Romans 1: 1-7 (links validated 10/25/22)
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Sermon Starters (Advent 4A)(2019)
In 2006 Charles Carl Roberts massacre 5 people in a one-room Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. Among the victims whose Christian faith led to her obedience was 13 year-old Marian Fisher. She, after all, stepped forward and told Roberts, “Shoot just me, and leave the others go.” Quite simply, Marian offered to take the place of children who were younger, smaller and weaker. Some couldn’t help but hear in her offer echoes of Jesus. He, after all, stepped forward to let God condemn him in the place of people who were smaller and weaker. Even more incredibly, Jesus died for people who are completely naturally capable of crucifying him. Yet the Amish obedience that comes from faith didn’t end with Marian Fisher’s sacrificial offer. It also embraced the father, wife and children of the man who so callously murdered their children before killing himself. The Amish community donated some of the funds people sent them to Roberts’ family...