Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Sunday's preaching text

"Now faith is
being sure of
what we hope for
and certain of
what we do not see.
This is what the ancients
were commended for.
By faith we understand
that the universe
was formed
at God's command,
so that what is seen was not made
out of what was visible."
- Hebrews 11:1-3 (TNIV)

12 comments:

Jackie said...

Keith,
I just noticed your quote from Hauerwas - I'm reading his "After Christianity". Decided if he is the driving force at Duke maybe I should read something and this looked interesting. Any insight into actually understanding where he is coming from or other books you recommend?
Jackie

Keith H. McIlwain said...

"Resident Aliens" is an easy read, and, I think, makes the basics of his theology understandable. From there, you could move on to his more difficult works, like "The Peaceable Kingdom". I liked "After Christendom" but prefer "Resident Aliens" as an intro. You might also check with Greg or Tracy Cox or Chris Whitehead, all of whom (I think) studied under Hauerwas.

Anonymous said...

I'm going to preach from this text
Sunday too. NRSV, with a hat tip
to the venerable KJV.

I'm going to take a seminar with
Stanley H. this fall during Duke's
Convocation. I go each year and
always have a blast.

Chris said...

Where is the post about Barry Bonds?

Brett Probert said...

What about vv. 32-34? Oops, that's just war stuff.

Keith H. McIlwain said...

Brett - All those mentioned in those verses are pre-Easter. Everything changes with, on, and because of Easter. Faithfulness before Easter is not synonomous with faithfulness post-Easter (we don't offer animal sacrifices anymore, to begin with).

Barb said...

I would offer the dog next door, if we go back to animal sacrifices..

Greg Cox said...

"Bloody God, Why are you so *^$# bloody?" That's a direct quote from a prayer of Hauerwas following Hurricane Fran in 1996.

Barb said...

What does *^$# mean?

Brett Probert said...

Barb, it's Greek. You learn it in seminary, and then you're smart.

Brett Probert said...

Keith,

Everything changed? Hebrews 13:8?

Keith H. McIlwain said...

Ahh, the Gospel mystery! We serve the God who never changes yet who is never the same from one moment to the next...the God who doesn't change yet who changed by becoming one with human flesh, the very "stuff" of creation...the God who is dynamic and yet who is the only constant in the universe! I don't feel the need to defend God's mysterious nature.

Besides, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow...but how he deals with us very well may change...that's up to him, not Keith or Brett, or even General Conference.