Mark 6:1-5, The rejection of Jesus He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.
Contempt is so painful
To be dismissed, disregarded
Questioning instead of dignity
Accusation instead of personhood
I have felt its sting and hollowness
As have you, my Jesus
Heal my wound
I have wielded this weapon fully conscious of its destructive power
You never have, my Jesus
Forgive me and heal all I have hurt
Make my ways like yours, my Jesus
Deliver me from a spirit of judgment, criticism, and contempt
Help me hear their needed messages
Help me see all as you see them, beloved, and needed
Especially those who are hard to love
I am most ashamed of aiming contempt at you, my Jesus
I am so very sorry
Forgive me, renew me, abide in me so there is
More of my true me
More of you and your ways
More of your grace extended through me
For the healing of the world
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Mark 2:23-28 One sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
Lord of the Sabbath,
Reveal your ways to me
Your beautiful will
I desire to follow you faithfully
Faith-fully
Show me where I need correction.
Where I am too lax … too strict
Reveal how I use your commands as weapons
judging… excluding… twisting…
Forgive me
Renew a right spirit within
Fill me with your Holy Word for witness, service, and rest
Fill me with your Holy Spirit for witness, service, and rest
Fill me with your Holy Ways for witness, service, and rest
Your ways are life!
Spring up life in me!
Help me to help others to that spring as well
that we may all live
that we may all live in the overflowing grace
of Your blessing, wholeness, and love
Amen
Sermon Series: The Gospel of Dr. Seuss
Message 1 of 6: Horton Hatches the Egg
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-7
Notes from a message offered Sunday, 1/20/19 at Trinity United Methodist Church, Sarasota Florida.
Why are Dr. Seuss books classics?
Rhythm and Rhyme
Inventive Illustrations
Universal Themes
Modern Parables- Stories with a deeper meaning. Those deeper meanings are often Biblical truths.
Horton makes a courageous commitment. He remains faithful to that commitment even when doing so leads to
Frustration
Inconvenience
Pain
Sickness
Ridicule
Sacrifice
Threat of death
Sold into slavery
What breaks my heart is the return of Lazy Mayzie and her reclaiming the egg she abandoned. The story has a happy ending (Elephant Bird!) Even so, Horton would have remained true even without reward. He’s courageously committed.
“I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful, one hundred percent!”
Does anyone do this anymore? Have you ever made a Horton level commitment? What prevents you?
What if I commit to the wrong thing?
What if I miss out on something better? I’ll be trapped!
I’ve got plenty of time to make a commitment later
What if the commitment impacts the way I want to live my life like it did Horton?
AsLazy Mayzie says, “It’s work, how I hate it, I’d much rather play!”
Commitment is easy to come by when it is superficial, doesn’t cost us anything, temporary, or new. (How are those New Year’s resolutions going?) Commitment takes work. The work is to keep at it- day after day, year after year after year.
1)Define “The Why”, the deep reason for the commitment. I am committed to my sobriety because… I am committed to my marriage because… I am committed to starting this business because… I am a committed follower of Jesus Christ because…
2)Remember “The Why.” Keep it in front of you, especially when the commitment becomes hard work and sacrifice.
3)Live the commitment moment to moment. I’m going to eat healthy for the rest of my life. No! I’m going to make the best next faithful choice. Little choices add up to a big and lasting commitment.
4)Expect some failure. It will happen. Choose to fail forward: practice forgiveness, learn from the failure, keep showing up.
5)Don’t go it alone. We need the gift of each other and we need God.
Who can you think of who’s made a Horton level commitment? Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Theresa, Billy Graham, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. We think of the super saints. Ordinary people can make a Horton level commitment as well.
Have you made a Horton level commitment to Jesus?
When we decide to believe in Jesus without making a commitment to follow Him, we become nothing more than fans.- Kyle Idleman, Not a Fan
Reading of 1 Peter 1:3-7. “The Why” of making a Horton level commitment to Jesus.
His great mercy
New birth
A living hope
Jesus already made a Horton level commitment to us in his coming, homelessness, ridicule, torture, death, and resurrection
an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. No situation or evil can touch it.
Salvation and Heaven
God’s protection
This is why we rejoice and keep to a courageous commitment in the midst of suffering and trials for the sake of Christ.
Have you made a Horton level commitment to Jesus? You can. Anyone can.
Not a nominal Christian- in name only
Not a CEO (Christmas Easter only)
Not a commitment of convenience
Not a fair-weather Christian
Not a fan
WORSHIP RESOURCES
For Courage to do Justice by Alan Paton O Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others; open my ears that I may hear their cries; open my heart so that they need not be without succor; let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong, nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich. Show me where love and hope and faith are needed, and use me to bring them to those places. And so open my eyes and my ears that I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee. Amen.
Mark 1:14-20, NRSV Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Jesus,
You call me from what I know to something new
From a life on this sea with this family
From the nets of generations before me
You call me to a new beginning
A new being and doing
You call me to follow
To move and become
Help me turn towards you
Help me follow
Help me believe and trust you fully
Immediately
Help me live into my chosenness
To lay down what I know and pick up anew
Empower me to go out with you
Across, beyond, into the deep
Bringing in your wild, shining kingdom
Full, full nets
Full, full nets
Full, full nets
Growing in Resilience
Based on Isaiah 58
Bonus Reflection: We Will Rise
based on Isaiah 58:11-12, NRSV
The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.
We will rise
From the destruction
From the ruins
From the sin and isolation
We will rise
Building strong foundations
Bridging the breach
Making a way, a highway to our God
We will rise in our ceasing
A holy fast of God’s desiring and design
Fasting from injustice
Letting loose the bonds
Breaking every yoke of oppression and affliction
Fasting from food and space and clothing
Simplicity and sacrifice so others may have enough
Fasting from busyness
Reclaim the good gifts of relationship and sabbath
Fasting from evil speech
Blaming, gossiping, demonizing, lying
Truth will be on our tongue
Life will be on our lips
We will rise for this is the way of the Risen One
The bones of the Body will be strong
The branches of the Vine will be well watered
The ruins will be rebuilt with living stones
We will rise!
Growing in Resilience
Based on Isaiah 55
Bonus Reflection: Glory to You, based on Isaiah 55:6-9, NRSV
Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Glory To You, O Lord Most High!
You await us with mercy
Mercy and abundant pardon
You are near
You are found
You send out your Word and it returns to you
Powerful
Effective
Creative
A harvest of salvation and goodness
You send out your Word and it fulfills your desire
Joy and Peace for us and all creation
Glory To You, O Lord Most High!
Your thoughts are higher
Your ways are higher
Above and beyond
Grace upon grace
You alone are worthy of
our seeking
our turning
our trust and devotion
our celebration and song
Growing in Resilience
Based on Isaiah 55
Bonus Reflection: You Call, based on Isaiah 55:1-2, NRSV
Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
Holy One of Israel
of all
Your love is unfailing
Steadfast
Sure
You call
You call
Your mouth opens wide
Your hand opens wide
Your storehouse opens wide
Your heart opens wide
You call, “Come, children open your ears”
“Listen, receive the promises like food for they are life”
Come, Listen, Receive the Holy One
Receive the promises
Receive life
Receive the call
Come, Listen, Receive
Let the Holy One make you glorious
Alive
Come, Listen, Receive, and Join the Call
Call to those you know
Call to those unknown
Call to family, friends, strangers
Call, “Come!” so they may come
and listen and receive
and be glorious
Alive
Reading of 
Mark 1:14-20, NRSV
Growing in Resilience
