OT Sermons

We come today to the second part of our look at the question: Can you really believe what the Bible says about marriage?

I planned to spend these weeks looking at the early chapters of Genesis long before the government announced the timing for the debate that has made this topic so contemporary. Rather than change tack, it seems to me all the more worthwhile to revisit that question. Can you really believe what the Bible says about marriage.

Today, in the West, traditional marriage seems to be under attack. In March 2011, the office of national statistics released some figures, showing that the marriage rate was at its lowest since 1895. From 1981 to 2009, the number of marriages conducted in the UK had fallen by a third. We’re not talking about church weddings here, just about weddings full stop.

Many people today feel a little lost.

We’re often not sure who we are, or why we’re here. What does it mean to be human? Why are we on planet earth?

So here’s the question: Can you really believe what the Bible says about creation?

Many people today dismiss what the Bible says about creation. It’s out of date. It comes from a pre-scientific era. We wouldn’t read a 3000-year old document for advice on medical matters, or to learn about civil engineering. Modern science has explained our origins. So why would we read an even older book to learn about them?

And how about how we take care of our planet? We don’t need the Bible to do that, do we?

Actually, the Bible has quite a lot to tell us.

What is the most precious thing that you would give up for someone?

In some ways, that’s a measure of love, isn’t it? The more you love someone, the more you would sacrifice for them.

That’s one of the problems with our society today. We are reluctant to give things up. Our attitude is that if I’m entitled to it, then I’m entitled to it. And yet love doesn’t try and claim my rights, but freely gives up my rights.

When I was at school, the question was about your last Rolo. The one at the end of the packet. You’d only give that to a very good friend.

Picture the scene. You’ve taken the bus into Sevenoaks, and you’re waiting at the bus station for a bus to bring you back to Kemsing. The timetable says that the last bus of the day is due to leave in two minutes. There’s no sign. So you wait until the appointed time. And there’s still no sign. At which point, you start to wonder whether the bus timetable was a cruel joke. Perhaps the bus will never come.

I’m sure you’ve often heard it said that the it’s not worth being a Christian. After all, the church is full of hypocrites.

And, of course, the second half of that is certainly true. The church is full of hypocrites. And what a good thing that is – otherwise there wouldn’t be space for someone like me.

This morning we continue reading the story of Abraham.

Those of you who were here last week will remember that I said God is holding out to us the most amazing offer. He offers not just to be a God, but to be our God.

I also said that this amazing offer comes to us only through Jesus.

What I didn’t do was elaborate on what that means. Why is it so special to have God as our God? What difference does it make? What does it look like? What blessings come from it?

Basically: Why would anyone want to be a Christian? And what’s so good about being one if you are?

It’s comforting to know that there’s someone looking out for us, isn’t it?

It’s even better if we know that someone has made it their special business to take care of us. They’ve taken us under their wing. There’s what the Americans call a “special relationship”.

Lots of men in the world are fathers. Only one of them is my father. Lots of women in the world are wives. Only one of them is my wife.

There’s the world of difference between know that someone is a father, and knowing that they are my father.

What do you do when bad things happen?

I was speaking to someone last week, and we were reflecting on some of the sad things that have happened. Surely, he said, at a time like that, the most natural thing is to give up on God. What good has God done?

And he’s right, isn’t he? If God’s promised to look after us, what use is he if he doesn’t deliver?

Bad things don’t happen all the time. But we all know the frustration of seeing good things that God has promised fail to materialise. He’s promised to answer my prayers, but he didn’t answer that one.