Jesus' Grandmothers, II: Tamar
January 14, 2024 • Christine V. Hides • Genesis 38
Many have called Tamar’s tale scandalous. But focusing on the dicey details obscures the reason she might be included in Matthew’s version of Jesus genealogy: God will use what God will to accomplish God’s will. Tamar illustrates God’s definition of righteousness, which is concerned for the vulnerable. We see this unexpected kind of righteousness so often in Jesus' ministry we should expect it by now; Jesus talked with and ate with many whom society considers scandalous and unworthy. Jesus' righteousness is doubly inherited. First from his divine parent who cares for the least, the lost and the left out. And also from his grandmother Tamar, who shows us that God’s righteousness transcends our imperfect, human laws and systems. Righteousness is the trait passed through the bloodline of Jesus’ ancestry.
The Call of a Lifetime
April 16, 2023 • Squire Prince • Genesis 12:1–3
On this blessed Sunday, we turn our gaze to our youth, and God’s presence and provision in their life. We focus on how God is moving in their midst, and even still is calling them, as God called the patriarchs and prophets, the matriarchs and models of faith. That’s my key word for the day, Call! Our youth are our example of a faithful answer to God’s call. Many of our youth will pack their bags and answer the call to do ministry with some wonderful churches in Puerto Rico; many have answered the call to serve the church in different leadership and service roles; and yet still, many of our seniors will answer the call to embark on new journeys into unknown lands and places, stepping out on faith. This echoes the story of Abraham, at the time Abram, and his call from God.
The Unnamed, III : Pharaoh's Sommelier
January 29, 2023 • William A. Evertsberg • Genesis 39—41
So in this sermon series I want to pay tribute to some of the characters in the Bible who are important to the story, but never get a name. They are The Unnamed. They’re not Nameless; they all have a name, but we don’t know what it is. There are lots of them, scores, maybe hundreds. I want to talk about a few. it’s that sommelier who stands out in my mind. That is to say, unnamed, unheralded comrades drift into and out of our lives momentarily, almost like ghosts, to put in a good word for us and launch us forward to the place and position we need to go. They might forget about us for two years, but at the last moment, or when the time is right, they swoop in to save the day, save our lives.
The Unnamed, II : Lot's Wife
January 22, 2023 • William A. Evertsberg • Genesis 19:12–29
So in this sermon series I want to pay tribute to some of the characters in the Bible who are important to the story, but never get a name. They are The Unnamed. They’re not Nameless; they all have a name, but we don’t know what it is. There are lots of them, scores, maybe hundreds. I want to talk about a few. “Scram!” says God. “Now!” says God. “Don’t even look back!” says God. But Lot’s wife can’t help herself. Mid-sprint, she looks back over her shoulder. First of all, the blitzkrieg is like a trainwreck—you can’t look away. You want to, but you can’t. More importantly, this wife and mother has lived there for 20 years. These are her friends and neighbors. They’re doomed. They’re gone. “Don’t look back!??” As if!!! Nevertheless, she is instantly ossified into a pillar of salt.
The Unnamed, I : Groundling, Mother, Snake
January 15, 2023 • William A. Evertsberg • Genesis 2, Genesis 3
So in this sermon series I want to pay tribute to some of the characters in the Bible who are important to the story, but never get a name. They are The Unnamed. They’re not Nameless; they all have a name, but we don’t know what it is. There are lots of them, scores, maybe hundreds. I want to talk about a few. In fact, the first three characters we meet in the Bible don’t have a name. We typically call the first man “Adam,” as if it were a proper name, but that’s not the case. The Bible calls the first man A-dahm, which comes from the Hebrew A-dah-mah, which means “earth,” or “ground.”
In the Meantime, VI: God Hates Loneliness
January 1, 2023 • William A. Evertsberg • Genesis 2:18–24
“Naming reflects values and character. Naming reflects hope for who we want this child or animal to be. Naming is often a way of honoring another. Anyone who has named an animal knows there is a process of value and love that goes with it.” —Nancy Lammers Gross