Respond to God’s Call

Scriptures
Jonah 3:1–5, 10; Psalm 62:5–12; 1 Corinthians 7:29–31; Mark 1:14–20/1:12–18 IV; Doctrine and Covenants 154:7a

Gathering Music
“Amazing Grace” HS 104
OR “Bring Forth the Kingdom” SP 9
OR “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” HS 20

Call to Worship

Leader: Let us praise God, our Creator.

Congregation: In God alone we find our hope.

Leader: God is our rock and salvation.

Congregation: God is our mighty rock.

Leader: Trust in God at all times, O people: Pour out your hearts to God, our refuge.

Congregation: One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that God is strong and God is loving.

All: We give thanks to God, our Creator. Amen.

Time of Confession and Forgiveness
The following places a time of silent reflection between each stanza of the song. The song may be sung by one or three soloists or by a musical ensemble.

“I Have Called You by Your Name” R-10

After each stanza, the congregation sits in silent reflection. Allow about one minute of silence after each stanza. At the conclusion of the final time of silence, the presider says, “Amen” to conclude the meditation.

Story Moment
Someone tells the story from Mark 1:14–20, and as the story is told (or read) five children pantomime Jesus calling Simon, Andrew, James, and John. The storyteller then asks the children what it felt like to portray the characters. What does it feel like to know that Jesus calls you? How did you want to respond?

Proclamation of the Word
(based on Mark 1:14–20/1:12–18 IV) The sermon can follow the children’s moment by beginning with the two questions: What does it feel like to know that Jesus calls you? How do you want to respond?

Ministry of Music
“The Summons” Worship & Rejoice 350
OR “Come Follow Me Forever”
     by Patrick Liebergen/Joseph Haydn, GIA Publications (G-5387), two-part, www.giamusic.com
OR “O Sing Unto the Lord” by Michael Bedford, Choristers Guild, unison
     www.choristersguild.org/catalog.html
OR “Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult” HS 371

Disciples’ Generous Response
Our response to Jesus isn’t a simple “yes.” It involves every aspect of our lives.

Hold up a dollar bill. How can this be part of my response? Conclude the offertory statement by placing the dollar bill on the sacramental table, suggesting that our generosity in our offering is making sacramental what we often treat casually or with little regard. Invite those who are able to place their offerings on the table.

Each Sunday, as part of the Disciples’ Generous Response, we ask you to integrate the message of “share equally” between Local/Mission Center and World Mission Tithes. Generosity stories are provided to keep the church in touch with how contributions to Mission Tithes focus on the whole mission of Jesus Christ through the five life-changing, church-changing, and world-changing mission initiatives.

Please use the stories, testimonies, and up-to-date contribution information as part of your offertory ministry. Visit www.CofChrist.org/generositystories/ to print a copy, or contact your pastor, congregational financial officer, or worship coordinator for a copy.

Blessing and Receiving of Mission Tithes

Prayer for Peace

*Hymn of Commitment
“All Are Called,” R-9
OR “Tell It! Tell It Out with Gladness” HS 470

*Sending Forth
If you will move out in faith and confidence to proclaim my gospel my Spirit will empower you and there will be many who respond. Go in Peace, called by God to be the presence of Christ in the world. Amen. —Doctrine and Covenants 154:7a, adapted

SERMON HELPS

Scripture: Mark 1:14–20

Exploring the Scripture

Unlike Matthew and Luke, the gospel of Mark does not begin with a story of the birth of Jesus. It begins with a short 13-verse prologue to the gospel that includes Jesus’ baptism by John and then immediately starts telling of Jesus’ ministry. The passage for today begins with the announcement that John has been arrested (also translated as handed over to the authorities) and tells of Jesus’ response to this news. The author probably already wants to foreshadow the arrest and handing over that will take place later in Jesus’ life. But it also tells us that a transition takes place now that John has been arrested. It is after this arrest that Jesus starts his ministry in Galilee proclaiming the good news of God. We are further told that the kingdom has come near and so Jesus calls us to change our ways (repent) and to believe this good news that can change our lives even more.

After providing a context for why we would want to believe in the good news, Jesus then begins the process of calling disciples to receive the good news of God. He first encounters Simon and Andrew as they are practicing their chosen profession of fishing. In one short sentence, he gives them an opportunity to leave behind everything they currently find important and follow him on a mission that is not clearly defined. While he tells them they will fish for people, he does not elaborate on what that really means. He does not provide a manual for the task or objectives to seek or even where they will go to do what he is asking. His call is simply a personal invitation of the earlier call to believe in the good news. Miraculously, the brothers are able to receive the power of God’s call as presented by Jesus and immediately leave their nets and follow him. The use of “immediate” as used here with the response will be found continuously in Mark’s story and gives expression to the urgency of getting out the good news.

In these few verses we see an example of the theology of receiving and sharing that underpins our understanding of community and generosity. Jesus has received God’s love and grace through his baptism by John and by the Holy Spirit. The power of this love calls Jesus to share it with others through a lifetime of ministry that begins with the calling of these first disciples. The disciples then become the recipients of God’s love and grace by receiving what Jesus is sharing with them. Their response to having received this love allows them to respond to Jesus’ call to join him in spreading the good news of the gospel. And so we see the beginning of how God’s love and grace, as revealed in Jesus Christ, has continued through multiple cycles of receiving and sharing by many disciples through the centuries since this scripture to our own time.

There is one other understanding of receiving and sharing included in this story. In addition to the disciples receiving from Jesus, Jesus also receives from the disciples. He receives their companionship as he begins his life of ministry. Through the acceptance of his call by the disciples he also receives a confirmation of God’s faithfulness in supporting Jesus in his ministry. The disciples’ immediate response to Jesus’ call to follow him confirms to Jesus that the kingdom of God has come near. Together, Jesus and the disciples begin to form a community based on the theology of receiving and sharing. The community we are called to build today awaits our response to God’s call.

Central Ideas

1. Believing in the good news allows us to seek true justice from within the kingdom of God.
2. Jesus invites us into community with others so we can experience “the kingdom of God…come near.”
3. Our invitation to others is a continuation of the theology of receiving and sharing that began with Jesus’ invitation to the disciples.

Questions for the Speaker

1. In what ways can you and your congregation seek true justice from within the kingdom of God?
2. How can you and your congregation respond to God’s call “immediately” as did Simon and Andrew?
3. Doctrine and Covenants 164:9b includes, “The rise of Zion the beautiful, the peaceful reign of Christ, awaits your whole-hearted response to the call to make and steadfastly hold to God’s covenant of peace in Jesus Christ.” How can you relate this scripture to today’s scripture from Mark? Consider responses for both individuals and congregations.