I told about my extreme frustration with my cell phone (replacement is on the way), and the way every reasonable expectation that I had had was redefined - hence the picture on the left. Confounding our plans, desires, and agendas, contrary expectations and outcomes awaken us to a powerful dynamic of the faithful life. It is that reminder of whose we are and whom we serve, awakening to realize that it is God's way to turn things inside out to advance the Kingdom.
In the story of Abraham and the forming of his covenant with God, the 99 year old busts a gut when God promises he'll become a daddy through 90 year old Sarah. We remember Sarah laughing, but forget that Abraham wasdown on the ground rolling. As last week, we noted the first covenant with Noah, this week the covenant with Abraham moves to the next level. There is a promise and a sign once again; the promise of new life where none should occur, and a sign of commitment and faithfulness for the one blessed with new life.
Turning to Mark's gospel, we find Peter making a mess of things. He has just finished answering correctly the question from Jesus, Who do you say that I am? Peter had stepped right up and said, You are the Christ. Jesus goes on to describe what this means; his suffering, rejection, death, and then resurrection. Peter doesn't like this line of thinking and pulls Jesus aside to correct him. This doesn't go over too well. Jesus has to blast Peter who has been following his own expectations about what the Christ would mena. Jesus reminds the disciples and the crowd that any of his follwers must take up their own cross if they plan to follow him into the promise of new life.
Check out the whole thing in the sermon video below. The downloads are below the video panel.
In the story of Abraham and the forming of his covenant with God, the 99 year old busts a gut when God promises he'll become a daddy through 90 year old Sarah. We remember Sarah laughing, but forget that Abraham wasdown on the ground rolling. As last week, we noted the first covenant with Noah, this week the covenant with Abraham moves to the next level. There is a promise and a sign once again; the promise of new life where none should occur, and a sign of commitment and faithfulness for the one blessed with new life.
Turning to Mark's gospel, we find Peter making a mess of things. He has just finished answering correctly the question from Jesus, Who do you say that I am? Peter had stepped right up and said, You are the Christ. Jesus goes on to describe what this means; his suffering, rejection, death, and then resurrection. Peter doesn't like this line of thinking and pulls Jesus aside to correct him. This doesn't go over too well. Jesus has to blast Peter who has been following his own expectations about what the Christ would mena. Jesus reminds the disciples and the crowd that any of his follwers must take up their own cross if they plan to follow him into the promise of new life.
Check out the whole thing in the sermon video below. The downloads are below the video panel.
| 03-01-15-ff-answers.pdf |
| 03-01-15-contrary_expectations.pdf |