Munger Place Church - Dallas, Texas

Like everyone else, there are times when I get really discouraged, frustrated, and worried. When I get this way, I often think about this story, one of the most psychologically astute and revealing stories in the Bible: Elijah and the sound of sheer silence, and the 7,000 Israelites the LORD still has up his sleeve. Scripture: 1 Kings 19 Preacher: Andrew Forrest

We need to learn how to talk to people who don’t share our beliefs. Elijah’s 2800-year-old example is one from which we can learn. Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: 1 Kings 18

Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, and yet he ended his life in folly, and his actions (including taking 900 wives and 300 concubines) caused the disintegration of Israel. Where did it go wrong? How can we avoid Solomon’s fate? Note: In this sermon, I apparently say that the northern kingdom was called “Syria.” I meant that the capital of the northern kingdom was “Samaria!” Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: 1 Kings 11

The Resurrection is NOT just a big miracle that happened 2,000 years ago: it is the central event in history that makes a practical difference in everyday life today. Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: Luke 24:1-12 References: Dead Man Snoring on Autopsy Table [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-declared-dead-snores-to-life-right-before-autopsy/] Homer Simpson at the gym [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGLzm-Gy0dQ] Arnaud Bertrame, the French martyr [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/03/24/he-saved-lives-arnaud-beltrame-french-police-officer-who-traded-places-with-a-hostage-dies/?utm_term=.229809a746bf] St. Athanasius, from On the Incarnation: “All the disciples of Christ despise death; they take the offensive against it and, instead of tearing it, by the sign of the cross and by faith in Christ trample on it as on something dead. Before the divine sojourn of the Savior, even the holiest of men were afraid of death, and mourned the dead as those who perish. But now that the Savior has rai

If you were taught the Bible as a kid, chances are you learned about David and Goliath. And, chances are, the lesson you took from that well-known story is that you should be courageous like David. Now, let the record show that I am in favor of courage. And, the David and Goliath story is about courage. But, I think that the point of David and Goliath is NOT primarily about teaching YOU to be courageous. The David and Goliath story is actually much more interesting and much more powerful and much more useful than that. Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: 1 Samuel 17; Matthew 21:1-11

If you ask most people how they’re doing, they’ll answer in the small things: “It’s been busy at work” “The kids have been sick” “Trying to get the house painted to put it on the market.” We think and evaluate the day-to-day events of our lives. What we miss, though, is the larger perspective. It’s like those photo riddles involving extreme close-ups of everyday objects—you need to zoom out to understand what they are. The Book of Ruth—that tiny, beautiful little book—is an extreme close-up of one Israelite family. But when you zoom out…WOW. This is why you should always carry an umbrella. Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: Ruth (the entire book)

Why start with Adam and Eve, if you know they are going to screw it up? Why re-start with Noah, if you know he’s going to screw it up? Why take the Israelites to The Promised Land, if you know they are going to screw it up? Does the Lord make mistakes? Can the Lord change his mind? Why does the Lord say he’s going to destroy the Israelites, and then change his mind after Moses remonstrates with him? Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: Deuteronomy 31

You can read the entire book of Deuteronomy and not come across a military strategy for defeating the Canaanites. Why? Because Moses (rightly) knows that the Children of Israel’s greatest enemy will be … themselves. We all face external enemies—of course. But our greatest enemies are always within. Note: we had some problems with our recording equipment today, and so we missed the first few moments of the sermon. Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:8-28 References: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/01/14/martin-luther-king-jr-met-malcolm-x-just-once-the-photo-still-haunts-us-with-what-was-lost/?utm_term=.052fd680481e

Everything worth having comes with a cost. I believe that is incontrovertibly true. Here’s the question: Am I willing to pay the price required to enter the Promised Land of what God has for me? The Israelites weren’t willing. Are you? Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: Numbers 13:1-3, 25-33, 14:1-4, 6-10 References: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db76.htm https://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.pn.2017.pp9b2

Leviticus isn’t as useless as you thought. All you need is a little bit of context. Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: Leviticus 19:1-19; Exodus 28:1-6 References: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0-pfzKbh2k

If you are serious about finding your purpose, it might mean you need to take the long route through the wilderness—as the Israelites learned, the shortest way is not always best. Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: Exodus 13:17-22

Step 4 is totally thankless, extremely difficult, has no end date or finish line, but I can't imagine you finding your purpose without it. Any takers? Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: Exodus 17:8-13

The story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac is one of the most troubling in all of the Bible. And what if that’s the point? Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: Genesis 22:1-13

It turns out that unless we’re specifically taught how to live, we just won’t have any idea. Which brings us to Step #2 in finding your purpose… Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: Genesis 6:5, 12:1-4, 12:11-13, 15:2-3, 16:2-4, 17:9-10, 20:1-2

I hear all the time from folks who are unsure if they’re where they’re supposed to be:  I’m at the midpoint of my career—is this what I should be doing with my life? I’m an empty-nester—what’s next for me? I’m choosing my [major, spouse, 1st job, etc.]—how do I know what or who to choose? So, how do I find my purpose? This is Step #1. Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 12:1-4; John 1:43