06/13/2026
Sunday school lesson:
A Miracle Called Laughter
Forming a Family/Preparing a People
Sunday, June14, 2026
Green
Discuss: "What do you think God’s voice sounds like?”
Read: Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7)
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
A Son Promised to Abraham and Sarah
18 The Lordappeared to Abraham[a] by the oaks[b] of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them and bowed down to the ground. 3 He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah and said, “Make ready quickly three measures[c] of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” 7 Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared and set it before them, and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
9 They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10 Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I be fruitful?” 13 The Lordsaid to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 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.” 15 But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
The Birth of Isaac
21 The Lorddealt with Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had promised. 2 Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 Now Sarah said, “God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” 7 And she said, “Who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.
Set the stage by sharing the following before or after you read Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7: This text points to God making and keeping a promise to Abraham and Sarah. It is surprising, miraculous, and part of experiencing God’s redeeming plan revealed in scripture: God shows up, invites us to trust, and grace is present. This is a story that invites many different emotional or logical responses. Be willing to hold several things in tension and see if you can sense where God is present in the story and in your story.
This story starts with three visitors approaching Abraham under the “great trees of Mamre,” and Abraham offers generous hospitality. What do you notice about the offering? What do you make of this offer?
What do you learn about Sarah in this story? What picture emerges from the first part of the story about Sarah (18:1-15)? How does that impression change or become stronger in the second part (21:1-7)
Laughter is integral to this story, both in the first part of the story and in the second, where they name the long-promised child “Laughter”—Isaac. Consider the various emotional connections with laughter. When is it negative? When is it positive? How is laughter in this story an encounter with God?
The note for June 14 says,
“Miracles aren’t meant to be explained or even understood. They are to be received with joy and laughter. The grace of this moment is the wonder of God acting in ways that stagger the imagination. And if we pay attention, our imagination is staggered regularly.”
Paying attention is critical to God’s purposes (and promises) to be revealed in this story. How do you understand—and cultivate—a posture and practice of paying attention to God, to others, and to yourself?
Just One Thing: What can you do this week to cultivate a posture of paying attention—to God, to others, to yourself?
Going Deeper on Your Own: This week, consider studying one of the other lectionary texts in the following pattern:
Prayerfully ask God to open your eyes to the scripture. (Psalm 119:18)
Read the text [Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:8, (9-23)] out loud.
What do you notice about the text?
What questions arise?
What do you think God might be saying to you in this text?
Prayer Requests
Lesson Prayer
Dear God, Giver of Surprises! We confess that there are many times when we expect things to be a certain way and don't pay full attention. We give thanks for the reminder of the joy of laughter and pray that we will be people sensitive to your Spirit who can join in your work with joy. May we have the humility to receive your surprises with an open heart and give thanks for your unexpected blessings. Amen.
Next Lesson, June 21, 2026
Hearing the Voice
