Prayer,
Psalm 56
Children, Joshua 2 (Rahab)
Message, Hebrews 11.8-22
Review, on Hebrews:
a
sermon/message
sermon/message
written to
remind people facing a time of trial that
remind people facing a time of trial that
we
are people of faith … and faith endures
are people of faith … and faith endures
faith is
substantial, it has objective content because it ties us to God
substantial, it has objective content because it ties us to God
and
all God’s promises
all God’s promises
“The
righteous will live by faith” (quoting Habakkuk)
righteous will live by faith” (quoting Habakkuk)
Today:
Abraham’s
story, 3 specific episodes of faith, how it took on substance
story, 3 specific episodes of faith, how it took on substance
all 3
involve risk
involve risk
1. Departure
Dad: Do not
let your past/present keep you from your future
let your past/present keep you from your future
Abraham’s
more difficult calling: to leave what was GOOD
more difficult calling: to leave what was GOOD
Our
move here … but we got to arrive, Abe did not!
move here … but we got to arrive, Abe did not!
He
remained a stranger, an outsider for life
remained a stranger, an outsider for life
Do not
romanticize: urban dweller to tent dweller, nomad
romanticize: urban dweller to tent dweller, nomad
looking
for a “CITY with foundations”
for a “CITY with foundations”
life
of RISK
of RISK
Future
driven
driven
city
and country were well beyond his life time & he knew it
and country were well beyond his life time & he knew it
Looking
forward, with our children
forward, with our children
I
just want to be around to see my son graduate.
just want to be around to see my son graduate.
I
just want to be here for my granddaughter’s wedding.
just want to be here for my granddaughter’s wedding.
Jacques
Ellul: Christian calling
Ellul: Christian calling
“understand
and dominate the present from pov future …”
and dominate the present from pov future …”
2. Descendants
Abraham’s
great failure … those who risk often fail often
great failure … those who risk often fail often
Attempted
the path of polygamy – safe, conventional
the path of polygamy – safe, conventional
but
got back on course with faith, risk, wait
got back on course with faith, risk, wait
Future
driven
driven
through
one son, and one only, “as many as the stars of heaven”
one son, and one only, “as many as the stars of heaven”
3. [Death]
Rudyard
Kipling, “If”:
Kipling, “If”:
If
you could make one heap of all your winnings …
you could make one heap of all your winnings …
Departure
and Descendants
and Descendants
has
given up so much
given up so much
has
received the beginning of the promise
received the beginning of the promise
now
asked to give up even that
asked to give up even that
gave
up the past, now to give up the future
up the past, now to give up the future
Jesus
invites us to follow him in giving all,
invites us to follow him in giving all,
to
follow him to the cross,
follow him to the cross,
to
follow him to death.
follow him to death.
“If any
want to become my followers,
want to become my followers,
let
them deny themselves
them deny themselves
and
take up their cross daily
take up their cross daily
and
follow me” (Luke 9.23)
follow me” (Luke 9.23)
Covenant service
Christ will be the Savior of his servants.
Christ will have no servants except by consent;
Christ will not accept anything except full consent
to all he
requires.
requires.
Christ will be all in all, or he will be nothing.
Resources:
Jacques Ellul, The Presence of the Kingdom
Rudyard Kipling, “If”
The United Methodist Book of Worship and The
United Methodist Hymnal, Covenant prayer service resources
United Methodist Hymnal, Covenant prayer service resources
