My word says woe unto the world because of offenses and gives detailed instructions on how to avoid them and how to deal with them when they happen, for it also says that offenses will come. How great an offense can you overlook? For you can see a wide range in responses of sensitivity to offense. Some people seem to be searching for them and others try to avoid finding them even when presented directly. Which do you admire more? Do you find it more noble minded to be able to overlook small things?

How many sacraments do you practice? Different churches recognize different numbers, but they are typically few and well-defined in terms of what they consist of, and who may administer them, and when. Do you think of them as outward symbols of inward graces? Could they also be thought of as simple actions that reinforce your connection to the divine? Have you ever had an experience that met this description that didn’t meet the recognized categories of sacraments? Are you free to make up your own sacraments? You are free to do those practices that you find spiritually beneficial.

How do you view your status in the Kingdom of God? You know that you are saved by grace and not by works lest any man should boast. Does this trouble you? Would you prefer that it be something you earn? The Bible takes the concept further in saying you were bought with a price and you are not your own. This is reminiscent of the practice of slavery, common in Bible times, and those exchanged are not even party to the transaction, either as buyers or sellers. Do you find this offensive? Paul was not ashamed to refer to himself as my bondservant. He took it as a badge of honor. Do you?

Do you think of silence only as the absence of sound? If that is true then all silences are equal, but can a silence be profound? Have you ever been in a situation where the gravity of events prevented anyone from speaking? It is no trivial thing to break such a silence and it is a mistake to do so prematurely. Are you familiar with the passage about silence in heaven? Have you ever prayed with groaning too deep to be uttered? Everyone recognizes that there is meaning in words. Those who are spiritually mature can find meaning in silence. What does the silence speak to you?