Lost- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 - Pentecost 14 - 8-13-23

 

Sermon podcast from our 8-13-23  worship service - Peace Memorial Church, UCC in Palos Park, IL. Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28

Video Sermon preview

"Lost" sermon podcast

The whole worship sevice

What Really Matters - Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 - Proper 14 - 8-9-20

Sermon podcast from our 8-9-20 online worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28.  Guest preacher this week, new Illinois Conference Minister, Rev. Molly Carlson.

Video sermon preview

"What Really Matters" podcast

The whole online worship service

Lost and Bold

Podcasts of Parts 1 and 2 of the sermon that's about Joseph and that coat thing. However, it's really about racism, white supremacy, and what it means to be the church.  Preached over the past couple of weeks at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.
"Lost" (pt 1) podcast - Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
"Bold" (pt 2) podcast - Genesis 45:1-15

Part 1

This week's Bible reflection (Favorites) provides the beginning for Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.The sermon is also the beginning of the Joseph story!
"Part 1" text
"Part 1" podcast

Favorites

Here's this week's Bible reflection

• Favorite ice cream flavor:  Pralines and Cream
• Favorite Film:  Walk the Line
• Favorite music style:  Blues
• Favorite Commandment:  The big two – Love God, Love Everyone
• Favorite Child:  Why would anyone every answer that question? No good could ever come of it!

Jacob loved Joseph best.  Everyone knew it.  All the other brothers knew it. All the mothers knew it. Everyone that worked for Jacob knew it. Jacob showed that he loved Joseph best – most recently by giving him that long robe with sleeves. (Perhaps you’ll be able to keep that ‘Coat of Many Colors” song out of your head . . . perhaps not)

Joseph knew it. And I’m pretty sure he took advantage of it. He paraded around in his new coat. He told his father when his brothers weren’t working hard enough. 

Joseph was arrogant.
Jacob didn’t get it.

In this week’s reading from Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, almost no one looks good. Favoritism has lead to jealousy and jealousy to hatred and hatred to murderous desire.

But one voice of reason can change things for the better.

Rueben. His cool head stopped his brothers from making a mistake that would cost them dearly. 

We need more Ruebens in the world.

Great sandwich, too. I think it’s my favorite.

The Dreamer

This week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc (Jealousy and Drama) is now tomorrow's sermon at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL

"The Dreamer" text
"The Dreamer" podcast

Jealousy and Drama

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

Jealousy is an ugly, ugly thing. I think it can destroy relationships, church communities, towns, states – maybe even nations!

Am I being overly dramatic? Probably. I’m using the drama to help us get ready for the discussion of the melodramatic first part of the story of Joseph and his brothers. Good looking and well-dressed Joseph, his father’s favorite, was the envy of all the rest of his brothers. He was arrogant and his attitude did nothing to help his brothers’ jealousy. Joseph was also likely unaware of how deep his brothers’ jealousy ran.

So Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him and instead they had a little bit of pity on him (and a little bit of self-preservation on their part) and instead sold him as a slave.

This scene, and the ones that come later in Genesis, inspired the Joseph musical – and likely many other church skits.

What creative ways can you think of to tell this jealousy-filled melodramatic story from Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28?