A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all.
This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
...... It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
Mark 2:1-12, 17
A few simplistic thoughts about the question 'Who Are You Talking To?' as it relates to missional preaching.
*Jesus saw their faith. I don't know how many preachers experience large crowds of people clamoring to hear him, but Jesus did at times. I've never had anyone dig through the roof to see me. Honestly if I'm in that house my attention is going to be on the crowd, on the amazing scene of the paralytic being dropped through the ceiling. Maybe I'm Twittering about all the madness. Jesus? He sees their faith. Are we focused on the crowd (large or small, engaged or apathetic, on time or late, etc) ... or do we see their faith. Do we notice the ones who came to worship through their pain, in spite of family ridicule, ignoring their exhaustion?
*Jesus met the need of their heart. Yes, he healed the man's body, but first he addressed his soul. If we can avoid getting hung up on a potential importance of order here ... we can see that he addressed the need of the body and soul. The heart brings the needs of the body and soul together into a center of needs and desires.
*Jesus perceived the judgmental ones. I think I'm glad I do not have the gift of being able to read the hearts of others. Not sure I could handle that. Jesus did not allow their accusatory thoughts to inhibit his great love for the sick before him.
*Amazed crowd never saw anything like this! (Just wait for the resurrection!)
When you stand in front of your church, who are you talking to?
Have you ever listened to a sermon that droned on and on addressing issues no one ever thought about, answering questions no one ever asked, and that totally ignored that fact that there were living human beings present? That is someone who is speaking to the 'Church' ... while ignoring the church.
I've wondered sometimes while I'm speaking if the hearts present are open to hearing Christ's message? Since I do not have Jesus' ability to read hearts, I must speak to people as if they were listening with open ears. I must speak to them as they are.
Our greatest challenge is not to craft a wonderful homily. Our greatest challenge is to speak to the needs of the hearts before us. We do so, knowing that the judgmental will be present, but we do not let them deter us. Perhaps more amazing things will happen when our focus is on the people in front of us.
Are we talking to sinners? If so, does our message reflect that? Does your message address the one who came for the first time? The one who walked in as we observed, but in their own spirit they crawled in barely hanging on to faith?
Someone once said, "Preach to a broken heart, and you’ll never lack an audience, for there’s one in every pew.”
Just some thoughts and questions ... to keep us focused on the mission. I'd love to hear your insights and thoughts.
john
