Login / Signup

Free Access

Caution And Opportunity

Sermon
Sermons On The Second Readings
For Sundays In Advent, Christmas, And Epiphany
A university president, as was his custom, attended the mid-week worship service in his institution's chapel. As he sat in the pew, he could not help but notice a reaction from two coeds seated directly in front of him. Midway through the chaplain's sermon, one of the young women wrote a message on the cover of her bulletin. She quickly passed it over to her fellow student. When she read the message, the reader turned to the sender and nodded vigorously. At the conclusion of the service the two students departed the chapel, leaving their bulletin on the pew. The curious president wandered over and picked it up. On the front of the bulletin were scrawled these words: "Why do they always have to talk about drinking and sex?"

Indeed, why do "they" always have to speak of such things as an expression of a central biblical principle for Christian living? In the context of a society in which the abuse of alcohol is such a serious problem, the New Testament epistles turn to the subject with frequent and consistent advice. In 1 Timothy among the characteristics listed for those who would be leaders in the church is that they be "not given to drunkenness" (3:3) or "not indulge in much wine" (3:8). In advice given to Titus, elders are to be examples who are "not given to drunkenness" (1:7) and the elder women in the church are to be taught not to be "addicted to much wine" (2:3). This central principle of Christian life surfaces again in today's text -- "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery."

Certainly a word of caution is here. We are urged to exercise discrimination concerning our own behavior. Christians are called to be self-reflective. This is hardly fresh news to our listening ears. It certainly was not fresh news to the Ephesians. The Jewish wisdom literature had long since recognized the folly of drunkenness and Jesus himself had warned his disciples against drunkenness.

Aside from the fact that scriptural warnings have been issued as negative reflections on first and twenty-first century cultures themselves, perhaps there are deeper issues that we need to examine. This season of Ordinary Time is a good time to focus on some of the hard, practical realties of life. Separated a bit from the highly focused seasons of Christmas and Easter, these days are good days for focusing on caution, discernment, and meaningful worship.

Founders of democracy have often been as dismal about the human condition as have founders of religions. Thomas Paine, one of America's Founders, once stated: "Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness."1 Certainly we can say that you and I populate churches out of our wants and needs. While churches may not always make us and our society more civil, they certainly expose the health of the societies in which they operate.

In sounding our word of caution we should also sound a word of opportunity. The church, even in this text for today, has never offered a mandate for Christians to withdraw from an evil society as though they were fanatics or ascetics. Whatever moral guidelines are laced throughout the Bible are constructed on the assumption that you and I can live a full Christian life in the context of "this world."2

Scripture always beckons us to look at the world through analytical lenses. Caution and opportunity go hand in hand. Both are necessary to protect us from a fragmented sense of reality that destroys the wonder of life.

Appropriately this scripture moves from a tone of caution about personal behavior to an emphasis on building up our lives through worship and personal reflection. This thrust is almost to say: "Here's a problem; here's the world; here's what you can do to make a difference to yourself, to others, and to that world."

When a writer or a teacher lays out a moral problem and contends that humans can be filled with a spirit and practice that can move their lives in other directions, that is good news. The good news is that love can be learned. With every caution there is an opportunity to do better.

In essence, that is much of what the Bible is about. People can learn. Abraham wasn't a spontaneous lover but he learned how to love. Jacob and Isaac and Moses were not instant lovers but they learned how to love. Peter and John and Paul and all the rest of the people Jesus affected were not spontaneous lovers but they learned how to love. Love can be learned. And we can learn how, too!

Fear is learned. War is learned. Prejudice is learned. Hate is learned. The Good News of the Bible is that love can be learned, too. That is the greatest hope in the world -- even in the worst of circumstances. There is always the possibility that somewhere, at some time out there in the future, people can learn to love.

Sara Jewett tells the story of a woman who ascended the pathway leading to the home of a retired sea captain in the state of Maine. On the way, the woman sees a number of wooden stakes scattered about the property with no discernible order. Each stake is painted white and trimmed in yellow, like the captain's house. With great curiosity and no small bewilderment, she asks the captain what they mean. He explains. When he first plowed the ground, his plow snagged on many large rocks just below the surface. So he set out stakes where the rocks lay in order to avoid them in the future. That way he did not have to relearn where every rock was every time he plowed.3

The captain's caution gives him the opportunity to farm productively in what might otherwise be an inhospitable environment. So it is with our world, according to the scriptures. Evil is there, both within and without, for us. But that which is learned can be unlearned, or at least controlled. Christians are urged not only to be cautious as to their lifestyle but to put out stakes of opportunity: "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Caution and opportunity serve us well in any endeavor. For sixteen years the North Carolina Museum of Art displayed one of its treasures, Cranach's Madonna and Child. The painting dated to the sixteenth century. Unaware of any problems with its provenance or history, the museum had displayed the painting in its European galleries since it was attributed to a major artist of the German Renaissance.

In the spring of 1999 the museum received a letter from an agency of the World Jewish Congress. The agency informed the museum that the painting had been illegally expropriated by the Nazis from an Austrian Jewish family.4

Obviously this was startling news. After a year of painstaking work, museum officials determined that the rightful owners were two sisters in Austria who were heirs of the Gomperz family estate. Deciding to proceed "with caution" concerning the moral dilemma, the museum returned the painting to the sisters.

In an equally startling development, the two sisters sold the painting back to the same museum at half its appraised value.

Now the devotional image of the Madonna and infant Jesus proudly resides in a state capitol museum, affording thousands the
opportunity not only to view a masterpiece but to reflect on the outcome of an institution's ethical caution.

Christians in every age are confronted with inhospitable environments and histories. Over time the spirit which builds up and does what is right stands above the evil which assails it.


____________

1. Thomas Paine as quoted by Robert D. Kaplain in his article and address, "Was Democracy Just a Moment?"

2. Ralph P. Martin, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1991), pp. 62-63. Martin addresses the various methods the author of the text tries to recall readers to their Christian status and vocation.

3. Sara Orne Jewett's novel is The Country of the Pointed Firs.

4. "Museum Completes Research Into Painting's History," a press release by the North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, North Carolina.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Lent 5
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Passion/Palm Sunday
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Maundy Thursday
15 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
18 – Children's Sermons / Resources
11 – Worship Resources
18 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Good Friday
20 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
18 – Children's Sermons / Resources
10 – Worship Resources
18 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For April 6, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A small pillow or cushion, a bowl, and a jar.

NOTE: This is a simple role-play story. You will need one boy to play the role of Jesus, and one girl to play the role of Mary. Since these are not speaking roles, this may be an opportunity to have a child help who might be hesitant to do a more involved role.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
This is not the same old thing. This is something new. Isaiah tells us to forget the old standards of life and truth. Our God conquers, so no longer judge the old way. Paul in prison says pretty much the same thing. And in the first supper, which takes place in the home of Martha, with Mary, Jesus, and the newly resurrected Lazarus in attendance, we see the world turned upside down as well. Something new. Something new.

Isaiah 43:16-21
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 43:16-21

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
“Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” (vv. 7-8)

The first time I saw one of the “He Gets Us” Jesus ads during the Super Bowl two years ago, I sat up and said to my wife, Jo, “This is great! I wonder who is sponsoring this.” When I found out who, and what their motives were, I was deeply disappointed.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to worship:

When Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus' feet with oil, the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. As we worship God today, may this whole church be filled with the fragrance of our prayers.

Invitation to confession:

Jesus, sometimes we fail to notice or appreciate beauty.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we resent the actions of others and are spiteful towards them.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Gregory L. Tolle
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own. (vv. 8b--12)
Schuyler Rhodes
There's nothing quite as wonderful as looking at an old car that's been restored to its former luster. A 1932 Ford Victoria Coupe, rumbling down the road brings a thrill. The rust has been cleaned off, the torn upholstery replaced, and missing windows have been installed. It is a work of art. It is also a work of love. Such restoration projects, as anyone involved in them can attest, are not for the weak of heart. Restoring a classic automobile requires painstaking attention to detail and the patience of Job.
Carlos Wilton
Theme For The Day
Worship is a blessed waste of time.

Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 43:16-21
A New Thing
Donald Charles Lacy
In our spiritual voyages, surprises -- sometimes outlandishly -- come to us. We scratch our heads and wonder if what we are experiencing is fact or fiction. It may or may not be a time of inspiration. However, it may be one of instruction, as we view it in retrospect. You and I are to remember that every occurrence may very well be a teaching event.

David Kalas
In December of every year, the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City awards the coveted Heisman Trophy. Voted on by over 800 media members, the Heisman is awarded to the most outstanding college football player during that season. Past recipients have included such notables as Roger Staubach, Marcus Allen, and Barry Sanders. It is a great honor, and it represents the broad and non-partisan recognition of a player's outstanding season.
Julia Ross Strope
You shall pass judgment on yourself. That is the hardest thing of all ...
If you succeed in judging yourself, it is because you are truly wise.
(The king on a planet to the prince)
-- Saint Exupery, The Little Prince

Call To Worship
Leader: You're here! Winter seems displaced by the new growth of spring. This is the fifth Sunday in Lent -- with one more to come: Palm Sunday.

(Candles counting the Sundays in Lent can be lighted.)

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL