Proclaim by Word and Example

This sermon was preached for St. Andrew's/St. Michael's online worship on Sunday, August 23. The texts for this sermon are:  Exodus 1:8-2:10 ,  Psalm 124 ,  Romans 12:1-8 , and  Matthew 16:13-20 . The first lesson of our confirmation curriculum, we had all the eighth-graders write down what they’d been taught to believe in big markers on a flip-chart sheet. We ended up with lots of things like “getting into a good college is everything” and “skinny = pretty” but also “money doesn’t buy happiness” and “God loves me.” After all this had been scribbled down and read through, I told the kids to rip up the paper. They stood and blinked for a second, doubting that they heard correctly, and then dove right into ripping and tearing and giggling and making a right old mess of things. We then read this passage, from Paul’s letter to the Romans: “ Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of G...

This sermon was preached for online worship for St. Andrew's and St. Michael's on August 2, 2020. The text for this sermon was Genesis 32:22-31. This story from our Old Testament reading today is a really pivotal moment in Jacob’s life. It’s out of this wrestling with God and himself that Jacob receives a new name and a new calling – one that the people of God will carry throughout the scriptures, and generations, to today – Israel the one who struggles with God.  The powerful message of this story though, lies in when this moment occurs in Jacob’s life. You may remember Jacob was born the youngest twin. After tricking his older brother out of his birthright as firstborn not once but twice, Jacob runs off into exile and makes a new family. This moment happens just before Jacob is about to return home and meet his brother for the first time.  He does not know what we know – that across the river Esau will forgive and embrace him. The moment of reconciliation between wronged bro...