Sermon - "Rejected . . . Again!”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss, July 12, 2009, Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH

Mark 6:14-29 (ESV)
Amos 7:12-15 (NIV)

The Lord be with you

And also with you

Let us pray:

Creator, Sustainer, Almighty God, we thank you that we are able to come together this morning and worship you in Spirit and in truth. We pray that you would be with us this day, May your spirit fall down upon us gathered here this morning. May we hear the message you have for us today so that we may follow your will for our lives. Speak Lord…your friends are listening.

Read Mark 6:14-29

Rejection…rejection…rejection…If any of you have had any dealings with a teenage you know what I am talking about. Boy…we adults are so stupid in most of their eyes. (Come on…you know what I’m talking about) We try to help them and lead them in the right direction and we get rejection. We get “I know what I am doing”, “why are you always bothering me, I’m not stupid you know”, “that may work for you but it won’t for me.” We try to get them to listen…to not make the same mistakes we have made or seen others make…but still...Rejection. Why is so hard for some people to understand that we are just trying to help them live a better life…we are just trying to help them stay away from a pitfall we see them heading towards?

The Prophets in the Old Testament knew what we are talking about. No one really wanted to hear what they had to say. They didn’t want to hear that they were not doing what they were supposed to be doing(Who does?). Some were killed for what they had to say (unfortunately…that still goes on today). Look at what happened to Amos in the passage that was read this morning. He went to talk to the people of Israel to tell them that they were doing wrong in the sight of God. Well…Amaziah(the priest of Bethel) heard this he went straight to the king…you see…Amos had said that the king would die by the sword and that Israel would go away into exile away from where they were. He wanted to talk some sense into the people of Israel…and what happened…he was told to get out…go back to your own land…prophesy there not here…this is not your place…this is the kings sanctuary…the kingdoms temple by Amaziah. Of course they didn’t want to hear the truth…it was not in their favor.

Again in the scripture I read from Mark, we see rejection but…we also see what can happen because of jealousy and anger. Herod respected John the Baptist…he was confused and perplexed when John spoke but he heard him gladly. Well…John was going about saying that Herod was wrong for marring his brother’s wife Herodias and so, to protect her…for her sake…he had John arrested and put in jail. Well…Herodias was not happy about that...her name had been slandered(so she thought)and was out for blood…she wanted this man killed for his offense towards her. Herod on the other hand feared John and knew he was a righteous and holy man so he wanted to keep John safe. She had a grudge against John (and I am sure she was not to happy with her husband either…the nerve of him not killing this guy for her). I wonder how long she held this grudge against him…the scripture doesn’t tell us but I am sure she festered about this John person.

Now here is what happens when anger and a grudge come together ad fester for a while…When Herod was having a party and had his daughter dance for them…he promised her whatever she wanted up to half his kingdom (that must have been some dance). She went to her mom for advice on what to ask for (This is a place where we can see how our advice to those who seek it can either be for good or bad, how we need to be very careful with of our own motives when giving advice) and she thought…Bam…revenge at last…off with his head (as the Queen of Hearts would say)…and by the way…serve it up on a silver platter for me. (Talk about being an opportunist…Herodias knew that Herod had given his word…his oath in front of other people. She knew that he could not go back on his word...besides…he offered his daughter anything up to half the kingdom. How many times do we wait for our chance to get revenge? How many times have we given advice that suits our needs and not necessarily the needs for the person asking?)

So…what are we to do when we come under fire...what are we to do when the gospel is hard for others to take? Well…Acts 18:9 tells us that Paul was told in a dream that he had to face his fear of speaking up. The Lord told him in a dream “don’t let anyone intimidate r silence you, No Matter What Happens, I’m with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you.” You see…the Lord is our courage under fire. I was reading an article on line from “Called magazine” and the name of the article was “Courage under Fire”. You see…it stated that “We can find strength in knowing that when we speak up for what is right, the Lord is on our side. Controversy doesn’t thwart Him, and it certainly cannot surprise Him. He will give us the strength needed to be bold, courageous and strong.” Mother Theresa knew firsthand what it felt like to be booed, rejected and threatened because she was willing to say what was unpopular. When she was asked how it felt she simply said “I offered it to our Lord. It’s all for Him, no? I let Him say what He wants…we must tell the truth.”(Courage under Fire)

We have a choice in life. We can both not say anything and make everyone around us not feel uncomfortable around us (All the while the truth is eating us up inside) or we can speak the truth in love. The article ended with something that really made me think. It ended with “Like Paul and Mother Theresa, we must not be afraid to speak up when it’s the right thing to do. Opposition will scare us, and fear will attempt to silence us – but we can remember that the Lord will be our courage under fire.” The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Amen.

The Disciples Sent

Christ sent the disciples
to preach, to heal
to go in his name
spreading his message
the same message as John
raised, an urgent warning from God
His word to the people
to change their ways
to turn from the world
and return to God


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

John Raised

John was raised
in the message continuing
in Christ preaching
and the disciples going
as he had gone
sharing God’s redemption
to his chosen people

A message that could not be stilled
no matter what others said
Herod knew
John had been raised.


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

Wrong in God’s Sight

The king, the people
wrong in God’s sight
the prophets speaking
a message of truth

We too, must be bold
and share Christ’s message
his message of love
for our neighbors
for our faithfulness to God
honoring his sacrifice
striving to live right
in God’s sight


July 12, 2009, July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

Standing for His Word

Never being silenced
speaking out against the people
standing up to the king
in his failing before God

Standing for His word
the message from God
to live according to Christ’s example
in our walk on this earth


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

Like John

Laity, like John
able to speak, to share
stand for the message,
speak as messengers, witnesses
to the savior’s ways
raising our voices, out in the darkness
into the wilderness, repent!

God so loved the world,
in spite of our sin, repent
we may find saving grace
in the sacrifice of the son
in the love of the father
the indwelling spirit
guiding our days

Like John we are called
to be the hands, the feet,
the voice of the disciples
the apostles of our brother
the sheep of his fold
the fishermen sent into the world
a harvest of souls to reap
for the glory of God


July 12, 2009 and July 16, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
Acts 18:9
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

Speaking as John did

We are each called
in our time, this place
in our own way,
as we have been gifted
to serve our neighbors
to the glory of the Lord

Speaking, as John did
in Jesus’ name,
going into the wilderness
into the courts of power
speaking what is right
in the eyes of the Lord

Saving by water, by the Spirit
by the grace of God
given, not earned
by the works of our hearts;
but by the love of God alone


July 12, 2009 and July 16, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

A Gadfly in my Soup

nothing they didn’t know
warned, told to be silent
ridicule, banishment
imprisonment, death
the prophet before the king
a dangerous place to be

steeled by the message
by the certainty of their calling
they spoke of God,
of the sins of the nation
the failings of the king
an urgent indictment
plain and clear

not to be silenced
those led by the Spirit
heralds of our Lord
speaking out to the world
the message of love
of saving by grace
the lamb for us all
our brother, our master,
our friend


July 12, 2009 and July 16, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

His Voice

Herod knew, these twelve
sent into the world,
Christ speaking
the continuation, the resurrection
John raised from the dead
the message of the prophet
the voice, still calling out
sharing in the wilderness
an urgent plea to turn, to change
to repent of our ways
to follow the one to come
the one who came
to save us all


July 12, 2009 and July 16, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

liked to listen to him

as others before him,
the king and the prophets
the ruler, seeing, understanding
knowing the one from God
perplexed, confounded, tormented;
but keeping them close
listening to the inspired word
feeling the presence of God
words of power, of grace
of truth in the night
never stopping
urgent words
of God


July 12, 2009 and July 16, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

Always Speak Out

Face our fears,
always speak out
sharing the redeeming love
the ever present grace

waiting, pursuing, seeking after us
God’s hand open, his arms wide
ready to give us our heart’s desire

No matter the place, the age
God’s love to reveal
always speak out
our voices raised
in the wilderness
in the courts of power
wherever we may go


July 12, 2009 and July 16, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
Acts 18:9
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

Silencing the Prophets

Sending away,
putting into prison, shut him up
the killing of the messenger
these men of God
silencing the prophets
so they may not be heard

But others have come,
others are sent
to share the message
the redemption of God

When we turn our face
from the ways of the world
and turn our lives
to the ways of our Lord
our lives changed
healed, made clean
before our maker

By grace alone,
the sacrifice of the lamb
his blood making me whole
a message to share
hope to make known
to the ends of the earth


July 12, 2009 and July 16, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

Relentlessly

Each vision, each message
each indictment
written and shared
in the prophecy of the herald
the messenger of God
Speaking to the priest,
to the king, to the people
change your ways
from the world
from your desires
to the teachings of God


July 12, 2009 and July 16, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

An urgent indictment

Amos, John, standing in the waters;
Nathan speaking to David’s ear
An urgent indictment, the prophets revealing
the king, the people
walking away from relationship with God
Change your ways,
leave the world behind you
the calling of the prophets
over and over
to the people,
truth to power
saving in their words
turning to God
and the guiding of his ways


July 12, 2009 and July 16, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

Prophesy to Power

never silenced, speaking truth
prophesy to power
to the king, authority, to the people
turn from your ways, the ways of the world
die in the water, rise with our brother
the indwelling spirit
changing our days

never silenced, speaking love
the sacrifice of our savior
the grace of our God
fall on your knees
in praise and thanksgiving
rise and go
to spread the good news


July 12, 2009 and July 16, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56

A Greater Power

not being silent
prophesy to power
speaking the truth of God
to the world
telling the nation, the people
the word they must hear
the urgent message
to turn away from the world
and return to God
to call upon the savior
and to come home
to listen to the Spirit
and follow the will of God


July 12, 2009 and July 16, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56

Not even death

The king knew
whatever others said
the message would live
John raised, his truth
the prophet alive
not even death would silence
the mighty word of God

The judgment of God
resounding in the story
the prophesy fulfilled
the faith spreading
no exile, no banishment,
not even death
could still
the message of God


July 12, 2009 and July 16, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56