“Take Up Your Mat and Walk”

Abstract

ABSTRACT Based on the scripture John 5: 1–9, the events and incidents of this story-style sermon are all factual. The names of the persons involved and enough small details have been altered to protect their identities should this be published. The sermon has been written for a mid-sized congregation of 500 (worship attendance of two hundred) in an urban/suburban setting, during a time when our community is trying to raise awareness of the many forms of domestic violence currently on the upswing here (we are located on the northern edge of Greater Cincinnati, in the rapidly growing area of Warren County). The population here is mainly upwardly mobile and still clings to the belief that: (a) domestic abuse and violence is a problem of those in lower social-economic classes and (b) never happens among good church-folk. Yet we who are concerned in our county know that these are myths with no basis in fact. Domestic abuse/victims, including spousal/partner abuse, elder abuse, child abuse, and date rape/abuse ...