Old and New Worship Theme

The Head of Christ by Warner Sallman

This worship will cover old and new ways to see Jesus.

What you will need: The Head of Christ by Warner Sallman and printouts showing art depicting many cultural depictions of Jesus (this link is a simple Google search of the same name).


Hook: In the center of your worship space, have the painting or printout of "The Head of Christ" by Warner Sallman displayed for all to see. Keep the other pictures hidden to be handed out later.

Theme: Old And New. The assumption is that while our traditions, creeds, and personal theologies of Jesus are truly great things, sometimes they can prevent us from seeing Jesus in new ways.

Scripture: Matthew 13:52 and Mark 2:21-22

Experience: A brief meditation will be given and then the other pictures are to be handed out.

My meditation would look like this but feel free to write your own:

Warner Sallman painted a picture that seems to be in every church. It's a picture of Jesus with light glowing around him. He looks stoic. He's familiar. He looks very white with European features. How does this make you feel? Have you seen it before? 

I do not mean to trash this painting, it's way better than I can do. I think it's a great painting, and when I see it I am reminded of my grandma and her faith she set for me. I do not want to imply that we throw it out, for our Matthew text stated that we are to "bring out the old and the new." I do think that this picture can become TOO comfortable and make Jesus too familiar to us and thus shield us from the radical life and relationship with him that he is inviting us all in. So tonight let's look at some depictions of Jesus that aren't so familiar to us. Let us discuss how these make us feel and what impact it may have on our relationship with Christ.

Questions to help stimulate discussion: Which images affirm your understanding of Jesus and his life? Which images challenge your understanding of Jesus? What about your understanding of Jesus still surprises you, pushes you, invites you out of your comfort zone?


Sending: Offer a prayer about recommitting yourselves to walking the path that Jesus has set before you. Covenant with God to help you continue to see the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus as a radical challenge to journey in faith. Then offer the following benediction:
May you depart knowing the invitation of God, to move
- from comfort to insecurity
- from what we know to what we have yet to discover
- from where we have been to where we have yet to go
- from safety to a place of risk
Go in the example of the saints before you, the Israelites in the wilderness, Paul blind in Damascus waiting for Ananias. Go in the name of Jesus, our Christ, who said ‘follow me’ without saying where he was going just promising transformation and relationship with the Triune God along the way. AMEN.