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Questioning Authority Text Content Preview Questioning Authority Week: 4 Central Theme: Who has authority in my life? Key Quote: "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" (John 9:2) Scripture: John 9:1-41 Theme Statement Today's gospel story opens with the disciples asking about a man's blindness. Popular belief assumed that either the man's sin or his parents' sin caused the blindness. Jesus disagrees. Jesus heals the man. Neighbors question the miracle. The temple authorities question it, too, and question the man's parents. The authorities see but do not believe. Jesus has destroyed a traditional way of interpreting physical blindness, and everyone, including the man who has been healed, is confused by what has just happened. People around us and institutions around us constantly challenge us with their habits and views. They question the leanings of our spirit, and perhaps the call we hear from God. They want things to be the same. That's not always what God wants. The blind man's individual journey parallels the challenge Jesus has offered to religious traditions: in the wake of Jesus' miracle, he doesn't know how to react. He has never imagined a life outside of what he knew, and he only gradually comes to understand his new relationship with Jesus, culminating with his statement of faith: "Lord, I believe." True followers of Christ believe in and then see God's transforming power. Then they openly share it with others, even if it doesn't fit with what they hear from the rest of the world. This blind man's transformation from darkness to light and his confession of faith in Jesus as Savior parallels the church's celebration of new life that begins in baptism. We are the family of God called to care for one another, regardless of what's "normal" or "usual." Just as Jesus challenges the religious viewpoint that physical blindness is punishment for sin, we are called to challenge any religious or church tradition that detracts from the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are called to show radical hospitality, unceasing prayer, unconditional love, and to work in the power of the Holy Spirit so that God's works might be revealed in us, just as they were in the man born blind.
Music "Lead Me, Guide Me", ELW 768, Augsburg Fortress "Amazing Grace", ELW 779, Augsburg Fortress "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)", Edwin Othello Excell/Louie Giglio/ John Newton/ John P. Rees/Chris Tomlin, Worship Together/Sixsteps Music/Alletrop Music/Stephan Sharp Publishing "Devotion", Marty Sampson, "Hold Fast", Jim Bryson/Nathan Cochran/Barry Graul/Bart Millard/Mike Scheuchzer/Robby Shaffer, Simpleville Music/Wet As A Fish Music "Shout to the North", Martin Smith, "To You", Darlene Zschech, "What the Lord Has Done in Me", Reuben Morgan, "Matchless", Aaron Schust, "This Man", Jeremy Camp, Thirsty Moon River Publishing/Stolen Pride "We Fall Down", Chris Tomlin, "You're Everything", David Crowder, Worship Together/Sixsteps Music Linda Holcombe's Annotated Set List for "Questioning Authority" (Christ Lutheran Church, Highlands Ranch, CO) Gathering Music "We Fall Down", Chris Tomlin, "We Fall Down" is a simple song of invitation to worship that is easily accessible to congregations. It sets the tone with lyrics that focus on coming together to humbly worship and honor the Lamb. Opening Music Set "Shout to the North", Martin Smith, Curious? Music UK "All That I Need", Vicky Beeching, "Blessed Be Your Name", Beth Redman/Matt Redman, This opening song set moves smoothly from the uplifting renewal song, "Shout to the North"; to the uncomplicated statement of our need for Jesus in "All That I Need"; to the praise song "Blessed Be Your Name." These songs help prepare the congregation for worship, along with providing a focus on renewal. Song of Praise and/or Response (following Sermon) "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)", Edwin Othello Excell/Louie Giglio/ John Newton/ John P. Rees/Chris Tomlin, Worship Together/Sixsteps Music/Alletrop Music/Stephan Sharp Publishing Chris Tomlin's version of "Amazing Grace" subtitled "My Chains Are Gone" is a beautifully thoughtful, introspective setting of the familiar hymn standard. The old hymn is easily found in this song, along with a new chorus that enhances the much-loved lyrics. Offering Music "Hold Fast", Jim Bryson/Nathan Cochran/Barry Graul/Bart Millard/Mike Scheuchzer/Robby Shaffer, Simpleville Music/Wet As A Fish Music This powerful, dramatic song from the contemporary Christian group MercyMe is an intense yet comforting statement of faith and hope. It is about not giving up or giving in when life is difficult, and declares the fact that Jesus will be there to guide, lead, comfort, and forgive us. This song is best accomplished by praise ensemble alone, or congregation participation by singing the refrain only. Communion Music Set "To You", Darlene Zschech, "What the Lord Has Done in Me", Reuben Morgan, These two communion songs focus on the feeling of belonging to the Lord and recognizing his love, compassion, and care for us. They also provide the congregation with the opportunity to offer praise and honor to God through easy-to-learn melodies and numerous ad-libbed vocal harmony sections. Closing Song "You're Everything", David Crowder, Worship Together/Sixsteps Music This is an amazing love song to Jesus. The lyrics speak of the miracles of Jesus, and also of our praise and thanks for the incredible things Jesus has done for us. This song closes the worship service with a feeling of peace and light. Worship Texts Theme Prayer Light of the world, your goodness illuminates all things. Open our eyes to the injustice of our own habits and views. Correct our lack of vision, and help us act in faith. Grant us courage to claim your power and receive your healing. Teach us to be healers so that all may know your goodness in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Prayers of Intercession With confidence that God hears our questions and our prayers and answers them in truth and love, let us plead for the church, the world, our community, and our lives.
Hear our prayers, gracious God, and sustain us with the truth that your word always accomplishes your purpose. Amen. Scrapbook Book Throughout her book Take This Bread (New York: Ballantine Books, 2007) Sara Miles includes examples of her struggles with authority as she worked to start and expand her congregation's food pantry and feeding program. Not to be confused with a story of volunteerism, the book documents her conversion to Christianity and includes questions from her journey. Some of the toughest conversations about faith and justice come when she questions her congregation and church leaders. Movie At First Sight (MGM, 1999) is about a man recovering his sight and how he must deal with the changes in his life. Use this as general research about what it might feel like to recover one's sight or show the scene where Val Kilmer's character has just recovered from surgery and can now see for the first time in his life. Experiential Idea Human beings, like the cars we drive, have blind spots. Blind spots are the places in the middle of our sight where we think we can see clearly but we really can't see much of anything. Physically we compensate for them until we are asked to focus on them. Mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, we often compensate for them, too: we ignore someone's discriminatory comment rather than challenge it; we ignore someone in need rather than ask what they are in need of; we forget to follow up with a friend or loved one who is hurting. Pass out small stickers with the words "blind spots" written on them. Invite people to post their stickers somewhere conspicuous, perhaps on a rearview or bathroom mirror so they can be reminded to check their personal blind spots from time to time. Book; Worship Space Blindness is only one form of disability, and one that is fairly easy to recognize. Many other disabilities such as mental illness or a learning disability may be hidden from view. Read Dancing with Disabilities: Opening the Church to All God's Children (Cleveland, OH: United Church Press, 1997) for insight into the many people who may be sharing our worship experience. This book offers stories on what takes place through the eyes of a person living with a disability and includes some ideas on how to be more accessible for all. Testimony When we use the word authority, it can mean those in power or a person who is the expert or the guru on a subject. Invite someone to speak this week who is willing to share their perspective on what rules should and should not be followed. Invite someone who is the expert on living from the margins of society, not from authority or power. Topics might include disability rights, civil disobedience, or radical advocacy. Web Site Read more about Christian Peacemaker Teams who live and work in areas around the world involved in political or social conflict. They are stationed around the world but especially in places that are in the midst of conflict or war. Service Element; Sensory Idea; Ritual Invite worshipers to participate in this simple ritual if they are comfortable doing so. Set up several stations consisting of a small table, a basin of water, and a supply of clean towels. Following the gospel reading or sermon, or as part of the sending, invite worshipers to splash water on their faces. A leader at each station could then offer a blessing like "Open your eyes to see Jesus' authority and radical kindness." Other; Web Site; Real-life Story God cares for us and calls us to care for each other even if we do not share the same perspectives or habits. Learn about intentional Christian communities and what it means to live this way. Some of these intentional communities include Lutheran Volunteer Corps, Holden Village, Jesus People USA, and Reba Place Fellowship. Quote "Hospitality means receiving each other, our struggles, our newborn ideas, with openness and care. It means creating an ethos in which the community of trust can form, the pain of truth's transformations be borne." Parker Palmer in To Know As We Are Known (New York: HarperCollins, 1983). Visual Image; Artwork For images of healing hands go to www.desordre.net or www.silviahartmann.com. Use these or images like them to jumpstart discussion about how our hands can bring about healing in Jesus' name. Do we have that authority? What kind of healing do we participate in every day? Copyright ©2008 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission under license.
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