Jesus' inability to do any mighty works in his own community because of the peoples' disbelief
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Planning Ideas And Resources For The Entire Church Year
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
Try this:
Read, slowly and deliberately, your congregation's statement of mission. If you do not have one, ask the governing body to prepare one. You may want to ask for verbal response from the people.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Suggestion:
Begin, Jesus could do no mighty works among his own people. What keeps the spirit of Christ from doing mighty works among us? Ask the people to list some of those barriers to belief. Point out several they might miss, as for example, meager expectations, powerless prayer, blaming others, negative apathy, etc.
Give them some time to identify the one(s) that keep them from experiencing the power which God promises to those who ask for the right reasons. Ask them to pray, silently, for God to transform their form of unbelief into action.
After several moments of silence, offer a prayer which centers upon God's promise to bring healing and wholeness, faith and action to and through Christ's disciples.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Consider this:
Use the Scripture for the day. Ask the children if they have any idea why Jesus failed with his own people. I decided not to accept a job in my home church after graduating from seminary, even though I wanted to move back to the West Coast; because I thought that people would still treat me as child that grew up among them. Jesus grew up in his community, and the people couldn't get beyond knowing and seeing him as one of them. And Jesus marvelled at their rejection of his teaching.
Proclamation of the Word
Consider this:
Continue to examine this Scripture, in the light of what Jesus could not do, and which we will not do either without the power of the risen Christ. Then, turn it in the other direction. What would happen to us if every member took his relationship with Christ and the church seriously? Then, what are you willing to do, specifically, this week, month, year?
Stewardship Challenge
Consider this:
The primary response to a sermon is not, "I liked it; I didn't like it," but rather, "Lord, what will you have me do?" Ask the people to write on a piece of paper what they are willing to do this coming week, to allow the power of Christ to change their life and community. Ask them to place their commitment in the offering plate, either signed or unsigned.
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
Jesus marvelled because of his people's unbelief.
Jesus will marvel because of our belief, that is,
faith which results in obedience.
You may want to incorporate this quotation by Paul Kidwell, a friend of mine: "A person willing to share is one who has a sense of his own inadequacy."
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 89:20-37
Psalm 143:1-2, 5-8
Psalm 123
2 Samuel 7:1-17
Ezekiel 2:1-5
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"We Sing the Mighty Power of God"
Isaac Watts, 1715; alt.
"Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
Robert Robinson, 1758
"Be Thou My Vision"
Ancient Irish, Trans. by Mary Byrne, 1905 Versified by Eleanor Hull, 1912; alt.
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation
"Come Now Our Redeemer"
Bach
Response to the Old Testament Reading Adult Choir
"The Lord Is My Shepherd"
Schubert
Response to the Children's Message
"O Sing a New Song to the Lord" from Psalm 96
Para. in the Scottish Psalter, 1650; alt.
Response to the Prayer of Adoration and Praise Adult Choir
"Let the People Sing Praise Unto the Lord" McLin
Response to the Stewardship Thought
"Adorn Thyself, O My Soul"
Karg-Elert
Music for Dismissal
Use music based on one of the three Psalms for the day.
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
Try this:
Read, slowly and deliberately, your congregation's statement of mission. If you do not have one, ask the governing body to prepare one. You may want to ask for verbal response from the people.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Suggestion:
Begin, Jesus could do no mighty works among his own people. What keeps the spirit of Christ from doing mighty works among us? Ask the people to list some of those barriers to belief. Point out several they might miss, as for example, meager expectations, powerless prayer, blaming others, negative apathy, etc.
Give them some time to identify the one(s) that keep them from experiencing the power which God promises to those who ask for the right reasons. Ask them to pray, silently, for God to transform their form of unbelief into action.
After several moments of silence, offer a prayer which centers upon God's promise to bring healing and wholeness, faith and action to and through Christ's disciples.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Consider this:
Use the Scripture for the day. Ask the children if they have any idea why Jesus failed with his own people. I decided not to accept a job in my home church after graduating from seminary, even though I wanted to move back to the West Coast; because I thought that people would still treat me as child that grew up among them. Jesus grew up in his community, and the people couldn't get beyond knowing and seeing him as one of them. And Jesus marvelled at their rejection of his teaching.
Proclamation of the Word
Consider this:
Continue to examine this Scripture, in the light of what Jesus could not do, and which we will not do either without the power of the risen Christ. Then, turn it in the other direction. What would happen to us if every member took his relationship with Christ and the church seriously? Then, what are you willing to do, specifically, this week, month, year?
Stewardship Challenge
Consider this:
The primary response to a sermon is not, "I liked it; I didn't like it," but rather, "Lord, what will you have me do?" Ask the people to write on a piece of paper what they are willing to do this coming week, to allow the power of Christ to change their life and community. Ask them to place their commitment in the offering plate, either signed or unsigned.
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
Jesus marvelled because of his people's unbelief.
Jesus will marvel because of our belief, that is,
faith which results in obedience.
You may want to incorporate this quotation by Paul Kidwell, a friend of mine: "A person willing to share is one who has a sense of his own inadequacy."
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 89:20-37
Psalm 143:1-2, 5-8
Psalm 123
2 Samuel 7:1-17
Ezekiel 2:1-5
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"We Sing the Mighty Power of God"
Isaac Watts, 1715; alt.
"Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
Robert Robinson, 1758
"Be Thou My Vision"
Ancient Irish, Trans. by Mary Byrne, 1905 Versified by Eleanor Hull, 1912; alt.
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation
"Come Now Our Redeemer"
Bach
Response to the Old Testament Reading Adult Choir
"The Lord Is My Shepherd"
Schubert
Response to the Children's Message
"O Sing a New Song to the Lord" from Psalm 96
Para. in the Scottish Psalter, 1650; alt.
Response to the Prayer of Adoration and Praise Adult Choir
"Let the People Sing Praise Unto the Lord" McLin
Response to the Stewardship Thought
"Adorn Thyself, O My Soul"
Karg-Elert
Music for Dismissal
Use music based on one of the three Psalms for the day.
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
