Date: 03 Jan 2001
Time: 03:23:28
Wow... Nobody else is preaching on this text? (We did Epiphany last week). I've come up with a crude outline. Sermon is titled "Power to the People", and I'm going to talk about what kind of power the people received from the Holy Spirit: 1. power to speak other languages (that is to communicate and understand and overcome the barriers of language and culture). 2. Power to share (2:44 and 5:34). There was not a needy person among them. 3. Power to heal. 4. Power to witness boldly (coming from ordinary people 4:13). 5. This power didn't mean that everything would be smooth sailing... there were persecutions as well. Lack of conflict and peacefulness is not necessarily a sign of the spirit.
This power is rooted in God's love and the knowledge that we are God's beloved (gospel lesson).
I think it's interesting that the power comes not only from prayer, but by laying on of hands... that is in being connected and affirmed by others.
I look forward to hearing from THE REST OF YOU (wherever you are?) who are using this text!
DGinNYC
Date: 03 Jan 2001
Time: 05:25:02
DGinNYC:
I'm preaching it, too. Fortunately I preached it three years ago (I didn't realize it until today), but I think I'm going with a different tack this year.
Last time I spoke about people who 'go through the motions' of faith without 'growing through the motions' and made allusions to Simon the Magician. It's easy to 'do the right things' and miss out on the power God offers; when we allow God's power to be the primary factor, we are often surprised by what happens. The Samaritans had been baptized but missed the power; Simon wanted to control the power.
This year, I'm seeing the Lukan theme of pushing the boundaries of inclusion. Here the Samaritans are being included -- not according to the Disciples' plan but according to God's plan. The Disciples seem to be rather reluctant participants in the process.
It makes me wonder when I have been a reluctant participant in grace . . .
RQ/Spokane
Date: 05 Jan 2001
Time: 14:32:47
DG Love your "power" theme; I titled my sermon "Power Baptism" -- the difference between OUR act of Baptism and GOD'S act of Baptism. One power that you allude to but don't hit directly is the power to persevere all those thingsw that come against us. That one really helps me......Good thoughts and blessings
JL in FL
Date: 05 Jan 2001
Time: 17:22:10
It's friday so kinda' late in the game, I haven't been able to check the DPS boards til now. Anyway, my track on this passage is along the same lines as yours RQ(the first time) I like the Growing thru the motions idea. I am kinda' exploring the theme of new beginings for the month. For some of us its easier to just have the right belief and do good, and never really let the Spirit use us. It's a bit scary to say that prayer "Lord use me, how you will". With out that prayer our faith is like spegetti with out garlic. It is ok, tastes pretty good, may even fill us up, but add the garlic and its zesty, eye opening and the second you open your mouth the rest of the world knows you had spegetti with garlic! I also love the aspect of the community of Christ touching them and the "baptism of the spirit" happens. I think we often forget the work of the community in the work of Kingdom. Again it's easier to say " if God wants it God will do it, I don't have to go and be actually present" ( Maybe they wont like my garlic breath)
Just some ponderings. Have a worship service(s) all!
Mark in SW WA
Date: 05 Jan 2001
Time: 21:39:04
I'm hoping and praying that you all check back. I've been struggling with the sermon ALL WEEK and just now decided to do this week's texts (since I did the Wesleyan Covenant Service last week, I was going to use the Epiphany texts).
Anyways, DG in NYC - some GREAT IDEAS; can I "borrow them?" And to Mark in SW WA - that is, as they say nowadays, soooo where the two churches I serve are.
I'm going to use this with the Gospel Lesson, and hit the metaphor of the "light bulbs" one of the contributors used (especially since it's an on-going and developing joke in the confirmation class) in the "Gospel" section.
Anyways, any further insight to help me with my nice little family chapel and my "redeveloping" congregation would be most helpful!!!
revo in ga
Date: 06 Jan 2001
Time: 04:28:20
Revo in Ga - Of course you can use them! What are we here for anyway? DG in NYC
Date: 06 Jan 2001
Time: 16:07:14
Saturday and just getting to the sermon (eek). Just like to add to the super ideas sumbitted. We are called to share our lives, our stories, our faith with others. The disciples were called to share their "light" with the Samaritians - people who were very different from them, not accepted as equals. Are we not called to do the same? But when we walk the walk, talk the talk, we have to do it in the name of Jesus Christ or we are just taking up space.
It isn't the journey, but faith and the journey.
It isn't the song that touches our soul but the song sung with the spirit.
It isn't our hand reachign out that brings light but our hand reaching out in the name of Jesus Christ.
What a wonderful way to begin a New Year. REV WWM in QC