09/10/2026
We continue with our "Faithful Misfits" sermon series this week with a focus on Hagar. Tucked in the middle of Genesis, Hagar's story is complicated. She is a servant of Abraham and Sarah who becomes involved with their desire to have a child. She dutifully bears a child, but once the child is born, the complicated mix of family dynamics, structure, and expectations eventually cause Hagar and her child to be exiled into the desert.
Hagar's exile as a servant rejected from her family structure is a heartbreaking story. Hagar experiences the fullness of desolation and what it means to be a mother caught between the hard choices of life and death. It's easy to wonder, where is God in that moment, and how will God respond to Hagar's cry? In our own faith lives, how often have unintentionally participated in being part of a group that has shunned someone else or kicked someone else out for being too outside of what we perceived as normal, or for feeling threatened by them?
As a faithful misfit, we'll look at how God perceives Hagar, and, in turn, how God sees us and is with us. Check out Pastor Jeff's video as he talks more about this and other happenings at Asbury this week. We hope to see you in worship this Sunday at 9 & 11 am!
