Woship Resources 2008-2009 — Year B: Be a Sanctuary of Christ's Peace

Return to Year B: 2008-2009 Resource Index

Sunday, February 15, 2009
Good as New!

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (Ordinary Time)

Scriptures: II Kings 5:1–14; Psalm 30; I Corinthians 9:24–27;
Mark 1:40–45/1:36–40 IV; Alma 27:43; Doctrine and Covenants 76:4g

Prelude

Welcome

Call to Worship: Psalm 30

Have someone do a dance or mime to interpret this powerful psalm.

*Hymn: “Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” HS 19
OR “Jesus” NS 22

*Opening Prayer and Prayer for Peace

*Response

Scripture: II Kings 5:1–14

Hymn: “Lay Your Hands” NS 27
OR “Lord, Help Me to Know Your Presence” NS 31
OR “Lord, Who Views All People Precious HS 459

Dramas: The Ministry of Jesus

Scene 1: Jesus heals a blind person.

Jesus is sitting on a bench. A friend brings a blind person to Jesus. Jesus touches the person’s eyes and he or she sees and looks around in amazement. They kneel at Jesus’ feet in gratitude and then stay still (holding their positions).

Scene 2: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.

Mary and Martha begin crying. Jesus leaves the newly sighted person and friend kneeling, and he approaches the women. They point pleadingly at the body of their dead brother. Jesus comforts the sisters. He then prays to the heavens and Lazarus arises and goes toward Jesus, Mary, and Martha and embraces the sisters. Then they stay still.

Scene 3: Jesus heals the lame person by the road.

Jesus walks away from the embracing trio and comes to a lame person by the road. Jesus stops, shows compassion, and assists the person to their feet who responds by dancing and praising God—and then stops still with arms raised.

Scene 4: Jesus heals the group.

Jesus walks around the congregation showing compassion, touching hands or heads of some, and stopping to smile at others. He returns to the rostrum/stage and goes to each “still” group to enliven them with a touch. They then follow him down the aisle and out of the sanctuary.

Song: “The Gentle Healer”

This song is by Michael Card and is on The Life CD. It is covered by the CCLI license if your congregation has one. It can be played between the scenes of the skit.

OR “There’s a Spirit in the Air” HS 214

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.

Offering Focus Question: “How far would you be willing to go to be healed by Jesus?”

Scripture: Alma 27:43 or Doctrine and Covenants 76:4g

Blessing and Receiving of Mission Tithes

Hymn: “Jesus’ Hands Were Kind Hands” HS 443
OR “Humble Yourself” NS 17

Scripture Reading: II Kings 5:1–14

Sermon

Based on II Kings 5:1–14

*Closing Hymn: “Make Us, O God, a Church That Shares HS 484
OR “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me” HS 284

*Sending Forth Prayer

Dear God,

When we feel like we’re in a hopeless situation that will never change, instead of becoming angry and giving up, help us to call on you for help. Thank you for times past when you have healed and made situations new. Help us remember and tell others about your wonderful power. In Jesus’ name, amen.

*Response: “Mourning into Dancing” NS 39
OR “Go Now Forth into the World” HS 436

*Postlude

Word searches and puzzles for children can be found to support II Kings 5:1–14. Go to www.children.calvarychapel.com/site/pdf/Old/Curr107.pdf on the Web.

Sermon Helps

Scriptures: II Kings 5:1–14; Psalm 30;
I Corinthians 9:24–27; Mark 1:40–45/1:36–40 IV

Exploring the Scriptures

This is a story worth telling. Commentary and application to the life of the worshipers have their place, but this is drama with a fascinating cast of characters, a well-developed plot, comic relief, insight into our human weaknesses, God’s activity in the midst of our lives, and a fine conclusion.

Let the well-crafted story speak for itself. Tell it well. Tell it in your own words. Better yet, turn it into a live drama with your own congregational “characters” cast as Naaman, the Israelite slave girl, the kings of Aram and Israel, Elisha, the servants of Naaman, etc. You might also want to add the story of Gehazi which completes the tale and the chapter. Fill up the baptismal font, turn it into the Jordan River, and let the whole congregation see Naaman get seven times wet and come out as good as new.

In addition to God, who were the principal players in this drama?

• Naaman: He was chief military commander of the Aramean army. He was a great man favored by the king of Aram (Syria), because he was victorious over Israel. Though he was a great man, he suffered from a terrible skin disease that carried strong social stigma and was associated with death. (In this reference “leprosy” may not be Hansen’s disease. Scholars indicate that the word leprosy in ancient times applied to a number of possible skin afflictions.)

• Young girl: She was a slave girl from Israel, possibly captured in the war that Naaman had won, and was serving as a housemaid to Naaman’s wife. She ironically became the way through which healing and salvation came to Naaman. She suggested to her mistress that the “prophet in Samaria” might heal her lord of his disease.

• Kings of Aram and Israel: Diplomatic rules were to be followed, especially during a time of peace. A letter was sent from one king to the other. The king of Israel, apparently without faith and unaware of the Prophet Elisha, assumed that he personally was being asked to cure Naaman. He knew he couldn’t heal him and likely wondered what hidden motive was behind the request from the Aramean king. He demonstrated his anxiety and anger by tearing his robes.

• Elisha: He was successor to the great prophet Elijah. Elisha was the “prophet in Samaria” of whom the young Israelite slave girl spoke. He was known broadly among believers in Israel as one who acted in God’s stead to bring, sustain, and restore life (see chapter 4). Naaman came to the door of Elisha’s home, but Elisha would not even greet Naaman. He sent a messenger to deliver the “order” for the commander (maybe just as the general himself would have done): “Go to the Jordan and wash yourself seven times and you will be clean.” Elisha’s act showed that prophets of God were also persons through whom power was manifest—miracles, in fact! Elisha’s act proved to Naaman that there was no other god in all the earth but the one Elisha represented.

Central Ideas
  1. In this story God delivered, saved, and was inclusive. God saved even the Gentiles, even an Aramean military commander who defeated Israel in battle.
  2. God’s generosity was given without cost. Elisha would not accept the riches of gold and silver that Naaman offered for his healing.
  3. The path to restoration takes us through places we would not choose or imagine. Restoration means facing our pride, submitting to the wise guidance of God, understanding that the “high drama” of transformation comes in simple obedience and trust, and following a way we would not choose for ourselves.
  4. This story portrays the immeasurable importance of an unnamed slave girl who shared news that became the good news of salvation and transformation for Naaman—and impacted other lives as well. There are many “great people” who, in contrast to persons like Naaman, are unacknowledged in the world but do incalculable things for God and the reign of peace on the earth.
  5. God desires to make us new, cleanse us, baptize us into new life, and bring us wholeness and salvation if we will acknowledge our “dis-ease” and turn in trust and obedience toward the Source of healing.

Questions for the Speaker
  1. In what surprising, difficult, or unimagined way has healing come to your life to make you good as new?
  2. What are the connections between the story of Naaman and the sacrament of Christian baptism?
  3. What other scriptural or modern-day occurrences illustrate the importance of the unnamed, “unimportant” people (like the Israelite slave girl) who become key figures in God’s salvation history?
  4. How do you join God as a prophetic people to be a congregation and a Community of Christ that makes some person, some place, good as new?

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