This week I would like to talk about the many promises God has given to us, and how we reconcile them as both Christians and followers of the Hebrew Bible. God promised to Abraham that he would have many descendants, and that they would prosper. Many Christians today have taken this to mean that to follow God means that we will never have hard times, and that if we do, we are somehow doing it wrong. For them, if you really, truly have faith, then God will bless you in all ways.
On the other hand, in the New Testament we are given the promises of Jesus, which look completely different. We are promised that the poor will be the inheritors of the kingdom of God. We are promised that those who are hated and excluded in Jesus' name will be blessed. Many can take these promises to mean that we must be completely self-giving, to the point that they lose their sense of self.
So, what is the balance between these two? That is what I want to explore this week. And because it is Communion Sunday and the children and youth are to stay in church, I plan to make the sermon more young person-friendly, by using familiar language and some congregation interaction.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions on the above topic, please email me at meganryan@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to allow the congregation to read your thoughts, click on the comments box below.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Megan Ryan
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