Sermon podcast from our 8-20-23 worship service - Peace Memorial Church, UCC in Palos Park, IL. Genesis 45:1-15
Showing posts with label Genesis 45:1-15. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Genesis 45:1-15. Show all posts
8/16/2020
Bold - Genesis 45:1-15 - Proper 15 - 8-16-20
Sermon podcast from our 8-16-20 online worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Genesis 45:1-15.
8/21/2017
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
"Lost" (pt 1) podcast - Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
"Bold" (pt 2) podcast - Genesis 45:1-15
8/17/2014
Reconciliation
This week's Bible reflection (Looking back) took on some current events as part of today's sermon at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL
"Reconciliation" podcast
"Reconciliation" podcast
8/11/2014
Looking back
Joseph forgave his brothers. He invited the brothers who conspired to
kill him, but instead sold him as a slave, to come and live with him. He told
them to bring their father that they all would be able to thrive during the
time of famine in Egypt. Joseph told them that all of their actions were part
of God’s plan to save them.
It’s easy to look back and see how one path led to another and
then to another and how everything worked together to bring a person, a family,
or an organization to the place they are now.
But who’s to say that it had to happen that way?
Did Joseph need to be sold as a slave for the brothers to be saved years
later? What if the brothers had never conspired? What if they all got along and
Joseph still dreamed about a famine? What if Jacob had never given Joseph the
long robe with sleeves and made the other brothers exceedingly jealous? What if any of the parts of the story of the
life of Joseph had been different? Would the brothers have survived?
I don’t know. No one knows. We
have no idea how different or the same things may have turned out if parts of
our story had been changed.
It is wise to study history. It is wise to learn from the mistakes made
throughout history so that we don’t repeat them.
But I’m not one to look at history and say, ‘It had to happen this way,
otherwise it . . . couldn’t have happened” or something like that.
I am one to say that whether you’re moving forward, in reverse, or
standing still-- embrace the continuing journey.
And be nice.
8/12/2011
Reconciliation
This week's "how did that happen?" Bible reflection (In reverse) has moved forward and is now Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.
"Reconciliation" text
"Reconciliation" podcast
"Reconciliation" text
"Reconciliation" podcast
8/08/2011
In reverse
Here's this week's Bible reflection:
Joseph forgave his brothers. He invited the brothers who conspired to kill him, but instead sold him as a slave, to come and live with him. He told them to bring their father that they all would be able to thrive during the time of famine in Egypt. Joseph told them that all of their actions were part of God’s plan to save them.
Last week I wrote about Reuben – the brother who convinced the others not to sell Joseph, but rather to throw him in a pit. As I lifted up Reuben for his actions, I wrote this:
His cool head stopped his brothers from making a mistake that would cost them dearly.
And by that, I meant to introduce the idea that by selling Joseph as a slave, the brothers saved themselves and their families from dying of starvation years later. And it seems that’s what Joseph said, too.
It’s easy to look in reverse and see how one path led to another and then to another and how everything worked together to bring a person, a family, or an organization to the place they are now.
But who’s to say that it had to happen that way?
Did Joseph need to be sold as a slave for the brothers to be saved years later? What if the brothers had never conspired? What if they all got along and Joseph still dreamed about a famine? What if Jacob had never given Joseph the long robe with sleeves and made the other brothers exceedingly jealous? What if any of the parts of the story of the life of Joseph had been different? Would the brothers have survived?
I don’t know. No one knows. As much as I love to see stories of God’s path in folks lives and love to look back and see how God’s path has led me to wherever I am on life’s journey, I have no idea how different or the same things may have turned out if parts of the story had been changed.
It is wise to study history. It is wise to learn from the mistakes made throughout history so that we don’t repeat them.
But I’m not one to look at history and say, ‘It had to happen this way, otherwise it . . . couldn’t have happened” or something like that.
I am one to say that whether you’re moving forward, in reverse, or standing still, God is with you on the journey. Embrace it.
And be nice.
Joseph forgave his brothers. He invited the brothers who conspired to kill him, but instead sold him as a slave, to come and live with him. He told them to bring their father that they all would be able to thrive during the time of famine in Egypt. Joseph told them that all of their actions were part of God’s plan to save them.
Last week I wrote about Reuben – the brother who convinced the others not to sell Joseph, but rather to throw him in a pit. As I lifted up Reuben for his actions, I wrote this:
His cool head stopped his brothers from making a mistake that would cost them dearly.
And by that, I meant to introduce the idea that by selling Joseph as a slave, the brothers saved themselves and their families from dying of starvation years later. And it seems that’s what Joseph said, too.
It’s easy to look in reverse and see how one path led to another and then to another and how everything worked together to bring a person, a family, or an organization to the place they are now.
But who’s to say that it had to happen that way?
Did Joseph need to be sold as a slave for the brothers to be saved years later? What if the brothers had never conspired? What if they all got along and Joseph still dreamed about a famine? What if Jacob had never given Joseph the long robe with sleeves and made the other brothers exceedingly jealous? What if any of the parts of the story of the life of Joseph had been different? Would the brothers have survived?
I don’t know. No one knows. As much as I love to see stories of God’s path in folks lives and love to look back and see how God’s path has led me to wherever I am on life’s journey, I have no idea how different or the same things may have turned out if parts of the story had been changed.
It is wise to study history. It is wise to learn from the mistakes made throughout history so that we don’t repeat them.
But I’m not one to look at history and say, ‘It had to happen this way, otherwise it . . . couldn’t have happened” or something like that.
I am one to say that whether you’re moving forward, in reverse, or standing still, God is with you on the journey. Embrace it.
And be nice.
8/17/2008
Unexpected Blessings
The Bible study entry for i.ucc from earlier this week (Everyone Loves a Happy Ending) got the rest of the story and is now today's sermon at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Somonauk.
"Unexpected Blessings" text
"Unexpected Blessings" podcast
"Unexpected Blessings" text
"Unexpected Blessings" podcast
8/11/2008
Everyone Loves a Happy Ending
Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:
When we last saw our hero, Joseph, he was just lifted out of a pit – only to be forced into slavery in Egypt. Much has happened to Joe since then. He’s been trusted, betrayed, thrown into prison, inquired upon, trusted again and now elevated to a position of high authority. It’s time to exact his revenge on the brothers who sold him out, right?
Nope.
Sure, Joseph has some fun with his brothers. They don’t recognize him and they really need some food – so they came to grovel for help. Joseph agreed to give them food but then he planted evidence of a theft on one of the youngest brothers. Was he testing them to see if they had turned into fine, respectable men instead of jealous and murderous brothers?
Probably.
And in our reading for this week from Genesis 45:1-15, Joseph revealed himself to them as their brother. He told them that not only was all forgiven, but also that what they did was necessary for God’s will.
I’m not sure I can look at all the circumstances in my life and say “It had to happen that way for God’s will to happen.” I can often see how things have turned out and also look at the experiences along my journey have led up to now. But I look at the mistakes and the bad times and wonder if I would have ended up where I no matter what the journey had looked like.
Could the story of God’s nourishment and forgiveness have been told without having his brothers do such horrible things when Joseph was young?
Does God get things done regardless of the different things we do on our journey?
What about when there isn't a happy ending?
When we last saw our hero, Joseph, he was just lifted out of a pit – only to be forced into slavery in Egypt. Much has happened to Joe since then. He’s been trusted, betrayed, thrown into prison, inquired upon, trusted again and now elevated to a position of high authority. It’s time to exact his revenge on the brothers who sold him out, right?
Nope.
Sure, Joseph has some fun with his brothers. They don’t recognize him and they really need some food – so they came to grovel for help. Joseph agreed to give them food but then he planted evidence of a theft on one of the youngest brothers. Was he testing them to see if they had turned into fine, respectable men instead of jealous and murderous brothers?
Probably.
And in our reading for this week from Genesis 45:1-15, Joseph revealed himself to them as their brother. He told them that not only was all forgiven, but also that what they did was necessary for God’s will.
I’m not sure I can look at all the circumstances in my life and say “It had to happen that way for God’s will to happen.” I can often see how things have turned out and also look at the experiences along my journey have led up to now. But I look at the mistakes and the bad times and wonder if I would have ended up where I no matter what the journey had looked like.
Could the story of God’s nourishment and forgiveness have been told without having his brothers do such horrible things when Joseph was young?
Does God get things done regardless of the different things we do on our journey?
What about when there isn't a happy ending?
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