Pastor Cal Lord's Recent Sermons
“50 Reasons To Say Thank You Lord”
Isaiah 65: 17-25 November 18, 2007
There is a story told about a young priest who came back from a conference all fired up after
hearing several gifted speakers. On that first Sunday back he gave an account of the meeting to
the congregation.
"One of the speakers," he told them, "teaches Bible at one of our seminaries. She did an excellent
job of tracing all the currents of biblical research right up to the present. She gave an excellent
review of the recent and not so recent past in biblical studies."
"A second speaker," the priest continued, "was a theologian. He did much the same thing as the
biblical teacher. He reminded us of our heritage. He talked about the giants of theology in the early
20th century. He outlined the major streams of theology that have shaped us today."
The priest was now aglow. "The third speaker," he reported with a gleam in his eye, "was an
incredibly gifted lay woman who works in the field of applied science. She is a Roman Catholic
and a product of one of our church colleges. The things she told us about the nature of science
today were mind boggling. It’s a field that is changing with incredible speed. Things are changing.
There are grand new opportunities. We can change our future!"
Then he shared a conversation that he had with this young woman after her speech. “I am
thankful that my church has such dedicated leaders. But,’ she said, ’everything you talk about is in
the past. It’s the past that you are so expert in discussing. It’s the church’s past that you are so
knowledgeable of. But I don’t think I’ve heard anyone discuss the future. Where is the church
going in this exciting time? What kind of new future are you going to create? Surely in the church
you have language to talk about the future. Surely you have language in the Bible which can hold
out a vision of hope for a new world.’ "
It is easy to talk about the past. We do it all the time. We talk about how God changed us. We talk
about the ways he was present in our difficulties. We talk about the blessings we received. That’s
appropriate. If we don’t lift them up and remember the past, we are doomed to forget them and
act like they didn’t happen.
Yet, the lady is right. The purpose in remembering is not for its own glorification, it is to point us
toward the promise of the future. Think about it: the great poem “Footprints in the Sand” is a
reminder of God’s presence in the past that gives us hope and courage for the present and future.
It is nice to know God was there when we struggled with the death of our spouse or with the loss
of a job. But what is the point of bringing it up unless it gives us courage in the face of today’s
trials.
In theological circles it is fun to talk about the history of the Christian church. Some people try to
impress with their knowledge of the early church fathers or by naming the saints. Some people
enjoy telling the stories of the great reformers from Calvin to Luther and beyond. But what is the
point unless it informs our present circumstances.
In the book of Isaiah we have a rich source of history. Isaiah chronicles the challenging times of
the people of Israel as their world is falling apart. Isaiah is a man of means, called to be a prophet
of God. He speaks to the Northern Kingdom and prophesies that their arrogance and rejection of
God will lead to their downfall.
A lot of modern day prophets point to Isaiah and warn that the same thing could happen to the
United States today. They use it as a whip to make their point. They preach doom and gloom. But
the truth is that when they do this, they miss the point of Isaiah’s message. For although it is true
that Isaiah warned the people about straying from God and its consequences, the main thrust of
his prophesies concern the coming hope. His work is a call to faithfulness that looks to the future.
He says we have a deplorable past and God is going to chastise us. But he encourages us to hold
because God has something wonderful in store for us.
In our text today we get a sense of that. The prophet gives us a beautiful vision of the future. It is
a message full-to-overflowing with joy, and hope and peace. Our future, says the prophet is not
something to be dreaded or feared — rather, it is something to get excited about. The prophet sees
a beautiful future which is not our doing, but God’s doing. God, says the prophet, is going to act
in a wonderful and surprising way. God is going to create a new heavens and a new earth and a
new Jerusalem. God is going to take great joy in this new creation, and the people too are going to
be full of joy and celebrate God’s new creation.
The prophet then describes what the new creation is going to look like: there will be no more
weeping and crying, no more tragic deaths of infants, no more premature deaths of adults, people
shall enjoy building and living in their houses—no more homeless people, people shall eat the fruit
from the vineyards that they planted, enjoying the work of their hands—no more hungry people.
God shall bless the people of all ages, and prayers shall be answered even before people pray them.
This is a picture of a society where perfect equality, freedom, justice and peace prevail. Even the
whole created order of nature shall be changed as enemies shall become friends—wolves and
lambs, lions and oxen, even serpents shall live in perfect harmony and peace.
When we read this passage, it sounds almost impossible to believe. I think that it is done on
purpose. Our finite minds cannot comprehend the power of God to change the hearts of his
creation. Yet if He can make the wolf and the lamb come together, God can do anything.
God can bring peace to a family that has been at odds for years and years if someone prays and
asks him to intervene. God can bring healing to a person who has lived with sickness all their life.
God can provide a home for a child who has no place to go who trusts in him.
The Bible is filled with impossible stories that show what God can do if you trust him.
1. Think about Abraham and Sarah who listened to the promises of God and although they
were old, God delivered and gave them a son.
2. Think about Joseph who was sold into slavery and yet never lost his faith in God. In due
time God lifted him up to a place where he could bless his family.
3. Think of David whose faith was tested time and again, first by Goliath and then by King
Saul’s persecution. Yet, he persevered and his faith was rewarded with a kingdom.
4. Think Ruth who lost everything but she remained faithful to God and she found her
redemption in the love of Boaz.
5. Think of Job who was tested more than any man who ever lived, and when the final
curtain was lifted he was blessed over and over again.
6. Think about Daniel who stood strong in his faith even though it meant facing the jaws of
hungry lions or his friends Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego who came out of a fiery furnace
unscathed.
7. Think of the apostles who all stumbled and fell when Jesus was crucified but became
martyrs when the call went forth to share the gospel into all the world.
We read these stories not for the sake of learning history, but empower us to rise up and believe
that God will bless us in that same way.
For you see the kingdom that Isaiah was speaking about has already begun to make its way into
this world. It began with the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross and God’s mighty act of
raising him from the dead three days later. The resurrection of Christ, which we joyfully celebrate,
is God’s sign to us that he is able to keep his promise.
The pilgrims knew that in the face of hardship. A rough winter, the death of so many in the
community, a fear of the natives and an unknown future could have crippled them. Yet, they
decided to trust God and give thanks. I know we have romanticized it a bit with our histories, but
the point is that it happened. The people stepped out in faith and even when there was little to be
thankful for, they gave thanks to God.
For some this will be a difficult year to give thanks. The losses were many. The pain has been
great. But God is good and by looking back we know with certainty that God will bring us
blessings in the new year. So we come together to give thanks.
1. We can begin by giving thanks for this church community. For the friendships we have.
2. We can give thanks for this country we live in. It is the land of plenty and land of
opportunity.
3. We can give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy, including the freedom to assemble and
worship.
4. We can give thanks for our friends and neighbors who brighten our every day.
5. We can give thanks that we have a roof over our head, even if it isn’t much.
6. We can give thanks for our health, even if it is frail at this moment, we have breath and we
are here.
7. We can give thanks for our families. For those who have gone on and those who remain
close to us.
8. We can give thanks for the people who have influenced our lives. Those teachers, uncles,
grandparents and mentors who taught us about life.
9. We can give thanks for the food we eat, even if it comes through a pantry or soup kitchen.
10. We can give thanks for our ears that allow us to hear the sweet songs of faith.
11. We can give thanks for our eyes that allow us to catch glimpses of beauty every now and
then.
12. We can give thanks for our sense of taste which allows us to sample God’s bounty.
13. We can give thanks for answered prayer which bolsters our faith.
14. We can give thanks for the joyful laughter of children which reminds us what it is to be
alive.
15. We can give thanks for the touch of a friend’s hand as we go through a difficult time and
how it reminds us we are never alone.
16. We can give thanks for a beautiful sunrise that reminds us that no matter how chaotic our
life may seem, there is an order and rhythm to life. God is in charge.
17. We can give thanks to a beautiful sunset and remember that no matter how bad a day
seems, it will always end and there will be a new tomorrow.
18. We can give thanks for the changing seasons as they remind us that there is a time for
every matter under heaven.
19. We can give thanks for … You fill in the blank.
The truth is that we have many reasons to be thankful this year. God has promised us a glorious
future. As we sit down at our tables this year, we will have a foretaste of the glory he has
promised for us. A day when there will be no more crying or tears. A day when death shall be no
more. A day when peace shall rule and God himself with sit at the table with us.
That is his promise. For that we give thanks. Amen.
Isaiah 65: 17-25 November 18, 2007
There is a story told about a young priest who came back from a conference all fired up after
hearing several gifted speakers. On that first Sunday back he gave an account of the meeting to
the congregation.
"One of the speakers," he told them, "teaches Bible at one of our seminaries. She did an excellent
job of tracing all the currents of biblical research right up to the present. She gave an excellent
review of the recent and not so recent past in biblical studies."
"A second speaker," the priest continued, "was a theologian. He did much the same thing as the
biblical teacher. He reminded us of our heritage. He talked about the giants of theology in the early
20th century. He outlined the major streams of theology that have shaped us today."
The priest was now aglow. "The third speaker," he reported with a gleam in his eye, "was an
incredibly gifted lay woman who works in the field of applied science. She is a Roman Catholic
and a product of one of our church colleges. The things she told us about the nature of science
today were mind boggling. It’s a field that is changing with incredible speed. Things are changing.
There are grand new opportunities. We can change our future!"
Then he shared a conversation that he had with this young woman after her speech. “I am
thankful that my church has such dedicated leaders. But,’ she said, ’everything you talk about is in
the past. It’s the past that you are so expert in discussing. It’s the church’s past that you are so
knowledgeable of. But I don’t think I’ve heard anyone discuss the future. Where is the church
going in this exciting time? What kind of new future are you going to create? Surely in the church
you have language to talk about the future. Surely you have language in the Bible which can hold
out a vision of hope for a new world.’ "
It is easy to talk about the past. We do it all the time. We talk about how God changed us. We talk
about the ways he was present in our difficulties. We talk about the blessings we received. That’s
appropriate. If we don’t lift them up and remember the past, we are doomed to forget them and
act like they didn’t happen.
Yet, the lady is right. The purpose in remembering is not for its own glorification, it is to point us
toward the promise of the future. Think about it: the great poem “Footprints in the Sand” is a
reminder of God’s presence in the past that gives us hope and courage for the present and future.
It is nice to know God was there when we struggled with the death of our spouse or with the loss
of a job. But what is the point of bringing it up unless it gives us courage in the face of today’s
trials.
In theological circles it is fun to talk about the history of the Christian church. Some people try to
impress with their knowledge of the early church fathers or by naming the saints. Some people
enjoy telling the stories of the great reformers from Calvin to Luther and beyond. But what is the
point unless it informs our present circumstances.
In the book of Isaiah we have a rich source of history. Isaiah chronicles the challenging times of
the people of Israel as their world is falling apart. Isaiah is a man of means, called to be a prophet
of God. He speaks to the Northern Kingdom and prophesies that their arrogance and rejection of
God will lead to their downfall.
A lot of modern day prophets point to Isaiah and warn that the same thing could happen to the
United States today. They use it as a whip to make their point. They preach doom and gloom. But
the truth is that when they do this, they miss the point of Isaiah’s message. For although it is true
that Isaiah warned the people about straying from God and its consequences, the main thrust of
his prophesies concern the coming hope. His work is a call to faithfulness that looks to the future.
He says we have a deplorable past and God is going to chastise us. But he encourages us to hold
because God has something wonderful in store for us.
In our text today we get a sense of that. The prophet gives us a beautiful vision of the future. It is
a message full-to-overflowing with joy, and hope and peace. Our future, says the prophet is not
something to be dreaded or feared — rather, it is something to get excited about. The prophet sees
a beautiful future which is not our doing, but God’s doing. God, says the prophet, is going to act
in a wonderful and surprising way. God is going to create a new heavens and a new earth and a
new Jerusalem. God is going to take great joy in this new creation, and the people too are going to
be full of joy and celebrate God’s new creation.
The prophet then describes what the new creation is going to look like: there will be no more
weeping and crying, no more tragic deaths of infants, no more premature deaths of adults, people
shall enjoy building and living in their houses—no more homeless people, people shall eat the fruit
from the vineyards that they planted, enjoying the work of their hands—no more hungry people.
God shall bless the people of all ages, and prayers shall be answered even before people pray them.
This is a picture of a society where perfect equality, freedom, justice and peace prevail. Even the
whole created order of nature shall be changed as enemies shall become friends—wolves and
lambs, lions and oxen, even serpents shall live in perfect harmony and peace.
When we read this passage, it sounds almost impossible to believe. I think that it is done on
purpose. Our finite minds cannot comprehend the power of God to change the hearts of his
creation. Yet if He can make the wolf and the lamb come together, God can do anything.
God can bring peace to a family that has been at odds for years and years if someone prays and
asks him to intervene. God can bring healing to a person who has lived with sickness all their life.
God can provide a home for a child who has no place to go who trusts in him.
The Bible is filled with impossible stories that show what God can do if you trust him.
1. Think about Abraham and Sarah who listened to the promises of God and although they
were old, God delivered and gave them a son.
2. Think about Joseph who was sold into slavery and yet never lost his faith in God. In due
time God lifted him up to a place where he could bless his family.
3. Think of David whose faith was tested time and again, first by Goliath and then by King
Saul’s persecution. Yet, he persevered and his faith was rewarded with a kingdom.
4. Think Ruth who lost everything but she remained faithful to God and she found her
redemption in the love of Boaz.
5. Think of Job who was tested more than any man who ever lived, and when the final
curtain was lifted he was blessed over and over again.
6. Think about Daniel who stood strong in his faith even though it meant facing the jaws of
hungry lions or his friends Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego who came out of a fiery furnace
unscathed.
7. Think of the apostles who all stumbled and fell when Jesus was crucified but became
martyrs when the call went forth to share the gospel into all the world.
We read these stories not for the sake of learning history, but empower us to rise up and believe
that God will bless us in that same way.
For you see the kingdom that Isaiah was speaking about has already begun to make its way into
this world. It began with the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross and God’s mighty act of
raising him from the dead three days later. The resurrection of Christ, which we joyfully celebrate,
is God’s sign to us that he is able to keep his promise.
The pilgrims knew that in the face of hardship. A rough winter, the death of so many in the
community, a fear of the natives and an unknown future could have crippled them. Yet, they
decided to trust God and give thanks. I know we have romanticized it a bit with our histories, but
the point is that it happened. The people stepped out in faith and even when there was little to be
thankful for, they gave thanks to God.
For some this will be a difficult year to give thanks. The losses were many. The pain has been
great. But God is good and by looking back we know with certainty that God will bring us
blessings in the new year. So we come together to give thanks.
1. We can begin by giving thanks for this church community. For the friendships we have.
2. We can give thanks for this country we live in. It is the land of plenty and land of
opportunity.
3. We can give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy, including the freedom to assemble and
worship.
4. We can give thanks for our friends and neighbors who brighten our every day.
5. We can give thanks that we have a roof over our head, even if it isn’t much.
6. We can give thanks for our health, even if it is frail at this moment, we have breath and we
are here.
7. We can give thanks for our families. For those who have gone on and those who remain
close to us.
8. We can give thanks for the people who have influenced our lives. Those teachers, uncles,
grandparents and mentors who taught us about life.
9. We can give thanks for the food we eat, even if it comes through a pantry or soup kitchen.
10. We can give thanks for our ears that allow us to hear the sweet songs of faith.
11. We can give thanks for our eyes that allow us to catch glimpses of beauty every now and
then.
12. We can give thanks for our sense of taste which allows us to sample God’s bounty.
13. We can give thanks for answered prayer which bolsters our faith.
14. We can give thanks for the joyful laughter of children which reminds us what it is to be
alive.
15. We can give thanks for the touch of a friend’s hand as we go through a difficult time and
how it reminds us we are never alone.
16. We can give thanks for a beautiful sunrise that reminds us that no matter how chaotic our
life may seem, there is an order and rhythm to life. God is in charge.
17. We can give thanks to a beautiful sunset and remember that no matter how bad a day
seems, it will always end and there will be a new tomorrow.
18. We can give thanks for the changing seasons as they remind us that there is a time for
every matter under heaven.
19. We can give thanks for … You fill in the blank.
The truth is that we have many reasons to be thankful this year. God has promised us a glorious
future. As we sit down at our tables this year, we will have a foretaste of the glory he has
promised for us. A day when there will be no more crying or tears. A day when death shall be no
more. A day when peace shall rule and God himself with sit at the table with us.
That is his promise. For that we give thanks. Amen.
| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
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