I want to talk to you about words—God’s words and

our words. God’s words create a world. They speak a

world into existence. A world full of light and life.

And so, surprisingly, can ours.

Our words can create a world. They can speak a world

into existence. Platform 9 ¾. Hermione. Hogwarts.

This is the world of Harry Potter, and it is the world

made possible by the words of J.K. Rowling. She

created a world with a young wizard who, on his

eleventh birthday, receives a letter of acceptance to

Hogwarts School. But more importantly, her words

create a world of friendship, adventure, and the

struggle between good and evil. The first book, Harry

Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, sold in excess of 120

million copies, and it is the third best-selling book of

all time.

Yes, our words can create a world. We do it all the

time. But human words can also have a doubleedged sword.

Our scripture tells us that we are made in the image of

God. Listen again.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our

image, according to our likeness.’

So God created humankind in his image, in the image

of God he created them; God blessed them.”

Made in the image of God, we know that we have the

power to speak—to create words. But we also know

the power of words, both psychologically and in a

formative way. Our words can both bless and damn.

The writer of James adequately captures the power

of the tongue: “With it (the tongue) we bless the Lord

our Father, and with it we curse those who are made

in his likeness. From the same mouth come blessing

and curse.” (James 3)

Our words matter. The stories that we hear, the ones

that we tell ourselves, matter. They shape us. They

inhabit us. They get inside of us. We know the power

of words that we speak to ourselves. Words that we

speak to others. Words to encourage, to bless, to offer

hope in the midst of darkness.

Now, will you imagine with me? Close your eyes

(you can do this) and imagine. Picture that teacher,

that grandparent, friend, or parent, someone in your

life that made a positive difference simply by the

words that they spoke to you. Now, hold onto that

holy image.

I’ll share mine. My grandfather—Pop, as we called

him—was a quiet, kind man. He loved life. He loved to

read, play golf, and he loved clothes. He was a snappy

dresser. Prior to retiring, Pop was a wildcatter in the

oil business in Texas, a dangerous and uncertain

business. But I think it made him cherish life more.

One afternoon as we shared an apple (you get a

piece, now I get a piece), he looked at me and said,

“Darling, I want you to remember: If you can’t do one

thing, you can always do another. Never let yourself

be or stay discouraged.”

I was small with pigtails and a big gap in my teeth,

but those words stuck with me. They gave me fight

in my belly and courage in times in my life when

struggles were real and life was hard. They gave me

faith in God.

I challenge you to express your gratitude to that

person that you pictured, that teacher, that friend, that

parent, that grandparent, the one that you imagined

earlier, the one whose words made a difference in

your life. I know I thank Pop every day.

Friends, the words that we say matter, and it is

our responsibility to choose them wisely, for there

are those here today who still sting from words

that were said to them, perhaps this morning, last

week, or years ago. Words, perhaps, that were not

meant to harm, but nonetheless they were words

that wounded. If you carry shame, or believe lies

about your worth, who God created you to be, from

damaging words spoken to you, lay them down. For

you are created in the image of God.

Humankind is created in the image of God. Our words

have the power to create a world. The words we say

matter. Not only do our words reflect the power of

God, but they can also be a vessel for God’s power

and love. God’s words shine through us. The power

that we have with our words, it reflects that we are

created in the image of God. We can be a vessel for

good. We can be a vessel for healing.

Listen again to the words Mike spoke this morning

from the Assurance of Pardon. “God does not deal

with us according to our sins, nor repay us according

to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are about

the earth, so great is God’s steadfast love toward

those who revere him; as far as the east is from the

west, so far God removes our transgressions. Friends,

your sins are forgiven.”

Mikes saying those words makes it so. Mike is a

vessel for God speaking through him. We are forgiven!

Each Sunday we are invited to confess our sins, trusting

in the mercy and the goodness of God. We hear words

of grace. We hear words of love. Words that we are

forgiven. Words that allow us to forgive ourselves.

These are God’s words, and they make us new!

Now let’s talk about God’s words.

God saying it makes it so. God saying it is good

makes it good. Very Good.

God’s words reveal the glory of God which takes us

up out of ourselves and makes us new. Makes us

likeable. God’s words create a world. They speak our

world into existence, a world full of light and life. And

in our world, we can see the glory of God.

Look around you. We can see the glory of God in

long summer evenings. In grass lush with that perfect

shade of early summer green. We can see the glory

of God in the fragrance of flowers. We have seen the

glory of God in the music given to us by the bell choir

this morning, and we have seen the glory of God in

the children on the steps who had the right answers.

We even have seen the glory of God this week in this

sanctuary and in the chapel as we conducted funeral

services in celebration of life and in our hope in the

resurrection. We have seen God’s glory in family and

friends showing up.

The very goodness of it all. The beauty of those we

love, the sound of their voices, the light in their eyes,

the joy of our students right now exploring their faith

in Samos, on Footsteps of Faith. These all belong to

the world that God spoke and continues to speak into

existence. These all show that God’s creation, they

show us that it is good. Very good.

But there are still times for me, and I am sure for you,

where it is hard to see God’s glory, and that is when we

need to remember those words that made a difference

in our lives. If we can’t see the glory of God in one

place, look for it again in another. And as my Pop said

to me: “Never let yourself be or stay discouraged.”

For God made it all good. Very good. Behold the glory

of God.

Amen.