That’s Where God Lives

Posted on by

God’s Kingdom Vision

1 Kings 8

Proper 4, Year C

Focus: Seeing God enlarges one’s vision of God’s presence among God’s people.

Function: To inspire greater participation with God’s people.

Plot Line: What are young people looking for in a church? **While the question is not worded that way in our text today, when Solomon dedicates the Temple to God, he does answer our questions. **Now I’m not saying and none of you believe this building is sacred or that if outsiders come to our building they will somehow be saved. **No, it is not the place, it is God! **Where do you fit into this story? **Why do you participate in a faith community? Because where the people of God gather, God is.

Thank you for your invitation to preach here today. Even though I was born in IN, I consider TN home. The family farm, where my parents live in Dickson Co has been in our family since before the county kept records of deeds. And since my father was a school teacher in IN, we spent every summer on the farm. When my grandfather first met Laura, he said he knew I had to come to TN to find a good wife.

I also want to affirm your ministry to the Village of Hope. Fred Asare and Noah Osei.

Recently I was asked to speak to a gathering of Elders in Dallas on the topic, “What are young people looking for in a church?” It’s a good question. I understand why they are asking the question. They look around their Sunday assemblies and they see less and less twenty somethings in attendance. And the question is not all about—”How can we be more attractive? How can we be the cool church in town?” No, no, —I believe the question from these Elders comes from a deep desire to serve, a conviction that the future of the church is dependent on raising the next faithful generation.

  • Their question is similar to John Westerhoff’s question, “Will our children have faith?” Or “Will our faith have children?” It is a good question.
  • SO, the question is, “How can our church be more attentive to the faith of the next generation.” “When the next generation looks to the church, will they come to faith?”
  • Poll—“Why do you or do you not participate in a faith community?” I plan to answer the Elders in Dallas by giving voice to the twenty-somethings. In their own words, this is what they want Elders to hear. And it is only after we have listened, will we know how to respond. Now, like most researchers, whether they confess it or not, I have a bias. My bias is optimistic. I am hopeful. And I believe the word that comes back to these Elders in Dallas will edify them. [2 weeks; 250 responses; and my bias so far is holding steady].
  • The question remains for all of us no matter your age, “What are you looking for when you come to this place on any given Sunday? What do you hope to See? Hear? What do you expect?

While the question is not worded that way in our text today, when Solomon dedicates the Temple to God, he does answer our questions. You know the story … (1 Ki 8:1-2, 10-14, 22). “The glory of the Lord filled the temple.” 1 Kings 8:41-43 … and others will have faith because they too behold God.

Now I’m not saying and none of you believe this building is sacred or that if outsiders come to our building they will somehow be saved. Of course, God’s people for God’s service built it by monies dedicated to God. And we need to be good stewards of its care and use. But I’m not talking about any such nonsense as the building, bricks and mortar, being holier than another place. And our text struggles with that impulse too. At times it seems like the Temple is the very dwelling of God, and at times it is only the place where God’s Name dwells  –1 Ki 8:27.

No, it is not the place, it is God! It is always God. Then, now, and in the future, it is always God. And others will come to faith because the story is about God. Our children will come to faith, because the story is about God. While the dedication scene may seemingly be about the Temple, know, it is really all about God. And, as throughout the Bible, the biblical witness struggles when it talks about the presence of God in our midst. God’s Divine Nearness is shrouded in mystery. We may want certainty, but there is none. In 1 Kings 8, there is a collage of various articulations and diverse images as God’s presence as described as dwelling, or tabernacling in the midst of people. Listen to the words: Temple, Ark, Cloud, Glory, Name, and Deep Darkness. Faith speaks with a limited vocabulary. God is described a “close by” and “transcendent.” Near — high and lifted up.

  • Yet, the preliminary results for the minority who say they do not participate in a faith community indicates that their reasons are due to negative past experience with churches. The main thing was not the main thing.

Where do you fit into this story? In the unfolding story of God, we fit knowing that as the plot line unfolds, it is not our story, it is God’s story. From the beginning, in the middle, at the climax. From prologue to epilogue, from foreword to afterword, from the alpha to omega, from a to z, the story is about God.

  • When God first calls a gathered people into existence, Gen 12, blesses a people, who are a blessing to the nations
  • Prophets know this story—when God dwells among God’s people, they are a light unto the Gentiles
  • Zechariah, in the building of the second temple, there are ten sayings about the return of God’s presence to Jerusalem. The tenth word, 8:23, “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the edge of his robe and say, ‘let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”
  • And Jesus came and dwelt among us, “and we have seen his glory, the glory of the only begotten of God.” And Jesus came so that all us could see and believe.
  • And the birth of the church occurred due to the Great Commission so that all nations would hear the gospel of God. And the early church grew throughout the world.
  • And today, in many places and in various ways, God’s glory shines forth through the church. When Jesus is lifted up, God will draw people to himself.
  • Where do you fit in the unfolding story of God? When you gather as the people of God, and God’s presence dwells in your midst, then God be praised!

Why do you participate in a faith community? Because where the people of God gather, God is.

…And that is the invitation, for all who are weak and heavy laden, come and know thy God.