SERMON | HUMOR

B-Sides

Scripture: Genesis 18:12-15

So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’
Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “Oh yes, you did laugh.”


Questions
What?
1) How’s everyone doing? Check in with the group.
2) Do you have a favorite comedian? Or what’s your favorite funny movie that you know will get you laughing no matter how many times you’ve watched it?

So What?
3) Dawn says that Sarah “laughs to conceal her real feelings.” Have you ever used humor to deflect from your real emotions?

Now What?
4) Dawn talks about how humor is in the “DNA of DOWNTOWN CHURCH.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
5) Dawn says “We value humor because it has a way of connecting to one another. It’s a way of exposing our vulnerabilities and asking God to be with us in our pain.” Have you ever connected with a stranger over humor? Tell us about it.
6) Has humor ever helped you heal?
Prayer

Loving God.
You laugh with us. You laugh at us. We laugh at ourselves. We laugh at your will. We laugh at what you call us to do; Because what you call us to do is hard. Love is hard, but we thank you for your love. Equip us to laugh with this world, to love this world as fiercely and unconditionally as you first loved us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

And God isn't just inviting Sarah into a new chapter of her life. God is asking her to be vulnerable with him.
God wants to meet Sarah in her fear, and her anger, and her sadness, and her disbelief. God welcomes all those symptoms of her humanity.
—Rev. Dawn Hyde