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Sunday, August 23, 2009
Does This Offend You?

Scriptures: I Kings 8:1, 6, 10–11, 22–30, 41–43; Psalm 84; Ephesians 6:10–20;
John 6:56–69; II Nephi 9:51–53; Doctrine and Covenants 12:3

Prelude

Meditation

“God, our protector, keep us in mind; always give strength to your people. For if we can be with you even one day, it is better than a thousand without you.” —Psalm 84:10–11 adapted

Introit: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” HS 20
OR “We Are People of God’s Peace” SP 6

Welcome

Call to Worship: Psalm 84

*Hymn: “Lord Jesus, of You I Will Sing” SP 31
OR “Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Supreme” HS 40

*Invocation

*Response

We Open Ourselves to the Spirit see page 27

Disciples’ Generous Response

Hymn: “God, Who Touchest Earth with Beauty” HS 172
OR “O Christ, My Lord, Create in Me” HS 174

Sermon

Prayer for Peace see page 27

*Hymn of Sending Forth: “Take the Path of the Disciple” R-19
OR “Make Us, O God, a Church That Shares” HS 484

*Benediction: Doctrine and Covenants 12:3

*Postlude

Scriptures: I Kings 8:1, 6, 10–11, 22–30, 41–43; Psalm 84; Ephesians 6:10–20; John 6:56–69

The interaction between Jesus and the Jews, reflected in the text for this sermon, is an extension of the experience this group of followers had when they were a part of the miraculous feeding recorded in the beginning of chapter 6. In their lack of understanding of who he was, Jesus now confronts them and lays out the expectation that they must be willing to partake of his flesh and blood, if they are to follow him.

As the Jews and disciples listened to Jesus describe this outrageous claim, there were some who struggled in accepting what Jesus had to say. But when his own disciples had difficulty accepting Jesus’ claim, he simply challenged their understanding by saying, “Does this offend you?”

When we use the word “offend” in our language today, it means to be displeased, violated, or made angry. But in the Greek language the word “offend” means stumbling block, hindrance, or to cause one to distrust. So when Jesus challenges the disciples on their sense of being offended, he is saying, “Is this a barrier or stumbling block for you?” “Do my words cause you to distrust me?” In this challenge placed before the disciples, we, too, can find ourselves struggling when the message of Jesus’ life calls us to go deeper in our commitment and response to discipleship.

The scriptural passage for today has a powerful message about the Eucharist or Communion meal. Though this Sunday is not designated for this sacrament, there is still an important message about sharing in the body of Jesus. It is a message of invitation to experience the sacramental nature of God’s presence intersecting with our lives when we give place to feeding on the word of Jesus’ life. This author builds on his witness from chapter 1 when he states, “And the Word became flesh and lived among us” (v. 14). When Jesus calls us to share in his flesh and blood, it is the Word of his life that fills us. It is sharing in that Word of life where God abides with us and we abide with God and experience eternal life.

Does this message today offend us, or can we hear in these words of Jesus the invitation to share in an intimate relationship with him that takes us deeper into the experience of eternal life?

1. We may be challenged by the message that Jesus offers us. But God does not seek to offend us; God seeks to abide with us.
    
2. When we are willing to feed on the Word of Jesus, we discover that God abides in us and we abide in God.

1. When has the message and life of Jesus been a stumbling block for you?
    
2. How does sharing in the body of Christ draw you into a sacramental encounter with the Divine?
    
3. What does life look and feel like when God lives in you and you live in God?

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