This week is also a week where our congregation recognizes high school and college graduates. This passage seems to fit into that theme. Setting out into the unknown. I thought about using the Genesis passage along with Dr. Suess' book "Oh The Places You Will Go" It is still early. John in PA
Abraham was 75 when he and Sarah set out. I'm impressed that it was at an advanced age that they made this change and followed God's call.
I'm thinking of something along the line of "Old Dogs, New Tricks"--not intending to name-call our senior adults, but understanding that we can all be set in our ways, sometimes the 55 year olr or 55 year old or 15 year old more so than the 75 year olds. Perceiving and following God's call when that measn difficult changes and venturing into unknown territory.
Just some early thoughts.
Dave from Illinois
Hi all.
A question. Which version of the Bible is the one being used here? I thought it was the NRSV, but it's different in a couple of places from mine.
Rick in Canada, eh?
Found an illustration in the UM Circuit RIder for this week. It is called "Shift Colors" and talks about how a Navy ship pulls away from the pier, a voice yells out 'shift' colors' which indicates that when a ship in underway the American flag is flown from the mast and when it is in port , it flies the flag from the stern. The writer links this to Abraham receiving God's call to 'shift colors'in order to move to a new 'port of call.' Finally those who are tempted to fly their Kingdom colors from their stern (safe in port) God has a message for them--get underway, shift colors- go where God needs you. Rev Rhoda in MD
Rev. Rhoda, Thank you for the mention of the Circuit Rider I was going to preach on making changes in our lives when God calls us to move just as he did Abraham and just as he did the disciples. This will make a perfect illustration, since in the congragation is my friend who is going into the Navy as a chaplian. I will continue in that line as the disciples also had to change colors at Pentacost and then when Jesus told them to go out and make disciples of the world. The way to make disciples is to live the life and that is what we are called to do. Make others want what we have.
Thanks again MR in NY
Abraham interrupted his journey in these verses twice to build an altar to the Lord after the Lord made his presence known to him and reassured him of the promise He had made. I am working on the theme that we too need to stop and acknowledge those times in our llives when God makes his presence known. I am having difficulty finding any illustrations at this point. Any ideas ?
Alan from Indiana
I just recently discovered this site and have already enjoyed the discussion very much. I live in a rural area of Florida and sometimes good conversation on these matters can be hard to find.
I recently read the article posted by Dennis Bratcher on the Christian Resource Institute website, and found a very interesting preaching angle. He suggests that a possible approach to this text could be from the negative side. What if Abraham didn't go? What if he chose the comfortable stability of Haran? What affect does stability and comfort have on one's ability to hear a call to "Go"? I found this to be an tempting approach since most of the faithful here are seeking stability and not adventure.
Just thought I would share. Thanks so much for comments.
revwolfe in FL
I find it interesting to note the number of times "blessing" is used in this reading. Abram was blessed to be a blessing. How are we blessed by God to be a blessing to the world as Christ's witnesses in the world?
Graham in Australia
Hi! I'm using this passage and the first part of the Gospel reading, both dealing with "calls". Since I am preparing for my ordination next week, our senior pastor and I have been focusing on calls. I'm going to contrast these calls with some of the other prophets whose calls are not recorded, just recognized and talk about how God speaks in many different ways to us. Wouldn't it be simpler to recognize if we actually heard the God speak to us? We don't always hear God's voice in the way that Abram or Matthew heard it, but God speaks to us nonetheless. The question is, will we follow God's call? Pam in San Bernardino
Hi all - as always, the conversation helps get my thoughts going. Thanks for your help. Rev. Rhoda, I especially like the "shift colors" illustration.
Although it's still early in the study process, I'm exploring the angle of priorities. Abram/Abraham seems to have his priorities in order: Follow God's call, even at risk of losing the safety and security of family relationships and the family's land. I want to then explore where we place and live out our priorities as individuals and as a community of faith.
Any thoughts/comments? Ken on the Hudson
I'm going to preach on the theme of risk-taking, which fits, I believe, with the other two lessons. The Gospel Lesson especially might be fruitful for this theme.
I plan to start with a story Soren Kiekegaard, the Danish philosopher and Lutheran theologian, used to tell. Once a wild goose dropped down into a farmer's yard to share the corn with the tame geese there. The corn was good and it was plentiful and the wild goose stayed on. But he got fat and lazy, like the tame geese, and he lost all interest in flying. Little did he know that the farmer was fattening the geese in preparation for sale to the butcher shop. Once in a while, when a flock of wild geese would fly overhead, he would hear the honking and the old call of the wild would thrill his soul. He would flap his wings and try to fly as he used to, but couldn't seem to get off the ground. The once-happy wanderer soon gave up and went back to pecking at the corn on the ground. And so it was until the end came.
To Kierkegaard, the corn as the materialism of the culture which people take as if it's the total reality. But our time on earth is just a brief moment in which we prepare for eternity. While we're here, we mustn't miss the opportunities to take risks.
Jim from B.C.
Thanks, Rick in Canada, for the question about the version. I have a strong preference for NRSV, and generally read it from the printed notes starting with this web site . . if you're changing here, Frank, I'll have to go back to paging around in an actual Bible! (It would help to have the reference . . thanks.) kbc in sc
An inconsequential question - I posted just before 8:00 pm, and it is recorded as being posted just before 5:00. How? kbc again
Thanks for the Goose illustration. I think I am preaching about risk taking and stepping out in faith to a congregation of mostly older folks. They are feeding on the comfortable, we-don't-want-to-change attitudes. In 10 years this church could be gone...could satan be sharpening the knife and moving in? Hope not. I have preached lighting the fire/recharging the batteries and making disciples. Hope to top off this theme this week. RAP in OH
I'm looking for a Litany titled "The Promise of Women from Scripture" from the 1989 Consultation on UM Clergywomen in Dallas, Texas. It begins: And what is faith? Faith is going to an unseen land. . . Then it names several women, including Sari and the ways in which they stepped out in faith. I've had the litany for years, but now, when I want to use it, I can't find it. Any help would be appreciated.
RevJan
Hi all.
Pam offered... "We don't always hear God's voice in the way that Abram or Matthew heard it, but God speaks to us nonetheless."
I'm not so sure, Pam, about the first part of your statement. We really aren't told the exact details of how God spoke to Abram; we're simply told that God spoke. Matthew is a little easier: he heard a human voice. But again, we don't know if he had heard that voice before, or heard about the speaker before, or anything else. But is that really the point?
Too often we in the Church focus on the required response to the Call. Maybe we can step back from that need for control a bit, assure them that God is speaking to them, and invite them simply to listen to the voice of God as it comes to them today - through reading the Bible, through preaching, through fellowship, through sacraments, through "chance" meetings on street corners, through the questions of children, through the requests of panhandlers, through.....
Let's invite them to listen to the voice of God as it comes in its miriad ways, and invite them to respond as it seems appropriate to them, or to the voice!
But, by all means, assure them that God is indeed speaking!!
Rick in Canada, eh?
Hi all.
Pam offered... "We don't always hear God's voice in the way that Abram or Matthew heard it, but God speaks to us nonetheless."
I'm not so sure, Pam, about the first part of your statement. We really aren't told the exact details of how God spoke to Abram; we're simply told that God spoke. Matthew is a little easier: he heard a human voice. But again, we don't know if he had heard that voice before, or heard about the speaker before, or anything else. But is that really the point?
Too often we in the Church focus on the required response to the Call. Maybe we can step back from that need for control a bit, assure them that God is speaking to them, and invite them simply to listen to the voice of God as it comes to them today - through reading the Bible, through preaching, through fellowship, through sacraments, through "chance" meetings on street corners, through the questions of children, through the requests of panhandlers, through.....
Let's invite them to listen to the voice of God as it comes in its miriad ways, and invite them to respond as it seems appropriate to them, or (better yet!) what seems appropriate to the voice!
But, by all means, assure them that God is indeed speaking!!
Rick in Canada, eh?
Hi again, all!
My question above (re: which version is used above), was stimulated by the phrase on verse 8, "There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD."
My Bible has it, "he invoked the Name of the LORD."
I think I prefer the latter. To invoke God is an incredibly powerful image, because I understand invoking as "making present," or at least recognizing the presence that is already there.
Remember back in seminary OT classes - the view of the day was that each parcel of land had its own god looking after it. If you went to a new area, you prayed to / sacrificed to / worshipped that particular god. Here comes this foreigner who has the absolute GALL (we call it faith now! :-) ) to invoke, to "make present" another God, a foreign one who "everybody knows" has no power HERE!
This says several things to me. But for our purposes here, I think it invites us to begin "invoking" God in places where "everybody knows" God has no power, no place, no relevance. Not just for the gathered congregation on Sunday morning, not just in hospital rooms or funeral homes, but on street corners, over crack houses, in AIDS hostels, in boardrooms, over banks, in government buildings (not to mention over government meetings!), etc.
Let's help our congregations understand that God is bigger than our country, our state, our province... heavens! God's even bigger than our churches! Then, let's invite them to "invoke" that God in all the "foreign" places they are going to go this week.
Rick in Canada, eh?
Rick in Canada,
Thanks. You've given me the meat of my sermon. On Friday night, that's a real gift . . .
RevJan
Many thanks to Rick in Canada - to all contributors over the weeks and months...this is a wonderful site! Pam, I identify with your reflection on "call" as you are ordained this wknd. I was ordained last weekend, and find this psg. is a great gift in the process of "closure" with the charge I am currently serving. Timely reminder to us that we do not go into our new and unknown places of ministry alone. Thanks be! g.g. in ontario for another 3 weeks.
To my colleagues and friends in cyberspace,,
Although we have never met (and probably never will), I am grateful that you are willing to share your thoughts, your wisdom, your inspiration, and your desire to be faithful servants when you preach. This week I especially enjoyed the illustration of "shifing colors" and Kirkegaard's story of the goose.... Called to be a blessing? Thank you for being one to me.
Tom in Mesa, Az.
This might be too late in posting; some of you might not catch it. But, for your information, I believe the translation is the NIV.
Have a great Sunday, everyone. Joe in OH
I'm struck by the reverse age-ism here. Abram and Sarai were chosen when there were probably many younger and more vigorous couples available.
How many times have we looked past 75 year-olds when looking for jobs to be done? God didn't look upon A&S as being "all used up," but called them for a most important task.
There are many reasons not to ignore the "golden-agers" - a sometimes untapped but valuable resouce in our congregations- not the least of which is God's recognition of the potential value of the septagenarians.
BillCMQ
To all who have contributed this week, thanks! I believe I too will preach about the God who still calls if we would but listen. I thought about how we still stay in Haran, but often we stay because we do not listen for God's alternatives.
JJ in Chas
Dear Rick in Canada: Thanks for your important point. We don't know how Abram heard God's voice. But when I read "Now the Lord said..." I imagine an actual voice speaking. That was what I was reflecting upon. As my work on my sermon has grown, I've begun to focus on the many ways we are called and the many ministries we are called to--one of the most important for our congregation is that we are called into community, that means long time member are called to into community with newcomers, etc. I'm going to be preaching without a manuscript for the first time in a long while. I feel like just talking, one ordinary person to another. Thanks for everyone's help this week. Pam in San Bernardino
To Rick in Canada
Thanks for your posting. It proved mose helpful. I plan to make use of your insight in my message this Sunday.
Iam blessed by this site. I refer to it weekly and always find helpful ideas. I will subscribe and support your on going work
Roscoe Virginia