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Woship Resources 2008-2009 — Year B: Be a Sanctuary of Christ's Peace
Return to Year B: 2008-2009
Resource Index
Sunday, February 22, 2009
“We’ve Never Seen Anything like This!”
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany (Ordinary Time)
Scriptures: Isaiah 43:18–25; Psalm 41; II Corinthians
1:18–22;
Mark 2:1–12/2:1–9 IV; Alma 10:89–100; Doctrine and Covenants 42:13a
Ask several people in the congregation, in advance, to say the following
words (referred to as a Praise Shout): “Praise to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.” This will occur following the drama,
each hymn, the scripture reading, and the sermon.
For the worship center, display an illustration of Jesus healing the
paralyzed man who was lowered though the roof.
Prelude
Greeting
Drama: “Through the Roof” based on Mark 2:1–12
There is a script available at
http://home.mchsi.com/~wallestadn/roof.htm. (PLEASE NOTE that
there is NO www. in the address.) Be sure to follow the
conditions of use indicated on the Web site.
OR Scripture Reading: Alma 10:89–100
Praise Shout as indicated above
Prayer: Consider using these focus points.
• Jesus, thank you for knowing our needs. Thank you for having the
power to meet those needs.
• Please help us to come to you whenever we have a need. Help us to
rely on your power to meet those needs.
• Help us to encourage others to bring their needs to you, too,
Jesus.
Hymn: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” HS 187
OR “We Would See Jesus” HS 217
Praise Shout
Activity
Hand out small cards to the congregation. These represent the mat where
the paralyzed man lay. Ask the congregation to bring to mind friends and
family who are in need of healing at this time who they would like to bring
to the feet of Jesus. Encourage them to write their names on the card and
bring the cards up to the worship center.
Following a few moments of silent prayers for those listed, ask someone,
perhaps a teacher or evangelist, to offer a prayer of healing.
Hymn: “Bear Each Other’s Burdens” HS 369
OR “Lord, Who Views All People Precious” HS 459
Praise Shout
Sermon
Based on Mark 2:1–12
Prayer for Peace
Praise Shout
Alternate or Second Activity
Use this activity if the drama “Through the Roof” is used earlier. Pass
lengths of rope around the congregation—one per pew or row of chairs. Ask
each person to hold on to the rope and ask themselves, “If this rope
symbolically ties me to material things in my life, do I have the faith to
let go of it now? to drop it for Jesus to use? to trust his authority to
forgive sins and heal brokenness?” Ask them to let go of the rope. Have
ushers come down the aisles to pick up the ropes. Have them take them to the
“rooftop” (part of the drama scene) and drop them through the roof.
Hymn: “God Forgave My Sin in Jesus’ Name” HS 382
OR “Fairest Lord Jesus” HS 226
Praise Shout
Hymn of Preparation: “Teach Me, My God and King” HS 439
OR “In Nature’s Voice We Hear You, Lord” HS 441
Have the congregation or a small group sing.
Praise Shout
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.
Blessing and Receiving of Mission Tithes
Scripture Reading: Luke 9:1–2, 6 and/or Doctrine and Covenants 42:13a
Praise Shout
*Closing Hymn: “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” HS 493
OR “Lord, as We Rise to Leave” HS 491
*Praise Shout
*Prayer
*Sending Forth
Give us your love, faith, and courage as we leave today. Help us to pray,
believing in your power to heal. Amen.
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: Isaiah 43:18–25; Psalm 41;
II Corinthians 1:18–22; Mark 2:1–12/2:1–9 IV
Exploring the Scriptures
Action, immediacy, and tension are all elements found in Mark. In just the
first forty-five verses, Jesus is baptized, driven into the wilderness, calls
disciples, and performs numerous miraculous healings. However, in today’s text
what began as positive acceptance begins to change. The writer of Mark uses a
technique of framing one story within another. In chapter 2, a healing story
frames a story of controversy—the first of several such stories.
Jesus was in town, and the house where he was speaking was filled. We are not
certain whose house it was, but it is possible that it was Peter’s (see
1:29–34). The writer gives no details as to why so many people were in
attendance. Apparently people were invited. Intentional invitation is an element
of healthy congregations.
In chapter 2, verse 2, the writer tells us that Jesus was speaking “the word”
to all those in the house, but we find no definition of what is meant by the
word. However, in chapter 4:14–20 and 33, Mark again talks about the word. There
the word is defined as “the secret of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11). Jesus was
teaching about the kingdom of God.
The house was so full that the four friends and the man on the mat could not
enter (v. 2). Were those in the house unwilling to allow the man to enter? Is it
possible he and his friends were not well respected in the community? Could they
have been some of the marginalized? Were people afraid that granting these five
entrance might keep them from hearing and seeing Jesus? Were the people so
focused that they didn’t even notice the four friends and the man on the mat? We
don’t know why space was not made for this man to enter. As a church called to
invite and value all people, we must explore similar questions about making
space for others.
The friends of the paralytic found another path to Jesus, one that would
eventually “interrupt” Jesus’ teaching with falling debris and the man being
lowered to the floor. However, what some might see as an interruption, Jesus saw
as an opportunity to bring wholeness. When Jesus stopped and attended to this
man’s needs, he was demonstrating for the crowd what “the word” (v. 2) was
about. As a church, we have been called to create pathways that lead people to
the peace of Christ even when it seems to be an interruption.
By addressing this man’s physical and spiritual needs, bringing wholeness
into his life, Jesus created a controversy. Jesus demonstrated the dispensing of
God’s grace in ways that were not familiar, in ways they had not seen. These
leaders understood their religion to have clear distinct lines, and Jesus’ words
and actions were blurring those lines. Jesus’ message of grace was unfamiliar
and rejected by some; others recognized it as new life and freedom. The
religious leaders defined it as blasphemy, while others in the crowd exclaimed
that they had never seen anything like this. As the church reaches out to help
bring wholeness into the lives of people, there will be times when that help
will create controversy. However, in the midst of that controversy others may be
exclaiming with joy, “We have never seen (or felt) anything like this!”
Central Ideas
- As disciples and congregations attempt to bring wholeness and freedom
into the world, we may experience opposition from within and outside the
church.
- Jesus was demonstrating that God’s kingdom is about people experiencing
wholeness through forgiveness and acceptance.
- Opportunities to share God’s grace may be viewed by some as
interruptions.
- All must understand the need to be forgiven and freed from those things
which are barriers to God’s love and the love of others.
Questions for the Speaker
- How is your congregation spreading the news that “Jesus is in town”?
- How is space being provided in your congregation so all can be invited
in? What obstacles do you encounter in providing this space?
- To bring wholeness into this man’s life, Jesus was challenging religious
and cultural trends. How is your congregation being called to challenge any
religious and cultural trends?
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