Sunday, March 13, 2022 - When you feel the sting of Rejection and Hunger for Acceptance
Theme: How did Jesus live through….. Rejection vs. Acceptance
(Have you ever felt the sting of rejection and hungered for acceptance?)
Hymn God and Welcomes All (In Person Only)
Welcome
Awakening to God’s Presence (In Person Only)
Hymn Goodness Is Stronger than Evil (In Person Only)
Prayer for God’s Guidance
Luke 13:31-35 Common English Bible Translation
At that time, some Pharisees approached Jesus and said, “Go! Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you.” Jesus said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Look, I’m throwing out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work. However, it’s necessary for me to travel today, tomorrow, and the next day because it’s impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you! How often I have wanted to gather your people just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you didn’t want that. Look, your house is abandoned. I tell you, you won’t see me until the time comes when you say, Blessings on the one who comes in the Lord’s name.” (Question: What teaching of Jesus makes you uncomfortable and hard to follow?)
Luke 14:1-6
One Sabbath, when Jesus went to share a meal in the home of one of the leaders of the Pharisees, they were watching him closely. A man suffering from an abnormal swelling of the body was there. Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, “Does the Law allow healing on the Sabbath or not?” But they said nothing. Jesus took hold of the sick man, cured him, and then let him go. He said to them, “Suppose your child or ox fell into a ditch on the Sabbath. Wouldn’t you immediately pull it out?” But they had no response. (Question: What criteria do you have for whether or not you reject or accept someone else?)
Hymn God of Great and God of Small (In Person Only)
Luke 14:7-9
When Jesus noticed how the guests sought out the best seats at the table, he told them a parable. “When someone invites you to a wedding celebration, don’t take your seat in the place of honor. Someone more highly regarded than you could have been invited by your host. The host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give your seat to this other person.’ Embarrassed, you will take your seat in the least important place. (Question: Have you ever felt rejection in your life?)
Luke 14:10-11
Instead, when you receive an invitation, go and sit in the least important place. When your host approaches you, he will say, ‘Friend, move up here to a better seat.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.” (Question: Have you ever struggled with wanting God to reject the people you don’t like and be merciful to the people you do like?)
Hymn I Want Jesus to Walk with Me (In Person Only)
Luke 14:12-15
Then Jesus said to the person who had invited him, “When you host a lunch or dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers and sisters, your relatives, or rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return and that will be your reward. Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. And you will be blessed because they can’t repay you. Instead, you will be repaid when the just are resurrected.” When one of the dinner guests heard Jesus’ remarks, he said to Jesus, “Happy are those who will feast in God’s kingdom.” (Question: How do you feel accepted by God in life?)
Reflection Together (In Person Only)
Offering Ourselves to God
During this time let us reflect upon the words from the hymn “Here in This Place”
Here in this place the new light is streaming; now is the darkness vanished away; see in this space our fears and our dreamings brought here to you in the light of this day. Gather us in, the lost and forsaken; gather us in, the blind and the lame; call to us now, and we shall awaken; we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery. We are the old who yearn for your face. We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race. Gather us in, the rich and the haughty; gather us in, the proud and the strong; give us a heart, so meek and so lowly; give us the courage to enter the song.
Hymn Here in This Place (In Person Only)
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power
and the glory, forever. Amen
Benediction
Closing Hymn When the Lord Redeems the Very Least (In Person Only)
Hymn List
19 God of Great and God of Small
399 God Welcomes All
401 Here in This Place
750 Goodness Is Stronger than Evil
775 I Want Jesus to Walk with Me
852 When the Lord Redeems the Very Least
Lent Sermon Series: How did Jesus live through…
March 20th – Despair vs. Hope
March 27th – Frustration vs. Peace
April 3rd – Fear vs. Courage
April 10th – Domination vs. Liberation