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Sermons
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Discipleship Needs,
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
(see below)
Rev. Karen A. Goltz
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Imitating
Christ,
Mark 6:3-34,
by Dou Ting Didymus
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No Longer Strangers,
Ephesians 2:11-22,
by Randy L. Quinn
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Company of Strangers,
Ephesians 2:11-22, by Rev. Wright
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When God
says: "NO" 2 Sam 7:1-14a,
by Rev. Thomas Hall
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It Is For All People, Ephesians 2:11-22,
by Rev. Wright
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Remembering,
Ephesians 2.11-22, anonymous
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Living Psalm
23
Psalm 23,
by Rev. Karen A. Goltz
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Under
the Shepherd's Care,
Psalm 23,
by Dr. David Rogne
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Another Look, Psalm 23, by Rev. Cindy Weber
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Under
the Shepherd's Care,
Psalm 23,
by Dr. David Rogne
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The Good Shepherd, Psalm 23, by Rev.
Thomas Hall
Jesus the Loving Shepherd, Psalm 23, by Rev.
Thomas Hall
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Discipleship Needs
based on Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Rev. Karen A. Goltz
Two weeks ago we heard in our gospel reading that Jesus called the twelve to him
and sent them out on a mission in pairs. They were given authority over
unclean spirits, and they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.
They cast out demons, cured many who were sick, and trusted in God for their
provisions. After some undisclosed period of time, they came back to Jesus
and told him about their mission. I kind of wish Mark had been a little
more descriptive in what they said, and how they said it, rather than simply
stating that they “told him all that they had done and taught.”
Were they all fired up with the Spirit,
energized and excited by what they’d accomplished? Did they barely pause
for breath as they told Jesus, “We stayed at this one house where they welcomed
us in and invited all their friends and extended family and we taught them and
they listened to us and we healed some of them who were really sick and it was
awesome, and then there was this other house where it was like everyone was
possessed with demons and we told them to come out of the people and they did,
and then there was this other place…” and on and on and on.
Was it like that? Or were they
exhausted and a little overwhelmed by the needs of the people, not quite
complaining about how busy they’d been, but certainly aware that they’d barely
dented the surface? “It was house after house after house. Some of
them refused us even though they clearly needed to hear the good news, and we
had to keep walking until we found a place that would welcome us, and once we
got there they were in pretty bad shape so we had to preach and teach and heal
and cast out demons for hours before we could even get something to eat.
And as word spread more and more people came to us, and it was good that we were
able to help so many, but we’ve had very little sleep and too much road food,
and there are so many more who need us but right now my brain is just leaking
out of my ears!”
Anyone who has taken their call to discipleship seriously, either in a mission
field far away or right here in your own church and neighborhood, can relate to
both scenarios. Doing God’s work can be energizing and exciting. But
it can also be exhausting. Particularly in our world today, where there
are so many people in need, physically and spiritually. We know we’ve got
something too good to keep to ourselves, and we’re not supposed to keep
it to ourselves, and it’s very easy to get caught up in the mode of constantly
doing, constantly working, constantly accomplishing something.
Our society actually values and rewards
that level of activity, with time off being seen as selfish or a sign of
laziness or a lack of commitment and dedication. Many of us try to
take time off to rest and recharge, recognizing that Jesus himself told his
disciples to do just that, but when we actually do we find that the demands of
the world and the ministry follow us even to our peaceful sanctuary.
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