"Peace and the Practice of Humility"

A Prayer to Activate our Faith

We find Truth in Jesus.

Being found in human form,

            He emptied himself of all but love.

Like him, we seek to lift people up,

            assuming a posture of servanthood among us all.

We pray that our practice of humility

helps to break down barriers of human hostility.

 

We find Joy in Jesus.

He made room for others

            and invited all people into the sacred spaces of love.

Like him, we seek to create safe spaces for others,

            turning enemies into friends.

We pray that our practice of hospitality

            helps build bridges and tears down walls.

 

We find Peace in Jesus.

He embraced a mission of love,

            caring for all and restoring God’s world.

Like him, we seek to partner with God

            in the recovery of God’s vision of shalom.

We pray that our practice of healing

            helps to restore peace with justice everywhere.

 

We find Love in Jesus.

He demonstrated the fullest possible extent

            of the love of God and neighbor.

Like him, we seek to live a life of faith

            working by love leading to holiness.

We pray that our practice of holiness

            helps others to discover their true identity

            as the beloved children of God.

 

We embrace the holistic and all-inclusive vision

            Of God’s restoration of beloved community.  

 

Our scripture today is from Isaiah, chapter 11 verses 6-9 and 2 Corinthians, chapter 5 verses 17-20 from the Common English Bible.

6 The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion will feed together, and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow and the bear will graze. Their young will lie down together, and a lion will eat straw like an ox. 8 A nursing child will play over the snake's hole; toddlers will reach right over the serpent's den.  9 They won't harm or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain. The earth will surely be filled with the knowledge of the LORD, just as the water covers the sea. 

 

17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived! 18 All of these new things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 In other words, God was reconciling the world to himself through Christ, by not counting people's sins against them. He has trusted us with this message of reconciliation. 20 So we are ambassadors who represent Christ. God is negotiating with you through us. We beg you as Christ's representatives, "Be reconciled to God!"

 

Leader: This is the word of God for a people of God.

All: Thanks be to God.

 

Discussion Questions following sermon

1. How do the biblical images from Isaiah 11 and 2 Corinthians 5 speak to you?

2. Is the idea of salvation as restoration and as something more than a personal relationship with Jesus new to you? How does this broader vision of healing and restoration sit with you?

3.How do you think SHUMC can partner with God in the care of the world? What are you currently doing to help restore our planet? What do you suggest SHUMC does in the future?