A Life of Action

• 12th Sunday After Pentecost

Isaiah 1:1, 10-20   and Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

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• During my vacation I was able to reflect on daily life without having to bear “normal” responsibilities. It gave perspective. Especially during political conventions and the beginning of the Olympics.

It’s important to be in thoughtful dialogue on issues
as we are God’s harvest workers and shepherds in this world.

The Christian life is a life of action.

• In Isaiah’s time God laments how faith practice is all practice and no faith, and it’s not honoring to God.
Faith practice should be living. 

(Imagine a devout Christian
whose business practices are ruthless and unjust… 

Imagine planning disobedience
because you know you can rely on forgiveness…)

The Christian life is life of action, not a life of checklist.

• Isaiah 1:17 what God wants: Justice. Aid.
Heartfelt compassionate action.

What else God wants: to make you clean:
“I’m standing here with soap & water, why do you turn away?”

• Hebrews 11: Faith practice is living, not ritualistic / formulaic.
Faith is actional. God-directional. Not self-concerned.

• Isaiah 1: God is more interested in works of mercy
than works of religion.
(The Christian life is both. Communion is both)

We want either/or.
How about this: “Do a good turn daily” or “Read your Bible daily”?
(answer: both. But do you think that one is preferred? Which? Why?)

• I spoke earlier about politics, which is really about people.
Engage. Dialogue. Represent. Point to God.
Act honorably & in such a way that folks not turned off by behavior.

• Faith practice should motivate compassionate action
& indeed that action should be organic and powerful.

Our church cannot exist unto itself
but must be involved in life affirming mission,
& periodically revisit and review.

• Take cue from Jesus, who did not sit at sideline and watch,
but extended his whole self, at risk of death,
so that we might have life & salvation.

• Hymn 2177 Wounded World

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 (CEB)     8/07/16

11 Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see. 2 The elders in the past were approved because they showed faith.

3 By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word from God so that the visible came into existence from the invisible…

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going.

9 By faith he lived in the land he had been promised as a stranger. He lived in tents along with Isaac and Jacob, who were coheirs of the same promise. 10 He was looking forward to a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11 By faith even Sarah received the ability to have a child, though she herself was barren and past the age for having children, because she believed that the one who promised was faithful. 12 So descendants were born from one man (and he was as good as dead). They were as many as the number of the stars in the sky and as countless as the grains of sand on the seashore. 13 All of these people died in faith without receiving the promises, but they saw the promises from a distance and welcomed them. They confessed that they were strangers and immigrants on earth. 14 People who say this kind of thing make it clear that they are looking for a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking about the country that they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return to it. 16 But at this point in time, they are longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God isn’t ashamed to be called their God—he has prepared a city for them.  X

Isaiah 1:1, 10-20  (Common English Bible) 8/07/16

1 The vision about Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah, Amoz’s son, saw in the days of Judah’s kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah…

10 Hear the Lord’s word, you leaders of Sodom.
    Listen to our God’s teaching, people of Gomorrah!
11 What should I think about all your sacrifices? says the Lord.
I’m fed up with entirely burned offerings of rams
    and the fat of well-fed beasts.
    I don’t want the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats.
12 When you come to appear before me,
    who asked this from you, this trampling of my temple’s courts?
13 Stop bringing worthless offerings. Your incense repulses me.
New moon, sabbath, and the calling of an assembly—
    I can’t stand wickedness with celebration!
14 I hate your new moons and your festivals.
    They’ve become a burden that I’m tired of bearing.
15 When you extend your hands, I’ll hide my eyes from you.
Even when you pray for a long time, I won’t listen.
Your hands are stained with blood.
16     Wash! Be clean! Remove your ugly deeds from my sight.
    Put an end to such evil; 17 learn to do good.
Seek justice: help the oppressed; defend the orphan;
   plead for the widow.

18 Come now, and let’s settle this, says the Lord.
Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow.
If they are red as crimson, they will become like wool.
19 If you agree and obey, you will eat the best food of the land.
20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.

The Lord has said this.  X