Evangelistic Preaching Helps for October 29, 2006: The Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost, Year B

Evangelism Preaching Helps is a monthly online resource designed as an aid to assist in the preparation of sermons with an evangelistic focus. Highly effective evangelistic churches include at least one evangelistic sermon per month.

Periodically, feature articles and sermon series aids will also appear in Evangelistic Preaching Helps. Thank you for your continued use of this resource.

Lectionary Readings for October 29, 2006 — The Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost, Year B

Online texts are available at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library.

• Job 42:1-6, 10-17
• Psalm 34:1-8 (19-22) (UMH 769)
• Hebrews 7:23-28
• Mark 10:46-52

Related Resources:

• Worship Planning Helps
• Preaching Helps
• 21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources
• Lectionary Hymns
• Hymns for Reformation Sunday

In the sermon notes section of the October 29, 2006, Lectionary Preaching Helps, Safiyah Fosua provides us with a provocative sermon title for Mark 10:46-52, "Faith in unexpected places." This edition of Evangelistic Preaching Helps explores key issues involved with locating faith.

Summary:

In the story of blind Bartimaeus, Mark, the Gospel noted for action, records an active scene worthy of contemporary screenplay. As Jesus and the disciples were leaving Jericho with a large crowd, they encountered a blind man. Beggars often went unnamed in biblical accounts, but this blind man has a name, Bartimaeus, the Son of Timaeus — which means "an honorable man." This sets the tone for the unexpected. The crowd jeered Bartimaeus as he cried out to Jesus for help. By contrast, Jesus stopped to respond to a man that others often passed by. This account provokes us to wonder if we, in the body of Christ, can recognize faith among today's marginalized.

Overview:

• Jesus and the disciples came to Jericho.
• As they were leaving, they passed a blind man named Bartimaeus (Son of Timaeus)
• Bartimaeus, a blind man, cries out to get Jesus' attention.
• Many in the crowd rebuked him, but Bartimaeus continued to shout.
• Jesus instructed the crowd to call Bartimaeus.
• Bartimaeus came, and Jesus asked what he wanted.
• Bartimaeus asked to be able to see.
• Jesus replied, "Go, your faith has healed you."
• Bartimaeus was healed and followed Jesus along the road.

Key Preaching/Teaching Points

1. Jericho was known for the fabulously rich balsam groves nearby. It was the winter capital of the kingdom. It boasted fine homes. In short, Jericho had a sizeable population of rich people. This attracted beggars to Jericho because almsgiving was considered commendable. Bartimaeus was probably one of many beggars along the road to Jericho.
   
2. The writer of Mark names Bartimaeus. In addition, the writer notes that Bartimaeus is the Son of Timaeus, Timaeus means "honorable man." The act of naming personalizes Bartimaeus.
   
3. The crowd tried to silence Bartimaeus' cry for mercy to Jesus, even though almsgiving was commendable. Was this an inconvenient time to deal with beggars?
   
4. Jesus instructs the jeering crowd to call Bartimaeus.
   
5. Bartimaeus threw his cloak aside as he approached Jesus. The cloak served as protection from the weather, a blanket or mat for sleeping, and a collection plate for alms. Throwing aside his cloak indicates a state of expectancy as he approached Jesus.
   
6. Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he wanted; and Bartimaeus provided a clear response, "I want to see." What do we want from Jesus — wants or needs?
   
7. Jesus indicated that Bartimaeus' faith healed him. In gratitude, Bartimaeus followed Jesus.

Key Questions

1. Jericho's affluent inhabitants attracted beggars. Where do the homeless gather in your communities?
   
2. Mark does not allow Bartimaeus to go unnamed in the story. What's in a name? How does knowing the name of someone affect the way that we relate to him or her?
   
3. The crowd derided Bartimaeus for asking Christ for mercy.
   1. Who muffles the cry for mercy today?
   2. Who gets "shushed" in today's society?
   3. Who gets "shushed" in our churches?
   4. When churches refuse to hear the cries of "those people," what hope is there for evangelistic outreach?
      
4. Jesus involved the jeering crowd in calling Bartimaeus to him. Do Jesus' actions suggest that instead of debating, we should consider ways to get critics involved in ministry?
   
5. Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak as he approached Jesus. He expected something to happen. What can marginalized people expect from the body of believers in your congregation?
   
6. Bartimaeus offered Jesus a clear, direct prayer request for sight. What does your local congregation need to see?
   
7. Bartimaeus followed Christ after he gained his sight. For what are we showing our gratitude to Christ today? What compels us to follow Jesus now?

Sermon Starters

If I'd Only Known

Many of us have heard the song lyric, "If I knew you were coming, I'd have baked a cake." With a little advance warning, most of us are respectable hosts. But what happens when the unexpected occurs? What if we've planned our day so tightly that any interruption would be considered treasonous? O, what if we suddenly find ourselves in the company of some celebrity, adorned by millions. How would we feel about allowing others to share what we imagined as "our personal time" with this star? What if a beggar started hollering and screaming for attention in the middle of your well-planned day?

The Cloak of Invisibility

"Look at them! What do they want? Why don't those people get a job like the rest of us?" What's missing in these statements? How do we think, talk, and respond to the unnamed in society? Does not knowing someone's name cast a cloak of invisibility on a nameless soul? If the invisible begin to cry out, will their voices be heard — in the streets, in the church, in our hearts? Bartimaeus knew he couldn't see. But did the jeering crowd know that they were blind?

Provide Opportunities for Response

1. Invite small groups in your church to do "prayer walks" through your community. Meet after each prayer walk and debrief — perhaps at a coffee shop. What are you seeing? What compassion surfaced? What prayer concerns are there? What is God compelling you, your small group, your church to do?
   
2. Invite your congregation to participate in hands-on ministry with some marginalized group of people. Consider undergoing training in prison ministry. Read the "Why I Am a Chaplain"articles and pray about getting personally involved in ministry with an established chaplain.

Resources

• Why I Am a Chaplain — Prison Chaplain
  
• Why I Am a Chaplain — Retirement Community Chaplain
  
• Why I Am a Chaplain — Workplace Chaplain
  
• Just Peace — Restorative Justice & Conflict Transformation Resources
  
• General Board of Global Ministries Shalom Zone Resources
  
• Offering Christ Today: Evangelism — A Matter of Coming and Going
  "Meeting in Macedonia: The Crossroad of the World" (Part 4 of a Six-Part Series)