"Set Apart to Bring Together" Sermon September 1, 2024

"Set Apart to Bring Together"
Mark 7:14-23
Preacher: Pastor Steve Woodfin
In Mark 7, the Pharisees are surprised to see Jesus and His disciples not following the Pharisaical laws. The Jews preserved their identity - their separateness - through food laws, hand washing, and other specific rules. Did Jesus think the disciples were not “set apart?” Jesus replies in our text today that indeed, the Jews and non-Jews are actually quite alike: defiled. And that defilement comes not from what is put into the body, but what emanates from our hearts.
This reality of our sin gives us common ground with those all around us. The reality of Jesus means we are set apart not to be apart, but to bring people together into Christ by His love flowing through us. This weekend we’ll pause to reflect on what is proceeding from our own hearts into the world and talk about ways we can communicate the absolute inclusiveness of our loving Savior, Who gathers us around His Word and Sacraments, Nurtures us in loving instruction and caring fellowship with each other, and Serves us in His life, suffering, death, and resurrection.