Stretching Your Comfort ZoneGraphical sermon notes by,

Rev. Ed Whitman

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Evangelical Congregational Church in Dunstable Massachusetts

© Copyright 2015 by the author, Rev. Ed Whitman, with permission to freely redistribute.

Mark 1: 40-45

A leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”.

Mark 1: 40-45

Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. And Jesus sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, and He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”.

Mark 1: 40-45

But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Jesus from everywhere.

Stretching Your Comfort Zone

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

be pleasing in Your sight, Lord, my Rock and my

Redeemer.Psalm 19: 14

“Prejudice”50 Day Spiritual Adventure

Definitions:

Uncomfortable thoughts and/or feelings that create an opinion in the heart before there is any correct knowledge.

Deciding adversely about someone without knowing any substantial facts

Week # 6With God’s help,

I promise to identify and address the hidden prejudices of my

heart

Choose to become exposed to the suffering of others

Let’s

Pray

Anders Behring Breivik

Anders Behring Breivik

200,000 “Flower Marchers”

Dr John Perkins

Overt racism is gradually disappearing

Passive racismLooking at the world wearing racial blinders

Limiting peripheral vision

Overt racism is gradually disappearing

Passive racismLooking at the world wearing racial blinders

Limiting peripheral vision

Horse forges ahead in the only direction it can see

Even if not seen, the other world still exists

Unconscious of it

Restoring At-Risk Communities

Passive Prejudice

Passive Prejudice

Jesus did not carry the hidden baggage of active or passive

prejudice

Mark 1: 40 A leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Mark 1: 40-41 A leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

Get In Touch With the Reality of Negative Thoughts and Attitudes

Admitting to Self and God:

“Lord, open my eyes to hidden

prejudices with me”

Confess Negative Balloon Thoughts as Sin

“Cleanse…cleansing” Same Biblical word for cleansing

from leprosy and sin

Confess Negative Balloon Thoughts as Sin

“Cleanse…cleansing” Same Biblical word for cleansing

from leprosy and sin

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I John 1: 9

Choose to Find a Way to be Exposed to the Suffering of Others

Attempt a Connection This Week

Attempt a Connection This Week

Attempt a Connection A.S.A.P

Attempt a Connection A.S.A.P.

Attempt a Connection A.S.A.P.

Apple Valley Center

Attempt a Connection A.S.A.P.

Apple Valley Center Westford House

Stretching Your Comfort Zone

Stretching Your Comfort Zone May these words of my mouth

and this meditation of my

heart be pleasing in

Your sight, Lord, my Rock

and my Redeemer.Psalm 19: 14