Crises in the Middle East, in the national economy, and in the church set the stage for the question of God and the impossible, which is the main theme of this issue of The Immediate Word. In today's lectionary text the woman with the flow of blood and Jairus are in desperate need of help. How can we effectively bring hope to those who face similar situations in our communities?
In his lead article, Rick Gribble struggles with the challenge of "mission impossible," citing a number of personal and social challenges facing us today. He insists that we, like the woman and man in the Gospel lection, can find in Jesus the basis for solid hope. He refers to G. K. Chesterton's saying that Christianity "has been found difficult and left untried," which reminds me of Krister Stendahl's puckish comment that if Christianity has been promoted for 2000 years and not yet been tried, when can we expect that someone will try it?
Responses from team members raise probing questions about the interrelationship of faith and hope and also whether some things must, in fact, be accepted as impossible.
Included, as usual, are related illustrations, worship resources, and Wesley Runk's children's sermon.
Contents:
Jesus: The Solution to Mission Impossible
Team Comments
Related Illustrations
Worship Resources
Children's Sermon
Jesus: The Solution to Mission Impossible
by Richard Gribble, CSC
Mark 5:21-43
Theme: The complexity and speed of contemporary life can at times lead to despair, frustration, and hopelessness. We might think that life is "Mission Impossible." We look at contemporary world events-almost daily violence in Israel, an unsettled state in Iraq, economic insecurity at home, and even this week continued failures of religious leaders and religious relics discovered to be a forgery-and wonder if our efforts are worth the pain. Quite naturally, we seek answers to the situations and problems we face and experience through the created world of things, people, and ideas. Today's Gospel, however, suggests that when things seem hopeless and impossible, Christians must always turn toward Christ, the one who resolves our problems and brings life to those who believe.
Sermon Openings
1. It is 10 P.M., the children are in bed, school lunches are ready for tomorrow, and finally a half-hour of peace is found to watch the early news before bed. In less than eight hours it will be time to wake and begin another hectic day. This scene is all too familiar to families today. Parents rise early, prepare themselves for work, wake their children, make breakfast for all, grab a cup of coffee for the road, and head out to meet the snarl of traffic or the crush on the subway on the way to their jobs. Eight hours on the job, coupled with commute time makes for a long workday, but our activities are hardly over when we return home. Dinner must be prepared, children need to be ferried to sports, music lessons, and libraries; civic and church-related activities take us away from home. Family members often see each other as ships passing in the night; a family dinner with all present is a rare event. Life-so fast-paced, requiring great commitments of time and often experienced with disappointment and pain-can easily discourage us; we might think life is mission impossible.
Life today is a struggle that only seems to become more complex. Difficult tasks, what we might perceive to be impossible missions, are the reality of our daily life. However, lest we lose hope, we must realize that throughout salvation history God has provided for all our needs. Today our Scripture lessons clearly indicate that those who lived at the time of Christ and found themselves in impossible situations turned to the Lord as the one who could solve any and all problems. People of status and people who were nobodies-they all came to Jesus, and so too must we!
2. Many years ago one of the most popular programs on weekly television was Mission Impossible. Its popularity led to two films by the same title that were both box office bonanzas for their producers. Each episode of the television series began in a similar way. The head of the "Impossible Missions Force," or IMF as it was called, would be sequestered away in some isolated spot all alone where he would find in a desk drawer or some similar location an envelope filled with papers and photos that described the next mission for the IMF. As the IMF chief perused these documents, he would listen to a tape recording that would give all the pertinent details on the mission and what was expected of the team. At the end of the tape the voice would always say, "If you choose to accept this mission and any of your IMF team are captured, the secretary will deny any knowledge of your activity." Then the voice would say, "Good luck, Mr. Phelps." The tape would self-destruct and then, after a commercial break, the program would begin. In television it is possible to accept or reject missions that seem impossible, but life is not so easy. In the reality of day-to-day life we often encounter situations that are problematic or so challenging that we might believe them to be "mission impossible." We do not have the luxury of saying no to these situations, although many today believe this is an option. We must find solutions to the dilemmas of life and often we seek answers in the created world. Today's scripture lessons, however, indicate that we must always seek Jesus, the one and only solution to mission impossible.
Scripture Application
The powerful twofold miracle story related in Mark 5:21-43 demonstrates the necessity of faith in Jesus and the need to turn to him as the solution to life's difficulties. Scripture scholars refer to the story of the woman with the hemorrhage as being "framed" by the story of Jairus and his daughter. The story of Jairus' plea for assistance for his daughter is interrupted by the story of the woman with the hemorrhage; the story resumes after Jesus cures the woman. Why was this technique used? Many suggest that the Markan author wants his readers to recognize the great faith demonstrated by a woman of no status in Jewish society. We are told that the woman had been sick for a dozen years and had tried all sorts of treatments to resolve her problem, but nothing had worked. Now she encounters Jesus and is convinced that all she must do is touch his clothing and she will get well. She does just that and is made whole. Her faith is what brings her healing, as Jesus himself says.
In a similar way Jairus demonstrates his faith in what he might have thought was a hopeless situation. We are told by Mark that Jairus was a synagogue official and thus a member of the Jewish establishment. His status would in many ways have placed him above others, but his position also would have been a deterrent to his ability to seek help from Jesus. We must recall that Jesus was the one who constantly broke the law and placed himself in opposition to the Pharisees and other Jewish religious leaders. Thus, for Jairus to seek help from one considered a renegade to the religious elite of Israel was an act of faith and courage. Jairus was, one might say, in an untenable situation, yet he courageously sought the assistance of Jesus and, like the woman with the hemorrhage, his faith brought restoration of health to his daughter.
The message of the Gospel is verified in the words of the author of Lamentations. We know that the Jewish writings are filled with many passages that uplift and bring hope to those in despair. Today's first lesson is one such passage. We are told that God is ever faithful and that the favors of the Lord are never exhausted. This was certainly good news to those addressed in this passage, but they are also words of encouragement for us today. The hopelessness of Jairus and the woman with the hemorrhage is rectified by the words of Lamentations. All that is necessary is sufficient trust and faith.
Contemporary Application
Today's world news is filled with problems and challenging situations that might cause us to believe we are living "mission impossible." The events of our personal lives are significant, but at times the perception of a dark world that surrounds us makes life seem even more bleak. Almost daily we hear of more problems in the Middle East. The constant tension between Jews and Muslims, between Israelis and Palestinians, produces seemingly ever-present headlines. We ask: Is there an answer or is this simply another example of mission impossible? On the international scene the ongoing "war of terror" and the unsettled situation in Iraq present similar questions of doubt. The state of the national economy and the continuing failures of our religious leaders (noted especially by the resignation of the Roman Catholic bishop of Phoenix, Thomas O'Brien, after his arrest on felony hit-and-run charges stemming from the death of a pedestrian) can, if we are not vigilant, lead to despair. Some might wonder if it is worth the effort to keep going.
The state of our personal and communal lives forces us to seek answers. We would be less than prudent and human if we did not look to the created world given us by God to find some solace and/or solutions. Undoubtedly, people, organizations, ideas, and things can help us with the mission impossible that we live. People unfortunately often place their hope in things that have no value. We place our hope in the possibility that a burial box really was that of James, brother of the Lord. But when such hopes are dashed, as we heard this past week with the revelation that the inscription on the box is a clever forgery, we become disillusioned. The combination of human failure, error, and deceit can snowball and lead some to lose heart or wonder if our efforts are worth the pain.
The lesson of Scripture and current world events is clear: we must place our trust in Jesus as the one and ultimate solution to any and all problems. While it is not easy to place our trust in one who is not physically present, the Christian life necessitates such action. We must remember what the British essayist G. K. Chesterton wrote back in 1910: "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried." The Christian life well led will never be easy, but then we cannot expect anything less challenging than what faced the one whose life we seek to emulate and whose way we want to follow.
Challenging Questions
1. Where do we turn when the world seems to be an "impossible mission"?
2. What or who is the object of faith for us?
3. Do we believe that Jesus must be the one to whom we go when life gets tough?
4. Can we believe and practice the adage: the difficult we do today and the impossible we can accomplish tomorrow?
A Possible Alternative Approach
Some preachers of the word might find in today's scripture lessons a message that centers more on the commitment that faith requires and the need to respond, as demonstrated by the woman with the hemorrhage and Jairus. The following story could be used as either a starting point or challenging conclusion to one's sermon.
Once long ago the great Buddha was reborn as a beautiful little parrot. This little bird was very happy to be alive. He flew through the twisted trees of the forest greeting all he met as he traveled. He was grateful for the great gift of flight.
One day a terrific storm struck the forest with heavy winds, thunder, and lightning. One large tree was hit by lightning and burst into flames. Soon the whole forest was ablaze as the wind fanned the flames. Terrified animals ran in all directions trying to escape the roaring flames and the choking smoke. The little parrot was in a corner of the forest and he smelled the smoke and saw the flames. Instead of flying to safety, he flew into the heat of the flames yelling, "Fire, fire, run for the river, run for the river." Some heard the warning and were saved, but others were trapped by the flames. He then flew aloft and circled, wondering what he could do to help. Then, all of a sudden, a desperate idea came to his head. He flew down to the river, dipped his body, and then flew into the fire, flapping his wings rapidly and thereby dropping a few precious drops of water onto the fire. This process continued many times until his wings were greasy and black, his lungs ached from the smoke, and his eyes were burning from the heat. His efforts did not do much to dampen the flames; one might say it was a token gesture. But the little parrot figured that if he saved even one tree or animal it was worth his effort.
Meanwhile in the heavens, the deities were amused by watching the efforts of the little parrot. They said, "How foolish to think he can put out a raging fire with only a few drops of water." One of the heavenly beings, however, felt compassion for the parrot. He transformed himself into a golden eagle and flew down to earth. He spoke to the parrot, "Little bird, what you are doing is very brave but you can never put out the fire with only a few drops of water. You should give up and fly to safety." The parrot only replied, "I don't need advice; I need someone who is willing to pitch in and help!" The golden eagle looked to the heavens and saw his fellow deities continuing to laugh. At that moment he did not want to be a deity nor a golden eagle; he only wanted to help the little parrot.
"I will help," he said. The golden eagle flew over the fire and he began to weep, but because he was a heavenly deity his tears became a gentle rain that dampened the fire. As the little parrot flew over the forest he saw miraculous things: burnt trees began to sprout new growth, grass began to grow even as embers smoldered, and all the animals of the forest were once again made well and whole. All of this because the little parrot possessed sufficient faith and was willing to respond to the call.
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Team Comments
Carter Shelley responds: I like your whole notion of "Mission Impossible" as a way to approach this week's texts and the ongoing challenges people face in our hectic, demanding world. As someone who lives in a small-town, rural area, I can tell you the pace of life for families and individuals remains hectic regardless of geographical location. When I think about the many different items you catalogue that comprise our hectic days and lives, I am struck by how caught up in it all we are.
The woman with the flow of blood and Jairus both had reached the ends of their tethers. Both had tried conventional cures and healers-the woman, we are told, for years, Jairus for an unspecified amount of time, maybe a few days, maybe a few endless hours. The point is both are desperate and know they cannot do for themselves what needs to be done. Clearly, the woman has nothing to lose. So what if she gets rebuked? Seriously ill for years, she's probably numb and exhausted. So in some ways her risk seems smaller than that of Jairus. He is a person of importance and influence. In seeking Jesus' help, Jairus risks ridicule and rejection by his pious peers. But Jairus doesn't care. His love for his daughter and his anxiety that she will die drive him to seek the help of this peasant healer and holy man. Both the woman and Jairus expose their heart, their need, and their despair. The conventional means for healing have failed them both.
You make much of the important part faith plays in each individual's healing. Clearly, in these two miracle stories, faith plays an important role, for Jesus himself says so. Yet, there are other instances-such as the calming of the storm from last week's lectionary-in which a miracle is performed without faith as an element. Jesus doesn't always require faith from someone in order to heal them or solve the problem they present. I agree with you and Mark's understanding of both the woman's and Jairus' belief that Jesus is the one who can help. They do have faith. What Mark doesn't say is why the woman believes simply touching Jesus' robe will be enough or why Jairus believes Jesus can make Jairus' daughter well. The scant background information supplied by Mark provides no concrete clues. Jesus isn't surrounded by a bright light, hasn't just preached an amazing sermon, or been trumpeted by angels. Yet there had to be something. . .something that causes a chronically ill woman looking for help from God, (because no man has been able to make her well), something has caused this woman and this man Jairus to recognize God's help when she/he encounters it and to approach with awe, and a little fear saying, "If I just touch. . . " or "Master, please, my daughter...."
The impossible becomes possible because of God's presence in Jesus. The impossible becomes possible because a woman and a man see God in Jesus. The impossible becomes possible because Jesus is God and can do all things. The impossible becomes possible because Jesus is man and can be physically touched, verbally appealed to woman to man and man to man. The impossible becomes possible because with God all things are possible.
The hardest part of a sermon preached on these two miracles is the sense most of us twenty-first-century Christians have that those miracles were great for folks lucky enough to cross Jesus' path during his earthly ministry, but they aren't much help to us today with Road Maps to Peace that get bombed into oblivion before the ink is dry on the original copies. There are many amazing things, miraculous things about life in the twenty-first century-planes that fly, computers, telephones, television, x-rays and MRIs, medicines that can prevent polio, treat malaria, or fight against the ravages of cancer. Much in our world is miraculous when placed beside the first-century world of Jesus and his fans and followers. Much in our world calls for miracles our technological advancements can't supply. Hope in Christ, belief in God's ongoing intervention, trust in God's Spirit among us is hard to hold onto day in and day out in 2003. Our world is so concrete, so material, so immediate. I love the G. K. Chesterton words you offer about Christianity being "found difficult and left untried." Perhaps our charge as clergy is to serve as both the models and the cheerleaders for our congregations to "keep the faith, live the faith, have faith, seek faith," for it was in the having and the seeking that the woman and Jairus were blessed. May we too be blessed with faith and with God.
Other Comments from Carter: With so many significant biblical characters and circumstance apparent in these two miracle stories, it would be easy to provide a dialogue or dramatic reading sermon. Key participants could include the woman with the flow of blood, Jairus, Jairus' daughter, a disciple or spectator present when Jesus heals the woman and speaks to Jairus, and a servant of Jairus'. Each could provide an interesting version of the events as they took place and how each understood and interpreted what he or she experienced.
Feminist biblical scholars have given particular attention to women and their encounters with Jesus. Several excellent resources to consult on this particular biblical text include: Clothed with the Sun: Biblical Women, Social Justice, and Us, by Joyce Hollyday (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1994); The Women's Bible Commentary, ed. Carol A. Newsom and Sharon H. Ringe (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1998), and Searching the Scriptures: A Feminist Commentary, vol. 2, ed. Elisabeth Schossler Fiorenza (New York Crossroad, 1994).
Carlos Wilton responds: In my sermon (tentatively titled "A Touching Tale") I may begin with the news item you mention only briefly: the one about the ossuary (interment box for bones) recently found in the Middle East, purported to be the burial box of James the brother of Jesus. This relic includes an inscription of Jesus' name which, if genuine, would be the earliest contemporary archaeological evidence of Jesus' existence.
The only problem is that a panel of experts has recently ruled this relic a forgery. In the words of Gideon Avni, director of excavations and surveys for the Israeli Antiquities Authority, "The bottom line is that every single scholar who examined this came to the conclusion that the inscription was not authentic. It was done recently by a very skillful artist" ("Israelis Say Burial Box of Jesus' Brother Is Fake," by Greg Myre, New York Times, June 19, 2003).
The reaction of the Christian world to the initial announcement of the ossuary's discovery has been most interesting. The faith of some was lifted by the news: although the find revealed nothing we don't already know (Jesus' existence as a real, historical figure is questioned by almost no one), it did seem to provide a tangible, touchable artifact-a link to those ancient days when our Lord walked the earth. (Some today seek celebrity autographs for much the same reason: that baseball with Babe Ruth's signature, that photograph signed by Marilyn Monroe, allow their owners to feel they've touched the celebrity in some vicarious way.)
Today's Gospel lesson tells of a woman who wants to touch Jesus. She wants to do so for a reason other than mere adulation: she's certain his touch can heal. As it turns out, it can and does-and Jesus proves to be much more aware of this supplicant's touch ("Power has gone out of me," he says) than she ever imagined he would be.
How many of us reach for Jesus in just such a way? Tentatively, fearfully we stretch out our hand, intending our fingers to graze the hem of his robe and no more. Sometimes we do it as a kind of religious experiment: only half-believing our tentative touch will make any difference. But then. . .it does make a difference. Healing comes (if not instantly, then in the fullness of time; and if not in the way we intended, then in the way God intends). With the gift of healing comes a response from the one who hasn't escaped noticing that power has gone out of him.
Encounters with Jesus do bring healing, according to God's will: yet they also change lives, as new relationships with Christ are forged.
Okay, so the ossuary is a fake. Touch the stone box all you want; it will make little difference. (Even if genuine, the thing would have been little more than a celebrity collectible, anyway.) The touch that truly does make a difference is the unique privilege we have of touching Jesus, and having him touch us in return. We experience that healing, life-giving touch of his in word and sacrament, and through the discipline of prayer.
Stan Purdum responds: I agree with Carlos' remarks about mentioning the James box, the bishop, and the Middle East material early in your article. I think they function as the "hook" for the material.
Two statements seem to me to be overstated in their impact as singular events: (1) "The. . .continuing failures of our religious leaders (noted especially by the resignation of the Roman Catholic bishop of Phoenix, Thomas O'Brien, after his arrest on felony hit-and-run charges stemming from the death of a pedestrian) can, if we are not vigilant, lead to despair. Some might wonder if it is worth the effort to keep going." (2) "We place our hope in the possibility that a burial box really was that of James, brother of the Lord. But when such hopes are dashed, as we heard this past week with the revelation that the inscription on the box is a clever forgery, we lose heart." I question whether either event by itself makes us lose heart, but I do see a cumulative effect in our world when many religious leaders fail to live up to the best of their faith (with O'Brien merely being the latest example) and where another "proof" of Jesus-the James box-(like the shroud of Turin) proves not to be as conclusive as we had hoped. To me, it seems that life provides a large share of faith-killers-or maybe faith dampeners-and in the end, we have to decide whether we will put our trust in Christ despite some evidence to the contrary. Still, I'm basically talking about a difference in approach and emphasis. Overall, I am in agreement with what you have written.
George Murphy responds: What is "impossible" by human standards is not just that which is "very difficult." The belief that the two are the same encourages the zealous practice of standard-brand religion, in which we exercise our spiritual athleticism after the manner of "The Little Engine that Could" in order to accomplish difficult feats. But if we are brought to realize that what we seek is not just difficult but impossible, our determination turns to despair. What hope is there for the "Little Engine that Just Can't"? That's more or less the situation of Jairus when he seeks out Jesus to heal his daughter who is "on the point of death." The healing of a child who is seriously ill is in the realm of the possible, though it may take an especially holy and especially powerful rabbi to accomplish it. But when the news comes (after the agonizing wait during the healing of the woman with a hemorrhage and Jesus' conversation with her) that his daughter is dead, her recovery is no longer just difficult. It's impossible. Why trouble the teacher any longer? It is at this point that biblical texts like, "Nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37), or, "Is anything too wonderful for the LORD?" (Genesis 18:14) become more than religious slogans. And this is something more profound than simply believing that strange events can happen. It's a matter of realizing that, while God generally works through the processes of nature, trusting in God is different from relying on ourselves ("I think I can, I think I can") or on any other creature.
The stories in this week's Gospel picture people coming to Jesus in a kind of faith of desperation, realizing that all other resources have been exhausted and believing that perhaps he can help. They know that they really can't do anything but hold on to him and hope to receive what he will give. The healing of the woman is described in what sounds like an almost magical way ("Power had gone forth from him"), but the point to emphasize is that all she can do is to receive. It isn't a matter of "the power of faith," like some kind of positive thinking, but of the hand open to receive the gift. And of course Jairus' daughter is the ultimately passive recipient, unable to do anything, because she's dead.
If only we could find Jesus in our need! But where? All Jairus or the woman with the hemorrhage had to do was fight their way through crowds to get to him. It's a lot harder for us because of course he isn't walking the earth now. People may try various forms of spirituality, or may hope for some sacred relic that will "prove" and provide some support for their faith. Unfortunately this support may prove ephemeral.
The recent discovery of an ossuary supposedly that of Jesus' brother James now seems to be spurious. So where do we find Jesus?
Maybe a better way of saying it would be, "Where does Jesus find us?" The Spirit of Christ, like the wind, "blows where it chooses" (John 3:8), and God can meet us where God wills. We can't rule out the possibility of some miraculous encounter-nor should we depend on it. Where we can be confident that Christ will be present in the proclamation of the gospel (which is the proclamation of Christ) and the sacraments? The words, "This is my body," mean that Christ is present for us in the Lord's Supper. And the designation of Christ as "the Word" in John's Gospel should (among other things) remind preachers of their privilege and responsibility: It is through their proclamation that the Spirit works to awaken and enliven faith, and that Christ is given as the object of faith.
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Related Illustrations
Frederick the Great of Prussia-a man of great scientific curiosity as well as a powerful king-once conducted an unusual experiment in the development of human language. Responding to the theory of some that newborn babies have an innate knowledge of language (which some philosophers imagined to be the language of Eden), he had his scientists isolate a small number of infants from their mothers at birth. The king was eager to discover what language the children would develop if they weren't exposed to any spoken language.
The babies were kept in isolation from each other, and were kept warm and fed well, but their caregivers were forbidden either to speak to them or to hold them. Unfortunately, the experiment failed. Frederick never did find out what language those babies would evolve: because all of them died. What he did discover is that touch-as well as food, water and shelter-is essential to human life. Those babies died from lack of touching.
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The "Ministry of Money" program started by the Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C., offers seminars that bring wealthy Christians into contact with extreme poverty. One man wrote this, after visiting India:
Calcutta was undoubtedly the most depressing, undesirable place we visited, but it was also the place of greatest joy for me. I would gladly go back to work with the destitute and dying in Kalighat because of an experience I had there. I was feeding a withered, brown old man with a gray stubble beard. He was too weak to sit up and was covered with a blanket. I accidentally spilled a few grains of rice onto his neck. At first I didn't want to retrieve the rice because I didn't want to risk touching him. After some time, however, I realized that the rice was probably uncomfortable to him and that the only thing to do was to remove it with my own fingers.
As soon as I touched him, all Heaven broke loose. He began to speak, smile, and wiggle his head in that peculiar Indian way. Though I couldn't understand the words, the body language was unmistakable: he was overwhelmed with the simple joy of a kind human touch. The feeding continued for some time, interspersed with numerous outbursts of joy from him.
Somewhere during this time something surprising happened to me. A big childish, irrepressible grin came over my face. I had become infected with his joy. It was a joy so deep that I had almost forgotten that such feelings even existed. Joy just seemed to flow between us as we looked at each other. Then thoughts began to come to me. I realized that up until this point my reading, thinking, and experiencing of Calcutta had focused on the suffering of the poor and on the identification of Jesus (and ourselves) with their suffering. But here I was being confronted with an experience of pure joy which seemed to contradict all of that. If indeed I had met Jesus in this man, then I had met not only the suffering Jesus, but also the Jesus of great Joy.
These reveries were interrupted when the food was gone and the old man kept opening his mouth for more. A worker nearby suggested that since the old man had already had a big meal, he probably was not really hungry, but just didn't want to lose the attention he was getting. He said that these people frequently have dry, painful skin (dehydration is, I believe, one of the final stages of starvation) and that they liked to be rubbed with soothing lotion. When I pulled back the blanket from the old man's body to begin rubbing in the lotion, I was shocked by the view. His body looked like the pictures of Jews who had been dumped into mass burial trenches in Nazi Germany. As I rubbed his chest, arms, and legs, he seemed to be in 'seventh Heaven.' He began to stroke my arms in return, and I was surprised at how much strength he could muster with the withered muscles. Eventually he was satisfied; he curled up contentedly like a baby and went to sleep. I owe him everything because he reawakened my thirst for Joy.
--From the Ministry of Money newsletter
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Speaking of the typical, intellectually based worship in many of our churches, reformer and Christian iconoclast Bill Easum once commented that the typical worship service is one in which people go in and sit down, and for one hour pretend that they don't have bodies.
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"According to the Bible our knowledge of God is not like our knowledge of electrons or square roots: we know truth about God only by doing it, not by talking or reasoning about it, just as we know love only by loving. Truth in the biblical sense is something to be practiced."
--Alan Richardson
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The Cartoonist's Bible, by Robert Churchill (Louisville: Westminster John Knox), has some wonderful cartoons related to Jesus' miracle working. While there isn't a cartoon for this particular Markan text, there are several that offer a nice humorous touch that could be adapted:
In one scenario several people are standing in line waiting their turn.
"The carpenter's son performs many miracles," reads the caption.
A woman says to the woman standing behind her, "I want him to cure my palsy. What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," replies the other woman. "I just want him to mend a chair."
A second cartoon shows two biblical women at a card shop looking at get-well cards. One woman says to the other, "I thought the one I sent to Lazarus was most effective."
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"A sign is not the same thing as proof; a sign is merely a marker for someone who is looking in the right direction."
--Philip Yancey, The Jesus I Never Knew, p. 178
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"Faith means being grasped by a power that is greater than we are, a power that shakes us and turns us, and transforms and heals us. Surrender to this power is faith."
--Paul Tillich
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"Human things must be known to be loved: but Divine things must be loved to be known."
--Blaise Pascal
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"Faith is not the price that buys God's blessing; it is the hand that receives His blessing."
--Joyce Meyer
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"The world is not comprehensible, but it is embraceable: through the embracing of one of its beings."
--Martin Buber
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Worship Resources
By Chuck Cammarata
This call to worship makes use of Psalm 121:
LEADER: I lift up my eyes to the mountains;
Where is my help to come from?
PEOPLE: OUR HELP COMES FROM YAHWEH
WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH.
LEADER: Yahweh, who saves my feet from stumbling,
PEOPLE: A GUARDIAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS,
LEADER: A guardian always at my side,
PEOPLE: WHO PROTECTS US FROM THE SWELTERING SUN,
LEADER: And watches over my comings and goings,
PEOPLE: FROM THIS TIME FORTH, AND FOREVER MORE.
LEADER: Praise Yahweh!
PEOPLE: OUR GUARDIAN!
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
LEADER: Made by God, and yet
PEOPLE: WE THINK OF OURSELVES
LEADER: And others,
PEOPLE: AS IF WE WERE JUNK.
LEADER: Made for God, and yet
PEOPLE: WE LIVE AS IF WE HAD NO PURPOSE.
LEADER: Made for eternity, and yet
PEOPLE: WE THINK ONLY IN TERMS OF THIS LIFE.
LEADER: Creator who crafted us,
PEOPLE: FORGIVE US,
LEADER: For seeing useless junk
PEOPLE: WHERE YOU MADE BEAUTIFUL BEINGS.
LEADER: Transform our minds
PEOPLE: THAT OUR VISION
LEADER: Would be as yours.
PEOPLE: AMEN.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
This is one of those cases that requires we stand on truth rather than appearances or emotions. These are the facts-and they are indisputable
- We were made by the most powerful and awesome being in the universe-Yahweh.
- Fearfully and wonderfully were we made-in the image of the one who made us.
- Lavishly provided with gifts and talents.
- Made for fellowship with God who takes great pleasure in us.
- Made with a purpose-to extend the creator's delight to all creation.
Those are the facts
That's the gospel
Claim it-live it !
Alternate confessional prayer and assurance
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God above and beyond us-the tumult around us stirs fear in our hearts. Out of the depths of our beings we cry out for peace. Peace in the Middle East. Peace between the races. Peace that quells religious conflict. Peace that calms the restive soul.
We confess that we have no peace because we place our trust in the things of this world. Human wisdom. Material goods. Bank accounts. Scientific knowledge. Idols that bring no peace.
Forgive us our misplaced trusts and drive us home to you-the only object truly worthy of our trust. AMEN.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Amidst the litany of bad news around our world there is this-a good news that remains unaffected by the ever-changing circumstances of history-God's love for you is unshakable-and God's power to resolve all things according to the divine will is irresistible. Here is our peace: God is love, and God's power will win the day. Let us rejoice in this good news amidst all the bad.
PASTORAL PRAYER
(Before asking members to bow their heads to pray, introduce the prayer with words to this effect.) Almighty God. We say it so routinely that we miss the implication. Listen to it-All mighty. All powerful God. The implications are profoundly comforting. Let us pray.
Almighty God, how easily we forget that you are all powerful, that the only thing we have to fear is. . .you, for only you can determine our eternal destinies. Only you can truly ruin us, but your love restrains your hatred of sin, your love prepares places for us in your heavenly place of perfection. We need not fear-and yet we do-we fear the future, we fear sickness, we fear loss, we fear failure, we fear so many things.
God of power and might, fill us this morning with a deep knowledge that you are in control. In that deep place in us that is beyond the reach of negative feelings, teach us to wholly trust in you, so that the peace that passes understanding might be in us, and be visible to all the world that they might know our joy.
And may this peace touch all those we raise up to you in prayer this morning. (Here you can name the names of members in need)
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
As we open the pages of scripture this morning, may your song of truth be sung into our spirits and enliven our understanding, transform our attitudes, and conform our wills to yours, O Lord. Amen.
MUSIC
Hymn: Just As I Am
Hymn: More Love to Thee
Hymn: Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Hymn: Great Is the Lord
Hymn: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Song: A beautiful piece of worship music that uses the above hymn as a base is "The Wonderful Cross," by Matt Redmon.
Hymn: Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Song: The Battle Belongs to the Lord
Song: Awesome God
CREATIVE IDEAS
Bad news headlines might be blown up and posted around the sanctuary as a way of pulling members into the despair of a culture without the hope of Christ.
If you don' have a resource for blowing up headlines-which I have done using a copy machine and then pasting blown up parts of headlines together-you can use your video projector to project streaming headlines on walls or a screen at the start of the service or the sermon.
Then, at the end of the service, either have the headlines torn down and replaced with a good news headline referring to our hope in Christ or use your video projector to project a new headline, for example, "WE ARE MORE THAN VICTORS IN CHRIST JESUS!"or "NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD" or "GOD MAKES A WAY WHERE THERE IS NO WAY"
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A Children's Sermon
by Wesley Runk
Mark 5:21-43
Text: "And his disciples said to him, 'You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, "Who touched me?"'" (v. 31)
Object: A bucket with the following items: a dog collar (or leash), some cold pills or cough syrup, some band-aids, a can of creamed spinach, a bicycle pedal or broken toy, a rain hat or coat, a telephone number written on a note pad.
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever had a bad day? (let them answer) I have a friend by the name of Charley who is about your age. He lives down the street from where I live and every once in a while he stops by the house and we have a talk. I really like Charley. Do any of you have good friends that live in your neighborhood? (let them answer)
Charley had a real bad day and he stopped over to my house to talk about it. I thought I would share his day with you and see if you could help me help Charley. (take out your bucket of objects)
I brought along some things to help me remind myself of what happened to Charley. First Charley told me that he lost his dog. (take out the collar or leash)? Charley told me that it was raining (take out the raincoat) and he didn't want to take Charley for a walk so he just let him out the back door so that his dog could get some exercise. He thought he was watching his dog but he also wanted to see his favorite TV program, so he forgot about the dog and it raining. After while he remembered the dog and called his name over and over, but his favorite pet never came home. He put on his raincoat and went to get his bicycle and hunt for him but then he remembered that the bike was broken (show them the pedal) and so he couldn't ride his bike.
Charley was really upset with himself for letting his dog be out so long in the rain. He wanted to ask his mom or dad to help him, but they were both gone and his sitter was not his favorite person. He hunted around for the phone number his parents left (take out the pad with the number written on it) but, after he found it, all he could get was a busy signal. His poor dog was still gone, and he didn't have a bike and his parents who could have driven the car were gone. Charley went outside in his raincoat, but he couldn't find his rain hat so his head got all wet. Besides that he slipped on the sidewalk and really hurt his knee (take out the band-aids). Charley could not find the dog and his knee really hurt and his head was all wet and he knew was getting a cold (show the medicine). Finally, Charley got back to his house where his mean babysitter who scolded him for going out in the rain and not telling her where he was going when he left the house met him. She told him to eat his lunch, which turned out to be creamed spinach. That was the final blow. Charley had a real bad day.
Have you ever had a day like this? (let them answer) Sometimes things like this happen to us, and when one thing goes wrong everything seems to go wrong. The disciples used to worry about Jesus and the crowds that followed him. The people could never get close enough to Jesus and there was a lot of pushing and shoving just to get a little closer. People with problems wanted to see Jesus, listen to Jesus, talk to Jesus, and some people would do almost anything to touch Jesus. It scared the disciples but Jesus knew how hurt some of these people really were and he wanted to help them. There are a lot of stories in the Bible about Jesus helping people who hurt. I told Charley about Jesus and how we could share our troubles with him in prayer and how Jesus really cared and loved us. Charley was really glad to know that Jesus cared that much. When you have a bad day, you may want to sit down and share your troubles with Jesus and ask for his help. It worked for Charley and I know it will work for you. Amen.
The Immediate Word, June 29, 2003 issue.
Copyright 2003 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 permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., P.O. Box 4503, Lima, Ohio 45802-4503.
