Fairfield Presbyterian Church
Connect with us
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Programs
  • Contact

TRUE STRENGTH, TRUE LIFE - from Sunday, August 9, 2015

8/10/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
The strong are often depicted as physically muscular specimens. Check out talent show gymnasts and strong man acts. But as with many things having to do with faith, we can get caught up in the world's characterizations and miss the nature of true strength. Both scripture lessons, Samson's story and the lame man at the pool at Bethesda, have important things to say that are more about living a faithful life than your next workout at the gym. (Yes, you still need to go to the gym. Sorry.)

Samson's story reveals that the archetypal strong man has plenty of weaknesses. Women and ... well, okay; women. Lay readers need to pay attention to Samson's being under the Nazirite vow, detailed in the sermon. His loose lips about the source of his strength to Delilah is a breach of faithfulness. It brings him to weakness, and once there, he turns in repentance to faithfulness. Then his strength begins to return.

Jean Vanier, modern day saint and founder of the L'Arche communities, has a wonderful way of bringing together weakness and faith, and then revealing the course of life's journey in faith. I showed a 7 minute video interview with Vanier to the Pot Luck diners. You need to see it - click here.

Coupled with the Samson reading is the story from John's gospel of the lame man at the healing pool in Bethesda. For 38 years, this man has been dragging himself to the pool every time the spring-fed pool gurgles, arriving too late, he says. The belief is that if you can get in the water while the water is stirring, it will heal you. So far, the lame man's deep faith in the healing pool has left him unchanged. Jesus changes that. 

Jesus' message reminds us that, like the lame man's 38 year journey to nowhere, true life is found in the weakness we encounter by stepping outside the comfortable, secure boundaries of our lives. Inside those boundaries, we are secure, strong, and confident. Going outside means leaving those strengths behind, going forth in faith, like in Jesus' mission charge to his disciples in last week's scripture from Matthew 10.

True strength, true weakness, true life. Check out the sermon video below, and note the downloads available below the video panel. And be sure to watch the video with Jean Vanier with the link above.



(Yes, that's the pastor in a Hawaiian shirt with lei, thanks to the thoughtfulness of Anita since the Pot Luck was themed "Tropical Paradise." And yes, that's me doing my Samson impression. You can stop laughing anytime now. Thanks once again, YouTube; amazing timing.)


08-09-15-ff-answers.pdf
File Size: 52 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

08-09-15-true_strength.pdf
File Size: 158 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly