God the Stump Shooter (O Come Thou Branch of Jesse's Tree)
Preacher: The Rev. Andrew Van Kirk
Scripture: Isaiah 11: 1-10
Like a stump sending up a new shoot, God brings life from what looks cut off or beyond hope. Just as Jesus emerged from the seemingly ended line of Jesse, God is at work in our stories, our politics, and even our mortality—not simply restoring the past, but creating something new, good, and surprising.
Reflection Questions
Looking back at your own life and career, can you identify a "stumpy" season where everything felt cut off or dead? How did God eventually bring new growth out of that time?
The sermon uses the beaver as a metaphor for the things that gnaw away at our lives—sometimes slowly, sometimes all at once. In the context of a busy suburban life, what are the subtle "beavers" (e.g., envy, workaholism, resentment, distraction) that threaten to cut down your joy or spiritual vitality before you even notice the damage?
Looking at a "stump" (a failure, a broken relationship, a political situation) and only wishing for the past to return is a "failure of imagination." God often wants to do a new thing, not just restore the old. Is there an area of your life where you are stuck trying to "get back to how it was" (e.g., a previous job, a past season of parenting) instead of looking for the new shoot God might be growing?
What is the difference between "goodness" as God means it, and "greatness" as we mean it in a social or political context?
The sermon concludes with the image of Christ as a "standard" or flag that we rally around, distinct from the banners of worldly power. When you feel discouraged by the "chainsaw beaver" of death or bad news in the world, what specific practices (e.g., worship, scripture, community) help you "rally" back to Christ and remember His ultimate victory?
