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Words From the Middle

At the intersection of Sacred and Profane

2012/09/23

Let’s take another look at wisdom

This week’s sermons seemed, rather unexpectedly, to turn into a conflation of August 19 (Pentecost 12) and last Sunday (Pentecost 16). The sermon title is not misleading, we did  “take another look at wisdom” but we also spent some time talking about how wisdom can be used and misused as a word. I don’t know if it shows or not but I am very rarely surprised in any meaningful use of that word by how Sunday’s sermons turn out . . . but it does happen.

So what surprised me? that the sermon ended up so focused on the middle of the James text and how we can have wisdom, and a lot of other things, if we ask for them.

Knox Presbyterian Let’s take another look at wisdom

St. Mark’s Presbyterian Let’s take another look at wisdom

One of the most consistently baffling things in my experience is how frequently people don’t ask for what they want. It is even more baffling when I realize how frequently I don’t ask for what I want. We seem loath to actually ask even when we have demonstrated over and over again that when we ask we usually get what we are asking for. This is especially baffling when we don’t ask God for what we want. The Bible, church history, our own experience too, is filled with  answers to prayer, so what’s the problem? Is this part of the lack of wisdom we are suffering from? If so, it is a bit of a vicious circle in that we don’t have wisdom because we don’t ask for it so we don’t have the wisdom to ask for it. But it is a circle we can quite easily break out from.

If James is telling us anything about our relationship with God it is that we can ask for what we want.

Let me know what you think.

Blessings,

  • Date: September 23, 2012
  • Liturgical Sunday: Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
  • RCL Scripture: Psalm 1; Proverbs 31:10-31; James 3:13 – 4:3, 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37
  • Sermon Title: Let’s take another look at wisdom

PS As always if you want downloadable versions of these or other sermons, click here

Picture credit: MiGowa

Article by Barry / Pentecost, Sunday, Year B / James, Pentecost 17, preaching, sermons, wisdom Leave a Comment

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