Sermon Preview for April 19th

April 19, 2026 - Third Sunday of Easter

Preacher:  Rev. Anne J. Scalfaro

Scriptures:  Psalm 13, 27, 40, 103 (selected verses)

Scripture at top of OOW: 

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, 

and a thousand years are like one day. 

The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, 

but is patient with you…

- 2 Peter 3:8-9a

Sermon Title:

Beyond Patient when Beyond Patience

Second Sermon in Cultivating the Fruit of Patience

Part of Abide & Grow: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit

Sermon Blurb:

This week we continue in our Abide & Grow: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit series by looking at the fruit of Patience through a theological, spiritual, and personal lens. 

Using a selection of lament psalms divided into the Greek concepts of time (Chronos and Kairos), we’ll explore the intersection of our human impatience and longing in times of suffering with God’s relationship to time (not to be confused with the phrase “God’s timing”).

The Good News is that God is beyond patient with us, even when we are beyond our patience with God. Yet even in our times of pleading, “How Long, O Lord?” can we cultivate a quality of patience that is healing rather than harmful?

Scripture Readings:

Chronos:  The ancient Greeks had two words for time: Chronos, 

Kairos:     and Kairos.

Chronos:  Chronos refers to chronological or sequential time, or “clock time”—

time that can be measured in seconds, minutes, hours, years.

Kairos:      Kairos measures moments, not seconds. Kairos refers to the right moment, the opportune moment. 

               Kairos time is indeterminate in length, yet determinative in appointed purpose or action. 

Chronos:  Chronos is quantitative.

Kairos:     Kairos is qualitative.

Psalm 13

Chronos:  How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 

   How long must I bear pain in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all day long?

   How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

   Consider and answer me, O Lord my God! Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,

    and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”; my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

Kairos:    But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

  I will sing to the Lord because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 27:1, 7-9, 13-14

Kairos:     The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
               The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Chronos:  Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!

Kairos:    “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek.

Chronos:  Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help.

   Do not cast me off; do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!

Kairos:      I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Psalm 40:1-3a, 13, 17b

Kairos:    I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

   He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

   He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.

Chronos:  Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me.

                You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.

Psalm 103:8-11; 14-17a

Kairos:    The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

   He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.

   He does not deal with us according to our sins nor repay us according to our iniquities.

   For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

   For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.

Chronos:  As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field;

     for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.

Kairos:    But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting…