"You're in sleepy land," said Joseph Campbell, the late famed author and star of the acclaimed late 1980s PBS series, "The Power of Myth." Campbell was describing how a guide would confront the would-be hero of a master story. The guide's task is to wake up the character to their life's mission, tapping their potential - their God-given gifts - that can fulfill their personal promise and the sender's mission. It's a theme often repeated in scripture.
Sunday's scriptures began with Isaiah's call in chapter 6. Having previously been aware of God's dissatisfaction with God's people, Isaiah is now (ch. 6!) confronted in an awesome scene. He realizes that, among this sinful people, he is a woefully sinful individual himself. Fearfully confessing his sorry state, Isaiah receives forgiveness. Then God posits the question, "Whom shall we send?" Isaiah steps up immediately, "Send me!" He has no idea of the mission, but the adventure begins.
In John 3, Pharisee leader Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. (Rather than a wake-up call, perhaps it was insomnia?) In the dialogue, we find Nicodemus is unable to step beyond his routine assumptions and perceive the new window into the sacred and spiritual that Jesus offered. The message of love over law, of communion over condemnation is clear in vss. 16-17.
We're warned about the comfort of our routines and the banality of our beliefs. We need awakening to the power of the Spirit, the impact of the gospel, and the demands of the kingdom life. Staying in our comfort zone insulates us from the awesomeness of God, the challenge of Jesus' teachings, and the powerful promise of ministry with the Holy Spirit. (Trinity Sunday - must cover all the bases!)
Check out the sermon video below, and the downloads available below the video panel. (C'mon YouTube, couldn't I have a better thumbnail pic when the sermon is entitled "The Wake Up Call"?)
Sunday's scriptures began with Isaiah's call in chapter 6. Having previously been aware of God's dissatisfaction with God's people, Isaiah is now (ch. 6!) confronted in an awesome scene. He realizes that, among this sinful people, he is a woefully sinful individual himself. Fearfully confessing his sorry state, Isaiah receives forgiveness. Then God posits the question, "Whom shall we send?" Isaiah steps up immediately, "Send me!" He has no idea of the mission, but the adventure begins.
In John 3, Pharisee leader Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. (Rather than a wake-up call, perhaps it was insomnia?) In the dialogue, we find Nicodemus is unable to step beyond his routine assumptions and perceive the new window into the sacred and spiritual that Jesus offered. The message of love over law, of communion over condemnation is clear in vss. 16-17.
We're warned about the comfort of our routines and the banality of our beliefs. We need awakening to the power of the Spirit, the impact of the gospel, and the demands of the kingdom life. Staying in our comfort zone insulates us from the awesomeness of God, the challenge of Jesus' teachings, and the powerful promise of ministry with the Holy Spirit. (Trinity Sunday - must cover all the bases!)
Check out the sermon video below, and the downloads available below the video panel. (C'mon YouTube, couldn't I have a better thumbnail pic when the sermon is entitled "The Wake Up Call"?)
| 05-31-15-ff-answers.pdf |
| 05-31-15-the_wake_up_call.pdf |