THE SERMON SERIES INTRODUCED
As announced Sunday morning, our July sermon series is called Fill the Basket. Four select texts will be represented over the next four Sundays, but all of this series is inspired by that one little tike who brought his basket that day when five thousand gathered and, in time, became very hungry people.
What if the boy didn’t bring the basket? What was Jesus’ expression to the boy when Jesus met him in the eye, and, with gratitude, took the basket from the boy’s hand?
We cannot know the answers to these questions on this side of heaven. We can, however, make sure other tikes have baskets that are full.
And this is what our sermon series is about. It’s about our Christian Education program. Inspired by four infant baptisms that have or will happen over the next few months, we’ll look optimistically about what we have and where God will continue to lead us with His children.
SERMON INTRO
The Fourth of July is filled with American promise and pride. Such good things have come and can continue to come! Now let’s step back to one great thing that happened. When a father heard of the good things Jesus had done in the name of healing, he brought his ill son to the disciples. The twelve could not heal the inflected one. Talk about hopes dashed! How did this dad feel?
Answer. Crushed. His belief in something flopped.
When this floundering father comes to Jesus, however, the healing happens. In the presence of the one who heals his son, the dad creis to Jesus, "I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief (Mark 9:24)!"
The dad’s comment can seem contradictory, but he’s honest. At the moment his faith is affirmed he realizes he has also seen his faith fail.
Let’s not just have faith in the future of the United States this coming weekend, let’s also bring to Jesus the times our faith fails us.
Our text on July 4 is Mark 9:14-27.