She has become an overnight sensation. Her picture and her story have been all over the news this past week. Many of you may have heard by now of Susan Boyle. She’s the 48 year old Scottish woman who walked onto the stage of a British reality talent show. She didn’t look like much, not terribly attractive, a tad overweight, dressed in a plain looking dress. No one in the audience of the show, from the judges to the crowd, expected much. But then she opened her mouth to sing. And the voice of an angel came forth.

Never underestimate what God will do with the gifts that he gives to his people. Because of her amazing talent, this unemployed charity worker is now basking in what many hope will be more than just 15-minutes of fame. I discovered her clicking around on internet links earlier this week, and like so many others, I was absolutely blow away by her amazing voice. She may look like much by the world’s standards, but God has given her an incredible gift and now the world knows that surprising things can come out of unexpected places.

Like a man inheriting a kingdom from his father. We all think we know the story of Solomon, of his great wisdom, but there’s a lot more to the man than that famous story. Long before he was granted the gift of wisdom, he just one of many sons of King David. He was the child of Bath-sheba, the wife David took through treachery and murder from Uriah the Hittite. Those things counted against him and even up to his father’s last days, it was never certain that Solomon would succeed him as king.

But then David pulls him aside, as we heard recorded in 1 Chronicles, and informs Solomon that not only will he rule as king but he is to be tasked with building a house for God Almighty, a temple where God’s people can come to worship, a place where the Ark of the Covenant could reside in permanent residence. This had never been done before in the history of God’s people. Was he up to this task? Would he rule wisely and justly? Would he build a temple worthy of God?

Never underestimate what God will do with the gifts that he gives to his people. Solomon trusted in God. Because of that trust, he is known to us as one of ancient Israel’s greatest leaders, great in wisdom. And the temple he built became a symbol to all of God’s people that God is with them, no matter what. Once again, the world learned that surprising things can come from unexpected places, when you trust in God to make it so.

God proved this again when he brought his people forth from their long exile in foreign lands. They’d been gone from the promised land for so long. The Babylonians had sacked the city of Jerusalem, destroyed the temple Solomon had built. Was it even worth going home? Would it ever be the same again?

But God comes to the prophet and he speaks to the people. You say it’s impossible, that Jerusalem is no more. But is anything truly impossible to me? The city will be restored. With my help, you will do this. Its buildings will grow tall. Merchants will flock to its marketplaces. People will gather in its streets; children will play, the older will converse. It will be as it was.

History proves God’s promise to his people true. They did return to Jerusalem. They did rebuild the city, even eventually the temple. God did not speak falsely. Even when all seemed lost, he came through. They learned that surprising things can happen when you trust in God to make it so.

And then there’s Peter, the bumbling disciple. We all love him, love the stories about him, because here is a man whose shoes we can easily find ourselves in. He means well, loves Jesus, but sometimes likes to act or talk before he thinks. That day on the lake was no different. He sees Jesus walking on water and he says to him, “Can I join you?” Jesus says “sure” and Peter steps out of the boat and does not sink. He walks out to Jesus. This plainspoken simple man does the impossible, because God said he could.

Never underestimate what God will do with the gifts that he gives to his people. Though Peter falters here, becoming frightened by the waves and sinking into the water, he goes on to become among the greatest of the disciples. God uses him to change the world. Through him, God makes the impossible possible.

Four stories of God doing amazing things with his people, one from current events, three from the Bible. There is a fifth story to be told this day. It’s the story of a little Lutheran church in the small town of Davis, WV. St. John’s story. Our story.

By the world’s standards, we’re not much to look at. We’re not rich or large in number. Our community is not famous or well-renowned in most circles. And yet here we are tasked with this building project with price tag well above what many of us make over several years. A daunting task to be sure.

But more daunting than Solomon building the temple? More daunting than the exiles restoring Jerusalem? More daunting that walking on water? More daunting than what this congregation has faced over these past 116 years? There are those present here who remember those lean times. Times when whether tomorrow would come was uncertain. But we’re still here. With God all things are possible.

God has given us his promises, just as did with his people of old. He did not let them down. He proved faithful. He will do so with us. The next step is ours. Our congregation has a decision to make, a decision for our future, a decision for this building in which we worship each week, a decision for all the generations yet unborn who will seek for God within its walls.

Do not doubt that we can do this. God has proven faithful time and time again. And he will be with us, no matter where we go or what we do. Amen.