#ComeSunday #WorshipBulletin: Read the scripture and download the bulletin to prepare for Sunday worship and Tuesday Bible study!
Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Randall C. Bailey
Rev. Dr. Randall C. Bailey is Distinguished Professor of Hebrew Bible Emeritus at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, GA. (Gammon Theological Seminary is the United Methodist constituent of the ITC.) While at ITC, Dr. Bailey mentored 36 students who entered PhD/ThD programs, 22 of whom have received their degrees and are teaching in seminaries across this nation. He has also mentored numerous clergy who are pastoring and involved in leading racial and social justice movements around the country.
Dr. Bailey is an ordained Baptist minister and holds his membership at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where he was licensed and ordained. He serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Black Theology, which is published in the UK and has represented PNBC on the General Assembly Commission of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations of the PCUSA. He has also represented his denomination on several National and World Council of Churches Commissions.
Dr. Bailey has lectured and preached at universities and churches on 5 continents. He is the author of one book and numerous articles on the Hebrew Bible and editor/coeditor of five books on racial/ethnic biblical interpretations. He concentrates on the relationship of Ancient Africa and the Hebrew Bible and specializes in ideological criticism, especially as regards the points of intersection of race/ethnicity, gender, class, sex, sexual orientation and power in the biblical text and its interpreters. He is a community activist who often argues against oppressive theological positions and oppressive biblical texts regarding social matters.
Dr. Bailey is married to Ms. D. Jean Lewis Bailey, a retired librarian with the DeKalb County Board of Education, and they have two adult children, Omari and Imani.
Genesis 5:1-5 (New Revised Standard Version)
1 This is the list of the descendants of Adam. When God created humankind, he made them in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them “Humankind” when they were created.
3 When Adam had lived one hundred thirty years, he became the father of a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters. 5 Thus all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years; and he died.
Summary:
A sermon series on responding to our call to faithful discipleship. God is mighty and powerful, but God wants our help! God wants us to help usher in God’s reign on earth as it is in heaven. God wants you! When we apply the spirit within, we help God and help one another live into “a new heaven and a new earth.” God is looking for helpers! Won’t you join us?!?!?
In this genealogy from Genesis, fathers are remembered for how many children they had, but doesn’t God want more? God wants help from fathers, mentors and father-figures to be present in the lives of their and our community’s children. Let’s be the fathers God calls us to be!
Reflection Questions:
- What is a word, phrase or image that comes to mind when you read or hear the text?
- What does this scripture teach you about fatherhood?
- What does God invite you to do, change or be through this passage?