"Conversion of Trump | Evangelicalism's gospel | Sermon manuscripts" Ministry Matters in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Tuesday, 28 June 2016
"The conversion of Donald Trump and the problem with evangelicalism’s gospel" by Tom FuerstBigstock/andykatzWhat does it say about evangelicalism in America that James Dobson, one of our leading voices for the last three decades, can claim that Donald Trump has accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior yet not a single one of Trump’s political policies or tactics has changed or been significantly modified by the lordship of Jesus? What does it say about us that the same man who, months ago, expressed no need for repentance before God, has now been declared a member of the Christian community without expressing that most foundational Christian disposition? Of course, Dobson excuses Trump’s lack of change with such lines as “he just doesn’t know our language” or claims that Trump’s “baby Christian” status excuses his plentiful references to “religion” without explicit statements of “faith and belief.” But I think these things are less the failure of Trump’s Christian infancy as much as they are a microcosm of the underlying problem with much of America’s evangelical movement — we actually have no idea what it means to be Christian. We lack a meaningful understanding of faith and belief.
Trump’s conversion experience, lacking as it is in fruits of repentance, godly sorrow, and changed life, isn’t primarily a reflection of what’s wrong with his soul (though it is that, too); it’s a reflection of what’s wrong with the soul of evangelicalism. Our reductions of Christianity show a general lack of understanding of what it means to say “Christ is Lord.” The biblical authors didn’t tell people, “You need at accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior,” as if accepting Jesus is the primary thing that happens in salvation. No, for the biblical writers, the gospel proclamation is, “Repent and believe; repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.” Not only is this imperative not about intellectual assent to bullet points of doctrine, not only is this imperative not about my acceptance of Christ, but it is also not primarily about what I have done at all. It’s about the grand story of God, in Christ, healing a broken world and bringing about a new creation starting now.
Instead of this understanding of faith and belief, on national level we have reduced Christianity to a partisan political agenda, an entrenched representative of the culture wars, and a cognitive ideology to which one must claim assent in order to hold political power in America. On a local and individual level, we have reduced our faith to intellectually assenting to propositional truths (1. You are a sinner, 2. Jesus died for you. 3. You can go to heaven when you die), a cultural identifier (particularly in the South), and a religion of therapy, self-help and moralism.
Thus, the question is not whether Donald Trump has prayed some prayer. The question is not whether he has even made a verbal confession of Christ’s lordship. Do not demons even do the latter, according to James? The question is, what has Christ done in his death and resurrection to offer the grace of repentance to you, me and Donald Trump? Has a genuine life change occurred because he has been empowered by the Holy Spirit to come out of his sin and pursue Christlikeness in both his personal and political life? And what might such a conversion look like in the life of any person, in this case Donald Trump?
Of course, someone might challenge and say, “C’mon, man, give him a break. Dobson’s right, Trump’s just a baby Christian. He doesn’t know everything he needs to know. He can’t know all the gospel requires of him.”
Indeed. No Christian is perfect, especially young believers who are just wading into the love and holiness of God. But, again, I don’t think the problem is with Trump’s infancy or newness to the faith. The problem is a bland gospel that says, “Accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and you can go to heaven when you die.” The problem is with an understanding of the gospel that is limited to personal decision, preferences for heaven over hell and offers blessing without a cross, salvation without confession and repentance
But the gospel of Christ is much more robust than the privatized, personal gospel of my evangelical tradition, and this fact should be part of what Trump (and all other converts) is presented with. Doesn’t anyone else find it odd that Dobson is speaking of Trump’s new-found faith, but Trump, himself, has said nothing? Even if his conversion were genuine, this seems suspect, especially given the church’s call for public confession of faith throughout history. The early church used to have those who wished to convert wait an entire year before they were publicly baptized and declared to be Christians. While certainly the Bible offers examples of immediate baptism upon profession of faith, the early church recognized that the kind of life change required by the gospel meant that they had a responsibility to make sure that converts understood as clearly as possible what they were entering. During the year-long waiting period, the converts were taught Christian belief and were invited to follow (i.e. be discipled) the lifestyle of a mature believer.
I’m not saying we need to go back to a one-year waiting period, but such a tactic would solve the problem raised by James Dobson, that Trump speaks of vague religion but not the specifics of “faith and belief.” Indeed, such a discipleship period would help new Christians see precisely that Christianity offers no bland, oblong blur of a faith, but says something specific about the creator God and what that God has done in Christ for the reconciliation of the world. Maybe such a period wouldn’t solve all our problems, but it’d be a step in the right direction.
So why don’t we do something like this?
Our Protestant free-grace teachings have combined with our American pragmatism and a valuation of numbers, resulting in an understanding of conversion so easy that there is no cross to carry let alone lifestyle to change. We ask people to say they’re sorry for sin in general, but we don’t speak of the specific repentance the gospel calls forth, nor the life of holiness and sanctification Christ says is necessary to be his disciple. We talk about salvation as something we enter into so our soul can go to heaven, but little about the holiness and sanctification of life that the gospel empowers in the here and now. Our gospel has been Americanized, privatized, commodified and politicized. And thus it is stilted, stale and sad.
Am I picking on Donald Trump here? No. Donald Trump is a microcosm of a larger problem. It is time we who claim to be followers of Jesus actually start living and proclaiming what Jesus actually said. Yes, of course, salvation is a free gift of God, offered by grace, received by faith. Of course no one is going to “get it” all immediately (or ever). But the same Bible that teaches that freeness and grace also says, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” It’s time to consider what that might mean, not just for Donald Trump, but for me and you, our communities and the world in which we live. After all, is it really possible for great God of creation and redemption to enter into a human soul or community without leaving a mark? I think not. I sincerely hope Trump’s conversion is legitimate. The fruits of repentance will tell. They will be lived out in his personal and political life. That’s what the gospel teaches us, anyway. It’s what it’s always taught us, whether we wanted to acknowledge it or not.
RELATED: Trump, evangelicals and defiant Methodists
Tom Fuerst blogs at Tom1st.com. He is the author of the forthcoming Underdogs and Outsiders. You can subscribe to his blog via email here.
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"The church, Orlando and LGBTQ pain" by Anna BlaedelBigstock/CrazyMonkStudio“Healing does not cover over, but exposes the wound to others.”[Sara Ahmed]
Just over a week ago, an angry man with a history of violence and threatening violence, made his way to Pulse, one of Orlando’s gay nightclubs. He was armed with guns, volatile rage, and deep, complicated homophobia. The guns were legally purchased. The rage was socially sanctioned. The deep, complicated homophobia had long been endorsed by at least some practitioners of every major religious tradition. The people who were at Pulse that night were celebrating Latin Night, during Pride Month; they were mostly LGBTQ, mostly Latinx, predominantly Puerto Rican. They were seeking community, connection, celebratory space, safe space, sanctuary. 49 beautiful, beloved, people were murdered; 53 more were physically injured; countless more were traumatized, cast into fear, loss, grief and anger.
Exactly one week before this massacre, I came out on the floor of the Iowa Annual Conference. During a moment of personal privilege, I confessed that I have been a United Methodist almost my entire life. I was baptized, confirmed, called, commissioned, and ordained into this church. This has been my place of spiritual belonging, of vocational calling, my faith community, my faith home. I confessed that I do not want to, therefore, go. But. And. I confessed that I am a self-avowed, practicing homosexual. Or, in my language, I am out, queer, partnered clergy. I confessed that I knew this truth was not news to most if any of those gathered around me, but that by simply speaking this truth, aloud, there, I could be brought up on charges, face a formal complaint, lose my job, lose my clergy credentials, lose my space of spiritual belonging, of vocational calling, my faith community, my faith home.
I confessed that I cannot begin to describe the persistent pain and weary woundedness of being raised in and called to a church that continues to call my being and my loving a chargeable offense, that continues to identify my being and my loving as incompatible with Christian teaching. I confessed that I do not know if it is faithful or just plain foolish of me to continue giving my prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness to a denomination that continues to call me and so many I love an abomination, an issue, a divisive distraction. I confessed that the UMC is instilling in me and other LGBTQ people some horrible, harmful untruths: that we are unloved, and unlovable. That we are unworthy. That we are incompatible, disordered, divisive. That at our core, at the core of our createdness, there is something shameful, sick, sinful.
I asked my sisters and brothers in Christ to be church: to stop the complaints, stop the charges, stop the prohibitions, stop the harm.
The day after the massacre — the very next day — my bishop wrote me a letter informing me of a formal complaint filed against me by three male clergy colleagues. The rest of the week was a blur, spent tending to my own grief, providing pastoral care for LGBTQ people within my appointed ministry context and far beyond, and reaching out to and gathering with LGBTQ folk in that hope that none of us would feel quite so alone in our fear, loss, grief and anger.
I am still struggling to find words to express my own fear, loss, grief and anger.
To my fellow queers, whether you seek sanctuary in churches or gay bars or both, I want to say this: You are beautiful. You are beloved. You are enough. You are not alone. God delights in you.And any message to the contrary is incompatible with Christian teaching.
To my straight United Methodist colleagues, I want to say this:Lean in. Listen to the voices of LGBTQ people crying out in lament. Check in. Call/text/email/message every LGBTQ friend or family member, let them know you love them, that you care. Keep checking in. Confess. Name to yourself, to God, and to other straight people the ways you have been too quiet, too slow, too tentative, too conditional in your support. Repent. Recognize the ways you are complicit in the ongoing spiritual and physical violence against LGBTQ people. Do it differently.
I trust and pray none of you condone killing LGBTQ people. But remember, people do not begin to learn to hate from hate groups, but from more subtle statements and conventional practices, like those found within our own Book of Discipline, and shared from our own United Methodist pulpits.
"Why I write sermon manuscripts" by Talbot DavisPhoto: BigstockAs a lot of you know, I write a sermon manuscript virtually every week.
I am able to work several weeks ahead, so while I write one almost every week, it’s not the one I’ll deliver that coming Sunday. That one, of course, has been written several weeks earlier.
But what’s the purpose of a sermon manuscript? Why write so much of what you are going to say?
The purpose of a manuscript is to disappear.
Yes, the manuscript gets prepared, typed out, looked at and prayed over all so that it may get out of the way.
Because, as many of you know, while I write the sermons out I end up delivering them without any notes.
I heard a seminary professor say one time “Write your sermon out and then leave the paper in your office when you preach.” I’ve taken that to heart for 26 years.
There are two reasons why this process works for me:
1. I think to talk. People come in two shapes: those who talk to think and those who think to talk. Some people process their thoughts while verbalizing them; if you’re kind you call them loquacious and if you’re feeling less charitable you call them long talkers. I cannot talk to think — it’s why I’m a poor debater and an even worse “arguer.” I’m simply not quick on my feet and only after a heated argument think “Doh! That’s what I should have said!”
Other people process their thoughts before verbalizing. This is my natural wiring. If I were to preach “off the cuff” my messages would wander around trying to find something interesting to say and never arrive. So I think — and pray and prepare and write — before I talk.
2. I internalize rather than memorize. The time I spend with a manuscript the week before delivery is NOT to memorize it. It’s to internalize. There’s a huge difference. A memorized sermon comes off as an actor reading lines from an invisible script. An internalized sermon is one that inhabits the preacher’s very being all week long. I pray that by internalizing the message I know and live the things the Scripture says and the things that I can’t wait to say from that Scripture. On a given Sunday I will say most but not all of what was written down … as well as a few things that weren’t written anywhere. But that carefree sponataneity is only possible in the context of careful preparation.
3. A happy — and originally unintended — consequence is that it has been relatively simple for the manuscripts to become books.People take a look at Head Scratchers, The Storm Before the Calm, The Shadow of a Doubt and now Solve and ask, “Where do you find time to write all these books?” The answer is that I’ve been writing them all along. I just didn’t know it! (Well, I had a pretty good idea by the time of Solutionists/Solve.) But the editorial team at Abingdon is able to take those sermon manuscripts, compare them with the Good Shepherd sermon video, and come up with the best of both worlds.
So the reason I spend all that time writing a manuscript is so that when the time comes, it will be long gone.
Until someone really needs it.
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Talbot Davis is pastor of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He blogs at TalbotDavis.com.
"Trump, evangelicals and defiant Methodists"
By Shane RaynorRepublican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Bigstock/andykatz
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"Pharaoh's privilege"
By Dave BarnhartBigstock/ronniechua[Pharaoh] said, “You are lazy, lazy; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ Go now, and work; for no straw shall be given you, but you shall still deliver the same number of bricks.” (Exodus 5:17-18)
If I were a movie screenwriter, I know how I’d set this scene: Pharaoh lounges on his throne while servants fan him. Servants tie his sandals for him. They feed him from a platter. They shave his head and face for him. He barely turns his face to the Hebrew leaders while he calls them lazy.
The Hebrew writer, of course, relishes the irony while indicating all of this with two words: “lazy, lazy.” Pharaoh is blind to the fact that as a man born into the wealthiest, most powerful position in the ancient world, he gets to be the laziest person on the planet. The people he accuses of being lazy have to work themselves to the bone just to stay alive. He is the lazy one.
He’s also dishonest. He fears the Hebrew people. He’s afraid of reprisals for historic wrongs. He complains that they breed like rabbits, and he dreads the day the Egyptians become the minority. It’s not their laziness that worries him — it’s their activity (Exodus 1:8-10).
The logic of privilege and the rhetoric of Empire persist to this day: If you are poor, if you are in bondage, if you are a slave, if you are oppressed, if you are sick or infirm, it’s because you deserve it. If you are rich and powerful, if you live with privilege, it’s because you are hard-working, smart and blessed by the gods. Underneath this class privilege is a deep anxiety about social unrest.
This 3,000-year-old insight into Pharaoh’s character is still relevant. It drives our religious and our political life. From preachers who claim that God will return financial blessings ten-fold to those who give to their ministry, to politicians who claim that the secret to economic growth is simply for the poor to work more hours, those with power and influence tell those who are already working hard, “you are lazy; work harder.” It builds character. You’ll be rewarded. Your labor defines your worth as a human being.
It’s no surprise, then, that one of the first commandments God gives to the newly-freed Israelites — after leaving behind the gods who oppressed them — is to take a day off (Exodus 20:8). Rabbis have often pointed out that in Genesis, the first full day of existence for the newly created humanity was the Sabbath (Genesis 1:27-2:3). Work does not define our worth as human beings, regardless of what Pharaoh says. We are made in the image of God, and like God, we take time to enjoy creation.
Of course, biblical authors do affirm the importance of hard work. Proverbs 6:10-11 says, “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to lie down — and poverty will come on you like a prowler, destitution like a warrior.” The author praises those who get up early and hustle. But in Proverbs 13:23, the author points out that even hard work cannot overcome injustice: “A poor person’s land might produce much food, but it is unjustly swept away.” The dominant narrative of Empire is that everyone gets what they deserve, but the narrative of the Bible says that God sees injustice. Hard work is necessary but not sufficient to thrive.
Ezekiel takes aim at those who think their good character, work ethic and strength have brought them prosperity in chapter 34. He first takes aim at the shepherds of Israel, their rulers:
- You drink the milk, you wear the wool, and you slaughter the fat animals, but you don’t tend the flock. You don’t strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the injured, bring back the strays, or seek out the lost; but instead you use force to rule them with injustice. (Ezekiel 34:3-4)
Is feeding in good pasture or drinking clear water such a trivial thing that you should trample and muddy what is left with your feet? But now my flock must feed on what your feet have trampled and drink water that your feet have muddied. So the Lord God proclaims to them: I will judge between the fat and the lean sheep. You shove with shoulder and flank, and with your horns you ram all the weak sheep until you’ve scattered them outside. But I will rescue my flock so that they will never again be prey. I will even judge between the sheep! (Ezekiel 34:18-22)
It is not only the rulers, but the wealthy class of Israelites God faults for the condition of the poor. While oppressing the poor, they fouled the environment.
When I hear these words of Ezekiel’s, I think of neighborhoods dealing with the effects of industrial waste, of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, of air pollution in Birmingham. “Must my flock drink what you have fouled with your feet?”
I often hear contemporary American Christians argue that private charity, not government programs, is God’s method for addressing poverty and inequality. I do not find such support in the Bible. Many of its authors recognize that poverty is a function of injustice. Ezekiel’s God holds accountable both the shepherds (who ignore inequality in the flock) and the fat sheep (who take more than their share while despoiling the land). Both have power to address the condition of the poor, yet do not.
Forty years of wilderness wandering and manna from heaven was supposed to teach the Hebrews to take only what they needed for the day (Exodus 16:35). Levitical laws were meant to teach them to leave resources behind rather than squeezing out every available drop of profit (Leviticus 23:22). Sabbath laws were intended to remind them that their relationship to God, not their work or labor, defined their lives because everyone — from pack animals to servants to kings — took a day off. Such biblical lessons are considered naive or even scandalous in our culture, which works very hard to remain blind to privilege and oppression.
Jesus himself expounds upon the Ezekiel passage: the Son of Man is not only the Good Shepherd who returns in judgment, but he’s also actually present among the sick, the hungry, the imprisoned and oppressed (Matthew 25:31-46). What the shepherds and the rich animals of the flock have done to the poor and oppressed, they’ve actually done to the Son of Man himself. An assault on the poor is an assault on God.
In my own state of Alabama, our elected leaders have indicated they would gladly borrow $800 million to pay their friends to build new prisons, but they resent spending much less than that to expand health care to the poorest and sickest among us. They have quashed local efforts to raise the minimum wage. They have failed to reform payday lending. When they respond to the concerns of the poor, their rhetoric sounds remarkably like Pharaoh: “You are lazy, lazy.” They blame sick people for their illness and poor people for their poverty. They remain stubbornly blind to their own privilege and the way they enrich each other at the expense of the poor.
Alabama, which has some of the highest poverty in our nation, is a case study of the shepherds giving preferential treatment to the fat sheep and serving up the weak sheep as mutton. Our state government consistently expresses contempt and resentment toward the poor, whose numbers keep swelling in spite of our insistence that they work harder with less. Their logic, Pharaoh’s logic, is that if we make the poor miserable enough, they will work harder and forget community organizing.
As I see this narrative of Empire extend its reach in our world, I come again and again to the story of Exodus, the formative experience of Israel. There is a consistent message from the Bible for leaders who have such contempt for the poor: God sees you.
Dave Barnhart is the pastor of Saint Junia UMC in Birmingham, Ala.
"A time for humility in the UMC"
By Clifton StringerDelegates pray together during a recess at the 2016 UM General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNSI don't know what is going to become of the United Methodist Church, and this, it seems to me, is a divine summons to humility.
I did not expect the delegates at General Conference to follow the bishops' leadership in their motion to delay voting on matters related to human sexuality. It seemed to me, as I watched the live feed intermittently and Twitter unhealthily and obsessively from Boston, that a majority of folks from both sides were chomping at the bit to vote and let the chips fall where they would.
Then the delegates voted to follow the bishops' proposal. The topics most volatile in the UMC would not be voted on in 2016.
Very surprised, I thought I felt the wave of tension palpably subside. It seemed the whole conference was able to exhale, and I exhaled with it. My surprise didn't end there. I discovered next that I was relieved by this unexpected development: My exhale was a sigh of relief. This realization precipitated reflection on the fact that I had been living in a fatalist frame in which the UMC seemed destined to implode, and probably sooner than later.
I am reminded of my seminary professor Reinhard Hütter, who came of age in a West Germany divided by the Berlin Wall. He and his friends did not expect to live far into adulthood; they expected the nuclear war to begin on their front porch. That the wall, rather than the bombs, fell provoked him to reflect on the mystery of divine providence.
Not that the UMC is out of the woods, and not to say that we won't implode or split or otherwise disintegrate in the coming years. The New England Conference UMC's adopted 'Action of Non-Conformity', like similar decisions of other conferences, is a reminder of our brittle unity, if the UMC can indeed be called 'United'. We have many progressives for whom obedience to the current Book of Discipline is impossible as a matter of conscience, many traditionalists for whom a Discipline with relaxed sexual standards is itself unconscionable, and many in the center (is this the largest group?) and on both sides for whom a non-functioning Book of Discipline, and a polity to which some bishops themselves are disobedient, is a persistent and sad absurdity.
In this context, and past the surprises of GC 2016, I suggest that our present moment's frailties summon us to humility before God and one another. The temptation for both sides is to be strident and self-righteous. Humility, on the other hand, if it can become visible, will, like love, be known by its fruits. The wellsprings of love, as Kierkegaard says, are hidden, but love's hidden life is recognized by its fruits. (See Works of Love.)
So it is with humility.
The 12th century scholar and mystic Hugh of St. Victor has vital insight here. It is very possible for us to be right about a matter of doctrine and, simultaneously, inwardly rotten with pride. This is a temptation for "progressives" as much as for "traditionalists" — both sides are arguing for a binding vision of Christian orthodoxy with a corresponding vision of righteousness. In our present moment, wherever we fall on the UM theological spectrum, Hugh's wisdom offers a beneficial antidote to some among our besetting temptations. This quotation is longer than is usually germane for keeping blog readers' attention. We are impatient and read with consumerist habits. Yet Hugh's words enjoin and invite us to slow down, attend with mind and heart, and be re-formed by the Wisdom that is in Christ. Without further ado:
- "There are, however, some who, through the inward peace that has been given them, at first grow much in contemplation; but, when they see their more artless brethren busy with earthly concerns, they despise them as inferior to themselves and, though they themselves are barren of good works, yet they are not afraid to pass judgment on good works in others. In this way those who fail to continue in humility, being severely shaken by the winds of pride, fall from the peak of contemplation and, thus being cast down, they are exposed to sundry errors, and distracted from their peace in various ways.
- "Clearly the beginning of these errors is that they will not humbly recognize their weakness, but are unthinkingly puffed up over the gift they have received from God. For in the eyes of people who take such an exaggerated view of their own merits, the actions of others are bound to appear vile, nor could it happen that they should presume to judge another's life, were they not first inflated in themselves.
- "Once this error has gained entrance to the soul, therefore, it spreads its poisons wide and, creeping secretly and mingling itself with all the movements of the soul, it changes its inclinations, destroys its purposes, twists its thoughts, corrupts its desires, and brings to it unnecessary cares. And, because a person puffed up has learnt to think thus highly of himself, he disdains to bring his own actions before the bar of reason, and the less he thinks there is within himself that merits blame, the readier he is to hunt down someone else. Yet this pride cloaks itself at first under the semblance of good zeal, and it persuades the deluded heart that he who acquiesces in another's fault is no perfect lover of righteousness, and that he undoubtedly so acquiesces, who neglects to rebuke an offender while he can." - Hugh of St. Victor, Noah's Ark I.III.10, in Hugh of Saint-Victor: Selected Spiritual Writings
But still, I think, humility is key.
Humility enters into the saving love of Jesus Christ. Pride, however righteously manifesting, crucifies.
Clifton Stringer is a Ph.D. student in Historical Theology at Boston College and the author of Christ the Lightgiver in the Converge Bible Studies series.
"More adventures with the spiritual but not religious"
By Rebekah Simon-PeterBigstock/Boyarkina Marina“Can I still call myself an atheist, and believe in God?” I looked up from the salad bar at the 20-something young woman posing the question, my fork hovering over the red and green peppers. “Tell me more,” I said, momentarily confused.“Well, I now believe in a kind of power, but not what you believe in.” She knew I was an ordained minister. “Say more,” I urged her. I wanted to hear what kind of a God she thought I believed in. “Well, I think God is in everything.” Me too, I thought. “That sounds like maybe you’re talking about panentheism,” I offered. “Pantheism?,” she said. “No, panentheism,” I gently corrected. “There’s a name for it?” she asked, surprised. “Yup,” I said, relieved I had something to offer this young woman. Never mind that I also believe God is in everything; what I was most intrigued by was her desire to identify as a God-believing atheist.
My daily life takes me deep into the heart of SBNR (spiritual but not religious) terrain — from the gym, to encounters with 12-step folks, to seatmates on airplanes, to United Methodist churches. Atheists who believe in God are not the only unusual faith configurations I encounter. In my ongoing adventures with the spiritual but not religious, I’ve gleaned a few things I’d like to share with you, including three insights and action steps for the church.
The spiritual but not religious defy easy understanding. While the evidence I offer here is anecdotal, and names have been changed, these stories represent people I have met along the way.
SBNR are not shut off to God nor is God shut off to them.
“I was meditating when I was transported back in time and saw Jesus, palms cupped, with a flame rising out of them,” Josh explained. “I feel like I witnessed one of the miracles of Jesus. I know he exists. It’s not a question with me. But, church? No, I don’t really go.” “Tell me more,” I said. “We didn’t grow up with much of a faith,” this intelligent 40-ish man observed. “My Dad was Catholic and my Mom Jewish, but we really didn’t practice anything.”
- INSIGHT: Jesus steps outside church walls. Just because they are not in Sunday services, doesn’t mean that God is not in touch with the SBNR, and vice versa. In fact, Josh’s story reminded me of my own, told in The Jew Named Jesus. The only difference is I was in the Orthodox Jewish community at the time Jesus appeared to me in a vision. I could have easily opted to stay in the Orthodox world, or to surrender all religious affiliation, but a churched friend gave me a third option. She invited me into her world. Not to Sunday School class, mind you, but to the seminary she was attending. The meaty challenge of seminary was perfect for me. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but It gave me a chance to learn more about Jesus without having to commit yet to a faith community.
- ACTION: Connect and invite. As people share their stories with you, invite them to learn more about Jesus, with you. They may not want to come to worship. Instead, they may want to attend a Bible study, or a spiritual retreat or, who knows, even seminary. Maybe they simply want to sit and talk with you about their experiences. Treat this as a sacred encounter. Don’t judge them or their experiences; instead look for commonalities. Be prepared to say, “Tell me more,” and then to listen. Feel free to share your own experiences with them. Above all, be prepared to learn from them more about what God is doing.
“I decided not to be a General Conference delegate this year,” Suri confided, matter of factly. “I’ve gone every other year. But I’m not sure I still believe in this stuff. I’m not mad. It’s not anything like that. It’s just that I’m more of a universalist. God is love; that’s it. I don’t believe in the duality of heaven and hell. If I don’t come back to Annual Conference next year, you’ll know why. I’ve just moved on.”
- INSIGHT: Church on the move. As Phyllis Tickle famously observed, every 500 years the church feels compelled to have a huge rummage sale. We “move on” in our practice, our beliefs and/or our organization. I think the church is actually moving on from the duality of heaven and hell into a kind of “God is love” unity. Rob Bell’s book Love Wins is a sign of that.
- ACTION: Get clear and get honest. Conduct an audit of your actual beliefs — whether at the level of congregation, small group, friends or even just yourself. Take an honest look at what you do and don’t believe, and whether your church’s worship, ministries and classes are reflective of these beliefs. Invite your SBNR friends. It could make for very stimulating dialogue and build bridges of understanding.
“I’m the acquisitions editor for an evangelical Christian publishing company,” Shanda, an accomplished woman in her 50s, told me, “but I almost never go to church anymore.” She hesitated. “My theology has opened up quite a bit.” Another pause. She lowered her voice, “It’s boring. Especially compared to the personal development groups I am part of.”
- INSIGHT: Don’t bore folks. SBNR folks are not anti-group, anti-growth or anti-God. They are anti-boredom. There are too many other options out there to waste time on experiences that don’t deliver. If church isn’t conducted in a way that connects, engages, inspires, provokes, challenges or causes spiritual growth — then folks will look elsewhere. Don’t give them any excuses! Notice, I didn’t say church needs to entertain, babysit or amuse. It doesn’t. Yes, people want high quality experiences that engage them. Challenge and engage people with a love that risks everything and promises a real difference in the world! That’s never boring.
- ACTION: Stand for something. Many churches are in survival mode. They have given up on standing for something. Instead, they’re trying to not lose people. Paradoxically, that loses people. Find a kingdom-oriented passion and stand for it. Preach it, pray it and live it. Risk the church for it. After all, that’s what Jesus did.
Rebekah Simon-Peter blogs at rebekahsimonpeter.com. She is the author of The Jew Named Jesus and Green Church.
"The complicated faith of 'Greenleaf'"
By David PersonBishop James Greenleaf (Keith David) / Photo courtesy of OWNWhat do you believe? And is your lifestyle consistent with your beliefs?
Those are two essential questions being asked on Greenleaf, the new television drama produced by Oprah Winfrey for her OWN cable network. The plot revolves around a family headed by a bishop who pastors a megachurch in Memphis. Some of the characters are familiar archetypes: the prodigal daughter who used to be a preacher; the controlling matriarch who ferociously guards family secrets; the married, debonair son who seems to have daddy’s preaching gifts but would rather be having sex with his father’s executive assistant; the son’s scorned wife who knows he is a cheater but, like the mother, wants to protect her family’s image and power.
There’s also the renegade aunt, played by Winfrey, who runs a bar and has distanced herself from her family’s religiosity, hypocrisy and struggles. The aunt is also a truth-teller, challenging some of the more heinous acts from afar. One target is the uncle who is the bishop’s right hand but can’t seem to stop molesting underage girls.
All of this might seem overly dramatic to some, but a lot of what I saw looked and sounded very familiar. Some of it I’ve seen in church I’ve attended. And some comes straight from the top stories of cable newscasts. (Google Eddie Long or Earl Paulk if you need examples.)
What’s good about the first episode of Greenleaf is that it introduces all of these complexities without denigrating faith, while still leaving plenty of room to delve into its many nuances— and even to doubt.
In one scene, the family is seated around the dinner table when prodigal daughter Grace Greenleaf (played by Merle Dandridge) is asked to defend the approach to religion that she adopted after leaving home.
"There's a part of everything that tries,” Grace explains. "Christianity is just one way that the trying part of people tries to connect with the trying part of everything else.”
Lines like this play well on Greenleaf, but wouldn’t be well received in many churches. And even on the show, Grace’s laissez-faire faith receives considerable push-back from some in her family who believe that Jesus is the only way to God.
But they are the lines that will provoke conversations around the flat screen and downloads onto tablets. Some may fuel Facebook debates and Twitter wars.
Oprah herself has been at the center of many of these discussions for years. Some have questioned just how traditional her Christianity is — and whether or not she actually is a Christian. In fact, it seems likely that some of what viewers will be seeing comes straight out of Oprah’s personal faith journey.
If the first episode of Greenleaf is any indication, this series will be bold, provocative and sensitive as it explores faith, culture, family dynamics and social issues. The acting, scripting, direction and production values are superb. I truly want to see more of it, not just to be entertained but to use it as a way to reflect on my own beliefs and practices.
I suspect that Greenleaf may have a little something for believers across the ideological and theological spectrums, if this line from a sermon preached by Bishop James Greenleaf (played by Keith David) is any indication: "The Bible is not a rule book. It's not a bunch of myths. It's not even a work of literature. And it certainly isn't something to be banging people over the head with. The Bible, praise God, is like a bunch of emails from the best friend you ever had."
Amen to that.
"Sharpening the edges"
By Todd OutcaltBigstock/sportpoin74Eugene Peterson, in one of his earliest books entitled Working the Angles (Eerdmans’s, 1989), noted that pastoral integrity and influence is meted out through consistent practices. Though long observed in pastoral circles and by writers like Peterson, these ideas are consistent with both ancient and modern disciplines that require certain observations, skills and knowledge. But these healthy pastoral practices also require ingenuity, art and sometimes intuition that is based on experience and “feel”.
Perhaps a few illustrations might help.
During my childhood we were an ice skating family. My father frequently gave me the task of sharpening the skate blades. He showed me how to hone the edges with a file, how to run my fingers across the blade to test the sharpness. “Remember . . . a dull blade is more dangerous than a sharp one,” my father told me often. And it was true. Dull blades would not penetrate the ice, but would slide off the surface. A sharp edge was what enabled the skater to cut a figure eight. It was important to be able to feel the edge.
Likewise, ice skaters know that dull edges on the skates are prelude to disaster. Hockey players spend much time sharpening their blades so that they can “feel” the ice and can spin quickly on the angles. And any carpenter will make sure his blades and chisels, and especially hatchets and axes, are sharp to the touch, otherwise they are of little use and could actually cause bodily harm. Sharper is better when it comes to edges.
Using the edge as a metaphor for pastoral ministry, one can see how vital it is to stay sharp, to feel one’s way through situations and circumstances, and even, at times, skate on the edges of extreme angles, holding fast to the confidence that the edges will hold. And over time, there have been certain consistent edges that pastors need to sharpen in order to maximize their effectiveness and adaptability.
When we pastor on dull edges, we drag into boredom or ineffectiveness. Dull edges can be anything from a lack of study to lackluster routine to hopelessness. Living on dull edges reduces us to toiling in limited spaces (like a goalie, constantly on the defensive) or offers us a limited repertoire of possibilities instead of allowing us to see from the periphery inward. When we become dull our reflexes also slow and we relinquish our “feel” in ministry, perhaps, even, the spiritual awareness of our surroundings and our relationships. Dull edges rarely produce stellar results.
We need to sharpen the edges. And as such, here are three edges that can make the difference.
Sharpen the MindNot long ago I had a conversation with a friend who served on the staff parish committee in his congregation. My friend was lamenting his pastor’s limitations in preaching, conversation and insights. “I don’t think he’s read a book since he graduated from seminary,” my friend said. “And that was twenty years ago. He seems to recycle illustrations and conversation pieces from years gone by, and never seems to have time for new learning.”
Indeed, I have known pastors who simply preach a three-year cycle of messages built around the lectionary and a few others who seem to get most of their “news” via the internet. But then, it is easy for pastors to become myopic or secluded or sheltered, too. While we live in the world and among people, any of us can lose our edge if we allow ourselves to read the same books, or converse with people who hold with our own opinions, or if we abandon broader learning for narrowness of mind. Here the old adage may apply: The unexamined life is not worth living.
The human mind — just like the human body — only grows and strengthens as we sharpen the edges. Just as the body is only strengthened through stress and recovery, the mind (knowledge, understanding, insight) can only grow through the practices and disciplines of learning. Reading, writing, working puzzles, travel, discussion, presentation, preparation, debating, listening, outlining, speaking — all of these disciplines (and more) if pressed to the edges will strengthen the mind.
But for pastoral work, more than knowledge if required. The mind needs to be a honed tool, always sharpened by discourse and by being aware of the links that combine past and present information; sharpened by listening as well as speaking; sharpened by reading about, and learning about, disciplines and interests that range far beyond religion, but may involve science, or business, or history, or politics. As John Wesley insisted that his circuit riding preachers always have a book in hand, so too should our modern edges of learning involve books, computers, and lively social interactions both inside, and out of, the classroom.
Pastors are at their best when their minds are honed; the openness to learning is paramount (even critical) to success in parish work.
Skate on the QuestionsSome years ago I attended a leadership conference led by Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Church. In his presentation, Hybels noted that honesty is vital to the health of any organization — especially the church. He noted that when congregations and pastors stop asking questions, but prefer to skate around, or skirt, the problems they are facing . . . atrophy and disillusionment soon follow. Naming our problems (as well as our gifts) is vital to the church.
I have another friend who is a missionary in the Congo. I have heard him say time and again that the primary reason for the growth of the church in the Congo is listening. People have learned how to listen to each other — and in the listening come the questions. Asking questions, in fact, is far more impactful than providing answers.
If our edges have grown dull, perhaps we have forgotten how to ask good questions, or how to probe deeply, or even how to listen for the right questions. When we are quick to offer answers or solutions, we may be skating around questions rather than answering them.
Questions are most important. A few great questions to ask might be:
- What is at the heart of our church (as evidenced by our actions rather than our belief statements)?
- What are some problems we must own up to?
- What are our best gifts? Are we using them to our advantage to serve others?
- What could we do if we skated on a new edge and risked more?
Many years ago, when I was doing my Certified Pastoral Education (C.P.E.) in a large North Carolina hospital, a world-class surgeon told our group of young seminarians: “Many people will tell you that medicine is nothing more than strict science and attention to book-learned facts and details . . . but there is more to it. Medicine is also an art, and the best doctors are those who can form relationships with their patients, who can determine medical solutions from ‘feel’ as well as ‘fact’.”
I have never forgotten this conversation and have discovered that much of pastoral ministry is also “feel” or “art”. Pastors can be (or maybe should be) those persons in the church who are first and foremost aware of where the creative possibilities and solutions are within their communities. While many might fall back to the dull edges of traditionalism (“we’ve always done it that way”) or be content to skate the edges of a lackluster routine (“this is who we are”), pastors can be those artists who coach or mentor the best in others, or who press others to trust their own gifts and graces as they attempt new ministries or press the boundaries of church.
As society continues to morph and change month-by-month — and at a pace never before seen in human history — it is vital that pastors be willing to build trusting relationships, teach new routines and disciplines, and allow people and ministries to test the edges to see if they will hold. If not, well . . . one can get back on the ice and try again, find a new edge and skate it. Great results never come from sitting on the sideline, but from practice and learning how to “feel” the movement.
Perhaps, as pastors, we have been too fearful of failure. But if we take a lesson from the ice, and from any edge, we would know that we only sharpen ourselves through failure. Dull edges will not hold. But sharp ones — razor sharp — will produce some spectacular results.
"This Sunday, July 3, 2016"Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: 2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16; Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
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Lectionary Readings:
Sunday, 3 July 2016
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
2 Kings 5:1-14
Psalm 30
Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Scripture Texts for:2 Kings 5:1 Na‘aman, commander of the king of Aram’s army, was highly respected and esteemed by his master; because through him Adonai had brought victory to Aram. But although he was a brave warrior, he also suffered from tzara‘at. 2 Now on one of their raids into Isra’el’s territory, Aram carried away captive a little girl, who became a servant for Na‘aman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “I wish my lord could go to the prophet in Shomron! He could heal his tzara‘at.” 4 Na‘aman went in and told his lord, “The girl from the land of Isra’el said such-and-such.” 5 The king of Aram said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Isra’el.”
He set out, taking with him 660 pounds of silver, 6,000 pieces of gold and ten changes of clothes. 6 He brought the king of Isra’el the letter, which said, “When this letter reaches you, you will see that I have sent my servant Na‘aman to you, so that you can heal his tzara‘at.” 7 When the king of Isra’el finished reading the letter, he tore his clothes. “Am I God, able to kill and make alive,” he asked, “so that he sends me a man to heal of tzara‘at? You can see that he is only seeking an excuse to quarrel with me.” 8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Isra’el had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why did you tear your clothes? Just have him come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Isra’el.”
9 So Na‘aman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, who said, “Go, and bathe in the Yarden seven times. Your skin will become as it was, and you will be clean.” 11 But Na‘aman became angry and left, saying, “Here now! I thought for certain that he would come out personally, that he would stand, call on the name of Adonai his God and wave his hand over the diseased place and thus heal the person with tzara‘at. 12 Aren’t Amanah and Parpar, the rivers of Dammesek, better than all the water in Isra’el? Why can’t I bathe in them and be clean?” So he turned and went off in a rage. 13 But his servants approached him and said, “My father! If the prophet had asked you to do something really difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So, doesn’t it make even more sense to do what he says, when it’s only, ‘Bathe, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Yarden, as the man of God had said to do; and his skin was restored and became like the skin of a child; and he became clean.
Psalm 30:1 (0) A psalm. A song for the dedication of the house. By David:
2 (1) I will exalt you, Adonai, because you drew me up;
you didn’t let my enemies rejoice over me.
3 (2) Adonai my God, I cried out to you,
and you provided healing for me.
4 (3) Adonai, you lifted me up from Sh’ol;
you kept me alive when I was sinking into a pit.
5 (4) Sing praise to Adonai, you faithful of his;
and give thanks on recalling his holiness.
6 (5) For his anger is momentary,
but his favor lasts a lifetime.
Tears may linger for the night,
but with dawn come cries of joy.
7 (6) Once I was prosperous and used to say,
that nothing could ever shake me —
8 (7) when you showed me favor, Adonai,
I was firm as a mighty mountain.
But when you hid your face,
I was struck with terror.
9 (8) I called to you, Adonai;
to Adonai I pleaded for mercy:
10 (9) “What advantage is there in my death,
in my going down to the pit?
Can the dust praise you?
Can it proclaim your truth?
11 (10) Hear me, Adonai, and show me your favor!
Adonai, be my helper!”
12 (11) You turned my mourning into dancing!
You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
13 (12) so that my well-being can praise you and not be silent;
Adonai my God, I will thank you forever!
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, suppose someone is caught doing something wrong. You who have the Spirit should set him right, but in a spirit of humility, keeping an eye on yourselves so that you won’t be tempted too. 2 Bear one another’s burdens — in this way you will be fulfilling the Torah’s true meaning, which the Messiah upholds. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is really nothing, he is fooling himself. 4 So let each of you scrutinize his own actions. Then if you do find something to boast about, at least the boasting will be based on what you have actually done and not merely on a judgment that you are better than someone else; 5 for each person will carry his own load. 6 But whoever is being instructed in the Word should share all the good things he has with his instructor. 7 Don’t delude yourselves: no one makes a fool of God! A person reaps what he sows. 8 Those who keep sowing in the field of their old nature, in order to meet its demands, will eventually reap ruin; but those who keep sowing in the field of the Spirit will reap from the Spirit everlasting life. 9 So let us not grow weary of doing what is good; for if we don’t give up, we will in due time reap the harvest. 10 Therefore, as the opportunity arises, let us do what is good to everyone, and especially to the family of those who are trustingly faithful.
11 Look at the large letters I use as I close in my own handwriting.
12 It is those who want to look good outwardly who are trying to get you to be circumcised. The only reason they are doing it is to escape persecution for preaching about the Messiah’s execution-stake. 13 For even those who are getting circumcised don’t observe the Torah. On the contrary, they want you to get circumcised so that they can boast of having gained your adherence. 14 But as for me, Heaven forbid that I should boast about anything except the execution-stake of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah! Through him, as far as I am concerned, the world has been put to death on the stake; and through him, as far as the world is concerned, I have been put to death on the stake.
15 For neither being circumcised nor being uncircumcised matters; what matters is being a new creation. 16 And as many as order their lives by this rule, shalom upon them and mercy, and upon the Isra’el of God!
Luke 10:1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy other talmidim and sent them on ahead in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He said to them, “To be sure, there is a large harvest. But there are few workers. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the Harvest that he speed workers out to gather in his harvest. 3 Get going now, but pay attention! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t carry a money-belt or a pack, and don’t stop to shmoose with people on the road.
5 “Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘Shalom!’ to the household. 6 If a seeker of shalom is there, your ‘Shalom!’ will find its rest with him; and if there isn’t, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for a worker deserves his wages — don’t move about from house to house.
8 “Whenever you come into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is put in front of you. 9 Heal the sick there, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they don’t make you welcome, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off as a sign against you! But understand this: the Kingdom of God is near!’
16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me, also whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the One who sent me.”
17 The seventy came back jubilant. “Lord,” they said, “with your power, even the demons submit to us!” 18 Yeshua said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Remember, I have given you authority; so you can trample down snakes and scorpions, indeed, all the Enemy’s forces; and you will remain completely unharmed. 20 Nevertheless, don’t be glad that the spirits submit to you; be glad that your names have been recorded in heaven.”
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Lectionary Readings:
Sunday, 3 July 2016
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
2 Kings 5:1-14
Psalm 30
Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Scripture Texts for:2 Kings 5:1 Na‘aman, commander of the king of Aram’s army, was highly respected and esteemed by his master; because through him Adonai had brought victory to Aram. But although he was a brave warrior, he also suffered from tzara‘at. 2 Now on one of their raids into Isra’el’s territory, Aram carried away captive a little girl, who became a servant for Na‘aman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “I wish my lord could go to the prophet in Shomron! He could heal his tzara‘at.” 4 Na‘aman went in and told his lord, “The girl from the land of Isra’el said such-and-such.” 5 The king of Aram said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Isra’el.”
He set out, taking with him 660 pounds of silver, 6,000 pieces of gold and ten changes of clothes. 6 He brought the king of Isra’el the letter, which said, “When this letter reaches you, you will see that I have sent my servant Na‘aman to you, so that you can heal his tzara‘at.” 7 When the king of Isra’el finished reading the letter, he tore his clothes. “Am I God, able to kill and make alive,” he asked, “so that he sends me a man to heal of tzara‘at? You can see that he is only seeking an excuse to quarrel with me.” 8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Isra’el had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why did you tear your clothes? Just have him come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Isra’el.”
9 So Na‘aman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, who said, “Go, and bathe in the Yarden seven times. Your skin will become as it was, and you will be clean.” 11 But Na‘aman became angry and left, saying, “Here now! I thought for certain that he would come out personally, that he would stand, call on the name of Adonai his God and wave his hand over the diseased place and thus heal the person with tzara‘at. 12 Aren’t Amanah and Parpar, the rivers of Dammesek, better than all the water in Isra’el? Why can’t I bathe in them and be clean?” So he turned and went off in a rage. 13 But his servants approached him and said, “My father! If the prophet had asked you to do something really difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So, doesn’t it make even more sense to do what he says, when it’s only, ‘Bathe, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Yarden, as the man of God had said to do; and his skin was restored and became like the skin of a child; and he became clean.
Psalm 30:1 (0) A psalm. A song for the dedication of the house. By David:
2 (1) I will exalt you, Adonai, because you drew me up;
you didn’t let my enemies rejoice over me.
3 (2) Adonai my God, I cried out to you,
and you provided healing for me.
4 (3) Adonai, you lifted me up from Sh’ol;
you kept me alive when I was sinking into a pit.
5 (4) Sing praise to Adonai, you faithful of his;
and give thanks on recalling his holiness.
6 (5) For his anger is momentary,
but his favor lasts a lifetime.
Tears may linger for the night,
but with dawn come cries of joy.
7 (6) Once I was prosperous and used to say,
that nothing could ever shake me —
8 (7) when you showed me favor, Adonai,
I was firm as a mighty mountain.
But when you hid your face,
I was struck with terror.
9 (8) I called to you, Adonai;
to Adonai I pleaded for mercy:
10 (9) “What advantage is there in my death,
in my going down to the pit?
Can the dust praise you?
Can it proclaim your truth?
11 (10) Hear me, Adonai, and show me your favor!
Adonai, be my helper!”
12 (11) You turned my mourning into dancing!
You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
13 (12) so that my well-being can praise you and not be silent;
Adonai my God, I will thank you forever!
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, suppose someone is caught doing something wrong. You who have the Spirit should set him right, but in a spirit of humility, keeping an eye on yourselves so that you won’t be tempted too. 2 Bear one another’s burdens — in this way you will be fulfilling the Torah’s true meaning, which the Messiah upholds. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is really nothing, he is fooling himself. 4 So let each of you scrutinize his own actions. Then if you do find something to boast about, at least the boasting will be based on what you have actually done and not merely on a judgment that you are better than someone else; 5 for each person will carry his own load. 6 But whoever is being instructed in the Word should share all the good things he has with his instructor. 7 Don’t delude yourselves: no one makes a fool of God! A person reaps what he sows. 8 Those who keep sowing in the field of their old nature, in order to meet its demands, will eventually reap ruin; but those who keep sowing in the field of the Spirit will reap from the Spirit everlasting life. 9 So let us not grow weary of doing what is good; for if we don’t give up, we will in due time reap the harvest. 10 Therefore, as the opportunity arises, let us do what is good to everyone, and especially to the family of those who are trustingly faithful.
11 Look at the large letters I use as I close in my own handwriting.
12 It is those who want to look good outwardly who are trying to get you to be circumcised. The only reason they are doing it is to escape persecution for preaching about the Messiah’s execution-stake. 13 For even those who are getting circumcised don’t observe the Torah. On the contrary, they want you to get circumcised so that they can boast of having gained your adherence. 14 But as for me, Heaven forbid that I should boast about anything except the execution-stake of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah! Through him, as far as I am concerned, the world has been put to death on the stake; and through him, as far as the world is concerned, I have been put to death on the stake.
15 For neither being circumcised nor being uncircumcised matters; what matters is being a new creation. 16 And as many as order their lives by this rule, shalom upon them and mercy, and upon the Isra’el of God!
Luke 10:1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy other talmidim and sent them on ahead in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He said to them, “To be sure, there is a large harvest. But there are few workers. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the Harvest that he speed workers out to gather in his harvest. 3 Get going now, but pay attention! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t carry a money-belt or a pack, and don’t stop to shmoose with people on the road.
5 “Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘Shalom!’ to the household. 6 If a seeker of shalom is there, your ‘Shalom!’ will find its rest with him; and if there isn’t, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for a worker deserves his wages — don’t move about from house to house.
8 “Whenever you come into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is put in front of you. 9 Heal the sick there, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they don’t make you welcome, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off as a sign against you! But understand this: the Kingdom of God is near!’
16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me, also whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the One who sent me.”
17 The seventy came back jubilant. “Lord,” they said, “with your power, even the demons submit to us!” 18 Yeshua said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Remember, I have given you authority; so you can trample down snakes and scorpions, indeed, all the Enemy’s forces; and you will remain completely unharmed. 20 Nevertheless, don’t be glad that the spirits submit to you; be glad that your names have been recorded in heaven.”
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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for:2 Kings 5:1-14
Verse 5
[5] And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.
Go to, … — It was very natural for a king to suppose, that the king of Israel could do more than any of his subjects.
Verse 10
[10] And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
Elisha sent — Which he did, partly, to exercise Naaman's faith and obedience: partly, for the honour of his religion, that it might appear he sought not his own glory and profit, but only God's honour, and the good of men.
Verse 11
[11] But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
Was wroth — Supposing himself despised by the prophet.
Verse 12
[12] Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
Are not, … — Is there not as great a virtue in them to this purpose? But he should have considered, that the cure was not to be wrought by the water, but by the power of God.
Verse 13
[13] And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
My father — Or, our father. So they call him, to shew their reverence and affection to him.
Psalm 30
Verse 5
[5] For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Cometh — Speedily and in due season.
Verse 7
[7] LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
Mountain — My kingdom: kingdoms are usually called mountains in prophetical writings.
Verse 9
[9] What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
Profit — What wilt thou gain by it? The dust - Shall they that are dead celebrate thy goodness in the land of the living? Or, shall my dust praise thee?
Verse 11
[11] Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
Sackcloth — Given me occasion to put off that sackcloth, which they used to wear in times of mourning, Esther 4:1; Psalms 35:13; Isaiah 32:11; Joel 1:13.
Girded — With joy, as with a garment, surrounding me on every side.
Verse 12
[12] To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
My glory — My tongue.
Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16
Verse 1
[1] Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in any fault — By surprise, ignorance, or stress of temptation.
Ye who are spiritual — Who continue to live and walk by the Spirit.
Restore such an one — By reproof, instruction, or exhortation. Every one who can, ought to help herein; only in the spirit of meekness - This is essential to a spiritual man; and in this lies the whole force of the cure.
Considering thyself — The plural is beautifully changed into the singular. Let each take heed to himself.
Lest thou also be tempted — Temptation easily and swiftly passes from one to another; especially if a man endeavours to cure another without preserving his own meekness.
Verse 2
[2] Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Bear ye one another's burdens — Sympathize with, and assist, each other, in all your weaknesses, grievances, trials.
And so fulfil the law of Christ — The law of Christ (an uncommon expression) is the law of love: this our Lord peculiarly recommends; this he makes the distinguishing mark of his disciples.
Verse 3
[3] For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
If any one think himself to be something — Above his brethren, or by any strength of his own.
When he is nothing, he deceiveth himself — He alone will bear their burdens, who knows himself to be nothing.
Verse 4
[4] But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
But let every man try his own work — Narrowly examine all he is, and all he doeth.
And then he shall have rejoicing in himself — He will find in himself matter of rejoicing, if his works are right before God.
And not in another — Not in glorying over others.
Verse 5
[5] For every man shall bear his own burden.
For every one shall bear his own burden — ln that day shall give an account of himself to God.
Verse 6
[6] Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Let him that is taught impart to him that teacheth all such temporal good things as he stands in need of.
Verse 7
[7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
God is not mocked — Although they attempt to mock him, who think to reap otherwise than they sow.
Verse 8
[8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
For he that now soweth to the flesh — That follows the desires of corrupt nature. Shall hereafter of the flesh - Out of this very seed.
Reap corruption — Death everlasting.
But he that soweth to the Spirit — That follows his guidance in all his tempers and conversation.
Shall of the Spirit — By the free grace and power of God, reap life everlasting.
Verse 9
[9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
But let us not be weary in well doing — Let us persevere in sowing to the Spirit.
For in due season — When the harvest is come, we shall reap, if we faint not.
Verse 10
[10] As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Therefore as we have opportunity — At whatever time or place, and in whatever manner we can. The opportunity in general is our lifetime; but there are also many particular opportunities. Satan is quickened in doing hurt, by the shortness of the time, Revelation 12:12. By the same consideration let us be quickened in doing good.
Let us do good — In every possible kind, and in every possible degree.
Unto all men — Neighbours or strangers, good or evil, friends or enemies. But especially to them who are of the household of faith. For all believers are but one family.
Verse 11
[11] Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
Ye see how large a letter — St. Paul had not yet wrote a larger to any church.
I have written with my own hand — He generally wrote by an amanuensis.
Verse 12
[12] As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
As many as desire to make a fair appearance in the flesh — To preserve a fair character.
These constrain you — Both by their example and importunity.
To be circumcised — Not so much from a principle of conscience, as lest they should suffer persecution - From the unbelieving Jews.
For the cross of Christ — For maintaining that faith in a crucified Saviour is alone sufficient for justification.
Verse 13
[13] For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
For neither they themselves keep the whole law — So far are they from a real zeal for it. But yet they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh - That they may boast of you as their proselytes, and make a merit of this with the other Jews.
Verse 14
[14] But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
But God forbid that I should glory — Should boast of anything I have, am, or do; or rely on anything for my acceptance with God, but what Christ hath done and suffered for me. By means of which the world is crucified to me - All the things and persons in it are to me as nothing.
And I unto the world — I am dead to all worldly pursuits, cares, desires, and enjoyments.
Verse 15
[15] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
For neither circumcision is anything, nor uncircumcision — Neither of these is of any account.
But a new creation — Whereby all things in us become new.
Verse 16
[16] And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
And as many as walk according to this rule — 1. Glorying only in the cross of Christ. 2. Being crucified to the world. And, 3. Created anew. Peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel, that is, the Church, of God - Which consists of all those, and those only, of every nation and kindred, who walk by this rule.
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Verse 3
[3] Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
Matthew 10:16.
Verse 4
[4] Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
Salute no man by the way — The salutations usual among the Jews took up much time. But these had so much work to do in so short a space, that they had not a moment to spare.
Verse 6
[6] And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
A son of peace — That is, one worthy of it.
Verse 7
[7] And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
Matthew 10:11.
Verse 11
[11] Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
The kingdom of God is at hand — Though ye will not receive it.
Verse 16
[16] He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
Matthew 10:40; John 13:20.
Verse 18
[18] And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
I beheld Satan — That is, when ye went forth, I saw the kingdom of Satan, which was highly exalted, swiftly and suddenly cast down.
Verse 19
[19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
I give you power — That is, I continue it to you: and nothing shall hurt you - Neither the power, nor the subtilty of Satan.
Verse 20
[20] Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Rejoice not so much that the devils are subject to you, as that your names are written in heaven - Reader, so is thine, if thou art a true, believer. God grant it may never be blotted out!
Verse 5
[5] And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.
Go to, … — It was very natural for a king to suppose, that the king of Israel could do more than any of his subjects.
Verse 10
[10] And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
Elisha sent — Which he did, partly, to exercise Naaman's faith and obedience: partly, for the honour of his religion, that it might appear he sought not his own glory and profit, but only God's honour, and the good of men.
Verse 11
[11] But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
Was wroth — Supposing himself despised by the prophet.
Verse 12
[12] Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
Are not, … — Is there not as great a virtue in them to this purpose? But he should have considered, that the cure was not to be wrought by the water, but by the power of God.
Verse 13
[13] And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
My father — Or, our father. So they call him, to shew their reverence and affection to him.
Psalm 30
Verse 5
[5] For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Cometh — Speedily and in due season.
Verse 7
[7] LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
Mountain — My kingdom: kingdoms are usually called mountains in prophetical writings.
Verse 9
[9] What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
Profit — What wilt thou gain by it? The dust - Shall they that are dead celebrate thy goodness in the land of the living? Or, shall my dust praise thee?
Verse 11
[11] Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
Sackcloth — Given me occasion to put off that sackcloth, which they used to wear in times of mourning, Esther 4:1; Psalms 35:13; Isaiah 32:11; Joel 1:13.
Girded — With joy, as with a garment, surrounding me on every side.
Verse 12
[12] To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
My glory — My tongue.
Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16
Verse 1
[1] Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in any fault — By surprise, ignorance, or stress of temptation.
Ye who are spiritual — Who continue to live and walk by the Spirit.
Restore such an one — By reproof, instruction, or exhortation. Every one who can, ought to help herein; only in the spirit of meekness - This is essential to a spiritual man; and in this lies the whole force of the cure.
Considering thyself — The plural is beautifully changed into the singular. Let each take heed to himself.
Lest thou also be tempted — Temptation easily and swiftly passes from one to another; especially if a man endeavours to cure another without preserving his own meekness.
Verse 2
[2] Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Bear ye one another's burdens — Sympathize with, and assist, each other, in all your weaknesses, grievances, trials.
And so fulfil the law of Christ — The law of Christ (an uncommon expression) is the law of love: this our Lord peculiarly recommends; this he makes the distinguishing mark of his disciples.
Verse 3
[3] For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
If any one think himself to be something — Above his brethren, or by any strength of his own.
When he is nothing, he deceiveth himself — He alone will bear their burdens, who knows himself to be nothing.
Verse 4
[4] But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
But let every man try his own work — Narrowly examine all he is, and all he doeth.
And then he shall have rejoicing in himself — He will find in himself matter of rejoicing, if his works are right before God.
And not in another — Not in glorying over others.
Verse 5
[5] For every man shall bear his own burden.
For every one shall bear his own burden — ln that day shall give an account of himself to God.
Verse 6
[6] Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Let him that is taught impart to him that teacheth all such temporal good things as he stands in need of.
Verse 7
[7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
God is not mocked — Although they attempt to mock him, who think to reap otherwise than they sow.
Verse 8
[8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
For he that now soweth to the flesh — That follows the desires of corrupt nature. Shall hereafter of the flesh - Out of this very seed.
Reap corruption — Death everlasting.
But he that soweth to the Spirit — That follows his guidance in all his tempers and conversation.
Shall of the Spirit — By the free grace and power of God, reap life everlasting.
Verse 9
[9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
But let us not be weary in well doing — Let us persevere in sowing to the Spirit.
For in due season — When the harvest is come, we shall reap, if we faint not.
Verse 10
[10] As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Therefore as we have opportunity — At whatever time or place, and in whatever manner we can. The opportunity in general is our lifetime; but there are also many particular opportunities. Satan is quickened in doing hurt, by the shortness of the time, Revelation 12:12. By the same consideration let us be quickened in doing good.
Let us do good — In every possible kind, and in every possible degree.
Unto all men — Neighbours or strangers, good or evil, friends or enemies. But especially to them who are of the household of faith. For all believers are but one family.
Verse 11
[11] Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
Ye see how large a letter — St. Paul had not yet wrote a larger to any church.
I have written with my own hand — He generally wrote by an amanuensis.
Verse 12
[12] As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
As many as desire to make a fair appearance in the flesh — To preserve a fair character.
These constrain you — Both by their example and importunity.
To be circumcised — Not so much from a principle of conscience, as lest they should suffer persecution - From the unbelieving Jews.
For the cross of Christ — For maintaining that faith in a crucified Saviour is alone sufficient for justification.
Verse 13
[13] For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
For neither they themselves keep the whole law — So far are they from a real zeal for it. But yet they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh - That they may boast of you as their proselytes, and make a merit of this with the other Jews.
Verse 14
[14] But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
But God forbid that I should glory — Should boast of anything I have, am, or do; or rely on anything for my acceptance with God, but what Christ hath done and suffered for me. By means of which the world is crucified to me - All the things and persons in it are to me as nothing.
And I unto the world — I am dead to all worldly pursuits, cares, desires, and enjoyments.
Verse 15
[15] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
For neither circumcision is anything, nor uncircumcision — Neither of these is of any account.
But a new creation — Whereby all things in us become new.
Verse 16
[16] And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
And as many as walk according to this rule — 1. Glorying only in the cross of Christ. 2. Being crucified to the world. And, 3. Created anew. Peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel, that is, the Church, of God - Which consists of all those, and those only, of every nation and kindred, who walk by this rule.
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Verse 3
[3] Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
Matthew 10:16.
Verse 4
[4] Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
Salute no man by the way — The salutations usual among the Jews took up much time. But these had so much work to do in so short a space, that they had not a moment to spare.
Verse 6
[6] And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
A son of peace — That is, one worthy of it.
Verse 7
[7] And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
Matthew 10:11.
Verse 11
[11] Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
The kingdom of God is at hand — Though ye will not receive it.
Verse 16
[16] He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
Matthew 10:40; John 13:20.
Verse 18
[18] And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
I beheld Satan — That is, when ye went forth, I saw the kingdom of Satan, which was highly exalted, swiftly and suddenly cast down.
Verse 19
[19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
I give you power — That is, I continue it to you: and nothing shall hurt you - Neither the power, nor the subtilty of Satan.
Verse 20
[20] Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Rejoice not so much that the devils are subject to you, as that your names are written in heaven - Reader, so is thine, if thou art a true, believer. God grant it may never be blotted out!
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The Upper Room Ministries
-------The Upper Room Ministries
PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004, United States
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"WHEN THE REMEDY IS SIMPLE" by Douglas Mullins
2 Kings 5:1-14
We often make life more difficult than it needs to be. We do the same thing with our faith. Christianity, it seems to me, is simple. I don’t mean anything derogatory by that. I mean that Christianity has to be simple because it is meant to be lived.
I once kept a sign on my office wall: “Nothing is as simple as it seems. That is because nothing is simple, and nothing is as it seems.” I like that because it is an interesting bit of wordplay, and it does seem to have the ring of truth to it. We live in a complex world where solutions to most problems are anything but simple. Someone lingers for years with a debilitating illness. There is no simple explanation for a thing like that. Parents who have raised their child without any real thought or plan and worse yet, without consistency, may one day discover that their child has done something beyond the limits of social acceptability. They rush to the counselor wanting a quick fix—a simple remedy—to a problem that has taken fifteen years to develop. There is violence in the world, and crime, and senseless destruction of people and property. There is no simple way to get a handle on these things. Don’t be naive. Simple solutions are few and far between.
We also live in a world where few things are as they seem. We go to great lengths to appear to be something we are not. We want to look richer and smarter than we are. The marketing specialists push new products that bear little likeness to the items we cart home from the store. We are masters of disguise.
Life is such that when we do stumble onto something that is simple, we are likely to overlook it or dismiss it as ridiculous. So I return to the thought that Christianity is simple. God loves us. God sent his Son to us. God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ is sufficient. There are complex problems in the world, and to seek simple answers to them is naive. But it is just as foolish to seek complex answers when simple ones will suffice.
Today’s Old Testament text tells the tale of a person of some importance, although certainly not as much importance as he wished to think. Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a mighty warrior. He was, as we say, “somebody.” Did he have a flaw? I mean, other than his arrogance? Yes; he had leprosy.
Word reached Naaman, through a captured slave girl serving his wife, that the captured girl’s people had a prophet who could cure Naaman. The king of Aram sent Naaman to the king of Israel seeking such a cure. The king of Israel tore his clothes because he could not do this thing he was being asked—he could not cure this mighty warrior’s leprosy.
When word of this awkward situation reached Elisha, he asked that the man be sent to him. So Naaman, with his horses and his chariots and his whole entourage, pulled up in front of Elisha’s humble dwelling. Elisha sent word to Naaman that he should go and wash seven times in the river Jordan. That’s when Naaman lost it. Here was some obscure prophet in some little corner of the world in his humble little house. Naaman was the mighty warrior, and Elisha wouldn’t even come out of his house to greet him. And what did the prophet want Naaman to do? Wash seven times in the river Jordan. Who cares? What kind of remedy is this? Wash? In the river Jordan? Didn’t they have better rivers than this back home? What an insult! And with that Naaman stormed away, heading for home.
His servants finally calmed him and said, “If the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:13). Yielding to the saner moment, he did as Elisha had suggested, and he was made clean.
Naaman thought too highly of himself. That was the flaw that got in the way of his easy acceptance of a simple cure. He took offense. He felt slighted, snubbed. He felt he wasn’t given the respect he should have been given. Any of us will too often feel that our circumstance is different from everyone else’s. I knew a woman once whose husband had died. She was the most miserable person I think I ever met, for she was certain that her grief was worse than anyone else’s. When we think we are someone special, or that our circumstances are unique, or that we are better than other people, we will almost certainly overlook the remedy for our woes when it is simple.
There are three turning points in this healing story. It is easy to concentrate on Naaman, the mighty warrior, or on the prophet, Elisha, or on the interaction between the kings of Syria and Israel. Yet, the first turning point in the story is the simple witnessing of a captured Israelite slave girl. It was her voice that sent Naaman in the right direction. Never underestimate the power or the necessity of your personal witness to another in need.
The second turning point in the story came when Naaman’s own servants spoke words of encouragement. He wasn’t even going to try the simple remedy that was offered, but what saved the day was the intervention of his servants, who suggested that if it had been some difficult thing, he wouldn’t have walked away. Naaman began to see thereasonableness of at least giving it a try. Never withhold a word of encouragement.
The final turning point in the story came when Naaman decided to accept what God had offered. He did what the prophet of God suggested, and he was made clean. Always accept what God offers. Always do what God suggests.
Nothing is as simple as it seems? Not true. The miracles of faith and of a Christian life lived out by the grace of God are certain and available to every one of us. Trust in God. It sounds too simple. Still, trust in God, and everything in your life will fall into place.… read more
"WORSHIP ELEMENTS: JULY 3, 2016" by Hans Holznagel
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
COLOR: Green
SCRIPTURE READINGS: 2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16; Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
THEME IDEAS
Gentleness and a firm stance for peace are paths to healing, right relationships, and God’s realm—even for the mighty, the prosperous, and the strong. Naaman almost allows his ego to prevent his own healing. Jesus sends out seventy ambassadors, brandishing nothing more than words of peace, acts of healing, and belief in God’s realm. Paul urges gentleness with “transgressors.” At this point in history, what lessons can we draw? What stance might we take? What healing might turn the world’s mourning into dancing?
INVITATION AND GATHERING
Call to Worship (Psalm 30)
Sing praises to God, O faithful ones.
Give thanks and proclaim God’s holy name.
Weeping or joyful, mourning or dancing,
come as you are, for all are welcome here.
Open your hearts to healing, to life restored.
Let us worship God.
Opening Prayer (2 Kings 5, Galatians 6, Luke 10)
O God of cleansing waters,
center our hearts on healing.
Messenger of peace,
instruct us in your ways.
Spirit of gentleness,
make of us a new creation.
Amen.
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
Prayer of Confession (2 Kings 5, Psalm 30)
O God of people and nations,
we are ignorant and arrogant
about our own prosperity and might.
When we forget how much we have,
remind us of our abundance.
When we take pride in our status
and think ourselves better than others,
grant us humility.
When we use wealth and power
to get our own way at the expense of others,
correct us.
Heal us, we pray,
that we may be a force for wholeness.
With all that we have,
we pray for your forgiveness. Amen.
Words of Assurance (Psalm 30)
God’s anger lasts but a moment,
but God’s favor lasts a lifetime.
Weeping may last the night,
but joy comes in the morning.
God takes off our sackcloth
and clothes us with joy.
Let us rejoice! We are forgiven!
Passing the Peace of Christ (Luke 10)
Jesus sent forth his disciples with a word of peace. We too are bearers of that peace as we greet others in Christ’s name. Please greet your neighbors with the blessing: “The peace of Christ be with you.”
Response to the Word (Luke 10)
Equip us to know your will, O God,
as we strive to labor daily
in the fields of your harvest. Amen
THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION
Invitation to the Offering (Galatians 6)
“You reap whatever you sow,” says the Apostle Paul, “so wherever we have the opportunity, let us work for the good of all.” For the nurture of this family of faith, and for the ministry to a world in need, let us now give joyfully as we present our tithes and offerings.
Offering Prayer (Galatians 6)
Generous God, source of all abundance,
bless now these gifts, we pray.
Receive this offering.
Receive our very lives.
Fit us for humble, joyful ministry
in your name. Amen.
SENDING FORTH
Benediction (Galatians 6)
Do not grow weary in doing what is right,
for you will reap a great harvest
if you do not give up.
Sow in the Spirit
and reap the blessings of God.
Go in peace.
CONTEMPORARY OPTIONS
Contemporary Gathering Words (Psalm 30)
You cried all night,
your life is the pits,
you’re very sorry for something you’ve done;
but dawn has broken
and joy comes in the morning.
If you can’t feel the dawn, take heart. It’s coming.
If joy still feels a long way off, you’re not alone.
Let’s be in Christ’s healing presence this hour.
Let’s give our thanks and praise to God.
Praise Sentences (Psalm 30, Luke 10)
Make our spirits dance, O God!
Take off our sackcloth and clothe us with joy!
Help our souls praise you and not be silent!
Take off our sackcloth and clothe us with joy!
Teach the way of peace, O Jesus!
Take off our sackcloth and clothe us with joy!
From The Abingdon Worship Annual edited by Mary J. Scifres and B.J. Beu, Copyright © Abingdon Press. The Abingdon Worship Annual 2017 is now available. … read more
"WORSHIP CONNECTION: JULY 3, 2016" by Nancy C. Townley
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
COLOR: Green
SCRIPTURE READINGS: 2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16; Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
CALLS TO WORSHIP
Call to Worship #1:
L: Praise be to God who has freed us from oppression!
P: Praise be to God who has healed our wounded souls!
L: Let our hearts rejoice at God’s redeeming love.
P: Let our voices raise in songs of thanksgiving for all that God is doing for us.
L: Come, let us worship the Lord with our whole hearts!
P: May our praise and voices resound with joy! AMEN.
Call to Worship #2:
L: In the midst of our troubles, we cry aloud to God.
P: God always hears our cries and responds to our needs.
L: God brings us up out of our trouble and sets us in a safe place.
P: God comforts and restores our souls.
L: The Lord has turned our mourning into dancing!
P: We have been clothed with joy and hope! AMEN.
Call to Worship #3:
[Using THE FAITH WE SING, p. 2210 “Joy Comes with the Dawn”, offer the following call to worship as directed.]
Soloist: singing refrain of “Joy Comes with the Dawn”
Congregation: singing verse 1 and following with refrain of “Joy Comes with the Dawn”
L: Even in the times of darkness, our God surrounds us with help and hope.
P: Our spirits and voices shall continually praise God!
L: Though our hearts ache and war is abounding in the world, God is with us.
P: Help us, O Lord, to see and feel your presence with us.
Soloist: singing refrain of “Joy Comes with the Dawn”
Congregation: singing verse 3 and following with refrain of “Joy Comes with the Dawn”
L: Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, for God has called us here.
P: Let us offer our praise to God who heals and redeems our lives. AMEN.
Call to Worship #4:
L: We are called together this day to praise God.
P: We ask that God will put us in pathways to service to others.
L: The Lord will walk with us as we faithfully witness to Christ’s love.
P: Open our hearts, Lord, to receive your words and will.
L: Come, let us worship God!
P: Let us sing our praises to God our Redeemer and Healer. AMEN.
PRAYERS, LITANY/READING, BENEDICTION
Opening Prayer:
Gracious God, mend our brokenness and our sadness. Give us spirits of joy and enthusiasm for service to you by serving others. Lift us and place us on your pathways of peace and hope, that with our lives we will witness to your redeeming love. AMEN.
Prayer of Confession:
Merciful God, in all our celebration, fireworks, parades, and gatherings we have proclaimed liberty and freedom. Yet our hearts are chained by anger, doubt, terror, and fear. We live in those chains, often not knowing that there is really any other way. We have become accustomed to our imprisonment. Forgive us when we turn away from your freeing love. Help us to place our trust in you and serve you by working with others for peace and hope for all. These things we ask in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.
Words of Assurance:
Reach out! Stretch your Spirits! God’s love has freed you from oppression and fear! You have been made whole in God’s eternal love. AMEN.
Pastoral Prayer:
Patient and Loving God, we have just come through a national holiday in which we have celebrated freedom and independence. We have heard the mighty strains of marching bands and seen the banners unfurled. Our hearts have been moved by the events. Yet you have called us to remember that it is you who gives true independence and hope in your healing and restoring love. The oppression of disease, poverty, terrorism pours into our lives and lays claim to our spirits. We feel as though we are again in bondage. Free us, O Lord. Open our hearts to receive your healing words of comfort and hope. Enable us to be people who offer compassion in the presence of sorrow; hope in the presence of desolation; light in the presence of darkness. Walk with us and strengthen us. Give us spirits of eagerness to serve and witness to your love. As we have brought names of those near and dear to us to this time of worship, asking your healing mercies and blessings, help us to remember that we stand in need of those blessings as well. Help us to receive the blessings and to use the gifts which we have been given to serve you in all that we say, think, and do. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. AMEN.
Litany/Reading:
Reader 1: I am so lost. Even in crowds, I feel as though I am invisible, as though I am nothing. I don’t belong anywhere. No one knows my name. My name is Sorrow.
Voice: Come, child. Enter into God’s presence where your name is changed to Joy.
Reader 2: It doesn’t seem to matter how hard I try, life just keeps kicking me down. I lose more than I win. I feel as though I am in an uphill struggle and the slope is slippery. I don’t have a chance. My name is Despair.
Voice: Come, child. Enter into God’s presence where your name is changed to Hope.
Reader 3: I can sing the fervent songs with the best of them. I can shout praises to the skies, but truly I feel abandoned. I pray and the answer does not come. I participate in ministries to help others, but feel cut adrift in my own anguish. My name is Doubt.
Voice: Come, child. Enter into God’s presence where your name is changed to Faith.
Reader 4: Inner turmoil seems to be part of my life. On the outside, it looks as though everything is fine and dandy, but I know my inner self - and I am hurting and wounded. I am afraid that others will see that part of me and walk away, so I pretend to be OK. My name is Fear.
Voice: Come, child. Enter into God’s presence where your name is changed to Love.
Leader: For all who sorrow, for all who are in despair, for all who doubt, for all who fear, God is here with us today, offering healing love and transformation. Come, child, enter into God’s presence where your name for eternity is Beloved.
Benediction:
Lord, as we go from this place, surround us with your peace and love, that we make take healing and hope to others in your holy name. AMEN.
ARTISTIC ELEMENTS
The traditional color for this Sunday is Green.
Author's Note: I see hope and God’s transforming presence in the themes for this day. We are called to take courage in our proclamation and to not be brought down by our fears. The potted floral plants with many buds are symbolic of hope and new life. You may want to make a statement regarding this in your bulletin. When we spread God’s word through love and compassion, new life occurs.
Surface:
Place five risers on the worship center. The tallest of the risers, about 6” high, should be at the center back (a cross will be placed upon this riser). Others may be placed to the right and to the left, but do not place them in a row, “stagger” their placement to create a more informal look.
Fabric:
Cover the worship center with green fabric, so that it drapes to the floor.
Candles:
Place a 6-8” white pillar candle in front of the cross on the worship center.
Flowers/Foliage:
On each of the four remaining risers, place a potted plant that is beginning to bloom - it may have several blossoms open, but the effect of buds creates a sense that something more is coming - growth and hope continue.
Rocks/Wood:
I would not use rocks or wood in this setting.
Other:
Nothing other than what is listed above is necessary.… read more
"WORSHIP FOR KIDS: JULY 3, 2016" by Carolyn C. Brown
From a Child's Point of View
Old Testament: 1 Kings 5:1-14. The story of Namaan's cure first attracts the attention of children because the heroine is a little girl. The fact that a little slave girl provided the key information about the cure and that Namaan and his wife took her suggestion seriously delights children, who often feel they have nothing important to contribute and that adults do not take their ideas seriously.
The importance of "little things" (a slave girl's information and a bath in a muddy river) is shown in two ways. First, it insists that God is at work in everyday events as well as in dramatic events. Children who grow up with the spectacular biblical stories often overlook God at work in the love of their families, the activities of their church, and the events of their own lives. This story encourages children to look for God at work in everyday events.
Second, as Namaan's servant pointed out, we should be as willing to do nonspectacular deeds as we are to do the dramatic ones. Children often undervalue their deeds of lovingkindness and playground peacemaking because they are not as dramatic as those in the Bible. They long to do heroic deeds and solve big problems in single strokes. They need to be reminded that God is working out the big plan through all our little efforts. Just as God used the information from the slave girl and cured Namaan—not with a great feat but with a bath in a muddy river—so God uses and values our efforts to love others and to share God's love with them. No loving deed is too insignificant to be noticed and used by God.
Psalm: 30. The underlying understanding of death and illness as signs of God's anger or punishment keep children from understanding all the lines of this psalm. If, however, the psalm is dramatically presented, children understand occasional lines and sense its feeling of relieved joy.
Epistle: Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16. This passage falls into two sections. The second, verses 11-16, summarizes Paul's position on the circumcision debate, an issue children do not understand. But the first, verses 1-10, deals with consequences, a reality elementary children deal with every day, as adults encourage them to think about the consequences of their actions before they act and also to face up to the consequences afterward. Nonagricultural children need help with Paul's sowing and reaping images. They more readily understand the results of practicing (or not practicing) a sport or musical instrument. Paul's abstract sowing "to the flesh" or "to the Spirit" need to be illustrated with specific results that come from loving others rather than thinking only about ourselves.
Gospel: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20. This passage provides balance for last week's readings about the frustrations of being a faithful disciple. When the seventy-two were sent out, they did their work with more success than they dreamed possible. Though they may not understand the details of Jesus' instructions to the group, children will catch the drift of the story and pick up on the excitement of the seventy-two as they return successful. A dramatic reading will focus the children's attention on the disciples' excitement, rather than on the problematic promise about walking on snakes and scorpions, or on the picture of the devil falling from the sky. Children, especially older children who are defining themselves by the groups they join, are encouraged to join the excited disciples doing God's work in amazing ways.
Watch Words
Leprosy, with its social isolation, needs to be described.
Do not assume that children will understand the reaping and sowing language in Luke and Galatians.
Let the Children Sing
"I Sing a Song of the Saints of God" and "We Are the Church" (Avery and Marsh) are upbeat hymns that celebrate the church at work together. "God of Grace and God of Glory" is harder, but children can join in on the repetitive chorus.
Choosing "I Sing the Almighty Power of God" is one way to celebrate God at work in the world. "All Things Bright and Beautiful" focuses on both big and little things.
The Liturgical Child
1. The story of Namaan and Psalm 30 also are read on the Sixth Sunday After the Epiphany in Year B. See resources for that day in this series for a Prayer of Confession about our failure to do "little things" (Liturgical Child 2), directions for pantomiming the story of Namaan (Liturgical Child 1), and a Worship Worksheet with a complete-the-story activity.
2. Present Psalm 30 as Namaan's prayer. Ask someone to assume Namaan's role, reading the psalm dramatically, as if praying it on his way home.
3. Pray about "little things" in which you sense God's presence and power. Note sermons, sunsets, and other weather events of the past week. Thank God for the Bible school, the church-camp experience for children, and other activities of your congregation in which you see God at work. Mention events in the community and human-interest events from abroad which indicate that God is at work among people every day. Then pray for the will and the wisdom to do "little things." Pray for the patience to say kind words when we feel tired and crabby, for the strength to keep forgiving people we need to forgive frequently (like brothers and sisters), and for the wisdom to find little ways to help relieve hunger and end homelessness.
4. Create a praise litany citing "successes" within your congregation and within the larger church. Be sure to include some activities in which children participated. To each example, the congregation replies, "Praise God, who is doing wonderful things through us."
5. Before pronouncing the benediction, charge the congregation in the same spirit with which Jesus charged the seventy-two:
As Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples to teach, care for the sick, and make friends with the friendless, so I send you. Go out into (your town or area) to share God's love. Talk to those who will listen, take care of those who need help, and do your part to bring God's kingdom closer. As you go, remember that many people are waiting for you and will welcome you. Also remember that Jesus will be with you always. Amen.
Sermon Resources
1. Preach about God's work in the "little things." Tell stories about the little ways you see God at work in the life and ministry of the congregation. Describe making caring phone calls and visits, making tray favors for institutionalized people, and inviting newcomers of all ages to church. Encourage people to value the little things others are doing in God's name and to look for little things they can do to share God's love and build God's kingdom.
2. Tell stories of amazing successes in the church. For example, describe the mushrooming work of Habitat for Humanity. In less than thirty years, this house-building ministry has used volunteer labor and donations of materials and money to build thousands of houses for needy people to build thousands of houses for needy people in countries all around the world. (Read No More Shacks by Millard Fuller if you do not know this story.)
Or describe the effect of one Heifer Project—a flock of chicks sent by a children's church school class to a family in an underdeveloped country (eggs to eat, sell, and hatch into more chicks).
Or desribe the results of work your congregation has done.… read more
"SERMON OPTIONS: JULY 3, 2016"
NOT SO RANDOM A HARVEST
GALATIANS 6:(1-6) 7-16
Depend upon and act out of only the Spirit and "do not give up" (v. 9) are the closing admonitions of a loving challenge Paul offers as he reaches out to us across the centuries with his heart writ "large" in his "own hand" (v. 11).
I. Be Patient with One Another
Paul continues teaching his main message here that by the Spirit alone is everything transformed and that this "new creation is everything!" (v. 15). So those who have been touched and made new by the Spirit, should depend on the Spirit—not the law or its reproach—to reach out to and "restore" (v. 1) others. Those who pretend to be serving the law by imposing it on others are simply into egotistical power plays. They should look more to their own "game" than to their neighbor's. They might remind us of the golfer who said to his caddie: "You must be the worst caddie in the world!" "No, sir," the caddie replied. "That would be too big a coincidence."
There is no judgmentalism in those redeemed by the Spirit. In "gentleness" (v. 1) and charity they will look at others and see the best. They will see them transformed before they actually are, which will be part of the transforming process. When we see people hot on the trail of other people's offenses, we can guess that their own have not been taken off their backs yet. I was visiting in a home once, when I accidentally knocked a candy off an Advent chain of candies. The young boy of the family was absolutely Gestapo-like in his mission to announce loudly my awful offense to everyone. That child was so heavily "under the gun" himself, that his need for the relief of redirecting blame onto others was overwhelming!
This kind of distraction from looking to one's "own work" (v. 4) just postpones the day of reckoning with one's own guilt and need for freedom from it. "You who have received the Spirit" (v. 1) don't have to go around with all kinds of opinions and assumptions that you know are right. You can be wrong sometimes and that's all right, because all your transgressions, past, present, and future, have been accounted for. So you don't need scapegoats to accuse and attack and you can deal gently with those who may need some brightening of their ways to gradually sink in.
II. Be Patient with Ourselves
Probably those who heard it will never forget Winston Churchill's commencement address in which the entire text was: "Never give up. Never give up. Never, never, never give up!" What is planted will, in due time, be harvested. You can depend upon it, Paul says. Therefore, "let us not grow weary in doing what is right" (v. 9). His heart-warming words of encouragement include himself as one who also has his own need for this perseverance.
He reminds me here of a story about Poland's famous concert pianist and prime minister, Ignacy Paderewski. A mother, wanting to encourage her young son in the piano, took him to a Paderewski performance. They found their seats near the front and admired the imposing Steinway waiting onstage. As the mother got to talking with a friend, the boy wandered off. At eight o'clock the lights dimmed, the spotlight came on, and the audience looked up to see the little boy perched on the bench, plunking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
Gasping, the mother got up to get her son. But the master had already walked onstage and went quickly to the piano. "Don't quit. Keep playing," he said leaning over the boy. With his left hand Paderewski began filling in the bass part. Then he reached around the other side with his right, to add the top part, encircling the child. Together the young child and the old master held the audience enthralled.
Even so, God surrounds and whispers to us, over and over, "Don't quit. Keep playing," as the Spirit gives its increase and majestic beauty to our humble beginnings. Paul knows from his own experience the dark, heavy power of discouragement. He wants to share the even more powerful resources and reasons to go through that "wall"; God's great help and the great harvest! Yes, "joy comes with the morning" (Ps. 30:5) . Traveling toward it, as the Quakers say: "May the Lord bless you and keep you going." (Kathleen Peterson)
THE JOURNEY OF JOY
LUKE 10:1-11, 16-20
Roy Clements, a pastor in England, tells the story of his decision to go into the ministry. He was earning a lucrative income in the science industry, but knew God was calling him to preach the Word. One day as he shared this desire with one of his coworkers, he heard the typical response: "It seems a bit of a waste." Why would anyone in his right mind leave a good job to tell others about Jesus?
When Christ says, "Go, I am sending you," one does not argue. Just begin the journey of joy and watch in wonder at all that God can accomplish through you.
In Luke 10:1-20, Jesus commissions the seventy-two apostles ("sent out ones") to go before him and tell the local villagers that the kingdom of God is near. As the messengers leave and return, their journey reveals four key insights about sharing the good news of Christ.
I. Pray for More Workers
The first truth Jesus discloses about missionary work is the great need for more workers, Christians willing to sacrifice the comforts of home to go into the world and tell others about Jesus. Thus, he exhorts these disciples to pray for more people willing to participate. One of the problems churches confront is the unwillingness to go and tell. They expect unbelievers to come, sit, and listen. Jesus places the proverbial shoe on the other foot. It is the responsibility of Christians to take the message to the lost; not to pray that they find the front door of a worship center.
II. Go in Faith
Jesus makes sure the apostles know what to expect. They are not embarking on a leisurely vacation through Samaria. Rather, Jesus reminds them of the hostility waiting along the way. The essential component in accomplishing anything for God is the realization that you can't. God will accomplish what he desires through you; never the other way around. To show an understanding of this fact, the apostles are told not to take anything with them: no money, not even an extra pair of shoes! Why? God will provide for all their needs, food and lodging included. It's one thing to say it. But to leave home without your traveler's checks demonstrates total dependence on God.
III. Anticipate Success—and Failure
The third truth seems obvious: some will accept the message and some will reject it. No middle ground exists in the response to Jesus. Either one accepts him wholeheartedly or one rejects him altogether. What surprises us is the direct link between the message and the messenger. When the lost reject Christ, they reject Christians (and vice versa). In other words, as believers share the message of hope, they represent Christ himself. Jesus says, "When you speak, they hear my words." This factor removes all the pressure. If someone accepts Christ, praise God! If they refuse to listen, it is God they refuse to hear.
IV. Bring Home the Joy
The final truth of this passage is found in the last section (vv. 17-20). In this age of financial security, one cannot imagine the utter joy available to those who live day to day on pure faith in God to supply material and spiritual resources. As Christians submit to God's calling, they soon discover the greatest reward in life: being used by God to accomplish his purposes. The apostles experienced the call, the provision, the power, and the product. To lead someone to Christ and witness the transformation brings the greatest feeling of joy ever known. To be used by God, to bring glory to God, to lead others to God—these are the incomparable rewards for abandoning the temporal enticements of this world.
The next time you feel the Lord calling you to share him with others, do not hesitate to begin the journey of joy. You may encounter resistance, rejection, even satanic hostilities, but God will provide the necessary resources for accomplishing his goals. One should not underestimate the possibilities, because one thing is guaranteed: when the Lord calls you to serve him, it will never be "a bit of a waste." (Craig C. Christina)
WASHING IN OLD JORDAN
2 KINGS 5:1-14
I know a man who has a severe back injury and lives with constant pain. He has seen the best doctors he can find. He has gone to a major medical center. He has taken thousands of dollars worth of treatments, but he has found no relief. He has also visited a chiropractor. He has tried acupuncture. The last I knew, he was planning to go to a faith healer.
I can’t blame him. It must be awful to suffer constantly — and to have little hope of healing. There are millions like him, people who have an ailment or an agony or an anxiety and are unable to find a cure for it.
Naaman, whose story is told in our scripture reading, was one such person, inflicted with a dreadful disease that in his day was quite incurable.
He was a high-ranking officer in the army of Syria, a country that was one of Israel’s enemies. He was an important man who had the ear of Syria’s king — but he had leprosy.
Leprosy was a terrible disease of the skin. It gradually ate away skin, then bones and joints, often resulting in deformity or paralysis, and eventually death. (If you’ve seen the movie Braveheart, you may remember the father of Robert the Bruce, whose face was being eaten away by leprosy.)
Anyway, we can imagine that Naaman had already consulted the leading doctors of Syria. Because he was a friend of the king, it is likely that the king had even made his personal physicians available to Naaman, but it had done no good.
Now it happened that Naaman had a young Jewish slave girl in his home, and she told him about the Hebrew prophet, Elisha, and his power to heal. Naaman was so desperate that he was willing to try anything — even going to the land of his enemies to visit a prophet he didn’t believe in. After all, what did he have to lose?
But when Naaman and his entourage arrived at Elisha’s door, they were insulted to find that Elisha himself did not even bother to come out and greet them. Instead, the prophet sent a messenger out who told Naaman to go and dip seven times in the Jordan River to be healed.
That was hardly what Naaman expected to hear. His sense of propriety was offended. He was to dip in dirty old Jordan, a river in his enemy’s land?! What an insult! Why there were at least two rivers in Syria that were cleaner than the Jordan, and they were on home ground at that. Why couldn’t he wash in one of those?
Naaman turned his crew around and left in a huff. Fortunately, one of Naaman’s servants was a little more level-headed and persuaded his master to try Elisha’s prescription. Naaman did. He went and dipped seven times in Jordan, and emerged completely healed.
What interests me in Naaman’s story today is his resistance to Elisha’s instructions, for it is not unlike the resistance some of us may feel to some of the church’s prescriptions for the healing of our souls.
We’ve all heard those time-worn prescriptions from the church:
read your Bible
pray every day
attend worship every Sunday
trust and obey
do unto others
take up your cross
believe in Jesus
and the like ...
We may well say to ourselves, “Why, I’ve heard those things ever since I was a child. They are okay, but my problems today are too big for such simplistic advice. I need some real help.”
And even if we don’t feel that way ourselves, we can certainly understand why a person might take such a position. After all, most of us have already discovered that a life of faith, even when supported by a regular devotional life and consistent church attendance, just does not solve all our problems.
In fact, there have been times for most of us when we have discovered help from sources outside of the church and religion.
For example, if we have been saddled with a personality quirk that interferes with our inner peace, we may have found more help for that particular problem from psychology than from religion.
Or if we have been anxious and overworked, we may have found more relaxation and refreshment from recreation, such as going boating or playing golf on a Sunday morning than by attending church.
The fact is, there are many sources of help for the specific difficulties that plague we mortals. Medical science, for example, has made tremendous contributions to quality of human existence, and quite frankly, it would be foolish to ignore medical help for our ailments and then expect God to miraculously heal us.
Or consider the development of human reasoning, the education of the mind. The cultivation of thinking and general learning is certainly done better by colleges and universities than by the church.
In fact, for almost every aspect of human life, we can name an institution, a science, a method, or a school of thought that has been created to respond to problems in those areas:
if you are physically ill, you can turn to medicine;
if you are mentally upset, you can turn to psychiatry;
if you have trouble expressing your emotions, you can join a sensitivity group or an encounter group; and
if you are in poverty, the government is probably a better source of long-term help than the church.
Many of the secular “rivers” of help are very fine; thank God we have them. And further, some of them even complement spiritual growth.
Nonetheless, despite all this help, life is more than just a healthy body, a sound mind, a strong will, stable emotions, and a comfortable personality. The fact is, a person can take their healthy body, sound mind, strong will, stable emotions, and comfortable personality and use those resources to plan a bank robbery, cheat their friends, or be unfaithful to their spouse.
One of the sad realities of life is that many otherwise sound and talented people suffer from a kind of spiritual leprosy. And when that is the case, medicine, psychiatry, education, and the like are not, by themselves, the source of healing.
What is needed for spiritual wholeness is for the various aspects of the human life — body, mind, conscience, emotions, reason, will, and so forth — to be organized around a human spirit that is committed to God. That spirit then becomes the “manager” of the other dimensions of life and helps to keep them in the proper perspective — focused toward God.
I know a woman who is a committed Christian. But despite her strong faith, she went through a period when she suffered some emotional distress. She decided to visit a professional counselor. She later told me that some of this counselor’s advice and therapy was very helpful, but that a few of his suggestions encouraged attitudes that were so self-focused that they could be harmful to others, even to people she loved.
Fortunately, because her God-committed spirit was the managing center of her life, she was able to accept the advice that was helpful and to reject that which was obviously inconsistent with her Christian commitment.
In other words, her faith gave her a context in which to evaluate the other sources of help offered to her.
You see, what we are talking about is not whether the secular sources of help and inspiration — like Naaman’s preferred rivers of Syria — are more appealing than the spiritual sources. The real question is, what can cure us of our spiritual leprosy?
And the answer to that question is already known to us: Go wash in the Jordan and you will be healed! Or, to put it into a more familiar phrase: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!”
The problem is, most of us have heard that advice so often — many of us from childhood on — that it has a trite ring to it. But think with me for a moment about what following the way of Jesus really means.
For one thing, it means being a part of the believing community that we call the church.
What other institution is there that sanctions the pursuit of holiness, compassion, the meaning of life as legitimate enterprises?
What other alternative is there that so fully provides the resources for spiritual growth?
What other place is there where children are nurtured in faith?
What other place energizes the examination of societal issues not only in terms of what would be helpful but also in terms of what would be right?
Where else are deaths mourned but mourned in the hope of eternal life?
Those of us for whom church attendance is a regular practice are doing a great thing for our lives. That’s because week after week we have the opportunity to view our lives from a faith context, to reorient ourselves and to keep in perspective the other rivers of help. We here share our lives with fellow worshipers who struggle with issues of their own lives in light of faith. We learn again the power of praying for one another, of caring about one another. Even when a worship service, like the dirty old Jordan River in Naaman’s story, is less appealing than some of the secular sources of help, it is still a place where spiritual wholeness was promoted.
Many of us, I think, stand with Naaman pondering strange instructions. Naaman’s instruction was, “If you want to be cured of your leprosy, go wash in old Jordan.” Ours may be, “Learn to pray.” But at the root, we and Naaman are hearing forms of the same advice that the church has been giving for centuries: “Trust God and be made whole.”
It may not be the sentence we were expecting, but it’s the one we need to hear.
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"WHEN THE REMEDY IS SIMPLE" by Douglas Mullins
2 Kings 5:1-14
We often make life more difficult than it needs to be. We do the same thing with our faith. Christianity, it seems to me, is simple. I don’t mean anything derogatory by that. I mean that Christianity has to be simple because it is meant to be lived.
I once kept a sign on my office wall: “Nothing is as simple as it seems. That is because nothing is simple, and nothing is as it seems.” I like that because it is an interesting bit of wordplay, and it does seem to have the ring of truth to it. We live in a complex world where solutions to most problems are anything but simple. Someone lingers for years with a debilitating illness. There is no simple explanation for a thing like that. Parents who have raised their child without any real thought or plan and worse yet, without consistency, may one day discover that their child has done something beyond the limits of social acceptability. They rush to the counselor wanting a quick fix—a simple remedy—to a problem that has taken fifteen years to develop. There is violence in the world, and crime, and senseless destruction of people and property. There is no simple way to get a handle on these things. Don’t be naive. Simple solutions are few and far between.
We also live in a world where few things are as they seem. We go to great lengths to appear to be something we are not. We want to look richer and smarter than we are. The marketing specialists push new products that bear little likeness to the items we cart home from the store. We are masters of disguise.
Life is such that when we do stumble onto something that is simple, we are likely to overlook it or dismiss it as ridiculous. So I return to the thought that Christianity is simple. God loves us. God sent his Son to us. God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ is sufficient. There are complex problems in the world, and to seek simple answers to them is naive. But it is just as foolish to seek complex answers when simple ones will suffice.
Today’s Old Testament text tells the tale of a person of some importance, although certainly not as much importance as he wished to think. Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a mighty warrior. He was, as we say, “somebody.” Did he have a flaw? I mean, other than his arrogance? Yes; he had leprosy.
Word reached Naaman, through a captured slave girl serving his wife, that the captured girl’s people had a prophet who could cure Naaman. The king of Aram sent Naaman to the king of Israel seeking such a cure. The king of Israel tore his clothes because he could not do this thing he was being asked—he could not cure this mighty warrior’s leprosy.
When word of this awkward situation reached Elisha, he asked that the man be sent to him. So Naaman, with his horses and his chariots and his whole entourage, pulled up in front of Elisha’s humble dwelling. Elisha sent word to Naaman that he should go and wash seven times in the river Jordan. That’s when Naaman lost it. Here was some obscure prophet in some little corner of the world in his humble little house. Naaman was the mighty warrior, and Elisha wouldn’t even come out of his house to greet him. And what did the prophet want Naaman to do? Wash seven times in the river Jordan. Who cares? What kind of remedy is this? Wash? In the river Jordan? Didn’t they have better rivers than this back home? What an insult! And with that Naaman stormed away, heading for home.
His servants finally calmed him and said, “If the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:13). Yielding to the saner moment, he did as Elisha had suggested, and he was made clean.
Naaman thought too highly of himself. That was the flaw that got in the way of his easy acceptance of a simple cure. He took offense. He felt slighted, snubbed. He felt he wasn’t given the respect he should have been given. Any of us will too often feel that our circumstance is different from everyone else’s. I knew a woman once whose husband had died. She was the most miserable person I think I ever met, for she was certain that her grief was worse than anyone else’s. When we think we are someone special, or that our circumstances are unique, or that we are better than other people, we will almost certainly overlook the remedy for our woes when it is simple.
There are three turning points in this healing story. It is easy to concentrate on Naaman, the mighty warrior, or on the prophet, Elisha, or on the interaction between the kings of Syria and Israel. Yet, the first turning point in the story is the simple witnessing of a captured Israelite slave girl. It was her voice that sent Naaman in the right direction. Never underestimate the power or the necessity of your personal witness to another in need.
The second turning point in the story came when Naaman’s own servants spoke words of encouragement. He wasn’t even going to try the simple remedy that was offered, but what saved the day was the intervention of his servants, who suggested that if it had been some difficult thing, he wouldn’t have walked away. Naaman began to see thereasonableness of at least giving it a try. Never withhold a word of encouragement.
The final turning point in the story came when Naaman decided to accept what God had offered. He did what the prophet of God suggested, and he was made clean. Always accept what God offers. Always do what God suggests.
Nothing is as simple as it seems? Not true. The miracles of faith and of a Christian life lived out by the grace of God are certain and available to every one of us. Trust in God. It sounds too simple. Still, trust in God, and everything in your life will fall into place.… read more
"WORSHIP ELEMENTS: JULY 3, 2016" by Hans Holznagel
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
COLOR: Green
SCRIPTURE READINGS: 2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16; Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
THEME IDEAS
Gentleness and a firm stance for peace are paths to healing, right relationships, and God’s realm—even for the mighty, the prosperous, and the strong. Naaman almost allows his ego to prevent his own healing. Jesus sends out seventy ambassadors, brandishing nothing more than words of peace, acts of healing, and belief in God’s realm. Paul urges gentleness with “transgressors.” At this point in history, what lessons can we draw? What stance might we take? What healing might turn the world’s mourning into dancing?
INVITATION AND GATHERING
Call to Worship (Psalm 30)
Sing praises to God, O faithful ones.
Give thanks and proclaim God’s holy name.
Weeping or joyful, mourning or dancing,
come as you are, for all are welcome here.
Open your hearts to healing, to life restored.
Let us worship God.
Opening Prayer (2 Kings 5, Galatians 6, Luke 10)
O God of cleansing waters,
center our hearts on healing.
Messenger of peace,
instruct us in your ways.
Spirit of gentleness,
make of us a new creation.
Amen.
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
Prayer of Confession (2 Kings 5, Psalm 30)
O God of people and nations,
we are ignorant and arrogant
about our own prosperity and might.
When we forget how much we have,
remind us of our abundance.
When we take pride in our status
and think ourselves better than others,
grant us humility.
When we use wealth and power
to get our own way at the expense of others,
correct us.
Heal us, we pray,
that we may be a force for wholeness.
With all that we have,
we pray for your forgiveness. Amen.
Words of Assurance (Psalm 30)
God’s anger lasts but a moment,
but God’s favor lasts a lifetime.
Weeping may last the night,
but joy comes in the morning.
God takes off our sackcloth
and clothes us with joy.
Let us rejoice! We are forgiven!
Passing the Peace of Christ (Luke 10)
Jesus sent forth his disciples with a word of peace. We too are bearers of that peace as we greet others in Christ’s name. Please greet your neighbors with the blessing: “The peace of Christ be with you.”
Response to the Word (Luke 10)
Equip us to know your will, O God,
as we strive to labor daily
in the fields of your harvest. Amen
THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION
Invitation to the Offering (Galatians 6)
“You reap whatever you sow,” says the Apostle Paul, “so wherever we have the opportunity, let us work for the good of all.” For the nurture of this family of faith, and for the ministry to a world in need, let us now give joyfully as we present our tithes and offerings.
Offering Prayer (Galatians 6)
Generous God, source of all abundance,
bless now these gifts, we pray.
Receive this offering.
Receive our very lives.
Fit us for humble, joyful ministry
in your name. Amen.
SENDING FORTH
Benediction (Galatians 6)
Do not grow weary in doing what is right,
for you will reap a great harvest
if you do not give up.
Sow in the Spirit
and reap the blessings of God.
Go in peace.
CONTEMPORARY OPTIONS
Contemporary Gathering Words (Psalm 30)
You cried all night,
your life is the pits,
you’re very sorry for something you’ve done;
but dawn has broken
and joy comes in the morning.
If you can’t feel the dawn, take heart. It’s coming.
If joy still feels a long way off, you’re not alone.
Let’s be in Christ’s healing presence this hour.
Let’s give our thanks and praise to God.
Praise Sentences (Psalm 30, Luke 10)
Make our spirits dance, O God!
Take off our sackcloth and clothe us with joy!
Help our souls praise you and not be silent!
Take off our sackcloth and clothe us with joy!
Teach the way of peace, O Jesus!
Take off our sackcloth and clothe us with joy!
From The Abingdon Worship Annual edited by Mary J. Scifres and B.J. Beu, Copyright © Abingdon Press. The Abingdon Worship Annual 2017 is now available. … read more
"WORSHIP CONNECTION: JULY 3, 2016" by Nancy C. Townley
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
COLOR: Green
SCRIPTURE READINGS: 2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16; Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
CALLS TO WORSHIP
Call to Worship #1:
L: Praise be to God who has freed us from oppression!
P: Praise be to God who has healed our wounded souls!
L: Let our hearts rejoice at God’s redeeming love.
P: Let our voices raise in songs of thanksgiving for all that God is doing for us.
L: Come, let us worship the Lord with our whole hearts!
P: May our praise and voices resound with joy! AMEN.
Call to Worship #2:
L: In the midst of our troubles, we cry aloud to God.
P: God always hears our cries and responds to our needs.
L: God brings us up out of our trouble and sets us in a safe place.
P: God comforts and restores our souls.
L: The Lord has turned our mourning into dancing!
P: We have been clothed with joy and hope! AMEN.
Call to Worship #3:
[Using THE FAITH WE SING, p. 2210 “Joy Comes with the Dawn”, offer the following call to worship as directed.]
Soloist: singing refrain of “Joy Comes with the Dawn”
Congregation: singing verse 1 and following with refrain of “Joy Comes with the Dawn”
L: Even in the times of darkness, our God surrounds us with help and hope.
P: Our spirits and voices shall continually praise God!
L: Though our hearts ache and war is abounding in the world, God is with us.
P: Help us, O Lord, to see and feel your presence with us.
Soloist: singing refrain of “Joy Comes with the Dawn”
Congregation: singing verse 3 and following with refrain of “Joy Comes with the Dawn”
L: Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, for God has called us here.
P: Let us offer our praise to God who heals and redeems our lives. AMEN.
Call to Worship #4:
L: We are called together this day to praise God.
P: We ask that God will put us in pathways to service to others.
L: The Lord will walk with us as we faithfully witness to Christ’s love.
P: Open our hearts, Lord, to receive your words and will.
L: Come, let us worship God!
P: Let us sing our praises to God our Redeemer and Healer. AMEN.
PRAYERS, LITANY/READING, BENEDICTION
Opening Prayer:
Gracious God, mend our brokenness and our sadness. Give us spirits of joy and enthusiasm for service to you by serving others. Lift us and place us on your pathways of peace and hope, that with our lives we will witness to your redeeming love. AMEN.
Prayer of Confession:
Merciful God, in all our celebration, fireworks, parades, and gatherings we have proclaimed liberty and freedom. Yet our hearts are chained by anger, doubt, terror, and fear. We live in those chains, often not knowing that there is really any other way. We have become accustomed to our imprisonment. Forgive us when we turn away from your freeing love. Help us to place our trust in you and serve you by working with others for peace and hope for all. These things we ask in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.
Words of Assurance:
Reach out! Stretch your Spirits! God’s love has freed you from oppression and fear! You have been made whole in God’s eternal love. AMEN.
Pastoral Prayer:
Patient and Loving God, we have just come through a national holiday in which we have celebrated freedom and independence. We have heard the mighty strains of marching bands and seen the banners unfurled. Our hearts have been moved by the events. Yet you have called us to remember that it is you who gives true independence and hope in your healing and restoring love. The oppression of disease, poverty, terrorism pours into our lives and lays claim to our spirits. We feel as though we are again in bondage. Free us, O Lord. Open our hearts to receive your healing words of comfort and hope. Enable us to be people who offer compassion in the presence of sorrow; hope in the presence of desolation; light in the presence of darkness. Walk with us and strengthen us. Give us spirits of eagerness to serve and witness to your love. As we have brought names of those near and dear to us to this time of worship, asking your healing mercies and blessings, help us to remember that we stand in need of those blessings as well. Help us to receive the blessings and to use the gifts which we have been given to serve you in all that we say, think, and do. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. AMEN.
Litany/Reading:
Reader 1: I am so lost. Even in crowds, I feel as though I am invisible, as though I am nothing. I don’t belong anywhere. No one knows my name. My name is Sorrow.
Voice: Come, child. Enter into God’s presence where your name is changed to Joy.
Reader 2: It doesn’t seem to matter how hard I try, life just keeps kicking me down. I lose more than I win. I feel as though I am in an uphill struggle and the slope is slippery. I don’t have a chance. My name is Despair.
Voice: Come, child. Enter into God’s presence where your name is changed to Hope.
Reader 3: I can sing the fervent songs with the best of them. I can shout praises to the skies, but truly I feel abandoned. I pray and the answer does not come. I participate in ministries to help others, but feel cut adrift in my own anguish. My name is Doubt.
Voice: Come, child. Enter into God’s presence where your name is changed to Faith.
Reader 4: Inner turmoil seems to be part of my life. On the outside, it looks as though everything is fine and dandy, but I know my inner self - and I am hurting and wounded. I am afraid that others will see that part of me and walk away, so I pretend to be OK. My name is Fear.
Voice: Come, child. Enter into God’s presence where your name is changed to Love.
Leader: For all who sorrow, for all who are in despair, for all who doubt, for all who fear, God is here with us today, offering healing love and transformation. Come, child, enter into God’s presence where your name for eternity is Beloved.
Benediction:
Lord, as we go from this place, surround us with your peace and love, that we make take healing and hope to others in your holy name. AMEN.
ARTISTIC ELEMENTS
The traditional color for this Sunday is Green.
Author's Note: I see hope and God’s transforming presence in the themes for this day. We are called to take courage in our proclamation and to not be brought down by our fears. The potted floral plants with many buds are symbolic of hope and new life. You may want to make a statement regarding this in your bulletin. When we spread God’s word through love and compassion, new life occurs.
Surface:
Place five risers on the worship center. The tallest of the risers, about 6” high, should be at the center back (a cross will be placed upon this riser). Others may be placed to the right and to the left, but do not place them in a row, “stagger” their placement to create a more informal look.
Fabric:
Cover the worship center with green fabric, so that it drapes to the floor.
Candles:
Place a 6-8” white pillar candle in front of the cross on the worship center.
Flowers/Foliage:
On each of the four remaining risers, place a potted plant that is beginning to bloom - it may have several blossoms open, but the effect of buds creates a sense that something more is coming - growth and hope continue.
Rocks/Wood:
I would not use rocks or wood in this setting.
Other:
Nothing other than what is listed above is necessary.… read more
"WORSHIP FOR KIDS: JULY 3, 2016" by Carolyn C. Brown
From a Child's Point of View
Old Testament: 1 Kings 5:1-14. The story of Namaan's cure first attracts the attention of children because the heroine is a little girl. The fact that a little slave girl provided the key information about the cure and that Namaan and his wife took her suggestion seriously delights children, who often feel they have nothing important to contribute and that adults do not take their ideas seriously.
The importance of "little things" (a slave girl's information and a bath in a muddy river) is shown in two ways. First, it insists that God is at work in everyday events as well as in dramatic events. Children who grow up with the spectacular biblical stories often overlook God at work in the love of their families, the activities of their church, and the events of their own lives. This story encourages children to look for God at work in everyday events.
Second, as Namaan's servant pointed out, we should be as willing to do nonspectacular deeds as we are to do the dramatic ones. Children often undervalue their deeds of lovingkindness and playground peacemaking because they are not as dramatic as those in the Bible. They long to do heroic deeds and solve big problems in single strokes. They need to be reminded that God is working out the big plan through all our little efforts. Just as God used the information from the slave girl and cured Namaan—not with a great feat but with a bath in a muddy river—so God uses and values our efforts to love others and to share God's love with them. No loving deed is too insignificant to be noticed and used by God.
Psalm: 30. The underlying understanding of death and illness as signs of God's anger or punishment keep children from understanding all the lines of this psalm. If, however, the psalm is dramatically presented, children understand occasional lines and sense its feeling of relieved joy.
Epistle: Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16. This passage falls into two sections. The second, verses 11-16, summarizes Paul's position on the circumcision debate, an issue children do not understand. But the first, verses 1-10, deals with consequences, a reality elementary children deal with every day, as adults encourage them to think about the consequences of their actions before they act and also to face up to the consequences afterward. Nonagricultural children need help with Paul's sowing and reaping images. They more readily understand the results of practicing (or not practicing) a sport or musical instrument. Paul's abstract sowing "to the flesh" or "to the Spirit" need to be illustrated with specific results that come from loving others rather than thinking only about ourselves.
Gospel: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20. This passage provides balance for last week's readings about the frustrations of being a faithful disciple. When the seventy-two were sent out, they did their work with more success than they dreamed possible. Though they may not understand the details of Jesus' instructions to the group, children will catch the drift of the story and pick up on the excitement of the seventy-two as they return successful. A dramatic reading will focus the children's attention on the disciples' excitement, rather than on the problematic promise about walking on snakes and scorpions, or on the picture of the devil falling from the sky. Children, especially older children who are defining themselves by the groups they join, are encouraged to join the excited disciples doing God's work in amazing ways.
Watch Words
Leprosy, with its social isolation, needs to be described.
Do not assume that children will understand the reaping and sowing language in Luke and Galatians.
Let the Children Sing
"I Sing a Song of the Saints of God" and "We Are the Church" (Avery and Marsh) are upbeat hymns that celebrate the church at work together. "God of Grace and God of Glory" is harder, but children can join in on the repetitive chorus.
Choosing "I Sing the Almighty Power of God" is one way to celebrate God at work in the world. "All Things Bright and Beautiful" focuses on both big and little things.
The Liturgical Child
1. The story of Namaan and Psalm 30 also are read on the Sixth Sunday After the Epiphany in Year B. See resources for that day in this series for a Prayer of Confession about our failure to do "little things" (Liturgical Child 2), directions for pantomiming the story of Namaan (Liturgical Child 1), and a Worship Worksheet with a complete-the-story activity.
2. Present Psalm 30 as Namaan's prayer. Ask someone to assume Namaan's role, reading the psalm dramatically, as if praying it on his way home.
3. Pray about "little things" in which you sense God's presence and power. Note sermons, sunsets, and other weather events of the past week. Thank God for the Bible school, the church-camp experience for children, and other activities of your congregation in which you see God at work. Mention events in the community and human-interest events from abroad which indicate that God is at work among people every day. Then pray for the will and the wisdom to do "little things." Pray for the patience to say kind words when we feel tired and crabby, for the strength to keep forgiving people we need to forgive frequently (like brothers and sisters), and for the wisdom to find little ways to help relieve hunger and end homelessness.
4. Create a praise litany citing "successes" within your congregation and within the larger church. Be sure to include some activities in which children participated. To each example, the congregation replies, "Praise God, who is doing wonderful things through us."
5. Before pronouncing the benediction, charge the congregation in the same spirit with which Jesus charged the seventy-two:
As Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples to teach, care for the sick, and make friends with the friendless, so I send you. Go out into (your town or area) to share God's love. Talk to those who will listen, take care of those who need help, and do your part to bring God's kingdom closer. As you go, remember that many people are waiting for you and will welcome you. Also remember that Jesus will be with you always. Amen.
Sermon Resources
1. Preach about God's work in the "little things." Tell stories about the little ways you see God at work in the life and ministry of the congregation. Describe making caring phone calls and visits, making tray favors for institutionalized people, and inviting newcomers of all ages to church. Encourage people to value the little things others are doing in God's name and to look for little things they can do to share God's love and build God's kingdom.
2. Tell stories of amazing successes in the church. For example, describe the mushrooming work of Habitat for Humanity. In less than thirty years, this house-building ministry has used volunteer labor and donations of materials and money to build thousands of houses for needy people to build thousands of houses for needy people in countries all around the world. (Read No More Shacks by Millard Fuller if you do not know this story.)
Or describe the effect of one Heifer Project—a flock of chicks sent by a children's church school class to a family in an underdeveloped country (eggs to eat, sell, and hatch into more chicks).
Or desribe the results of work your congregation has done.… read more
"SERMON OPTIONS: JULY 3, 2016"
NOT SO RANDOM A HARVEST
GALATIANS 6:(1-6) 7-16
Depend upon and act out of only the Spirit and "do not give up" (v. 9) are the closing admonitions of a loving challenge Paul offers as he reaches out to us across the centuries with his heart writ "large" in his "own hand" (v. 11).
I. Be Patient with One Another
Paul continues teaching his main message here that by the Spirit alone is everything transformed and that this "new creation is everything!" (v. 15). So those who have been touched and made new by the Spirit, should depend on the Spirit—not the law or its reproach—to reach out to and "restore" (v. 1) others. Those who pretend to be serving the law by imposing it on others are simply into egotistical power plays. They should look more to their own "game" than to their neighbor's. They might remind us of the golfer who said to his caddie: "You must be the worst caddie in the world!" "No, sir," the caddie replied. "That would be too big a coincidence."
There is no judgmentalism in those redeemed by the Spirit. In "gentleness" (v. 1) and charity they will look at others and see the best. They will see them transformed before they actually are, which will be part of the transforming process. When we see people hot on the trail of other people's offenses, we can guess that their own have not been taken off their backs yet. I was visiting in a home once, when I accidentally knocked a candy off an Advent chain of candies. The young boy of the family was absolutely Gestapo-like in his mission to announce loudly my awful offense to everyone. That child was so heavily "under the gun" himself, that his need for the relief of redirecting blame onto others was overwhelming!
This kind of distraction from looking to one's "own work" (v. 4) just postpones the day of reckoning with one's own guilt and need for freedom from it. "You who have received the Spirit" (v. 1) don't have to go around with all kinds of opinions and assumptions that you know are right. You can be wrong sometimes and that's all right, because all your transgressions, past, present, and future, have been accounted for. So you don't need scapegoats to accuse and attack and you can deal gently with those who may need some brightening of their ways to gradually sink in.
II. Be Patient with Ourselves
Probably those who heard it will never forget Winston Churchill's commencement address in which the entire text was: "Never give up. Never give up. Never, never, never give up!" What is planted will, in due time, be harvested. You can depend upon it, Paul says. Therefore, "let us not grow weary in doing what is right" (v. 9). His heart-warming words of encouragement include himself as one who also has his own need for this perseverance.
He reminds me here of a story about Poland's famous concert pianist and prime minister, Ignacy Paderewski. A mother, wanting to encourage her young son in the piano, took him to a Paderewski performance. They found their seats near the front and admired the imposing Steinway waiting onstage. As the mother got to talking with a friend, the boy wandered off. At eight o'clock the lights dimmed, the spotlight came on, and the audience looked up to see the little boy perched on the bench, plunking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
Gasping, the mother got up to get her son. But the master had already walked onstage and went quickly to the piano. "Don't quit. Keep playing," he said leaning over the boy. With his left hand Paderewski began filling in the bass part. Then he reached around the other side with his right, to add the top part, encircling the child. Together the young child and the old master held the audience enthralled.
Even so, God surrounds and whispers to us, over and over, "Don't quit. Keep playing," as the Spirit gives its increase and majestic beauty to our humble beginnings. Paul knows from his own experience the dark, heavy power of discouragement. He wants to share the even more powerful resources and reasons to go through that "wall"; God's great help and the great harvest! Yes, "joy comes with the morning" (Ps. 30:5) . Traveling toward it, as the Quakers say: "May the Lord bless you and keep you going." (Kathleen Peterson)
THE JOURNEY OF JOY
LUKE 10:1-11, 16-20
Roy Clements, a pastor in England, tells the story of his decision to go into the ministry. He was earning a lucrative income in the science industry, but knew God was calling him to preach the Word. One day as he shared this desire with one of his coworkers, he heard the typical response: "It seems a bit of a waste." Why would anyone in his right mind leave a good job to tell others about Jesus?
When Christ says, "Go, I am sending you," one does not argue. Just begin the journey of joy and watch in wonder at all that God can accomplish through you.
In Luke 10:1-20, Jesus commissions the seventy-two apostles ("sent out ones") to go before him and tell the local villagers that the kingdom of God is near. As the messengers leave and return, their journey reveals four key insights about sharing the good news of Christ.
I. Pray for More Workers
The first truth Jesus discloses about missionary work is the great need for more workers, Christians willing to sacrifice the comforts of home to go into the world and tell others about Jesus. Thus, he exhorts these disciples to pray for more people willing to participate. One of the problems churches confront is the unwillingness to go and tell. They expect unbelievers to come, sit, and listen. Jesus places the proverbial shoe on the other foot. It is the responsibility of Christians to take the message to the lost; not to pray that they find the front door of a worship center.
II. Go in Faith
Jesus makes sure the apostles know what to expect. They are not embarking on a leisurely vacation through Samaria. Rather, Jesus reminds them of the hostility waiting along the way. The essential component in accomplishing anything for God is the realization that you can't. God will accomplish what he desires through you; never the other way around. To show an understanding of this fact, the apostles are told not to take anything with them: no money, not even an extra pair of shoes! Why? God will provide for all their needs, food and lodging included. It's one thing to say it. But to leave home without your traveler's checks demonstrates total dependence on God.
III. Anticipate Success—and Failure
The third truth seems obvious: some will accept the message and some will reject it. No middle ground exists in the response to Jesus. Either one accepts him wholeheartedly or one rejects him altogether. What surprises us is the direct link between the message and the messenger. When the lost reject Christ, they reject Christians (and vice versa). In other words, as believers share the message of hope, they represent Christ himself. Jesus says, "When you speak, they hear my words." This factor removes all the pressure. If someone accepts Christ, praise God! If they refuse to listen, it is God they refuse to hear.
IV. Bring Home the Joy
The final truth of this passage is found in the last section (vv. 17-20). In this age of financial security, one cannot imagine the utter joy available to those who live day to day on pure faith in God to supply material and spiritual resources. As Christians submit to God's calling, they soon discover the greatest reward in life: being used by God to accomplish his purposes. The apostles experienced the call, the provision, the power, and the product. To lead someone to Christ and witness the transformation brings the greatest feeling of joy ever known. To be used by God, to bring glory to God, to lead others to God—these are the incomparable rewards for abandoning the temporal enticements of this world.
The next time you feel the Lord calling you to share him with others, do not hesitate to begin the journey of joy. You may encounter resistance, rejection, even satanic hostilities, but God will provide the necessary resources for accomplishing his goals. One should not underestimate the possibilities, because one thing is guaranteed: when the Lord calls you to serve him, it will never be "a bit of a waste." (Craig C. Christina)
WASHING IN OLD JORDAN
2 KINGS 5:1-14
I know a man who has a severe back injury and lives with constant pain. He has seen the best doctors he can find. He has gone to a major medical center. He has taken thousands of dollars worth of treatments, but he has found no relief. He has also visited a chiropractor. He has tried acupuncture. The last I knew, he was planning to go to a faith healer.
I can’t blame him. It must be awful to suffer constantly — and to have little hope of healing. There are millions like him, people who have an ailment or an agony or an anxiety and are unable to find a cure for it.
Naaman, whose story is told in our scripture reading, was one such person, inflicted with a dreadful disease that in his day was quite incurable.
He was a high-ranking officer in the army of Syria, a country that was one of Israel’s enemies. He was an important man who had the ear of Syria’s king — but he had leprosy.
Leprosy was a terrible disease of the skin. It gradually ate away skin, then bones and joints, often resulting in deformity or paralysis, and eventually death. (If you’ve seen the movie Braveheart, you may remember the father of Robert the Bruce, whose face was being eaten away by leprosy.)
Anyway, we can imagine that Naaman had already consulted the leading doctors of Syria. Because he was a friend of the king, it is likely that the king had even made his personal physicians available to Naaman, but it had done no good.
Now it happened that Naaman had a young Jewish slave girl in his home, and she told him about the Hebrew prophet, Elisha, and his power to heal. Naaman was so desperate that he was willing to try anything — even going to the land of his enemies to visit a prophet he didn’t believe in. After all, what did he have to lose?
But when Naaman and his entourage arrived at Elisha’s door, they were insulted to find that Elisha himself did not even bother to come out and greet them. Instead, the prophet sent a messenger out who told Naaman to go and dip seven times in the Jordan River to be healed.
That was hardly what Naaman expected to hear. His sense of propriety was offended. He was to dip in dirty old Jordan, a river in his enemy’s land?! What an insult! Why there were at least two rivers in Syria that were cleaner than the Jordan, and they were on home ground at that. Why couldn’t he wash in one of those?
Naaman turned his crew around and left in a huff. Fortunately, one of Naaman’s servants was a little more level-headed and persuaded his master to try Elisha’s prescription. Naaman did. He went and dipped seven times in Jordan, and emerged completely healed.
What interests me in Naaman’s story today is his resistance to Elisha’s instructions, for it is not unlike the resistance some of us may feel to some of the church’s prescriptions for the healing of our souls.
We’ve all heard those time-worn prescriptions from the church:
read your Bible
pray every day
attend worship every Sunday
trust and obey
do unto others
take up your cross
believe in Jesus
and the like ...
We may well say to ourselves, “Why, I’ve heard those things ever since I was a child. They are okay, but my problems today are too big for such simplistic advice. I need some real help.”
And even if we don’t feel that way ourselves, we can certainly understand why a person might take such a position. After all, most of us have already discovered that a life of faith, even when supported by a regular devotional life and consistent church attendance, just does not solve all our problems.
In fact, there have been times for most of us when we have discovered help from sources outside of the church and religion.
For example, if we have been saddled with a personality quirk that interferes with our inner peace, we may have found more help for that particular problem from psychology than from religion.
Or if we have been anxious and overworked, we may have found more relaxation and refreshment from recreation, such as going boating or playing golf on a Sunday morning than by attending church.
The fact is, there are many sources of help for the specific difficulties that plague we mortals. Medical science, for example, has made tremendous contributions to quality of human existence, and quite frankly, it would be foolish to ignore medical help for our ailments and then expect God to miraculously heal us.
Or consider the development of human reasoning, the education of the mind. The cultivation of thinking and general learning is certainly done better by colleges and universities than by the church.
In fact, for almost every aspect of human life, we can name an institution, a science, a method, or a school of thought that has been created to respond to problems in those areas:
if you are physically ill, you can turn to medicine;
if you are mentally upset, you can turn to psychiatry;
if you have trouble expressing your emotions, you can join a sensitivity group or an encounter group; and
if you are in poverty, the government is probably a better source of long-term help than the church.
Many of the secular “rivers” of help are very fine; thank God we have them. And further, some of them even complement spiritual growth.
Nonetheless, despite all this help, life is more than just a healthy body, a sound mind, a strong will, stable emotions, and a comfortable personality. The fact is, a person can take their healthy body, sound mind, strong will, stable emotions, and comfortable personality and use those resources to plan a bank robbery, cheat their friends, or be unfaithful to their spouse.
One of the sad realities of life is that many otherwise sound and talented people suffer from a kind of spiritual leprosy. And when that is the case, medicine, psychiatry, education, and the like are not, by themselves, the source of healing.
What is needed for spiritual wholeness is for the various aspects of the human life — body, mind, conscience, emotions, reason, will, and so forth — to be organized around a human spirit that is committed to God. That spirit then becomes the “manager” of the other dimensions of life and helps to keep them in the proper perspective — focused toward God.
I know a woman who is a committed Christian. But despite her strong faith, she went through a period when she suffered some emotional distress. She decided to visit a professional counselor. She later told me that some of this counselor’s advice and therapy was very helpful, but that a few of his suggestions encouraged attitudes that were so self-focused that they could be harmful to others, even to people she loved.
Fortunately, because her God-committed spirit was the managing center of her life, she was able to accept the advice that was helpful and to reject that which was obviously inconsistent with her Christian commitment.
In other words, her faith gave her a context in which to evaluate the other sources of help offered to her.
You see, what we are talking about is not whether the secular sources of help and inspiration — like Naaman’s preferred rivers of Syria — are more appealing than the spiritual sources. The real question is, what can cure us of our spiritual leprosy?
And the answer to that question is already known to us: Go wash in the Jordan and you will be healed! Or, to put it into a more familiar phrase: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!”
The problem is, most of us have heard that advice so often — many of us from childhood on — that it has a trite ring to it. But think with me for a moment about what following the way of Jesus really means.
For one thing, it means being a part of the believing community that we call the church.
What other institution is there that sanctions the pursuit of holiness, compassion, the meaning of life as legitimate enterprises?
What other alternative is there that so fully provides the resources for spiritual growth?
What other place is there where children are nurtured in faith?
What other place energizes the examination of societal issues not only in terms of what would be helpful but also in terms of what would be right?
Where else are deaths mourned but mourned in the hope of eternal life?
Those of us for whom church attendance is a regular practice are doing a great thing for our lives. That’s because week after week we have the opportunity to view our lives from a faith context, to reorient ourselves and to keep in perspective the other rivers of help. We here share our lives with fellow worshipers who struggle with issues of their own lives in light of faith. We learn again the power of praying for one another, of caring about one another. Even when a worship service, like the dirty old Jordan River in Naaman’s story, is less appealing than some of the secular sources of help, it is still a place where spiritual wholeness was promoted.
Many of us, I think, stand with Naaman pondering strange instructions. Naaman’s instruction was, “If you want to be cured of your leprosy, go wash in old Jordan.” Ours may be, “Learn to pray.” But at the root, we and Naaman are hearing forms of the same advice that the church has been giving for centuries: “Trust God and be made whole.”
It may not be the sentence we were expecting, but it’s the one we need to hear.
Ministry Matters
2222 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37228, United States
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