Proper 13
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series IV
The deed was done. Uriah was killed in battle and Bathsheba
with David's unborn child moves into David's palace. So what? It
appeared to be a perfect crime. No one asked questions and no one
protested. The catch was, "The thing that David had done
displeased the Lord." (2 Samuel 11:27) Now God steps into the
story by sending Nathan by use of a story to bring David to a
realization of his sin: "You are the man." David confesses and
hears the penalty: death of the child.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 4:1-16 (C)
This lesson is the first of four lessons from Chapters 4 and
5. Chapter 4 begins the practical half of the letter with
exhortations to live the Christian life. The church is urged to
become what they are by the grace of Christ. Paul appeals for
unity on the basis of one Spirit, and one body together with one
hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God.
Gospel: John 6:24-35 (C, E, L, RC)
Knowing that Jesus did not go with the disciples and yet he
was with them and only one boat was there, the people wondered
how he got there. He ignores their query and says they came for
more bread rather than for the signs he performed. Jesus urges
them not to work for physical bread but for spiritual food. This
leads them to ask what is the work of God. Jesus replies that the
work of God is to believe in him. They ask for a sign that would
persuade them to believe in him and refer to the manna received
in the wilderness. Jesus assures them that God sent the bread
from heaven, the bread that gives life to the world. Then they
ask him to give this kind of bread. He reveals that he is the
Bread of Life. Whoever comes to him and believes in him will
never hunger nor thirst.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 51:1-12 (C) -- "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity."
(v. 2)
Psalm 78: 11-25 (E); Psalm 78: 23-29 (L)
Prayer Of The Day
"Gracious Father, your blessed Son came down from heaven to be
the true bread which gives life to the world. Give us this bread,
that he may live in us and we in him."
Hymn Of The Day
"O Bread Of Life From Heaven"
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: John 6:24-35 (C, E, L, RC)
1. Seek (vv. 24, 26). The people sought Jesus. They took a lot
of time and traveled, for that day, a long distance to find him.
To seek Jesus is praiseworthy, but is he sought for
220
the right reason? In this incident, they wanted him to give them
more physical bread. They did not want him for himself as Lord
and Savior but as a provider of food. Jesus made it clear he
wanted no "rice Christians."
2. Labor (v. 27). Jesus urged the crowd not to labor for
physical but for spiritual food. Indeed, it does take hard and
long labor to raise food in a garden and on a farm. People work
hard to earn a living. How does one labor for spiritual food?
Jesus said the work was to believe in him. Heavenly bread is a
gift of Christ, and faith is necessary to accept it as a gift.
3. Heaven (vv. 31-33). Jesus refers to spiritual bread as
coming from heaven. It gives a perpendicular dimension to his
kind of bread. It is sustenance that comes from above, from God
to nourish our souls. It is soul food. This is based upon the
fact that a person is more than a body. He is a soul which needs
spiritual bread which God alone can give.
4. Lord (v. 34). At the beginning of the conversation the
people address Jesus as "Rabbi" or Teacher. As the dialogue
progresses, they call him "Lord." Did they really mean it? Were
they convinced that Jesus was the Messiah who, greater than
Moses, could give them the heavenly bread? When people converse
with Jesus with open minds, they usually conclude that he is more
than a teacher.
5. Life (v. 35). Jesus means "life" as more than human
existence. One can live daily without having life in terms of
quality. As the bread of life, Jesus has something to offer that
makes existence worthwhile and a life that has no ending in spite
of physical death.
Lesson 1: 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a (C)
1. Displeased (v. 1). David's sin of murder and adultery
apparently pleased his people, for no one protested. While
humanity approved of the sin, God did not. It "displeased" him
and he sent Nathan to bring David to account. It does not matter
if people accept and approve our sinful ways. Sin is not
acceptable to God. Sin against our neighbor is sin against God.
2. Anger (v. 5). David became very angry when Nathan told him
about a rich man's taking the pet lamb of a poor man. He declared
that the rich man should be put to death. We can all see the sins
of others and lament them, but we cannot see our own sins. We
need a Nathan to point out our sins.
3. Sinned (v. 13). When Nathan told the story of the poor
man's lamb, David realized he did the same to Uriah. He broke
down and confessed, "I have sinned against the Lord." Now note
against whom he sinned. He did not mention Uriah nor Bathsheba,
but the Lord. What we do against our brothers and sisters is
against the Lord, not only against a human.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 4:1-16 (C)
1. Prisoner (v. 1). Paul identifies himself here as a prisoner
of Christ. At other times he referred to himself as a servant,
apostle, ambassador and spokesman. To be a prisoner of Christ is
to suffer for him. When we are zealous Christians, we will be
subject to the opposition and persecution of the enemy, Satan.
The test of a true Christian is the suffering he experiences in
living out the Christian life.
2. One (vv. 4-6). Seven times the word, "one," is used.
Repetition indicates the importance of the word in the thinking
of Paul. On one side is the word "all," and on the other side is
"one." All are to be one in Christ, in hope, faith and love. This
unity is demanded because we have one God, one faith and one
Spirit.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Gospel: John 6:24-35
1. What are you hungry for? 6:25-29
Need: There is a famine in the land. In some lands, the famine
is physical -- the lack of food to sustain life. The greater
famine in lands where there is plenty of food is the famine of
spiritual bread. In America particularly the people are starving
for spiritual food. People are turning to places where there is
no spiritual food: drugs, alcohol, astrology,
221
Transcendental Meditation, Scientology, Moonism, Satanism, Hare
Krishna, etc. People are hungry for love, fulfillment,
satisfaction, peace and happiness. The church in Christ has the
bread of life and exists to feed people. How well is she doing
it?
Outline: For what are you hungry?
a. Are you hungry? -- v. 27.
b. For what are you hungry? -- v. 27.
c. What can you do to get fed? vv. 28, 29.
2. Saved by work, not works. 6:27-29
Need: Certainly most of the congregation know that we are not
saved by our good works. In this text, Jesus says there is a work
that saves. It is to believe in him. This may be a new thought:
Faith is a work. It is like love in marriage: To be successful
you must work at it. To be saved means we must work at our faith
so that it continues to exist and grow. The spiritual bread comes
as a gift, but faith is needed to receive it. In this sense,
faith is all-important, for without the Bread of Life (Christ) we
cannot be saved.
Outline: To be saved by works means --
a. Salvation is a gift of the Bread of Life -- v. 27.
b. Faith is the receptive agent -- v. 29.
c. Faith needs working -- v. 29.
3. All you need to know about the Bread of Life. 6:27-35
Need: "Bread of Life" is a common term used in the church. But
just what does it mean to the average church-goer? This can be a
teaching sermon about Christ as the Bread of Life. Since the
coming few Sundays deal with the Bread of Life, it would be well
to preach this sermon as a basis for understanding the coming
ones.
Outline: What the text tells us about the Bread of Life --
a. What is it? (Manna) -- v. 35.
b. Where does it come from? -- v. 33.
c. How does one receive it? -- v. 29.
d. Why receive it? -- v. 35.
Lesson 1: 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a (C)
1. Can we sin and not know it? 11:26--12:13a
Need: Is it possible that we sin and not be aware that we are
sinning? Maybe little sins like telling a lie, but what about
murder and adultery? What about pre-marital sex, homosexuality,
drug use and gambling?
Outline: Getting to know you are a sinner --
a. The sin -- vv. 26, 9-10.
b. The ignorance of sin -- v. 7.
c. The realization of sin -- v. 13a.
2. The sinfulness of sin. 11:26--12:13a
Need: Today we sin so glibly that we take it for granted. It's
a routine of life and we think nothing of it. It is par for the
course. Everybody's doing it; why shouldn't I? The need is to
realize the seriousness of sin.
Outline: What makes sin so sinful --
a. Sin displeases God -- 11:26.
b. Sin despises God's Word -- 12:9.
c. Sin despises God -- v. 10.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 4:1-16 (C)
1. Gift and a demand. 4:1-6
Need: The Christian faith consists of a gift and a task. At
the same time God gives a gift he also makes a demand. It is a
matter of privilege and responsibility, justification and
sanctification, potentiality and reality. We are challenged to
become what we are, to receive
222
and use the gifts of God. The gift always comes first because the
gift expresses God's gift and grace. The demand follows and can
be met by the power of the gift.
Outline: In this text we have a gift and demand --
a. The gift: God's children; the demand: live like God's
children -- vv. 1-3.
b. The gift: unity; the demand: be unified -- vv. 4-6.
2. Are you worthy of the name Christian? 4:1-3
Need: In the average congregation, 40 percent of the members
with the name Christian are inactive. They do not come, commune
or contribute to the maintenance of the church. Are these with
the name Christian worthy of that name? "Christians" may become
involved in shady practices: gambling, drug peddling, alcoholism,
adultery, and so forth. Should people like these carry the name
"Christian?" Should we make a distinction between church
membership and Christians? Why are church members not always
Christians? Or are they? In our text Paul appeals to us that we
should be worthy of God's call in Christ to be Christians.
Outline: To be worthy of being called a Christian --
a. We need to be humble -- v. 2.
b. We need to be patient -- v. 2.
c. We need to be forbearant -- v. 2.
d. We need to be unified -- v. 3.
223
with David's unborn child moves into David's palace. So what? It
appeared to be a perfect crime. No one asked questions and no one
protested. The catch was, "The thing that David had done
displeased the Lord." (2 Samuel 11:27) Now God steps into the
story by sending Nathan by use of a story to bring David to a
realization of his sin: "You are the man." David confesses and
hears the penalty: death of the child.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 4:1-16 (C)
This lesson is the first of four lessons from Chapters 4 and
5. Chapter 4 begins the practical half of the letter with
exhortations to live the Christian life. The church is urged to
become what they are by the grace of Christ. Paul appeals for
unity on the basis of one Spirit, and one body together with one
hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God.
Gospel: John 6:24-35 (C, E, L, RC)
Knowing that Jesus did not go with the disciples and yet he
was with them and only one boat was there, the people wondered
how he got there. He ignores their query and says they came for
more bread rather than for the signs he performed. Jesus urges
them not to work for physical bread but for spiritual food. This
leads them to ask what is the work of God. Jesus replies that the
work of God is to believe in him. They ask for a sign that would
persuade them to believe in him and refer to the manna received
in the wilderness. Jesus assures them that God sent the bread
from heaven, the bread that gives life to the world. Then they
ask him to give this kind of bread. He reveals that he is the
Bread of Life. Whoever comes to him and believes in him will
never hunger nor thirst.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 51:1-12 (C) -- "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity."
(v. 2)
Psalm 78: 11-25 (E); Psalm 78: 23-29 (L)
Prayer Of The Day
"Gracious Father, your blessed Son came down from heaven to be
the true bread which gives life to the world. Give us this bread,
that he may live in us and we in him."
Hymn Of The Day
"O Bread Of Life From Heaven"
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: John 6:24-35 (C, E, L, RC)
1. Seek (vv. 24, 26). The people sought Jesus. They took a lot
of time and traveled, for that day, a long distance to find him.
To seek Jesus is praiseworthy, but is he sought for
220
the right reason? In this incident, they wanted him to give them
more physical bread. They did not want him for himself as Lord
and Savior but as a provider of food. Jesus made it clear he
wanted no "rice Christians."
2. Labor (v. 27). Jesus urged the crowd not to labor for
physical but for spiritual food. Indeed, it does take hard and
long labor to raise food in a garden and on a farm. People work
hard to earn a living. How does one labor for spiritual food?
Jesus said the work was to believe in him. Heavenly bread is a
gift of Christ, and faith is necessary to accept it as a gift.
3. Heaven (vv. 31-33). Jesus refers to spiritual bread as
coming from heaven. It gives a perpendicular dimension to his
kind of bread. It is sustenance that comes from above, from God
to nourish our souls. It is soul food. This is based upon the
fact that a person is more than a body. He is a soul which needs
spiritual bread which God alone can give.
4. Lord (v. 34). At the beginning of the conversation the
people address Jesus as "Rabbi" or Teacher. As the dialogue
progresses, they call him "Lord." Did they really mean it? Were
they convinced that Jesus was the Messiah who, greater than
Moses, could give them the heavenly bread? When people converse
with Jesus with open minds, they usually conclude that he is more
than a teacher.
5. Life (v. 35). Jesus means "life" as more than human
existence. One can live daily without having life in terms of
quality. As the bread of life, Jesus has something to offer that
makes existence worthwhile and a life that has no ending in spite
of physical death.
Lesson 1: 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a (C)
1. Displeased (v. 1). David's sin of murder and adultery
apparently pleased his people, for no one protested. While
humanity approved of the sin, God did not. It "displeased" him
and he sent Nathan to bring David to account. It does not matter
if people accept and approve our sinful ways. Sin is not
acceptable to God. Sin against our neighbor is sin against God.
2. Anger (v. 5). David became very angry when Nathan told him
about a rich man's taking the pet lamb of a poor man. He declared
that the rich man should be put to death. We can all see the sins
of others and lament them, but we cannot see our own sins. We
need a Nathan to point out our sins.
3. Sinned (v. 13). When Nathan told the story of the poor
man's lamb, David realized he did the same to Uriah. He broke
down and confessed, "I have sinned against the Lord." Now note
against whom he sinned. He did not mention Uriah nor Bathsheba,
but the Lord. What we do against our brothers and sisters is
against the Lord, not only against a human.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 4:1-16 (C)
1. Prisoner (v. 1). Paul identifies himself here as a prisoner
of Christ. At other times he referred to himself as a servant,
apostle, ambassador and spokesman. To be a prisoner of Christ is
to suffer for him. When we are zealous Christians, we will be
subject to the opposition and persecution of the enemy, Satan.
The test of a true Christian is the suffering he experiences in
living out the Christian life.
2. One (vv. 4-6). Seven times the word, "one," is used.
Repetition indicates the importance of the word in the thinking
of Paul. On one side is the word "all," and on the other side is
"one." All are to be one in Christ, in hope, faith and love. This
unity is demanded because we have one God, one faith and one
Spirit.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Gospel: John 6:24-35
1. What are you hungry for? 6:25-29
Need: There is a famine in the land. In some lands, the famine
is physical -- the lack of food to sustain life. The greater
famine in lands where there is plenty of food is the famine of
spiritual bread. In America particularly the people are starving
for spiritual food. People are turning to places where there is
no spiritual food: drugs, alcohol, astrology,
221
Transcendental Meditation, Scientology, Moonism, Satanism, Hare
Krishna, etc. People are hungry for love, fulfillment,
satisfaction, peace and happiness. The church in Christ has the
bread of life and exists to feed people. How well is she doing
it?
Outline: For what are you hungry?
a. Are you hungry? -- v. 27.
b. For what are you hungry? -- v. 27.
c. What can you do to get fed? vv. 28, 29.
2. Saved by work, not works. 6:27-29
Need: Certainly most of the congregation know that we are not
saved by our good works. In this text, Jesus says there is a work
that saves. It is to believe in him. This may be a new thought:
Faith is a work. It is like love in marriage: To be successful
you must work at it. To be saved means we must work at our faith
so that it continues to exist and grow. The spiritual bread comes
as a gift, but faith is needed to receive it. In this sense,
faith is all-important, for without the Bread of Life (Christ) we
cannot be saved.
Outline: To be saved by works means --
a. Salvation is a gift of the Bread of Life -- v. 27.
b. Faith is the receptive agent -- v. 29.
c. Faith needs working -- v. 29.
3. All you need to know about the Bread of Life. 6:27-35
Need: "Bread of Life" is a common term used in the church. But
just what does it mean to the average church-goer? This can be a
teaching sermon about Christ as the Bread of Life. Since the
coming few Sundays deal with the Bread of Life, it would be well
to preach this sermon as a basis for understanding the coming
ones.
Outline: What the text tells us about the Bread of Life --
a. What is it? (Manna) -- v. 35.
b. Where does it come from? -- v. 33.
c. How does one receive it? -- v. 29.
d. Why receive it? -- v. 35.
Lesson 1: 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a (C)
1. Can we sin and not know it? 11:26--12:13a
Need: Is it possible that we sin and not be aware that we are
sinning? Maybe little sins like telling a lie, but what about
murder and adultery? What about pre-marital sex, homosexuality,
drug use and gambling?
Outline: Getting to know you are a sinner --
a. The sin -- vv. 26, 9-10.
b. The ignorance of sin -- v. 7.
c. The realization of sin -- v. 13a.
2. The sinfulness of sin. 11:26--12:13a
Need: Today we sin so glibly that we take it for granted. It's
a routine of life and we think nothing of it. It is par for the
course. Everybody's doing it; why shouldn't I? The need is to
realize the seriousness of sin.
Outline: What makes sin so sinful --
a. Sin displeases God -- 11:26.
b. Sin despises God's Word -- 12:9.
c. Sin despises God -- v. 10.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 4:1-16 (C)
1. Gift and a demand. 4:1-6
Need: The Christian faith consists of a gift and a task. At
the same time God gives a gift he also makes a demand. It is a
matter of privilege and responsibility, justification and
sanctification, potentiality and reality. We are challenged to
become what we are, to receive
222
and use the gifts of God. The gift always comes first because the
gift expresses God's gift and grace. The demand follows and can
be met by the power of the gift.
Outline: In this text we have a gift and demand --
a. The gift: God's children; the demand: live like God's
children -- vv. 1-3.
b. The gift: unity; the demand: be unified -- vv. 4-6.
2. Are you worthy of the name Christian? 4:1-3
Need: In the average congregation, 40 percent of the members
with the name Christian are inactive. They do not come, commune
or contribute to the maintenance of the church. Are these with
the name Christian worthy of that name? "Christians" may become
involved in shady practices: gambling, drug peddling, alcoholism,
adultery, and so forth. Should people like these carry the name
"Christian?" Should we make a distinction between church
membership and Christians? Why are church members not always
Christians? Or are they? In our text Paul appeals to us that we
should be worthy of God's call in Christ to be Christians.
Outline: To be worthy of being called a Christian --
a. We need to be humble -- v. 2.
b. We need to be patient -- v. 2.
c. We need to be forbearant -- v. 2.
d. We need to be unified -- v. 3.
223
