|
Woship Resources 2008-2009 — Year B: Be a Sanctuary of Christ's Peace
Return to Year B: 2008-2009
Resource Index
Sunday, January 18, 2009
See!
Racial Justice Day
Second Sunday after the Epiphany (Ordinary Time)
Scriptures: I Samuel 3:1–20; Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18; I
Corinthians 6:12–20; John 1:43–51; II Nephi 6:41; Doctrine and
Covenants 163:3a
Display two packages—one large and beautifully wrapped and the other small
and poorly wrapped—in the worship center. The large one should contain something
of little value and the small one something of great worth.
Prelude
Welcome/Caring and Sharing
Call to worship: Psalm 139:13–18 and/or II Nephi 6:41
While reading from Psalms, display—on PowerPoint or in a collage—pictures
of all races and ages in the diverse human family.
*Hymn: “O Lord, Life Is Sacred” Tune, HS 204
O Lord, life is sacred, a gift from above;
Each person is worthy of honor and love.
Your works are so marvelous, we’re wonderfully made;
We each bear Your image, conception to grave.
Your hands shaped and formed us before we took breath;
You knit us together and clothed us with flesh.
You give us our life and ordain all our days;
Your works, Lord, are wonderful; we lift our hearts in praise.
Upheld since conception and carried since birth,
To old age and hair of gray, we’re still of great worth.
We still bear Your likeness, the stamp of Your hand;
You made us in Jesus for all the works you planned.
And so, may we honor each person we meet;
The kindness You’ve shown us, we wish to repeat
From children to aged—we’ll serve them in Your Name;
As You honor us, O Lord, we pledge to do the same.
—Susan H. Peterson
OR “Master, Speak! Thy Servant Heareth” HS 410
*Invocation
*Response
Scripture Reading: John 1:43–51
Focus Moment: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Overcoming Prejudice
Do you know what the word “prejudice” means? It means making up your mind
before you check out the reality. Nathanael had already made up his mind that
the Messiah could not possibly come from a nothing place like Nazareth. This
story would have had an unhappy ending except that when Philip invited him to
“Come and see,” Nathanael did just that. Before the story had ended, he was
proclaiming Jesus to be the Son of God, the king of Israel.
Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday we celebrate today, was concerned that
we might say, “How can anything good come from a person who is not my color?” He
dreamed of a time when his children “would not be judged by the color of their
skin but by the content of their character.” Have you ever heard someone say you
can’t tell a book by its cover? Well, you also can’t judge a gift by its
wrapping. Let’s check it out.
Have the children unwrap the packages. Remember, the large one should contain
something of little value and the small one something of great worth.
The next time you find yourself jumping to conclusions, remember Nathanael
and the two packages, and see for yourself the real truth of the matter. Zora
Neale Hurston—an African-American renaissance writer—in her book, Their Eyes
Were Watching God, wrote, “White folk that know me, like me. It’s
only the white folk that don’t know me that don’t like me.” Let’s get to know
people and like them for who they are.
Congregational Hymn: “We Shall Overcome”
1. We shall overcome;
We shall overcome;
We shall overcome some day.
Chorus
Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome some day.
2. We’ll find hope and joy;
We’ll find hope and joy;
We’ll find hope and joy some day.
Chorus
3. We’ll find love and peace;
We’ll find love and peace;
We’ll find love and peace some day.
Chorus
4. We’ll walk hand in hand;
We’ll walk hand in hand;
We’ll walk hand in hand some day.
Chorus
OR “We Are One in the Spirit” HS 466
Message
Based on I Samuel 3:1–20 and/or John 1:43–51
Prayer for Peace
Disciples’ Generous Response
Each Sunday, as part of the Disciples’ Generous Response, we ask you to
integrate the message of “share equally” between Local and World Ministries
Mission Tithes. Generosity stories are provided to keep the church in touch
with how contributions to Mission Tithes spread the peace of Jesus Christ.
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.
Reflection
Today we have learned that the message of Jesus is often spread with
great effectiveness from one friend to another. We will not want to miss
opportunities to witness personally when they arise. But we also want
the gospel to be carried to places where we can not go ourselves. We
want ministers who are trained in specific missionary tools as well as
resources that convey our message to different cultures. When we
contribute money for these purposes, we are making it possible to share
both our witness and our resources.
Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 163:3a
Blessing and Receiving of Mission Tithes and Offerings
*Closing Hymn: “Weave” NS 51
OR “In Christ There Is No East or West” HS 448/449
*Sending Forth
Lift every voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise,
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us;
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.
—James Weldon Johnson
*Postlude
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: I Samuel 3:1–20; Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18; I
Corinthians 6:12–20; John 1:43–51
Exploring the Scriptures
Our text for today begins with verse 43 of John 1. In this verse the phrase,
“the next day,” should raise curiosity about the previous days. In those
previous days (vv. 19, 29, and 36) we read of John the Baptist’s testimony of
the coming Messiah. It is possible that the disciples would not have recognized
Jesus as he silently walked by (v. 36) had it not been for the Baptist’s
testimony. In that scene the disciples came, heard the testimony, and
immediately followed Jesus. The writer of John makes clear the power of
testimony and invitation throughout this story.
In verse 38 Jesus asks these new followers what they are looking for. They
respond by asking Jesus where he was staying. Jesus gave no address but simply
responded, “Come and see.” Maybe the disciples were simply asking where he was
rooming. However, the Greek word for “stay” also has a deeper meaning, referring
to where one is abiding in life. Maybe the disciples were asking deeper
questions, “What is the meaning of life for you?” or “Where do you find safety
and comfort in the difficult times of life?” Jesus responded, “Come and see,”
possibly as an invitation to come and abide with him in a deeper relationship.
Andrew, one of the first followers of Jesus, moved immediately into mission
by demonstrating the invitational model set by Jesus (v. 40). He found his
brother Simon Peter and took him to see Jesus (v. 42). In verse 43 Jesus extends
the invitation to Philip. The chain of invitation continues as Philip
immediately shares his find with Nathanael. However, for the first time in this
passage, Philip’s invitation is met with resistance. Nathanael questions how
anything notable could come out of Nazareth. How often are persons quickly
judged to have little worth or value because of their “home town,” ethnicity,
skin color, or lifestyle? Today we are emphasizing racial justice and are called
to recognize the worth of people in all the “Nazareths” of the world. These
first disciples who responded to the invitation “Come and see” discovered a
Jesus who would courageously act on a vision that all are of worth. That vision
of the peaceable kingdom continues to be set before us. Through the words of
Doctrine and Covenants 163:3b and c, we are called to courageously challenge
those things which are contrary to God’s restoring purposes and to tear down
walls of fear and prejudice.
Apparently Philip knew his arguments would not convince Nathanael. He did not
spend time trying to convince Nathanael by pointing out the Hebrew Scriptures,
which tell of this Messiah. Philip does not scoff at Nathanael’s remarks; he
does not argue. He simply responds as Jesus did in verse 39 by saying, “Come and
see.” Nathanael responded to that simple invitation. He met Jesus and something
miraculous occurred in that meeting. Nathanael was convinced and confessed that
Jesus was the Son of God. It is possible that there are those in our sphere of
influence who have been bombarded with arguments and all sorts of proofs but
have not heard or experienced the invitation to “Come and see.”
The I Samuel and John texts both highlight God’s call and invitation as well
as peoples’ responses to them. They also illustrate how the call and invitation
can come in various forms and how others may play an important role in people
hearing and understanding those calls of invitation. Samuel responded to God’s
call with Eli’s help. The early disciples responded to Jesus through the
testimony of John and others.
Central Ideas
- Invitation is a key element in the text by John. One of the most
productive methods of evangelism is one person sharing their testimony of
the Christ with another and inviting the other to come and see.
- Jesus invites us to come and abide in a deeper relationship with him.
- We are called to see the love of God in all persons, no matter what
“Nazareth” they come from.
Questions for the Speaker
- As a disciple, how can you and members of your congregation be the
vehicles of invitation? How does your congregation invite others to come and
see the living Christ?
- What is your response to Jesus’ question, “What are you looking for?”
- As a disciple, do you ask where Jesus is staying?
- How does your congregation practice the worth and value of all people,
no matter their “Nazareth” of origin?
Return to Year B: 2008-2009
Resource Index
| 
