The Unnamed 72
Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
Object:
This week's texts all have a common theme -- a call to a life of faith, and a forthright discussion of the untold rewards that can be ours because, as Jesus tells us, "it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). There are, of course, cautionary notes -- the writer of Hebrews notes that God's promises are not necessarily fulfilled in this life ("they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one") and the gospel lection underlines the need for us to be vigilant and daily choose the life of faith. It is significant (especially for our affluent modern culture) that Jesus specifically notes the rewards of the faithful life are not materialistic -- telling his disciples to "sell your possessions and give alms" and pointedly noting that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." But if we allow ourselves to look at the true blessings in life, these texts tell us that great rewards can be ours: Isaiah tells us that "though [our] sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow"; the alternate Old Testament reading tells of God's promise to Abraham that his descendants will be as many as the stars in the sky (which is also a touch point in the discourse on faith in Hebrews); and Jesus tells us "do not be afraid," because if we are prepared the master will come and serve us. In this installment of The Immediate Word, team member Ron Love notes that this is an incredibly positive message that shows us exactly how valued we are in God's eyes -- the imagery from Isaiah reminding us that no matter how great our sins, we are capable of changing and becoming as pure as snow. Ron observes that while the extremes of human behavior tend to dominate the headlines, for us the really important news -- and the true witness to the gospel -- lies instead in the often anonymous actions of everyday people. Ron points out that, rather than being representative of the 12 disciples whose statues adorn churches worldwide, we are like the unnamed 72 who went from village to village to prepare the way of the Lord.
Team member Mary Austin shares some additional thoughts on the theme of watchfulness in the gospel text. Jesus' mini-parable has an important embedded image of a doorway, as the slaves are to be watching and ready for the master's return. Faith is obviously the real doorway to truth, but in all too many matters in our world (particularly in large institutions such as governments, corporations, and even the church) there are self-appointed gatekeepers who try to gain control of the doorway for their own purposes. Mary considers what it means to be faithful servants who are watching the door in our world and notes that to be ready for the kingdom means to be constantly surprised -- for often in God's realm, nothing is as it first appears on the surface.
The Unnamed 72
by Ronald H. Love
Genesis 15:1-6; Isaiah 1:1, 10-20; Luke 12:32-40; Hebrews 11:1-3
THE WORLD
It is the extremes of human behavior, both bad and good, that captures the news. This is understandable because the extreme and the outlandish captures our attention and becomes the centerpiece of our conversation. Stories on either end of the spectrum are readily brought to our attention, for the very reason that they are unique and unprecedented.
The extreme ends of that spectrum are exemplified by a pair of items that recently appeared on succeeding Wednesdays in my local newspaper, The Morning News of Florence, South Carolina. On July 21 Meghan Barr, reporting for the Associated Press, shared a heart-warming story titled "Heroic mailman saves three lives while on job". The article details the exploits of postal worker Kevin McVey of Akron, Ohio, who during 20 years of delivering mail has saved the lives of three people. The first time he spared someone from death came when a teenager jumped from a bridge in an attempted suicide. McVey could not stop the youth from jumping on that cold winter day, but he did warm the fallen body until help arrived. Years later, he rescued a 13-year old girl who was drowning in a lake. After having brought her to shore, while he was still in sopping clothes, McVey picked up his mailbag and continued his rounds. Most recently McVey found a man lying in the bed of a pickup truck having a heart attack. A friend was by the man's side but did not know how to help his dying companion. McVey flung his postal bag aside and administered CPR until an ambulance arrived. When asked what he thought of these events, McVey, a quiet, humble, and unassuming man, answered: "I'm not sure, but after three times, I'm beginning to think there might be a little bit of divine intervention of some sort. It is kind of eerie." McVey is a good man who was placed in the position of doing extraordinary good things in his daily routine of life.
The following Wednesday a horrific story appeared with the headline "Abuse case shocks neighbors". When the father of three young boys (ages 8, 11, and 12) died and their mother could not be located, they went to live with their grandparents, Cheri and James Crawford. Until the local authorities learned of the home situation in 2009, the children endured horrendous torture and mistreatment. The oldest boy was forced to live for over a year in a trailer without electricity, water, or sanitation. He was forced to wear a blindfold when he ate, so he was unable to see the bugs in his food. He was also forced to wear a dog shock collar, and his younger brothers were forced to routinely administer shocks. The three boys were forced to do hours of manual labor outdoors. They were forced to dig holes that had no purpose. When not doing manual labor, they were required to stand at attention while holding heavy objects. They were fed sour milk with their spoiled food. In court, Cheri Crawford told the judge, "It was not abuse. It was discipline." The grandparents were able to conduct this scourge for so many years because they did not receive government payments, therefore social workers did not visit the home. What is even more amazing is that some of the neighbors, whose front doors were only yards from the Crawford home, were unaware of the atrocities occurring on the other side of their property line. Of course, this story is news because the truth of it is almost incomprehensible.
These are the extremes and as that is not where you and I reside, CNN will never be parked on our front doorstep. We are imperfectly good people. We are not that bad and we are not that good. So we just struggle to do the best we can. The only thing noteworthy about our actions is how they affect our immediate surroundings, and that's certainly not front-page news.
Some of us gossip too much, but the joy of sharing a good story keeps us at it. We would like to have better health habits, but nicotine is too inviting and the couch is too comfortable. We would like to be less critical, but oh how that so-and-so gets on our nerves. We would like to be better stewards of our money, but I must have....
We are loving, as we do the best we can to make our children feel comfortable and secure. We are kind, for when a neighbor is in need we are quick to bring a meal and mow the lawn. We enjoy volunteering for it gives us a sense of self-worth and self-satisfaction, but we will never be scoutmaster of the year. We are considerate, as we respect the rights and property of others.
It is in this undocumented middle-ground that you and I dwell. It is those of us who live nondescript lives that really make the gospel message prominent in the lives of others and in the communities where we reside. We are not the 12 whose statues adorn churches worldwide, but we are the unnamed 72 who went from village to village to prepare the way of the Lord.
THE WORD
All of our lectionary readings for this Sunday discuss how, though we are imperfect, we are still apt promoters of the gospel message.
Genesis: Abraham believed God when He said that Abraham's offspring would exceed the stars in the sky. This would be a difficult promise to comprehend, given Abraham's age at the time and the fact that he had no children. We will never understand how God will use us from day to day, but if we are faithful the blessing we are for others will exceed the stars in the sky.
Isaiah: The most striking verse from this passage is "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow." This exemplifies that though we are imperfect, with a forgiving God and a single-minded dedication to following the scriptures we are always improving.
Luke: The verse that stands out for me in this reading is "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This verse gives deep insight into our human nature. My personal desires may be too focused on the local mall just a few miles from my residence, but that does not preclude the fact that each sabbath I am in church seeking that which is heavenly.
Hebrews: The author shares with us the saints who preceded us and what they were able to accomplish. We know from our biblical studies they were blemished in countless ways, but these people were still able to do great things for the kingdom. My name will not be recorded in a book recounting great church leaders, and I have no pretense that I will be a guest on the Today show, but the things I do from day to day to bless the lives of others will secure my name in the Book of Life.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
In preparing your sermon, you may want to use or adapt the following sermon outline:
I. Share from your local newspaper and your own life experiences extremes of human behavior, both good and bad. Then discuss how we dwell somewhere in the middle of all of this. We really are not bad people, but we know there is a vast area for improvement. You may want to share some stories of individuals who have received no national or local recognition, but whose actions have been a blessing to others.
II. Discuss each of this week's lectionary readings, and describe how each can apply to us individually as we struggle to be more Christ-like in our daily living.
III. Share what it means to be a member of the unnamed 72 who went forth to prepare the way of Jesus. We know each one of the 72 had faults, but we also know that each man was godlike in disposition. Conclude by saying that we do not have to be perfect to make a difference and to be a blessing to others.
ANOTHER VIEW
Who's Watching the Door?
by Mary Austin
Luke 12:32-40
Anyone watching at the door, as Jesus commands us, looking for signs of the realm of God, would have been surprised in recent weeks, as the news has been full of surprises for all who watch for God's presence.
The story of the seemingly racist Department of Agriculture official revealed by web journalism turned out, in the end, to be a story about a manipulated video of her speech and how quickly we all believe what we think we see. A hurried attempt by the Obama administration to get Shirley Sherrod to resign before the story blew up then became the catalyst for, yes, the story blowing up. Shortly afterward, but not fast enough for the news cycle, an unedited video vindicated Shirley Sherrod. A purported story about the Obama administration harboring reverse racism became a cautionary tale about jumping to conclusions and rushing to judgment. A story about alleged unfairness on Shirley Sherrod's part came to encompass the story of the administration's unfairness to her.
Behind the story, though, is an awe-inspiring story of transformation. Sherrod tells about an early question in her own mind, after seeing so many black farmers in dire straits, about whether a white farmer deserved her help. Her realization was that the question is not about race but about poverty, which doesn't care about skin color in its ravages. The original farmer in the story and his wife became friends of Shirley Sherrod's in time and came to her defense in this recent flap. Her story, on a deeper level, is about our ability to watch within our own hearts and to find places where the realm of God can come to life.
Another big story in recent weeks was the release of thousands of secret Pentagon documents related to the war in Afghanistan through the website WikiLeaks, in connection with the New York Times and two other print publications. The Pentagon protested the revelation of methods and strategies to friend and foe alike, and the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, was equally firm about the need for a free press to keep the public informed.
While both sides argued principles, watchers looking further found a betrayal of US allies. Behind the debate on this story is the ugly truth that a number of Afghan citizens who have aided the US are named in the documents, and any Taliban member seeking revenge will find their names, villages, and fathers' names for full identification. It's difficult to win the war of hearts and minds when those who aid our efforts are exposed to danger as a thank you.
Other watchers are scanning the horizon for clues to the primary elections to be held in some states this week, and for tea leaves to read about the November elections, fewer than 100 days away. Watch and be prepared, Jesus instructs us, but it's difficult to know for what or whom to be prepared. Election year change? The return home of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan? A war lost or won? A recovered economy or more job losses and foreclosures?
Jesus' words in this week's text follow closely behind last week's text. His instructions here to be prepared relate to his response to the man wanting his brother to divide the family inheritance with him, and the related parable of the wealthy man who stored up all his earthly treasure but failed to remember God. The first few verses of this week's story would seem to fit last week's theme better, and yet the lectionary places them with Jesus' reminder to be watchful for the arrival of the kingdom of God. The closing words about what to do with our treasure lead quickly into Jesus' strong instructions to be ready and watchful for the master's return. Clearly, our possessions are not to get in our way as we leap up nimbly to receive the presence of God's kingdom.
Our earthly watching is full of surprises, and the news stories of recent weeks have reminded us again how little we can predict, even in the world we know. Our knowledge of the realm of God is even more incomplete and even greater surprises are in store.
Be like the faithful servants who are watching the door, Jesus advises, ready for the master of the household at any hour. Those who watch with this kind of attention and faithfulness will be greeted by the master, who invites the by-now tired servants to sit down and be served.
On the other hand, without attentive watching trouble is in store. Even the owner himself may be surprised by a thief, who comes when no one is watching. The realm of God continually yields surprises. Those who fail to watch carefully are surprised in unfortunate ways, and those who watch closely find a reversal of the usual order of things, and the grace of God at their service. The coming grace of God invites our attention and our willingness to look carefully enough to be surprised.
ILLUSTRATIONS
There is a story told, although I think it is apocryphal, that when daVinci's Last Supper was painted a young man was found who looked so holy and so heavenly that he was quickly called to be the model for Jesus. Years later as the mural was being finished the only figure left was that of Judas, and a man who had lived a life of sin and degradation was found who had the hollow, empty look that was needed -- and it turned out to be the same man who sat for the painting of Jesus.
Although probably far from historical fact, it is a true story in that it demonstrates the possibilities we all have of looking like (and being like) Jesus or Judas.
* * *
Many of us are familiar with the hymn "Amazing Grace" and the story of its writer, John Newton. Newton was the captain of a notorious slave-trading ship who had a wondrous encounter with the Risen Christ. He turned his life around and became a spiritual father to William Wilberforce, who led the British to abolish slavery.
* * *
Although it was banned from any military hymnal where it was first offered for worship, the hymn "There's a Little Bit of Judas" gives the essence that we all have the capacity to betray our Savior as well as the capacity to live in his image.
* * *
Each of us comes into life with fists closed, set for aggressiveness and acquisition. But when we abandon life our hands are open; there is nothing on earth that we need, nothing the soul can take with it.
-- Fulton J. Sheen
* * *
Victor Hugo's classic novel Les Miserables contains one of the most famous scenes in world literature, one that has continued to amaze readers -- and theater and film audiences as well -- even in this cynical age.
Jean Valjean, the hero of the story, is an escaped convict wandering the streets of Paris. He finds food and shelter one night in the house of a bishop, where he has gone to beg some table scraps. Valjean abuses the bishop's hospitality -- for, as he lays in the soft, clean bed in the guest room, he can't stop thinking about the silver candlesticks he's seen in the dining room. Valjean slips downstairs in the middle of the night, steals the candlesticks, and vanishes into the dark streets.
The night watch catches up with him. The police know these fine silver candlesticks could not belong to such a man. They take him door-to-door, hoping to find the rightful owner.
Ultimately they come to the bishop's house. The housekeeper is about to finger him as the thief when the kindly voice of the bishop intervenes. "This man is my friend, and a guest in my house," he tells the police. "These candlesticks are his, for I have given them to him."
The police depart, shaking their heads in disbelief, and Valjean finds himself alone with the bishop. "Why did you do that?" he asks. "Didn't you know I stole your candlesticks?"
"Yes, I know," the bishop replies, "but it doesn't matter. For today, Jean Valjean, I have purchased your soul, for the price of a pair of candlesticks. Go now, and live a virtuous life."
* * *
Desert mirages appear to be water, which is desperately needed. But they are an illusion -- a trick of sun, heat, and sand. When you see a mirage you head toward it, moving faster and faster, until finally you plunge headlong right into it! But all you get is a mouthful of sand.
Advertising is the false spirituality of materialism, promising what it can never deliver. Even the slogans of advertising sound religious, using the language of ultimate concern: "Buick, Something to Believe In"; "Miller Beer, It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This"; "GE, We Bring Good Things to Life." Is this not the essence of idolatry -- misdirected form of worship?
But these promises are an illusion, a mirage that is very dangerous. All of life has been reduced to consumption. We sacrifice our souls for the mirage of glittering images, and all we get is a mouthful of sand. We have run after mirages in the desert and now the desert is in us.
-- Jim Wallis, The Soul of Politics (New York Press, 1985), p. 168
* * *
Today [people] are consumed by desires to buy things they don't need, with money they don't have, to impress people they don't like.
-- Patrick Morley, The Man in the Mirror (Wolgemuth & Hyatt, 1989), p. 9
* * *
The stewardship campaign had begun at the local church. The first grade Sunday school teacher was trying to explain how important it was to give to others in need. "If you have a dollar, would you miss 10 cents if you gave it to help out another little boy?" she asked.
"Why can't the other little boy's father give him a dime?" asked one six-year-old. "Why does he need my dime?"
It is very hard for a very young person to see how needy others are. Jesus was trying to make the point to his followers that to sell their belongings and give the money to the poor was an antidote for anxiety. When giving starts at a very young age, it builds values in children that can last for a lifetime.
There is also a wise message from Jesus in this week's passage. We must think like servants. This is something children learn from older people by example. Jesus suggests that his followers set the example. "Be ready" -- for the thief who is coming might be a Christian's own selfishness.
* * *
Picture a surprise birthday party. The specific arrangements have been made well in advance. You know the special person and approximately when he or she will arrive. You are stationed behind a corner in the kitchen with a few others. Your adrenaline is pumping and your ears are perked to listen for approaching footsteps. When the front door springs open, you'll jump out and yell "Surprise!" Nothing would be more disastrous than missing that moment when the door opens and the featured guest enters. Everyone prepares for that instant when the "Surprise!" shouts let loose. Party hats go on, kazoos are in place, and there is a lookout peering through the front curtains. Everybody is alert and dressed for action. We know Christ, our featured guest, is coming. We don't know when, but we do know that our ears must be perked. Our gaze must be alert. We must be ready to share in the blessing when it arrives.
* * *
Benjamin Martin Weir has led a remarkable life. Now in retirement, he has been a missionary, seminary professor, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and an intermediary between Muslims and Christians in the Middle East. Despite this long list of servant leadership to the church, Dr. Weir is best known in the world community as one of the American hostages seized in Lebanon in 1984. Out of that ordeal comes a number of powerful stories, one of which speaks to watchfulness for the coming of the Lord. Chained to a radiator in a cold, small room somewhere in the Lebanese mountains, Weir was forced to wear a blindfold whenever his captors came into his room. Life and the world threatened to close in on this humble servant of God, but he determined to be prayerful and watchful to maintain both his psychological and spiritual health. On one desperate day after long weeks of sullen captivity had passed, the Presbyterian missionary looked up to the ceiling and beheld three wires dangling from a cord which once had held an electric light. Suddenly a sense of God's presence filled the room. Weir saw in the three wires a symbol of the triune God, and in that moment he felt both blessed and filled. Thereafter until his release 16 months after his abduction, Benjamin Martin Weir was reminded that God had not left him alone, and that in God's time liberation and blessings would pour forth in and through the Prince of Peace.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: The mighty one, our God, speaks and summons the earth.
People: Out of Zion, God shines forth as perfection.
Leader: The heavens declare God's righteousness.
People: God alone is our judge.
Leader: Those who bring thanksgiving honor God.
People: To these, God will show salvation.
OR
Leader: Come and worship the God who created us.
People: We come as but dust of the earth.
Leader: Come and worship the God who is within us.
People: We come as the holy children of God.
Leader: Come and worship the God who became one of us.
People: We come acknowledging that we are dust and spirit.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
"All Creatures of Our God and King"
found in:
UMH: 62
H82: 400
PH: 455
AAHH: 147
NNBH: 33
NCH: 17
CH: 22
LBW: 527
Renew: 47
"From All that Dwell Below the Skies"
found in:
UMH: 101
H82: 380
PH: 229
NCH: 27
CH: 49
LBW: 550
"Many Gifts, One Spirit"
found in:
UMH: 114
NCH: 177
"It's Me, It's Me, O Lord"
found in:
UMH: 352
NNBH: 496
CH: 579
"Like the Murmur of the Dove's Song"
found in:
UMH: 544
H82: 513
PH: 314
NCH: 270
CH: 245
Renew: 280
"Where Charity and Love Prevail"
found in:
UMH: 549
H82: 581
NCH: 396
LBW: 126
"Take My Life, and Let It Be"
found in:
UMH: 399
H82: 707
PH: 391
NNBH: 213
NCH: 448
CH: 609
LBW: 406
Renew: 150
"Just As I Am, Without One Plea"
found in:
UMH: 357
H82: 693
PH: 370
AAHH: 344, 345
NNBH: 167
NCH: 207
CH: 339
LBW: 296
Renew: 140
"Refiner's Fire"
found in:
CCB: 79
"God, You Are My God"
found in:
CCB: 60
In the end all we can ever sing is: "Kyrie Eleison"
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
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day / Collect
O God who created us out of common dirt and divine breath: Grant us the wisdom to accept ourselves as being gifted and flawed and to move ever closer to your image through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We have come to worship you, O God, our Creator and our Redeemer. We come with all our flaws and with all the potential you created within us. Help us to listen to you this day so that we might live more fully into your image this week. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fascination with the extremes of life.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We find ourselves drawn ever to the weird and the wonderful in the news. We are fascinated with the extreme cruelties our sisters and brothers commit as well as the wondrous good things they do. We are also locked into the extremes in our own lives. Sometimes we think we are much better than we really are and we look down our noses at others. Sometimes we think we are much worse than we are and we beat ourselves up. Forgive our foolishness and help us see ourselves as you see us: sinners with divine potential. Help us then to live so that others discover the same wonder about themselves. Amen.
Leader: God knows us and loves us in all our wonderful and awful moments. As God loves us and accepts us, so may the Spirit empower you to love and accept yourselves and each other.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord's Prayer)
We worship and praise you, O God, Creator and Redeemer of all creation. We praise you for your loving kindness, which has created us with great potential and accepts us in our sinfulness.
(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 drawn ever to the weird and the wonderful in the news. We are fascinated with the extreme cruelties our sisters and brothers commit as well as the wondrous good things they do. We are also locked into the extremes in our own lives. Sometimes we think we are much better than we really are and we look down our noses at others. Sometimes we think we are much worse than we are and we beat ourselves up. Forgive our foolishness and help us see ourselves as you see us: sinners with divine potential. Help us then to live so that others discover the same wonder about themselves.
We give you thanks for all the ways in which you have called us and our sisters and brothers to realize the potential of your image embedded deeply within us. We thank you for those who have reached beyond their selfish sinfulness and offered love and hope to us and to others. Most of all we thank you for Jesus, who shows us how to live fully as your children.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for each other in our need. We especially pray for the wisdom and the courage to live more into your image each day. We pray for ourselves and for others that we may all see your loving goal for our lives.
(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.
Visuals
a collage of pictures showing humans at their best, their worst, and busy in the ordinary things of life
Children's Sermon Starter
Show the children some mud. Tell them that we can do different things with it -- we can make bricks and build a house, or we can throw it at people. We are like the mud -- we can be used to build up the reign of God, or we can be used against others.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Be Ready!
Luke 12:32-40
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have ever gone on a camping trip -- a trip where you will sleep in sleeping bags and be far away from any civilization? (let them answer)
When we are planning to go on this kind of a trip, it's very important that we have everything with us we will need. Once we are out there in the woods or mountains there will be no store or any place else to get the things we need, so we need to be sure we have everything. We need to be ready. What are some of the things we would need to take? (Let them answer and write down the things they suggest on a notepad. If they forget important items, suggest them and add them to the list.) Well, that's a good list. I think if we had all those things we would be ready.
Now children, the Bible tells us that there is another trip we will all be going on one day, and it's very important to be ready for that trip too. Jesus will be coming back one day to take us all with him to heaven. He tells us that we should be ready for that trip. What do we have to do to be ready for that trip? Do we need sleeping bags or tents? (let them answer)
Actually, there is only one essential thing that will make us ready for that trip. Jesus is going to take everybody who believes in him and loves him into heaven. So if you believe in Jesus and you know that he died on the cross to pay for your sins, you will be ready to make the trip with him. How many of you are ready if he comes today? (let them answer)
That's great! I'm glad you are all his friends and you're ready to go with him when he comes. Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone in the world was ready? Let's pray for that.
Prayer: Dear Jesus: We are ready to go with you when you come for us. We pray for all the people of the world who are not ready. Send your Holy Spirit to convince the whole world of your truth so that everyone will be ready when you come. Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, August 8, 2010, issue.
Copyright 2010 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 theme of watchfulness in the gospel text. Jesus' mini-parable has an important embedded image of a doorway, as the slaves are to be watching and ready for the master's return. Faith is obviously the real doorway to truth, but in all too many matters in our world (particularly in large institutions such as governments, corporations, and even the church) there are self-appointed gatekeepers who try to gain control of the doorway for their own purposes. Mary considers what it means to be faithful servants who are watching the door in our world and notes that to be ready for the kingdom means to be constantly surprised -- for often in God's realm, nothing is as it first appears on the surface.
The Unnamed 72
by Ronald H. Love
Genesis 15:1-6; Isaiah 1:1, 10-20; Luke 12:32-40; Hebrews 11:1-3
THE WORLD
It is the extremes of human behavior, both bad and good, that captures the news. This is understandable because the extreme and the outlandish captures our attention and becomes the centerpiece of our conversation. Stories on either end of the spectrum are readily brought to our attention, for the very reason that they are unique and unprecedented.
The extreme ends of that spectrum are exemplified by a pair of items that recently appeared on succeeding Wednesdays in my local newspaper, The Morning News of Florence, South Carolina. On July 21 Meghan Barr, reporting for the Associated Press, shared a heart-warming story titled "Heroic mailman saves three lives while on job". The article details the exploits of postal worker Kevin McVey of Akron, Ohio, who during 20 years of delivering mail has saved the lives of three people. The first time he spared someone from death came when a teenager jumped from a bridge in an attempted suicide. McVey could not stop the youth from jumping on that cold winter day, but he did warm the fallen body until help arrived. Years later, he rescued a 13-year old girl who was drowning in a lake. After having brought her to shore, while he was still in sopping clothes, McVey picked up his mailbag and continued his rounds. Most recently McVey found a man lying in the bed of a pickup truck having a heart attack. A friend was by the man's side but did not know how to help his dying companion. McVey flung his postal bag aside and administered CPR until an ambulance arrived. When asked what he thought of these events, McVey, a quiet, humble, and unassuming man, answered: "I'm not sure, but after three times, I'm beginning to think there might be a little bit of divine intervention of some sort. It is kind of eerie." McVey is a good man who was placed in the position of doing extraordinary good things in his daily routine of life.
The following Wednesday a horrific story appeared with the headline "Abuse case shocks neighbors". When the father of three young boys (ages 8, 11, and 12) died and their mother could not be located, they went to live with their grandparents, Cheri and James Crawford. Until the local authorities learned of the home situation in 2009, the children endured horrendous torture and mistreatment. The oldest boy was forced to live for over a year in a trailer without electricity, water, or sanitation. He was forced to wear a blindfold when he ate, so he was unable to see the bugs in his food. He was also forced to wear a dog shock collar, and his younger brothers were forced to routinely administer shocks. The three boys were forced to do hours of manual labor outdoors. They were forced to dig holes that had no purpose. When not doing manual labor, they were required to stand at attention while holding heavy objects. They were fed sour milk with their spoiled food. In court, Cheri Crawford told the judge, "It was not abuse. It was discipline." The grandparents were able to conduct this scourge for so many years because they did not receive government payments, therefore social workers did not visit the home. What is even more amazing is that some of the neighbors, whose front doors were only yards from the Crawford home, were unaware of the atrocities occurring on the other side of their property line. Of course, this story is news because the truth of it is almost incomprehensible.
These are the extremes and as that is not where you and I reside, CNN will never be parked on our front doorstep. We are imperfectly good people. We are not that bad and we are not that good. So we just struggle to do the best we can. The only thing noteworthy about our actions is how they affect our immediate surroundings, and that's certainly not front-page news.
Some of us gossip too much, but the joy of sharing a good story keeps us at it. We would like to have better health habits, but nicotine is too inviting and the couch is too comfortable. We would like to be less critical, but oh how that so-and-so gets on our nerves. We would like to be better stewards of our money, but I must have....
We are loving, as we do the best we can to make our children feel comfortable and secure. We are kind, for when a neighbor is in need we are quick to bring a meal and mow the lawn. We enjoy volunteering for it gives us a sense of self-worth and self-satisfaction, but we will never be scoutmaster of the year. We are considerate, as we respect the rights and property of others.
It is in this undocumented middle-ground that you and I dwell. It is those of us who live nondescript lives that really make the gospel message prominent in the lives of others and in the communities where we reside. We are not the 12 whose statues adorn churches worldwide, but we are the unnamed 72 who went from village to village to prepare the way of the Lord.
THE WORD
All of our lectionary readings for this Sunday discuss how, though we are imperfect, we are still apt promoters of the gospel message.
Genesis: Abraham believed God when He said that Abraham's offspring would exceed the stars in the sky. This would be a difficult promise to comprehend, given Abraham's age at the time and the fact that he had no children. We will never understand how God will use us from day to day, but if we are faithful the blessing we are for others will exceed the stars in the sky.
Isaiah: The most striking verse from this passage is "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow." This exemplifies that though we are imperfect, with a forgiving God and a single-minded dedication to following the scriptures we are always improving.
Luke: The verse that stands out for me in this reading is "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This verse gives deep insight into our human nature. My personal desires may be too focused on the local mall just a few miles from my residence, but that does not preclude the fact that each sabbath I am in church seeking that which is heavenly.
Hebrews: The author shares with us the saints who preceded us and what they were able to accomplish. We know from our biblical studies they were blemished in countless ways, but these people were still able to do great things for the kingdom. My name will not be recorded in a book recounting great church leaders, and I have no pretense that I will be a guest on the Today show, but the things I do from day to day to bless the lives of others will secure my name in the Book of Life.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
In preparing your sermon, you may want to use or adapt the following sermon outline:
I. Share from your local newspaper and your own life experiences extremes of human behavior, both good and bad. Then discuss how we dwell somewhere in the middle of all of this. We really are not bad people, but we know there is a vast area for improvement. You may want to share some stories of individuals who have received no national or local recognition, but whose actions have been a blessing to others.
II. Discuss each of this week's lectionary readings, and describe how each can apply to us individually as we struggle to be more Christ-like in our daily living.
III. Share what it means to be a member of the unnamed 72 who went forth to prepare the way of Jesus. We know each one of the 72 had faults, but we also know that each man was godlike in disposition. Conclude by saying that we do not have to be perfect to make a difference and to be a blessing to others.
ANOTHER VIEW
Who's Watching the Door?
by Mary Austin
Luke 12:32-40
Anyone watching at the door, as Jesus commands us, looking for signs of the realm of God, would have been surprised in recent weeks, as the news has been full of surprises for all who watch for God's presence.
The story of the seemingly racist Department of Agriculture official revealed by web journalism turned out, in the end, to be a story about a manipulated video of her speech and how quickly we all believe what we think we see. A hurried attempt by the Obama administration to get Shirley Sherrod to resign before the story blew up then became the catalyst for, yes, the story blowing up. Shortly afterward, but not fast enough for the news cycle, an unedited video vindicated Shirley Sherrod. A purported story about the Obama administration harboring reverse racism became a cautionary tale about jumping to conclusions and rushing to judgment. A story about alleged unfairness on Shirley Sherrod's part came to encompass the story of the administration's unfairness to her.
Behind the story, though, is an awe-inspiring story of transformation. Sherrod tells about an early question in her own mind, after seeing so many black farmers in dire straits, about whether a white farmer deserved her help. Her realization was that the question is not about race but about poverty, which doesn't care about skin color in its ravages. The original farmer in the story and his wife became friends of Shirley Sherrod's in time and came to her defense in this recent flap. Her story, on a deeper level, is about our ability to watch within our own hearts and to find places where the realm of God can come to life.
Another big story in recent weeks was the release of thousands of secret Pentagon documents related to the war in Afghanistan through the website WikiLeaks, in connection with the New York Times and two other print publications. The Pentagon protested the revelation of methods and strategies to friend and foe alike, and the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, was equally firm about the need for a free press to keep the public informed.
While both sides argued principles, watchers looking further found a betrayal of US allies. Behind the debate on this story is the ugly truth that a number of Afghan citizens who have aided the US are named in the documents, and any Taliban member seeking revenge will find their names, villages, and fathers' names for full identification. It's difficult to win the war of hearts and minds when those who aid our efforts are exposed to danger as a thank you.
Other watchers are scanning the horizon for clues to the primary elections to be held in some states this week, and for tea leaves to read about the November elections, fewer than 100 days away. Watch and be prepared, Jesus instructs us, but it's difficult to know for what or whom to be prepared. Election year change? The return home of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan? A war lost or won? A recovered economy or more job losses and foreclosures?
Jesus' words in this week's text follow closely behind last week's text. His instructions here to be prepared relate to his response to the man wanting his brother to divide the family inheritance with him, and the related parable of the wealthy man who stored up all his earthly treasure but failed to remember God. The first few verses of this week's story would seem to fit last week's theme better, and yet the lectionary places them with Jesus' reminder to be watchful for the arrival of the kingdom of God. The closing words about what to do with our treasure lead quickly into Jesus' strong instructions to be ready and watchful for the master's return. Clearly, our possessions are not to get in our way as we leap up nimbly to receive the presence of God's kingdom.
Our earthly watching is full of surprises, and the news stories of recent weeks have reminded us again how little we can predict, even in the world we know. Our knowledge of the realm of God is even more incomplete and even greater surprises are in store.
Be like the faithful servants who are watching the door, Jesus advises, ready for the master of the household at any hour. Those who watch with this kind of attention and faithfulness will be greeted by the master, who invites the by-now tired servants to sit down and be served.
On the other hand, without attentive watching trouble is in store. Even the owner himself may be surprised by a thief, who comes when no one is watching. The realm of God continually yields surprises. Those who fail to watch carefully are surprised in unfortunate ways, and those who watch closely find a reversal of the usual order of things, and the grace of God at their service. The coming grace of God invites our attention and our willingness to look carefully enough to be surprised.
ILLUSTRATIONS
There is a story told, although I think it is apocryphal, that when daVinci's Last Supper was painted a young man was found who looked so holy and so heavenly that he was quickly called to be the model for Jesus. Years later as the mural was being finished the only figure left was that of Judas, and a man who had lived a life of sin and degradation was found who had the hollow, empty look that was needed -- and it turned out to be the same man who sat for the painting of Jesus.
Although probably far from historical fact, it is a true story in that it demonstrates the possibilities we all have of looking like (and being like) Jesus or Judas.
* * *
Many of us are familiar with the hymn "Amazing Grace" and the story of its writer, John Newton. Newton was the captain of a notorious slave-trading ship who had a wondrous encounter with the Risen Christ. He turned his life around and became a spiritual father to William Wilberforce, who led the British to abolish slavery.
* * *
Although it was banned from any military hymnal where it was first offered for worship, the hymn "There's a Little Bit of Judas" gives the essence that we all have the capacity to betray our Savior as well as the capacity to live in his image.
* * *
Each of us comes into life with fists closed, set for aggressiveness and acquisition. But when we abandon life our hands are open; there is nothing on earth that we need, nothing the soul can take with it.
-- Fulton J. Sheen
* * *
Victor Hugo's classic novel Les Miserables contains one of the most famous scenes in world literature, one that has continued to amaze readers -- and theater and film audiences as well -- even in this cynical age.
Jean Valjean, the hero of the story, is an escaped convict wandering the streets of Paris. He finds food and shelter one night in the house of a bishop, where he has gone to beg some table scraps. Valjean abuses the bishop's hospitality -- for, as he lays in the soft, clean bed in the guest room, he can't stop thinking about the silver candlesticks he's seen in the dining room. Valjean slips downstairs in the middle of the night, steals the candlesticks, and vanishes into the dark streets.
The night watch catches up with him. The police know these fine silver candlesticks could not belong to such a man. They take him door-to-door, hoping to find the rightful owner.
Ultimately they come to the bishop's house. The housekeeper is about to finger him as the thief when the kindly voice of the bishop intervenes. "This man is my friend, and a guest in my house," he tells the police. "These candlesticks are his, for I have given them to him."
The police depart, shaking their heads in disbelief, and Valjean finds himself alone with the bishop. "Why did you do that?" he asks. "Didn't you know I stole your candlesticks?"
"Yes, I know," the bishop replies, "but it doesn't matter. For today, Jean Valjean, I have purchased your soul, for the price of a pair of candlesticks. Go now, and live a virtuous life."
* * *
Desert mirages appear to be water, which is desperately needed. But they are an illusion -- a trick of sun, heat, and sand. When you see a mirage you head toward it, moving faster and faster, until finally you plunge headlong right into it! But all you get is a mouthful of sand.
Advertising is the false spirituality of materialism, promising what it can never deliver. Even the slogans of advertising sound religious, using the language of ultimate concern: "Buick, Something to Believe In"; "Miller Beer, It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This"; "GE, We Bring Good Things to Life." Is this not the essence of idolatry -- misdirected form of worship?
But these promises are an illusion, a mirage that is very dangerous. All of life has been reduced to consumption. We sacrifice our souls for the mirage of glittering images, and all we get is a mouthful of sand. We have run after mirages in the desert and now the desert is in us.
-- Jim Wallis, The Soul of Politics (New York Press, 1985), p. 168
* * *
Today [people] are consumed by desires to buy things they don't need, with money they don't have, to impress people they don't like.
-- Patrick Morley, The Man in the Mirror (Wolgemuth & Hyatt, 1989), p. 9
* * *
The stewardship campaign had begun at the local church. The first grade Sunday school teacher was trying to explain how important it was to give to others in need. "If you have a dollar, would you miss 10 cents if you gave it to help out another little boy?" she asked.
"Why can't the other little boy's father give him a dime?" asked one six-year-old. "Why does he need my dime?"
It is very hard for a very young person to see how needy others are. Jesus was trying to make the point to his followers that to sell their belongings and give the money to the poor was an antidote for anxiety. When giving starts at a very young age, it builds values in children that can last for a lifetime.
There is also a wise message from Jesus in this week's passage. We must think like servants. This is something children learn from older people by example. Jesus suggests that his followers set the example. "Be ready" -- for the thief who is coming might be a Christian's own selfishness.
* * *
Picture a surprise birthday party. The specific arrangements have been made well in advance. You know the special person and approximately when he or she will arrive. You are stationed behind a corner in the kitchen with a few others. Your adrenaline is pumping and your ears are perked to listen for approaching footsteps. When the front door springs open, you'll jump out and yell "Surprise!" Nothing would be more disastrous than missing that moment when the door opens and the featured guest enters. Everyone prepares for that instant when the "Surprise!" shouts let loose. Party hats go on, kazoos are in place, and there is a lookout peering through the front curtains. Everybody is alert and dressed for action. We know Christ, our featured guest, is coming. We don't know when, but we do know that our ears must be perked. Our gaze must be alert. We must be ready to share in the blessing when it arrives.
* * *
Benjamin Martin Weir has led a remarkable life. Now in retirement, he has been a missionary, seminary professor, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and an intermediary between Muslims and Christians in the Middle East. Despite this long list of servant leadership to the church, Dr. Weir is best known in the world community as one of the American hostages seized in Lebanon in 1984. Out of that ordeal comes a number of powerful stories, one of which speaks to watchfulness for the coming of the Lord. Chained to a radiator in a cold, small room somewhere in the Lebanese mountains, Weir was forced to wear a blindfold whenever his captors came into his room. Life and the world threatened to close in on this humble servant of God, but he determined to be prayerful and watchful to maintain both his psychological and spiritual health. On one desperate day after long weeks of sullen captivity had passed, the Presbyterian missionary looked up to the ceiling and beheld three wires dangling from a cord which once had held an electric light. Suddenly a sense of God's presence filled the room. Weir saw in the three wires a symbol of the triune God, and in that moment he felt both blessed and filled. Thereafter until his release 16 months after his abduction, Benjamin Martin Weir was reminded that God had not left him alone, and that in God's time liberation and blessings would pour forth in and through the Prince of Peace.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: The mighty one, our God, speaks and summons the earth.
People: Out of Zion, God shines forth as perfection.
Leader: The heavens declare God's righteousness.
People: God alone is our judge.
Leader: Those who bring thanksgiving honor God.
People: To these, God will show salvation.
OR
Leader: Come and worship the God who created us.
People: We come as but dust of the earth.
Leader: Come and worship the God who is within us.
People: We come as the holy children of God.
Leader: Come and worship the God who became one of us.
People: We come acknowledging that we are dust and spirit.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
"All Creatures of Our God and King"
found in:
UMH: 62
H82: 400
PH: 455
AAHH: 147
NNBH: 33
NCH: 17
CH: 22
LBW: 527
Renew: 47
"From All that Dwell Below the Skies"
found in:
UMH: 101
H82: 380
PH: 229
NCH: 27
CH: 49
LBW: 550
"Many Gifts, One Spirit"
found in:
UMH: 114
NCH: 177
"It's Me, It's Me, O Lord"
found in:
UMH: 352
NNBH: 496
CH: 579
"Like the Murmur of the Dove's Song"
found in:
UMH: 544
H82: 513
PH: 314
NCH: 270
CH: 245
Renew: 280
"Where Charity and Love Prevail"
found in:
UMH: 549
H82: 581
NCH: 396
LBW: 126
"Take My Life, and Let It Be"
found in:
UMH: 399
H82: 707
PH: 391
NNBH: 213
NCH: 448
CH: 609
LBW: 406
Renew: 150
"Just As I Am, Without One Plea"
found in:
UMH: 357
H82: 693
PH: 370
AAHH: 344, 345
NNBH: 167
NCH: 207
CH: 339
LBW: 296
Renew: 140
"Refiner's Fire"
found in:
CCB: 79
"God, You Are My God"
found in:
CCB: 60
In the end all we can ever sing is: "Kyrie Eleison"
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
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day / Collect
O God who created us out of common dirt and divine breath: Grant us the wisdom to accept ourselves as being gifted and flawed and to move ever closer to your image through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We have come to worship you, O God, our Creator and our Redeemer. We come with all our flaws and with all the potential you created within us. Help us to listen to you this day so that we might live more fully into your image this week. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fascination with the extremes of life.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We find ourselves drawn ever to the weird and the wonderful in the news. We are fascinated with the extreme cruelties our sisters and brothers commit as well as the wondrous good things they do. We are also locked into the extremes in our own lives. Sometimes we think we are much better than we really are and we look down our noses at others. Sometimes we think we are much worse than we are and we beat ourselves up. Forgive our foolishness and help us see ourselves as you see us: sinners with divine potential. Help us then to live so that others discover the same wonder about themselves. Amen.
Leader: God knows us and loves us in all our wonderful and awful moments. As God loves us and accepts us, so may the Spirit empower you to love and accept yourselves and each other.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord's Prayer)
We worship and praise you, O God, Creator and Redeemer of all creation. We praise you for your loving kindness, which has created us with great potential and accepts us in our sinfulness.
(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 drawn ever to the weird and the wonderful in the news. We are fascinated with the extreme cruelties our sisters and brothers commit as well as the wondrous good things they do. We are also locked into the extremes in our own lives. Sometimes we think we are much better than we really are and we look down our noses at others. Sometimes we think we are much worse than we are and we beat ourselves up. Forgive our foolishness and help us see ourselves as you see us: sinners with divine potential. Help us then to live so that others discover the same wonder about themselves.
We give you thanks for all the ways in which you have called us and our sisters and brothers to realize the potential of your image embedded deeply within us. We thank you for those who have reached beyond their selfish sinfulness and offered love and hope to us and to others. Most of all we thank you for Jesus, who shows us how to live fully as your children.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for each other in our need. We especially pray for the wisdom and the courage to live more into your image each day. We pray for ourselves and for others that we may all see your loving goal for our lives.
(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.
Visuals
a collage of pictures showing humans at their best, their worst, and busy in the ordinary things of life
Children's Sermon Starter
Show the children some mud. Tell them that we can do different things with it -- we can make bricks and build a house, or we can throw it at people. We are like the mud -- we can be used to build up the reign of God, or we can be used against others.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Be Ready!
Luke 12:32-40
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have ever gone on a camping trip -- a trip where you will sleep in sleeping bags and be far away from any civilization? (let them answer)
When we are planning to go on this kind of a trip, it's very important that we have everything with us we will need. Once we are out there in the woods or mountains there will be no store or any place else to get the things we need, so we need to be sure we have everything. We need to be ready. What are some of the things we would need to take? (Let them answer and write down the things they suggest on a notepad. If they forget important items, suggest them and add them to the list.) Well, that's a good list. I think if we had all those things we would be ready.
Now children, the Bible tells us that there is another trip we will all be going on one day, and it's very important to be ready for that trip too. Jesus will be coming back one day to take us all with him to heaven. He tells us that we should be ready for that trip. What do we have to do to be ready for that trip? Do we need sleeping bags or tents? (let them answer)
Actually, there is only one essential thing that will make us ready for that trip. Jesus is going to take everybody who believes in him and loves him into heaven. So if you believe in Jesus and you know that he died on the cross to pay for your sins, you will be ready to make the trip with him. How many of you are ready if he comes today? (let them answer)
That's great! I'm glad you are all his friends and you're ready to go with him when he comes. Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone in the world was ready? Let's pray for that.
Prayer: Dear Jesus: We are ready to go with you when you come for us. We pray for all the people of the world who are not ready. Send your Holy Spirit to convince the whole world of your truth so that everyone will be ready when you come. Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, August 8, 2010, issue.
Copyright 2010 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.
