Scripture Text (NRSV)
Acts 8:14-17
8:14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
8:15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive
the Holy Spirit
8:16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had
only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).
8:17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they
received the Holy Spirit.
Comments:
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
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
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
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
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
Revo in Ga - Of course you can use them! What are we here for anyway?
DG in NYC
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
