Sermon for January 16th, 2022
Contents
Proverbs 2:1-6
1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. 2 The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord is the maker of them all. 3 The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it. 4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; the cautious will keep far from them. 6 Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.
2 Timothy 1:3-7
3 I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. 6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; 7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
Faith & Film X: King Richard
Three Minute Film Synopsis
King Richard begins as the title character, Richard Williams is seeking a tennis coach for his two young daughters, the future champions Venus and Serena Williams. Richard and his wife Brandy have taught them and coached them on the dilapidated tennis courts of Compton, and Richard has written a 78 page plan for the girls' entire career. But for an African American family to break into a very white, upper class sport is a challenge, and they meet with constant rejection from country club coaches. Added to this, they face all the challenges of living in the ghetto, from poverty to gang violence and more. Richard works the night shift as a security guard while Brandy works the day shift as a nurse. The whole family (five daughters) work odd jobs to make ends meet while maintaining straight A's in school and a rigorous practice schedule.
When they finally find a willing coach in Paul Cohen, Richard has a hard time letting go. As the girls begin to play in juniors tournaments and attract national attention for their skill, Richard makes the controversial decision to pull them out of tournament play in order to protect their childhood. Eventually, the entire family moves to Florida in order to train with famed coach Rick Macci. Once again, Richard has a difficult time balancing the girls' growing fame with a desire to protect them. This causes tension between Richard and his wife, Brandy, who argues to let the girls pursue their dreams.
At the age of 14, Venus Williams enters into her first tournament as a professional. She wins her first match, and rejects a lucrative endorsement deal from Nike. Her sister Serena struggles with feeling left behind in the shadows. In Venus' next match, she goes up against the number two ranked female tennis professional, and does well initially, but when her opponent "ices" her by taking a ten minute restroom break in the middle of the match, Venus loses her confidence, and ultimately loses the match. Her family stands by her, and when she leaves the stadium, she is greeted by hundreds of adoring young fans, many of them African American girls, and as the end credits roll, we see footage of the real Williams sisters and their parents, captioned with highlights from their amazing careers yet to come.
The Plans I Have For You
- American Dreams part II (Richard and Serena)
The Wisdom of Proverbs
- American Dreams part I (sayings in the van)
- Remember who you are and where you came from (Brandy)
The Family That Prays Together
- Prayer clip
