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NOT ONE STONE LEFT ON ANOTHER - Sunday, November 17, 2019

11/17/2019

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"... Great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events" - the apocalypse! These disturbing visions of a future calamity in which God plays a role get read without context and are often misunderstood. We examine apocalyptic accounts and try to understand what's going on. Spoiler alert: change brings resistance.

(Sorry, there is no sermon video. I had the camera all lined up but forgot to start recording. In reaching back to press the Record button, I skewed the view to perfectly capture the hymn board over the organ. Sheesh. Apart from an occasional random hand movement flashing across the edge of the screen, there is nothing to see except the numbers perched on the hymn board. However, the audio could be made into an audio file/MP3 which is available along with text downloads by clicking here.)

Those scary prophecies and visions happen in the writings of the prophets, the psalms, in the gospels, and notably the bulk of Revelation. Read without accurate context, we imagine an angry, vengeful God indiscriminately and wantonly destroying the creation in wrathful judgment and condemnation. It is a superb partner image for fear preaching. But such understandings really don't get it.

The chapters before Isaiah 24 are a nearly continual sequence of condemnations of nations, peoples, and empires who have beset God's people. These all focused on worldly, historical events and players. However, Isaiah 24 talks about a worldwide calamity that seems to transcend history. Indeed, it reveals the worldview of the era that discerns cosmic forces behind worldly powers as in 24:21: In that day the Lord will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below.

Jesus takes a similar tone in Luke 21:11: There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. But there are things coming for the disciples long before any of that happens. It doesn't sound like good news for them, but it is all part of how one can expect the Kingdom to advance into confrontation with those who wield power. Jesus is going to provide an excellent example of this in his own life in a matter of days.

The Kingdom of God is for disciples to advance, carrying forward the mission of Jesus. However, if done right, the good news of the gospel will seek to transform lives and social structures to align with God's will. Resistance, sometimes violent and even deadly, should be expected from the worldly powers

It should get church folks asking why the faithful aren't all hated and the churches aren't being persecuted as threats to the social order. Maybe we aren't doing it right. Ah, there is another sermon for another day.

The MP3 file can be downloaded or played via your phone, MP3 player (iPod), or your compute. You can also download the sermon text PDF. Just click the files below.

11-17-19-sermon.mp3
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11-17-19-ff-answers.pdf
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11-17-19-not_one_stone_left_on_another.pdf
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BUILDING ON THE PROMISE - from Sunday, November 10, 2019

11/10/2019

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Visionaries see the promise that many don't. Haggai sees the Temple in ruins and prophesies God's promised blessing for its reconstruction if God's people would respond faithfully. Jesus recalls the vision and authority of his mentor, John the Baptist, who announced that God's Kingdom age had come. The blessing of the promise requires vision, and then action to build upon it.

It is common for visionaries to get ridiculed for their willingness to exceed the bounds of what is obvious and expected. Reaching for new insights and sharing them with others may appear reckless or useless or even dangerous to some. But we need visionaries to build on the promise that awaits, to yield the blessing that would be for us and for many.

Haggai answers several questions that have left God's people inert before their wrecked city. Back from Babylon for about 20 years, Jerusalemites have despaired of things improving and regard themselves as weak and powerless before the huge demands of re-building the city and its once-glorious Temple.

Haggai reminds them that God will be with them, that God has done even more for them - remember the Exodus - so God has a track record, and God will provide the resources if God's people will have faith and act. From other sources, we know that they do.

Jesus has entered Jerusalem and is raising eyebrows with his teaching in the Temple. He drew a cluster of leading priest, scribes, and elders who challenge his authority to teach as he does, a message that is not in accord with the script of the elite powerful.

Jesus answers the question with a question: How do you regard John the Baptist's baptism - a blessing from God or a contrivance of human origin? Jesus takes his authority as one called to carry forward John's message of the coming Kingdom, understanding himself in the role of the Son of Man. Jesus know that he is building on the promise of God first announced by John.

The powerful leaders are put in a tough spot by Jesus' response. Their answer is pretty lame.

Building on the promise means embracing a vision for what is neither obvious nor expected. Then it requires faithful action to advance it toward completion and fulfillment. That's where the promise yields its blessing - for the faithful, actor, and for many others who also stand to be blessed.

Get the whole picture with the sermon video below.

11-10-19-sermon.mp3
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11-10-19-ff-answers.pdf
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11-10-19-building_on_the_promise.pdf
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BECOMING SAINTS - from November 3, 2019

11/3/2019

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Last week, we were Pharisees; this week, we are saints. Can we be both? The path of the saints teaches us that the way is uneven. We consider hapless strongman Samson and the rich, despised tax collector Zacchaeus who have lessons for saints of every age.

"The saints" for Presbyterians is different from how our Roman Catholic friends understand the term. Is it a title we deserve, or is it more indicative than definitive?

Samson's story is a messy delight as the Bible's writers spare no details of the mighty hero warrior's struggle to remain faithful to his God and his Nazirite vow. His moment of triumph comes directly out of his moment of greatest weakness where he discovers the truth of his power in faithfulness.

Zacchaeus is a curious fellow who seems to have made the decision to follow the way of the Lord before being discovered hanging out in a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of the popular teacher as Jesus progresses toward his fate in Jerusalem. Jesus provokes instant controversy by announcing his intention to dine with the chief tax collector, Zacchaeus. The grumbling at this fellowship with a hated traitor and sinner gives Zacchaeus the opening to declare how he has dramatically changed his life and practice to pursue the Kingdom life.

We should be able to see ourselves in these stories, sinners and saints. Enjoy the sermon video below.

11-03-19-sermon.mp3
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11-03-19-ff-answers.pdf
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11-03-19-becoming_saints.pdf
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