Speaker: Sarah MartinText: Mark 1:1-8

I’ll be honest: I’ve never really loved this story.

It’s just, well, kinda boring. Many Bible verses inspire or comfort me, from “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” in Genesis, to “Behold, I am making all things new” in Revelations. And literally none of them are in here. Or even anything close. It’s just a story about some people getting dunked in a river. Captivating, I’m sure.

Also, the whole scene just reminds me of a tent revival meeting. Like the people are all there to get “saved” by “accepting Jesus into their hearts” or whatever. I know I’m projecting concepts anachronistic to the original participants here, but I can’t help it; it’s just what comes to mind. This story feels like just more fuel on the fire for problematic theologies that boil redemption down to some sort of cosmic math equation, with humanity’s badness on one side and Jesus’s very real human blood on the other.

All this is why I asked if someone could read the poem Lily just read, which I found while flipping through my phone bookmarks trying to decide if I should say yes to speaking today. Maybe it’s a bit of a cop-out, talking about a poem in a sermon. But sometimes some non-Bible writing can shed new light on a Bible story. I’m sure Becca Lachman, at least, is so happy right now. Hey Becca, if you’re listening.

One connection between this poem and our story today is that it starts with someone changing their mind. This is something I thought about after Joel reminded me that “changing your mind” is a broader meaning of the word translated as “repentance” in this story. “Don’t be foolish,” the poet says. Seems like good advice. Then they instantly change…

Text: Philippians 4:6-9 NIVSpeakers: Tim Jaquet, Jim Myers, Debbie Walker

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

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Text: Luke 21:5-19Speaker: Mark Rupp

5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”7 They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8 And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’[a] and, ‘The time is near!’[b] Do not go after them.9 “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.12 “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance, 15 for I will give you words[c] and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and siblings, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your…

Text: Luke 20:27-40

Speaker: Joel Miller

27 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28 and asked him a question: “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies leaving a wife but no children, the man[a] shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman and died childless; 30 then the second[b] 31 and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32 Finally the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.”

34 Jesus said to them, “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 Indeed, they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37 And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is God not of the dead but of the living, for to him all of them are alive.” 39 Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 For they no longer dared to ask him another question.

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There’s a piece of legislation in the book of Deuteronomy called the law of levirate marriage.  How’s that for a thrilling opening line?  The law addressed a need and a problem.  The need was for the survival of a people, which required having children.  More specifically, in a patriarchal society, a man passed on his name and family line through his sons.  The problem was mortality.  Specifically, what if a…

Text: Psalm 1:1-3, Revelation 21:1-6

Speaker: Joel Miller

Among the many decisions for the committee that compiled our Voices Together hymnal was which hymn to put first.  Symbolically, and practically, VT 1 sets the tone for VT 2-849.  Their choice, which we will sing later, was “Summoned by the God Who Made Us.”  It’s a familiar tune that works well with different styles – a capella, or accompanied with a piano, organ, or worship band. The text is new, for us.  It’s about God bringing together a wide range of people.  The chorus says: “Let us bring the gifts that differ, and in splendid, varied ways, sing a new church into being, one in faith and love and praise.”  CMCer Katie Graber says the hope was that many people could “see themselves” in this song. 

I wonder if the committee that compiled the Psalms – the hymnbook of the people of Israel – was asking a similar question.  Symbolically and practically, Psalm 1 sets the tone for Psalms 2-150.  Unlike VT 1, Psalm 1 draws a sharp line between the righteous and the wicked.  There are those who delight in the Instruction of the Lord, and those who do not.  That theme does track through the Psalms.  But like our opening hymn, Psalm 1 offers something familiar, something anyone, anywhere, can understand and see themselves in.  The primary image of Psalm 1 is that of a tree, planted by streams of water.  It’s fruitful.  It’s leaves are green. 

It’s the same image found at the beginning of scripture, in the Garden of Eden, where the Tree of Life grows near a stream that flows out to water the whole world.  And, although that Psalms committee wouldn’t have known it, it also shows up at the end of the Christian Bible.  The book of Revelation…