Scandal, Betrayal, Hope, Thanksgiving
Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
This week Stephen McCutchan will write about how the church gets through hard times by sticking together. We need to keep in mind that "provoke" has a double meaning, referring in some contexts to something scandalous. But, the author of Hebrews calls us to another sort of provocative behavior: provoking us to love one another and do good works. Thom Shuman has written about how people of God are provoked to do good deeds and how that is worth giving thanks for. The upcoming Thanksgiving holiday has been taken into account in part of The Immediate Word. Also included are illustrations, a worship resource, and a children's sermon.
Scandal, Betrayal, Hope, Thanksgiving
By Stephen McCutchan
THE WORLD
While the public and the media seem to relish the exposure of scandals that reveal the feet of clay of prominent figures, there are few experiences that tear at the fabric of Christian congregations like that of discovering that their pastor has betrayed their trust. The public scandal of The Reverend Ted Haggard, pastor of the 14,000-member New Life evangelical church and president of the National Association of Evangelicals that represents 30 million Christians has once again confronted Christians with our own frailties. Even though it makes us nervous, pastors serve in a unique position within a congregation. Though we are fully aware of our humanity, for many people we are a symbol of the holy. It is truly astonishing the amount of trust that parishioners will place in their pastor. Whether it is in fulfilling our liturgical responsibilities, visiting in the hospital, or offering counsel to a troubled parishioner, we represent to people a sign of God's presence. When that trust appears to be betrayed, it can be truly painful for the congregants.
The variety of responses to the news reflects its painful reality. Newsweek seems to almost sneer as it comments, "From Elmer Gantry to televangelist Jim Bakker, the man of God felled by sins of the flesh has always been a venerable American character." The New Life board of overseers, who bear responsibility for the care of their church, acted quickly to dismiss Ted Haggard from his position as pastor. His wife said that though her heart was broken she would stick by him. Several of his parishioners struggled to forgive him while vowing to pray for him. The question for our churches is how the various responses of our congregants will affect their own personal journey of faith. Will those who are more liberal in their Christian beliefs gloat over his disgrace? Are there members who will allow such news to feed their cynicism and withdraw further from the church? Are there those in our churches who have been advocates for a more evangelical approach to faith who will feel a helpless sense of betrayal? Because the story can so directly affect our own ministries, it is important that we not just remain silent. Our people need some guidance in how to respond to this most public scandal.
Betrayal is not a new experience for the Christian community but has been there from the beginning of our life together. It is important for Christians to recall that God worked through the betrayal of Judas to affect the redemption of the world. Hebrews reminds us that when Christ had made his sacrifice on the cross, all that was necessary had been accomplished.
THE WORD
"But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, 'he sat down at the right hand of God,' and since then has been waiting 'until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.' "
It is generally agreed that Hebrews was written to a Christian community that had grown dispirited and was in need of encouragement. A central theme is that Christ, as their high priest, was far superior to the Levitical priests that had previously offered sacrifices on behalf of the faithful. When Christ had made his sacrifice on the cross, all that was necessary had been accomplished. There was no need for him to make repeated sacrifices for the new sins of the people.
There was, however, a period of waiting that was necessary. The writer of Hebrews was not naive about what was taking place in either the world or the Christian community. As was clear in the earlier writings of Paul, there continued to be plenty of evidence that sin still had a grip on the world and the church. One of the errors of understanding that often afflicts believers and their skeptics is that Christian, because of their acceptance of Jesus as their Lord, should no longer be subject to sin. It was precisely because of our continuing battle with sin that it was important for the author of Hebrews to emphasize to the congregation that the final victory was not in doubt. We live in the interim between what Christ has accomplished through the cross and the end time when the reconciliation of God and the world will be fully accomplished. The difference is that we can live in these times in hope, rather than despair.
Jesus is patiently waiting until humanity realizes the full implications of what he has accomplished. He continues to wait "until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet." Through Jesus the promise that had been made by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34) was fulfilled. God has established a new agreement or covenant with humanity. While previously people were incapable of coming into God's presence because of their sinfulness, now God "will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." What Christians have to offer each other and the world is a way to respond in the face of sin that offers reason for hope and thanksgiving. While we can be as devastated as anyone by the betrayal of people that we have trusted, we do not need to expend our energy on harsh judgment and revenge. God has, in Christ, overcome our sins and that of our preachers, bishops, presidents, and congressmen. There is a better way for us to use our energy.
If God is not keeping score of our sins or the sins of our enemies, how should we then live? First, we are to trust what Christ has done for us. "... Let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful." To give in to the inclinations of an evil conscience is to allow the sin (ours or that of others) to dominate our thoughts and actions. To be cleansed of that evil conscience and the actions that our bodies might take is to be set free of our enslavement to sin. Now we can allow the love of Christ to dictate our conscience and our behavior.
To allow Christ's love to shape our thoughts and behavior has implications for our life together during this interim time in which we live. "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another..." There are three actions that are suggested here. The first is to provoke others. Scandals and betrayals can easily provoke or incite others to negative or hostile actions. Hebrews is suggesting that in Christ it can also provoke people to love and good deeds. It is especially at a time when one has experienced the negatives of sin in this world that we need to experience the counter power of love and good deeds.
Second we are not to neglect to meet together as is the habit of some. It is one of the tragic realities of humanity that we often respond to negative experiences within communities by splitting into factions or even withdrawing into isolation. It is precisely in such times that we need to meet together. It is when we meet together as a church that we hear the scriptures read, the prayers said, and the hymns sung that remind us that we are part of something greater than the immediate moment.
Third, we are to proactively encourage one another. When we are in pain, it is easy to assume that we are the center of the universe. It is in reaching out to others that we are drawn out of our self-centeredness and reengage others in community. To paraphrase points made in the Genesis creation story, we need to continually learn that we are not God and that it is not good for humans to be alone. We relearn both of those truths when we gather together in worship and reach out to each other in love.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
The normal temptation as we approach Thanksgiving is to want to avoid the negative and focus on the positive. While the members of our congregation may even want the preacher to do that, it often leaves them feeling empty in the end because in the backs of their minds is the real world to which they must return. It is far better to hold the genuine reasons for thanksgiving in tension with the painful realities of our experience. The origin of Thanksgiving rests in the Puritan experience of having survived a difficult winter and knowing full well that difficulties confronted them in the future. They drew on an Old Testament celebration of the Festival of Booths (Leviticus 23:42-43) in which the Israelites were reminded that they lived in a harsh world and were to place their trust in God.
I would encourage you to begin the sermon by first making reference to the scandal of Ted Haggard that has been displayed in the news around the world. Then you might acknowledge the possible effect that such stories have on the faith of Christians. You might even suggest some possible negative responses that could take place among your Christian neighbors as I have noted them in the World section and others that you might think of. You could even broaden the challenge by referencing the scandal that has afflicted the Catholic church. It would be important to acknowledge that though this has taken place among our Evangelical and Catholic friends, the scandal of betrayal has afflicted all Christian communities.
It would then be appropriate to identify that we are entering the Thanksgiving season and ask the question of what the two can have to do with each other. That should create a puzzle in their minds and an anticipation concerning how you are going to answer that question. You could even mention briefly that the origin of our Thanksgiving holiday took place in the midst of a challenging world.
Then it would be time to enter the Hebrew text and draw the contrast between those who believe that faith should protect them from all negative experiences and Christians who live in hope and thanksgiving while being fully aware of the power of sin and hostility in our world.
At this point you may want to draw the contrast between those who allow sin to shape their actions and those who allow the redemptive love of Christ to shape their behavior. You could even remind people of the powerful witness of the loving response made recently by the Amish community.
It is then appropriate to ask them to consider how frequently their responses to the negative and disappointing experiences of life are shaped by the love of Christ. Hebrews threefold description of a response to betrayal that can strengthen our faith rather than weaken it will be a fitting conclusion to your sermon. If you want to make one more reference to Thanksgiving, you could remind them that a central theme of Thanksgiving was the recognition of how God has redeemed us and set us free to share our love and our provisions with others.
ANOTHER VIEW
By Thom Shuman
This Thanksgiving, there are some young people who live in other parts of the world who cannot believe the terrible news that has interrupted their lives. The fellow who worked so hard to find them good homes, even his own, when they came to the States as foreign exchange students over the last few years, has suddenly been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Their leader, their mentor, their "best friend" (as many would call him) is suffering, and they don't know what to do with a future which might not include Bill (not his real name).
As they gather for Thanksgiving this year, the Andersons (not their real names) wonder whether or not Grandma will be sitting at the table with them. She, too, has been diagnosed with cancer, and not just one, but two forms, one rather common but at Stage 3, the other a rare form of cancer (and at Stage 4) which the oncologist has never treated before. Some in the family feel betrayed by the medical community (after all, aren't doctors supposed to be able to treat anything?), while others feel betrayed by God (and just what is the use of all the attendance, the prayers, the teaching over the years?).
This Thanksgiving, a faith community is reminded once again that feelings of scandal and betrayal don't just happen to the rich and famous, and are not just something they read about or see on television, they are as close as the people who sit in front of us on Sunday, they are as real as the woman who teaches Sunday school week after week. So, how do the people of God respond to such situations that are assailing their friends and their church family members?
Pious platitudes are always an easy choice; fortunately, some are being "provoked" (what a great word by the author of Hebrews!) to live out their love by offering child care to adult Andersons, so they can have some respite. Some will be spending Thanksgiving week driving Bill to chemotherapy, since his wife needs to continue working so they won't lose their health care coverage. Others, like Hannah, in the Samuel passages for this Sunday, are willing to speak directly to God about the feelings of betrayal and fear, of doubt and worry, that so many are feeling.
And when they fix the meals and do the laundry; when they walk the dog and rake the leaves; when they sit by the hospital bed and read stories to children; when they listen to the fears, and when they clean up the dishes that have been thrown against the wall in anger -- when the people of God are provoked to do such good deeds, they hold fast to that unwavering confession of hope the author of Hebrews speaks about, and that is something worth giving thanks for.
ILLUSTRATIONS
We know that Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks to the Lord for all the good things we enjoy -- home, family, food, a great country to live in -- a time to show our appreciation to the Lord Almighty.
Psalm 92 says:
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High,
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night (92:1-2).
But something more is involved here.
Who most needs us to give thanks? The Lord God? No. We do. We need to give thanks, because giving thanks makes a change in us.
Giving thanks helps us put our lives in perspective, helps us to see how the Lord has guided us, day by day, giving us a new life with him.
One writer puts it this way:
We give thanks to you, Jesus,
not because you need it,
but because we do.
We give thanks to you, Jesus,
not because your heart craves it,
but because ours do.
We give thanks to you, Jesus,
not because you can't go on without it,
but because we can't.
-- Barbara Jurgensen, Following You: Conversations with Jesus, p. 21
* * *
It's not too hard to give thanks for the good things in our lives. But the apostle Paul calls us to go beyond this -- far beyond this.
He calls us to give thanks also for the difficult things.
To give thanks for the difficult things?
Paul writes:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:18, emphasis mine).
And he also writes:
giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20, emphasis mine).
American writer Willa Cather tells the story of Neighbor Rosicky, a farmer in Nebraska who one day, during a time of extreme drought, asks his wife to prepare an especially nice picnic for their family to enjoy that evening.
As his wife prepares some of their family's favorite foods, she tries to think of what they might be celebrating -- a birthday, an anniversary -- but nothing comes to mind.
When the supper hour comes, they carry the picnic foods out to the grove, and when they've given thanks and begin eating, Neighbor Rosicky's wife says she's been thinking all day, but can't figure out what the special occasion might be.
Neighbor Rosicky looks out across the pastures and fields, and says that he toured the whole farm that morning, and that things were even worse than he'd feared. That almost all of their crops have failed. That there would be little, if any, harvest.
But, he says, they've had so many good years that they've maybe begun to take for granted that the weather will always be favorable and that they'll always have a bountiful harvest.
Now, he says, is the time to remember how blessed they've been over the years. This year was not a good year, but good times will come again.
And so the picnic is a celebration, a remembrance of all the ways in which the Lord has blessed them-and maybe they haven't taken the time to be thankful for.
* * *
A verse of scripture that amazes me whenever I think of it is what Paul wrote to the Philippians:
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6, emphases mine).
We are not to worry about anything? Not anything? Rather we are to give thanks? Is that possible?
Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount:
Therefore do not worry, saying, "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink?" or "What will wear?" ... your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:31-33).
Paul goes on to tell us that if we follow Jesus in this way, if, instead of worrying in the midst of difficult times, we give thanks to God, that the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in our Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:7).
* * *
Repentance has three components. A failure to make genuine change and transformation is because we have failed at one of the 3 Rs of repentance:
Recognize: That you are doing something you don't want to do. Without awareness we will never recognize our need to change.
Regret: Being conscious of the cost to others and ourselves of our actions. If we don't truly regret our actions we will not change.
Reorient: Turning from what we don't want, to what we do want. If we continue to focus our attention on what we don't want we will persist in that behavior.
-- Robert J. Voyle, Clergy Leadership Institute -- Appreciative Inquiry Based Training Programs
***
One thing every lifeguard-in-training is taught, on the very first day of instruction, is: never try to save those who are trying to save themselves. If you see a person floundering in the water, the drill is to swim out, keep your distance, then wait till the drowning person has become exhausted. Only then should the lifeguard move in for the rescue.
Repentance precedes faith. If we are to live the Christian life, we must first "drown," before we are able to depend totally on Christ.
That's the symbolism of baptism -- it's a near-drowning. We must first acknowledge our utter inability to save ourselves, before we can depend wholly on Jesus Christ.
***
Thanksgiving, in brief:
Look closely and you will find that people are happy because they are grateful. The opposite of gratefulness is just taking everything for granted.
-- David Steindl-Rast in The Music of Silence
Sanctity has to do with gratitude. To be a saint is to be fueled by gratitude, nothing more and nothing less.
-- Ronald Rolheiser in The Holy Longing
The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live. He has penetrated the whole mystery of life: giving thanks for everything.
-- Albert Schweitzer quoted in Words of Gratitude by Robert A. Emmons and Joanna Hill
Notice when you say or someone near you says "Thank you." Think of those two words as a signpost to the spiritual world.
-- Lewis Richmond in Work as a Spiritual Practice
To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.
-- Johannes A. Gaertner quoted in Words of Gratitude by Robert A. Emmons and Joanna Hill
The brief quotations, above, are found on the Spirituality and Practice website:
***
I started thinking differently about Thanksgiving after a friend told me what happened one evening on her way home. As she neared her block, she heard sirens and pulled over. Three fire trucks wailed past and turned down her street! It was then that she realized that she smelled smoke. With heart pounding and hands shaking, she approached the corner. Was it her house? What about her two children? Her pets? There was a police car with flashing lights blocking the road. She leapt from the car and ran down the street, jumping over water-swollen fire hoses. At last, her house came into view... it was safe! It wasn't her house, but the one two doors down that was on fire. "Thank you God, for keeping my family safe," she prayed. And then she paused. What of the family whose house was in flames? Suddenly the words of her prayer of thanks sounded false and hollow.
How many Thanksgiving prayers have the same hollow ring to them? "I thank you God that this [fill in the blank with some undesirable trait or event] hasn't happened to me." Jesus tells a great story about this type of prayer: Two men go up to church to pray. One is a respected church elder and the other is an outcast from society. Think of him as a criminal with AIDS. The elder says, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people... especially like that guy over there." The second man prays, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." Which person do you think prayed in a way that God could hear?
Giving thanks has to be different than simply thanking God that you came out ahead. Did God bless the house that remained standing, and withhold blessings for the house in flames? Does God bless those of you who can walk and not those of us who can't? There's a difference between meeting a person with a physical disability with compassion and dignity, and treating them/us as "less fortunate." The latter understanding is summed up in that famous cliche, "There but for the grace of God go I." What does that mean anyway? I think it is intended as a reminder that none of us is in control of our lives. But I think it is usually said as a prayer of relief that what ever happened to that poor sucker didn't happened to me!
-- Walter Hermanns, a pastor with multiple sclerosis, on his blog:
http://www.Waltersmusings.blogspot.com
***
I think we honor God more if we gratefully accept the life that he gives us with all its blessings, loving it and drinking it to the full, and also grieving deeply and sincerely when we have impaired or wasted any of the good things of life...
-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters
***
Some people want to see God with their eyes as they see a cow and to love him as they love their cow -- they love their cow for the milk and cheese and profit it makes them. This is how it is with people who love God for the sake of outward wealth or inward comfort. They do not rightly love God when they love him for their own advantage. Indeed, I tell you the truth, any object you have on your mind, however good, will be a barrier between you and the inmost truth.
-- Meister Eckhart
WORSHIP RESOURCE
Call To Worship
Leader: Come, let us give thanks to God!
Pastor: We gather together to praise
the One who strengthens the weak,
and hears the prayers of the forgotten.
Leader: Come, let us give thanks to Christ!
Pastor: We gather together to sing
of the One who calls us to serve
those who are hungry and alone
at this time of year.
Leader: Come, let us give thanks to the Spirit!
Pastor: We gather together to exalt
the One who provokes us to love
not only our family and friends,
but the guest among us.
Prayer Of The Day
You raise up the poor, to give them the best rooms in your house; you pull the broken from the dust of the world, brushing them off and clothing them with joy; you exalt those we have pushed aside, and let them say grace at the feast in heaven. You are our God, and we worship you.
When we are tempted to wander off after the rumors of sin, you guard our feet so we can walk as faithful people; when we think we need to pay attention to all the gossip around us, you give us a double portion of good news, so we will not fear. You are the Christ, and we will listen to you.
When no one else will listen to us, we can pour out our soul to you; when no one notices us, you see our misery, and fill us with joy; when everyone else forgets who we are, you remember us and call us by name. You are our Spirit of Love, and we welcome you into our hearts.
God in Community, Holy in One, we raise our prayers to you, even as we speak the words of Jesus,
Our Father...
Call To Reconciliation
Longing for the touch of God, we cry out; humbled by the awareness of our human nature and brokenness, we bring our prayers of confession to God, praying together,
Unison Prayer Of Confession
We have to admit, Holy Listener, that we are more likely to be provoked by the lives of others, rather than being provoked to love them. When we are called to encourage those around us, too often our actions and words discourage them. Offered lives of peace and hope, we live filled with anxiety and despair.
Forgive us, Rock of Redemption. Cleanse our hearts, so we might be more loving; keep us on the path of faithfulness, so we might find those whom we are called to serve; give us your words, so we might confess your hope offered to all who are broken, who are lost, who cry out to you. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
(Silence is observed.)
Assurance Of Pardon
Leader: This is the good news: God give us hope,
God gives us peace, God gives us joy
so we may share these gifts with everyone
we meet.
Pastor: Thanks be to God, who has forgiven us
and provoked us to love others and to
serve all who are around us. Amen.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Encourage one another
Object: demonstrate how you whistle
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you can do this? (whistle, and wait for the children to answer) I remember when I was your age. It took me a long time to learn to whistle. My older brother and sister could whistle, but I couldn't do it.
I want to tell you the story about a girl your age. She couldn't whistle either. Some of her friends could whistle. That bothered her. She tried and tried. But she just couldn't whistle. She asked her parents to teach her to whistle. She asked her friends to teach her. They all tried. But she just couldn't whistle. She became very discouraged. She was just about to give up trying to learn to whistle. One of her best friends came to her. The friend told her, "Don't worry about whistling. One day you will wake up and you will know how. It will happen. Wait and see." This friend was very helpful. She kept on encouraging the girl. Then, one day the girl realized that she was beginning to understand how to whistle. She practiced and practiced. She got better and better. Soon she really could whistle. Thanks to the encouragement of her friend, she didn't give up.
This story reminds me of this morning's lesson. In the lesson it says to encourage one another all the more as you see the day approaching. The lesson is about early Christians. They were very discouraged at times, just like the girl learning to whistle was discouraged. But the lesson says to encourage those who get discouraged.
Here's what I want you to remember. There are times when you may be discouraged about things. You may not be able to whistle, or to blow bubble gum, or jump rope, or do something else. Don't be discouraged. The day will come when you can do it. You may have friends who become discouraged too. If you do, encourage them also. Remember that the early believers were often discouraged about things. The Bible tells us to encourage those who need our encouragement. See if you can encourage someone this week.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, November 19, 2006, issue.
Copyright 2006 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., 517 South Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45804.
Scandal, Betrayal, Hope, Thanksgiving
By Stephen McCutchan
THE WORLD
While the public and the media seem to relish the exposure of scandals that reveal the feet of clay of prominent figures, there are few experiences that tear at the fabric of Christian congregations like that of discovering that their pastor has betrayed their trust. The public scandal of The Reverend Ted Haggard, pastor of the 14,000-member New Life evangelical church and president of the National Association of Evangelicals that represents 30 million Christians has once again confronted Christians with our own frailties. Even though it makes us nervous, pastors serve in a unique position within a congregation. Though we are fully aware of our humanity, for many people we are a symbol of the holy. It is truly astonishing the amount of trust that parishioners will place in their pastor. Whether it is in fulfilling our liturgical responsibilities, visiting in the hospital, or offering counsel to a troubled parishioner, we represent to people a sign of God's presence. When that trust appears to be betrayed, it can be truly painful for the congregants.
The variety of responses to the news reflects its painful reality. Newsweek seems to almost sneer as it comments, "From Elmer Gantry to televangelist Jim Bakker, the man of God felled by sins of the flesh has always been a venerable American character." The New Life board of overseers, who bear responsibility for the care of their church, acted quickly to dismiss Ted Haggard from his position as pastor. His wife said that though her heart was broken she would stick by him. Several of his parishioners struggled to forgive him while vowing to pray for him. The question for our churches is how the various responses of our congregants will affect their own personal journey of faith. Will those who are more liberal in their Christian beliefs gloat over his disgrace? Are there members who will allow such news to feed their cynicism and withdraw further from the church? Are there those in our churches who have been advocates for a more evangelical approach to faith who will feel a helpless sense of betrayal? Because the story can so directly affect our own ministries, it is important that we not just remain silent. Our people need some guidance in how to respond to this most public scandal.
Betrayal is not a new experience for the Christian community but has been there from the beginning of our life together. It is important for Christians to recall that God worked through the betrayal of Judas to affect the redemption of the world. Hebrews reminds us that when Christ had made his sacrifice on the cross, all that was necessary had been accomplished.
THE WORD
"But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, 'he sat down at the right hand of God,' and since then has been waiting 'until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.' "
It is generally agreed that Hebrews was written to a Christian community that had grown dispirited and was in need of encouragement. A central theme is that Christ, as their high priest, was far superior to the Levitical priests that had previously offered sacrifices on behalf of the faithful. When Christ had made his sacrifice on the cross, all that was necessary had been accomplished. There was no need for him to make repeated sacrifices for the new sins of the people.
There was, however, a period of waiting that was necessary. The writer of Hebrews was not naive about what was taking place in either the world or the Christian community. As was clear in the earlier writings of Paul, there continued to be plenty of evidence that sin still had a grip on the world and the church. One of the errors of understanding that often afflicts believers and their skeptics is that Christian, because of their acceptance of Jesus as their Lord, should no longer be subject to sin. It was precisely because of our continuing battle with sin that it was important for the author of Hebrews to emphasize to the congregation that the final victory was not in doubt. We live in the interim between what Christ has accomplished through the cross and the end time when the reconciliation of God and the world will be fully accomplished. The difference is that we can live in these times in hope, rather than despair.
Jesus is patiently waiting until humanity realizes the full implications of what he has accomplished. He continues to wait "until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet." Through Jesus the promise that had been made by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34) was fulfilled. God has established a new agreement or covenant with humanity. While previously people were incapable of coming into God's presence because of their sinfulness, now God "will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." What Christians have to offer each other and the world is a way to respond in the face of sin that offers reason for hope and thanksgiving. While we can be as devastated as anyone by the betrayal of people that we have trusted, we do not need to expend our energy on harsh judgment and revenge. God has, in Christ, overcome our sins and that of our preachers, bishops, presidents, and congressmen. There is a better way for us to use our energy.
If God is not keeping score of our sins or the sins of our enemies, how should we then live? First, we are to trust what Christ has done for us. "... Let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful." To give in to the inclinations of an evil conscience is to allow the sin (ours or that of others) to dominate our thoughts and actions. To be cleansed of that evil conscience and the actions that our bodies might take is to be set free of our enslavement to sin. Now we can allow the love of Christ to dictate our conscience and our behavior.
To allow Christ's love to shape our thoughts and behavior has implications for our life together during this interim time in which we live. "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another..." There are three actions that are suggested here. The first is to provoke others. Scandals and betrayals can easily provoke or incite others to negative or hostile actions. Hebrews is suggesting that in Christ it can also provoke people to love and good deeds. It is especially at a time when one has experienced the negatives of sin in this world that we need to experience the counter power of love and good deeds.
Second we are not to neglect to meet together as is the habit of some. It is one of the tragic realities of humanity that we often respond to negative experiences within communities by splitting into factions or even withdrawing into isolation. It is precisely in such times that we need to meet together. It is when we meet together as a church that we hear the scriptures read, the prayers said, and the hymns sung that remind us that we are part of something greater than the immediate moment.
Third, we are to proactively encourage one another. When we are in pain, it is easy to assume that we are the center of the universe. It is in reaching out to others that we are drawn out of our self-centeredness and reengage others in community. To paraphrase points made in the Genesis creation story, we need to continually learn that we are not God and that it is not good for humans to be alone. We relearn both of those truths when we gather together in worship and reach out to each other in love.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
The normal temptation as we approach Thanksgiving is to want to avoid the negative and focus on the positive. While the members of our congregation may even want the preacher to do that, it often leaves them feeling empty in the end because in the backs of their minds is the real world to which they must return. It is far better to hold the genuine reasons for thanksgiving in tension with the painful realities of our experience. The origin of Thanksgiving rests in the Puritan experience of having survived a difficult winter and knowing full well that difficulties confronted them in the future. They drew on an Old Testament celebration of the Festival of Booths (Leviticus 23:42-43) in which the Israelites were reminded that they lived in a harsh world and were to place their trust in God.
I would encourage you to begin the sermon by first making reference to the scandal of Ted Haggard that has been displayed in the news around the world. Then you might acknowledge the possible effect that such stories have on the faith of Christians. You might even suggest some possible negative responses that could take place among your Christian neighbors as I have noted them in the World section and others that you might think of. You could even broaden the challenge by referencing the scandal that has afflicted the Catholic church. It would be important to acknowledge that though this has taken place among our Evangelical and Catholic friends, the scandal of betrayal has afflicted all Christian communities.
It would then be appropriate to identify that we are entering the Thanksgiving season and ask the question of what the two can have to do with each other. That should create a puzzle in their minds and an anticipation concerning how you are going to answer that question. You could even mention briefly that the origin of our Thanksgiving holiday took place in the midst of a challenging world.
Then it would be time to enter the Hebrew text and draw the contrast between those who believe that faith should protect them from all negative experiences and Christians who live in hope and thanksgiving while being fully aware of the power of sin and hostility in our world.
At this point you may want to draw the contrast between those who allow sin to shape their actions and those who allow the redemptive love of Christ to shape their behavior. You could even remind people of the powerful witness of the loving response made recently by the Amish community.
It is then appropriate to ask them to consider how frequently their responses to the negative and disappointing experiences of life are shaped by the love of Christ. Hebrews threefold description of a response to betrayal that can strengthen our faith rather than weaken it will be a fitting conclusion to your sermon. If you want to make one more reference to Thanksgiving, you could remind them that a central theme of Thanksgiving was the recognition of how God has redeemed us and set us free to share our love and our provisions with others.
ANOTHER VIEW
By Thom Shuman
This Thanksgiving, there are some young people who live in other parts of the world who cannot believe the terrible news that has interrupted their lives. The fellow who worked so hard to find them good homes, even his own, when they came to the States as foreign exchange students over the last few years, has suddenly been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Their leader, their mentor, their "best friend" (as many would call him) is suffering, and they don't know what to do with a future which might not include Bill (not his real name).
As they gather for Thanksgiving this year, the Andersons (not their real names) wonder whether or not Grandma will be sitting at the table with them. She, too, has been diagnosed with cancer, and not just one, but two forms, one rather common but at Stage 3, the other a rare form of cancer (and at Stage 4) which the oncologist has never treated before. Some in the family feel betrayed by the medical community (after all, aren't doctors supposed to be able to treat anything?), while others feel betrayed by God (and just what is the use of all the attendance, the prayers, the teaching over the years?).
This Thanksgiving, a faith community is reminded once again that feelings of scandal and betrayal don't just happen to the rich and famous, and are not just something they read about or see on television, they are as close as the people who sit in front of us on Sunday, they are as real as the woman who teaches Sunday school week after week. So, how do the people of God respond to such situations that are assailing their friends and their church family members?
Pious platitudes are always an easy choice; fortunately, some are being "provoked" (what a great word by the author of Hebrews!) to live out their love by offering child care to adult Andersons, so they can have some respite. Some will be spending Thanksgiving week driving Bill to chemotherapy, since his wife needs to continue working so they won't lose their health care coverage. Others, like Hannah, in the Samuel passages for this Sunday, are willing to speak directly to God about the feelings of betrayal and fear, of doubt and worry, that so many are feeling.
And when they fix the meals and do the laundry; when they walk the dog and rake the leaves; when they sit by the hospital bed and read stories to children; when they listen to the fears, and when they clean up the dishes that have been thrown against the wall in anger -- when the people of God are provoked to do such good deeds, they hold fast to that unwavering confession of hope the author of Hebrews speaks about, and that is something worth giving thanks for.
ILLUSTRATIONS
We know that Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks to the Lord for all the good things we enjoy -- home, family, food, a great country to live in -- a time to show our appreciation to the Lord Almighty.
Psalm 92 says:
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High,
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night (92:1-2).
But something more is involved here.
Who most needs us to give thanks? The Lord God? No. We do. We need to give thanks, because giving thanks makes a change in us.
Giving thanks helps us put our lives in perspective, helps us to see how the Lord has guided us, day by day, giving us a new life with him.
One writer puts it this way:
We give thanks to you, Jesus,
not because you need it,
but because we do.
We give thanks to you, Jesus,
not because your heart craves it,
but because ours do.
We give thanks to you, Jesus,
not because you can't go on without it,
but because we can't.
-- Barbara Jurgensen, Following You: Conversations with Jesus, p. 21
* * *
It's not too hard to give thanks for the good things in our lives. But the apostle Paul calls us to go beyond this -- far beyond this.
He calls us to give thanks also for the difficult things.
To give thanks for the difficult things?
Paul writes:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:18, emphasis mine).
And he also writes:
giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20, emphasis mine).
American writer Willa Cather tells the story of Neighbor Rosicky, a farmer in Nebraska who one day, during a time of extreme drought, asks his wife to prepare an especially nice picnic for their family to enjoy that evening.
As his wife prepares some of their family's favorite foods, she tries to think of what they might be celebrating -- a birthday, an anniversary -- but nothing comes to mind.
When the supper hour comes, they carry the picnic foods out to the grove, and when they've given thanks and begin eating, Neighbor Rosicky's wife says she's been thinking all day, but can't figure out what the special occasion might be.
Neighbor Rosicky looks out across the pastures and fields, and says that he toured the whole farm that morning, and that things were even worse than he'd feared. That almost all of their crops have failed. That there would be little, if any, harvest.
But, he says, they've had so many good years that they've maybe begun to take for granted that the weather will always be favorable and that they'll always have a bountiful harvest.
Now, he says, is the time to remember how blessed they've been over the years. This year was not a good year, but good times will come again.
And so the picnic is a celebration, a remembrance of all the ways in which the Lord has blessed them-and maybe they haven't taken the time to be thankful for.
* * *
A verse of scripture that amazes me whenever I think of it is what Paul wrote to the Philippians:
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6, emphases mine).
We are not to worry about anything? Not anything? Rather we are to give thanks? Is that possible?
Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount:
Therefore do not worry, saying, "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink?" or "What will wear?" ... your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:31-33).
Paul goes on to tell us that if we follow Jesus in this way, if, instead of worrying in the midst of difficult times, we give thanks to God, that the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in our Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:7).
* * *
Repentance has three components. A failure to make genuine change and transformation is because we have failed at one of the 3 Rs of repentance:
Recognize: That you are doing something you don't want to do. Without awareness we will never recognize our need to change.
Regret: Being conscious of the cost to others and ourselves of our actions. If we don't truly regret our actions we will not change.
Reorient: Turning from what we don't want, to what we do want. If we continue to focus our attention on what we don't want we will persist in that behavior.
-- Robert J. Voyle, Clergy Leadership Institute -- Appreciative Inquiry Based Training Programs
***
One thing every lifeguard-in-training is taught, on the very first day of instruction, is: never try to save those who are trying to save themselves. If you see a person floundering in the water, the drill is to swim out, keep your distance, then wait till the drowning person has become exhausted. Only then should the lifeguard move in for the rescue.
Repentance precedes faith. If we are to live the Christian life, we must first "drown," before we are able to depend totally on Christ.
That's the symbolism of baptism -- it's a near-drowning. We must first acknowledge our utter inability to save ourselves, before we can depend wholly on Jesus Christ.
***
Thanksgiving, in brief:
Look closely and you will find that people are happy because they are grateful. The opposite of gratefulness is just taking everything for granted.
-- David Steindl-Rast in The Music of Silence
Sanctity has to do with gratitude. To be a saint is to be fueled by gratitude, nothing more and nothing less.
-- Ronald Rolheiser in The Holy Longing
The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live. He has penetrated the whole mystery of life: giving thanks for everything.
-- Albert Schweitzer quoted in Words of Gratitude by Robert A. Emmons and Joanna Hill
Notice when you say or someone near you says "Thank you." Think of those two words as a signpost to the spiritual world.
-- Lewis Richmond in Work as a Spiritual Practice
To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.
-- Johannes A. Gaertner quoted in Words of Gratitude by Robert A. Emmons and Joanna Hill
The brief quotations, above, are found on the Spirituality and Practice website:
***
I started thinking differently about Thanksgiving after a friend told me what happened one evening on her way home. As she neared her block, she heard sirens and pulled over. Three fire trucks wailed past and turned down her street! It was then that she realized that she smelled smoke. With heart pounding and hands shaking, she approached the corner. Was it her house? What about her two children? Her pets? There was a police car with flashing lights blocking the road. She leapt from the car and ran down the street, jumping over water-swollen fire hoses. At last, her house came into view... it was safe! It wasn't her house, but the one two doors down that was on fire. "Thank you God, for keeping my family safe," she prayed. And then she paused. What of the family whose house was in flames? Suddenly the words of her prayer of thanks sounded false and hollow.
How many Thanksgiving prayers have the same hollow ring to them? "I thank you God that this [fill in the blank with some undesirable trait or event] hasn't happened to me." Jesus tells a great story about this type of prayer: Two men go up to church to pray. One is a respected church elder and the other is an outcast from society. Think of him as a criminal with AIDS. The elder says, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people... especially like that guy over there." The second man prays, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." Which person do you think prayed in a way that God could hear?
Giving thanks has to be different than simply thanking God that you came out ahead. Did God bless the house that remained standing, and withhold blessings for the house in flames? Does God bless those of you who can walk and not those of us who can't? There's a difference between meeting a person with a physical disability with compassion and dignity, and treating them/us as "less fortunate." The latter understanding is summed up in that famous cliche, "There but for the grace of God go I." What does that mean anyway? I think it is intended as a reminder that none of us is in control of our lives. But I think it is usually said as a prayer of relief that what ever happened to that poor sucker didn't happened to me!
-- Walter Hermanns, a pastor with multiple sclerosis, on his blog:
http://www.Waltersmusings.blogspot.com
***
I think we honor God more if we gratefully accept the life that he gives us with all its blessings, loving it and drinking it to the full, and also grieving deeply and sincerely when we have impaired or wasted any of the good things of life...
-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters
***
Some people want to see God with their eyes as they see a cow and to love him as they love their cow -- they love their cow for the milk and cheese and profit it makes them. This is how it is with people who love God for the sake of outward wealth or inward comfort. They do not rightly love God when they love him for their own advantage. Indeed, I tell you the truth, any object you have on your mind, however good, will be a barrier between you and the inmost truth.
-- Meister Eckhart
WORSHIP RESOURCE
Call To Worship
Leader: Come, let us give thanks to God!
Pastor: We gather together to praise
the One who strengthens the weak,
and hears the prayers of the forgotten.
Leader: Come, let us give thanks to Christ!
Pastor: We gather together to sing
of the One who calls us to serve
those who are hungry and alone
at this time of year.
Leader: Come, let us give thanks to the Spirit!
Pastor: We gather together to exalt
the One who provokes us to love
not only our family and friends,
but the guest among us.
Prayer Of The Day
You raise up the poor, to give them the best rooms in your house; you pull the broken from the dust of the world, brushing them off and clothing them with joy; you exalt those we have pushed aside, and let them say grace at the feast in heaven. You are our God, and we worship you.
When we are tempted to wander off after the rumors of sin, you guard our feet so we can walk as faithful people; when we think we need to pay attention to all the gossip around us, you give us a double portion of good news, so we will not fear. You are the Christ, and we will listen to you.
When no one else will listen to us, we can pour out our soul to you; when no one notices us, you see our misery, and fill us with joy; when everyone else forgets who we are, you remember us and call us by name. You are our Spirit of Love, and we welcome you into our hearts.
God in Community, Holy in One, we raise our prayers to you, even as we speak the words of Jesus,
Our Father...
Call To Reconciliation
Longing for the touch of God, we cry out; humbled by the awareness of our human nature and brokenness, we bring our prayers of confession to God, praying together,
Unison Prayer Of Confession
We have to admit, Holy Listener, that we are more likely to be provoked by the lives of others, rather than being provoked to love them. When we are called to encourage those around us, too often our actions and words discourage them. Offered lives of peace and hope, we live filled with anxiety and despair.
Forgive us, Rock of Redemption. Cleanse our hearts, so we might be more loving; keep us on the path of faithfulness, so we might find those whom we are called to serve; give us your words, so we might confess your hope offered to all who are broken, who are lost, who cry out to you. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
(Silence is observed.)
Assurance Of Pardon
Leader: This is the good news: God give us hope,
God gives us peace, God gives us joy
so we may share these gifts with everyone
we meet.
Pastor: Thanks be to God, who has forgiven us
and provoked us to love others and to
serve all who are around us. Amen.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Encourage one another
Object: demonstrate how you whistle
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you can do this? (whistle, and wait for the children to answer) I remember when I was your age. It took me a long time to learn to whistle. My older brother and sister could whistle, but I couldn't do it.
I want to tell you the story about a girl your age. She couldn't whistle either. Some of her friends could whistle. That bothered her. She tried and tried. But she just couldn't whistle. She asked her parents to teach her to whistle. She asked her friends to teach her. They all tried. But she just couldn't whistle. She became very discouraged. She was just about to give up trying to learn to whistle. One of her best friends came to her. The friend told her, "Don't worry about whistling. One day you will wake up and you will know how. It will happen. Wait and see." This friend was very helpful. She kept on encouraging the girl. Then, one day the girl realized that she was beginning to understand how to whistle. She practiced and practiced. She got better and better. Soon she really could whistle. Thanks to the encouragement of her friend, she didn't give up.
This story reminds me of this morning's lesson. In the lesson it says to encourage one another all the more as you see the day approaching. The lesson is about early Christians. They were very discouraged at times, just like the girl learning to whistle was discouraged. But the lesson says to encourage those who get discouraged.
Here's what I want you to remember. There are times when you may be discouraged about things. You may not be able to whistle, or to blow bubble gum, or jump rope, or do something else. Don't be discouraged. The day will come when you can do it. You may have friends who become discouraged too. If you do, encourage them also. Remember that the early believers were often discouraged about things. The Bible tells us to encourage those who need our encouragement. See if you can encourage someone this week.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, November 19, 2006, issue.
Copyright 2006 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., 517 South Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45804.
