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Preparing to Preach

17 Jul

Dear God, I am preaching this morning for a small Presbyterian church. I know you know this because I have been praying to you about it since their pastor called and asked me to fill in for him this Sunday. I’ve done my preparation. I’ve prayed. I’ve read scripture. I’ve studied commentaries. I’ve gone back and pulled from other lessons you’ve taught me to help make the point. I’ve put it all into an outline from which I am, supposedly, ready to preach. But this isn’t going anywhere if the Holy Spirit isn’t speaking through me. Flowing through me. Using me in the way he needs to so that the ears of those who need to hear what you’ve given me to say can be blessed. Yes, the mechanics are done, but the mechanics of putting together a sermon are less than half of the process. Now, with less than two hours to go before I am standing before a collection of Jesus worshippers who are waiting for you to speak to them this morning, I pray that I would me what you need them to have. Holy Spirit, use me as your audible voice. Bring me no glory this morning. In fact, it would be better if I could receive no praise at all. My only goal this morning is to be pleasing in your sight.

There is one couple in the congregation, in particular, about whom I thought mostly when I was preparing this sermon. It’s about prayer and they are facing a terrible medical situation for their adult daughter. I cannot imagine the pain and fear they have. Speak to them. Use this pain to help them grow into who you need them to be. Use my own pain in the areas of my life that concern me and grow me into the man you need me to be. Let nothing be wasted. Let nothing that comes from you or from this life return void. Use it all for your glory.

And now, let me pray the chorus of a song that always helps me get over myself in times like this:

“I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody all about somebody who saved my soul. Ever since you rescued me you gave my heart a song to sing. I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus” (Casting Crowns).

Father, teach us to pray. Teach me to pray. Teach us this morning. Convict us for our selfish, narcissistic prayers. I’m certainly sorry for mine. I’m sorry for how I have allowed my own selfish hurt to influence my prayers. I’m sorry for the people for whom I neglect to pray. I don’t spend enough time in intercessory prayer. I’m sorry for that. My wife is so good at it and I am not. I’m sorry for that. I remember making a prayer list one time over 30 years ago, and it got so long that it because unwieldy and I gave up on it. Maybe I should try it again and organize it a little differently. Anyway, give me everything you need me to say that morning. Fill me. Enter the world this morning through me and through this church.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 17, 2022 in Miscellaneous

 

Philippians 2:5-8

13 Jul

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8     he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5-8

Dear God, it can be hard to figure out how to draw the line between doing things for others and doing things for myself. And I’ll confess that when it comes to that line, I walk much more on the doing for myself side of it than doing for others.

I’m thinking about that because of Paul’s admonishment here to basically take Jesus’s attitude of giving it all up for others. I had someone tell me yesterday that I give so much for people, but do I really? I have my nice little car. I have my comfortable, albeit modest by “middle class” standards, home. I live in a pretty comfortable little world. Yes, I give quite a bit of money away for someone at my income level, and I even give sacrificially, but am I really open to truly sacrificing comfort for your kingdom to come into the world through me?

Holy Spirit, please teach me. Oh, those are dangerous words. In fact, I regret typing them, but it is too late now. Teach me what you need me to know. Teach me what you need me to do. Bring the Father’s love for me in such a way that I realize it anew and then take it and reflect it to the world around me. I’m not saying that you’re even calling me to do more than I’m currently doing, but, if you are, please give me ears to hear and eyes to see.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 13, 2022 in Philippians

 

Matthew 3:16-4:1

12 Jul

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 3:16-4:1

Dear God, I’m embarrassed to say I don’t think I’ve ever made this link before. It’s the biggest problem with breaking scripture up with chapters and title headings. I never noticed that the Holy Spirit’s appearance on the scene was followed by that same Spirit leading Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days. Was this the Spirit’s first appearance to Jesus in such a tangible way? How did Jesus commune with the Spirit for the next 40 days? What was that like? What was said?

It occurred to be a few weeks ago that I should probably be acknowledging the role of the Holy Spirit more in my own daily life—even as the subject of these prayers. As I sit here now, I think of this as praying to the “Father” as opposed to the “Son” or the “Holy Spirit.” But maybe this is part of my Holy Spirit communal time. I normally Ed these prayers by starting the last paragraph with “Father.” Maybe that’s wrong.

God, help me to commune with you today. Help me to worship you through my actions and also intentionally with all my heart. Comfort me when I need comforted. Convict me when I need convicted. Guide me when I need your leadership. Counsel me when I need your counseling.

I pray all of this through the Son, Jesus Christ,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 12, 2022 in Matthew

 

Matthew 10:34-39

11 Jul

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:34-39

Dear God, this has always been a hard passage. Frankly, it could mean so many things. It could be as simple as someone like a parent of child rejecting me because I worship you. It can be as complicated as me allowing a relationship, whether good or bad, to impact how I worship and follow you.

As I read this passage this morning I definitely an application to my life in a new way. I have certainly experienced some strain in familial relationships for quite some time and I can look back and definitely find some examples of how it has impacted my worship of you and my discipleship.

I think one of the tricks is to separate how you feel about my relationships with my children and family from how the world and my culture sees them. As I think about it I just thought about this passage from Hebrews 12:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2

Father, help me to throw off everything that is holding me back from fully following you. Whether it is my sin or complicated relationships, help me to cast anything that is tying me down and run the race you have laid out before me. Let it start with worship. Let it continue with listening to the Holy Spirit, my counselor, my comforter, and my God. Make me the man you need me to be for the people you have put into my life.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 11, 2022 in Hebrews, Matthew

 

“America the Beautiful” Verse 2

04 Jul

“American the Beautiful” Verse 2

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress,
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

Dear God, we sang this song in church yesterday (I suppose you have to throw in one patriotic song with a God slant on the day before the 4th of July). I noticed the last three lines of the second verse. I thought each of them might be worthy of a little time this morning as I pray to you and worship you through prayer.

God mend thine every flaw

It’s refreshing to feel like we can say out loud that something we love–something we are proud of–is flawed. I guess I feel like everyone has gotten so inside their own agendas that it’s hard for us to admit there is a flaw in them. A Democrat might be unwilling to examine President Biden’s flaws. A Republican might feel the same way about Donald Trump. But it goes beyond that. Church’s sweep issues under the rug (abusive leadership, a range of inappropriate sexual conduct, etc.) because they cannot admit their flaws. Families compensate for one family member who might engage in destructive patters such as violence, anger, manipulation or substance abuse. I say all of this to say that it kind of goes back to the old saying that “admitting you have a problem is the first step.” Until we recognize our issues, discuss them, and repent of them to you and to each other we will not make any progress. In fact, we will just go deeper down the rabbit hole.

Confirm thy soul in self control

Now, I’m not sure this one holds up theologically, but I can at least appreciate the idea that there comes a time when we just need to reign ourselves in and submit ourselves to you. Galatians 5:13 says, “…our freedom is not intended to cause us to sin, but rather to love God and one another, to be humble, and to serve.” I guess this is what confirming our soul in self control.

Thy liberty in law!

This holds up with the last part. We submit ourselves to the laws of our community for the good of each other. Then we work together to make the laws. Lately this has been very controversial. Abortion is probably the best example of different groups opposing each other on a law. But there are certainly other laws upon which we can all agree. When done at its best–when we have repented and you have mended our flaws–you are able to help us experience an unusual liberty that is quite unique to our society.

Father, I’ve been listening a lot lately to the stories in 2 Kings and both books of Chronicles about the myriad of kings that came and went in both Israel and Judah (the south and the north). Even the good ones had some fatal flaws. I know I have fatal flaws as well. I am sorry for that. I can’t help but wonder if I have watered down your justice and holiness too much. Have I lowered the bar of your expectations too low? I don’t know, but I know I love you and I know I’m trying to get this right. Help me to get this right. Mend my every flaw. Show me who you need me to be for the sake of your kingdom, those I love, and those to whom you have sent me to love.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 4, 2022 in Hymns and Songs

 

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Matthew 9:1-8

30 Jun

Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?” Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up and went home! Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for giving humans such authority.
Matthew 9:1-8

Dear God, that is an interesting sentence at the end in verse 8: And they praised God for giving humans such authority. My biggest takeaway is that they worshipped you (the Father). That was good. They still didn’t quite understand who Jesus was or what he was really doing, but at least in the moment they knew to turn their praise towards you.

I just don’t think there is any way I would have been a Jesus follower if I had been there at the time. I would have been a skeptic. I would have questioned. Jesus would have asked me why I had such evil thoughts in my heart. I’m sorry. I really am, but I know it’s true.

Father, I suppose if there’s any saving grace in my last paragraph it’s that I’m at least self-aware enough to know I’m flawed. I don’t necessarily see all of my flaws, but I know they are there—I even know I don’t see them all. So help me to see what I don’t see. Help me to love you better. Help me to be open to the new things you have to show me. For your glory alone, oh Lord.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 30, 2022 in Matthew

 

Act 12:1-11

29 Jun

About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration. ) Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”
Acts 12:1-11

Dear God, I keep going back to the story of King Hezekiah laying the letter from the other king that told him to surrender to the Assyrians out before you and praying about what to do (2 Kings 19). The situation seemed impossible, but in 2 Kings 19:35 accomplished the impossible in a way no one could have ever seen coming. T

The same is true with this story about Peter. As everyone prayed for Peter, including Peter, they probably envisioned Herod’a heart turning and showing mercy or something like that. They never considered you would send an angel for a jail break.

Father, there are several seemingly immovable mountains in front of me right now. I know you can move them, but I simply cannot conceive how you might do it. But I lay it before you, like Hezekiah. Please come, move and work do it all for your glory and your plan.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 29, 2022 in 2 Kings, Acts

 

2 Peter 3:8-10

28 Jun

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
2 Peter 3:8-10

Dear God, if Peter were here today would he still express these sentiments with the same words? Now that it’s been nearly 2,000 years since the Crucifixion, would he rethink his understanding of Jesus’s return? I mean, I’ll admit that I don’t understand anything about this. Now, I also don’t feel like I have to understand it to be completely devoted to you and worship you. Going back to my thing about you keeping me on a need-to-know basis and I don’t need to know. But what would Peter and Paul think about the fact that the second coming has apparently not happened yet?

I have to admit, when I read verse 10 I think about the fallout of nuclear war. Humans have now set up the possibility of the heavens passing away with a terrible noise and the very elements themselves disappearing in fire. We could do that ourselves. Is that possibly part of this prophecy? Will that happen? Is that part of Jesus returning?

Father, I’m literally not afraid of any of this (well, mostly not afraid). I’m am here to worship you. I repent of the sins of which I am aware and ask your mercy over the sins of which I’m not aware. I will work as into you today. Holy Spirit, walk with me today. Speak to me and give me ears to hear. Give me eyes to see. Give me compassion and love. Help me to love others and extend grace beyond my own capacity. Then, “when my body lies in the ruins of the lies that nearly ruined me will you pick up the pieces that were pure and true and breathe new life into them and set them free? When you blast this cosmos to kingdom come…when those jagged-edged mountains I live are gone…when the sky is crossed with the tears of a thousand falling suns as they crash into the sea, then can I be with you? Can I be with you?” (“Be With You” by Rich Mullins)

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 28, 2022 in 2 Peter

 

Matthew 16:24-26

27 Jun

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
Matthew 16:24-26

Dear God, I’ve been seeing so much about politics lately that it’s the first thing that came to mind when I read this passage. There is so much fear inside of people that they are grasping to political power as their hope. They will support the person who says they will save them from the things they fear instead of supporting the person who represents their soul. They’ve made politics their idol.

It seems like idols have come up a lot for me lately. Is it because I’m noticing them and purging them from my life, or are you trying to reveal the idols to me that I cannot see?

Father, it’s going to be a long day. I have several important things on my plate. Help me. Help me to lean into you, boldly represent you and give you glory for what you do for me, and celebrate what you’re doing in my life (both the seen and unseen).

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 27, 2022 in Matthew

 

Obi-Wan Kenobi and God’s Will

25 Jun

Dear God, this one is going to be a stretch, but stick with me on this. I just finished watching the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+ and it got me to thinking about what you know that we don’t. What you can see that we can’t. In this case (and for those reading this who have not seen it, I’m not going to spoil anything because the one thing we know if we’ve seen the original A New Hope is that Obi-Wan, Darth Vader, Luke, and Leia all survive this movie), if Obi-Wan had the opportunity to kill Darth Vader, should he? Did Obi-Wan fail when he didn’t kill him at the end of Revenge of the Sith? Should we be disappointed that Darth Vader survives the sixth episode of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series?

It makes me think of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the role he played in the plot to assassinate Hitler in July 1944. While killing Hitler at any time might have looked good at the time, what we have since learned is that one of thing that helped the Allied Powers ultimately win World War II was Hitler’s erroneous influence on the German strategy. His ego became foolishness. If he had been killed, perhaps a more competent person would have emerged as his successor. They were trying to execute a coup d’etat to keep Germany from completely losing the war. Who knows what would have happened had they succeeded. Perhaps the war would have been prolonged. Maybe President Truman would have ultimately decided to drop the atomic bomb on Berlin as well as the two he dropped on Japan. One interesting point is that Hitler mistook his own survival as fate having spared him:

”I regard this as a confirmation of the task imposed upon me by Providence”—and that “nothing is going to happen to me… [T]he great cause which I serve will be brought through its present perils and…everything can be brought to a good end.”

In the fictional galaxy (far, far away) of Star Wars, ultimately, in Return of the Jedi, it is Darth Vader who kills the Emperor (I’m ignoring the movies after Return of the Jedi). If Obi-Wan kills him at the end of Revenge of the Sith or is able to somehow do it at the end of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, would that remove the Rebellion’s path into the throne room? Would it take away the opportunity Luke would have to get that close to the Emperor and ultimately have Darth Vader kill him? It’s hard to imagine how it would happen otherwise. So is Obi-Wan’s failure to kill Vader really failure or fate? (Again, I know this is fictitious and the original story was created by George Lucas.)

So why am I praying about this? Because I come to realize more and more every day how little I know and understand. I don’t know why this thing or that thing happens. I don’t know why Hitler survives an assassination attempt and Bonhoeffer dies instead (just three weeks before Hitler took his own life, as it turned out). I don’t know why you made Saul king of Israel (1 Samuel 9) before you made David the king. Naomi didn’t know why her husband and two sons died in Moab (Ruth 1). I don’t know why a friend just recently found out she was pregnant with a Down Syndrome baby and then, after coming to a place of peace with the pregnancy, lost the baby. I don’t know why some relationships in my life are not what I want them to be. I don’t know why my country seems to be spinning in a downward spiral, drowning in its own hubris. I don’t know.

Father, what I do know is that all of these burdens–all of these stresses, worries, concerns, fears–are to be laid at your feet. You keep me on a need-to-know basis and I rarely need to know. My job is to worship you, trust you, repent to you, take up my cross, and follow you. If I do those things and try to listen to the Holy Spirit as He guides me in my actions, thoughts, and words, then I will find myself taking my eyes off of the cares of the world and sinking further into your presence even while I’m here on earth. So thank you for using this secular form of entertainment (Obi-Wan Kenobi) as a reminder that I don’t have to understand what is going on to be at peace. In fact, now that I think about it, isn’t that the sin Adam and Eve first committed? Weren’t they trying to know what you know? Help me to keep from repeating that sin any further.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 25, 2022 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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