Black History in God's Story
Black History in God's Story: Simon of Cyrene
February 25, 2024 • Pastor Tammy Long • Mark 15:20–21
We are in a mini-series that highlights Black presence in the Bible, as part of our celebration of Black History Month. Black history is part of biblical history. The focus of this message is Simon, a man from Cyrene located in Northern Africa referred to in Mark 15:20-21, Mathew 27:32-33, and Luke 23:26. Before Simon carrying the Jesus’ cross, the scene of the torture of our Lord Jesus Christ is familiar to Christians and non-Christians. It is the brutal abuse Jesus experienced after Pontius Pilate exchanged Barnabas, the insurrectionist leader and murderer, for Jesus. Bloodthirsty mobs cried out, “Crucify him.” (See Matthew 27:15-26). Pilate had Jesus brutally flogged. The scourge was a short whip with leather strips on which small iron balls or sharp pieces of sheep bone were tied. With each repeated lashing, the iron balls and sharp bones tore the flesh causing pain and blood loss. This initiated circulatory shock long before one got to the cross. The governor’s soldiers stripped Jesus and put a scarlet robe on him to mock him, and then they twisted a crown of thorns and pressed it down on his head. They then put a staff in his hand and knelt down in mockery taunting, “Hail King of the Jews.” They spit on Jesus and repeatedly struck him over the head with the staff. (See Matthew 27:27-31). Then they took off the robe, put Jesus’ clothes back on him, and led him away to be crucified. Simon, the man from Northern Africa, was exactly where God wanted him to be at that time to carry the cross of Jesus. From Simon’s story, we learn the crosses we are to carry. (1) We may carry the cross of our own pain and suffering from the weight of the world’s brokenness with God present with us. (2) We may carry the cross of another’s pain and suffering coming alongside with empathy, support, time, and sacrifice as we lean on God and remember God’s presence with us as God leads. (3) We learn from Simon that his cross is following Jesus. This means dying to our pride and our self-centeredness is an intentional decision to die daily so that we can truly live the life God has for us.
Black History in God's Story: Ebed-melech
February 18, 2024 • Pastor Tammy • Jeremiah 39:15–18, Jeremiah 38:1–13
We are in a mini-series that highlights Black presence in the Bible, as part of our celebration of Black History. This gives us the opportunity to affirm not what it says about Black people, but what it says about God and all people of color. Through our diversity as brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of God, we truly reflect the breadth and beauty of God whom we serve. As we say yes to God’s Will and Way, God molds us into being a living sanctuary of God. African presence in the Bible can be missed because we often skip over the names and places that convey African presence. The word Africa does not appear in the Bible, but its lands and people do appear throughout God’s unfolding narrative. For example, Egypt, despite false attempts to portray it as the Middle East, is in Africa; Nubia refers to the upper Nile region below Egypt; Kush, the Greek translation for Ancient Ethiopia, is in Africa; Libya and Phut are in the northern coast of Africa. The focus of this message is on an African man from ancient Ethiopia named Ebed-Melech, referred to in Jeremiah 38:1-13 and 39:15-18. We learn about the breadth and beauty of the loving God: God forewarned what was about to happen. God had a plan for the people of the Southern Kingdom. God was faithful to remain present; God provided care through a person. God offered hope. From Ebed-Melech, we learn lessons: He used his position and influence for God; he took a risk to speak up; he exhibited courage; he spoke the truth and challenged authority; he upheld Godly morals and ethics; he advocated for justice.
Black History in God's Story: The Queen of Sheba
February 11, 2024 • Pastor Tammy Long • 1 Kings 10:1–10, 1 Kings 13
We begin a new mini-series that coincides with Black History month. This gives us the opportunity to pause, affirm, and recognize the contributions and legacy of the ways God moves in Black history. African American history is American history. Black history is also biblical history. God’s biblical stories are about people of color given the geographical setting of the biblical text. In many ways the Bible has been whitewashed; the images in books, movies, and Church lessons have not accurately depicted the people, culture, or part of the world that the biblical narratives record. We must revisit these inaccuracies to move closer to God’s heart for all people. Racial, cultural, and ethnic identity matters. Diversity doesn’t have to divide us, but differences are to be celebrated as part of God’s grand story. We must pass on the truths of God’s story to the next generation and debunk the lie that Christianity is the White Man’s religion. The focus of this message is about the Queen of Sheba. She was a black woman in scripture, who stands out as a legend, an icon, a role model, and an inspiration of black excellence, royalty, and abundance. For our life journey with Jesus, there are three principles from the biblical narrative of the Queen Sheba. (1) Get to know Jesus the King. (2) God is the giver of every good gift. (3) Generosity is always the right response to the goodness of God.