This is the text of the sermon from this morning. The sermon came from Psalm 105:1-11, 45b. Supporting scripture included Psalm 100, Romans 8:26-39, and Luke 1:46-55.
"An Invitation to Praise"
I have not heard a lot of sermons preached on the Psalms. I wanted to preach from one to learn more about the Book of Psalms. For many people Psalms is a favorite book of the Bible. Every child learns the 23rd Psalm and can easily recite it. People have favorite Psalms:
Psalm 24:9 "Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in."
Psalm 100:1 "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth."
Psalm 121:1-2 "I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."
Those are a few of my favorites.
A few things you may already know about the psalms. Many of them are psalms of David. This was David’s way of praising God.
Psalms were sung, and we have hymns today based on the psalms.
Various psalms were written before, during, or after the time of Exile in Babylon.
So some psalms give thanks and praise,
other psalms recount a story, usually an event of importance,
some psalms were used as part of liturgy as we use a psalm for our call to worship,
and some were psalms of lament and asking for God’s mercy.
Let’s look at Psalm 105. This is a historical psalm, it is retelling Israel’s story. It is a hymn used to educate. This is a wonderful way of passing along the knowledge of what has come before, a way of defining who the people of Israel have been, who they are, and who they will be. It tells of God’s faithfulness to Israel.
Psalm 105 is a song of praise. The first verses are an invitation to praise and the following verses give the reasons God should be praised. So the first 6 verses of this psalm are the invitation to praise.
In the scripture from Luke, Mary is in celebration and using a psalm-like song of praise. She is expressing her joy and praising God. If we look at Mary's magnificat, the first 2 verses can be seen as an invitation to praise, and then in the following verses she is giving her reasons for praise. She recalls the same covenant that God made with Abraham.
"... the promise He made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
And Jesus is the new covenant who is not only for Israel, but for all people. God is faithful!
In verse 10 of Psalm 105 it refers to the covenant as an everlasting covenant. God is faithful!
Those first 6 verses in Psalm 105 as I mentioned were the invitation to praise. And our call to worship is our way of entering into a holy time. A time not to be worried about the concerns of life. Worship is a time to give thanks for what God has done for us, what He is doing through us, and knowing in our faith what God will continue to do in his loving mercy.
Think for a moment on how you and I give our thanks and praise to God. (pause)
Praising God can be done through so many different ways:
-in our everyday lives
as we drive down the road in our cars and have conversations with God
or through meditations and spiritual practices
-in worship
as we sing and read scriptures.
-when we are in prayer
whether alone or praying together with one voice.
-when we are in fellowship with others
whether in a church or somewhere together doing
God's work.
All of this can be done no matter where we are.
The 3 things I brought up in the children’s sermon:
being in God’s creation
sharing your happiness
knowing God
I gave simple examples for the children, but what could be the adult actions?
1) being in God’s creation
-enjoying life
-letting go of worry
-noticing the little things and knowing God will take care of the big things
2) sharing your happiness / sharing your faith with others
-reaching out to your neighbor
-reaching out to those in need
-being a volunteer or involved in mission
3) knowing God
-studying scripture
-devotionals and prayer
-being part of a community of fellowship
In Shirley Guthrie's book Christian Doctrine there is a quote which relates to this community of fellowship. And it has stuck with me from the first time I read it a few years ago.
'The Bible was written for a community of people -Israel in the Old Testament and the church in the New Testament. You cannot be a Christian by yourself, you can only be a Christian together with other Christians who serve God in the world.'
Think about what this community of fellowship can mean. What is together?
Things done when churches come together through organizations like Essex Churches Together.
And things that are discussed in an individual congregation as it discerns how to reach out to the un-churched of the local community?
The people of Israel were given an invitation to praise God. In some translations of Psalm 105 verse 4 says "to seek His face"; the NRSV has "seek His presence continually". I like them both but the wording of 'seek his face' seems to me a more personal relationship to God.
The commentaries say this means a way to approach God in worship. And to seek God is to trust one's existence to God. It's faith.
The invitation to praise God is the opportunity being given to join in as public witness of God's deeds. There is a song by a friend of mine, Anne Trufant. The song is called 'We Will Stand' and the lyrics I want to share with you are:
We will pray and do whatever we are called to do,
And we will stand for what is right and hold to what is true.
We will set our face like flint to do His will.
We will move when Jesus moves us,
or we will praise him standing still.
So I am going to end with an invitation to praise. An invitation of opportunity. Give glory to God and praise Him by doing anything that brings more
happiness,
celebration,
abundance,
grace,
self-esteem,
courage,
spontaneity,
beauty, and peace to others.
Amen.
audio: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/108288011/Leah_Sermon_7_27_2014.mp3
This children's sermon was inspired by a 'certificate' I got when I was a camp counselor at Camp Glen Arden in North Carolina back in the summer of 1990. "A Certificate to the Right to Play" and officially be a member of "The Society of Child-like Persons".
As I was working on the adult sermon "An Invitation to Praise", I was looking at the ways we praise God. Then thinking about how children praise God, I found wonderful insights in this piece of paper from so many summers ago.
How we all can celebrate being a child of God.
1) being in God’s creation -enjoying the outdoors
-walk in the rain/look for rainbows
-smell the flowers
-watch the butterflies, squirrels, or chipmunks
2) share your happiness
-dance -sing -laugh
-make friends
3) knowing God –like having a friendship with God
-hear the Bible stories
-pray to God –talking to God and God listens
-learn about Jesus
(Luke 18:16) But Jesus called for them and said, "Let the little children come to me,
and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs."
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for the good things you give us.
We love our family and friends,
we enjoy the beautiful world you created
with all the animals, trees, and flowers.
We gives thanks to you as we play, laugh, and sing.
And thank you God for sending us Jesus
and we are so happy to be a child of God.
Amen
Prayer of Confession
Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob forgive us. We confess our brokenness to you.We try and fail in our everyday lives in living up to the promises you have given us. In our hearts we know you are always with us, but our actions do not always proclaim it. Grant us your forgiveness and guide us in your mercy to live a life of joy that leads us to be in your eternal presence. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
This is the text of the sermon from this morning. The sermon came from Genesis 28:10-19a. Supporting scripture included Psalm 139:1-12, Hebrews 11:1-3,8-12, and Luke 15:25-32.
"The Inescapable God"
When I first read a scripture, especially a familiar one, I see a topic and think that is what I want to preach on. But then I study the scripture, read some commentaries, and change directions a little. "Oh, that is the real message of the scripture!" Then there is digging just a little deeper and other scriptures come into play. Finally I am at a completely unforeseen idea for the sermon.
I love this process, because I am discovering something new to me and I can’t wait to share that with you. So I am going to briefly take you on my journey with this Genesis passage.
What is going on? Why is Jacob on the road to Haran?
What comes before this passage? Jacob has stolen his older brother’s birthright and blessing and is on the run from big brother Esau. Family conflict or maybe sibling rivalry -that could be the topic. Problems between siblings are all through the Bible from Cain and Abel to the prodigal son story.
That must be the topic.
But wait, no, what is happening in these specific verses?
Jacob’s dream, dream interpretation, what is the meaning of his dream? What symbols and hidden meanings can be discovered?
No –not the direction to go. You may ask why not? It is because the dream, the fact that Jacob is dreaming, is not the important point. God is communicating with Jacob.
Yes, God communicates through many different ways and dreams are one of those ways, but the focus should not be the how, but what is being said, being promised.
The angels, the ladder to heaven are all background, God appearing to Jacob and what he says is the focus.
First we do need to review Jacob’s current situation.
He has deceived his father Isaac, stolen his brother Esau’s birthright and blessing, and has been encouraged to go on the run by his mother. Now instead of enjoying his newly acquired blessing, leading the family, and having his inheritance, Jacob is homeless and alone.
He is in trouble and God can help; however, Jacob does not go seeking God. God comes to Jacob.
God does not abandon Jacob or withdraw the covenant made with Jacob’s family through Abraham because of Jacob’s less than honorable conduct. Instead God comes to Jacob in the dream. God is there!
God addresses all of Jacob’s anxieties he carries in his heart.
Jacob is homeless and lonely; he will possess land and have numerous offspring.
Jacob is estranged from his family; he will not only have a family but will be the source of blessings for all families.
Jacob is on the run, from his family and from the consequences of his actions but he cannot run from God.
Jacob caries uncertainty of his tenuous status in the eyes of God. Yet there is assurance that God will be with him.
As we look at Psalm 139 which we read in our Call to Worship, you and I know God knows us!
"You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away."
Jacob may be on the run, but he cannot escape God. God knows Jacob.
"You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways."God knows what Jacob has done; He knows Jacob is a trickster, a deceiver. Just as God knows we are sinners. Yet, God is always with us. Wherever we go God is there!
"Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?"
God is inescapable. We do not hide from God, you and I are always in the presence of God.
In verses 13-15 in Genesis, God gives to Jacob an unconditional promise which includes 8 things:
-land "the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring;"
-many descendants "and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth,"
-generations spread throughout the land "and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south;"
-extension of blessings to others through him "and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring."
-God’s presence "Know that I am with you"
-God’s keeping "and will keep you wherever you go,"
-homecoming "and will bring you back to this land;"
-not leaving. "for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
This is God’s unconditional promise to Jacob. God is not asking something of Jacob. He is not putting restrictions or requirements on this promise. God made this merciful and gracious action toward Jacob. God spoke to Jacob!
The father in the parable of the prodigal son is an example of God’s love for us. God forgives and rejoices. Our brokenness is taken by God and with unconditional love, promises are given.
Even when you and I feel separated from God, that is us, because God is always with us. ‘Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go.’
When Jacob awakens from the dream, the scripture says he was afraid, but he was also in awe, he was amazed and joyous.
"Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!"
God was there!God can be counted on to be faithful. Jacob need no longer wonder about God. God is a promise keeper and Jacob must be also.
God was with Jacob.
God is with you and me. Wherever we go, whatever the situation, God is there! He does not abandon us,
desert us,
or leave us. God is there!
Through loneliness, despair, illness, challenges, and trials –God is there!
God knows us!
God loves us!
You and I are always in God’s presence! And knowing this I feel (and hope you feel as well) as amazed and joyous as Jacob when he awoke from his dream at Bethel.
Amen.
audio: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/108288011/Leah_Sermon_7_20_2014.mp3
