First Lutheran Church
March 8, 2020 + Lent 2A
Genesis 12:1-4a; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17
The Lenten Journey: Abram, Sarai, and Nicodemus
A Sermon with Song – Pastor Greg Ronning
This morning I would like to encourage you in your Lenten Journey, your Lenten discipline. And if you have not yet begun a Lenten practice, it’s not too late, - I encourage you to begin today! In short, a Lenten Discipline is a spiritual practice designed to nurture and deepen your faith, by creating time and space in your life for you to engage God’s presence. Traditionally we “give things up” to create space for such practices or activities. For example, one might give up “Facebook,” to free up time for prayer, bible study, for an intentional “face to face” relationship. One might give up a night of TV, or a day of binge watching Netflix, to free up time to volunteer with an organization that serves those in need.
In today’s appointed scripture readings, we are also reminded that our Lenten journey often challenges us to “move” into new and sometimes uncomfortable places. In today’s Old Testament lesson Abram and Sarai are invited to “go” from their country, away from their family, to a new land that God has prepared for them and their descendants. God challenges them to leave behind their “privilege” and to trust only in the promises of God.
I’ve always been amazed at the story of Abraham and Sarah, (Abram and Sarai,) and how they were able to faithfully respond to God’s invitation to “go,” to leave everything behind. I wonder how they heard God’s voice. Was it crystal clear and clearly audible? Or did they hear God’s voice in the same way I do? Not so clear, with a voice that sounds a lot like my own voice? And how did they know it was God? We are reminded that they did not have a bible, the commandments, well thought out doctrines, or anything! Abram and Sarai simply hear a word of blessing, a word of purpose to be a blessing, a word that calls them to boldly “go” into something new, - and they believe. I guess sometimes, you just know ….
“It's Time To Believe”
Yesterday is gone tomorrow's yet to come
I think today I'll find myself in love
It's been so long, waiting on this song
I think today I'll stop believing in things to come
The road's before me I can't go back to sleep
It's time to leave
The road's before me yet no angel draws near
just a haunting voice that whispers in my ear
I take my step, the right foot then the left
I walk away from this world not knowing what comes next
The road's before me I can't go back to sleep
It's time to leave
Memories fill my mind, I look back at life and times
Though life was cast in stone tears still fill my eyes
Today I'm free, wide open scared as can be
This is the life of love I was meant to be
The road's before me I can't go back to sleep
It's time to leave
It's time to believe
In today’s Gospel Nicodemus comes to see Jesus in the cover of dark, and is invited to be “born anew,” to set aside his “privilege,” his “status,” and embrace something new and different. Jesus offers him a vision of the Kingdom of God that challenges him to “move away” from the Law and more deeply into the grace and mercy of “for God so loved the world.”
“Kingdom of The Sky”
Kingdom of the sky, capturing poor eyes
Reaching down and lifting up, they rise
Kingdom of the sky
Kingdom of the kind, whose hearts are never blind
In everlasting mercy love abides
Kingdom of the sky
Oh, there’s a light on a hill, and when it shines the world stands still
Oh, hope lies deep inside you, Kingdom of the sky
Kingdom of the meek, who turn the other cheek
Bending swords into plowshares making peace
Kingdom of the sky
Kingdom of the dream, Living in between
Hungering and thirsting, they believe
Kingdom of the sky
Oh, there’s a light on a hill, and when it shines the world stands still
Oh, hope lies deep inside you, Kingdom of the sky
Kingdom of the sky, capturing poor eyes
Reaching down and lifting up, they rise
Today I want to encourage you in your Lenten Journey! I want to encourage you to embrace the story of Abram and Sarai. I want to encourage you to leave the comfortable behind, to “go,” to “move,” to “leave,” and in doing so - to “believe.” God will be there to meet you, and in that encounter with God you will be blessed, and in that blessing you will become a blessing to those around you.
And I want to encourage you to embrace the story of Nicodemus. I want to encourage you to see the Kingdom of God anew, and to find yourself in that Kingdom, resting in its grace and mercy, and living out its grace and mercy to others. Be intentional with your life during this season of Lent, take up the invitation to nurture and deepen your faith by creating the time and the space that will open you up to the fullness of Easter’s resurrection unto life abundant and everlasting.
“Be Strong and Courageous”
Be strong and courageous, all the days of your life
For the Lord has promised to stand by you, day and night
Be strong and courageous, do not be frightened or dismayed
For the Lord your God is with you along the narrow way
Stay in the holy word, keep it deep in your soul
Meditate upon it and you will know where to go
The place God has prepared for you
Be strong and courageous, all the days of your life
For the Lord has promised to stand by you, day and night
Be strong and courageous, do not be frightened or dismayed
For the Lord your God is with you along the narrow way
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind
In service to others, your dream becomes alive
The place God has prepared for you
Be strong and courageous, all the days of your life
For the Lord has promised to stand by you, day and night
Be strong and courageous, do not be frightened or dismayed
For the Lord your God is with you along the narrow way
Amen, Amen.
Genesis 12:1-4a 1The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4aSo Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.
John 3:1-10. 1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?