Genesis 22:1-18

Genesis 22:1-18

Can We Pass The Test?

June 29, 2008

This summer we are spending some time looking at stories from the book of Genesis that make up a valuable part of our faith tradition. These are stories of folks like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph – folks who were called by God and touched by God in certain ways – and – while they were not perfect – were used by God to bring His will and His love into the world.

As we look at these stories I believe we will discover that God is at work in our lives and in our world – and that God can use us – as imperfect as we may be – to do His work and will in the world – if we will let Him use us.

3 weeks ago we looked at the story of Noah in Genesis 6-8 – and saw how he was obedient to God – even when it was costly and messy to be obedient – and discovered a blessing for himself and his family – and all people – because of his obedience to God.

2 weeks ago we began the story of Abraham as we looked at Genesis 12:1-9 – and saw how God – many times –

calls us to do new things –

calls us do away with things we may be comfortable with —

calls us to do things we have never done before

or –

calls us to do old things in new and different ways –

and – even though we may not know exactly what will happen when we try doing new things as individuals or as a Church –

or we may not know exactly what will happen when we try – as individuals or a Church — doing old things in new ways –

we need to step out in faith and follow God.

Last week we continued to story of Abraham by looking at 2 passages in Abraham’s life and journey with God – Genesis 18:1-5 – where we saw how God gave Abraham an unbelieveable promise and vision for his future – and Genesis 21:1-7 – where we saw that God kept that wonderful promise He made.

Today we are going to see how Abraham’s faith in God was tested – and how Abraham passed the test – as we look at how God called on him to give up that promise and vision for the future God had given him when God called him to sacrifice Isaac. As we look at this passage we will see how we have to have faith in God – and have to be willing to give up everything for following God’s will.

Listen to God’s word in Genesis 22:1-18.

Read Scripture

I have never liked exams.

I am one of those people that has “test-itis” when it comes to taking tests. I didn’t look forward to exam week in school. I don’t even like examinations by doctors. I don’t even like those electronic tests they do on your automobile engines. I’m always afraid it’s going to cost me a lot of money.

The test that scarred me the most was when I had to drive to qualify for my driver’s license. I was intimidated, nervous and afraid of failing. In fact, in my first attempt to pass my driving test, I failed.

Do you have “test-itis?”

Do you fear those moments in life when you have to make a decision?

More importantly, do you have faith that the decisions you make are the right ones?

No story has puzzled people of the faith more than this story we have before us today – - God calling Abraham to sacrifice Isaac – the very one God had miraculously blessed Abraham with not many years before.

Why would a loving God test a man’s faith with the sacrifice of his son? The whole incident seems strange. I can’t imagine being in a situation where I was asked to sacrifice one of my children.

Some scholars believe that the voice that told Abraham to slay his son was not the voice of God. Perhaps Abraham was listening to the voice of culture. At the time human sacrifice was a common practice. Maybe God wanted this story here to make a statement that human sacrifice was all wrong and therefore intervened to stop it.

I suppose that is a possibility but I think it may be just another way of rationalizing the story to somehow make sense of what happened.

Since when does God make sense? Remember this is the same God who gave a son to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. That story was absurd, just as this one is.

God is absurd and the voice of God sometimes calls us to absurdity.

This was the same God who told Noah to build an ark on dry land.

How crazy is that?

This is the same God that will lead the Israelites across the Red Sea.

Talk about crazy!

This is the same God who will come into the world through Jesus Christ – be born in obscure little Bethlehem – live and teach and heal – give of Himself by a death on the cross – and yet rise again and promise us new life.

Isn’t just the craziest thing you’ve ever heard?

The God of absurdity puts Abraham to this horrific test.

Fortunately, Abraham passed the test — and the story had a happy ending.

What was this test all about?

Well – I believe that God’s test of Abraham had to be one where there could be no question about Abraham’s faith. God needed Abraham to be a leader and God had to determine whether or not Abraham was up to the test.

But Abraham is not acting on blind faith here. God has already demonstrated the impossible by giving him Isaac, his first born son, and followed through on that promise. God made a covenant with Noah and promised Abraham land and descendants.

This story is difficult for us to comprehend since it appears to put Abraham’s son, Isaac, in grave danger. But — I don’t believe that God ever intended that any harm would come to Isaac. I believe God could have intervened at any point along the way.

At first glance this story may be offensive to us, but sometimes the only way God can get our attention is to do the impossible – to do the absurd – to do the ridiculous.

When I first entered the ministry my friends from the past laughed. They had never heard of such a ridiculous thing – Bill Hayes – of all people – becoming a minister. It was ridiculous. It was absurd. It was crazy. But – it was true. I wasn’t too sure about it myself at first – but have came to realize that I do have gifts God can use – as crazy as it may seem.

What Abraham demonstrated in this story is a complete surrender of his will to God. Abraham was able to put aside his feelings of what made sense – and put his trust in what God was calling him to do – whether it made sense to him or not.

Abraham proceeded to do what God instructed him to do – without hesitation — without complaining — without debate – even when it made no sense to him. Abraham accepted the challenge God put before him — and ultimately passed his test.

Maybe you wonder why Abraham would consider such an absurd exam.

The secret for Abraham is that he never thought would not provide for him. Abraham proceeded because he trusted in God completely. Notice that Abraham responded to God by saying, “Here I am.” He was ready and willing as he responded to the call.

For Abraham, there were no excuses. There is no other agenda.

God called– Abraham responded. It was just that simple.

He prepared himself for the journey and proceeded. He didn’t look at his appointment book or ask his family if they had plans. He didn’t have to think it over or sleep on it. He didn’t say, “I’ll get back to you.” He didn’t say, “You know I’d really like to, but…”

What God wanted was Abraham’s absolute commitment and unqualified faith — and Abraham came through with flying colors.

Notice also that when Isaac questioned his father about the lamb, Abraham told him that “God would provide the lamb for the burnt offering.”

Abraham had complete faith in God that whatever resources were necessary for the mission would be available. There was no reason to worry since God would provide for all his needs.

But — it is not enough that Abraham just believed in God. Abraham had to make the journey — he had to go the distance. This is illustrated by the fact that they travel for three days. And God didn’t intervene until the very last moment when Abraham reached for the knife. God had seen enough. God was convinced that Abraham could be trusted. It was then that the angel of God said, “For now I know that you fear God.”

Yea – this is a tough story – a story we don’t particularly like.

But – it’s an important story for us.

One reason we don’t like this story is because we don’t like the idea of God asking for a human sacrifice. But – there’s another reason we may not like this story.

We may not like it because of what it asks of us.

This story asks us to be willing to do what God calls us to do – even when it seems crazy and absurd.

This story calls on us to sacrifice things that are important to us if that’s what God calls us to do.

This story calls us to be willing to “go the distance” – to be willing to do the hard and difficult things – knowing that – if that’s what God calls us to do – that God will provide for us.

So – we have some hard questions here:

Are we willing to go the distance for our faith?

Are we?

For Abraham, going the distance meant taking a test which could have had dire consequences. It meant trusting in God, who in the past had made extraordinary requests from other leaders of the faith, like Noah. It meant believing that God would provide all of his needs. It meant that the God of absurdity would call him to do what seemed like other ridiculous tasks in the future.

So – what do you think?

Are we up to such a test?

Are you up to such a test?

I believe that most of us are creatures of habit and strive to be comfortable with the status quo. We don’t like it when we are asked to do things that are different or that don’t make sense to us. We don’t want to be different. We don’t want to be known as people who do crazy things. We don’t like risks and we don’t like to lose. We would rather know what’s on the exam in advance or “cheat” our way through life.

But – God keeps calling.

God keeps calling us to do things that may not make a lot of sense.

Things like reaching out to the community with His love.

Things like going out of our way to make sure that God’s work is being done.

Things like looking for new ways to reach people with the love of God – even if it means doing things in new ways or even doing new things.

Things like changing what we do as individuals and as a Church so that God’s things can be done and the community and the world can learn about God.

Things like volunteering to help with things that may not directly help us but will help others.

Things that may sound crazy.

But – things that are God’s will – and things God will provide ways for us to do if we will step out in faith – follow God – and do them.

Can we pass the test?

Abraham had faith in God – and passed his test – knowing that – if he stepped out in faith and did what God was calling him to do – God would provide.

Can we pass the test?

This Friday is the Fourth of July. I seem to remember that some very insane revolutionaries decided to take on England and fight for independence. They were greatly outnumbered, lacked training and resources and their government was fragile and unorganized. Yet, they prevailed. They passed the test because they were committed and had faith that what they were fighting for was right.

Can we pass the test?

We all have dreams, beliefs and goals that are never reached because we fail to live up to the test.

God wants us to have faith and support that faith with commitment.

God wants us to trust that He will provide for us in the future just as He has provided for us in the past.

God wants us to do new things – to grow – to grow into the Church He wills for us to be – even when some of the things He calls us to do are new and make little sense.

God calls us to know that – if we step out in faith – He will provide.

So – can we pass the test?

Can we step out – and go all the way – doing the things God calls us to be doing – and knowing God will provide a way for us?

Can we pass the test? Amen.

Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7

Genesis 18:1-15

Genesis 21:1-7

God Is A Promise – Keeper

June 22, 2008

This summer we are spending some time looking at stories from the book of Genesis that make up a valuable part of our faith tradition. These are stories of folks like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph – folks who were called by God and touched by God in certain ways – and – while they were not perfect – were used by God to bring His will and His love into the world.

As we look at these stories I believe we will discover that God is at work in our lives and in our world – and that God can use us – as imperfect as we may be – to do His work and will in the world – if we will let Him use us.

Two weeks ago we looked at the story of Noah in Genesis 6-8 – and saw how he was obedient to God – even when it was costly and messy to be obedient – and discovered a blessing for himself and his family – and all people – because of his obedience to God.

Last week we began the story of Abraham as we looked at Genesis 12:1-9 – and saw how God – many times –

calls us to do new things –

calls us do away with things we may be comfortable with —

calls us to do things we have never done before

or –

calls us to do old things in new and different ways –

and – even though we may not know exactly what will happen when we try doing new things as individuals or as a Church –

or we may not know exactly what will happen when we try – as individuals or a Church — doing old things in new ways –

we need to step out in faith and follow God.

Today we are going to look at 2 passages in Abraham’s life and journey with God – Genesis 18:1-5 – where we will see that God gives Abraham an unbelieveable promise and vision for his future – and Genesis 21:1-7 – where we will see that God keeps that wonderful promise He made.

As we look at these 2 passages we are going to see that God makes – and keeps – promises to us – and calls us to be folks who make – and keep – promises.

Listen to God’s word in Genesis 18:1-5 and Genesis 21:1-7.

Read Scripture

Have you ever had someone tell you something that was so

incredible – so ridiculously silly – that you felt that there was just no way it could be true?

What was your first response?

Did you want to laugh?

Maybe.

Maybe you did laugh.

Someone calls you and says:

“You just won 10 million dollars!”

And you say:

“OK – Quit playing around – who is this? I know its a trick”

Some promises are, indeed, too good to be true.

If you can imagine your reaction to unbelievable news, then maybe you can identify with Sarah and Abraham.

God tells Abraham that Sarah will bear him a son.

God continues to promise Abraham descendants.

Sarah and Abraham will have a son!

It’s incredible news!

It’s unbelievable!

It’s too good to be true!

And Sarah laughs.

“Come on, you’ve got to be kidding” – - she’s probably thinking -

“It can’t be true!”

“No way!”

“Not me – I’m too old.”

But again – God says that it will happen.

God – who had promised Abraham descendents years before – had every intention of keeping that promise.

And what happens?

As ludicrous as it may seem –

As incredible as it appears –

As unbelievable as it may look –

It happens!

Sarah gives birth!

Isaac is born!

And again – Sarah laughs – but this time not incredulously but joyously.

Laughter that something considered impossible has suddenly become possible. Laughter that new life had come from what appeared to be a dead-end.

Laughter that God was keeping His promises.

But — that’s the kind of God they served!

That’s the kind of God we serve!

Friends — the God Abraham and Sarah served —

the God we serve —

was —

and still is —

a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

As impossible as it may seem – -

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

New life is possible!

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

Joy can come from sorrow!

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

Hope can come from hopelessness!

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

Indeed – God kept His promise and Sarah gave birth – new hope and new joy sprang from what had appeared to be a barren, hopeless situation.

A good story – isn’t it?

Yes – a story of hope and joy and new life for Abraham and Sarah – and for us.

God promised new life for Abraham – and it happened – just when it looked as if it would never happen.

God promises new life for us – and guess what?

It happens!

It happens!

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

It may seem that new life is impossible – but

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

God promises to us — to you — may not be literal new life as it was for Abraham with the birth of Isaac — but His promise to you is just as real and just as powerful.

God can give you new life!

God can give you a new way to live!

You don’t have to live in the old ways of sin – of hatred – ways that inflict pain – ways of hopelessness and despair – the ways that separate you from God and others – ways that will ultimately lead you to hell – but you can live in the ways of love – of understanding – of hope – ways that will ultimately lead to heaven.

God promises this – - and

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

God also promises new life for the Church – this particular Church.

God promises that Hopewell can be a Church filled with excitement and enthusiasm – that each of us can be filled with a vision for the ministry God is calling us to do in the world – and can be filled with excitement over doing the ministry God calls us to be doing.

We don’t have to keep doing things in the same old ways — but we can be blessed with new ways to do things and new ways to reach out to others – to reach out to the community – with God’s love.

God promises new life – for us as individual Christians – and for us a Church.

And – God is a promise keeper

God is a promise keeper.

Now – when you hear me saying that you don’t have to live in the ways of sin – of hatred – of pain – of hopelessness and despair –

and that – as a Church – we don’t have to keep doing things the same ways but can be blessed with new ways to do things and new ways to reach out to others – to reach out to the community – with God’s love —

you may want to respond like Sarah.

“Give me a break!” You may want to say.

“I’ve heard that so many times before – but nothing ever changes. Everything remains the same. I’ll never change. This Church will never change.”

Indeed – the idea of changing – of becoming a person of love and hope and understanding instead of hatred and pain – the idea of truly being able to be the person God is calling you to be – the idea of the Church truly becoming the Church God may be calling it to be — may seem a bit ridiculous – or even very ridiculous.

But – then again – it’s not laughing matter – is it?

It wasn’t funny to Sarah that she had not been able to have children.

I’m sure she felt a lot of personal pain because of this.

She may have felt it was her fault that God’s promise of descendants wasn’t coming true.

She may have felt it was her fault that Abraham still had no children.

But – she had tried!

O — how she had tried!

If she could have willed a child for Abraham it would have been born years ago.

Yes – she laughed at the thought of having a child – but actually it was a subject of pain and not a subject of joy.

You know – the fact that it is so hard for us to live the life God calls us to live – the fact that it is so hard for us to live the new life God promises us – the fact that it is hard for us to make changes as a Church and try new ways of doing things – these are not laughing matters for us, either – are they?

We know haw hard we try to change!

We know how badly we want to be different!

We know how much we want to be loving and caring – and not hurting others but loving them – not saying things that hurt but things that make them feel good – not putting them down but building them up –

We know haw badly we want to do what is right!

We know how badly we want to be the people God has called us to be.

We know how badly we want to be a Church that is trying new things and doing God’s work in the community!

We know how badly we want to be a Church that makes a difference for God in the world!

These things are really not laughing matters – are they?

But – like God was with Sarah – so God is with us!

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

God keeps lifting us up.

God is a promise – keeper!

`God is a promise – keeper!

God keeps giving us strength.

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

God keeps changing us.

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

God keeps making us new people.

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

God keeps renewing Churches.

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

Paul writes in Romans about that the wages of sin is death.

Did you catch that?

Death!

Separation!

Hell!

This is where our lives are heading without God’s promises!

It’s not what we want for ourselves – it’s not what God wants for us – but it’s what happens when we fail to live in the new life God calls us to.

But – that is not the end — it is not the end hope for mankind — nor is it the end of Paul’s sentence here in Romans. Paul concludes that sentence in Romans by saying that new life is the promise through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Did you catch that?

New life is the promise through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Friends – God is a promise – keeper.

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

God redeems us – through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

God gives us new promises through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

God renews Churches through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through Jesus Christ – God is a promise – keeper.

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

New life is possible!

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

A new and renewed Church is possible!

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

But- only through Jesus Christ.

Bruce Reyes – Chow is a candidate for moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Over the past few months he has fielded many questions about what our denomination needs to do to stem the tide of membership losses and begin a new tide of membership gains. A few weeks ago he posted this response on his blog about whether the Presbyterian Church could change:

if we can center our lives on the transformational nature of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I have no doubt that will be changed. And that gives me hope. I hope it does for you as well.

Sarah could not fulfill God’s promises on her own.

We can not fulfill them on our own - but – with God – they are fulfilled.

God kept his promises to Abraham and Sarah.

God keeps His promises to us.

God keeps His promises to you.

As incredible as it may seem – you can be made new!

Let God do it!

Let God make a difference in your life!

Let God change you!

As incredible as it may sound – we as a Church can be made new!

Let God do it!

Let God make a difference in your life – and that will make a difference in the life of the Church!

Let God change you – and that will change the Church!

Let God make you the person God would have you to be – not living in sin – not living with anger and despair and hopelessness — not heading to hell – but in love -in hope – showing His love to others – heading to heaven.

Let God make us as His Church the Church He wants us to be – a Church filled with excitement and filled with the new plans and new ways for reaching out into the community with God’s love!

God promises that we can be made new!

God promised new life to Abraham and Sarah!

God promises new life to you!

God promises new life to this Church!

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

But — what about you?

What about us?

Do you keep your promises to God?

Do you live up to your end of the bargain?

Do we keep our promises to God?

Do we – as a Church – live up to our end of the bargain?

Are you a promise keeper?

Are you a promise keeper?

Once you realize and claim God’s promises in you life — your response is to make a promise to Him — a promise to live the life God calls you to live — a commitment — a promise — to God –

to His work —

to His will —

whether it be in the area of the church – the community – the world – or wherever God’s call and promises may lead you.

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

Are you?

Are we – as a Church?

Several years ago a Men’s Movement called the Promise Keepers emerged where men were urged to keep their promises to God — their families — their community — and the world.

I want to encourage each of us today to be promise keepers for God.

God has kept His promises — and has blessed you.

Have you kept your promises to God?

God has kept His promises to us as a Church – and blessed us as a Church.

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

Are you are a promise – keeper?

Are you a promise – keeper?

God completely changed Abraham and Sarah’s life —

God can completely change you!

God can completely change us – as a Church.

God is a promise – keeper!

God is a promise – keeper!

Let God change you!

Let God change us – as a Church!

We will discover that

God is a promise – keeper!

And – we can be promise – keepers also. Amen.

Genesis 12:1-9

Genesis 12:1-9

Stepping Out – In Faith

June 15, 2008

This summer we are spending some time looking at stories from the book of Genesis that make up a valuable part of our faith tradition. These are stories of folks like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph – folks who were called by God and touched by God in certain ways – and – while they were not perfect – were used by God to bring His will and His love into the world.

As we look at these stories I believe we will discover that God is at work in our lives and in our world – and that God can use us – as imperfect as we may be – to do His work and will in the world – if we will let Him use us.

Last week we looked at the story of Noah in Genesis 6-8 – and saw how he was obedient to God – even when it was costly and messy to be obedient – and discovered a blessing for himself and his family – and all people – because of his obedience to God.

Today we are going to begin the story of Abraham – or Abram as he is referred to in our passage for today – as we look at Genesis 12:1-9 – and as we look at this passage we will see how God – many times –

calls us to do new things –

calls us do away with things we may be comfortable with —

calls us to do things we have never done before

or –

calls us to do old things in new and different ways –

and – even though we may not know exactly what will happen when we try doing new things as individuals or as a Church –

or we may not know exactly what will happen when we try – as individuals or a Church — doing old things in new ways –

we need to step out in faith and follow God.

Listen to God’s word in Genesis 12:1-9

Read Scripture

In the book Chicken Soup For The Soul, there is an article entitled, “The Great Escape.” It tells about Wendy Marston and the time she moved away from her home in Colorado to attend Columbia University in New York City. Her story is like thousands of other young people who have moved away from home in order to get an education. And, like many others, Wendy didn’t find the experience easy.

She didn’t seem to fit in with the insanity of New York City.

Joining the Rowing Crew at the University seemed like a good idea – but the thought of getting up at 5:30 AM for practice didn’t appeal to her. She dated an actor for awhile, only to have him dump her for someone else. She even tried throwing herself into her schoolwork, but that didn’t seem to work either. Finally, she started waitressing at a local coffee shop and things began to turn around for her. There she met a new friend and the two of them worked on their schoolwork together. Inside the coffee shop there was a casual atmosphere and Wendy had the opportunity to interact with some of her college professors on a one-to-one basis. She made a close circle of friends and that helped her throughout her career at Columbia and beyond.

Now – what impresses me that Wendy Marston is that she learned she could take risks and try new things until she found something that worked.

But what impressed me more was her personal discovery. She realized that her journey wasn’t about becoming some new person. Rather, it was simply figuring out that she could be comfortable with the person God called her to be.

A lot of times we have to try new things – take risks – try new things or try doing old things in new ways – to truly discover the person God is calling us to be.

In all my research about Abraham in preparing this sermon – all the information I gathered from scholars and preachers — no one gave me as much insight about the story of Abraham than the story of Wendy Marston. She helped me realize that Abraham’s step of faith was not just about leaving his parents. It was about trusting God enough to step out in faith – to try new things – to sometimes try new things and sometimes try old things in new ways – and discover who God was calling him to be.

The story of Abraham is a story of stepping out in faith.

The story of Abraham is about taking risks.

God calls Abraham to leave his country – his people – and his household. Notice the progression from things not as important to things very important here. His country was important – but leaving his country was not as big a deal as leaving his people – but even leaving his people was not as big a deal as leaving his father’s household – especially in a society where family took care of each other and your family was your “safety net” if you had troubles. There was no government welfare system for those “sown on their luck” – only family. So leaving his father’s household would have been gut-wrenching for Abraham.

But – what did Abraham do?

We find the answer in verse 4:

So Abram left, as the LORD had told him

He stepped out – in faith.

He tried to new thing – in faith.

He learned how to do old things in new ways – in faith.

And – he was blessed and discovered the person God had in mind for him to be all along – and became a blessing to many – because of his faith.

By stepping out in faith — as instructed by God — Abraham was able to break away from the things he was used to and the way he had always done things — and put his trust totally in the hands of God. His life was now a new adventure—and he had no choice but to trust in God and – and proceed with faith.

The story of Abraham is a story of stepping out in faith

There are times when all of us are afraid to step out in faith. We are accustomed to our safety net. We get used to doing the same things in the same ways and don’t want to even consider doing them differently. We like to remain in our comfort zones where everything is predictable and known.

But — notice that when God tells Abraham to leave his country – his people – and his father’s house — He is also promised Abraham would be blessed. Had Abraham remained in his safety net – doing everything the same way he always did them and never trying anything new or different – he would have missed many blessings during his journey with God.

Shortly after moving here I began a new morning routine of going to the store around 7:30 every Monday – Thursday morning for coffee, a devotional time with a group of guys, and fellowship. By around 8:30 I’m in the office at the Church. To do this, I had to change some things about my routine. I was used to getting up around 6:00 – having my devotional – reading the paper – checking my e-mails – eating breakfast – then maybe getting to work around 9:00 – sometimes later. But now I get up a little earlier – eat a quicker breakfast and have my devotional time – then go to the store. I check e-mails later and read the paper at night. Getting used to a new routine was not easy for me – I can easily get locked in to routines and habits – but adapting my morning schedule and adopting a new routine has been a blessing for me. I have been blessed with new friendships – gotten to know people I would not have normally met had I not changed my routine – and gotten to know folks in the community in a new way and on a much deeper level. I also am at the Church working earlier than I would have been!

It can be difficult to make changes in our lives – to begin doing new things or old things in new ways — even when we know that making such changes are good for us. I’m still struggling with finding the time to exercise on a weekly basis – even though I know it would be good for me to do so. But – like a lot of people – I use the feeling that I don’t have time to exercise as an excuse. If we’ll just make the time to do new things – or make the time to figure out how to do old things in a new way – we just might discover God’s blessings for us and plan for our lives.

Stepping out and doing new things.

Stepping out and doing old things in new ways.

Stepping out in faith.

Maybe part of the problem we have with stepping out in faith – doing new things – or doing old things in new ways — is the fact that we expect instant results.

That certainly wasn’t the case with Abraham. There were years of hardship as he proceeded on his journey. But, there were also moments where Abraham realized the goodness of God praised and worshipped God – who was with him all the way.

Why don’t we leave our comfort zones and try new things?

Why don’t we try doing new things – or try doing old things in new ways?

Is it because we lack faith?

Do we not trust that God will bless us?

A lot of times it’s because we get stuck.

We might have the resources — and even have the faith — but we might have a perception of reality that is no longer valid. We might believe that what worked in the past will continue to work in the future.

I have a friend whose father had his own business. He was very successful — and sold his business in the early 1980’s. He then started a new business in Florida – but this time he business struggled. The reason he struggled was that he wasn’t keeping up with the competition. He was using sales techniques that worked in the past but not at that time. He also resisted the use of computers which would have enhanced his ability to be competitive in the marketplace. In other words, his techniques and sales strategies were outdated – and his business suffered.

Now — I have to admit that computers are sometimes frustrating. They at times “have minds of their own” and are usually “smarter than we are”. On the other hand, life with computers has given me many blessings. Desk top publishing has made writing a lot faster and reduced the number of errors. E-mail and the Internet has opened up a whole new world of resources. All that came about because I was open to a new way of writing and adapting it to my work in the church. It’s hard to believe – but when I first began my ministry in 1984 I didn’t have a computer at the Church and did not have one at home. I either handwrote everything or typed it on a typewriter – or handwrote it and got Sally to type it for me. I had to either buy books and commentaries of go to the library to research things. Things are much different now! I can type things on the computer – research things on the internet – and e-mail someone – in a matter of seconds.

Yea — trying new experiences and making changes in our lives doesn’t come without difficulty. It isn’t easy sometimes to try new things or try new ways to do old things – but we can expect that blessings will come when we are willing to learn new things – learn new ways to do things – and step out in faith.

Stepping out and doing new things.

Stepping out and doing old things in new ways.

Stepping out in faith.

Now – some of you might say that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. You know what?

Abraham wasn’t middle-aged when he responded to the call of God.

Abraham was old.

Yet, age was no barrier for him in stepping out in faith. He listened to God’s challenge and went, trusting that God would be with him and believing he would be blessed. Had Abraham not listened to God and stayed where he was, he might not have received the blessing God later gave Him. Age does not have to be a barrier when it comes to accepting change and new perceptions. I heard recently about a 98 year old man who graduated from college. He did it for no other reason except for following through on a personal goal. Now he is being blessed as the news of his academic achievement has become a national story.

Stepping out and doing new things.

Stepping out and doing old things in new ways.

Stepping out in faith.

That’s the story of Abraham.

It can be our story also.

We can’t let ourselves – as individuals – become so comfortable with the way things are and the way things have always been – and the way we have always done things – that we refuse to follow God’s call to try new things and new ways of doing old things.

The resistance to trying new things or new ways for doing old things finds it’s way into the Church many times. We become comfortable with the way we do things – we become comfortable with the things we are doing – and we don’t look for new things to do or new ways to do what we are doing. We resist change. We resist doing new things or new ways to do what we are already doing.

You’ve probably heard the old joke –

How many church members does it take to change a light bulb?

And the answer –

“Change? What do you mean change? My granddaddy gave that light bulb and if it was good enough for him it’s good enough for us!”

Yea – we don’t like change.

We get stuck doing the same things the same way – over and over – and don’t realize that those ways may have worked at some point – but don’t work any more. Like my friends father who failed in his second business by trying to do business in the 1980’s the same way he did it in the 1950’s – we fail to reach people and fail to be the Church God is calling us to be because we are try to do things like we always have – even when they don’t work any more.

Like Abraham – there are time we need to try new things.

Like Abraham – there are times we need to try new ways to do old things.

Like Abraham – there are times we need to step out in faith.

Some of you have heard me give my definition of the word “insanity”:

Doing the same thing the same way but expecting different results

That’s insanity!

Like Abraham – there are time we need to try new things.

Like Abraham – there are times we need to try new ways to do old things.

Like Abraham – there are times we need to step out in faith.

You also may have heard me give what I call “the 7 last words of a Church”.

“We’ve never done it that way before!”

There is also a variation on that:

“This is how it’s always been done!”

Yea –

Like Abraham – there are time we need to try new things.

Like Abraham – there are times we need to try new ways to do old things.

Like Abraham – there are times we need to step out in faith.

Just like God called Abraham to go to a new place and do a new thing – God calls us to be willing to do new things – or find new ways to do old things – so that we can discover how to be the Church He is calling us to be.

Abraham stepped out in faith – and found a blessing.

If we will step out in faith – look for new ways to do the work of the Church – look for new ways to do what we are doing – we can discover a blessing also.

God doesn’t call us to sit back and rest from His work. God calls us to be willing to step out in faith – to be always be willing to look for new things to be doing – to always be willing to look for new ways to reach others with His love. God is always calling us to look for ways to change – to look for new ways to do the things we are doing – ways that might reach new people in new ways.

God was not satisfied with Abraham doing what he was doing all his live.

God called Abraham to do something new – to do a new thing.

And – Abraham stepped out in faith.

I don’t think that God is satisfied with us resisting change – or doing the same things over and over and expecting different results – or doing things like we did them in 1950 when it’s 2008.

God calls us to do new things.

God calls us to do things in new ways.

The question is – do we step out in faith – and find the blessing God has in store for us and for all we will reach – if we will step out in faith?

This week you are going to have many opportunities to try doing things – or old things in new ways. I pray you will take advantage of them.

This week we as a Church are going to have an opportunity to step out of our “comfort zone” and reach the community in a new way — as we prepare for Community Day. I pray that we will take full advantage of that opportunity. But – to do that – we are going to have to do things in a different way. Instead of seeing it as one group doing one thing and another group doing something else – let’s think about it as everybody pitching in and helping each other. Maybe that’s not the way it’s always been – but it’s the way it can be now.

Maybe – in the way it’s always been – you waited to do something until you were asked.

Why not step up and volunteer – and do something – without being asked?

These are just a few ways we can step up and do – and step out in faith — as we do new things and do old things in new ways.

Like Abraham – there are time we need to try new things.

Like Abraham – there are times we need to try new ways to do old things.

Like Abraham – there are times we need to step out in faith.

Are you ready?

Let’s step out – try God’s new things – try God’s new ways to do old things – and discover God’s blessings.

Come on – let’s step out – in faith! Amen.

Genesis 6-8

Genesis 6:9-22; 7:11-24; 8:14-21

Not Easy – But New

June 8, 2008

This summer we are going to be spending some time looking at stories from the book of Genesis that make up a valuable part of our faith tradition. These are stories of folks like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph – folks who were called by God and touched by God in certain ways – and – while they were not perfect – were used by God to bring His will and His love into the world.

As we look at these stories I believe we will discover that God is at work in our lives and in our world – and that God can use us – as imperfect as we may be – to do His work and will in the world – if we will let Him use us.

We’re going to begin by looking at Noah – and at how God used him to bring about a new thing – new life – that was not easy – but was new – and was better than life before. As we look at Noah’s obedience to God, we can see how we can live for God in the world – how we can live a life that is not easy but is new – and how God continues to give us opportunities to live this life that is new – even though it is not easy.

The story of Noah takes up several chapters in Genesis – so we are going to look at selected verses from Genesis 6-8.

Listen to God’s word in Genesis 6:9-22; 7:11-24; 8:14-21.

Read Scripture

As I studied this passage this week, 3 words jumped out at me –

2 of them describes Noah – they are righteous and blameless –

the third describes everyone else – corrupt

God looked at the world and saw that something had to be done about the fact that

“the earth was corrupt and full of violence” – as 6:11 puts it.

But – what could God do?

God decided He had to start over again – beginning with Noah – who was – as 6:9 puts it –

“a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God”.

God decided to start over – beginning with someone who was obedient to Him.

The process was not going to be easy –

It could not have been easy for God to destroy His creation – to see people and animals not on the Ark drowning –

but it led to something new – something better.

It was not easy – but it was new.

I think one of the key things we need to keep in mind when we consider Noah is his obedience.

Sometimes the word “obedience” can be seen as a negative thing and not a positive thing. We might think of Stanley Milgram’s experiments where people were told to administer electric shocks to another person – who, unbeknownst to them, were really actors who acted as if they were being shocked – and wonder why people would obey such an order to shock another person. Or we might think of some of the massacres and horror stories of war situations where people killed innocent civilians because they were following orders – and wonder why they could be obedient to such orders.

But –obedience to God is a very positive thing – but it is not an easy thing.

Noah discovered that obedience to God was not easy – but it was positive – and it led to a completely new thing that God was doing.

God used Noah’s obedience to do a new thing in the world.

The story of Noah is a story of obedience that is messy – that is costly – but that is beautiful.

It’s a story of messy – costly – and yet beautiful obedience from an ordinary man named Noah.

Through his story, we learn that it’s when we’re loving God, knowing God, and experiencing God that we’re living a life of active obedience to God – a life that is not easy – but new.

Now — the story of Noah’s obedience—like every story of obeying God—does not begin with Noah – it begins with God. In the midst what Genesis 6:11 describes as a world that is filled with wickedness, there is this bright ray of hope:

“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”

Noah found grace because God, in his grace, found Noah.

Some people like to point out that the story of Noah and the flood is probably not an original story – that there are stories of floods from other cultures and traditions that the story of Noah is patterned after. While it’s true that there are other stories of floods – such as the Gilgamesh epic from the Babylonian culture – there is one main difference between these and the Biblical story. Other cultures –such as the Gilgamesh epic — emphasize the heroic image of the main character – but here in Genesis the emphasis is on God – and God’s grace.

Noah’s simple, humble, but costly obedience is a response to God’s grace.

It all begins with God.

Of course, this is a preview of the Good News of Jesus.

In the New Testament, we’re told over and over again that God saves us, favors us, chooses us, forgives us, and sets us free from the power and penalty of sin and the sting of death. We are also reminded it is not by our own moral effort or progress that we are saved — it’s only by the grace of God.

That raises an important question about obedience to God. People sometimes say:

“If I’m saved by God’s grace in Jesus and it isn’t based on my good deeds, then why would I want to be good?”

“Couldn’t I just live the same life I’ve always lived and then just ask forgiveness?”

I believe the answer is no.

I believe that — once you understand God and His grace — you are going to want to change.

Jesus is the one who sets you free from the bondage of sin. He redeemed you when you were utterly lost – and – because He has done this – I believe you are going to want to love him. And — when you’re in love — it changes everything about you—your actions, attitudes, motivations, and affections.

So – the story of Noah is a story of obedience.

It’s a story that show us that when we’re chosen and loved by God, we can love God in return — and when we love Him — it changes everything.

It’s the story of God doing something that is not easy – but new.

It’s the story of Noah obeying God – doing something that is not easy – but new.

It’s the story of how we can obey God – and do things that are not easy – but new.

It’s a story of God’s grace.

It’s a story of how loving God can lead us to obey God – and do things that are not easy – but are new.

It’s a story of how we can live a life of costly, messy, beautiful obedience.

It’s a story of the radical obedience of an ordinary guy named Noah.

Noah – who did things that were not easy – but were different.

Noah epitomizes costly, messy, but beautiful obedience.

Genesis 6:9 tells us “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.”

The Hebrew word translated “blameless” means free from defect, wholesome, sound. It does not imply Noah was perfect or sinless, but it does imply something special about Noah: he was consistently obedient to God.

Notice the following verses:

• 6:22—”Noah did everything just as God commanded him.”
• 7:5—”And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.”
• 7:9—”as God had commanded Noah.”
• 7:16—”as God had commanded Noah.”
• 8:15–16, 18—”Then God said to Noah, ‘Come out of the ark’ … So Noah came out.”

If Noah had a slogan it would be; “Just do it—God’s way.”

Did you notice Noah never speaks for the entire story? God gives four little speeches, but Noah just keeps his mouth shut and does his job.

Now, he’s not a mindless robot. He’s a flesh and blood human being with real problems and struggles – just like you and me.

And — just like us – when we come to Christ, God doesn’t expect us to be a mindless robot either.

The brilliant physicist, John Polkinghorne, said:

“Many people think that faith involves shutting one’s eyes, gritting one’s teeth, and believing impossible things — because the Bible tells us to do so. Not at all! Faith may involve a leap, but it’s a leap into the light, not the dark. The aim of the religious quest, like that of the scientific quest, is to seek motivated belief about what is the case … not whistling in the dark to keep our spirits up. ”

Noah may well have questioned, doubted, and argued along the way, but all we have is the end result of his journey. He responded to God by listening and obeying God.

Noah perfected the art of obedience – not the art of thinking about obedience.

He acted.

He put his faith into practice.

Hi did something that was not easy – but that was new.

As Noah put his faith into practice – as he acted – as he did his not easy but new thing — he lived a life of costly – messy — and yet beautiful – obedience to God.

Obedience to God is costly.

Obedience will cost you something.

Notice the details of the ark in Genesis 6:14–16.

Someone has estimated that the dimensions imply Noah’s boat was 95,700 square feet. That’s much smaller than the modern ocean liner Queen Elizabeth II, but it’s also much larger than Columbus’s Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria.

The length of 450 feet equals one and a half American football fields

.

This was a massive project!

Imagine what obeying God cost Noah!

It wasn’t a hobby; it consumed his time, money, energy, and life.

Obedience is the flow of God’s love in your life.

Does your faith cost you anything?

Does it cut into your lifestyle at all?

Noah was willing to do something that was not easy at all – but that led to something new – God’s new thing that God was doing in the world.

Are you willing to do things that are not easy – but new – because God told you to do so?

Noah’s obedience to God was costly.

What does your obedience to God cost you?

Noah’s obedience was also messy.

Genesis 6:9 describes Noah very simply with these words:

“He walked with God.”

Genesis 5:24 describes someone else who walked with God: “Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more because God took him away.”

That’s neat and clean obedience.

We obey and God removes us from the mess of life.

But that’s not the way it normally works – is it?

Normally we have to live our lives for God and walk with Him in the midst of a hurting, broken, messy world. Jesus said normal Christian spirituality means letting your light shine into the midst of darkness.

Jesus said: Go back into the darkness and form a community of my people who will reach out and shine my light into the darkness as they love one another.

Too many times slip into an ark mentality.

An ark mentality says, “We just have to get inside, shut the doors, keep the bad influences out, and then hold on until Jesus comes, God opens the doors, and lets us out so we’ll be free at last!”

In the midst of a flood, an ark is a wonderful thing.

But an ark is also a very messy place. It’s part of life in the ark.

The whole point of the ark was not to permanently escape the world; the ark was created so Noah and his community could reenter the world as bearers of an new reality.

In other words, the church isn’t a refuge from the culture around us; it’s the place that helps us enter into and engage the culture.

Obedience to God did not take Noah away from the “messes” of life. In fact, it made his life more messy – but – he was willing to go into the mess – to live in the midst of the mess of his life – knowing that God was with him.

Are you willing to step into the mess of the world – to take on the challenges of caring for others and doing what God calls you to do?

For that matter – are you willing to take on the mess of the Church – getting involved in the work that needs to be done – so that we can be the Church God calls us to be?

Noah was willing to do things that were not easy – so that God’s new thing could be done.

Noah was willing to do things that were costly – and even messy — so that God’s new thing could be done.

Are you willing to do the costly – and even messy – things – so that God’s new thing can be done in the world?

Noah showed obedience that was costly – even messy.

Noah showed obedience to God that was beautiful.

At this point, you may be thinking, Costly, messy, obedience—why would I ever want that?

Noah’s life shows us something else about obedience: it’s beautiful.

Obedience brings life to Noah and his family.

God’s call and Noah’s obedience produced a thing of beauty for Noah, his family, and the whole earth.

Obedience leads to blessing.

Through his obedience, Noah became the bearer of a new, alternative reality—the reality of blessing, the reality of God’s grace.

Through his obedience, Noah bore witness to and left a legacy of God’s grace.

Noah’s faith caused him to do something that was not easy – but led to something that was new.

Noah was not perfect – but more times than not, and when God needed him to be, Noah was obedient.

Even when it was costly.

Even when it was messy.

Noah was obedient – and that led to a new blessing for the world .

It was not easy – but it was new.

And it was beautiful.

Can the same be said about you?

Can it be said that you are willing to be obedient – even when it is costly?

Can it be said that you are willing to be obedient – even when it is messy?

Can it be said that you are willing to be beautifully obedient?

You know — one thing that blocks us from living lives of costly — messy – but beautiful obedience is that we always think we need more information.

We say:

“I’d like to obey, but I need some deeper teaching on that issue. If someone would just feed me, then I could obey. It’s someone else’s responsibility, and I’m a victim of my own disobedience.”

Yes, we do need to question, explore, and get answers — but there comes a point in our lives when we need to say to ourselves:

“How much more information do I need before I can respond to God with costly, messy, and beautiful obedience?”

How much more information about forgiveness do we need before we let go of my grudges and release those who have wounded me?

How much more teaching on Christian community do we need before we decide to reach out to each other and show each other the love of God?

How much more training on how to pray do we need before we actually set aside time every day to come to God in prayer?

How much more do we have to hear about the need to share our faith with others before we do it?

How much more information do we need about how we each have a gift to give for the work of God before we will actually start using our gifts in the Church and in the community?

How much more information do you need about God’s desire for you to be obedient – even when it’s costly and messy – before you will live a life of costly – even messy – yet beautiful obedience?

How much more information do you need before you are willing to do the new things God is calling you to do – even when they are not easy?

The problem in our lives is pretty simple:

too many times we are afraid to be Noah’s – -

too many times we are afraid to do the new things God may be calling us to do –

too many times we are not obedient to God –

because obedience might get costly or inconvenient.

it might get messy —

and we are too comfortable with how things are – regardless of how bad they are – to get involved with making God’s will to make things new.

Noah was willing to be obedient to God.

Even when it was costly –

even when it was messy –

Noah obeyed – and a beautiful new reality was created.

Are you willing to do that?

Are you willing to go into the costly – even messy – thing God may be calling you to be doing – and discover the beautiful new thing God wants to bless you with/

Are we willing to go into the costly – even messy – thing God may be calling us to be doing – and discover the beautiful new thing God may have in store for us?

A man was surveying some beautiful projects his friend had completed in his back yard.

“How did you figure out how to do all this?” he asked him.

“It’s pretty simple,” the neighbor replied.

“I just read the manuals and then I do it.” He then added : “Of course, there’s an important element in between: it’s called courage.”

Noah heard God’s call and then he courageously did it – regardless of how costly or messy it was – and it was a blessing to the world.

Are we willing to hear God’s call to do something new – regardless of how costly or messy it is – and discover God’s blessings?

Noah lived a life of obedience that was costly – messy – but was a blessing.

He was willing to do something that was not easy – but was new.

Here’s the challenge:

Look for things that you can do – that God may be calling you to do – but that have put “on the back burner” because they are costly and messy – and do them!

Look for things that need to be done in the Church – things that may take effort – and do them!

Look for things that can show God’s love to others – things that may be costly and even messy – and do them!

Look for ways to be like Noah – doing the costly and messy things – the things that are not easy – but the things that are what the Church and the world need you to do – the things God needs you to do – so that you can bring God’s new things into the Church and the world.

Amen.