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Sunday, April 26, 2009
Be Witnesses

Scriptures: Acts 3:12–19; Psalm 4; I John 3:1–7; Luke 24:36b–48/24:35–47 IV; Mosiah 9:39–41; Doctrine and Covenants 162:3b

Prelude

Welcome

*Opening Hymn: “Tell It! Tell It Out with Gladness” HS 470
OR “Instruments of Your Peace” NS 21

*Invocation

*Response

Call to Worship: Psalm 4 OR Doctrine and Covenants 162:3b

Prayer for Peace see page 27

Hymn: “God Forgave My Sin in Jesus’ Name” HS 382
OR “God of Grace and God of Laughter” SP 10

Drama: “When You Care Enough to Invite”

Hymn: “Thy Word” Worship and Rejoice 664

OR “My Lord, I Know That All My Life” HS 457

Message

Disciples’ Generous Response

*Closing Hymn: “Send Me Forth, O Blessed Master” HS 424
OR “Lord, I Give You” NS 32

*Sending Forth: Matthew 28:16–20

*Postlude

Narrator: There are many ways to invite someone to church. Right now, we would like to show you several very common methods to use when inviting someone to come to church with you.

Narrator: Here we have Puppet 1 inviting Puppet 2 to come to church. He will use what is commonly referred to as the “Simple, Direct Method.”

Puppet 1: (No feeling) Come to church with me.

Puppet 2: (No feeling) No.

Narrator: This method is simple, but lacks feeling, energy, and, most importantly, success.

Narrator: However, there is another version of this method that has met with more initial success. We like to call it the “Brute Strength and Ignorance Method.”

Puppet 1: Hey, George!

Puppet 2: What?

Narrator: As you can see, you can get people to church, but you might also get yourself thrown in jail. Besides that, you quickly begin to lose friends. Let’s look at another method.

Narrator: Excuse me. Could we talk to you?

Puppet 3: (panting) I’d love to, but I really must be going.

Narrator: Where are you going?

Puppet 3: I’m going to church.

Narrator: That’s nice. But, why do you have the cookie?

Puppet 3: I’m bringing a friend to church.

Narrator: The cookie?

Puppet 3: Of course not. I like to call it an incentive. (Puppet 3 looks over shoulder.) Yep, I think it’s working; listen…

Narrator: You mean…

Puppet 3: You better believe it. (Exit Puppet 3 rapidly; enter Monster puppet, sniffing.)

Narrator: (pointing offstage after Puppet 3) He, he, he…He went that way, I, I, I…think. Do you know where you’re going?

Monster: Monster not know! Monster not care! Where cookie go, monster go! COOOOKIIIIEEEEE!!!

Narrator: That’s another way to get someone to come to church. Our friend called it, “incentive.” We like to call it “The Bribe.” It works, but I’d hate to be in his position when he runs out of cookies.

Puppet 1: (voice very show-biz) Hello! My name is Marty Shimmerhorn, and do I have great news for you!

Puppet 2: What do you mean, “good news”?

Puppet 1: Not just good news, my friend, I said, Gr-r-r-r-eat news!

Puppet 2: (puzzled) Uh…right…sure…what’s the news?

Puppet 1: You have just become eligible to win two wonderful prizes.

Puppet 2: (interested) I have? How do I get the prizes?

Puppet 1: All you have to do is answer the three bonus questions correctly. Are you ready?

Puppet 2: Sure, I’ll give it a try.

Puppet 1: Wonderful. I need to know your full name.

Puppet 2: John Q. Smith

Puppet 1: That’s right. That’s the first question.

Puppet 2: It was?

Puppet 1: Are you ready for the second question?

Puppet 2: I guess so.

Puppet 1: How much is 1+1?

Puppet 2: (confused) Are you kidding? What kind of contest is this?

Puppet 1: Just answer the question, Mr. Smith.

Puppet 2: Let’s see…1+1? That would be 5?

Puppet 1: (pause) Uh…close enough! You win this neat-o Sunday-school pencil.

Puppet 2: (unimpressed) Oh wow. Be still, my beating heart.

Puppet 1: Now for the big, final bonus question. Are you ready, John?

Puppet 2: (Puppet 2 looks at Puppet 1 in a “Are you kidding?” way.) Oh, why not. Hit me with it.

Puppet 1: OK, John, think carefully. This is for all the marbles. Who was the first president of the United States?

Puppet 2: The first president? Don’t tell me; I know this one. It’s…uh…Ben Franklin.

Puppet 1: (to audience) Oh, brother. He’s not going to make this easy on me, is he. (to Puppet 2) What an original answer, John. For that, you win our grand prize.

Puppet 2: I do? (with exuberance) What is it? What is it?

Puppet 1: For that one-of-a-kind answer, you get an all-expense-paid trip for two to our Sunday school this Sunday! Yee Ha!

Puppet 2: Hey, wait a minute. I can’t go to your Sunday school; I have to go to mine.

Puppet 1: (upset) What!? Well, then you don’t get to keep the pencil. How am I going to win our attendance contest if I keep meeting deadbeats like you. (starts to exit) Besides, everyone knows 1+1 is 3. Geezzz! (Puppet 1 exists.)

Narrator: Well folks, you’ve seen some mighty interesting ways of inviting people to church. However, none of them seem to be successful. Looking back, it seems that what is missing is love. Isn’t this the reason we go to church in the first place? We all want to experience the love of God, and we want others to experience it too. We have to remember that the reason we want people to come to church is so they can hear the good news that God loves them.

Puppet 4: (enthusiastically) Hi, Mary.

Puppet 5: (Looks up at the sound of the voice and in a very melancholy voice says) Oh, hello, Jane. (She looks back down at her feet.)

Puppet 4: Mary, what’s the matter? You seem a little down.

Puppet 5: I guess I am. Everyone went to the mall and they didn’t invite me. I guess they just don’t care about me. Hey, how come you didn’t go with them?

Puppet 4: Me? Oh, well, malls are okay sometimes, but tonight I have a much more exciting place to be. I’m going someplace where I know people care about me.

Puppet 5: Oh, where’s that?

Puppet 4: I’m going to church.

Puppet 5: To church? On Saturday?

Puppet 4: Sure, God’s love isn’t limited to Sunday, you know. We have lots of fun singing together, worshiping together, and praying together. Oh, and we have these really wacky puppet shows too. Why don’t you come with me tonight? I’ll pick you up at 6:30. All right?

Puppet 5: OK, why not?

Puppet 4: Great! I’ll see you then.

Narrator: There you have it—the perfect invitation. One friend reached out to another demonstrating God’s love. Jane wanted to share something very important with Mary. She was open and honest and let her friend know that God’s love is for everyone. No one should be left behind. A good invitation doesn’t need gimmicks; it certainly doesn’t need violence. Just offer the invitation. God’s love is free to all who accept the invitation and come. 　

Scriptures: Acts 3:12–19; Psalm 4; John 3:1–7;
Luke 24:36b–48/24:35–47 IV

Today is the third Sunday of Easter. The narrative of the apostles’ response to Jesus’ death and resurrection appearances continues. One of those actions was the performance of miracles, such as the experience of Peter and John in the healing of the man who had been lame since birth. This miracle brings immediate attention from the crowd who knew the lame man from his years of begging. In Acts 3:12–19 we read Peter’s “sermon” as he preaches to the people who are amazed at what they have seen.

It is perhaps the reaction of the crowd to the healing that catches Peter’s attention and provides him with an opportunity to enlighten them in terms of what they were seeing. There was certainly no question in the minds of the lame man, Peter and John, and the people in terms of what had happened. But the people seemed to think it was Peter and John that had performed the miracle. Peter could not allow this misconception to stand. He passionately desired for them to know the truth that would heal and free them as well.

The sermon can focus on both explanation and invitation. First, the miracle is not about Peter and John; it is all about God’s glorification of his Son, Jesus Christ. The focus for the sermon is Jesus Christ. Second, Peter called the people to accountability; for they, or at least some of them, shared in the responsibility for the suffering and crucifixion of the Son of God, choosing a murderer over Jesus for release. Third, Peter bore his personal witness as to the resurrection of Jesus. Then came the core of his answer. The healing occurred because of the faith of the lame man in the name of Jesus and also the faith of the apostles to serve as instruments of the healing. This point planted the seed for the invitation that followed. Peter invited the people to repent of their sins, be converted, and anticipate a new life in their relationship with the resurrected Christ. Peter wanted the people to see the relationship between the healing of the lame man and the healing they, too, could experience. The miracle of healing was not primarily to be something witnessed in the life of someone else, but in their own lives as well. They were invited to witness both.

The themes for this sermon are related to the previous experience of Peter and the other apostles when Jesus appeared to them following his resurrection. In Luke 24 we find the author’s record of Jesus’ final message to his apostles, which includes the visual testament that Christ lives; the commission to preach repentance and remission of sins “beginning in Jerusalem”; their call to be witnesses of what they had seen and been taught; and the promise of Christ’s presence to be with them. The actions of Peter and John as they went up to the temple that day were responsive to Christ’s personal commission for them to be witnesses.

1. The gift of God’s love through Jesus Christ is extended to all people, even those who unknowingly reject it.
2. Disciples of Christ witness that which they have experienced as a blessing to others.
3. Faith, repentance, and fully committing one’s life to Christ are ways to more fully experience the presence of his Spirit.

1. When have you witnessed the miracle of healing?
2. What new opportunities to share the good news of the gospel might be present in your everyday life?
3. Where do you encounter the unmet spiritual and physical needs of people?
4. How can you and your congregation respond to Christ’s commission to be witnesses?
5. What congregational ministries are in place, or are to be added, that will contribute to the conversion or discipleship formation of Christ’s followers?

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