Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] November 5, 2023 “Ten Texts That Shape My Life” Some Bible texts change us when we hear them, at just the right time, and shape us to the core. I came home from work one night during college very distressed. It was probably midnight but before going to bed, I read this text and it changed my life. I had been struggling with coming out and these words provided me with reassurance. In a moment of recognition, I knew what I must do. It’s been one of my favorites ever since.
This past week I tried to compile a list of my 10 favorite Bible passages. Ten texts that have shaped my life and faith. It was a real challenge. I could only get it down to 104. After our discussion at Lunch and Lectionary, I had to change it to 106. But perhaps I could find my top 10 themes in the Bible. Here’s what I came up with. Your list will likely be different. #1 - It all starts with this: Life is a gift from our Creator and God is the source of our very breath.
Skipping all the way to the great escape from Egypt, we’ve been learning how God provided the Law as training for freedom that emphasized our relationship with God and how we are to treat our neighbors. And so theme #2 - God’s hopes for us, especially how we treat people who are vulnerable: like widows, orphans, and immigrants.
Theme #3 – God calls each of us to answer – or not. We know a lot about Moses reluctantly saying yes.
A recurring theme in the Bible is encouragement. Reassurance for the weary. So, theme #4 – When we feel low and afraid, God provides strength, comfort, inspiration, and hope. God may have repeatedly gotten really, really frustrated with humanity, but God never stopped loving.
As we transition to the New Testament, theme #5 – Jesus was sent by God to build upon the Law and prophets and call us to change our hearts and lives. Jesus offered his life as a model of sacrificial love for all. He invites us all to the Kingdom of God, the image of a feast that includes anyone who has ever felt like an outcast. It’s a vision of a world shaped by love and equity among poor and rich. For some reason, that really upset religious people – then and now.
Who was Jesus? #6: He was perfectly ordinary. He got tired, irritated, hungry, and needed to be left alone – and yet, perhaps the most amazing thing of all, he always found a way to show compassion and offer a path to forgiveness when our actions hurt other people or ourselves. But #6 is also – Jesus was extraordinary in ways we can’t explain. I can only embrace the mystery of his touch as a healer. His ability to work a miracle simply with words. How, I don’t know. I leave that to faith.
So, what happened? Theme #7 – Jesus was executed by a toxic collaboration of religion and Empire. Jesus dared to confront those in his own religious tradition to return to the best of their shared tradition.
But also understand, they lived under the stress of occupation by the violent Roman Empire and both sides were frightened of his message of inclusion and ability to heal and perform miracles and gather disciples. So, together they preferred to enforce violence rather than practice justice.
But God had the final word that death does not win and so on the third day,
But he left them behind and in the aftermath, men, women, and children gathered new communities to continue the presence and ministry of Jesus, a new Body of Christ in the world, to bless it. Theme #8 is how through the Holy Spirit, everyone – then and now – has a gift by which we contribute goodness to the world. Two of my absolute favorite verses in the Bible:
Likewise, theme #9 is how the Spirit enacts unity and equality among people of all genders, races, nationalities, abilities, orientations, and anything and everything else that separates us. Which, for whatever reason, also seems to upset some religious people.
In the end, #10 – it’s all about love. Our love of God, God’s love for us. Our love of neighbor, self, and enemy. Love is the point of our faith. And if it’s not, what’s the point? They will know we are Christians by our love. And without it, we will continue to watch people in America flee a Christianity that bears no resemblance to the kind of love Jesus practiced. Bottom line for us as Christians and as a church:
Are we clear? Because without love, we are nothing but noise. So, my 10 themes: #1 – Our very breath is a gift from God #2 – Treat vulnerable people like God hopes we will #3 – God calls you and I to personal responsibility #4 – When we need it, God provides strength, comfort, inspiration, and hope #5 – Jesus calls us to change our hearts and lives #6 – Jesus was perfectly ordinary and extraordinary #7 – The collaboration of religion and state is dangerous. But God does not allow such evil scheming to win #8 – The church exists to bless the world with gifts the Spirit gives each one of us #9 – The Spirit establishes equality in the church even when that isn’t experienced in the world #10 – The point of it all is love. And without love, what’s the point? And whenever necessary, return to theme #5 – Jesus calls us to change our hearts and lives. What are your 10 favorite verses? Or what are 10 themes from the Bible that shape your life?
1 Comment
Linda Sommer
11/5/2023 06:52:09 pm
Loved hearing you preach this sermon on favorite Scripture passages. I want to see the list of top 100!
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