The message starts about 15:48. The entire service is included in the video.
Praying
the Scripture, Psalm 23
the Scripture, Psalm 23
Message/Kids,
1 Samuel 16.1-13, John 9.1-41
1 Samuel 16.1-13, John 9.1-41
Mission
Moment, UMCOR Sunday video
Moment, UMCOR Sunday video
Theme Introduction (at the beginning of the service):
Light
shows up throughout today’s Scripture passages. In the psalm, we travel through
the valley of the shadow of death, and we need light. In 1 Samuel, we get a
delightful story about the prophet Samuel, called a “seer” in the story. Even
though he is called a “seer,” he can’t “see straight.” He needs the word of God
to guide him. And, yes, the word play is in the original Hebrew text. In John’s
gospel, Jesus opens the eyes of a blind man who actually “sees” – more clearly
than those who have always had sight – who Jesus is.
shows up throughout today’s Scripture passages. In the psalm, we travel through
the valley of the shadow of death, and we need light. In 1 Samuel, we get a
delightful story about the prophet Samuel, called a “seer” in the story. Even
though he is called a “seer,” he can’t “see straight.” He needs the word of God
to guide him. And, yes, the word play is in the original Hebrew text. In John’s
gospel, Jesus opens the eyes of a blind man who actually “sees” – more clearly
than those who have always had sight – who Jesus is.
So,
this week, I encourage all you kids, and all you kids at heart, to play with
light and sight:
this week, I encourage all you kids, and all you kids at heart, to play with
light and sight:
Make silly or scary faces with the
flashlight in the dark
flashlight in the dark
Make shadow puppets on the wall
Use mirrors to move light around a corner
in your home
in your home
Take turns wearing a blindfold and
guiding each other around an obstacle course in your yard or living room
guiding each other around an obstacle course in your yard or living room
Align two distant object, like table legs
or trees, with one eye, then switch eyes
or trees, with one eye, then switch eyes
Get the laser pointer out and play with
the cat
the cat
I
also want to introduce you to a prayer, a way to pray the first line of
the 23rd psalm: “The LORD is my shepherd.” These five words are a
huge claim to make in anxious and uncertain times. When I was a kid, both of my
older siblings had to have surgery for broken eardrums. Our pastor taught them
to pray that line by counting out the words on their fingers, saying them as
they go, and clasping the pointer finger on the word “my.” [Demonstrate.]
also want to introduce you to a prayer, a way to pray the first line of
the 23rd psalm: “The LORD is my shepherd.” These five words are a
huge claim to make in anxious and uncertain times. When I was a kid, both of my
older siblings had to have surgery for broken eardrums. Our pastor taught them
to pray that line by counting out the words on their fingers, saying them as
they go, and clasping the pointer finger on the word “my.” [Demonstrate.]
Message:
Uncertainty
in our world – fear, anxiety
in our world – fear, anxiety
Stores are still out of toilet paper
Pursuing
a false certainty
a false certainty
Better the devil you know … we say
Last week, Israel in the wilderness –
want to go back to Egypt
want to go back to Egypt
This week,
Samuel – how long will you mourn
for Saul?
for Saul?
Samuel – Eliab looked the part,
like the current king
like the current king
Disciples – who sinned, this man or
his parents?
his parents?
False
certainty is sometimes about nostalgia for a past, sometimes about condemnation
and fault-finding. But it is always false. It is much more difficult to stay in
the uncertainty, to explore the opportunities within it, and to find a way
forward that is, on the one hand, consistent with the tradition or the past,
and on the other hand, an entirely new expression of that tradition.
certainty is sometimes about nostalgia for a past, sometimes about condemnation
and fault-finding. But it is always false. It is much more difficult to stay in
the uncertainty, to explore the opportunities within it, and to find a way
forward that is, on the one hand, consistent with the tradition or the past,
and on the other hand, an entirely new expression of that tradition.
Move
forward through trial and error
forward through trial and error
Samuel working successively through the
sons
sons
Blind man finding his way to Siloam
Move
forward by talking it out
forward by talking it out
Blind man’s progressive witness
The man called Jesus
He is a prophet
Become his disciple
He is from God
I believe
“I pray that you may be active in sharing
your faith
your faith
so that you will have a full
understanding
understanding
of every good thing we have in Christ”
(Philemon 6, NIV).
(Philemon 6, NIV).
Samuel’s internal conversation with God
How can I go? Saul will kill me
He’s gotta be the guy!
The LORD looks on the heart
“Everyone who asks, receives;
And everyone who seeks, finds;
And to everyone who knocks the door will
be opened”
be opened”
Matthew 7.8
Move
forward together
forward together
Did
the blind man go to Siloam alone? Guide? Ask for directions?
the blind man go to Siloam alone? Guide? Ask for directions?
Meets Jesus and becomes a disciple, a
follower
follower
Samuel’s
legacy was now bound up in David
legacy was now bound up in David
We
never get anywhere important alone
never get anywhere important alone
So,
in this crisis moment, reach out to others and reach out to God
in this crisis moment, reach out to others and reach out to God
Join
me again in reading this text from Lamentations 3 that we shared on Ash
Wednesday:
me again in reading this text from Lamentations 3 that we shared on Ash
Wednesday:
21
But this I call to mind,
But this I call to mind,
and
therefore I have hope:
therefore I have hope:
22
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,
his
mercies never come to an end;
mercies never come to an end;
23
they are new every morning;
they are new every morning;
great
is your faithfulness.
is your faithfulness.
24
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore
I will hope in him.”
I will hope in him.”
Dick
Woodward: “The Lord is my shepherd” (holding finger)
Woodward: “The Lord is my shepherd” (holding finger)
