“A little girl once asked her mother if the Bible story of Elijah flying to heaven on a chariot of fire was real or pretend. How would you have answered her question?” begins Brian McLaren. “The little girl’s wise mother responded, That’s a great question honey… What do you think about the Elijah story?” McLaren points out that the mother’s answer didn’t tell the little girl what to think. It “invited her to think, as a bona fide member of the interpretive community.”

McLaren expounds on this week’s passages from 2 Kings 2:1-2 and 6-14 and Luke 9:51-62. He  explains Elijah’s and Jesus’ departures and how their followers responded. It was easy to miss the point then and it’s just as easy now. As members of the interpretive community, how can we wisely interpret our past so that we do not miss the point?

Listen as McLaren explains how the Bible forms us by engaging our interpretive imagination, and how that imagination can change the world.

This sermon is from A Sermon for Every Sunday, a series of lectionary-based video sermons designed for use in worship, Bible study, small groups, Sunday school classes or for individual use.

For more sermon preparation help, check out Pulpit Resource, Will Willimon's weekly lectionary-based sermon resource, available online and through a print subscription.