Message Title:  Justice League or Grace Gang
Theme: Forgive, Really?!
Season: Ordinary Time
Main Text: Matthew 18:15-20
Scripture Reading: Romans 13:8-14;
RCL Scripture: Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 149; Ezekiel 33:7-11; Psalm 119:33-40; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20
Focus:  Jesus gives instructions on reconciliation.
Function: To consider our own conflict and seek God-guided healing.
Other Notes: GRANDPARENT’S DAY// 9-11 MEMORIAL

SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 13:8-14 ⁸ Don’t be in debt to anyone, except for the obligation to love each other. Whoever loves another person has fulfilled the Law. ⁹ The commandments, Don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t desire what others have,^[a] and any other commandments, are all summed up in one word: You must love your neighbor as yourself.^[b] 10 Love doesn’t do anything wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is what fulfills the Law. ¹¹ As you do all this, you know what time it is. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your sleep. Now our salvation is nearer than when we first had faith. ¹² The night is almost over, and the day is near. So let’s get rid of the actions that belong to the darkness and put on the weapons of light. ¹³ Let’s behave appropriately as people who live in the day, not in partying and getting drunk, not in sleeping around and obscene behavior, not in fighting and obsession. ¹⁴ Instead, dress yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t plan to indulge your selfish desires.

NEW SERIES: For the next2 weeks we will examine a segment of Matthew 18 focusing on Jesus’ words on forgiving someone who has wronged you. How has the church messed up the message of forgiveness and left people in abusive situations? where is the balance between forgiveness and self-preservation? can you forgive too many times? when does it turn to enabling sinful behavior? If we’re lucky, we’ll answer one of these questions together.

INTRODUCTION:

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: Can you think of any songs about the topic of forgiveness? (Positive or negative)
   1. Forgive by Rebecca Lynn Howard
   1. Forgive Them Father by Laryn Hill
   1. We can work it out by The Beatles
   1. If I could turn back time by Cher
2. When I was initially pondering songs about forgiveness all I could think of were country songs about a guy cheating and a woman seeking revenge.

TRANSITION: Pop culture tells us that when we are wronged, we have the right to claim vengeance or reparations. Justice *should* be on our side. Our text today will provide us the first installment of Jesus’ words on the subject of forgiveness. I invite you to read all of Matthew 18 this week to give yourself the greater context.

MAIN TEXT: Matthew 18:15-20 ¹⁵ “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and correct them when you are alone together. If they listen to you, then you’ve won over your brother or sister. ¹⁶ But if they won’t listen, take with you one or two others so that every word may be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses.^[b] 17 But if they still won’t pay attention, report it to the church. If they won’t pay attention even to the church, treat them as you would a Gentile and tax collector. ¹⁸ I assure you that whatever you fasten on earth will be fastened in heaven. And whatever you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven. ¹⁹ Again I assure you that if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, then my Father who is in heaven will do it for you. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.”

EXPLAINATION:

1. Context of passage:
   1. Location: Capernaum (where Peter’s MIL lives)
   1. Audience: “the disciples” plus kids, could be just the 12 and kids or it could be the more broad term for disciples.
   1. Jesus had just paid his taxes through a miracle, warned about causing kids to stumble, and a parable about lost sheep.
2. Jesus has been teaching the people to see the Upside-Down Kingdom of God. God’s kingdom does things differently than the world. – valuing kids, celebrating the minority or vulnerable, and recognizing the law of men is not what determines our character.
   1. He shifts the conversation to instructions on reconciliation. What do we do when the someone hurts us?
3. SPELL OUT THE STEPS of reconciliation:
   1. Correct when alone (1 on 1)
   1. Correct with support (1 on 2-3)
   1. Correct with the church
   1. Treat as an unbeliever

INTERPRETATION:

1. Accountability of Fellow Believers: These instructions initially assume the two parties are believers. When we call ourselves “Christians,” “children of God,” or “Christ followers,” we are committing to living according to God’s standards. “To follow God means to embrace how God designed things to be.” (Not, how we want them to be.)
2. Mission to Unbelievers: When the unrepentant is treated like an “unbeliever” this is not an invitation to shun them or treat them poorly. An unbeliever is a teaching opportunity of the love and compassion of God. This teaching opportunity is a chance to show exactly how God designed things.
3. Ambassadors of God: “What we fasten… what we loosened” – has anyone besides me been terrified of this phrase? The amount of power and responsibility is gigantic.
   1. As ambassadors of Christ in this world, our actions and our relationships matter.
   1. NOTE: “where two or three are gathered in my name…” – is about forgiveness.
      1. Are we consulting the Holy Spirit about the situations of conflict in our lives?
4. This passage is not a moment of shame to push for reunification of broken relationships. As a pastor who was divorced and remarried, I can attest to this. The relationship between person a and person b is permanently changed by the wrong doing when person b refuses to repent.
5. ACCOUNTABLITY IS KEY to healing relationships.
   1. Accountability only works if a relationship is bathed in trust, respect, and love.
   1. Accountability only works when both partners agree to participate.
   1. Accountability only works when names and faces are connected to the conflict. Anonymity doesn’t work with accountability or conflict resolution.
   1. Christians cannot expect non-believers to behave as Christ followers.

APPLICATION:

1. Reflection this week:
   1. Take time to ponder your conflicts
      1. what relationships are experiencing tension?
   1. Spend time in prayer asking for God’s Spirit to guide you in the best path of healing.
      1. How is God asking you to be responsible for this conflict? Did you inflict pain or are you experiencing pain?
   1. Consider the steps in Matthew 18 and how they apply to your situation
      1. Can accountability be applied to this relationship?
         1. Are both parties willing?
      1. How are my actions and words informed by God’s Word?
   1. Seek Spirit-led healing

CONCLUSION:  God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation teaches of God’s desire for community. Be ambassadors of forgiveness. Be agents of healing. Be missionaries speaking God’s love. Pursue restoration.

Message Title: Oppressed
Theme: Made to Be
Season: Ordinary Time
Main Text: Exodus 1:8-2:10
Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:13-20
RCL Scripture: Exodus 1:8-2:10; Psalm 124; Isaiah 51:1-6; Psalm 138; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20
Focus: Jacob’s family is enslaved in Egypt but God has a plan for their deliverance.
Function: To identify ourselves as God’s people OVER any political party, nationality, or other group desiring division.
Other Notes: END OF SERIES // Mission report Gary & Diana

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 16:13-20 ¹³ Now when Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Human One^[a] is?” ¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” ¹⁵ He said, “And what about you? Who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ Then Jesus replied, “Happy are you, Simon son of Jonah, because no human has shown this to you. Rather my Father who is in heaven has shown you. ¹⁸ I tell you that you are Peter.^[b] And I’ll build my church on this rock. The gates of the underworld won’t be able to stand against it. ¹⁹ I’ll give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Anything you fasten on earth will be fastened in heaven. Anything you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he ordered the disciples not to tell anybody that he was the Christ.

SERIES CONCLUSION: We have been through a journey this summer! Since June we have been studying Genesis in our Made to Be series. This series has encouraged us to consider a new perspective on the Genesis account. This book is more than a history lesson, this book speaks of the identity of God’s people. Today, we get our final installment in the Made to Be series. Investigating identity is in your hands.

INTRODUCTION:

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: What trends were popular when you were young that have been repeated by younger generations?
   1. My generation embraced the bell bottoms and peasant tops of the 60’s and 70’s.
   1. Fashion has a way of repeating itself… though I’ll never understand why bucket hats and crocs came back.
2. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: What trends do you wish could: 1- stop coming back or 2- come back that are always ignored?

TRANSITION: The passing of time is revealed through the wrinkles on our skin, the gray hairs (or falling out) on our head, and younger generations revisiting changing traditions.

In our text today, much time has passed. Rather than fashion tends changing, the relationship between Jacob’s people and the leadership of Egypt has changed. How is their story our story?

MAIN TEXT: Exodus 1:8-2:10 ⁸ Now a new king came to power in Egypt who didn’t know Joseph. ⁹ He said to his people, “The Israelite people are now larger in number and stronger than we are. ¹⁰ Come on, let’s be smart and deal with them. Otherwise, they will only grow in number. And if war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and then escape from the land.” ¹¹ As a result, the Egyptians put foremen of forced work gangs over the Israelites to harass them with hard work. They had to build storage cities named Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh. ¹² But the more they were oppressed, the more they grew and spread, so much so that the Egyptians started to look at the Israelites with disgust and dread. ¹³ So the Egyptians enslaved the Israelites. ¹⁴ They made their lives miserable with hard labor, making mortar and bricks, doing field work, and by forcing them to do all kinds of other cruel work. ¹⁵ The king of Egypt spoke to two Hebrew midwives named Shiphrah and Puah: ¹⁶ “When you are helping the Hebrew women give birth and you see the baby being born, if it’s a boy, kill him. But if it’s a girl, you can let her live.” ¹⁷ Now the two midwives respected God so they didn’t obey the Egyptian king’s order. Instead, they let the baby boys live. ¹⁸ So the king of Egypt called the two midwives and said to them, “Why are you doing this? Why are you letting the baby boys live?” ¹⁹ The two midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because Hebrew women aren’t like Egyptian women. They’re much stronger and give birth before any midwives can get to them.” ²⁰ So God treated the midwives well, and the people kept on multiplying and became very strong. ²¹ And because the midwives respected God, God gave them households of their own. ²² Then Pharaoh gave an order to all his people: “Throw every baby boy born to the Hebrews into the Nile River, but you can let all the girls live.” Now a man from Levi’s household married a Levite woman. ² The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that the baby was healthy and beautiful, so she hid him for three months. ³ When she couldn’t hide him any longer, she took a reed basket and sealed it up with black tar. She put the child in the basket and set the basket among the reeds at the riverbank. ⁴ The baby’s older sister stood watch nearby to see what would happen to him. ⁵ Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, while her women servants walked along beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds, and she sent one of her servants to bring it to her. ⁶ When she opened it, she saw the child. The boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. She said, “This must be one of the Hebrews’ children.” ⁷ Then the baby’s sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Would you like me to go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” ⁸ Pharaoh’s daughter agreed, “Yes, do that.” So, the girl went and called the child’s mother. ⁹ Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I’ll pay you for your work.” So, the woman took the child and nursed it. ¹⁰ After the child had grown up, she brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her son. She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I pulled him out^[a] of the water.”

EXPLAINATION:

1. DreamWorks Prince of Egypt
2. Context:
   1. Last week Jacob’s family all moved to Egypt to escape a famine in the land.
3. Our text for today says so much time has passed that the current ruler has no memory of Joseph.
   1. Jacob’s family are now called The Israelites or Hebrews and they are numerous.
   1. Pharoah is worried about the large number of Israelites and makes a plan to subdue them to prevent their rebellion.
   1. Thus, the Israelites end up slaves in Egypt when they had originally been welcomed as esteemed guests.
4. God hears the struggles of his people and designs a plan involving a family from the tribe of Levi. Their son Moses would deliver the people. However, you’ll have to keep reading Exodus to hear the rest of the story.

INTERPRETATION: Liberate

1. The story of Israel’s enslavement in Egypt and Moses as the liberator is a familiar story in Christian spheres. However, we typically look at this story as a piece of Jewish history and not part of TORAH.
2. I want us to pause and remember: (we do not have Jewish heritage)
   1. TORAH is the Law, the structure for God’s people, the foundational identity document. Genesis & Exodus are part of TORAH, not the Nevi’im, and the Ketuvim (Prophets and Writings).
   1. The story of the Israelites through Genesis & Exodus is foundational to the identity of all God’s people and our relationship to God.

APPLICATION: To identify ourselves as God’s people OVER any political party, nationality, or other group desiring division.

1. –Meriah’s Midrash–
2. DISARM – *Stay with me here* I want to be candid with you. Be present in the moment with me.
3. Unfortunately for all of us, it’s now presidential campaign season. Ads will run. Lobbyists will lobby. Promises will be made to earn your vote.
4. KNOW YOUR FOUNDATION: It is IMPERATIVE we remember our identity foundationally belongs in Jesus.  Scripture reading -Know who Christ is
   1. Every single politician of every political party will fail us.
   1. Every government on this planet seeks its own self-interest.
   1. No nation deserves our allegiance OVER Christ.
5. KNOW YOUR HOPE: When the world is overwhelming, we remember our hope is in Jesus.
   1. Scripture reading: peter knew
   1. Regardless of who is elected. Regardless of what laws are passed. Our identity doesn’t change. Our commission as God’s ambassadors doesn’t change.  
6. HAVE NO FEAR: we may tremble in our boots on a day to day basis BUT we know that nothing on this earth can change the hope we have in Christ.
   1. Scripture reading: peter was given a task according to his knowledge.
   1. Romans 8:37-39 ³⁷ But in all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us. ³⁸ I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers ³⁹ or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.
      1. Not republicans, not democrats, not presidents, not mayors, not dictators, lobbyists, or billionaires
7. Wrape up series

CONCLUSION: When you know your foundation, you know your hope and can have no fear. Survive the darkness by clinging to the Light of Christ.

Message Title: Reunions & Family Drama
Theme: Made to Be
Season: Ordinary Time
Main Text: Genesis 45:1-15;
Scripture Reading: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
RCL Scripture: Genesis 45:1-15; Psalm 133; Isaiah 56:1, 6-8; Psalm 67; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
Focus: Joseph seeks resolution with his brothers.
Function: To consider our own conflict, our responsibility to the resolution, and taking steps to fulfill our role.
Other Notes:

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 ²¹ From there, Jesus went to the regions of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from those territories came out and shouted, “Show me mercy, Son of David. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.” ²³ But he didn’t respond to her at all. His disciples came and urged him, “Send her away; she keeps shouting out after us.” ²⁴ Jesus replied, “I’ve been sent only to the lost sheep, the people of Israel.” ²⁵ But she knelt before him and said, “Lord, help me.” ²⁶ He replied, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and toss it to dogs.” ²⁷ She said, “Yes, Lord. But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall off their masters’ table.” ²⁸ Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith. It will be just as you wish.” And right then her daughter was healed.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Anyone notice that stores are starting to put out fall and Christmas decorations? Are you ready for family festivities? Or are you dreading them?
2. Family drama & holidays – I want to give you a scenario and then tell me traditionally how your family would resolve this conflict.
   Amidst the joyful chaos of the family holiday gathering, the dining table lay adorned with an elaborate feast. [Nora] couldn’t help but notice the remnants of the delicious meal scattered around, plates half-empty and napkins crumpled. Suppressing her frustration, she glanced at her cousins who were engrossed in conversation nearby, and with a forced smile, she remarked, “I guess some people just don’t care about keeping the dining area tidy, but I’m sure it doesn’t bother everyone.” She reached for a stack of plates and began clearing the table herself.
3. How would your family handle this conflict?
   1. Sweep it under the rug -Ignore- Passive?
   1. SOLVE IT RIGHT AWAY -Bulldoze – Aggressive? (issue behind the issue)
   1. Guilt trip- Passive aggressive?
   1. Enmeshment – You make me feel bad for pointing out something I’ve done that’s bad-

TRANSITION: In our text for today, Joseph is the leader of a family conflict-resolution situation.

MAIN TEXT: Genesis 45:1-15 Joseph could no longer control himself in front of all his attendants, so he declared, “Everyone, leave now!” So no one stayed with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers. ² He wept so loudly that the Egyptians and Pharaoh’s household heard him. ³ Joseph said to his brothers, “I’m Joseph! Is my father really still alive?” His brothers couldn’t respond because they were terrified before him. ⁴ Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me,” and they moved closer. He said, “I’m your brother Joseph! The one you sold to Egypt. ⁵ Now, don’t be upset and don’t be angry with yourselves that you sold me here. Actually, God sent me before you to save lives. ⁶ We’ve already had two years of famine in the land, and there are five years left without planting or harvesting. ⁷ God sent me before you to make sure you’d survive^[a] and to rescue your lives in this amazing way. ⁸ You didn’t send me here; it was God who made me a father to Pharaoh, master of his entire household, and ruler of the whole land of Egypt. ⁹ “Hurry! Go back to your father. Tell him this is what your son Joseph says: ‘God has made me master of all of Egypt. Come down to me. Don’t delay. ¹⁰ You may live in the land of Goshen, so you will be near me, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everyone with you. ¹¹ I will support you there, so you, your household, and everyone with you won’t starve, since the famine will still last five years.’ ¹² You and my brother Benjamin have seen with your own eyes that I’m speaking to you. ¹³ Tell my father about my power in Egypt and about everything you’ve seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” ¹⁴ He threw his arms around his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder. ¹⁵ He kissed all of his brothers and wept, embracing them. After that, his brothers were finally able to talk to him.

EXPLAINATION:

1. Catch up the story:
   1. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. (Tamar tricks her father-in-law Judah into marrying her after 2 of her husbands die)
   1. He was bought by Pharoah’s assistant Potipher.
   1. Potipher’s wife scams Joseph and Joseph ends up in jail.
   1. In jail, Joseph grows in prominence through interpreting dreams.
   1. He interprets Pharoah’s dream and pharaoh rewards him with a high-level position
   1. Famine strikes all over but because of Joseph’s wisdom Egypt is prepared.
   1. Now his brothers, experiencing the famine in their home land, come to Egypt to look for aid. This leads them to have audience with their brother who they don’t recognize.
   1. Joseph tests their character, including imprisoning one brother, and finds changed men.
      1. The final test includes bringing his little brother Benjamin to Egypt
2. Now –
   1. The brothers have fulfilled their duties and returned with Benjamin.
   1. Joseph is overwhelmed at the sight of all of his family and reveals himself to his brothers.
   1. Joseph reinterprets his hardships as God’s provision for their family.

INTERPRETATION:

1. Joseph forgives his brothers by explaining their actions through God’s plan to provide food for Jacob’s family.
2. AUDIENCE POLL: Is it ok that Joseph forgave his brothers without his brothers asking for forgiveness?
   1. In Ch 42 – Joseph hears his brothers speaking in Hebrew about consequences for their actions of hurting Joseph and their regret. BUT they never say this to Joseph directly. Does that matter?
3. Our Scripture reading was a different Conflict resolution.
   1. It’s ok if the text makes you uncomfortable.
      1. Here are some questions to ponder: did the Canaanite woman change his mind like Moses & Abraham changed God’s mind? Was there an order of operations for the Gospel and this woman was interrupting it?
      1. Canaanites – from Cain, offspring of Adam & Eve, the original settlers of the promise land that Jews kicked out. Some texts suggest they were wiped out (Genocide) … but how could that be if this woman was here?
   1. Jesus changes his actions based on the petitions of this mother.

APPLICATION: To consider our own conflict, our responsibility to the resolution, and taking steps to fulfill our role. (are you the hurter or hurtee)

1. Jesus changes his actions after gathering more information. We are called to do better when we know better.
2. Accountability matters – a professor once suggested in class that its wrong to forgive someone who hasn’t repented…. To hold them accountable and not “let them off the hook” without consequences. It’s still something I ponder today.
   1. Some days I agree and want to see justice, other days my heart out pours mercy.
3. The role of repentance in forgiveness –
   1.  2 forms of forgiveness – internal and external.
      1. You can release someone from an expectation of healing even if you don’t express it.
      1. You can verbally express forgiveness to someone.
   1. The route of forgiveness you choose is dependent on the circumstances of the wrong.
      1. Forgiveness does not always include full reunion and restoration if the environment is no longer safe.  (situations of enabling, safety, etc)

CONCLUSION: you are responsible for you

Message Title: Understanding Pain
Theme: Made to Be
Season: Ordinary Time
Main Text: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:22-33
RCL Scripture: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b; 1 Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 85:8-13; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33
Focus: Jacob’s favoritism leads to animosity between his children.
Function:  To start searching for the cause of pain rather than treating the symptoms of our pain.
Other Notes:

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 14:22-33 ²² Right then, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds. ²³ When he sent them away, he went up onto a mountain by himself to pray. Evening came and he was alone. ²⁴ Meanwhile, the boat, fighting a strong headwind, was being battered by the waves and was already far away from land. ²⁵ Very early in the morning he came to his disciples, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” They were so frightened they screamed. ²⁷ Just then Jesus spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” ²⁸ Peter replied, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹ And Jesus said, “Come.” Then Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when Peter saw the strong wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, rescue me!” ³¹ Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, saying, “You man of weak faith! Why did you begin to have doubts?” ³² When they got into the boat, the wind settled down. ³³ Then those in the boat worshipped Jesus and said, “You must be God’s Son!”

INTRO: 

1. Audience engagement:
   1. Are there rules in comedy? Are there certain topics that you can’t talk about in comedy?
      1. I’ve heard “Punch up not down”
   1. What about in joke battles?
      1. “yo mama” jokes
      1. “Roast Me”
      1. Rap Battles
      1. don’t laugh challenge
2. PHOTO: Last March, Chris Rock was doing a monologue for the Academy Awards and made a joke about Jada Smith’s bald head. Will Smith walked up on stage and slapped Chris Rock. Smith’s reaction was not about the joke- Rock speculated about the source of Smith’s pain.[1] Smith had not addressed his pain. His internal pain became Rock’s physical pain.

TRANSITION: In our text for today, we will also see the trickle down of pain.

TEXT: Gen 37:1-4, 12-28 Jacob lived in the land of Canaan where his father was an immigrant. ² This is the account of Jacob’s descendants. Joseph was 17 years old and tended the flock with his brothers. While he was helping the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, Joseph told their father unflattering things about them. ³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons because he was born when Jacob was old. Jacob had made for him a long^[a] robe. ⁴ When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of his brothers, they hated him and couldn’t even talk nicely to him…. ¹² Joseph’s brothers went to tend their father’s flocks near Shechem. ¹³ Israel said to Joseph, “Aren’t your brothers tending the sheep near Shechem? Come, I’ll send you to them.” And he said, “I’m ready.” ¹⁴ Jacob said to him, “Go! Find out how your brothers are and how the flock is, and report back to me.” So Jacob sent him from the Hebron Valley. When he approached Shechem, ¹⁵ a man found him wandering in the field and asked him, “What are you looking for?” ¹⁶ Joseph said, “I’m looking for my brothers. Tell me, where are they tending the sheep?” ¹⁷ The man said, “They left here. I heard them saying, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan. ¹⁸ They saw Joseph in the distance before he got close to them, and they plotted to kill him. ¹⁹ The brothers said to each other, “Here comes the big dreamer. ²⁰ Come on now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns, and we’ll say a wild animal devoured him. Then we will see what becomes of his dreams!” ²¹ When Reuben heard what they said, he saved him from them, telling them, “Let’s not take his life.” ²² Reuben said to them, “Don’t spill his blood! Throw him into this desert cistern, but don’t lay a hand on him.” He intended to save Joseph from them and take him back to his father. ²³ When Joseph reached his brothers, they stripped off Joseph’s long robe, ²⁴ took him, and threw him into the cistern, an empty cistern with no water in it. ²⁵ When they sat down to eat, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with camels carrying sweet resin, medicinal resin, and fragrant resin on their way down to Egypt. ²⁶ Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and hide his blood? ²⁷ Come on, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites. Let’s not harm him because he’s our brother; he’s family.” His brothers agreed. ²⁸ When some Midianite traders passed by, they pulled Joseph up out of the cistern. They sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and they brought Joseph to Egypt.

EXPLANATION:

1. context: Okay, quite a bit of time has passed since our passage from last week.
   1. Jacob and his 12 sons are back in his home land near his brother. reunions have happened and forgiveness has been poured out. 
   1. aside: I won’t go into the whole family drama around the only identified daughter of Jacob being assaulted and pursued by her assaulter. There is too much there to get into in one series.
   1. Rachel gave birth to Benjamin and passed away directly after. read: Jacob’s favorite wife is dead.
      1. PHOTO: The mothers of Jacob’s 12 sons (Genesis 35:22-26) are:
         1. Leah, mother of: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun
         1. Rachel, mother of: Joseph, Benjamin (Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin)
         1. Zilpah (Leah’s maid), mother of: Gad, Asher
         1. Bilhah (Rachel’s maid), mother of: Dan, Naphtali
2. into the text: 
   1. To Jacob’s 10 older sons, it is very clear Jacob preferred his children from Rachel, his preferred wife. Jacob shows partiality to Joseph, the oldest of Rachel’s two sons. (Rachel’s sons are the youngest.)
   1. Joseph receives dreams that he interprets to mean eventually his brothers and family will bow down to him. Naturally, this goes over as well as a lead balloon.
   1. The jealousy already present in his brothers is exacerbated by Joseph’s words. Honestly, Joseph seems to be pretty clueless or potentially malicious in his lack of tact by sharing his dreams.
   1. His brothers plan to kill him but choose to sell him into slavery instead.
      1. Next week we will see the brothers’ reunion after many years. How did his brother’s handle their decision? Scripture won’t make that explicit until we get to our passage next week.

INTERPRETATION:

1. Although Jacob has the new name of Israel and has called his family to follow God, he still is a work in progress.(vs 4) The brothers hurt Joseph because of the pain they experienced from their father’s favoritism.
   1. Jacob’s preferential treatment breeds another generation of animosity between brothers.
      1. Jacob & Esau – J was mom’s fave and E was dad’s fave
      1. Ishmael & Isaac – Sarah rejected Ishmael as Abraham’s son after her son was born. Ishmael (and his mother were kicked out).
2. HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE.
   1. The brothers were pointing fingers at Joseph (who did behave wrongly) but the cause of their pain was Jacob/Israel. To find relief from their pain, they needed to sort the problem out with their father. NOT kill their brother.
   1. The brothers were looking at the symptom not the cause of the problem.
      1. Their pain poured out on the next person (Joseph). Joseph chose to behave differently – we’ll touch on that next week.

APPLICATION: To start searching for the cause of pain rather than treating the symptoms of our pain.

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: How are you hurting?
   1. What is the source of your pain today?
      1. How is your pain impacting others?
      1. Consequences from your own actions?
      1. Consequences from another’s actions?
2. God is not the source of our pain. God does not behave the way earthly parents (or even biblical parents) behave.
   1. PS 103:13
   1. John 3:16 – God loved the world so much that he gave his only son
   1. Acts 10:34 – God shows no partiality to on group over another
   1. Romans 2:11 – God doesn’t have favorites
   1. 2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord isn’t slow in keeping his promise… he wants none to perish…

CONCLUSION: can we name the cause of our pain? Are we brave enough to address it?

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/mar/05/it-still-hurts-chris-rock-speaks-about-will-smith-slap-for-first-time

Message Title: Wrestling with the Blessed
Theme: Made to Be
Season: Ordinary Time
Main Text: Genesis 32:22-31
Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:13-21
RCL Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 17:1-7, 15; Isaiah 55:1-5; Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21
Focus: Jacob is blessed and his name is changed to Israel.
Function:  To claim our new name, break generational curses, and start a new life.
Other Notes: COMMUNION SUNDAY

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 14:13-21 ¹³ When Jesus heard about John, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. When the crowds learned this, they followed him on foot from the cities. ¹⁴ When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them and healed those who were sick. ¹⁵ That evening his disciples came and said to him, “This is an isolated place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” ¹⁶ But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.” ¹⁷ They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves of bread and two fish.” ¹⁸ He said, “Bring them here to me.” ¹⁹ He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them and broke the loaves apart and gave them to his disciples. Then the disciples gave them to the crowds. ²⁰ Everyone ate until they were full, and they filled twelve baskets with the leftovers. ²¹ About five thousand men plus women and children had eaten.

INTRODUCTION:

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: Are you good at waiting? If you knew a surprise was coming, would you try to figure it out or would you wait in ignorance until the surprise came? (Peeking at Xmas presents)
2. Story about – Anticipating going to Disney world and not being able to sleep.
   1. ASSIDE: Now Florida has Leprosy & travel is discouraged to their state.
      1. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/2/why-are-leprosy-cases-surging-in-us-state-of
      1. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/leprosy-endemic-central-florida-cdc-what-to-know-disease/
      1. https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/leprosy-in-florida-how-do-you-know-if-you-have-the-infection

TRANSITION:  Jacob is waiting, how does he wait for the bad thing?

MAIN TEXT: Genesis 32:22-31 ²² Jacob got up during the night, took his two wives, his two women servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the Jabbok River’s shallow water. ²³ He took them and everything that belonged to him, and he helped them cross the river. ²⁴ But Jacob stayed apart by himself, and a man wrestled with him until dawn broke. ²⁵ When the man saw that he couldn’t defeat Jacob, he grabbed Jacob’s thigh and tore a muscle in Jacob’s thigh as he wrestled with him. ²⁶ The man said, “Let me go because the dawn is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.” ²⁷ He said to Jacob, “What’s your name?” and he said, “Jacob.” ²⁸ Then he said, “Your name won’t be Jacob any longer, but Israel,^[c] because you struggled with God and with men and won.” ²⁹ Jacob also asked and said, “Tell me your name.” But he said, “Why do you ask for my name?” and he blessed Jacob there. ³⁰ Jacob named the place Peniel,^[d] “because I’ve seen God face-to-face, and my life has been saved.” ³¹ The sun rose as Jacob passed Penuel, limping because of his thigh. 

EXPLAINATION:

1. Context:
   1. Last week Jay spoke! And he did an amazing job. Thank you for taking the stage when I couldn’t leave the bathroom.
   1. Jacob married Leah & Rachel and has had 11 sons (unknown how many daughters) through these women and their two servants.
   1. If you remember, Jacob left his home because of a rivalry he created between him and his brother Esau. Jacob is now returning home with his household.
      1. In preparation for this reunion, Jacob has been sending his brother gifts. (Sweetening the deal?)
2. On the eve of this reunion, Jacob is reasonably restless. He walks along the river, meets an unnamed man, and wrestles him.
   1. We get no context to who this man is or why they are wrestling.
   1. All we get is a hint from Jacob’s new name and the man’s words “you’ve wrestled God and man and won.”
   1. We assume this means that Jacob wrestled God, even though the text doesn’t explicitly say as such.

INTERPRETATION:

1. Throughout this study in Genesis, we’ve been considering who God made us to be. A few weeks ago, we talked about the fact that God uses us and others regardless of our qualifications. Now our text states Jacob has wrestled not only man but God as well … and WON.
   1. Jacob won against God?!?!?!
   1. Does this make anyone else uncomfortable?
      • “Gen 32 needs to be taken as a whole with its theophany (vv.1-2), prayer for deliverance (vv.9-12) and encounter with God (vv.24-31).”
2. Jacob is wrestling with his past. Jacob is coming home, looking for his future. Jacob is attempting to mend a relationship that he destroyed.
3. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: What do you do when you are waiting for something difficult to pass?
   1. PERSONAL CONNECTION: I cannot count the number of times I have wrestled with God in prayer and in planning as I anticipate a difficult event to come.
   • “Give it to God” …. Yeah, yeah, yeah… except WOOPS! That thing I gave to God is back in my hands again…
   • Scripture reading – what man thinks we can do vs what God thinks

APPLICATION: “What if we imagine, Working Preacher, that church is a place we can come to each week and bring all our other names with us, confessing them honestly and then leaving them behind, departing the assembly simply as Christians, those who bear the name of Christ and armed with the love, commitment, and courage of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Israel, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Power of Names by David Lose)

• Jacob is changing his name and changing his narrative. Now, to be honest… he still isn’t a perfect guy. He clearly plays favorites with his children and that leads to terrible things BUT God changes Jacob’s name and sets him on a different path.
• To live is an invitation to wrestle – to exist is an opportunity to change our story, to change our name.
  1. We are not the name others give us; we are the name God gives us.
  1. We have a chance to change our names and invite others into this same fate.
• I invite you to reflect on the names you’ve been called. Reflect on the names you have given yourself (kind or unkind). I invite you to break the names of the past and start new:
  1. Fight Generational “demons,” Living sober, breaking toxic relationship habits

CONCLUSION: define my future, redeem my past, change my name.

COMMUNION: Lord’s table, God’s name, & our Redeemed name

Message Title: Dreamer of Dreams
Theme: Made to Be
Season: Ordinary Time
Main Text: Genesis 28:10-19a; Jacob’s Ladder
Scripture Reading: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 parable of weeds
RCL Scripture: Genesis 28:10-19a; Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24; Wisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16-19 or Isaiah 44:6-8; Psalm 86:11-17; Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Focus: God blesses trickster Jacob, gives him a responsibility, and makes him a promise.
Function: 
Other Notes:

scripture reading: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like someone who planted good seed in his field. 25 While people were sleeping, an enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 When the stalks sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The servants of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Master, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Then how is it that it has weeds?’ 28 “‘An enemy has done this,’ he answered. “The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 “But the landowner said, ‘No, because if you gather the weeds, you’ll pull up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow side by side until the harvest. And at harvesttime I’ll say to the harvesters, “First gather the weeds and tie them together in bundles to be burned. But bring the wheat into my barn.”’”….36 Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field. 37 Jesus replied, “The one who plants the good seed is the Human One.[a] 38 The. field is the world. And the good seeds are the followers of the kingdom. But the weeds are the followers of the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the present age. The harvesters are the angels. 40 Just as people gather weeds and burn them in the fire, so it will be at the end of the present age. 41 The Human One[b] will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that cause people to fall away and all people who sin. 42 He will throw them into a burning furnace. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Those who have ears should hear.”

INTRODUCTION

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: Who is growing a garden? What are you growing? How is it going?
   1. I have killed so many gardens before and I’ve finally realized why: gardens are a lot of work. It’s hard to be lazy with gardens and expect results. Sure there are plants that require less work but they may also provide less sustenance.
   1. PHOTO: This has been the first year I’ve had a successful garden and I blame the success on the four adults (plus my “farm hands” Aren H & Brody) all working on caring for it. WorkàResults

TRANSITION:  In our text for today, we will hear God bless Jacob. But is Jacob willing to do the work connected to his blessing? Track record not great – judging Jacob.

MAIN TEXT: Genesis 28:10-19a; ¹⁰ Jacob left Beer-sheba and set out for Haran. ¹¹ He reached a certain place and spent the night there. When the sun had set, he took one of the stones at that place and put it near his head. Then he lay down there. ¹² He dreamed and saw a raised staircase, its foundation on earth and its top touching the sky, and God’s messengers were ascending and descending on it. ¹³ Suddenly the Lord was standing on it^[b] and saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. ¹⁴ Your descendants will become like the dust of the earth; you will spread out to the west, east, north, and south. Every family of earth will be blessed because of you and your descendants. ¹⁵ I am with you now, I will protect you everywhere you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done everything that I have promised you.” ¹⁶ When Jacob woke from his sleep, he thought to himself, The Lord is definitely in this place, but I didn’t know it. ¹⁷ He was terrified and thought, This sacred place is awesome. It’s none other than God’s house and the entrance to heaven. ¹⁸ After Jacob got up early in the morning, he took the stone that he had put near his head, set it up as a sacred pillar, and poured oil on the top of it. ¹⁹ He named that sacred place Bethel,…

EXPLAINATION:

1. Recap:
   1. Last week we learned that Isaac’s wife Rebekah gave birth to twins Jacob and Esau. Esau was the oldest and therefore the one to inherit and receive the blessing as the eldest son. Esau gave up his birthright for some stew.
   1. Jacob also tricks Esau out of his father’s blessing. As a result, there is now animosity between the brothers, to the point where Jacob is sent away for his protection.
2. Today:
   1. Dreamer: Jacob was travelling to Haran (remember that’s Abraham’s family home aka Ur) when he had a dream in a place called Luz. He saw a holy connection point between earth and heaven: a gateway, a ladder, a stairway from heaven to earth. (Dust= descendants)
      1. SPECIAL NOTE: This point in our text is pre-Israel. I’m the God of Abraham and Isaac. God identifies God’s self by the names of Jacob’s ancestors to differentiate himself from any other gods Jacob may have heard of.
   1. God gives Jacob a blessing, a responsibility, and a promise:
      1. You will be blessed
      1. Everyone on earth will be blessed because of your family
      1. I won’t leave you until this is done
   1. Jacob’s response: He realizes that God is present in this place and is filled with awe.
      1. He blesses this location and erects a monument to distinguish this location. (Here I raise my ebenezer…)

INTERPRETATION:

1. If I’m honest with you, Jacob is one of my least favorite people in scripture. I struggle to make sense of his story because he seems like a tricky guy. Why would God reward Jacob? Why would God use Jacob? It doesn’t make sense. Jacob seems exactly like the kind of person God “should” reject.
   1. For some reason, this is the guy the Jews are named after. God will change Jacob’s name to Israel in Gen 32 (we’ll talk about that in August). Their name means to wrestle.
2. I’d much rather lean into my old interpretation of our scripture reading for today rather than accept Jacob.
   1. Scripture reading: I used to interpret our scripture reading from today as tricky people get their comeuppance. But then you get to the part where he says “all people who sin” will be thrown in the burning furnace. … Where is the hope if that is the case?
      1. COULD WE BE READING THIS PASSAGE WRONG?
         1. ??UNLESS – the furnace is to refine you rather than your destruction. ??
      1. Why has our default interpretation always been that God throws out the “bad people”? (because it makes us feel better) how does that fit into the bigger picture of the Bible and God using broken people to bring about God’s design? “Thank you, God, that I don’t decide who are weeds.”
         1. AND what does that say about God’s power and sovereignty?
         1. I *have* to believe that no one is a lost cause because of God’s character.
   1. What are weeds? Uncle Denny & Weeds vs. Wildflowers àweeds are plants that grow where we didn’t want them to. “Weeds” don’t exist.
   1. Whenever we find a part of scripture that’s hard to read, we have to stop, take it in context of the surrounding passages AND scripture as a whole. (Why are my eyes set on destruction?)
      1. Right after Jesus explains this parable, he uses a series of statements to explain the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven loves reclaiming the lost. The kingdom of heaven celebrates lost treasure found.
      1. God intends to bless all families through Jacob’s family. No one is outside of God’s plan.
      1. John 3:16-17 For God loved the world, he gave his only son. Whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God didn’t send his son to condemn but to save!

APPLICATION: God used Jacob. God can use us. AND God can use *that* person you think is a lost cause.

1. God uses people that we don’t expect or who we would reject.
2. God redeems stories for God’s glory. (Sovereign- no one is outside of God’s salvific reach)
3. Regardless of human decisions, God’s design will be completed. Human will power is not stronger than God. We are not powerful enough to derail God’s plans.
4. Get out of God’s way. Stop throwing people you choose into the proverbial furnace labeled as weeds.

CONCLUSION: God’s sticking with Jacob until God’s plans are accomplished. God’s sticking with us too.

Message Title: Love and Community
Theme: Made to Be
Season: Ordinary Time
Main Text: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67;
Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
RCL Scripture: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Psalm 45:10-17 or Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Zechariah 9:9-12; Psalm 145:8-14; Romans 7:15-25a; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Focus: Isaac marries Rebecca through a consensual(?) arranged marriage.
Function: To love people without putting them in a box of expectations.
Other Notes:

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30 16 “To what will I compare this generation? It is like a child sitting in the marketplaces calling out to others, 17 ‘We played the flute for you and you didn’t dance. We sang a funeral song and you didn’t mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 Yet the Human One[c] came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved to be right by her works.” ….25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you’ve hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have shown them to babies. 26 Indeed, Father, this brings you happiness. 27 “My Father has handed all things over to me. No one knows the Son except the Father. And nobody knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29 Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. 30 My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.”

INTRO:

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: How old were you when you first moved out of your parents’ house?What was your first place like?
   1. Mine? During my junior year of college, my older brother and I lived together.  It was quite the humble abode. Our spacious two-bedroom apartment was filled with patio furniture for dining room furniture, a second-hand couch, tv propped up on milk crates and a pantry full of hamburger helper. Oh, and I was 20 but didn’t have a driver’s license so I rode my bike everywhere. I fondly remember my grandmother saving up her quarters for us to do laundry—it was her way of helping without over stepping our independence.
   1. Anyone else’s first place filled with second hand or thrifted items? There’s something about the history of second-hand items or hand-me-downs that fills a home with love. Honestly, they don’t make furniture like they used to and even now my first choice is somewhere like Treasure Mart to shop for furniture.

TRANSITION: In our text for today, Abraham & Sarah’s son has come of age and is looking to marry. As we examine how his community helps him get established, I invite you consider our own community support networks.

MAIN TEXT: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; ³⁴ The man said, “I am Abraham’s servant. ³⁵ The Lord has richly blessed my master, has made him a great man, and has given him flocks, cattle, silver, gold, men servants, women servants, camels, and donkeys. ³⁶ My master’s wife Sarah gave birth to a son for my master in her old age, and he’s given him everything he owns. ³⁷ My master made me give him my word: ‘Don’t choose a wife for my son from the Canaanite women, in whose land I’m living. ³⁸ No, instead, go to my father’s household and to my relatives and choose a wife for my son.’ ^…42 “Today I arrived at the spring, and I said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you wish to make the trip I’m taking successful, ⁴³ when I’m standing by the spring and the young woman who comes out to draw water and to whom I say, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jar,” ⁴⁴ and she responds to me, “Drink, and I will draw water for your camels too,” may she be the woman the Lord has selected for my master’s son.’ ⁴⁵ Before I finished saying this to myself, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder and went down to the spring to draw water. And I said to her, ‘Please give me something to drink.’ ⁴⁶ She immediately lowered her water jar and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels something to drink too.’ So I drank and she also gave water to the camels. ⁴⁷ Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son whom Milcah bore him.’ I put a ring in her nose and bracelets on her arms. ⁴⁸ I bowed and worshipped the Lord and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who led me in the right direction to choose the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son. ⁴⁹ Now if you’re loyal and faithful to my master, tell me. If not, tell me so I will know where I stand either way.” …⁵⁸ They called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” ⁵⁹ So they sent off their sister Rebekah, her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men. ⁶⁰ And they blessed Rebekah, saying to her, “May you, our sister, become thousands of ten thousand; may your children possess their enemies’ cities.” ⁶¹ Rebekah and her young women got up, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left. ⁶² Now Isaac had come from the region of^[b] Beer-lahai-roi and had settled in the arid southern plain. ⁶³ One evening, Isaac went out to inspect the pasture,^[c] and while staring he saw camels approaching. ⁶⁴ Rebekah stared at Isaac. She got down from the camel ⁶⁵ and said to the servant, “Who is this man walking through the pasture to meet us?” The servant said, “He’s my master.” So she took her headscarf and covered herself. ⁶⁶ The servant told Isaac everything that had happened. ⁶⁷ Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent. He received Rebekah as his wife and loved her. So Isaac found comfort after his mother’s death.

EXPLAINATION:

1. Abraham and Sarah’s son Isaac grows up to be a young man ready to find a wife, By this point Sarah has passed away.
2. Abraham sends his servant back to his father’s house in Haran/Ur to find a wife for his son. This isn’t a love match. This is an arranged marriage and the picture is painted in a light that says God picked Rebekah for Isaac.
   1. Rebekah is given the chance to have an opinion about who she will marry and she says yesà aside; could she freely say no?.
3. We learn from the narrator that Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah is a comfort to him in his mother’s death.

INTERPRETATION:

1. I find it fascinating that in particular this scripture says Isaac loved Rebekah – a woman he didn’t know until they were married. Their marriage is one that causes me to pause and reflect on the popular term “Biblical marriage”  Which are we trying to emulate?
   1. Biblical Marriage – marriages were economic and political alliances, the were not love matches 90% of the time. Our concept of marriage today does not fit the “biblical” image of marriage in the OT or even NT. Are all of these exceptions to “Biblical Marriage”?
      1. Abraham, Sarah (half siblings), Hagar, & Keturah? (In Gen 25 Abraham marries Keturah and has more kids through her: The children she bore him were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.6)
      1. Arranged marriages to cousins like Isaac?
      1. Jacob his 2 cousin-wives & 2 slaves?
      1. Tricked into marriage because of sex like Judah & Tamar?
      1. Solomon and his multiple wives and concubines (700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kgs 11:3). His wives were to have included the daughter of Pharaoh, as well as women of Moabite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite origins (1 Kgs 7:8; 11:1).)
2. Marriage: Are we all called to get married? Nope.
   1. Paul (asexual?) says it’s easier to serve the Gospel single but if you can’t keep your “urges” in check, get married. 1 Cor 7:8 (shakers inspiration?)
   1. Also, per the gospels, Jesus didn’t get married – that’s a tangent for another day.
   1. Two highly elevated men in the bible did not get married and it was seen as a good thing. …. So why do we treat unwed adults as incomplete humans?
3. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: Why have we created a trend of only celebrating the adulthood of married or college graduates?
   1. Celebrating Life stages: Different cultures have different trends/expectations on this point. Many non-white American families assume the child will live at home until they are married. Even in some, family homes are multi-generational. College vs Military/Work Force/Trades
      1. (I think many white-American homes are returning back to the multi-generational house structure because of the high cost of living.)

APPLICATION:

1. Being the Church—blessing out of our blessings – includes caring for people without expecting them to fit into a cookie cutter design. Many people are abandoned by parents for a wide variety of reasons, including differences in Ideology. Our job as the church is to out pour love at overwhelming rates (orphans, widows, vulnerable).
2. Let’s get really practical for a minute: What could be the equivalent of bridal or baby showers for people entering the workforce and moving out on their own? BACK TO INTRO: Pound Parties & family picnics

CONCLUSION: The church isn’t just a place to regurgitate scripture… but a place to live & thrive in scripture. Be the community, provide support, outpour blessings. Made to be community.

Message Title: The Purpose of Sacrifices
Theme: Made to Be
Season: Ordinary Time
Main Text: Genesis 22:1-14
Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:40-42
RCL Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14; Psalm 13; Jeremiah 28:5-9; Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42
Focus: God asks for a human sacrifice but stops it before it happens.
Function: To release the need to justify God and allow ourselves to feel the uncomfortable parts of faith and life.
Other Notes: INDEPENDENCE DAY

Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:40-42 ⁴⁰ “Those who receive you are also receiving me, and those who receive me are receiving the one who sent me. ⁴¹ Those who receive a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Those who receive a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² I assure you that everybody who gives even a cup of cold water to these little ones because they are my disciples will certainly be rewarded.”

            Do God’s intentions

INTRODUCTION:

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: Do you have any secrets from your childhood that your parents still don’t know?
   1. – meme about hurting your sibling “don’t tell mom”-
   1. My mom has said that if we successfully pulled the wool over her eyes to just leave it there and she can live in the naivety forever.
   1. My dad and the apple machine story

TRANSITION: Today, Abraham is keeping a secret from Isaac.

MAIN TEXT: Genesis 22:1-14 After these events, God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” Abraham answered, “I’m here.” ² God said, “Take your son, your only son whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him up as an entirely burned offering there on one of the mountains that I will show you.” ³ Abraham got up early in the morning, harnessed his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, together with his son Isaac. He split the wood for the entirely burned offering, set out, and went to the place God had described to him. ⁴ On the third day, Abraham looked up and saw the place at a distance. ⁵ Abraham said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will walk up there, worship, and then come back to you.” ⁶ Abraham took the wood for the entirely burned offering and laid it on his son Isaac. He took the fire and the knife in his hand, and the two of them walked on together. ⁷ Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father?” Abraham said, “I’m here, my son.” Isaac said, “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the entirely burned offering?” ⁸ Abraham said, “The lamb for the entirely burned offering? God will see to it,^[a] my son.” The two of them walked on together. ⁹ They arrived at the place God had described to him. Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He tied up his son Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. ¹¹ But the Lord’s messenger called out to Abraham from heaven, “Abraham? Abraham?” Abraham said, “I’m here.” ¹² The messenger said, “Don’t stretch out your hand against the young man, and don’t do anything to him. I now know that you revere God and didn’t hold back your son, your only son, from me.” ¹³ Abraham looked up and saw a single ram^[b] caught by its horns in the dense underbrush. Abraham went over, took the ram, and offered it as an entirely burned offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ Abraham named that place “the Lord sees.”^[c] That is the reason people today say, “On this mountain the Lord is seen.”

EXPLAINATION:

1. Context:
   1. In Genesis Isaac, the promised son, was born and in that same chapter Sarah convinced Abraham to dismiss Hagar and Ishmael.
      1. Abraham had to send off his oldest child. Before this happened, God promises Abraham he will provide for Ishmael. God also later promises Hagar as well.
   1. The assumption is some time has passed from Isaacs birth, Ishmael’s dismissal, and God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.
2. Abraham is now estranged from one of his sons and God has the audacity to ask Abraham to sacrifice the remaining son. You know- the one that Abraham waited 25 years for God to provide.
3. Different types of sacrifices: not all sacrifices required the burning up of the whole animal. Some sacrifices would be more like a barbecue for the priests. An entirely burned offering, however, left only ashes behind.
   1. This request from God is perplexing because in Deuteronomy and Jeremiah human sacrifice is condemned.
   1. How is this a genuine act of worship if it is eventually condemned? Is this really even an option???

INTERPRETATION:

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: Do you have a problem with God asking Abraham to kill his son to prove his faithfulness?
   1. *Smite joke*
   1. Not history but a foundation
   1. I have confidence that God still loves us when we ask questions, have doubts, or push back on God’s plans or actions.
   1. Rabbinic traditions: (writings like commentaries on the scriptures)
      1. Genesis Rabbah is a religious text from Judaism’s classical period, probably written between 300 and 500 CE with some later additions. It is a midrash comprising a collection of ancient rabbinical homiletical interpretations of the Book of Genesis.
   1. Genesis Rabbah – has explanations about the Binding of Isaac that include a Job-like narrative between God and Satan.
      1. https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/8217/jewish/Chapter-22.htm
2. To follow Christ, to be who God made us to be, is to wrestle with the story of God and our role in the story.

APPLICATION:

1. Life creates uncomfortable, painful, and even traumatic experiences. It is a mistake to put a band-aid on those events with the phrase “God has a plan.”
   1. trust test à left homeland, left lot, released Ishmael…. Hasn’t he proved that enough?
   1. We create false statements about God as we make those claims.
      1. Justifying the binding of Isaac by saying that God “tested” Abraham’s faithfulness by asking him to do something immoral…..
         1. So, faithfulness to God could be demonstrated by something he forbids in other passages?
      1. We’ve talked before about the problem of saying “God needed an angel, that’s why your loved one died” – so God is a needy narcissist who uses humans as play things for his own amusement?
   1. Abraham pushed back on God’s plans when they made him uncomfortable with Lot & Sodom.
      1. Moses did too – I’m a poor speaker
      1. Mary and Martha did too- If you would have been here my brother wouldn’t have died!
      1. Jesus did too – take this cup from me
2. I invite you to stop justifying God and wrestle with the uncomfortable stories.
   1. I don’t have an explanation for the Binding of Isaac.
   1. It is an uncomfortable story.
   1. While I have peace because I believe in God’s character, I still struggle with this story.

CONCLUSION: You are allowed to have questions and still be part of God’s family. We don’t have to make sense of sacrifices.Israel was made to wrestle with God—our calling can include struggle.

1. Admit your queasiness.
2. Engage your empathy.
3. Allow uncertainty.

COMMUNION:  Join the wrestling team. We come to the table not because we understand it all. We come to the table not because we’re 100% cool with everything in scripture. We come to the table because of our willingness to wrestle with these words and pursue God’s truth,

Message Title: Sticking to the Promised Plan
Theme: Made to Be
Season: Ordinary Time
Main Text: Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7); Isaac Promised
Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:35-10:8 Jesus’ compassion & Disciples’ ministry
RCL Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7); Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; Exodus 19:2-8a; Psalm 100; Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:8, (9-23)
Focus: God promises Abraham a son named Isaac through Sarah.
Function:  To not decide the character of God by the action of humans.
Other Notes: FATHER’S DAY

Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:35-10:8, (9-23) Jesus’ compassion & Disciples’ ministry
35 Jesus traveled among all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, announcing the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. 36 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers. 38 Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.” He called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to throw them out and to heal every disease and every sickness. 2 Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, who is called Peter; and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee; and John his brother; 3 Philip; and Bartholomew; Thomas; and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean; and Judas, who betrayed Jesus. 5 Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, “Don’t go among the Gentiles or into a Samaritan city. 6 Go instead to the lost sheep, the people of Israel. 7 As you go, make this announcement: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, and throw out demons. You received without having to pay. Therefore, give without demanding payment.

INTRODUCTION:

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: what role did you play in group projects in school? The leader, the worker bee, the freeloader?
   1. What were your general thoughts about doing group projects?
2. 8^th grade group project: Abby & the Japanese Internment camp project – I was clueless about the topic until Abby brought it up. Looking back now, I only vaguely remember my efforts in the project. Perhaps, because I was so overwhelmed about this revelation that I didn’t really know how to help. So thank you to Abby all those years ago for carrying us in that project!

TRANSITION: Today is our next installment of the Made to Be series; They had gone off script. We are in Genesis 18. God takes time to get Abram & Sarai, now Abraham and Sarah, back on the group project plans.

Reminder, we’re looking at this book not as a fact-finding mission but as a foundation of our identity.

Main Text: Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7); Isaac Promised– The Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he sat at the entrance of his tent in the day’s heat. ² He looked up and suddenly saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from his tent entrance to greet them and bowed deeply. ³ He said, “Sirs, if you would be so kind, don’t just pass by your servant. ⁴ Let a little water be brought so you may wash your feet and refresh yourselves under the tree. ⁵ Let me offer you a little bread so you will feel stronger, and after that you may leave your servant and go on your way—since you have visited your servant.” They responded, “Fine. Do just as you have said.” ⁶ So Abraham hurried to Sarah at his tent and said, “Hurry! Knead three seahs of the finest flour and make some baked goods!” ⁷ Abraham ran to the cattle, took a healthy young calf, and gave it to a young servant, who prepared it quickly. ⁸ Then Abraham took butter, milk, and the calf that had been prepared, put the food in front of them, and stood under the tree near them as they ate. ⁹ They said to him, “Where’s your wife Sarah?” And he said, “Right here in the tent.” ¹⁰ Then one of the men said, “I will definitely return to you about this time next year. Then your wife Sarah will have a son!” Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. ¹¹ Now Abraham and Sarah were both very old. Sarah was no longer menstruating. ¹² So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, I’m no longer able to have children and my husband’s old. ¹³ The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Me give birth? At my age?’ ¹⁴ Is anything too difficult for the Lord? When I return to you about this time next year, Sarah will have a son.” ¹⁵ Sarah lied and said, “I didn’t laugh,” because she was frightened. But he said, “No, you laughed.”

EXPLAINATION:

1. GENESIS CONTEXT: draw this out?
   1. Gen 12 God promised to make Abram a great nation and calls him to move to a new land at 75.
   1. Gen 15 Time passes, drama ensues for Lot, and God promised Abram would have a son.
   1. Gen 16 Abram and Sarai made a plan to fulfill God’s promise. Ishmael was born to Abram through the sexual exploitation of Hagar their servant at the age of 86.
      1. Hagar runs away and God speaks to her, blesses her and her son. Then Hagar names God. And returns to Abram and Sarai.
   1. Gen 17 God makes a covenant with Abram (100) that Sarah (90) would bare him a son named Isaac. God changed their names to Abraham and Sarah to commemorate this promise.
      1. God also blesses Ishmael (13) to be a great nation of 12 tribes.
      1. Abraham and Ishmael are circumcised as a sign of the promise.
2. TODAY: Gen 18
   1. “Lord visits” & “three men” – angelic messengers?
      1. Lavish hospitality of Abraham & Sarah – killing an animal, creating bread, butter, etc to provide for their guests.
      1. Promise of a son by next year
   1. Sarah laughs at the prospect of being old and having a son & lies about laughing.
   1. “Is there anything too difficult for the Lord?”
   1. Ch 18 drama ensures for lot at sodom
3. PS –Gen 21 – Isaac is born and Hagar & Ishmael are “evicted” but with a blessing

INTERPRETATION:

1. God has promised Abram a bunch of times that God would follow through on God’s plan.
   1. Abram and Sarai tried to fulfill “the plan” with their own design through the exploitation of another individual. Sure, Abram got a son out of the deal, but was that part of God’s plan?
   1. Did Abram not believe God? Did Abram grow impatient? I mean, it was 25+ years before the promise was finally fulfilled.
2. Let’s be honest: We’re not great at assessing God’s plans, especially when life gets hard.
   1. Someone dies “must have been God’s plan”
   1. Someone loses their job “God has a plan”
   1. Someone can’t get pregnant “not in God’s plan”
3. What kind of God do we worship if these are the plans God makes?
   1. (Making allowances for tragedies by blaming God)
   1. What kind of God did Abraham and Sarah think they were following that designed a plan for Abram to sexually exploit a person that was dependent on them for survival? How is that “blessed to be a blessing”? Was Hagar blessed by Abram & Sarai’s actions?
4. God reminded Abram MULTIPLE TIMES what the plan was. When Sarai and Abram went rogue, God reminded them that this wasn’t the plan. Again, they’re reminded and Sarah laughs: “Right God… a son…we’re still waiting 25 years later…”
   1. SCRIPTURE READING: In the middle of Jesus’ ministry, Jesus had compassion on the crowds and commissioned the disciples to join him in his work. They were not given authority to expand the Gospel at that time – stick to Israel. But eventually at the Great Commission their commission would include all the nations of the world.
      1. The disciples had to stick to Jesus’ plan.
5. God is experienced in humans not sticking to the plan & creation loves going rogue

APPLICATION: To not decide the character of God by the action of humans.

1. Father’s day – Plan vs Rogue
2. As we fulfill our role as commissioned humans (gen 1:28-29), Abraham’s children (gen 12:3), and Christ’s disciples (matt 28 & acts 1), we’re called to set our own ideas down to pick up God’s plan.
   1. The Southern Baptist Convention voted this week to expel churches from their denomination who ordain and endorse women in leadership. At the same time, they are not addressing the problems of sexual misconduct of male pastors in congregations. They are claiming exclusion and hierarchy & exploitation as part of God’s plan. They are living in Genesis 3, not Genesis 1. The Gospel is being limited because of their human made plans.

CONCLUSION: God’s plan doesn’t include exploitation or exclusion or favoritism. – Our commission as humans, as Abraham’s children, and Christ’s disciples will never include exploitation or exclusion. God’s plan from Genesis 1 to today was for all of creation. Get back to the plan

Note: I will be in Puerto Rico June 21-27^th for our denominational biennial as a delegate and a speaker.