More Narrative Lectionary Seeds Resources can be found here.
Kingdom Divided: Power & Prophecy of Service 1 Kings 12:1-17; 1:25-29, Mark 10:42-45, Psalm 146
A Question/Crisis of Servanthood: 1 Kings 12:1-17; 25-29; (Mark 10:42-44)
CROSS REFERENCES
The labor protested by the people is depicted in 1 Kings 5
Two golden calves cf Exodus 32
Comparison of Aaron (Ex. 32) and Jeroboam https://www.jstor.org/stable/3263268?read-now=1&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
God’s response to Israel’s request for a king 1 Samuel 8:11-17
The king as the helper of the needy Psalm 72:12-14
Bethel (where Jeroboam puts a golden calf): Genesis 12:8; 28:10-19 and 35:9-15.
POTENTIAL THEME:
Servant leadership means that the leaders serve the people rather than vice versa
This means that Christians are called to serve the world, and also to let others help/serve them. (While some help too little, others do not accept help enough.)
Of course there is a whole field in and outside of Christian circles dealing with servant leadership For a general overview, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servant_leadership.
For a Christian overview, see https://faithandleadership.com/programs/spe/articles/200706/servant.html
Patheos has numerous articles on Christian servant leadership; see https://www.google.com/search?q=patheos+servant+leadership&oq=patheos+servant+leadership&aqs=chrome..69i57j33.10598j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Theology of Work has a five day devotional on servant leadership
https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/2931
Other articles by Theology of Work at https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ACYBGNSX4mrWVe7FGx5_8ficOXGl_wsj4Q:1571017107630&q=theology+of+work+servant+leadership&spell=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQmIvlzprlAhXhlOAKHcUVBV4QBQguKAA&biw=1821&bih=876
Institute of Faith, Work and Economics offers this take
https://tifwe.org/a-biblical-mandate-for-servant-leadership/
ILLUSTRATIONS
The servants (and lords!) at Downton Abbey, who see service as honorable and rewarding
Public servants today: Marie Yovanovitch (could be contrasted with others!)
IMAGES
Engravings https://preachingandworship.org/search/1%20kings%2012
Children’s illustration http://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/rehoboam-jeroboam/
PRAYERS
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Mighty God, your servant Rehoboam divided your kingdom with his tyranny, yet you remained faithful to both kingdoms, even in the midst of conflict. Show us your presence in conflict, and help us to resolve our differences, uniting this world in your name. Amen. https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2564
HYMNS
Built on a rock ELW 652
God of tempest, God of whirlwind ELW 400
CITY (Presbyterian Hymnal)
348 Christian Women, Christian Men
408 Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life
413 All Who Love and Serve Your City
424 O Jesus Christ, May Grateful Hymns Be Rising
431 O Lord, You Gave Your Servant John
437 Our Cities Cry to You, O God
Also PH 477 Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim
COMMITMENT: PLEDGE OF
100.2 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
101.2 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
157 Our King and Our Sovereign, Lord Jesus
183.4 In You, Lord, I Have Put My Trust
227.3 Not Unto Us, O Lord of Heaven
252.1 O Lord, You Are My God and King
339 Be Thou My Vision
342.4 By Gracious Powers
343 Called as Partners in Christ’s Service
350 Fill My Cup
364 I Sing a Song of the Saints of God
365 Jesus, Priceless Treasure
369 I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me
370.4 Just as I Am, Without One Plea
372 Lord, I Want to Be a Christian
375 Lord of All Good
384 O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go
388 O Jesus, I Have Promised
389 O Jesus, I Have Promised
391 Take My Life
392 Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord
398 There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit
410 When I Had Not Yet Learned of Jesus
354 Index of Topics and Categories
414 As Those of Old Their Firstfruits Brought
427 Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
447 Lead On, O King Eternal
448 Lead On, O King Eternal
461.4 God is Here!
516 Lord, We Have Come at Your Own Invitation
522 Lord, When I Came Into This Life
525 Here I Am, Lord
COMMITMENT: PRAYER FOR
132.1 Come, Great God of All the Ages
316.3 Breathe on Me, Breath of God
321 Holy Spirit, Truth Divine
339 Be Thou My Vision
351 Give to Me, Lord, a Thankful Heart
357 O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee
360 Hope of the World
366 Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me
378 Make Me a Captive, Lord
387 Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
396 O for a Closer Walk with God
397 O for a Closer Walk with God
425 Lord of Light, Your Name Outshining
456 Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun
461.4 God is Here!
516 Lord, We Have Come at Your Own Invitation
522 Lord, When I Came Into This Life
535 Go with Us, Lord
COMMITMENT: URGED
333.1 Seek Ye First
398.2 There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit
490.4 With Glad, Exuberant Carolings
EXEGESIS
Brueggemann on the results of oppressive leadership (last 3 paragraphs deal with this passage): http://www.jmm.org.au/articles/2620.htm
Working Preacher’s commentaries and podcasts:
Working Preacher podcast addressing servant leadership, faithfulness of God, Reformation Sunday setting, and Jeroboam’s actions https://www.workingpreacher.org/narrative_podcast.aspx?podcast_id=1186
Another entry on leadership
http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=4214
Working Preacher podcast addressing bully leadership and how to understand power & God’s power https://www.workingpreacher.org/narrative_podcast.aspx?podcast_id=677
Working Preacher: The yoke amid the rivalry https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2564
America, Trump and the Two Golden Calves. Written right after Trump’s election, this Israel-based evangelical/conservative author proposes the two golden calves, placed by Jeroboam in two very different geographic/socio-political settings could represent the Democrats and Republicans (neither one actually being God!)
https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/78807/america-trump-two-golden-calves-opinion/
Blogging the Bible: Two golden calves. Actually. So, why doesn’t God get angrier about them? Asks lots of questions about God’s actions in this time period; addresses broader context of chapters 12-16. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2006/11/two-golden-calves-actually-so-why-doesn-t-god-get-angrier-about-them.html
PRAYERS, ETC.
Except the Sarasota Statement, these are all by Barb Hedges-Goettl; please give credit if using/adapting.
Opening Prayer (Psalm 72:12-14 The Message)
God, our Parent and Creator, you are worthy to rule over us. You rescue the poor and the destitute. You open a place in your heart for the down-and-out. You restore the wretched of the earth. You free them from tyranny and torture. You bleed with those who bleed. You die with those who die. Teach us, your people, to be more like you. In the name of Jesus, our best example, and in the power of the Spirit, we pray. Amen.
Call to Worship
One: O God, you have served us from eternity. Many You made us. You provide for us. You watch over us. You rescue us. You stay with us. You save us. You have compassion on us. You love us. And so, O Lord, this day and forevermore we love and serve you.
.
*Opening Hymn O Worship the King, O Glorious Above Blue Hymnal, 476
*Call to Confession Reader
We are called to serve one another and to serve the Lord. This call is not easy, and we do not do it consistently or well. Let us ask for—and receive–God’s forgiveness.
*Prayer of Confession (unison)
Reader God, sometimes we are all too human. We hedge our bets by not giving you our all. We like to be needed, serving others to feel important. We like to be in charge, refusing the help offered by others.
(Silent confession) Forgive us and cleanse our motives. Empower us to serve you fully. Enable us to treat those we help as the important ones. Humble us so that we accept the help of others.
*Assurance of Pardon (Matthew 20:28) The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Thanks be to God for the Good News: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Offering Hymn Lord of Light, Your Name Outshining Blue Hymnal, 425
* Prayer of Dedication (unison) Pastor Barb
O God, make us servants of your grace. Use our talents in your service. Commission us to fulfill your purpose. Invest these gifts with your love. Amen.
Prayer for Illumination (sung ) Blue Hymnal, #129 v. 3
Come, O spirit, dwell among us; Give us words of fire and flame.
Help our feeble lips to praise You, Glorify Your Holy name.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in one: what mystery!
We would sing our loud hosannas Now and through eternity.
Hebrew Scripture Reading: I Kings 12:1-19 Reader
Message Are You Being Served? Pastor Barb
*Confession of Faith (Preamble to the Sarasota Statement**)
We are people of hope who confess Jesus Christ is Lord over a Kingdom
in which no one is hungry, violence is no more, and all suffering is gone.
All sit together around a shared table, wolves and lambs enjoy each other’s company, and every tear is wiped away from every eye.
Our hope is not simply that we will experience this Kingdom in the future, but that, as Christ’s prayer demands, this Kingdom comes “to earth as it is in heaven.” So, we lament any and all instances of its absence. When we witness hunger, injustice, discrimination, violence, or suffering, we grieve deeply and repent of our sins that have enabled such brokenness to persist – knowing that these things should not be.
Furthermore, we are incited to act and to be vehicles of change through which God’s Kingdom breaks into the world and our earthly lives. Our commitment is to acts that feed, clothe, instruct, reconcile, admonish, heal, and comfort – reflecting the power of God’s hope and an eagerness to see the Kingdom made manifest.
We believe God’s Kingdom comes not because we are confident in our own capacities, but because we trust in God, who can do more than we can ask or imagine. We are humbled and amazed that, in and through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God includes us in the work of redeeming all creation and reconciling the whole world. And so we thank and praise God. Amen.
*Closing Hymn Lord, You Give the Great Commission Blue Hymnal, 429
More Narrative Lectionary Seeds Resources can be found here.
katyandtheword 
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