Fourth Sunday Of Easter
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII Cycle C
Seasonal Theme
The resurrected Christ becomes a physical presence in the world again.
Theme For The Day
We have absolute assurance from our God of our eternal life with God and all the Saints.
First Lesson
Acts 9:36-43
Peter In Lydda And Joppa
The names Dorcas in Greek and Tabitha in Aramaic mean a gazelle or deer. Notice we are told that Peter prayed (v. 40). So we see that Peter healed using the power of Jesus and not his own. (See Matthew 10:8.) The word saint is used previously in verse 32 and here in verse 41. Paul often used this word to describe church members. William Barclay tells us that the root word for this (hagios) means different. It is a marvelous word homiletically. These saints were both holy and different. They had been saved to serve and not for any great privilege. That is different! What a picture: the widows and different church members gathered around Peter, wearing and showing him the things Dorcas had made with her own hands as acts of kindness. Yes, it is really different. Please take special note that Tabitha was called a disciple (v. 36). We often present disciples in the Bible as all men. This is the only place the Greek word for disciples is used. Later in the second century in the Gospel of Peter it is used again and this time it is for Mary Magdalene. The raising of Dorcas is important because it is the first miracle like this by an apostle.
This woman's good works of charity have inspired women's groups around the world to be named the Dorcas Circle or Tabitha Class, and so on.
Second Lesson
Revelation 7:9-17
Many From Every Nation
Let's consider some of this imagery. The white robes stand for purity and resurrection glory. The palm branches stand for victory and joy. The washed robes represent forgiveness of sins through faith in the Christ who died for us. Verses 6 and 7 are drawn from Isaiah 29:8 and 49:10.
We can approach the passage several homiletical ways. John sees our forgiveness in verse 14. Verse 16 lists the hardships of their earthly life and promises that it will not be so in heaven. Verse 17 pictures Jesus as our guide and shepherd. And then comes 17b with a beautiful assurance that our sadness will be no more. All together it is a nice picture of life beyond this one. God is counting on our arrival, rejoicing in our forgiveness, relieved of our earthly worries, a shepherd to lead us, and no more pain and grief. It will preach and comfort all the Easter people.
The Gospel
John 10:22-30
Jesus Rejected By Jews
The Festival of Dedication celebrated the rededication of the Temple in 164 B.C. There would be many lighted lamps in the houses around the Temple and in the Temple itself.
The question the Jews asked Jesus meant they were not a part of his flock. Verse 30 simply says Jesus' and God's will are the same. It's not an attempt to explain the Godhead. In verse 27 we have a nice mutuality. He knows them and they follow him. I have seen shepherds call out for their sheep in Palestine from a common fold and the sheep separate themselves out and follow their own shepherd whose voice they recognize.
In reading this passage one has to question if these Jews really wanted to know the answer to verse 24 or if they simply were trying to trap Jesus. Verse 25b seems to offer Jesus' answer to such a question: "Watch what I do and you will be able to know who I am."
Preaching Possibilities
A. We could use all three readings under the theme: "After Easter Saints." They tell us about what it is like and what our assurances are as one of the saints of God.
1. First Lesson -- We are to do good things for others, including miracles of healing. And women are also disciples!
2. Second Lesson -- We have a much better life beyond the grave than this one. It is assured by Jesus' death on the cross for us and by the compassionate love God has for us!
3. The Gospel -- God leads us like a shepherd right into eternal life where we are secure as Easter people.
B. For Protestants who are so shy about good works, the First Reading is an excellent opportunity to speak about doing acts of charity as Jesus' disciples (male and female) and about the natural love of the saints who do them.
C. As for me this year, I will use the Second Reading by itself and talk about our hope and promise of eternal life as John's Revelation lays it out.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Begin by relating a funeral you had to conduct of a real, dear saint of the church.
B. Relate how "after Easter Christians" have in today's Second Reading some promises and assurances which helped you preach at this funeral.
C. Move to read Revelation 7:9, 14b, 16, and 17.
D. Explain the Promises:
1. 7:9: God knows we'll be there and it will be a large gathering of all sorts of races, colors, and nationalities.
2. 14b: Jesus' sacrifice on the cross assures us that we are forgiven of all our sins.
3. 16: The earthly struggles we have now will all be gone.
4. 17: Jesus will be our guide and lead us to a satisfaction like we never will know here; a loving, forgiving God will remove the grief of our earthly life.
E. Relate the first story told below in Possible Metaphors And Stories.
F. Frame your sermon by returning to your story about having to conduct a funeral for a very dear saint of the church. Then remind your listeners of your main points by repeating them in reverse order -- 4, 3, 2, and 1.
Prayer For The Day
Dear God, we who are the Easter people are here again today celebrating your alive out of the grave presence with us. And we are enjoying the assurances you give us about our own eternal life. We are thankful you lead us to heaven to join all the Saints praising you. In Jesus, the Christ's, name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
On an episode of the popular television sitcom Night Court, Mac, the court bailiff, said to a woman covering for her husband's suicide by confessing to murder: "Beyond a man's limit is a place where God doesn't want us to be alone."
So God's Emmanuel, the Holy Spirit, is with us.
For my class in advanced preaching, Roger and I wheeled a casket past a seminary classroom and into the chapel. It caused quite a stir in the class. Perhaps eschatology needs more emphasis in all our theological studies. The casket brought the discussion very close to the ground! It was for my students to use for practice in preaching a funeral sermon.
It's especially true that the awareness of life's brevity brings an awareness of life's gift nature.
Staples, the office supply store, had a television advertisement which always ended with the slogan, "Yeah, we've got that." What are people shopping so desperately for in their lives? Grace, forgiveness, peace, friendship, salvation ... "Yeah, we've got that."
We walked five miles from Totota, Liberia, to a little bush village. The little dried mud and stick church was "full plenty" and we had to move outside. Each person brought a lantern or flashlight, and several hundred sat on the ground to hear the gospel proclaimed under the starlit and moonlit night. They held a flashlight on my face and Pastor Manawu translated my sermon into Kpella. We were God's people and witnesses to God's word. Halfway around the world from home and church, but under the same stars and the same moon, we prayed and praised God.
The resurrected Christ becomes a physical presence in the world again.
Theme For The Day
We have absolute assurance from our God of our eternal life with God and all the Saints.
First Lesson
Acts 9:36-43
Peter In Lydda And Joppa
The names Dorcas in Greek and Tabitha in Aramaic mean a gazelle or deer. Notice we are told that Peter prayed (v. 40). So we see that Peter healed using the power of Jesus and not his own. (See Matthew 10:8.) The word saint is used previously in verse 32 and here in verse 41. Paul often used this word to describe church members. William Barclay tells us that the root word for this (hagios) means different. It is a marvelous word homiletically. These saints were both holy and different. They had been saved to serve and not for any great privilege. That is different! What a picture: the widows and different church members gathered around Peter, wearing and showing him the things Dorcas had made with her own hands as acts of kindness. Yes, it is really different. Please take special note that Tabitha was called a disciple (v. 36). We often present disciples in the Bible as all men. This is the only place the Greek word for disciples is used. Later in the second century in the Gospel of Peter it is used again and this time it is for Mary Magdalene. The raising of Dorcas is important because it is the first miracle like this by an apostle.
This woman's good works of charity have inspired women's groups around the world to be named the Dorcas Circle or Tabitha Class, and so on.
Second Lesson
Revelation 7:9-17
Many From Every Nation
Let's consider some of this imagery. The white robes stand for purity and resurrection glory. The palm branches stand for victory and joy. The washed robes represent forgiveness of sins through faith in the Christ who died for us. Verses 6 and 7 are drawn from Isaiah 29:8 and 49:10.
We can approach the passage several homiletical ways. John sees our forgiveness in verse 14. Verse 16 lists the hardships of their earthly life and promises that it will not be so in heaven. Verse 17 pictures Jesus as our guide and shepherd. And then comes 17b with a beautiful assurance that our sadness will be no more. All together it is a nice picture of life beyond this one. God is counting on our arrival, rejoicing in our forgiveness, relieved of our earthly worries, a shepherd to lead us, and no more pain and grief. It will preach and comfort all the Easter people.
The Gospel
John 10:22-30
Jesus Rejected By Jews
The Festival of Dedication celebrated the rededication of the Temple in 164 B.C. There would be many lighted lamps in the houses around the Temple and in the Temple itself.
The question the Jews asked Jesus meant they were not a part of his flock. Verse 30 simply says Jesus' and God's will are the same. It's not an attempt to explain the Godhead. In verse 27 we have a nice mutuality. He knows them and they follow him. I have seen shepherds call out for their sheep in Palestine from a common fold and the sheep separate themselves out and follow their own shepherd whose voice they recognize.
In reading this passage one has to question if these Jews really wanted to know the answer to verse 24 or if they simply were trying to trap Jesus. Verse 25b seems to offer Jesus' answer to such a question: "Watch what I do and you will be able to know who I am."
Preaching Possibilities
A. We could use all three readings under the theme: "After Easter Saints." They tell us about what it is like and what our assurances are as one of the saints of God.
1. First Lesson -- We are to do good things for others, including miracles of healing. And women are also disciples!
2. Second Lesson -- We have a much better life beyond the grave than this one. It is assured by Jesus' death on the cross for us and by the compassionate love God has for us!
3. The Gospel -- God leads us like a shepherd right into eternal life where we are secure as Easter people.
B. For Protestants who are so shy about good works, the First Reading is an excellent opportunity to speak about doing acts of charity as Jesus' disciples (male and female) and about the natural love of the saints who do them.
C. As for me this year, I will use the Second Reading by itself and talk about our hope and promise of eternal life as John's Revelation lays it out.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Begin by relating a funeral you had to conduct of a real, dear saint of the church.
B. Relate how "after Easter Christians" have in today's Second Reading some promises and assurances which helped you preach at this funeral.
C. Move to read Revelation 7:9, 14b, 16, and 17.
D. Explain the Promises:
1. 7:9: God knows we'll be there and it will be a large gathering of all sorts of races, colors, and nationalities.
2. 14b: Jesus' sacrifice on the cross assures us that we are forgiven of all our sins.
3. 16: The earthly struggles we have now will all be gone.
4. 17: Jesus will be our guide and lead us to a satisfaction like we never will know here; a loving, forgiving God will remove the grief of our earthly life.
E. Relate the first story told below in Possible Metaphors And Stories.
F. Frame your sermon by returning to your story about having to conduct a funeral for a very dear saint of the church. Then remind your listeners of your main points by repeating them in reverse order -- 4, 3, 2, and 1.
Prayer For The Day
Dear God, we who are the Easter people are here again today celebrating your alive out of the grave presence with us. And we are enjoying the assurances you give us about our own eternal life. We are thankful you lead us to heaven to join all the Saints praising you. In Jesus, the Christ's, name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
On an episode of the popular television sitcom Night Court, Mac, the court bailiff, said to a woman covering for her husband's suicide by confessing to murder: "Beyond a man's limit is a place where God doesn't want us to be alone."
So God's Emmanuel, the Holy Spirit, is with us.
For my class in advanced preaching, Roger and I wheeled a casket past a seminary classroom and into the chapel. It caused quite a stir in the class. Perhaps eschatology needs more emphasis in all our theological studies. The casket brought the discussion very close to the ground! It was for my students to use for practice in preaching a funeral sermon.
It's especially true that the awareness of life's brevity brings an awareness of life's gift nature.
Staples, the office supply store, had a television advertisement which always ended with the slogan, "Yeah, we've got that." What are people shopping so desperately for in their lives? Grace, forgiveness, peace, friendship, salvation ... "Yeah, we've got that."
We walked five miles from Totota, Liberia, to a little bush village. The little dried mud and stick church was "full plenty" and we had to move outside. Each person brought a lantern or flashlight, and several hundred sat on the ground to hear the gospel proclaimed under the starlit and moonlit night. They held a flashlight on my face and Pastor Manawu translated my sermon into Kpella. We were God's people and witnesses to God's word. Halfway around the world from home and church, but under the same stars and the same moon, we prayed and praised God.
