Proper 12, Pentecost 10, Ordinary Time 17
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle B
Seasonal Theme
We learn of the Christian faith and how we are to follow Jesus as his disciples.
Theme For The Day
Our inner-self can be renewed with the presence of Christ, which will produce a life based on God's love.
Old Testament Lesson
2 Samuel 11:1-15
David And Bathsheba
In the spring after the rains when the armies often resumed their battles, David sent his military out to attack Rabbah, the capital of Ammon. For some reason David did not go with them. One night he spotted Bathsheba taking a bath and he decided he must have her. It could be that Bathsheba was bathing at the conclusion of her period of "purifying" herself. Some commentaries written by men place some blame on this woman who in the proximity of the palace would put on such a display. I will not go that chauvinistic route.
After intercourse with David, Bathsheba discovered she was pregnant. David tried two different schemes to make her husband believe he was the father: he brought Uriah back from the front to report to David, hoping he would then go home and sleep with his wife. That not working, he tried to get him drunk so he would sleep with her and that didn't happen. So he arranged to have him killed by placing him in the front of the battle and then abandoning him.
So we have this turning point in David's reign which began with his temptation when he saw a beautiful woman taking a bath one hot night and yielded to his desire and power. Then the worst part of all, he tried to cover up his adultery. It's a downhill slide starting with getting a peek at a naked woman and progressing to the murder of her husband. Sounds like one of our television "soaps."
New Testament Reading
Ephesians 3:14-21
Prayer For Readers
Verses 2-13 have interrupted the prayer of Paul begun in verse 1. Verse 16's "inner being" is the same word as Romans 7:22. We could think of it as our inner real self, which can become an entirely new personhood when yielded to God's Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:16). Then this idea is expanded by saying that the "made new" happens as Christ is accepted and the new life is "rooted and grounded in love" (v. 17). This is the fullness of God and is the widest, longest, etc. knowledge of God.
In verses 20-21 we have a magnificent doxology, which brings to a close this doctrinal portion of Paul's letter. "In the church and in Christ Jesus ..." continues Paul's emphasis that the church is the body of Christ. It's quite a prayer for all us who read and hear it.
The Gospel
John 6:1-21
The Feeding Of The 5,000
This very familiar story is also told in Matthew 14, Mark 6, and Luke 9. Here are a few background facts that may enrich your preaching on this event. William Barclay helps us here.
A. Because of the Feast of Passover, there would be many people on the roads on their way to Jerusalem.
B. Philip was from Bethsaida (John 1:44) and he would know about the area.
C. A denarius was about a day's wages.
D. The boy had his picnic lunch along.
E. The fishes were no larger than sardines.
F. At a Jewish feast the participants always left something for the servants. It was called the Peah.
G. Each of the disciples would have along their basket (koplunos).
There are several ways to interpret this miracle:
A. Jesus literally multiplied loaves and fishes.
B. It was a sacramental meal.
C. It was a miracle of convincing by example everyone to share what they had along with them. (I like this one.)
Now a different miracle (vv. 16-21) when Jesus walked on water. The Greek here is crucial: epi tes thalasses, which is precisely the same as John 21:1, where it is translated "at the sea." He was walking on the seashore. So here is a story John the fisherman would love to tell: the appearance of Jesus and his strong voice of reassurance as they reach the Galilean side. The wonder of the event is that when we are in trouble Jesus sees and comes to help and brings us to safe haven. It's a grand fisherman's story told by an old fisherman and faithful disciple.
Preaching Possibilities
Each of the three readings is so compelling and rich in content it is very difficult to decide what to do for today's sermon.
The Old Testament has all the elements of temptations and sex to hold our hearers' attention.
The New Testament Reading is rich in theological content and has so much to teach us.
The two Gospel stories are so compelling and are ones our hearers delight in hearing retold.
One might try using all three but I believe it would lack focus and would be trying to cover far too much. It could look like this:
A. The sin of David's adultery is still tempting and as disastrous as it was then (2 Samuel).
B. The need for a new inner-self is still very much present in our lives (Ephesians).
C. Miracles of sharing can still take place in our day.
D. God still comes to us when we are in need of his help (Gospel of John).
Another approach in using all three readings would be to use the personalities in the stories. It could be titled: Their Story Is Ours Also.
A. David and Bathsheba's temptation is ours also.
B. Paul's prayer is our prayer also.
C. Andrew's and Philip's response may be our response also.
D. The disciples' boat is our boat also.
For a treatment of the two Gospel miracles, see my The Miracles Of Jesus And Their Flip Side, CSS Publishing, Lima, Ohio, 2000.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Title: Our Inner-Self
Text: Ephesians 3:14-21
A. Introduction: Tell of the background of the words, "inner being," which Paul uses in this prayer for us.
B. Tell a story to illustrate your own "inner being" in contrast to your outer being. You looked brave but were scared to death or you smiled a happy face but were crying inside.
C. Now move to what Paul prays for our inner being and how we can be changed:
1. We might be strengthened so as to resist the sexual temptations all around us. Use King David and Bathsheba as an example.
2. We can have Christ in our inner being. That means compassion for others like the hungry in the Gospel today.
3. This will result in our being grounded in God's love. Use Paul's portion of the prayer following in verse 19 and/or Jesus' love for his disciples in trouble in the boat so his coming to them.
D. Move to what this prayer for us ought to issue into in our congregation and our ministry in the community.
1. We ought to pray for and love each other.
2. We ought to share our resources and feed the hungry.
3. We ought to take specific program steps for renewal of our "inner selves" in our congregation.
4. We ought to locate those in danger or any need and come to them with help.
E. Conclude with Paul's benediction in verses 20-21.
Prayer For The Day
O God of the inner-self, as well as the outer more observable self, renew and change us with the power of your Spirit that we might also be grounded in your love right down to the core of our being. Teach us how best to resist temptation all around us, give us the spirit of sharing, and come to our aid in the scary times of our lives just as you expect us to do on your behalf for others. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
According to Ken Burns' special, Jazz, on public television, it was a Jewish family in New Orleans who took an eleven-year-old black youngster, the son of a prostitute, out of the notorious Storyville portion of the city and had him ride their coal wagon and blow a tin horn to announce coal for sale to the thieves and prostitutes who populated the neighborhood. And so their compassion for the young lad developed into the greatest jazz musician the world has ever known -- Louis Armstrong.
A bridegroom was arrested after allegedly shooting his new wife in the stomach soon after their front porch wedding, authorities said. Luarette Kenny, 38, and Raymond Brunson, 50, apparently got into a fight as the reception wound down. She pitched a plate of macaroni salad at him and then got shot with a .22-caliber handgun, police said. Friends said things seemed to be going fine and they weren't sure what happened (Oakland Tribune, April 18, 1992). Life goes sour even with the highest motives.
We came upon the scene of an accident at Big O Tire Store in Pittsburg, California. We could see the corner of the building marked from the vehicle's missing the curve, skid marks on the street, antifreeze stain from a ruptured radiator, pieces of chrome and glass on the street. Sunglasses and a blood-stained cap, shrubs broken down, and the inside of a headlight were there. An accident had happened. How often we see the signs of the accidents of people's lives. Can we who are Christ's find a way to prevent them and give comfort to those to whom they happen?
What a story on NBC Nightly News! It was about Russian and American troops in prisoner of war camps. Americans would receive Red Cross packages and share them with Russians at risk of death. The Russians would not tell the guard when a prisoner died but would hold up the body in line so as to get their food allowance.
We are without risk and the saints' bodies are held up that we might feast on their food.
We learn of the Christian faith and how we are to follow Jesus as his disciples.
Theme For The Day
Our inner-self can be renewed with the presence of Christ, which will produce a life based on God's love.
Old Testament Lesson
2 Samuel 11:1-15
David And Bathsheba
In the spring after the rains when the armies often resumed their battles, David sent his military out to attack Rabbah, the capital of Ammon. For some reason David did not go with them. One night he spotted Bathsheba taking a bath and he decided he must have her. It could be that Bathsheba was bathing at the conclusion of her period of "purifying" herself. Some commentaries written by men place some blame on this woman who in the proximity of the palace would put on such a display. I will not go that chauvinistic route.
After intercourse with David, Bathsheba discovered she was pregnant. David tried two different schemes to make her husband believe he was the father: he brought Uriah back from the front to report to David, hoping he would then go home and sleep with his wife. That not working, he tried to get him drunk so he would sleep with her and that didn't happen. So he arranged to have him killed by placing him in the front of the battle and then abandoning him.
So we have this turning point in David's reign which began with his temptation when he saw a beautiful woman taking a bath one hot night and yielded to his desire and power. Then the worst part of all, he tried to cover up his adultery. It's a downhill slide starting with getting a peek at a naked woman and progressing to the murder of her husband. Sounds like one of our television "soaps."
New Testament Reading
Ephesians 3:14-21
Prayer For Readers
Verses 2-13 have interrupted the prayer of Paul begun in verse 1. Verse 16's "inner being" is the same word as Romans 7:22. We could think of it as our inner real self, which can become an entirely new personhood when yielded to God's Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:16). Then this idea is expanded by saying that the "made new" happens as Christ is accepted and the new life is "rooted and grounded in love" (v. 17). This is the fullness of God and is the widest, longest, etc. knowledge of God.
In verses 20-21 we have a magnificent doxology, which brings to a close this doctrinal portion of Paul's letter. "In the church and in Christ Jesus ..." continues Paul's emphasis that the church is the body of Christ. It's quite a prayer for all us who read and hear it.
The Gospel
John 6:1-21
The Feeding Of The 5,000
This very familiar story is also told in Matthew 14, Mark 6, and Luke 9. Here are a few background facts that may enrich your preaching on this event. William Barclay helps us here.
A. Because of the Feast of Passover, there would be many people on the roads on their way to Jerusalem.
B. Philip was from Bethsaida (John 1:44) and he would know about the area.
C. A denarius was about a day's wages.
D. The boy had his picnic lunch along.
E. The fishes were no larger than sardines.
F. At a Jewish feast the participants always left something for the servants. It was called the Peah.
G. Each of the disciples would have along their basket (koplunos).
There are several ways to interpret this miracle:
A. Jesus literally multiplied loaves and fishes.
B. It was a sacramental meal.
C. It was a miracle of convincing by example everyone to share what they had along with them. (I like this one.)
Now a different miracle (vv. 16-21) when Jesus walked on water. The Greek here is crucial: epi tes thalasses, which is precisely the same as John 21:1, where it is translated "at the sea." He was walking on the seashore. So here is a story John the fisherman would love to tell: the appearance of Jesus and his strong voice of reassurance as they reach the Galilean side. The wonder of the event is that when we are in trouble Jesus sees and comes to help and brings us to safe haven. It's a grand fisherman's story told by an old fisherman and faithful disciple.
Preaching Possibilities
Each of the three readings is so compelling and rich in content it is very difficult to decide what to do for today's sermon.
The Old Testament has all the elements of temptations and sex to hold our hearers' attention.
The New Testament Reading is rich in theological content and has so much to teach us.
The two Gospel stories are so compelling and are ones our hearers delight in hearing retold.
One might try using all three but I believe it would lack focus and would be trying to cover far too much. It could look like this:
A. The sin of David's adultery is still tempting and as disastrous as it was then (2 Samuel).
B. The need for a new inner-self is still very much present in our lives (Ephesians).
C. Miracles of sharing can still take place in our day.
D. God still comes to us when we are in need of his help (Gospel of John).
Another approach in using all three readings would be to use the personalities in the stories. It could be titled: Their Story Is Ours Also.
A. David and Bathsheba's temptation is ours also.
B. Paul's prayer is our prayer also.
C. Andrew's and Philip's response may be our response also.
D. The disciples' boat is our boat also.
For a treatment of the two Gospel miracles, see my The Miracles Of Jesus And Their Flip Side, CSS Publishing, Lima, Ohio, 2000.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Title: Our Inner-Self
Text: Ephesians 3:14-21
A. Introduction: Tell of the background of the words, "inner being," which Paul uses in this prayer for us.
B. Tell a story to illustrate your own "inner being" in contrast to your outer being. You looked brave but were scared to death or you smiled a happy face but were crying inside.
C. Now move to what Paul prays for our inner being and how we can be changed:
1. We might be strengthened so as to resist the sexual temptations all around us. Use King David and Bathsheba as an example.
2. We can have Christ in our inner being. That means compassion for others like the hungry in the Gospel today.
3. This will result in our being grounded in God's love. Use Paul's portion of the prayer following in verse 19 and/or Jesus' love for his disciples in trouble in the boat so his coming to them.
D. Move to what this prayer for us ought to issue into in our congregation and our ministry in the community.
1. We ought to pray for and love each other.
2. We ought to share our resources and feed the hungry.
3. We ought to take specific program steps for renewal of our "inner selves" in our congregation.
4. We ought to locate those in danger or any need and come to them with help.
E. Conclude with Paul's benediction in verses 20-21.
Prayer For The Day
O God of the inner-self, as well as the outer more observable self, renew and change us with the power of your Spirit that we might also be grounded in your love right down to the core of our being. Teach us how best to resist temptation all around us, give us the spirit of sharing, and come to our aid in the scary times of our lives just as you expect us to do on your behalf for others. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
According to Ken Burns' special, Jazz, on public television, it was a Jewish family in New Orleans who took an eleven-year-old black youngster, the son of a prostitute, out of the notorious Storyville portion of the city and had him ride their coal wagon and blow a tin horn to announce coal for sale to the thieves and prostitutes who populated the neighborhood. And so their compassion for the young lad developed into the greatest jazz musician the world has ever known -- Louis Armstrong.
A bridegroom was arrested after allegedly shooting his new wife in the stomach soon after their front porch wedding, authorities said. Luarette Kenny, 38, and Raymond Brunson, 50, apparently got into a fight as the reception wound down. She pitched a plate of macaroni salad at him and then got shot with a .22-caliber handgun, police said. Friends said things seemed to be going fine and they weren't sure what happened (Oakland Tribune, April 18, 1992). Life goes sour even with the highest motives.
We came upon the scene of an accident at Big O Tire Store in Pittsburg, California. We could see the corner of the building marked from the vehicle's missing the curve, skid marks on the street, antifreeze stain from a ruptured radiator, pieces of chrome and glass on the street. Sunglasses and a blood-stained cap, shrubs broken down, and the inside of a headlight were there. An accident had happened. How often we see the signs of the accidents of people's lives. Can we who are Christ's find a way to prevent them and give comfort to those to whom they happen?
What a story on NBC Nightly News! It was about Russian and American troops in prisoner of war camps. Americans would receive Red Cross packages and share them with Russians at risk of death. The Russians would not tell the guard when a prisoner died but would hold up the body in line so as to get their food allowance.
We are without risk and the saints' bodies are held up that we might feast on their food.
