Bible Study Guide for Sunday, March 7, 2021

• Exodus 20:1-17
• 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
• John 2:13-22
• Psalm 19

Bostonians generally do not want to think of ourselves as foolish. We are one of the world’s great centers of education and science. Boston has been a home for great artists and writers and social reformers. Since the 1850s, Boston has been known as the “Hub of the Universe!”  Though of course that is tongue in cheek.  Well, mostly tongue in cheek.

There is also a danger buried here. We can start to think that our deepest problems are things we can solve on our own. We can be so accomplished and industrious we lose sight that we need a savior. Today’s Collect brings us back to earth with a thud. “Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves.” Well, God knows that. Too often we forget.

Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians keeps hammering this point home. Paul does not announce a plan which we should implement to improve ourselves and the world. Instead Paul “[proclaims] Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” The power of God is revealed in shame and suffering and death. If we don’t see that as shocking we are not paying attention. And yet for us who are called, we can recognize “the power of God and the wisdom of God” in the cross. As Jesus embraces that shame and suffering and death he also defeats it. This doesn’t fit any of our human understandings. If we are looking for a plan that makes sense, this isn’t it.  But
“God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.”

We have no power in ourselves to help ourselves. God makes all of our human wisdom to be foolishness.  But then through the cross Jesus shows God’s power to save.  And after the cross comes the resurrection.

• How do you react to today’s Collect? What are the implications of “we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves”?
• Human beings have of course accomplished a lot over the centuries. How should we think about our own achievements, as individuals or as a society? Is that all foolishness?
• Has the Cross been a stumbling block for you? How do you understand it?

Author - Kristen Filipic