Proclaim the Good News

Transcription

1 June 18, 2017 Proper 6 Semicontinuous Gen. 18:1 15, (21:1 7) Ps. 116:1 2, Complementary Ex. 19:2 8a Ps. 100 Rom. 5:1 8 Matt. 9:35 10:8, (9 23) Proclaim the Good News Goal for the Session Adults will hear Jesus charge to the Twelve to proclaim God s saving love in word and deed and consider what it means to follow these instructions today. n PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on Matthew 9:35 10:8, (9 23) WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, Guy D. Nave Jr. The apostles message is essentially the same as the message of John the Baptist and Jesus that God s kingdom has arrived (10:7; 3:2; 4:17). While much of the emphasis in the Pauline epistles and within much of contemporary Western Christianity is on the preaching of Jesus as the saving act of God, it appears from the commissioning of the Twelve that Jesus instructed his disciples to preach the good news that God s kingdom (i.e., the kingdom of heaven ) has arrived. The arrival of God s kingdom is demonstrated by the deliverance of the oppressed the sick being cured, the dead being raised, lepers being cleansed, and demons being cast out. WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, Stephen Butler Murray We are assured that Jesus did not see the world as his alone to evangelize, but that he commissioned others to minister in his name and bearing his authority. In this sense, we are drawn back to the very founding of the Christian movement in claiming our authority today as ministers, priests, and lay leaders. Further, we understand to what extent Jesus grants his authority, and that the authority implied within ministry is neither infallible nor absolute, but given for certain purposes. The call to ministry and evangelism is incapable of warding off criticism and persecution, and perhaps even welcomes such dangers as inevitable. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, Alexander Wimberly When accomplishments occur, they leave the faithful ascribing success to a higher power, and rightly so. It is Christ who enables us to do what we could not do on our own. This passage leaves as a mystery why Christ includes us in his mission and how exactly we meet success through him, but the faithful do achieve miraculous things. Perhaps it is because Jesus continues to have compassion on shepherdless sheep. Perhaps it is because prayers have been answered and enough laborers have been sent out into the bountiful harvest. Perhaps the words of the Father s Spirit have been spoken through the right people at the right time NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, Luke A. Powery The mission appears to be the proclamation that the kingdom of heaven is near in word and deed. This good news is wrapped up in that particular message (i.e., The kingdom of heaven has come near, 10:7) and its manifestation through curing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing lepers, and casting out demons. This type of mission toward the sick, dead, leprous, and demon-possessed may be a distant cry from churches that reach out only to those who look like them and cannot harm them. Jesus calls the disciples to a risky mission because of his compassion on needy people. Words alone are insufficient; this mission must have visible signs. 1

2 Proclaim the Good News FOCUS SCRIPTURE Matthew 9:35 10:8, (9 23) Focus on Your Teaching Adults have prepared for their life s work in many ways. At times, they have known joy and fulfillment as they ve pursued their vocations. At times, they have experienced the fear and confusion of being thrust into a task or a situation they ve felt ill-prepared to complete. The experience most adults have with declaring the good news of Christ s love and the nearness of God s kingdom likely falls between these two. Expect that some group members will feel more comfortable in speaking Jesus proclamation and others with enacting it. Encourage many expressions of discipleship. Risen Savior, open my heart and mind to your call and guide my words and deeds to proclaim boldly the good news of God s love. Amen. YOU WILL NEED board or newsprint markers Bibles copies of Resource Sheet 1 bowl of water copies of Resource Sheet 1 for June 25, 2017 For Responding option 1: copies of Resource Sheet 1, plain paper, pens option 2: copies of Resource Sheet 1, plain paper, finetipped markers or colored pencils option 3: copies of Resource Sheet 2, newsprint or board, highlighters, pens, supplies for activity chosen n LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Welcome each group member by name. Explain that today is the beginning of the Christian church season called Ordinary Time (or Season after Pentecost). The Scripture passages used in worship during this season focus on living as Jesus disciples. The liturgical color is green, symbolizing growth. Pray aloud the following prayer or one of your choosing: Holy God, Three-in-One, open to us the mysteries of your Word and the guiding of your Spirit. In Jesus name. Amen. Invite adults to recall a time they succeeded in completing a challenging project at work or home. After a quiet moment, begin discussion by asking: P What factors contributed to your success in this project? (Ask what else? several times to deepen the discussion.) Comment that the focus scripture for this session reports on how Jesus prepares the disciples to succeed in the mission he gives them. 2

3 Proclaim the Good News During discussions, invite group members to consult any study notes in their Bibles and include those ideas in the conversation. When different study Bibles seem to contradict one another or the excerpts on Resource Sheet 1, reflect on the challenges of biblical translation and interpretation as you consider why such different interpretations may exist. EXPLORING Have adults turn to Matthew 9:35 in their Bibles. Ask a volunteer to read aloud Matthew 9:35 10:5a (stop before the quotation marks). Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 1 [Focus on Matthew 9:35 10:8 (9 23)] and ask a volunteer to read aloud the Where? excerpt. Discuss: P What concern is Jesus articulating in these verses? P How do you understand the meaning of the statement, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few (v. 37)? P What is the role of prayer in addressing Jesus concern? Explain that Matthew 10 is sometimes referred to as Jesus Missionary Discourse, one of the five discourses of Jesus included in Matthew. Ask two volunteers to read aloud Matthew 10:5b 23, alternating verses. Note that the text does not indicate any questions the disciples asked about Jesus instructions. Invite group members to tell what questions they would have wanted to ask Jesus, if they had been there that day. Discuss: P For the Twelve, which of these instructions do you imagine was most challenging? P How would you summarize Jesus instructions in these verses? Ask a volunteer to read aloud the What? excerpt on Resource Sheet 1. Discuss: P What differences do you perceive between proclaiming Jesus as the saving act of God and proclaiming the good news that God s kingdom has arrived? P How are these two messages related? To transition to Responding, read the Now What? excerpt from Resource Sheet 1. Discuss: P What challenges or risks do we as individuals and as the church face in our calling as Jesus disciples? P In light of these challenges, which of Jesus instructions in the focus verses seem most important for disciples today? P In what ways might you follow Jesus instructions in your own life as a disciple? EASY PREP With the permission of participants, collect their prayers and offer them to the worship leader in your church or suggest they be published in the church newsletter. RESPONDING Choose one or more of these activities depending on the length of your session: 1. Mission Prayers As they compose prayers, adults will consider what it means to follow Jesus instructions. Refer adults to their copies of Resource Sheet 1 [Focus on Matthew 9:35 10:8 (9 23)] to review the Now What? excerpt. Recall that Jesus tells the disciples to pray in Matthew 9:38. Invite adults to reflect quietly on their own roles in Jesus mission: For what are they thankful? For what do they need forgiveness? What help do they need as they continue to live as disciples? Set out paper and pens and invite adults to compose prayers for mission. Some may prefer to do this with a partner. Finish the activity with a time of prayer, inviting each one to read his or her prayer aloud. 3

4 Proclaim the Good News 2. Discipleship Time Lines Adults will respond by writing and drawing as they explore what it means to follow Jesus instructions to the disciples. Refer adults to their copies of Resource Sheet 1 [Focus on Matthew 9:35 10:8 (9 23)]. Ask a volunteer to read aloud the So What? excerpt. Set out plain paper and fine-tipped markers or colored pencils. Invite adults to draw a path or time line that begins at their baptism and continues several years into the future. Invite them to draw or write responses to the following questions along this time line or path: Looking back, at what times have you sensed that you were a part of Jesus mission? When did the Spirit seem to be making you the right person at the right time? As Jesus disciple, what is your hope as you move into the future? Allow time for adults to discuss their work in pairs or groups of three. 3. Harvest Hands Adults will plan ways to encourage other church members to explore what it means to follow Jesus instructions to the disciples. Ask group members to recall instructions about living as Jesus disciples that they have received throughout their lives. Record responses on newsprint or the board. Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 2 (Harvest Hands) and ask a volunteer to read the verses aloud. Invite group members to compare the list on the newsprint or board with Jesus instructions in verses Discuss together the questions on the resource sheet. As a group, choose one way to present Jesus instructions (such as pop-ups on church Web site, posters, skits, song to teach in worship) and plan how you will do this. CLOSING Invite adults to identify key insights about discipleship that they ve gained from the readings and discussion during this session. Gather in a circle and place a bowl of water in the center. Ask adults to join you in a popcorn prayer. Explain that after you begin the prayer, they are welcome to speak prayer petitions aloud, without worrying about taking turns or speaking at the same time. Pray aloud: Amazing God, thank you for creating us and sending your Son to proclaim the loving ways of your kingdom. As we seek to live as Jesus disciples, help us to... (Pause for prayer petitions.) Amen. Begin a circle blessing by dipping a few fingers in the water and touching the forehead or hand of the person on your right, saying, You, (first name), are Jesus disciple. God bless you as you proclaim the good news of God s love. Have that person bless the person on his or her right in the same way, and continue around the circle until everyone has received and offered the blessing. Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 1 for June 25, 2017, or it to the participants during the week. Encourage participants to read the focus scripture and Resource Sheet 1 before the next session. 4

5 June 18, 2017 Proclaim the Good News Adult Resource Sheet 1 Focus on Matthew 9:35 10:8 (9 23) WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, Guy D. Nave Jr. The apostles message is essentially the same as the message of John the Baptist and Jesus that God s kingdom has arrived (10:7; 3:2; 4:17). While much of the emphasis in the Pauline epistles and within much of contemporary Western Christianity is on the preaching of Jesus as the saving act of God, it appears from the commissioning of the Twelve that Jesus instructed his disciples to preach the good news that God s kingdom (i.e., the kingdom of heaven ) has arrived. The arrival of God s kingdom is demonstrated by the deliverance of the oppressed the sick being cured, the dead being raised, lepers being cleansed, and demons being cast out. WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, Stephen Butler Murray We are assured that Jesus did not see the world as his alone to evangelize, but that he commissioned others to minister in his name and bearing his authority. In this sense, we are drawn back to the very founding of the Christian movement in claiming our authority today as ministers, priests, and lay leaders. Further, we understand to what extent Jesus grants his authority, and that the authority implied within ministry is neither infallible nor absolute, but given for certain purposes. The call to ministry and evangelism is incapable of warding off criticism and persecution, and perhaps even welcomes such dangers as inevitable. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, Alexander Wimberly When accomplishments occur, they leave the faithful ascribing success to a higher power, and rightly so. It is Christ who enables us to do what we could not do on our own. This passage leaves as a mystery why Christ includes us in his mission and how exactly we meet success through him, but the faithful do achieve miraculous things. Perhaps it is because Jesus continues to have compassion on shepherdless sheep. Perhaps it is because prayers have been answered and enough laborers have been sent out into the bountiful harvest. Perhaps the words of the Father s Spirit have been spoken through the right people at the right time NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, Luke A. Powery The mission appears to be the proclamation that the kingdom of heaven is near in word and deed. This good news is wrapped up in that particular message (i.e., The kingdom of heaven has come near, 10:7) and its manifestation through curing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing lepers, and casting out demons. This type of mission toward the sick, dead, leprous, and demon-possessed may be a distant cry from churches that reach out only to those who look like them and cannot harm them. Jesus calls the disciples to a risky mission because of his compassion on needy people. Words alone are insufficient; this mission must have visible signs Westminster John Knox Press

6 June 18, 2017 Proclaim the Good News Adult Resource Sheet 2 Harvest Hands 5 8 Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: Don t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously Don t think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don t need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don t welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they ll be mighty sorry but it s no concern of yours now. 16 Stay alert. This is hazardous work I m assigning you. You re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don t call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove Don t be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation just because you believe in me. Don t be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they ve done you and me a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don t worry about what you ll say or how you ll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don t quit. Don t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived. Matthew 10:5 10, 12 23, The Message P This Bible version refers to the twelve disciples as harvest hands. What does this phrase suggest to you about the work of Jesus disciples, then and now? P Highlight the three instructions that seem most important for Jesus disciples today. How might these instructions be presented to other church members? 2017 Westminster John Knox Press