RoboPreacher

all the work of my two hands A sermon on God's first meeting with Abram and Sarai : Abram and Sarai, later to be renamed Abraham and Sarah by God’s graciousness, with nary a word or action on their part, are chosen by God!   Out of the clear blue, as we say, God comes and promises to make of them a great nation of them, to make their name great, to bless them. God promises all this, without Abram or Sarai doing a rotten thing! And to set these two out on the road to this promise, God begins with one simple word. One simple word that isn’t always so easy to hear… Okay, we heard these nine verses not so long ago, but let’s brush up. Get out your bulletins. I’ll wait … Okay. What is the first word God says to Abram? This isn’t a trick question . Someone whose found them, blurt ‘em out … Yes. That’s right, “ Go .” Go from YOUR country . Go from YOUR kin. Go from YOU house. Go . God tells Abram and Sarai to LEAVE everything they’re...

 that you made me A sermon about a promise and a God who would do such a thing : You heard the scripture. The only thing you can say after hearing something like that is, what are we going to do with a God like this ? This God who won’t be practical. This God who seems to think promises are more important than power. This God who won’t play by our rules. This God we’re, frankly, not sure what to do with… In fact, before God is finished with Abram, the poor guy will have to change his name. So different does he become. Apparently, Abram wouldn’t recognize the man on the other side of it all. After God’s has had God’s way with him, Abram won’t do anymore. God’s work has changed him completely, from then on out he will be Abraham.  This is a God we’re not so sure about.  See, the problem for folks like us is, we have more in common with Abram, than we do with Abraham… In the scripture for today Abram is going about the business of everyday l...