FAQ's Sermon Series: How Do We Interpret the Bible, such as the Creation Story?

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
How Do We Interpret the Bible; such as the Creation Story?
Psalm 104: 1-24, 27-30; Psalm 8: 4-6; 2 Timothy 3: 14-17
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
July 29, 2018

Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honour and majesty,
wrapped in light as with a garment.
You stretch out the heavens like a tent,
you set the beams of your chambers on the waters,
you make the clouds your chariot,
you ride on the wings of the wind,
you make the winds your messengers,
fire and flame your ministers.


You set the earth on its foundations,
so that it shall never be shaken.
You cover it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
At your rebuke they flee;
at the sound of your thunder they take to flight.
They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys
to the place that you appointed for them.
You set a boundary that they may not pass,
so that they might not again cover the earth.


You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
they flow between the hills,
giving drink to every wild animal;
the wild asses quench their thirst.
By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation;
they sing among the branches.
From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.


You cause the grass to grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to use,
to bring forth food from the earth,
and wine to gladden the human heart,
oil to make the face shine,
and bread to strengthen the human heart.
The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
In them the birds build their nests;
the stork has its home in the fir trees.
The high mountains are for the wild goats;
the rocks are a refuge for the coneys.
You have made the moon to mark the seasons;
the sun knows its time for setting.
You make darkness, and it is night,
when all the animals of the forest come creeping out.
The young lions roar for their prey,
seeking their food from God.
When the sun rises, they withdraw
and lie down in their dens.
People go out to their work
and to their labor until the evening.


O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures. - Psalm 104: 1-24

what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?

Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands. - Psalm 8: 4-6

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3: 14-17

The B-I-B-L-E / Yes that’s the book for me /
I stand alone on the Word of God/ the B-I-B-L-E

You know the song, but how would you describe the way you stand alone on the Word of God?

Thomas Jefferson did so in a unique way. Like many of the founding fathers, Jefferson subscribed to deism – the belief that after God created the world, God no longer actively related to it. Deist thinkers liken God to an all-knowing clock maker who made the world like a perfect clock; God set it into motion and it needs no help from its maker [2].

A highly educated man of the 1800’s, Jefferson was drawn to science, reason, and theology. Jefferson read the Bible in Greek, Latin, French, and King James’ English, but took issue with parts of it. Most of us wrestle with the Bible too.

But Jefferson had a distrust of the gospel writers, “whom he considered to be untrustworthy correspondents” [1]. As a result, Jefferson created his own Bible. He took the likes of an X-Acto knife and cut out pages of the New Testament to reflect his personal interpretation of Christ’s philosophy and teachings.

It is surprising to note that the Jeffersonian Bible “[omitted] anything that Jefferson perceived as “contrary to reason;” including Jesus’ miracles and even the accounts of Jesus’ resurrection.”[1]

To say we stand alone on the Word of God leads us to our next question from the pew today: How do we interpret the Bible, such as the Creation story? For example, is the earth young or old?

There is a sea that divides us when we read the Bible from the time in which it was written and our time today. The reading of Scripture in the fourth century was greatly influenced by Saint Augustine who said, “We turn to the faith within only to accede beyond, to God.” [3]

Thomas Jefferson lived in the time when the social tides of authority significantly shifted. Rene’ Descartes (pronounced ‘day-cart’) was a 17th century French philosopher, scientist, and mathematician. He brought about this shift known as the Enlightenment, marking modernity as we know it. Descartes completely shifted the world’s thinking.

Dr. George Stroup (Theology Professor of Columbia Theological Seminary) describes this modern thought as, “Clear and distinct ideas are [now] the criterion for discerning truth…The center of reality is now thinking, reasoning, and self, and not God.” [4]

You and I are children of the Enlightenment. We are driven to interpret and prove or disprove ideas based on empirical facts and logic. As a result, science and faith have since been perceived as rival teams that threaten one another, especially when it comes to understanding the Creation story.

Some read the Genesis account of Creation literally (Genesis 1). This interpretation of Scripture holds that God created in a twenty-four hour – six day period. This shapes a reading of the world as a young earth. For some that brings clarity and understanding. For others it brings more questions.

The truth is that regarding Creation, science and faith are asking two different questions. Science asks how Creation happened. Faith asks why God created the heavens and earth and you and me?

And yet the big question remains hanging out there: How do we interpret the Bible? How do we render a faithful understanding of God’s Word?

I would be remiss if I did not share a disclaimer to you. To answer this question faithfully through much prayer and study, the answer is not a denominational answer. Rather our faith seeks understanding through the Reformed tradition, which goes back to the 16th century.

Its voice is a collective one for millions of Christians across the world. Its foundation is the authority of Scripture because the Bible always points to God’s authority in all things. This tradition urges our faith to seek understanding by asking questions of the living Word of God. The Holy Spirit leads us to articulate what we believe in every time and place for God is on the move to do a new thing through the Word of Jesus Christ. We do this by prayerful study of the Scripture as we are guided by the confessions. This is the task of the Reformed tradition.

We faithfully interpret Scripture when we stand under the Bible’s authority. “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3: 16-17).

The Bible holds such powerful authority for our lives because it points to God’s authority. “The authority of God’s Word does not depend on the testimony of the church or any human, but solely rests upon God (Westminster Confession of Faith 6.004).” Scripture points to God’s authority as our Creator, the Maker of heaven and earth, our refuge, rock, shepherd, judge, and redeemer.

As our faith seeks to understand the Bible we must remember Scripture is not a text book of religion or science. If we engage the Bible to find scientific answers (such as the age of the earth) or to validate its historical accuracy, then we will be sorely disappointed. This is not the purpose of Scripture.

The biblical focus of the Creation stories (Genesis 1-2 holds two Creation accounts) is not solely about the creation. The biblical focus is about the Creator.

A beloved mentor, professor, and the ninth President of Columbia Theological Seminary – Steve Hayner once preached, “The Bible is largely a narrative of God’s people who are trying to figure out their lives in relation to God.”

Therefore, we must read the whole of Scripture and not stand alone on parts of God’s Word. So, let us hold our texts today alongside the first two chapters of Genesis.

God did not create, set us in motion and turn us loose. Rather God’s wisdom has made all of creation, creatures, and humanity to live in relationship with God and one another (Psalm 104:24). The heavens and earth, the springs, the grass, the trees, the birds, the mountains, the lions, and we ourselves all share a God-given manifold intimacy that the Psalmist poetically describes (Psalm 104: 1-24). Oh, that we would be captivated by our Maker to praise God and enjoy the Lord forever because the Lord delights in us (Genesis 1, Psalm 8, Psalm 104, 2 Timothy 3: 16).

Approaching the Bible faithfully means we should not be satisfied with just the plain reading of Scripture. The Bible was first passed down through the oral tradition and was later written. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, the New Testament was written in Greek, and both have been prayerfully translated into every language to witness to God’s life-giving hope.

Did you know that of all the world’s religions the Bible is the only sacred book that is translated in various languages?

The Bible holds writings of different literary genres: narratives (traditions and cultural memories), history (not facts but deep truths), prophecy (interpreting the future through the past), poetry, wisdom, gospels, parables, and letters. These genres resist literal interpretation. They reveal truths of how we are to live into God’s purposes, and they invite us to join God in fulfilling them by way of Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit.

It matters that God’s Word was written in a particular time, in a particular context, and in a particular language that is not always clear to understand. Therefore, we honor the Bible’s authority by studying its historical and literary context in order to comprehend it in our time and context today.

The Jewish tradition attributes Genesis and the next four books of the Bible to Moses. However, biblical scholars hold that the Creation accounts in Genesis were actually written when God’s people were held captive in Babylon (586 B.C.E. – 516 B.C.E.).

The Babylonian culture understood their origins from the mythical god Marduk. In the beginning chaos was stirred up like a choppy ocean from the goddess Tiamat. Marduk and Tiamat engaged in an epic struggle. Marduk subdued the chaos by killing Tiamat. Marduk cut her body in two, making two domes, and then brought forth the created order. Then Marduk claimed his position as the almighty god [5].

God’s people of Israel did not hold this to be their truth. Instead the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the Lord alone. When you look toward heaven and count the stars, remember you are descendants of Abraham (Genesis 15:5). The breadth of God swept over the watery chaos and brought the order of creation; the assurance that God would bring God’s people order in the chaos of exile. (Genesis 1:1-2; Jeremiah 29: 4-13; Ezekiel 37: 1-14). God created all things between heaven and earth and called each one good; the assurance of God’s steadfast love and promise to bring forth a future with hope (Psalm 104, Jeremiah 29:11).

Does learning the historical context of Genesis invalidate the authenticity of the Bible? As the Apostle Paul says, “By no means!” The context reveals that Creation is more than a one-time event. It is a theological claim about identity; the identity of God and God’s people.

When life seems like an endless void – you might say a ‘hot mess’ – well that is when God does his best work. Nothing is impossible for God.

If God told the chaos of the sea, “You will only come this far,” then God will tame the chaos around and within you too.

If God has a vision for creating everything with goodness and great detail one day at a time, then God is trustworthy to care for every detail of your daily living too.

If God connects every living thing with purpose, then God surely has blessed your life with a purpose to bless others.

Remember that God brought forth new life from a formless void – nothingness (Genesis 1:1). God made the valley of dead bones live again (Ezekiel 37). God resurrected our Savior who suffered and died.

And if God has done all that, then God will surely raise up new life within you and me and this weary world. God will do it today and every day until we are united in heaven.

That’s how our Reformed tradition stands alone on the Word of God.

My dear friend The Rev. Dr. Steve Hayner once said, “The Bible is there so that by its proper use, the Creator may be glorified, and the creation may be healed.”

May you and I strive to be faithful students of the B-I-B-L-E. It is God’s gift to us and our responsibility to be faithful to it.

As a dear colleague of mine says - It’s all that easy and it’s all that hard.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] Owen Edwards, “How Thomas Jefferson Created His Own Bible,” Smithsonian Magazine, January 2012
[2] Daniel Migliore, “Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology” (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co, 2004), p. 407.
[3] George Stroup, “Before God” (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2004), p. 32.
[4] George Stroup, p. 32.
[5] Michael D. Coogan, "The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures" (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006), p. 5-6

FAQ's Sermon Series: What If Prayers Never Seem to Have an Answer?

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
What If Prayers Never Seem to Have an Answer?
Psalm 42: 6-11; Isaiah 55: 6-11
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
July 22, 2018

My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your billows
have gone over me.
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God, my rock,
‘Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about mournfully
because the enemy oppresses me?’
As with a deadly wound in my body,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me continually,
‘Where is your God?’

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God. - Psalm 42: 6-11

Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.


For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. - Isaiah 55: 6-11

Do you think you could do God’s job?

Bruce Almighty did. Bruce, who was played by Jim Carrey, was a constant complainer of what God did not do. So, God, played by Morgan Freeman, taught Bruce a lesson. God gave Bruce almighty powers to learn firsthand that only God can be God.

First on the agenda was for Bruce to answer prayers. Voices uttered from across the world flooded Bruce's mind; they came in all at once, non-stop. Overwhelmed by the overlapping voices, Bruce decided to organize all the prayers to shut off all the voices.

And suddenly “YAHWEH Insta-Prayer” was formed. The computer screen said, “Welcome to the super-revelation highway. We bless, no mess…downloading prayers now.” Bruce took a seat, smiled, and then fell asleep because the downloading took so long. When he woke up, over 1 million prayer requests in his inbox.

At lightning speed, he made a huge dent in answering all those emails! And then – just like that - another 3 million requests popped up. Well, Bruce stood up, raised his hands in defeat, and said, “What a bunch of whiners! This is gonna suck up my whole life!”

This scene always cracks me up. And yet in a lighthearted way it begs another question from the pews today: “What if prayers never seem to have an answer?” Did God hear my prayer?

There are a number of Scriptures that assure us that God does indeed hear our prayers:

I call upon you; for you will answer me, O God (Psalm 17:6).
When you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you (Jeremiah 29:12).
..They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, 'They are My people,' And they will say, 'The LORD is my God (Zechariah 13:9).

Even Jesus said, If you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you (John 16:23b).

When we have prayed, and prayed, and prayed and there is no answer it is not well with our soul. The Psalmist named our human experience saying, “Why have you forgotten me, Lord?” We hear that naysayer voice rise up saying, “Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:9-10).

What if some prayers never seem to have an answer?

Sometimes prayers do not have an answer because we are asking with the wrong motivation. When Saul was King, Samuel the court prophet spoke to Saul as God’s mouthpiece. Upon Samuel’s death, Saul did not know what to do. You see, Saul was not obedient to God and Samuel had already called Saul out on it (1 Samuel 15:10-29). Saul knew he was standing on sinking sand. Now the Philistines were encroaching and Saul was very afraid.

Saul prayed to God for direction, but God did not listen. Being met with silence, Saul consulted a medium to get answers (1 Samuel 28: 3-20). Not only was consulting a medium prohibited against Jewish law. Saul was also seeking his own interest over and against the welfare of the people in which God had entrusted to Saul’s leadership.

The prophet Isaiah had the unpleasant task of holding a mirror up to Israel’s wrong motivations. The people of God would fast in prayer but never felt that God saw their piety. They asked what was the point of humbling themselves in prayer when God did not take notice? Isaiah had to bear the news that of course God noticed; God noticed that a ‘me-centered’ faith which serves one’s interest alone at the expense of others would not be heard on high (Isaiah 58:3-4).

I am not talking about praying for one's mother to be healed. I am talking about praying for one's self-interest when it oppresses others.

In these two instances, prayer was met with silence because the motivations were not godly. It is as if God is saying, “I love you too much to give you your way.” Having the wrong motivation can certainly block God’s grace. It is always right for us to question our motivations, even in prayer.

When it comes to prayer I look to the wisdom of Marjorie Thompson. She learned so much from her beloved friend Henri Nouwen. Marjorie Thompson says, “If you see no indication of God’s grace, ask God to reveal what is blocking it - a lack of humility or gratitude, lack of trust, a hidden sin, or even a need to forgive someone” so that the door may be opened when we knock.[1]

Sometimes prayers do not have an answer because they are not God’s will.

Jesus knew his hour had come. He went to Gethsemane deeply grieved and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want” (Matthew 26:36-39; Mark 14: 32-36).

It was not God’s will to allow Jesus to pass the cup of suffering, to pass the shame of the cross, and to pass the complete obedience required to humble himself to the point of death - even death on a cross. Instead God’s will was to work through Jesus Christ to bring about God’s purposes of salvation and new life through the resurrection for us.

The Apostle Paul prayed three times (if not more) for God to remove the thorn – whatever that thorn was. And God would not answer Paul’s prayer the way Paul wanted; it was not God’s will. The only answer Paul received was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12: 7-9a).

Marjorie Thompson says, “If over time there is no positive response (perhaps praying several weeks or even months, depending on the nature of the situation you are praying for), ask God to reveal to you whether another prayer is more in accord with [God’s will]. If the substance of your prayer is not transformed and there is still no sign of the grace asked for, God’s answer may be no.” [2]

I will never understand why some prayers for healing or safety seem to be granted while others are not. When prayers are met with silence Scripture says that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8).

I can only trust that God embraces us in a love that will never let us go. I can only trust that God’s grace is sufficient when we hit rock bottom. I can only trust that God will give us the grace to accept the situations in life that are beyond our control. And I pray that God’s word shall not return empty; it shall accomplish God’s purposes even though we may never understand them (Isaiah 55:11).

Sometimes prayers do not have an answer because we have forgotten the importance of waiting.

A pastoral colleague in ministry shared with me this week, “We live in an instant culture. There is an app for practically everything we want to get in a moment’s notice. The rapid pace of technology is causing us to miss the waiting. And waiting is our lesson to learn” – and I will add this is our lesson to re-learn. My colleague added, “How does our faith grow if we always get it now?”

Our spiritual ancestors knew all about waiting. God’s people were enslaved in Egypt for 430 years. While many waited for God to deliver them, some were skeptical and even complacent. Moses told the people in all their grumbling about God’s timing to cross the Red Sea, “The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still AND THEN listen for God to say, ‘Go forward!’ (Exodus 14:14-15).

Waiting is a gift because we listen and look for God creating the opportunity for us to join God in working out God’s will. Sometimes we expect God to solve the world’s problems with his victorious right hand, but God doesn’t roll that way.

Israel followed God another 40 years on the longest hike of their lives to the promised land (Joshua 5:6). Another lesson of waiting. God revealed that waiting with hope means to remember past stories of God’s deliverance in order to claim the hope of God’s future activity (Joshua 5: 20-24).

Still later generations waited 70 years to be delivered from the Babylonian exile. Can you imagine waiting your WHOLE life for God to answer your prayers to break the chains? And the prophet Jeremiah encouraged the people saying, “My soul [like yours] has hit rock bottom, but this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love the Lord NEVER ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS. The Lord is my portion therefore I will hope in him” (Lamentations 3:21-24).

We all have uttered prayers in which we wait and wait and wait and there never seems to be an answer in sight. God’s silence is deafening. And we wonder is God like Bruce Almighty with his hands thrown up in the air? Is someone else’s prayer more important than yours right now? We wonder where is God?

If God is Almighty then what Scripture says is trustworthy, “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).

You may not hear God’s voice, but Isaiah says, “Do not fear for God is with you”…“God goes before you and is your rear guard” (Isaiah 41:10; 52:12).

When God is silent, where are you and where am I? The Lord is no stranger to you. The Lord knows your going out and your coming in. You are loved beyond measure, so don’t be a stranger to the Lord.

The Spirit is encouraging you and me to show up every day in prayer. We show up and we wait for the Lord. God always honors our faithfulness even when it is broken and not perfect. There is a gift of grace in the waiting because the Lord cares for you and me, therefore cast your cares upon God.

The Apostle Paul once said we are to rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, and persevere in prayer (Romans 12:12).

We rejoice in hope because we trust that God will bless the broken road in God’s timing.

We are patient in suffering because we endure only by the grace of God’s power at work within us. And yes, some days the miracle is that we endured one more day with God by our side.

We persevere in prayer because our faith is set in the fixed direction of the cross of Jesus Christ.

Rev. Jane Vennard says, “If I depended on the answer I believe God should give to keep me faithful in prayer, I would have stopped praying a long time ago. But when I trust that God hears those prayers, I am able to keep praying.”[3]

Prayer is not about you and I changing God’s mind. It’s about God transforming ours.

May it be so for you and for me.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] Marjorie Thompson, “Soul Feast” (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2005), p. 43.
[2] Thompson, p. 43.
[3] Jane Vennard “A Praying Congregation” (Herndon: The Alban Institute, 2005), p. 53.

FAQ's Sermon Series: Will We Know Each Other in Heaven?

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
From the Scriptures Will We Know Each Other in Heaven?
Genesis 1: 26-27; Revelation 7: 9-17
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
July 15, 2018


Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’ So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. - Genesis 1: 26-27

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, singing,
‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might
be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you are the one that knows.’ Then he said to me, ‘These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ - Revelation 7: 9-17


The gift and grit of faith is walking along the path of life with those who know us most; our Maker and our fellow sojourners. Jesus sets this path of faith apart to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, mind, soul, and strength and also to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31).

This path is trod by the footsteps of God’s people –the saints past and present. We know this to be true because we are created to live in relationship with God and with one another (Genesis 1:26).

And yet when a loved one dies, we continue to walk this hallowed path right beside our beloved to her or his eternal home. Our beloved’s baptismal journey is complete in death. The community of faith lifts up her voice to proclaim the gospel story once again. We lift our voices to thank God for all that was good and kind and faithful in this beloved child of God.

After we celebrate this gift of life in song, prayer, and story, after God’s promise of resurrection is proclaimed, after we commend our sister or brother to God’s eternal rest, and after the hugs and casseroles start to embrace us we cannot help but ask the question:

Will be really see our loved one again? “From the Scriptures will we know each other in heaven?”

Shirley Guthrie helps us to frame the question about the future life that awaits. He says, “We must remember the clearest clue to what is going to happen in the future is what God has been doing in the past.”[1] So what does Scripture say?

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke tell a story of Jesus taking Peter, James and John to a mountain top. It is there the disciples see Jesus glorified by God’s love. They also recognize and see Moses and the prophet Elijah talking with Jesus. And the disciples were scared out of their tunics to see eternal things flash before their earthly eyes. And yet Jesus said, “Do not be afraid!” (Matthew 17: 1-7; Mark 9: 2-8; Luke 9: 28-36).

Luke’s Gospel tells a story of two men who were once acquainted in life had both died; a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. In death, the rich man saw and recognized Lazarus, the one who had been longing for help on the street in his earthly life. In death, the rich man recognized and conversed with Abraham, attempting to make amends for his regrets of not helping Lazarus (Luke 16: 19-31).

Before Jesus was tried before Pilate, Matthew’s Gospel remembers the way Jesus forever unites us in God’s eternal love through the Last Supper; the bread of life and the and cup of salvation. For Jesus said to his disciples as they shared the foretaste of God’s eternal kingdom, “I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it NEW with you in my Father’s kingdom (Matthew 26: 26-30).

The disciples were promised to sit with our Risen Lord and commune around God’s heavenly banquet together! It is an intimate experience to gather around table in God’s hospitality, look into one another’s eyes and see, touch, and taste the grace of God. I can only imagine how much more amazing that will be when we are in heaven face to face.

Scripture gives us a yes to the question from the pew today. We will recognize one another in heaven and we will probably be surprised by some faces we see in heaven too! God is the One who holds the keys to the kingdom!

But the most encouraging affirmation comes when others recognized the Risen Lord on this side of heaven. Mary Magdalene recognized the Risen Lord when he said her name (John 20:16). The Apostle Paul says, “[Jesus] appeared to Cephus and the twelve. The he appeared to more than 500 hundred brothers and sisters at one time. Then he appeared to James, and then to the apostles. Last of all, he appeared to Paul” (1 Corinthians 15: 5-8).

“If we share in a death like his, then surely we will share in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5).

As I hold up Paul’s words with how God has acted in the past, then I trust we too will not only know each other in heaven, but we will continue to experience the blessing of the relational ties that bind us in Christina love.

When I read and study and proclaim the resurrection, Holy Spirit brings about a peace that surpasses human understanding to me. The Gospel of Jesus Christ says that nothing in all the world can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ – not death or life or things present or things to come…there is nothing in all of creation that will be able to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ (Romans 8: 35, 38-39). There is but a breath between this life and life eternal.

But there is one part of all this that gets in our craw. There is a question that nags many of us about what life will be like in heaven. And there never seems to be a satisfactory answer to it. That question is, “Will there be marriage in heaven?”

Jesus was asked that question (Matthew 22: 23-34; Mark 12: 18-27; Luke 20: 27-39). The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection. They could not find biblical support of it in the first five books of the Bible. The Pharisees believed in resurrection. But they got caught in literal and logical interpretations of heaven. For example, one commentary states when a person died, they believed that in the resurrection the individual would be wearing the same clothes at death.[2]

One day the Sadducees walked up to Jesus. The Pharisees were there. And the Sadducees asked Jesus a hypothetical question about marriage according to ancient Levirate law. The question was to take a jab at the Pharisees, dismissing resurrection, and also to trick Jesus.

According to Old Testament law, when a husband died childless, it was important for the man’s lineage to continue through his wife. The family name and the family inheritance were critical to survive and thrive in society. Therefore, the law stated the brother of the deceased would marry the widow to bear sons (Deuteronomy 25: 5-10).

You see, the Sadducees’ question, “In the resurrection, if this woman had married seven times, whose wife will she be?” was meant to be absurd. William Barclay says Jesus’ answer spoke into the Sadducees error in thinking.[3]

Jesus said if you read the Scriptures and knew the power of God then this question is irrelevant. Barclay says that Jesus’ answer warns us about thinking of heaven in earthly terms and thinking of eternity in terms of time.[4]

The Old Testament covenant of marriage held a purpose of procreation. Therefore, Jesus considered this earthly understanding of marriage out of place.[5] Jesus understood the depths of love that bind two in marriage like a three-way chord with God.

The greatest things in life are faith, hope, and love, and yet the greatest of these three is love; unconditional and sacrificial love. We love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19). Therefore, in heaven, we trust will see our beloveds again however our eternal relationships will transcend what we know and experience on this earth.

Guthrie says, “Heaven is an eternal life of genuine and completely free realization of our humanity in a new heaven and a new earth. It is the life originally willed for us by God the Creator of heaven and earth, lived for us by Jesus Christ, and promised and worked in us by God’s life-renewing Holy Spirit. It is the eternal life of self-fulfillment that comes in loving, praising, and serving God, and in living in peace with fellow human beings.”[6]

Jesus speaks to us in our limited understanding about heaven, saying, “In my Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go and prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14: 1-3).

When Jesus says that word, “you,” it is not singular but plural' Jesus is saying "You all". Jesus is speaking about the eternal community in which we will live fully present in God’s covenant love.

The whole of Scripture says that from our beginning to our end that God lives with humanity and walks with us. God says over and over, “I will be their God and they shall be my people…God will be our Father and we shall be Almighty God’s daughters and sons (2 Corinthians 6: 16b-18).

Every ending brings about a new beginning. And God’s resurrection promise will gather us as a great multitude in heaven– so many that no one can count – from every nation, standing before the throne and before the Lamb of God with celebration and singing God’s praise like nobody’s business! (Revelation 7:9-10).

To be made in the image of God is to be God’s family on earth and in heaven. We are created by a love that will never let us go. We are bound and tethered to God’s love yesterday, today, and forever. Believe it and trust God’s truth with your life!

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:
[1] Shirley Guthrie, "Christian Doctrine" (Westminster John Knox Press, 1994), p. 395.
[2] R. T. France, “The Gospel of Matthew” (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007), p. 838-839.
[3] William Barclay, “The Gospel of Matthew” (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975) p. 276.
[4] Barclay, p. 276-277.
[5] France, p. 838-839.
[6] Guthrie, pp. 395-396.

FAQs Sermon Series: How Do We Understand the Soul and Body in the Resurrection?

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
How Do We Understand Our Soul and Body in the Resurrection?
1 Corinthians 15: 1-4, 42-57
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
July 8, 2018

Now I should remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, 2through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.

3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures,

42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. 43It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.

45Thus it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46But it is not the spiritual that is first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. 47The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. 49Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.

50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:

‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’
55 ‘Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?’
56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4, 42-57

Every time we recite the Apostles’ Creed we reaffirm our faith with the words, “I believe in the resurrection of the body.” And so, our question today asks what does that actually mean? How do we understand the immortality of the soul and our mortal bodies in light of the resurrection?


The Rev. Dr. Tom Long shares the story of a radio talk show who picked up some hot news that Costco has gotten into the discount casket business (Yes, it’s true but only valid in 37 states!):

“Geez, can you imagine,” said the dj. “You go into Costco and say, “I think I’ll buy 48 rolls of toilet paper and, hey, while I’m at it, I’ll pick up a casket!”

“Right!” said the other. ‘Can’t you see yourself wheeling that thing out to the parking lot on the buggy?”

The first dj replied, “Really, I think this is great. It’s American free enterprise, competition in the marketplace, bringing prices down…When I’m gone, if you need to cut a corner, cut it out on the casket. I don’t need it. This body is just a shell. The real me will be gone somewhere else….”[1]

Long commented, “It really was just a silly exchange tucked between the traffic report the weather and sports, but in some ways, it was a snapshot of contemporary cultural attitudes about death… The “real me” had nothing to do with the dead body.”[1]

The concept of an immortal soul and a body as two separate things is not new. It actually goes all the way back to the Greek philosopher Plato, who lived from 428-347 B.C.. “Plato affirmed life beyond physical death. He believed in the immortality of the soul.”[2]

This philosophy has long held that bodies are cheap imitations of the soul, they are technically not real and could be considered as evil. The soul, then, is imprisoned by the body and longs to be set free by means of death, whereby it is then joined to the True–the Forms, a non-physical reality.[3]

The Apostle Paul was a Pharisee in the Jewish tradition, an interpreter of God’s word and a well-trained debater. He was a fine-tuned orator and was quite knowledgeable of the Greek philosophy of the day. When Jesus Christ turned Paul’s world inside out, Paul was sent to proclaim Jesus Christ and to reinterpret the culture through the lens of our crucified and Risen Lord.

He says in the beginning of his first letter to the church in Corinth, “Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Cor 1:20).

Paul specifically addresses the pinnacle of Christian hope in our text today. Our ultimate hope does not lie in the immortality of the soul but in God’s promise of the resurrection, revealed in Jesus Christ.

When Paul writes “the perishable body must put on imperishability,” he is reinterpreting Plato through the Christian hope of resurrection (1 Cor 15:53).

Paul knows because humanity is created by God. But God did not stop there; Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. This proclaims that our Maker desires to redeem all of our humanity and make us new. His word for “body” always points to the problem of the human condition of sin which touches all of humanity. It is Christ’s dying and being raised to new life that frees us from sin and death.

Paul begins preaching and teaching of the resurrection from Jesus’ own death and being raised by God. “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised then our proclamation and our faith has been in vain” (1 Cor 15:13-14).

Jesus’ resurrection is not something we can fully explain or understand.

What Paul understands about resurrection is through the Jewish perspective and the Christian prespective. “The Hebrews accepted death as a limit ordained by God as told in Genesis 3:19. The notion of immortality is a Greek Helenist idea. “The Jewish teachings regarded the “soul” as the unity of the human person. The Hebrews were living bodies, they did not have bodies.[4]

And Paul understands resurrection through the Christian perspective. He goes back to the Creation story in Genesis when God created the heaven and earth (Gen 1: 1, 14-19). God created humankind in God’s image; God created us from the dust and breathed the breath of life into us (Genesis 1:26; 2:7). Paul understands we are created by “the physical first and then the spiritual,” but they are united (1 Corinthians 15:46).

Paul knows “From dust we were created and to dust we shall return” (Genesis 3:19). And yet by the Creator’s hands, the Redeemer’s sacrificial love, and the life-giving breath of Holy Spirit these dried up bones shall live (Ezekiel 37).

Even in the gospel accounts of Matthew, Luke, and John, it is revealed that Jesus was fully resurrected physically and spiritually. Our Risen Lord was touched by human hands. He ate with the disciples. He was seen in his newly glorified body.

Paul says, “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust [Adam], we will also bear the image of the man of heaven [Jesus Christ]” (1 Cor 15:49). “For if we have been united in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5).

One of the most comforting Scriptures of Jesus’ promise of resurrection is that merciful and hope-filled conversation which Jesus had with the criminal who was nailed to the cross beside him. The criminal said, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus replies, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me I paradise” (Luke 23: 42-43). We read Scripture and interpret Jesus’ own words to be true.

Therefore, resurrection is understood as both individual and communal. Our Reformed Confessions strive to articulate what we believe and how we interpret God’s Word. And our confessions strive to put words around the mystery of death and resurrection in ways that we might understand.

The Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) was written to instruct our younger disciples in a question and answer format. It says:

What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection.[5]

The Larger Catechism of the Westminster Confession of faith was written for adults, saying:

What are we to believe concerning the resurrection?
We are to believe that, at the last day, there shall be a general resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust; when they that are found alive shall in a moment be changed; and the self-same bodies of the dead which are lain in the grace, being then again united to their souls forever, shall be raised up by the power of Christ….immediately after the resurrection shall follow the general and final judgment of angels and men, the day and hour whereof no one knows.[6]

Notice that as the confessional statements strive to keep a unity regarding the physical and spiritual within body and soul; these confessions interpret the Scriptures regarding a general resurrection in the last day.

“…With the sound of God’s trumpet, the Lord will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18).

God’s resurrection promise is surrounded by mystery. For now, we see in a mirror dimly, but one day we will know fully (1 Cor 13:12) We do not grieve as others do who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We stand on the promises of God.

The greatest truth is that God’s promise of resurrection not only embraces us in the hope of God’s future eternal presence. The resurrection power of Jesus Christ also completely changes our lives today as the eyes of our hearts are enlightened.

May each of know the hope of our calling in heaven and here on earth too (Ephesians 1:18).

In the name of the God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

Abstract Artwork, "Resurrection," by Philippin Inge.

[1] Thomas G. Long, “Accompany Them with Singing: The Christian Funeral” (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009), p. 22.
[2] Justo Gonzalez, “The Story of Christianity Volume 1 (New York: Harper Collins, 1984), pp. 16, 54-56.
[3] “Plato versus The Apostle Paul,” February 11, 2016 https://platovschristianity.wordpress.com/2016/02/11/plato-vs-the-apostle-paul/
[4] Paul Achtemeier, “Bible Dictionary” (New York: Harper Collins, 1996, "soul" definition.
[5] The Book of Confessions Study Edition (Part 1 of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996), p. 232, question and answer 36 and 37.
[6] The Book of Confessions, The Larger Catechism, p. 262 questions and answers 87-88.

FAQ's Sermon Series: 'What Is the Best Way to Hear from the Lord?"

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
"What Is the Best Way to Hear from the Lord?"
Psalm 5: 1-3; Romans 12: 1-8
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
July 1, 2018

Give ear to my words, O Lord;
give heed to my sighing.
Listen to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch. - Psalm 5: 1-3

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. - Romans 12: 1-8

When people of faith are trying to make a decision or get a sense for what the next right step is, we long for clarity. Naturally we search for ways to hear from the Lord.

In my own times of waiting, I have just wished for that Fed-Ex envelope to show up. You know, the big one with your name printed on it – so you cannot miss it. And inside God has sent divine instructions of why, what, when, and how. I have prayed for and even pleaded for God to speak directly to me in that way. Guess what? I still have not received it.

And yet, our spiritual ancestors heard from God in mysterious ways. In my study this week, I needed to be reminded how they heard God.

Adam and Eve heard from God by living in harmonious relationship where they heard God’s very presence (Genesis 3:8).
Noah heard the Lord’s voice directly (Genesis 7-9). Abraham heard from the Lord as an old friend (James 2:23).
Jacob heard through a wrestling match (Genesis 32:24). Moses heard through a burning bush (Exodus 3:2).
The Israelites heard through the prevailing cloud, a pillar of fire, and through the prophets’ challenging words (Exodus 19:9). Samuel heard while lying on his bed (1 Samuel 3: 3-9).
Elijah heard through fasting (1 Kings 19:4-9).
The Psalmist trusted he would hear from the Lord through prayers of praise and petition (Psalm 5: 1-3).
Isaiah heard in the context of worship (Isaiah 6:8).
Daniel heard through dreams.
Mary heard by way of an angel (Luke 1:28-37).
The Magi heard by way of a star. (Matthew 2: 1-2, 9, 12).
The disciples heard from the Risen Lord during worship, a fishing trip, and when Jesus broke bread with them (Matthew 28: 16-17; Luke 24: 30-31; John 21: 4-7).

In reading God’s Word, I cannot say that there is one way to hear God which is better than the others. Our spiritual ancestors did not choose the way God spoke to them. God always takes the first step in speaking to us.

However, the Apostle Paul reveals what was common among our ancestors and what is true in preparing our posture of faith. We will become more fully aware of God’s activity when we prepare with anticipation.

Cultivating a relationship with God is primary in order to hear from the Lord. Henri Nouwen says, “Getting answers to my questions is not the goal of the spiritual life. Living in the presence of God is the greater call.”[1]

From the beginning we are created to live in relationship with our Creator. When our desire to be with God increases, then we trust Holy Spirit is already at work to tune our hearts to God’s heart alone.

As we grow in deeper relationship and spiritual maturity with God then we become as Paul says, “transformed by the renewing of our mind” (Romans 12:2). We are changed by the power of God as we make room for God to renovate our hearts and minds.

It is just like renovating a house. The project always begins on the inside to ensure the whole structure is sound. This allows the renovation to take the shape of the builder’s hands and greater vision.

Our hearts and minds are renovated through prayer. If we are to live by God’s Spirit then we must be guided and keep in step with God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

Prayer creates a spiritual renovation to ensure we have the necessary gifts of the Spirit: love, joy peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5: 22-23). We need God’s Spirit to hone these gifts as tools within us to be spiritually in tune with God.

Our relationship with God and our daily commitment to prayer are essential to reshape us by the Creator’s hands and will. As we are re-shaped we are being equipped to discern the ways God’s is speaking into our lives.

Paul says that God’s will is: good (honorable and upright); God’s will is acceptable (pleasing to God);God’s will is perfect – not in the way that you and I think of perfect as without blemish. But the Greek word for perfect is “telos” like a telescope…it yields a gradual development of integrity and virtue. And this is what we are trying to listen for in our lives.

To discern is to look through our circumstances with God’s will as a telescope to search for God leading.us to what is honorable, pleasing and virtuous.

There are four ways to discern and listen for God speaking to us.

1. Listen. Nouwen says, “The great movement of the spiritual life is from a deaf, non-hearing life to a life of listening…Living a spiritually mature life requires listening to God’s voice within and among us.”

The best way to listen for God is to set a daily time and space to be with God. There will be days that life’s responsibilities and distractions sidetrack our best plans. But the more we ask the Spirit to help discipline our time with self-control, the more receptive we will be to hear, accept, and affirm God’s leading.

2. Meditate on God’s Word. Scripture is a primary means in which God speaks to us. Nouwen says, “By selecting a particular scripture verse from the gospel reading of the day, a favorite psalm, or a phrase from a devotional reading, a safe wall is [placed] around our heart which allows us to pay attention.”[2]

I meditate on God’s Word using a slow reading called Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). This entails reading a short passage of Scripture three times slowly. Between each reading is a space to pause and reflect on what the Spirit is saying. The beauty of Lectio Divina is that even as we are reading and listening for the Lord to speak to us, the Spirit is actually reading our hearts and minds [3]. It is also helpful to keep a journal to reflect what you may be hearing from God.

3. Pray. God will speak to you and me in a variety of ways and settings, but there is no substitute for hearing the Lord through prayer. At its very core, prayer is a two way dialogue with God; listening and talking. The Psalmist always trusted that God would hear his praises and petitions and that God would indeed answer.

As we wait to hear from the Lord, talk with God as a beloved friend and share whatever and whomever the Spirit places upon your heart and mind.

Pray for God to really see your life and then write down the areas of life that you want God to look deeply into. Be prepared for God’s challenge that leads to transformation and just know that it usually is not easy.

Praying Scripture is one of the most powerful ways I have heard from God. Such as Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God,” I pray, “ Lord, help me to be still and know that you are God.”

A colleague in ministry is encouraging me to pray by fasting. I have not fasted in prayer before. But she is teaching me that fasting is not necessarily giving up food for 40 days. Rather we can fast from eating lunch for 30 minutes or by giving up that one-hour t.v. show each day and use that time window to pray and listen to the still small voice of God.

4. Community. The truth is that we cannot hear the fullness of God’s voice all alone. We will hear bits and pieces by ourselves, but we hear the Lord best when in community. Growing in spiritual maturity means that if we are to have the mind of Christ we must humble ourselves and lean into the rich and diverse gifts of the spiritual network that surrounds us. This is the hope of Paul’s words to discerning God’s voice in our lives.

We need one another to hear from the Lord and discern what is good, acceptable, and perfect.

The prophet among us reveals the truth with words of challenge said with care. Those who serve in the ministry of compassion helps us to gage our direction according to Holy Spirit’s compass. The teachers among us instruct us how to apply God’s Word. The exhorter renews our motivation with words of encouragement when God’s direction seems too hard. The giver shares the generosity of Christ to sustain a weary heart. Those who lead help us to diligently discern the better part over and above the good. Those with hearts of compassion hold us in God’s mercy when we need it most (Romans 12: 6-8).

God speaks to each of us in a myriad of ways and through people, places, and venues that we cannot imagine choosing for ourselves. God is free to surprise us and speak through nature, books, the wisdom of strangers, movies, art, music, and those nudges of the Holy Spirit that we cannot explain not easily turn away from.

Barbara Brown Taylor is an Episcopal priest, professor of religion, and author; she says, "The effort to untangle the human words from the divine seems not only futile to me but also unnecessary, since God works with what is. God uses whatever is usable in a life, both to speak and to act, and those who insist on fireworks in the sky may miss the electricity that sparks the human heart"[4].

What is the best way to hear from the Lord? Well, Frederick Buechner says it best:

Listen to your life…There is no event so commonplace, but that God is present within it, always hiddenly, always leaving you room to recognize him or not to recognize him, but all the more fascinatingly because of that, all the more compellingly and hauntingly.

Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace. [5]

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer…Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] Henri Nouwen, “Discernment” (New York: Harper One, 2013).
[2] Henri Nouwen, “Discernment,” p. 4.
[3] Henri Nouwen, “Discernment,” p. 11.
[4] Barbara Brown Taylor, “Leaving Church” (New York: Harper One, 2006).
[5] Frederick Buechner, “Listening to Your Life: Daily Meditations with Frederick Buechner” (New York: Harper Collins, 1992), p. 2.

FAQ's Sermon Series: "How Do I Stay Focused on My Prayer Life?"

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
"How Do We Stay Focused in Our Prayer Lives?"
Psalm 1: 1-3; Acts 1: 12-14
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
June 18, 2018

Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, r sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. - Psalm 1: 1-13

[After Jesus ascended to heaven] then [the disciples] returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. - Acts 1: 12-14

The question we hold today is one that many have on their minds. It is a question that even I ask myself: “How do we stay focused in our prayer lives?”

The Psalmist recognizes the wisdom that comes from being spiritually attentive to this gift of faith.

We are blessed by meditating on God’s Word day and night. We become like trees planted by the streams of water. The living water of Jesus Christ allows the roots of our faith to soak up God’s grace to bear spiritual fruit, to grow and endure, and to advance in God’s will (Psalm 1: 1-3).

Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, remained focused in his prayer life by retreating often to deserted places and going to the mountains alone [1]. He taught his disciples to pray by praising God, trusting in the coming kingdom, asking for God’s daily provision, confessing our need to be forgiven and forgiving others, and asking for our trials to be turned to triumphs for God’s glory [2].

In the days of the early church the disciples were constantly devoting themselves to prayer. It is a hallmark of the Christian life [3].

And yet, how do you and I stay focused, faithful, and persevere in prayer?

Jane Vennard is an ordained minister and a spiritual director – one who is a certified coach of the Christian spiritual life. She says in order for us to receive instruction on how to pray we must first prepare our hearts [4].

So, we look inward into our personal experiences.

Who first taught you to pray? You may have been a cradle Christian, or your first experience of prayer may not have happened until adulthood. It matters whether we had a positive or negative experience because it shapes our approach to prayer.

Thomas grew up learning the Lord’s Prayer as a song in which his family would sing at mealtime. But when a Sunday School teacher invited him to also talk to God like a best friend, prayer suddenly became a casual conversation with God [5].

Sharon was told that God would not love her if she did not pray every night on her knees. As a result, prayer became an obligation. It was a struggle to imagine prayer in a relational way when God seemed to be nothing but judgmental [6].

Our personal beliefs about prayer will differ. Nevertheless, it is important to reflect on how we have understood prayer, accept our past experiences, and then keep what is useful and discard what is not.

While I grew up in a Christian home, prayer was not something we talked about as a family; it was a private matter. I first began learning how to pray as an adult in a women’s Bible study. I learned so much from the wisdom of those women. They showed me prayer was speaking to God from the heart. We didn’t always need to have the right words. Sometimes “Thank you, Lord” or “Help me God” was enough.

It was a gift to see the value of praying together as a community, like we do here in worship or Bible study. The space of community helped me to grow in praying on my own. Since then I have explored lots of ways to pray: silent prayer, turning Bible verses into prayer, writing prayers in a journal, praying during mundane tasks and even praying when I am on the move.

As a fellow disciple of Jesus, prayer is so very important. Our tradition says that “In prayer, through the Holy Spirit, people seek after and are found by the one true God who has been revealed in Jesus Christ. They listen and wait upon God, call God by name, remember God’s gracious acts, and offer themselves to God to join God’s work in the world.” (Book of Order, W- 2. 1001).

The way I focus on prayer changes. I am like anyone else – I get bored, I become frustrated when it seems God is silent, and sometimes all my words are gone and I do not know what to say to God. I have even needed the help of a spiritual director when my faith has become dry and stagnant.

So, I share with you what I have learned over the years to persevere in prayer.

First, consider the rhythm of your daily life. What is the most realistic time window that you will reserve to connect with God?

If past plans have failed, then set apart 10 minutes each day. It is an incredible thing to get up with a good cup of joe or diet coke and watch our Maker paint the sky with a new color palette of grace. Ten minutes without interruptions means a good session of talking and listening to the One who loves us beyond measure.

I have a friend who has a standing lunch date with God. Each day she sets apart that time by turning off the distractions of computer and cell phone.

In this particular season of my life, I pray for between 15-30 minutes before I get out of bed in the morning and then again before I go to sleep at night.

Second, I want you to think about what helps you connect to God? I always encourage people to connect to God through the reading of Scripture. God’s Word is a primary way that God speaks to us.

A good place to start is by reading a daily devotion. Our church provides “These Days;” each edition covers 3 months. It is written by pastors and includes a short Bible passage to focus on, a reflection, a prayer, and an action step to put what you have read into practice.

Last year the Session and I read together “Jesus Calling,” by Sarah Young. This devotion will guide you through the year. Young includes 2-3 Scripture verses and her daily reflections of Scripture are as if God is speaking directly to you.

Keep a prayer list with your devotion for your praises and concerns. Sometimes I choose to designate certain days of the week to pray for specific areas: global, national, state, and community leaders; church members; ministry; family; and so on.

I am currently using the Presbyterian Church Daily Prayer App (purchase for $2 on your cell phone). You can choose a morning, midday, evening, or night time prayer entry. It begins with an opening sentence of Scripture to set apart this time window. It then leads to a psalm, an Old Testament reading, a Gospel reading, and a reading from one of the New Testament letters (epistles).

I read those Scriptures slowly and Holy Spirit usually makes a word, a phrase, or a verse stand out; I try to keep that phrase with me through the day. The prayer app then includes written prayers to thank God for a diversity of areas, and then a guided prayer to pray for different places in the world and various situations and people. This app has really helped me to focus and grow in the width and depth of prayer.

The Psalmist says, “Be still and know I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Those words, “Be still” simply mean to relax or wait. If you wait for God best by being on the move, then pray in motion.

Designate a separate time for Scripture reading and then go for a run or take a walk and connect with God. Thank God for the blessings you have noticed. Ask God to provide for areas of our world, country, community, friends and family that the Spirit brings to your attention. Pray for God to break your heart over what breaks God’s heart. Open your heart and share whatever is on your mind with God in your personal life.

Maybe your mind races and you get easily distracted like me. I have found that prayer doodling is helpful. Grab a paper and pen or colored pencils. Write the names of loved ones or areas of concern down. Allow your doodles to become prayers to God. I have written down names of church members who need prayers for healing and then color circles of yellow around their names as a symbol of God’s healing presence and light embracing them.

I have a friend who writes circle prayers. She places the name of a loved one or friend in a circle. She then writes inside the circle Bible passages of God’s promises to pray over that person. For example, praying Isaiah 41:10 for Emily – “Lord I know you are with Emily. Help her to not fear. Strengthen her and help her as she serves in Germany. Allow Emily to know that you uphold her with your victorious right hand.” It is powerful thing to pray Scripture.

Third, listen for God. Prayer is not just about us talking to God. It is also a communication line to listen for God speaking to us. As you go through your day, re-center yourself with God using a breath prayer. A breath prayer is a holistic way to connect our heart, mind, body and spirit. We need a space to just listen for the whispers of God’s grace.

Begin by slowly breathing in and fill your lungs with air. Hold the breath for a moment and then slowly exhale from your mouth. Repeat this to quiet yourself and focus on your breathing.

Then slowly breathe in while thinking the words, “Be still and know.” Slowly exhale out while thinking the words, “I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Breathe this breath prayer at least 10 times. Reflect on your experience by asking:

What do I notice right now?
How easy is it for God to get my attention?
When am I able to hear God’s still, small voice best?
In what ways has God been inviting me just to be with him?

The practice of prayer is just like the practice that an athlete, musician, student, or any skill requires. The more we devote ourselves to it, the more proficient we become.

My hope is that each of us will explore ways to seek God and be found by the Lord. Pay attention to Holy Spirit’s lead as we persevere in prayer one day at a time.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

References:

[1] Hebrews 12:2; Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; 6:46; 14:32; Luke 4:42; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18
[2] Luke 11: 1-4; Matthew 6: 9-14
[3] Acts 1:14; 2:42; 4:24-26, 31; 6:3-4; 6:6; 7:59-60; 9:40; 11:18; 12:5; 13:3
[4] Jane Vennard, “A Praying Congregation: The Art of Teaching Spiritual Practice” (Herndon, The Alban Institute, 2005), pp. 3, 23, 27-29, 35.
[5] Jane Vennard, p. 27.
[6] Jane Vennard, p. 27.

FAQ's Sermon Series: "What Is a Worry?"

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
"What Is a Worry?"
Philippians 4: 4-9
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
June 10 , 2018

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. - Philippians 4: 4-9

One of the great privileges of the pulpit is for God’s Word to speak into the questions that our children, youth, and adults in the pews are asking. One question came in response to last week’s sermon about “Not Yet Knowing” in times of uncertainty: “What is a whrie (worry)?”


The Apostle Paul talks about worry in his letter to the Philippians. When he uses that word “worry” it means “to be pulled into different directions, or to be distracted by a concern.”

You know that feeling when the alarm goes off and you don’t want to go to school because you are worried about that test? Your tummy hurts, and you just want to hide under the covers.

Or when the teacher calls on you to give the answer and your heart races because you are worried that your answer won’t be the right one.

Or when we show up for the first day of a new job and our hands get all sweaty and clammy because we are worried that we might not fit in.

And parenthood worries are a whole other category. A friend recently shared, “Telling a parent not to worry about their child is like telling water not to be wet!”

It is human nature to worry. Our concerns run the gamut. And guess what? Our spiritual ancestors in the Bible had worries too.

The sisters Mary and Martha welcomed their dear friend Jesus into their home. Martha worried about making everything perfect for Jesus (Luke 10: 38-42).

If you dig into the Bible, you find that worrying is not just something that girls or women do.

God called Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. And Moses worried that the people would not listen to him. He worried that he had no qualifications to be a public speaker and leader (Exodus 4:1, 10).

God called Gideon to be a governor of Israel. And Gideon worried that he was not enough (Judges 6:15).

Naaman was the commander of the army for King Aram of Syria. He had quite a reputation for his strength as a mighty warrior. But he also had leprosy, a skin disease that made many feel weak and unaccepted. When presented with an opportunity for the prophet Elisha to heal him, Naaman worried. His emotions came out as anger because Elisha told him to wash and be cleansed in the Jordan River. Naaman was afraid to reveal his need for healing in a public place (2 Kings 5: 1-19).

The Psalmist had somehow missed the mark. He had made a wrong decision and did not know how to make it right. He kept his worries bottled up to the point that the worry bullies held him hostage (Psalm 32: 3-4).

And yet Scripture says that each of these worries did not have the final say.

The Apostle Paul knows we are prone to worry. So he says, “Do not worry about anything, but in everything… let your concerns be known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Paul is not discounting our deepest concerns. It is so very important to really listen to one another’s worries with mutual affection and love.

Paul is talking about the level of worry that blocks the path towards living the abundant life that Christ promises. This kind of worrying is not productive because it disturbs our trust in God’s power. It will not add a single hour to our lives to help us fix our problems. (Matthew 6:27). When worry steals our days then it is time to get a new perspective.

Faith empowers us to reframe our circumstances. There are five keys to reframing worry.

1. Focus on the present. Jesus looked at Martha and said, “You are distracted by many things. There is only need of one thing.” Jesus lifted up Mary’s example of simply being present. God’s grace for the moment at hand is always worthy to take notice of. Breathe it in, and breathe it out. Being present with God guards our hearts from living in the past and getting too far ahead into the future.


2. Pray. One of my good friends often told her children and those she ministered to, “Have you prayed about it as much as you have worried about it?”

Prayer is being aware that the Lord is near. We are to share all of our concerns with God because the Lord cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). God hears. God knows. And God desires to live in relationship with us.

We share our shortcomings and God says, “I will be your mouth and I will teach you” (Exodus 4:12). We name our weaknesses and God says, “But I will be with you” (Judges 6:16). The Spirit moves us to be vulnerable to reveal we need help and God always honors the risk (2 Kings 5: 13-14). We confess our failures and God meets us where we are, forgives, and counsels us (Psalm 32:5, 8).

We pray about all this with thanksgiving. A thankful heart simply means our trust in God’s grace is growing day by day as we strive to live in the present.

3. Question. Is my concern a realistic outcome or is this a worst-case scenario? When the worry bully holds us hostage we go from one “what if” to another. It is a thought pattern that can be hard to break. It causes us to be ineffective.

For this very reason, we must make every effort to support our faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with a heart for God (godliness). For if these things are yours and mine and if these things are increasing among us they keep us from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1: 5-8).

4. Dig. What is the root cause of my worry? For many of us, the root cause is thinking that we are not enough… I am not good enough, likeable enough, smart enough, strong enough, healthy enough, or financially stable enough.

Another common root cause of worry is that we have not accepted the circumstances for what they are. Sometimes it takes the help of a friend, a school counselor, a pastor, a support group, or a therapist. We need a safe space to talk, to be understood and to understand.

God can turn our worry into a wake-up call to trusting God a little more. Whatever our deep concern, God will not leave us stranded in this situation. As we grow to accept the reality of our circumstances, the Spirit will move us to make changes in the rhythm of life to address our situation constructively.

5. Change the script. Nicole Schwartz is a parent coach with a license in family therapy. She says that “children [and adults] who struggle with worry or anxiety often have a negative “worry script” playing in their head. We can overcome our fears by creating a new positive script.”

Instead of allowing our worry to dictate a negative outcome, faith gives us a new positive script. The framework of faith redirects our worry into hope.

The Apostle Paul says we do this by focusing on the things in life that are true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

Focus on what is true. I did not do well on that test, but I am tired of that worry bully telling me that I am going to fail the class. That bad grade does not mean I will fail the class. I am smart, and a tutor will help me learn what I do not understand.

Focus on whatever is honorable. I am humbled by all my friends who know my situation and have been praying so much about this mess. This has been so hard. But I am in awe of the people God is bringing into my life at just the right time to encourage me and give me hope.

Focus on those things worthy of praise. This diagnosis scares me. I don’t want to be sick. But I am grateful that my doctor caught this and is creating a medical plan to help me get better.

The Psalmist reframes his trust in God saying, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands” (Psalm 138: 8).

When that worry begins to take on a life of its own, then call upon God. Allow this gift of faith to bring about a new perspective. Keep on practicing what God’s Word teaches and the God of peace will be with you and me one day at a time.

The hope is that as we frame our worry, it will be well with our soul.

May it be so for us today and every day.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.