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At first glance this passage...

Illustration
Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B
Mark 7:24-37
At first glance this passage may challenge our adoration of Jesus, for it appears that he refuses a woman's pleadings simply because she is not Jewish. Even if one realizes that the word translated "dogs" denotes beloved family pets, the sting of Jesus' reply remains. It might be helpful actually to hear the woman's request -- was her begging expressed in a demanding tone of voice? Was her attitude that of self-pity, demanding that the world pay its debt to her? Whatever her attitude, Jesus' response reminds us that God's blessings come to us as expressions of grace.
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Object: The object of the lesson is a gesture you will teach the children.

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Call to Worship:

Jesus warned against with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God. Through our worship today let us pledge ourselves to seek our treasure only in God.

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Jesus, sometimes we envy others because of all they possess.
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Jesus, sometimes we desire all that money can buy.
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This story begins with gift -- with blessed gift -- with miraculous, blessed giftedness. And I will even tell you now the theme of the story: if you keep your eye on the giftedness of everything, then you yourself can be a gift, you can be a giver, rather than a hoarder.
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