Postscript: the recording of this sermon was outside and a very windy day. Therefore, the audio is awful and I won’t be posting a video.

Message Title: Popular Kids
Theme: Life Lessons from the Playground
Season: ORDINARY
Main Text: Matthew 21:23-32
Scripture Reading: Exodus 17:1-7
RCL Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16; Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32; Psalm 25:1-9; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32
Focus: Chief priests compromised their convictions to maintain the crowds.
Function: To choose the unpopular route of the kingdom of God, we must do what’s right, regardless of the crowd’s opinion.
Other Notes:

SCRIPTURE READING: Exodus 17:1-7 The whole Israelite community broke camp and set out from the Sin desert to continue their journey, as the Lord commanded. They set up their camp at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. ² The people argued with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why are you arguing with me? Why are you testing the Lord?”  ³ But the people were very thirsty for water there, and they complained to Moses, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” ⁴ So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do with this people? They are getting ready to stone me.” ⁵ The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of Israel’s elders with you. Take in your hand the shepherd’s rod that you used to strike the Nile River, and go.⁶ I’ll be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Hit the rock. Water will come out of it, and the people will be able to drink.” Moses did so while Israel’s elders watched.⁷ He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites argued with and tested the Lord, asking, “Is the Lord really with us or not?”

LORD’S PRAYER

PLAYGROUND: Popular kids

1. As we’ve discussed before, I was NOT cool in elementary school. But at least my mother thought I was cute. (PICTURE) I was a tender soul that loved people and wanted to make friends with everyone. Unfortunately, being friends with everyone wasn’t cool. Two girls in particular, we’ll call them Ashley and Stacy, loved to tease me and I desperately wanted to win them over as friends.
   1. Ashley and I lived only a few blocks away from each other. One day I was walking home from school with my little brother and Ashley and Stacy were walking on the opposite side of the road. They called my name! I was so excited for a chance to win them over!
   2. My brother cautioned me not to go talk to those girls, but I went anyway. As soon as I crossed the street these two girls pulled out aerosol cans of whipped cream and covered me with it while laughing.

TRANSITION: As a young girl, I was so desperate to fit in that I would go against my better judgement. I would follow the trend of the crowd if it meant a chance popular kids would include me.

In our text for today, we may not see a popularity contest, but we will see politics at work. Can these religious leaders be genuine or are they only trying to please the crowd?

SCRIPTURE & EXPAINATION: Matthew 21:23-32

Vs 23-27²³ When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and elders of the people came to him as he was teaching. They asked, “What kind of authority do you have for doing these things? Who gave you this authority?” ²⁴ Jesus replied, “I have a question for you. If you tell me the answer, I’ll tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things. ²⁵ Where did John get his authority to baptize? Did he get it from heaven or from humans?” They argued among themselves, “If we say ‘from heaven,’ he’ll say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ²⁶ But we can’t say ‘from humans’ because we’re afraid of the crowd, since everyone thinks John was a prophet.” ²⁷ Then they replied, “We don’t know.” Jesus also said to them, “Neither will I tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things.

1. Timing: This passage happened just after Palm Sunday & the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus was in the temple preaching to people. They gathered in Jerusalem for Passover.
2. Location: Temple
3. Audience: Chief Priests (and those in the Temple that Jesus was teaching)
   1. The Chief Priests were not only religious leaders by birth/heritage as Jews, but also leaders by their appointed authority by Rome. (WP)
   2. They were religious leaders but also politicians. Jews who bridged the gap between Jews and the Romans. Great idea, in theory, but were they able to keep their integrity while pressured by Rome?
4. Topic: Question of Authority
   1. The Chief Priests engage Jesus in a conversation to make Jesus blaspheme himself and ostracize his followers. The chief priests want to trap Jesus in a political statement about Jesus’ authority coming from God.
   2. Jesus responds to their political trap with a trap of his own. He asks a controversial question about John the Baptist’s authority.
      1. The Chief Priests don’t answer for fear of the crowds.
      2. Please note: To genuinely say “I don’t know” is always an option when questions are asked. HOWEVER, the Chief Priests had an opinion but didn’t want to say it for fear of losing authority over the crowd.
         1. They chose silence instead of risking repercussions.
            1. By not having an opinion, they gave an opinion.
            2. (Hamilton: Jefferson or Burr? Jefferson has opinions, Burr has none.)

Jesus responds to their “non-answer” with a short parable:

Vs 28-32 ²⁸ “What do you think? A man had two sons. Now he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ ²⁹ “‘No, I don’t want to,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went. ³⁰ “The father said the same thing to the other son, who replied, ‘Yes, sir.’ But he didn’t go. ³¹ “Which one of these two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first one.” Jesus said to them, “I assure you that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering God’s kingdom ahead of you. ³² For John came to you on the righteous road, and you didn’t believe him. But tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. Yet even after you saw this, you didn’t change your hearts and lives and you didn’t believe him.

1. Jesus’ response: Tax collectors & prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God before the chief priests.
   1. They are like the first son
   2. You are like the second son
2. Jesus is not saying God will exclude the Chief Priests, but eternity will be a lesson in humility.

INTERPRETATION: Chief Priests compromised their convictions to maintain the crowds. The Chief Priests were playing a political game of chess rather than living out the Torah.

1. CHURCHES HISTORICALLY: A large complaint of people who leave the church is the question of corrupt leadership in churches. It doesn’t take much digging on the internet to find reports of church leaders committing sexual, financial, or totalitarian abuse of members in their congregation.
   1. We may experience different perspectives here at Liberty, but the world does not look kindly on churches based on the broader spectrum of congregations.
2. COVID AND CHURCHES: Today, we see a struggle to make wise choices in relation to worship and COVID.
   1. I have had a conflicted heart throughout the COVID season. I feel like I am equally stuck in the question of authority as this parable. I feel like if I were to say wear masks or don’t wear masks. Meet in church building or meet outside or meet digitally. I either don’t have faith or am a fool. I either am liberal or conservative. I either think I am in control or am waiting for others to take control. It feels like a no-win situation.
3. CHURCH DEBATES: How do we as a church move forward to make wise decisions for us and our community?
   1. Our governor is recommending one plan of action. Our denomination has been in conversation about other plans of action. The world health organization (WHO) and the CDC are still offering other suggestions. Each news source is reporting things from their own political bend.
   2. Whose authority do we listen to? How do we get information that we can trust?
      1. Some scientists believe the virus is droplet size and therefore masks help.
         1. Some people trust this and find masks as a safe place.
         2. Other scientists say the virus is aerosol size and masks won’t help.
         3. Some individuals believe masks put us more at risk by increasing carbon dioxide levels.
         4. Other individuals believe the masks make us sicker by preventing us from being exposed to germs and building our own immune system.
         5. Some see masks as an attack on their freedom and individual rights with their body.
      2. Some believe COVID is only like the flu and we should just carry about our lives
      3. Some believe this is about demonstrating faith in God over fear
         1. Some pastors believe we show our faith in God by maintaining “normal” worship. Many of these churches believe those congregations that adjust their worship are living in fear, not faith.
         2. Some pastors believe we should use the brain God gave us an analyze information we receive to make a scientific approach to worship.
         3. Other pastors have not changed their worship setting, not out of faith but fear of church members ceasing to give. A pastor’s livelihood dependent on the giving of church members. A decrease in giving means financial crisis for churches and the risk of closing.
      4. Some believe this is a conspiracy during the election season to stir up fear & voters
      5. Some believe that this is only a problem for big cities or the elderly or the immune compromised. I’ve even heard people joke that this could kill off the stubborn people so we can finally see change in x, y, or z.

APPLICATION: To choose the unpopular route of the kingdom of God, we must do what’s right, regardless of the crowd’s opinion.

1. Fear is the major factor surrounding COVID.
2. Authority in our personal lives:
   1. Dr. Brené Brown is a social worker, professor, lecturer, author, and podcast host. She has spent years studying vulnerability, shame, and the pathway to a meaningful life.
      1. She found in her studies, our community or inner circle plays a significant role to the wellbeing of our life. To live a meaningful life, she concluded, we shouldn’t receive every piece of feedback that people give us as equally valued. This is because not every person cares about you or is hoping for your success. It is important to know who to trust.
      2. Dr. Brown suggests getting a small piece of paper, something to fit in your wallet, and write a short list of people you trust.
         1. Who are the people you will listen to when they give you constructive criticism?
         2. Who are the people you turn to when you need encouragement?
3. I want to start out by saying that I am not scared of COVID. I am not filled with fear, but I am cautious because I do not see a consistent or trustworthy message being shared.
   1. I want to be intentional and practical, but I do not root my actions in fear. I continue to wear masks, social distance, and limit my interactions outside of my home not out of fear but out of respect for the rest of my community.
   2. I will take a few sacrifices of my freedom if it means that I am minimizing the spread of this disease.
   3. I will wear a mask or take extra time to set up outside or risk the weather if it means I am not putting any of you at risk.
   4. We don’t know. There isn’t enough knowledge about this disease for any of us to have definitive statements about the right decision, but we can error on the side of caution for the love of this community.

CONCLUSION

1. BACK TO OPENING: COVID is one example connected to our scripture today. I want to live my life in a way that maintains my integrity as I follow Christ with words and actions. I do not want to be pulled in to a popularity contest. I want to root my actions in Christ, not fear.
   1. Being rooted in Christ doesn’t mean we stick our heads in the sand and ignore the world.
   2. Being rooted in Christ means that we filter information through the lens of scripture.
      1. Am I providing avenues for community development through these actions?
      2. Am I showing the love of God through my words?
      3. Am I bringing about God’s redemption?
2. We should root our words and actions in our beliefs, not in impressing or placating other individuals.
   1. How will you fight against the demands of the crowd?
   2. How will you do what is right even if it isn’t popular?
   3. What ways will you be Christ’s love in this world?

Benediction: May you be unpopular. May you be weird. May you be the ones doing what is right even when it isn’t cool.

Post Script: Once again, my sermon took an interesting turn compared to what I had prepared. What a fun conundrum on Sunday! I got to church and tried to print off my sermon, but the printer wasn’t working. I make an outline and used that in place of my manuscript notes.

Here’s the full service from Sunday: https://youtu.be/2EZwGVr_17o

The prepared manuscript

Message Title: That’s So Unfair!
Theme: Life Lessons from the Playground
Season: ORDINARY
Main Text: Matthew 20:1-16
Scripture Reading: Exodus 16:2-15
RCL Scripture: Exodus 16:2-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45; Jonah 3:10-4:11; Psalm 145:1-8; Philippians 1:21-30; Matthew 20:1-16
Focus: Jesus uses a parable to talk about the God’s unfair character.
Function:  To recognize the connection between unfairness & eternity and express gratitude for God’s unfair generosity.
Other Notes:

SCRIPTURE READING: Exodus 16:2-15 ² The whole Israelite community complained against Moses and Aaron in the desert. ³ The Israelites said to them, “Oh, how we wish that the Lord had just put us to death while we were still in the land of Egypt. There we could sit by the pots cooking meat and eat our fill of bread. Instead, you’ve brought us out into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death.” ⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “I’m going to make bread rain down from the sky for you. The people will go out each day and gather just enough for that day. In this way, I’ll test them to see whether or not they follow my Instruction. ⁵ On the sixth day, when they measure out what they have collected, it will be twice as much as they collected on other days.” ⁶ So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. ⁷ And in the morning you will see the Lord’s glorious presence, because your complaints against the Lord have been heard. Who are we? Why blame us?” ⁸ Moses continued, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning because the Lord heard the complaints you made against him. Who are we? Your complaints aren’t against us but against the Lord.” ⁹ Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole Israelite community, ‘Come near to the Lord, because he’s heard your complaints.’” ¹⁰ As Aaron spoke to the whole Israelite community, they turned to look toward the desert, and just then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared in the cloud. ¹¹ The Lord spoke to Moses, ¹² “I’ve heard the complaints of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat. And in the morning you will have your fill of bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” ¹³ In the evening a flock of quail flew down and covered the camp. And in the morning there was a layer of dew all around the camp. ¹⁴ When the layer of dew lifted, there on the desert surface were thin flakes, as thin as frost on the ground. ¹⁵ When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What^[b] is it?” They didn’t know what it was.

LORD’S PRAYER

PLAYGROUND: I want to start out our playground lessons by doing some word association.

This will be super awkward if you all stay silent. I’m going to say a word or phrase and I want you to respond with what comes to mind. We’ll start with a few examples.  Please know, there isn’t a “right” answer I’m looking for, I want to jog your memory.

1. Recess
2. Math races
3. Spelling Bee
4. Presidential Fitness Test (the PACER!, v-sit and reach, push ups, pull ups, crunches)
5. Finally: Group Projects

Can we all agree that Group Projects are actually the worst? I remember the genuine struggle of group projects in school being rooted in one person, always doing most of the work. That’s the real frustration, right? An unequal distribution of work load yet we all get the same grade?! Totally unfair! The unbalanced responsibility yet equal reward makes group projects the closest thing to hell on earth.

TRANSITION: Good thing God isn’t unfair.… Or is God? In our text for today we will see Jesus share a parable that depicts God’s character unfairly, BUT maybe that’s a good thing?

SCRIPTURE & EXPLANATION: Matthew 20:1-16

 “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. ² After he agreed with the workers to pay them a denarion, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ “Then he went out around nine in the morning and saw others standing around the marketplace doing nothing. ⁴ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I’ll pay you whatever is right.’ ⁵ And they went. “Again around noon and then at three in the afternoon, he did the same thing. ⁶ Around five in the afternoon he went and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why are you just standing around here doing nothing all day long?’ ⁷ “‘Because nobody has hired us,’ they replied. “He responded, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ ⁸ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and give them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and moving on finally to the first.’ ⁹ When those who were hired at five in the afternoon came, each one received a denarion. ¹⁰ Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarion. ¹¹ When they received it, they grumbled against the landowner,¹² ‘These who were hired last worked one hour, and they received the same pay as we did even though we had to work the whole day in the hot sun.’ ¹³ “But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I did you no wrong. Didn’t I agree to pay you a denarion? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and go. I want to give to this one who was hired last the same as I give to you. ¹⁵ Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you resentful because I’m generous?’ ¹⁶ So those who are last will be first. And those who are first will be last.”

1. “kingdom of heaven is like”—Jesus is using a parable to talk about the way things operate in God’s kingdom. This is to contrast the way things happen in the world.
2. Landowner & Workers
   1. Recruiting:
      1. Group 1, (Early? Maybe 6? Sunrise?) agreement on work & wages. 11 hrs work for 1 denarion
      2. Group 2 (9am) 9 hrs work
      3. Group 3 (12pm) 6 hrs work
      4. Group 4 (3pm) 3 hrs work
      5. Group 5 (5pm) worked 1 hour and received 1 denarion
   2. Payment: the workers are paid in reverse, starting with those who arrived last.
   3. Resentment: Group 1 mad that Group 5 got paid the same amount.
      1. Landowner replied: I have given you what I promised, why is it a problem that I’m generous?

INTERPRETATION & APPLICATION:

1. We’ve examined two separate weeks on forgiveness and conflict, now it seems we are hopping onto a new topic with Jesus’ parable about fairness & generosity. However, these two topics are more connected than we may realize.
2. Group projects: It really is unfair that the work is uneven in group projects. This inequity can build resentment in the ones carrying the weight of the grade.
3. Uneven reality of Eternity: I have an uncomfortable truth to share, God is not fair. God may not be fair but God is good. God’s goals are not to make everything fair but to bring about God’s plans for creation.
   1. We see in throughout scripture examples of God’s unfair and unending love.
      1. In Ecclesiastes we hear the teacher exclaim about God giving the same fate to both the good and the bad.
         1. Ecclesiastes 9: 1-2 So I considered all of this carefully, examining all of it: The righteous and the wise and their deeds are in God’s hand, along with both love and hate. People don’t know anything that’s ahead of them. ² Everything is the same for everyone. The same fate awaits the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad,^[a] the pure and the impure, those who sacrifice and those who don’t sacrifice. The good person is like the wrongdoer; the same holds for those who make solemn pledges and those who are afraid to swear.
      2. In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus tells a parable best known for the title The Prodigal Son. But that story includes two sons. The son that stays is bitter about the father’s joy and grace at his brother’s return. “I have been faithful and you haven’t even given me a fatted calf”
      3. Paul writes to the Ephesian church that God’s salvation is not about their own actions or merits, but about God’s grace.
         1. Ephesians 2:8-10 ⁸ You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith. This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. ⁹ It’s not something you did that you can be proud of.¹⁰ Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.
   2. God is unfair. God offers mercy, grace, and love to all creation. God does not offer eternity ONLY to the obedient and righteous.
      1. Yes, I know! We want to stop and shout: “That’s not fair!!!”
      2. I follow God’s rules!
      3. I show up to church.  (It’s cold and I’m here! I should get extra points for that, right?!)
      4. Sure, I don’t always think about God when I’m away from the church building or church family.
         1. I forget to demonstrate love to the clerk at the grocery store who is taking too long helping an elderly person with their self check out process to help me!!!
         2. I forget to be loving when a person is going exactly the speed limit and I’m running late for an appointment.
      5. But I’m the righteous! Surely God favors me more!
         1. Jesus even has a parable about two men praying in the temple (Luke 18:9-14). A tax collector and a pharisee go to pray, one brags of his righteousness and rule following while the other comes humble before God and expresses need for God. Jesus says the humble one was righteous, not the rule following pharisee.
   3. God’s kingdom isn’t fair but it is good.
4. Fairness & Goodness in the world:
   1. Day care “you get what you get and don’t throw a fit,”
      1. We had a common phrase in daycare for kids whining, “That’s unfair!”
         1. “ You get what you get and don’t throw a fit.”
      2. Since then, I have seen an amazing quote about fairness.
         1. “You don’t look in your neighbor’s bowl to see if YOU have enough. Look in your neighbor’s bowl to see if THEY have enough.”
   2. Can you imagine? Can you imagine a world where we didn’t feel like we had to compete? Picture a world:
      1. Compete for God’s favor? Where an unmarried couple’s pregnancy doesn’t result in threats about the sins of abortion or the sins of living together but about helping them prepare for the birth of their child. What grace!?!
      2. Compete for security? Where a response to a minimum wage worker’s struggles to pay bills isn’t “get another job” but “Why isn’t minimum wage a livable wage?! How can someone work for 35-40 hours a week and still not be able to pay their bills?”
      3. Compete for freedom? Where a response to Black lives Matter isn’t “All Lives Matter” but “Oh no!? You feel undervalued and oppressed, how can I help?”
   3. Imagine a world where we saw each other not as competition but as team mates?!
      1. Not you vs. me but us vs. the problem, striving towards the same goal

CONCLUSION:  

1. In the past few weeks, we’ve seen:
   1. Jesus’ conflict resolution flow chart was about community gathering and listening for God’s guidance. Our goal should be community development, not winning an argument.
   2. Jesus’ parable about the gift of forgiveness should lead to transformation. We can have forgiveness and accountability. God’s people are transformed by God’s grace.
2. Now we hear that God’s kingdom is unfair.
   1. God gives equal doses of eternity and love to all creation.
   2. God’s kingdom is about reunion and redemption.
   3. God’s kingdom is better than fairness.
   4. God’s kingdom is about God’s love.

The outline I used to preach off of:

Intro: Word association

1. recess
2. lunch
3. math test
4. gym
5. group projects

Group projects: One person does all the work

Scripture: Matt 20:1-16

1. All workers got – same income but did diff amounts of work
2. Mad b/c I’m generous?
   1. connect to series
3. Recap
   1. Jesus conflict resolution chart leads to healing communities and collectively listening for God’s guidance
   2. Jesus’ parable about forgiveness tells us forgiving doesn’t disqualify accountability.
4. NOW Jesus’ parable (seems) to be about generosity. God’s generous love.
5. Natural to be angry/jealous that God is taking all people in, no conditions attached
   1. remember: belief leads to a transformed life
6. We should be joyous at all reunions and redemption stories. (we talked about accountability last week)
7. It’s not a competition for a grade from God to get a better spot in eternity.
8. There is no scarcity in God’s economy.
   1. in God’s economy…
      1. Instead of responding “All Lives Matter” when we hear “BLM” we respond “Oh no! You don’t feel safe, free, or respected! How can I help so we’re all safe, free, respected?”
      2. Instead of responding “Get another job” when you hear a minimum wage worker can’t pay their bills after a 40 hour work week; you say, “the system is not working—we need minimum wage to be a livable wage.”
      3. Instead of judging women about considering abortions; be a church where an unmarried mother is loved and cared for without judgement.
9. In God’s kingdom, there is no competition for love or space in eternity.
   1. everyone gets enough.
10. During this election season — I call for Liberty to be a church spreading connection, reconciliation, and love; rather than division, judgement, and hatred.

Be a church sharing God’s economy without fear of getting enough.

9/13/2020 at Homecoming Outdoor Worship

Post Script: this sermon was not an easy one to write. I really struggled with this passage because of my own story of forgiveness.

Message Title: Forgive & Forget
Theme: Life Lessons from the Playground
Season: ORDINARY
Main Text: Matthew 18:21-35
Scripture Reading: Exodus 14:19-31
RCL Scripture: Exodus 14:19-31; Psalm 114 or Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21; Genesis 50:15-21; Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35
Focus: Jesus uses a parable to talk about forgiveness.
Function: To be guided by God’s wisdom through accountability, conflict, and resolutions.
Other Notes: COMMUNION & HOMECOMIING

HOMECOMING FUN:

1. Liberty History Quiz
   1. Liberty was organized as a church in what year? 1854
   2. What year was the log cabin church built? 1858
   3. What date did the church burn? March 1, 1994
   4. When did services start in the new(current) building? September 1995
   5. How many buildings has liberty had? (4)
      1. Met in houses
      2. Log cabin
      3. “Frame” church
      4. Brick building – the building that burned
      5. Current building
2. GIVE AWAY for LIBERTY T-SHIRTS

SCRIPTURE READING: Exodus 14:19-31 ¹⁹ God’s messenger, who had been in front of Israel’s camp, moved and went behind them. The column of cloud moved from the front and took its place behind them. ²⁰ It stood between Egypt’s camp and Israel’s camp. The cloud remained there, and when darkness fell it lit up the night. They didn’t come near each other all night. ²¹ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord pushed the sea back by a strong east wind all night, turning the sea into dry land. The waters were split into two. ²² The Israelites walked into the sea on dry ground. The waters formed a wall for them on their right hand and on their left. ²³ The Egyptians chased them and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and cavalry. ²⁴ As morning approached, the Lord looked down on the Egyptian camp from the column of lightning and cloud and threw the Egyptian camp into a panic. ²⁵ The Lord jammed their chariot wheels so that they wouldn’t turn easily. The Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites, because the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!” ²⁶ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the water comes back and covers the Egyptians, their chariots, and their cavalry.” ²⁷ So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. At daybreak, the sea returned to its normal depth. The Egyptians were driving toward it, and the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea.²⁸ The waters returned and covered the chariots and the cavalry, Pharaoh’s entire army that had followed them into the sea. Not one of them remained. ²⁹ The Israelites, however, walked on dry ground through the sea. The waters formed a wall for them on their right hand and on their left. ³⁰ The Lord rescued Israel from the Egyptians that day. Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. ³¹ Israel saw the amazing power of the Lord against the Egyptians. The people were in awe of the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

LORD’S PRAYER

PLAYGROUND LESSON: Not to throw a pity party for myself, but I was teased as a kid. Some of those memories still get to me when I look back. You would think a grown woman could move on. Especially because the nicknames kids used to tease each other can be weird. But the intention to hurt another would sting.

What frustrated me the most is when the teacher would make them say a disingenuous apology and I would HAVE to say ‘I forgive you.’ But I didn’t want to forgive them.

The teacher would then say, “Forgive and forget.” As if ‘sorry’ was all that was needed to repair the situation and move forward.

TRANSITION: Some offenses seem impossible to forget and equally hard to forgive whether it be playground bullies or tragic events like 9/11. Even 19 years later, we see the impact of 9/11 on our country. Admittedly, the concept of forgiveness is odd to focus on as we celebrated the anniversary of 9/11 Friday.

SCRIPTURE & EXPLAINATION: Matthew 18:21-35—Jesus uses a parable to talk about forgiveness – but will it make reconciliation easier?

Vs 21-22 ²¹Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times?” ²²Jesus said, “Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times.

1. Recap from last week
   1. Conflict/Resolution–about restoring the community and listening for God’s guidance in moments of conflict. (2 people, 3-5 people, a church listening to God)
   2. Us vs. the problem, not Us vs. them.
2. “how many times should I forgive”
   1. 70*7 = what you’re comfortable offering, you need to push even farther (PF)
   2. This isn’t a math problem but a statement of the grandness of chances to be offered

VS 23-35 ²³Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴When he began to settle accounts, they brought to him a servant who owed him ten thousand bags of gold. ²⁵Because the servant didn’t have enough to pay it back, the master ordered that he should be sold, along with his wife and children and everything he had, and that the proceeds should be used as payment. ²⁶But the servant fell down, kneeled before him, and said, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back.’ ²⁷The master had compassion on that servant, released him, and forgave the loan. ²⁸“When that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred coins. He grabbed him around the throat and said, ‘Pay me back what you owe me.’ ²⁹“Then his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back.’ ³⁰But he refused. Instead, he threw him into prison until he paid back his debt. ³¹“When his fellow servants saw what happened, they were deeply offended. They came and told their master all that happened. ³²His master called the first servant and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you appealed to me. ³³Shouldn’t you also have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴His master was furious and handed him over to the guard responsible for punishing prisoners, until he had paid the whole debt. ³⁵“My heavenly Father will also do the same to you if you don’t forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

1. Jesus shares a weird parable to highlight forgiveness
   1. Servant 1 owes the King more money than he could pay back in 165,000 years. (footnotes)
   2. Servant 2 owes Servant 1 about 2-5 years wages. (footnotes)
   3. The king forgives Servant 1’s unfathomable amount of debt
   4. Servant 1 refuses to forgive Servant 2’s debt (still a large debt but attainable to pay off)
2. Jesus provides a weird warning about forgiving “from your heart”
   1. God wants to see transformed hearts

INTERPRETATION:

1. The king’s mercy didn’t change the servant.
   1. Perhaps the first servant had not full processed the king’s mercy? Surely if he had, he wouldn’t act so harshly to his fellow servant. I mean, come on! The king forgave him a debt that would have taken him 165000 years to pay off. It was not possible to pay off that debt; that freedom should have liberated Servant 1 to liberate others. Right?
2. Salvation is this way. Are we really children of God if the truth of Christ hasn’t transformed our words and our actions?
   1. “I’ve always said, I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe there is a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward. How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate someone to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?” – Penn Jillette
3. STOP: God’s goals are bigger than giving people tickets to heaven! God’s goals are the end of evil & restoring creation to its fully divine goodness.
   1. We have a chance to spread hope instead of revenge!?!?
   2. Why are we stuck on the cycle of revenge?

APPLICATION: To be guided by God’s wisdom through accountability, conflict, and resolutions.

1. BUT Meriah, what about rapists, murderers, Nazis, and the people behind 9/11? What about the ones who have wronged me or my family? Will I ever see justice?
   1. Jonah, is my patron saint, for this very reason: Jonah 4: 1-3 “But Jonah thought this was utterly wrong, and he became angry. ² He prayed to the Lord, “Come on, Lord! Wasn’t this precisely my point when I was back in my own land? This is why I fled to Tarshish earlier! I know that you are a merciful and compassionate God, very patient, full of faithful love, and willing not to destroy. ³ At this point, Lord, you may as well take my life from me, because it would be better for me to die than to live.””
      1. Jonah wanted vengeance. God wanted redemption.
      2. Jonah did not let his own heart be shaped by what God wanted. I have to accept that God’s got better plans… but that doesn’t mean we can’t expect accountability for behavior.
2. Forgiveness & Accountability: I believe part of being changed by God is expecting or accepting the consequences of our wrong actions. As we are working towards living our lives transformed, we are bound to make the wrong choice, our job is to accept our consequences.
   1. Don’t assume you get off free in with the law simply because God loves you. This is as simple as actually following the speed limit and not trying to make excuses when you get pulled over.
      1. Instead of churches harboring abusers and saying God transformed them, allow them to show their transformation by owning up to their actions. This is rooted in a transformed life. God is not evil when we experience the consequences of our actions.
   2. BUT also, law could provide better rehabilitation services for the truly transformed convicts. Our actions do not define our intrinsic value as humans or how God feels about us.
      1. EXAMPLE: I worked in a daycare just before entering seminary. We had training regularly to be the best teachers possible. One session was on reframing our mind about discipline.
         1. Do we give a child the pathway to change their behavior if we call them bad?
         2. A child chooses to do something bad. A child is not intrinsically bad.
         3. A child can choose to do good.
   3. I HAVE to believe in my core that humans are intrinsically good. God made humanity and said it was very good. Humans are made in the image of God. We reflect God’s goodness. But we don’t always act that way. It’s time we embraced out inherit goodness. 

CONCLUSION

1. Playground: Forgive and forget is a great concept but the phrase over simplifies the complexity of pain and the path towards healing and restoration.
   1. Bullies should have to own up for their actions. Not offer a blanket apology.
   2. Forgiveness means we let go of the vengeance, not the accountability.
   3. We also have the responsibility to provide space in society for our ‘bullies’ to be transformed.
2. A Genuine apology: Rather than asking ‘bullies’ to provide blanket apologies, let’s help teach them why their actions were wrong. They can receive consequences but also give them a chance to learn and change.
   1. I’m sorry for…
   2. Next time I will…
   3. It’s wrong because…
   4. Is there anything I can do?

COMMUNION: As we enter into a time of communion, we recognize the differences in Christian practices around the Lord’s Supper. Confession is part of the holy meal in many traditions and I’d like us to practice it this morning.

This is a chance for us to consider our transforming lives and receive a fresh start.

Does everyone have their communion kit? Deacons can get you one.

**PAUSE**

Confessional: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Prayer_(ECUSA)/The_Holy_Eucharist/A_Penitential_Order:_Rite_Two=

Pastor: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart;  we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

INSTRUCTIONS

BLESS THE ELEMENTS

Post Script: This sermon unfolded differently than the manuscript I prepared. Check out this link to my YouTube channel if you would like to compare the two: Sermon on 9/6/2020

Message Title: Be the Bigger Person
Theme: Life Lessons from the Playground
Season: ORDINARY
Main Text: Matthew 18:15-20
Scripture Reading: Exodus 12:1-14
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 speaks about conflict resolution.
Function: To acknowledge our desire for restitution or reparations and God’s calling for us to ‘be the bigger person’ as God is ‘the bigger person.’
Determine which fights are worth fighting and which fights require us to be ‘the bigger person.’
Other Notes: COMMUNION

SCRIPTURE READING: Exodus 12:1-14 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, ² “This month will be the first month; it will be the first month of the year for you.^[a] 3 Tell the whole Israelite community: On the tenth day of this month they must take a lamb for each household, a lamb per house. ⁴ If a household is too small for a lamb, it should share one with a neighbor nearby. You should divide the lamb in proportion to the number of people who will be eating it. ⁵ Your lamb should be a flawless year-old male. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. ⁶ You should keep close watch over it until the fourteenth day of this month. At twilight on that day, the whole assembled Israelite community should slaughter their lambs. ⁷ They should take some of the blood and smear it on the two doorposts and on the beam over the door of the houses in which they are eating. ⁸ That same night they should eat the meat roasted over the fire. They should eat it along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. ⁹ Don’t eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over fire with its head, legs, and internal organs. ¹⁰ Don’t let any of it remain until morning, and burn any of it left over in the morning. ¹¹ This is how you should eat it. You should be dressed, with your sandals on your feet and your walking stick in your hand. You should eat the meal in a hurry. It is the Passover of the Lord. ¹² I’ll pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I’ll strike down every oldest child in the land of Egypt, both humans and animals. I’ll impose judgments on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. ¹³ The blood will be your sign on the houses where you live. Whenever I see the blood, I’ll pass over^[b] you. No plague will destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. ¹⁴ “This day will be a day of remembering for you. You will observe it as a festival to the Lord. You will observe it in every generation as a regulation for all time.

LORD’S PRAYER

SERIES INTRO: Life Lessons from the Playground

During the month of September, we will channel our inner child to remember the lessons we learned from the playground. As we dive into Jesus’ teachings from Matthew, we will also see parallels to our lives from 0 to 90.

PLAYGROUND LESSON: “Be the Bigger Person,”

I am the middle child and only girl. My older brother, Josh, is 2 years older than me. My younger brother, Micah, is 4 years younger. I have to say; we were perfect children. (I can say that because my parents aren’t here to contradict me.) On the rare occasion we fought, it was natural for us to escalate the argument until we were hurt or crying.

PHOTO OF US ADORABLE KIDS W/ GRANDPARENTS: I know, it’s hard to imagine these cute kids acting up, right?

• 

Consider your childhood. Do you remember the words of adults as they would break up a fight? Kids yelling ‘they started it!’

If they broke a fight up before bloodshed or tears, you could almost bet that an adult would tell you to “be the better person” or “take the high road” when you wanted to get even with the sibling who wronged you.

“Be the bigger person.” BLEGH! Who wants to do that? And what does it mean, anyway?!

“Be the bigger person” is an idiom I’ve heard adults tell kids when a conflict arises and retaliation is due. But what do we mean by this phrase? (AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION)

Urbandictionary.com defines “the bigger person,” this way: “The person that does the right thing despite not being advantageous to oneself. It is a type of moral high ground.”. [1]

TRANSITION: We’re supposed to know better and rise above even in those difficult moments when our anger is boiling. In our Text for today, we see Jesus break down how to resolve conflict without punching your sibling until they cry. Is this a solution for every debate and conflict, or is this solution conditional?

SCRIPTURE & EXPLAINATION: Matthew 18: 15-20

VS 15-17 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. ¹⁶But 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. ¹⁷But 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.

1. Disclaimer about abusers harbored by the church: Churches have taken this scripture and twisted it and used it to protect the wrong group of people. They’ve protected abusers and blamed the victims. But something deeper is going on here than a blanket solution for all conflict.
2. Outline for conflict resolution:
   1. Correct them alone
   2. Bring 2-3 witnesses to speak truth
   3. Bring them before the church
   4. “treat them as you would a Gentile and tax collector.”
3. If you don’t listen to my perspective, then you must be an outsider… a HEATHEN! Obviously, you’re damned if you don’t see my perspective as the right perspective.
   1. A common interpretation of this passage includes the conclusion that if the wrong-doer still doesn’t change their ways, the offended should abandon the offender or cast them out or “treat them like a heathen” as some translations state. Consider those heathens hopeless, they’ll never change.
      1. But that perspective doesn’t fit the God who gave us Jesus. That interpretation doesn’t fit the God who patiently walked with the people of Israel through their stubbornness, unfaithfulness, and indecision.
   2. Alternate interpretation: “Treating them like a Gentile and a tax collector” should mean someone that doesn’t know any better. Treating them like a heathen, means they learned how to live differently in their childhood and you need to find common ground.
      1. I would push this even farther into this thought. We recognize that Christianity is a diverse group of people who interpret scripture in different ways. My dream is a day when we can recognize the fights worth fighting and to let go of preference differences.

VS 18-20 ¹⁸I assure you that whatever you fasten on earth will be fastened in heaven. And whatever you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven. ¹⁹Again 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. ²⁰For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.”

1. Community matters. As we gather in community and listen for God’s guidance, we move in the ways God directs.
2. ‘In theory,’ if we are gathered in community, listening for God’s direction, and living it out, then our actions coincide with God’s will.
   1. Fasten & Loose- our ministry will be focused on what God calls us to.
   2. Agree & God will do it—our ministry will be equipped by God.
   3. Where two or three are gathered—We will be God’s representatives on this earth.

INTERPRETATION:

1. Jesus is teaching us about maintaining relationships with those to whom we disagree.
   1. Frequently, Jesus takes the laws of Moses or the cultural norms of the day and elevates the expected behavior of God’s children.
      1. No longer is restitution enough, as the Jewish laws outline.
      2. We’re looking to repairing the relationship and community damage.
2. This conflict resolution chart that Jesus introduces doesn’t match the systems Jews had in place.
   1. When you dive in to the laws in Exodus, Leviticus, or Deuteronomy (for some light reading) you will see a detailed list of what God requires providing restitutions for wrong doings. The Old Testament has an extensive list of scriptures about restitution.
      1. 2 types of restitution
         1. Making ourselves right with each other (Exodus 22)
         2. Making ourselves right with God
         3. Resource links[2] [3] [4]
      2.  “An eye for an eye” came from Leviticus with the concept of restoring the damage done. Pay back what you have wronged.
3. There has been a culture of restitution and righting your wrong doings for centuries. Jesus seems to shift the conversation about conflict deeper than expecting only restitution but towards a deeper resolution.
   1. God’s people aren’t called to make things even.
   2. God’s people are to demonstrate the very grace that God gives on us to others; they are to surpass the expectations of culture and repair relationships.
4. Back to Abuse: Unfortunately, Society knows churches can harbor abusers and sexual predators under the cover of Matthew 18. We’ve all heard those tragic stories in the news.
   1. Terrible Scenario: The abuser repented… they said sorry. They said they’ll stop. So, we can move on. It’s what Jesus would do….
      1. STOP! Jesus died on the cross. We do not have to hang victims on the same cross for the salvation of their abusers.
   2. You may develop questions about broadly applying this scripture:
      1. But how does Matthew 18 work in relation to abuse or sexual assault?
      2. What does Matthew 18 mean for the criminal justice system?
      3. What does Matthew 18 mean for capital punishment?
   3. I will not solve this riddle for you today. I have baggage attached to abuse and forgiveness. I encourage you to wrestle with this text and let God direct your heart.
      1. God will never use evil for good. No person is stuck in an abusive situation for God’s will.

APPLICATION: To acknowledge our desire for restitution or reparations and God’s calling for us to ‘be the bigger person’ as God is ‘the bigger person.’ To determine which fights are worth fighting and which fights require us to be ‘the bigger person.’

1. Setting aside the questions about abuse for another time. I’m willing to get together throughout the week to chat about these questions.
2. Jesus is changing the way arguments end. Jesus is raising the bar on expectations. No longer is it about being the bigger person and letting things go. It’s about rebuilding what we have torn down.
   1. Let’s consider if we are acting like God’s representatives. Are we exposing ourselves as God’s people with grace and mercy?
3. Social Media has stunted our ability to navigate tough conversations. Social media *seems* to help us make social connections, but it has destroyed our ability to connect face to face.
   1. My social media problem: I’m part of the problem. I get riled up, like anyone else, when I scroll through Facebook and see: A misinterpretation of scripture; Putting words in God’s mouth; False information being spread that perpetuates distress; or Assumptions about my demographic/generation
      1. I catch myself wanting to pull out my keyboard and attack the offender with skillfully chosen words as my weapon. ‘I’ll show you.’ That isn’t healthy! That isn’t the way a follower of Christ should behave.
      2. Conclusion? I’m getting rid of my personal Facebook and will only maintain a professional profile for use for church.
4. Learn to have conversations with someone you disagree with and don’t assume the worst.
   1. PHOTO OF US AS ADULTS: My brothers and I are all grown up. Aren’t we cute? We’ve learned how to navigate hard conversations or to recognize when something isn’t our business. I used to hate being the only girl and middle child. Now I love the family dynamics our birth order has brought out.
   2. How do you handle tough conversations within your family? What about friends?
   3. When was the last time you agreed to disagree with someone and walked away still friends?

CONCLUSION: I cannot guarantee that Liberty will ever be completely unified in politics, theology or favorite worship songs. I can guarantee that we are better together in our diversity of thought. We are closer to understanding God when we can bridge our mental divides.

If you have difficulty or disagreements with another person, remember the lessons of our childhood. Be the bigger person, don’t retaliate. Don’t escalate. Repair. Use wisdom to not enable habitual abuse.

COMMUNION: We take communion together today and remember our diverse minds.Communion is about our salvation in Christ and it is about the commitment we make to a group of people. We won’t give up growing together.

---

[1] https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bigger%20person

[2] https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Restitution

[3] https://founders.org/2019/05/15/5-principles-of-biblical-restitution/

[4] https://ibw21.org/commentary/the-torah-case-for-reparations/

Outside Worship at Liberty Baptist Church in Tipton, IN on 8/30/2020

Message Title: Whose Redemption Story Is this?
Theme: Redeemer of Stories
Season: ORDINARY
Main Text: Exodus 3:1-15;
Scripture Reading: Romans 12:9-21
RCL Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b; Jeremiah 15:15-21; Psalm 26:1-8; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28
Focus: God invites Moses to be part of the redemption of Israel.
Function: To accept the invitation of Redemption bringers, but let go of the desire to define the route.
Other Notes:

SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 12:9-21 ⁹ Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. ¹⁰ Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. ¹¹ Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! ¹² Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home. ¹⁴ Bless people who harass you—bless and don’t curse them. ¹⁵ Be happy with those who are happy, and cry with those who are crying. ¹⁶ Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Instead, associate with people who have no status. Don’t think that you’re so smart. ¹⁷ Don’t pay back anyone for their evil actions with evil actions, but show respect for what everyone else believes is good.¹⁸ If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people. ¹⁹ Don’t try to get revenge for yourselves, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. It is written, Revenge belongs to me; I will pay it back, says the Lord.^[a]20 Instead, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. By doing this, you will pile burning coals of fire upon his head.^[b] 21 Don’t be defeated by evil, but defeat evil with good.

LORD’S PRAYER

BOOK INTRO: Could I really do a book series without talking about Harry Potter? If you have lived under a rock for the last 20+ years, you may not have heard about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The world was first introduced to this world in 1997 with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

A young boy is orphaned at infancy and raised by his maternal aunt & uncle. When he turns 11, he learns that he is a wizard when he receives an acceptance letter to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. This revelation, in retrospect, explains some odd situations of his childhood. His aunt and uncle had kept this detail a secret as they vehemently opposed anything odd and especially hated magic.

A whole unknown world opens up to Harry as he learns about magic, how his parents really died, and the struggle of good and evil magical forces. One particular cultural lesson involved House Elves.

House-elves do not look like the elves of Lord of the Rings. They are small magical creatures typically found enslaved to wealthy magical families and frequently mistreated. Dobby was Harry’s first house-elf interaction. It wasn’t until later that Harry learned Dobby’s owners were the Malfoys, who abused him terribly. Harry helped to trick Lucious Malfoy into freeing Dobby.

Now Dobby was a unique elf; he had disobeyed orders and also enjoyed being set free. This was not the norm for house-elves; they were loyal, obedient, and lovers of hard work. If you haven’t read the books, you would never know the house-elf of Bartemous Crouch Sr, Winky.

Winky was loyal to the Crouchs and served them no matter the scary, dangerous, or even illegal task they demanded of her. Winky gets fired when she is caught at the scene of a crime (because of orders by her master) with a piece of evidence connected to the crime.

She goes into a drunken stupor, disappointed in herself and feeling as though she disgraced her house-elf family tree. Dobby helps Winky get a job at Hogwarts, where Hermione has taken up the unwanted task of demanding justice for the house-elves. She establishes a club called: Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. House-Elves maintained Hogwarts behind the scenes. Hermione took up knitting to trick the elves into freedom. 

Ironically enough, most of the house-elves avoided Hermione and her work because they enjoyed their job at Hogwarts and saw Dobby as odd and the condition of Winky as tragic. They did not want freedom.

No matter what, Hermione did not want to listen to the words of House Elves or others connected to house elves. She demanded justice and justice would only be served her way. (Although, I regularly agreed with Hermione that the House-elves didn’t even know how much better wizards could treat them.)

TRANSITION: In our text for today we see Adult Moses, no longer a baby in a basket, in a conversation with God about justice for Israel. God wants to invite Moses to take part in providing justice for Israel. Let’s see how the conversation goes….

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 3:1-15

VS 1-4 Moses was taking care of the flock for his father-in-law Jethro,^[a] Midian’s priest. He led his flock out to the edge of the desert, and he came to God’s mountain called Horeb. ² The Lord’s messenger appeared to him in a flame of fire in the middle of a bush. Moses saw that the bush was in flames, but it didn’t burn up. ³ Then Moses said to himself, Let me check out this amazing sight and find out why the bush isn’t burning up. ⁴ When the Lord saw that he was coming to look, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” Moses said, “I’m here.”

1. When we last saw Moses, he was weaned from his mother and placed in Pharaoh’s household. Much time has passed since Moses’ infancy.
   1. Pre-Script: Moses ran away from his problems in Egypt
      1. Killed an Egyptian guard in defense of a Hebrew
      1. Ran away to Midian for fear of consequences
      1. Got married to a Midian woman, Zipporah
      1. Tended his father-in-law’s flock
2. Moses had not only run away from his consequences; he had run away from his people and his God. God was not on Moses’ radar. Nevertheless, God got Moses’ attention with a natural phenomenon.

VS 5-10 ⁵ Then the Lord said, “Don’t come any closer! Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground.” ⁶ He continued, “I am the God of your father, Abraham’s God, Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. ⁷ Then the Lord said, “I’ve clearly seen my people oppressed in Egypt. I’ve heard their cry of injustice because of their slave masters. I know about their pain. ⁸ I’ve come down to rescue them from the Egyptians in order to take them out of that land and bring them to a good and broad land, a land that’s full of milk and honey, a place where the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites all live. ⁹ Now the Israelites’ cries of injustice have reached me. I’ve seen just how much the Egyptians have oppressed them. ¹⁰ So get going. I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”

1. God saw the pain of his people and wanted it stopped!
   1. My people have suffered, and it isn’t ok.
   1. Repeat: My people have suffered in Egypt. It’s time for a change.
   1. I’m sending you, Moses, get going!

What does Moses say back… to the burning bush?

VS 11-15 ¹¹ But Moses said to God, “Who am I to go to Pharaoh and to bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” ¹² God said, “I’ll be with you. And this will show you that I’m the one who sent you. After you bring the people out of Egypt, you will come back here and worship God on this mountain.” ¹³ But Moses said to God, “If I now come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they are going to ask me, ‘What’s this God’s name?’ What am I supposed to say to them?” ¹⁴ God said to Moses, “I Am Who I Am.^[b] So say to the Israelites, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’” ¹⁵ God continued, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, Abraham’s God, Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever; this is how all generations will remember me.

1. That’s right, Moses talks back to the burning bush. Moses doesn’t respond to the suffering of his people or how he was spared and lived in Pharaoh’s house in safety. Moses only responds to the responsibility expected of him. God you want me to do what?! You want me to put myself at risk?
   1. God assures Moses that he’ll be with him.
2. But once again Moses protests: Ummm… who are you?!?
   1. Moses to God: So, you say you’ll be with me… cool, cool but …umm… which God should I tell them is helping them out?
   1. God gives Moses his name: call me Yahweh (I Am Who I Am or I Am)
      1. God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
      1. Know my name!

EXPLANATION & INTERPRETATION:

1. God reached out to Moses while Moses was tending the flock. God got Moses’ attention with the burning bush. Through this conversation God invites Moses to be part of the rescue, restoration, & redemption of Israel. God revealed God’s self to Moses. God even presented Moses with God’s name.
   1. AND STILL MOSES WAS HESITANT.
   1. Post-Script: Moses is hesitant for many reasons
      1. I don’t know who you are & Israel doesn’t know who you are
         1. My name is Yahweh
      1. Israel won’t listen to me & Pharaoh won’t listen to me.
         1. I’ll give you the words & powers to prove I’m with you.
      1. Also, I can’t speak well.
         1. Fine, take your brother.

APPLICATION: To accept the invitation of Redemption bringers, but let go of the desire to define the route.

1. Book Redemption: We learn in the epilogue of the Harry Potter series that Hermione finishes her education and works for the Ministry of Magic. She was so upset by the welfare of House Elves that she pursued a career in the Ministry of Magic to change things working within the system.
   1. If you keep diving into the lore of Harry Potter, Hermione eventually becomes the Minister of Magic (equivalent to the American President or British Prime Minister)
   1. Hermione had to adjust her goals to bring about change.
2. If I’m honest, I can get stuck somewhere between Moses & Hermione for justice. Either I am fearful for my safety or I can want to set the terms of redemption.
   1. God’s redemption comes on God’s timing and in God’s way. We don’t get to choose WHO gets redeemed; that is under God’s judgement.
      1. ME & BLM: I can feel that way about the Black Lives Matter movement. Yes, I recognize healing needs to happen. We cannot deny there is pain surrounding racism. But I catch myself asking: Can you do it my way? Can I define what is enough healing or reparation?
   1. God’s got the itinerary; We don’t get to choose HOW others gets redeemed; that is under God’s judgement. God may ask you to give something up that isn’t a problem for someone else. We can’t play the redemption comparison game. The outline of our little redemption stories will not be the same.
      1. We need to let go of defining the outline of everyone’s little redemption story. ‘But! But! He still cusses! She still drinks! I don’t approve of their sexual practices! They didn’t follow the police officer’s commands!’
         1. We are all a work in progress. It is not our job to compare our progress and determine a ‘winner.’
      1. Let’s take a non-religious example for a moment: Diabetics & Carbs. Yes, we’re all supposed to be reasonable with our carb intake, but diabetics must intentionally watch their carb consumption. 
   1. My job is to follow God faithfully, not define the route. My job is to adjust my own expectations and understanding through God’s guidance. My role is to tell each person God loves them no matter where they are in the redemption process.
      1. ME & BLM: I need to listen to the pains of the BLM movement without the need to define their route to healing or offer Band-Aids for the festering infection of racism. I need to continue to look for ways that I can do better when I know better.
         1. My role is to ask myself:
            1. Am I listening?
            1. Am I learning?
            1. What ways can I adjust?
      1. What ways is God asking you to listen, learn, and adjust?

CONCLUSION: God invited Moses to be part of the justice and redemption of Israel. Moses was hesitant. We, like Moses, have received an invitation. The invitation is there, but it’s God’s itinerary, not ours.

Message Title: Unconventional Redemption
Theme: Redeemer of Stories
Season: ORDINARY
Main Text: Exodus 1:8-2:10;
Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-8;
RCL Scripture: Exodus 1:8-2:10; Psalm 124; Isaiah 51:1-6; Psalm 138; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20
Focus: God uses women in Israel’s exodus & redemption story.
Function:  To find yourself and others in the Big Redemption story and see your little redemption coinciding with The Big Redemption.
Other Notes:

SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 12:1-8 So, brothers and sisters, because of God’s mercies, I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service. ² Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature. ³ Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead, be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you. ⁴ We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. ⁵ In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. ⁶ We have different gifts that are consistent with God’s grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy in proportion to your faith. ⁷ If your gift is service, devote yourself to serving. If your gift is teaching, devote yourself to teaching.⁸ If your gift is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. The leader should lead with passion. The one showing mercy should be cheerful.

LORD’S PRAYER

BOOK INTRO: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

1. We finally have a “combo-breaker” in our books in the Redeemer of Stories series. I read today’s book before I saw the movie! Aren’t you proud of me? Don’t be. I need to read more.
2. Book details: In 1962, Madeleine L’Engle released the first book in a growing series titled A Wrinkle in Time. This book is a balance of the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres and debated to be part of Christian fiction.
3. Synopsis: (Nice video summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMacFsaOzuk)
   1. The book opens by introducing the reader to the Murry family; which includes a husband and wife scientist team, their daughter Margaret who is always called Meg, twin sons Sandy & Dennis, and youngest son Charles Wallace.
   2. Mr. Murray has gone missing and has been missing for a long time. Many in the community assume he left his family, but the Murry’s know better. Their father is mysteriously missing, but Sandy and Dennis do not seem to miss a beat. However, this tragedy significantly affects Meg and Charles Wallace. Meg struggles with her emotions and continues to have problems in school. Eventually, we meet a classmate of Meg’s, Calvin O’Keefe, who befriends Meg when she doesn’t even like herself. Charles Wallace, though a prodigy at home, struggles with casual interactions.
   3. Charles Wallace meets a group of mysterious old women with odd names: Mrs. Whatist, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which. As we get to know these characters, they seem to be angels or aliens or some kind of celestial beings with capabilities unlike humans. These mysterious women, along with Calvin, help Meg and Charles Wallace on their journey to find their father.
4. Morning Focus: Meg doesn’t like herself. Meg doubts her intellect and capabilities and is impatient. She gets angry and defensive easily and takes time to calm down. Through the journey to find Mr. Murray, both Meg and Charles Wallace, face challenges that highlight the hardships they’ve encountered in their father’s absence.

TRANSITION: Meg doesn’t feel qualified to help in the rescue mission of Mr. Murry, except as protection for Charles Wallace. She doubts her place in the story. In our text for today, we will hear the beginning of a very familiar story but with a new focus. My hope is you hear your place in this story as we consider new vantage points.

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 1:8-2:10

Summary: vs 8-14

1. Joseph and his brothers have passed away
2. The Pharaoh that is now in power, never knew Joseph and now fears the Hebrews/Israelites.
3. Pharaoh enslaves the Hebrews.
4. The Hebrews now make mortar, bricks, and work the field.
5. But still their numbers grew and Pharaoh was scared of an uprising.

1:15-2:10 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.” 2 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.”

EXPLANATION & INTERPRETATION: God uses women in Israel’s exodus & redemption story.

1. Yes, this is the story of the birth of Moses. And frequently, we skim past the opening chapter to focus on the baby in a basket. But there are some significant stories we miss when we jump into the river before considering how the baby got there.
2. 5 Women in Moses’ story: In this passage we learn about five women paramount to Moses becoming the man who would lead the Hebrews out of Egypt. Moses would have never gotten into the basket in the river or raised in Pharaoh’s house if it wasn’t for these five women.
   1. SAY THEIR NAMES:
      1. Two Midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, who defied Pharaoh’s orders and allowed Hebrew baby boys to live.
      2. A Mother, Jochebed, who gave birth to a son and hid him from the officials and eventually placed him in a basket in the river for his safety.
      3. A Sister, Miriam, who protected her baby brother and encouraged Pharaoh’s daughter to adopt him. She was clever enough to get her own mother to raise Moses ‘for’ Pharaoh’s Daughter.
      4. Pharaoh’s Daughter– Though we never learn her name, this Unnamed Woman, adopts a baby, in defiance of her father’s decree. She raises a Hebrew in Pharaoh’s household but waits until he is weaned thus allowing his beginning years to be with his biological family.

APPLICATION: To find yourself and others in the Big Redemption story and see your redemption coinciding with The Big Redemption.

1. These five women were part of God’s redemption story for Israel and tantamount to the Exodus story. Yet we don’t tell their stories in Sunday School. They don’t have their own VeggieTales episode. And churches build a theology that invalidates their role in the Redemption of Israel or the Church as a whole.
2. Redemption in the book: In A Wrinkle in Time we see Meg underestimated herself because of her flaws and overestimate Charles Wallace because of his talents. Meg doesn’t even consider that her flaws could become talents with practice and determination.
   1. It isn’t until they send the kids into a task without Mrs Who, Which, and Whatsit that Meg’s thoughts are challenged. Mrs. Whatsit gives each kid a gift to help them in the task at hand. To Meg, she gives her faults. This forces Meg forced to consider how her faults could help her.
3. Our Little Redemption: I have said this before but I believe that hurt people hurt people. I believe the world is full of hurt people that can perpetuate unhealthy practices and teachings because of pain. Specifically, I believe our own insecurities can frequently lead to discrediting others as we discredit ourselves. We make this weird competition game, and God’s gospel gets muddled with jealousy.
   1. Ubuntu: My dream is we take part in changing the competition. My dream would be adapting a philosophy of Ubuntu. There has been a few different versions floating around on Facebook, but the general concept is of unity.
      1. Ubuntu[1]: “I am what I am because of who we all are.” (From a definition offered by Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee.)
         1. “A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, based from a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.” — Archbishop Desmond Tutu
         2. “A traveller through a country would stop at a village and he didn’t have to ask for food or for water. Once he stops, the people give him food and attend him. That is one aspect of Ubuntu, but it will have various aspects. Ubuntu does not mean that people should not address themselves. The question therefore is: Are you going to do so in order to enable the community around you to be able to improve?” Nelson Mandela
      2. This philosophy removes the concept of competing for value. We can care for each other because we recognize our connectedness. We can fill our role in this world because everyone is filling a custom-made role. No one is competing for space to exist.
   2. Each a role, unique from others
      1. Humans don’t have to compete for God’s favor or love.
      2. Humans don’t have to compete for redemption.
      3. Humans don’t have to compete for a role in God’s redemption story.  
4. The Big Redemption:
   1. For centuries, the church has been perpetuating damaging teachings by underestimating and undervaluing the role of women in sharing & living out the Gospel message. It wasn’t until I was a seminarian, that I realized that not every Christian church teaches the same perspective on women.
   2. Ultimately, the teachings boil down to two perspectives:
      1. Complementarians: God views men and women as separate, distinct, with different roles, though equally valued and loved. Men lead, women serve.
      2. Egalitarians: God values all humans equally and equips individuals based on their talents and gifting, not based on their gender. Anyone can lead or serve.
   3. You can find both perspectives in scripture. BUT when you consider that both arguments are present, it rather disassembles the complementarian perspective.

CONCLUSION:

1. God uses all of us. God uniquely equips all of us.
   1. It doesn’t have to be a competition. It could be a collaboration. We work together, in the spirit of Ubuntu, as part of God’s Big Redemption story.
   2. We all may be in the midst of our little redemption stories but are still able to participate in the bigger picture. You don’t have to have God all figured out to be loved by God or to be part of the Big Redemption story.
2. Benediction:
   1. Validate our own redemption story
   2. Validate other’s redemption story
   3. Take part in God’s redemption story and recognize it isn’t a competition of favor, reward, or holiness.  

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_philosophy#:~:text=with%20%22unhu%22.-,South%20Africa,of%20who%20we%20all%20are.%22&text=Nelson%20Mandela%20explained%20Ubuntu%20as,him%20food%20and%20attend%20him.

Liberty Baptist on August 16th, 2020

Message Title: Sugar Coated Plans
Theme: Redeemer of Stories
Season: ORDINARY
Main Text: Genesis 45:1-15;
Scripture Reading: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32;
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: God redeems the story of 12 brothers.
Function: To not blame or attribute God for our pains, to take ownership for our actions, and to make a change.
Other Notes:

SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; So I ask you, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! I’m an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. ² God hasn’t rejected his people, whom he knew in advance. Or don’t you know what the scripture says in the case of Elijah, when he pleads with God against Israel?…  ²⁹ God’s gifts and calling can’t be taken back. ³⁰ Once you were disobedient to God, but now you have mercy because they were disobedient. ³¹ In the same way, they have also been disobedient because of the mercy that you received, so now they can receive mercy too. ³² God has locked up all people in disobedience, in order to have mercy on all of them.

LORD’S PRAYER

BOOK STORY: The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

My first exposure to Suzanne Collins’ work was through children’s shows like Little Bear or adolescent shows like Clarissa Explains It All. In 2008, Suzanne Collins released the first book in a series different from the works I had been exposed to previously.

Premise: “The Hunger Games universe is a dystopia set in Panem, a North American country consisting of the wealthy Capitol and 13 districts in varying states of poverty. Every year, children from the first 12 districts are selected via lottery to participate in a compulsory televised battle royale death match called The Hunger Games.” (wiki)

1. Post destruction of America, a new nation was established called Panem.
   1. 12 districts and one Capitol make up Panem. Each of the 12 districts contribute to the economy: power, coal, textiles, fishing, farming, etc. The Capitol is the law.
2. A rebellion happened and the Capitol won. As punishment for the rebellion, the Capitol hosts a yearly pageant to the death called the Hunger Games where each district offers 2 kids to take part. The winning child gets bathed in riches.
3. The Capitol claims this is a reminder of the pain that rebellion and war bring and keeps the country united.

TRANSITION: President Snow, like the presidents before him, sugar coated their violence. They used flowery rhetoric to ensure their agenda. In our text for today, we see Joseph trying to sniff out the motivation of his brothers.

BIBLE: 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. ²He wept so loudly that the Egyptians and Pharaoh’s household heard him. ³Joseph said to his brothers, “I’m Joseph! Is my father really still alive?” His brothers couldn’t respond because they were terrified before him. ⁴Joseph 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. ⁵Now, 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. ⁶We’ve already had two years of famine in the land, and there are five years left without planting or harvesting. ⁷God sent me before you to make sure you’d survive and to rescue your lives in this amazing way. ⁸You 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. ¹⁰You 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. ¹¹I will support you there, so you, your household, and everyone with you won’t starve, since the famine will still last five years.’ ¹²You and my brother Benjamin have seen with your own eyes that I’m speaking to you. ¹³Tell my father about my power in Egypt and about everything you’ve seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” ¹⁴He threw his arms around his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder.¹⁵He kissed all of his brothers and wept, embracing them. After that, his brothers were finally able to talk to him.

1. I want to recap the story of Joseph and his brothers since we last saw them…
   1. Last week we learned that Israel’s 11 sons had major family dysfunction.
      1. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery out of resentment and hatred.
   2. Joseph ends up a slave of Potiphar.
      1. He did well and rose in importance in the household.
      2. Joseph rejected advances made by Potiphar’s wife, so she accused him of sexual assault and we sent him to jail.
   3. In jail
      1. Joseph has dreams about the fate of fellow inmates. He shares the interpretation with the inmates and they are in awe of his wisdom.
      2. Joseph rose in importance in the jail
   4. Pharaoh has a dream and needs an interpretation
      1. Only Joseph can interpret the dream
         1. Famine is coming. Time to store up harvest in preparation.
      2. Pharaoh frees Joseph from jail and makes Joseph second in command to Pharaoh.
2. More Family drama: Famine has hit all the surrounding countries and people are coming to Egypt for help.
   1. Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt for food.
   2. Joseph recognizes them and plays a weird mind game while hiding his identity.
      1. YOU ARE SPIES!!!!
         1. Put them in jail!
         2. Bring me your baby brother to prove your honesty!
         3. Brothers say (in Hebrew) that this is their punishment for what they did to Joseph.
            1. Secretly, Joseph gives them food & their money back.
            2. Simeon left behind in Egypt while the other brothers go get Benjamin.
            3. They find the silver and were afraid.
      2. They tell their father about the food & silver & accusations
         1. Begg their father for Benjamin.
         2. Jacob is hesitant to give Benjamin because of the loss of Joseph, and now Simeon is in prison.
      3. They return with Benjamin
         1. Joseph has a meal prepared
            1. The brothers fear their lives
         2. Joseph favored Benjamin
      4. Joseph tests his brothers
         1. Joseph sets Benjamin set up as a thief!
         2. The brother’s defend Benjamin
         3. Joseph is changed.
3. Now: Joseph see’s it has transformed his brothers.
   1. He reveals himself to his brothers.
   2. What you meant for evil, God meant for good.
   3. …And they all lived happily ever after… or so we portray in church.

EXPLANATION & INTERPRETATION:

1. I HAVE BEEF WITH THIS STORY.
   1. Joseph claims God sent him to Egypt.
      1. We interpret this to mean that everything that happens to us is God’s plan.
      2. We use the toxic phrase: Everything happens for a reason.
   2. I reject that notion. And you should too! Why? Because that’s a terrible God to follow.
   3. The God I follow is good and need not use evil to teach his children a lesson or develop their character.
   4. MY GOD DOESN’T USE EVIL.
      1. EVIL IS NOT A TOOL FOR GOOD.
      2. There is no “it’s for the greater good,” or “lesser of two evils.”
   5. A new perspective
      1. God is the Redeemer of Stories and the Redeemer of Choices we make.
         1. God didn’t make Joseph’s 10 brothers sell him into slavery.
         2. Joseph’s brothers sold him and God turned this terrible action into a redemption story.
2. Return to the Book:  President Snow, and by default the Capitol citizens, packaged the Hunger Games as a benevolent symbol and a source of stability for the country. The Hunger Games was a lie. President Snow didn’t want to keep everyone safe. President Snow wanted control. He did not have the best interest of Panem in mind, rather the best interest of the elite.
3. Our God is not President Snow. Our God doesn’t make us puppets, robots, or slaves to accomplish his bidding. Our God has a desire for God’s people, but won’t for them into it. 
   1. Consider Esther’s story. Her cousin Mordecai tells her that if she won’t stand up and do what is right, another person will rise.
   2. God will accomplish God’s Will. BUT our God need not use evil to accomplish the task. Our God is bigger than human restrictions or limitations.

APPLICATION: To not blame or attribute God for our pains, to take ownership for our actions, and to make a change.

1. I entreat you: Stop saying “It’s God’s plan” or “God must have a plan for this,” when terrible things occur.
   1. God doesn’t make cancer, death, abuse, or miscarriages accomplish God’s will.
   2. It’s ok to acknowledge that something terrible has happened without making excuses or trying to make it better.
   3. Be present with someone in their grief. Don’t try to fix it, because words in that moment may only make it worse.
2. Own your actions. We all experience the consequences of our actions. Sometimes our consequences passed on to another person.
   1. i.e. a drunk driver survives a car crash but kills another person.  God did not make that person die in a drunk driving accident to save the driver.
   2. Own your actions and the consequences of your actions.
3. Know better, do better. Be part of your own redemption story.

CONCLUSION: It is easy in our grief to look for an answer or a reason to justify our pain. Unfortunately, for those looking for answers, God is not to blame. God wants what is best for us but God doesn’t make us into robots who always follow God’s desires.

Liberty Baptist on August 9th, 2020

Yes, the cinematics are terrible. My apologies.

Message Title: Family Dysfunction Redeemed Part 1
Theme: Redeemer of Stories
Season: ORDINARY
Main Text: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28;
Scripture Reading: Romans 10:5-15;
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: Abraham’s family dysfunction is generational but not sanctioned by God.
Function: To fight our desire to use favoritism or power in the church and purse a healthier family dynamic.
Other Notes:

SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 10:5-15 ⁵ Moses writes about the righteousness that comes from the Law: The person who does these things will live by them.^[a] 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith talks like this: Don’t say in your heart, “Who will go up into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ or “Who will go down into the region below?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the message of faith that we preach). ⁹ Because if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and in your heart you have faith that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation. ¹¹ The scripture says, All who have faith in him won’t be put to shame.^[e] 12 There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord is Lord of all, who gives richly to all who call on him. ¹³ All who call on the Lord’s name will be saved. ¹⁴ So how can they call on someone they don’t have faith in? And how can they have faith in someone they haven’t heard of? And how can they hear without a preacher?¹⁵ And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the good news.

LORD’S PRAYER

Trigger disclaimer: Family dysfunction and abuse will be talked about today. Please feel the freedom to step back if this is a topic you can’t tackle at this moment.

BOOK INTRO: Matilda by Roald Dahl

1. Details about Book:
   1. Author: Roald Dahl, British writer
   2. Date Published: 1988
   3. Setting: In a small British village lived a family of four: Mr & Mrs. Wormwood, Brother, and Matilda.
2. Focus of today:
   1. Matilda was a unique little girl with a skilled mind. At 5 ½ she could read. She thought and spoke critically for someone so small. ButMatilda’s parents didn’t like her. Matilda’s principal didn’t like her.
      1. Narrator specifically talks about how there are 2 types of parents: the parents who see their kid as perfect and exceptional & the parent who despises their kid
      2. Matilda’s parents were both at the same time. They loved Matilda’s brother and hated Matilda. Matilda was smart for a young girl, smarter than her parents, and her parents only saw her as a puny, insignificant creature. They favored her brother because he behaved like them.
   2. Matilda has a teacher named Miss Honey. We learn that Miss Honey suffered abuse by her aunt & caregiver after her mother died and even more after her father died. Her aunt hated her, all children really, and made Miss Honey suffer.
3. Though Matilda is a children’s book, there are some dark and heavy themes of family dysfunction and abuse present.

TRANSITIONS: In our text for today we will see some family hatred much like what Matilda and Miss Honey experienced.  My hope is we can engage in a conversation about a healthier family dynamic through this text.

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Join me in turning to Genesis 37 as we examine the dysfunctional family dynamics of Israel and his sons.

ENGAGE: Background/Family Tree

1. Anyone know who the first son of Israel was?(Reuben)
2. Anyone know who the last was? (Benjamin)
3. How many sons did Leah give birth to? (Five)
4. How many sons did Rachel give birth to? (2… though not yet)
5. Wiki deets:
   1. The sons of Leah; Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun
   2. The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin
   3. The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali
   4. The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid; Gad, and Asher

Vs 1-4 Jacob lived in the land of Canaan where his father was an immigrant. ²This 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. ³Now 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 robe. ⁴When 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. ….

1. Jacob is now called Israel.
2. Basically, Joseph tells his older brothers that their moms’ suck.
3. Israel likes Joseph the best
   1. Israel has a favorite son, the only son from his favorite wife (however, she eventually has a second son before she dies).
4. Joseph, the youngest, gets new clothes.
5. The brothers hate Joseph. Perhaps it’s for good reason. Could Joseph be this clueless?

Vs 12- 28 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. ¹⁹The 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.

1. The text drops to the reaction to the brothers post conversation about a dream Joseph has where his brothers will all bow to him. No wonder this section comes next.
2. “Here comes this dreamer”—Resentment of the favorite one.
   1. Plot to kill him
   2. Reuben suggests they not kill him but put him in a cistern (great well)
   3. Judah suggests instead that they sell him in to slavery to the Ishmaelites instead of ‘harming’ him.
3. Brothers sell Joseph into slavery to the Midianite traders/Ishmaelites. 
   1. Weird discrepancy in the text: was it Ishmaelites or Midianites?
   2. Midianites are not the same as Ishmaelites, though they are both from Abraham.
      1. Midianites are from Midian, Abraham’s son by Keturah
      2. Ishmaelites are from Ishmael, Abraham’s son by Hagar
   3. Indicator of an “other” though they’re technically related (PF)
      1. These “others” exist because of sibling rivalry and favoritism.
      2. “ignorance of the other”–easy to not engage in learning about our neighbor, ‘the other’
4. Regardless of who purchased him, Joseph is sent to Egypt as a slave.
   1. Don’t worry! This isn’t the end of the story, there’s more coming next week!

INTERPRETATION:

1. A frustration I have with this story involves a frequent view of Joseph as this spotless or perfect.
   1. SW: Joseph is favored and hated by the rest of his family. An image of what it is like to be ‘elect’ and hated by the rest of the world. (SW)
   2. Truth: This perspective is missing the point -the father fails in this situation by picking a favorite child. The father causes division in his family. But honestly, Joseph is not innocent in this story, he revels in his favored status. This whole family reeks of dysfunction.
2. The Problem is Favoritism: This problem isn’t new.  We seethe sins of the father acting out favoritism, repeated throughout OT (PF)
   1. Jacob & Esau were estranged because of favoritism
   2. Joseph and his brothers estranged because of favoritism
   3. The system of inheritance to the oldest son was part of the problem.
   4.  But the system doesn’t mean God likes it or endorses it.
3. Jacob/Israel’s favoritism does not represent God’s favoritism. God does not treat the 12 tribes according to Jacob’s preference in the Promise Land. (PF)
   1. If you look forward in the story for Israel (post exodus) we see that God did not give prominence to the 12 tribes based on who the original sons were in Genesis: (PF)
      1. David comes from the tribe of Benjamin, not Joseph
      2. Joseph’s tribe isn’t noted for doing amazing things
      3. (Jesus is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah)

APPLICATION: To fight our desire to use favoritism or power in the church and purse a healthier family dynamic.

1. Family dysfunction: It’s natural to consider your own family dynamics as we investigate this story from scripture.  Therefore,I want to take a moment to state the obvious with you, which means we’re going to be heavy for a moment.
   1. God does not endorse abuse. God does not put people through abuse to teach lessons. Gods’ desires don’t always match what creation chooses to do.
   2. Remember, we’re in a series called Redeemer of Stories. This isn’t about making excuses for God, because God isn’t to blame for abuse, humans are.
      1. Humans are imperfect and do not represent God infallibly. Hurt people hurt people and we perpetuate a cycle of pain because we refuse to be the one that changes.
2. Church dysfunction: In the same way, there is family dysfunction, there is church dysfunction. After all, we refer to the church as a family. We use money, popularity, and power to maintain our personal vision of church, Christianity, or religion. We allow our preferences and the misconception of favoritism to divide the family of God.
   1. Favoritism doesn’t bring the Gospel to those in need.
3. What does a dysfunctional family redemption look like?–not going to lie, I don’t have this all figured out. I am a work in progress. But I know there are a few key things in healthy relationships:
   1. Communication: finding healthy ways to communicate about our thoughts and feelings.
   2. Humility: recognize when you’re right (and not being a jerk), admit when you’re wrong (and not being a jerk), or acknowledge when you don’t have enough information (and not being a jerk). 
   3. Adaptability & Teachability: a willingness to learn and shift when you know better.
   4. Team-minded: Thinking not only of the self but of the whole.
4. Redeemed Stories:
   1. Matilda helped redeem Miss Honey’s story by helping Miss Honey get her home back.
   2. Matilda’s story gets redeemed when Matilda gets adopted by Miss Honey.

CONCLUSION

Message Title: By Any Other Name
Theme: Redeemer of Stories
Season: ORDINARY
Main Text: Genesis 32:22-31
Scripture Reading: Romans 9:1-5;
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 wrestles a mysterious person and receives a name change.
Function: To recognize the redemption arch in our own story and that God hasn’t finished our story.
Other Notes: COMMUNION

SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 9:1-5 I’m speaking the truth in Christ—I’m not lying, as my conscience assures me with the Holy Spirit: ² I have great sadness and constant pain in my heart. ³ I wish I could be cursed, cut off from Christ if it helped my brothers and sisters, who are my flesh-and-blood relatives. ⁴ They are Israelites. The adoption as God’s children, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the worship, and the promises belong to them. ⁵ The Jewish ancestors are theirs, and the Christ descended from those ancestors. He is the one who rules over all things, who is God, and who is blessed forever. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER

~~

SERMON SERIES INTRODUCTION: Redeemer of Stories
Today begins with a new month and a new series. In this series we will examine stories from the end of Genesis and beginning of Exodus. While we study God’s redemption at work through the stories of Jacob, Joseph, and Moses, we will also examine stories of redemption from authors like L M Montgomery, Madeleine L’Engle, and Suzanne Collins. May we discover our own redemption arcs through the study of other’s redemption.

BOOK INTRO: Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery

1. Anne of Green Gables was one of my favorite stories as a young girl. I loved Anne’s personality and knack for messing things up. She helped me to feel more normal as a quirky kid. Now, I must admit to the avid readers in the room, I only knew Anne through the movies until I read the books in my 30s. The books have ignited a deep love for Anne that will be passed on to my children.
2. Basics of Anne of Green Gables: If you haven’t heard of this book series before: Anne of Green Gables is a 1908 novel by Canadian author L.M. Montgomery.
   1. Set in the late 19th century, the novel recounts the adventures of Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan girl, who is mistakenly sent to two middle-aged siblings, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, who had originally intended to adopt a boy to help them on their farm in the fictional town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island, Canada. (Wiki)
   2. They have adapted this story into film multiple times through animated shows, miniseries, tv-movies, and movies. I’m biased towards the 1985 version with Megan Follows… even if it isn’t super accurate to the books after the first movie.
3. Video clip: “Call me Cordelia,”
   1. This morning, we will be at the very beginning of Anne’s journey with the Cuthberts. Anne is not who Matthew and Marilla ordered from the orphanage. As this unfolds in the books, Anne realizes she is not wanted by the Cuthberts. She takes this moment to test out a new persona, since this home will only be temporary.
      1. I want to show you a clip of this scene from the 1985 rendition with Megan Follows.
      2. CLIP
4. As an orphan, Anne used her imagination as a comfort in particularly grueling times. It felt very natural to her to try out an alternative name in a new location. Perhaps it would be easier to cope with rejection as Cordelia than Anne Shirley. Unfortunately for Anne, Marilla does not allow this coping mechanism. Marilla reminds Anne that her name and proper personhood is adequate.
5. Little do Anne and Marilla know, but they will continue to shape each other as their stories weave together from this point forward.

TRANSITION: In our text for today. We will enter the story of Jacob as he receives a new name. Let’s discover what events lead to this name change and what this means for Jacob.

SCRIPTURE: We will be in Genesis 32:22-31.

1. Ask the Audience: While you are turning there, I would love to know what you know about Jacob. (Besides his name change.)
2. Background:
   1. Twin with Esau
      1. Jacob’s name means ‘deceiver’ (The Bible Project)
      2. Bought brother’s birthright for some food
      3. Tricked brother out of blessing
   2. Leaves the family and finds his uncle Laban & works for him to get Rachel.
      1. Uncle Laban humbles Jacob by tricking him into marrying Leah first.
      2. Repaid for the trick he played on his father? (WP)
   3. Jacob stays and works for Uncle Laban for 20 years. Through his wages, Jacob builds a household of prominence and his Uncle/father-in-law resents Jacob. So, Jacob plans to leave.
      1. Laban tries to accuse Jacob of stealing, but they form a treaty and part ways.
   4. Jacob prepares to return to “The Promise Land” of Abraham, where his brother lives and his anxiety is high. He hears his brother is coming to meet him with 400 men and he sends his brother gifts until they can meet.

vs 22-31 ²²Jacob 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. ²³He took them and everything that belonged to him, and he helped them cross the river. ²⁴But Jacob stayed apart by himself, and a man wrestled with him until dawn broke. ²⁵When 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. ²⁶The man said, “Let me go because the dawn is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.” ²⁷He said to Jacob, “What’s your name?” and he said, “Jacob.”²⁸Then he said, “Your name won’t be Jacob any longer, but Israel, because you struggled with God and with men and won.” ²⁹Jacob also asked and said, “Tell me your name.” But he said, “Why do you ask for my name?” and he blessed Jacob there. ³⁰Jacob named the place Peniel, “because I’ve seen God face-to-face, and my life has been saved.” ³¹The sun rose as Jacob passed Penuel, limping because of his thigh.

EXPLANATION: Jacob wrestles with God and receives a blessing and name change.

1. “Leaves in the night”—In the same way that Jacob left his family home, he’s leaving his uncle’s home.
   1. Originally, I thought: Is he sneaking? Is he being a deceiver? Why is he leaving?
      1. He can’t just up and leave, Jacob now has an entourage (4 women and 11 sons, and Idk how many daughters- no Benjamin yet)
   2. But he’s moving towards the potential fight, not away.
   3. Perhaps he couldn’t sleep? Perhaps he is anxious rather than sneaky?
2. “Jabbok River”- Jacob moves towards the Jabbok river, a river that flows into the Jordan River. Jacob is about to enter the promise land again after 20 years.
   1. Fun play on words: Jabbok sounds like Jacob and wrestle in Hebrew.
3. “A man wrestled with him,”– Jacob is accosted by a mysterious man.
4. “man saw that he couldn’t defeat Jacob,” initially we don’t know who this man is but we know that Jacob defeats him and he would not have escaped if it weren’t for the damage done to Jacob’s thigh.
5. “I won’t let you go until you bless me.” Jacob demands a blessing from the attacker.
   1. How could the attacker bless Jacob? What was so special about the man?
   2. The man blesses Jacob & Jacob receives a name change. This new name gives a huge hint:
      1. Israel, which means ‘to wrestle with God.’
      2. Jacob is no longer the “Deceiver.” He is now the one who “Wrestles with God.”
      3. WAIT WHAT? WRESTLES GOD? JACOB WRESTLED GOD AND WON?!?
6. Jacob receives a blessing and names this place by the Jabbok River “because I’ve seen God face-to-face,”
   1. Jacob clarifies that though he won the wrestling match, it was God that saved him. “My life has been saved,”
      1. As Jacob looks back at the last 20 years, he gives credit to God. He does not give credit to himself.

INTERPRETATION: God redeems Jacob’s story with this event.

1. Jacob, this once arrogant and conniving man, has been humbled by God over the last 20 years.
   1. Now, God redefines Jacob’s story. Others will no longer know Jacob as the deceiver. Jacob is now Israel, the one who wrestles with God. Jacob’s children and their children will now be defined by this name.
2. My Thoughts on Jacob: If I’m honest with you, my natural inclination is to hate Jacob. I realize that Jacob is the father of the 12 tribes of Israel, but I don’t like his story. Jacob’s story seems super great if you’re Jacob, but not so great if you are a woman or one of his children. Even if you are his favorite child, Joseph, this isn’t a splendid story. Hint: we’ll learn about Joseph next week.
   1. Jacob represents a generational problem of dad’s picking a favored son and the dysfunctional family situation that unfolds from favoritism.
   2. Amid God redeeming Jacob’s story, I still see Jacob failing, and I judge him for it.

APPLICATION: STORIES REDEEMED To recognize the redemption arch in our own story and that God hasn’t finished our story.

1. Then I remember my story… and want to cling to redemption again.
   1. I want God to not give up on me, even when I fail. Jacob’s story should be reassuring. Not because every decision he makes is good, but that God doesn’t give up on him even when Jacob makes terrible choices.
      1. God doesn’t bless Jacob’s terrible choices or claim them as his own design. God takes the choices that Jacob has made and redeems them.
   2. It’s difficult to be a work in progress. It is difficult to live with decisions you have made that you aren’t proud of anymore. Easier to change your name & identity than adapt or grow.
2. Book Redemption: For Anne, it felt like if she left behind “Anne” maybe someone would want her. If she stopped being Anne, she could get adopted. Maybe change her name? Maybe change her hair? What would convince them to want her?
   1. The beautiful truth for Anne is that she didn’t have to be someone else for someone to want her. It doesn’t take long for Matthew & Marilla to decide that they will keep Anne Shirley; Chapter 6: Marilla makes up her mind.
   2. Photo: Something shifts at Green Gables because Matthew and Marilla keep Anne. Not only is Anne changed, but Marilla and Matthew are changed too.
3. God Redeems Our Stories
   1. Jacob is not the most likeable person. He’s conniving. He’s tricksy. He’s manipulative.
   2. God doesn’t leave him in that place. God continues to give Jacob chances to grow and change.

CONCLUSION: We do not see Jacob reach perfection in scripture, he continues to be a story in the process of redemption, much like our own stories.

COMMUNION: As we prepare to gather for communion together today, we recognize that we are all a work in progress. If you are breathing, God is not done working on you. Your story is still being redeemed. This church is a collection of people being redeemed.

Our stories aren’t wasted or ended. God is not done with you yet.