Gathering in Brokeness

Image: Dave Perry, theworshipcloud.com

This week Dennis explores the Gospel of Mark, focusing on the theme of brokenness and healing. He emphasizes Jesus’ ministry and the restoration of people to their rightful place in the community. Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law, symbolizing the restoration of her position. The gathering of the entire city outside Simon’s house represents people seeking healing. The sermon emphasizes the importance of gathering, being open, and proclaiming the Kingdom of God, while resisting the temptation to stay in one place.

Dennis’s sermon titled “Gathering in Brokenness” revolves around the theme of human brokenness and the need for healing as drawn from the Gospel of Mark, specifically Mark 1:29-39. Dennis examines the dramatic events in the first chapter of the gospel, emphasizing Jesus’s adult ministry that involves healing the sick and restoring them to their place in the community. 

A notable instance is Jesus healing Simon’s mother-in-law, whose immediate return to her duties signifies her reintegration into her community.Focusing on the gathering of the crowd outside Simon’s house, Dennis spotlights the intense curiosity and desire for healing these people exhibit. Drawing reference to the works of graphic artist and theologian, David Perry, he likens this gathering to onlookers peering through a knot in the fence, eager to experience the transforming presence of God. This underscores the importance of unity and openness within the community, balanced with personal reflection and prayer.

Dennis draws a parallel between Jesus’s journey and his own impending move to a new ministry, highlighting the value of adaptability and a readiness to proclaim the gospel. Jesus’s mission of not just physical healing, but restoring individuals to community gets particular attention, reinforcing the notion that illness or indisposition shouldn’t result in societal exclusion.

The sermon ends with a connection to Marty Haugen’s hymn “Gather Us In”, subtly echoing the message of restoration and the continuation of the mission to proclaim the Kingdom. With this, Pastor Dennis asserts the importance of extending the light of God’s incarnate glory to all, and that this heavenly light dwells within each one of us, reminding us of the power, glory, and dominion that belong to God.

Icebreaker Question

If you were a famous inventor, what fun or outrageous invention would you be known for?

1. How does the story of Jesus healing Simon’s mother-in-law teach us about the importance of restoring people to their community?
   • Context: In the sermon, Dennis discusses how Jesus’ healing of Simon’s mother-in-law reinstates her into her household and community.
   • By taking her hand and raising her up, Jesus demonstrates the value of each individual in their community.Application Question: Can you think of a time when you felt restored or helped someone else become restored in your community? How did that experience impact your life?
2. Why does Jesus continue his ministry and move to other places despite the temptation to stay?
   • Context: Dennis explains that, like Jesus, there is a gospel to proclaim and people in need of restoration. Jesus prays and moves on to continue his mission, silencing the voices of temptation.
   • Application Question: Are there times in your life when you’ve felt the need to move on from a comfortable situation for a greater purpose? How did you handle it?
3. What does the gathering of the entire city outside Simon’s house represent in the context of Jesus’ ministry?
   • Context: The gathering signifies the expectation and curiosity of those seeking healing. Jesus cures many, gathering them into his presence and re-creating their persons.
   • Application Question: How can you apply the idea of gathering and healing to your own community or church? What steps can be taken to help those in need?
4. In Mark 1:29-39, how do Jesus’ actions demonstrate the importance of inclusion within a community?
   • Context: The sermon highlights Jesus’ mission to restore people to their rightful place in the community. By curing many, he reaffirms their value and grants them inclusion.
   • Application Question: How can you play a role in promoting inclusion and community within your own life? Are there people in your life who may need reassurance of their value?
5. Why is the concept of a pilgrimage important to Jesus’ ministry from the group members, acknowledging any brokenness they are currently experiencing and the need for healing in their lives.
   • Context: Dennis explains that the sense of pilgrimage resonates with his own journey to a new ministry. Similarly, Jesus’ ministry involves moving through various places to proclaim the gospel and restore people to their community.
   • Application Question: How can the idea of a pilgrimage be relevant in your own life? Can you see patterns of growth or change in your spiritual journey?

1. Prayer Points for small groups
   • • Pray that God will help them to apply the lessons of the sermon, specifically in recognizing and embracing their own brokenness as part of the universal human experience, and seeking God’s healing and restoration in their lives. 
   • • Pray for the courage to accept Jesus’ invitation to become part of the gathering crowd, yearning for transformation and a renewed sense of God’s presence in their lives. 
   • • Ask God to help them to overcome the temptation to remain stagnant in their spiritual growth and instead, to continue on the pilgrimage, proclaiming the Kingdom of God in their everyday lives. 
   • • Pray for God’s light to shine in the darkness of their lives and to give them the strength to share this light with those around them.