|
|
|
|
Questioning Faith Text Content Preview Questioning Faith Week: 5 Central Theme: Can I believe and still have doubts? Key Quote: "Do you believe this?" (John 11:26) Scripture: John 11:1-45 Theme Statement There are moments of commitment that mark our lives. Life decisions. Choices of location or vocation. Answers to key questions. We remember these moments vividly because they are turning points after which our lives are different. Often in the gospels Jesus' questions provide those turning points for his listeners. Jesus was a long-time friend of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. It was at their house that Mary sat listening at Jesus' feet while Martha prepared a meal. Jesus wasn't there when Lazarus got sick or when he died. But Martha pursues him and challenges him by saying that his absence caused Lazarus' death. After she affirms the promise of resurrection on the last day, Jesus responds, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). Then he asks her the pivotal question, "Do you believe this?" Martha's reply is correct, in her faithful understanding of who Jesus is: "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world." The Bible is full of stories and promises. As we read the scriptures we discover that our deepest hopes, longings, and fears are wrapped up in a larger story, a story that has been lived out for generations. We find that our own questions are in fact holy—they are faithful to what Jews and Christians have been experiencing for centuries. Many people wonder: Can I be a Christian and still have doubts? Does one Christian church—or denomination or group—have all the answers? What if I don't understand something? Jesus invites us to bring our questions, doubts, and fears, and to trust him. He invites us to see him as the center of the story—the Messiah, God-with-us, the promise of hope. You don't need all the answers! The story is unfolding, and Jesus is creating faith and life. The question is: Do you believe this?
Music "We've Come This Far by Faith", ELW 633, Augsburg Fortress "Above All", Paul Baloche/Lenny LeBlanc, "Enough", Louie Giglio/Chris Tomlin, Worship Together/Six Steps Music "Forever", Chris Tomlin, Worship Together/Six Steps Music "I Am", Mark Schultz, Crazy Romaine Music/The Loving Company "The Potter's Hand", Darlene Zschech, "The Wonderful Cross", Jesse Reeves/ Chris Tomlin/J. D. Walt/Isaac Watts, "These Thousand Hills", Steve Atwell/Mark Blackburn/Jerry Davison, "Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus)", Chris Rice, "With All I Am", Reuben Morgan, "Wonderful, Merciful Savior", Dawn Rodgers/Eric Wyse, Word Music, Inc./Dayspring Music, Inc. Linda Holcombe's Annotated Set List for "Questioning Faith" (Christ Lutheran Church, Highlands Ranch, CO) Gathering Music "Forever", Chris Tomlin, Worship Together/Six Steps Music "Forever" is an up-tempo song of general praise about the love, strength, and steadfastness of God. This song draws the congregation in with its simple melody and lyrical warmth. Opening Music Set "Above All", Paul Baloche/Lenny LeBlanc, "Have Faith in God", Geoff Bullock, Word Music, Inc./Maranatha! Music "The Potter's Hand", Darlene Zschech, This set of three songs begins to turn the participants' thoughts and hearts toward the cross. They also continue to provide hope and light in the darkness through lyrics that inspire and comfort. Song of Praise and/or Response: (following Sermon) " At the Cross", Reuben Morgan/Darlene Zschech, "At The Cross" is a simple, introspective song about the tragedy of Jesus' death. The song also effectively shares the incredible love that Jesus had for us as he sacrificed his own life so that we might live eternally. Offering Music "I Am", Mark Schultz, Crazy Romaine Music/The Loving Company "I Am" is a soaring song about the life of Jesus and the depths of his identity as Savior, Fount of Living Water, Lamb, Morning Star, and Redeemer. It will best be accomplished with just praise ensemble, or by the congregation singing the refrain only. Communion Music Set "Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus)", Chris Rice, "With All I Am", Reuben Morgan, The two communion songs are beautifully intimate and vulnerable. "Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)" is very simple and powerful, and is best accomplished with soloist or small praise ensemble. "With All I Am" is a congregational song that speaks of a quiet faith and the absolute belief in the love of Jesus. Closing Song "Wonderful, Merciful Savior", Dawn Rodgers/Eric Wyse, Word Music, Inc./Dayspring Music, Inc. This closing song is a congregational anthem that is powerful in its statement of love for Jesus. It will end the worship service in peaceful strength. Worship Texts Opening Litany Gather and proclaim the faithfulness of God, who is faithful at all times and in all ways. O God, you love us in our doubts and questions. We love you, Lord, with all our heart, soul, and mind. We praise you for your goodness. Let the name of the Lord be praised! We praise you for your wisdom. Let the name of the Lord be praised! You are patient with our failings; you speak to us in truth and love. We will search your word for truth and life; in your steadfast love, write your word on our hearts. Let the name of the Lord be praised! We praise your name, O Lord. Theme Prayer All-knowing God, you alone know your plans for us. Help us listen for the questions you ask us. Give us the will and courage to search your word and our hearts for honest answers. Help us to be gracious with the questions of others. Show us how faith can flourish with doubt. Help our unbelief. We bless and praise you now and forever. 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 TV show Find a copy of Everybody Loves Raymond, episode# 9914 (season 4, episode 14 titled "Prodigal Son") available at some movie rental stores or at online retailers. In this episode Ray protests attending church. He tells his family he won't be going to church and claims it's for work. He needs to be informed about all the sports played on Sundays so he can write his column for the local newspaper. Play the scene where Debra and Ray are sitting on the couch and Ray asks Debra why she goes to church. Debra tells Ray it's because she needs to believe there's something bigger than herself and her life. Book; Web Site In the book A Heretic's Guide to Eternity, authors Spencer Burke and Barry Taylor question the way religion has been thought of and they posit a new way of being faithful. God can be questioned, and questioning can be seen as part of faith, not as opposition to faith. For discussion about this book, visit the community message boards. Ritual; Experiential Idea Hold a Quaker clearness committee. First created to help those who wanted to be married, the process is open to anyone discerning a decision or question in faith or life. How it works: An individual or couple writes out the question or decision needing discernment along with some general background information. This written information is given to an invited "committee" of five or six in advance. The discerner(s) and committee later come together as a group. The committee has only one rule: committee members are not to offer their own advice or answers but to listen and ask questions. The individual or couple is meant to answer those questions. Answers will generate more questions. The process can take as long as the committee desires, though for practical reasons a time limit may be agreed upon in advance. Quote "Doubt is not the opposite of faith, it is an element of faith." Paul Tillich Book; Other; Real-life Story Crisis or tragedy can prompt us to question God or our faith. Those questions are not easily, if ever, answered. In her book, The Wide Open Spaces of God (Nashville, TN: Dimensions for Living Publishers, 2007, p 75-76), Beth Booram writes about her journey of personal loss and how there is an energy, an earnestness in asking authentic questions. She suggests that we learn to live with the questions rather than ignore them, and that as partners on the faith journey, we should not offer pat or simple answers to those who are deeply questioning but instead really listen to the questions being asked. Service Element Make slips of paper and pens or pencils available to worshipers. Before or during worship invite folks to write down one faith question they live with. If you're doing this exercise before worship, give people a week's notice so they have time to mull over a question. Collect the questions in a large bowl. Toward the end of worship, pass the bowl around and ask individuals who put a question in to take one slip of paper out and commit to pray for that question's author this week. Children; Service Element; Sensory Idea Provide clay or play dough and ask worshipers to make a sculpture of something they believe in or know to be true. Give them a few minutes to create and then, if time permits, invite people to share with those around them or with the entire congregation what they created and why. When the sharing has concluded read John 11:25. Remind participants that Jesus loves us and is near to us even when and especially when we are questioning our faith. Book; Real-life Story Much has been made about a collection of Mother Teresa's letters and journal entries that express doubt about her faith and God's presence: Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light by Mother Teresa and Brian Kolodiejchuk (New York: Doubleday, 2007). This can be a difficult and wonderful resource to use this week to contemplate how we question faith, expose doubt as part of faith, and help people see that no one is immune from experiencing doubts. Conversation starters may include: Who do we call holy? What is holy? Do we consider those who never question to be "better than?" Do we look at those who do share doubt and questions as some of the "failed faithful"? Worship Space Fill the worship space with living things this week: vines, plants, small potted trees, etc. Tell worshipers (in the welcome, announcements, or worship folder) that green and growing things remind us that sometimes doubt and questions help faith to flourish. If there were no questions, what would we struggle with and how would we grow? Plants need light and air to grow, just like our faith needs questions and doubt to change and grow. Service Element; Other Sometimes we don't know what we are looking for until we quiet our minds and hearts. We may not even know we are questioning because we are too busy focusing on other things. Try a guided imagery prayer to encourage worshipers to embrace silence and focus on their journey with God, including the questions they may have. A guided imagery prayer in Worship Feast: 50 Complete Multisensory Services for Youth (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2003, p. 31) about going on a journey to find a treasure complements the theme of questioning faith and belief. Or create your own. Copyright ©2008 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission under license. |
