Wayfaring Strangers // Rev. Matt Kennedy // Feb 23 2025

I suspect people don't enjoy surprises as much as they used to. We like to know what's coming. I've fallen into this thinking myself. When planning a trip I do extensive advanced research. What is it like where we're going? How long will it take? What should I expect? How should I pack? We might have a preference for things like predictability and control, but there is a Biblical theme that runs against this current. "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." (Proverbs 16:9)This week we wrap up our winter sermon series in the book of Genesis with a pivotal moment in the Biblical story.  A simple shepherd is displaced from his familiar territory and begins an extraordinary journey. He and his wife leave the familiar and proceed by faith to an unknown destination, and through this strange journey and this audacious trust, "all the nations of the earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:1-8)There's a reason the story of Abraham and Sarah is foundational to the Christian faith. Their lives are complicated. Their stories have twists and turns. They journey this world as strangers and wanderers. They have adventures. They make mistakes. They experience miracles. This story is the New Testament's favorite way to describe what faith looks like (Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6, James 2:23, Hebrews 11:8). The Christian life is not a program for success or a detailed plan for better living. It's a simple habit of waking up, paying attention, packing light, and trusting God.