Only by creating for hearers an encounter, even confrontation, with the concrete witness of Scripture to God's action in Christ can a preacher hope to speak into the actual world that his or her hearers inhabit.
- David Lose
The sermon preparation continues apace. There have been a few interruptions for chores (vacuum the bedroom, water the garden, dishes...always dishes) and some play (Football!). I'm working on what God's vision may be for CCW. I have some ideas of what this is, but first I need to continue to look at what it means to encounter God's vision. I find Moses' encounter with the burning bush and Peter's encounter with the Messiah wonderful and rich with ideas and implications for us. Encounter is intimate and personal. It shatters many of our conceptions of what we think God wants. It shatters many of our conceptions of who we might be in that Godly vision. It is sociopolitical (Moses is sent to Pharoah, if you recall.). It is interpersonal and demanding (We will have to take up our own crosses at some point.).
God's Vision is at the end ultimately liberating and joyful. It is, as a friend often reminds me, Good News. It sets prisoners free. It sets us all free. The sermon title is "A Vision of Flames." Poetic? A little. We'll see how it goes.
I've read through some very good and helpful commentaries to prepare for this sermon. I want to share some stuff will you. I don't use a lot of what they shared, but they got my juices flowing. Follow the extended link for some interesting stuff.
