What if We Speak Up?

Opening Prayer

Song

Faith Statement

Song

Scripture

Mark 7:24–30 NLT

Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn’t keep it a secret. Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter. Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.” “Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.

Song

What if we speak up?

We can discern God’s way for the world

There are some great big words in this scripture passage tonight. They are big weird words, but they are important ones. They are important because they help us understand what is really happening in our passage and they tell us a great deal about the woman we see Jesus interacting with.

Slide

Gentile - a word that would have been used to talk about anyone who wasn’t born Jewish.

Jesus was around before Christianity was a thing - obviously - and Judaism was the common religion where he was from.

It

Other religions were looked at kind of suspiciously. It wasn’t like it is here today where it’s pretty normal and acceptable to be a Presbyterian Christian with Muslim or Jewish friends.

So they had a word for anybody who wasn’t Jewish. Sometimes when people said it, they said it in a kind of demeaning way. “Oh, she’s a gentile.”

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Syrian Phoenicia (or Syrophoenician) - This is the name of a place northwest of where Jesus lived.

The people from Galilee (where Jesus lived) weren’t really fond of these people.

Another thing this woman had going against her, aside from being from another religion that wasn’t well liked and aside from being from a place in the world that wasn’t well liked, she was a woman.

In Jesus’ day, women had far fewer rights than men did. They weren’t even supposed to talk to a man they didn’t know.

So, this non-Jew of a race that was seen as “less than” who was also a woman. . . has the nerve to burst in when Jesus is trying to escape the crowds and falls at his feet BEGGING that he heal her daughter.

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This lady was BOLD.

I just talked about some big words, but there is also a little word used in a funny way that can make it hard to get to what Jesus is saying here. Because at first, it sounds like Jesus is calling this poor, brave woman a name. But that’s not the Jesus we know. All throughout the Bible we hear about how we are supposed to use gentle, kind speech and not to talk smack about other people.

“Dogs” - Most people of Jesus’ time would have thought it was OK to refer to this woman as a dog - which is pretty racist and sexist.

Jesus is not saying this woman IS a dog, he’s calling out her courage for not caring what other people thought about her. She knew what was right and she spoke up, even though other people didn’t like her and thought she should keep her mouth shut.

Jesus is making a point for the sake of the people around him who think this woman isn’t worth his time. He’s sort of saying, “These guys think I’m here just for them.”

But Jesus came so that all people might be Children of God - not just the Jews or not just the people from one place or of one gender or one race - all people. That’s who Jesus came for.

And, quick on her feet, the woman fires back to Jesus, “Yeah. They were here first, but God cares about all creatures - even the ones other people put under the table.”

We can find the courage to use our gifts as God’s voice in the world.

I just love this woman. She doesn’t even have a name, but she’s one of my favorite people in the whole Bible.

I love her because she’s bold.

I love her because she is quick-witted and says exactly what’s on her mind.

I love her because she stands up for herself and for the daughter she loves so much.

I love her because she helps Jesus make his point to the people around them.

We can help God’s word and will be known in the world around us.

We can speak up in moments where others are being looked down on or treated poorly.

We can help Jesus make his point about love and compassion and kindness to the people around us.

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We can stand up for ourselves when we are confident in God’s love for us.

We can stand up for others when we are confident in God’s love for them.

Even if we are the person on the edges, the one being made fun of by others - like the woman in our story - we can be God’s voice in the world.

Reflect on where the world needs us most.

The world we live in needs people who are willing to stand up for one another in love and compassion and kindness.

Even kids can do this.

In fact, its especially important for kids to do this. I spent some time this afternoon reading about kids who have done this and I was encouraged and amazed by the stories I read.

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You can stand up for other kids

“Danny Keefe, a first grader from Bridgewater, MA, was being picked on for having a speech impediment and for wearing a suit and tie to school each day. Wishing to show their support, Danny's 45 member self proclaimed "band of brothers," the Bridgewater fifth grade football team, donned Danny's suave style of dress for one day, wearing suits and ties to help him feel loved and appreciated and make a loud and effective statement against bullying.”

“On the first day of school in 2007, two Canadian high school students, David Shepard and Travis Price, from Berwick, Nova Scotia, saw another ninth grader being bullied for wearing a pink shirt, and were inspired to take a stand. They bought 50 pink t-shirts, distributed them, and spread the word that night for others to wear the pink shirts to school. The next day, hundreds of students were outfitted in pink. Their actions inspired their school and their community to stop bullying. Word then spread throughout the country. The actions of these boys sparked the creation of “Pink Shirt Day” in Canada. In 2012, inspired by the actions of David and Travis, the United Nations declared Anti-Bullying Day, recognized by over 25 countries worldwide.”

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You can stand up for yourself when others think you’re weird for doing kind things.

“10-year-old Jetta Fosberg from Dayton, OH, chose to cut her long, blonde locks to donate to Wigs for Kids, an organization which provides wigs to children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments. Upon her return to school, kids who were once her friends began verbally abusing her, calling her "ugly" and saying she "wanted to be a boy." Since school officials did little about it, she and her mother created Stand With Jetta, a Facebook movement to not only lend support to Jetta, but to also call attention to bullying and to raise public awareness about how it is addressed in schools. Since October 9, 2014, over 117,000 people have joined the Facebook page.”

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Or when people are just plain mean to you, you can speak out in kindness to others.

“Caitlin Haacke, a high school student in Alberta, Canada, became the victim of a bullying incident. Someone broke into her locker in late September 2014 and wrote a Facebook status using her iPad, encouraging her to die. Caitlin responded with grace and maturity. She began a movement to post positive notes on the lockers of all the people in her school. People in the town recognized the act and designated a Positive Post-It Day, with many outside the school also adopting the practice. Positive Post-It Day is now practiced all over the world!”

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We can speak out in love to and for those who hurt others.

“Acacia Woodley, who was born without complete arms, was bullied by a classmate in the fifth-grade. Instead of being intimidated, Acacia invited the girl over to her house. “We talked in my room, and she told me she was having a hard time at home,” recalls Acacia, who lives in Palm Bay, Florida. “I had this revelation that it’s not just the kids that are being bullied who are having a hard time, but the bullies too.” Acacia, now 14, created Tiny Girl, Big Dream with the aim of creating a space at schools where anyone can go when they are being bullied or having a bad day. More than 300 Friendship Benches have been placed in schools all over the U.S., Canada, Sweden and China. Acacia also speaks to students around the country about tolerance and acceptance.”

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You can even speak out for others after you have been the one to hurt them.

“Second grader Cameron Thompson just might be the most adorable reformed bully that there ever was. Cameron and a group of his friends picked on a boy who brought a doll to show and tell, and, even though he apologized to him, he still felt ashamed. With the help of his parents, he started Cameron's Anti-Bully Campaign at Tournament Hills Elementary School in Beaumont, CA, and asked the boy he bullied to be his partner in its creation. More than 75 kids turned up for the group's first meeting. The campaign has since grown and Cameron has taken his anti-bullying message across the nation through major media outlets.”

Claim personal passion as it connects with God’s vision for the world.

Each of these kids spoke out in courage and love in different ways. This is what I meant when I said earlier in the week that we are all called to act in different and unique ways, according to our gifts and passions.

Each of these kids were able to embrace who they really are and who the people around them really

Each night, I send you out with an encouragement - something to do or think about.

Sunday, I told you to embrace who God made you to be and to embrace who God made the people around you to be.

Monday, I told you to share hope with the people around you.

Last night, I asked you to think about what gifts and talents God gave you so that you can be a unique, hope-filled world changer.

Tonight, it’s getting even more specific! Tonight, I encourage you to stand up for the people around you because Jesus came for everyone. Jesus came so that everyone of every race, gender, neighborhood, country, culture,background can experience hope and God’s love.

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Use your gentle and kind words any time you’re talking to or about another person.

When you hear someone making fun of someone, step in! Remind the people who are being picked on that they are special and they are loved. Remind the person or people picking on them that they too are special and loved (sometimes that one is harder).

When you hear people talking about someone behind their back, remind them how hurtful that is to others. It’s just as bad to make fun of someone when they are not around as it is when they are around.

Remember that each of you and each and every person you will ever encounter in your life is a precious and unique creation.

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