Invitation - Isaiah 55:1-9 - Lent 3 - 3-20-22

 

Sermon podcast from the Third Sunday of Lent, 3-20-22 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Isaiah 55:1-9

Sermon preview

"Invitation" podcast

The whole worship service

Food and Water

Sermon podcast from yesterday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove.  There is enough.
"Food and Water" podcast

Return

Last week's Bible reflection (Turn Back to God) provided a "Let's see who's really listening" beginning to yesterday's sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL
"Return" text
"Return" podcast

Turn Back to God

Here's what many think that means:

Make the government a branch of the Christian Church
 Make sure the 10 Commandments are on display in courthouses.
 Insist that faith based groups who receive public money not be subject to anti-discrimination laws.

Demonize same gender loving people
 Try to enforce their religious views in a civil matter – while ignoring the many religious groups who support marriage equality.

Rally for increased spending on war – and call education and healthcare too expensive.
 It’s true that these items are not directly connected. But committing violence in the name of the     greater good is at least highly expensive. Affordable healthcare and education cannot be less of a priority than killing in the name of keeping people safe.

Turning back to God isn’t about any of those things. Turning back to God disqualifies any of those things
   
In Isaiah 55:1-9, God’s call to return invites all to do these things:

• Drink the water
• Eat the food
• Turn away from wickedness
• Receive God’s mercy
• Experience God’s unconditional love
• Receive God’s abundant pardon

Who's ready to turn back to God?

Compassion

This week's Bible study blog post for i.ucc (Return) started the "Is Kirk acting all curmudgeonly" train going -- but things jump to a different track in Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.
"Compassion" text
"Compassion" podcast

Return

Here's this week's Bible study blog post for i.ucc.org:

I’m sick and tired of hearing calls to “return to our roots” or to “turn back to God” followed by descriptions of what too many folks think that means:

• Make the government a branch of the Christian Church
• Keep the undocumented people out of the country
• Demonize same gender loving people
• Spend billions on war – and call healthcare reform too expensive.

God’s call to return isn’t about any of those things. God’s call to return disqualifies any of those things

God’s call to return invites all to

• Drink the water
• Eat the food
• Turn away from wickedness
• Receive God’s mercy
• Experience God’s unconditional love
• Receive God’s abundant pardon

Of course, the “turn away from wickedness” part gets people going. It’s where the earlier list often comes from.

But God is not about rejection, exploitation, or domination of or by anyone.

God is about one thing – and then everything that flows from that one thing.

Love.

What thoughts do you have about this week’s Bible reading from Isaiah 55:1-9?