A Loving Spirit is the gift of Christ to all who believe.
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle A
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Leviticus 19:1--2, 9--18 (C, E); Leviticus 19:1--2, 17--18 (RC, L)
A preeminent characteristic of God, according to the Pentateuch, is holiness. The Lord is in a class by himself; God is righteous, just, loving, and forgiving. God's people are likewise holy - the Lord's. Their behavior must reflect this reality. They must love their neighbor as themselves because all belong to the Lord. Unfortunately, this love was constricted by a narrow definition of the neighbor - a fellow Hebrew.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 3:10--11, 16--23 (C, E, L); 1 Corinthians 3:16--18 (RC)
Paul attempts to counteract the arrogant individualism of the Corinthians by reminding them that they were God's holy temple, built on the foundation of Christ. The building up of the Christian church is a communal affair and each person should do his part with care. The sacrificial love exhibited in Jesus Christ is the only eternal foundation for faith and life. We hear echoes of the holiness theme found in the first lessons. The church is holy (belongs to God), as is every member, by virtue of the fact that we are possessed by God's Spirit through Christ. The Apostle again puts down human wisdom, which prides itself in possessing knowledge. We already possess everything in Christ. ''For all things are yours ... and you are Christ's and Christ is God's'' (vv. 21, 23).
Gospel: Matthew 5:38--48 (C, RC, E, L)
In this passage and throughout the Sermon On The Mount, Jesus holds up an aggressive goodness, a righteousness that has no bounds and goes far beyond the limits of the law. The old righteousness of the law instructs that one must love the neighbor but the new righteousness of Jesus puts forward the outlandish suggestion that we must love our enemies. Love for the neighbor and for those who love us is ordinary and expected but love for those who oppose us is extraordinary, even divine. Jesus teaches that we must be perfect even as our Heavenly Father is perfect (v. 48). The word here is telios which doesn't mean without blemish, but complete or mature. To love as our Lord commands marks one who has attained the fullness of spiritual maturity and holiness.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 119:33--40 (C) - ''Turn my heart to your decrees ...'' (v. 36)
Psalm 71 (E) - ''But for me it is good to be near God ...'' (v. 28)
Psalm 62:5--12 (L) - God is my Rock, my salvation, my fortress (v. 6)
Prayer Of The Day
O God, we thank you for loving us with your whole being in Christ and for making us wholly yours through the forgiveness of sins. Make us wholly holy that we might love without limit and reach the fullness of the stature of Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Leviticus 19:1--2, 9--18
Like parent, like child. The people of Israel were commanded to be holy, just as their God was holy. Children learn by emulating their parents or those in authority over them. It is said, ''He's a chip off the old block,'' because he looks and acts like one of his parents. Sometimes children are named after parents or grandparents in hopes that the character and traits inherent in the parent or grandparent will rub off on the child. God is gracious, kind, forgiving, just, and merciful. So, if we belong to the Lord, we will manifest those same characteristics. Of course, none of us is perfect (fully mature) but as we grow through life we ought to look more and more like our heavenly father.
''You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself'' (v. 18). This command is based on the assumption that it is natural for people to love themselves. If you didn't love yourself you wouldn't care for yourself. You wouldn't eat properly, brush your hair, exercise and so forth. The opposite of loving is loathing. But loving yourself does not come through the genetic codes; it is taught or caught. In our society, where millions of children are neglected and abused, many people have never learned to love themselves. Rather, they loathe themselves. They also loathe others as they loathe themselves. Both loving and loathing tend to replicate themselves. We must provide an environment where people learn to love themselves that they might also love God and the neighbor.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 3:10--11, 16--23
Builders of the Master. In verse 10, Paul likens himself to a skilled master builder laboring to construct an edifice according to the blueprint of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. We might turn that phrase around a little to state that all Christians are called to be builders of the Master. We are commissioned to build up the church on the foundation of God's grace in Jesus Christ. A foundation of tradition, good works, or the latest psychological or sociological trend will not suffice. We turn the church into a graven image when we attempt to form it according to our will rather than the Lord's. Christ is both the foundation and the architect for his holy temple; we are merely the workmen.
''All things are yours.'' This phrase found in verse 21 could be misconstrued by those who want to employ the gospel in the service of selfishness and greed. You've heard the slogans. God wants you to be wealthy. God wants you to be successful in attaining that which you desire. However, Paul is not speaking here about worldly success (wisdom), which he regards as futile. He is merely establishing that in Christ we have the key to the cosmos and all eternity. This is open to us not because of what we have made of our lives but through what Christ has made of our lives. All things are indeed ours because we belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God (v. 23).
Gospel: Matthew 5:38--48
Love without limits. The Old Testament taught that one should love the neighbor but the Lord removes the boundaries of love. Jesus instructs his disciples to love even their enemies
(vv. 44--45). Furthermore, he asserts that it isn't enough to do what is required but that one should go beyond those boundaries. If someone takes your cloak, give him your coat as well. If a Roman soldier orders you to carry his pack one mile, go for two instead (vv. 40--41). Such actions are designed to break down the wall of hostility and stem evil's fury. To love those who love us is well within the bounds of what is normal and expected, but to love the enemy obliterates all boundaries. Such love is only possible through the power of the One who demonstrated a love for the world that is boundless. Such love is not defined by feeling but by doing.
You must be perfect (v. 48). The Lord teaches that we must be perfect, like God. Such an expectation seems light years beyond our spiritual capabilities. We have already discussed the meaning of the Greek word telios translated as perfect. It does not indicate a state of flawlessness but of maturity or completion. We know that such maturity will never be completely attained this side of eternity. So, are Jesus' teachings above the higher righteousness meant to drive us to despair concerning our spiritual condition so that we might be receptive to his grace? Certainly, ''you must be perfect'' does not mean that we must attain spiritual maturity before we are accepted by God. You have probably seen the bumper sticker: ''Christians are not perfect, just forgiven.'' How true. Yet, it is this obvious lack of perfection in the church that keeps many from accepting the gospel. We must do a balancing act. On the one hand, we must take Jesus' call to perfection seriously through the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, on the other hand, we must hold high the promise of forgiveness for all of us sinners who fall so miserably short of the mark.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Leviticus 19:1--2, 9--18
Sermon Title: Like Parent, Like Child
Sermon Angle: The Israelites are commanded to be holy as the Lord, their God, was holy (v. 2). They were to reject the values of the world and reflect the righteousness of their God. This is comparable to what the Lord says in the gospel lesson about being perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Children reflect the values of those who raise and care for them; the closer the relationship, the greater the similarity. We are children of the heavenly Father, so the closer we draw to God, the more we will be like him.
Outline:
1. God's people are called to be holy (set apart to reflect the love of God) (v. 2)
2. God's people are charged to love their neighbor by:
- reasoning out the conflicts (v. 17)
- relinquishing grudges and offenses (v. 18)
- treating others as you desire to be treated
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 3:10--11, 16--23
Sermon Title: How To Build A Church
Sermon Angle: Paul laid the foundation for the church - the grace of God in Christ, our Lord. Others have built on that foundation. Each succeeding generation of Christians have added to that spiritual edifice. This sermon should give pause to consider how the strength of the future church is dependent on the spiritual integrity of our church building. Only through the direction of holy scriptures and Holy Spirit can a person or a church become a master builder of God's holy temple.
Outline:
1. Jesus Christ is the only foundation for the church (v. 11)
2. The church is not a steeple, but a people (v. 16)
- a people set apart through baptism
- a people possessed of the Spirit
3. Those who wreck the church will be judged (v. 17)
4. Therefore, let us take care how we build up the church (v. 10)
Gospel: Matthew 5:38--48
Sermon Title: Love's Limits Lost
Sermon Angle: Both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach that God's people must love their neighbor. However, in the new covenant the boundary between neighbor and non--neighbor is abolished by Christ. Consequently, the limits of love are lost.
Outline:
Introduction: Christ removes all limits to our love.
1. Love is not limited to those who are good. ''Do you resist one who is evil'' (v. 39)
2. Love is not limited to kin. ''Love your enemies ...'' (v. 43)
3. Love is not limited to those who love us (v. 46).
Conclusion: Let us love as Christ loves us
Sermon Title: Unconditional Love
Sermon Angle: My father once told my mother, ''I can't love like you do.'' I think what he meant was that he found it difficult to love unconditionally. The kind of love that Jesus lifts up in our gospel lesson is agape love - the unconditional variety. The love of God is of this nature. This kind of love is only possible for those who are rooted and grounded in love. Only those who rest secure in God's love and exhibit a healthy self--love can begin to love unconditionally. We can only give away that which we have received.
Outline:
1. God has loved us in Christ unconditionally
2. Receive this love and grace personally
3. Share the love of God freely with friend and foe alike
Among the collected wisdom of the Jewish Rabbis is a tale of love between brothers who shared a farm. One brother was married with children and the other brother was single. They worked hard and the land yielded its fruit abundantly. The brothers shared both their toils and the rewards of their labors equally, thanking and praising God for his blessings.
One night the single brother thought to himself. It isn't right that I should share the yield equally with my brother. After all, he has several mouths to feed and I have only myself to look after. I can easily get by with less. So under the cover of darkness he would go out to the barn and remove grain from his bin and put it in his brother's.
That same night the other brother got to thinking to himself. It is not right that I should divide the grain equally with my brother. I have many children to look after me in my old age and my brother has only himself. He needs to save for the future. So, this brother went out into the barn under the cloak of darkness and removed grain from his bin and put it into his brother's.
Each night the brothers would give away quantities of their grain and yet each morning they found that their supply of grain was miraculously replenished. Even so, they never revealed the miracle to one another.
Then one night they met each other out in the farmyard and they realized what had been going on. Overcome with laughter and tears, they embraced one another.
On that spot the Temple was built.
This story may be apocryphal. Yet, it is certainly true that God's temple is built in the places where brothers and sisters embrace in laughter and tears.
On the morning of December 23 my sister called.
''Dad is not doing well. You had better get over to the house.''
My dad, Roy Anderson, was suffering the last stages of a battle with prostate cancer that had gone on for over five years. We had just brought him home from a ten--day hospital stay. He had taken a turn for the worse that day.
The day before Christmas Eve, his breathing became irregular and his lungs filled with fluid. He retreated into a semi--comatose stage. The end was rapidly approaching. The family was alerted. All day long grandchildren came to say goodbye. Some of them approached fearfully, intimidated by the specter of death. Some knelt, held Gramp's hand and prayed.
The eldest grandchild strode into the room confidently and proceeded to the other side of the bed. He laid down by his beloved grandpa, cradling his head, talking naturally to him, as if nothing was amiss. Every once in a while he kissed him on the forehead, telling him that he was the greatest, telling him that he loved him.
In seeing this, I beheld Christ. Dad's sick bed was a loving womb, from which he was being birthed into a glorious new existence with the saints in light. Grandpa was a mere shadow of his former self, unable to give. Yet he was being loved unconditionally. Grandpa paused in his passage through death's door, not wanting to leave such love behind. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, he was much better, able to sit up, take nourishment and interact with family. The extension of his life was a gift of love. On New Year's Eve his spirit was received into the realm of love divine.
Lesson 1: Leviticus 19:1--2, 9--18 (C, E); Leviticus 19:1--2, 17--18 (RC, L)
A preeminent characteristic of God, according to the Pentateuch, is holiness. The Lord is in a class by himself; God is righteous, just, loving, and forgiving. God's people are likewise holy - the Lord's. Their behavior must reflect this reality. They must love their neighbor as themselves because all belong to the Lord. Unfortunately, this love was constricted by a narrow definition of the neighbor - a fellow Hebrew.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 3:10--11, 16--23 (C, E, L); 1 Corinthians 3:16--18 (RC)
Paul attempts to counteract the arrogant individualism of the Corinthians by reminding them that they were God's holy temple, built on the foundation of Christ. The building up of the Christian church is a communal affair and each person should do his part with care. The sacrificial love exhibited in Jesus Christ is the only eternal foundation for faith and life. We hear echoes of the holiness theme found in the first lessons. The church is holy (belongs to God), as is every member, by virtue of the fact that we are possessed by God's Spirit through Christ. The Apostle again puts down human wisdom, which prides itself in possessing knowledge. We already possess everything in Christ. ''For all things are yours ... and you are Christ's and Christ is God's'' (vv. 21, 23).
Gospel: Matthew 5:38--48 (C, RC, E, L)
In this passage and throughout the Sermon On The Mount, Jesus holds up an aggressive goodness, a righteousness that has no bounds and goes far beyond the limits of the law. The old righteousness of the law instructs that one must love the neighbor but the new righteousness of Jesus puts forward the outlandish suggestion that we must love our enemies. Love for the neighbor and for those who love us is ordinary and expected but love for those who oppose us is extraordinary, even divine. Jesus teaches that we must be perfect even as our Heavenly Father is perfect (v. 48). The word here is telios which doesn't mean without blemish, but complete or mature. To love as our Lord commands marks one who has attained the fullness of spiritual maturity and holiness.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 119:33--40 (C) - ''Turn my heart to your decrees ...'' (v. 36)
Psalm 71 (E) - ''But for me it is good to be near God ...'' (v. 28)
Psalm 62:5--12 (L) - God is my Rock, my salvation, my fortress (v. 6)
Prayer Of The Day
O God, we thank you for loving us with your whole being in Christ and for making us wholly yours through the forgiveness of sins. Make us wholly holy that we might love without limit and reach the fullness of the stature of Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Leviticus 19:1--2, 9--18
Like parent, like child. The people of Israel were commanded to be holy, just as their God was holy. Children learn by emulating their parents or those in authority over them. It is said, ''He's a chip off the old block,'' because he looks and acts like one of his parents. Sometimes children are named after parents or grandparents in hopes that the character and traits inherent in the parent or grandparent will rub off on the child. God is gracious, kind, forgiving, just, and merciful. So, if we belong to the Lord, we will manifest those same characteristics. Of course, none of us is perfect (fully mature) but as we grow through life we ought to look more and more like our heavenly father.
''You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself'' (v. 18). This command is based on the assumption that it is natural for people to love themselves. If you didn't love yourself you wouldn't care for yourself. You wouldn't eat properly, brush your hair, exercise and so forth. The opposite of loving is loathing. But loving yourself does not come through the genetic codes; it is taught or caught. In our society, where millions of children are neglected and abused, many people have never learned to love themselves. Rather, they loathe themselves. They also loathe others as they loathe themselves. Both loving and loathing tend to replicate themselves. We must provide an environment where people learn to love themselves that they might also love God and the neighbor.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 3:10--11, 16--23
Builders of the Master. In verse 10, Paul likens himself to a skilled master builder laboring to construct an edifice according to the blueprint of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. We might turn that phrase around a little to state that all Christians are called to be builders of the Master. We are commissioned to build up the church on the foundation of God's grace in Jesus Christ. A foundation of tradition, good works, or the latest psychological or sociological trend will not suffice. We turn the church into a graven image when we attempt to form it according to our will rather than the Lord's. Christ is both the foundation and the architect for his holy temple; we are merely the workmen.
''All things are yours.'' This phrase found in verse 21 could be misconstrued by those who want to employ the gospel in the service of selfishness and greed. You've heard the slogans. God wants you to be wealthy. God wants you to be successful in attaining that which you desire. However, Paul is not speaking here about worldly success (wisdom), which he regards as futile. He is merely establishing that in Christ we have the key to the cosmos and all eternity. This is open to us not because of what we have made of our lives but through what Christ has made of our lives. All things are indeed ours because we belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God (v. 23).
Gospel: Matthew 5:38--48
Love without limits. The Old Testament taught that one should love the neighbor but the Lord removes the boundaries of love. Jesus instructs his disciples to love even their enemies
(vv. 44--45). Furthermore, he asserts that it isn't enough to do what is required but that one should go beyond those boundaries. If someone takes your cloak, give him your coat as well. If a Roman soldier orders you to carry his pack one mile, go for two instead (vv. 40--41). Such actions are designed to break down the wall of hostility and stem evil's fury. To love those who love us is well within the bounds of what is normal and expected, but to love the enemy obliterates all boundaries. Such love is only possible through the power of the One who demonstrated a love for the world that is boundless. Such love is not defined by feeling but by doing.
You must be perfect (v. 48). The Lord teaches that we must be perfect, like God. Such an expectation seems light years beyond our spiritual capabilities. We have already discussed the meaning of the Greek word telios translated as perfect. It does not indicate a state of flawlessness but of maturity or completion. We know that such maturity will never be completely attained this side of eternity. So, are Jesus' teachings above the higher righteousness meant to drive us to despair concerning our spiritual condition so that we might be receptive to his grace? Certainly, ''you must be perfect'' does not mean that we must attain spiritual maturity before we are accepted by God. You have probably seen the bumper sticker: ''Christians are not perfect, just forgiven.'' How true. Yet, it is this obvious lack of perfection in the church that keeps many from accepting the gospel. We must do a balancing act. On the one hand, we must take Jesus' call to perfection seriously through the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, on the other hand, we must hold high the promise of forgiveness for all of us sinners who fall so miserably short of the mark.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Leviticus 19:1--2, 9--18
Sermon Title: Like Parent, Like Child
Sermon Angle: The Israelites are commanded to be holy as the Lord, their God, was holy (v. 2). They were to reject the values of the world and reflect the righteousness of their God. This is comparable to what the Lord says in the gospel lesson about being perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Children reflect the values of those who raise and care for them; the closer the relationship, the greater the similarity. We are children of the heavenly Father, so the closer we draw to God, the more we will be like him.
Outline:
1. God's people are called to be holy (set apart to reflect the love of God) (v. 2)
2. God's people are charged to love their neighbor by:
- reasoning out the conflicts (v. 17)
- relinquishing grudges and offenses (v. 18)
- treating others as you desire to be treated
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 3:10--11, 16--23
Sermon Title: How To Build A Church
Sermon Angle: Paul laid the foundation for the church - the grace of God in Christ, our Lord. Others have built on that foundation. Each succeeding generation of Christians have added to that spiritual edifice. This sermon should give pause to consider how the strength of the future church is dependent on the spiritual integrity of our church building. Only through the direction of holy scriptures and Holy Spirit can a person or a church become a master builder of God's holy temple.
Outline:
1. Jesus Christ is the only foundation for the church (v. 11)
2. The church is not a steeple, but a people (v. 16)
- a people set apart through baptism
- a people possessed of the Spirit
3. Those who wreck the church will be judged (v. 17)
4. Therefore, let us take care how we build up the church (v. 10)
Gospel: Matthew 5:38--48
Sermon Title: Love's Limits Lost
Sermon Angle: Both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach that God's people must love their neighbor. However, in the new covenant the boundary between neighbor and non--neighbor is abolished by Christ. Consequently, the limits of love are lost.
Outline:
Introduction: Christ removes all limits to our love.
1. Love is not limited to those who are good. ''Do you resist one who is evil'' (v. 39)
2. Love is not limited to kin. ''Love your enemies ...'' (v. 43)
3. Love is not limited to those who love us (v. 46).
Conclusion: Let us love as Christ loves us
Sermon Title: Unconditional Love
Sermon Angle: My father once told my mother, ''I can't love like you do.'' I think what he meant was that he found it difficult to love unconditionally. The kind of love that Jesus lifts up in our gospel lesson is agape love - the unconditional variety. The love of God is of this nature. This kind of love is only possible for those who are rooted and grounded in love. Only those who rest secure in God's love and exhibit a healthy self--love can begin to love unconditionally. We can only give away that which we have received.
Outline:
1. God has loved us in Christ unconditionally
2. Receive this love and grace personally
3. Share the love of God freely with friend and foe alike
Among the collected wisdom of the Jewish Rabbis is a tale of love between brothers who shared a farm. One brother was married with children and the other brother was single. They worked hard and the land yielded its fruit abundantly. The brothers shared both their toils and the rewards of their labors equally, thanking and praising God for his blessings.
One night the single brother thought to himself. It isn't right that I should share the yield equally with my brother. After all, he has several mouths to feed and I have only myself to look after. I can easily get by with less. So under the cover of darkness he would go out to the barn and remove grain from his bin and put it in his brother's.
That same night the other brother got to thinking to himself. It is not right that I should divide the grain equally with my brother. I have many children to look after me in my old age and my brother has only himself. He needs to save for the future. So, this brother went out into the barn under the cloak of darkness and removed grain from his bin and put it into his brother's.
Each night the brothers would give away quantities of their grain and yet each morning they found that their supply of grain was miraculously replenished. Even so, they never revealed the miracle to one another.
Then one night they met each other out in the farmyard and they realized what had been going on. Overcome with laughter and tears, they embraced one another.
On that spot the Temple was built.
This story may be apocryphal. Yet, it is certainly true that God's temple is built in the places where brothers and sisters embrace in laughter and tears.
On the morning of December 23 my sister called.
''Dad is not doing well. You had better get over to the house.''
My dad, Roy Anderson, was suffering the last stages of a battle with prostate cancer that had gone on for over five years. We had just brought him home from a ten--day hospital stay. He had taken a turn for the worse that day.
The day before Christmas Eve, his breathing became irregular and his lungs filled with fluid. He retreated into a semi--comatose stage. The end was rapidly approaching. The family was alerted. All day long grandchildren came to say goodbye. Some of them approached fearfully, intimidated by the specter of death. Some knelt, held Gramp's hand and prayed.
The eldest grandchild strode into the room confidently and proceeded to the other side of the bed. He laid down by his beloved grandpa, cradling his head, talking naturally to him, as if nothing was amiss. Every once in a while he kissed him on the forehead, telling him that he was the greatest, telling him that he loved him.
In seeing this, I beheld Christ. Dad's sick bed was a loving womb, from which he was being birthed into a glorious new existence with the saints in light. Grandpa was a mere shadow of his former self, unable to give. Yet he was being loved unconditionally. Grandpa paused in his passage through death's door, not wanting to leave such love behind. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, he was much better, able to sit up, take nourishment and interact with family. The extension of his life was a gift of love. On New Year's Eve his spirit was received into the realm of love divine.
