One of the most troubling stories in the Bible is found in the 22nd Chapter of Genesis.  We are often told that this is a ‘test’ of Abraham’s faith, but the details are disturbing to say the least.  Perhaps today we are still challenged to make unwholesome sacrifices, but not by God.  Instead we allow the other voices and forces around us to demand too much of our time, our families, and our devotion.  We, like Abraham, need to learn to depend on the promise that God will provide.

Worship this week:  Saturday — 5:00 p.m. in Chapel

Sunday — 8:30 a.m. — Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. — Sunday School

10:30 a.m. — Contemporary  Worship

 September 15, 2013
Genesis 21:1-3; 22:1-14

Key Verses:  Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place ‘The Lord will provide’; as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.’” Genesis 22:13b-14

Time: around 1850 BCE

Background: God made a covenant with Abraham that would last for generations. God’s covenant was a blessing, that Abraham and his offspring would be a blessing to others. Abraham’s side of the covenant was fulfilled when he and his household were circumcised. This covenant was established before God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. God’s fulfilling of the covenant was not contingent on Abraham’s willingness to carry out the morbid request.

Scripture tells us the request was a test of Abraham. We will never know what may have happened to the covenant or the relationship if Abraham had denied God’s request. But Abraham proved he was willing to carry it out. Abraham was faithful and proved to God that he could be trusted with the blessing.

Community: To those who have not been brought up with the tradition of scripture (and even to those who have), this story can appear abominable. How might you tell this story to those who have not heard? What does this story tell us about God? What does it tell us about ourselves?

At Home: Where are there weaknesses in your faith life? What prevents you from trusting God fully? What could you do this week to make a change?

Read This Week:
Sunday, Sep 15, Binding of Isaac, Genesis 21:1-3; 22:1-14

Monday, Sep 16, Choosing of Rebekah, Genesis 24:1-27

Tuesday, Sep 17, Choosing of Rebekah, Genesis 24:28-49

Wednesday, Sep 18, Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah, Genesis 24:50-67

Thursday. Sep 19, The Birth of Esau and Jacob, Genesis 25:19-28

Friday, Sep 20, Esau Sells His Birthright, Genesis 25:29-34

Saturday. Sep 21, Isaac and Abimelech, Genesis 26:1-33

 

Next Week: Sunday, Sep 22, Jacob’s Dream, Genesis 27:1-4, 15-23; 28:10-17

 

Sunday, September 8^th 11:30 a.m. (during the Community Celebration)

–          There will be tables set aside for High School Youth and interested adults, where we can share our meal and talk about our hopes for this new year.

–          Bring your ideas:  What inspires you?  What gifts do you have to share?  What topics would you like to discuss?  What fun things would you like to do?  What role can you play in making it happen?

We begin a new Sunday School year at the very beginning of the Bible as we consider God’s good creation and our place of honor within it.  God speaks and the world comes to be, and without that breath we are nothing.

Traditional worship begins at 8:30 a.m. as we welcome the ELC Senior choir’s return.

Parents and children are invited to the Sunday School Open House at 9:30 a.m.  Find out what’s new and meet your friends and neighbors.

Contemporary Worship will gather in the big tent at 10:30 a.m. where you’ll be encouraged to sing, pray, discuss, and create around the table with friends and family.

Community Festival meal will begin serving at 11:30 a.m. — while we enjoy music, fellowship and children’s activities.

September 8, 2013
Genesis 1:1-2:4a

Key Verse: “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

Time: before 2500 BCE

Background: This account of creation is a poetic story that informs us about God’s relationship with creation. God is a gifted artist, who pours heart and soul into all that God creates. Like an artist, God is intimately attached to creation, especially to humankind. Humans were created in the image of God, so each human born reflects the beautiful nature of God back to the world.

Whether or not the story is to be literally interpreted is up to you. We can, however, take from the story that God has fingerprints on everything that we can see, feel, hear, taste, and even conceive or dream. Nothing in God’s creation is accidental.

Community: What is your community doing to nurture and care for creation? This includes the planet: growing fields, lakes, rivers, seas, and skies. It includes animals, sea creatures, birds, and insects. It also includes all people. Research one thing this week that your community is doing to nurture creation, and become involved.

At Home: What is one change you can make this week to take better care of yourself. Is it for your emotional, physical, or spiritual health?

Read This Week:
Sunday, Sep 8, Creation, Genesis 1:1-2:4a

Monday, Sep 9, A Second Account of Creation, Genesis 2:4b-25

Tuesday, Sep 10, The First Sin, Genesis 3:1-13

Wednesday, Sep 11, Punishment, Genesis 3:14-24

Thursday, Sep 12, Cain Murders Abel, Genesis 4:1-16

Friday, Sep 13, Beginnings of Civilization, Genesis 4:1-26

Saturday, Sep 14, A Son Promised to Abraham and Sarah, Genesis 18:1-15

 

Next Week: Sunday, Sep 15, Binding of Isaac, Genesis 21:1-3; 22:1-14

 

 

Last week my family and I attended a ‘renaissance fair’ and saw young men dressed in full armor battle for the crowd in the jousting arena.  While that armor is impressive in a way, it is a far cry from the real armor that Ephesians describes.  For  while the physical armor of the ancient warrior might be an impressive sight, it is sadly over-matched on today’s battlefield.   Our ‘spiritual armor’ of truth, righteousness, proclamation of peace, faith, salvation, and God’s word are ultimately more lasting and more powerful. 

Worship this week:  Saturday 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

                         Sunday 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

                                    10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship

 Armor of God
September 1, 2013
Ephesians 6:10-20

Key Verse: “Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11

Time: about 62 A.D.

Background: Paul used imagery of weapons and war to describe the battles that rage on the earth between good and evil. He encouraged the community of faith to adorn themselves with weapons of spirit: truth, righteousness, proclamation of peace, faith, salvation, and God’s word. With these, the “spiritual forces of evil” (6:12) could be fought. Paul recognized that the battles that mattered were not physical battles between people, but spiritual battles that could only be fought and won by the power of God.

Community: What spiritual battles are being lost in your community? How might you make a difference to those in your community so that those battles can be turned? Who will you rally? What spiritual weapons will you use?

At Home: How does battle imagery inform your understanding of good and evil? What other images might help move you to action against such evils as poverty, abuse, hunger, or injustice?

Read This Week:
Monday: Temptation of Christ, Luke 4:5-8
Tuesday: Example of Paul, Philippians 3:1-16
Wednesday: Imitating Christ, Philippians 3:17-4:1
Thursday: Exhortation, Philippians 4:2-9
Friday: Philippian Gift, Philippians 4:10-20
Saturday: Conclusion, Philippians 4:21-23

Next Week: Creation, Genesis 1:1-2:4a