UNCLEAN SPIRITS
by Bob Wickizer
Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalms 111:1-10, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28
Title: Unclean Spirits
Author: Bob Wickizer
Text: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28
It's great to be back with you today. We went to Seattle to see our oldest daughter for two weeks over Christmas. She bought her first house there, and I spent a good deal of time helping and coaching her with various home fix it projects. It's what dads do.
But now we are in a season of the beginning of a new year. We've passed the winter solstice and the days are getting longer. The world is on the brink of the unthinkable. Technology stands to undermine us in the worst possible ways. We face a critical election later this year. And our beloved Episcopal Church just muddles through like we've always done. Let me be clear. Muddling can be a useful strategy at times. It just doesn't need to be the only tool in the box. We'll talk about that more this afternoon.
This is the season of Epiphany, the "out shining" of our light. The light of the people of the church shining out to those who sit in darkness. Because the first people to visit the infant Jesus were not Jews, or local Romans, they were hated Persian Zoroastrians from a distant land. This is the time of year we are reminded (probably too gently) that we are to deliver the love of Jesus to a world that needs it more than ever.
So, what is it that holds us back??(repeat)??Unclean spirits
This text from Mark reads like a script from the original 1973 William Friedkin movie, "The Exorcist." In English or Greek, it is apparent that the spirits inside this poor man in the temple are legion. There are many of them. When Jesus talks to the man, it is in first person singular form. When the spirits reply to Jesus, it is plural. There are many of them. "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?" they say.
We hear this passage and smile, thinking of Halloween, scary movies, and things that go bump in the dark. But I caution you. We should pay attention to this. The man ...
Author: Bob Wickizer
Text: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28
It's great to be back with you today. We went to Seattle to see our oldest daughter for two weeks over Christmas. She bought her first house there, and I spent a good deal of time helping and coaching her with various home fix it projects. It's what dads do.
But now we are in a season of the beginning of a new year. We've passed the winter solstice and the days are getting longer. The world is on the brink of the unthinkable. Technology stands to undermine us in the worst possible ways. We face a critical election later this year. And our beloved Episcopal Church just muddles through like we've always done. Let me be clear. Muddling can be a useful strategy at times. It just doesn't need to be the only tool in the box. We'll talk about that more this afternoon.
This is the season of Epiphany, the "out shining" of our light. The light of the people of the church shining out to those who sit in darkness. Because the first people to visit the infant Jesus were not Jews, or local Romans, they were hated Persian Zoroastrians from a distant land. This is the time of year we are reminded (probably too gently) that we are to deliver the love of Jesus to a world that needs it more than ever.
So, what is it that holds us back??(repeat)??Unclean spirits
This text from Mark reads like a script from the original 1973 William Friedkin movie, "The Exorcist." In English or Greek, it is apparent that the spirits inside this poor man in the temple are legion. There are many of them. When Jesus talks to the man, it is in first person singular form. When the spirits reply to Jesus, it is plural. There are many of them. "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?" they say.
We hear this passage and smile, thinking of Halloween, scary movies, and things that go bump in the dark. But I caution you. We should pay attention to this. The man ...
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