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Cripple Preaching Healing

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  • Cripple Preaching Healing

    Hello pastors, I'm back to preaching again. As I'm taking part 2 of the same class, my professor has asked me to preach next week to show the part 1 students what a homily looks like. The pastor's group which consists of pastors from Eugene and surrounding communities are preaching on the same schedule and next week, the sermons are on Matthew 8.

    When I saw that I really had to laugh hard. A crippled 28-year-old preaching on Christ healing infirmity. The irony was as amusing as it was thought-provoking. It does provide an interesting question: if there was a non-believer or an atheist in the room, how would a cripple or other disabled preacher talk about healing and not be in danger of strengthening their skepticism?

    I would be very grateful if my pastor friends would be willing to give me some pointers on the subject.

    Also, as some of you know, I keep a blog (http://ke7ejxlighthouse.blogspot.com) that I post on occasionally. Would it be self-serving if I posted my weekly sermons on my blog so that I might get feedback from seasoned professionals?

    Thanks!
    I am Punkinhead.

    "I have missed you, Oh Grand High Priestess of the Order of the Stirring Pot"

    ~ Cow Poke aka CP aka Creacher aka ke7ejx's apprentice....

  • #2
    I think this would be a classic demonstration of Paul's "my grace is sufficient for you" situation. (2 Cor 9)
    The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

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    • #3
      A cripple, preaching on healing...

      I have a Pastor friend who suffers from a debilitating disease similar to Parkinson's.

      I have been very humbled on a number of occasions as he explains (in various settings) his attempts to ask God to heal him from this wretched disease.

      He refers to Paul's appeal for the "thorn in his side", and God's response, as I mentioned in my previous post.

      My Pastor friend preaches from a motorized wheelchair, and he is beginning to miss more and more Sunday morning preachings.

      He tells how, though God has apparently not seen fit to heal his body, God has healed his heart. He shares how he had prided himself in his knowledge (he holds both a PhD and (I think) a ThD) and is an incredibly brilliant man, able to cite the title and author of any book you reference, and give you an almost photographic memory style excerpt of the quote you were vainly trying to remember. He tells about how arrogant he was, and sure of himself, and, though not on purpose, condescending. He would have been a great resource on TWeb regarding the ECF's, as he seems to have an encyclopedic knowledge of dates and times, and councils, and positions, and quotations...

      He tells about how his awareness of the difference between the temporal and eternal has come into sharper focus. He talks bout his wife, and how she loves and supports him, though he hadn't always been such a wonderful husband. He tells about the times, when he was a doctoral student, and teaching, that he seemed to pride himself on how many students flunked his courses, not realizing his purpose should have been to educate, equip, encourage and mentor. He said it was all about making education as tough on them as it was on him, and he truly regrets his arrogance and pride.

      He, having come from a more 'independent' background (Church of Christ), was more about judgment and condemnation than compassion and mercy.

      And grace.

      To hear him talk about grace, you'd think "Grace" was the kindest woman on the planet who had come to live with him and care for him. Grace became a person, not a concept or a characteristic. When he talks about God's grace being sufficient for him, it's like he knows a 'grace' intimately that I've only met on occasion.

      He has managed to keep his wit, his sense of humor... I have to admit I didn't know him back in what he calls his 'arrogant days' - I've only known him for about 4 years, and have seen his gradual - though recently more advancing - decline.

      We have lunch once a month, first Thursday, but we missed this month because he was unable to get out of the house. I usually drive to his house, help him get into my truck, and put his wheelchair in the back. Now that he's in this motorized wheelchair, he has to use his own adapted van, which he can no longer drive.

      His congregation is incredibly accommodating, somebody coming to his house each Sunday and Wednesday to drive him and his van to Church, along with during the week when he's able to get out. Otherwise, they meet in his living room for planning meetings, prayer meetings and elder meetings.

      Last time we met, in December, we went to a steak place. As his steak was placed in front of him, he just looked at it for a moment, and I tried my best to humbly offer to cut it for him - his hands and arms tremble a lot, and he has no strength in his hands. He just smiled, and said, "that would be very kind, unless you want to sit here with me til supper".

      He says he still hopes for, and prays for, healing, but is quick to point out "I have a new appreciation for Paul's perspective on the sufficiency of God's grace in every situation".
      The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

      Comment


      • #4
        We will all be healed at the final Resurrection.
        If it weren't for the Resurrection of Jesus, we'd all be in DEEP TROUBLE!

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        • #5
          I completed my sermon and will be preaching it to my class on Thursday. What do you think?

          http://ke7ejxlighthouse.blogspot.com...r-healing.html
          I am Punkinhead.

          "I have missed you, Oh Grand High Priestess of the Order of the Stirring Pot"

          ~ Cow Poke aka CP aka Creacher aka ke7ejx's apprentice....

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by ke7ejx View Post
            I completed my sermon and will be preaching it to my class on Thursday. What do you think?

            http://ke7ejxlighthouse.blogspot.com...r-healing.html
            that was awesome! Good job.

            Comment


            • #7
              A bit late to the party, but it's worth looking at some of the stuff Joni Eareckson Tada has spoken on the topic, as it's a major part of her ministry.

              http://www.joniandfriends.org/
              Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
              1 Corinthians 16:13

              "...he [Doherty] is no historian and he is not even conversant with the historical discussions of the very matters he wants to pontificate on."
              -Ben Witherington III

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Raphael View Post
                A bit late to the party, but it's worth looking at some of the stuff Joni Eareckson Tada has spoken on the topic, as it's a major part of her ministry.

                http://www.joniandfriends.org/
                She's a case study in my senior project from last semester.
                I am Punkinhead.

                "I have missed you, Oh Grand High Priestess of the Order of the Stirring Pot"

                ~ Cow Poke aka CP aka Creacher aka ke7ejx's apprentice....

                Comment

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