Showing posts with label 1 Kings 2:10-12. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Kings 2:10-12. Show all posts
8/15/2021
Wisdom - 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 - Pentecost 13 - 8-15-21
8/20/2018
Discerning
Sermon podcast from yesterday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14. Solomon - the wise one - made mistake after mistake after mistake.
Video sermon preview
"Discerning" podcast
Video sermon preview
"Discerning" podcast
8/17/2015
Quest
Last week's Bible reflection (Flaws) opened up the discussion for things that may or may not make a great leader. In this case -- a look at Solomon.
"Quest" podcast
"Quest" podcast
8/10/2015
Flaws
King David died. Solomon became King. God said, ‘What do you want?” and Solomon asked for wisdom. God gave Solomon not only wisdom, but also riches and honor all his life.
Therefore, may we all seek to be like Solomon. The end.
Except there is so much missing from that short snippet of Solomon’s life that it feels as if someone took a phrase, made up something that isn’t at all part of the intent of the phrase, made it into a campaign and then, no matter how inaccurate it was, called it truth – hoping to get others to believe it enough to tell it as if it was not only accurate, but also the complete truth!
All the Sunday School stories I read as a child that seem to end with “and you should be more like them.” need to tell the rest of the story. This week's Bible passage needs a lot more so that folks don't get fooled into thinking that Solomon did everything right in all of his life.
Solomon asked for wisdom. Solomon was also flawed. He made many mistakes. He didn't always act wisely. Solomon let the temple -- the glorious place -- become a place poisoned with power and corruption. He built temples to many other gods and made poor decisions when it came to taxes and even raising his children. Instead of being an example of how to be wise, he was a great example of how people -- even great people -- mess up in huge ways.
Therefore, may we all seek to be like Solomon. The end.
Except there is so much missing from that short snippet of Solomon’s life that it feels as if someone took a phrase, made up something that isn’t at all part of the intent of the phrase, made it into a campaign and then, no matter how inaccurate it was, called it truth – hoping to get others to believe it enough to tell it as if it was not only accurate, but also the complete truth!
All the Sunday School stories I read as a child that seem to end with “and you should be more like them.” need to tell the rest of the story. This week's Bible passage needs a lot more so that folks don't get fooled into thinking that Solomon did everything right in all of his life.
Solomon asked for wisdom. Solomon was also flawed. He made many mistakes. He didn't always act wisely. Solomon let the temple -- the glorious place -- become a place poisoned with power and corruption. He built temples to many other gods and made poor decisions when it came to taxes and even raising his children. Instead of being an example of how to be wise, he was a great example of how people -- even great people -- mess up in huge ways.
8/17/2012
An Understanding Mind
This week's Bible reflection (Cheated) laments the stories I never learned (but should have) in Sunday School. Sunday's sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove delves into one.
"An Understanding Mind" text
"An Understanding Mind" podcast
"An Understanding Mind" text
"An Understanding Mind" podcast
8/14/2012
Cheated
There were too many stories I learned as a child that seemed to end with "and they lived happily ever after." Some were fairy tales. Others were Bible stories. Folks never told me that there was more to the stories. And when there is more, I think it is so very important to learn the rest of the story.
This week's Bible reading from 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 is about Solomon’s request for wisdom. But there is so much more to the story. Solomon didn’t do everything right from that time forward.
Solomon asked for wisdom when God offered him anything he wanted. In Sunday school the teachers would sum things up with a phrase like, "Solomon asked for wisdom and God gave him wisdom. If you ask for wisdom God will give it to you.”
It wasn’t until later that I dug deeper to learn more of the story. I still feel as if I was cheated out of the truth. I thought that my teachers didn't think that I would believe in God if I knew that the people I learned about in Sunday school were far from perfect.
Solomon was far from perfect. He made many mistakes. He didn't always show wisdom. Solomon let the temple become a place poisoned with power and corruption. He built temples to many other gods and made poor decisions when it came to taxes and even raising his children. He was a great example of how people are capable of messing up in huge ways.
And God still got to be the one who was able to get things done.
Why couldn't we remember as Solomon as the king who messed up royally and that God still loved him? Solomon made mistake after mistake and God still got things done.
I wish I'd learned that when I was a child.
This week's Bible reading from 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 is about Solomon’s request for wisdom. But there is so much more to the story. Solomon didn’t do everything right from that time forward.
Solomon asked for wisdom when God offered him anything he wanted. In Sunday school the teachers would sum things up with a phrase like, "Solomon asked for wisdom and God gave him wisdom. If you ask for wisdom God will give it to you.”
It wasn’t until later that I dug deeper to learn more of the story. I still feel as if I was cheated out of the truth. I thought that my teachers didn't think that I would believe in God if I knew that the people I learned about in Sunday school were far from perfect.
Solomon was far from perfect. He made many mistakes. He didn't always show wisdom. Solomon let the temple become a place poisoned with power and corruption. He built temples to many other gods and made poor decisions when it came to taxes and even raising his children. He was a great example of how people are capable of messing up in huge ways.
And God still got to be the one who was able to get things done.
Why couldn't we remember as Solomon as the king who messed up royally and that God still loved him? Solomon made mistake after mistake and God still got things done.
I wish I'd learned that when I was a child.
8/15/2009
A Wise and Discerning Mind
This week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc (Flaws) has grown into what is now tomorrow's sermon at Union Congregational UCC in Somonauk, IL.
"A Wise and Discerning Mind" text
"A Wise and Discerning Mind" podcast
"A Wise and Discerning Mind" text
"A Wise and Discerning Mind" podcast
8/10/2009
Flaws
Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc.org:
King David died. Solomon became King. God said, ‘What do you want?” and Solomon asked for wisdom. God gave Solomon not only wisdom, but also riches and honor all his life.
Therefore, may we all seek to be like Solomon.
The end.
Except there is so much missing from that short snippet of Solomon’s life that it feels as if someone took a phrase, made up something that isn’t at all part of the intent of the phrase, made it into a campaign and then, no matter how inaccurate it was, called it truth – hoping to get others to believe it enough to tell it as if it was not only accurate, but also the complete truth!
All the Sunday School stories I read as a child that seem to end with “and you should be more like them.” need to tell the rest of the story. This week's Bible passage (1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14) needs a lot more so that folks don't get fooled into thinking that Solomon did everything right in all of his life.
Solomon asked for wisdom. But there's so much more to the story. Solomon was flawed. He made many mistakes. He didn't always use the wisdom God promised him. Solomon let the temple -- the glorious place -- become a place poisoned with power and corruption. He built temples to many other gods and made poor decisions when it came to taxes and even raising his children. Instead of being an example of how to be wise, he was a great example of how people -- even great people -- mess up in huge ways.
Why couldn't we remember as Solomon as the king who messed up royally and that God still loved him? Solomon made mistake after mistake and God still got things done.
Solomon was a powerfully flawed leader. He made mistake after mistake. And God worked through him and in spite of him.
Do you ever feel like Solomon?
King David died. Solomon became King. God said, ‘What do you want?” and Solomon asked for wisdom. God gave Solomon not only wisdom, but also riches and honor all his life.
Therefore, may we all seek to be like Solomon.
The end.
Except there is so much missing from that short snippet of Solomon’s life that it feels as if someone took a phrase, made up something that isn’t at all part of the intent of the phrase, made it into a campaign and then, no matter how inaccurate it was, called it truth – hoping to get others to believe it enough to tell it as if it was not only accurate, but also the complete truth!
All the Sunday School stories I read as a child that seem to end with “and you should be more like them.” need to tell the rest of the story. This week's Bible passage (1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14) needs a lot more so that folks don't get fooled into thinking that Solomon did everything right in all of his life.
Solomon asked for wisdom. But there's so much more to the story. Solomon was flawed. He made many mistakes. He didn't always use the wisdom God promised him. Solomon let the temple -- the glorious place -- become a place poisoned with power and corruption. He built temples to many other gods and made poor decisions when it came to taxes and even raising his children. Instead of being an example of how to be wise, he was a great example of how people -- even great people -- mess up in huge ways.
Why couldn't we remember as Solomon as the king who messed up royally and that God still loved him? Solomon made mistake after mistake and God still got things done.
Solomon was a powerfully flawed leader. He made mistake after mistake. And God worked through him and in spite of him.
Do you ever feel like Solomon?
8/14/2006
Things I didn't learn in Sunday School
Some of the frustration I've felt over the years about the stuff we never got taught in Sunday School comes out -- I've got a new "Opening the Bible" blog entry at i.ucc. It's called "Ever after?"
All the stories I read as a child that seem to end with "and they lived happily ever after" need to tell the rest of the story. This week's Bible passage (1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14) also needs a little more so that we don't get fooled into thinking that Solomon did everything right from that day forward.
I remember hearing the Bible story of how Solomon asked for wisdom when God offered him anything he wanted. In Sunday school the teachers would sum things up with a phrase like, "Solomon asked for wisdom and God gave him wisdom. If you ask for wisdom God will give it to you.
I think I'm holding a grudge about that. I had this idea of how wonderful Solomon was and that he did great things and that I should try to be wise like Solomon.When I learned more of the story I felt like I'd been cheated out of the truth. I thought that my teachers didn't think that I would believe in God if I knew that the people I learned about in Sunday school were far from perfect.
I don't want to have that happen anymore.
In this week's Bible passage, we see that Solomon asked for wisdom. But there's so much more to the story. Solomon was far from perfect. He made many mistakes. He didn't always use this wonderful wisdom God promised him with. Solomon let the temple -- the glorious place -- become a place poisoned with power and corruption. He built temples to many other gods and made poor decisions when it came to taxes and even raising his children. He was a great example of people -- even great people -- messing up in huge ways.
And God still got to be the one who was able to get things done.
Why couldn't we remember as Solomon as the king who messed up royally and that God still loved him? Solomon made mistake after mistake and God still got things done.
I believe God will continue to love us and get things done -- sometimes through us, sometimes with us and often times in spite of us -- ever after.
All the stories I read as a child that seem to end with "and they lived happily ever after" need to tell the rest of the story. This week's Bible passage (1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14) also needs a little more so that we don't get fooled into thinking that Solomon did everything right from that day forward.
I remember hearing the Bible story of how Solomon asked for wisdom when God offered him anything he wanted. In Sunday school the teachers would sum things up with a phrase like, "Solomon asked for wisdom and God gave him wisdom. If you ask for wisdom God will give it to you.
I think I'm holding a grudge about that. I had this idea of how wonderful Solomon was and that he did great things and that I should try to be wise like Solomon.When I learned more of the story I felt like I'd been cheated out of the truth. I thought that my teachers didn't think that I would believe in God if I knew that the people I learned about in Sunday school were far from perfect.
I don't want to have that happen anymore.
In this week's Bible passage, we see that Solomon asked for wisdom. But there's so much more to the story. Solomon was far from perfect. He made many mistakes. He didn't always use this wonderful wisdom God promised him with. Solomon let the temple -- the glorious place -- become a place poisoned with power and corruption. He built temples to many other gods and made poor decisions when it came to taxes and even raising his children. He was a great example of people -- even great people -- messing up in huge ways.
And God still got to be the one who was able to get things done.
Why couldn't we remember as Solomon as the king who messed up royally and that God still loved him? Solomon made mistake after mistake and God still got things done.
I believe God will continue to love us and get things done -- sometimes through us, sometimes with us and often times in spite of us -- ever after.
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