Sermon podcast from the Sunday, 1-21-24 worship service - Peace Memorial Church, UCC in Palos Park, IL. Mark 1:14-20
Showing posts with label Mark 1:14-20. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark 1:14-20. Show all posts
1/24/2021
That Sunday School Song - Mark 1:14-20 - Epiphany 3 - 1-24-21
Sermon podcast from the Sunday, 1-24-21 online worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Mark 1:14-20
1/20/2015
Holding back
I can think of a few ways to understand the phrase, “Holding back.”
- Describing someone who isn’t ready for what's next– needing more time to prepare.
- Describing a competitor keeping some energy in reserve for a late burst of speed.
- Describing a person who seems to be restrained from achieving a goal.
In this week’s Bible reading from Mark 1:14-20, describing briefly Jesus’ call of the first disciples, there are a couple of instances of holding back.
Jesus was holding back.
Jesus waited until John was arrested before starting his public ministry. Either he wasn’t quite ready to begin, or he held back on starting until John (who could have become a competitor rather than a herald) was out of the picture.
The first disciples were holding back.
Simon, Andrew, James and John had taken up the family business. But when Jesus called them they immediately left and followed him. They were holding back from leaving the family business and following a rabbi because they'd never been invited by a rabbi before.
In our lives, what is holding up back?
- Is there something we’re just not ready for, but will be soon?
- Are we saving something for the right opportunity to come along?
- Do we feel restrained because of fear or because of something else?
What’s holding us back?
1/17/2012
What do you do?
Whenever you meet someone, you usually ask, at some point, “What do you do?” as a way to find out what their job is. It seems to be “the thing” that folks have the easiest time talking about – at least in the awkward beginnings of conversations with folks you’ve never met.
What you do? What you have always wanted to do?
If you got the opportunity to do that, how would you respond?
In this week’s Bible reading from Mark 1:14-20, Jesus came along and offered Simon, Andrew, James, and John the opportunity to do the thing that they always wished they could do – be the disciples of a rabbi. (Only the brightest and best got that honor. These four had been passed over by the other rabbis.)
They responded by going for it. They jumped at the opportunity – without a net. (Please forgive the pun – but “the left without taking their fishing nets” doesn’t have the same pun appeal)
If you discovered and knew that God was calling you in a new direction, what would you do?
What you do? What you have always wanted to do?
If you got the opportunity to do that, how would you respond?
In this week’s Bible reading from Mark 1:14-20, Jesus came along and offered Simon, Andrew, James, and John the opportunity to do the thing that they always wished they could do – be the disciples of a rabbi. (Only the brightest and best got that honor. These four had been passed over by the other rabbis.)
They responded by going for it. They jumped at the opportunity – without a net. (Please forgive the pun – but “the left without taking their fishing nets” doesn’t have the same pun appeal)
If you discovered and knew that God was calling you in a new direction, what would you do?
1/24/2009
Another Sunday School Song
This week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc (Held back) figures prominently, but gets the "expanded and added to for sermon" treatment as it became this week's sermon at Union Congregational Church , United Church of Christ in Somonauk.
1/19/2009
Held back
Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:
I can think of a few ways to understand the phrase, “Held back.”
Describing a student who isn’t ready for the next grade level – needing more time to prepare.
“The student was held back in the 4th grade, but they excelled in school every grade after that.”
Describing a competitor keeping some energy in reserve for a late burst of speed.
“I think they really held back in the first three quarters of this race. Look at the energy they saved for this final burst of speed!”
Describing a person who seems to be restrained from achieving a goal.
“I don’t know what held them back, but it’s such a shame that they were never able to accomplish what they wanted to do.”
In this week’s reading from Mark 1:14-20, describing briefly Jesus’ call of the first disciples, there are a couple of instances of being held back.
Jesus was held back.
Jesus waited until John was arrested before starting his public ministry. Either he wasn’t quite ready to begin, or he held back on starting until John (who could have become a competitor rather than a herald) was out of the picture.
The first disciples were held back.
Simon, Andrew, James and John had taken up the family business. But when Jesus called them they immediately left and followed him. What held them back from leaving the family business and following a rabbi before?
They weren’t invited.
Simon, Andrew, James and John weren’t called by any rabbis when they were younger to become a follower – a disciple. They were held back from doing what they dreamed of doing because the opportunity seemed lost. But when Jesus invited them, they followed him immediately – held back no longer.
I can think of a few ways to understand the phrase, “Held back.”
Describing a student who isn’t ready for the next grade level – needing more time to prepare.
“The student was held back in the 4th grade, but they excelled in school every grade after that.”
Describing a competitor keeping some energy in reserve for a late burst of speed.
“I think they really held back in the first three quarters of this race. Look at the energy they saved for this final burst of speed!”
Describing a person who seems to be restrained from achieving a goal.
“I don’t know what held them back, but it’s such a shame that they were never able to accomplish what they wanted to do.”
In this week’s reading from Mark 1:14-20, describing briefly Jesus’ call of the first disciples, there are a couple of instances of being held back.
Jesus was held back.
Jesus waited until John was arrested before starting his public ministry. Either he wasn’t quite ready to begin, or he held back on starting until John (who could have become a competitor rather than a herald) was out of the picture.
The first disciples were held back.
Simon, Andrew, James and John had taken up the family business. But when Jesus called them they immediately left and followed him. What held them back from leaving the family business and following a rabbi before?
They weren’t invited.
Simon, Andrew, James and John weren’t called by any rabbis when they were younger to become a follower – a disciple. They were held back from doing what they dreamed of doing because the opportunity seemed lost. But when Jesus invited them, they followed him immediately – held back no longer.
- In our lives, what is keeping us held back from really following Jesus?
- Is it something we’re still just not ready for, but will be soon?
- Are we saving something for the right opportunity to come along?
- Do we feel restrained from following Jesus because of fear or because of something else?
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