"The Dreamer"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, August 10, 2008 at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "The Dreamer"

Jealousy and Drama

Jealousy is an ugly, ugly thing. Drama? Maybe or maybe not . . .

Jealousy can destroy relationships, church communities, towns, states – maybe even nations!

Yes – I’m being overly dramatic. I’m using the drama to help us get ready for a couple of things – one – we’re preparing for next week’s youth service – complete with an wonderful spontaneous melodrama – and second, we’re going to have lots of fun this week with the melodramatic first part of the story of Joseph and his brothers.

I wonder if we can have some folks play some of the roles in today’s melodrama.

Select folks to play

• Joseph
• Jacob
• Brothers
• Midianites –Ishmaelites

After selecting participants, give these instructions:

• Joseph – always a little stuck up – but still nice. Really likes himself
• Jacob – Everything is really dramatic – every time you have something to do – do it over the top
• Brothers – You are jealous – but not without any conscience.
• Midianites –Ishmaelites – You don’t have to do much – just pass by – take Joseph and give the brothers some coin.

Read the scripture again – much more melodramatically. (This time we'll use "The Message" translation, too)

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Let’s give our spontaneous melodrama folks a hand!

In review:

Good looking and well-dressed Joseph, his father’s favorite, was the envy of all the rest of his brothers. He was arrogant and his attitude did nothing to help his brothers’ jealousy. Joseph was also likely unaware of how deep his brothers’ jealousy ran.

So Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him and instead they had a little bit of pity on him (and a little bit of self-preservation on their part) and sold him as a slave.

And what can we learn from this – the first part of the story?

I think a huge thing we can learn is about how destructive jealousy is. Sure the story would be very different if the brothers weren’t so profoundly jealous of Joseph – but I think the story lets us know that jealousy has no place in relationships, in churches, in schools, communities – anywhere.

Another issue I think this story is addressing is about suffering – Why did Joseph suffer? Was it because he was too arrogant? Would we deserve the same fate just for being a little full of ourselves?

We might start thinking why anyone suffers? Why does God let that happen? Is there any rhyme or reason to the question of why bad things happen?

Nope.

And then -- an issue I think the story is addressing is about God’s presence. Was God ignoring Joseph in his suffering? Was God blessing him as his father’s favorite and now God has turned his back?

Is God only with us when things are going well and when things are going horribly has God turned his back?

Nope.

Today’s reading ends with Joseph in a bad situation. But there is a next part to the story – we’ll hear it next week – (Yes, you probably already know it – but come next week to see how the whole thing plays out during our youth service!)

When we’re in bad situations, I hope we can have the patience and hope to know that there is a next part of our life’s story. – And I believe that God is present throughout our journey.

Let’s be ready - looking forward with patience and hope as we continue our faith journey

Let’s come back – looking forward with patience and hope as next week we hear the second part of the story of the dreamer.

Close with prayer.

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