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Worship
Service for May 8, 2022
Prelude
Announcements:
Call to Worship
L: Jesus Christ, the Passover Lamb who was
slain, lives!
P: Worthy is the Lamb to receive power and
wisdom and glory and blessing!
L: Myriads of the faithful, freed and called
to be a nation of priests of God, sing praise:
P: Blessing and honor, glory and power be
unto God, forever and ever. AMEN!
Opening Hymn – Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God
Almighty Hymn #138/3
Prayer of Confession
God of life
and death, we confess that sometimes we are not alive to the possibilities You
offer. In the midst of pain, unfairness,
and fear, we find little reason for hope.
We feel despair or blame others, but we do not turn to You for help. Forgive us, show us how to share the new life
You offer, through Jesus Christ. (Silent
prayers are offered) AMEN.
Assurance of Pardon
L: Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to
you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. Your sins are forgiven, and your future made
new.
P: Thanks be to God! Amen.
Gloria Patri
Affirmation of Faith/Apostles’
Creed
I believe in God the Father
Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the
third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on
the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge
the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the
resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN
Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s
Prayer
Loving God and Parent of All,
We are grateful today to gather as children birthed in your image,
blessed offspring of your creation. As a mother hen gathers her brood under her
wing, we join today, to hear your teachings and experience your love.
We give you thanks for empowering us to have a child-like faith. Teach
us to have compassion in our human relationships, to forgive those who hurt us,
to share with all of your children, and to play with imagination and courage.
We thank you indeed for the women among us and around us, in whom you
have gifted the privilege and the challenge of being mothers and mother
figures.
For all mothers, everywhere - Strengthen them in the ways that they
raise their children, grant them wisdom for the lessons that they teach,
discernment in the ways that they discipline, and may others grant them the
thanks and honor they deserve.
We thank you for grandmothers, sisters, aunts, teachers, Sunday school
teachers, adult mentors, big sisters, and anyone, everywhere, who plays a
motherly role in the life of another boy, girl, or adult. Grant them the
ability to model the example of Christ for all within their influence, that
they might share the love that you have so freely shown to all of us.
We pause to remember those for whom Mother’s Day is a source of
discomfort, even perhaps anxiety and pain:
For some, this day brings to mind melancholy remembrance of their own
mothers who have died. There may even be those for whom this is the first
Mother’s Day since their mother's passing. To these people, grant your peace
and comfort, and may they give thanks for their mother’s lasting influence.
There may be those for whom Mother’s Day is a painful reminder of
their own singleness, or their own inability to have children. Remind each of
these that such women have always had a special place in your concern,
especially throughout the history of the Bible. Give them your special care and
love, and grant them your assurance that they are not alone; neither are they
without ability to make a lasting impact on the world.
And to those for whom their experience with and memory of their own
mothers has brought enduring pain, remorse, and guilt, grant the power of
healing and forgiveness. Remind us of the wrongs we have done to each other,
and the power we have, in your name, to bridge even the deepest divides.
For all these things, we give you thanks, O God who is a loving father
and mother to us all.
We also pray for….
Hear now our own prayers that we offer to You in silence….
In the glorious name of Jesus Christ, we now pray together saying…
Our Father who art in
heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our
debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. AMEN.
Hymn – How
Firm a Foundation Hymn #361/408
Scripture Reading(s):
First Scripture Reading – Psalm 23
Second Scripture Reading – John
10:22-30
Sermon “Big
Heart Courage”
As
I mentioned last week, the scripture passage offerings in the Revised Common
Lectionary make today’s reading a bit awkward in the chronological scheme of
events, following Christ’s death and resurrection, as we wait to celebrate the
coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Today’s reading takes us back in time to when Jesus was still preaching
and teaching across Jerusalem. It is the
Festival of the Dedication and Jesus is walking within the Temple grounds in
the Portico of Solomon. Today, the more
commonly used name of Hanukkah was also known as the Festival of Dedication or
the Festival of Lights; eight days during which the Jews commemorate the rededication
of the Temple by lighting a candle each night remembering the miraculous event
when a very small amount of oil lasted eight days to keep the eternal flame lit
within the temple. And Solomon’s Portico
was a double columned porch on the east side of the Temple, often used by
teachers of the scriptures to gather with their students. The Pharisees were known to gather here, as a
group, to watch over those who were teaching and observe that the teachers or Rabbi’s,
particularly those with a following, were correctly teaching their students.
Our scripture today finds Jesus walking
the temple grounds during a holy festival time at the porch where students
would gather to listen to their teachers.
And the Pharisees are right there waiting to catch Jesus teaching
something that they might object to. When
he does not, they confront him, directly.
There
is high drama in these verses that test both Jesus and those who oppose
him. On the one hand, it tests the human
part of Jesus to stay on task – to stay committed to that purpose for which he
came. It tests his courage in the midst
of immediate danger and his ability to reason in the heat of the moment. On the other hand, it is a severe test of the
intellect and heart of those who assail him.
They must withstand Jesus’ bold, compelling defense as they look to trap
him into saying something for which they might use for accusation later.
We’re
probably not used to speaking about Christ in terms of his courage, after all
we see him as Christ, the Son of God. But
we also need to remember that he was fully human, as well. He had been born, just like the rest of us, grew
up as any child would - part of a family, and he loved life. Though his destiny was authored and ordained
by God for a specific purpose, he knew what that purpose was and voluntarily
took on this role as Messiah, as Savior, as humanity’s Redeemer and Prince of Peace. Still,
it took a great amount of courage, I think, for him to follow through with this
– for he knew where that path led – ultimately to a cross. Keep in mind his outbreak in the Garden of
Gethsemane when he prayed to God for this cup, this destiny, this way of the
Cross at Golgotha would be removed from him.
Yet, he held fast to a determined courage.
Again,
last week, we spoke of the Lion of Judah which ended up being the Lamb of God in
Revelation; worn torn, embattled, as if it had been slaughtered. Today’s scripture we see a glimpse of that
lamb surrounded by the wolves ready to attack.
And yet, with boldness and courage, the Lamb of God holds firm and
speaks directly to those who wish to entrap him. It is a test of his courage and love; like a
mother hen protecting her chicks. Jesus
protects his own followers with his words of courage in the face of his
accusers.
Many
of our English words are borrowed from other languages and the word courage comes from French, and means
“large heart.” And that is exactly what
Christ has, a heart large enough to love each one of us completely and
unconditionally. A heart large enough to
love even his enemies and face the coming suffering of the cross, because of
his compassion for every one, for all humanity.
Jesus has a heart with courage born of love – a heart large enough to
face this dangerous crowd and still speak the truth to them.
This
scene comes after Jesus had already made some pretty bold, if indirect,
statements concerning his deity – a couple of chapters earlier in John he spoke
with a Samaritan Woman about spiritual matters and she tells him that she knows
that the Messiah is coming and when he comes, he will explain everything. His response to her was, “I who speak to you
am he.” And in an earlier scene with
pretty much the same crowd who had tried to stone him the first time, he said
to them, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the
one who glorifies me. Though you do not
know him, I know him. If I said I did
not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought
of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.
I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!” It comes as the culmination of a speech where
Jesus states that he is the good shepherd.
Jesus doesn’t say to the crowd, “I am the Messiah,” directly. Instead, he uses symbolic language that
speaks to the heart of each listener. And
here in this passage and this discourse with the Pharisees, Jesus evokes the
same image – that of a shepherd leading his sheep. For they hear and know his voice. While it is true that belief can be achieved
through intellectual persuasion, it is, ultimately, the heart of a person that
fully grasps, understands, and ultimately accepts Christ, often by faith alone.
Although
John often uses the generic term, the Jews, he is referring specifically to the
Pharisees and other religious leaders.
Here in our text, they want Jesus to end all the suspense and state
plainly if he is, in fact, the Messiah.
They want clear, precise language; and it’s exactly what Jesus provides,
although they still don’t like the way he says it. For he says quite plainly, “I have told you,
and you do not believe”. This statement
said precisely this way allows Jesus to avoid the trap they are trying to set
for him making a statement for which they can then accuse him. In addition, it gives their hearts one more
chance to receive the truth of who Jesus is, if they would only hear and
listen.
I
don’t think God makes anyone believe – it is our choice to do so or not. Eyes can be open, yet unable to see. Ears can be open, yet unable to hear. Hearts can be open, yet unwilling to fully
grasp and understand the love that is offered.
Jesus states in vs. 26 that they do not believe; not because they couldn’t,
but rather - they simply wouldn’t.
Jesus, in essence says to them, “Look at my works. Actions speak far louder than any words I can
say; seeing is believing, is it not?
What do my actions and all the signs and wonders I’ve provided, tell you
who I am?”
Jesus
boldly deals with their lack of faith, and states quite succinctly the rewards
for those who believe. But because of their
lack, they do not believe. Jesus has not
asked for blind faith. He doesn’t say,
“Believe because I tell you to believe.”
He wants us to fully know, to fully comprehend by listening and seeing,
because he demonstrated who he was over
and over again. But the Pharisees’ and
other religious leader’s hearts were hardened against him.
The
reasons for their disbelief, I think, were many. For these religious leaders, there was much
at stake. If Jesus indeed was the
Messiah, the prestige of their positions as religious leaders would certainly
suffer, be in question, or simply be eliminated. Their income would be lost as their flock
turned to Christ. Their power and
influence would suffer. They could not
afford for Jesus to be who he said he was, even though his coming was
prophesied, even though everything about him fit the prophecies. And, I think, more importantly, everything
they interpreted about God, the Messiah, and their beliefs would be in
question. Because this Messiah wasn’t
the ruler they were expecting, that they had been believing in and teaching
about themselves.
Jesus
places the consequence of their disbelief squarely on the shoulders of their
refusal to believe his works. And he
offers the promise of protection to all believers when he says, “I give them
eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my
hand.”
Now
the biggest question is what does this story mean for us today? I think it lays out the very serious situation
that every person faces – belief in Christ or not.
Jesus
gives us an opportunity to recognize who he is; not based solely on what he
says, but also by what he has done. He
challenges us to open our hearts and he wills us to see and hear the truth
around us for what it is. I think that
is the heart of evangelism. It’s not
simply passing out flyers or tracts, knocking on people’s doors to ask them if
they believe in Jesus Christ. It’s not
about getting up on some soap box and shouting that the end of the world is at
hand and you better believe. It’s not
about giving someone a talk about the four spiritual laws. It’s about being active in other people’s
lives; showing them Christ. It’s about
having open and honest conversations about your own faith journey with others,
allowing them to see Christ in you, just as Jesus showed the power and love of
God in him to those who were willing to see and learn. It’s about doing and being so that people can
see the power of Christ in you. Because
just as Jesus said that God was in him, that he and the Father are One, Jesus
is also in us.
A friend of mine on Facebook posted
the image of Jimmy Carter and under the image it said, “Jimmy Carter (and I
would add Rosalyn Carter as well) is an elegant reminder that Christianity is a
practice not a declaration.”
Ultimately
the question becomes: Are we actively practicing our beliefs so that others can
see Christ in us? And sometimes that
takes a great deal of courage.
Thanks be to God. AMEN.
Offertory - Ashley Mayersky solo, “Mom” by Garth Brooks
Doxology
Prayer of Dedication
Gracious
God, You open Your hand in blessing and give us life. Signs of Your love surround us. Take these gifts we offer and use them for
the glory of Your name. Make us living
symbols of Your compassion for this world.
However we are able, may we reach out in love and mercy to help bring Your
healing and light to this world. AMEN.
Closing Hymn – Seek Ye First Hymn #333/713
Benediction –
As Christ’s Big Heart Courage leads his followers, may be
go out into the world with the same Big Heart Courage and share His love with
others. Go in peace. AMEN.
Postlude
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