Proper 14, Ordinary Time 19
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle A
Object:
Seasonal Theme
The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Christ.
Theme For The Day
We need not face our struggles alone. We have a rescuer like the disciples did in Galilee's storm.
Old Testament Lesson
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Joseph And His Brothers
Now we begin the story of Jacob's family. His youngest son, Joseph, was no doubt his favorite. Jacob had given him a special coat which had sleeves, and thus Joseph needed not do manual labor. Evidently he had "told on" some of his brothers to his father also. The preferential treatment by his father caused his siblings to be jealous and even grow to hate him. To add insult to injury, he announced he had a dream of being over the rest (vv. 5-10)!
Beginning with verse 12 we have the story of Joseph going to the Valley of Hebron near Shechem to check up on his brothers at his father's request, not something most brothers would take to kindly. Dothan is about fifteen miles north of Shechem where the Ishmaelites from Gilead traveled in caravans to Egypt to sell their goods. The Ishmaelites would be second cousins to Joseph and his brothers. Brother Reuben pleaded they not murder him. Judah saved him from dying in a cistern by proposing he be sold to the Ishmaelites. So for twenty pieces of silver, Joseph is on his way to Egypt. A story of jealousy and conniving in the family begins again. The facts of the story are jumbled because of a blending of J and P sources, but the motives and behavior are unmistakable and contemporary.
New Testament Lesson
Romans 10:5-15
Righteousness
Paul is explaining the difference between faith righteousness and legal righteousness. This was a favorite argument of Paul's (see Galatians 3:11-12). The righteousness begins not with one's moral works but rather a response from the heart. It's an inward conviction about what God did for us in the Christ.
Verses 9 and 10 are a confession of the lordship of Christ -- from there we proceed to good living. Jesus is called Lord in verse 12. William Barclay in his Daily Study Bible on Romans gives us some good preaching moves when he explains the stages of the word "Lord" (Kurios): a) a title of respect like the English "sir," b) normal title for a Roman Emperor, c) normal title for the Greek gods and, d) in the Greek translation of Hebrew scripture it is the regular translation of the divine Jehovah. To call Jesus "Lord" was to call him unique.
Several Old Testament passages are quoted by Paul to convince the Jews: Leviticus 18:5; Deuteronomy 30:12, 13; Isaiah 29:16; and Joel 2:32. So Paul is saying to the Jews to give up their legal approach to God and accept the way of grace instead. He is telling them that all their enthusiasm won't do it. He says they should read their own prophets of long ago and accept their advice that faith is the way to God, and it is available to everyone.
In verse 15b we have a quotation from Isaiah 52:7. There is an urgent need to preach this gospel. Being "sent" in verse 15 is a whole homiletical lesson in itself. Unless we feel deeply called and sent to proclaim, our message will be bland and insipid.
The Gospel
Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus To The Rescue
Three of the Gospels testify to the fact the disciples must have often told this story as an example of what can happen when Jesus comes into the midst in the darkness and depression and storms to speak his word.
There are a couple ways you can explain it: one, as a miracle of walking on water which shows Jesus' authority over earthly elements as well as sin and sickness; the second way would be to present it as his coming to help through the surf and surprising them.
The Greek here could be translated over, on, or through the water. Either way the message is that he sees us in our dark, stormy night struggles and is here to help. That is, when life is a battle and the wind is against us, we don't have to go it alone.
As pastors we especially can become discouraged in our ministries and this gives us confidence as we row the boat and adjust the sails. The church of Jesus Christ is often described as a ship. Nave, sanctuary, and chancel all are Latin ship terms. Especially in Matthew's account, the boat is the church.
In the Old Testament, Yahweh alone walks the seas (Job 9:8b, Psalm 7:19; Isaiah 43:16) and helps them calm. The word for "ghost" is only here and in Mark's account in all of the New Testament. In John, the story is told from the viewpoint of the disciples. Peter in turn shares in the power of Jesus as long as he remains united to him by faith. As soon as he becomes conscious of his human situation, he begins to sink. There is brashness, courage, and lack of faith.
Probably Jesus went up on the north end of the lake for prayer and the disciples tried rowing across that end against the wind. Jesus saw their struggle and came out to help land the boat. They did not know he was even close.
Preaching Possibilities
A. The Old Testament reading of family jealousy, scheming, and dissension will lend itself to a warning sermon of what things our human nature can bring into our family life. With Jesus as our Lord (from the Romans account) we can overcome these elements of human nature that would destroy us. It's a stretch, but then you could present the Christ who came to the help of his family, the disciples, when they were struggling and give the assurance that same Christ will come to us as well.
B. Each reading will stand alone also. In a sermon called "Righteousness," you can address Paul's teaching that we don't attain it by moral good works but by faith from the heart. And the sermon moves are obvious. Talk about our Lord and help the people know what it means to have Jesus, not just an admired person who stands for loving each other, but a lord. Use the above definition under "Second reading" which comes from Barclay in the stages of the word Lord (Kurios). Then talk about the stages of Lord in our lives like:
1. Jesus as good model of a religious person.
2. Jesus as a wonder worker in Palestine.
3. Jesus who taught good advice for living together.
4. Jesus who went to the cross for our sins.
5. Jesus who came out of the grave so we might also.
6. Jesus who is with us now in spirit.
C. I think I will go with the Gospel, for it lends itself so well to talk about the storms of life and a God who gets us through them. Then there is always the "flip side" as well.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
1. Begin your narrative with the here and now. Tell about a frightening storm you experienced. Or tell about a scary time for you in a boat on the rough water. Then move to saying the disciples had such an experience also and re-tell the story of Jesus' going up to pray and their taking the boat against the wind back across the northern bay of Galilee. Make the details graphic.
2. Now tell them the two ways this story has been interpreted and that either way it assures us God sees and is ready to help when we are afraid, feeling we are about to sink, and there is no help in the night.
a. Explain the church was often called a ship down through history and what the implications are for our churchly struggles.
b. And tell how great it is to be in the same boat with others who also struggle and how Jesus comes to us to help.
c. Then look at Peter and how in all his brashness he jumped in. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he was okay. But when he looked at his own situation he began to sink.
3. Now explain there may be a "flip side" to this miracle. Perhaps Peter was jumping in to help Jesus get that boat under control and safely docked. He misstepped and went down. Jesus grabbed him and lifted him up again.
4. Now look at what our role as disciple in the boat of the church might be.
a. What is our role to help Jesus today? The other disciples played it safe. Peter, who remained nearby when Jesus was being tried by the high priest when all the rest ran away, was "Johnny-on-the-spot" again this night!
b. Perhaps through this approach we can call out of the boat some more brave disciples who will help Jesus as well.
5. Now return to your beginning story and tell the conclusion of how the storm ended. It will preach!1
Prayer Of The Day
In the dark nights of struggle and despair when our hearts are full of terror, come to us also, O God, and rescue us. And when the water is rough and we don't ask you to calm them, just help us make it safely to shore. When you need our help in your ship, this church, show us the way to jump in and be of assistance. In Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Stories
Heard on National Public Radio: Mike Pearson, a conservation officer in Michigan, was called to rescue two ducks frozen in ice in a pond. He waded out, then moved on the ice with a rope. When he got there, he discovered the mallard ducks were plastic decoys. Everyone laughed at him. He said he'd do it again if called. We ought not to be discouraged if the results of our ministries are less than spectacular. And even when we are taken in and laughed at -- we'd do it again; for it's the being used for Christ and his ministry which counts.
An AT&T television ad features a display the company sponsored at Ellis Island in 1990. It shows immigrants bringing along with them from their home country a treasure. "Because staying connected is important to all of us."
Belonging to God's family, remaining God's children, keeps us connected. We also have treasures which represent us and our heritage.
Barbara Lundblad at an ELCA Assembly said: "The reason they tie mountain climbers together is to keep the sane ones from going home." It is in family and the church we are together. We give one another courage.
Fanny J. Crosby wrote the gospel hymn, "A Shelter in the Time of Storm" which might work.
____________
1. See The Miracles Of Jesus And Their Flip Side by the author, CSS Publishing, Lima, Ohio, 2000: the sermon "Sinking Boats and Water Walking."
The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Christ.
Theme For The Day
We need not face our struggles alone. We have a rescuer like the disciples did in Galilee's storm.
Old Testament Lesson
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Joseph And His Brothers
Now we begin the story of Jacob's family. His youngest son, Joseph, was no doubt his favorite. Jacob had given him a special coat which had sleeves, and thus Joseph needed not do manual labor. Evidently he had "told on" some of his brothers to his father also. The preferential treatment by his father caused his siblings to be jealous and even grow to hate him. To add insult to injury, he announced he had a dream of being over the rest (vv. 5-10)!
Beginning with verse 12 we have the story of Joseph going to the Valley of Hebron near Shechem to check up on his brothers at his father's request, not something most brothers would take to kindly. Dothan is about fifteen miles north of Shechem where the Ishmaelites from Gilead traveled in caravans to Egypt to sell their goods. The Ishmaelites would be second cousins to Joseph and his brothers. Brother Reuben pleaded they not murder him. Judah saved him from dying in a cistern by proposing he be sold to the Ishmaelites. So for twenty pieces of silver, Joseph is on his way to Egypt. A story of jealousy and conniving in the family begins again. The facts of the story are jumbled because of a blending of J and P sources, but the motives and behavior are unmistakable and contemporary.
New Testament Lesson
Romans 10:5-15
Righteousness
Paul is explaining the difference between faith righteousness and legal righteousness. This was a favorite argument of Paul's (see Galatians 3:11-12). The righteousness begins not with one's moral works but rather a response from the heart. It's an inward conviction about what God did for us in the Christ.
Verses 9 and 10 are a confession of the lordship of Christ -- from there we proceed to good living. Jesus is called Lord in verse 12. William Barclay in his Daily Study Bible on Romans gives us some good preaching moves when he explains the stages of the word "Lord" (Kurios): a) a title of respect like the English "sir," b) normal title for a Roman Emperor, c) normal title for the Greek gods and, d) in the Greek translation of Hebrew scripture it is the regular translation of the divine Jehovah. To call Jesus "Lord" was to call him unique.
Several Old Testament passages are quoted by Paul to convince the Jews: Leviticus 18:5; Deuteronomy 30:12, 13; Isaiah 29:16; and Joel 2:32. So Paul is saying to the Jews to give up their legal approach to God and accept the way of grace instead. He is telling them that all their enthusiasm won't do it. He says they should read their own prophets of long ago and accept their advice that faith is the way to God, and it is available to everyone.
In verse 15b we have a quotation from Isaiah 52:7. There is an urgent need to preach this gospel. Being "sent" in verse 15 is a whole homiletical lesson in itself. Unless we feel deeply called and sent to proclaim, our message will be bland and insipid.
The Gospel
Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus To The Rescue
Three of the Gospels testify to the fact the disciples must have often told this story as an example of what can happen when Jesus comes into the midst in the darkness and depression and storms to speak his word.
There are a couple ways you can explain it: one, as a miracle of walking on water which shows Jesus' authority over earthly elements as well as sin and sickness; the second way would be to present it as his coming to help through the surf and surprising them.
The Greek here could be translated over, on, or through the water. Either way the message is that he sees us in our dark, stormy night struggles and is here to help. That is, when life is a battle and the wind is against us, we don't have to go it alone.
As pastors we especially can become discouraged in our ministries and this gives us confidence as we row the boat and adjust the sails. The church of Jesus Christ is often described as a ship. Nave, sanctuary, and chancel all are Latin ship terms. Especially in Matthew's account, the boat is the church.
In the Old Testament, Yahweh alone walks the seas (Job 9:8b, Psalm 7:19; Isaiah 43:16) and helps them calm. The word for "ghost" is only here and in Mark's account in all of the New Testament. In John, the story is told from the viewpoint of the disciples. Peter in turn shares in the power of Jesus as long as he remains united to him by faith. As soon as he becomes conscious of his human situation, he begins to sink. There is brashness, courage, and lack of faith.
Probably Jesus went up on the north end of the lake for prayer and the disciples tried rowing across that end against the wind. Jesus saw their struggle and came out to help land the boat. They did not know he was even close.
Preaching Possibilities
A. The Old Testament reading of family jealousy, scheming, and dissension will lend itself to a warning sermon of what things our human nature can bring into our family life. With Jesus as our Lord (from the Romans account) we can overcome these elements of human nature that would destroy us. It's a stretch, but then you could present the Christ who came to the help of his family, the disciples, when they were struggling and give the assurance that same Christ will come to us as well.
B. Each reading will stand alone also. In a sermon called "Righteousness," you can address Paul's teaching that we don't attain it by moral good works but by faith from the heart. And the sermon moves are obvious. Talk about our Lord and help the people know what it means to have Jesus, not just an admired person who stands for loving each other, but a lord. Use the above definition under "Second reading" which comes from Barclay in the stages of the word Lord (Kurios). Then talk about the stages of Lord in our lives like:
1. Jesus as good model of a religious person.
2. Jesus as a wonder worker in Palestine.
3. Jesus who taught good advice for living together.
4. Jesus who went to the cross for our sins.
5. Jesus who came out of the grave so we might also.
6. Jesus who is with us now in spirit.
C. I think I will go with the Gospel, for it lends itself so well to talk about the storms of life and a God who gets us through them. Then there is always the "flip side" as well.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
1. Begin your narrative with the here and now. Tell about a frightening storm you experienced. Or tell about a scary time for you in a boat on the rough water. Then move to saying the disciples had such an experience also and re-tell the story of Jesus' going up to pray and their taking the boat against the wind back across the northern bay of Galilee. Make the details graphic.
2. Now tell them the two ways this story has been interpreted and that either way it assures us God sees and is ready to help when we are afraid, feeling we are about to sink, and there is no help in the night.
a. Explain the church was often called a ship down through history and what the implications are for our churchly struggles.
b. And tell how great it is to be in the same boat with others who also struggle and how Jesus comes to us to help.
c. Then look at Peter and how in all his brashness he jumped in. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he was okay. But when he looked at his own situation he began to sink.
3. Now explain there may be a "flip side" to this miracle. Perhaps Peter was jumping in to help Jesus get that boat under control and safely docked. He misstepped and went down. Jesus grabbed him and lifted him up again.
4. Now look at what our role as disciple in the boat of the church might be.
a. What is our role to help Jesus today? The other disciples played it safe. Peter, who remained nearby when Jesus was being tried by the high priest when all the rest ran away, was "Johnny-on-the-spot" again this night!
b. Perhaps through this approach we can call out of the boat some more brave disciples who will help Jesus as well.
5. Now return to your beginning story and tell the conclusion of how the storm ended. It will preach!1
Prayer Of The Day
In the dark nights of struggle and despair when our hearts are full of terror, come to us also, O God, and rescue us. And when the water is rough and we don't ask you to calm them, just help us make it safely to shore. When you need our help in your ship, this church, show us the way to jump in and be of assistance. In Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Stories
Heard on National Public Radio: Mike Pearson, a conservation officer in Michigan, was called to rescue two ducks frozen in ice in a pond. He waded out, then moved on the ice with a rope. When he got there, he discovered the mallard ducks were plastic decoys. Everyone laughed at him. He said he'd do it again if called. We ought not to be discouraged if the results of our ministries are less than spectacular. And even when we are taken in and laughed at -- we'd do it again; for it's the being used for Christ and his ministry which counts.
An AT&T television ad features a display the company sponsored at Ellis Island in 1990. It shows immigrants bringing along with them from their home country a treasure. "Because staying connected is important to all of us."
Belonging to God's family, remaining God's children, keeps us connected. We also have treasures which represent us and our heritage.
Barbara Lundblad at an ELCA Assembly said: "The reason they tie mountain climbers together is to keep the sane ones from going home." It is in family and the church we are together. We give one another courage.
Fanny J. Crosby wrote the gospel hymn, "A Shelter in the Time of Storm" which might work.
____________
1. See The Miracles Of Jesus And Their Flip Side by the author, CSS Publishing, Lima, Ohio, 2000: the sermon "Sinking Boats and Water Walking."
