Skip to main content

June 18, 2024 - Genesis 21:8-21

 The God that Sees

This Sunday, we continue our summer series, "Family Reunion." This series aims to explore the families of Genesis, their struggles, triumphs, and divine encounters, and discover how their stories echo in our own lives.

This week, we dive into Genesis 21:8-21 and journey alongside Hagar and Ishmael in their moment of despair and Sarah, who despite God's promise being fulfilled, faces internal conflict. Their stories beautifully capture God's compassionate nature, showing us a God who sees and provides comfort in distress.

In our lives, like Sarah, we might experience moments of impatience, trying to quicken God's promises. We may also find ourselves, like Hagar and Ishmael, feeling forgotten and unseen, especially in times of hardship. But, as we explore in this sermon, God is the guiding light in our storm, seeing us, hearing us, and walking with us through all the seasons of life.

This Sunday, let's reflect on these truths and learn from the families of Genesis. We will come to see that even when we feel unseen by the world, we can take comfort in knowing that we are seen by God. In addition, we will be challenged to extend the same understanding, compassion, and love to others that God offers us.

As we anticipate this sermon, I encourage you to ponder on these questions: In what ways have you felt seen or unseen by God in your own life? How can you embody God's seeing in your relationships with others?


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Where Is God in the Texas Flooding? July 6, 2025

This afternoon, I received a phone call from a dear church member about the tragic flooding in Texas. We discussed the question that weighs heavy on many hearts: how could something like this happen in a Christian state, at a Christian camp, with precious children as victims? I must admit, I have wrestled with this myself over the last couple of days, spending the afternoon in prayer and tears, seeking comfort in God's word. As you may have heard, devastating flash floods struck central Texas on July 4th. At least 69 people have lost their lives, including many children, and 11 children from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp, remain missing. Rescue teams continue their urgent search as families wait in unimaginable anguish. You too may ask why God would allow this to happen. This question has echoed through the centuries from the faithful throughout Scripture. Job asked it. The psalmists cried it out. Even Jesus Himself, in His darkest moment on the cross, cried, "My Go...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Tale of Two Confessors - October 27, 2024

This Sunday is Reformation Sunday.  In my sermon we’ll explore one of Jesus’ most powerful parables in Luke 18:9-14, often referred to as the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. In this story, Jesus contrasts two men praying in the temple: one who boasts of his righteousness and another who humbly asks for mercy. Through this parable, Jesus challenges us to examine our own hearts, asking whether we trust in our own goodness or rely fully on God’s grace. We'll look at how this message, though spoken thousands of years ago, speaks directly to our modern tendency to divide ourselves into categories, just as the Pharisee did. As we prepare for worship, I invite you to reflect on the ways we sometimes fall into self-righteousness or, on the other hand, isolate ourselves through feelings of unworthiness.  How do we let these mindsets affect our relationship with God and others?  What might it look like to approach God with true humility, trusting not in ourselves but...
Post a Comment
Read more

January 7, 2024 - Matthew 2:1-12

  The Journey of the Magi: A Symbol of Our Spiritual Quest This Sunday I'll be preaching on the familiar story of the Magi from Matthew 2:1-12. However, my message will explore some new dimensions around their long, arduous journey seeking Jesus. I'm going to look at how the Magi can become a metaphor for our own spiritual quests in life. We all hunger for deeper meaning and connection with God. This often requires effort and overcoming struggles along the way. Just as the star led the Magi through unknown lands to Jesus, God provides us guiding lights to keep pursuing him. My sermon will highlight three main ideas: the diligence required in seeking God, attending to God's guidance through "stars" of insight, and offering our gifts fully once we draw close to Jesus. The Magi never gave up through their difficult travels. They followed the star closely to reach their destination. And upon arriving, they laid down their most valuable possessions in worship of Ch...
Post a Comment
Read more