Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Introduction
Thanksgiving is a special time
For me, there is a great Thanksgiving Day tradition: The Lions playing football
Lions were founded in 1930
In 1934, Owner George.
A Richards needed to compete with the Tigers
The won the Pennant that year, lost World Series to the Cardinals
Anyway, Richards needed to bring in fans, so he tried a publicity stunt
Lions played on Thanksgiving Day
Not the first time this was done, but this time there was an edge
Richards owned an NBC affiliated radio station
He worked a deal to broadcast the game from 94 stations across the country
The game was an immediate hit!
And although they lost to the Bears, a new tradition was born
Their overall record is 37-43-2 - not great
They have lost 5 years in a row
Playing Buffalo this week, not really expecting a win
In fact, many have tried to get the NFL to break the tradition
The Lions are horrible, why not bring in better teams?
My reasoning is, “Man, let us have something!
We already can’t win, now you want to take Thanksgiving too?!
Actually, the NFL won’t change it because it’s a tradition - and the NFL loves tradition
And in this case, everyone watches the game anyway - regardless of how bad Detroit stinks!
Why not show a game that gets top 5 viewership of the season
While using a team that wouldn’t get 10% of the country not on Thanksgiving?
Anyway… since it’s Thanksgiving week, I want to talk about something I’m grateful for
Put on the jersey
I want you all to stare at Honolulu Blue this morning
And let it serve as a reminder, over the last 2 weeks, the Lions beat the Bears AND the Packers!
Something to be thankful for church!
Even if I don’t have a job by tomorrow...
Today is our last message about Abraham before a break
We’ll be doing an Advent series called, “Waiting”
It’ll be a little bit different view of the Christmas season
Today though, we’re looking at something very important to be thankful for
YouVersion: Why Be Thankful?
We’re in Genesis 17:1-8
Genesis 17:1–2 (ESV)
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.”
Now we jump ahead to when Abram was 99 years old
He was 75 when he left Haran and heard God’s promise
He was 86 when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael
And now it’s another 13 years before God speaks here
That’s almost 25 years to wait!
Tom Petty: “The waiting is the hardest part.”
The waiting is the hardest (but still vital) part
Illustration: Watching “Alone”
10 people in the wilderness with 10 tools all ALONE
After a day or two, they’re all crying
It’s often not about survival, it’s more about missing their families
When you spend most of your time lying in a sleeping bag in an 8 foot shelter...
You have no phone, no internet, no TV, no energy to waste
You sit and reflect on what’s important
Honestly though, that’s where God’s best and most important work is done
When we see a goal to accomplish or problem to fix, we like to move
We’re so intent on speed
Get rich quick schemes
Fast food restaurants
Crash diets - lose 50 lbs.
in 6 days...
But God doesn’t work like that - likes to remove plans and solutions to let us simmer
When I applied here, I had to wait 7 months
I worked odd jobs
We only had a few friends - no family
I just had to wait and see if I’d get hired - it was maddening
I wanted to do something - to take control
But instead, God was working on me
He was humbling me through time
He was teaching me to lean on Him
He was focusing my thoughts
He was getting me to a point where I really, really, really wanted to be here
And I’m still grateful to serve here today - 3 years later
I’m sorry I’m wearing this Lions jersey, please don’t fire me!
That’s what God is doing with Abraham
Keep waiting, keep trusting, keep walking - you’re in good hands
That’s why God says, “Walk before Me, and be blameless.”
Not, keep having surrogate children, or keep running to Egypt
When things get long, that’s what we do too
Keep going, and don’t sin
Now, I want to focus on names
Notice God says, “I am God Almighty.”
God Almighty is a translation of one of God’s names you’ve probably heard
How many have heard, “El Shaddai?”
There’s a lot of debate as to the meaning of the name
Derek Kidner: el (God) sa (who) day (is sufficient)
God who is sufficient
Adam Clarke: from shadah (to pour out)
God is the one who pours out abundant and rich blessings
Donald Barnhouse: shad (breast) - as in the comfort and nourishment of a mother
God of Tender Care
H.C. Leupold: shadad (to display power)
God the powerful, or God almighty
Septuagint: Ancient Greek translation of the OT (pantokrator)
The One who has His hand on everything
I don’t know which one is correct - they’re all accurate
Maybe that was by design, I don’t know
But I do know that names are important
Let’s see what God does here when he reiterates His covenant with Abram:
Genesis 17:3–5 (ESV)
3 Then Abram fell on his face.
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