Genesis 22:1-14 A...
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Genesis 22:1-14
A theological student had an appointment to visit his professor, Paul Tillich, in his home, to discuss an assignment. The student arrived at the appointed time, only to find Tillich in his study, surrounded by a chaotic scene of books pulled off the shelves, sheets of paper scattered around, and furniture out of place. Right in the middle of the mess sat Tillich, with his two-year-old daughter.
"Perhaps this is a bad time, professor," the student suggested.
"No," said Tillich. "This is a fine time. I have just learned something I never knew before. For the first time in my life, I understand Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac."
Genesis 22:1-14
Notice the last verse in our Genesis reading where God tells Abraham to take his son, Isaac -- his son, Isaac, whom he loves dearly -- up onto a mountain in the land of Moriah and there to sacrifice him. Then, at the very last moment, God provides a lamb so Abraham won't have to sacrifice his son.
"Moriah," in the Hebrew, can be translated "the Lord will see to it," just as, when something needs to be done today, we say, "I'll see to it."
Likewise, in verse 14, "The Lord will provide" and "it shall be provided" can also be translated "the Lord will see to it."
It gives me great hope and a strong sense of security that, whenever you or I are in need, we can trust that, in God's own time, and in God's own way, "the Lord will see to it."
Genesis 22:1-14
The local service club named Gary its "Person of the Year." Gary worked tirelessly to establish a dental clinic for people living in the inner city who could not afford to have their teeth cared for properly. As Gary sought contributions from area businesses, he would mention that an abscessed tooth could lead to serious illness or even death. He asked other dentists to volunteer their time and services at the clinic. Gary was certainly deserving of the club's award.
Gary was truly touched by the award and spoke from his heart. His father was also present that day. Gary thanked his father for making sacrifices so that he could go to college and dental school. His father was a working class man whose income just barely kept the family going. While growing up, Gary said he and his sisters did not have all the things their friends did, the new clothes or toys. However, when it came time for Gary to attend college, his father encouraged him, telling him not to worry about the cost, his dad would find a way to pay for his education.
His father worked extra shifts to help finance his son's education. Gary said he would not be where he is today without the sacrifices his father made on his behalf while growing up. He closed by thanking his dad, saying that part of his reason for establishing a dental clinic to help struggling families came from the example of his father and mother. Everyone present at the club meeting that day was touched by Gary's story.
Genesis 22:1-14
The story of the binding of Isaac or the Akeidah is the most read of all scriptures. Every morning devout Jews read the Akeidah. It is part of the readings on the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, and it is occurs once in the regular cycle of readings, making a total of 367 times a year the story is read! Why? According to the rabbis, as soon as the knife of Abraham touched the throat of Isaac, his soul departed from him. The instant the angel of the Lord forbade Abraham to harm the child, his soul returned. Thus, Isaac is considered to have died and rose again on the altar. Rabbi Mekilta Simeon wrote that on the basis of Isaac's death and resurrection, God will resurrect all the dead. He wrote:
By virtue of Isaac who offered himself as a sacrifice on top of the altar, the Holy One blessed be He, will resurrect the dead in the future, as it is said, "To hear the groaning of him who is bound; to open up release for the offspring appointed to death" (Psalm 102:21). "Him who is bound" is interpreted as Isaac bound on top of the altar. "To open up release for the offspring appointed to death" [is interpreted] as the dead whose graves the Holy One, blessed be He, will open up so that He may set them on their feet in the Age to Come.
(From www.rabbiyeshua.com/articles/2001/akeidah.html)
Romans 6:12-23
Fred was my neighbor all through childhood. The last time I saw him was at his wedding. Forty years later an email from him linked us together and we've been catching up ever since. One of his interesting experiences (which served me when I later visited the UK) was his renting a car in England. He drove onto the highway (left side, of course) and was unnerved by driving in a totally different way than he'd learned and obeyed for twenty years. He had to stop by the side of the road for a while, breathe deeply, and think carefully about driving in a completely different manner.
In Romans 6:12-23, Paul exhorts Christians who say, "Yes, they're now living as they should," although it's the opposite of how they've lived before. Besides "breathing deeply" of the Spirit, they also need to concentrate upon how their new way of living is the opposite of their old one.
Romans 6:12-23
Does the Lord love everyone? The answer is a little like a client's response to his psychiatrist. The doctor asked, "Do you have trouble making up your mind?" "Well, yes and no," the patient answered. The story is old. Our question is older.
A Hollywood star admitted that she practiced homosexuality. Many in the media praised her. A talk show host voiced her approval of the actress' "coming out" by declaring, "My God and my Jesus loves everybody." All are precious to God. When we conclude, though, that God loves everyone, we must remember Jesus' first message: "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
My wife and I love all our children. We loved them so much that when they were young and behaved inappropriately we applied the "board of education." We knew the dangers for them if they didn't alter their ways.
What changes must we make so we can go to heaven? "Do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies." Our future in heaven or hell depends on whether we stop. This is according to the word of God, not the word of talk show hosts.
Romans 6:12-23
It isn't enough just to sit in church and have a good feeling for those in need and those around us who don't know Jesus. We need to put it into practice. We need to practice what we preach and help others to know. If we can talk the talk, we also need to be able to walk the walk. We need to walk as Jesus leads.
It is all too common to sit in church, hearing holy and uplifting music, thinking how wonderful the music is. Maybe we can all work at putting this song, "We've A Story To Tell To The Nations" (words and music by Ernest Nicholl, 1896) into action.
We've a story to tell to the nations ...
That shall turn their hearts to the right,
A story of truth and mercy,
A story of peace and light ...
We've a song to be sung to the nations,
That shall lift their hearts to the Lord.
A song that shall conquer evil.
And shatter the spear and sword.
We may feel Christ very close during times of worship. Our hearts may be strangely warmed. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you act out his guidance making Jesus known and loved and served! If it is only feeling, it is incomplete. We can be in the business of making Jesus known and loved and served.
Matthew 10:40-42
I preached four nights in a church in Atlanta, a nice, big church with a good crowd, more than I'm used to. There was a moment in the service in which the pastor said, "We'll now have our moments of fellowship. Greet each other in Christian love," and you never saw such hugging and kissing and carrying on in your life -- people going across the room, and up and down the aisles, and grabbing and hugging. Somebody came up to me -- I was down behind the pulpit -- and gave me a big smack. It was just really something. Finally he said, "All right, hold it, hold it. We have to get on with the worship." Four nights of that.
The last night, he and his wife took my wife and I out to coffee. He said, "Did you ever see such a family church? Did you ever see such love in your life in a church?"
My wife said, "Yeah, well, yeah, I have."
He said, "What do you mean?"
She said, "I was there for all four services, and nobody ever spoke to me."
And do you know what he said? He said, "Well, that was because they didn't know who you were."
(from Fred Craddock, Craddock Stories [St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2001], p. 45)
Matthew 10:40-42
Hospitality is one of the marks of a Christian person, one of the qualities of a follower of Jesus. Paul urges us in Romans 12:13, "Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers." In his first letter to Timothy (3:2), he tells him that a bishop must be, among other things, hospitable. And he echoes this in his letter to Titus (1:8).
Peter encourages us in his first letter, "Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received" (1 Peter 4:9-10).
And Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it unto one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it unto me" (Matthew 25:40).
Jesus calls us to be hospitable.
Matthew 10:40-42
A church consultant was hired to help a struggling church. The church had been in decline for over twenty years and was no longer attracting young people and families with children. Leaders within the church were concerned so they hired a consultant to help them.
At the first meeting, people from the church were asked to list the church's strengths. Ed raised his hand and said that he has found the people in the church to be very friendly. "Everyone within the church is friends," Ed explained, "We are just a friendly congregation." Everyone nodded their heads in agreement; they all viewed themselves as a friendly church. With great enthusiasm, Julie told of people standing in the narthex before worship talking with their friends. Again there was agreement.
The consultant told them that they need to stop promoting themselves as a friendly church. "Every church views itself as being friendly," he told them. Even some of the coldest churches claim they are friendly. They should practice radical hospitality, making sure every first-time guest to their church is made to feel welcome. Instead of claiming to be such a friendly church they need to promote that guests can make new friends in their church. The church is a place where new people in the community are welcome and make friends. By making guests feel special and welcome, the church will begin to grow again. To be honest these comments were met with suspicion.
While some of the people who attended that meeting might have been skeptical, others were willing to give it a try. Jesus teaches about radical hospitality as he challenges believers, "Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple -- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."
Matthew 10:40-42
Sheryl spent a lot of time at the home of her college roommate, Rowena. Sheryl's home was clear across the country and neither she nor her parents could afford to get her home more than at Christmas. On long weekends and other special times, Sheryl went home with Rowena. It wasn't long before Sheryl was considered and treated as one of the family. During Sheryl's junior year at college, she was in a car accident and it wasn't immediately apparent that she would survive. Her mother flew in and was met at the airport by Rowena and her mother. They insisted that Sheryl's mother stay with them. It turned out to be a stay of over five weeks. When Sheryl was well along in her recovery, her mother decided that she had to go home to her other children, husband, and job. When she left, she expressed her gratitude to Rowena and her mother. Rowena's mother said something that sounded very similar to Jesus' words: "When we welcomed Sheryl into our hearts and home, we also welcomed those she loved, which includes you."
A theological student had an appointment to visit his professor, Paul Tillich, in his home, to discuss an assignment. The student arrived at the appointed time, only to find Tillich in his study, surrounded by a chaotic scene of books pulled off the shelves, sheets of paper scattered around, and furniture out of place. Right in the middle of the mess sat Tillich, with his two-year-old daughter.
"Perhaps this is a bad time, professor," the student suggested.
"No," said Tillich. "This is a fine time. I have just learned something I never knew before. For the first time in my life, I understand Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac."
Genesis 22:1-14
Notice the last verse in our Genesis reading where God tells Abraham to take his son, Isaac -- his son, Isaac, whom he loves dearly -- up onto a mountain in the land of Moriah and there to sacrifice him. Then, at the very last moment, God provides a lamb so Abraham won't have to sacrifice his son.
"Moriah," in the Hebrew, can be translated "the Lord will see to it," just as, when something needs to be done today, we say, "I'll see to it."
Likewise, in verse 14, "The Lord will provide" and "it shall be provided" can also be translated "the Lord will see to it."
It gives me great hope and a strong sense of security that, whenever you or I are in need, we can trust that, in God's own time, and in God's own way, "the Lord will see to it."
Genesis 22:1-14
The local service club named Gary its "Person of the Year." Gary worked tirelessly to establish a dental clinic for people living in the inner city who could not afford to have their teeth cared for properly. As Gary sought contributions from area businesses, he would mention that an abscessed tooth could lead to serious illness or even death. He asked other dentists to volunteer their time and services at the clinic. Gary was certainly deserving of the club's award.
Gary was truly touched by the award and spoke from his heart. His father was also present that day. Gary thanked his father for making sacrifices so that he could go to college and dental school. His father was a working class man whose income just barely kept the family going. While growing up, Gary said he and his sisters did not have all the things their friends did, the new clothes or toys. However, when it came time for Gary to attend college, his father encouraged him, telling him not to worry about the cost, his dad would find a way to pay for his education.
His father worked extra shifts to help finance his son's education. Gary said he would not be where he is today without the sacrifices his father made on his behalf while growing up. He closed by thanking his dad, saying that part of his reason for establishing a dental clinic to help struggling families came from the example of his father and mother. Everyone present at the club meeting that day was touched by Gary's story.
Genesis 22:1-14
The story of the binding of Isaac or the Akeidah is the most read of all scriptures. Every morning devout Jews read the Akeidah. It is part of the readings on the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, and it is occurs once in the regular cycle of readings, making a total of 367 times a year the story is read! Why? According to the rabbis, as soon as the knife of Abraham touched the throat of Isaac, his soul departed from him. The instant the angel of the Lord forbade Abraham to harm the child, his soul returned. Thus, Isaac is considered to have died and rose again on the altar. Rabbi Mekilta Simeon wrote that on the basis of Isaac's death and resurrection, God will resurrect all the dead. He wrote:
By virtue of Isaac who offered himself as a sacrifice on top of the altar, the Holy One blessed be He, will resurrect the dead in the future, as it is said, "To hear the groaning of him who is bound; to open up release for the offspring appointed to death" (Psalm 102:21). "Him who is bound" is interpreted as Isaac bound on top of the altar. "To open up release for the offspring appointed to death" [is interpreted] as the dead whose graves the Holy One, blessed be He, will open up so that He may set them on their feet in the Age to Come.
(From www.rabbiyeshua.com/articles/2001/akeidah.html)
Romans 6:12-23
Fred was my neighbor all through childhood. The last time I saw him was at his wedding. Forty years later an email from him linked us together and we've been catching up ever since. One of his interesting experiences (which served me when I later visited the UK) was his renting a car in England. He drove onto the highway (left side, of course) and was unnerved by driving in a totally different way than he'd learned and obeyed for twenty years. He had to stop by the side of the road for a while, breathe deeply, and think carefully about driving in a completely different manner.
In Romans 6:12-23, Paul exhorts Christians who say, "Yes, they're now living as they should," although it's the opposite of how they've lived before. Besides "breathing deeply" of the Spirit, they also need to concentrate upon how their new way of living is the opposite of their old one.
Romans 6:12-23
Does the Lord love everyone? The answer is a little like a client's response to his psychiatrist. The doctor asked, "Do you have trouble making up your mind?" "Well, yes and no," the patient answered. The story is old. Our question is older.
A Hollywood star admitted that she practiced homosexuality. Many in the media praised her. A talk show host voiced her approval of the actress' "coming out" by declaring, "My God and my Jesus loves everybody." All are precious to God. When we conclude, though, that God loves everyone, we must remember Jesus' first message: "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
My wife and I love all our children. We loved them so much that when they were young and behaved inappropriately we applied the "board of education." We knew the dangers for them if they didn't alter their ways.
What changes must we make so we can go to heaven? "Do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies." Our future in heaven or hell depends on whether we stop. This is according to the word of God, not the word of talk show hosts.
Romans 6:12-23
It isn't enough just to sit in church and have a good feeling for those in need and those around us who don't know Jesus. We need to put it into practice. We need to practice what we preach and help others to know. If we can talk the talk, we also need to be able to walk the walk. We need to walk as Jesus leads.
It is all too common to sit in church, hearing holy and uplifting music, thinking how wonderful the music is. Maybe we can all work at putting this song, "We've A Story To Tell To The Nations" (words and music by Ernest Nicholl, 1896) into action.
We've a story to tell to the nations ...
That shall turn their hearts to the right,
A story of truth and mercy,
A story of peace and light ...
We've a song to be sung to the nations,
That shall lift their hearts to the Lord.
A song that shall conquer evil.
And shatter the spear and sword.
We may feel Christ very close during times of worship. Our hearts may be strangely warmed. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you act out his guidance making Jesus known and loved and served! If it is only feeling, it is incomplete. We can be in the business of making Jesus known and loved and served.
Matthew 10:40-42
I preached four nights in a church in Atlanta, a nice, big church with a good crowd, more than I'm used to. There was a moment in the service in which the pastor said, "We'll now have our moments of fellowship. Greet each other in Christian love," and you never saw such hugging and kissing and carrying on in your life -- people going across the room, and up and down the aisles, and grabbing and hugging. Somebody came up to me -- I was down behind the pulpit -- and gave me a big smack. It was just really something. Finally he said, "All right, hold it, hold it. We have to get on with the worship." Four nights of that.
The last night, he and his wife took my wife and I out to coffee. He said, "Did you ever see such a family church? Did you ever see such love in your life in a church?"
My wife said, "Yeah, well, yeah, I have."
He said, "What do you mean?"
She said, "I was there for all four services, and nobody ever spoke to me."
And do you know what he said? He said, "Well, that was because they didn't know who you were."
(from Fred Craddock, Craddock Stories [St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2001], p. 45)
Matthew 10:40-42
Hospitality is one of the marks of a Christian person, one of the qualities of a follower of Jesus. Paul urges us in Romans 12:13, "Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers." In his first letter to Timothy (3:2), he tells him that a bishop must be, among other things, hospitable. And he echoes this in his letter to Titus (1:8).
Peter encourages us in his first letter, "Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received" (1 Peter 4:9-10).
And Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it unto one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it unto me" (Matthew 25:40).
Jesus calls us to be hospitable.
Matthew 10:40-42
A church consultant was hired to help a struggling church. The church had been in decline for over twenty years and was no longer attracting young people and families with children. Leaders within the church were concerned so they hired a consultant to help them.
At the first meeting, people from the church were asked to list the church's strengths. Ed raised his hand and said that he has found the people in the church to be very friendly. "Everyone within the church is friends," Ed explained, "We are just a friendly congregation." Everyone nodded their heads in agreement; they all viewed themselves as a friendly church. With great enthusiasm, Julie told of people standing in the narthex before worship talking with their friends. Again there was agreement.
The consultant told them that they need to stop promoting themselves as a friendly church. "Every church views itself as being friendly," he told them. Even some of the coldest churches claim they are friendly. They should practice radical hospitality, making sure every first-time guest to their church is made to feel welcome. Instead of claiming to be such a friendly church they need to promote that guests can make new friends in their church. The church is a place where new people in the community are welcome and make friends. By making guests feel special and welcome, the church will begin to grow again. To be honest these comments were met with suspicion.
While some of the people who attended that meeting might have been skeptical, others were willing to give it a try. Jesus teaches about radical hospitality as he challenges believers, "Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple -- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."
Matthew 10:40-42
Sheryl spent a lot of time at the home of her college roommate, Rowena. Sheryl's home was clear across the country and neither she nor her parents could afford to get her home more than at Christmas. On long weekends and other special times, Sheryl went home with Rowena. It wasn't long before Sheryl was considered and treated as one of the family. During Sheryl's junior year at college, she was in a car accident and it wasn't immediately apparent that she would survive. Her mother flew in and was met at the airport by Rowena and her mother. They insisted that Sheryl's mother stay with them. It turned out to be a stay of over five weeks. When Sheryl was well along in her recovery, her mother decided that she had to go home to her other children, husband, and job. When she left, she expressed her gratitude to Rowena and her mother. Rowena's mother said something that sounded very similar to Jesus' words: "When we welcomed Sheryl into our hearts and home, we also welcomed those she loved, which includes you."
