The State Of The Church Body
Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
Object:
When Paul addresses the fractiousness of the church -- and specifically of the Corinthian congregation -- in this week’s lectionary epistle text, he uses the imagery of body parts to drive home his points that everyone is important and that diversity in the group must be respected. He paints a vivid picture in which we are all different parts of the body -- and in which each is vital to a harmoniously functioning whole. The human body is one of the great wonders of God’s creation -- a machine so complex yet so smoothly operating that medical science is still making discoveries that boggle the mind. But as we all know, when disease overtakes our bodies they break down and cease functioning -- and in this installment of The Immediate Word, team member Robin Lostetter compares the disease of dissension to that of a cancerous growth in the church body -- one that if left untreated can prove fatal. In his State of the Union speech, President Obama set curing cancer as a national goal -- and Robin suggests that Paul offers us a framework for achieving that objective regarding cancer within the church. In a nutshell, Dr. Paul’s prescription for a healthy State of the Church Body boils down to having respect for each member and their contributions.
Team member Mary Austin shares some additional thoughts on the Nehemiah passage. Mary notes that the people’s state of mind as they heard the scripture read to them was very similar to the general mood in the country today -- a sense of foreboding and worry about where we are and the direction we’re heading. Yet the message lifted up by Ezra and Nehemiah is not very different from that embedded in the State of the Union address: yes, there are challenges facing us -- but things are not nearly as bad as they seem; therefore, we are not to wallow in mourning and self-pity, but are to appreciate our blessings and to see the work of God afoot in the world.
The State of the Church Body
by Robin Lostetter
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Paul tells us that the Church body does not consist of one member but of many (v. 14), Furthermore, he reminds us, God has so arranged the body that there may be no dissension within it, but that the members may have equal care for each one, so that if one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it (vv. 25-26).
And yet, we know that the reality of the Church today is that a large number of congregations, not to mention denominations, are plagued with dissension. Just this week, Anglican primates called for temporary sanctions against the Episcopal Church. There is no rejoicing together between them.
In a congregation, the dissension becomes more personal at times. Anyone who has read C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters recognizes how destructive the determined undermining behavior of even one person can be to the health of a congregation. It might even be compared with poison or a toxin -- or a cancerous cell which begins to grow out of control, infecting various parts of the body. It may take as significant an effort as a “moon shot to cure cancer” -- an initiative announced in last week’s State of the Union address -- to cure the dysfunction once it has taken root.
In the News
A week ago, President Obama delivered his final State of the Union address. He structured his speech around four questions. Two of the questions he posed recognize the union, or the body, of the United States, and the responsibility of the individual citizens, or members, within it:
* How do we give everyone a fair shot at opportunity and security in the new economy?
* How can we make our politics reflect the best in us, and not the worst?
Achieving the objective of giving everyone an equal shot at opportunity and security requires giving full respect to each citizen as a valued human being. This is what the Black Lives Matter and Pro-Life campaigns are about. (Although I must add, from my own perspective, that Pro-Life is really Pro-Birth until those same political forces seek to care as much about children born into poverty as they do about the fetuses they wish to force into birth.) And until every citizen, every member of the U.S. body, receives respect, there will always be a struggle for equal opportunity and equal security under the law.
Similarly, for those offering or withholding respect, our politics reflect the “wheat and the tares” within us. Those who wield political power demonstrate either our idolatry of self or the emulation of the One who was servant of all. “We the people” have envisioned the government as a servant of the people, ensuring “a fair shot” and security for the citizens of the United States rather than offering a haven for power-mongers and those driven by greed rather than the common good. Our politics do indeed reflect either the best or the worst in us; and ultimately this is the responsibility of the individual citizen voter who elects those who govern.
These are the choices that the State of the Union address articulated.
In the Scriptures
What if we gave our churches a “State of the Body” address at least once a year? If, as in Paul’s words, we considered each member worthy of respect, from the less honorable or less respectable to the more respectable, then we, as a body, would give honor and respect to the weaker members, who are indispensable. Those who appear to be already respectable would not need this from the body. But by raising up the weaker members, it would become possible to rejoice with one another, suffer with one another, and have the same care for one another. Our “State of the Body” address would tell us if we were coming close to this goal.
If, however, we don’t think of each member as worthy of respect, and we give more respect to one than another... perhaps honoring those who put in the most money, time, or sweat equity... then the “State of the Body” would reflect our dysfunction. This might offer us a timely and periodic opportunity to correct our course, rather than allowing this cancer to grow and gradually infect and kill the entire congregational community.
In the Sermon
In our First Corinthians passage, is Paul giving us a prescription to prevent cancer in the church? What makes for a healthy versus a cancerous community? How are all members made to feel they belong (vv. 15-16)?
These questions remind me of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). We as church members or church workers may be inclined to believe that our reward for service should be greater, based on how long or how hard we have belonged or worked in the church -- that a new church member should have to “pay their dues” before they receive similar honor or respect. This parable belies that misconception, as do Jesus’ words to the thief from the cross: “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). God’s time and space are not the same as ours. And in many ways, God’s values are not the same as ours unless we strive for the greater gifts (v. 31).
So what enables us to suffer when one suffers and rejoice when one rejoices? It seems that a good dose of humility might go a long way. If every member of Christ’s body understood that they were equally loved and claimed by God, but not favored over another of God’s children; and if each member recognized that they were a necessary part of the Body, with gifts for the good of the Body; then the State of the Body might be such that we would reflect Paul’s ideal. Respect would be reciprocal, care would be equally shared, and the healthy congregation would be empowered to use each individual’s gifts to strengthen and equip the Body to further Christ’s ministry in the world.
SECOND THOUGHTS
Better Than It Looks
by Mary Austin
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
We don’t always see things as they are.
In this week’s Old Testament passage, the people of Israel have come home from Babylon and rebuilding has started in Jerusalem. After the grandeur of Babylon, what they see in front of them doesn’t look all that great. Rebuilding is a slow process, and the people are hungry (Nehemiah 5:2) while enemies circle around (6:1-14). Everything is in the process of becoming something new: “The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few and no houses had been built” (7:4). Still, some people are thriving and contributing large sums to the rebuilding effort, and “the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel settled in their towns” (7:73).
The people are called to Jerusalem for the reading of the law, and they listen attentively from morning until midday, taking in God’s word and hearing it read and interpreted. Trisha Tull sets the stage for us: “They gather on the first day of the seventh month, which today is Rosh Hashanah (the fall new year), which is followed by Yom Kippur and the Festival of Sukkot, or Booths. They gather not at the temple but at the Water Gate, where all are admitted. The location of this gate is uncertain, but its name suggests proximity to the Gihon spring, Jerusalem’s only natural water source, on the eastern side of the city (cf. Nehemiah 3:26; 12:37). The Babylonian Talmud (Sukkah 4) would later place the Water Gate on the way to the pool of Siloam, and would associate it with a joyous water-drawing ritual during the week of Sukkot (see verses 14-18).”
As they listen the people weep, and are called back to joy. They’re reminded that this is an occasion for rejoicing, not wailing.
As President Obama delivered his State of the Union speech last week, the American people are in a similar place. We have a half-formed fear of terrorism, even though the real danger is much greater in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The economy is improving, but we feel deeply anxious about the future. As the New York Times observed: “The country described by the president on Tuesday night in his final State of the Union address is the most powerful nation on earth and on the rise again, with more jobs, better health care, and stunning innovation. Although grappling with serious challenges, it is poised for greater progress.” And yet we, like the people of Israel, don’t see the good news. The presidential campaign is running on a steady diet of fear and self-interest. The same New York Times article observes that the presidential candidates see “a darker place, a once-great power that has lost ground in a dangerous world, surrendered its authority and leadership with allies and enemies alike, and diminished freedom and opportunity at home.” The writer adds, “Whichever view ultimately seems more credible to the public will help determine who succeeds Mr. Obama next January and sets the nation’s course for the following four years.”
The president had the same message for us as Ezra and Nehemiah had for the people of Israel -- this is the time not for weeping, but for looking up. A New York Times analysis noted that the president is aware that people don’t see the rosy picture he sees: “The president and his aides have been marveling for months at what they described as Republicans’ gloom-and-doom vision. White House officials have labeled it both inaccurate and bad politics.... In trying to present an optimistic alternative, Obama’s speechwriters were mindful of not taking a victory lap. Americans hardly share his confidence in America’s upward trajectory, polls show. In touting the economic recovery, in particular, Obama risks seeming out of touch.” Still, the president chose to focus on progress, calling for a hopeful view of our common life.
And since every detail of American politics is part of the theater of the message, let us not miss the impact of Michelle Obama’s sunny yellow dress. The New York Times reported that the dress had its own message of optimism, “especially because the dress was impossible to miss, thanks to its bright hue, identified by its designer, Narciso Rodriguez, as marigold, but labeled by Twitter observers as... mango, mustard, and orange Starburst.” Even the First Lady had a share in conveying the message of optimism.
Ezra and Nehemiah tell the assembled people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” They add: “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Whether the people weep because of the state of their lives, or at the recognition of their separation from God, they are not to stop there. There’s another step. Trisha Tull adds: “The grammar of this final assertion is intriguing. Translations and commentators disagree over whether it is more properly rendered ‘[your] joy in the Lord is your strength’ or ‘the Lord’s joy is your strength.’ Either way, the point of cheerful trust in God is clear.”
We have that same choice before us. Are we going to choose to look around narrowly and fearfully, choosing gloom and self-interest? Or can we lift up our heads and choose to see all that God is doing? This story of our ancestors in faith makes clear that we are not to stop at fear and worry, but to move deeper into our trust in God. Things are better than you think, Ezra and Nehemiah are quick to say. Whether it’s the nation or our churches or our own lives, the place to stop and rest is in our strong trust in God. We are not to stop short of joy. We don’t see things as they are -- but we can choose to.
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Chris Keating:
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Discord in the Body
Days after the Anglican Communion voted to suspend the Episcopal Church for three years, the Archbishop of Canterbury struggled to project a sense of unity within the worldwide Anglican family. He acknowledged that the church remains a house divided. “The decision that we would walk together was unanimous,” Justin Welby said, adding that any meeting of leaders of a church of 85 million members in 165 countries and 38 provinces “is bound to give confused messages.”
Conservative analysts say that the decision will not likely lead to severing ties between the Episcopal Church and its global family, but that they “will continue to be at a distance if they don’t change their direction.” According to the conservative Institute for Religion and Democracy, a frequent critic of mainline denominations, Episcopalians’ stands on women and same-gender relationships have created a chasm within the Anglican body.
The presiding bishop of the Episcopal church said the news will be received “painfully” by the U.S. denomination, which has sought to live inclusively in recent years.
*****
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Every Part is Vital
In his book Worldchanging 101, writer and singer/songwriter David LaMotte emphasizes that everyone has a role to play in changing the world, whether they like it or not. LaMotte describes a move from what he calls the “hero narrative” of changing the world to “a movement narrative.” As an example of the movement narrative, he retells the story of Rosa Parks. Many of us have heard the “hero” version of Parks’ contribution to the civil rights movement, but what we often do not recall are the many factors that led to her courageous stand and arrest.
LaMotte notes (p. 77) that Parks had been trained in nonviolent activism the summer before she was arrested. She had worked for the Montgomery, Alabama chapter of the NAACP as its secretary since 1945. When she and her husband Raymond were married in 1935, he was already involved in anti-racism activities. LaMotte notes that a great number of persons were likely involved in equipping Rosa Parks for her role, many playing a very small role in her historic activism.
“I can’t help but wonder,” LaMotte notes, “who invited Raymond Parks to his first (NAACP) meeting. That bit of information is lost to time, but I like to imagine the conversation between Ray and Church, the friend I’ve created for him, going something like this:
Chuck: Ray, what are you doing Wednesday night?
Ray: I don’t know.
Chuck: I think you should come over to my house for a meeting.
Ray: Maybe. I’ve gone some stuff to do around the house.
Chuck: I’m bring some of Bonnie’s pecan pie.
Ray: Really? All right, I’ll be there.”
LaMotte adds, “I don’t mean to play too lightly with the very serious risks that Raymond Parks and others were taking by working against racism. Their lives were on the line. But I do find that even in the midst of dramatic and dangerous times, small details and human conversations are often hugely significant.”
*****
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Unity in Diversity
As the Iowa caucuses approach, observers are wondering if the Republican party, dominated by the outsider campaign of Donald Trump, may be on the verge of collapse. The Atlantic, for example, noted how little traction Ohio governor John Kasich is gaining with his “unvarnished, moderate” position. Trump’s surge is marginalizing politicians like Kasich, leaving some voters to wonder what they may do if Trump is the party’s eventual nominee.
Reporter Molly Ball talked with a GOP voter at a Kasich rally: “ ‘I’m here because it’s time for me to do something -- I can’t just sit on the sidelines,’ a wide-eyed 56-year-old woman in a yellow scarf tells me. ‘I’m a Republican, but I am definitely not a Trump or Cruz fan. That is not who the party is, in my judgment.’ If one of them wins the nomination, she says, ‘I don’t know where I’ll go.’ ”
It’s not quite a call toward unity, but instead a reflection of how divisions (which are apparent in both political parties) are dividing the American body. It’s unlikely that the call for “out of many, one” will be able to be sustained throughout this presidential election cycle -- by either Republicans or Democrats.
***************
From team member Ron Love:
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Noted for inspiring one-line statements that just come to him, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is considered to be one of the best coaches in college football. These sayings have become known as “Daboisms” -- yet Swinney says he has always talked this way; it’s just that more people are listening now because of his success with Clemson’s team. For instance, when he was asked about playing against Alabama in this season’s national championship game, Swinney quickly replied, “Alabama’s the smartest state. Four As and a B.” When he was asked if he could get tickets for the Notre Dame game, he quipped: “I couldn’t get Jesus tickets, and that’s the truth.”
Application: Like Daboisms, when the people heard Ezra read the book of the Law of Moses they were inspired.
*****
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Narcissism was his downfall. Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman -- one of the biggest drug lords in the world, responsible for supplying 80% of Chicago’s cocaine alone -- was captured in his Mexico hideout because of his ego. Such was his pride that he wanted a motion picture made of his exploits, with the beautiful and talented actress Kate del Castillo (who portrayed a drug trafficker in a television series) being involved in the project. Realizing that del Castillo was meeting regularly with Guzman’s lawyers to make the movie, authorities closely monitored del Castillo. When del Castillo took Sean Penn to interview Guzman for a Rolling Stone article, his hideout was disclosed -- and he was captured soon afterward.
Application: As members of the body of Christ, Paul stresses our equality and discounts any place for narcissism.
*****
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Alabama football coach Nick Saban says that since the age of nine he has always been a part of a team. Saban notes, “It scares me to ever think of the day when I wouldn’t be a part of a team. The feeling that you get being associated with a group like this makes you want to do it more.”
Application: Paul impresses upon us that as members of the body of Christ we are a team.
*****
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Ken Griffey Jr. was recently elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame. He received 99.3% of the vote (437 out of 440 votes cast) -- just three ballots short of a perfect score, and the highest percentage of votes in history. A star slugger during baseball’s steroids era, Griffey was never tainted with accusations of using performance-enhancing drugs. Upon receiving the honor, Griffey said: “In case you don’t know, I’m really superstitious. I’ve played in the Hall of Fame game three times and I’ve never set foot in the building. I’ve never even seen the front of it. The one time I wanted to go in there, I wanted to be a member.”
Application: Fortunately for all of us who play on Team Jesus, we are all members of the Hall of Fame, each with a special position on the field, each with a special ministry.
*****
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is noted for using acronyms to inspire his team. Swinney says that acronyms crystalize his thinking into something catchy, memorable, and easy to digest. After his Tigers beat Notre Dame, he said to his players: “Listen, we give you scholarships, we give you stipends and meals and a place to live. We give you nice uniforms. I can’t give you guts, and I can’t give you heart. Tonight, it was B.Y.O.G. -- bring your own guts. And they brought some guts and some heart, and they never quit until the last play.”
Application: As members of the body of Christ we are a team, but each of us must B.Y.O.G. to be successful.
*****
Luke 4:14-21
In an announcement that surprised the entertainment business, Netflix debuted its internet video service in 130 new countries, a move that will bring millions of additional subscribers. CEO Reed Hastings said of the expansion, “You are witnessing the birth of a global TV network.”
Application: Jesus implores us to have a ministry that is active and ongoing as we bring good news to the poor and oppressed wherever we may be. We must be a part of the birth of a global ministry explosion.
*****
Luke 4:14-21
Nick Saban, the head coach of Alabama, likes what he calls “60-10” games. Saban says, “It’s 60 minutes of the game and then 10 minutes in the locker room after the game that you remember for the rest of your life, and what you accomplish actually even transcends your life because they put a plaque up that this team won the national championship.”
Application: Jesus implores us to have a “60-10” ministry as we bring good news to the poor and let the oppressed go free.
*****
Luke 4:14-21
Nick Saban is a football legend with his success on the field -- his Alabama teams have won four national titles in the last seven seasons. Lane Kiffin, the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator, described Saban’s winning attitude with these words: “Coach said it before: You win the trophy, you hold it up, you take a picture, and you hand it away -- and you go and get ready to win the next one.”
Application: Jesus implores us to have a ministry that is active and ongoing as we bring good news to the poor and let the oppressed go free.
*****
Luke 4:14-21
I like globes, and keep several in my house and library. I keep the globes turned to where Africa and India are always visible. Realizing how the majority of people in these countries struggle, it is a reminder for me of my blessings. (Note: You can personalize this story by introducing it with the words “A friend told me...” or “I read about...”)
Application: Realizing our blessings, we must be active in bringing the good news to the poor and oppressed.
*****
Luke 4:14-21
We ought to seek every opportunity to share the name of Jesus, in hope of transforming the world. United Methodist bishop William R. Cannon was invited to give a prayer during Jimmy Carter’s presidential inauguration. At the conclusion of his supplication, which was being nationally televised, Cannon offered the prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. This action by the bishop outraged and offended people throughout the country, because he had used a religious intonation at a state event. During a press conference, the bishop endured a rash of criticisms for the public expression of his faith. Against all the derogatory remarks, the bishop defended himself by speaking one short sentence: “Jesus may not be the Savior of all the people of the United States, but he wants to be!”
Application: Jesus desires to be the Savior of the people. Jesus wants individuals to experience the joy of salvation, to live with the promise of eternal life, to exist this day without guilt for all sins were forgiven at Golgotha, and to believe that miracles still occur in this scientific decade. This is the message that must be shared throughout our community and the world; a testimony that will only be heard if we are willing to proclaim the good news to the downtrodden and oppressed.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: The heavens are telling the glory of God.
People: The firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.
Leader: The law of God is perfect, reviving the soul.
People: The decrees of God are sure, making wise the simple;
Leader: The ordinances of God are true and righteous altogether.
People: Let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to God.
OR
Leader: God invites us to unite our voices in worship.
People: Together we will praise our God.
Leader: God invites us to watch over one another in love.
People: In the power of God’s Spirit we will care for one another.
Leader: God calls us to be an example to the world of God’s love.
People: With God’s help, we will reflect the compassion of God.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
found in:
UMH: 89
H82: 376
PH: 464
AAHH: 120
NNBH: 40
NCH: 4
CH: 2
LBW: 551
ELA: 836
W&P: 59
AMEC: 75
STLT: 29
“Hope of the World”
found in:
UMH: 178
H82: 472
PH: 360
NCH: 46
CH: 538
LBW: 493
W&P: 404
“Help Us Accept Each Other”
found in:
UMH: 560
PH: 358
NCH: 388
CH: 487
W&P: 596
AMEC: 558
“Spirit Song”
found in:
UMH: 347
AAHH: 321
CH: 352
W&P: 352
CCB: 51
Renew: 248
“It’s Me, It’s Me, O Lord”
found in:
UMH: 352
AAHH: 321
CH: 352
W&P: 352
“Dear Lord and Father of Mankind”
found in:
UMH: 358
H82: 652, 653
PH: 345
NCH: 502
CH: 506
ELA: 470
W&P: 344
“Seek Ye First”
found in:
UMH: 405
H82: 711
PH: 333
CH: 354
W&P: 349
“Where Charity and Love Prevail”
found in:
UMH: 549
H82: 581
NCH: 396
LBW: 126
ELA: 359
“I Am Loved”
found in:
CCB: 80
“O How He Loves You and Me”
found in:
CCB: 38
Renew: 27
Music Resources Key:
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982 (The Episcopal Church)
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African-American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELA: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day / Collect
O God who created us for each other: Grant us the grace to seek wholeness and blessing for all our brothers and sisters in the Church; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
You created us, O God, for each other. You desired that we not be alone. Help us to seek wholeness and blessing for each of our sisters and brothers in the Church. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially our failure to live out the reality of our being united as the Body of Christ.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We look at one another in the Church, and we see people who are like us and those who are different. We look at race, skin color, social status, sexual orientation, and other factors, and decide whether we belong together or not. We forget that what binds us together is the Spirit of the Risen Christ. We forget or choose to ignore that we are all God’s flawed children. Renew us with your Spirit of love, and draw us together in the reality of the Body of Christ. Amen.
Leader: God’s grace is sufficient for us all. God loves us and claims us. Receive God’s love and forgiveness and the power to claim your rightful place in God’s realm.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord’s Prayer)
We praise you, O God, for you are the God who loves us. In love you draw us together with one another and to yourself.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We look at one another in the Church, and we see people who are like us and those who are different. We look at race, skin color, social status, sexual orientation, and other factors, and decide whether we belong together or not. We forget that what binds us together is the Spirit of the Risen Christ. We forget or choose to ignore that we are all God’s flawed children. Renew us with your Spirit of love, and draw us together in the reality of the Body of Christ.
We give you thanks for all the ways you have blessed us. We thank you for those in the Church who have treated us as beloved sisters and brothers in Christ. We thank you for your Spirit that unites us with you and with one another.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who find themselves pushed away by others, even their sisters and brothers in the Church. We pray for ourselves, that we might reach out more to others who are different from us.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together, saying:
Our Father . . . Amen.
(or if the Lord’s Prayer is not used at this point in the service)
All this we ask in the Name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
Children’s Sermon Starter
Bring a fishing pole to show the children. Ask them what the most important part is if you are going to catch fish. The hook, the line, the pole, and the bait -- they are all needed. The hook may be what holds the fish, but if the line breaks the fish is gone. Just like a fishing rig needs all its parts, so the Church needs all of us. Some may look more important, but we need each and every one. Everyone in the Church is very important.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
Team Jesus
by Chris Keating
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Prepare ahead of time:
* If possible, gather a collection of jerseys, t-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts from different sports teams. (Ask around the congregation to gather a sufficient number for the children who normally attend.) As an alternative, you can make large, colorful name tags with yarn and sheets of construction paper to represent different teams.
* Print copies of 1 Corinthians 12:27: “You are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
Metaphors are beyond the ability of most literal-thinking children, as Carolyn Brown observes in her excellent blog posting for this week. Yet children do understand the notion of being part of a team. Many households are captivated by team sports during this time of year -- the Super Bowl is approaching, and basketball and hockey teams are in the middle of their seasons. Even children who aren’t sports-minded will understand the idea of being part of “Team Jesus.”
As the children assemble, pass around the team items or name tags. Quickly ask if they have any favorite teams. As they look over the t-shirts and jerseys, encourage them to try one on, or to wear the name tags with different teams represented. (Some children may have stronger preferences; you may need to be a bit assertive in making assignments!)
Ask them what is important about being part of a team. (It might be good to invite a few older children or youth to help you with this part, especially if the children are too young to have team experiences.) Some answers will include getting to play, helping your teammates, working hard, making sure everyone gets a chance, and so on.
Tell them that in many ways being part of a church is like being part of a team for Jesus. Some of us work hard in telling stories about God (teachers, preachers); some have musical talents and help us sing and hear about God through song; some have special gifts to make food, or take the offering, or light candles. What are some of the special ways children are part of Team Jesus in your church?
Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthian Christians because they were not working well as a team. Some of their “team” didn’t like the others. They didn’t respect each other, and they thought they didn’t need each other. But Paul reminded them that it takes an entire team to show God’s love in the world. In fact, he said that parts of the team are equally important.
Show the children the verse for today, and have them say it with you. Remind them that they are a very special part of God’s team. Their teammates need them! No matter what sort of things you can do for Jesus, they are very important and needed.
Lead them in the following responsive prayer. Their response is “We need you!”
Leader: God, our church is like a team or a body, and everyone is important. We thank you for families!
Children: We need you!
Leader: We thank you for Sunday school teachers, for ushers, for people who sing or play instruments!
Children: We need you!
Leader: We thank you for older members who tell us stories of their experiences!
Children: We need you!
Leader: We thank you for youth and young adults who have lots of energy!
Children: We need you!
Leader: We thank you for parents and grandparents, and special people who help us grow!
Children: We need you!
Leader: Every part of your church is needed, O God. We are all part of your team. Thank you for your love, and remind us to help each other. Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, January 24, 2016, issue.
Copyright 2016 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
Team member Mary Austin shares some additional thoughts on the Nehemiah passage. Mary notes that the people’s state of mind as they heard the scripture read to them was very similar to the general mood in the country today -- a sense of foreboding and worry about where we are and the direction we’re heading. Yet the message lifted up by Ezra and Nehemiah is not very different from that embedded in the State of the Union address: yes, there are challenges facing us -- but things are not nearly as bad as they seem; therefore, we are not to wallow in mourning and self-pity, but are to appreciate our blessings and to see the work of God afoot in the world.
The State of the Church Body
by Robin Lostetter
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Paul tells us that the Church body does not consist of one member but of many (v. 14), Furthermore, he reminds us, God has so arranged the body that there may be no dissension within it, but that the members may have equal care for each one, so that if one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it (vv. 25-26).
And yet, we know that the reality of the Church today is that a large number of congregations, not to mention denominations, are plagued with dissension. Just this week, Anglican primates called for temporary sanctions against the Episcopal Church. There is no rejoicing together between them.
In a congregation, the dissension becomes more personal at times. Anyone who has read C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters recognizes how destructive the determined undermining behavior of even one person can be to the health of a congregation. It might even be compared with poison or a toxin -- or a cancerous cell which begins to grow out of control, infecting various parts of the body. It may take as significant an effort as a “moon shot to cure cancer” -- an initiative announced in last week’s State of the Union address -- to cure the dysfunction once it has taken root.
In the News
A week ago, President Obama delivered his final State of the Union address. He structured his speech around four questions. Two of the questions he posed recognize the union, or the body, of the United States, and the responsibility of the individual citizens, or members, within it:
* How do we give everyone a fair shot at opportunity and security in the new economy?
* How can we make our politics reflect the best in us, and not the worst?
Achieving the objective of giving everyone an equal shot at opportunity and security requires giving full respect to each citizen as a valued human being. This is what the Black Lives Matter and Pro-Life campaigns are about. (Although I must add, from my own perspective, that Pro-Life is really Pro-Birth until those same political forces seek to care as much about children born into poverty as they do about the fetuses they wish to force into birth.) And until every citizen, every member of the U.S. body, receives respect, there will always be a struggle for equal opportunity and equal security under the law.
Similarly, for those offering or withholding respect, our politics reflect the “wheat and the tares” within us. Those who wield political power demonstrate either our idolatry of self or the emulation of the One who was servant of all. “We the people” have envisioned the government as a servant of the people, ensuring “a fair shot” and security for the citizens of the United States rather than offering a haven for power-mongers and those driven by greed rather than the common good. Our politics do indeed reflect either the best or the worst in us; and ultimately this is the responsibility of the individual citizen voter who elects those who govern.
These are the choices that the State of the Union address articulated.
In the Scriptures
What if we gave our churches a “State of the Body” address at least once a year? If, as in Paul’s words, we considered each member worthy of respect, from the less honorable or less respectable to the more respectable, then we, as a body, would give honor and respect to the weaker members, who are indispensable. Those who appear to be already respectable would not need this from the body. But by raising up the weaker members, it would become possible to rejoice with one another, suffer with one another, and have the same care for one another. Our “State of the Body” address would tell us if we were coming close to this goal.
If, however, we don’t think of each member as worthy of respect, and we give more respect to one than another... perhaps honoring those who put in the most money, time, or sweat equity... then the “State of the Body” would reflect our dysfunction. This might offer us a timely and periodic opportunity to correct our course, rather than allowing this cancer to grow and gradually infect and kill the entire congregational community.
In the Sermon
In our First Corinthians passage, is Paul giving us a prescription to prevent cancer in the church? What makes for a healthy versus a cancerous community? How are all members made to feel they belong (vv. 15-16)?
These questions remind me of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). We as church members or church workers may be inclined to believe that our reward for service should be greater, based on how long or how hard we have belonged or worked in the church -- that a new church member should have to “pay their dues” before they receive similar honor or respect. This parable belies that misconception, as do Jesus’ words to the thief from the cross: “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). God’s time and space are not the same as ours. And in many ways, God’s values are not the same as ours unless we strive for the greater gifts (v. 31).
So what enables us to suffer when one suffers and rejoice when one rejoices? It seems that a good dose of humility might go a long way. If every member of Christ’s body understood that they were equally loved and claimed by God, but not favored over another of God’s children; and if each member recognized that they were a necessary part of the Body, with gifts for the good of the Body; then the State of the Body might be such that we would reflect Paul’s ideal. Respect would be reciprocal, care would be equally shared, and the healthy congregation would be empowered to use each individual’s gifts to strengthen and equip the Body to further Christ’s ministry in the world.
SECOND THOUGHTS
Better Than It Looks
by Mary Austin
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
We don’t always see things as they are.
In this week’s Old Testament passage, the people of Israel have come home from Babylon and rebuilding has started in Jerusalem. After the grandeur of Babylon, what they see in front of them doesn’t look all that great. Rebuilding is a slow process, and the people are hungry (Nehemiah 5:2) while enemies circle around (6:1-14). Everything is in the process of becoming something new: “The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few and no houses had been built” (7:4). Still, some people are thriving and contributing large sums to the rebuilding effort, and “the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel settled in their towns” (7:73).
The people are called to Jerusalem for the reading of the law, and they listen attentively from morning until midday, taking in God’s word and hearing it read and interpreted. Trisha Tull sets the stage for us: “They gather on the first day of the seventh month, which today is Rosh Hashanah (the fall new year), which is followed by Yom Kippur and the Festival of Sukkot, or Booths. They gather not at the temple but at the Water Gate, where all are admitted. The location of this gate is uncertain, but its name suggests proximity to the Gihon spring, Jerusalem’s only natural water source, on the eastern side of the city (cf. Nehemiah 3:26; 12:37). The Babylonian Talmud (Sukkah 4) would later place the Water Gate on the way to the pool of Siloam, and would associate it with a joyous water-drawing ritual during the week of Sukkot (see verses 14-18).”
As they listen the people weep, and are called back to joy. They’re reminded that this is an occasion for rejoicing, not wailing.
As President Obama delivered his State of the Union speech last week, the American people are in a similar place. We have a half-formed fear of terrorism, even though the real danger is much greater in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The economy is improving, but we feel deeply anxious about the future. As the New York Times observed: “The country described by the president on Tuesday night in his final State of the Union address is the most powerful nation on earth and on the rise again, with more jobs, better health care, and stunning innovation. Although grappling with serious challenges, it is poised for greater progress.” And yet we, like the people of Israel, don’t see the good news. The presidential campaign is running on a steady diet of fear and self-interest. The same New York Times article observes that the presidential candidates see “a darker place, a once-great power that has lost ground in a dangerous world, surrendered its authority and leadership with allies and enemies alike, and diminished freedom and opportunity at home.” The writer adds, “Whichever view ultimately seems more credible to the public will help determine who succeeds Mr. Obama next January and sets the nation’s course for the following four years.”
The president had the same message for us as Ezra and Nehemiah had for the people of Israel -- this is the time not for weeping, but for looking up. A New York Times analysis noted that the president is aware that people don’t see the rosy picture he sees: “The president and his aides have been marveling for months at what they described as Republicans’ gloom-and-doom vision. White House officials have labeled it both inaccurate and bad politics.... In trying to present an optimistic alternative, Obama’s speechwriters were mindful of not taking a victory lap. Americans hardly share his confidence in America’s upward trajectory, polls show. In touting the economic recovery, in particular, Obama risks seeming out of touch.” Still, the president chose to focus on progress, calling for a hopeful view of our common life.
And since every detail of American politics is part of the theater of the message, let us not miss the impact of Michelle Obama’s sunny yellow dress. The New York Times reported that the dress had its own message of optimism, “especially because the dress was impossible to miss, thanks to its bright hue, identified by its designer, Narciso Rodriguez, as marigold, but labeled by Twitter observers as... mango, mustard, and orange Starburst.” Even the First Lady had a share in conveying the message of optimism.
Ezra and Nehemiah tell the assembled people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” They add: “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Whether the people weep because of the state of their lives, or at the recognition of their separation from God, they are not to stop there. There’s another step. Trisha Tull adds: “The grammar of this final assertion is intriguing. Translations and commentators disagree over whether it is more properly rendered ‘[your] joy in the Lord is your strength’ or ‘the Lord’s joy is your strength.’ Either way, the point of cheerful trust in God is clear.”
We have that same choice before us. Are we going to choose to look around narrowly and fearfully, choosing gloom and self-interest? Or can we lift up our heads and choose to see all that God is doing? This story of our ancestors in faith makes clear that we are not to stop at fear and worry, but to move deeper into our trust in God. Things are better than you think, Ezra and Nehemiah are quick to say. Whether it’s the nation or our churches or our own lives, the place to stop and rest is in our strong trust in God. We are not to stop short of joy. We don’t see things as they are -- but we can choose to.
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Chris Keating:
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Discord in the Body
Days after the Anglican Communion voted to suspend the Episcopal Church for three years, the Archbishop of Canterbury struggled to project a sense of unity within the worldwide Anglican family. He acknowledged that the church remains a house divided. “The decision that we would walk together was unanimous,” Justin Welby said, adding that any meeting of leaders of a church of 85 million members in 165 countries and 38 provinces “is bound to give confused messages.”
Conservative analysts say that the decision will not likely lead to severing ties between the Episcopal Church and its global family, but that they “will continue to be at a distance if they don’t change their direction.” According to the conservative Institute for Religion and Democracy, a frequent critic of mainline denominations, Episcopalians’ stands on women and same-gender relationships have created a chasm within the Anglican body.
The presiding bishop of the Episcopal church said the news will be received “painfully” by the U.S. denomination, which has sought to live inclusively in recent years.
*****
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Every Part is Vital
In his book Worldchanging 101, writer and singer/songwriter David LaMotte emphasizes that everyone has a role to play in changing the world, whether they like it or not. LaMotte describes a move from what he calls the “hero narrative” of changing the world to “a movement narrative.” As an example of the movement narrative, he retells the story of Rosa Parks. Many of us have heard the “hero” version of Parks’ contribution to the civil rights movement, but what we often do not recall are the many factors that led to her courageous stand and arrest.
LaMotte notes (p. 77) that Parks had been trained in nonviolent activism the summer before she was arrested. She had worked for the Montgomery, Alabama chapter of the NAACP as its secretary since 1945. When she and her husband Raymond were married in 1935, he was already involved in anti-racism activities. LaMotte notes that a great number of persons were likely involved in equipping Rosa Parks for her role, many playing a very small role in her historic activism.
“I can’t help but wonder,” LaMotte notes, “who invited Raymond Parks to his first (NAACP) meeting. That bit of information is lost to time, but I like to imagine the conversation between Ray and Church, the friend I’ve created for him, going something like this:
Chuck: Ray, what are you doing Wednesday night?
Ray: I don’t know.
Chuck: I think you should come over to my house for a meeting.
Ray: Maybe. I’ve gone some stuff to do around the house.
Chuck: I’m bring some of Bonnie’s pecan pie.
Ray: Really? All right, I’ll be there.”
LaMotte adds, “I don’t mean to play too lightly with the very serious risks that Raymond Parks and others were taking by working against racism. Their lives were on the line. But I do find that even in the midst of dramatic and dangerous times, small details and human conversations are often hugely significant.”
*****
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Unity in Diversity
As the Iowa caucuses approach, observers are wondering if the Republican party, dominated by the outsider campaign of Donald Trump, may be on the verge of collapse. The Atlantic, for example, noted how little traction Ohio governor John Kasich is gaining with his “unvarnished, moderate” position. Trump’s surge is marginalizing politicians like Kasich, leaving some voters to wonder what they may do if Trump is the party’s eventual nominee.
Reporter Molly Ball talked with a GOP voter at a Kasich rally: “ ‘I’m here because it’s time for me to do something -- I can’t just sit on the sidelines,’ a wide-eyed 56-year-old woman in a yellow scarf tells me. ‘I’m a Republican, but I am definitely not a Trump or Cruz fan. That is not who the party is, in my judgment.’ If one of them wins the nomination, she says, ‘I don’t know where I’ll go.’ ”
It’s not quite a call toward unity, but instead a reflection of how divisions (which are apparent in both political parties) are dividing the American body. It’s unlikely that the call for “out of many, one” will be able to be sustained throughout this presidential election cycle -- by either Republicans or Democrats.
***************
From team member Ron Love:
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Noted for inspiring one-line statements that just come to him, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is considered to be one of the best coaches in college football. These sayings have become known as “Daboisms” -- yet Swinney says he has always talked this way; it’s just that more people are listening now because of his success with Clemson’s team. For instance, when he was asked about playing against Alabama in this season’s national championship game, Swinney quickly replied, “Alabama’s the smartest state. Four As and a B.” When he was asked if he could get tickets for the Notre Dame game, he quipped: “I couldn’t get Jesus tickets, and that’s the truth.”
Application: Like Daboisms, when the people heard Ezra read the book of the Law of Moses they were inspired.
*****
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Narcissism was his downfall. Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman -- one of the biggest drug lords in the world, responsible for supplying 80% of Chicago’s cocaine alone -- was captured in his Mexico hideout because of his ego. Such was his pride that he wanted a motion picture made of his exploits, with the beautiful and talented actress Kate del Castillo (who portrayed a drug trafficker in a television series) being involved in the project. Realizing that del Castillo was meeting regularly with Guzman’s lawyers to make the movie, authorities closely monitored del Castillo. When del Castillo took Sean Penn to interview Guzman for a Rolling Stone article, his hideout was disclosed -- and he was captured soon afterward.
Application: As members of the body of Christ, Paul stresses our equality and discounts any place for narcissism.
*****
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Alabama football coach Nick Saban says that since the age of nine he has always been a part of a team. Saban notes, “It scares me to ever think of the day when I wouldn’t be a part of a team. The feeling that you get being associated with a group like this makes you want to do it more.”
Application: Paul impresses upon us that as members of the body of Christ we are a team.
*****
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Ken Griffey Jr. was recently elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame. He received 99.3% of the vote (437 out of 440 votes cast) -- just three ballots short of a perfect score, and the highest percentage of votes in history. A star slugger during baseball’s steroids era, Griffey was never tainted with accusations of using performance-enhancing drugs. Upon receiving the honor, Griffey said: “In case you don’t know, I’m really superstitious. I’ve played in the Hall of Fame game three times and I’ve never set foot in the building. I’ve never even seen the front of it. The one time I wanted to go in there, I wanted to be a member.”
Application: Fortunately for all of us who play on Team Jesus, we are all members of the Hall of Fame, each with a special position on the field, each with a special ministry.
*****
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is noted for using acronyms to inspire his team. Swinney says that acronyms crystalize his thinking into something catchy, memorable, and easy to digest. After his Tigers beat Notre Dame, he said to his players: “Listen, we give you scholarships, we give you stipends and meals and a place to live. We give you nice uniforms. I can’t give you guts, and I can’t give you heart. Tonight, it was B.Y.O.G. -- bring your own guts. And they brought some guts and some heart, and they never quit until the last play.”
Application: As members of the body of Christ we are a team, but each of us must B.Y.O.G. to be successful.
*****
Luke 4:14-21
In an announcement that surprised the entertainment business, Netflix debuted its internet video service in 130 new countries, a move that will bring millions of additional subscribers. CEO Reed Hastings said of the expansion, “You are witnessing the birth of a global TV network.”
Application: Jesus implores us to have a ministry that is active and ongoing as we bring good news to the poor and oppressed wherever we may be. We must be a part of the birth of a global ministry explosion.
*****
Luke 4:14-21
Nick Saban, the head coach of Alabama, likes what he calls “60-10” games. Saban says, “It’s 60 minutes of the game and then 10 minutes in the locker room after the game that you remember for the rest of your life, and what you accomplish actually even transcends your life because they put a plaque up that this team won the national championship.”
Application: Jesus implores us to have a “60-10” ministry as we bring good news to the poor and let the oppressed go free.
*****
Luke 4:14-21
Nick Saban is a football legend with his success on the field -- his Alabama teams have won four national titles in the last seven seasons. Lane Kiffin, the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator, described Saban’s winning attitude with these words: “Coach said it before: You win the trophy, you hold it up, you take a picture, and you hand it away -- and you go and get ready to win the next one.”
Application: Jesus implores us to have a ministry that is active and ongoing as we bring good news to the poor and let the oppressed go free.
*****
Luke 4:14-21
I like globes, and keep several in my house and library. I keep the globes turned to where Africa and India are always visible. Realizing how the majority of people in these countries struggle, it is a reminder for me of my blessings. (Note: You can personalize this story by introducing it with the words “A friend told me...” or “I read about...”)
Application: Realizing our blessings, we must be active in bringing the good news to the poor and oppressed.
*****
Luke 4:14-21
We ought to seek every opportunity to share the name of Jesus, in hope of transforming the world. United Methodist bishop William R. Cannon was invited to give a prayer during Jimmy Carter’s presidential inauguration. At the conclusion of his supplication, which was being nationally televised, Cannon offered the prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. This action by the bishop outraged and offended people throughout the country, because he had used a religious intonation at a state event. During a press conference, the bishop endured a rash of criticisms for the public expression of his faith. Against all the derogatory remarks, the bishop defended himself by speaking one short sentence: “Jesus may not be the Savior of all the people of the United States, but he wants to be!”
Application: Jesus desires to be the Savior of the people. Jesus wants individuals to experience the joy of salvation, to live with the promise of eternal life, to exist this day without guilt for all sins were forgiven at Golgotha, and to believe that miracles still occur in this scientific decade. This is the message that must be shared throughout our community and the world; a testimony that will only be heard if we are willing to proclaim the good news to the downtrodden and oppressed.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: The heavens are telling the glory of God.
People: The firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.
Leader: The law of God is perfect, reviving the soul.
People: The decrees of God are sure, making wise the simple;
Leader: The ordinances of God are true and righteous altogether.
People: Let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to God.
OR
Leader: God invites us to unite our voices in worship.
People: Together we will praise our God.
Leader: God invites us to watch over one another in love.
People: In the power of God’s Spirit we will care for one another.
Leader: God calls us to be an example to the world of God’s love.
People: With God’s help, we will reflect the compassion of God.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
found in:
UMH: 89
H82: 376
PH: 464
AAHH: 120
NNBH: 40
NCH: 4
CH: 2
LBW: 551
ELA: 836
W&P: 59
AMEC: 75
STLT: 29
“Hope of the World”
found in:
UMH: 178
H82: 472
PH: 360
NCH: 46
CH: 538
LBW: 493
W&P: 404
“Help Us Accept Each Other”
found in:
UMH: 560
PH: 358
NCH: 388
CH: 487
W&P: 596
AMEC: 558
“Spirit Song”
found in:
UMH: 347
AAHH: 321
CH: 352
W&P: 352
CCB: 51
Renew: 248
“It’s Me, It’s Me, O Lord”
found in:
UMH: 352
AAHH: 321
CH: 352
W&P: 352
“Dear Lord and Father of Mankind”
found in:
UMH: 358
H82: 652, 653
PH: 345
NCH: 502
CH: 506
ELA: 470
W&P: 344
“Seek Ye First”
found in:
UMH: 405
H82: 711
PH: 333
CH: 354
W&P: 349
“Where Charity and Love Prevail”
found in:
UMH: 549
H82: 581
NCH: 396
LBW: 126
ELA: 359
“I Am Loved”
found in:
CCB: 80
“O How He Loves You and Me”
found in:
CCB: 38
Renew: 27
Music Resources Key:
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982 (The Episcopal Church)
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African-American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELA: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day / Collect
O God who created us for each other: Grant us the grace to seek wholeness and blessing for all our brothers and sisters in the Church; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
You created us, O God, for each other. You desired that we not be alone. Help us to seek wholeness and blessing for each of our sisters and brothers in the Church. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially our failure to live out the reality of our being united as the Body of Christ.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We look at one another in the Church, and we see people who are like us and those who are different. We look at race, skin color, social status, sexual orientation, and other factors, and decide whether we belong together or not. We forget that what binds us together is the Spirit of the Risen Christ. We forget or choose to ignore that we are all God’s flawed children. Renew us with your Spirit of love, and draw us together in the reality of the Body of Christ. Amen.
Leader: God’s grace is sufficient for us all. God loves us and claims us. Receive God’s love and forgiveness and the power to claim your rightful place in God’s realm.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord’s Prayer)
We praise you, O God, for you are the God who loves us. In love you draw us together with one another and to yourself.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We look at one another in the Church, and we see people who are like us and those who are different. We look at race, skin color, social status, sexual orientation, and other factors, and decide whether we belong together or not. We forget that what binds us together is the Spirit of the Risen Christ. We forget or choose to ignore that we are all God’s flawed children. Renew us with your Spirit of love, and draw us together in the reality of the Body of Christ.
We give you thanks for all the ways you have blessed us. We thank you for those in the Church who have treated us as beloved sisters and brothers in Christ. We thank you for your Spirit that unites us with you and with one another.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who find themselves pushed away by others, even their sisters and brothers in the Church. We pray for ourselves, that we might reach out more to others who are different from us.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together, saying:
Our Father . . . Amen.
(or if the Lord’s Prayer is not used at this point in the service)
All this we ask in the Name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
Children’s Sermon Starter
Bring a fishing pole to show the children. Ask them what the most important part is if you are going to catch fish. The hook, the line, the pole, and the bait -- they are all needed. The hook may be what holds the fish, but if the line breaks the fish is gone. Just like a fishing rig needs all its parts, so the Church needs all of us. Some may look more important, but we need each and every one. Everyone in the Church is very important.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
Team Jesus
by Chris Keating
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Prepare ahead of time:
* If possible, gather a collection of jerseys, t-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts from different sports teams. (Ask around the congregation to gather a sufficient number for the children who normally attend.) As an alternative, you can make large, colorful name tags with yarn and sheets of construction paper to represent different teams.
* Print copies of 1 Corinthians 12:27: “You are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
Metaphors are beyond the ability of most literal-thinking children, as Carolyn Brown observes in her excellent blog posting for this week. Yet children do understand the notion of being part of a team. Many households are captivated by team sports during this time of year -- the Super Bowl is approaching, and basketball and hockey teams are in the middle of their seasons. Even children who aren’t sports-minded will understand the idea of being part of “Team Jesus.”
As the children assemble, pass around the team items or name tags. Quickly ask if they have any favorite teams. As they look over the t-shirts and jerseys, encourage them to try one on, or to wear the name tags with different teams represented. (Some children may have stronger preferences; you may need to be a bit assertive in making assignments!)
Ask them what is important about being part of a team. (It might be good to invite a few older children or youth to help you with this part, especially if the children are too young to have team experiences.) Some answers will include getting to play, helping your teammates, working hard, making sure everyone gets a chance, and so on.
Tell them that in many ways being part of a church is like being part of a team for Jesus. Some of us work hard in telling stories about God (teachers, preachers); some have musical talents and help us sing and hear about God through song; some have special gifts to make food, or take the offering, or light candles. What are some of the special ways children are part of Team Jesus in your church?
Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthian Christians because they were not working well as a team. Some of their “team” didn’t like the others. They didn’t respect each other, and they thought they didn’t need each other. But Paul reminded them that it takes an entire team to show God’s love in the world. In fact, he said that parts of the team are equally important.
Show the children the verse for today, and have them say it with you. Remind them that they are a very special part of God’s team. Their teammates need them! No matter what sort of things you can do for Jesus, they are very important and needed.
Lead them in the following responsive prayer. Their response is “We need you!”
Leader: God, our church is like a team or a body, and everyone is important. We thank you for families!
Children: We need you!
Leader: We thank you for Sunday school teachers, for ushers, for people who sing or play instruments!
Children: We need you!
Leader: We thank you for older members who tell us stories of their experiences!
Children: We need you!
Leader: We thank you for youth and young adults who have lots of energy!
Children: We need you!
Leader: We thank you for parents and grandparents, and special people who help us grow!
Children: We need you!
Leader: Every part of your church is needed, O God. We are all part of your team. Thank you for your love, and remind us to help each other. Amen.
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The Immediate Word, January 24, 2016, issue.
Copyright 2016 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
