July 22 – Eighth after Pentecost

 

2 Samuel 7:1–14a

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

 

Psalm 89:20–37 (VU p. 804)

I will sing of God’s steadfast love.

 

Ephesians 2:11–22

You are holy citizens, members of God’s household.

 

Mark 6:30–34, 53–56

Jesus teaches from a boat and heals the sick.

Spark

Post blueprints for building a house of God where everyone can see them. It should look professional and vibrant. Sometime during the service, these blueprints can be taken down and ripped in half in a very dramatic fashion, the point being that sometimes we need to set aside our own needs for God’s needs. Building a house of God may be less important at this time than being a servant to people in need.

Theme Engagement Question

Putting aside our traditional ideas about church buildings, if you were building a house of and for God, what would you include? Why?

With Children

God tells David that it is not up to him to build God a house. It is God who will make a house for David, a house where “they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more” (2 Samuel 7:10), and they will have “rest from all…enemies” (2 Samuel 7:11).

 

Have some flip chart paper and felt pens available. Ask the children, “If you were designing a church (a house of God), what kind of rooms would you put in it and what would you want it to look like on the outside?” Involve the children in the drawing. How does God build a house for us? Talk about images of homes and how we are protected in our homes. You might also talk about how we care for the homes and churches God has given us.

Sermon Starter

At times, we have the illusion that we can do anything through our own power and we think we know what God wants. What we are and what we have is a gift from God and not of our own power of volition. David thought he knew what God wanted, but David’s gifts were meant for a different purpose. How do we distinguish between our assumptions and God’s true calling for us? What would help us “hear” God’s ideas more clearly?

Hymns

Hebrew Scripture

VU 701            “What does the Lord require of you”

MV 1               “Let us build a house”

MV 152           “You who watch the highest heavens”

 

Psalm

MV 147           “God, help us to treasure”

 

Epistle

VU 325            “Christ is made the sure foundation”

MV 154           “Deep in our hearts”

 

Gospel

VU 563            “Jesus, you have come to the lakeshore”

VU 601            “The church of Christ in every age”

MV 172           “God says”