The Attitude of Patience
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle A
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1--10 (C, E, L); Isaiah 35:1--6, 10 (RC)
A message of promise and hope comes to the captive children of Israel. Yahweh is going to free them from their oppression and open a road through the parched desert to the holy city of Jerusalem. The writer (not Isaiah) poetically pictures the entire creation participating in the redemption of God's people as the desert springs to luxuriant life, free of ravenous beasts. In this second exodus from the land of captivity to the promised land, the redeemed leave their disabilities behind as they joyously make their way back home. This blissful vision is meant to make the prisoners strong and full of hope. God is present with his people and will shortly reveal his saving might.
Lesson 2: James 5:7--10 (C, RC, E, L)
The expectation of the imminent return of Christ is reflected in these verses. James urges the fledgling church to be patient as they watch for that glorious day, citing the examples of the farmer, who plants the precious seed and patiently waits for the rain to raise it to life, and the prophets who uttered the word of the Lord and patiently anticipated its coming to pass.
Gospel: Matthew 11:2--11 (C, RC, E, L)
Troubling reports concerning the activities of Jesus cause the imprisoned John the Baptist to have second thoughts about his designation of Jesus as the promised Messiah. Apparently, Jesus is not fulfilling the messianic role in the manner that John expected. John believed in fearlessly facing the truth and so he sent some disciples to ask Jesus, ''Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?'' (v. 3). Jesus answers these emissaries by pointing to his deeds: ''the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed ...'' (v. 5). Did not these signs demonstrate that the kingdom was breaking into the world?
After the emissaries depart, Jesus declares that John is the greatest of prophets; he was even more than a prophet, because he was the promised Elijah. Yet, the humblest follower of Jesus is more privileged than John because he has witnessed the grace and mercy of God in the sacrificial servanthood of God's Son (v. 11).
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 145:7--10 (C, L); Psalm 146 (E) - Those who put their hope in God are called happy, because God heals the wounded and executes justice for the oppressed.
Prayer Of The Day
Help us, dear Christ, to hear anew the Advent message that the Kingdom of God does not come effortlessly, but with patient preparation. Renew the flickering candle of our faith when
assailed by the cold winds of doubt and open your eyes to behold the hopeful signs of your reign all around us, that we may rejoice now and forevermore. In Christ's name, Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1--10
In Isaiah's poem of God's redemption, he pictures the desert blossoming into glorious life. The threat of the desert was never far from the experience of the Israelites. They were forged by God into his people through their 40 years wandering into the wilderness. The nearby desert always threatened to encroach on Israel's fertile valleys, dependent on the seasonal rains. The desert described the psyche of the Jewish captives - lifeless, dry, rocky, lonely, and threatening. Isaiah's promise was that God would pour the water of his spirit into their parched souls and they would blossom and grow into a garden of delight (vv. 1--2). This word from God caused buds of hope to spring up in the desert of the captives' soul.
Where is the desert experience for our people today? Is it sickness, old age, loneliness, poverty, or faithlessness? God has provided the way out of the wilderness of our sinful human situation through Jesus, our Lord and Savior. We can travel on our way rejoicing as we tread toward Zion, the city of our God.
Lesson 2: James 5:7--10
James urges the church to be patient because the Lord was close at hand. The word for patience means, literally, long--suffering. Obviously, if we're feeling fine and enjoying ourselves, we don't need patience, because we are not anxious for our experience to end. The church that James addressed was subject to suffering. They were anxious for their ordeal to end with the second coming of Christ. How different from our pampered existence in affluent America! No wonder most Christians don't get too excited about the prospect of the parousia. Most Americans are not anxious for Christ to return and so the kind of patience which James enjoins is about as well received as a can of pop without its fizz. After all, it's been about 2,000 years since James promised the eminent return of Christ in glory. We have no idea how soon or late that advent will be. Nevertheless, suffering is still with us and patience is still needed. The nearness of the Lord can still inspire us to hang in there. Regardless of the date of the parousia, Christ is near to strengthen us in suffering and give us the victory.
Gospel: Matthew 11:2--11
Does Christ offend you? Apparently, Jesus offended and scandalized many people in his days in the flesh. He offended his family. At one point, they thought he was a little crazy and sought to spirit him away. He offended the rich young ruler by requesting that he sell all his goods and give the proceeds to the poor. He offended the religious leaders by associating with tax collectors and sinners. And in our gospel lesson he appears to have offended John the Baptist as he languished in prison. Jesus' actions were raising questions in his mind about whether or not Jesus was really the Messiah (vv. 2--3). What actions? Perhaps it was Jesus' dining with Pharisee sinners or with women, like Mary and Martha. Maybe Jesus was merely enjoying life too much, or so it seemed. After all, the Lord was no ascetic like John. At any rate, Jesus was not comporting himself in a messianic manner, according to John's way of thinking. Could I have been mistaken, John reasoned. So, he sent some disciples to find out if Jesus is really the Anointed One. In answering John's question, the Lord points to his deeds - healing actions which the prophets identified with the kingdom of God (vv. 4--5). Then Jesus added, ''And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me'' (v. 6).
I can understand why the Baptist was offended, can't you? I too am sometimes offended by Jesus. When he tells us that we should not judge others, lest we be judged for the same sins, it offends my sense of justice. How can Christ see me in the same league with prostitutes and
crooks? After all, I'm a rather upstanding person. Christ also offends me when he informs me that I must be as a little child to enter the kingdom of God. I have a mind and there are some questions I want answered first. Christ's teaching that the one who finds the Lord's mercy at the very end of life is going to receive the same reward as those of us who have followed Jesus from our youth likewise offends me. Does that seem fair? Of course not! But you know what really offends me, especially when I'm feeling high and mighty? You guessed it, the cross. Am I really so bad that God had to sacrifice his only Son? What I really want is a teflon--coated gospel and a non--stick Christ that doesn't burn and isn't messy. I want a Messiah that acts like I think he should.
Then, as I lay in my self--righteous prison, the Lord comes and opens my eyes and says: ''Look! The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed ...'' (v. 5) and a voice wells ups from deep in my soul saying: ''Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me'' (v. 6). Forgive me, dear Jesus, I have offended you and you have taken my offense and that of the entire world all the way to the cross, where you nailed it, killing it forever. Thank you, patient Jesus.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1--10
Sermon Title: High Way To Heaven
Sermon Angle: The title is a word play, derived from verse six. A road is called a highway because it is elevated above the surrounding terrain. This makes the road visible, facilitates transit and helps assure the survival of the highway. It is also a word play on Michael Landon's television show by that name. If we want to go to Zion, we had better follow the highway God has prepared.
Outline:
1. God promised a highway for the captive Jews to return home to Zion - the way of salvation
2. There is a difference between man's highway to heaven and God's (Contrast works righteousness with faith)
3. Christ is the only true high way to heaven
Lesson 2: James 5:7--10 (Suggested sermon text)
Sermon Title: The Attitude of Patience
Sermon Angle: We live in an impatient world with people who have short fuses. We want everything right now! We need to develop the attitude of patience not only because it makes life ever so much more pleasant but because the Lord Jesus is near. He is the prime example of suffering patience. Patience on our part is a sign that the Lord reigns in our hearts.
Outline:
1. In our world of instant gratification, patience has gone out the door (Give examples)
2. Patience or the lack of it reveals our spiritual condition
3. We need to be patient because
- Christ is near
- Christ has shown God's patience
- we are witness to the nearness of God's kingdom
Our impatience with others is very often based on false assumptions or ignorance. If only we knew the situation of the other person and realized how our impatience hurts others, we might be more patient, like the man in this story.
A group of English folks were traveling by train through the steamy expanses of the subcontinent of India. As the train rattled endlessly onward and day yielded to night, the hot and weary travelers wanted nothing more than to settle in for the night. Unfortunately for them, there was a man situated toward the rear of the car who was cuddling a tiny infant who was becoming increasingly restive and cranky, crying incessantly, or so it seemed. Finally, one man verbalized the annoyance and impatience of the entire group: ''Would you please give that baby to its mother!'' After a brief pause came the reply, ''I'm sorry, I'm doing the best I can. The mother of my child lays in a casket in the car to our rear.'' There was a long, awkward silence. Finally, the man who voiced the complaint got up and went to the bereft father to offer his apology. Then, he took the infant in his arms and in loving patience cared for her through the night.
If John the Baptist were a modern day truck driver, this is how he probably would have expressed his patience.
The driver of a 16--wheeler pulled off I--80 at an all night restaurant near Omaha, Nebraska. The waitress had just served him his grub when a trio of Hell's Angels--type guys wearing leather jackets and chains swaggered into the establishment. They quickly surrounded the driver. Eager to provoke a fight, one biker took the trucker's hamburger, another captured his french fries, and the third stole his drink. The truck driver calmly rose, proceeded to the cash register where he paid for his meal. The waitress watched as he quietly exited the restaurant, entered his rig and drove into the night.
When she returned, one of the bikers snarled, ''That fellow ain't much of a man, is he?''
''I can't answer that,'' she replied, ''but I do know that he's not much of a truck driver. He just ran over three motorcycles out in the parking lot.''
Gospel: Matthew 11:2--11
Sermon Title: Does Jesus Offend You?
Sermon Angle: When Jesus walked on earth, he offended many people, good and bad, including John the Baptist, who pictured a more fiery Messiah. Christ continues to offend us. Thank God.
Outline:
1. Christ offended John the Baptist by his gracious dealings with sinners
2. Christ offended the sensibilities of the religious leaders of his day
3. Christ continues to offend us today by saying that we must die to self, take up our cross and follow him.
The book titled The Scandal Of Lent by Robert Kysar makes an excellent point. The basic thesis of the book is that we can never truly embrace the Christian faith unless we are first scandalized by it. The word 'scandal'' can be interpreted as a 'stumbling block.'' That is, the gospel isn't easy to believe; it causes offense. The rich young ruler was offended by Jesus' admonition to sell everything that he had and then come and follow him. Nicodemus was scandalized by the Lord's assertion that he ''must be born anew.'' The Jews were scandalized by a dying Messiah and the Gentiles were scandalized by a God who laid aside his powers that he might enter into human suffering and death. John the Baptist was scandalized by Jesus' behavior: all that cavorting with tax collectors and other sinners. People today are still scandalized when they take seriously Christ's words.
About ten years ago, a couple in my new members' class let me know that they were offended by the very words of our Lord concerning divorce. The woman had been previously married and they both took exception to Jesus' teaching that whoever divorces his wife causes her to commit adultery if she should remarry. I did not deny the offensiveness of this teaching but
tried to soften it. It didn't work! The offense could not be erased. Let's face it: Jesus wasn't the expounder of a politically correct gospel that soothed everyone's sensibilities! His words sear our souls and prick our consciences. He makes us feel uncomfortable; he brings us face to face with our dis--ease concerning our spiritual state.
John the Baptist was a fearless prophet who died because he would not compromise his loyalty to God. Yet he was not nearly so radical as Jesus. John admonished that people needed to repent, change their ways, reverse the direction of their lives. Jesus insisted that we must die to self, take up our cross and follow him.
The couple who was offended by the teaching of Christ just might be closer to the kingdom than millions of Christians who no longer feel the offense of the gospel. Søren Kierkegaard's words still ring as true for our age as for his. He believed that in a so--called Christian culture we tend to make pabulum of the faith. We cut out the offending elements in order to make the faith easily digestible. If our faith is to remain vital, we must wrestle with the offense of the gospel and include it in the main course of that which we serve up to our people.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1--10 (C, E, L); Isaiah 35:1--6, 10 (RC)
A message of promise and hope comes to the captive children of Israel. Yahweh is going to free them from their oppression and open a road through the parched desert to the holy city of Jerusalem. The writer (not Isaiah) poetically pictures the entire creation participating in the redemption of God's people as the desert springs to luxuriant life, free of ravenous beasts. In this second exodus from the land of captivity to the promised land, the redeemed leave their disabilities behind as they joyously make their way back home. This blissful vision is meant to make the prisoners strong and full of hope. God is present with his people and will shortly reveal his saving might.
Lesson 2: James 5:7--10 (C, RC, E, L)
The expectation of the imminent return of Christ is reflected in these verses. James urges the fledgling church to be patient as they watch for that glorious day, citing the examples of the farmer, who plants the precious seed and patiently waits for the rain to raise it to life, and the prophets who uttered the word of the Lord and patiently anticipated its coming to pass.
Gospel: Matthew 11:2--11 (C, RC, E, L)
Troubling reports concerning the activities of Jesus cause the imprisoned John the Baptist to have second thoughts about his designation of Jesus as the promised Messiah. Apparently, Jesus is not fulfilling the messianic role in the manner that John expected. John believed in fearlessly facing the truth and so he sent some disciples to ask Jesus, ''Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?'' (v. 3). Jesus answers these emissaries by pointing to his deeds: ''the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed ...'' (v. 5). Did not these signs demonstrate that the kingdom was breaking into the world?
After the emissaries depart, Jesus declares that John is the greatest of prophets; he was even more than a prophet, because he was the promised Elijah. Yet, the humblest follower of Jesus is more privileged than John because he has witnessed the grace and mercy of God in the sacrificial servanthood of God's Son (v. 11).
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 145:7--10 (C, L); Psalm 146 (E) - Those who put their hope in God are called happy, because God heals the wounded and executes justice for the oppressed.
Prayer Of The Day
Help us, dear Christ, to hear anew the Advent message that the Kingdom of God does not come effortlessly, but with patient preparation. Renew the flickering candle of our faith when
assailed by the cold winds of doubt and open your eyes to behold the hopeful signs of your reign all around us, that we may rejoice now and forevermore. In Christ's name, Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1--10
In Isaiah's poem of God's redemption, he pictures the desert blossoming into glorious life. The threat of the desert was never far from the experience of the Israelites. They were forged by God into his people through their 40 years wandering into the wilderness. The nearby desert always threatened to encroach on Israel's fertile valleys, dependent on the seasonal rains. The desert described the psyche of the Jewish captives - lifeless, dry, rocky, lonely, and threatening. Isaiah's promise was that God would pour the water of his spirit into their parched souls and they would blossom and grow into a garden of delight (vv. 1--2). This word from God caused buds of hope to spring up in the desert of the captives' soul.
Where is the desert experience for our people today? Is it sickness, old age, loneliness, poverty, or faithlessness? God has provided the way out of the wilderness of our sinful human situation through Jesus, our Lord and Savior. We can travel on our way rejoicing as we tread toward Zion, the city of our God.
Lesson 2: James 5:7--10
James urges the church to be patient because the Lord was close at hand. The word for patience means, literally, long--suffering. Obviously, if we're feeling fine and enjoying ourselves, we don't need patience, because we are not anxious for our experience to end. The church that James addressed was subject to suffering. They were anxious for their ordeal to end with the second coming of Christ. How different from our pampered existence in affluent America! No wonder most Christians don't get too excited about the prospect of the parousia. Most Americans are not anxious for Christ to return and so the kind of patience which James enjoins is about as well received as a can of pop without its fizz. After all, it's been about 2,000 years since James promised the eminent return of Christ in glory. We have no idea how soon or late that advent will be. Nevertheless, suffering is still with us and patience is still needed. The nearness of the Lord can still inspire us to hang in there. Regardless of the date of the parousia, Christ is near to strengthen us in suffering and give us the victory.
Gospel: Matthew 11:2--11
Does Christ offend you? Apparently, Jesus offended and scandalized many people in his days in the flesh. He offended his family. At one point, they thought he was a little crazy and sought to spirit him away. He offended the rich young ruler by requesting that he sell all his goods and give the proceeds to the poor. He offended the religious leaders by associating with tax collectors and sinners. And in our gospel lesson he appears to have offended John the Baptist as he languished in prison. Jesus' actions were raising questions in his mind about whether or not Jesus was really the Messiah (vv. 2--3). What actions? Perhaps it was Jesus' dining with Pharisee sinners or with women, like Mary and Martha. Maybe Jesus was merely enjoying life too much, or so it seemed. After all, the Lord was no ascetic like John. At any rate, Jesus was not comporting himself in a messianic manner, according to John's way of thinking. Could I have been mistaken, John reasoned. So, he sent some disciples to find out if Jesus is really the Anointed One. In answering John's question, the Lord points to his deeds - healing actions which the prophets identified with the kingdom of God (vv. 4--5). Then Jesus added, ''And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me'' (v. 6).
I can understand why the Baptist was offended, can't you? I too am sometimes offended by Jesus. When he tells us that we should not judge others, lest we be judged for the same sins, it offends my sense of justice. How can Christ see me in the same league with prostitutes and
crooks? After all, I'm a rather upstanding person. Christ also offends me when he informs me that I must be as a little child to enter the kingdom of God. I have a mind and there are some questions I want answered first. Christ's teaching that the one who finds the Lord's mercy at the very end of life is going to receive the same reward as those of us who have followed Jesus from our youth likewise offends me. Does that seem fair? Of course not! But you know what really offends me, especially when I'm feeling high and mighty? You guessed it, the cross. Am I really so bad that God had to sacrifice his only Son? What I really want is a teflon--coated gospel and a non--stick Christ that doesn't burn and isn't messy. I want a Messiah that acts like I think he should.
Then, as I lay in my self--righteous prison, the Lord comes and opens my eyes and says: ''Look! The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed ...'' (v. 5) and a voice wells ups from deep in my soul saying: ''Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me'' (v. 6). Forgive me, dear Jesus, I have offended you and you have taken my offense and that of the entire world all the way to the cross, where you nailed it, killing it forever. Thank you, patient Jesus.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1--10
Sermon Title: High Way To Heaven
Sermon Angle: The title is a word play, derived from verse six. A road is called a highway because it is elevated above the surrounding terrain. This makes the road visible, facilitates transit and helps assure the survival of the highway. It is also a word play on Michael Landon's television show by that name. If we want to go to Zion, we had better follow the highway God has prepared.
Outline:
1. God promised a highway for the captive Jews to return home to Zion - the way of salvation
2. There is a difference between man's highway to heaven and God's (Contrast works righteousness with faith)
3. Christ is the only true high way to heaven
Lesson 2: James 5:7--10 (Suggested sermon text)
Sermon Title: The Attitude of Patience
Sermon Angle: We live in an impatient world with people who have short fuses. We want everything right now! We need to develop the attitude of patience not only because it makes life ever so much more pleasant but because the Lord Jesus is near. He is the prime example of suffering patience. Patience on our part is a sign that the Lord reigns in our hearts.
Outline:
1. In our world of instant gratification, patience has gone out the door (Give examples)
2. Patience or the lack of it reveals our spiritual condition
3. We need to be patient because
- Christ is near
- Christ has shown God's patience
- we are witness to the nearness of God's kingdom
Our impatience with others is very often based on false assumptions or ignorance. If only we knew the situation of the other person and realized how our impatience hurts others, we might be more patient, like the man in this story.
A group of English folks were traveling by train through the steamy expanses of the subcontinent of India. As the train rattled endlessly onward and day yielded to night, the hot and weary travelers wanted nothing more than to settle in for the night. Unfortunately for them, there was a man situated toward the rear of the car who was cuddling a tiny infant who was becoming increasingly restive and cranky, crying incessantly, or so it seemed. Finally, one man verbalized the annoyance and impatience of the entire group: ''Would you please give that baby to its mother!'' After a brief pause came the reply, ''I'm sorry, I'm doing the best I can. The mother of my child lays in a casket in the car to our rear.'' There was a long, awkward silence. Finally, the man who voiced the complaint got up and went to the bereft father to offer his apology. Then, he took the infant in his arms and in loving patience cared for her through the night.
If John the Baptist were a modern day truck driver, this is how he probably would have expressed his patience.
The driver of a 16--wheeler pulled off I--80 at an all night restaurant near Omaha, Nebraska. The waitress had just served him his grub when a trio of Hell's Angels--type guys wearing leather jackets and chains swaggered into the establishment. They quickly surrounded the driver. Eager to provoke a fight, one biker took the trucker's hamburger, another captured his french fries, and the third stole his drink. The truck driver calmly rose, proceeded to the cash register where he paid for his meal. The waitress watched as he quietly exited the restaurant, entered his rig and drove into the night.
When she returned, one of the bikers snarled, ''That fellow ain't much of a man, is he?''
''I can't answer that,'' she replied, ''but I do know that he's not much of a truck driver. He just ran over three motorcycles out in the parking lot.''
Gospel: Matthew 11:2--11
Sermon Title: Does Jesus Offend You?
Sermon Angle: When Jesus walked on earth, he offended many people, good and bad, including John the Baptist, who pictured a more fiery Messiah. Christ continues to offend us. Thank God.
Outline:
1. Christ offended John the Baptist by his gracious dealings with sinners
2. Christ offended the sensibilities of the religious leaders of his day
3. Christ continues to offend us today by saying that we must die to self, take up our cross and follow him.
The book titled The Scandal Of Lent by Robert Kysar makes an excellent point. The basic thesis of the book is that we can never truly embrace the Christian faith unless we are first scandalized by it. The word 'scandal'' can be interpreted as a 'stumbling block.'' That is, the gospel isn't easy to believe; it causes offense. The rich young ruler was offended by Jesus' admonition to sell everything that he had and then come and follow him. Nicodemus was scandalized by the Lord's assertion that he ''must be born anew.'' The Jews were scandalized by a dying Messiah and the Gentiles were scandalized by a God who laid aside his powers that he might enter into human suffering and death. John the Baptist was scandalized by Jesus' behavior: all that cavorting with tax collectors and other sinners. People today are still scandalized when they take seriously Christ's words.
About ten years ago, a couple in my new members' class let me know that they were offended by the very words of our Lord concerning divorce. The woman had been previously married and they both took exception to Jesus' teaching that whoever divorces his wife causes her to commit adultery if she should remarry. I did not deny the offensiveness of this teaching but
tried to soften it. It didn't work! The offense could not be erased. Let's face it: Jesus wasn't the expounder of a politically correct gospel that soothed everyone's sensibilities! His words sear our souls and prick our consciences. He makes us feel uncomfortable; he brings us face to face with our dis--ease concerning our spiritual state.
John the Baptist was a fearless prophet who died because he would not compromise his loyalty to God. Yet he was not nearly so radical as Jesus. John admonished that people needed to repent, change their ways, reverse the direction of their lives. Jesus insisted that we must die to self, take up our cross and follow him.
The couple who was offended by the teaching of Christ just might be closer to the kingdom than millions of Christians who no longer feel the offense of the gospel. Søren Kierkegaard's words still ring as true for our age as for his. He believed that in a so--called Christian culture we tend to make pabulum of the faith. We cut out the offending elements in order to make the faith easily digestible. If our faith is to remain vital, we must wrestle with the offense of the gospel and include it in the main course of that which we serve up to our people.
