Theologian & pastor. Author 'Crossing the Lines We Draw' (Judson) and 'Preaching in Plenty & Want' (Judson). Seek to share God's love and justice. Charlottesville, VA

Matthew Tennant

"Finding Wins" – Ezra 8:31-36 
This is the sermon from University Baptist Church, September 20, 2020. 
 
 
In Ezra, there’s a little win tucked in a little pocket of scripture. It’s easy to miss, especially if we are trying to wrap our minds around this message of Yahweh as not only God of the Jewish people, but the God of history. That’s why it was so important in Ezra 1 to have God change Cyrus’ mind. 
In Ezra 8.31, we are in a different part of the story, and Ezra finds a win. 
These little pockets of scripture exist in the wider works. Within the Bible, we are familiar with the designation of the books. The 39 Hebrew and 27 New Testament books make up our Bibles. Within the books, we have chapters and verses. They weren’t written that way. Chapters weren’t widely accepted until the thirteenth century, and verses came in the sixteenth century. That’s one way the Bible is divided up. 
In Ezra, we have a further division that might not jump out at first, unless you are reading it start to finish. If that’s your approach, you might notice a pronoun shift beginning in Ezra 7. It goes from “we” to “I”. 
The Ezra Memoir, also as known as the Ezra Story, begins in Ezra 7.1 and goes through the end of the book and picks back up in Nehemiah 8. Some scholars argue that the Ezra Memoir was originally an independent story. 
The Ezra Memoir tells the story in first person prose of King Artaxerxes of Persia commissioning Ezra to go to Jerusalem and teach the Israelites. The story culminates in Ezra’s discovery of the Israelites marrying foreigners. We will return to that text of terror next week. 
Today, we climb inside Ezra’s Memoir to find a win as we seek to rebuild from the ruins. For Ezra, they were rebuilding after the Babylonian captivity. 
For us, we’re facing all kinds of things. The smoke from the wildfires out West has reached the East Coast. Rain from Hurricane Sally drenched the Southeastern U.S. after tearing up the Gulf Coast. The pandemic continues. Political discord continues. 
These major problems don’t even touch the personal storms in our lives. The woman with whom I was speaking was just one, but her concerns about her son probably eclipse pretty everything else. 
In the midst of all of this, we could use a win. 
In the Ezra memoir, he addresses good and bad actions as defined by the Hebrew law. In Ezra 9, we get into the problems he discovered, but before we do, we can focus narrowly on 8.31b. “Our God watched over us, and as we traveled along, God kept our enemies from ambushing us.” 
It’s a microcosm of ‘count your blessings.’ Ezra was about to address something that he viewed as an abomination, and I’ll bet he was stressed about. Before we get to that, we read his acknowledgement of God’s presence and care as he traveled on his journey. 
Ezra’s response is the opposite of saying a prayer for God’s protection and then being surprised when nothing bad happens. He says ‘thank you’ because he points to God as the author and originator of all that is good. 
 
 
 
Helping others find God’s grace and presence is one of the best ways we can find it ourselves.

"Finding Wins" – Ezra 8:31-36
This is the sermon from University Baptist Church, September 20, 2020.


In Ezra, there’s a little win tucked in a little pocket of scripture. It’s easy to miss, especially if we are trying to wrap our minds around this message of Yahweh as not only God of the Jewish people, but the God of history.  That’s why it was so important in Ezra 1 to have God change Cyrus’ mind.
In Ezra 8.31, we are in a different part of the story, and Ezra finds a win.
These little pockets of scripture exist in the wider works. Within the Bible, we are familiar with the designation of the books. The 39 Hebrew and 27 New Testament books make up our Bibles. Within the books, we have chapters and verses. They weren’t written that way. Chapters weren’t widely accepted until the thirteenth century, and verses came in the sixteenth century. That’s one way the Bible is divided up. 
In Ezra, we have a further division that might not jump out at first, unless you are reading it start to 

"Finding Wins" – Ezra 8:31-36

This is the sermon from University Baptist Church on the 13th Sunday After Pentecost, August 19, 2018. The title is "Seeking Wisdom" and the text is 1 Kings 3:3-9.

Seeking Wisdom--1 Kings 3:3-9

This is the sermon from University Baptist Church, Sunday, July 1, 2018. The question is, "What breaks your heart?" And, when your heart is broken, is it okay to cry? Yes, and God weeps with you.

"What Breaks Your Heart" 2 Samuel 1:17-27

This is the sermon from University Baptist Church, February 4, 2018. The text is Mark 1:29-39.

"Pause With Jesus" Mark 1:29-39

Who speaks on God's behalf today? Who are the modern prophets? Check out the sermon from University Baptist Church, Charlottesville, VA from January 28, 2018. The texts are Deuteronomy 18:15-20 & Mark 1:21-28.

Modern Prophets--Deuteronomy 18:15-20 & Mark 1:21-28

This is the sermon from University Baptist Church, on the Third Sunday after Epiphany, January 21, 2018. The text is 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 and in it, I ask, what do we hold that separates us from God. What do we need to let go so that we can better focus on God?

1 Corinthians 7:29-31--Focus on God

This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Sunday, May 14, 2017. The text is Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16. It is about how God is good, God answers prayers, and we can respond to God by living out our faith.

"God's Future" Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock, VA, from Sunday, October 9, 2016. The text is Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7. The full title is "Jeremiah’s Response to a Troubled People During a Troubled Time."

"Jeremiah's Letter" Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7

Come join us for worship this Sunday, October 9, as we look at Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7. Hananiah has just delivered a prophecy of sunshine and good news, when that wasn't God's message for the people. Jeremiah shows that God's peace is different than human peace.

God's peace isn't human peace--Jeremiah 29:4-7

This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock, VA, Sunday, August 28, 2016. The text is Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16.

Following Christ & Serving Others--Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock, VA, from Sunday, July 24, 2016. The title is "God's Feelings" and the text is Hosea 1:2-10.

God's Feelings--Hosea 1:2-10

This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock, VA from Sunday, July 17, 2016. The text is Amos 8:1-12

God's Justice & Our Gratitude--Amos 8:1-12

This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock, VA, June 5, 2016. The title is "Entering the Story." The text is 1 Kings 17:8-16.

"Entering the Story" 1 Kings 17:8-16

This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Sunday, May 22, 2015. The text is John 16:12-15 and it is about the Holy Trinity.

Trinity Sunday--John 16:12-15

This is the sermon from Sunday, October 19, 2014, Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock VA. It's all about Cyrus and being surprised by God. The text is Isaiah 45:1-7. 
 
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This is the sermon from Sunday, October 19, 2014, Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock VA. It's all about Cyrus and being surprised by God. The text is Isaiah 45:1-7.

Follow me on Twitter @theologymatt

Who is Cyrus? Isaiah 45:1-7

This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock, VA. It is Sunday, September 28, 2014, 16th Sunday after Pentecost. The text is Matthew 21:28-32 and the topic is 'do we talk the talk or walk the walk'? 
 
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This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock, VA. It is Sunday, September 28, 2014, 16th Sunday after Pentecost. The text is Matthew 21:28-32 and the topic is 'do we talk the talk or walk the walk'?

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Who are you? Matthew 21:28-32

This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock VA, Sunday, August 17, 2014. The title is “Irrevocable Gifts” and the text is Romans 11:29-33. 
 
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This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock VA, Sunday, August 17, 2014. The title is “Irrevocable Gifts” and the text is Romans 11:29-33. 

Follow me on Twitter @theologymatt

“Irrevocable Gifts” Romans 11:29-33

This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock, VA, Sunday, August 3, 2014. 
 
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This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock, VA, Sunday, August 3, 2014. 

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Isaiah 55:1-5 "Drink"

This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock, VA, Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014. The text is Matthew 28:1-10. 
 
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This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock, VA, Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014. The text is Matthew 28:1-10.

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Come & Go--Matthew 28:1-10 Easter Sermon

This is the sermon from Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Kilmarnock, VA from March 23, 2014. The text is John 4:5-42 and it is about 'divine appointments'.

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