Prayer: Speak to us, O God, of your wisdom,
truth, insights, so that we may grow in your Christ-likeness. Amen.
“It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ
who lives in me. And the life I now live
in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God!” These
are Paul’s words as he was making the point that people become right in God’s
sight by having faith in Jesus Christ and not by following all the Jewish
laws. In fact, no one could ever be
accepted by God and saved by God because he or she followed the law
expertly. Paul realized that God’s favor
comes by believing in Jesus Christ.
What Paul preached back then is still true
today—God’s favor of us comes by us having faith in the Son of God. God’s acceptance of us is shown because the
real life of God’s Holy Spirit is infused into people who trust in the Son of
God. Trying to have God’s favor by doing
everything correctly in life, by obeying every law or guideline in the Bible,
by doing good things never was successful anyway. Instead, trusting in Jesus Christ, who loves
us and gave his life for us, accepting Jesus Christ in heart and mind opens the
doorway for the Holy Spirit to be regenerated in that person.
And guess, what? Christ-likeness starts to form! The Spirit that lived in Jesus starts to live
in you and me! Christ lives in us! Christ’s Holy Spirit is alive in us! Therefore, everyone who has faith in God
through the Son has the opportunity to exhibit the traits of Christian living,
and those traits were the ones that Jesus had when he lived on earth.
Last Wednesday we saw how Jesus exhibited the
trait of being a prayerful worshiper of God.
How, when he was needing to get away from the demands in his life, he
took time to be with God in prayer, worshiping God on the mountain. That is a trait that each one of us can
develop.
Tonight, another trait of Jesus is
highlighted in this passage from John. Jesus,
as the Son of God, knows God; he knows about God. He knows how much love God has for humanity.
Jesus also knows human beings. He is aware of how easily human beings can
lose track of God’s presence and power.
So, one of Jesus’ main purposes while he was here was to be the message
bearer of God’s ways. He was the teacher
for the people, and he mostly got the job done by teaching the disciples. They, in turn, were to teach others about the
ways of God, the love of God, the presence of the Holy Spirit, which we have
seen, is present in every person who believes.
Can Jesus’ trait as a message bearer be a
trait that we incorporate into our daily lives?
Even though we have Christ’s Holy Spirit alive in us, how do we go about
being God’s message bearers? And, what
message are we bearing? Let’s see if
some answers might come out of this little presentation. [Take off your robe, and invite participants
to come forward and stand anywhere they want around the Communion Table. I sit at the desk, studying the Bible.]
Galen:
“Hmmm… John 11 has Jesus saying, “I am the resurrection and the life…
anyone who believes in me, though they may die, yet shall they live.” I’ve always liked this message about what we
should look for in life. Jesus says in
Luke 12, “Strive for the kingdom of God its righteousness, and all these things
shall be added unto you.”
Oh!
Here’s another message from Jesus found in Matthew 11: “Come to me all
you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Another message from Jesus found in
Matthew: “Leave your gift at the altar,
be reconciled to your family member; then offer your gift to God.”
Scene #1
Barb Witmer
(You are to
briefly role play the following scene #1 for about 30-45 seconds. You can make it up as you describe to the
congregation what is happening.)
“You have
just had an argument with your family member (husband, wife, son or daughter—your choice).
The way the argument ended left you feeling wounded and paralyzed in
your relationship.”
(After you
describe this in a role play to the congregation, you actually “freeze in
place” symbolizing how this particular situation has bogged you down. As soon as you freeze in place, the person
role playing “Scene #2, will role play another identical situation.)
The
Message Bearer (Galen) will come to you first, speak a “Jesus-message” to you,
and unfreeze you with an embrace. You
will then go to the person who did “Scene #2” and speak the same message to
that person. Your touch or embrace
unfreezes that person. You may then sit
down.)
Jesus Message: “Be
reconciled to your family member, then offer your gift to God.”
Scene #2
David Killius
(Briefly
role play the following scene (30-45 seconds) as soon as the person before you finishes their role play. You can make up the role play as you describe
to the congregation what is happening.)
You have
just had an argument with your family member (husband, wife, son or daughter—your
choice). The way the argument ended left you feeling
wounded and paralyzed in your relationship.
(After you
describe this in a role play to the congregation, you actually “freeze in
place” symbolizing how this particular situation has bogged you down.
The
first person will come to you and speak the same “Jesus message” to you, touch
or embrace you, and that unfreezes you.
You come
back to the Message Bearer (Galen), and say the same Jesus message to him. His response:
“Your faith has made you well.”
You may sit down.)
Scene #3
Jeff Lord
(You are to
briefly role play the following scene #3 for about 30-45 seconds. You can make it up as you describe to the
congregation what is happening.)
Your boss at
work has given you a lot of assignments to accomplish in the next two
days. But today, your boss added to the list
by stating that the last batch of assignments are higher priority and need to
be accomplished by the same time.
(After you
describe this in a role play to the congregation, you actually “freeze in
place” symbolizing how this particular situation has bogged you down. As soon as you freeze in place, the person
role playing “Scene #4, will role play another identical situation.)
The Message
Bearer (Galen) will come to you first, speak a “Jesus-message” to you, and
unfreeze you with an embrace. You will then
go to the person who did “Scene #4” and speak the same message to that
person. Your touch or embrace unfreezes
that person. You may then sit down.)
Jesus Message: “Come to
Jesus, if you are weary and heavy laden, and you will find rest.”
Scene
#4 Dean Witmer
(Briefly
role play the following scene (30-45 seconds) as soon as the person before you finishes their role play. You can make up the role play as you describe
to the congregation what is happening.)
Your boss at
work has given you a lot of assignments to accomplish in the next two
days. But today, your boss added to the
list by stating that the last batch of assignments are higher priority and need
to be accomplished by the same time.
(After
you describe this in a role play to the congregation, you actually “freeze in
place” symbolizing how this particular situation has bogged you down.
The first
person will come to you and speak the same “Jesus message” to you, touch or
embrace you, and that unfreezes you.
You come
back to the Message Bearer (Galen), and say the same Jesus message to him. His response:
“Your faith has made you well.”
You may sit down.)
Scene
#5 Doug Kefford
(You are to
briefly role play the following scene #5 for about 30-45 seconds. You can make it up as you describe to the
congregation what is happening.)
“Two weeks
ago you won the Pennsylvania CASH 5 lottery.
You got $250,000!!! However, now
everyone is coming at you for donations.
The stress is overwhelming.”
(After you
describe this in a role play to the congregation, you actually “freeze in
place” symbolizing how this particular situation has bogged you down. As soon as you freeze in place, the person
role playing “Scene #6, will role play another identical situation.)
The Message
Bearer (Galen) will come to you first, speak a “Jesus-message” to you, and
unfreeze you with an embrace. You will
then go to the person who did “Scene #6” and speak the same message to that
person. Your touch or embrace unfreezes
that person. You may then sit down.)
Jesus Message: “Seek first
the kingdom of God, and everything will given to you as well.”
Scene
#6 Norma Swain
(Briefly
role play the following scene (30-45 seconds) as soon as the person before you finishes their role play. You can make up the role play as you describe
to the congregation what is happening.)
“Last month
you got an inheritance check for $100,000 due to an estate settlement from a
rich uncle’s will. Now, however, other
family members are angry that you got so much.
The stress is overwhelming.”
(After
you describe this in a role play to the congregation, you actually “freeze in
place” symbolizing how this particular situation has bogged you down.
The first
person will come to you and speak the same “Jesus message” to you, touch or
embrace you, and that unfreezes you.
You come
back to the Message Bearer (Galen), and say the same Jesus message to him. His response:
“Your faith has made you well.”
You may sit down.)
Scene
#7 DonnaJean Leon
(You are to
briefly role play the following scene #7 for about 30-45 seconds. You can make it up as you describe to the
congregation what is happening.)
“A loved one
in your family was recently admitted to the hospital because of chest
pains. After a few tests, the diagnosis
came back that the loved one has a terminal disease.”
(After you
describe this in a role play to the congregation, you actually “freeze in
place” symbolizing how this particular situation has bogged you down. As soon as you freeze in place, the person
role playing “Scene #8, will role play another identical situation.)
The Message
Bearer (Galen) will come to you first, speak a “Jesus-message” to you, and
unfreeze you with an embrace. You will
then go to the person who did “Scene #8” and speak the same message to that
person. Your touch or embrace unfreezes
that person. You may then sit down.)
Jesus
Message: “Jesus is the resurrection
and the life; anyone who believes in him will live.”
Scene #8 Deb
Reinhard
(Briefly
role play the following scene (30-45 seconds) as soon as the person before you finishes their role play. You can make up the role play as you describe
to the congregation what is happening.)
“A loved one
in your family was recently admitted to the hospital because of chest
pains. After a few tests, the diagnosis
came back that the loved one has a terminal disease.”
(After
you describe this in a role play to the congregation, you actually “freeze in
place” symbolizing how this particular situation has bogged you down.
The first
person will come to you and speak the same “Jesus message” to you, touch or
embrace you, and that unfreezes you.
You come
back to the Message Bearer (Galen), and say the same Jesus message to him. His response:
“Your faith has made you well.”
You may sit down.)
Thank you to all our message bearers tonight.
God sent us the great Message Bearer in Jesus. We have his words about the truths of
God. It was a trait he embodied. We can be Message bearers, too. As we form Christ-likeness, we discover that
in any and all our circumstances and situations, we can be prayerful worshipers
(a trait we discussed last Wednesday), and we can be the ones who have received
the messages of faith, to be shared with one another.
Let us continue to grow in our Christ-likeness. Next Wednesday we will examine the trait of
giving and accepting forgiveness. Amen.