Signs of Healing: March 26, 2006 Epworth Worship Celebration

4th Sunday of Lent (Year B)

Welcome. In Lent we understand ourselves as being "under construction.” Lent is a Spring housecleaning of the soul. The simplicity of Lent calls us to focus on things that matter most. Today’s lessons include a story of healing by Moses in the wilderness and a reference to that healing by Jesus in the Gospel of John. As we prepare for worship, you may wish to reflect on the healing power of God. What are the various kinds of meaning we may intend when we say a person or circumstance is in need of healing? What prayers for healing might you be inclined to offer today? In light of healing in your own life, how are you inclined to practice healing ministry in God’s world?

Hebrew Bible Lesson
Numbers 21:4-9

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way.
The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.”
Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died.
The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.”
So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Gospel Lesson
John 3:14-17

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Sermon - Signs of Healing Rev. Jack Abel
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