Youth Ministries Day
Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (Ordinary Time)
Make Me Clean
Scriptures
2 Kings 5:1–14, Psalm 30, 1 Corinthians 9:24–27, Mark 1:40–45/1:36–40 IV, Doctrine and Covenants 85:20, Mosiah 2:3–5
Worship Setting
Various transparent vessels of water of differing heights, shapes and colors
Prelude
Gathering Hymn
“Take Time to Be Holy” HS 180
Welcome
Call to Worship
Read Doctrine and Covenants 85:20
*Opening Hymn
“Mighty God, Transforming God!” NS 38
*Invocation
*Response
Scripture Story
(based on 2 Kings 5:1–14) “The Healing of Naaman” by Dona Emerson
(see story following this worship outline)
OR Read from a children’s Bible like Lectionary Story Bible, Year B by Ralph Milton
(Wood Lake Publishing, 2008, ISBN 9781551455648)
Sermon
Based on Mark 1:40–45
Hymn
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God” HS 179
OR “Heal Me, Hands of Jesus” (see words and music)
Disciples’ Generous Response
Each Sunday, as part of the Disciples’ Generous Response, we ask you to integrate the message of “share equally” between Local/Mission Center and World Mission Tithes. Generosity stories are provided to keep the church in touch with how contributions to Mission Tithes focus on the whole mission of Jesus Christ through the five life-changing, church-changing, and world-changing mission initiatives.
Please use the stories, testimonies, and up-to-date contribution information as part of your offertory ministry. Visit www.CofChrist.org/generositystories/ to print a copy, or contact your pastor, congregational financial officer, or worship coordinator for a copy.
Blessing and Receiving of Mission Tithes
Eternal Spirit, we thank you for food and remember the hungry. We thank you for health, and remember the sick. We thank you for friends, and remember the friendless. We thank you for freedom, and remember the enslaved. May these remembrances stir us to service—that your gifts to us may be used for others.
—Judy Judd, ed., Prayers and Readings for Worship (Herald House, 1987, ISBN 9780830904785), 113.
Prayer for Peace
Reading of Psalm 30
Solo
“Mourning into Dancing” NS 39
Young people dressed in green, the color of the Epiphany, move in response to the music. If young people are not available this could be sung as a congregational hymn.
*Closing Hymn
“Now Sing to Our God” NS 40
*Benediction
*Sending Forth
Presider: Then they all cried aloud with one voice, saying:
Left side of the congregation: Oh, have mercy, that we may receive forgiveness of our sins and be purified;
Right side: For we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and Earth, and all things, who shall come down among the children of men.
ALL: Make me clean!
—Mosiah 2:3–5, adapted
*Postlude
The Healing of Naaman
By Dona Emerson
Children’s stories are best when the leader is on the level with the children. Sit with them on the rostrum or other available area, preferably on the floor. For this story it is important to engage them physically, so use grand exaggerated gestures and have the kids imitate you as much as possible.
Naaman was the Captain of the Army.
He was BIG and strong.
And his boss, King Aram, thought he was great because Naaman almost always won the battle.
But there was one thing wrong with Naaman. Can you guess what it was?
He had leprosy. (Talk about what that means—his skin was icky—and many people might have been afraid of him because he looked different.)Way back then, in battle—lots of young kids were taken to work as slaves.
One young girl was taken to work for Naaman’s wife.
We don’t even know her name, because scripture doesn’t tell us.
(What jobs do you think she might have to do—wash clothes, fix Naaman’s wife’s hair?)
But even though she had to work hard—and had to be a slave—
she did something amazing! She knew that God could help all people, even Naaman.
She was kind enough to tell her mistress that Naaman
needed to go to her prophet, Elisha, to be healed.Naaman went to his king and told him what the slave girl had said.
So King Aram sent Naaman with lots and lots of gifts to offer to the other king:
gold and silver,
and really neat clothes.The only problem was—when Naaman went to the other king
to give him his gifts and ask to be healed,
the other king got MAD!
Can you guess why?
He said he couldn’t do it—and kings don’t like to admit when they can’t do things.
So he was really mad.
He even ripped up his fancy clothes.
Now Elisha—he was the prophet the girl had talked about—
when he heard that the king was unhappy,
he sent a messenger to tell him to send Naaman to him.
So Naaman goes to see the prophet, Elisha.
Well, Elisha wouldn’t even see Naaman, was too busy—so Elisha sent a messenger to Naaman.
Can you imagine how Naaman felt?
(Naaman was an important guy—the king’s favorite—and Elisha won’t even talk to him— just sends a messenger?)
And then—and THEN—what does he tell him???
To bathe in the Jordan seven times.
Now Naaman is not happy about that.
The Jordan River, at that time, was really dirty—it was yucky and probably stinky too.
Would you want to take a bath in THAT?
And not once,
not twice,
not three times,
but seven times—YUCK!
Well, Naaman did what Elisha said to do.
So when he got out of the river he was all clean and the leprosy was GONE!
WOW!
Naaman said he now knew that the little girl’s God was the TRUE God!
He was healed by the power of God.
And all because a little girl believed and spoke up!
SERMON HELPS
Scripture: Mark 1:40–45
Exploring the Scripture
The writer of Mark wastes no time in introducing the central themes of the gospel: The good news told by Jesus, the Son of God; John the Baptist preparing the way; Jesus’ baptism of water and Spirit; the temptation in the wilderness that established early on his authority and power over evil; Jesus’ proclamation of the good news of God saying that the kingdom has come near; Jesus calling his disciples and inviting them to follow him; Jesus teaching with authority and his compassion for the physical and spiritual welfare of others. We are also made aware of Jesus’ need to spend time alone with God away from the press of crowds who were becoming aware of his teachings and healing acts of compassion. Through these actions Jesus shows that the kingdom of God has indeed come near.
Biblical commentaries provide many interesting reflections regarding the historical context and theological interpretation of the story of Jesus healing the leper. The Hebrew term “leprosy” was used to refer to a number of different scaly skin diseases. Lepers were required to dress in tattered clothing and behave as outcasts to demonstrate the social, political, and religious boundaries imposed because of their disease. Leprosy was also considered a divine curse and religious purification rituals were required for them to overcome social isolation and reenter the community. We are not immune from such religious, social, and political hypocrisy in our world. There are people today who are afflicted with diseases that cause them to be socially, politically, and religiously isolated and marginalized.
The leper approaches Jesus and, instead of requesting healing, states—“If you choose, you can make me clean” (v. 40). Bible commentaries remind us that “If you choose, you can…” appears in other ancient prayer formulas as an acknowledgment of the sovereign will of the gods. And the leper’s approach is an indication that he recognizes God’s authority in the ministry of this man called Jesus. It gives expression to the fact that the man clearly has faith that Jesus can heal. The question is will Jesus heal? The answer follows quickly: “Moved with pity,” Jesus violates the restraints of his culture by reaching out and touching the leper and proclaiming… “I do choose. Be made clean.” It is recorded that the leper was immediately healed as his leprosy left him. The word “immediately” is a favorite of Mark through which he shows the urgency with which the good news is to be shared. Jesus then clearly instructs him to “say nothing to anyone; but go, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them” (vv. 41–44). The command shows that Jesus still wants the man to go through the prescribed cleansing ritual (see Leviticus 13 and 14) that will be needed for his re-entering of society.
In most healing stories we see that they restore people back to community. Often we focus on the miracle of the healing itself and not on the miracle of the person becoming part of the community again. The scripture story goes on to share that the leper did not follow Jesus’ command to remain silent about his healing with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly, but had to stay out in the country. The command to remain silent is one that the author of Mark uses throughout his gospel. Scholars have provided various reasons for this. One might be that the author does not want Jesus to be seen as the son of God until he has been crucified. Another may be that the author through this wants to say that Jesus needs to go on and proclaim the good news in other places. Note, for instance, verse 38 where the disciples let Jesus know that many more want to be healed. Jesus came to proclaim the message.
The preacher should help the listener make connections between the physical elements of this story, the historical context, and the theological message for followers of Jesus in today’s world.
Central Ideas
- We are called to faith that God is there for us and is willing to cleanse us.
- Social, political, and religious systems can be barriers to our witness of God’s unconditional love for all persons.
- Courageous discipleship challenges systems that marginalize and isolate persons from receiving God’s grace and sharing their gifts as full participants in the peaceable kingdom.
- Valuing the worth of all persons is a basic gospel principle and should govern all our actions as disciples of Jesus.
Questions for the Speaker
- What barriers prevent you from inviting all persons to fully experience the gift of God’s grace, share their gifts, and join in sacred community?
- We may not cast out lepers today, but what subtle forms of social, political, and religious isolation can be just as devastating?
- How are you willing to challenge the boundaries that marginalize others and keep them from being all God has created them to be?
- How does the peace of Jesus inform your witness and mission as a participant in the kingdom of God on Earth?