Confidence In Crisis
Stories
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Confidence in Crisis" by Argile Smith
"Be Slaves to One Another" by Constance Berg
"The Circumcision Story" by John E. Sumwalt
What's Up This Week
What does it mean to have confidence? When our faith gives us knowledge of the ultimate goal, we have a serenity that can keep us going through the twists and turns of life. In the featured story of this edition of StoryShare, Argile Smith spins a tale that illustrates what it means to know the "ending" -- and how it can keep us from getting too caught up in the ups and downs we experience every day. We also have a pair of pieces tackling aspects of this week's epistle reading that may seem distant from modern culture. Constance Berg tells the story of a young couple getting married who are startled at first when they confront the notion of becoming slaves to one another... but who learn to see its wisdom. And John Sumwalt discusses the heated debate over circumcision that almost destroyed the early church.
* * * * * * * * *
Confidence in Crisis
Argile Smith
Luke 9:51-62; Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20
Regina and Sam enjoyed watching movies together. They liked "cliffhangers" most of all, the kind that kept them sitting on the edges of their seats from the first flash of the story on the screen until the first frame of the credits. One day at work, they decided to take in one of the summer action thrillers that had just been released. The movie previews boasted a lineup of top-shelf superstars, and the take-your-breath-away storyline promised to be nail-biting, to say the least. They could hardly wait until the Saturday afternoon matinee.
On Friday afternoon, Sam overheard a conversation outside his office door. Two people at work were talking about the movie that he and Regina planned to see the next day. Although he didn't want to eavesdrop for fear that the information would ruin the fun for himself and Regina, he simply couldn't resist the temptation. He listened in and found out how the movie ended.
Not wanting to disappoint Regina, who had been looking forward to the chance to see the movie that had been getting such rave reviews, Sam kept what he had heard outside his office door to himself. On Saturday afternoon the two of them made their way to the cinema, bought their tickets, loaded up on popcorn and sodas, and sat in their favorite seats, ready to experience a movie buff's version of a roller-coaster ride.
Regina sat munching her popcorn and anticipating the thrill of what would happen next, thanks to all sorts of twists and turns in the unfolding story. Sitting next to her, Sam registered a little less anticipation. After all, he knew how the movie would end before it started.
The movie turned out to live up to the reviews. Regina hardly had time to settle into her seat before one shocking surprise after another jolted her. Like other good movies, the flick throttled her imagination into hyper-drive. At every twist or turn, her mind raced ahead of the story to figure out how it would end. By contrast, Sam sat there, enjoying the movie but not getting anxious about how the story would turn. He registered a quiet confidence that everything would work out just fine. As Regina whispered her hunches about how the story would end to Sam, he sat quietly and chuckled under his breath.
At one point in particular, there were hints that the lead character might be killed off in a chase scene involving nuclear-powered jet airplanes streaking across the sky like lightening bolts, weaving and in and out of mountain ranges with laser guns blazing. Sam didn't take the hint seriously, however, and for one good reason: he already knew that the hero wouldn't be killed. In fact, he even knew that the hero would win the day and give the movie a hand-clapping happy ending.
At the end of the movie, Sam confessed to Regina that he had kept what he overheard about the movie from her. His confession helped her to understand why he didn't get anxious as the story unfolded. His confidence had come from what he knew.
The Psalmist wrote about his quiet confidence in the Lord as he faced the twists and turns in his life. Likewise, Jesus reflected a deep sense of confidence as He faced the rejection of the Samaritans, the angry prejudices of the disciples, and the wafer-thin devotion of people who wanted to follow Him. His confidence came from what He knew.
Argile Smith is vice president for advancement at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He has been the pastor of several congregations in Louisiana and Mississippi, and has also served as a preaching professor, chairman of the Division of Pastoral Ministries, and director of the communications center at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. While at NOTBS, Smith regularly hosted the Gateway to Truth program on the FamilyNet television network.
Be Slaves to One Another
Constance Berg
...through love become slaves to one another.
Galatians 5:13
Roberta's mother looked like she was going to have a heart attack as she listened. Others present at the wedding rehearsal looked shocked at what the pastor was saying to the couple. "I want you to be forewarned that I am going to talk about slavery and being obedient to another." Roberta was quiet. Serge looked worried. They had known Pastor Gallante their whole lives. What was he up to?
The photographer clapped her hands loudly. "And when the pastor finishes the sermon, I will take photos of Roberta and Serge as they kneel for the blessing. Organist, why don't you play the introduction to the solo so we know when the couple will kneel?"
The rehearsal continued and no one thought too much of the pastor's message. The group hurried off to the steakhouse for dinner, and gifts were given to the attendants. It was a delightful evening.
The next day burst forth as a bright summer day. No cloud was in sight. The cake was delivered and the catering staff was busy in the huge church kitchen. The tables had all been decorated and the floral centerpieces were being put into place. The hall looked gorgeous. And so did the bride. Roberta was radiant as her mother helped her into the elegant wedding dress. It had a long train that fastened in the back. The bridesmaids were giggling as the hairdressers were fussing over their hair combs. Everything was ready.
The organist and pianist began to play. The ushers seated the guests, then took their places next to a trembling groom. Serge had loved Roberta since they were in grade school and he couldn't believe it when they started going steady in seventh grade. She was reported to have a crush on Joe, but she had agreed to go to a dance with Serge. Their love had lasted through high school and college. And now, one month after their college graduation, their wedding day was finally here. Serge smiled as he caught sight of the flower girl throwing flowers down the aisle.
Then he spotted Roberta. Roberta, on her father's arm, looked like an angel. Her face was hidden behind a veil but he could see her eyes twinkling brightly. She looked beautiful!
The attendants took their places as Serge took Roberta's arm and shook her father's hand. He was lucky to have such a fine father-in-law. Serge's partner in their band sang a wedding ballad, candles were lit, and vows were exchanged. The pastor asked them to look at each other and read the familiar passage from 1 Corinthians: "Love is patient, love is kind...." A perfect passage on this perfect day.
"I would add another line to this. Love is losing your freedom."
Serge looked at the pastor. Where was this going? The pastor continued.
"Roberta, Serge, you have known each other so long. You have run through these halls as children; you read from the Bible at this lectern; you have sung in the choir. Now you come before your church family to declare your love for one another. I say, you should declare your loss of freedom to one another."
Roberta stole a glance at her mother, who looked a little piqued. The audience was very quiet. The pastor continued. "You know, I've been married 53 years, and in all those 53 years I considered myself a slave to my wife. I made her wish my wish, her need my need, her goal my goal. I put her first, then my children, and then myself.
"This may sound funny to you, Roberta and Serge. This is a day when you are told by the secular world to put yourself first. You have to look out for number one. If you don't take care of yourself, no one else will.
"I happen to know that is all hogwash. Put God in the center of your married life, then be a slave to each other. If you put the other first, you will see that you will thrive. Want only the best for each other. Want only what God wants for each other. Be slaves unto one another and you will live a long, happily married life."
Serge smiled at Roberta as they knelt for their blessing. He would try his best to keep her needs first, her goals first, her best interests first. With God's help and with God in the midst of their marriage, he would be her slave.
Constance Berg is a former missionary to Chiapas, Mexico. She is currently based in Bakersfield, California, where she serves as the director of 18 nursing homes for handicapped individuals. Berg is the author of three volumes of the CSS series Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit.
The Circumcision Story
John Sumwalt
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
Galatians 5:1-2
The apostle Paul's letter to the Galatian church was in response to a group that insisted that circumcision was necessary for salvation. His powerful statement about freedom in this lectionary selection cannot be fully appreciated without the telling of the story about the circumcision versus uncircumcision debate in the early church.
* * *
When was the last time you got into a really heated debate about circumcision? For most of it is not an issue of much concern. We discussed it in our family when our son was born. Our physician told us some of the advantages and disadvantages, and we made our decision. It was an interesting topic of discussion for a while as Jo and I compared notes with other family members and friends. Everyone had an opinion, but no one we knew argued vehemently for or against it. What was said had to do with cosmetic and hygiene considerations. No one made a religious argument for or against it. When our son was baptized no one asked or checked to see if he was circumcised. Circumcision or uncircumcision is not only not a burning issue in the church anymore, it is not an issue at all. But there was a time when it almost destroyed the church.
When word got back to the church in Jerusalem about the great success Paul and Barnabas were having in their missionary work among the Gentiles -- how people were responding to the Gospel and seeking admission to the church by the hundreds in some places, particularly in Antioch where baptism was becoming a complete substitution for circumcision -- the guardians of the Judaic traditions in early Christendom said, "Enough is enough. Now they have gone too far."
So they put together a committee and they sent them over to Antioch with this message (actually it was more of an ultimatum than it was a message): Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved (Acts 15:1b).
You can imagine how the Antiochan Christians received this unsolicited advice. There was a great furor. The church was thrown into crisis. There was the danger of schism, something a new religious movement cannot afford. And Paul and Barnabas knew that if this faction prevailed it was likely that the people of the Jesus way would never be anything more than a small Jewish sect.
When they called the council in Jerusalem to resolve the circumcision controversy, there was a good deal of heated debate -- much like our denominational meetings today. Some of it was downright unfriendly. Tempers flared on both sides. Can you imagine such a thing among followers of Jesus?
After the debate had gone on for quite awhile Peter got up and spoke: "My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will" (Acts 15:7-11).
When Peter finished speaking there was complete silence, and then Barnabas related what signs and wonders God had done through he and Paul among the Gentiles. Peter made quite a speech -- but it was the witness of Paul and Barnabas that carried the day. The decision was sealed when James, the brother of Jesus and the leader of the Jerusalem church, got up and said his piece. He quoted Amos 9:11-12, reminding people that Gentiles had always been included in God's plans for salvation: "Therefore I have reached the decision," James said, "that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we should write to them to abstain only from those things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood" (Acts 15:19-20).
That was the end of the controversy. No one who had authority in the church taught that circumcision was necessary for salvation after that, and the church went into all the world.
Don't you just love happy endings?
John E. Sumwalt is the lead pastor of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in suburban Milwaukee. He is the author of ten books, including How to Preach the Miracles: Why People Don't Believe Them and What You Can Do About It, now available from CSS Publishing. John and his wife, Jo Perry-Sumwalt, were the editors of StoryShare from 2004-2006.
**********************************************
How to Share Stories
You have good stories to share, probably more than you know: personal stories as well as stories from others that you have used over the years. If you have a story you like, whether fictional or "really happened," authored by you or a brief excerpt from a favorite book, send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here share-a-story@csspub.com and email the story to us.
**************
StoryShare, July 1, 2007, issue.
Copyright 2007 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 517 South Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45804.
What's Up This Week
"Confidence in Crisis" by Argile Smith
"Be Slaves to One Another" by Constance Berg
"The Circumcision Story" by John E. Sumwalt
What's Up This Week
What does it mean to have confidence? When our faith gives us knowledge of the ultimate goal, we have a serenity that can keep us going through the twists and turns of life. In the featured story of this edition of StoryShare, Argile Smith spins a tale that illustrates what it means to know the "ending" -- and how it can keep us from getting too caught up in the ups and downs we experience every day. We also have a pair of pieces tackling aspects of this week's epistle reading that may seem distant from modern culture. Constance Berg tells the story of a young couple getting married who are startled at first when they confront the notion of becoming slaves to one another... but who learn to see its wisdom. And John Sumwalt discusses the heated debate over circumcision that almost destroyed the early church.
* * * * * * * * *
Confidence in Crisis
Argile Smith
Luke 9:51-62; Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20
Regina and Sam enjoyed watching movies together. They liked "cliffhangers" most of all, the kind that kept them sitting on the edges of their seats from the first flash of the story on the screen until the first frame of the credits. One day at work, they decided to take in one of the summer action thrillers that had just been released. The movie previews boasted a lineup of top-shelf superstars, and the take-your-breath-away storyline promised to be nail-biting, to say the least. They could hardly wait until the Saturday afternoon matinee.
On Friday afternoon, Sam overheard a conversation outside his office door. Two people at work were talking about the movie that he and Regina planned to see the next day. Although he didn't want to eavesdrop for fear that the information would ruin the fun for himself and Regina, he simply couldn't resist the temptation. He listened in and found out how the movie ended.
Not wanting to disappoint Regina, who had been looking forward to the chance to see the movie that had been getting such rave reviews, Sam kept what he had heard outside his office door to himself. On Saturday afternoon the two of them made their way to the cinema, bought their tickets, loaded up on popcorn and sodas, and sat in their favorite seats, ready to experience a movie buff's version of a roller-coaster ride.
Regina sat munching her popcorn and anticipating the thrill of what would happen next, thanks to all sorts of twists and turns in the unfolding story. Sitting next to her, Sam registered a little less anticipation. After all, he knew how the movie would end before it started.
The movie turned out to live up to the reviews. Regina hardly had time to settle into her seat before one shocking surprise after another jolted her. Like other good movies, the flick throttled her imagination into hyper-drive. At every twist or turn, her mind raced ahead of the story to figure out how it would end. By contrast, Sam sat there, enjoying the movie but not getting anxious about how the story would turn. He registered a quiet confidence that everything would work out just fine. As Regina whispered her hunches about how the story would end to Sam, he sat quietly and chuckled under his breath.
At one point in particular, there were hints that the lead character might be killed off in a chase scene involving nuclear-powered jet airplanes streaking across the sky like lightening bolts, weaving and in and out of mountain ranges with laser guns blazing. Sam didn't take the hint seriously, however, and for one good reason: he already knew that the hero wouldn't be killed. In fact, he even knew that the hero would win the day and give the movie a hand-clapping happy ending.
At the end of the movie, Sam confessed to Regina that he had kept what he overheard about the movie from her. His confession helped her to understand why he didn't get anxious as the story unfolded. His confidence had come from what he knew.
The Psalmist wrote about his quiet confidence in the Lord as he faced the twists and turns in his life. Likewise, Jesus reflected a deep sense of confidence as He faced the rejection of the Samaritans, the angry prejudices of the disciples, and the wafer-thin devotion of people who wanted to follow Him. His confidence came from what He knew.
Argile Smith is vice president for advancement at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He has been the pastor of several congregations in Louisiana and Mississippi, and has also served as a preaching professor, chairman of the Division of Pastoral Ministries, and director of the communications center at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. While at NOTBS, Smith regularly hosted the Gateway to Truth program on the FamilyNet television network.
Be Slaves to One Another
Constance Berg
...through love become slaves to one another.
Galatians 5:13
Roberta's mother looked like she was going to have a heart attack as she listened. Others present at the wedding rehearsal looked shocked at what the pastor was saying to the couple. "I want you to be forewarned that I am going to talk about slavery and being obedient to another." Roberta was quiet. Serge looked worried. They had known Pastor Gallante their whole lives. What was he up to?
The photographer clapped her hands loudly. "And when the pastor finishes the sermon, I will take photos of Roberta and Serge as they kneel for the blessing. Organist, why don't you play the introduction to the solo so we know when the couple will kneel?"
The rehearsal continued and no one thought too much of the pastor's message. The group hurried off to the steakhouse for dinner, and gifts were given to the attendants. It was a delightful evening.
The next day burst forth as a bright summer day. No cloud was in sight. The cake was delivered and the catering staff was busy in the huge church kitchen. The tables had all been decorated and the floral centerpieces were being put into place. The hall looked gorgeous. And so did the bride. Roberta was radiant as her mother helped her into the elegant wedding dress. It had a long train that fastened in the back. The bridesmaids were giggling as the hairdressers were fussing over their hair combs. Everything was ready.
The organist and pianist began to play. The ushers seated the guests, then took their places next to a trembling groom. Serge had loved Roberta since they were in grade school and he couldn't believe it when they started going steady in seventh grade. She was reported to have a crush on Joe, but she had agreed to go to a dance with Serge. Their love had lasted through high school and college. And now, one month after their college graduation, their wedding day was finally here. Serge smiled as he caught sight of the flower girl throwing flowers down the aisle.
Then he spotted Roberta. Roberta, on her father's arm, looked like an angel. Her face was hidden behind a veil but he could see her eyes twinkling brightly. She looked beautiful!
The attendants took their places as Serge took Roberta's arm and shook her father's hand. He was lucky to have such a fine father-in-law. Serge's partner in their band sang a wedding ballad, candles were lit, and vows were exchanged. The pastor asked them to look at each other and read the familiar passage from 1 Corinthians: "Love is patient, love is kind...." A perfect passage on this perfect day.
"I would add another line to this. Love is losing your freedom."
Serge looked at the pastor. Where was this going? The pastor continued.
"Roberta, Serge, you have known each other so long. You have run through these halls as children; you read from the Bible at this lectern; you have sung in the choir. Now you come before your church family to declare your love for one another. I say, you should declare your loss of freedom to one another."
Roberta stole a glance at her mother, who looked a little piqued. The audience was very quiet. The pastor continued. "You know, I've been married 53 years, and in all those 53 years I considered myself a slave to my wife. I made her wish my wish, her need my need, her goal my goal. I put her first, then my children, and then myself.
"This may sound funny to you, Roberta and Serge. This is a day when you are told by the secular world to put yourself first. You have to look out for number one. If you don't take care of yourself, no one else will.
"I happen to know that is all hogwash. Put God in the center of your married life, then be a slave to each other. If you put the other first, you will see that you will thrive. Want only the best for each other. Want only what God wants for each other. Be slaves unto one another and you will live a long, happily married life."
Serge smiled at Roberta as they knelt for their blessing. He would try his best to keep her needs first, her goals first, her best interests first. With God's help and with God in the midst of their marriage, he would be her slave.
Constance Berg is a former missionary to Chiapas, Mexico. She is currently based in Bakersfield, California, where she serves as the director of 18 nursing homes for handicapped individuals. Berg is the author of three volumes of the CSS series Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit.
The Circumcision Story
John Sumwalt
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
Galatians 5:1-2
The apostle Paul's letter to the Galatian church was in response to a group that insisted that circumcision was necessary for salvation. His powerful statement about freedom in this lectionary selection cannot be fully appreciated without the telling of the story about the circumcision versus uncircumcision debate in the early church.
* * *
When was the last time you got into a really heated debate about circumcision? For most of it is not an issue of much concern. We discussed it in our family when our son was born. Our physician told us some of the advantages and disadvantages, and we made our decision. It was an interesting topic of discussion for a while as Jo and I compared notes with other family members and friends. Everyone had an opinion, but no one we knew argued vehemently for or against it. What was said had to do with cosmetic and hygiene considerations. No one made a religious argument for or against it. When our son was baptized no one asked or checked to see if he was circumcised. Circumcision or uncircumcision is not only not a burning issue in the church anymore, it is not an issue at all. But there was a time when it almost destroyed the church.
When word got back to the church in Jerusalem about the great success Paul and Barnabas were having in their missionary work among the Gentiles -- how people were responding to the Gospel and seeking admission to the church by the hundreds in some places, particularly in Antioch where baptism was becoming a complete substitution for circumcision -- the guardians of the Judaic traditions in early Christendom said, "Enough is enough. Now they have gone too far."
So they put together a committee and they sent them over to Antioch with this message (actually it was more of an ultimatum than it was a message): Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved (Acts 15:1b).
You can imagine how the Antiochan Christians received this unsolicited advice. There was a great furor. The church was thrown into crisis. There was the danger of schism, something a new religious movement cannot afford. And Paul and Barnabas knew that if this faction prevailed it was likely that the people of the Jesus way would never be anything more than a small Jewish sect.
When they called the council in Jerusalem to resolve the circumcision controversy, there was a good deal of heated debate -- much like our denominational meetings today. Some of it was downright unfriendly. Tempers flared on both sides. Can you imagine such a thing among followers of Jesus?
After the debate had gone on for quite awhile Peter got up and spoke: "My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will" (Acts 15:7-11).
When Peter finished speaking there was complete silence, and then Barnabas related what signs and wonders God had done through he and Paul among the Gentiles. Peter made quite a speech -- but it was the witness of Paul and Barnabas that carried the day. The decision was sealed when James, the brother of Jesus and the leader of the Jerusalem church, got up and said his piece. He quoted Amos 9:11-12, reminding people that Gentiles had always been included in God's plans for salvation: "Therefore I have reached the decision," James said, "that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we should write to them to abstain only from those things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood" (Acts 15:19-20).
That was the end of the controversy. No one who had authority in the church taught that circumcision was necessary for salvation after that, and the church went into all the world.
Don't you just love happy endings?
John E. Sumwalt is the lead pastor of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in suburban Milwaukee. He is the author of ten books, including How to Preach the Miracles: Why People Don't Believe Them and What You Can Do About It, now available from CSS Publishing. John and his wife, Jo Perry-Sumwalt, were the editors of StoryShare from 2004-2006.
**********************************************
How to Share Stories
You have good stories to share, probably more than you know: personal stories as well as stories from others that you have used over the years. If you have a story you like, whether fictional or "really happened," authored by you or a brief excerpt from a favorite book, send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here share-a-story@csspub.com and email the story to us.
**************
StoryShare, July 1, 2007, issue.
Copyright 2007 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 517 South Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45804.
