Awesome God: Voice in the Silence

SERMON TITLE:   “Awesome God:  Voice in the Silence”
SERMON TEXT:    1 Kings 19:4-18
PREACHER:           Rev. Kim James
OCCASION:           February 13, 2022, at First UMC
 
 
INTRODUCTION
 
                I like to read the Zits comic strip.  As you may know, Zits tells the story of a teenage boy named Jeremy.  His Mom, Dad, and high school friends are regular characters too.  Jeremy is usually portrayed as a rather unambitious fellow, who is often seen with his lanky body sprawled across some piece of furniture.  In a strip from a week or two ago, Jeremy is sitting sideways over a plush chair, engaged with his cell phone.  His mom asks him, “Any plans for the weekend, Jeremy?” 
                Jeremy replies, “I never make plans.  If I do, I run the risk of missing out on some awesome opportunity that might pop up at any time.”
                His mom retorts, “So you’ll just sit there staring at your phone for two days instead.”
                And Jeremy responds, “It’s better than possibly doing something non-awesome.”1
                Well, Jeremy does have a point.  Awesome is pretty important, and we wouldn’t want to miss it because we were too busy doing something else.  During this month of February, we’re focusing our worship services on the awesomeness of God.  Last Sunday, we read the story of Isaiah’s awesome experience of God’s holiness in the temple.  It was marvelous, terrifying, and grace-filled.  It was a life-changing experience that directed Isaiah into a life of prophetic ministry. 
                Today, our awesome-God story comes from the Old Testament book of First Kings.  As Peggy read for us, the story is about Elijah’s encounter with God on the mountain.  Let’s lend an ear and listen carefully and see if we too can hear God’s awesome voice in the silence.

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