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In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

 

Wait for the Lord

Human promises aren’t always kept but God is faithful now and in the yet-to-be. (Genesis 15.1-12,17-18; Psalm 27)

 

Context

• On Tuesday, Ukraine announced its readiness to accept a proposed ceasefire with Russia put forward by the US. By Sunday we may know Russia’s response. Could Trump pull off his promise to end the war – albeit later than his bold pre-election claims?
• Manchester United has announced ambitious plans to build “the world’s greatest football stadium”.
• At the BRIT Awards this month, Myles Smith was named UK music’s Rising Star for his promise in the year ahead, and performed his songs ‘Nice to Meet You’ and ‘Stargazing’ at the ceremony.
• In the early morning on Friday 14 March, a total lunar eclipse may briefly make it easier to see the stars – even though they’ll be just as difficult to count as in Abram’s day!

 

Reflection and ideas for sermons or interactive talks

Promises, promises!

• Promises, promises! If you hadn’t heard the phrase before, you might not realise it isn’t an expression of trust but quite the opposite. We’re so sceptical about the promises made by others that you just have to double the word and add a twist to your tone to perfectly express your cynicism. When politicians run for election we scrutinise their manifestos and, if they make it into office, it’s common journalistic practice to track how well they measure up in their first 100 days. Did they keep their promises?
• Sometimes there are successes but often the answer is no, not quite, or not yet. A promising performer may not live up to people’s high expectations as their career continues (though I hope the talented Myles Smith will!). An architect’s beautiful drawings for that new development aren’t always realised in full or on time. Your ambition to catch a glimpse of something special in the night sky might be frustrated by the weather. The hopeful early days of a new romance may lead to nothing. In ‘Solo’ Smith sings: “You promised a lifetime, but left in a moment”.
• Given our day-to-day experiences of human fallibility, it’s perhaps no wonder if, like Abram, we sometimes find it hard to trust in God. Promised many descendants (Genesis 13.15-16), Abram now pleads with God “I continue childless” (15.2), “You have given me no offspring” (15.3) and “how am I to know” (15.8). He can see the pain of the now more clearly than the hope of the not-yet. And yet, after much waiting, to the point of near-hopeless laughter, in Genesis 21 Sarah finally gives birth to their son, Isaac. Our God is a faithful God! Even so, God’s timing can take time to understand.

Wait for the Lord

• In today’s reading Abram is already at least 75 years old (Genesis 12.4) and by the time Isaac is born he is 100 (21.5). That’s a long time to wait! At the youth group I help with, this week we explored the song ‘Names’ by Elevation Worship together, looking at the promises held in God’s names, from Immanuel, God With Us, to Prince of Peace and Everlasting Father. Both I and a number of the young people in the group had also highlighted the phrase “I will trust your timing” in the lyrics, as much because it is something we want to do as something that we are doing. We want our not-yet-trusting in God’s love for us to become trusting-now.
• How can we get better at this? By taking every opportunity to draw close to God. Abram talks with God directly about his hopes and his doubts. The psalmist asks “to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life” (Psalm 27.4) and declares “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” (27.14). Jesus longs to gather his people close “as a hen gathers her brood under her wings” (Luke 13.34). Already now “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3.20), and so until the yet-to-come we can draw on that hope and “stand firm in the Lord” (Philippians 4.1), growing in faith and understanding.

 

Questions for discussion

• Looking up at the sky as an elderly, childless man, Abram must have felt that in human terms it was pretty unlikely he would become father to a great nation, with descendants as numerous as the stars. It was a moonshot, an impossible, or nearly impossible, dream. But with God all things are possible. Despite his doubts, Abram kept on in faith.
  • Which of God’s promises to you feel like moonshots?
  • Do you bring your struggles with waiting to God in prayer like Abram?
  • Are you surprised to see that God is faithful despite Abram’s doubts along the way?

God already knows what’s on our minds and can take our honest questioning!

• Do you sometimes feel that there are no promises for you? Many of us never feel we’re given a promise as specific as those given to Abram but we can still stand firm in the promises made to all believers. Have a look through Jesus’ words in the gospels and you’ll soon find some. Which can you remember? If you’re struggling, start by reminding yourself of John 3.16 and Matthew 6.25-31. Which promise do you need to hold on to this week?

 

Rebecca Froley was the launch editor for the Roots website and has worked in digital publishing for 20+ years. She worships at a Baptist church in the London Borough of Sutton where she helps with the young people and mission group.

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

As I write these words, the USA are trying to get Russia and Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. If this happens, it would be a huge moment for the world, after so much violence affecting so many lives. Perhaps you have some Ukrainian refugees at your school or church.

This news about Russia and Ukraine is an example of something which cuts to the heart of this week’s theme – now and not yet. Ukraine are in agreement, the USA are working hard, but Russia remains to be convinced. Peace is on the cards now but not yet. How do we deal with situations such as these? How do we deal with goodness and justice visible on the horizon but not yet here? I think that trust can help us.

In this week’s reading from Genesis we see that God promises Abram his reward in the form of descendants – but they are yet to appear. Abram must surely be struggling with this – “how am I to know?”. But God then gives him a sign – the stars in the sky. Abram still went to sleep with a “deep and terrifying darkness” over him. But he has been given a sign that peace will come – the reassurance is an example of now and not yet.

In both the news and the bible readings this week we see signs of now and not yet. Two radically different examples but united by the idea that, though goodness and peace are yet to reach us, we see signs in the distance, in which we must trust and place our hope.

Joe Allen is a PhD candidate in Theology at St Mary’s University Twickenham, having previously studied Theology to MA Level at the University of Exeter. He also coordinates the work of a fundraising charity at a major London Cathedral. He is a trustee of the charity Action for Stammering Children.

 

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