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Thursday, February 04, 2010
The Adventure Begins
Psalm 71:1-6; Luke 4:21-30
My Scout Sunday sermon went pretty well, I thought. The congregation seemed to agree, if laughter at the right time, attentive body language, and staying awake are any indicators. But the worship meeting had been quite busy before I started preaching, and time constraints made me delete the dramatic punchline I'd planned for the occasion. About Scouting. Let me explain...
Our church sponsors Boy Scout Troop 2. Once a year we host the boys, their leaders, and their families for Sunday worship. Selected members of the troop present the colors, read the lessons, and lead our prayers. In exchange, I shape my message to connect with Scouting from start to finish.
The start part went fine. I told the story about a Scout taking a tour of the church building with his pastor in preparation for the God and Country project. When he asks about an old plaque on the wall, the pastor explains, "Those names represent people who died in the service." To which the boy replies, "Which service, the one at 8:30 or the one at 11:00?" Ah, from the mouths of babes and young boys...
The sermon text was Jesus' rejection by his hometown synagogue as he began his ministry. The people there couldn't conceive that God would do new things through someone they'd known since he was just a boy. When he told them why they were so wrong about that, they in essence said, "Wait just a minute, Jesus!" and tried to toss him off a cliff in the bargain.
Like those people, you and I sometimes wonder, "Wait a minute, Jesus! What are you trying to do to me? This isn't what I signed up for!" Come on, admit it. Yes you do. Sometimes. And my big finish would have brought home to our Scouts that so do they, sometimes. Here's the story I was going to tell them...
A boy named Russell, a Wilderness Explorer, lacks just one merit badge -- Assisting The Elderly. He sets out to help Carl Fredricksen, a grumpy old man who just wants to be left alone. One thing leads to another, until one day Carl's old house goes airborne, powered by 1,000 and more helium balloons! And poor Russell is on the front porch when it happens. In his heart he screams, "Wait a minute! This isn't what I signed on for!" But by the time the movie Up ends, Carl and Russell have found a precious treasure, defeated a very bad villain, saved a strange and glorious bird named Kevin, and floated back home just in time for Russell to receive his coveted merit badge!
So, to the Scouts of Troop 2, the members of First Presbyterian Church, and you who read these words just now -- repeat after me: "Wait a minute, Jesus! I want to come with you! This is going to be way too good to miss out on!"
Listen to the GODcast!
posted by Jack Buckley at
11:19 AM
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
What Jesus Came To Do
Psalm 19; Luke 4:14-21
The New Orleans Saints had the home-field advantage on Sunday, January 24. And Brett Favre and his Vikings knew that from long before the starting kickoff. I can't count the number of times a camera closed in on Brett et al. fiddling with their earplugs, trying to muffle the constant roar of the Superdome crowd. All to no avail, finally, as the Saints prevailed to win in overtime with a picture-perfect field goal.
That morning I preached on Jesus' hometown disadvantage in the Gospel story for the day. Here's the scene...
He attends worship in the neighborhood synagogue where he'd grown up, back in town for a visit bringing with him a growing reputation as an up-and-coming new religious teacher. The leader of worship invites him to read the day's lesson, which he gladly does. After which, he sits down and begins his commentary on the text (Isaiah 61, some surprising news about the Messiah's coming mission).
"This prophecy is coming true today, right here and now, in me!" And that's as far as he gets before the congregation starts buzzing about his statement.
From oohs and aahs of fascination, their words quickly turn to anger. "Who does he think he is?! We know who he is! He's Joseph's kid. Remember his runny nose, his skinned knees, his smart-alecky attitude..." Like the man said, You can't go home again.
Next thing you know -- Well, to find out for yourself...
Listen to the GODcast!
posted by Jack Buckley at
5:00 PM
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