . .  1 John 1 . . .

 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our  joy complete.

Questions for Reflection:

(For those who had the opportunity to be present for the entire service), what element of what was shared spoke to you to most powerfully?  What do you hear differently when you listen to the voices of young people that you might not hear otherwise?Think about the times when you have been the most aware of God's presence, or sensed God "speaking" in some way?  What was that experience like?  Why do you think you were more "aware" or more "receptive" during that time?  Do you think God was speaking less or any less present at other times?

If God is really more interested in people who serve out of love rather than because we have been overpowered by how huge and powerful God is, how might this effect the way that God speaks?

In what way might we have a role to play in how clearly God is able to speak and be heard in our world today?