The Indifferent Crowd

As the paralyzed man lay at the Pool of Bethesda, no doubt he was ministered to by many good-hearted people passing by. What does one say to a friend who is ill, such as those at the Pool, or those in our care centers and hospitals today? We will continue this sermon series this week by talking about how to minister to those who are ill or dying.


Scripture: John 5:1-9a
Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie – the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked, “Do you want to get well?”

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.


Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon “Servants” delivered on Christian Crusaders October 18, 2009 by Rev. Larsen:

We cannot have Christ without a cross. The Kingdom of God turns the world’s idea of power and glory upside down and inside out. There is no CEO in the Kingdom of God. The agenda is not how to refrain from being offensive to the culture in which we live. The agenda is how to tell the story of Christ, for without Him we are helpless. This is a message the humanist cannot stand to hear, and sooner or later our lives will sense the world’s displeasure with us.


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On the Light Side
Mother's Dictionary of Meanings
Pastor Helgens invited the children to come forward around the altar for an object lesson using squirrels as an example of industry and planning ahead. He requested that the boys and girls raise their hands when they knew what he was describing.

“This thing lives in trees [pause] and eats nuts [pause].” No hands went up. “It is gray [pause] and has a long bushy tail [pause].” The children looked at each other, but no hands were raised. “And it jumps from branch to branch [pause] and chatters when it gets excited [pause].”

Finally a little boy tentatively raised his hand. Pastor Helgens breathed a sigh of relief and called on him. “Well,” he said, “I know the answer must be Jesus, but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me.”

We Want to Hear From You!
When have you provided a word of comfort to someone in their darkest hour - when they were seriously ill or dying? Please share your story by posting in the "Comments" section of this blog.

The program "The Indifferent Crowd" will air Sunday, May 16, 2010. Visit www.christiancrusaders.org for radio stations and times, or to listen online.