Sunday Gathering – Genesis – Making Mistakes – Karen Dunning Sermons | Meadowhead Christian Fellowship

Summary of Karen's Sermon: Making Mistakes

Introduction

Karen starts the sermon by acknowledging the audience and explaining her method for preparing the sermon. She then introduces the passage she will be focusing on: Genesis 16, which tells the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar.

Bible References: Genesis 15:6, Genesis 16

The Story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar

Karen outlines the story in Genesis 16:

Abraham is promised by God that he will have descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:6).

Ten years later, Sarah has not conceived a child.

Sarah proposes that Abraham have a child with Hagar, her maidservant.

Hagar becomes pregnant with Abraham's child, Ishmael.

There is conflict between Sarah and Hagar.

Hagar flees into the desert.

An angel of the Lord finds Hagar and tells her to return to Sarah.

The angel promises Hagar that Ishmael will have many descendants.

Hagar acknowledges God as "the God who sees me."

Key Points

Karen highlights that women are not portrayed positively throughout Genesis, but her perspective on this passage has changed.

Everyone makes mistakes, and the characters in this story are all facing difficult situations.

Even though Abraham and Sarah made mistakes, God did not abandon them.

God sees us in our circumstances and offers us grace.

Challenges and Choices

Karen talks about a personal situation where she feels stuck and is praying for guidance.

She emphasizes the importance of seeking God's will when faced with challenging circumstances.

We should pray about what our role is in difficult situations – is it to pray, or is it to take action?

Conclusion

Karen encourages listeners to reflect on the passage and ask God what He wants them to learn from it.

She reminds everyone that God sees us and will help us through our struggles.

Additional Notes

Karen mentions struggling with the concept of rescuing others and emphasizes that God is the rescuer.

She acknowledges that waiting for God's timing can be difficult.

Transcription

Um, we're going to have a little bit of audience participation as well.

High, lovely people.

Is that okay?

You're not allowed to say no, by the way.

I don't know.

Um, and a rider is, you are not the people that you will be in today's story.

Is that okay?

So I went to see Graham, and I went morning Graham, and he went,

it's going to be trouble, isn't it?

And all I wanted was some verses up there, that's all.

So, um, we're doing Genesis 16 today.

If you like Genesis 15, 16 and 17 are all part of the same soap opera,

because it all goes together.

But before we start on it, I'm going to give you a little bit of my background

because it is relevant.

So, as Nick said, I've been married to Johnson for nearly 40 years,

as I've known him for 43 years.

Um, we started going out on February the 1st, 1981.

And we met at Bible College.

Or, as was commonly known at the time, London Bridal College.

Plus, there were lots of women there, and not that many men.

Um, and Jonathan was doing a diploma in theology, and I was doing a degree in theology.

And because I was doing a degree, that then meant that I could do a pastoral diploma

alongside my degree.

Which meant that you did extra lectures, but you also had to do various other things.

I had to do two summer schools.

I did one with Bob Gordon and Colin Erkart many years ago.

Um, and it also meant that you had to do so many preachers at churches over the two years.

Okay?

So, you'd get a list, and you'd phone that church up,

and you'd say, hi, I'm your, hi, I'm your preacher for such and such a date.

And I would do this, and on a regular basis,

as soon as whoever picked the phone were up, and they heard a woman's voice,

they would say, no, you're not.

Okay? I'm talking 40 years ago.

The method is actually, we're very good. They always let me go.

Um, and that sort of embedded in me something that started when I was about 12.

So, I rememb