One Lord
Commentary
If we listen carefully, we will soon become convinced that most of us -- at least, when we are heard talking -- sound like tritheists, or a people who have some vision of three entities standing near the balcony of heaven. The one in the middle is aged and white-bearded; the one on the left hand is shrouded in a sheet like Casper the Ghost; the one on the right is younger, more princely, heir, and we call him Jesus.
Every time we try to "spatialize" or historicize our vision of God, this is what we do to it.
Of course, there are those who so fear tritheism that they turn the other way and become Jehovah's Witnesses or Jesus 'onlies.' In the midst of all our running this way and that, the Trinity gets lost.
The Trinity was never meant to explain or picture the Godhead. And it was never meant to lead us to accept the disunity of our concept of God. In fact, it was devised to do just the opposite -- to enable us to see the unity in the Godhead. We are meant to understand that whatever the Father does, so does the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are fully united; there is no difference between them, either historically or spatially or timewise. God still is what he has always been. He is still Alpha and Omega -- and everything in between.
OUTLINE I
Listening to the Lower Key
Ephesians 4:1-6
Introduction: Sometimes the outline for a sermon jumps off the page. This is one of those times. You can divide this text into words, such as those in verse 2; you can focus on one verse, such as verse 1; or you can skip down to the last part and have some fun with the theological material here. Let me suggest that you turn away from the major keys that are here, for a moment, and listen for the minors. Such as ...
A. A Worthy Life. Then you are given a definition of some of those things that comprise such a life. And, few have ever done better than Paul did in this matter, in Philippians 4:8ff.
B. A New Unity. Do not make a mistake and concoct some kind of unity that grows out of our efforts and organization. Note carefully that this is the unity which comes from obedience to one spirit.
C. A New Church. One body and one Spirit. When those come together, there is surely a new and different church. In such a church there is truly one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
Conclusion: You do not always have to choose the obvious material. There are good messages in the lower key, too.
OUTLINE II
A Creed for the Church
Ephesians 4:1-6
Introduction: In the first lesson for today I suggested that you take time to listen for the minor keys in this passage. This does not mean the major keys can be or ought to be ignored. The passage is rich with possibilities, as I indicated in the previous material. One of the richest lodes is in verses 5 and 6: a good definition of the Body of Christ, in which there is ...
A. One Body. Check out Paul's material in 1 Corinthians 12.
B. One Spirit. Note the big S. This does not mean that we all share the same spirit, but that the same Spirit dwells in us.
C. One Hope. God-given. Look up Romans 5:1-5.
D. One Lord. Jesus Christ, of course. See Philippians 2.
E. One Faith. Not content. Rather, that faith which responds in trust to God's initiative and gift.
F. One God and Father. Up the ladder to the right place. All that we are and have are meant for his glory.
Conclusion: Offer all this as a model for your faith community.
OUTLINE III
Bread for the Whole Person
John 6:24-35
Introduction: Surely there is no other place in the Bible where we find such a clear comparison between matters of the spirit and the flesh and their relationship to one another. Reread the material that precedes this and you will find an interesting story to share with the congregation. Congregations like stories. Most of the time they are surprises to them since they have never heard them. Be as vivid in your descriptions as you can be. If you have ever been to the Sea of Galilee and Capernaum you can do it in your mind's eye. If not, at least get a map out and trace the trip. It will make it more real for your hearers. Then talk about ...
A. The Bread That Perishes. Jesus is no coward. He knows what they want. Nationalism, food, riches, power, glory are on their agenda. Well, what about us? What do most of us really want? Someone has suggested that we get out our checkbook registers for the last year and see what we bought. That is what we really want.
B. The Bread That Endures. We are, after all, more than meat and bone. It is so easy to forget that. We read in all sorts of books about those things we need to be human or happy: clothing, shelter, food, sex. The biblical witness is that there is a dimension about us which is only fed by spiritual food. Jesus lays claim to being that food. In another place he is the water of life. Dwell on what that means and give it some detail.
Conclusion: Offer a new view of themselves to the hearers, and challenge them to come to the Lord's table and eat that which gives life its wholeness.
