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Woship Resources 2007-2008 — Year A: Passionate for Peace
Return to Year A: 2007-2008
Resource Index
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Have a Just Heart
Ordinary Time (Proper 15)
Scriptures:
Genesis 45:1–15; Psalm 133; Romans 11:1–2a, 29–32;
Matthew 15:10–28/15:9–27
IV; II Nephi 11:54–59;
Doctrine and Covenants 34:1
Sharing Christ’s Peace
Let the Temple continue to come to life as a sacred center
of worship, education, community building, and discipleship preparation for
all ages. —Doctrine and
Covenants 163:8b
Prelude
Hymn
“Here, O Lord, Your Servants Gather” SP
29
OR “Lord, Help Me to Know Your Presence” NS
31
Welcome
Call to Worship: Psalm 133
*Hymn
“Now Sing to Our God”
NS 40
OR “With Thankful Hearts We Meet, O Lord” HS
3
*Invocation
O God, the one who has loved us and called us to peace. Forgive us for
not loving others as you have loved us. Forgive us for being afraid to stand
for justice or give our lives for the cause of peace. Help us to remember
that we are all your children. Help us to become your healing wings in a
broken world. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, Amen.
—Lois Braby in Prayers and Readings for Worship,
Judy Judd, ed.
(Herald Publishing House, 1987), 83.
*Response
Focus Moment: Matthew 15:21–28
Using a fresh loaf of bread, break off pieces. Give some members of the
congregation large pieces, and give crumbs to others. Discuss the issue of
justice. How can we share our excess or share sacrificially?
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. Offertory 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/offertory
to print a copy, or
contact your pastor, congregational financial officer, or worship
coordinator for a copy.
Prayer
O God, we come to you now bringing our gifts. Some of us are giving
gifts of money. Some are giving gifts of time. Some are giving gifts of
talents. Some of us are giving our love. Some are asking, “What can we
give?” Some of us are asking to receive. Please bless each one of us
according to our needs. In the name of Jesus, who gave us the greatest
gift, Amen.
Receiving of Mission Tithes
Ministry of Music
Solo or Hymn: “I Am Standing Waiting” SP 27
Sermon
Based on Genesis 45:1–15 and/or Matthew 15:10–28/15:9–27 IV
*Hymn
“Called by Christ to Love Each Other” SP
36
OR “Give Thanks” NS
11
*Pastoral Prayer
*Postlude
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: Genesis
45:1–15; Psalm 133; Romans 11:1–2a, 29–32;
Matthew 15:10–28/15:9–27
IV; II Nephi 11:54–59; Doctrine and
Covenants 34:1
Exploring the Scriptures
The story of Joseph forgiving his brothers for selling him into slavery is a
wonderful story. Joseph was testing the hearts of his brothers to see if they
had changed. He organizes the planting of his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack and
then accuses him as a thief who must become Joseph’s slave as a punishment. Will
the brothers abandon Benjamin like they abandoned him? In today’s passage Joseph
discovers that their hearts are different, bursts into tears, and grants all his
brothers complete forgiveness from his heart. Joseph then says that God has
enabled things to work out so that he might be a means of saving and blessing
his family.
Joseph is a forshadowing of Jesus. Jesus is also rejected but becomes the
means of salvation for those who did him wrong. As Joseph forgives his brothers
from his heart, so God in Jesus forgives us completely and utterly from God’s
own heart. We are not treated according to our deserts but according to God’s
loving grace. We should treat each other in the same way. A grace-filled heart
is a just heart.
In the story of the Canaanite woman, Jesus tests the woman’s faith. At first
he simply refuses to answer her request to heal her demon-possessed daughter.
Next the disciples urge him to send her away. Jesus then states that he is to
only minister to those who are of the lost sheep of Israel. She is completely
the shunned and rejected outsider. In fact, as a Cananite, she belonged to the
ancient enemies of Israel—the people displaced by the Israelite invasion of the
Promised Land. When the woman kneels before him and calls him Lord, he insults
her again by saying it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to
the dogs. Her quick reply is even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their
master’s table. She not only has a heart for her daughter’s needs, she now
reveals beyond argument a heart full of faith. Jesus responds in healing her
daughter as requested.
Central Ideas
1. Families can forgive and find reconciliation even after years of
separation.
2. Faith is possible for all people, no matter their race or ethnicity.
Questions for the Speaker
1. Who do you need to forgive in your family for the wrong they did? How
can you be a means of blessing to them now?
2. Does the worth of all persons extend to those who have wronged you?
3. Who in your neighborhood are the outsiders, the ones who are despised
or feared? Whose cry for help do you need to hear and extend the invitation
to become full members of the family of Jesus?
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