Something for Everyone
Commentary
One of the wonderful things about such selections as those chosen for this Sunday is the way in which they show the power of God at work in the midst of such disparate people. In the Kings selection there is a complete outsider, a Syrian, one considered to be an infidel by the religious in Israel. In the Gospel selection we meet disciples, those who lived close to Jesus. And in the Colossian selection we meet a group of people recently converted to the new faith.
It is important to note that here there is a declaration of God's gifts and ear and actions. These selections lead us to read once again those chapters in the book of Acts which tell of Peter's experience at Joppa and Caesarea. Read that wonderful story once again and take special note of Peter's conclusion about a God who "shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him."
Once again we meet the conflict, present with the faith from the beginning, between those who imagine God is their sole possession (or vice versa) and those who are convinced he is Lord of all. this Sunday's selections take sides. A great hymn that makes the point contains words as follows:
In Christ there is no east or west,
In him no south or north,
But one great fellowship of love
Throughout the whole wide earth.
In him shall true hearts ev 'rywhere
Their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord
Closebinding all mankind.
OUTLINE I
Keep Your Eye on the Main Actor
2 Kings 5:1-15ab
Introduction: The Elisha stories are special in the way in which they tell us something of that period of transition from those wandering bands of "sons of prophets" to the great ethical prophets of the eighth century. Here we meet men of power who bring considerable influence to bear on everyday life. What we are witnessing is a transition from the non-ethical and lawless days of the Judges to the days during which the religion of Israel will begin to take on its highest form under the influence of such men as Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and Micah. It is helpful for the person in the pew to begin to differentiate between these groups so one does not conclude they all came from the same mold. Furthermore, it helps them see the gradual growth of understanding and insight born among these people.
Elisha: One has to be careful lest too much attention be paid to this wonderful character. Go ahead and do it but do it in a way that keeps him in his place. Keep your eye on the end of the story.
God: The writers of the Old Testament never let you forget that while they are having a wonderful time telling the great stories of their people they have never forgotten who stands in the wings and is behind all which takes place. You can become so bogged down in this story you do not give adequate time and attention to the last words -- a confession from a Syrian that the God of Israel is the only God in the whole earth. This kind of story finds its counterpart in stories like those of Daniel and his friends. Reread those stories and there you will find foreign monarchs proclaiming the power and virtue of the God of Israel. No matter who may be acting on the stage -- Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua -- it is God who furnishes the power, the direction, the leadership, and whatever else is required to bring his will about for his people.
Conclusion: Help your congregation make the transition from the kind of thinking which sees God in control of every moment of life and, therefore, responsible for all that takes place (many of them believe that and undergird it with such stories as these), to the later and more Christian view that freedom is indeed real and we are responsible, but God is still there working in the midst of our lives and seeking, both by his judgment and his grace, to lead us into paths of righteousness for his name's sake and for our sakes, too.
OUTLINE II
Why We Can Pray With Confidence
Luke 11:1-13
Introduction: This selection from Luke can afford you an opportunity to show one of those places where Matthew and Luke must have had separate sources for their writing. This is one they did not get from Mark since the incident is not reported by Mark. A good time for some Bible teaching. And, note it is Luke alone who tells the story about the man with late arriving company.
The Story: Go ahead and tell it like it is. But be extra careful you do not separate verses 5-8 from 9-13. Sometimes they are separated and the wrong message gets through. There are those who seem to think they can bang on heaven's door long enough and loud enough to get God's attention. Be sure to lead them back to Matthew's account in chapter 6 of his Gospel. Then turn to the corrective and insightful lines.
The Meaning: One does not have to bang on heaven's door because behind that door is a God who already knows what we need (Matthew 6:8), and who loves us even more than good fathers on earth love their children. Once again the insight is in the last line as it often is in Scripture. One can become so hung up with the details that the last line is missed. Don't miss it here or you will miss the meaning.
Conclusion: So pray. About anything, anytime. Note I did not say for anything. Some of us are always measuring prayer by how well God fills our order. Rather we should measure prayer by the understanding that all of life is legitimate for bringing into the presence of one who cares for us this much.
OUTLINE III
Sometimes It Is OK To Be Anti
Colossians 2:6-15
Introduction: If one is not careful it is possible to always be giving support to negative points of view. In all likelihood, one of the reasons so many are against preaching is they have heard all the negative thinking they want to hear. But there are times when it is okay to be against something, to take what seems to be a negative point of view, especially if there is a positive reason for doing it. Today's Scripture is a good example.
Verses 8-10: Without a doubt Paul is in these lines preparing the Colossians against the onslaught of the Gnostics who, affected by their Greek understandings, could not conceive of Jesus as being really and truly human. These seemists, as they were called, wanted him to be divine and since divinity could not be contained in fleshly bodies, he must have just seemed to be human. Do some work on Gnosticism and its impact in the early church and you will understand why Paul takes such a strong stand. And check out John 1:14 and 1 John 4 if you want to see how the problem persisted well into the second century.
Verses 11-14: Here Paul faces the Judaizers, that group of conservative Jews from Jerusalem who followed him everywhere trying to undo what he had done. (See Acts 15) These could go along with Gentiles becoming Christians provided that first they came in through the Jewish door and kept all the rules. Many were falling victim to this teaching and Paul is fighting on their behalf.
Verse 15: Remember, these Gentiles were from many backgrounds, most of which included magic and superstition as a part of their religious traditions. Astrology, spirits, and the like inhabited their world and many lived in fear. Much of the New Testament is directed against such declarations and maintains it is God alone who is in charge of the universe and, since that is so, we have nothing to fear. Check out Romans 8:38-39 especially.
Conclusion: There are still many in the church who imagine what one believes is his own business so long as he is sincere. They forget it is possible to be sincerely wrong. There are some declarations that do not square with the Gospel. There are some that are clearly heretical. When this is so, many are led astray and "tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine." (See Ephesians 4:14) So it is sometimes necessary to speak the negative word in order to make the positive contribution.
It is important to note that here there is a declaration of God's gifts and ear and actions. These selections lead us to read once again those chapters in the book of Acts which tell of Peter's experience at Joppa and Caesarea. Read that wonderful story once again and take special note of Peter's conclusion about a God who "shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him."
Once again we meet the conflict, present with the faith from the beginning, between those who imagine God is their sole possession (or vice versa) and those who are convinced he is Lord of all. this Sunday's selections take sides. A great hymn that makes the point contains words as follows:
In Christ there is no east or west,
In him no south or north,
But one great fellowship of love
Throughout the whole wide earth.
In him shall true hearts ev 'rywhere
Their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord
Closebinding all mankind.
OUTLINE I
Keep Your Eye on the Main Actor
2 Kings 5:1-15ab
Introduction: The Elisha stories are special in the way in which they tell us something of that period of transition from those wandering bands of "sons of prophets" to the great ethical prophets of the eighth century. Here we meet men of power who bring considerable influence to bear on everyday life. What we are witnessing is a transition from the non-ethical and lawless days of the Judges to the days during which the religion of Israel will begin to take on its highest form under the influence of such men as Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and Micah. It is helpful for the person in the pew to begin to differentiate between these groups so one does not conclude they all came from the same mold. Furthermore, it helps them see the gradual growth of understanding and insight born among these people.
Elisha: One has to be careful lest too much attention be paid to this wonderful character. Go ahead and do it but do it in a way that keeps him in his place. Keep your eye on the end of the story.
God: The writers of the Old Testament never let you forget that while they are having a wonderful time telling the great stories of their people they have never forgotten who stands in the wings and is behind all which takes place. You can become so bogged down in this story you do not give adequate time and attention to the last words -- a confession from a Syrian that the God of Israel is the only God in the whole earth. This kind of story finds its counterpart in stories like those of Daniel and his friends. Reread those stories and there you will find foreign monarchs proclaiming the power and virtue of the God of Israel. No matter who may be acting on the stage -- Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua -- it is God who furnishes the power, the direction, the leadership, and whatever else is required to bring his will about for his people.
Conclusion: Help your congregation make the transition from the kind of thinking which sees God in control of every moment of life and, therefore, responsible for all that takes place (many of them believe that and undergird it with such stories as these), to the later and more Christian view that freedom is indeed real and we are responsible, but God is still there working in the midst of our lives and seeking, both by his judgment and his grace, to lead us into paths of righteousness for his name's sake and for our sakes, too.
OUTLINE II
Why We Can Pray With Confidence
Luke 11:1-13
Introduction: This selection from Luke can afford you an opportunity to show one of those places where Matthew and Luke must have had separate sources for their writing. This is one they did not get from Mark since the incident is not reported by Mark. A good time for some Bible teaching. And, note it is Luke alone who tells the story about the man with late arriving company.
The Story: Go ahead and tell it like it is. But be extra careful you do not separate verses 5-8 from 9-13. Sometimes they are separated and the wrong message gets through. There are those who seem to think they can bang on heaven's door long enough and loud enough to get God's attention. Be sure to lead them back to Matthew's account in chapter 6 of his Gospel. Then turn to the corrective and insightful lines.
The Meaning: One does not have to bang on heaven's door because behind that door is a God who already knows what we need (Matthew 6:8), and who loves us even more than good fathers on earth love their children. Once again the insight is in the last line as it often is in Scripture. One can become so hung up with the details that the last line is missed. Don't miss it here or you will miss the meaning.
Conclusion: So pray. About anything, anytime. Note I did not say for anything. Some of us are always measuring prayer by how well God fills our order. Rather we should measure prayer by the understanding that all of life is legitimate for bringing into the presence of one who cares for us this much.
OUTLINE III
Sometimes It Is OK To Be Anti
Colossians 2:6-15
Introduction: If one is not careful it is possible to always be giving support to negative points of view. In all likelihood, one of the reasons so many are against preaching is they have heard all the negative thinking they want to hear. But there are times when it is okay to be against something, to take what seems to be a negative point of view, especially if there is a positive reason for doing it. Today's Scripture is a good example.
Verses 8-10: Without a doubt Paul is in these lines preparing the Colossians against the onslaught of the Gnostics who, affected by their Greek understandings, could not conceive of Jesus as being really and truly human. These seemists, as they were called, wanted him to be divine and since divinity could not be contained in fleshly bodies, he must have just seemed to be human. Do some work on Gnosticism and its impact in the early church and you will understand why Paul takes such a strong stand. And check out John 1:14 and 1 John 4 if you want to see how the problem persisted well into the second century.
Verses 11-14: Here Paul faces the Judaizers, that group of conservative Jews from Jerusalem who followed him everywhere trying to undo what he had done. (See Acts 15) These could go along with Gentiles becoming Christians provided that first they came in through the Jewish door and kept all the rules. Many were falling victim to this teaching and Paul is fighting on their behalf.
Verse 15: Remember, these Gentiles were from many backgrounds, most of which included magic and superstition as a part of their religious traditions. Astrology, spirits, and the like inhabited their world and many lived in fear. Much of the New Testament is directed against such declarations and maintains it is God alone who is in charge of the universe and, since that is so, we have nothing to fear. Check out Romans 8:38-39 especially.
Conclusion: There are still many in the church who imagine what one believes is his own business so long as he is sincere. They forget it is possible to be sincerely wrong. There are some declarations that do not square with the Gospel. There are some that are clearly heretical. When this is so, many are led astray and "tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine." (See Ephesians 4:14) So it is sometimes necessary to speak the negative word in order to make the positive contribution.
