The difficulty of discipleship and of keeping God's covenant
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle B
Theme For The Day: The difficulty of discipleship and of keeping God's covenant.
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10--11) 22--30, 41--43 (C)
After completing the temple, Solomon has the ark of the covenant brought into the temple, accompanied by a solemn assembly of the people. The holy presence of the Lord appears as a cloud of smoke in the inner sanctuary. Solomon prays to Yahweh that he might listen to the prayers of his people which are offered in the temple, and that he might also heed the prayers which foreigners offer from that place.
Lesson 1: Joshua 24:1--2, 15--18 (RC); Joshua 24:1--2a, 14--25 (E)
Lesson 2: Ephesians 6:10--20 (C)
Paul concludes his letter to the Ephesians with words of admonition. He urges all Christians who read the letter to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God. The image Paul employs is of the Roman foot soldier, comparing the parts of his gear to spiritual realities: helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, belt of truth, sword of the Spirit and so forth. The last mentioned weapon is the only one that could be interpreted as offensive. Though imprisoned by the Romans, Paul is well aware that the battle is not only against worldly powers but against the invisible spiritual powers of wickedness. Only the protection which God affords his children can ward off the vicious attacks of the hosts of wickedness.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 5:21--32 (RC); Ephesians 5:21--33 (E)
Gospel: John 6:56--69 (C); John 6:60--69 (RC, E)
Jesus' talk of eating his flesh and drinking his blood offends his followers, for they interpret it in crude literalism. When Jesus ascends to heaven, it will show that he is speaking of spiritual realities (v. 62). Some are also offended by his claim to have come down from heaven. The crux of the matter is unbelief; some people refuse to believe. Humankind can be separated into two groups, those who believe and those who do not. Some of those who had followed Jesus discontinued their discipleship. Jesus asks the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" Peter answers in a manner reminiscent of Caesarea Philippi: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 84 (C) - "How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!" (v. 1).
Psalm 16 (E)
Psalm 33 (RC)
Prayer Of The Day
Lord Christ, you have never promised that being your disciple is easy or popular. Forbid that we should ever be numbered among those who have fallen away from the gospel. By your Spirit, give us the grace to follow you all the way to the cross and beyond. In your precious name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10--11) 22--30, 41--43
Octoberfest. When Solomon brought the ark into the temple for the consecration of the House Of God, it was in the September to October period, several months after the completion of the temple. Solomon wanted the dedication to coincide with the Fall harvest and new year festival, the high point in the liturgical calendar. The Germans celebrate the completion of the harvest time with an orgy of drinking, the Octoberfest. The Jews of Solomon's day celebrated the harvest with an orgy of sacrifice to God.
Yahweh the incomparable (v. 23). There were many gods in Solomon's day but Yahweh stood out from the rest. Solomon does not lift up the Lord's power but rather his love toward his servants and his faithfulness; he was a God who kept his covenant.
Immediate obsolescence (v. 27). If you buy a computer, it becomes obsolete long before the warranty wears off. It soon becomes too small, too slow. Solomon was well aware of the smallness and inadequacy of the house that he had built for God. "Behold the heavens and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house I have built!" All of the structures we make for God are immediately obsolete and inadequate.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 6:10--20
The WHOLE armor of God (v. 11). The word is panoply, the complete set of armor as opposed to pieces of it. Some people might like to put on the helmet of salvation but not want to gird on the belt of truth, or be shod with the gospel of peace. Putting on only part of God's armor leaves us vulnerable to the onslaught of the devil.
A spiritual warfare (v. 12). "For we are not contending against flesh and blood...but against the spiritual hosts of wickedness...." Paul realized that the real enemy of Christianity was not Rome, by whom he was imprisoned, nor the Jews, who opposed the preaching of the gospel. Underlying human conflicts we find a war between good and evil. To defend ourselves, we must be able to identify our real foe, not the ostensible enemy. The spiritual foundation of human conflict can be seen in the dissolution of the communistic system. It imploded because its spiritual infrastructure was rotten.
Launch the offense. The only offensive weapon listed is the "sword of the Spirit" (v. 17). Paul identifies this weapon with the word of God. Jesus used this weapon against the temptations of Satan, just prior to launching his ministry. Martin Luther used the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to wage spiritual warfare in his day, declaring in his famous hymn "A Mighty Fortress," "one little word shall fell him" (Satan).
Gospel: John 6:56--69
Why are you living? Jesus said that he lives because of the Father and that we live because of Christ, the Bread of Life (v. 57). On the news tonight was a story of a young lady who received a liver transplant because a young man accidentally shot himself. This was not exceptionally unusual except that the parents of the boy who was shot had heard of the plight of the girl needing the liver and donated their son's liver specifically for her. Yes, the liver was compatible. This young woman gratefully acknowledges that she lives because of three other people - the boy and his parents. We live because of the grace of the Father who created us and the grace of the Son who redeemed us.
The non--politically correct Jesus. Jesus had many more disciples than the twelve. Most of them dropped away because Jesus offended their sensibilities with all this talk of being the bread of life, coming down from heaven and the like. They complained: "This is a hard saying: who can listen to it?" (v. 60). If only Jesus would have known about the gospel of political correctness, he could have avoided all that nastiness of the cross and stayed at the top of the popularity polls. Thank God that he was more interested in being faithful than politically correct.
Logo--therapy. Jesus teaches that the spirit gives life and that the flesh is of no avail (v. 63). Victor Frankl, the creator of Logo--therapy, came to the same conclusion when he observed those who barely existed with him in Nazi concentration camps. Those who found meaning in life in some purpose beyond their own survival fared much better in the hellish environment of the camps.
Dead End. Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" Peter replied, "To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (v. 68). The others walked away but the paths that they chose were all dead ends. Peter knew that Jesus is the only way to go, the only road that is the way of eternal life.
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10--11) 22--30, 41--43
Sermon Title: Confirm The Covenant
Sermon Angle: In Solomon's dedicatory prayer he claimed the Lord's covenant promises. He prayed that Yahweh would confirm and carry out the promise made to his father, that a descendent from his line would always remain on the throne. That promise was conditioned on David's descendents walking in the ways of the Lord (v. 25). The people of Israel also had to confirm the covenant. Because the people broke God's covenant, the line of Davidic kings ended in 586 B.C. with the Babylonian captivity. God has confirmed his covenant with us; we must also confirm that same covenant through a life of faith and obedience.
Sermon Title: God's Home Page
Sermon Angle: If you're into computers and have gotten on to the internet, the world wide web, you will have discovered something called a "home page." Many churches and denominations have home pages, which provide information about themselves and informs folks as to how they might come in contact with the various services which they provide. The home page is not the place where the church dwells but is a link to it. When Solomon prayed, he realized that his house could not house God; indeed, the whole earth cannot contain his presence (v. 27). However, it was the place where God chose to leave his name. It was a site where God's people and foreigners alike could, through their prayers, be brought into the presence of the Almighty. It was a link between heaven and earth. So too, our churches cannot contain the Spirit of God but are home pages that link us with the Lord. We are to point beyond ourselves to another site, the realm of the holy.
Outline:
1. Explain the nature of a home page.
2. The home page is not the organization but a link to it.
3. Our church structures cannot encapsulate God's Spirit but link us to that spirit.
4. We too can be God's home page, who point beyond ourselves to Jesus.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 6:10--20
Sermon Title: A Permanent Shield
Sermon Angle: One of the key weapons against the forces of evil is the shield of faith. Paul urges us to pick up the shield of faith in order to put out the flaming darts and arrows of the Evil One. The Roman soldier carried a large oblong shield composed of two layers of wood glued together. When the flaming arrows sunk into the shield, the fire would be extinguished. Paul likens faith to a permanent shield which protects us from the assaults of Satan.
Outline:
1. The Roman legions gained tactical superiority by placing their large shields side by side, which formed an impregnable barrier to their enemy's projectiles.
2. Paul lists faith as the Christian's shield, to protect against Satan's attack (v. 16).
3. Faith is our permanent shield in this battle between good and evil.
__________
President Reagan wanted to protect the United States from the missiles of the Soviet Union with his so--called Star Wars scenario. This high tech missile defense system would supposedly destroy enemy missiles before they reached their target. This system would supposedly provide a permanent shield of defense from our enemies. History has shown that spiritual projectiles are far more dangerous and threatening than ICBM's. Greed, godlessness and materialism have already inflicted serious damage into the fabric of society. Only the shield of faith will save us.
___________
Hundreds of citizens in Detroit, Michigan, responded to a call to protect against the fires and destruction of Devil's Night. The night before Halloween has been known as Devil's Night for many years and is celebrated with a rash of fires in abandoned buildings, trash cans and the like. The fires peaked in 1985 but since have declined after the then mayor of the city, Coleman Young, enlisted the support of citizens to patrol and protect against the wiles of the lawless ones. Devil's Night fires peaked in 1985 at 297, but in 1995 there were only 26 fires, far below the daily average of about 50 blazes, due to the shield of support supplied by 35,000 volunteers who helped put out the fiery darts of Devil's Night.
Sermon Title: Those Who Do Not Take Up The Sword Will Perish
Sermon Angle: Jesus told Peter to put away his sword when he was being arrested because "those who take up the sword will perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). In this lesson Paul encourages us to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. The sword of the Word is the most potent offensive weapon against the spiritual hosts of wickedness. Those regimes that seek to tyrannize the people make every effort to sheathe the sword of the word. This sword can deal a mortal blow to corruption, as those inflamed with the truth wield the pen as a sword. The Word of God was the supreme weapon in the struggle for truth known as the Reformation. Many other examples could be raised to show that those who do not take up the sword (God's Word and truth) will perish.
Gospel: John 6:56--69
Sermon Title: You Are What You Eat
Sermon Angle: Jesus proclaims that his flesh is food (v. 55) and that whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood will abide in him and live eternally. As the saying goes, you are what you eat. Whatever we incorporate into our life, that which consumes our time, energy and money, affects who we are. If we consume garbage into our mind, our soul will become polluted with garbage. If we drink in the Spirit of Christ, our soul will be strengthened and purified.
Outline:
1. We are what we eat.
- The right foods can help prevent disease.
- Organic foods are eaten because some people take this saying seriously.
2. We are what we eat spiritually.
- If we consume garbage, our soul will become filled with refuse.
- If we consume good things, our soul will be purified.
3. Jesus invites us to eat and drink of his Spirit. If we do...
- We will live in Christ and Christ will live in us (v. 56).
- We will live eternally (v. 58).
Sermon Title: The Hard Sayings Of Jesus
Sermon Angle: F. F. Bruce writes a helpful book called The Hard Sayings Of Jesus. The saying of Jesus about eating his body and drinking his blood comprises the first chapter. What do we mean by hard sayings? In some cases, the sayings are hard in the sense that they are difficult to comprehend. In more instances, however, they are not hard to comprehend but difficult to carry out, such as when Jesus told the rich young man to sell everything that he had and come follow him. Jesus uttered many hard sayings which we've tried to explain away or soften their impact. We want to make Jesus in our image. He may be the Lamb of God but he is also the lion of Judah. In this pericope Jesus' sayings are hard for many of his disciples to understand and to accept, once they do fathom what he is saying (v. 60). He is telling his disciples (that's us) that it isn't enough to be in his company or to listen to his teaching. We must so consume the person and spirit of Jesus that he becomes integral to who we are.
Outline:
1. The Lord's teachings about consuming him as food were offensive to many disciples.
2. They groaned that his teachings were hard (v. 60).
3. Do we reject Jesus quietly because his sayings are too hard for us?
4. Do we inoculate the church against the hardness of Jesus' teachings with an antidote of the gentle, all--accepting Jesus?
5. If we reject the real Jesus, who challenges us to authentic discipleship, where do we have left to go? (v. 68).
Sermon Title: Discipleship 401
Sermon Angle: Most university courses are prefaced with a numerical designation. The "100" level courses are the most elementary, required of freshmen. The "200" level courses build on the introductory courses and are designed for sophomores. The most advanced courses are denoted with a "400" designation. These courses in most universities are suitable for graduate studies. Jesus probably began the education of his disciples on the most basic level but then moved to much more difficult things, such as we find in today's Gospel. Multitudes were dropping out of his course because it was just too hard for them (v. 66). Jesus asked the twelve if they too wanted to drop out (v. 67). Peter replied that they would stay; there was no other teacher who could lead them to eternal life. Too many Christians are satisfied to stick to the elementary things of Christ. To continue as his disciples we must move on to not only graduate studies but to daily field work in his kingdom.
Outline:
1. Explain how the difficulty of university courses is designated by numbers.
2. Jesus was leading his disciples beyond elementary courses in discipleship to graduate studies.
3. Many of them dropped out because it was too hard (v. 66).
4. Have we been satisfied with the elementary things of Christ and dropped out of graduate studies?
5. To go on with Jesus, we must consume (receive) him as bread (vv. 56--58).
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10--11) 22--30, 41--43 (C)
After completing the temple, Solomon has the ark of the covenant brought into the temple, accompanied by a solemn assembly of the people. The holy presence of the Lord appears as a cloud of smoke in the inner sanctuary. Solomon prays to Yahweh that he might listen to the prayers of his people which are offered in the temple, and that he might also heed the prayers which foreigners offer from that place.
Lesson 1: Joshua 24:1--2, 15--18 (RC); Joshua 24:1--2a, 14--25 (E)
Lesson 2: Ephesians 6:10--20 (C)
Paul concludes his letter to the Ephesians with words of admonition. He urges all Christians who read the letter to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God. The image Paul employs is of the Roman foot soldier, comparing the parts of his gear to spiritual realities: helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, belt of truth, sword of the Spirit and so forth. The last mentioned weapon is the only one that could be interpreted as offensive. Though imprisoned by the Romans, Paul is well aware that the battle is not only against worldly powers but against the invisible spiritual powers of wickedness. Only the protection which God affords his children can ward off the vicious attacks of the hosts of wickedness.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 5:21--32 (RC); Ephesians 5:21--33 (E)
Gospel: John 6:56--69 (C); John 6:60--69 (RC, E)
Jesus' talk of eating his flesh and drinking his blood offends his followers, for they interpret it in crude literalism. When Jesus ascends to heaven, it will show that he is speaking of spiritual realities (v. 62). Some are also offended by his claim to have come down from heaven. The crux of the matter is unbelief; some people refuse to believe. Humankind can be separated into two groups, those who believe and those who do not. Some of those who had followed Jesus discontinued their discipleship. Jesus asks the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" Peter answers in a manner reminiscent of Caesarea Philippi: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 84 (C) - "How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!" (v. 1).
Psalm 16 (E)
Psalm 33 (RC)
Prayer Of The Day
Lord Christ, you have never promised that being your disciple is easy or popular. Forbid that we should ever be numbered among those who have fallen away from the gospel. By your Spirit, give us the grace to follow you all the way to the cross and beyond. In your precious name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10--11) 22--30, 41--43
Octoberfest. When Solomon brought the ark into the temple for the consecration of the House Of God, it was in the September to October period, several months after the completion of the temple. Solomon wanted the dedication to coincide with the Fall harvest and new year festival, the high point in the liturgical calendar. The Germans celebrate the completion of the harvest time with an orgy of drinking, the Octoberfest. The Jews of Solomon's day celebrated the harvest with an orgy of sacrifice to God.
Yahweh the incomparable (v. 23). There were many gods in Solomon's day but Yahweh stood out from the rest. Solomon does not lift up the Lord's power but rather his love toward his servants and his faithfulness; he was a God who kept his covenant.
Immediate obsolescence (v. 27). If you buy a computer, it becomes obsolete long before the warranty wears off. It soon becomes too small, too slow. Solomon was well aware of the smallness and inadequacy of the house that he had built for God. "Behold the heavens and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house I have built!" All of the structures we make for God are immediately obsolete and inadequate.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 6:10--20
The WHOLE armor of God (v. 11). The word is panoply, the complete set of armor as opposed to pieces of it. Some people might like to put on the helmet of salvation but not want to gird on the belt of truth, or be shod with the gospel of peace. Putting on only part of God's armor leaves us vulnerable to the onslaught of the devil.
A spiritual warfare (v. 12). "For we are not contending against flesh and blood...but against the spiritual hosts of wickedness...." Paul realized that the real enemy of Christianity was not Rome, by whom he was imprisoned, nor the Jews, who opposed the preaching of the gospel. Underlying human conflicts we find a war between good and evil. To defend ourselves, we must be able to identify our real foe, not the ostensible enemy. The spiritual foundation of human conflict can be seen in the dissolution of the communistic system. It imploded because its spiritual infrastructure was rotten.
Launch the offense. The only offensive weapon listed is the "sword of the Spirit" (v. 17). Paul identifies this weapon with the word of God. Jesus used this weapon against the temptations of Satan, just prior to launching his ministry. Martin Luther used the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to wage spiritual warfare in his day, declaring in his famous hymn "A Mighty Fortress," "one little word shall fell him" (Satan).
Gospel: John 6:56--69
Why are you living? Jesus said that he lives because of the Father and that we live because of Christ, the Bread of Life (v. 57). On the news tonight was a story of a young lady who received a liver transplant because a young man accidentally shot himself. This was not exceptionally unusual except that the parents of the boy who was shot had heard of the plight of the girl needing the liver and donated their son's liver specifically for her. Yes, the liver was compatible. This young woman gratefully acknowledges that she lives because of three other people - the boy and his parents. We live because of the grace of the Father who created us and the grace of the Son who redeemed us.
The non--politically correct Jesus. Jesus had many more disciples than the twelve. Most of them dropped away because Jesus offended their sensibilities with all this talk of being the bread of life, coming down from heaven and the like. They complained: "This is a hard saying: who can listen to it?" (v. 60). If only Jesus would have known about the gospel of political correctness, he could have avoided all that nastiness of the cross and stayed at the top of the popularity polls. Thank God that he was more interested in being faithful than politically correct.
Logo--therapy. Jesus teaches that the spirit gives life and that the flesh is of no avail (v. 63). Victor Frankl, the creator of Logo--therapy, came to the same conclusion when he observed those who barely existed with him in Nazi concentration camps. Those who found meaning in life in some purpose beyond their own survival fared much better in the hellish environment of the camps.
Dead End. Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" Peter replied, "To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (v. 68). The others walked away but the paths that they chose were all dead ends. Peter knew that Jesus is the only way to go, the only road that is the way of eternal life.
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10--11) 22--30, 41--43
Sermon Title: Confirm The Covenant
Sermon Angle: In Solomon's dedicatory prayer he claimed the Lord's covenant promises. He prayed that Yahweh would confirm and carry out the promise made to his father, that a descendent from his line would always remain on the throne. That promise was conditioned on David's descendents walking in the ways of the Lord (v. 25). The people of Israel also had to confirm the covenant. Because the people broke God's covenant, the line of Davidic kings ended in 586 B.C. with the Babylonian captivity. God has confirmed his covenant with us; we must also confirm that same covenant through a life of faith and obedience.
Sermon Title: God's Home Page
Sermon Angle: If you're into computers and have gotten on to the internet, the world wide web, you will have discovered something called a "home page." Many churches and denominations have home pages, which provide information about themselves and informs folks as to how they might come in contact with the various services which they provide. The home page is not the place where the church dwells but is a link to it. When Solomon prayed, he realized that his house could not house God; indeed, the whole earth cannot contain his presence (v. 27). However, it was the place where God chose to leave his name. It was a site where God's people and foreigners alike could, through their prayers, be brought into the presence of the Almighty. It was a link between heaven and earth. So too, our churches cannot contain the Spirit of God but are home pages that link us with the Lord. We are to point beyond ourselves to another site, the realm of the holy.
Outline:
1. Explain the nature of a home page.
2. The home page is not the organization but a link to it.
3. Our church structures cannot encapsulate God's Spirit but link us to that spirit.
4. We too can be God's home page, who point beyond ourselves to Jesus.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 6:10--20
Sermon Title: A Permanent Shield
Sermon Angle: One of the key weapons against the forces of evil is the shield of faith. Paul urges us to pick up the shield of faith in order to put out the flaming darts and arrows of the Evil One. The Roman soldier carried a large oblong shield composed of two layers of wood glued together. When the flaming arrows sunk into the shield, the fire would be extinguished. Paul likens faith to a permanent shield which protects us from the assaults of Satan.
Outline:
1. The Roman legions gained tactical superiority by placing their large shields side by side, which formed an impregnable barrier to their enemy's projectiles.
2. Paul lists faith as the Christian's shield, to protect against Satan's attack (v. 16).
3. Faith is our permanent shield in this battle between good and evil.
__________
President Reagan wanted to protect the United States from the missiles of the Soviet Union with his so--called Star Wars scenario. This high tech missile defense system would supposedly destroy enemy missiles before they reached their target. This system would supposedly provide a permanent shield of defense from our enemies. History has shown that spiritual projectiles are far more dangerous and threatening than ICBM's. Greed, godlessness and materialism have already inflicted serious damage into the fabric of society. Only the shield of faith will save us.
___________
Hundreds of citizens in Detroit, Michigan, responded to a call to protect against the fires and destruction of Devil's Night. The night before Halloween has been known as Devil's Night for many years and is celebrated with a rash of fires in abandoned buildings, trash cans and the like. The fires peaked in 1985 but since have declined after the then mayor of the city, Coleman Young, enlisted the support of citizens to patrol and protect against the wiles of the lawless ones. Devil's Night fires peaked in 1985 at 297, but in 1995 there were only 26 fires, far below the daily average of about 50 blazes, due to the shield of support supplied by 35,000 volunteers who helped put out the fiery darts of Devil's Night.
Sermon Title: Those Who Do Not Take Up The Sword Will Perish
Sermon Angle: Jesus told Peter to put away his sword when he was being arrested because "those who take up the sword will perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). In this lesson Paul encourages us to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. The sword of the Word is the most potent offensive weapon against the spiritual hosts of wickedness. Those regimes that seek to tyrannize the people make every effort to sheathe the sword of the word. This sword can deal a mortal blow to corruption, as those inflamed with the truth wield the pen as a sword. The Word of God was the supreme weapon in the struggle for truth known as the Reformation. Many other examples could be raised to show that those who do not take up the sword (God's Word and truth) will perish.
Gospel: John 6:56--69
Sermon Title: You Are What You Eat
Sermon Angle: Jesus proclaims that his flesh is food (v. 55) and that whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood will abide in him and live eternally. As the saying goes, you are what you eat. Whatever we incorporate into our life, that which consumes our time, energy and money, affects who we are. If we consume garbage into our mind, our soul will become polluted with garbage. If we drink in the Spirit of Christ, our soul will be strengthened and purified.
Outline:
1. We are what we eat.
- The right foods can help prevent disease.
- Organic foods are eaten because some people take this saying seriously.
2. We are what we eat spiritually.
- If we consume garbage, our soul will become filled with refuse.
- If we consume good things, our soul will be purified.
3. Jesus invites us to eat and drink of his Spirit. If we do...
- We will live in Christ and Christ will live in us (v. 56).
- We will live eternally (v. 58).
Sermon Title: The Hard Sayings Of Jesus
Sermon Angle: F. F. Bruce writes a helpful book called The Hard Sayings Of Jesus. The saying of Jesus about eating his body and drinking his blood comprises the first chapter. What do we mean by hard sayings? In some cases, the sayings are hard in the sense that they are difficult to comprehend. In more instances, however, they are not hard to comprehend but difficult to carry out, such as when Jesus told the rich young man to sell everything that he had and come follow him. Jesus uttered many hard sayings which we've tried to explain away or soften their impact. We want to make Jesus in our image. He may be the Lamb of God but he is also the lion of Judah. In this pericope Jesus' sayings are hard for many of his disciples to understand and to accept, once they do fathom what he is saying (v. 60). He is telling his disciples (that's us) that it isn't enough to be in his company or to listen to his teaching. We must so consume the person and spirit of Jesus that he becomes integral to who we are.
Outline:
1. The Lord's teachings about consuming him as food were offensive to many disciples.
2. They groaned that his teachings were hard (v. 60).
3. Do we reject Jesus quietly because his sayings are too hard for us?
4. Do we inoculate the church against the hardness of Jesus' teachings with an antidote of the gentle, all--accepting Jesus?
5. If we reject the real Jesus, who challenges us to authentic discipleship, where do we have left to go? (v. 68).
Sermon Title: Discipleship 401
Sermon Angle: Most university courses are prefaced with a numerical designation. The "100" level courses are the most elementary, required of freshmen. The "200" level courses build on the introductory courses and are designed for sophomores. The most advanced courses are denoted with a "400" designation. These courses in most universities are suitable for graduate studies. Jesus probably began the education of his disciples on the most basic level but then moved to much more difficult things, such as we find in today's Gospel. Multitudes were dropping out of his course because it was just too hard for them (v. 66). Jesus asked the twelve if they too wanted to drop out (v. 67). Peter replied that they would stay; there was no other teacher who could lead them to eternal life. Too many Christians are satisfied to stick to the elementary things of Christ. To continue as his disciples we must move on to not only graduate studies but to daily field work in his kingdom.
Outline:
1. Explain how the difficulty of university courses is designated by numbers.
2. Jesus was leading his disciples beyond elementary courses in discipleship to graduate studies.
3. Many of them dropped out because it was too hard (v. 66).
4. Have we been satisfied with the elementary things of Christ and dropped out of graduate studies?
5. To go on with Jesus, we must consume (receive) him as bread (vv. 56--58).
