Brood of Vipers
Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
For January 9, 2022:
Brood of Vipers
by Katy Stenta
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Why call anyone a “Brood of Vipers?”
It might seem really off putting to call anyone a brood of vipers but the truth is that John the Baptist is a Truth teller. He is trying to call people back to the way of accountability. He wants no lip service or fair weather friends. Instead he is calling people to real and substantial change, such that they can join him for the long haul that is and will be discipleship.
In the News
The recent death of Nobel Peace Prize Winner, joy bringer, and staunch and steadfast healer of a nation Archbishop Desmond Tutu hits hard. He was always laughing, unafraid of death, and ready to do the work that needed to be done. Known as “the arch,” Desmond Tutu’s catch phrase was a declaration of power and an invitation all at the same time “Why don’t you join the winning side before it’s too late?” Time after time Desmond Tutu convinced the powers that be: villagers, soldiers, even dictators that he wanted real and substantial change to happen, not for him, but for them. When he called them out for accountability, it was because he wanted the nation to heal, but he wanted to give the opportunity for healing to his enemies as well. He would call people on their sins, because he wanted to give each and every person a chance for forgiveness. He was unafraid to call out apartheid whenever and wherever he saw it, whether it was in Africa or Israel or anywhere else.
This is similar to what is happening in terms of Covid-19 and those who are not yet vaccinated. I want everyone to get vaccinated, because I want every single person to make it through the pandemic — even those I disagree with! I want people to admit that they were wrong, not because I am right — but because we need to work together to beat this disease. We need to convince everyone to wear masks, get the vaccine, and to evenly distribute the vaccine and boosters throughout the world, not to mention the patents for the technology to make the vaccines, in which case we need to not just to hold people accountable but also to somehow to invite them into the solution.
So too, one could say, is what is happening with the January 6th investigation in the Congress. The heart of the matter being, how can we keep democracy safe, and make certain that elections are free and fair, and that the truth is perpetuated — instead of the great lie — if we do not hold every individual responsible accountable. The investigation, in the best of cases, will not only reveal who did wrong, but also invite a participatory solution of some kind (perhaps even one not yet imagined). Because accountability, as shown by the great Desmond Tutu when done correctly, is transformative and healing.
In the Scripture
John the Baptist greets the people who come out to be baptized with harsh words. He calls them a “brood of vipers.” This is no meager insult but a curse of the day. He tells them that they cannot escape the fate that is coming to them, that their very roots are bad. No window dressing change is going to be good enough. They need a true repentance, a whole turn around, a complete change of heart, in order to become disciples. John the Baptist tells it like it is and holds them accountable.
The crowds are not driven away by John the Baptist — quite the opposite! Something in his convicting words of truth draws them in. I imagine he held good humor, courage and strength not unlike Desmond Tutu.
You can almost hear something similar to Desmond Tutu’s “Why don’t you join the winning side before it’s too late?” “What can we do?” the crowd asks. “We really, really want to change now?”
Really change, John the Baptist answers. Don’t steal or threaten anyone, don’t lie, give your extra to those in need. He tells them to revolutionize the socio-economics of humanity — quite a call for any time period.
Then Jesus comes, and verifies all that John the Baptist says, by being proclaimed and beloved by God. In some ways this very moment sanctifies humanity itself. If Jesus’ human baptized flesh can be beloved, maybe ours can be as well.
For the Sermon: Join the Party
The call to accountability sounds like a threat, but really it’s more like a promise. It’s calling people what they are, so that they can simultaneously see what they could instead be.
“Why don’t you want to be on the winning side before it is too late?”
You brood of vipers…you could be beloved.
The invitation to accountability is the invitation to be healed. When done correctly the one doing the inviting shows that death is not as scary as the alternative.
Quite a feat for us humans who fear losing our dignity or pride, or being thought as lesser in any way. In an era where we worry about our image, or masks, or making the wrong decision, people like Desmond Tutu and John the Baptist look us in the eye and say, “I promise what you are suffering through is not worth it and that healing is.” I promise that the winning side, baptism, knowing you’re a beloved, healing, is definitely worth it. The bonus is you will not be afraid of losing your pride, possessions, or even dying anymore. Because you will discover that love is infinitely more important than any of that.
So Brood of Vipers, who’s ready to do some accountability with me?
SECOND THOUGHTS
Created for Glory, Not Despair
by Mary Austin
Isaiah 43:1-7
“I really hope that 2022 is not the third year of 2020,” a friend lamented the other day, feeling the sameness of slogging through Covid. As 2022 begins, we’re back in a time of uncertainty. The Omicron variant of Covid, with its high transmission rates, has schools and churches going online again. Restaurants are empty, and concerts are cancelled. Over the holidays, airlines cancelled more than 15,000 flights, leaving travelers stranded in already crowded airports. Even people who are staying safely at home are feeling a toll on their mental health.
As Covid mutates and vaccination rates change, the scientific wisdom evolves, appropriately, and yet adding to our sense of confusion. Different parts of the country are also having widely different experiences. The CDC now says “that people who are infected can re-enter society after five days if they don’t have symptoms or if their symptoms are resolving. The guidance adds that people should wear a mask for five days after that. The change came about, officials said, because studies have found that a majority of transmission happens in the first five days of an infection. It also allows companies to bring back workers in half the time.” There’s a lot of information to keep up with. For example, “something else to know about Omicron versus earlier variants: The incubation period seems to be shorter. It may take three days for people to develop symptoms, become contagious and test positive, compared with four to six days with Delta.”
Even the phrase “fully vaccinated” is now being reconsidered. Is it the initial dose? Or is a booster shot required to be fully vaccinated? “Redefining “fully vaccinated” could lead to enormous logistical challenges, as even supporters of the idea concede, and it is likely to incite political backlash. Tens of millions of Americans who thought of themselves as vaccinated might discover that without boosters, they could lose access to restaurants, offices, concerts, events, gatherings — any place where proof of vaccination is required to enter. Moreover, the change risks undermining trust in public health officials after two years of shifting recommendations, experts said. Some Americans may feel that the goal posts have been moved again, and too suddenly.”
As Americans, we like as much certainty as possible. In this Covid chapter of our lives, the only sure thing is uncertainty. Into this season of change and worry, Isaiah offers his timeless words of hope, speaking for God. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”
As a country, we are so divided about vaccines, about politics, about Critical Race Theory, about the importance of the riots at the US Capitol last year, and God offers a word of unity through Isaiah. In the world ahead, God mends our human divisions, promising, “Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up’ and to the south, ‘Do not withhold.’” All the scattered people will be joined together again, by the power of God’s redemption. The exiles, to whom Isaiah speaks, were separated by foreign powers. We are separated from each other by our own stubbornness, and Isaiah’s word of reconciliation is equally welcome to our ears.
Looking at Isaiah’s word, Joyce Shin finds a look back to Israel’s history in this passage. The waters evoke the escape from enslavement in Egypt, and even farther back, the waters of creation. She notes, “So devastating was their experience that images of overwhelming waters and of fire spoke to them. The reference to “waters” and “rivers” in Isaiah 43:2 not only recalls the threat they faced in crossing the Red Sea, as recounted in the stories of Israel’s collective memory, but also the chaotic waters that God had to restrain in creating the world. The “fire” and “flame” call to mind Israel’s more recent memory of military destruction. Over and again, the conditions of their lives have been turned upside down. Nothing has remained the same.” If we are feeling similar upheaval, this is a word for us.
Through Isaiah, God reminds the people of Israel — and us — that we are claimed, and chosen to belong to God. This gift of redemption from every season of fear and worry is for “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
As always, God has a bigger vision than our particular moment in human history. When we’re frightened, it’s easy to sink into the feeling that things are uniquely awful, and through Isaiah, God calls us back to a wider view of our lives, held in God’s care. Isaiah gives us a deeper understanding of who we are, and to whom we belong. Listening to him speak for God, we can work our way back to hope, instead of staying parked in despair.
Richard Rohr notes that hope has a personal dimension that is linked to a wider communal hope. He writes, “Foundational hope demands a foundational belief in a world that is still and always unfolding to something better. This is the virtue of hope. Personally, I have found that it is almost impossible to heal individuals over the long haul, if the whole cosmic arc is not also a trajectory toward the good.” Isaiah sees the world still unfolding, with the arc moving toward God’s purposes. If we can see the same path, we need not sink into worry, use our energy to panic, or get angry. We are made for something deeper and richer, as God announces, “you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you.” We are created for God’s glory, and Isaiah calls us out of this moment of uncertainty back to that bottomless truth.
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Dean Feldmeyer:
Twice Saved (Redemption)
A gathering of friends at an English estate nearly turned to tragedy when one of the children strayed into deep water. The gardener heard the cries for help, plunged in, and rescued the drowning child. The child’s name was Winston Churchill. His grateful parents asked the gardener what they could do to reward him. He answered: “I wish my son could go to college someday and become a doctor.” The Churchills promised to make it possible.
Years later, while Sir Winston was prime minister of England, he was stricken with pneumonia. The country's best physicians were summoned. Their leader’s name was Dr. Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered and developed penicillin, and the son of that gardener who had saved young Winston from drowning. Later Churchill remarked, “Rarely has one man owed his life twice to the same person.”
* * *
Redeemed By Good Works (Redemption)
Back in 2000, 23-year-old Cornelius Anderson III, nicknamed Mike, was arrested for robbing a Burger King at gunpoint. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison, released on bail, and told to await orders on when to show up to serve his time. The orders never came. Due to a clerical error, Anderson never went to prison. But instead of using his freedom to commit more crimes, Anderson started his own construction business, became a youth football coach, and volunteered at his local church. He also got married, had three children, and became a well-liked member of his community.
Thirteen years later, the state discovered their error and put Anderson behind bars for a year. As the case received international coverage, an online petition for his release gained more than 35,000 signatures. After a court hearing that lasted a mere 10 minutes, the judge conceded that Anderson was a changed man and granted him credit for the years he should have been in prison. He walked out of the courtroom a free man.
* * *
Saved By Suffering? (Baptism)
This story is told about the baptism of King Aengus by St. Patrick in the middle of the fifth century: At one point during the rite, St. Patrick stumbled and caught his balance by leaning on his staff and inadvertently stabbing the king's foot. After the baptism was over, St. Patrick looked down at all the blood, realized what he had done, and begged the king's forgiveness. “Why did you suffer this pain in silence?” he asked. The king replied, “I thought it was part of the ritual.”
* * *
Nothing Changed, Everything Transformed (Baptism)
John, an alcoholic, went to the church to find a solution for his drinking problems. The priest, after a long talk, asks: Are you baptized?
No.
Well then, I'll give you the holy baptism and you'll be a new man.
The priest plunged John under the water three times. “You are now a new creature!” he said. “There will be no more alcohol in your life! You're not John anymore, you'll be Joseph instead, a new clean and healthy man!”
Joseph found the method odd but really liked the experience, so he went home, went to the fridge, took a beer and dipped it in the water saying:
You're now a new creature! You're not beer anymore, you're now orange juice.
* * *
Bieber’s Bathtub Baptism (Baptism)
Water baptisms don’t always occur in a church. In 2014, in the middle of his fall from public grace, Justin Bieber decided to get baptized. He contacted Carl Lentz, the pastor at Hillsong church in New York City, who agreed to perform the baptism. Lentz wears leather, has tattoos, and has served as a spiritual mentor to Selena Gomez and Bono. He and Bieber went to a number of different locations to find a private place to conduct the sacrament, but, finding none, they eventually called pro basketball player Tyson Chandler at around 2:00 AM. Chandler’s rooftop pool was closed and under repair so it couldn’t be used at that time but he offered Bieber his luxury bathtub instead. Chandler is 7’1” tall, so his bathtub is extra-large. His wife even helped to make the baptism special by providing food. While the event might sound strange to some, Lentz recalls the early morning baptism as “one of the most special things I’ve ever been a part of.”
* * *
Would You Baptize A Martian? (Baptism)
Baptism isn’t just for humans, apparently. At the British Science Festival in 2010, Guy Consolmagno, one of Pope Benedict XVI’s astronomers, announced that he would baptize an alien if asked. How exactly alien life would ask to be baptized is uncertain, but Consolmagno then revealed his official statement: “Any entity — no matter how many tentacles it has — has a soul.” In 2014, during a speech about acceptance, Pope Francis further clarified the Vatican’s view of the relationship between martians and baptism. The Pope related an anecdote from the Bible about the first pagans converting to Christianity. Then he explained that one of the obstacles faced by Christians is to accept the Holy Spirit even if it is unthinkable and unimaginable. The Pope extended this perspective to martians, or as he described them, “Green, with long noses and big ears, like in children’s drawings.” In agreement with Consolmagno’s perspective, Pope Francis stated that he would also baptize martians.
* * *
Come On In, The Water Smells Fine (Baptism)
RandomG, an anonymous responder to stories about weird baptisms on the website listverse.com says that his baptism at the age of 6 was the first time he realized that baptismal water didn’t stink.
He says: “Since they teach you to hold your nose when you get dunked (it's harder to keep water out when you're facing upward, as most swimmers know), I spent years assuming the water must smell godawful if everyone I'd ever seen baptized had to hold their nose as they're lowered into the water. I think I just assumed it must have been like the whole "if medicine tastes bad, it's good for you" situation.”
It was only when he, himself, was baptized that he discovered that the water didn’t smell bad at all.
* * * * * *
From team member Chris Keating:
Isaiah 43:1-7
“When you walk through fire”
Snow covered still-smoldering debris in towns near Boulder, Colorado, Sunday, while search teams continued looking for missing persons following last week’s massive wildfire. The Marshall fire, whose origins are still under investigation, burned an area of 9.4 square miles, destroying 991 homes and businesses.
Fueled by abnormally dry conditions and high winds, the deadly blaze struck near the heart of one of America’s leading centers of climate science and meteorology research, including laboratories associated with the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the University of Colorado.
In one neighborhood, a US Postal Service employee was checking still-standing stone and brick mailboxes near burned-out houses. The mail carrier said she wanted to make sure that any outgoing mail or bills residents had left in their mailboxes would not be stolen.
Jeff Markley of Superior, Colorado, said he felt lucky because even though he was displaced by the fire, his family’s home was still in-tact. “We’re making do, staying with friends, and upbeat for the new year. Got to be better than this last one,” Markley said.
* * *
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
The Baptism of Jay Gatsby
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel “The Great Gatsby” water functions as a metaphor for change and transformation, much like the baptismal waters of the River Jordan. Both Jesus’ baptism by John and Gatsby’s watershed encounter with Dan Cody’s massive yacht on Lake Superior are moments of revelation. But where the Spirit descends on Jesus and he is acclaimed as God’s Son, Gatsby’s transformation is more material. Out on the lake, he shifts from James Gatz, son of “shiftless and unsuccessful farm people” into the famed Gatsby. As Fitzgerald wrote:
I suppose he’d had the name ready for a long time, even then. His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people—his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all. The truth was that Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself. He was a son of God—a phrase which, if it means anything, means just that—and he must be about His Father’s business, the service of a vast, vulgar, and meretricious beauty. So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen-year-old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end. (Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby (p. 98). Scribner. Kindle Edition.)
* * *
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Yeah, it was amazing
Jesus’ baptism is an amazing revelation that affirms his identity as God’s beloved Son, just as our baptisms reveal our identity as those sealed in Christ.
In an interview with Krista Tippett, the late Desmond Tutu recounted how his understanding of being created in the image of God — Tutu referred to it as being a ‘God-carrier’ — shaped his understanding of the evil of apartheid and racism. When he discovered the promises of scripture, said Tutu, “and you saw how the scriptures say it is because we are created in the image of God, that each one of us is a God-carrier. No matter what our physical circumstances may be, no matter how awful, no matter how deprived you could be, it doesn’t take away from you this intrinsic worth. One saw just how significant it was.”
Tutu continued:
Although I was a bishop, I was working now for the Southern Council of Churches and had a small parish in Soweto. Most of my parishioners were domestic workers, not people who are very well educated. But I would say to them, “You know, mama, when they ask who are you” — you see, the white employer most frequently didn’t use the person’s name. They said the person’s name was too difficult. And so most Africans, women would be called “Annie” and most black men really, you were “boy.” And I would say to them, “When they ask who you are, you say, ‘Me? I’m a God-carrier. I’m God’s partner. I’m created in the image of God.'” And you could see those dear old ladies as they walked out of church on that occasion as if they were on cloud nine. You know, they walked with their backs slightly straighter. And, yeah, it was amazing.
* * * * * *
From team member Quantisha Mason-Doll:
Isaiah 43:1-7
You will pass through those waters
The 2020’s have been marked with a distinct kind of humor that walks the line of devastatingly dark and radiantly hopeful. One such communal jest that triggered a formative childhood memory involved the tagline “X happens…becomes aware.” The “X” in this case is the stand in for some event that is so formative yet mundane that it feels as if your self-awareness began at that moment.
I remember laughing and telling my partner how I had a near-drowning event as a child where I felt this extreme sense of calm after moments of panic. I have the distinct memory of just being under the surface of the water and this voice saying “don’t worry your father has you” and then whoosh I’m pulled to the surface and into the arms of my panicked father. While I am aware this is not a normal thing for someone to just laugh off, I believe my experience speaks to the kind of faith Isaiah references when acting as the oracle of the Lord. There are moments like the one I just described that on the surface are extremely difficult and traumatic. These moments bring awareness to one’s life and asks us to reevaluate where our faith and trust is placed.
* * *
Acts 8:14-17
The Spirit
The laying of hands has been a church tradition since the inception of our faith. It is the act of touch that brings us closer to one another. The spirit of the Lord is this connectional force that binds us together. I think of the work of Martin Burber and the phenomenon of I and Thou. I believe the Spirit to be the ‘and’ in that sentence linking two disparate event. When your life and wellbeing are bound up in another’s there is the creation of a nexus point where the kingdom of heaven is made manifest in this world. The ongoing global pandemic poses an interesting problem. When touch is more or less off limits how do we create the kingdom of heaven? Maybe in this moment we are being called to live into the reality that if we want to hold one another again we must first hold each other accountable. Samaria welcomed the word of God before the Spirit was able to dwell within them. The word of God is the care for those on the margins and fringes of society. Before we can seek the kingdom we must ensure the wellbeing of creation.
* * * * * *
WORSHIP
by Chris Keating
Call to Worship
One: Hear the promises of our God: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.”
All: Because God has claimed us, we shall not be overwhelmed.
One: When you pass through the raging waters, says the Lord, I will be with you!
All: Because God has called us by name, we live with hope.
One: Let us worship God!
OR
One: Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
All: Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
One: The voice of the Lord is upon the waters, the God of Glory thunders.
All: The voice of the Lord is powerful, and full of majesty.
One: Let us listen for God’s voice in our worship and praise.
Prayer of the Day
God of glory and power,
Your voice thunders in our midst,
calling us to gather in hope. As your Son was baptized by John,
baptize us with your Spirit’s power, so
that we may abound in hope and remember your love,
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Hymns
“Come Thou Font of Every Blessing”
“How Firm A Foundation, ye Saints of the Lord”
“Out of Deep, Unordered Water”
“Wild and Lone the Prophet’s Voice”
“Baptized in Water”
“As the Wind Song”
“There’s A Sweet, Sweet, Spirit in this Place”
“You Belong to Christ”
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty”
“I Sing the Mighty Power of God”
Contemporary/Global
“Come to the Water” (Matt Maher)
“Somos Bautizados/Through Baptismal Waters” (Martinez)
“Down to the River to Pray”
Call to Confession
God’s voice thunders over the waters, calling us to life and assuring us of mercy. In his baptism, Jesus was immersed into the pain and sin of human life. Let us therefore confess our sin, so that we might know the mercy and grace of God. Let us pray:
Prayer of Confession (unison)
We offer ourselves to you, O God, in repentance and faith. Too often we have forgotten the promises of baptism and lived only for ourselves. Where you call us to have faith, we have been filled with fear. Where you invite us to dwell in hope and peace, we hold grudges and nurture division. Forgive, O God. Remind us that you have loved us, and called us by name, just as you affirmed Your Son, our Lord, Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Siblings in Christ, remember the promises of God and be at peace: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” In Jesus’ name we are forgiven, Amen.
Prayers of Thanksgiving, Intercession for the Remembrance of Baptism and The Lord’s Prayer
One: Lift up your hearts!
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
One: Holy and gracious God, you sent your Spirit across the waters, splashing your grace and filling creation with goodness. We praise and thank you for the many ways you have led your people through the rushing waters of danger and injustice, and for offering the promise of your unwavering presence. You have claimed us as your own, and in the waters of our baptisms, have sealed those promises in Christ name. All praise and thanks be to you, O God, for you remembered your covenant and in Jesus Christ offered us new life. Remind those who are baptized of the sacred vows of that covenant and sprinkle us once more with signs of your peace. Lend us your Spirit so that we may be filled with joy and abound in hope.
Hear us as we lift before you the needs of the world, and the concerns of our hearts. Especially we pray for….
Hear all these prayers as we praise them to you in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to pray together, saying, ‘Our Father, who art in heaven…’
* * * * * *
CHILDREN'S SERMON
The Power of Water
by Tom Willadsen
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Some churches try to schedule baptisms for this day. Other churches have an annual renewal of baptismal vows on this day. Either way, baptism is the theme for worship today. Place the baptismal font in a central location at the front of the sanctuary. Move it away from walls or the communion table so the children can gather all around it. Have water present as you would for a baptism. The congregation I serve puts warm water next to the font prior to worship; perhaps your congregation has water already in the font.
Nearly all baptismal fonts are in one of three shapes: circle, triangle or octagon. Ask the kids what shape their font is.
Circles represent eternity, that there is no beginning and ending in the Lord.
Triangles recall the Trinity, and that Christians are baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (or Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer).
Octagons are a little more subtle. (This is the most arcane thing I learned in seminary — and the most unforgettable!) Christians worship on Sunday because Christ rose on a Sunday. We’re all about the Resurrection. Sunday is the first day of the week; the day God began to make the heavens and the earth. It is not a stretch to say that God began a new creation on Easter. The Resurrection comes after the profound stillness of the sabbath, “On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.” (Luke 23:56b, NRSV)
Sunday is the day after the seventh day of the week. 7+1=8. That’s why there are eight sides on the baptismal font!
Some also contend that the eight sides on the baptismal font recall the eight survivors of the Flood: Noah, Shem, Ham, Japheth…and their wives. The wives are unnamed... (No, Noah’s wife is not Joan of Ark!)
Whichever shape your congregation’s baptismal font is, remind the children that some of them were baptized there before they remember. God has loved them, and the congregation has cared for them since before they knew anything at all!
Let them touch the water. Remind them that we need water to live and to wash. Water can also be very, very destructive; God destroyed the whole world with a flood. When anyone is baptized, that one is baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection. The water cleanses us, yes, but it should be visible enough to recall the peril of water, such that the newly baptized one rises from a kind of symbolic, watery grave to new life in Christ.
If you have a baptism, be sure to have cake to celebrate. Conclude by reminding the kids to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, January 9, 2022 issue.
Copyright 2021 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
- Brood of Vipers by Katy Stenta based on Luke 3:15-17, 21-22.
- Second Thoughts: Created for Glory, Not Despair by Mary Austin based on Isaiah 43:1-7.
- Sermon illustrations by Dean Feldmeyer, Chris Keating, Quantisha Mason-Doll.
- Worship resources by Chris Keating.
- Children's sermon: The Power of Water by Tom Willadsen.
Brood of Vipers
by Katy Stenta
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Why call anyone a “Brood of Vipers?”
It might seem really off putting to call anyone a brood of vipers but the truth is that John the Baptist is a Truth teller. He is trying to call people back to the way of accountability. He wants no lip service or fair weather friends. Instead he is calling people to real and substantial change, such that they can join him for the long haul that is and will be discipleship.
In the News
The recent death of Nobel Peace Prize Winner, joy bringer, and staunch and steadfast healer of a nation Archbishop Desmond Tutu hits hard. He was always laughing, unafraid of death, and ready to do the work that needed to be done. Known as “the arch,” Desmond Tutu’s catch phrase was a declaration of power and an invitation all at the same time “Why don’t you join the winning side before it’s too late?” Time after time Desmond Tutu convinced the powers that be: villagers, soldiers, even dictators that he wanted real and substantial change to happen, not for him, but for them. When he called them out for accountability, it was because he wanted the nation to heal, but he wanted to give the opportunity for healing to his enemies as well. He would call people on their sins, because he wanted to give each and every person a chance for forgiveness. He was unafraid to call out apartheid whenever and wherever he saw it, whether it was in Africa or Israel or anywhere else.
This is similar to what is happening in terms of Covid-19 and those who are not yet vaccinated. I want everyone to get vaccinated, because I want every single person to make it through the pandemic — even those I disagree with! I want people to admit that they were wrong, not because I am right — but because we need to work together to beat this disease. We need to convince everyone to wear masks, get the vaccine, and to evenly distribute the vaccine and boosters throughout the world, not to mention the patents for the technology to make the vaccines, in which case we need to not just to hold people accountable but also to somehow to invite them into the solution.
So too, one could say, is what is happening with the January 6th investigation in the Congress. The heart of the matter being, how can we keep democracy safe, and make certain that elections are free and fair, and that the truth is perpetuated — instead of the great lie — if we do not hold every individual responsible accountable. The investigation, in the best of cases, will not only reveal who did wrong, but also invite a participatory solution of some kind (perhaps even one not yet imagined). Because accountability, as shown by the great Desmond Tutu when done correctly, is transformative and healing.
In the Scripture
John the Baptist greets the people who come out to be baptized with harsh words. He calls them a “brood of vipers.” This is no meager insult but a curse of the day. He tells them that they cannot escape the fate that is coming to them, that their very roots are bad. No window dressing change is going to be good enough. They need a true repentance, a whole turn around, a complete change of heart, in order to become disciples. John the Baptist tells it like it is and holds them accountable.
The crowds are not driven away by John the Baptist — quite the opposite! Something in his convicting words of truth draws them in. I imagine he held good humor, courage and strength not unlike Desmond Tutu.
You can almost hear something similar to Desmond Tutu’s “Why don’t you join the winning side before it’s too late?” “What can we do?” the crowd asks. “We really, really want to change now?”
Really change, John the Baptist answers. Don’t steal or threaten anyone, don’t lie, give your extra to those in need. He tells them to revolutionize the socio-economics of humanity — quite a call for any time period.
Then Jesus comes, and verifies all that John the Baptist says, by being proclaimed and beloved by God. In some ways this very moment sanctifies humanity itself. If Jesus’ human baptized flesh can be beloved, maybe ours can be as well.
For the Sermon: Join the Party
The call to accountability sounds like a threat, but really it’s more like a promise. It’s calling people what they are, so that they can simultaneously see what they could instead be.
“Why don’t you want to be on the winning side before it is too late?”
You brood of vipers…you could be beloved.
The invitation to accountability is the invitation to be healed. When done correctly the one doing the inviting shows that death is not as scary as the alternative.
Quite a feat for us humans who fear losing our dignity or pride, or being thought as lesser in any way. In an era where we worry about our image, or masks, or making the wrong decision, people like Desmond Tutu and John the Baptist look us in the eye and say, “I promise what you are suffering through is not worth it and that healing is.” I promise that the winning side, baptism, knowing you’re a beloved, healing, is definitely worth it. The bonus is you will not be afraid of losing your pride, possessions, or even dying anymore. Because you will discover that love is infinitely more important than any of that.
So Brood of Vipers, who’s ready to do some accountability with me?
SECOND THOUGHTSCreated for Glory, Not Despair
by Mary Austin
Isaiah 43:1-7
“I really hope that 2022 is not the third year of 2020,” a friend lamented the other day, feeling the sameness of slogging through Covid. As 2022 begins, we’re back in a time of uncertainty. The Omicron variant of Covid, with its high transmission rates, has schools and churches going online again. Restaurants are empty, and concerts are cancelled. Over the holidays, airlines cancelled more than 15,000 flights, leaving travelers stranded in already crowded airports. Even people who are staying safely at home are feeling a toll on their mental health.
As Covid mutates and vaccination rates change, the scientific wisdom evolves, appropriately, and yet adding to our sense of confusion. Different parts of the country are also having widely different experiences. The CDC now says “that people who are infected can re-enter society after five days if they don’t have symptoms or if their symptoms are resolving. The guidance adds that people should wear a mask for five days after that. The change came about, officials said, because studies have found that a majority of transmission happens in the first five days of an infection. It also allows companies to bring back workers in half the time.” There’s a lot of information to keep up with. For example, “something else to know about Omicron versus earlier variants: The incubation period seems to be shorter. It may take three days for people to develop symptoms, become contagious and test positive, compared with four to six days with Delta.”
Even the phrase “fully vaccinated” is now being reconsidered. Is it the initial dose? Or is a booster shot required to be fully vaccinated? “Redefining “fully vaccinated” could lead to enormous logistical challenges, as even supporters of the idea concede, and it is likely to incite political backlash. Tens of millions of Americans who thought of themselves as vaccinated might discover that without boosters, they could lose access to restaurants, offices, concerts, events, gatherings — any place where proof of vaccination is required to enter. Moreover, the change risks undermining trust in public health officials after two years of shifting recommendations, experts said. Some Americans may feel that the goal posts have been moved again, and too suddenly.”
As Americans, we like as much certainty as possible. In this Covid chapter of our lives, the only sure thing is uncertainty. Into this season of change and worry, Isaiah offers his timeless words of hope, speaking for God. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”
As a country, we are so divided about vaccines, about politics, about Critical Race Theory, about the importance of the riots at the US Capitol last year, and God offers a word of unity through Isaiah. In the world ahead, God mends our human divisions, promising, “Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up’ and to the south, ‘Do not withhold.’” All the scattered people will be joined together again, by the power of God’s redemption. The exiles, to whom Isaiah speaks, were separated by foreign powers. We are separated from each other by our own stubbornness, and Isaiah’s word of reconciliation is equally welcome to our ears.
Looking at Isaiah’s word, Joyce Shin finds a look back to Israel’s history in this passage. The waters evoke the escape from enslavement in Egypt, and even farther back, the waters of creation. She notes, “So devastating was their experience that images of overwhelming waters and of fire spoke to them. The reference to “waters” and “rivers” in Isaiah 43:2 not only recalls the threat they faced in crossing the Red Sea, as recounted in the stories of Israel’s collective memory, but also the chaotic waters that God had to restrain in creating the world. The “fire” and “flame” call to mind Israel’s more recent memory of military destruction. Over and again, the conditions of their lives have been turned upside down. Nothing has remained the same.” If we are feeling similar upheaval, this is a word for us.
Through Isaiah, God reminds the people of Israel — and us — that we are claimed, and chosen to belong to God. This gift of redemption from every season of fear and worry is for “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
As always, God has a bigger vision than our particular moment in human history. When we’re frightened, it’s easy to sink into the feeling that things are uniquely awful, and through Isaiah, God calls us back to a wider view of our lives, held in God’s care. Isaiah gives us a deeper understanding of who we are, and to whom we belong. Listening to him speak for God, we can work our way back to hope, instead of staying parked in despair.
Richard Rohr notes that hope has a personal dimension that is linked to a wider communal hope. He writes, “Foundational hope demands a foundational belief in a world that is still and always unfolding to something better. This is the virtue of hope. Personally, I have found that it is almost impossible to heal individuals over the long haul, if the whole cosmic arc is not also a trajectory toward the good.” Isaiah sees the world still unfolding, with the arc moving toward God’s purposes. If we can see the same path, we need not sink into worry, use our energy to panic, or get angry. We are made for something deeper and richer, as God announces, “you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you.” We are created for God’s glory, and Isaiah calls us out of this moment of uncertainty back to that bottomless truth.
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Dean Feldmeyer:Twice Saved (Redemption)
A gathering of friends at an English estate nearly turned to tragedy when one of the children strayed into deep water. The gardener heard the cries for help, plunged in, and rescued the drowning child. The child’s name was Winston Churchill. His grateful parents asked the gardener what they could do to reward him. He answered: “I wish my son could go to college someday and become a doctor.” The Churchills promised to make it possible.
Years later, while Sir Winston was prime minister of England, he was stricken with pneumonia. The country's best physicians were summoned. Their leader’s name was Dr. Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered and developed penicillin, and the son of that gardener who had saved young Winston from drowning. Later Churchill remarked, “Rarely has one man owed his life twice to the same person.”
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Redeemed By Good Works (Redemption)
Back in 2000, 23-year-old Cornelius Anderson III, nicknamed Mike, was arrested for robbing a Burger King at gunpoint. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison, released on bail, and told to await orders on when to show up to serve his time. The orders never came. Due to a clerical error, Anderson never went to prison. But instead of using his freedom to commit more crimes, Anderson started his own construction business, became a youth football coach, and volunteered at his local church. He also got married, had three children, and became a well-liked member of his community.
Thirteen years later, the state discovered their error and put Anderson behind bars for a year. As the case received international coverage, an online petition for his release gained more than 35,000 signatures. After a court hearing that lasted a mere 10 minutes, the judge conceded that Anderson was a changed man and granted him credit for the years he should have been in prison. He walked out of the courtroom a free man.
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Saved By Suffering? (Baptism)
This story is told about the baptism of King Aengus by St. Patrick in the middle of the fifth century: At one point during the rite, St. Patrick stumbled and caught his balance by leaning on his staff and inadvertently stabbing the king's foot. After the baptism was over, St. Patrick looked down at all the blood, realized what he had done, and begged the king's forgiveness. “Why did you suffer this pain in silence?” he asked. The king replied, “I thought it was part of the ritual.”
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Nothing Changed, Everything Transformed (Baptism)
John, an alcoholic, went to the church to find a solution for his drinking problems. The priest, after a long talk, asks: Are you baptized?
No.
Well then, I'll give you the holy baptism and you'll be a new man.
The priest plunged John under the water three times. “You are now a new creature!” he said. “There will be no more alcohol in your life! You're not John anymore, you'll be Joseph instead, a new clean and healthy man!”
Joseph found the method odd but really liked the experience, so he went home, went to the fridge, took a beer and dipped it in the water saying:
You're now a new creature! You're not beer anymore, you're now orange juice.
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Bieber’s Bathtub Baptism (Baptism)
Water baptisms don’t always occur in a church. In 2014, in the middle of his fall from public grace, Justin Bieber decided to get baptized. He contacted Carl Lentz, the pastor at Hillsong church in New York City, who agreed to perform the baptism. Lentz wears leather, has tattoos, and has served as a spiritual mentor to Selena Gomez and Bono. He and Bieber went to a number of different locations to find a private place to conduct the sacrament, but, finding none, they eventually called pro basketball player Tyson Chandler at around 2:00 AM. Chandler’s rooftop pool was closed and under repair so it couldn’t be used at that time but he offered Bieber his luxury bathtub instead. Chandler is 7’1” tall, so his bathtub is extra-large. His wife even helped to make the baptism special by providing food. While the event might sound strange to some, Lentz recalls the early morning baptism as “one of the most special things I’ve ever been a part of.”
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Would You Baptize A Martian? (Baptism)
Baptism isn’t just for humans, apparently. At the British Science Festival in 2010, Guy Consolmagno, one of Pope Benedict XVI’s astronomers, announced that he would baptize an alien if asked. How exactly alien life would ask to be baptized is uncertain, but Consolmagno then revealed his official statement: “Any entity — no matter how many tentacles it has — has a soul.” In 2014, during a speech about acceptance, Pope Francis further clarified the Vatican’s view of the relationship between martians and baptism. The Pope related an anecdote from the Bible about the first pagans converting to Christianity. Then he explained that one of the obstacles faced by Christians is to accept the Holy Spirit even if it is unthinkable and unimaginable. The Pope extended this perspective to martians, or as he described them, “Green, with long noses and big ears, like in children’s drawings.” In agreement with Consolmagno’s perspective, Pope Francis stated that he would also baptize martians.
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Come On In, The Water Smells Fine (Baptism)
RandomG, an anonymous responder to stories about weird baptisms on the website listverse.com says that his baptism at the age of 6 was the first time he realized that baptismal water didn’t stink.
He says: “Since they teach you to hold your nose when you get dunked (it's harder to keep water out when you're facing upward, as most swimmers know), I spent years assuming the water must smell godawful if everyone I'd ever seen baptized had to hold their nose as they're lowered into the water. I think I just assumed it must have been like the whole "if medicine tastes bad, it's good for you" situation.”
It was only when he, himself, was baptized that he discovered that the water didn’t smell bad at all.
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From team member Chris Keating:Isaiah 43:1-7
“When you walk through fire”
Snow covered still-smoldering debris in towns near Boulder, Colorado, Sunday, while search teams continued looking for missing persons following last week’s massive wildfire. The Marshall fire, whose origins are still under investigation, burned an area of 9.4 square miles, destroying 991 homes and businesses.
Fueled by abnormally dry conditions and high winds, the deadly blaze struck near the heart of one of America’s leading centers of climate science and meteorology research, including laboratories associated with the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the University of Colorado.
In one neighborhood, a US Postal Service employee was checking still-standing stone and brick mailboxes near burned-out houses. The mail carrier said she wanted to make sure that any outgoing mail or bills residents had left in their mailboxes would not be stolen.
Jeff Markley of Superior, Colorado, said he felt lucky because even though he was displaced by the fire, his family’s home was still in-tact. “We’re making do, staying with friends, and upbeat for the new year. Got to be better than this last one,” Markley said.
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Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
The Baptism of Jay Gatsby
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel “The Great Gatsby” water functions as a metaphor for change and transformation, much like the baptismal waters of the River Jordan. Both Jesus’ baptism by John and Gatsby’s watershed encounter with Dan Cody’s massive yacht on Lake Superior are moments of revelation. But where the Spirit descends on Jesus and he is acclaimed as God’s Son, Gatsby’s transformation is more material. Out on the lake, he shifts from James Gatz, son of “shiftless and unsuccessful farm people” into the famed Gatsby. As Fitzgerald wrote:
I suppose he’d had the name ready for a long time, even then. His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people—his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all. The truth was that Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself. He was a son of God—a phrase which, if it means anything, means just that—and he must be about His Father’s business, the service of a vast, vulgar, and meretricious beauty. So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen-year-old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end. (Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby (p. 98). Scribner. Kindle Edition.)
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Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Yeah, it was amazing
Jesus’ baptism is an amazing revelation that affirms his identity as God’s beloved Son, just as our baptisms reveal our identity as those sealed in Christ.
In an interview with Krista Tippett, the late Desmond Tutu recounted how his understanding of being created in the image of God — Tutu referred to it as being a ‘God-carrier’ — shaped his understanding of the evil of apartheid and racism. When he discovered the promises of scripture, said Tutu, “and you saw how the scriptures say it is because we are created in the image of God, that each one of us is a God-carrier. No matter what our physical circumstances may be, no matter how awful, no matter how deprived you could be, it doesn’t take away from you this intrinsic worth. One saw just how significant it was.”
Tutu continued:
Although I was a bishop, I was working now for the Southern Council of Churches and had a small parish in Soweto. Most of my parishioners were domestic workers, not people who are very well educated. But I would say to them, “You know, mama, when they ask who are you” — you see, the white employer most frequently didn’t use the person’s name. They said the person’s name was too difficult. And so most Africans, women would be called “Annie” and most black men really, you were “boy.” And I would say to them, “When they ask who you are, you say, ‘Me? I’m a God-carrier. I’m God’s partner. I’m created in the image of God.'” And you could see those dear old ladies as they walked out of church on that occasion as if they were on cloud nine. You know, they walked with their backs slightly straighter. And, yeah, it was amazing.
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From team member Quantisha Mason-Doll:Isaiah 43:1-7
You will pass through those waters
The 2020’s have been marked with a distinct kind of humor that walks the line of devastatingly dark and radiantly hopeful. One such communal jest that triggered a formative childhood memory involved the tagline “X happens…becomes aware.” The “X” in this case is the stand in for some event that is so formative yet mundane that it feels as if your self-awareness began at that moment.
I remember laughing and telling my partner how I had a near-drowning event as a child where I felt this extreme sense of calm after moments of panic. I have the distinct memory of just being under the surface of the water and this voice saying “don’t worry your father has you” and then whoosh I’m pulled to the surface and into the arms of my panicked father. While I am aware this is not a normal thing for someone to just laugh off, I believe my experience speaks to the kind of faith Isaiah references when acting as the oracle of the Lord. There are moments like the one I just described that on the surface are extremely difficult and traumatic. These moments bring awareness to one’s life and asks us to reevaluate where our faith and trust is placed.
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Acts 8:14-17
The Spirit
The laying of hands has been a church tradition since the inception of our faith. It is the act of touch that brings us closer to one another. The spirit of the Lord is this connectional force that binds us together. I think of the work of Martin Burber and the phenomenon of I and Thou. I believe the Spirit to be the ‘and’ in that sentence linking two disparate event. When your life and wellbeing are bound up in another’s there is the creation of a nexus point where the kingdom of heaven is made manifest in this world. The ongoing global pandemic poses an interesting problem. When touch is more or less off limits how do we create the kingdom of heaven? Maybe in this moment we are being called to live into the reality that if we want to hold one another again we must first hold each other accountable. Samaria welcomed the word of God before the Spirit was able to dwell within them. The word of God is the care for those on the margins and fringes of society. Before we can seek the kingdom we must ensure the wellbeing of creation.
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WORSHIPby Chris Keating
Call to Worship
One: Hear the promises of our God: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.”
All: Because God has claimed us, we shall not be overwhelmed.
One: When you pass through the raging waters, says the Lord, I will be with you!
All: Because God has called us by name, we live with hope.
One: Let us worship God!
OR
One: Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
All: Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
One: The voice of the Lord is upon the waters, the God of Glory thunders.
All: The voice of the Lord is powerful, and full of majesty.
One: Let us listen for God’s voice in our worship and praise.
Prayer of the Day
God of glory and power,
Your voice thunders in our midst,
calling us to gather in hope. As your Son was baptized by John,
baptize us with your Spirit’s power, so
that we may abound in hope and remember your love,
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Hymns
“Come Thou Font of Every Blessing”
“How Firm A Foundation, ye Saints of the Lord”
“Out of Deep, Unordered Water”
“Wild and Lone the Prophet’s Voice”
“Baptized in Water”
“As the Wind Song”
“There’s A Sweet, Sweet, Spirit in this Place”
“You Belong to Christ”
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty”
“I Sing the Mighty Power of God”
Contemporary/Global
“Come to the Water” (Matt Maher)
“Somos Bautizados/Through Baptismal Waters” (Martinez)
“Down to the River to Pray”
Call to Confession
God’s voice thunders over the waters, calling us to life and assuring us of mercy. In his baptism, Jesus was immersed into the pain and sin of human life. Let us therefore confess our sin, so that we might know the mercy and grace of God. Let us pray:
Prayer of Confession (unison)
We offer ourselves to you, O God, in repentance and faith. Too often we have forgotten the promises of baptism and lived only for ourselves. Where you call us to have faith, we have been filled with fear. Where you invite us to dwell in hope and peace, we hold grudges and nurture division. Forgive, O God. Remind us that you have loved us, and called us by name, just as you affirmed Your Son, our Lord, Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Siblings in Christ, remember the promises of God and be at peace: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” In Jesus’ name we are forgiven, Amen.
Prayers of Thanksgiving, Intercession for the Remembrance of Baptism and The Lord’s Prayer
One: Lift up your hearts!
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
One: Holy and gracious God, you sent your Spirit across the waters, splashing your grace and filling creation with goodness. We praise and thank you for the many ways you have led your people through the rushing waters of danger and injustice, and for offering the promise of your unwavering presence. You have claimed us as your own, and in the waters of our baptisms, have sealed those promises in Christ name. All praise and thanks be to you, O God, for you remembered your covenant and in Jesus Christ offered us new life. Remind those who are baptized of the sacred vows of that covenant and sprinkle us once more with signs of your peace. Lend us your Spirit so that we may be filled with joy and abound in hope.
Hear us as we lift before you the needs of the world, and the concerns of our hearts. Especially we pray for….
Hear all these prayers as we praise them to you in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to pray together, saying, ‘Our Father, who art in heaven…’
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CHILDREN'S SERMONThe Power of Water
by Tom Willadsen
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Some churches try to schedule baptisms for this day. Other churches have an annual renewal of baptismal vows on this day. Either way, baptism is the theme for worship today. Place the baptismal font in a central location at the front of the sanctuary. Move it away from walls or the communion table so the children can gather all around it. Have water present as you would for a baptism. The congregation I serve puts warm water next to the font prior to worship; perhaps your congregation has water already in the font.
Nearly all baptismal fonts are in one of three shapes: circle, triangle or octagon. Ask the kids what shape their font is.
Circles represent eternity, that there is no beginning and ending in the Lord.
Triangles recall the Trinity, and that Christians are baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (or Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer).
Octagons are a little more subtle. (This is the most arcane thing I learned in seminary — and the most unforgettable!) Christians worship on Sunday because Christ rose on a Sunday. We’re all about the Resurrection. Sunday is the first day of the week; the day God began to make the heavens and the earth. It is not a stretch to say that God began a new creation on Easter. The Resurrection comes after the profound stillness of the sabbath, “On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.” (Luke 23:56b, NRSV)
Sunday is the day after the seventh day of the week. 7+1=8. That’s why there are eight sides on the baptismal font!
Some also contend that the eight sides on the baptismal font recall the eight survivors of the Flood: Noah, Shem, Ham, Japheth…and their wives. The wives are unnamed... (No, Noah’s wife is not Joan of Ark!)
Whichever shape your congregation’s baptismal font is, remind the children that some of them were baptized there before they remember. God has loved them, and the congregation has cared for them since before they knew anything at all!
Let them touch the water. Remind them that we need water to live and to wash. Water can also be very, very destructive; God destroyed the whole world with a flood. When anyone is baptized, that one is baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection. The water cleanses us, yes, but it should be visible enough to recall the peril of water, such that the newly baptized one rises from a kind of symbolic, watery grave to new life in Christ.
If you have a baptism, be sure to have cake to celebrate. Conclude by reminding the kids to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)
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The Immediate Word, January 9, 2022 issue.
Copyright 2021 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
