Holy Ground

One of our favorite songs at Kansas Christian Church is "Holy Ground." When we sing it, I can look around the room and watch as my friends become acutely aware of the presence of God. We sing the line, "And I know there are angels all around," and I genuinely believe we do.

The song builds off several Bible passages, most notably Moses' encounter with God through the burning bush. But while our song is beautiful, Moses' story is strange and lonely. He's out there because of his guilt and shame. He's been running away from his responsibilities, and yet that's precisely where God encounters him.

What if "holy ground" is not a place of beauty but a place of pain and dread? What if God meets you in a desert place in your life and calls you to take off your shoes so that nothing will come between you and him?

This is Holy Ground; Exodus 3:1-10

Are you familiar with "Imposter Syndrome?" It's that little voice inside your head that loves to tell you, "you're a fake, a phony, and one day everyone is going to figure you out. You can't fool them forever." 

Do you ever hear that voice inside your head? I love what Adam Grant says about Imposter Syndrome. "Imposter syndrome is a paradox. Others believe in you but you don't believe in yourself. Yet, you believe yourself instead of them. If you doubt yourself, shouldn't you also doubt your judgment of yourself? When multiple people believe in you, it might be time to believe them."

Read that again, slowly. You probably need to hear it.

When God encountered Moses through the burning bush and told him his plan to use Moses to set his people free, Moses' first question was, "Who am I?" In other words, "God, what makes you think I'm competent? I'm a failure, a phony, and everyone has figured me out." 

When we hear Moses' question, we hear something of our own self-doubt. And just like Moses, we need to hear God answer back, "But I am with you."

Who Am I? Exodus 3:11-12

It seems to have become a daily occurrence on Facebook. You sign in and find a friend request from someone who is already a friend. What do you do? Delete it, report it to Facebook, or send a message to your actual friend asking, "Is this really you?"

In Exodus 3, Moses encounters God at the burning bush. In verse 13, he asks a question that's akin to, "Is this really you?" He asks God for his name. "Do I really know you? Can I trust you?"

Maybe you've wanted to ask God the same question. Can I really trust that you're who you say you are? Can I really trust that you care? 

God responds not just with his name but with his name forever. In other words, if Moses could trust he was there, then we can trust he's there for us as well.

Who Are You? Exodus 3:13-22

Parents ask a question that prompts an almost universal response in children. You witness a toddler holding a strange item, and you ask, “What’s that in your hand?” A heartbeat later, the toddler takes off running! I remember for Megan, that item was often the television remote; for Connor, it’s more than likely a fork full of food. Either way, ask, “What’s that in your hand?” and the chase is on! There’s no way they’re giving their prize up without a fight!

So in Exodus 4, after Moses has given God his excuses for why he cannot be the right choice to lead his people out of Egypt, God asks the same question of Moses. “What’s that in your hand?” But unlike your toddler, Moses is already on the run. He’s out here in the wilderness because he’s run away from his failure and shame. Still, God knows what he’s carrying can be useful.

So, what’s in your hand? What are you carrying? When God asks that question, do you run away from him or run to him? Today we’ll look at Moses’ story and hear God’s call for us to run to him and trust him with whatever is in our hands.

What's In Your Hand? Exodus 4:1-9

Jerry Seinfeld once noted that most people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. This means that the average funeral attendee would feel more comfortable being the person in the casket than the person delivering the eulogy. 

Moses would have preferred the casket. In Exodus 4:10, he cries out to God, "I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue." There's something familiar to me in Moses' words. I've heard many people tell God what they can't do, but I've also witnessed what happens when they overcome that fear and serve anyway. I've listened to amazing messages from people who told me they couldn't speak, heard heartfelt prayers from those who told me they couldn't pray out loud, and seen God's grace poured out on those who simply said "yes" to him.

Before we tell God what we can't do, we should take note of what he can do through us—any of us. That's what God confronts in Moses before he leaves the burning bush. If we listen carefully, we can hear his call for us and his promises as well.

Who's Going With You? Exodus 4:10-17

Of all the names listed in Jesus’ genealogy, there is one that isn’t named. Matthew only identifies her by her failure. He says, “she who had been the wife of Uriah,” but we know he means Bathsheba.

There’s a message for everyone who has ever been identified by their failure; everyone who has ever been uninvited to a Christmas dinner; everyone who has longed for a second chance and a new identity. 

The entire series, "Awkward Family Christmas" can be found at this link:https://soundcloud.com/bretnet/sets/awkward-family-christmas

Awkward Family Christmas: Bathsheba; 2 Samuel 11:1-27

Click here for the entire sermon series "What Child Is This?" https://soundcloud.com/bretnet/sets/what-child-is-this-christmas?si=dfc8a9abb2374a899fc42017210d5ec6&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Word Became Flesh; John 1:1-18

Few books of the Bible go off the rails as quickly or completely as the book of Job. Before the end of chapter one, there's a cosmic bet and a family left devastated. From there, things get worse! 

Before chapter two ends, three of Job's friends show up. They'll spend the following twenty-two chapters expressing their ignorance of God and assumptions about their friend. But before they insert a single foot into their collective mouths, they do the smartest thing they could have ever done. Job 2:13 says of those three friends, "They sat with Job on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great."

Having spent time sitting with the suffering, mourning with those shaken by loss, and keeping company with those numb from the news of diagnoses, one of the most important lessons I've learned is the one in which Job's friends should have persisted: You don't need to say anything; you only need to be there.

That's what our friends who are hurting need more than any words of wisdom we can spout or silver lining we can find in their pain. They simply need someone to show up. There is great peace in realizing that, without saying a word, we can bring the presence of God into their need by just showing up.

In this message we go to Psalm 122, accompany King David to worship, and find encouragement from Drew Dyck's new book, "Just Show Up."

Just Show Up; Psalm 122

When Trish and I went out for dinner the other night, I held the door open for an older couple walking into the restaurant. That same night, an older man opened a door for me because I was carrying precious cargo—a pizza to take home to the kids! We have dedicated greeters at South Side who hold the door open for everyone. An open door is an invitation and so much more. It lets people know they're welcome, not just into the building but the community. Opening the door for someone tells them that they belong. 

Psalm 24 calls for doors to be opened for an honored guest. Verse 7 calls out, "Be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in!" We hold the door for guests, friends, and those weighed down with years and pizzas. And we open the door for God as well, that the King of glory might enter our lives and join us in our joys and sorrows, celebrations and struggles. 

In this sermon, we wrap up our look at Psalm 24 by opening the door for the King to come in.

Who Wins the Good Life? Psalm 24:7-10

"Have you heard about Jim? The tests were negative." You reply with, "That's good news!" 

"Did you hear about Carrie? She had the baby! It's a boy, and both are doing great!" And again, you reply, "That's good news!" You know good news when you hear it!

It would be entirely accurate to say that the Bible is a book of good news. That's what the angel brought, right? Doesn't it seem like we just read Luke 2:10 a few weeks ago? "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people." Good news causes joy. Good news brings relief. Good news is worth telling! 

And so, when Paul was worried about his friends in Thessalonica—did their faith survive after he was torn away from them so abruptly? Timothy returned with a report about them, and the only way to express his response was with words usually reserved for his Savior. "Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love" (1 Thessalonians 3:6). 

It's a biblical oddity; one of only two times "good news" is used in the New Testament for anything other than salvation. But its usage makes me wonder, what's the good news about you and me? What about us is worthy of language reserved for our King?

I suspect the good news about the Thessalonians could likely be the good news about you and about those who share their faith love with you.

Growing from Faith and Love; 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13

I lost an hour of sleep last night, but that doesn't begin to compare to the hours of sleep I lost as a teenager contemplating the text I'll be preaching today! Growing up, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 was read as a warning. One day, a trumpet would sound, and in the twinkling of an eye, Christians all over the world would disappear. Those left behind would be plunged into a time of tribulation and difficulty like never before. That thought terrified me!

Of course, it terrified me before I became a Christian. I didn't want to be left behind with the rest of the losers! I distinctly remember driving back to town after an early morning hunting trip with my dad and seeing no cars on the road. "It's happened, and I've missed it!" I thought. "It's going to be every man for himself, and I didn't even get a single squirrel this morning! I am SOOO dead!"

But it terrified me after I became a Christian, also. The thought of leaving friends and family behind filled me with anxiety about how they would fend for themselves and what they might have to endure. And, of course, as a teenage boy, I was plagued with the fear of what I would miss out on if Jesus came back today! There was so much of life ahead of me—cars, college, and . . . well . . . other stuff. Sociologists told me there was something I was thinking about at least once every six minutes. "Dear Jesus, I want to go to heaven, but please, not until after I've done THAT!"

If only I had read the next verse. After all that bizarre stuff in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, verse 18 concludes with, "Therefore encourage one another with these words." Not "terrify one another," not "scare teenage boys out of misbehaving," but "encourage one another!" I would have slept much better if I had only read that last verse!

In this message, needing one more hour of sleep, I do my best to bring encouragement as we unpack the hope Paul loads into these few verses.

Encourage One Another With These Words; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Jerry Seinfeld once noted that most people's number one fear is public speaking, and number two is death. This means that the average funeral attendee would feel more comfortable being the person in the casket than the person delivering the eulogy. 

Moses would have preferred the casket. In Exodus 4:10, he cries to God, "Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." There's something familiar to me in Moses' words. I've heard many people tell God what they can't do, but I've also witnessed what happens when they overcome that fear and serve anyway. I've listened to amazing messages from people who told me they couldn't speak, heard heartfelt prayers from those who told me they couldn't pray out loud, and seen God's grace poured out on those who said "yes" to him.

Before we list our limitations to God, let's pause and listen to what he can do through us—all of us. Just as God addressed Moses' concerns before he left the burning bush, he speaks to each of us. If we listen carefully, we can hear his call for us and his promises as well.

Show Up Together; Exodus 4:10-17

DJ Radmacher enters the world of James Bond. Enjoy this trip filled with espionage, romance and of course FUNK!

1. 007 Enters
2. Goldfinger...Shirley Bassey
3. On Her Majesty's Secret Service...John Barry
4. License To Kill...Gladys Knight
5. Love Scene...DJ Radmacher
6. You Only Live Twice...Nancy Sinatra
7.  All Time High...Rita Coolidge
8.  Tomorrow Never Dies...Swan Lee
9.   Nobody Does It Better...Carly Simon
10.  For Your Eyes Only...Sheena Easton
11.  We Have All The Time In The World...Iggy Pop
12.  A View to A Kill...Duran Duran
13.  Finale: Shaken, Stirred, & Mixed...DJ Radmacher (with guitar riffage  provided by Thin Lizzy)

Produced, Remixed, & Performed by DJ Radmacher
2024

Bond James Bond

Taken from the latest release from DJ Radmacher "Bond James Bond"

We Have All The Time In The World (Remix)

Hosea laments Israel's lusts for idols, but never loses sight of God's unfailing love and compassion. In Hosea 11, we hear God's constant call for his people to return to him.

This sermon follows the Four Pages of the Sermon method developed by Paul Scott Wilson, a framework designed to move from trouble to grace both in the text and in our lives. It invites listeners to reflect deeply on the nature of divine love—one that refuses to abandon, even when abandonment seems justified.

For more on the Four Pages approach and how it shapes sermons like this, visit: https://www.brethammond.com/2025/04/four-pages/.

Who's Going With You? Exodus 4:10-17

Bret Hammond

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