Proper 10
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Cycle A, THIRD EDITION
THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Genesis 25:19--34 (C)
Rebecca gave birth to twins, Esau and Jacob. Because of Isaac's prayers for his barren wife, Rebecca made up for lost time in having twins who fought each other before birth. Esau's great mistake was trading his first--son birthright for one of Jacob's meals.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 55:10--11 (RC); Isaiah 55:1--5, 10--13 (E)
God's Word shall accomplish his purpose.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--11 (C); Romans 8:18--23 (RC)
Both creation and creatures groan for redemption.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:9--17 (E)
Christians are people who have the Spirit of Christ and thereby know they are God's children. In chapter 8 Paul speaks of life in the Spirit. The divine principle of the Christian faith is the Spirit. Before Christ we lived in the "flesh," a life of evil passions. After Christ we live in and by the Spirit. One cannot be a Christian without the Spirit (v. 9). The Spirit is indispensable for being and living as a Christian. The Spirit leads to a life of righteousness and causes us to have resurrection from the dead as well as giving us assurance that we are God's children.
Gospel: Matthew 13:1--9, 18--23 (C, E); Matthew 13:1--23 (RC)
The parable of the sower and Jesus' explanation of it. Chapter 13 consists of several parables dealing with the mysteries of the kingdom. Today's pericope gives the parable of the sower (vv. 1--9) and an allegorical explanation probably by the early church (vv. 18--23). The parable is an answer to the question why there are different responses to the preaching of the Word. The emphasis is not on the threefold response by the good soil. The problem is not with the seed nor the sower. It is a problem of the soils and their response to the seed. It concerns the people's part in preaching and the art of listening.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 119:105--112 (C) - "Your word is a lamp to my feet" (v. 105).
Psalm 65 (RC, E) - "The meadows clothe themselves with flocks" (v. 13b).
Prayer Of The Day
"Almighty God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your word. By your Holy Spirit help us to receive it with joy, live according to it, and grow in faith and hope and love."
Hymn Of The Day
"Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast"
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Matthew 13:1--9, 18--23
1. Crowds (v. 2). Jesus was a popular preacher. Crowds came to hear him. In this case so many came that Jesus was pushed into the sea and had to preach from a boat. His method of preaching made him popular; he used homiletical materials - parables. He put the truth of God in stories and images that people enjoy. No doubt, most of the people said as they left the scene, "I enjoyed it!" How many of the crowd were going to do anything about the sermon? This is the frustrating experience of a preacher. Many listen, they seem to enjoy the message, but do nothing about it. This is one reason for the phrase, "the foolishness of preaching." In the parable, only one of the four kinds of soil produces any results; one fourth of the congregation takes to heart what is preached.
2. Soil (vv. 5--8). For an effective sermon it takes sower, seed, and soil. Apparently no fault can be found with the sower (Jesus), nor with the seed (Word). The problem is with the soil, the hearer. Only the good soil brings a harvest. That may be the situation, but what can be done about the three kinds of soil that do not produce? The parable has nothing to say about this problem. It is simply stating a fact of reality. The preacher needs to be concerned about making good listeners out of his congregation.
3. All (v. 9). "He who has ears...." Who does not have ears? The truth is proclaimed to all people regardless of condition of life. It reminds us that God desires all to be saved, all to have the good things of God's grace. Christianity is a universal religion, a faith for every person. The responsibility to accept the Word is the hearer's. If one rejects it, it is his own fault. It is not God's will for any person to be ignorant of the truth or to be lost in his relationship with God.
Lesson 1: Genesis 25:19--34 (C)
1. Prayed (v. 21). For twenty years Isaac waited to be a father. He prayed that Rebecca would conceive. His prayer was doubly answered: twins! Here is a case of intercessory prayer. We sin against others by not praying for them. It is significant, also, that the prayer was for his spouse. How many in a family pray for each other?
2. Struggled (v. 22). The unborn boys struggled with each other in Rebecca's womb. It was a forecast of later struggles. They struggled to get their parents' favor. There was tension over a birthright, and later there was a controversy over Isaac's blessing. True to form, Jacob later struggled with an angel. When in the womb, Jacob had hold of Esau's heel, and consequently was named Jacob, meaning heel--catcher.
3. Despised (v. 34). Esau despised his birthright as the firstborn son. Coming in from a hard day's work in the field and so hungry that he could "eat a horse," Esau traded his birthright for Jacob's bowl of stew. What price meal! And we are still at it. A politician may sell his vote for material advantage. Developers may rape the earth to make a buck. Girls may sell their bodies for a dose of cocaine. Judas sold his Master for thirty pieces of silver. To live like a beast is to despise one's birthright as a child of God.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 55:10--11 (RC); Isaiah 55:1--5, 10--13 (E)
1. Power (v. 11). The Word of God has within it an inherent, latent power. Jesus compared the Word to seed. A seed has within it the power of life, to break out of its shell and to grow into a plant. The Word, like a seed, has power to accomplish the purpose for which it was created and sent. It is a lively Word, a living Word. Herein is the secret of powerful preaching. Whenever the Word is proclaimed, the Word, finding fertile soil, will produce remarkable results by transforming lives and creating faith. The secret of great preaching is not in the preacher, not in his personality, wisdom, or techniques. For this reason, biblical preaching is the most effective kind of preaching.
2. Victory (v. 11). God's Word has a built--in victory. This is because God is in his Word. The Word also is the hearer of the Holy Spirit who is power. Nothing can stop God's Word from accomplishing its purpose, because God is omnipotent. For this reason tyrants and dictators fear the Bible and ban its publication. Let the Word be read or proclaimed and evil is in danger of destruction. This fact provides hope, confidence, and assurance to God's people. Truth will win out! Love will win! Life is stronger than death!
Lesson 2: Romans 8:18--23 (RC)
1. Creation (vv. 19--22). Creation as well as man (male and female) needs redemption. Until that time creation is in travail yearning to be delivered from decay. Man and creation are inseparable; both need redemption. Creation's redemption, however, depends upon man's prior redemption. In the beginning God placed creation under the dominance of man who, since the fall, has abused, misused, and polluted nature. Sinful man has not been a good steward of creation. Only when man is redeemed will he care for creation. Until that time creation is waiting for man's redemption.
2. Total (v. 23). Paul says we are waiting for adoption as sons of God, "the redemption of our bodies." Have we not been adopted as sons by faith in Christ? Are we not justified by grace? Surely we have, but Paul probably is referring here to our total redemption, soul and body. It is now a matter of sanctification, the redemption of our bodies. Salvation is a process. We begin it by justification, and then we groan in travail to bring the entire person under the Lordship of Christ.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:9--17 (E)
1. Die ... live (v. 13). We can have both death and life in us. Though dead, we can live and though living we can be dead. There is one type of life - existence, the physical, natural, earthly life. It is the life of the flesh which results in sin and death. There is possibly another life. It is the one with God lived in faith. This life is the product of the Spirit received at baptism. Through baptism a person is born again in the Spirit, adopted as a child of God and now lives in the Spirit of righteousness. The new person knows he is related to God, because the Spirit witnesses to our spirits that we are God's offspring.
2. Spirit (v. 9). In this short Lesson, Paul mentions the Spirit eight times. He is writing about the Christian's life in the Spirit. The Spirit is a mystery to many. The Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity. Paul speaks interchangeably of the Spirit and of Christ. To have the Spirit is to have Christ. According to Paul, the Spirit is indispensable for a Christian. One cannot be a Christian without the Spirit. At baptism one becomes a Christian and at this time the Spirit is given. The Spirit causes us to have a resurrection into new life. They who live by the Spirit are children of God and the Spirit gives us the assurance that we do belong to God.
3. Debtors (v. 12). Paul says we are not debtors to live according to the flesh. We are not obligated to sin. Then Paul breaks his line of thought and never says to what or whom we are debtors. However, we can say that we are debtors only to God for what he has done for us in Christ's life. We are therefore obligated to thank God, to serve God, and to let Christ live in us.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Gospel: Matthew 13:1--9, 18--23
1. For All Who Have Ears. 13:9
Need: "He who has ears" is a way of saying "everyone." The seed of God's Word is sown into the soul of every person. This is no secretive nor esoteric knowledge for the privileged few. It is not a problem of God's not speaking to everyone, but it is our willingness to hear God speak to us. Again, Jesus teaches that God's truth of grace is for all. God wishes all to be reconciled to him.
Outline: Our text says -
a. The Word is for all - "He who has ears to hear."
b. The Word is for all who hear - "Let him hear."
1. Understand the Word.
2. Accept the Word.
3. Obey the Word.
2. Crowds But Not Christians. 13:1--8
Need: Crowds come to hear Jesus, but not all become believers. They may have enjoyed his message. They probably went away impressed with his wisdom and authority, but they did not follow him. To deal with this problem, Jesus tells the parable of the sower. Only one--fourth of the people produced results.
Outline: What kind of hearer are you?
a. Fly--by--night hearer - v. 4.
b. Fair weather hearer - vv. 5--6.
c. Too busy hearer - v. 7.
d. Productive hearer - v. 8.
3. Components Of Communication. 13:3--8
Need: It takes more than one to preach. Preaching is communication which requires certain elements for it to take place. The three are in the text, but only the hearer's part is developed. It would be helpful to the congregation if it knew the elements of communication in order for the people to see their indispensable part in the proclamation of the Word.
Outline: What it takes to preach.
a. The preacher - "sower" - v. 3 - the input.
b. The content - "seed" - v. 4 - the message.
c. The hearer - "soul" - v. 8 - the response.
Lesson 1: Genesis 25:19--34 (C)
As Different As Day And Night
Need: Jacob and Esau were so different one would not think they had the same parents, let alone were twins. Usually twins are "identical," so alike they cannot be told apart. Yet, before they were born they struggled with each other. This points to the fact that each of us is a special and separate creation with our own distinctive qualities and destiny. We need to realize that each of us is a unique creation, different from all others. This should make us tolerate and understand those with whom we differ.
Outline: Consider the different twins -
a. Destiny - the twins struggled with each other - v. 22.
b. Parents - Rebecca favored Jacob; Isaac favored Esau - v. 28.
c. Occupation - Esau the hunter; Jacob the cook - v. 27.
d. Values - Esau's material vs. Jacob's spiritual values - vv. 29--34.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 55:10--11 (RC); Isaiah 55:1--5, 10--13 (E)
The Word Is The Deed. 55:11
Need: It is important for us to know all about the Word, for the Word is God. This Word is God's self--disclosure. Through the Word God speaks and acts for the salvation of the world.
Outline: All about the Word -
a. Proclaimed - "so shall my word be that goes forth."
b. Power - "it shall accomplish."
c. Purpose - "that which I purpose."
d. Prosper - "and prosper in the thing...."
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--11 (C)
If You Are In Christ.
Need: There are two basic ways to live, according to Paul in this passage. One way is to live by the flesh, that is, by the old Adam in us. This way leads to God's condemnation and death. The other way is to live in Christ, that is, in the Spirit of God. This way results in peace with God and a life of goodness. This sermon is needed by people now living according to the flesh, the sinful way of life, so that they may be helped to forsake the sinful life for a life in Christ.
Outline: If you are in Christ -
a. You avoid God's condemnation - v. 1.
b. You are free from the law of sin and death - v. 2.
c. You have life and peace - v. 6.
d. You will be raised from the dead - v. 11.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:18--23 (RC)
1. Creator, Creation, And Creature. 8:18--23
Need: In this passage we have the cosmic dimension of redemption. The creature and creation are both in need of redemption. Until that is accomplished, both wait and groan for redemption. This sermon is relevant to today's concern for the environment. It is an opportunity to give a theological perspective to the problem and to our relation to creation.
Outline: In this passage we see -
a. The Creator of creation and creature.
b. The creature and creation in need of redemption - vv. 19, 20.
1. Creature's fall into sin.
2. Creation's bondage to decay.
c. The Creator's redemption of creation and creature - vv. 21, 23.
1. Creation's liberation from decay.
2. Creature's adoption as sons of God.
2. Temporary Loss For Permanent Gain. 8:18--23
Need: We live in an interim period. Now we have suffering, later permanent glory. Now we are children of God but not fully. In this transitional period on earth, we wait, groan, and long for the end of the pilgrimage. What we endure today is a temporary loss for a permanent gain of glory as children of God. This, according to the text, is the case for both people and nature. Now the whole creation is in travail but in the end there is birth as God's offspring.
Outline: In this period of temporary loss -
a. We wait for redemption - vv. 19, 23.
b. We groan because of suffering - vv. 22, 23.
c. We long for permanent gain - v. 19.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:9--17 (E)
1. If Alive, You'll Know It! 8:12--17
Need: Are you sure you are a Christian? Are you positive your sins are forgiven? Do you think you will go to heaven? Many are in need of assurance that they belong to God, are children of God, and are destined for heaven. Should it be necessary to have a confirmation of our salvation? If we are alive, we should know it. It is not a matter of "Pinch me to see if I am alive."
Outline: You know you are alive because -
a. You died to self and rose to Christ in baptism.
b. You live in the Spirit.
c. Your Spirit witnesses to God's Spirit that you are alive.
2. No Spirit, No Christian! 8:9--17
Need: The Spirit is as indispensable to being a Christian as water is to a fish and as air is to a bird. A person without Spirit is dead, for the Spirit gives life. Without the Spirit one can be physically alive but spiritually dead. The big question Paul asks is, "Does the Spirit of God really dwell in you?" (v. 9). Have you been born of the Spirit? In this pericope Paul tells us what the Spirit does for us. If we have the Spirit, we will have these blessings.
Outline: If we have the Spirit -
a. The Spirit indicates we belong to Christ - v. 9.
b. The Spirit resurrects us to new life - vv. 11--13.
c. The Spirit witnesses that we are children of God - v. 16.
Lesson 1: Genesis 25:19--34 (C)
Rebecca gave birth to twins, Esau and Jacob. Because of Isaac's prayers for his barren wife, Rebecca made up for lost time in having twins who fought each other before birth. Esau's great mistake was trading his first--son birthright for one of Jacob's meals.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 55:10--11 (RC); Isaiah 55:1--5, 10--13 (E)
God's Word shall accomplish his purpose.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--11 (C); Romans 8:18--23 (RC)
Both creation and creatures groan for redemption.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:9--17 (E)
Christians are people who have the Spirit of Christ and thereby know they are God's children. In chapter 8 Paul speaks of life in the Spirit. The divine principle of the Christian faith is the Spirit. Before Christ we lived in the "flesh," a life of evil passions. After Christ we live in and by the Spirit. One cannot be a Christian without the Spirit (v. 9). The Spirit is indispensable for being and living as a Christian. The Spirit leads to a life of righteousness and causes us to have resurrection from the dead as well as giving us assurance that we are God's children.
Gospel: Matthew 13:1--9, 18--23 (C, E); Matthew 13:1--23 (RC)
The parable of the sower and Jesus' explanation of it. Chapter 13 consists of several parables dealing with the mysteries of the kingdom. Today's pericope gives the parable of the sower (vv. 1--9) and an allegorical explanation probably by the early church (vv. 18--23). The parable is an answer to the question why there are different responses to the preaching of the Word. The emphasis is not on the threefold response by the good soil. The problem is not with the seed nor the sower. It is a problem of the soils and their response to the seed. It concerns the people's part in preaching and the art of listening.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 119:105--112 (C) - "Your word is a lamp to my feet" (v. 105).
Psalm 65 (RC, E) - "The meadows clothe themselves with flocks" (v. 13b).
Prayer Of The Day
"Almighty God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your word. By your Holy Spirit help us to receive it with joy, live according to it, and grow in faith and hope and love."
Hymn Of The Day
"Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast"
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Matthew 13:1--9, 18--23
1. Crowds (v. 2). Jesus was a popular preacher. Crowds came to hear him. In this case so many came that Jesus was pushed into the sea and had to preach from a boat. His method of preaching made him popular; he used homiletical materials - parables. He put the truth of God in stories and images that people enjoy. No doubt, most of the people said as they left the scene, "I enjoyed it!" How many of the crowd were going to do anything about the sermon? This is the frustrating experience of a preacher. Many listen, they seem to enjoy the message, but do nothing about it. This is one reason for the phrase, "the foolishness of preaching." In the parable, only one of the four kinds of soil produces any results; one fourth of the congregation takes to heart what is preached.
2. Soil (vv. 5--8). For an effective sermon it takes sower, seed, and soil. Apparently no fault can be found with the sower (Jesus), nor with the seed (Word). The problem is with the soil, the hearer. Only the good soil brings a harvest. That may be the situation, but what can be done about the three kinds of soil that do not produce? The parable has nothing to say about this problem. It is simply stating a fact of reality. The preacher needs to be concerned about making good listeners out of his congregation.
3. All (v. 9). "He who has ears...." Who does not have ears? The truth is proclaimed to all people regardless of condition of life. It reminds us that God desires all to be saved, all to have the good things of God's grace. Christianity is a universal religion, a faith for every person. The responsibility to accept the Word is the hearer's. If one rejects it, it is his own fault. It is not God's will for any person to be ignorant of the truth or to be lost in his relationship with God.
Lesson 1: Genesis 25:19--34 (C)
1. Prayed (v. 21). For twenty years Isaac waited to be a father. He prayed that Rebecca would conceive. His prayer was doubly answered: twins! Here is a case of intercessory prayer. We sin against others by not praying for them. It is significant, also, that the prayer was for his spouse. How many in a family pray for each other?
2. Struggled (v. 22). The unborn boys struggled with each other in Rebecca's womb. It was a forecast of later struggles. They struggled to get their parents' favor. There was tension over a birthright, and later there was a controversy over Isaac's blessing. True to form, Jacob later struggled with an angel. When in the womb, Jacob had hold of Esau's heel, and consequently was named Jacob, meaning heel--catcher.
3. Despised (v. 34). Esau despised his birthright as the firstborn son. Coming in from a hard day's work in the field and so hungry that he could "eat a horse," Esau traded his birthright for Jacob's bowl of stew. What price meal! And we are still at it. A politician may sell his vote for material advantage. Developers may rape the earth to make a buck. Girls may sell their bodies for a dose of cocaine. Judas sold his Master for thirty pieces of silver. To live like a beast is to despise one's birthright as a child of God.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 55:10--11 (RC); Isaiah 55:1--5, 10--13 (E)
1. Power (v. 11). The Word of God has within it an inherent, latent power. Jesus compared the Word to seed. A seed has within it the power of life, to break out of its shell and to grow into a plant. The Word, like a seed, has power to accomplish the purpose for which it was created and sent. It is a lively Word, a living Word. Herein is the secret of powerful preaching. Whenever the Word is proclaimed, the Word, finding fertile soil, will produce remarkable results by transforming lives and creating faith. The secret of great preaching is not in the preacher, not in his personality, wisdom, or techniques. For this reason, biblical preaching is the most effective kind of preaching.
2. Victory (v. 11). God's Word has a built--in victory. This is because God is in his Word. The Word also is the hearer of the Holy Spirit who is power. Nothing can stop God's Word from accomplishing its purpose, because God is omnipotent. For this reason tyrants and dictators fear the Bible and ban its publication. Let the Word be read or proclaimed and evil is in danger of destruction. This fact provides hope, confidence, and assurance to God's people. Truth will win out! Love will win! Life is stronger than death!
Lesson 2: Romans 8:18--23 (RC)
1. Creation (vv. 19--22). Creation as well as man (male and female) needs redemption. Until that time creation is in travail yearning to be delivered from decay. Man and creation are inseparable; both need redemption. Creation's redemption, however, depends upon man's prior redemption. In the beginning God placed creation under the dominance of man who, since the fall, has abused, misused, and polluted nature. Sinful man has not been a good steward of creation. Only when man is redeemed will he care for creation. Until that time creation is waiting for man's redemption.
2. Total (v. 23). Paul says we are waiting for adoption as sons of God, "the redemption of our bodies." Have we not been adopted as sons by faith in Christ? Are we not justified by grace? Surely we have, but Paul probably is referring here to our total redemption, soul and body. It is now a matter of sanctification, the redemption of our bodies. Salvation is a process. We begin it by justification, and then we groan in travail to bring the entire person under the Lordship of Christ.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:9--17 (E)
1. Die ... live (v. 13). We can have both death and life in us. Though dead, we can live and though living we can be dead. There is one type of life - existence, the physical, natural, earthly life. It is the life of the flesh which results in sin and death. There is possibly another life. It is the one with God lived in faith. This life is the product of the Spirit received at baptism. Through baptism a person is born again in the Spirit, adopted as a child of God and now lives in the Spirit of righteousness. The new person knows he is related to God, because the Spirit witnesses to our spirits that we are God's offspring.
2. Spirit (v. 9). In this short Lesson, Paul mentions the Spirit eight times. He is writing about the Christian's life in the Spirit. The Spirit is a mystery to many. The Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity. Paul speaks interchangeably of the Spirit and of Christ. To have the Spirit is to have Christ. According to Paul, the Spirit is indispensable for a Christian. One cannot be a Christian without the Spirit. At baptism one becomes a Christian and at this time the Spirit is given. The Spirit causes us to have a resurrection into new life. They who live by the Spirit are children of God and the Spirit gives us the assurance that we do belong to God.
3. Debtors (v. 12). Paul says we are not debtors to live according to the flesh. We are not obligated to sin. Then Paul breaks his line of thought and never says to what or whom we are debtors. However, we can say that we are debtors only to God for what he has done for us in Christ's life. We are therefore obligated to thank God, to serve God, and to let Christ live in us.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Gospel: Matthew 13:1--9, 18--23
1. For All Who Have Ears. 13:9
Need: "He who has ears" is a way of saying "everyone." The seed of God's Word is sown into the soul of every person. This is no secretive nor esoteric knowledge for the privileged few. It is not a problem of God's not speaking to everyone, but it is our willingness to hear God speak to us. Again, Jesus teaches that God's truth of grace is for all. God wishes all to be reconciled to him.
Outline: Our text says -
a. The Word is for all - "He who has ears to hear."
b. The Word is for all who hear - "Let him hear."
1. Understand the Word.
2. Accept the Word.
3. Obey the Word.
2. Crowds But Not Christians. 13:1--8
Need: Crowds come to hear Jesus, but not all become believers. They may have enjoyed his message. They probably went away impressed with his wisdom and authority, but they did not follow him. To deal with this problem, Jesus tells the parable of the sower. Only one--fourth of the people produced results.
Outline: What kind of hearer are you?
a. Fly--by--night hearer - v. 4.
b. Fair weather hearer - vv. 5--6.
c. Too busy hearer - v. 7.
d. Productive hearer - v. 8.
3. Components Of Communication. 13:3--8
Need: It takes more than one to preach. Preaching is communication which requires certain elements for it to take place. The three are in the text, but only the hearer's part is developed. It would be helpful to the congregation if it knew the elements of communication in order for the people to see their indispensable part in the proclamation of the Word.
Outline: What it takes to preach.
a. The preacher - "sower" - v. 3 - the input.
b. The content - "seed" - v. 4 - the message.
c. The hearer - "soul" - v. 8 - the response.
Lesson 1: Genesis 25:19--34 (C)
As Different As Day And Night
Need: Jacob and Esau were so different one would not think they had the same parents, let alone were twins. Usually twins are "identical," so alike they cannot be told apart. Yet, before they were born they struggled with each other. This points to the fact that each of us is a special and separate creation with our own distinctive qualities and destiny. We need to realize that each of us is a unique creation, different from all others. This should make us tolerate and understand those with whom we differ.
Outline: Consider the different twins -
a. Destiny - the twins struggled with each other - v. 22.
b. Parents - Rebecca favored Jacob; Isaac favored Esau - v. 28.
c. Occupation - Esau the hunter; Jacob the cook - v. 27.
d. Values - Esau's material vs. Jacob's spiritual values - vv. 29--34.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 55:10--11 (RC); Isaiah 55:1--5, 10--13 (E)
The Word Is The Deed. 55:11
Need: It is important for us to know all about the Word, for the Word is God. This Word is God's self--disclosure. Through the Word God speaks and acts for the salvation of the world.
Outline: All about the Word -
a. Proclaimed - "so shall my word be that goes forth."
b. Power - "it shall accomplish."
c. Purpose - "that which I purpose."
d. Prosper - "and prosper in the thing...."
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--11 (C)
If You Are In Christ.
Need: There are two basic ways to live, according to Paul in this passage. One way is to live by the flesh, that is, by the old Adam in us. This way leads to God's condemnation and death. The other way is to live in Christ, that is, in the Spirit of God. This way results in peace with God and a life of goodness. This sermon is needed by people now living according to the flesh, the sinful way of life, so that they may be helped to forsake the sinful life for a life in Christ.
Outline: If you are in Christ -
a. You avoid God's condemnation - v. 1.
b. You are free from the law of sin and death - v. 2.
c. You have life and peace - v. 6.
d. You will be raised from the dead - v. 11.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:18--23 (RC)
1. Creator, Creation, And Creature. 8:18--23
Need: In this passage we have the cosmic dimension of redemption. The creature and creation are both in need of redemption. Until that is accomplished, both wait and groan for redemption. This sermon is relevant to today's concern for the environment. It is an opportunity to give a theological perspective to the problem and to our relation to creation.
Outline: In this passage we see -
a. The Creator of creation and creature.
b. The creature and creation in need of redemption - vv. 19, 20.
1. Creature's fall into sin.
2. Creation's bondage to decay.
c. The Creator's redemption of creation and creature - vv. 21, 23.
1. Creation's liberation from decay.
2. Creature's adoption as sons of God.
2. Temporary Loss For Permanent Gain. 8:18--23
Need: We live in an interim period. Now we have suffering, later permanent glory. Now we are children of God but not fully. In this transitional period on earth, we wait, groan, and long for the end of the pilgrimage. What we endure today is a temporary loss for a permanent gain of glory as children of God. This, according to the text, is the case for both people and nature. Now the whole creation is in travail but in the end there is birth as God's offspring.
Outline: In this period of temporary loss -
a. We wait for redemption - vv. 19, 23.
b. We groan because of suffering - vv. 22, 23.
c. We long for permanent gain - v. 19.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:9--17 (E)
1. If Alive, You'll Know It! 8:12--17
Need: Are you sure you are a Christian? Are you positive your sins are forgiven? Do you think you will go to heaven? Many are in need of assurance that they belong to God, are children of God, and are destined for heaven. Should it be necessary to have a confirmation of our salvation? If we are alive, we should know it. It is not a matter of "Pinch me to see if I am alive."
Outline: You know you are alive because -
a. You died to self and rose to Christ in baptism.
b. You live in the Spirit.
c. Your Spirit witnesses to God's Spirit that you are alive.
2. No Spirit, No Christian! 8:9--17
Need: The Spirit is as indispensable to being a Christian as water is to a fish and as air is to a bird. A person without Spirit is dead, for the Spirit gives life. Without the Spirit one can be physically alive but spiritually dead. The big question Paul asks is, "Does the Spirit of God really dwell in you?" (v. 9). Have you been born of the Spirit? In this pericope Paul tells us what the Spirit does for us. If we have the Spirit, we will have these blessings.
Outline: If we have the Spirit -
a. The Spirit indicates we belong to Christ - v. 9.
b. The Spirit resurrects us to new life - vv. 11--13.
c. The Spirit witnesses that we are children of God - v. 16.
