God calls his own and chooses those who are to live as his dear friends
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle B
Theme For The Day: God calls his own and chooses those who are to live as his dear friends, regardless of our human categories and distinctions.
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 10:44--48 (C); Acts 10:25--26, 34--35, 44--48 (RC)
The pericope for the Revised Common Lectionary features the outcome of Peter's encounter with Cornelius, the Roman Centurion. As Peter was explaining the gospel, the Holy Spirit came down on all the believers, including, for the first time, Gentiles. Since God had favored the Gentiles with the Holy Spirit, Peter's party could not refuse them water baptism in the name of Jesus. This marks the beginning of the universalizing of the church, transforming it from a sectarian to a truly catholic religion. The Roman Catholic lectionary also includes the greeting of Peter and Cornelius (vv. 24--25) and the beginning of Peter's sermon (vv. 34--35), so as to tie the story together.
Lesson 1: Acts 11:19--30 (E)
Lesson 2: 1 John 5:1--6 (C)
Everyone who trusts in Jesus as the Christ is born of God, loves God, keeps his commandments and conquers the world through faith.
Lesson 2: 1 John 4:7--10 (RC); 1 John 4:7--21 (E)
(See Easter 5)
Gospel: John 15:9--17 (C, RC, E)
This continues the vine and branches discourse from last week's Gospel. Knowing that the end of his earthly life was approaching, Jesus instructs his disciples to abide in his love, to show forth the same kind of love as that shared between the Father and the Son. Our love is shown by keeping Christ's commandments; those who do so are not merely servants but friends. We are friends because Christ has revealed his heart to us through Christ (v. 15). Our salvation comes as a gift of God; it is not a simply a matter of our own choice (v. 16). Christ chose us to bear fruit that does not spoil.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 98 (C) - "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth" (v. 4).
Psalm 33 (E)
Psalm 97 (RC)
Prayer Of The Day
Merciful Lord and Savior, your beloved disciple has told us that we may regard you not only as our God but our friend. You have opened that relationship in the complete giving of yourself. Help us not to betray your love but share it with others. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 10:44--48
Confirmation. While Peter was preaching, the Holy Spirit descended on all the congregation, both Jew and Gentile. The Holy Spirit accompanied and confirmed the word which Peter spoke. When the Word is truly proclaimed, the Spirit always is powerfully present. This remains true whether the Word comes as a sermon or in the form of a sacrament.
God broke loose. The Jewish believers were amazed that the Spirit had been bestowed on the Gentiles (v. 45). They thought they would keep God confined within their Jewish heritage. Well, God fooled them. He broke loose! God shows no partiality; he is Lord of all who fear him (vv. 34--35). God will never remain confined in our narrow concepts of ethnicity, sexuality or theology. Just when you think you have him cornered, he breaks loose.
Baptism of water and the Spirit. Traditional Roman Catholic and mainline Protestant theology identifies baptism as the main entrance for the Holy Spirit into our lives. This account shows us that the Spirit comes powerfully present wherever the Word is proclaimed. The Spirit can and does work in the lives of the unbaptized. On the other side of the coin, many times one can discern very little sense of the Spirit's presence in the lives of those who are baptized, because they have cut themselves off from the Word. The Spirit remains free to go where he wills. My intent is not to disparage baptism (God forbid!) but to keep us open to the Spirit's visitation.
Lesson 2: 1 John 5:1--6
Who does God claim as his child? Sometimes we refer to all humans as children of God. This is true in a biological sense; God made us all. However, biology does not define the child of God, rather spirituality. John stipulates that only those who are born of God spiritually, who believe that Jesus is the Son of God (v. 1), are truly his children.
If you love the parent, love the child (v. 1). John maintains that if you love God (the Parent of us all), you must love his children (those who are born anew in Christ). You can't love God without loving every other Christian. I also believe that God calls us to love every human, Christian or not, but that goes beyond the scope of this passage. However, if all Christians really loved one another, everybody would want to become a Christian.
In this sign conquer (vv. 4--5). Constantine, before his decisive battle that made him supreme emperor of the Roman Empire, reportably saw a cross in the sky and heard the words: "In this sign conquer." I don't know how accurate this story might be but I do know that millions have conquered sin and death in the name of the crucified and risen Savior. Faith in the Christ of the cross is the sign, according to John, by which we can and will conquer the world.
Gospel: John 15:9--17
What kind of love (v. 9). Jesus claims that his love for us is the same kind of love that the Father showered on him. Yet what kind of love was it? The Father's love didn't keep Jesus from suffering, from feeling abandoned and from dying a shameful death on the cross. The love of God does not shelter us from pain, sorrow or death. Rather God shows his love by sustaining us with his presence to the bitter end, when he raises us up to newness of life.
Just do it! (v. 12). Jesus said, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Wow! What an order! How can we love others with the kind of sacrificial love with which Jesus loved the world? He was the "Man for others." We're still basically living for ourselves. Jesus is telling us through John's gospel to "just do it!" Don't wait around for a warm fuzzy feeling, don't tarry till your neighbor shapes up. Just do it! Love is not an emotion. Rather love is that which we do after we say yes to God. One might reason, I can't do it! I can't love that person or that group of people; I'm too weak! However, we find that when we attempt to "just do it" God gives us the strength to keep on doing it.
Friends of the king (v. 15). In the courts of the Roman emperors and the eastern kings there was a category of very special people called "the friends of the king." They came into the king's bed chamber at the beginning of the day and were generally favored with unhampered access to the royal presence. The king would share the affairs of state with them even before he did so with his governing officials. Jesus offers all who are his disciples that title of "friends of the king." What a privilege! No more viewing God through a telescope; for the friends of the king it's strictly up close and personal.
Chosen (v. 16). This word "chosen" speaks of God's greatness and God's grace. First of all, God's greatness and sovereignty. Jesus said, "You did not choose me but I chose you." God rules and chooses who does what; he bars or grants access with the whisk of his scepter. God initiates and we respond one way or another. The word "chosen" also speaks to God's grace. He has chosen what is lowly, weak and sinful, namely us, to be his own. We do not deserve or earn God's favor, initially shown in baptism, we merely say yes or no. We obey his commands or go our own way. Yet how sweet it is to be chosen, to be loved and valued highly by the Lord of all!
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Acts 10:44--48
Sermon Title: The Sacrament Of The Word
Sermon Angle: Protestants have been accused of making preaching a sacrament. Preaching the word of the Lord does not meet the usual criteria for a sacrament because there is no outward physical element or sign (water, bread, wine) which is connected with it. However, words are sort of sacramental in that they convey the sacred to us; words are carriers of the Spirit. The text says that "the Spirit fell on all those who heard the word" (v. 44).
Sermon Title: Jailbreak!
Sermon Angle: The Spirit of God keeps breaking loose from our man--made prisons. We try to imprison the Spirit in our limited understandings, our thoughts and our traditions. The Jewish people tried to confine God to their experience and so they weren't open to the Word Made Flesh. The disciples of Jesus attempted to confine Jesus to their perception of what a Messiah should be. In this lection the Jews that accompanied Peter were "amazed" that the Spirit was bestowed "even on the Gentiles" (v. 45). They thought that their race had a lock on the gospel. The Spirit of God will never be confined by the bars we attempt to place about it.
Outline:
1. The Scriptures tell the story of God's jailbreak. We attempt to imprison God's Spirit in our limited perceptions, ideas or rituals.
2. The command against graven images was to prevent man from limiting God to one form.
3. God broke out of the Jewish understanding of being exclusively chosen as God's people. At first the gospel was preached only to Jews.
4. In our text the Spirit had broken loose of the notion that Gentiles could not be baptized or receive the Spirit (v. 45).
5. Let God break you loose from concepts that limit or hinder God's Spirit.
Lesson 2: 1 John 5:1--6
Sermon Title: How To Come Out On Top
Sermon Angle: Americans are into winning. We pay our star athletes fabulous amounts of money. We reward our top CEO's with six or seven figure salaries, plus a host of other perks. We try beating out the other guy at the office for the promotion. Unfortunately, we even play power games in our marriage and family life. Our lection tell us how to conquer the world. How do you come out on top? Have faith in the One who conquered sin and death (v. 5). This does not mean that we conquer as the world defines the term. No, we conquer by being born of God (v. 4) and obeying his commands (v. 3).
Outline:
1. Everybody loves a winner.
2. Define the difference in the concept of winning between the world and our faith.
3. You are a winner if you
- Are born of God.
- Have faith in Christ.
- Obey God and love others.
Sermon Title: Christ's Commands Are No Burden
Sermon Angle: John reports that Christ's commands are not burdensome (v. 3). These thoughts echo the words of Jesus in Matthew, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). It's never burdensome to do something from your heart, to do an act of kindness for those you love. Legalism makes God's commands a burden because they are performed out of guilt or fear. When we are born of God, divine love fills our hearts, causing us to want to do what we ought to do.
Outline:
1. Have you ever experienced life as a burden? (Give examples.)
2. Many people find religion as a burden - they are motivated by legalism and guilt.
3. Christ's commands are not burdensome for those who live in love (v. 3).
- They naturally spring from a reborn heart.
- They are motivated by grace and love (fruits of the Spirit).
4. Let the Spirit lift your burdens and make you a blessing.
Gospel: John 15:9--17
Sermon Title: The Gift Goes On
Sermon Angle: Jesus says: "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you." The Father gifted the Son with his perfect love and the Son has gifted the world with his self--giving love. Those who are born of the Spirit pass this gift along to others and the gift goes on and on and on.
Outline:
1. Christ gifted us with the love he received from his Father (v. 9).
2. We learn to love from being loved.
3. The love we receive is a gift.
4. The gift cannot be hoarded - pass it on.
Sermon Title: A Friend For All Seasons
Sermon Angle: Alan Alda's movie The Four Seasons is a photo album of friendship through the seasons of life. Three couples are very close but then one of the marriages splits up, which severely changes the dynamic of friendship. The man marries a younger woman who is resented by the others. In the end a crisis reconciles them. During the crisis one of the friends makes a comment to the effect: "I know one thing. I need friends." We all need friends. Yet I fear that most of us are enjoying fewer friendships. Our mobility, our style of life, our mistrust of others hinders close friendship ties. As Christians, no matter what happens to us in life, we all have at least one friend. Jesus makes the unbelievable statement: "I do not call you servants any longer...but I have called you friends" (v. 15). Friends share what's on their heart. Jesus has opened his heart to us. "I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father" (v. 15).
Outline:
1. Talk about loneliness and the need for friends.
2. Suggest that we make friends by being a friend.
3. What is a friend?
- Someone who shares what's on his heart.
- Someone who loves us unconditionally.
4. Assert that Jesus is our friend because has given his life for us (v. 13).
5. Trust him with your life.
__________
Elie Wiesel reflected on his childhood in an article in Parade Magazine (August 27, 1995). He recalled the friends who were swallowed by the Nazi monster, which led him to philosophize on friendship. The Talmud puts it tersely: "friendship or death." Without friends, life is sterile and meaningless. In a person's life friendship rates ever higher than love. Love may lead a person to kill, but friendship never. Cain killed his brother Abel because he was only his brother and not also his friend. We remember David as a great king not because of his conquests but because of his great friendship with Jonathan.
After the Wiesel family had been herded into a ghetto, their Christian housekeeper, Maria, a dear friend of the family, managed to get in so she might implore them to follow her to safety in her country cabin. They hadn't yet comprehended the gruesomeness of their fate and so they refused her gracious offer. The bonds of community kept them together with their neighbors. Elie reflects that if only more Christians had acted like Maria, there would have been fewer crowded trains straining to the death camps. If only priests and pastors had raised their voices; if only the Vatican had spoken out, the enemy's hands would not have been so free. Alas, their only concern was for themselves. Oh, how we have all failed the Christ who laid down his life for his friends!
__________
Sermon Title: You Are Chosen
Sermon Angle: When I was a kid playing sandlot baseball, we would pick two captains who would then take turns choosing players for their respective teams. You always prayed that you would not be one of the last ones picked. We all want to be chosen and valued. Early in my ministry I met a man who was smarting from never having been chosen for the church council. Our baptism into Christ tells us that we are chosen. Jesus asserts: "You did not choose me but I chose you" (v. 16).
Outline:
1. Recall a memory of when you were chosen for something great or a nightmare of when you were not chosen.
2. Christ tells us that we have been chosen. (Relate to baptism.)
3. We have been chosen not for privilege but for mission. (Bear fruit.)
Sermon Title: How To Stay Standing Through Christ's Love
Sermon Angle: The world tries to knock us for a loop, but if we abide in Christ's love (v. 10) we will be able to stand tall for time and eternity. Christ wants our lives to produce fruit that lasts (endures, stands) (v. 17). We can only stay standing in relationship to the community of grace and love.
Outline:
1. Everything dies that is not born in love. (Example: communism.)
2. We too will die, but what we have formed through Christ's love will remain.
3. When we are in danger of falling, Christ, through the community of love (the church) keeps us standing up (we are the branches, Christ the vine).
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 10:44--48 (C); Acts 10:25--26, 34--35, 44--48 (RC)
The pericope for the Revised Common Lectionary features the outcome of Peter's encounter with Cornelius, the Roman Centurion. As Peter was explaining the gospel, the Holy Spirit came down on all the believers, including, for the first time, Gentiles. Since God had favored the Gentiles with the Holy Spirit, Peter's party could not refuse them water baptism in the name of Jesus. This marks the beginning of the universalizing of the church, transforming it from a sectarian to a truly catholic religion. The Roman Catholic lectionary also includes the greeting of Peter and Cornelius (vv. 24--25) and the beginning of Peter's sermon (vv. 34--35), so as to tie the story together.
Lesson 1: Acts 11:19--30 (E)
Lesson 2: 1 John 5:1--6 (C)
Everyone who trusts in Jesus as the Christ is born of God, loves God, keeps his commandments and conquers the world through faith.
Lesson 2: 1 John 4:7--10 (RC); 1 John 4:7--21 (E)
(See Easter 5)
Gospel: John 15:9--17 (C, RC, E)
This continues the vine and branches discourse from last week's Gospel. Knowing that the end of his earthly life was approaching, Jesus instructs his disciples to abide in his love, to show forth the same kind of love as that shared between the Father and the Son. Our love is shown by keeping Christ's commandments; those who do so are not merely servants but friends. We are friends because Christ has revealed his heart to us through Christ (v. 15). Our salvation comes as a gift of God; it is not a simply a matter of our own choice (v. 16). Christ chose us to bear fruit that does not spoil.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 98 (C) - "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth" (v. 4).
Psalm 33 (E)
Psalm 97 (RC)
Prayer Of The Day
Merciful Lord and Savior, your beloved disciple has told us that we may regard you not only as our God but our friend. You have opened that relationship in the complete giving of yourself. Help us not to betray your love but share it with others. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 10:44--48
Confirmation. While Peter was preaching, the Holy Spirit descended on all the congregation, both Jew and Gentile. The Holy Spirit accompanied and confirmed the word which Peter spoke. When the Word is truly proclaimed, the Spirit always is powerfully present. This remains true whether the Word comes as a sermon or in the form of a sacrament.
God broke loose. The Jewish believers were amazed that the Spirit had been bestowed on the Gentiles (v. 45). They thought they would keep God confined within their Jewish heritage. Well, God fooled them. He broke loose! God shows no partiality; he is Lord of all who fear him (vv. 34--35). God will never remain confined in our narrow concepts of ethnicity, sexuality or theology. Just when you think you have him cornered, he breaks loose.
Baptism of water and the Spirit. Traditional Roman Catholic and mainline Protestant theology identifies baptism as the main entrance for the Holy Spirit into our lives. This account shows us that the Spirit comes powerfully present wherever the Word is proclaimed. The Spirit can and does work in the lives of the unbaptized. On the other side of the coin, many times one can discern very little sense of the Spirit's presence in the lives of those who are baptized, because they have cut themselves off from the Word. The Spirit remains free to go where he wills. My intent is not to disparage baptism (God forbid!) but to keep us open to the Spirit's visitation.
Lesson 2: 1 John 5:1--6
Who does God claim as his child? Sometimes we refer to all humans as children of God. This is true in a biological sense; God made us all. However, biology does not define the child of God, rather spirituality. John stipulates that only those who are born of God spiritually, who believe that Jesus is the Son of God (v. 1), are truly his children.
If you love the parent, love the child (v. 1). John maintains that if you love God (the Parent of us all), you must love his children (those who are born anew in Christ). You can't love God without loving every other Christian. I also believe that God calls us to love every human, Christian or not, but that goes beyond the scope of this passage. However, if all Christians really loved one another, everybody would want to become a Christian.
In this sign conquer (vv. 4--5). Constantine, before his decisive battle that made him supreme emperor of the Roman Empire, reportably saw a cross in the sky and heard the words: "In this sign conquer." I don't know how accurate this story might be but I do know that millions have conquered sin and death in the name of the crucified and risen Savior. Faith in the Christ of the cross is the sign, according to John, by which we can and will conquer the world.
Gospel: John 15:9--17
What kind of love (v. 9). Jesus claims that his love for us is the same kind of love that the Father showered on him. Yet what kind of love was it? The Father's love didn't keep Jesus from suffering, from feeling abandoned and from dying a shameful death on the cross. The love of God does not shelter us from pain, sorrow or death. Rather God shows his love by sustaining us with his presence to the bitter end, when he raises us up to newness of life.
Just do it! (v. 12). Jesus said, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Wow! What an order! How can we love others with the kind of sacrificial love with which Jesus loved the world? He was the "Man for others." We're still basically living for ourselves. Jesus is telling us through John's gospel to "just do it!" Don't wait around for a warm fuzzy feeling, don't tarry till your neighbor shapes up. Just do it! Love is not an emotion. Rather love is that which we do after we say yes to God. One might reason, I can't do it! I can't love that person or that group of people; I'm too weak! However, we find that when we attempt to "just do it" God gives us the strength to keep on doing it.
Friends of the king (v. 15). In the courts of the Roman emperors and the eastern kings there was a category of very special people called "the friends of the king." They came into the king's bed chamber at the beginning of the day and were generally favored with unhampered access to the royal presence. The king would share the affairs of state with them even before he did so with his governing officials. Jesus offers all who are his disciples that title of "friends of the king." What a privilege! No more viewing God through a telescope; for the friends of the king it's strictly up close and personal.
Chosen (v. 16). This word "chosen" speaks of God's greatness and God's grace. First of all, God's greatness and sovereignty. Jesus said, "You did not choose me but I chose you." God rules and chooses who does what; he bars or grants access with the whisk of his scepter. God initiates and we respond one way or another. The word "chosen" also speaks to God's grace. He has chosen what is lowly, weak and sinful, namely us, to be his own. We do not deserve or earn God's favor, initially shown in baptism, we merely say yes or no. We obey his commands or go our own way. Yet how sweet it is to be chosen, to be loved and valued highly by the Lord of all!
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Acts 10:44--48
Sermon Title: The Sacrament Of The Word
Sermon Angle: Protestants have been accused of making preaching a sacrament. Preaching the word of the Lord does not meet the usual criteria for a sacrament because there is no outward physical element or sign (water, bread, wine) which is connected with it. However, words are sort of sacramental in that they convey the sacred to us; words are carriers of the Spirit. The text says that "the Spirit fell on all those who heard the word" (v. 44).
Sermon Title: Jailbreak!
Sermon Angle: The Spirit of God keeps breaking loose from our man--made prisons. We try to imprison the Spirit in our limited understandings, our thoughts and our traditions. The Jewish people tried to confine God to their experience and so they weren't open to the Word Made Flesh. The disciples of Jesus attempted to confine Jesus to their perception of what a Messiah should be. In this lection the Jews that accompanied Peter were "amazed" that the Spirit was bestowed "even on the Gentiles" (v. 45). They thought that their race had a lock on the gospel. The Spirit of God will never be confined by the bars we attempt to place about it.
Outline:
1. The Scriptures tell the story of God's jailbreak. We attempt to imprison God's Spirit in our limited perceptions, ideas or rituals.
2. The command against graven images was to prevent man from limiting God to one form.
3. God broke out of the Jewish understanding of being exclusively chosen as God's people. At first the gospel was preached only to Jews.
4. In our text the Spirit had broken loose of the notion that Gentiles could not be baptized or receive the Spirit (v. 45).
5. Let God break you loose from concepts that limit or hinder God's Spirit.
Lesson 2: 1 John 5:1--6
Sermon Title: How To Come Out On Top
Sermon Angle: Americans are into winning. We pay our star athletes fabulous amounts of money. We reward our top CEO's with six or seven figure salaries, plus a host of other perks. We try beating out the other guy at the office for the promotion. Unfortunately, we even play power games in our marriage and family life. Our lection tell us how to conquer the world. How do you come out on top? Have faith in the One who conquered sin and death (v. 5). This does not mean that we conquer as the world defines the term. No, we conquer by being born of God (v. 4) and obeying his commands (v. 3).
Outline:
1. Everybody loves a winner.
2. Define the difference in the concept of winning between the world and our faith.
3. You are a winner if you
- Are born of God.
- Have faith in Christ.
- Obey God and love others.
Sermon Title: Christ's Commands Are No Burden
Sermon Angle: John reports that Christ's commands are not burdensome (v. 3). These thoughts echo the words of Jesus in Matthew, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). It's never burdensome to do something from your heart, to do an act of kindness for those you love. Legalism makes God's commands a burden because they are performed out of guilt or fear. When we are born of God, divine love fills our hearts, causing us to want to do what we ought to do.
Outline:
1. Have you ever experienced life as a burden? (Give examples.)
2. Many people find religion as a burden - they are motivated by legalism and guilt.
3. Christ's commands are not burdensome for those who live in love (v. 3).
- They naturally spring from a reborn heart.
- They are motivated by grace and love (fruits of the Spirit).
4. Let the Spirit lift your burdens and make you a blessing.
Gospel: John 15:9--17
Sermon Title: The Gift Goes On
Sermon Angle: Jesus says: "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you." The Father gifted the Son with his perfect love and the Son has gifted the world with his self--giving love. Those who are born of the Spirit pass this gift along to others and the gift goes on and on and on.
Outline:
1. Christ gifted us with the love he received from his Father (v. 9).
2. We learn to love from being loved.
3. The love we receive is a gift.
4. The gift cannot be hoarded - pass it on.
Sermon Title: A Friend For All Seasons
Sermon Angle: Alan Alda's movie The Four Seasons is a photo album of friendship through the seasons of life. Three couples are very close but then one of the marriages splits up, which severely changes the dynamic of friendship. The man marries a younger woman who is resented by the others. In the end a crisis reconciles them. During the crisis one of the friends makes a comment to the effect: "I know one thing. I need friends." We all need friends. Yet I fear that most of us are enjoying fewer friendships. Our mobility, our style of life, our mistrust of others hinders close friendship ties. As Christians, no matter what happens to us in life, we all have at least one friend. Jesus makes the unbelievable statement: "I do not call you servants any longer...but I have called you friends" (v. 15). Friends share what's on their heart. Jesus has opened his heart to us. "I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father" (v. 15).
Outline:
1. Talk about loneliness and the need for friends.
2. Suggest that we make friends by being a friend.
3. What is a friend?
- Someone who shares what's on his heart.
- Someone who loves us unconditionally.
4. Assert that Jesus is our friend because has given his life for us (v. 13).
5. Trust him with your life.
__________
Elie Wiesel reflected on his childhood in an article in Parade Magazine (August 27, 1995). He recalled the friends who were swallowed by the Nazi monster, which led him to philosophize on friendship. The Talmud puts it tersely: "friendship or death." Without friends, life is sterile and meaningless. In a person's life friendship rates ever higher than love. Love may lead a person to kill, but friendship never. Cain killed his brother Abel because he was only his brother and not also his friend. We remember David as a great king not because of his conquests but because of his great friendship with Jonathan.
After the Wiesel family had been herded into a ghetto, their Christian housekeeper, Maria, a dear friend of the family, managed to get in so she might implore them to follow her to safety in her country cabin. They hadn't yet comprehended the gruesomeness of their fate and so they refused her gracious offer. The bonds of community kept them together with their neighbors. Elie reflects that if only more Christians had acted like Maria, there would have been fewer crowded trains straining to the death camps. If only priests and pastors had raised their voices; if only the Vatican had spoken out, the enemy's hands would not have been so free. Alas, their only concern was for themselves. Oh, how we have all failed the Christ who laid down his life for his friends!
__________
Sermon Title: You Are Chosen
Sermon Angle: When I was a kid playing sandlot baseball, we would pick two captains who would then take turns choosing players for their respective teams. You always prayed that you would not be one of the last ones picked. We all want to be chosen and valued. Early in my ministry I met a man who was smarting from never having been chosen for the church council. Our baptism into Christ tells us that we are chosen. Jesus asserts: "You did not choose me but I chose you" (v. 16).
Outline:
1. Recall a memory of when you were chosen for something great or a nightmare of when you were not chosen.
2. Christ tells us that we have been chosen. (Relate to baptism.)
3. We have been chosen not for privilege but for mission. (Bear fruit.)
Sermon Title: How To Stay Standing Through Christ's Love
Sermon Angle: The world tries to knock us for a loop, but if we abide in Christ's love (v. 10) we will be able to stand tall for time and eternity. Christ wants our lives to produce fruit that lasts (endures, stands) (v. 17). We can only stay standing in relationship to the community of grace and love.
Outline:
1. Everything dies that is not born in love. (Example: communism.)
2. We too will die, but what we have formed through Christ's love will remain.
3. When we are in danger of falling, Christ, through the community of love (the church) keeps us standing up (we are the branches, Christ the vine).
