As people came into the sanctuary they were asked to take a stone from pails of stones. Immediately following the sermon, they were invited to come forward to place the stone representing their sin at the foot of the cross.
I also took 8-1/2 by 11 sheets with a name for each Biblical person, taped the sheets together like old dot matrix printer paper. When I made the point the there are many people in the Bible to whom God gave a second chance, I dropped the sheets holding onto the first sheet. It got a great laugh and engaged everyone in wondering who all those stories were about.
The God of Second Chances
John 8:2-11
The Reverend Anne Benefield
Geneva Presbyterian Church, September 7, 2008
Introduction: The story of the woman caught in adultery has always moved me with compassion. Nothing quite signifies grace as well. It makes me pause because it is so profound. We seldom see ourselves as sinful. Most of us will not be unfaithful to our spouses, but as we quickly rationalize that we aren’t sinful, I believe that we can be missing the deeper meaning of the story. In the barest reading of this story, a sinful person is brought before Jesus by the establishment. That establishment intends that this person be punished to the extent that there can be no second chance, no chance for redemption. But Jesus is the Lord of the second chance. In Jesus, we are always given a second chance. I believe we are given second chances right up to those pearly gates.
John 8:2-11
Early in the morning He came again to the temple. All the people came to Him and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test Him, so that they might have some charge to bring against Him. Jesus bent down and wrote with His finger on the ground. What they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to the, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again He bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before Him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”
Prayer: Forgiving God, Help us to understand our need for grace. As we hear the stories of your grace, let us hear our own stories. Remind us that sometimes we are the sinner and sometimes we are the judge. Guide us to be gracious in either case with the confidence in You, the God of second chances. Amen.
You may be wondering why I have called God the “Lord of Second Chances.” It’s really quite simple; God is the Lord of Second Chances. God gives second chances throughout the Bible. And every time that God gives a second chance that means God is willing to give us a second chance. Let’s begin at the beginning:
The first people, Adam and Eve, ate of the forbidden fruit. Then they lied about it to God. I was thinking that this was the first attempted cover up, which included an attempt to cover themselves completely! But remember, God gave them a second chance. They didn’t die. Their circumstances were different, but they lived.
The question for us is when have we done just what our consciences told us not to? And how did we try to cover it up? God has given you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
Even Noah, God’s beloved who was faithful when all were sinning, but he made a mistake later. When he drank too much, God gave him a second chance. Has there been a time when you drank or ate too much and possibly made dangerous choices? God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
How about Abraham and Sara? They were faithful most of the time, but at least three times, Abraham questioned God, expressing his doubt. Sara even laughed when the angel told her, again, that she would have a child. Then she lied and said she didn’t laugh. Have you noticed how often we try to cover up our mistakes? Despite their doubts and questioning, God gave them a series of second chances and their son, Isaac. God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
Isaac and Rebecca played favorites with their sons, causing an estrangement between the sons that lasted for years. Have you ever caused a rift in your family and then perpetuated it by refusing to soften on your position or try to understand your loved one’s stand? God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
Jacob stole his brother’s blessing, cheated his Uncle Laban, and even bargained with God, but God gave him many second chances. Have you ever tried to stack the deck in your own favor? God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
Joseph bragged about his own importance and tattled on his brothers. God gave him a second chance, including a chance to change history which he did. Have you ever been puffed up about yourself? God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
Moses killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. He was taking the law into his own hands and had to flee to escape justice. God gave him a second chance through the burning bush. Most of us will not kill anyone, but there are ways we can kill the spirit. Have you ever killed someone’s reputation with a judging comment? God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
Naomi lost her husband and three sons. She became bitter, returning to Bethlehem, and telling her old friends to call her “Mara” which means bitter. But God gave her a second chance through her faithful daughter-in-law, Ruth. Have you ever given up, just stopped trying? God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
David had everything a man could want: he was king, he was a hero, he was anointed by God, he had many wives, but he wanted Bathsheba and he had her husband killed to get her. God gave him another chance. Have you ever plotted to get something you wanted that didn’t belong to you? God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
God told Jonah to go to Nineveh to tell the people there to stop doing bad things. Jonah didn’t want to go, so he got on a boat going away from Nineveh. God created a storm, Jonah was thrown overboard. A whale swallowed him. God made the whale let Jonah go. Jonah made it to Nineveh, where he threw a few more tempter tantrums, but God gave him second, third, and fourth chances. Have you ever run the opposite way than God is sending you? God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
When God chose Jeremiah to be His prophet, Jeremiah was ready, but after awhile Jeremiah got depressed and began lamenting his fate, feeling sorry for himself, feeling badly treated by everyone, feeling like his life was too hard. God understood and gave Jeremiah the strength and a second chance. Have you ever felt sorry for yourself? Have you ever felt like everyone has it better than you do? God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
There are many more stories from the Old Testament about God’s giving second chances, but if I listed all of them, we’d be here until tomorrow and I don’t think you would thank me for making you miss the potluck lunch! Still, I can’t finish this sermon without a few times in the New Testament when God gave second chances.
We can start with Zechariah who didn’t believe God when God told him in the holy of holies that he would have a son. Zechariah couldn’t speak until the boy, John the Baptist, was born, but God gave Zechariah a second chance, letting him raise the messenger of the Lord. Have you ever had trouble believing in good news? God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
Joseph didn’t know what to think when Mary told him she was going to have a baby. But God sent a dream to Joseph and gave him a second chance to be the earthly father of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Have you ever been confused about what to believe? Has your faith wavered? God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
Zacchaeus was a tax collector who had cheated the people, charging much more than the real tax, so he could keep the difference. He was curious about Jesus and climbed a tree to see him when he came to Zaccaheus’s town. Jesus stopped, calling Zacchaeus down from the tree and giving him a second chance to lead a good life and give back what he has stolen. Have you ever thought about keeping more than you need or deserve? God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
And, of course, there were the disciples. Peter upon whom Jesus said He would build His church, denied Jesus three times on the night Jesus was betrayed. But after the resurrection Jesus gave Peter three times to affirm his love for Jesus with the words, “If you love me, you will feed my sheep.” Jesus gave Peter a second chance. Have you ever disappointed yourself by doing the expedient thing rather than the right and faithful thing? God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
All of the disciples rang away and deserted Jesus on that fateful night. But Jesus came to them with the words “Peace.” Have you ever deserted the Lord when things looked hopeless? God is giving you a second chance. Use it faithfully.
As I prepared this sermon, I couldn’t help but look back on my own life and the times when I have disappointed myself and God. This morning, each of us was given a stone to represent our sin. In a few minutes we will share in communion. Confessing our sins is important as we approach the Lord’s Table.
We are going to celebrate communion through intinction when everyone is invited to come forward take a piece of the bread and dip it into the juice. This morning you are invited to bring your stone representing your sin and leave it at the foot of the cross where it is covered by the grace of God. If you would prefer to keep your stone, please do so. If you would like to be served at your pew, remain there and we will come to you.
Let us pray: O God of second chances, it is with great relief and joy that we recognize You as the source of all grace and forgiveness. Release us from those sins that trouble us for only in Your power can we be made a new creation, free from the slavery of sin. In our Savior’s name we pray. Amen.
