Emphasis Preaching Journal

2 Kings 5:1-14
Henry Ward Beecher once said, “True obedience is true freedom.” Probably no one knew the truth of that better than Naaman.

The name “Naaman” comes from the Hebrew verb naem, “be delightful, pleasant, beautiful.” It has the idea of “gracious” or “well formed.” Because of the significance of names in scripture, this tells us something about this man. His name suggests he had been a handsome man, at least before he got leprosy. He may have also been a gracious and delightful man. But his name became a reproach and a striking contrast to his appearance and possibly to his disposition because of the disease that had attacked his body.

Undoubtedly, he had high hopes for what might happen on his visit to the prophet. Elisha’s words to him must have hit hard. Why would washing in the Jordan make any difference? It’s easy to see his anger and petulant walk home. The good sense of his servants calmed his anger and he obeyed. We know the rest of the story. True obedience is true freedom.
Bill T.

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2 Kings 5:1-14
On board the ship Kilauea there were fifty lepers who would be forever separated from their families. As outcasts of society they were headed for the isolated peninsula of Molokai. On this Hawaiian archipelago there were forty thousand islanders, and an isolated two thousand who suffered from leprosy. On board the boat was also a thirty-three-year-old Catholic priest and missionary, Father Damien, who accepted exile in order to minister to the lepers. He volunteered to take up residence in the leper colony saying, “I am ready to be buried alive with those poor wretches.”

When the boat landed on Molokai on May 4, 1873, the priest was unprepared for what he saw; men and women with swollen and rotted features. Monseigneur Maigret accompanied the young priest to the island and offered him a final chance to turn back. Damien refused. Damien immediately began his work among the sick. To mask the stench, he burned tobacco. He piped in fresh water. He burned the filthiest huts and rebuilt new ones. All the other huts were thoroughly cleaned. He laid out a farm, opened a dump and stopped the production of alcohol. To fulfill all of his priestly duties he also taught the residents about Jesus. Twelve years after Damien arrived at Molokai, he discovered that his feet became leprous. Four years later, and not yet fifty, he died.
Ron L.

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2 Kings 5:1-14
The Hebrew word tzaraat is generally translated as "leprosy," which in our culture is understand as Hansen's disease, a dreaded condition with disastrous effects on the nervous system, skin, eyes, and nose. There is still some mystery about the way it is spread, but at least in the twenty-first century there are some treatments that work if a diagnosis is made early.

But it's unclear if tzaraat in the Bible really refers to Hansen's disease. The very fact that in Leviticus 13-14 there is the expectation that sufferers will be cured, or in the case of this particular story that the military commander Naaman does not seem to be particularly infectious, suggests that we're really talking about a ugly skin condition that alarms those who see it, but that comes and goes.

The real problem is the way it affects how people look at the sufferer. In Biblical times this particular condition caused clans and villages to ostracize and isolate those who contracted a skin condition.

We may not contract leprosy, or tzaraat, but there are still situations that can cause us similar isolation and despair. Many of us have gone or are going through a time of severe acne, which causes sufferers to feel the need for isolation along with feelings of unworthiness. We may be born with a feature that others consider unsightly but that has no real effect on who we are. We may, even after corrective surgery or medical treatments, still worry about our appearance. Sufferers would be more reassured if we as a culture judged a person by one's character rather than one's appearance.
Frank R.

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Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16
Paul’s attention to the implications of Christian freedom for good behavior makes good scientific sense. Neurobiological research indicates that the dopamine secreted in spiritual experience makes us more sociable (Andrew Newberg and Mark Waldman, Why We Believe What We Believe, p.267). In faith, good works just seem to happen. Paul also makes clear that the good we do is the work of the Holy Spirit, the sowing of the Spirit. Martin Luther makes a relevant point regarding the Spirit’s Work, how the forgiveness and grace, the certainty of the faith that leads us to do good, is the Spirit’s work:

The Holy Spirit is as generous and kind in bearing with sins and minimizing them as he is unyielding in maintaining and defending the doctrine of faith. (Luther’s Works, Vol.27, p.110)

Paul urges that we not grow weary in doing right (v.9). In fact, again modern neurobiology suggests that spirituality provides the energy we need. It seems that the brain chemical dopamine secreted in spiritual exercises and sociality (Dean Hamer, The God Gene, pp.72ff.) is related to enhanced energy (Daniel Amen, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, p.81). Live faithfully in Christian freedom, and you won’t grow weary.
Mark E.

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Galatians 6:7-16
Let us work for the good of all! Paul writes to the church in Galatia about being faithful, about doing the right things, about remembering who they are. That church, and our churches, are called to love God and to love our neighbor, lifting up those who are the most challenged by life and restoring them. It’s not easy to know what the common good is. How do we define the common good? For me it’s pretty simple. If the decisions we make nurture people, enabling them to have homes, health, education, freedom from hunger and want, meaningful work to do, and a sense of choice and safety, then the decisions are probably focused on the common good. The world is complex to be sure, but seeking to live rightly, to love unconditionally, and to provide for the least among us is what we are called to do as followers of Jesus and children of God.
Bonnie B.

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Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16
One of my kids told me that she found another faith she was interested in. It was hard for me not to be disappointed. This passage tells us to respond gently. So I did. She still had her trouble, but promised to think about what I told her when I told her I still loved her.

I have some friends who were missionaries in Africa. Their daughter fell in love with a Muslim fellow. They were shattered, but told her that they still loved her and wanted her to go on being in their family. Her new husband did not fight them. He was a nice, gentle man who we grew to like. We treated him gently also hoping to win him with our love. When they talked with their daughter in private, she confessed that she still believed in Jesus, but didn’t make it an issue with her husband as long as she had officially joined his religion. I emailed back and forth with him. I told him why I believed as I did and asked him to write back why he believed as he did. We are still on friendly terms.

How hard it can be to be patient with our children or others when they differ from us on any issue. We often take pride in our principals.

The church is a place to help those with faith problems. Church members can also be a help with prayer for ourselves and others.
Bob O.

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Luke 10:1-11 16-20
George Stott was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China with the China Inland Mission. Despite physical disabilities, Stott was a highly effective mission leader. He once said when questioned why he would serve the Lord in China, “I do not see those with two legs going, so I must.” Thus, began his more than twenty years of missionary work in China.

In the text for today, Jesus sends out workers into the harvest field. Michael Rogness writes, “The harvest is plentiful” is as true today as it was in Jesus’ time. In questionnaires that ask about religious affiliation today the “nones” are the fastest growing group. Church attendance is down, especially among young people. One of the characteristics of today’s so-called “postmodernism” is that people come up with their own religious views and are not willing to simply “accept what others believe.”

The harvest remains plentiful and the workers few. Will you, like George Stott, answer the call?
Bill T.  

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Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
This passage from Luke consists of instructions for the disciples as itinerant preachers. They are to go forward dependent on hospitality from the community of believers. They're also not to go house shopping, looking for the best deal, but accept the hospitality of their first hosts. And if there is no hospitality offered, they are to shake off the dust from those towns off the soles of their sandals.

The early Christian document known as the Didache (dih-dah-key), looks at the matter from the side of the Christian community. In chapter 11 it advises believers to receive apostles and prophets, but be wary if they stay too long. A day or two is fine. Every true prophet, we're told, is worthy of support.

But if the prophet stays longer, put them to work in the community's business. (Christian communities functioned as families, sharing a craft.) If the only purpose of their visit was to collect money, then be suspicious.
Frank R.

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Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Roseanne was a television sitcom with the star role being played by Roseanne Barr. The show revolved around the fictional Conner family. The Conners were a working-class American family, who lived at 714 Delaware Street in the drab fictional mid-state exurb of Lanford, Illinois. It had as many as 27 million viewers.

ABC canceled Roseanne on May 29, 2018 after Barr tweeted a profane and racist comment about the former Obama administration official Valerie Jarrett. On June 21, 2018, ABC announced plans to re-tool the show as a spin-off involving the Conner family without Roseanne Barr. The new show would be called The Conners.

John Goodman plays Dan on both shows. Goodman was in his kitchen while his wife told him about Barr’s tweet. Goodman said, “It just didn’t seem true. Then it got true.” He went on to say, “I was just constantly trying to accept it.”
Ron L.