The importance of accepting God's gracious invitation to the feast of life
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle A
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 32:1--14 (C)
Moses is meeting with the Lord on Mount Horeb and is away from the people for a long time. The people suspect that something perverse has happened to their leader and so they petition Aaron to make gods for them. Taking their jewelry, he fashions a gold calf and proclaims it the object of their worship. Seeing this unfaithfulness, God wants to destroy the people and make a nation from Moses. Moses pleads with God to restrain his anger, reasoning that the Egyptians would say that God took his people out in the wilderness only to destroy them. The Lord changes his mind about the intended destruction.
Lesson 2: Isaiah 25:6--10 (RC); Isaiah 25:1--9 (E); Isaiah 25:6--9 (L)
This text was selected because it picks up the banquet theme contained in the Gospel. The prophet foresees the day when Jerusalem will be a place of feasting for all peoples. God will remove the shroud that keeps all people from seeing God truly. He will dry up grief and obliterate death. God's formerly sorrowing people will rejoice in the presence of their Savior.
Lesson 2: Philippians 4:1--9 (C); Philippians 4:12--14, 19--20 (RC); Philippians 4:4--13 (E, L)
The Philippians are commanded to rejoice in the Lord. This joy was heightened by Christ's return, expected to be very soon (v. 5). Instead of worry, the believers are commended to prayer. Also, Paul urges them to focus on that which is lovely, honorable and true (v. 8). The apostle rejoices that the Philippians have sent a gift to him, to help alleviate his needs. Nevertheless, he is content in whatever state or condition because of the strength that Christ supplies.
Gospel: Matthew 22:1--14 (C, RC, E); Matthew 22:1--10 (11--14) (L)
This lection contains two parables which continue the theme contained in last Sunday's Gospel. The Jews' rejection of Jesus leads to God embracing the Gentiles. In the first parable, a king issues an invitation to a wedding banquet prepared for his son. The king notifies the guests that the banquet is now ready, but they go about their business instead, while some mistreat and even kill the king's messengers. Verse 7 tells of the king sending an army to destroy those who have spurned his invitation, but this verse was probably added by Matthew. This is indeed what happened in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. by the Romans. Then the king dispatches his servants to go to the public thoroughfares and invite all who are willing to come so that the banquet hall might be filled.
The second parable in our lection is closely related to the first. The king comes into the banquet hall and observes a man who isn't attired in a wedding garment. It might be supposed that such garments were issued to the guests. Because he was not properly prepared for the occasion,
308
he is ordered to be thrown out into the ''outer darkness,'' where he would weep and bemoan what he had lost. External appearances are not the issue here but rather the inner attitude. The man knew what was required for the occasion and yet failed to prepare himself. That attitude, which is needed in order to enter into the King's presence, is faith. Christ will accept all sorts of people into the banquet hall of heaven but all who enter must have on the garment of faith. The rejection of the Jews should not be the point emphasized, but rather, the grace of God that issues an invitation to all who will humbly and joyfully receive it through faith.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 106:1--6, 19--23 (C) - ''O give thanks to the Lord'' (v. 1).
Psalm 23 (RC, E, L) - ''You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies'' (v. 5).
Prayer Of The Day
Gracious God, we thank you for the table you have set before us, unworthy though we are. Make us ready with the garment of faith and obedience to celebrate the banquet of life, love and forgiveness. In the name of Jesus, we accept your invitation. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 32:1--4
Come make gods for us. This is what the Hebrews asked of Aaron, in the absence of Moses. So Aaron sculpted the golden calf, representative of one of the old Egyptian gods. However, he may have rationalized that he was merely making a visual symbol of Yahweh. Humans are not made to be godless. If we don't know the true God, we will make our own deities.
Moses as priest. Yes, I know that Aaron was the designated priest. However, in this text we see Moses in the role of intercessor, pleading to God to have mercy on his sinful people. Aaron, on the other hand, failed in his priestly role by giving in to the demands of his people.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 25:1--10
Party time. Isaiah foresees a time when God will hold a huge banquet for all the peoples of the earth. All the stops will be pulled out; nothing will be spared. This banquet will be a celebration of life, love and peace. The banquet is a metaphor for the joyous community which all people of faith will enjoy with one another and the Lord.
Lesson 2: Philippians 4:1--14, 19--20
God's happy people. The epistle to the Philippians radiates joy. We should read this book often as a corrective to the notion that religion should be dour. If the Lord is with us, and he is, and we have good news of grace, and we do, then we should be happy Christian campers. Christian joy is contagious. Are our friends and neighbors catching joy from us?
Antidote for anxiety. Paul offers prayer, saturated with thanksgiving, as the best antidote for anxiety (v. 6). Anxiety is produced by the feeling that we're all alone and helpless, probably ground in some early childhood trauma. Prayer is made possible by the notion that we are not alone; the Lord is near. Not only is he near but he has pledged himself to help us. When we truly comprehend this truth and share all our burdens with the Lord, anxieties go out the door and the ''peace which passes understanding'' comes in to stay (v. 7).
A can do attitude. ''I can do all things through him who strengthens me'' (v. 13). Volumes have been written about positive mental attitude. Believe you can achieve it and you will. A positive mental attitude has even been equated with faith. This is where the problem comes in. PMA can aid one in accomplishing her goals, but this is not faith. Faith is trust in God, not in a person's own abilities. Faith, not PMA, was the source of the apostle's can do attitude.
309
Gospel: Matthew 22:1--14
Not fasting but feasting. In the parable, the king invited guests to a feast, the marriage feast of his son. The wedding feast was the epitome of joy because it meant the continuance of his reign through his progeny. Jesus describes the kingdom of God as a feast which has no end. However, the religious leaders thought of the kingdom as a fast rather than a feast. They believed in sacrifice and righteousness but had no room for joy and celebration. Jesus was so fond of eating and drinking with sinners that he was called a drunk and a glutton. If we radiated more of the joy of the feast, we might win more disciples.
Why were the invited guests so indifferent to the invitation? Think of the incongruity of the situation. The indifferent and rude attitude of the invited guests boggles the imagination. The king of the land invites these people to the most auspicious banquet that can be imagined. Instead, most spurn the invitation in favor of pursuing their business. Others add injury and murder to insult. Who would rather go to work than to the most stellar social event of a lifetime? You'd have to be a fool! Either that, or they thought that the feast was bogus and the invitation a joke.
Who's getting married? I know that the king's son is getting married but to whom? If Jesus is the Son spoken of in this parable, then it is the Church which is the bride of Christ. Our faith relationship with God through Jesus is not merely a lifelong commitment but for all eternity. In this relationship, we enjoy the mystical union of God's Spirit with our own.
Those invited were not worthy (v. 8). Why weren't they worthy? Because they spurned the gracious invitation. Those others who were later invited from the highways of life were actually no more worthy. Both good and bad accepted the invitation (v. 10). The only difference between the first group and the second was the fact that the second group had the good sense to accept the invitation. God invites us to the marriage feast of life not because we are good and worthy but because we have accepted his invitation through faith in God's Son.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 32:1--14
Sermon Title: The Power Of Intercessory Prayer
Sermon Angle: When God's anger waxed heavy against the Israelites, Moses passionately interceded with the Lord, that the nation might be spared. At that very time, the cavorting Hebrews at the base of the mountain had no idea of the grave danger they were in. They were not cognizant that Moses was pleading on their behalf. Let us never underestimate the power of intercessory prayer.
When you worship at Holy Cross Church, one of the aspects that really stands out is the length of the intercessory prayers. Scores of sick and needy people are lifted up to the Lord every Sunday. These are not just members of the congregation but friends, family, neighbors and others. Probably 30 or 40 people are prayed for. Some members complain that this makes the services too long. ''Imagine,'' said the pastor, 'some folks think that we pray too much. What an indictment to make against your church.'' A visitor to the church told an evangelism caller: ''Your intercessions show that you really are a caring church, which believes in the power of prayer.''
Lesson 1: Isaiah 25:1--10
Sermon Title: A Feast For All
Sermon Angle: Isaiah envisions a feast for all peoples being held at the temple in Jerusalem. Usually, when a feast is held, there is a very specific guest list - friends, family and significant others. God invites all people to feast together in his presence. Regrettably, many will decline the invitation.
310
Lesson 2: Philippians 4:1--14, 19--20
Sermon Title: Always, Anything And Everything
Sermon Angle: Paul enjoins the Philippians: ''Rejoice always''; ''have no anxiety about anything but in everything let your requests be made known'' (vv. 4, 6). This is a great prescription for living victoriously in Christ.
Outline:
1. A Christian is to rejoice in all circumstances
2. A Christian ought not to be overcome with anxiety
3. But share everything with the Lord in prayer
Sermon Title: A Living Lesson
Sermon Angle: Paul makes a most incredible and dangerous statement. ''Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me ...'' (v. 9). He is setting up himself as a living example of what it means to be in Christ. He commends them not only to his verbal instruction but to the lesson of his life. He has complete confidence that he has incarnated the Spirit of Christ. He is saying, ''Watch me, follow me.'' Every Christian needs to be a living lesson on the Christian faith.
Gospel: Matthew 22:1--14
Sermon Title: Joy Is Not A Private Thing
Sermon Angle: The king in the parable wanted the banquet hall to be filled with guests. This was not for the purpose of showing off but for sharing the joy of this special occasion. Joy, by its very nature, must be shared. To have to keep it to oneself tends to burst the joy bubble. Thus, we begin to comprehend the king's hurt and disappointment when his guests received the invitation with disdain. So that he might have a house full of guests to share his joy, he commands his servants to go out and invite everyone they could find. It should be our highest joy as Christians to invite others to banquet with our Lord and Savior.
Outline:
1. The king wanted to share the joy of his son's wedding
2. Joy cannot be self--contained; it must be shared (examples)
3. God has shared his joy with us in Christ.
- the joy of acceptance, forgiveness, and new life
- the wedding feast which has no end
4. If we have experienced this joy, let us share it
Sermon Title: Guess Who's Coming To Dinner!
Sermon Angle: In the '60s movie by the above title, starring Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn and Sidney Poitier, the daughter invites her finance home for dinner. There's only one problem. The fiance is a black man (Poitier). Her mother is able to accept this arrangement, but both mother and daughter fear the reaction of the man of the house. The movie deals with the struggle for acceptance of the relationship by both sets of parents. Who is it that we normally invite to dine or banquet with us? Our friends, family and those who are most like us. We do not invite strangers or those who appear to be alien to us. To become one with someone of a different social, economic or racial group is unthinkable for many people. The king in this parable, who represents God, invites all manner of people to be his guests. In most churches, there is little guessing about who is coming to the Lord's supper. Imagine what would happen if we were to invite strangers!
Outline:
1. The king's family found themselves feasting with strangers
2. God's invitation is to all people, even former strangers to the covenants
3. Are we an inviting church? Are we willing to permit strangers to join our family?
311
Sermon Title: Feast Of Saints And Sinners
Sermon Angle: The king's servants filled the banquet hall with people both good and bad. Consider what this might mean. Who are the good people? Are the good people those who try to live by God's laws? Are they religious types? Or are they the people who have a genuine love for God, even though they haven't been taught the full counsel of the Lord? Jesus did commend the faith of Gentiles several times, according to the Gospels. Who are the bad folks? The lawbreakers? Those who didn't practice the Jewish religion? Those controlled by their selfish nature? Perhaps the good and the bad are one and the same. The New Testament teaches us that we are both saint and sinner at the same time. That's what the church is, sinners who have put on Christ and have been designated as saints. We see the nature of our Christian fellowship most clearly when we participate in the holy supper.
Outline:
1. The wedding hall was filled with good and bad people
2. The Church is also composed of good and bad people
- the good trust in Christ; the bad do not
- Christians are both saints and sinners
3. Let us invite other sinners to the feast of life.
Sermon Title: Dressed For Salvation
Sermon Angle: The second parable is closely related to the first. The king comes into the banquet hall and spies a man who does not have on the proper wedding attire. He is not prepared to enter into the celebration. Some interpreters wonder how this man can be faulted for not having on the festal garment, since they were brought in from the highways and byways. The king must have handed out garments to all who were invited. For whatever reason, this person didn't put it on. This showed a lack of respect for the host. The festal garment is a symbol for faith. No one can remain at the King's feast unless she or he is properly attired with the robe of righteousness (faith).
Outline:
1. Society teaches the importance of being properly dressed
2. The man who came to the wedding without the proper garment was tossed out
3. We need to be properly dressed to feast with God
- the robe of Christ's righteousness
- the garment of faith
4. The world dresses for success; we dress for salvation
A nationally syndicated column is called ''Dress For Success.'' The author of this column tries to help people be more successful in their careers through appropriate dress. For those who want to move into executive suites, he recommends conservative attire, such as grey suits and white shirts. The thesis behind this column is that clothes project a certain image and so a person wants to make sure that she projects the right image. The garment of faith, on the other hand, is not image but a reality which is more than skin deep. This garment is given to all who put their trust in God's Son. The right attire really can open doors.
Sermon Title: Tears Of Regret
Sermon Angle: The man without the wedding garment was tossed into the outer darkness, where people weep and gnash their teeth (v. 13). These are not tears of torture but tears of regret. The man is weeping for what he could have had but lost through his own error. I cannot believe in a God who inflicts pain on anyone. I do believe in a deity that makes us bear the consequences of our own actions and decisions. Weeping and gnashing of teeth is a proper image of hell because hell is eternal regret for not heeding the invitation to the feast of eternal life.
312
Lesson 1: Exodus 32:1--14 (C)
Moses is meeting with the Lord on Mount Horeb and is away from the people for a long time. The people suspect that something perverse has happened to their leader and so they petition Aaron to make gods for them. Taking their jewelry, he fashions a gold calf and proclaims it the object of their worship. Seeing this unfaithfulness, God wants to destroy the people and make a nation from Moses. Moses pleads with God to restrain his anger, reasoning that the Egyptians would say that God took his people out in the wilderness only to destroy them. The Lord changes his mind about the intended destruction.
Lesson 2: Isaiah 25:6--10 (RC); Isaiah 25:1--9 (E); Isaiah 25:6--9 (L)
This text was selected because it picks up the banquet theme contained in the Gospel. The prophet foresees the day when Jerusalem will be a place of feasting for all peoples. God will remove the shroud that keeps all people from seeing God truly. He will dry up grief and obliterate death. God's formerly sorrowing people will rejoice in the presence of their Savior.
Lesson 2: Philippians 4:1--9 (C); Philippians 4:12--14, 19--20 (RC); Philippians 4:4--13 (E, L)
The Philippians are commanded to rejoice in the Lord. This joy was heightened by Christ's return, expected to be very soon (v. 5). Instead of worry, the believers are commended to prayer. Also, Paul urges them to focus on that which is lovely, honorable and true (v. 8). The apostle rejoices that the Philippians have sent a gift to him, to help alleviate his needs. Nevertheless, he is content in whatever state or condition because of the strength that Christ supplies.
Gospel: Matthew 22:1--14 (C, RC, E); Matthew 22:1--10 (11--14) (L)
This lection contains two parables which continue the theme contained in last Sunday's Gospel. The Jews' rejection of Jesus leads to God embracing the Gentiles. In the first parable, a king issues an invitation to a wedding banquet prepared for his son. The king notifies the guests that the banquet is now ready, but they go about their business instead, while some mistreat and even kill the king's messengers. Verse 7 tells of the king sending an army to destroy those who have spurned his invitation, but this verse was probably added by Matthew. This is indeed what happened in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. by the Romans. Then the king dispatches his servants to go to the public thoroughfares and invite all who are willing to come so that the banquet hall might be filled.
The second parable in our lection is closely related to the first. The king comes into the banquet hall and observes a man who isn't attired in a wedding garment. It might be supposed that such garments were issued to the guests. Because he was not properly prepared for the occasion,
308
he is ordered to be thrown out into the ''outer darkness,'' where he would weep and bemoan what he had lost. External appearances are not the issue here but rather the inner attitude. The man knew what was required for the occasion and yet failed to prepare himself. That attitude, which is needed in order to enter into the King's presence, is faith. Christ will accept all sorts of people into the banquet hall of heaven but all who enter must have on the garment of faith. The rejection of the Jews should not be the point emphasized, but rather, the grace of God that issues an invitation to all who will humbly and joyfully receive it through faith.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 106:1--6, 19--23 (C) - ''O give thanks to the Lord'' (v. 1).
Psalm 23 (RC, E, L) - ''You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies'' (v. 5).
Prayer Of The Day
Gracious God, we thank you for the table you have set before us, unworthy though we are. Make us ready with the garment of faith and obedience to celebrate the banquet of life, love and forgiveness. In the name of Jesus, we accept your invitation. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 32:1--4
Come make gods for us. This is what the Hebrews asked of Aaron, in the absence of Moses. So Aaron sculpted the golden calf, representative of one of the old Egyptian gods. However, he may have rationalized that he was merely making a visual symbol of Yahweh. Humans are not made to be godless. If we don't know the true God, we will make our own deities.
Moses as priest. Yes, I know that Aaron was the designated priest. However, in this text we see Moses in the role of intercessor, pleading to God to have mercy on his sinful people. Aaron, on the other hand, failed in his priestly role by giving in to the demands of his people.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 25:1--10
Party time. Isaiah foresees a time when God will hold a huge banquet for all the peoples of the earth. All the stops will be pulled out; nothing will be spared. This banquet will be a celebration of life, love and peace. The banquet is a metaphor for the joyous community which all people of faith will enjoy with one another and the Lord.
Lesson 2: Philippians 4:1--14, 19--20
God's happy people. The epistle to the Philippians radiates joy. We should read this book often as a corrective to the notion that religion should be dour. If the Lord is with us, and he is, and we have good news of grace, and we do, then we should be happy Christian campers. Christian joy is contagious. Are our friends and neighbors catching joy from us?
Antidote for anxiety. Paul offers prayer, saturated with thanksgiving, as the best antidote for anxiety (v. 6). Anxiety is produced by the feeling that we're all alone and helpless, probably ground in some early childhood trauma. Prayer is made possible by the notion that we are not alone; the Lord is near. Not only is he near but he has pledged himself to help us. When we truly comprehend this truth and share all our burdens with the Lord, anxieties go out the door and the ''peace which passes understanding'' comes in to stay (v. 7).
A can do attitude. ''I can do all things through him who strengthens me'' (v. 13). Volumes have been written about positive mental attitude. Believe you can achieve it and you will. A positive mental attitude has even been equated with faith. This is where the problem comes in. PMA can aid one in accomplishing her goals, but this is not faith. Faith is trust in God, not in a person's own abilities. Faith, not PMA, was the source of the apostle's can do attitude.
309
Gospel: Matthew 22:1--14
Not fasting but feasting. In the parable, the king invited guests to a feast, the marriage feast of his son. The wedding feast was the epitome of joy because it meant the continuance of his reign through his progeny. Jesus describes the kingdom of God as a feast which has no end. However, the religious leaders thought of the kingdom as a fast rather than a feast. They believed in sacrifice and righteousness but had no room for joy and celebration. Jesus was so fond of eating and drinking with sinners that he was called a drunk and a glutton. If we radiated more of the joy of the feast, we might win more disciples.
Why were the invited guests so indifferent to the invitation? Think of the incongruity of the situation. The indifferent and rude attitude of the invited guests boggles the imagination. The king of the land invites these people to the most auspicious banquet that can be imagined. Instead, most spurn the invitation in favor of pursuing their business. Others add injury and murder to insult. Who would rather go to work than to the most stellar social event of a lifetime? You'd have to be a fool! Either that, or they thought that the feast was bogus and the invitation a joke.
Who's getting married? I know that the king's son is getting married but to whom? If Jesus is the Son spoken of in this parable, then it is the Church which is the bride of Christ. Our faith relationship with God through Jesus is not merely a lifelong commitment but for all eternity. In this relationship, we enjoy the mystical union of God's Spirit with our own.
Those invited were not worthy (v. 8). Why weren't they worthy? Because they spurned the gracious invitation. Those others who were later invited from the highways of life were actually no more worthy. Both good and bad accepted the invitation (v. 10). The only difference between the first group and the second was the fact that the second group had the good sense to accept the invitation. God invites us to the marriage feast of life not because we are good and worthy but because we have accepted his invitation through faith in God's Son.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 32:1--14
Sermon Title: The Power Of Intercessory Prayer
Sermon Angle: When God's anger waxed heavy against the Israelites, Moses passionately interceded with the Lord, that the nation might be spared. At that very time, the cavorting Hebrews at the base of the mountain had no idea of the grave danger they were in. They were not cognizant that Moses was pleading on their behalf. Let us never underestimate the power of intercessory prayer.
When you worship at Holy Cross Church, one of the aspects that really stands out is the length of the intercessory prayers. Scores of sick and needy people are lifted up to the Lord every Sunday. These are not just members of the congregation but friends, family, neighbors and others. Probably 30 or 40 people are prayed for. Some members complain that this makes the services too long. ''Imagine,'' said the pastor, 'some folks think that we pray too much. What an indictment to make against your church.'' A visitor to the church told an evangelism caller: ''Your intercessions show that you really are a caring church, which believes in the power of prayer.''
Lesson 1: Isaiah 25:1--10
Sermon Title: A Feast For All
Sermon Angle: Isaiah envisions a feast for all peoples being held at the temple in Jerusalem. Usually, when a feast is held, there is a very specific guest list - friends, family and significant others. God invites all people to feast together in his presence. Regrettably, many will decline the invitation.
310
Lesson 2: Philippians 4:1--14, 19--20
Sermon Title: Always, Anything And Everything
Sermon Angle: Paul enjoins the Philippians: ''Rejoice always''; ''have no anxiety about anything but in everything let your requests be made known'' (vv. 4, 6). This is a great prescription for living victoriously in Christ.
Outline:
1. A Christian is to rejoice in all circumstances
2. A Christian ought not to be overcome with anxiety
3. But share everything with the Lord in prayer
Sermon Title: A Living Lesson
Sermon Angle: Paul makes a most incredible and dangerous statement. ''Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me ...'' (v. 9). He is setting up himself as a living example of what it means to be in Christ. He commends them not only to his verbal instruction but to the lesson of his life. He has complete confidence that he has incarnated the Spirit of Christ. He is saying, ''Watch me, follow me.'' Every Christian needs to be a living lesson on the Christian faith.
Gospel: Matthew 22:1--14
Sermon Title: Joy Is Not A Private Thing
Sermon Angle: The king in the parable wanted the banquet hall to be filled with guests. This was not for the purpose of showing off but for sharing the joy of this special occasion. Joy, by its very nature, must be shared. To have to keep it to oneself tends to burst the joy bubble. Thus, we begin to comprehend the king's hurt and disappointment when his guests received the invitation with disdain. So that he might have a house full of guests to share his joy, he commands his servants to go out and invite everyone they could find. It should be our highest joy as Christians to invite others to banquet with our Lord and Savior.
Outline:
1. The king wanted to share the joy of his son's wedding
2. Joy cannot be self--contained; it must be shared (examples)
3. God has shared his joy with us in Christ.
- the joy of acceptance, forgiveness, and new life
- the wedding feast which has no end
4. If we have experienced this joy, let us share it
Sermon Title: Guess Who's Coming To Dinner!
Sermon Angle: In the '60s movie by the above title, starring Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn and Sidney Poitier, the daughter invites her finance home for dinner. There's only one problem. The fiance is a black man (Poitier). Her mother is able to accept this arrangement, but both mother and daughter fear the reaction of the man of the house. The movie deals with the struggle for acceptance of the relationship by both sets of parents. Who is it that we normally invite to dine or banquet with us? Our friends, family and those who are most like us. We do not invite strangers or those who appear to be alien to us. To become one with someone of a different social, economic or racial group is unthinkable for many people. The king in this parable, who represents God, invites all manner of people to be his guests. In most churches, there is little guessing about who is coming to the Lord's supper. Imagine what would happen if we were to invite strangers!
Outline:
1. The king's family found themselves feasting with strangers
2. God's invitation is to all people, even former strangers to the covenants
3. Are we an inviting church? Are we willing to permit strangers to join our family?
311
Sermon Title: Feast Of Saints And Sinners
Sermon Angle: The king's servants filled the banquet hall with people both good and bad. Consider what this might mean. Who are the good people? Are the good people those who try to live by God's laws? Are they religious types? Or are they the people who have a genuine love for God, even though they haven't been taught the full counsel of the Lord? Jesus did commend the faith of Gentiles several times, according to the Gospels. Who are the bad folks? The lawbreakers? Those who didn't practice the Jewish religion? Those controlled by their selfish nature? Perhaps the good and the bad are one and the same. The New Testament teaches us that we are both saint and sinner at the same time. That's what the church is, sinners who have put on Christ and have been designated as saints. We see the nature of our Christian fellowship most clearly when we participate in the holy supper.
Outline:
1. The wedding hall was filled with good and bad people
2. The Church is also composed of good and bad people
- the good trust in Christ; the bad do not
- Christians are both saints and sinners
3. Let us invite other sinners to the feast of life.
Sermon Title: Dressed For Salvation
Sermon Angle: The second parable is closely related to the first. The king comes into the banquet hall and spies a man who does not have on the proper wedding attire. He is not prepared to enter into the celebration. Some interpreters wonder how this man can be faulted for not having on the festal garment, since they were brought in from the highways and byways. The king must have handed out garments to all who were invited. For whatever reason, this person didn't put it on. This showed a lack of respect for the host. The festal garment is a symbol for faith. No one can remain at the King's feast unless she or he is properly attired with the robe of righteousness (faith).
Outline:
1. Society teaches the importance of being properly dressed
2. The man who came to the wedding without the proper garment was tossed out
3. We need to be properly dressed to feast with God
- the robe of Christ's righteousness
- the garment of faith
4. The world dresses for success; we dress for salvation
A nationally syndicated column is called ''Dress For Success.'' The author of this column tries to help people be more successful in their careers through appropriate dress. For those who want to move into executive suites, he recommends conservative attire, such as grey suits and white shirts. The thesis behind this column is that clothes project a certain image and so a person wants to make sure that she projects the right image. The garment of faith, on the other hand, is not image but a reality which is more than skin deep. This garment is given to all who put their trust in God's Son. The right attire really can open doors.
Sermon Title: Tears Of Regret
Sermon Angle: The man without the wedding garment was tossed into the outer darkness, where people weep and gnash their teeth (v. 13). These are not tears of torture but tears of regret. The man is weeping for what he could have had but lost through his own error. I cannot believe in a God who inflicts pain on anyone. I do believe in a deity that makes us bear the consequences of our own actions and decisions. Weeping and gnashing of teeth is a proper image of hell because hell is eternal regret for not heeding the invitation to the feast of eternal life.
312
