July 19 – Seventh after Pentecost

July 19 – Seventh after Pentecost

Lectionary

Lectionary readings from Vanderbilt Divinity Library online

(http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/BPentecost/bProper11.htm)

 

2 Samuel 7:1–14a

David is not the one to build God’s house.

Psalm 89:20–37 (VU pg. 804)

I will sing of God’s steadfast love.

Ephesians 2:11–22

You are citizens with the saints, members of God’s household.

Mark 6:30–34, 53–56

Jesus teaches and heals the sick.

Spark

What is the church? Display a variety of images of church as suggested in With Children.

With Children

Gather pictures of church buildings varying in size and shape from cathedrals to storefront churches. Also gather pictures of people “being the church,” pictures that depict service, love, worship, and charity. Make sure the images include different cultures. If possible, project the images or display them in a way that the whole congregation can see.

Then discuss with the children why and how each of these pictures could represent a church. Are they all images of churches? Why or why not? In today’s epistle reading, we learn that even though some churches may seem “alien” or “strange” and even though how we might “be” the church can vary, because of Jesus Christ we are all members of the same church, the household of God.

Conclude by singing “The church is wherever God’s people” (VU 579).

Sermon Starter

Today’s readings help us to explore what the church is and why. Is the household of God fixed, or does it move with its people? The church is action. In our gospel reading, we see the disciples acting as church to the people around them, opening their doors to serve the masses even though they are tired and hungry.

In your community, how does the church reach out to those who are in need of healing? How does God call us to act as the church?

The church is mobile. In our Hebrew reading, we see that God does not wish to be restricted to a holy place or a holy people. As people change, the church must also change. God promises to remain with us throughout every journey, just as God remained with the Hebrew people from the land
of Egypt.

As a community, how do we try to keep God in a box? How have we changed over the years? In our epistle reading we see that the church is inclusive. People of different customs, traditions, and generations are all welcomed as part of the household of God. We are told that the church is to be an inclusive community that everyone who is searching for a relationship with Jesus belongs to. If we are to be an inclusive community, why are our fitness centres and schools more diverse than our churches?

Hymns

Hebrew Scripture

VU 660            “How firm a foundation”

MV 1               “Let us build a house”

MV 42             “Praise God for this holy ground”

Psalm

VU 804            “My song forever”

Epistle

VU 606            “In Christ there is no east or west”

VU 627            “Now there is no male or female”

MV 44             “Shadow and substance”

MV 145           “Draw the circle wide”

Gospel

VU 358            “When Jesus the healer”

VU 681            “Where cross the crowded ways of life”