Introduction
One of the more benign forms of hazing I submitted myself to in college was having to hold a lit match between my thumb and forefinger and recite all the Greek alphabet before the flame reached my fingers. As I recall I was able to do so a number of times without getting burned, although I’m sure I would fail if asked to do this today. Leaving aside serious questions of my own lack of judgement in submitting to such practices and the overriding abusive culture of such behaviors, and worse, in the fraternity system, it did have a way of focusing the mind.
I was appalled a few years later to hear of this same method of “testing” being used by a campus ministry. Instead of alpha, beta, gamma, delta and so on, students were required to recite the “Romans Road” before the flame met the flesh. I was told this was an effective way to have students memorize the popular outline of evangelism before heading out to “share their testimonies”. It provided a testimony alright, but I really wonder if they stopped to consider what kind?
This Sunday we’re going to talk about the ins and outs of our testimonies, but don’t worry, no tests, flammable or otherwise, will be given.
Grace and peace y’all,
John Ray and the teaching team
Reflection Questions:
- How have you experienced providing or receiving personal testimonies in the past? How was this concept introduced to you, and what role has it played in your faith story and development?
- Considering your experiences with personal testimonies (yours and others) in relation to your faith and religious history, have they been healthy, harmful, mixed? In what ways?
- Would it be possible for you to engage with and understand personal testimonies (yours and others) as something that reveals God’s character and relationship with people? What would that look like?
- If you had been taught to think about personal testimonies (yours and others) as a way of revealing God’s character and relationships with people and yourself, do you think your faith and relationships with God and others would have looked different?
- Is there any part of you that needs healing because of how personal testimonies (yours and others) have been used or presented to you?
Communal Confession for Vine and Branch
Rejoice, Grace Church this time culminates our Sabbath day, our gift of rest and renewal.
We rejoice in this time for worship and wonder.
God gives us Sabbath as freedom from and freedom for.
God is worthy of worship, our Creator, Healer, and Inspiration.
Hang on Grace Church, we were never promised an easy road.
Jesus bids each and all of us to take up our cross and follow Him.
We have the promises and person of Jesus with us every step of the way.
Because we have this we will endure, even though we struggle.
We have the testimony of those who have gone before us to encourage and enlighten us.
Because we have this we will follow their example and receive their encouragement.
We have been given each other to rejoice with, grieve with, grow with and work with.
Because we have this community and all these things we will not lose heart or be forever discouraged.
Grace be to you now and forever in the Name of our Lord Jesus
Lord’s Prayer
Christ, who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who’ve sinned against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory forever. Amen.
