Fourth Sunday After The Epiphany
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII Cycle C
Seasonal Theme
Jesus calling his disciples and it dawning on them who this person is they are following. Light for a dark world.
Theme For The Day
The agape love God has for us and which we are to have for others even when it is not deserved or appreciated.
Old Testament Lesson
Jeremiah 1:4-10
The Call Of Jeremiah
Jeremiah was very aware of his call by God to be a prophet and so spoke with authority on God's behalf. This beginning passage tells of his call. He was probably fourteen or fifteen at the time and was aware of his youth. So this is the beginning of a powerful prophetic ministry. When this fellow announced doom on a nation, it came -- and when he promised peace it also came! And he did not need a "frequent flyer" card. What he prophesied from Jerusalem would determine the fate of tribes and nations far and near.
Verse 5 is interesting to me. There is predestination of Jeremiah even before birth and perhaps at conception.
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
The Gift Of Love
Who hasn't heard this, Paul's greatest passage, read at a wedding? The last verse of chapter 12 states Paul "... will show you a still more excellent way." The way is then explained in chapter 13 as the way of Christian love, agape. It is a word Christians appropriated for a new kind of love for the unworthy. It is lavished on the other without considering whether the one loved deserves it. It tries for nothing for oneself but, rather, the best good for the loved one.
So Paul is saying in this part of his first letter to the Corinthians that spiritual gifts are good; however, there is something far better and that is love. The linking together of faith, hope, and love is often found in the New Testament: Romans 5:2-5; Galatians 5:5f; Colossians 1:4f; 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 8; Hebrews 6:10-12; and 1 Peter 1:21f. Hope among these three big short lists is interesting. Christianity reached out to the women, oppressed classes, slaves, and so on, giving to them perhaps their only source of hope.
I must admit a feeling of deep inadequacy in even trying to comment on this passage of such a great theme.
The Gospel
Luke 4:21-30
Rage In The Synagogue
This is a continuation of last week's account of Jesus beginning his ministry in his hometown synagogue. Last week Luke said about his teaching: "... and was praised by everyone" (v. 15). Now we read further that as the newness and radicalism of Jesus' message became clear, the Jews were angered by it and verse 29 says, "They got up, drove him out of the town ..." (v. 29). It dawned on these Jews that this hometown boy, Jesus, was claiming that Gentiles were also loved by God! They had always held that Gentiles were created "... to be fuel for the fires of hell."
Notice the difference between Jesus and John the Baptist. Jesus reads this passage from Isaiah which was basically good news. John proclaimed a message of threat and condemnation.
The verses 24-27 refer to events in 1 Kings 17-18 and 2 Kings 5. The idea is that insiders by demanding some kind of proof may miss the Messiah while outsiders will be able to recognize him. I like the picture in verse 30 of the crowd ready to hurl Jesus off the cliff and he walks right through them!
Preaching Possibilities
A. If you have not done a sermon on "the call," this might be the time for it, using the Jeremiah reading. We can challenge our young people to consider if God might have been counting on them from early on, like God did count on Jeremiah. There would be a slim connection between Jeremiah and Jesus beginning their ministry and becoming aware of their call. Also, both brought an unpopular message to their listeners.
B. Of course the Gospel goes with the theme of Epiphany when it dawned on the Jews what Jesus' message was. They were angry and resisted. Also, in the season of beginnings, we have the beginning of hostility toward Jesus. Especially if you did not preach on the Luke passage last week, this will make a dramatic narrative sermon this week, ending with Jesus facing the hometown crowd and walking right through them!
C. See last week's Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves for a way to treat the Gospel.
Because I believe no matter what the season of the church year and no matter what the Epiphany is in the Gospel, the Second Reading is so precious to so many, I will preach on it.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Begin by describing the love you have for several things and people, like a pet, a football team, a grandchild or child, a spouse, and so on.
B. Move to an introduction of Paul's 1 Corinthians 13 where he has been talking about spiritual gifts and now makes the point that Christian love is much more important.
C. Move to defining God's unique undeserved love for others, and so on. (See the comments on the Gospel.)
D. Read verses 4-7 as a description of this different kind of love:
It is
It is not
Patient
Envious or boastful
Kind
Arrogant or rude
Rejoices in the truth
Insists on own way
Bears all things
Irritable or resentful
Believes all things
Rejoice in wrongdoing
Hopes and endures all things
Never ends
E. Move to what having this love means for us:
1. We can have this love for our enemies.
2. We can have this love for those who don't deserve it.
3. Having this kind of love can mature us in the faith.
4. Having this kind of love moves us away from self-seeking to caring much more about the other.
5. Having this kind of love helps us to think the best of others.
F. Move to an example of this new kind of love.
G. Move to explaining that we can't have this love on our own because of our human nature. But we have a moving example of it on the cross and we also have the help of the Holy Spirit here and now.
H. Frame your sermon by returning to your opening illustrations of different things and people you love.
Prayer For The Day
Help us with your spirit presence, dear God, to have love for you and for others even when they don't deserve it. Keep us always mindful of the undeserved, gracious love you have for us and the unlovely you would have us love on your behalf. We pray in Jesus' name, who loved us from the cross. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
In Shakespeare's, Troilus and Cressida we hear, "To be wise and love exceeds man's might; that dwells with gods above." And in Twelfth Night, "O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou."
"The theological paradox of our troubled time is that from the same traditions, beliefs, and practices now arise both the most heinous and the most humane attitudes and actions toward other individuals and groups. The task of the religious community is to distinguish the one from the other and to serve as a source of freedom, hope, and inclusion -- to nurture the forces of life" (Glenn R. Bucher of the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California).
(For the Gospel) In the video Beyond Rangoon, a story about the horrible suffering of the people of Myanmar (Burma), there is a scene where Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party won the election but never took over because the military prevented it, faces down the soldiers and walks right through them. It reminded me of Jesus with the angry Nazareth crowd cliffside.
While I was greeting people at the door as guest preacher for the day, a woman came up behind me, put her arms around my waist and hugged me, thinking I was her pastor, Ken Caudill. When she saw who I was, she simply recovered by stating that she always greeted her pastor with a hug, as it was often her only hug all week.
There are many lonely who come for companionship to God's house. They need to find a way to touch each other.
Jesus calling his disciples and it dawning on them who this person is they are following. Light for a dark world.
Theme For The Day
The agape love God has for us and which we are to have for others even when it is not deserved or appreciated.
Old Testament Lesson
Jeremiah 1:4-10
The Call Of Jeremiah
Jeremiah was very aware of his call by God to be a prophet and so spoke with authority on God's behalf. This beginning passage tells of his call. He was probably fourteen or fifteen at the time and was aware of his youth. So this is the beginning of a powerful prophetic ministry. When this fellow announced doom on a nation, it came -- and when he promised peace it also came! And he did not need a "frequent flyer" card. What he prophesied from Jerusalem would determine the fate of tribes and nations far and near.
Verse 5 is interesting to me. There is predestination of Jeremiah even before birth and perhaps at conception.
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
The Gift Of Love
Who hasn't heard this, Paul's greatest passage, read at a wedding? The last verse of chapter 12 states Paul "... will show you a still more excellent way." The way is then explained in chapter 13 as the way of Christian love, agape. It is a word Christians appropriated for a new kind of love for the unworthy. It is lavished on the other without considering whether the one loved deserves it. It tries for nothing for oneself but, rather, the best good for the loved one.
So Paul is saying in this part of his first letter to the Corinthians that spiritual gifts are good; however, there is something far better and that is love. The linking together of faith, hope, and love is often found in the New Testament: Romans 5:2-5; Galatians 5:5f; Colossians 1:4f; 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 8; Hebrews 6:10-12; and 1 Peter 1:21f. Hope among these three big short lists is interesting. Christianity reached out to the women, oppressed classes, slaves, and so on, giving to them perhaps their only source of hope.
I must admit a feeling of deep inadequacy in even trying to comment on this passage of such a great theme.
The Gospel
Luke 4:21-30
Rage In The Synagogue
This is a continuation of last week's account of Jesus beginning his ministry in his hometown synagogue. Last week Luke said about his teaching: "... and was praised by everyone" (v. 15). Now we read further that as the newness and radicalism of Jesus' message became clear, the Jews were angered by it and verse 29 says, "They got up, drove him out of the town ..." (v. 29). It dawned on these Jews that this hometown boy, Jesus, was claiming that Gentiles were also loved by God! They had always held that Gentiles were created "... to be fuel for the fires of hell."
Notice the difference between Jesus and John the Baptist. Jesus reads this passage from Isaiah which was basically good news. John proclaimed a message of threat and condemnation.
The verses 24-27 refer to events in 1 Kings 17-18 and 2 Kings 5. The idea is that insiders by demanding some kind of proof may miss the Messiah while outsiders will be able to recognize him. I like the picture in verse 30 of the crowd ready to hurl Jesus off the cliff and he walks right through them!
Preaching Possibilities
A. If you have not done a sermon on "the call," this might be the time for it, using the Jeremiah reading. We can challenge our young people to consider if God might have been counting on them from early on, like God did count on Jeremiah. There would be a slim connection between Jeremiah and Jesus beginning their ministry and becoming aware of their call. Also, both brought an unpopular message to their listeners.
B. Of course the Gospel goes with the theme of Epiphany when it dawned on the Jews what Jesus' message was. They were angry and resisted. Also, in the season of beginnings, we have the beginning of hostility toward Jesus. Especially if you did not preach on the Luke passage last week, this will make a dramatic narrative sermon this week, ending with Jesus facing the hometown crowd and walking right through them!
C. See last week's Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves for a way to treat the Gospel.
Because I believe no matter what the season of the church year and no matter what the Epiphany is in the Gospel, the Second Reading is so precious to so many, I will preach on it.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Begin by describing the love you have for several things and people, like a pet, a football team, a grandchild or child, a spouse, and so on.
B. Move to an introduction of Paul's 1 Corinthians 13 where he has been talking about spiritual gifts and now makes the point that Christian love is much more important.
C. Move to defining God's unique undeserved love for others, and so on. (See the comments on the Gospel.)
D. Read verses 4-7 as a description of this different kind of love:
It is
It is not
Patient
Envious or boastful
Kind
Arrogant or rude
Rejoices in the truth
Insists on own way
Bears all things
Irritable or resentful
Believes all things
Rejoice in wrongdoing
Hopes and endures all things
Never ends
E. Move to what having this love means for us:
1. We can have this love for our enemies.
2. We can have this love for those who don't deserve it.
3. Having this kind of love can mature us in the faith.
4. Having this kind of love moves us away from self-seeking to caring much more about the other.
5. Having this kind of love helps us to think the best of others.
F. Move to an example of this new kind of love.
G. Move to explaining that we can't have this love on our own because of our human nature. But we have a moving example of it on the cross and we also have the help of the Holy Spirit here and now.
H. Frame your sermon by returning to your opening illustrations of different things and people you love.
Prayer For The Day
Help us with your spirit presence, dear God, to have love for you and for others even when they don't deserve it. Keep us always mindful of the undeserved, gracious love you have for us and the unlovely you would have us love on your behalf. We pray in Jesus' name, who loved us from the cross. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
In Shakespeare's, Troilus and Cressida we hear, "To be wise and love exceeds man's might; that dwells with gods above." And in Twelfth Night, "O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou."
"The theological paradox of our troubled time is that from the same traditions, beliefs, and practices now arise both the most heinous and the most humane attitudes and actions toward other individuals and groups. The task of the religious community is to distinguish the one from the other and to serve as a source of freedom, hope, and inclusion -- to nurture the forces of life" (Glenn R. Bucher of the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California).
(For the Gospel) In the video Beyond Rangoon, a story about the horrible suffering of the people of Myanmar (Burma), there is a scene where Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party won the election but never took over because the military prevented it, faces down the soldiers and walks right through them. It reminded me of Jesus with the angry Nazareth crowd cliffside.
While I was greeting people at the door as guest preacher for the day, a woman came up behind me, put her arms around my waist and hugged me, thinking I was her pastor, Ken Caudill. When she saw who I was, she simply recovered by stating that she always greeted her pastor with a hug, as it was often her only hug all week.
There are many lonely who come for companionship to God's house. They need to find a way to touch each other.
