More Than Hearing

Greetings!! We’re glad you’re back with us! Sometimes, we can find a common theme running through the passages for the week easily. I’m finding myself searching this week. I feel like I do when I just know my car keys are near me but danged if I can find them. I do find them once I stop trying to look, and like magic, they appear! Well, okay; what really happens is I stop stressing and try to think where I saw them last. So….. in the Acts passage, the last time the disciples see Jesus, he is being enveloped by a cloud, which leaves them standing around agape. In the Gospel, Jesus is seen praying to God on behalf of his friends, encouraging them to remain in him and to remember what they have learned. The author of 1 Peter reminds the faithful that the struggles they endure should not come as a surprise but should even be expected because they are following the same path as Jesus who suffered. The connection seems to be witness; Jesus gives thanks for the words given to him that he then passes on to his disciples. The disciples then witness Jesus ascend. Years later, disciples suffer for the faithful witness they bear on behalf of Jesus. Huh, I seem to have found the keys! Let’s hop in the car and go for a ride!

Here is the Bible story that provides this line from the Apostles’ Creed: “… he ascended into heaven.” It goes by pretty quick and if you are – like me – sometimes running on automatic pilot, Jesus going back home to God barely registers. Luke suggests it is the Ascension that allows for the acts of the apostles, specifically the arrival of the Spirit. As the passage opens, the disciples are still thinking about the world prior to the crucifixion and resurrection, which made David think about a song from Jesus Christ Superstar. We have a link below in MUSIC smart. I wondered what the cloud that took Jesus away from them looked like – we have some links in NATURE smart. Jesus is much more interested in what the disciples will do once the Spirit comes and is looking forward to that introduction, which we ponder in PEOPLE smart.

The first letter of Peter spends a lot of time encouraging disciples who are struggling with the consequences of their witness to Jesus Christ. As this passage opens, the author reminds them that by following after him, they cannot be surprised that they suffer for their witness because Jesus suffered for his witness. In MATH smart we look at the logic of this argument. Just as Jesus was supported and strengthened by God, disciples will also be given what they need to continue – we have a sports illustration in BODY smart. Verse seven ends with the statement that God cares for us, which made me go looking for a song using those words for MUSIC smart. Finally, the roaring lion that seeks to devour got our NATURE smart pinging.

These verses are the beginning of the High Priestly Prayer Jesus offers up to God on behalf of his disciples. It is a lot like the pastoral prayer in worship; the leader is speaking to God but also aware that the congregation is listening. Jesus mentions the words given to him by God that he now has given to his disciples, and we have an idea for a Special Effect in WORD smart that we suggested for the Acts passage that could work here, too. In EYE smart, Jesus seems to be doing the opposite of helicopter parenting by leaving and allowing the young’uns to fly on their own. (This could also be an interesting NATURE smart connection with fledgling birds. Just thought of that.) For BODY smart, combine the reading of the passage with some movement. In verse three, Jesus seems like a host who is eager for everyone to be introduced to everyone else, which gave me an idea for an illustration in PEOPLE smart. And in SELF smart, we spend some time looking at the historical and cultural context of the era.

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Greetings!! Sorry we’re late this week. Our son graduated from college over the weekend (YAY!), and that put us off schedule. Nevertheless, we have some cool ideas for your MI sermon prep, so let’s have a look.

You may look at this week’s title and think, “Oh, Love. Yeah, that could be any week, couldn’t it?” Well, yes, I suppose so. And if truth be told, this week’s texts don’t offer the most obvious development of love as a theme. Yet, when we poke them a bit, love is just below the surface.

In Acts, Paul cares enough for the Athenians to call them away from their pagan beliefs so they might come to know the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In 1 Peter, we hear about Jesus’ suffering as a model for our own, and his death and resurrection in which we participate through baptism, so we might be saved from destruction and be witnesses to this way of salvation. It’s a transformation of meaning of suffering anchored in the love of Christ.

Love is right there in the John passage, of course – If you love me, keep my commandments (like “Love one another”), and my Father will love you. But even more than that, Jesus invites us into the intricate love of the Trinity itself! That’s pretty radical when you stop to think about it!

It’s not always the warm fuzzy, gushy love we find in the Christian life. Just the unrelenting drive to be connected in meaningful, life-giving ways to God and one another. I mean, what would you call that?

Paul preaches in the Areopagus to the very religious Athenians. Maybe too religious? It’s like they have a god for everything, except they don’t have the God of Everything! This Paul proclaims to them. We consider the logic of their religiosity in MATH Smart. We consider different cultural expressions of the gospel in MUSIC Smart. Give some thought with us to the forces at work behind the formation of the materials used to make idols in NATURE Smart, and think about gifts given to God from God’s point of view in PEOPLE Smart

Peter writes to a community suffering for their faith. Be sure you suffer for good and not for evil! That’s just what happened to Jesus, and look how that turned out – Resurrection and glory! Just as God saved Noah from destruction, so will God do for those of us who have passed through the waters. We get alarmed over this passage in BODY Smart. In PEOPLE Smart we consider those who suffer in the line of duty and suggest doing a reaffirmation of baptismal vows (yeah, we’ve done that before, but it’s good to remember). We found some ways to combat fear and intimidation in SELF Smart.

Jesus continues the farewell discourse in John 14, talking about the relationship between obedience and love and being “in” one another. He offers the promise of the Holy Spirit and that we might share the same oneness with God that he himself enjoys. That’s pretty awesome! In EYE Smart we consider the reality of things unseen and encourage some imaginative seeing of some folk who may otherwise be invisible. How do you fit a round peg in a square hole? Work it out in MATH Smart. The need for connection gets a clear example in our NATURE Smart illustration. Finally, we touch on some family issues in PEOPLE Smart.

Image Credit: Source: 3D Love Fonts from clipart.me. Used by permission.

Hey! Welcome back! When I was a child, I was given a copy of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s book “On the Banks of Plum Creek”. It was the fourth book in her series about her life growing up in various places in the American West. This particular book was about her family’s time in Minnesota just after they left the Little House on the Prairie in the Kansas/Oklahoma Territories. The house the Ingalls family moved into On the Banks of Plum Creek couldn’t have been more different than the log house they left behind. For one thing, they were no longer out in the open; for another, they were living in a house built into the banks of the creek! I remember being surprised that this could happen but the way the story was written, it seemed the most natural thing in the world to move into a one room house with a sod roof. The tone of the book is largely responsible for my being able to accept this unusual living arrangement. Laura wrote about her family in such a way that I not only could see what she was writing about, but I could see myself living with her and Pa and Ma and Carrie and Mary and Grace. The stories are about growing up in “pioneer times” but they are also about a family and the resilience and strength of their relationship. The three passages for this Sunday are also about strength and resilience. Let’s go see how.

If you have read enough of one author, you begin to notice echoes of previous works. For some authors, the echo is subtle or maybe something that slipped past an editor. Stephen King did this deliberately, often referencing characters and places that were in his earlier books. Since Luke is the author for both the Gospel and the Book of Acts, you might find yourself thinking Stephen’s (the deacon, not King) words at his execution sound a lot like Jesus’ during the crucifixion. In WORD smart, we also make that connection and have a suggestion for a special effect. We are most familiar with this passage about Stephen’s martyrdom, but need to remember there is a reason for it. We have a quote by Matt Skinner in BODY smart that emphasizes the need to keep the context surrounding the passage intact. Stephen was stoned for a reason, and we have an illustration in PEOPLE smart that helps explain that. We have an idea for a special effect here and in SELF smart that could be very powerful, too.

The author in 1 Peter uses a lot of metaphors in this passage. We have a suggestion for showing this with illustrations and a special effect in WORD smart. Stones make an appearance in this passage, but in a way that is more positive than in Acts. We use the author’s metaphor about being living stones building spiritual houses in EYE smart. We explore the stumbling block mentioned in verse eight in BODY smart and have a link below to the importance of mother’s milk for good development. We revisit stones in NATURE smart and have a way to bring the darkness of the Acts passage into better light. Finally, in PEOPLE smart, we have a link about Christians in the world today who call themselves living stones which guides the way they live in the world.

Be certain to check out the worksheet for some interesting information we had for WORD smart. We chose not to use it in the interest of time. In EYE smart, we got to thinking about Thomas’ not knowing the way to follow Jesus which got us to thinking about being lost on journeys. We have some clips that reveal a GPS device is not always helpful in finding the lost! For MATH smart, we have a fun puzzle for an illustration. In BODY smart, we have a video clip of the Harlem Globetrotters that illustrates Philip’s request to see the father. We have two suggestions for hymns referencing the way, truth, and life in MUSIC smart. In PEOPLE and SELF smart, we have some questions about rooms being readied and great works done in Jesus’ name.

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Greetings!! It’s Good Shepherd Sunday this week, the traditional theme for the 4th Sunday of Eastertide. It is a little more subtle, maybe, in Year A than some other years, but we still find Jesus as the one who protects, leads, and nurtures his flock. The Acts 2 passage shows us how the flock flourishes when properly nourished. The 1 Peter 2 passage calls us to follow Jesus the Shepherd, even into suffering (it turned out okay for him, so it will turn out okay for us). Then the John 10 passage gives us two sheepy parables that drive at Jesus’ promise, “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.” That doesn’t sound too baaaaad at all.

Here are the details!! This is the end of the chapter but certainly not the end of the effect of the Holy Spirit coming to the disciples on Pentecost. The rest of the book of Acts chronicles the new movement and we get just a glimpse of how it may have looked with these five verses. For EYE smart, we wonder just how large a facility one might need to have all three thousand plus people gathered to participate in worship, fellowship, Bible study, and a meal. We have an idea for a special effect that also has PEOPLE smart applications. For MATH smart, do you have any event planners or logistics specialists in your congregation? They might have a lot of insight about accommodating large groups. We found some fun ideas in MUSIC smart based on commentary that suggests Pentecost is a remix of Old Testament promises. We have a link with an example. The four marks of the church are much like nourishment; we have some ideas to engage NATURE smart people with plants or puppies.  

The reading from 1 Peter begins with the author telling readers that they have credit assessed to them for their suffering. We begin with MATH smart and suggest looking at accounting principles for insight to credit and debit. For BODY smart, we follow the author’s suggestion about following Jesus’ path by engaging in some literal following in footsteps. And in SELF smart, we encourage some self reflection about the suffering referenced in the passage. 

We begin with WORD smart and a link to a poem about poetry. The Fourth Gospel is crafted with great care to its language and this near parable is no exception. For EYE smart, picture places that have gates at entrances. In MATH smart, we examine why the people listening to Jesus talk about gates and sheepfolds were not quite getting it. We have a video clip below for NATURE smart that shows us the reality of sheep paying attention to the voice of their shepherd. In PEOPLE smart, we wonder what voices we pay attention to and why. And finally, in SELF smart, we ask if you have ever had your house broken into and if so, how did that effect you? 

Image Credit: from clipartkid.com

Greetings!!  Welcome back to the podcast! Today we are finishing up Peter’s Pentecost sermon in Acts 2 and seeing what effect it has on the people gathered in Jerusalem for the feast. Usually we preachers jump immediately to the end where 3000 people are received into membership by baptism, and we try really hard not to compare our own ministries to this standard. And we usually fail. At any rate, the numbers are not what is important (really, it’s not) but rather the change of heart that the people who hear this first sermon on the Resurrection experience. That’s the difference, and in the selection from 1 Peter for today, the author stresses this fact for his readers. It’s about the turning over of your lives to the God who is powerful and gracious enough to raise Jesus from the dead. And speaking of the resurrected Jesus, he goes for a lovely walk to Emmaus with some of his disciples and surprises them at dinner when they recognize the act of breaking bread. Where had they seen that before? Was it by the lake with 5000 other people, or in an upper room – oh, my goodness!

Talking about repentance is sorta tough; it’s difficult to get people to sit back down once you’ve said the word sometimes, so in MATH smart, we have an illustration and special effect that uses a compass and a magnet. This will engage some of your congregation who like experiments and hands on demonstrations of science. For BODY smart, we look at the response of the people gathered in Jerusalem who are cut to the heart by Peter’s sermon. With some illustrations, we look at how negative language can influence brain development in pre-teens and show a NOVA clip about heart surgery. In PEOPLE smart, we talk about Pentecost itself as a feast in the Jewish calendar – why not look at it like a reunion? And for SELF smart, we suggest carrying around some quotations for a week and meditating on them while going about our daily lives. 

The author of Peter’s letters warns readers that if they are to call on the Father who judges all impartially, they need to be prepared to live lives in proper perspective to God. In EYE smart, we look at how that impartiality might seem from God’s point of view. Peter writes that there is a balance in following Jesus, and in BODY smart, we have some illustrations of what that balance might be like – simple and delicate and solid – all at the same time! This balance leads to a purification, and in NATURE smart, we look at how metals are refined and purified using electrolysis. In SELF smart, we provide some illustrations that might be helpful for cleansing one’s soul.

This story is so popular and well known that there is an entire movement that bears its name; the Walk to Emmaus. In WORD smart, we share a haiku about the moment at the table when the disciples’ eyes were opened. I like it and encourage you to try your hand at your own! The travel to Emmaus relates to spatial distances, so in EYE smart, we posted a thought by Bob Eldan (link below) who wonders if Emmaus is an actual place or simply somewhere to go when we need to be away. Which made us think of Southwest Airlines! People have wondered for two millennia why these disciples didn’t “see” Jesus and why their hearts burned within them as they talked. We have a theory in MATH smart, and in NATURE smart, as well! Finally, in PEOPLE smart, we have a reader’s theater that dramatizes the story. 

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Hey everyone, welcome back! The Lord is risen!

We took a week off for Holy Week preparations and services, and we hope that your time with family, friends, and your worshipping communities was filled with God’s presence. We joined two colleagues in the area for a truly powerful Good Friday service. We’ll try to get that posted at some point. At any rate, we are back for a second year of post-Resurrection preaching and worship ideas! The texts are below and have as a common thread a need for or a provision of proof. In Acts, Peter preaches to a crowd gathered in Jerusalem about the man Jesus of Nazareth. He uses one of King David’s Psalms as proof that Jesus is the Messiah. In 1 Peter, the author encourages new disciples that the hardship they are going through is a test of their faith’s endurance, proving their faith like gold in the fire. And in the Gospel story, Thomas wants proof of his fellow disciples’ strange claim they’ve seen Jesus three days after he had been killed, which Jesus himself then provides.

This is from Luke’s description of the first Christian Pentecost, if you will, and Peter’s sermon that day. It’s an excerpt focusing on (1) making sure the Israelites know he’s talking about Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had handed over for crucifixion a few weeks before, (2) King David’s prophetic description of the resurrection of the Messiah from the psalms, (3) the witness testimony of those who had seen Jesus after he had been raised. We, on the other hand, start off in Eye Smart focusing on things that are hard to hold, like soap and oobleck. We look at the logical development of Peter’s argument in Math Smart, and for Body Smart we invite everyone to be raised up. We close this part with People Smart, considering witness testimony and where your congregation may be witnessing the presence of the Spirit.

The author of 1 Peter (might not have been Peter, say many scholars) opens this epistle with a powerful statement of the power of Christ’s resurrection that calls forth a pure faith in us believers. The promises God makes through Christ are worth whatever one may have to go through in the face of opposition from the world. Our reading of the passage led to lots of ideas! In Word Smart, we poke at this being a passage used for baptismal liturgy and how it might connect with remembering our baptism. We make a Big Deal in Eye Smart, watching some Let’s Make a Deal. God’s protection takes a couple forms in our Body Smart illustrations. In Nature Smart we consider the process of refining gold and testing gold and recommend a couple demonstrations thereof. Keep your fire extinguisher handy! (Why does David like playing with fire so much?) Inheritance and long-distance love are the topics that illustrate People Smart here, followed closely by antici………. pation in Self Smart.

Every year it’s pretty much the same thing on the Sunday after Easter — “Doubting Thomas.” That’s not really fair to Thomas, of course, nor is it entirely fair to preachers to have the same text every year, but what are you gonna do? Any way, we wonder in Word Smart if Jesus meant “sins” like we think of it or if he meant “mistakes” or “bad shots.” It could make a difference. Skeptics make for interesting illustrations in Logic Smart, but be careful not to paint Thomas with the same brush. “Let me show you my scar!” is usually not something you want to hear, but it might be appropriate with this story in Body Smart. We suggest a couple interesting musical takes on the “Doubting Thomas” motif, one from Nickel Creek and one from Ozzy Osbourne. I mean, come on. When was the last time you quoted Ozzy Osbourne in a sermon? Lastly, we think about how the church maybe needs to be more diligent in reaching out to its wayward skeptics in People Smart.

Image credit: Our departed old cat Chester, quite the skeptic

Welcome back! Today, we are exploring the two solitary texts for Palm Sunday, Year A. No matter the year in the cycle, the Old Testament selection is Psalm 118. Year A selects the Palm Sunday processional story from Matthew 21. It is truly difficult to read the Psalm in its historical context; it has been fairly well Christianized by its partnership with Gospel readings on Palm Sunday. I don’t think that is necessarily the fault of overly zealous Christian interpreters, per se. Rather, I think it is also the careful and deliberate selection of both the Gospel writers who catalogued so many parallels to this psalm as they retold the story, and of Jesus himself who participated in re-writing the symbols of his people with this event. We will separate them for the purpose of using each as its own reading, but since this is the day when we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, we can’t help but blend the two, just like he and the authors of the Gospel did.

We start off in EYE Smart with verse 22 where the psalmist states that the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. David got to thinking about how this rejection has played out in the entertainment industry when movies that couldn’t find a home in a studio eventually went on to become massive hits. He also found some unexpected recipients of ticker tape parades. For BODY Smart, we suggest actually getting up and acting out this procession! Psalms almost always lend themselves to MUSIC Smart. They are poetic in nature, many are the lyrics to ancient music, and even those that witness to the power of God’s timely salvation, like this Psalm, have rhythm. Going back to verse 22 and timely reversals of desperate situations, we have some links to movies for PEOPLE Smart illustrations. And for SELF Smart, we have a couple questions about times when you may have experienced a timely save.

The story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem is so very familiar it is difficult to hear how very upsetting the original event must have been for those who witnessed it and heard about it later. In WORD Smart, we can catch a glimpse of how unsettling this was by the Greek word used in verse ten. It can be translated as both “shaken” and “turmoil”. Our English word “seismic” comes from it. The passage is full of Jewish symbolism that we may not quite grasp if we do not understand the context. We take some time in MATH Smart to make the case that context for familiar passages is very important. In BODY Smart, we once again urge you to get people on their feet and act this out! Donkeys and tree branches are rich symbols in NATURE Smart. We have tended to attach our own context of parades and processions onto this ride into Jerusalem, so I have a radical idea for PEOPLE Smart that will pull everyone out of their safety zones. And for SELF Smart, we have some questions.

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Hello and welcome. Lightning flashes and thunder booms. The electrodes and gizmos in the lab hum and hiss while sending bolts of energy into the air. And into the hideous figure that is strapped to the operating table that has been hoisted to the top of the castle’s high tower. The mad doctor stands beside it all, wide-eyed with anticipation. The table is lowered, and the doctor checks the body for any signs of…. Wait. Could it be? Yes. Yes! It’s alive. It’s ALIVE!! BWA HA HA HA!!!!

As a species we are fascinated by stories where mere mortals struggle against the inevitable power of death. Ghosts, vampires, zombies, and of course Dr. Frankenstein are chilling characters of life and death gone wrong, and we love to be terrified of them. But in this week’s scripture lessons we find a very different way into the same question of whether death really has the final word. Ezekiel finds himself in a grisly valley full of bones, and God tells him that they will live. Paul writes to the Romans that focusing on the flesh leads to death, but the Spirit gives life. And Jesus demonstrates to his friends the truth that he is the Resurrection and the Life by raising Lazarus from the dead.

Lent is a season when we confront our mortality and sin, eagerly awaiting the coming Day of Resurrection when in Christ we will be justified and made truly alive. These stories point us right at that Day.

We found so many things to do with this passage! Time dictated that we limit ourselves, so we tried to keep it to four Smarts, but we just couldn’t pick between the last two options, so here are five. In Word Smart, we suggest playing with some words that illustrate the dryness of the bones. Sam Spade makes an appearance in our special effect. For Eye Smart, pull out the maps! You might go with images of valleys full of bones, but keep in mind that the bones are human ones. With the amount of human devastation happening all over the globe both now and in the past century, we urge some sensitivity to going this route. We also have a short video of an artist’s interpretation of what Ezekiel saw. Keeping with dryness, we have a link to the effects of dehydration in Body Smart. We suggest leading a guided meditation as a special effect – which also pulls in Eye Smart and Self Smart folks. Music Smart is a rich treasure of illustrations; we have links below, and I am certain you will be able to find many ideas on your own! And finally for Nature Smart, we thought illustrating the dryness of the bones with natural desiccants might grab your naturalists, plus the special effect could be fun!

Paul wants the Romans to understand that the way they live is a life or death matter, and he wants them to choose life. We look at the phrase “set the mind” in Math Smart (and also Eye Smart, which is not in the podcast, but we added some links below). We have an illustration and two special effects that might help engage the logical minded in your congregations. I was intrigued by how the phrase “dwell in you” worked in three Smarts for this passage, and in Body Smart, you may use the illustration how athletes or yogis or other people who use their bodies a lot get “into the zone.” We also have a video you might want to use as a special effect. For Music Smart, there isn’t anything particular in the passage itself except for Paul’s insistence that a life of discipleship is something that is practiced all the time – like a musician might always be playing an instrument or composing. David composed a free verse poem of the passage that is linked below. For Nature Smart, we have a natural analogy that will really get people’s attention if you do it as a special effect! Be sure you have a fire extinguisher handy, and take all proper precautions. For People and Self Smart, we return to the phrase “dwell in you” and have some questions for you to use.

Keeping with the sheer amount of stuff we gathered from the two previous passages, here is yet another bountiful harvest. We have an illustration using double exposure in Eye Smart and a special effect you can download below that shows all the movement happening in this chapter. (Hint: LOTS). We have two suggestions in Music Smart and two very interesting articles in Nature Smart. The Jews coming out from Jerusalem to mourn with Mary and Martha made me think of all the times people arrive at houses with casseroles or cookies as an expression of sympathy. In People Smart, we have some links for really great ideas you might want to look at and maybe even incorporate into your caring ministry if you aren’t already doing something like them. I was very impressed. In Self Smart, we wonder what it would be like to have Jesus love you so much he would tremble and snort and weep at your grave. 

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Hey everyone! Welcome to the podcast for the 4th Sunday of Lent! The time is rushing by, as usual. We pray that your worship preparations for the remainder of this season are filled with the Spirit’s guiding and God’s blessings, much like the story of Samuel’s trip to Bethlehem to anoint a new king in the Old Testament passage. In Ephesians, Paul uses the word “light” four times and exhorts the believers to live in it and bear fruit that reveals it. And in John, a man receives vision, people can’t believe their eyes, and the those who refuse to see what God is doing in Jesus are revealed to be living – if not working – against the kingdom that has come. What have you seen that you can’t believe?

In the context of the book 1 Samuel, this story drops us into the middle of some political intrigue. We may need to back up a couple chapters to refresh our memories about what has happened and to learn the reason God has rejected Saul. As the chapter begins, Samuel is charged with going to find a new king. You can do so much with this passage with all the intelligences, but we decided to concentrate on four. In Eye Smart, we wonder how being tall affects others’ perceptions; Samuel thinks Eliab surely must be the Lord’s anointed because of his stature. God says, “Not so fast.” In Math Smart, we consider how frequently God turns primogeniture on its head, doing so yet again in this story by choosing the youngest of eight to be the new king. Saul and Eliab are tall and David is ruddy, so in Body Smart we visit the cultural inclination to attribute leadership qualities to people who are physically large and attractive. This thought leads naturally into People Smart where we wonder if looking at “safe” and “secure” options are really the best when making important decisions. Where does God’s Holy Spirit lead us – to the same safe place or a less obvious choice we don’t see because of our culturally conditioned vision?

This passage is near the end of the letter, so Paul is exhorting the Ephesians to “live like they mean it” in these verses.  They have received the gift of light in Jesus, Paul argues, so go bear fruit in that light. The contrast between light and dark works very well in Eye Smart, and we have a fun illustration and special effect with a mirror to demonstrate Paul’s idea. In Body Smart, we think reminding your congregation of how their bodies feel when they are in motion would bring verse 14 to life. Verses 14-15 would also work well as a chant for a Music Smart experiment. The abrupt switch from dark to light reminded us of cockroaches scattering when the light is turned on, and if you want to pursue that further than we did, this would be an interesting if creepy Nature Smart. And in Self Smart, Paul speaks of shameful things, which got David to thinking about what powerful psychological motivation shame holds over people. Or used to, anyway. Check out the link below for some meaty thoughts about this.

We limited ourselves to five of the nine intelligences for this passage – this story is truly a treasure trove for exploration. We begin with Body Smart since this is a story about a physical healing and may lead your congregation to feel it in their own bodies. They may also feel the frustration of the man who insists throughout that he is the same guy everyone knew as the beggar. Many of us may recognize this frustration, which we consider in Self Smart. In the course of witnessing to Jesus’ healing, the man gives us a song cue (verse 25) so you may want to use “Amazing Grace” as a Music Smart. Spit and mud are not in most modern pharmacies, but we wondered if they have some palliative properties and so went looking in Nature Smart. We discuss the relationship of sin and ill health in People Smart and wonder if there are individuals in your congregation whose health or well-being was a cause for concern for everyone else. Or not.

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Welcome back! Thirst and water are themes for this week’s passages, specifically in the Old and New Testament readings. The Epistle lesson does not mention water explicitly, but Paul’s allusion to the Spirit flooding believers’ hearts calls to mind dramatic water images of gurgling fountains and rivers running over their banks. In the Exodus story, the Israelites have been in the desert wilderness long enough to realize they are not going to be able to get back to Egypt with the limited resources they carry with them. They are in a tight spot and their fear causes them to lash out at Moses. In Romans, Paul counters his critics – who think his lack of finesse and economic status negate his ministry – with an emphatic boast about the hope that flows into and through him in spite of his suffering. In John, Jesus’ dialogue with the unnamed Samaritan woman reveals several things, not the least of which is his identity as the Messiah. Go get a refreshing beverage and join us as we toast God’s ever present compassion and providence!

I am an avid reader, and I have discovered that re-reading a well loved book is not always a good idea. I know how it ends and what will happen to characters in the story. If I re-read the book too soon after having already read it, I see the seams that hold the story together and find myself skipping pages and rolling my eyes at obvious plot devices. I think this sometimes happens when we read about the Israelites complaining to Moses while in the wilderness. We know how this story ends, and we know about the Golden Calf, and we know the older generation won’t make it, and that can lead us to skim over subtleties. For example, Rephidim is a well known oasis for travelers, but when this company arrives, there is no water. Why is that? For the people, what matters is whether God will do anything about it, and we look at their fears in Math Smart. Lack of water is a serious health issue, and we have links to illustrate this in both Body and Nature Smart. And in Self Smart, we have two quotes (links below) that we hope spark some introspection about God’s providence in our lives.

In these verses, Paul argues that undiminished hope can come from suffering. I imagine this has given a great deal of comfort to countless believers through the millennia as they struggle to live and believe. They also give us a glimpse of Paul’s critics who don’t sound all that different from contemporary people who think that God only prospers the faithful materially. Paul’s response is to show a growing pyramid of faithfulness that begins in suffering. We have some ideas for illustrations and special effects to show this in Eye Smart. In the musical Les Miserables, we see how far Jean Valjean has come through his own journey when he confronts and forgives Javert. We have a clip of that scene from the movie in Music Smart. We also have two hymns, and a poem by Emily Dickinson you might want to use. We saw a water image in verse five, and we have an illustration in Nature Smart that connects this to the other passages. And in People Smart, we have some questions to consider and a movie clip about hope.

Word Smart dominates this passage; it is the longest conversation Jesus has with anyone in all the Gospels, the conversation is an ever-deepening dialogue that reveals more and more of the setting and characters involved, and it ends with the woman’s testimony to people in her village. We have elements of drama, revelation, literary critique, and witness with readers and hearers receiving the same startling water of life as the unnamed woman. But, the joy of this passage is that the words are the foundation for so much more that comes rushing out at us. In Eye Smart we found that space or setting makes a big difference. We have an illustration to show how. In Body Smart, you can combine a visual of Eye Smart by carrying in a water jar. You may want to show the video clips of how much effort it takes to draw water from a well; I truly appreciate my well pump after seeing this! For Nature Smart, we have links for clean water projects that we referenced in the Exodus passage (see below). Jesus playfully reminds the Samaritan woman about their ancestors meeting their wives at well, so we have some “meet-cutes” from old movies for a People Smart illustration (again, with some Eye Smart on the side). We may have a reader’s theater of this passage in the resources link, depending on how busy this week gets! If you choose to go this route, the script practically writes itself.  

Image credit: Copyright: photka / 123RF Stock Photo. Used by permission.