The Gospel of IDD

  Jonah              Now the word of the  Lord  came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying,   “Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.”    But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the  Lord . He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the  Lord. Jonah 1:1-3              Ahhh, Jonah.    I was preaching one week and used Jonah as my main text.    The congregation knew that he was swallowed by a fish…or a whale…or some sort of large sea creature.    They also knew that Veggie Tales had done an adaptation of Jonah’s story where the Ninevites showed their cruelty and brokenness by slapping each other with large fish and...

  The Pearl of Great Price                “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46                Two men find treasure, treasure so amazing that it is worth all that they have and more.    One of the men knew what he was looking for; he was a collector of fine pearls who was accomplished at studying and evaluating pearls for the tiniest of flaws.    He searched everywhere that he could, pursuing that one, elusive, perfect pearl.    When he finally found it he sold everything that he had in order to be able to buy it a...

  Shepherd’s Psalm              The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.    He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.    He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.    Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.    You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.    You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.    Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:1-6                Complete trust.    That is what the Psalmist is describing.    He has complete trust in his Lord.    The sheep rely on the shepherd to p...

  Boasting in Weakness              Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked. And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant?   If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.  2 Corinthians 11:24-30            ...

  The Crowd and the Mob                When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice.    When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways;   yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you r...

  All Have Sinned              But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ   for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;   they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement   by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:21-26                When we talk about sin, we usually consider it to be dangerous on ...

  The Son of Man lifted up                And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:14-16              The most famous bible verse in the world is John 3:16. It shows up at sporting events and on posters and on bookmarks.    It is the core of the Gospel that God gave up that which was most precious to Him in order to save us from death and restore us to eternal life with Him.                          Connected to that verse is a reference back to Moses and the Israelites and that bronze snake.    That little s...

  The Bronze Serpent              The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the  Lord  and against you; pray to the  Lord  to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.    And the  Lord  said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.”    So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live. Numbers 21:7-9              The Children of Israel were tired of the journey that God was taking them on.    The road was long and hard…freedom was supposed to be easier.    The people longed to be done with the struggle and decided that God was not out for their good, but rather they we...

  Crucifixion              So they took Jesus;   and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew   is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them…   When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” John 19:16-24              There has to be a better story than this.    The Creator of the Universe becomes flesh and walks among His children.    He heals.    He inspires.    He opens their eyes to the realities of the Kingdom of Heaven...

  Habakkuk’s Prayer              Though the fig tree does not blossom,   and no fruit is on the vines;   though the produce of the olive fails,   and the fields yield no food;   though the flock is cut off from the fold,   and there is no herd in the stalls,   yet I will rejoice in the  Lord ;   I will exult in the God of my salvation.   God , the Lord, is my strength;   he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,   and makes me tread upon the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19              Habakkuk has stated his complaint.    The Lord has responded.    Justice is coming.    Those who profited from the suffering of others will be paid in full.    Those who groaned under the weight of their oppressors will find relief.    The day is coming, but is not yet here, when there...