Tony Soprano's Kingdom Dilemma
Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
Object:
The entertainment headlines this week have been dominated by the shocking news of actor James Gandolfini's sudden death while vacationing in Italy. Though he hardly cut the profile of a handsome matinee idol, Gandolfini was only 51, startlingly young to have suffered an apparent heart attack. Tributes poured in from colleagues who praised Gandolfini for his mastery of their craft and from friends who spoke of his decency and humanity. But even more, the occasion of Gandolfini's passing brought renewed attention to the iconic television character he's primarily associated with -- Tony Soprano.
Tony was the dominant figure in The Sopranos, and much of what made that groundbreaking series such fascinating viewing (in addition to marvelous, state-of-the-art writing and acting) was the unusual notion that even a mob boss faces the same worries about balancing his professional life with the needs of his family as the rest of us. In this installment of The Immediate Word, team member Chris Keating points out that much of Tony's time and energy was devoted to taking care of his various families -- immediate, extended, and his mob "crew" -- and so it's no surprise that his accumulated stress led to panic attacks and analysis.
In this week's gospel text, Chris notes, Jesus might lift up Tony Soprano as a perfect example of how family matters†can distract us from more important priorities. This passage can sometimes be difficult for our people to digest, as Jesus seems quite cruel when he tells potential followers that if they attend to family matters they're unfit for the kingdom of God. But with his time in Jerusalem drawing near, Jesus has no patience left for social niceties -- and he is bluntly telling us that while family is undeniably important, we often place emphasis on it to the detriment of other things... the church, for example. (Is Christmas a time for family, or a time for church? If we prioritize family over church, perhaps something is out of whack.) Chris suggests that Jesus here is reminding us that though our families are important sources of support, and on balance may be a very positive influence on our lives, we need see the big picture and keep their significance in perspective.
Team member Mary Austin offers some additional thoughts on the 2 Kings text, the relationship between Elijah and Elisha, and mentoring. Elijah has been a mentor to the young prophet in training, and now the time has come for Elijah to depart and for Elisha to (literally) pick up his mantle. Elisha clearly is uneasy about the prospect of striking out on his own -- telling Elijah that "I will not leave you." But the whole process of mentoring is about what Elijah provides for Elisha -- an older experienced hand passing on accumulated wisdom to a young student learning the ropes. We see this played out in many areas of our lives -- parents, for example, are the primary mentors for many of us -- but in the workplace, this is increasingly accomplished through the vehicle of (often unpaid) internships. They've become something of an essential rite of passage for students in order to secure career-track employment, and companies routinely avail themselves of the economic benefits of inexpensive but skilled labor -- something that may change due to a recent federal court decision. As Mary observes, internships can be a mixed bag -- they can be an irreplaceable vehicle for teaching skills and making professional connections, or they can merely be a form of indentured servitude that provides firms with a pool of free labor. But if we're lucky, Mary suggests, an internship can work for us the same way as it did for Elisha (and for Elijah).
Tony Soprano's Kingdom Dilemma
by Chris Keating
Luke 9:51-62
Tony Soprano wasn't an angel.†Not even close.
But he did know something about struggling with the sort of kingdom dilemma Jesus poses to would-be followers in Luke 9:51-62.†Television is full of dysfunctional characters -- all the way from All in the Family's Archie Bunker to George Bluth Sr. in Arrested Development. But perhaps none were so acutely aware of their existential dilemmas as Tony Soprano,†head of a fictional New Jersey crime family on HBO's classic series The Sopranos.
As played by the late James Gandolfini, Tony Soprano emerged as more than a typical mobster.†He was the boss of his organization, but also a dad of teenagers.†His life was filled with all sorts of distractions.†While trying to manage his illicit operations, Tony's life was constantly bombarded by interruptions, ranging from a complicated relationship with his mother to dealing with family members who couldn't function on their own, including his aging yet constantly scheming uncle.†Combined with his penchant for cheating on his wife, Tony had good reason to seek out therapy.
Most of us don't have to worry about wiretaps or getting whacked by hitmen, but we may know something about lives filled with family and business distractions.†When life presses against us, we may struggle with the competing demands of being a disciple and being part of a family. In that sense, perhaps Jesus' words to his would-be followers sound harsh. But perhaps we should listen to Tony, and remember, in the famous words of another mob boss (The Godfather trilogy's Michael Corleone), that this isn't personal... it's business.
In the News
Actor James Gandolfini's untimely death last week prompted reflection on the actor's career. Gandolfini was a gifted and talented actor known for many appearances on stage and screen, including supporting roles in the movies Get Shorty and Zero Dark Thirty. But it was his portrayal of the powerful yet emotionally troubled New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano on the hit series The Sopranos that was most memorable. Gandolfini's chops as an actor managed to make the bulky and often monstrous Soprano into more than a stereotypical gangster with a five o'clock shadow. Combined with top-drawer writing, Gandolfini's acting defined Soprano as a sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter, but never disappointing character.
Gandolfini brought to life a character who never fully resolved the tensions between his business and personal life. James Lipton, host of Inside the Actor's Studio, noted this week that Gandolfini's gift as an actor was his ability to portray a tragic hero caught in the grips between two families. "The most valuable word in television is 'family,' " Lipton said. "Every show that really succeeds beyond anyone's expectations has to do with family." Yet Tony Soprano was not only a family man -- he was also a made man. He ran his own crew, skimming contracts and hijacking trucks. Balancing both "families" proved difficult at times, inducing serious anxiety attacks and leading Tony to seek psychotherapy. Gandolfini's skill as an actor allowed the struggles between Tony's personal and business life to feel rather ordinary, enabling audiences to come to love this otherwise psychopathic monster.
Richard Rushfield, writing for Yahoo News, put it this way:
What was particularly terrifying about Tony wasn't his savagery -- film and TV are filled with that -- but that Gandolfini made him precisely what J.R. Ewing was not; the realest possible bad guy; more real than the good guys; the psycho next door who worries about his family and kids and keeping his business afloat just like you, I, and all our neighbors do.
Tony was the guy next door. In one of countless memorable scenes, Tony's daughter Meadow asks him: "Are you in the Mafia?" Tony tries to evade Meadow's question. "Who told you that?" She says she's lived with him her whole life -- she's seen the police come with warrants, she's watched him go "to work" at three o'clock in the morning. When pressed, Tony admits that part of his income comes from illegal gambling and "what not." He asks, "How does that make you feel?" Meadow almost shrugs off the question; she tells him many of her friend's fathers are ad execs or lawyers. Using colorful language, she essentially says they're full of beans. "And I'm not?" says Tony. "You finally told the truth about this," Meadow says. (You can see part of that clip here.)
That was the truth about Tony Soprano: he was a mob boss trying to walk across the high wires of ordinary life, balancing domestic duties with endless business dilemmas. As Timothy Braun noted in the Huffington Post, Tony was a guy from the 'burbs just trying to get through life: "He could have been in any profession and still feel the weight of a suburban life. There was unhealthy competition at work, outside forces looking to overpower him, and a teenage daughter looking to go to an expensive college. I think the best moments of Soprano, the ones that resonate, are when he is negotiating a fast-moving world."
We say good-bye to James Gandolfini the marvelous actor, but not to the deep existential questions his character voiced. When the demands of daily life overwhelm us, distracting us from what is truly important, which path do we take? What in our lives commands primary allegiance? These questions were often on Tony Soprano's mind, and they are also on the mind of Jesus as he heads toward Jerusalem. Of course, Jesus was not a made man. But a closer look at Luke 9:51-62 may help us discover that he's making us an offer we should not refuse.
In the Scriptures
Following the Transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9:28-36), Luke begins shifting the narrative toward Jesus' journey to Jerusalem. The action intensifies, the pace quickens. This is the life he's chosen -- a demanding path that requires the disciple's complete dedication. The crowds are still astounded by his works, but Jesus is forthright with the disciples: "Let these words sink into your ears: the Son of man is going to be betrayed into human hands" (Luke 9:44). Soon after, Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem.
He is clear that this is not a path for everyone. Unlike the asphalt roads and gridlocked bridges of Tony Soprano's New Jersey, Jesus' path is not well travelled. Not many are willing to be in cahoots with him, nor are they up to the hearty demands such discipleship makes. A set of short pronouncement stories in 9:57-62 details the failure of those who cannot change their priorities. One follower isn't prepared for the homelessness of itinerant ministry; another must tend to his father's funeral; a third has to tie up some loose ends before he can begin plowing his way through the kingdom fields. Jesus' responses sound harsh and uncaring. But Jesus' stringent demands remind us, as R. Alan Culpepper notes, that "the call to discipleship is above every other duty, whether care for self, care for the dead, or care for family" (The New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 9, p. 216).
Got a dead father? Need to say good-bye to the folks? Not ready for rough travels? Forget about it.
Even a New Jersey wise guy might blanch at Jesus' blunt words. Though I do not think following Jesus means abandoning our responsibilities to kith and kin, discipleship does require something. These verses describe what it means to "follow Jesus," and unpack the implications of taking up our own crosses. In addition, according to Jesus, kingdom matters are urgent matters. Indeed, the thread connecting these three brief pronouncement stories seems to be Jesus' declaration of the urgent nature of the realm of God. The time is approaching, and neither the unfriendly reception in Samaria (v. 53) nor the well-meaning but unprepared disciples will hinder its advance. Jesus reminds them of what is truly important, and also invites them to embrace the dynamic urgency of life in the kingdom -- an urgency even more pressing than burying the dead.
Jesus is single-minded in his purpose. There is no looking back, which would only result in unevenly plowed field. Even though the obligations of family are critical, responsibilities in the kingdom of God are even more pressing. His instructions bring clarity to our crowded lives. He calls us to follow, and reminds us that discipleship isn't a "no-show" job.
In the Pulpit
These are difficult words to hear and digest. The gospel text this week is no light antipasto; it is instead a steaming platter of pasta and sauce, a complex meal that is not to be eaten quickly. Our families, after all, may resonate with the Tony Sopranos of the world -- hard-working folks consumed by competing demands from family and business problems galore. He was a villain, to be sure, but he was in many ways a villain like us -- which is why we might shrug our shoulders at Jesus' caustic comments about distractions and demands.
Just recently I was faced with a family crisis that required a change in my priorities. After prayer and reflection, I began to see that the way through this season of our life was to pay attention to what really matters -- exactly what I believe Jesus (and perhaps Tony Soprano) would have us do in light of this text.
In order to let the new life flow through these words of Jesus, perhaps we should take a cue from Gandolfini's impeccable technique as an actor. As Richard Rushfield noted, never once did Gandolfini wink at the audience and say, "Oh no, he's not really like that." Instead, the actor explored the tensions of Tony Soprano by fleshing out little moments that made his character truly memorable. According to Rushfield, this meant "the asides, the attentions to his family, the shrugs, the appetites..."
What if we looked for those "little moments" in Jesus' words in order to understand what Christ wants to offer our congregations? We spend much time bickering about what is important, or attending to things that do not really matter. Note how Jesus deals with the desire of the disciples to bring retribution on the Samaritan village that refused to welcome them. There's a slight pause, a short aside. Then there is the disciple who rushes up to him, wanting to follow. Jesus gets right in his face, eye to eye, and reminds him that walking with the Son of God is not for the faint-hearted. These little moments reveal the truth of what it means to follow Jesus: that following Jesus is a rigorous path of faith. The truth of the gospel is that pursuing the kingdom of God is the only thing that ultimately matters.
It's the little moments that matter, and it is the little moments in this text which help us see that Jesus isn't being cruel and heartless in his words. Instead, Jesus lifts up the overwhelming priority that the kingdom of God has over all of life.
ANOTHER VIEW
by Mary Austin
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
The lowly summer intern, fetching coffee and reorganizing the filing system, may soon get an upgrade.
A federal judge recently ruled on a suit brought by interns at Fox Searchlight Pictures, who contended that they were really unpaid employees. As Steven Greenhouse reported for the New York Times, "Eric Glatt and Alexander Footman, production interns on Black Swan, sued Fox Searchlight in September 2011. In the suit, Mr. Glatt and Mr. Footman said they did basic chores, usually undertaken by paid employees. Like their counterparts in other industries, the interns took lunch orders, answered phones, arranged other employees' travel plans, tracked purchase orders, took out the trash, and assembled office furniture."
The judge advocated adopting standards developed by the Department of Labor, which say that the internship must benefit the intern more than the company, and that the intern can't displace paid employees to do the same work for free. The judge also granted class action status to the interns, which could open the door to more suits -- or to the former interns receiving back pay, as happened to interns who worked for Charlie Rose and his production company.
Some believe that this may be the end of internship programs as we know them. As Sam Hananel wrote for the Associated Press, "the decision... may lead some companies to rethink whether it's worth the legal risk to hire interns to work without pay." Hananel noted that critics claim unpaid internships exploit young workers and drive down wages. Other companies believe that internships are a valuable way to teach the business and to recruit future employees, testing their skills in a real-world environment. Interns benefit with an inside track to jobs after graduation. Melissa Korn writes in the Wall Street Journal that "having the opportunity to do an internship is increasingly crucial for a student's post-graduation prospects."
No matter what, the case will have a wide impact. As Greenhouse points out in the New York Times article, "Employment experts estimate that undergraduates work in more than one million internships a year, an estimated half of which are unpaid, according to Intern Bridge, a research firm."
Interns themselves have a range of experiences. Some internships teach valuable skills, expose the intern to the language and customs of a particular industry, and introduce them to people who will be future colleagues. Other interns spend the summer in the file room or the mail center and never see any meaningful work, let alone leaders in their field. In my own life, some internships gave me skills I still use. (Thank you, Christian Science Monitor newsroom staff, for working with a very young and inexperienced college student.) Others barely tolerated my presence in exchange for the free labor on work no one else wanted to do. (Women's political organization, you shall remain nameless, although you did allow me to live in Washington DC, during college, an education in itself.)
When structured well, an internship can offer experiences that are the foundation for a future career. As Elisha could testify, there's no substitute for hands-on experience and spending time with someone who excels at what they do. Both Elijah and Elisha know that the end of Elijah's life is coming, and Elisha shows exceptional devotion to his friend and mentor. The story from this week's Old Testament lection says that "Elijah said to Elisha, 'Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.' But Elisha said, 'As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you' " (v. 2). They have the same conversation several times, and Elisha presses on with him.
Elisha asks for the gift of a double share of Elijah's spirit, the double share of the inheritance that an oldest son would receive from his father. Their bond goes beyond work to kinship. Elijah acknowledges that this is hard gift to give and receive, and Elisha doesn't know whether he has it or not until he strikes the water after Elijah is gone. Our experiences with mentors may be the same -- we don't see the gifts we've been given until much later. Years later we finally see a skill we've developed, or a way of seeing the world that someone taught us.
Personal and professional mentors shape our adult lives, if we're fortunate enough to have them. Internships offer the possibility of such relationships, as do our jobs, volunteer work, and professional connections. By grace, we're shaped by meaningful connections, and blessed with an inheritance of wisdom or experience or professional skills. The connection travels both ways. In time things shift, and we become the teacher instead of the student. Again by grace, we pass the gift on again.
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Dean Feldmeyer:
Luke 9:51-62
Rabbi Edwin Friedman was a leading proponent of the Dr. Murray Bowen's Family Systems Theory (FST). FST holds that all human relationship systems (teams, companies, clubs, etc.) function like families, and individuals within the system are best treated by treating the whole system. In his book Generation to Generation, Friedman tells how Family Systems Theory offers a therapy model that differs from individual models through five core basic concepts:
1) The identified patient -- someone who is not really sick but is the one person in whom the family's (or system's) problems have surfaced.
2) Homeostasis (or balance) -- the tendency of a family (or system) to perpetuate the organizing principle of its existence whether that principle is healthy or not.
3) Differentiation -- the capacity of an individual within the family (or system) to define his or her goals or values apart from the surrounding pressures supplied by the system.
4) Extended family field -- the multi-generational, multi-layered system from which the individual comes and whose dysfunction or illness can affect the individual in unforeseen ways.
5) Emotional triangles -- formed when two persons who are experiencing conflict turn together on a third person as a way of stabilizing their own relationship.
* * *
Luke 9:51-62
Jay Pritchett is the patriarch of the "modern family" featured each week on network television's Modern Family as they work out their relationships, which are complex to say the least.
His wife is years younger than him and a native of Colombia, as is her son. Jay's son is gay and in a committed relationship with another man, and they have an adopted daughter. His daughter is married to a real estate salesman, and their family is pretty close to the nuclear family of myth and legend. Their issues, however, are rarely simple or easy. Here's how Jay sums it up in a voiceover narration from one of the episodes:
When you're young and dreaming of your family, you think of this perfect family: perfect wife, perfect kids. Look at me, I got this sorry bunch. But you know, I wouldn't trade them for anything.
* * *
Luke 9:51-62
Psychologist Sol Herzig informs us that practicing the following seven principles will transform your perfectly functioning family into a completely dysfunctional one.
1) Problems require blame. In the normal course of events problems are not supposed to happen. If they do, someone must be blamed.
2) Shame on you. Sensitize those around you to the fact that your slightest irritation is their worst nightmare.
3) You are always teaching. Fortunate is the child who chances upon his parent, newspaper in hand, sprawled out on the sofa wolfing down jellybeans. Is there a more powerful way of demonstrating that multitasking doesn't have to be hard or boring?
4) Say it loud: "I holler and I'm proud." The key element in communication is simply being heard. Nothing ensures this better than screaming at the top of your lungs.
5) Keep them guessing. Broadmindedness requires inconsistency.
6) Boundaries, shmoundaries.
7) Your married children need you now more than ever.
* * *
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
The story of Mentor comes from Homer's Odyssey. Odysseus, king of Ithaca, fights in the Trojan War and entrusts the care of his household to Mentor, who serves as teacher and overseer of Odysseus' son Telemachus.
After the war, Odysseus is condemned to wander vainly for ten years in his attempt to return home. In time Telemachus, now grown, ventures in search of his father. Athena, goddess of war and patroness of the arts and industry, assumes the form of Mentor and accompanies Telemachus on his quest. Father and son reunite and cast down would-be usurpers of Odysseus' throne and Telemachus' birthright.
The word "mentor" evolved to mean trusted advisor, friend, teacher, and wise person. History offers many examples of helpful mentoring relationships: Socrates and Plato, Haydn and Beethoven, Freud and Jung. Mentoring is a fundamental form of human development where one person invests time, energy, and personal know how in assisting the growth and ability of another person.
History and legend record the deeds of princes and kings, but each of us has a birthright to actualize our potential. Through their deeds and work, mentors help us to move toward that actualization.
-- from Mentoring[revised edition] (Crisp Publications, 1997) by Gordon F. Shea
* * *
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage;
Mind innocent and quiet take
That for an hermitage;
If I have freedom in my love
And in my soul am free,
Angels alone, that soar above,
Enjoy such liberty.
-- from "To Althea, from Prison" by Richard Lovelace (1618-1648)
This was paraphrased by Madame Guyon (1648-1717), Roman Catholic mystic and founder of the Quietist movement, when she was imprisoned ten years in a French prison for her beliefs:
My cage confines me round;
Abroad I cannot fly;
But though my wing is closely bound
My heart's at liberty.
My prison walls cannot control
The flight, the freedom of the soul.
Oh, it is good to soar
These bolts and bars above,
To Him whose purpose I adore,
Whose Providence I love;
And in Thy mighty will to find
The joy, the freedom of the mind...
"Stone walls do not a prison make
Nor iron bars a cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
These for a hermitage;
When I am free within my heart
And in my soul am free
Angels alone that soar above
Enjoy such liberty."
* * *
From team member Ron Love:
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Dan Scanlon, director of Monsters University, recently described the storyline behind each of the movie's main characters. A "prequel" to the popular Monsters, Inc., this film is about the misfit monsters of the college fraternity Oozma Kappa, including Don Carlton, a middle-age salesman who has decided to return to college. In speaking about the character of Don Carlton, Scanlon said: "He represents a bigger thing for the whole Oozma Kappa team, which is this idea of maybe selling yourself short too soon and it's never too late to really give it a shot."
Application: When Elisha asked for double the spirit of Elijah, he wanted to make sure that he did not sell himself too short.
* * *
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
One of the mysteries that remains with us and has almost become an urban legend is where Jimmy Hoffa is buried. This was again in the news recently when Tony Zerilli, the son of reputed mob boss Joseph Zerilli, informed the FBI where Hoffa was hit with a shovel, then buried alive with a slab of cement, in a field not far from where he was abducted on the afternoon of July 30, 1975. After an extensive search and excavation of the area, the FBI concluded the body of Hoffa was not buried there. The search and the mystery continues.
Application: We have many mysteries in the Bible, with several surrounding the life of Elijah. As we search for an explanation, we can always continue to believe in the interpretation. With the mystery there is always a coinciding hope for an answer.
* * *
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Recently the world's largest advertising trade show, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, announced its awards for advertisers who contributed to the benefit of society. Ogilvy & Mather Amsterdam was one of the honorees, as they were recognized for their "Why wait until it's too late?" campaign for a funeral insurance company. In this series of advertisements, individuals were encouraged to tell those who are special to them that they love them before death makes it too late.
Application: Paul instructs his readers, from the teaching of Jesus, to love one another.
* * *
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Three radio hosts on Atlanta's 790 The Zone, Nick Cellini, Chris Dimino, and "Steak" Shapiro, were recently dismissed from their jobs for improper and insensitive humor. They did an on-air skit in which they poked fun at Steve Gleason, a former defensive back for the New Orleans Saints who suffers from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), commonly referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease." Gleason is best remembered as the player who blocked an Atlanta Falcons punt that was recovered for a touchdown in a 2006 game, giving the Saints their first post-Katrina victory in the restored Superdome. Cellini and Dimino apologized for their behavior on Facebook, and Shapiro apologized on Twitter. Dimino wrote, "The sheer stupidity of trying to put this as a failed attempt at humor is not lost on me."
Application: We must always beware how easily the desires of the flesh can lead us down the path of sheer stupidity.
* * *
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
South Fork Industries, based in Dalton Gardens, Idaho, is selling ammunition coated in pork-infused paint. It is called "Jihawg Ammo", and it is intended to be used to shoot Muslims. According to the company's advertising, not only will the bullet kill a Muslim, it will send him "straight to hell" because pork is forbidden by the Quran.
Application: Following the desires of the flesh can cause us to hate, which can lead to unreasonable acts of vengeance.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: Sing praises to God and give thanks to God's holy name.
People: For God's anger is but for a moment; God's favor is for a lifetime.
Leader: Weeping may linger for the night,
People: but joy comes with the morning.
Leader: God has turned our mourning into dancing;
People: God has taken off our sackcloth and clothed us with joy.
OR
Leader: God calls us to the path of life eternal.
People: With gratitude we hear God's call.
Leader: God gives us helpers along our way.
People: We are thankful for those who assist our journey.
Leader: God calls us to help guide those who come after us.
People: May they find us faithful guides to God and to life.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
"Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise"
found in:
UMH: 103
H82: 423
PH: 263
NCH: 1
CH: 66
LBW: 526
ELA: 834
W&P: 48
AMEC: 71
STLT: 273
Renew: 46
"Seek Ye First"
found in:
UMH: 405
H82: 711
PH: 333
CH: 354
W&P: 349
CCB: 76
"Alleluia, Alleluia"
found in:
UMH: 162
H82: 178
PH: 106
CH: 40
W&P: 291
Renew: 271
"Spirit Song"
found in:
UMH: 347
AAHH: 321
CH: 352
W&P: 352
CCB: 51
Renew: 248
"T? Has Venido a la Orilla" ("Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore")
found in:
UMH: 344
PH: 377
CH: 342
W&P: 347
"O Jesus, I Have Promised"
found in:
UMH: 396
H82: 655
PH: 388/389
NCH: 493
CH: 612
LBW: 503
ELA: 810
W&P: 458
AMEC: 280
"Jesus Calls Us"
found in:
UMH: 398
H82: 549/550
NNBH: 183
NCH: 171/172
CH: 337
LBW: 494
ELA: 696
W&P: 345
AMEC: 238
"Take Up Thy Cross"
found in:
UMH: 415
H82: 675
PH: 393
LBW: 398
ELA: 667
W&P: 351
AMEC: 294
"All Hail King Jesus"
found in:
CCB: 29
Renew: 35
"More Precious than Silver"
found in:
CCB: 25
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 is our loving parent: Grant us the wisdom to live freely in our families as we exhibit the marks of discipleship, and help us to not allow our families to distract us from following Jesus; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We worship you, our God and our parent, for you bring us life and the freedom to live that life well. Help us to follow Jesus so steadfastly that we are not distracted by our families but learn from him how to serve our families well. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our inability to distinguish true priorities from false ones.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We find ourselves often unable to distinguish between what is important and what is crucial. We know that family is important, but sometimes we place false expectations and hopes upon it. We forget our prime priority of being God's children, to the detriment of our families and our own spiritual health. Forgive us and call us once more to follow Jesus. Amen.
Leader: God is always calling us and always welcoming us back to the path that leads to life. Know God's love and grace as you follow Jesus on the Way.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord's Prayer)
We worship and lift up your name, O God who is like a shepherd to us. You guide is in the way to life by still waters and through quiet pastures.
(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 find ourselves often unable to distinguish between what is important and what is crucial. We know that family is important, but sometimes we place false expectations and hopes upon it. We forget our prime priority of being God's children, to the detriment of our families and our own spiritual health. Forgive us and call us once more to follow Jesus.
We give you thanks for all the ways in which you call us back to the path that leads to life eternal. We thank you for the way in which your love is shown in families when we allow them to play their proper part in our lives. We thank you for those who have given of themselves to help us grow in our life of discipleship.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for one another in our need and for all who find themselves following wrong paths. As you call them from the way that leads to destruction, help us to be signs that point to life.
(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
Ask the children if any of them take music lessons, or are playing an organized sport, or learning any new skill (even if they go or have gone to school or preschool). Talk about how much easier it is for us to learn if we have someone to help us who has already learned the skill. Being a disciple of Jesus is no different. Our Sunday school teachers, pastor, and others are here to help us learn how to follow Jesus.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
The Cost of Discipleship
Luke 9:51-62
Object: some quarters (or other small denomination of money)
Good morning, boys and girls! During his time on earth, there were many people who wanted to be followers of Jesus. Do you all want to be followers of Jesus? (let the children answer) Yes, of course you do. Sometimes we call people who love and follow Jesus "disciples." So if we are following Jesus and trying to live as he told us to live, we are his disciples.
Once some people told Jesus they wanted to follow him and be his disciples, but Jesus let them know that being a disciple is not easy. He told them to come along with him and be his disciples, but he let them know that they might not have any place to sleep and that they had to put God first and not worry about a lot of personal things if they wanted to follow him. When they heard this, they decided that they had more important things to do and they didn't follow him.
I'd like to see if you are the kind of disciple that Jesus wants. Today, I have for each of you a quarter. (hand out the quarters) Now, that quarter is yours to keep. You can buy candy with it or do anything you want. But you are in church today and soon we are going to have an offering. What do you think Jesus would want his disciples to do with that quarter: spend it on yourself or put it in the offering? (let them answer) Yes, you're right. Jesus would want his disciples to give the money to God, but it is your money and you can put it in the offering or keep it. I won't know what you do, so it's up to you to decide. As I said, being a disciple is hard. I hope all of you will decide to put your quarter in the offering even though you'd rather keep it, but it's your decision.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, we want to follow you and be your disciples, and we ask that you give us the courage and the strength to put you first in all the things we do. Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, June 30, 2013, issue.
Copyright 2013 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.
Tony was the dominant figure in The Sopranos, and much of what made that groundbreaking series such fascinating viewing (in addition to marvelous, state-of-the-art writing and acting) was the unusual notion that even a mob boss faces the same worries about balancing his professional life with the needs of his family as the rest of us. In this installment of The Immediate Word, team member Chris Keating points out that much of Tony's time and energy was devoted to taking care of his various families -- immediate, extended, and his mob "crew" -- and so it's no surprise that his accumulated stress led to panic attacks and analysis.
In this week's gospel text, Chris notes, Jesus might lift up Tony Soprano as a perfect example of how family matters†can distract us from more important priorities. This passage can sometimes be difficult for our people to digest, as Jesus seems quite cruel when he tells potential followers that if they attend to family matters they're unfit for the kingdom of God. But with his time in Jerusalem drawing near, Jesus has no patience left for social niceties -- and he is bluntly telling us that while family is undeniably important, we often place emphasis on it to the detriment of other things... the church, for example. (Is Christmas a time for family, or a time for church? If we prioritize family over church, perhaps something is out of whack.) Chris suggests that Jesus here is reminding us that though our families are important sources of support, and on balance may be a very positive influence on our lives, we need see the big picture and keep their significance in perspective.
Team member Mary Austin offers some additional thoughts on the 2 Kings text, the relationship between Elijah and Elisha, and mentoring. Elijah has been a mentor to the young prophet in training, and now the time has come for Elijah to depart and for Elisha to (literally) pick up his mantle. Elisha clearly is uneasy about the prospect of striking out on his own -- telling Elijah that "I will not leave you." But the whole process of mentoring is about what Elijah provides for Elisha -- an older experienced hand passing on accumulated wisdom to a young student learning the ropes. We see this played out in many areas of our lives -- parents, for example, are the primary mentors for many of us -- but in the workplace, this is increasingly accomplished through the vehicle of (often unpaid) internships. They've become something of an essential rite of passage for students in order to secure career-track employment, and companies routinely avail themselves of the economic benefits of inexpensive but skilled labor -- something that may change due to a recent federal court decision. As Mary observes, internships can be a mixed bag -- they can be an irreplaceable vehicle for teaching skills and making professional connections, or they can merely be a form of indentured servitude that provides firms with a pool of free labor. But if we're lucky, Mary suggests, an internship can work for us the same way as it did for Elisha (and for Elijah).
Tony Soprano's Kingdom Dilemma
by Chris Keating
Luke 9:51-62
Tony Soprano wasn't an angel.†Not even close.
But he did know something about struggling with the sort of kingdom dilemma Jesus poses to would-be followers in Luke 9:51-62.†Television is full of dysfunctional characters -- all the way from All in the Family's Archie Bunker to George Bluth Sr. in Arrested Development. But perhaps none were so acutely aware of their existential dilemmas as Tony Soprano,†head of a fictional New Jersey crime family on HBO's classic series The Sopranos.
As played by the late James Gandolfini, Tony Soprano emerged as more than a typical mobster.†He was the boss of his organization, but also a dad of teenagers.†His life was filled with all sorts of distractions.†While trying to manage his illicit operations, Tony's life was constantly bombarded by interruptions, ranging from a complicated relationship with his mother to dealing with family members who couldn't function on their own, including his aging yet constantly scheming uncle.†Combined with his penchant for cheating on his wife, Tony had good reason to seek out therapy.
Most of us don't have to worry about wiretaps or getting whacked by hitmen, but we may know something about lives filled with family and business distractions.†When life presses against us, we may struggle with the competing demands of being a disciple and being part of a family. In that sense, perhaps Jesus' words to his would-be followers sound harsh. But perhaps we should listen to Tony, and remember, in the famous words of another mob boss (The Godfather trilogy's Michael Corleone), that this isn't personal... it's business.
In the News
Actor James Gandolfini's untimely death last week prompted reflection on the actor's career. Gandolfini was a gifted and talented actor known for many appearances on stage and screen, including supporting roles in the movies Get Shorty and Zero Dark Thirty. But it was his portrayal of the powerful yet emotionally troubled New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano on the hit series The Sopranos that was most memorable. Gandolfini's chops as an actor managed to make the bulky and often monstrous Soprano into more than a stereotypical gangster with a five o'clock shadow. Combined with top-drawer writing, Gandolfini's acting defined Soprano as a sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter, but never disappointing character.
Gandolfini brought to life a character who never fully resolved the tensions between his business and personal life. James Lipton, host of Inside the Actor's Studio, noted this week that Gandolfini's gift as an actor was his ability to portray a tragic hero caught in the grips between two families. "The most valuable word in television is 'family,' " Lipton said. "Every show that really succeeds beyond anyone's expectations has to do with family." Yet Tony Soprano was not only a family man -- he was also a made man. He ran his own crew, skimming contracts and hijacking trucks. Balancing both "families" proved difficult at times, inducing serious anxiety attacks and leading Tony to seek psychotherapy. Gandolfini's skill as an actor allowed the struggles between Tony's personal and business life to feel rather ordinary, enabling audiences to come to love this otherwise psychopathic monster.
Richard Rushfield, writing for Yahoo News, put it this way:
What was particularly terrifying about Tony wasn't his savagery -- film and TV are filled with that -- but that Gandolfini made him precisely what J.R. Ewing was not; the realest possible bad guy; more real than the good guys; the psycho next door who worries about his family and kids and keeping his business afloat just like you, I, and all our neighbors do.
Tony was the guy next door. In one of countless memorable scenes, Tony's daughter Meadow asks him: "Are you in the Mafia?" Tony tries to evade Meadow's question. "Who told you that?" She says she's lived with him her whole life -- she's seen the police come with warrants, she's watched him go "to work" at three o'clock in the morning. When pressed, Tony admits that part of his income comes from illegal gambling and "what not." He asks, "How does that make you feel?" Meadow almost shrugs off the question; she tells him many of her friend's fathers are ad execs or lawyers. Using colorful language, she essentially says they're full of beans. "And I'm not?" says Tony. "You finally told the truth about this," Meadow says. (You can see part of that clip here.)
That was the truth about Tony Soprano: he was a mob boss trying to walk across the high wires of ordinary life, balancing domestic duties with endless business dilemmas. As Timothy Braun noted in the Huffington Post, Tony was a guy from the 'burbs just trying to get through life: "He could have been in any profession and still feel the weight of a suburban life. There was unhealthy competition at work, outside forces looking to overpower him, and a teenage daughter looking to go to an expensive college. I think the best moments of Soprano, the ones that resonate, are when he is negotiating a fast-moving world."
We say good-bye to James Gandolfini the marvelous actor, but not to the deep existential questions his character voiced. When the demands of daily life overwhelm us, distracting us from what is truly important, which path do we take? What in our lives commands primary allegiance? These questions were often on Tony Soprano's mind, and they are also on the mind of Jesus as he heads toward Jerusalem. Of course, Jesus was not a made man. But a closer look at Luke 9:51-62 may help us discover that he's making us an offer we should not refuse.
In the Scriptures
Following the Transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9:28-36), Luke begins shifting the narrative toward Jesus' journey to Jerusalem. The action intensifies, the pace quickens. This is the life he's chosen -- a demanding path that requires the disciple's complete dedication. The crowds are still astounded by his works, but Jesus is forthright with the disciples: "Let these words sink into your ears: the Son of man is going to be betrayed into human hands" (Luke 9:44). Soon after, Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem.
He is clear that this is not a path for everyone. Unlike the asphalt roads and gridlocked bridges of Tony Soprano's New Jersey, Jesus' path is not well travelled. Not many are willing to be in cahoots with him, nor are they up to the hearty demands such discipleship makes. A set of short pronouncement stories in 9:57-62 details the failure of those who cannot change their priorities. One follower isn't prepared for the homelessness of itinerant ministry; another must tend to his father's funeral; a third has to tie up some loose ends before he can begin plowing his way through the kingdom fields. Jesus' responses sound harsh and uncaring. But Jesus' stringent demands remind us, as R. Alan Culpepper notes, that "the call to discipleship is above every other duty, whether care for self, care for the dead, or care for family" (The New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 9, p. 216).
Got a dead father? Need to say good-bye to the folks? Not ready for rough travels? Forget about it.
Even a New Jersey wise guy might blanch at Jesus' blunt words. Though I do not think following Jesus means abandoning our responsibilities to kith and kin, discipleship does require something. These verses describe what it means to "follow Jesus," and unpack the implications of taking up our own crosses. In addition, according to Jesus, kingdom matters are urgent matters. Indeed, the thread connecting these three brief pronouncement stories seems to be Jesus' declaration of the urgent nature of the realm of God. The time is approaching, and neither the unfriendly reception in Samaria (v. 53) nor the well-meaning but unprepared disciples will hinder its advance. Jesus reminds them of what is truly important, and also invites them to embrace the dynamic urgency of life in the kingdom -- an urgency even more pressing than burying the dead.
Jesus is single-minded in his purpose. There is no looking back, which would only result in unevenly plowed field. Even though the obligations of family are critical, responsibilities in the kingdom of God are even more pressing. His instructions bring clarity to our crowded lives. He calls us to follow, and reminds us that discipleship isn't a "no-show" job.
In the Pulpit
These are difficult words to hear and digest. The gospel text this week is no light antipasto; it is instead a steaming platter of pasta and sauce, a complex meal that is not to be eaten quickly. Our families, after all, may resonate with the Tony Sopranos of the world -- hard-working folks consumed by competing demands from family and business problems galore. He was a villain, to be sure, but he was in many ways a villain like us -- which is why we might shrug our shoulders at Jesus' caustic comments about distractions and demands.
Just recently I was faced with a family crisis that required a change in my priorities. After prayer and reflection, I began to see that the way through this season of our life was to pay attention to what really matters -- exactly what I believe Jesus (and perhaps Tony Soprano) would have us do in light of this text.
In order to let the new life flow through these words of Jesus, perhaps we should take a cue from Gandolfini's impeccable technique as an actor. As Richard Rushfield noted, never once did Gandolfini wink at the audience and say, "Oh no, he's not really like that." Instead, the actor explored the tensions of Tony Soprano by fleshing out little moments that made his character truly memorable. According to Rushfield, this meant "the asides, the attentions to his family, the shrugs, the appetites..."
What if we looked for those "little moments" in Jesus' words in order to understand what Christ wants to offer our congregations? We spend much time bickering about what is important, or attending to things that do not really matter. Note how Jesus deals with the desire of the disciples to bring retribution on the Samaritan village that refused to welcome them. There's a slight pause, a short aside. Then there is the disciple who rushes up to him, wanting to follow. Jesus gets right in his face, eye to eye, and reminds him that walking with the Son of God is not for the faint-hearted. These little moments reveal the truth of what it means to follow Jesus: that following Jesus is a rigorous path of faith. The truth of the gospel is that pursuing the kingdom of God is the only thing that ultimately matters.
It's the little moments that matter, and it is the little moments in this text which help us see that Jesus isn't being cruel and heartless in his words. Instead, Jesus lifts up the overwhelming priority that the kingdom of God has over all of life.
ANOTHER VIEW
by Mary Austin
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
The lowly summer intern, fetching coffee and reorganizing the filing system, may soon get an upgrade.
A federal judge recently ruled on a suit brought by interns at Fox Searchlight Pictures, who contended that they were really unpaid employees. As Steven Greenhouse reported for the New York Times, "Eric Glatt and Alexander Footman, production interns on Black Swan, sued Fox Searchlight in September 2011. In the suit, Mr. Glatt and Mr. Footman said they did basic chores, usually undertaken by paid employees. Like their counterparts in other industries, the interns took lunch orders, answered phones, arranged other employees' travel plans, tracked purchase orders, took out the trash, and assembled office furniture."
The judge advocated adopting standards developed by the Department of Labor, which say that the internship must benefit the intern more than the company, and that the intern can't displace paid employees to do the same work for free. The judge also granted class action status to the interns, which could open the door to more suits -- or to the former interns receiving back pay, as happened to interns who worked for Charlie Rose and his production company.
Some believe that this may be the end of internship programs as we know them. As Sam Hananel wrote for the Associated Press, "the decision... may lead some companies to rethink whether it's worth the legal risk to hire interns to work without pay." Hananel noted that critics claim unpaid internships exploit young workers and drive down wages. Other companies believe that internships are a valuable way to teach the business and to recruit future employees, testing their skills in a real-world environment. Interns benefit with an inside track to jobs after graduation. Melissa Korn writes in the Wall Street Journal that "having the opportunity to do an internship is increasingly crucial for a student's post-graduation prospects."
No matter what, the case will have a wide impact. As Greenhouse points out in the New York Times article, "Employment experts estimate that undergraduates work in more than one million internships a year, an estimated half of which are unpaid, according to Intern Bridge, a research firm."
Interns themselves have a range of experiences. Some internships teach valuable skills, expose the intern to the language and customs of a particular industry, and introduce them to people who will be future colleagues. Other interns spend the summer in the file room or the mail center and never see any meaningful work, let alone leaders in their field. In my own life, some internships gave me skills I still use. (Thank you, Christian Science Monitor newsroom staff, for working with a very young and inexperienced college student.) Others barely tolerated my presence in exchange for the free labor on work no one else wanted to do. (Women's political organization, you shall remain nameless, although you did allow me to live in Washington DC, during college, an education in itself.)
When structured well, an internship can offer experiences that are the foundation for a future career. As Elisha could testify, there's no substitute for hands-on experience and spending time with someone who excels at what they do. Both Elijah and Elisha know that the end of Elijah's life is coming, and Elisha shows exceptional devotion to his friend and mentor. The story from this week's Old Testament lection says that "Elijah said to Elisha, 'Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.' But Elisha said, 'As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you' " (v. 2). They have the same conversation several times, and Elisha presses on with him.
Elisha asks for the gift of a double share of Elijah's spirit, the double share of the inheritance that an oldest son would receive from his father. Their bond goes beyond work to kinship. Elijah acknowledges that this is hard gift to give and receive, and Elisha doesn't know whether he has it or not until he strikes the water after Elijah is gone. Our experiences with mentors may be the same -- we don't see the gifts we've been given until much later. Years later we finally see a skill we've developed, or a way of seeing the world that someone taught us.
Personal and professional mentors shape our adult lives, if we're fortunate enough to have them. Internships offer the possibility of such relationships, as do our jobs, volunteer work, and professional connections. By grace, we're shaped by meaningful connections, and blessed with an inheritance of wisdom or experience or professional skills. The connection travels both ways. In time things shift, and we become the teacher instead of the student. Again by grace, we pass the gift on again.
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Dean Feldmeyer:
Luke 9:51-62
Rabbi Edwin Friedman was a leading proponent of the Dr. Murray Bowen's Family Systems Theory (FST). FST holds that all human relationship systems (teams, companies, clubs, etc.) function like families, and individuals within the system are best treated by treating the whole system. In his book Generation to Generation, Friedman tells how Family Systems Theory offers a therapy model that differs from individual models through five core basic concepts:
1) The identified patient -- someone who is not really sick but is the one person in whom the family's (or system's) problems have surfaced.
2) Homeostasis (or balance) -- the tendency of a family (or system) to perpetuate the organizing principle of its existence whether that principle is healthy or not.
3) Differentiation -- the capacity of an individual within the family (or system) to define his or her goals or values apart from the surrounding pressures supplied by the system.
4) Extended family field -- the multi-generational, multi-layered system from which the individual comes and whose dysfunction or illness can affect the individual in unforeseen ways.
5) Emotional triangles -- formed when two persons who are experiencing conflict turn together on a third person as a way of stabilizing their own relationship.
* * *
Luke 9:51-62
Jay Pritchett is the patriarch of the "modern family" featured each week on network television's Modern Family as they work out their relationships, which are complex to say the least.
His wife is years younger than him and a native of Colombia, as is her son. Jay's son is gay and in a committed relationship with another man, and they have an adopted daughter. His daughter is married to a real estate salesman, and their family is pretty close to the nuclear family of myth and legend. Their issues, however, are rarely simple or easy. Here's how Jay sums it up in a voiceover narration from one of the episodes:
When you're young and dreaming of your family, you think of this perfect family: perfect wife, perfect kids. Look at me, I got this sorry bunch. But you know, I wouldn't trade them for anything.
* * *
Luke 9:51-62
Psychologist Sol Herzig informs us that practicing the following seven principles will transform your perfectly functioning family into a completely dysfunctional one.
1) Problems require blame. In the normal course of events problems are not supposed to happen. If they do, someone must be blamed.
2) Shame on you. Sensitize those around you to the fact that your slightest irritation is their worst nightmare.
3) You are always teaching. Fortunate is the child who chances upon his parent, newspaper in hand, sprawled out on the sofa wolfing down jellybeans. Is there a more powerful way of demonstrating that multitasking doesn't have to be hard or boring?
4) Say it loud: "I holler and I'm proud." The key element in communication is simply being heard. Nothing ensures this better than screaming at the top of your lungs.
5) Keep them guessing. Broadmindedness requires inconsistency.
6) Boundaries, shmoundaries.
7) Your married children need you now more than ever.
* * *
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
The story of Mentor comes from Homer's Odyssey. Odysseus, king of Ithaca, fights in the Trojan War and entrusts the care of his household to Mentor, who serves as teacher and overseer of Odysseus' son Telemachus.
After the war, Odysseus is condemned to wander vainly for ten years in his attempt to return home. In time Telemachus, now grown, ventures in search of his father. Athena, goddess of war and patroness of the arts and industry, assumes the form of Mentor and accompanies Telemachus on his quest. Father and son reunite and cast down would-be usurpers of Odysseus' throne and Telemachus' birthright.
The word "mentor" evolved to mean trusted advisor, friend, teacher, and wise person. History offers many examples of helpful mentoring relationships: Socrates and Plato, Haydn and Beethoven, Freud and Jung. Mentoring is a fundamental form of human development where one person invests time, energy, and personal know how in assisting the growth and ability of another person.
History and legend record the deeds of princes and kings, but each of us has a birthright to actualize our potential. Through their deeds and work, mentors help us to move toward that actualization.
-- from Mentoring[revised edition] (Crisp Publications, 1997) by Gordon F. Shea
* * *
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage;
Mind innocent and quiet take
That for an hermitage;
If I have freedom in my love
And in my soul am free,
Angels alone, that soar above,
Enjoy such liberty.
-- from "To Althea, from Prison" by Richard Lovelace (1618-1648)
This was paraphrased by Madame Guyon (1648-1717), Roman Catholic mystic and founder of the Quietist movement, when she was imprisoned ten years in a French prison for her beliefs:
My cage confines me round;
Abroad I cannot fly;
But though my wing is closely bound
My heart's at liberty.
My prison walls cannot control
The flight, the freedom of the soul.
Oh, it is good to soar
These bolts and bars above,
To Him whose purpose I adore,
Whose Providence I love;
And in Thy mighty will to find
The joy, the freedom of the mind...
"Stone walls do not a prison make
Nor iron bars a cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
These for a hermitage;
When I am free within my heart
And in my soul am free
Angels alone that soar above
Enjoy such liberty."
* * *
From team member Ron Love:
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Dan Scanlon, director of Monsters University, recently described the storyline behind each of the movie's main characters. A "prequel" to the popular Monsters, Inc., this film is about the misfit monsters of the college fraternity Oozma Kappa, including Don Carlton, a middle-age salesman who has decided to return to college. In speaking about the character of Don Carlton, Scanlon said: "He represents a bigger thing for the whole Oozma Kappa team, which is this idea of maybe selling yourself short too soon and it's never too late to really give it a shot."
Application: When Elisha asked for double the spirit of Elijah, he wanted to make sure that he did not sell himself too short.
* * *
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
One of the mysteries that remains with us and has almost become an urban legend is where Jimmy Hoffa is buried. This was again in the news recently when Tony Zerilli, the son of reputed mob boss Joseph Zerilli, informed the FBI where Hoffa was hit with a shovel, then buried alive with a slab of cement, in a field not far from where he was abducted on the afternoon of July 30, 1975. After an extensive search and excavation of the area, the FBI concluded the body of Hoffa was not buried there. The search and the mystery continues.
Application: We have many mysteries in the Bible, with several surrounding the life of Elijah. As we search for an explanation, we can always continue to believe in the interpretation. With the mystery there is always a coinciding hope for an answer.
* * *
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Recently the world's largest advertising trade show, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, announced its awards for advertisers who contributed to the benefit of society. Ogilvy & Mather Amsterdam was one of the honorees, as they were recognized for their "Why wait until it's too late?" campaign for a funeral insurance company. In this series of advertisements, individuals were encouraged to tell those who are special to them that they love them before death makes it too late.
Application: Paul instructs his readers, from the teaching of Jesus, to love one another.
* * *
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Three radio hosts on Atlanta's 790 The Zone, Nick Cellini, Chris Dimino, and "Steak" Shapiro, were recently dismissed from their jobs for improper and insensitive humor. They did an on-air skit in which they poked fun at Steve Gleason, a former defensive back for the New Orleans Saints who suffers from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), commonly referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease." Gleason is best remembered as the player who blocked an Atlanta Falcons punt that was recovered for a touchdown in a 2006 game, giving the Saints their first post-Katrina victory in the restored Superdome. Cellini and Dimino apologized for their behavior on Facebook, and Shapiro apologized on Twitter. Dimino wrote, "The sheer stupidity of trying to put this as a failed attempt at humor is not lost on me."
Application: We must always beware how easily the desires of the flesh can lead us down the path of sheer stupidity.
* * *
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
South Fork Industries, based in Dalton Gardens, Idaho, is selling ammunition coated in pork-infused paint. It is called "Jihawg Ammo", and it is intended to be used to shoot Muslims. According to the company's advertising, not only will the bullet kill a Muslim, it will send him "straight to hell" because pork is forbidden by the Quran.
Application: Following the desires of the flesh can cause us to hate, which can lead to unreasonable acts of vengeance.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: Sing praises to God and give thanks to God's holy name.
People: For God's anger is but for a moment; God's favor is for a lifetime.
Leader: Weeping may linger for the night,
People: but joy comes with the morning.
Leader: God has turned our mourning into dancing;
People: God has taken off our sackcloth and clothed us with joy.
OR
Leader: God calls us to the path of life eternal.
People: With gratitude we hear God's call.
Leader: God gives us helpers along our way.
People: We are thankful for those who assist our journey.
Leader: God calls us to help guide those who come after us.
People: May they find us faithful guides to God and to life.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
"Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise"
found in:
UMH: 103
H82: 423
PH: 263
NCH: 1
CH: 66
LBW: 526
ELA: 834
W&P: 48
AMEC: 71
STLT: 273
Renew: 46
"Seek Ye First"
found in:
UMH: 405
H82: 711
PH: 333
CH: 354
W&P: 349
CCB: 76
"Alleluia, Alleluia"
found in:
UMH: 162
H82: 178
PH: 106
CH: 40
W&P: 291
Renew: 271
"Spirit Song"
found in:
UMH: 347
AAHH: 321
CH: 352
W&P: 352
CCB: 51
Renew: 248
"T? Has Venido a la Orilla" ("Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore")
found in:
UMH: 344
PH: 377
CH: 342
W&P: 347
"O Jesus, I Have Promised"
found in:
UMH: 396
H82: 655
PH: 388/389
NCH: 493
CH: 612
LBW: 503
ELA: 810
W&P: 458
AMEC: 280
"Jesus Calls Us"
found in:
UMH: 398
H82: 549/550
NNBH: 183
NCH: 171/172
CH: 337
LBW: 494
ELA: 696
W&P: 345
AMEC: 238
"Take Up Thy Cross"
found in:
UMH: 415
H82: 675
PH: 393
LBW: 398
ELA: 667
W&P: 351
AMEC: 294
"All Hail King Jesus"
found in:
CCB: 29
Renew: 35
"More Precious than Silver"
found in:
CCB: 25
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 is our loving parent: Grant us the wisdom to live freely in our families as we exhibit the marks of discipleship, and help us to not allow our families to distract us from following Jesus; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We worship you, our God and our parent, for you bring us life and the freedom to live that life well. Help us to follow Jesus so steadfastly that we are not distracted by our families but learn from him how to serve our families well. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our inability to distinguish true priorities from false ones.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We find ourselves often unable to distinguish between what is important and what is crucial. We know that family is important, but sometimes we place false expectations and hopes upon it. We forget our prime priority of being God's children, to the detriment of our families and our own spiritual health. Forgive us and call us once more to follow Jesus. Amen.
Leader: God is always calling us and always welcoming us back to the path that leads to life. Know God's love and grace as you follow Jesus on the Way.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord's Prayer)
We worship and lift up your name, O God who is like a shepherd to us. You guide is in the way to life by still waters and through quiet pastures.
(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 find ourselves often unable to distinguish between what is important and what is crucial. We know that family is important, but sometimes we place false expectations and hopes upon it. We forget our prime priority of being God's children, to the detriment of our families and our own spiritual health. Forgive us and call us once more to follow Jesus.
We give you thanks for all the ways in which you call us back to the path that leads to life eternal. We thank you for the way in which your love is shown in families when we allow them to play their proper part in our lives. We thank you for those who have given of themselves to help us grow in our life of discipleship.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for one another in our need and for all who find themselves following wrong paths. As you call them from the way that leads to destruction, help us to be signs that point to life.
(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
Ask the children if any of them take music lessons, or are playing an organized sport, or learning any new skill (even if they go or have gone to school or preschool). Talk about how much easier it is for us to learn if we have someone to help us who has already learned the skill. Being a disciple of Jesus is no different. Our Sunday school teachers, pastor, and others are here to help us learn how to follow Jesus.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
The Cost of Discipleship
Luke 9:51-62
Object: some quarters (or other small denomination of money)
Good morning, boys and girls! During his time on earth, there were many people who wanted to be followers of Jesus. Do you all want to be followers of Jesus? (let the children answer) Yes, of course you do. Sometimes we call people who love and follow Jesus "disciples." So if we are following Jesus and trying to live as he told us to live, we are his disciples.
Once some people told Jesus they wanted to follow him and be his disciples, but Jesus let them know that being a disciple is not easy. He told them to come along with him and be his disciples, but he let them know that they might not have any place to sleep and that they had to put God first and not worry about a lot of personal things if they wanted to follow him. When they heard this, they decided that they had more important things to do and they didn't follow him.
I'd like to see if you are the kind of disciple that Jesus wants. Today, I have for each of you a quarter. (hand out the quarters) Now, that quarter is yours to keep. You can buy candy with it or do anything you want. But you are in church today and soon we are going to have an offering. What do you think Jesus would want his disciples to do with that quarter: spend it on yourself or put it in the offering? (let them answer) Yes, you're right. Jesus would want his disciples to give the money to God, but it is your money and you can put it in the offering or keep it. I won't know what you do, so it's up to you to decide. As I said, being a disciple is hard. I hope all of you will decide to put your quarter in the offering even though you'd rather keep it, but it's your decision.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, we want to follow you and be your disciples, and we ask that you give us the courage and the strength to put you first in all the things we do. Amen.
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The Immediate Word, June 30, 2013, issue.
Copyright 2013 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.
