Last 3 Sermons (Aug. 29, Aug. 22, Aug. 15)
August 29
Scripture reading: Genesis 13
Sermon - Can people really change?
An American visitor to England was driving with a British friend who made a remark about the windscreen of his car that needed to be cleaned. You mean the windshield, don't you said the American. No. Over here, we call it the windscreen, the Englishman said. Then you are wrong, the American corrected, because we invented the automobile and we call it a windshield. That is quite true, said the Englishman, but don't forget who invented the language.
As human beings all of us see things through the lens of our own perspective and this often causes friction and can lead to conflict between us.
Last Sunday we saw how Abram had to leave Egypt red faced because of compromising the truth about his beautiful wife – instead of being a blessing to others he became a curse to Pharaoh. Given Abram’s failure in 12: 10 – 20 the question in our reading this morning is: Can people learn from experience and make different choices; can people really change? Abram is faced with yet another hiccup in his spiritual travel itinerary – conflict in the family. Is it going to be his way or God’s way this time, will Abram once again choose to be a blessing only unto himself or will he act on God’s call in his life to be a blessing towards others?
A first read of Gen 13 poses the question: isn’t this chapter proof of our expression: Nice guys finish last when you try and be a blessing towards others? What did Abram expect when he gave Lot the chance to choose – of coarse you will end up short Abram, this is just the way life is; everybody wants the best for themselves. Abram nice guys finish last!
Last week we saw Abram playing by his own rules, taking a detour, believing that the situation called for a change in command. We see a new Abram today, we see a man of peace; a man that puts others first instead of himself - yes people can change their ways and people can change how they handle difficult situations.
Jesus said: blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God (Mat 5:9)
In conflict situations or where there is difference of opinion we need to ask ourselves how God wants us to act so we will be a blessing instead of a curse making things worse. God calls us to attitudes and acts of selflessness.
Renewing our life together as a congregation calls us to handle our differences and our conflict in the light of God’s call to be a blessing to one another to act in a selfless manner to be people of God’s peace. Abram sought a peaceful resolution because he said: we are kindred or we can also translate: we are brothers. Nothing wrong to seek a peaceful resolution for the sake effectiveness or for the sake of testimony, but congregational life is family life and we deal with our differences in such a way so as to function together as God’s family. In acting selflessly Abram wasn’t calculating his material gains or losses he thinks about not losing a family member (8) he is looking for a solution that would ensure good family relationships for the future. Being a blessing when faced with potential conflict is to resolve the conflict in a manner consistent with a Life of Faith.
Tucked away in our reading is a sentence that we don’t pay much attention to in our first read. It’s only when we take time and study the passage that we ask: but why mention the Canaanites and the Perizzites living in the land (7). This verse not only declares the reason for the land’s inability to sustain Abram and Lot’s livestock, it also reveals the danger when the family of faith doesn’t resolve conflict in a manner consistent with a Life of Faith.
The first serious consequence of not resolving conflict in a manner consistent with a Life of Faith is that the family of faith will become ineffective to be a blessing. When conflict is unresolved within the family of faith, it will weaken the church’s ability to be and do what it is suppose to be and supposed to do – being a blessing to all the families of the earth.
The second serious consequence of not resolving conflict in a manner consistent with a Life of Faith is that unresolved conflict discredits our message as Christians. Abram was to be a blessing to the world; he was to carry the light of God to the pagan nations. Conflict over material possessions would have been a bad testimony to the ungodly Canaanites and Perizzites in the land. Nobody in their right mind would want to be a part of a group torn apart by strife over finances or anything else for that matter. The world is looking for a safe haven, a place where peace and love abounds, and that place must be the family of faith, that place must be the church of Jesus Christ.
Just as conflict was experienced in Abram’s family life so it will also be experienced in interpersonal relationships because we tend to see things through the lens of our own perspective and we have a natural inclination to choose what is best for ourselves before we think about others. We all know from personal experience that some people can be difficult, unreasonable, stubborn, and self-centered and this presents all kinds of thorny challenges. Abram was no stranger to conflict, but in dealing with his nephew Lot, he shows that interpersonal issues can be resolved.
The choice has been made and Abram ends up short – but then God appears to him with these words - Raise your eyes now – maybe his head was hanging because he knew he lost the fertile Jordan valley but God’s approval was most important to him – and listen to God’s promise and blessing when he raised his eyes – not only the Jordan but much more one day - reminds me of Matt 6:33 strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
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August 22, 2010
Scripture reading: Genesis 12: 10 – 20
Sermon: Life’s Detours
Philosopher John Mac Murray once said: The maxim of deceptive religion runs: Fear not; trust in God and he will see that none of the things you fear will happen to you; that of real religion on the contrary is: fear not; the things you are afraid of are quite likely to happen to you, but they are nothing to be afraid of.
The past two Sundays we discovered that when we enter into a personal relationship with God this relationship will lead us on a journey where we like Abram will spend considerable time in learning how to let go. Our reading today is about learning how to let go of our fears and how to let go of the way we believe we should handle situations.
Our reading started with the seemingly cold breeze of God's silence: there was famine in the land so severe that Abram had to pack up and go to Egypt.
Our circumstances are different from Abram’s but the questions haven't changed. If God is so good, why do I hurt so badly? If God is really there, why am I here? What did I do to deserve this? Did God slip up this time? Does God sometimes choose to do nothing?
How do we handle hiccups in our spiritual travel itinerary? What do we do when “famine” strikes? When faced with hiccups in our spiritual travel itinerary there is always the temptation to act like the 3 year old girl accompanying her 6-yr. old sister and dad to Canadian Tire to buy the 6 year old her first big bicycle. After the 6yr old picked out the one she wanted, the 3year old chimed in telling her daddy that she also wanted a bike just like her sister. Her father tried to explain to her that she was too young. She could hardly manage her tricycle. All explanations were to no avail. Finally the father told her that this time her daddy knew best. The 3 year old replied: Then I want a new daddy!
These words carry so much of our sentiments when things go wrong in our lives. We believe that disappointment in our lives demands a change of command. When we don't agree with the one who calls the shots, our reaction is often the same as the 3 year old: I want a new daddy.
Real religion is: fear not; the things you are afraid of are quite likely to happen to you, but they are nothing to be afraid of. Abram you have God’s promise. Now there was nothing wrong with Abram going to Egypt where there was food but what was wrong is what happened on their way there and when he arrived with his beautiful wife. Abram knew that his wife’s presence will cause heads to turn and he becomes nervous and in his panic he falls into the trap of thinking this calls for a change of command – move over Lord let me handle this – Lord I see the looks on their faces, Lord I know what you promised – you will bless me and I should be a blessing, but Lord I don’t think it’s going to work in these set of circumstances.
Abram looks at himself for a solution and decides to take the survival detour. Detours call for a compromise, and Abram’s compromise is aimed at working out the situation only in his best interest. His compromise clearly shows that he's not worried about Sarai and God’s promises any more - the only thing that matters is saving his own hide. Tell them you're my sister, he whispers to Sarai and she does. But Sarai is part of God’s plan and promise and if she becomes one of the Pharaoh’s wives or if Abram dies, it would be the end of the promised blessing. But panicking Abram can’t see beyond himself.
Compromises many a time goes hand in hand with lies. Instead of trusting that God would pull them through Abram brings dishonor to God’s name and God’s cause. The irony and danger embedded in a lying compromise is that it seems as if the scheme is paying off and if something works well then there can’t be much wrong with it. The Egyptians treated Abram well - sheep, oxen, donkeys, servants, camels! But compromising the truth only works for a while. Eventually we will be found out - evil in the long run cannot bring about good. Compromising the truth, taking over control over situations outside of God’s promises has devastating effects on those that should have been blessed trough our lives. Instead of being a blessing to the Pharaoh Abram became a curse to him and Pharaoh sends Abram and company packing before things get worse for him.
If God is not the source of our actions as Christians the promised blessings are not going to fall into place and we will have to leave where we could have been a blessing many a time with red faces.
All of us have been on a detour at some point in our lives we all have made some bad decisions and mistakes in life. God recorded Abram's mistakes right beside the great promises given to him so as to show Abram’s humanity and God’s love and grace pursuing us in spite of the detours, compromises, failures and mistakes. Thankfully, God's faithfulness toward us is constant and by grace He keeps calling us back to Himself. When on a detour never say to yourself: I have messed up so badly, I believe God will no longer want to call me His child. Not true - NOTHING can separate us from His love.
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August 15, 2010
Scripture reading: Genesis 12:1 – 3Sermon: Called to be a blessing
Here at Knox we have a powerful vision statement – Renewing our life together!
Important that we not only have the vision statement on paper and on our beautiful website but that we own and apply this vision in our personal lives.
Renewal starts when we answer Gods’ call to enter into a personal relationship with Him a relationship that will change all other relationships. In answering God’s call Abram left everything and receives a new identity.
God’s call to enter into a relationship with Him comes with a promise of blessing us so we will become a blessing. In the light of the NT it means: Jesus’ life becomes our life because He lives in us. The old loyalties, the old ways fails to dictate our lives any longer.
When God bless us He is not just acting on our behalf alone. Abram will benefit for sure, but this blessing is not for me, myself and I. When God promise to bless He is doing it for His Kingdom, for His people, for the future of humanity. Our calling as Christians and as a congregation is about God’s passions, His vision and His plans. He blesses us and appoints His children to bring blessings to the whole world.
But how do I become a blessing to others?
Maybe the following story of an elementary school teacher Mrs. Thompson who was part of a school system many years ago and became a blessing towards others will help us understand.
This was her second year of teaching grade 5’s at this particular school and Mrs. Thomson stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, and she lied to her students. She looked at her students and said: I love all of you. But there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard a student that she prayed would not end up in her class.
She watched Teddy the year before on the playground during recess and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children that his clothes were messy and it seemed as if he constantly needed a bath.
It only took a few weeks of Teddy’s unpleasant behavior for Mrs. Thompson to actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.
But school policy also required Mrs. Thompson to review each child's past records and guess what she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first grade teacher wrote: Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners ... he is a joy to have around. His second grade teacher wrote: Teddy is an excellent student, well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle. His third grade teacher wrote: His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his circumstances at home will soon affect him if steps aren’t 't taken. Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote: Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class.
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself.
She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents the next day wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a bracelet with some of the stones missing and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she silenced the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.
Teddy stayed after school that day just long enough to say: Mrs. Thompson: today you smelled just like my Mother. After the children left she cried for at least an hour.
On that very day, Mrs. Thomson quit just covering academic material by teaching subjects like reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she decided to become a blessing to her students and began to touch children’s lives through her teaching. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class. A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.
The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several stones missing and she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.