Sermons
In light of the recent decision of the DC Council to recognize gay marriages performed outside of its jurisdiction and in anticipation of their legalizing gay marriage, I encourage you to read my sermon below entitled, “These Scars, God’s Grace,” a sermon on the inclusive nature of our church contra homophobia.
Below are sermons available for download. While sermons are helpful to read, they are meant to be heard within the congregation of those gathered for worship. Still, it can be useful to study themes and ideas and ponder the proclamation. If sermons are used by you in your own sermons or speeches, I ask only that you make every effort to cite the source accurately. Most importantly, as you journey in faith, I invite you to dialogue with me about the texts you are about to read.
The King Who Did Not Know Joseph (Exodus 1:6-14)
Dr. Ian Straker, February 14, 2010Part of the General series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Dr. Straker takes the listener on a journey back to a time in Isreal's history when there was a king who did not know Joseph.
God gave Joseph a masterful understanding on how the Egyptian leadership could avoid the ravishing effects of the coming famine. With Joseph at the helm, Egypt not only avoided the ravished of famine, but one could say that the country flourished as it had food when other countries did not.
This was a critical series of events in Egypt's history. Yet, Egypt's leadership forgot or was not educated about Joseph's contribution to the life and vitality of their kingdom.
Dr. Straker compares Joseph's contribution to Egypt to the African American contribution to America. He delivers striking and rarely known contributions of Africans to the world around them.
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Exodus 1:6-14
6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. 7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.
8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. 13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves 14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. (ESV)
