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An Honest And Painful Wrestling Match

Sermon
Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A
Genesis 32:22-31
Douglas B. Bailey
LIVING ON ONE DAY'S RATIONS
First Lesson Sermons For Sundays After Pentecost
Jacob's wrestling match at Peniel is much different from the wrestling matches we see on television today. We become extremely skeptical whenever the wrestling match shows one wrestler flat on the mat allowing his opponent to jump and kick and put on a violent display of growling and groaning, a big theatrical temper tantrum which definitely delights the howling crowd watching this "one ring circus." But rather than yell out, "Fake! Fake!" it's much easier simply to grab the remote control and switch quickly to another channel.
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Proper 13 | OT 18 | Pentecost 8
30 – Sermons
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Proper 14 | OT 19 | Pentecost 9
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Proper 15 | OT 20 | Pentecost 10
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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Call to Worship:

Jesus warned against with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God. Through our worship today let us pledge ourselves to seek our treasure only in God.

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Jesus, sometimes we envy others because of all they possess.
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Jesus, sometimes we desire all that money can buy.
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For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.... Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
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Kirk R. Webster
How do you focus on something unseen? How can we set our minds on that which we can't touch, or taste, or verify scientifically? Most practical people want proof. Abstract propositions are difficult to get our arms around, especially if they are from another time and place.
Thomas A. Renquist
This story begins with gift -- with blessed gift -- with miraculous, blessed giftedness. And I will even tell you now the theme of the story: if you keep your eye on the giftedness of everything, then you yourself can be a gift, you can be a giver, rather than a hoarder.
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" 'It was I who taught Ephraim how to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them' (11:3). They did not know me. Do you?

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