“A small baby girl, 4.5 pounds, was born to Ed and Blanche. She was a sickly child … born in 1940 … the 20th of 22 children. Before the age of five she dealt with measles, scarlet fever and a variety of other diseases, and eventually was stricken with polio. She was told she would never walk again.”

Otis Moss, III, is the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, a civil rights advocate, activist and author who was recently recognized as one of the “12 Most Effective Preachers in the English-Speaking World.” He begins his sermon on the bent-over woman from Luke 13:10-17 with the story of Olympic champion Wilma Rudolph, whose grandmother never lost faith in a God who can heal.

“Your condition does not have to be your conclusion,” Moss insists. Jesus might have said the same thing.

This sermon is from A Sermon for Every Sunday, a series of lectionary-based video sermons designed for use in worship, Bible study, small groups, Sunday school classes or for individual use.

For more sermon preparation help, check out Pulpit Resource, Will Willimon's weekly lectionary-based sermon resource, available online and through a print subscription.