Sturtz Stuff

 This sermon was preached on April 18, 2013, in Goodson Chapel for closing convocation at Duke Divinity School by Stanley Hauerwas. Original post from Faith and Leadership . In this time -- a time called modern, a time when those that bear the name Christian always seem to carry the burden of proof … In this time when the church seems consumed by scandal and self-doubt … In this time when those going into the ministry are unsure what that may entail or, indeed, whether they will even have a job after graduating from seminary … In such a time, it is difficult to avoid a defensive posture when asked why we persist in being Christian. God knows we try. Let us show you, we seem to say to anyone polite enough to listen, why we think believing in God makes all the difference. Let us show you why participating in worship may be refreshment for the soul. Let us show you why the Christian way of life is good for Christian and non-Christian alike. Let us show you how being a Christian ...

Read 1 Kings 3:16-28 If you don’t yet you will soon sense the need for wisdom. If you haven’t yet you will soon take a job you should have never taken. Hire somebody you never should have hired. Say something that you never should have said. Gerhard von Rad , an Old Testament scholar, suggested that the definition of wisdom in the Bible is competence with regard to life’s realities. Why does your life blow up when you date the wrong person? What happened that made you take that wrong job? You underestimated that, you over estimated this and you didn’t understand that. Why do our lives blow up? Life blows up when you do something without wisdom. There was a young man who at the age of 20 becomes King of Israel. His name is Solomon. He gained wisdom and exercised wisdom in a way that shows us how to get it as well. Two stood before Solomon and he will need wisdom. Just like us we come to forks in the road. Should I marry or not marry? Should I go to this school or that school? S...

Why is the world the way that it is? Why is there such hatred and violence? Why is there injustice and racism? The Bible’s answer to these kinds of questions is sin. The most common understanding of sin is that it is breaking God’s law . That is one way that the Bible describes what sin but not the only way that the Bible talks about sin. Read Judges 17:1-13                 This section of Judges is often ignored because everything up to this point has been really interesting. The book of Judges offers a brief history of Israel as they come into Canaan the Promised Land. The book also functions as an “apologetic” for the monarchy in general and David in particular. In the first 16 chapters of the book we have these fantastic stories. The people would slide into sin and when they did they soon became enslaved by some foreign power. The people would cry out to God to be rescued and saved. In response God wo...

The Book of Daniel describes a difficult time period for the Israelite people. The nation of Babylon has attacked. The Israelite army has been defeated, the City of Jerusalem is in ruin and the Temple has been destroyed. Along with this suffering a large portion of the population has been forced to march from Jerusalem to Babylon. These exiles are to be integrated into Babylonian society and culture. Included in those taken from Jerusalem was a Daniel. The King of Babylon wanted some of Israel’s best and brightest. Daniel is recognized as a young talented leader and administrator. After going through a three year Babylonian royal training program Daniel has proven himself as a trusted leader and skilled administrator. When the training program ends Daniel is appointed as an adviser to the King. King Darius decides that he would like to reorganize his kingdom so he appoints 120 satraps and to oversee those satraps the King places three administrators.   These administrators are ...