Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A
Frank Ramirez
C. David Mckirachan
Contents
"Restoring the Birthright" by Frank Ramirez
"Product" by C. David McKirachan
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Restoring the Birthright
by Frank Ramirez
Genesis 25:19-34; Romans 8:1-11
Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!" (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright."
-- Genesis 25:30-31
World War I was supposed to be "the war to end all wars," but the onerous reparations imposed on Germany by the victorious European powers in effect robbed a whole generation of their birthright, creating misery and discontent and leading at least in part to the even greater disaster of World War II. The German people, impoverished and embittered, were not incorporated back into the community nations. Instead, made to feel as outcasts, they rearmed and prepared for the even greater war that followed.
"Restoring the Birthright" by Frank Ramirez
"Product" by C. David McKirachan
* * * * * * * *
Restoring the Birthright
by Frank Ramirez
Genesis 25:19-34; Romans 8:1-11
Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!" (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright."
-- Genesis 25:30-31
World War I was supposed to be "the war to end all wars," but the onerous reparations imposed on Germany by the victorious European powers in effect robbed a whole generation of their birthright, creating misery and discontent and leading at least in part to the even greater disaster of World War II. The German people, impoverished and embittered, were not incorporated back into the community nations. Instead, made to feel as outcasts, they rearmed and prepared for the even greater war that followed.
Bryan Meadows
John E. Sumwalt
Keith Hewitt
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Turning Dirt!" by Bryan Meadows
"The Snares of the Wicked" by John Sumwalt
"Taxicab Confessions" by Keith Hewitt
What's Up This Week
So many times, we feel like we have all the answers. Everything is under control; we don't need any help from anyone. We can handle things on our own. As much as we'd like to think we know everything, life inevitably teaches us that this is not the case. We may think we are on top of things spiritually, but as Bryan Meadows tells us in "Turning Dirt!" we all have a great deal of work to do when it comes to developing a productive walk with God. "The Snares of the Wicked" is a sobering reminder that we can easily let our egos get the best of us. In "Taxicab Confessions," we meet a young woman who, faced with a difficult decision, is forced to reconsider her plans when she has a chance encounter with a friendly stranger.
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What's Up This Week
"Turning Dirt!" by Bryan Meadows
"The Snares of the Wicked" by John Sumwalt
"Taxicab Confessions" by Keith Hewitt
What's Up This Week
So many times, we feel like we have all the answers. Everything is under control; we don't need any help from anyone. We can handle things on our own. As much as we'd like to think we know everything, life inevitably teaches us that this is not the case. We may think we are on top of things spiritually, but as Bryan Meadows tells us in "Turning Dirt!" we all have a great deal of work to do when it comes to developing a productive walk with God. "The Snares of the Wicked" is a sobering reminder that we can easily let our egos get the best of us. In "Taxicab Confessions," we meet a young woman who, faced with a difficult decision, is forced to reconsider her plans when she has a chance encounter with a friendly stranger.
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Peter Andrew Smith
Wendy looked at the garden she had prepared near the front door and imagined how much space all of the flowers would need. She made a quick mark in the soil for each of the plants, changed her mind a few times, and then when she was satisfied went into the garage to get the seedlings.
“Wow, those are nice,” George said from his mailbox next door. “Did you get them from the nursery which opened up near the grocery store?”
“No,” Wendy smiled. “I grew these all from seeds a few months ago. I would have put them out sooner, but we had that late frost and wanted to be sure that they would be okay.”
“The seasons are certainly different than they were when I was growing up.” George shook his head. “I don’t think I ever remember a frost so late in the spring.”
“The news called it a ‘once in a lifetime occurrence’.” Wendy shrugged. “Hopefully we’ll have a good growing season and no frost well into the fall.”
“Wow, those are nice,” George said from his mailbox next door. “Did you get them from the nursery which opened up near the grocery store?”
“No,” Wendy smiled. “I grew these all from seeds a few months ago. I would have put them out sooner, but we had that late frost and wanted to be sure that they would be okay.”
“The seasons are certainly different than they were when I was growing up.” George shook his head. “I don’t think I ever remember a frost so late in the spring.”
“The news called it a ‘once in a lifetime occurrence’.” Wendy shrugged. “Hopefully we’ll have a good growing season and no frost well into the fall.”
C. David Mckirachan
Frank Ramirez
Contents
"Crops of Glory" by C. David McKirachan
"Clarity and Healing" by C. David McKirachan
"Identical Bodies" by Frank Ramirez
Crops of Glory
C. David McKirachan
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Parables are used to make us think. There are no neat, straightforward messages coming out of them. If we hear them, it is our prejudices speaking. Parables instruct us to “consider…” It is a hefty instruction. It points us toward journeys inviting us to pay attention to simple actions and situations. And at the same time to see the miracle of that which is beyond our small understanding, there within the mundane, within the mud of our everyday normality. ‘Consider’ invites us to allow that miracle to be present and possible, transforming what is before us into the presence of eternal truth. It’s there, if we are willing to ‘consider’.
"Crops of Glory" by C. David McKirachan
"Clarity and Healing" by C. David McKirachan
"Identical Bodies" by Frank Ramirez
Crops of Glory
C. David McKirachan
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Parables are used to make us think. There are no neat, straightforward messages coming out of them. If we hear them, it is our prejudices speaking. Parables instruct us to “consider…” It is a hefty instruction. It points us toward journeys inviting us to pay attention to simple actions and situations. And at the same time to see the miracle of that which is beyond our small understanding, there within the mundane, within the mud of our everyday normality. ‘Consider’ invites us to allow that miracle to be present and possible, transforming what is before us into the presence of eternal truth. It’s there, if we are willing to ‘consider’.
Peter Andrew Smith
John Fitzgerald
Contents
"The Sower" by Peter Andrew Smith
"Big Rocks" by John Fitzgerald
The Sower
by Peter Andrew Smith
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
John pulled up another plant. “Honestly, I wish we could grow weeds instead of vegetables.”
“If we planted weeds we wouldn’t get our exercise, would we?” Carol said from the other side of the garden.
John looked over at the pile of weeds from the morning’s work. “Are you sure that would be such a bad thing?”
Carol laughed and went over to sit down on the grass under a large tree. John wiped at his brow and then went to join her. She reached into an insulated bag and pulled out a drink and a sandwich. She pushed the bag over to him and he helped himself.
“The beans are growing nicely this year,” John said between bites.
“They are.” Carol took a drink. “I think something got into the carrots last night.”
"The Sower" by Peter Andrew Smith
"Big Rocks" by John Fitzgerald
The Sower
by Peter Andrew Smith
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
John pulled up another plant. “Honestly, I wish we could grow weeds instead of vegetables.”
“If we planted weeds we wouldn’t get our exercise, would we?” Carol said from the other side of the garden.
John looked over at the pile of weeds from the morning’s work. “Are you sure that would be such a bad thing?”
Carol laughed and went over to sit down on the grass under a large tree. John wiped at his brow and then went to join her. She reached into an insulated bag and pulled out a drink and a sandwich. She pushed the bag over to him and he helped himself.
“The beans are growing nicely this year,” John said between bites.
“They are.” Carol took a drink. “I think something got into the carrots last night.”
Keith Wagner
Keith Hewitt
Contents
"Conflicts and Blessings" by Keith Wagner
"Free to Make a Difference" by Keith Wagner
"The Hope Business" by Keith Hewitt
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Conflicts and Blessings by Keith Wagner
Genesis 25:19-34
Birthrights in Canaan and other Near Eastern countries meant that the first-born son had preferred inheritance and status. He received a double portion of inheritance and was given a seat of honor amongst his brothers (see Genesis 43:33). Those records were kept both orally and in writing. Here, for example, we can trace Esau's birthright through his ancestors "Abraham's son was Isaac. Isaac married Rebekah and she gave birth to twins, Esau and Jacob."
"Conflicts and Blessings" by Keith Wagner
"Free to Make a Difference" by Keith Wagner
"The Hope Business" by Keith Hewitt
* * * * * * *
Conflicts and Blessings by Keith Wagner
Genesis 25:19-34
Birthrights in Canaan and other Near Eastern countries meant that the first-born son had preferred inheritance and status. He received a double portion of inheritance and was given a seat of honor amongst his brothers (see Genesis 43:33). Those records were kept both orally and in writing. Here, for example, we can trace Esau's birthright through his ancestors "Abraham's son was Isaac. Isaac married Rebekah and she gave birth to twins, Esau and Jacob."
John E. Sumwalt And Jo Perry-sumwalt
Contents
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "What Goes Around..."
Shining Moments: "A Light to My Path" by Linda Harper
Sermon Starter: "If You Have Ears to Hear" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: "Learning to Preach Without a Manuscript" by Amy Yarnall
What's Up This Week
Summertime, and the living is easy... it is a good time to tell a joke or two in the Sunday sermon. "What Goes Around..." in this week's Story to Live By is an oldie but a goodie and a good lead-in to the Romans text. If you are preaching on the Gospel, you will enjoy John's retelling of the Parable of the Sower in the Sermon Starter.
A Story to Live By
What Goes Around...
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "What Goes Around..."
Shining Moments: "A Light to My Path" by Linda Harper
Sermon Starter: "If You Have Ears to Hear" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: "Learning to Preach Without a Manuscript" by Amy Yarnall
What's Up This Week
Summertime, and the living is easy... it is a good time to tell a joke or two in the Sunday sermon. "What Goes Around..." in this week's Story to Live By is an oldie but a goodie and a good lead-in to the Romans text. If you are preaching on the Gospel, you will enjoy John's retelling of the Parable of the Sower in the Sermon Starter.
A Story to Live By
What Goes Around...
What is StoryShare?
StoryShare is a treasure house with hundreds of good stories to share, stories which relate authentic, life-changing experiences that demonstrate the Lord's power and presence. Many are intensely personal accounts that concern visions, healing, or answers to prayers, but all bear witness to the indescribable joy, comfort and peace that come from a personal encounter with the divine. Our "Good Stories" section includes short fiction, parables much like those Jesus told.
Can I share stories that I have?
Yes, you can. You have good stories to share too, probably more than you know: personal stories, and stories from others that you have used over the years. StoryShare is always looking for stories involving personal experiences of the presence of God. Have you or someone you know heard the voice of God or been healed as a direct answer to prayer? If you have a story that you can share send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here (storyshare@sermonsuite.com) and email your story to us.
