Sermon Worship Imagine That 8-1-12

7/31/2019 Sermon Worship Imagine That 8-1-12

1/4

North Presbyterian August 1, 2012

Dr. Ken McCullenSermon: Imagine That!Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

To more completely understand the story in our scripture this morning, it would help if we understoodhow the homes were constructed in biblical times.

The roof of a Palestinian house was usually flat. Itwas often used as a place of rest and quiet, and therewas often an outside stairway that ascended to theroof.

The construction of the roof consisted of flat beams

laid across the top from wall to wall, about three feetapart. The space between the beams was filled withbrushwood and packed tight with clay. A powderysubstance, called marl, was spread over the clay.Marl was used to fertilize soil that was deficient inlime. The combination of clay and marl held the roof firmly in place. In fact, the healthy combination of clayand marl often produces a flourishing crop of grassthat invited people to sit and relax on the roof.

The construction of the roof made it easy to dig out asection between the beams to make repairs. So, thefour men, dug out a section to let their friend downinto the presence of Jesus.

Several things must have been present to motivatethe four men to perform such an unusual task.1. First, they had to have a profound passion to heal

their friend.2. Second, they must have had a profound belief that

Jesus could heal their friend.3. There is a third factor that supported the actions of

the four men. There were so many people


2/4

Sermon: Imagine That Page Two 8-1-12

blocking the door it was impossible to get their friend into the house.

So the men had to use their imaginations. And theydid. The ingredient of love, faith and creativity workedtogether to bring about the miracle of healing.

Now think about all those people gathered in thehouse, reverently and quietly, listening to Jesus.Suddenly, some loose dirt begins to fall from above.They all look up and see a part of the clay beingremoved and some falling among them. Then a holeappears and a man is lowered into the midst of thepacked house. The people must have been startled.

I can just hear them looking at each other and inastonishment saying, Imagine That! Even Jesusmarveled at the creative spirits of the four men.

What incredible, c reative, friends. They didnt look atthe crowd and say, lets go home! No, they said, wellhave to find another way to get our friend to Jesus.

Like the crowd at Capernaun, there are manyobstacles to overcome to allow the miracles of faith tofunction. If we could remove all barriers, just thinkwhat we could do if we would allow our imaginationsto wander. We might seek to find solutions to endwar, cancer, crfime, homelessness, poverty, illiness.

And we might think about seeking peace and justiceand equality.

The reality is that the barriers to these very things arebeing overcome every day. Some of these efforts arewell organized groups, but others are just peopleworking quietly behind the scenes to bring about themiracles of healing and change.


3/4

Sermon: Imagine That! Page 3 8-1-12

God rejoices in those who use their imaginations torisk doing something new to break down barriers tocreate something new. Listen to a few examples

where God used creative people to bring aboutsomething new. Abraham left his home without knowing where hewas going so he could follow the call of God to blessall peoples and nations. Imagine That!Moses led a nation out of bondage after watching aburning bush Imagine ThatDavid Killed Goliath with a slingshot Imagine ThatShadrach, Meshach and Abednego survived a fieryfurnace with prayer Imagine ThatJesus was born in an isolated stable in an obscure

village Imagine ThatPaul brought pagans to the resurrected Christ Imagine That

Now lets expand our thinking to include the modernscene:Bill Gates wasnt content as a computer programmer

Imagine ThatEdison never stopped because of failures ImagineThatMother Teresa wasnt defeated by the politics of Calcutta Imagine ThatMartin Luther King, Jr. didnt quit because of brutalattacks Imagine That25 years in prison couldnt break Nelson Mandellasspirit Imagine ThatSullenberger safely landed his plane on the HudsonRiver Imagine ThatModern networking helped the explosion of the ArabSpring Imagine That

All these blessings took place because peoplerefused to allow obstacles to dampen their spirits or conquer their faith.


4/4

Sermon: Imagine That Page 4 8-1-12

People probed and fought and invented and struggledto make humanity more compassionate and caring.God doesnt want us to perform miracles. God wants

us to be faithful and God will perform the miracles.Im sure the men who lowered their friend into t hepresence of Jesus ever expected what happened.

All congregations have people like the four men.There are some examples in this congregation.

Paul Moore left a successful ministry in Plainfield,Minnesota, to start a new congregation with a fewfamilies. Imagine That!

Paul gathered some very creative people around himto give this ministry life and direction. Two of themare here tonight, Jennifer Huehns and JoanneShingledecter. Imagine That.

John and Gloria Ivers, Dave Nyberg, Val Owens,Dwight and Paulette Zvorkaz, and many otherscaught the vision and defeated many obstacles todiscover new ways to reach out into the community togather new disciples of Christ. Imagine That!

As you go through this next week, let the love of Christ break through the barriers that keep us fromhearing the cries, seeking the needs, or responding tothe call of God to serve the least of these. Let thelove of Christ open our eyes to see people and theworld in fresh new ways. Then, when we see amagnificent sunrise or sunset, or look at our lovedones, our friends, the needy, we can shout out withrenewed joy, Imagine That! When we do God willperform miracles!

Documents

Sermon Worship Imagine That 8-1-12