You really have to laugh when someone does or says something really preposterous, or pokes fun at the preposterous things we do and say all the time. But preposterous stuff comes in God-sized packages, too. Sarah laughs at the prediction of her senior pregnancy. Jesus instructions to his disciples may seem preposterous, too, but he is serious.
Yes, I chastise the congregation for being the worst audience for a stand-up pastor. You try saying something funny, and even when you land a good one, they habitually stifle their laughter. It's a tough, tough house for any comedy gig.
Old Sarah hears her name mentioned when visitors come by and are chatting with husband Abraham. Her ears pick-up her name in the conversation. She hears clearly as the visitor promises that upon his return, Sarah will be pregnant. Say WHAAAT? She bursts into a deep guffaw before she can catch herself. She recalls the visitor having stated to the stunned Abraham, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Uh-oh.
Now that's God-sized preposterous.
Taking a page from his Abba, Jesus has these ideas about what disciples should do that may seem preposterous. Teach the Kingdom, heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out evil is a short-list for the broader, 'Do all the things that I've been doing.' It looks ridiculously impossible - preposterous! - but Jesus is serious.
Get the whole story in the sermon video below.
Yes, I chastise the congregation for being the worst audience for a stand-up pastor. You try saying something funny, and even when you land a good one, they habitually stifle their laughter. It's a tough, tough house for any comedy gig.
Old Sarah hears her name mentioned when visitors come by and are chatting with husband Abraham. Her ears pick-up her name in the conversation. She hears clearly as the visitor promises that upon his return, Sarah will be pregnant. Say WHAAAT? She bursts into a deep guffaw before she can catch herself. She recalls the visitor having stated to the stunned Abraham, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Uh-oh.
Now that's God-sized preposterous.
Taking a page from his Abba, Jesus has these ideas about what disciples should do that may seem preposterous. Teach the Kingdom, heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out evil is a short-list for the broader, 'Do all the things that I've been doing.' It looks ridiculously impossible - preposterous! - but Jesus is serious.
Get the whole story in the sermon video below.
| 06-14-20-ff-answers.pdf |
| 06-14-20-dont_laugh.pdf |