Proper 15
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII Cycle C
Seasonal Theme
Jesus' acts of compassion and teaching ministry.
Theme For The Day
The judgment and divine love of God for us very important sinners.
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 5:1-7
Isaiah's Awful Love Song
This is not a happy song and has been connected to two additional passages: verses 8-23 and verses 24-30. This song is probably based on a love song where the vineyard is the bride (Song of Solomon 8:11-12). The vineyard was well tended but produced putrid fruit -- literally "stinking things." So the vineyard is judged and destroyed. It is Judah that is the vineyard. God has cared for them; however, the result was not justice but bloodshed. We find the same imagery in Psalm 80:14-15. Perhaps Hosea knew the analogy (Hosea 2:3-6). It is also later in Ezekiel 19:10-14; Jesus used it in Mark 12:1-9.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 11:29--12:22
The Meaning Of Faith
We continue in Hebrews with examples of great faith. Verse 29 is the example of crossing the sea of reeds (Exodus 14:21-29). The fall of Jericho under Joshua's leadership (Joshua 6:1-21) continues the examples. Then comes Rahab, the prostitute who is praised! This is astounding that she would be listed as one of the heroes/heroines. However in James 2:25, 26 she is also made an example of faith by good works. Then follows a list of the faithful and other trials and triumphs. The heroes seem to increase to a large crowd and come much nearer to the writer's own time. Endurance under persecution is the main focus. There is a sense of building climax to 12:1. In 1-2 the writer uses the image of a racer, determined and stripped down for this last running. Jesus has arrived at the goal ahead of us and it is on him we fix our eyes. He is the one who is the best example of all of faith. "... has taken his seat ..." is a quotation of Psalm 110:4.
The Gospel
Luke 12:49-56
Interpreting The Time
These verses are in poetic form. Jesus uses the image of fire to represent judgment. Compare this passage with Luke 9:54. The peace which Jesus brings is not the quiet of apathy but the serenity of devoted discipleship. Verses 54-56 simply say we ought to be able to interpret the signs of the time just like we can tell the weather. What we need to read the signs is not a special cleverness but just an insight which self-disregard brings into being. We have to say about the passage that the essence of Christianity is that loyalty to Christ has to be stronger than any other loyalty here on earth. I won't take it any further than that. It is a distasteful passage to me which wreaks of too much vengeance and judgment.
Preaching Possibilities
A. It's not the best set of readings I would choose. The Isaiah and Luke readings will connect for a sermon about the judgment of God.
B. Or one could preach on faithfulness and judgment using the Old Testament and Gospel as examples of impending judgment and the New Testament Reading as an example of faithfulness.
1. Isaiah saw the situation as God giving the people everything they needed, and they responded by being unfaithful.
2. Jesus told the people that loyalty to him would cause divisions even within families. He said they ought to be able to see the wrongness of their times and know the impending result.
3. The writer of Hebrews tells of genuine faithfulness and gives many examples. We are urged to endure even under persecution, keep our eye on the goal, and press on.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Begin by reviewing what Isaiah said in last week's reading. The people have blood on their hands but God will forgive.
B. Move to this week's reading. Isaiah likens the peoples' behavior to a vineyard which has good soil and good care, but it produces awful fruit in spite of all its nurture. Because of this lack of good fruit, the vineyard will be destroyed.
C. Move to our time and fruit. We have been given many blessings and God's undeserved grace and forgiveness. But we have also produced some awful fruit: racism, sexism, ageism, nationalism, terrorism, bigotry, greed, revenge, and so on.
D. Speak of the terrible effects on the one who has the above as well as the one who is the victim of it. Really punch this idea home!
E. Move to address the good and bad fruits a congregation can have and its effects on its members and on the community.
F. Make your own witness by stating this has not been your favorite sermon to preach, as it is much too grim and judgmental and pictures God as vindictive rather than the God you know as full of grace and forgiveness.
G. Close with a story which illustrates the above and thank God for the Holy Spirit's help getting you through a tough Sunday of textual preaching.
Prayer For The Day
We thank you, dear Holy Parent, for providing us with so much which ought to produce a lot of good works out of us. Be patient with us when we so often fail to respond in the right way to all your loving kindnesses, and remove from us those things hurtful to others and disappointing to you. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
The conductor of a community orchestra was upset because of poor attendance of musicians at the rehearsals. So he publicly thanked the one member who had not missed a rehearsal. The response was, "It's the least I could do since I won't be at the concert tonight."
Others' responses can be very disappointing but we must not judge them for it. Only God knows all their circumstances.
March 9, 1909, the city water tank in Des Moines collapsed and nearly washed away First Lutheran Church. After rebuilding, there was a foreclosure on their church during the Depression and the congregation bought it back at a reduced price. It's now debt free. Our baptismal water could have the power to move churches. Jesus has bought us back with a big price. We are debt free. All is forgiven.
Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes claimed no one is to blame for anything in our country.
"... the good boy got in bad company; it was the pusher's fault not the drug taker; the person was legally insane at the time of the crime." He ended by saying, "Don't blame me for what I just said. The devil made me do it." Christians can own their behavior and seek forgiveness but often still have to pay the price of it.
The grass in the yard is all brown now for lack of rain, but weeds are thriving in the cracks in the concrete. Interesting how the good often seems to wilt away in very favorable places and the unwanted seems to thrive where we don't want it to survive.
Heads Up Alert On Jeremiah
Perhaps you would like to include in your worship bulletin the following: For the next six weeks we will be reading from the book of Jeremiah for the Old Testament Lesson. In the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible we read: "Jeremiah was always conscious of his call from the Lord to be a prophet, and as such proclaimed words that were spoken first by God and were therefore certain of fulfillment. Judgment is one of his all-pervasive themes. He was careful to point out, however, that repentance, if sincere, would postpone the inevitable. Jeremiah conceived of God as the Creator of all that exists, and as the all-powerful and everywhere present Lord. At the same time he emphasized that God was very much concerned about individual people who were accountable to God."
Jesus' acts of compassion and teaching ministry.
Theme For The Day
The judgment and divine love of God for us very important sinners.
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 5:1-7
Isaiah's Awful Love Song
This is not a happy song and has been connected to two additional passages: verses 8-23 and verses 24-30. This song is probably based on a love song where the vineyard is the bride (Song of Solomon 8:11-12). The vineyard was well tended but produced putrid fruit -- literally "stinking things." So the vineyard is judged and destroyed. It is Judah that is the vineyard. God has cared for them; however, the result was not justice but bloodshed. We find the same imagery in Psalm 80:14-15. Perhaps Hosea knew the analogy (Hosea 2:3-6). It is also later in Ezekiel 19:10-14; Jesus used it in Mark 12:1-9.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 11:29--12:22
The Meaning Of Faith
We continue in Hebrews with examples of great faith. Verse 29 is the example of crossing the sea of reeds (Exodus 14:21-29). The fall of Jericho under Joshua's leadership (Joshua 6:1-21) continues the examples. Then comes Rahab, the prostitute who is praised! This is astounding that she would be listed as one of the heroes/heroines. However in James 2:25, 26 she is also made an example of faith by good works. Then follows a list of the faithful and other trials and triumphs. The heroes seem to increase to a large crowd and come much nearer to the writer's own time. Endurance under persecution is the main focus. There is a sense of building climax to 12:1. In 1-2 the writer uses the image of a racer, determined and stripped down for this last running. Jesus has arrived at the goal ahead of us and it is on him we fix our eyes. He is the one who is the best example of all of faith. "... has taken his seat ..." is a quotation of Psalm 110:4.
The Gospel
Luke 12:49-56
Interpreting The Time
These verses are in poetic form. Jesus uses the image of fire to represent judgment. Compare this passage with Luke 9:54. The peace which Jesus brings is not the quiet of apathy but the serenity of devoted discipleship. Verses 54-56 simply say we ought to be able to interpret the signs of the time just like we can tell the weather. What we need to read the signs is not a special cleverness but just an insight which self-disregard brings into being. We have to say about the passage that the essence of Christianity is that loyalty to Christ has to be stronger than any other loyalty here on earth. I won't take it any further than that. It is a distasteful passage to me which wreaks of too much vengeance and judgment.
Preaching Possibilities
A. It's not the best set of readings I would choose. The Isaiah and Luke readings will connect for a sermon about the judgment of God.
B. Or one could preach on faithfulness and judgment using the Old Testament and Gospel as examples of impending judgment and the New Testament Reading as an example of faithfulness.
1. Isaiah saw the situation as God giving the people everything they needed, and they responded by being unfaithful.
2. Jesus told the people that loyalty to him would cause divisions even within families. He said they ought to be able to see the wrongness of their times and know the impending result.
3. The writer of Hebrews tells of genuine faithfulness and gives many examples. We are urged to endure even under persecution, keep our eye on the goal, and press on.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Begin by reviewing what Isaiah said in last week's reading. The people have blood on their hands but God will forgive.
B. Move to this week's reading. Isaiah likens the peoples' behavior to a vineyard which has good soil and good care, but it produces awful fruit in spite of all its nurture. Because of this lack of good fruit, the vineyard will be destroyed.
C. Move to our time and fruit. We have been given many blessings and God's undeserved grace and forgiveness. But we have also produced some awful fruit: racism, sexism, ageism, nationalism, terrorism, bigotry, greed, revenge, and so on.
D. Speak of the terrible effects on the one who has the above as well as the one who is the victim of it. Really punch this idea home!
E. Move to address the good and bad fruits a congregation can have and its effects on its members and on the community.
F. Make your own witness by stating this has not been your favorite sermon to preach, as it is much too grim and judgmental and pictures God as vindictive rather than the God you know as full of grace and forgiveness.
G. Close with a story which illustrates the above and thank God for the Holy Spirit's help getting you through a tough Sunday of textual preaching.
Prayer For The Day
We thank you, dear Holy Parent, for providing us with so much which ought to produce a lot of good works out of us. Be patient with us when we so often fail to respond in the right way to all your loving kindnesses, and remove from us those things hurtful to others and disappointing to you. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
The conductor of a community orchestra was upset because of poor attendance of musicians at the rehearsals. So he publicly thanked the one member who had not missed a rehearsal. The response was, "It's the least I could do since I won't be at the concert tonight."
Others' responses can be very disappointing but we must not judge them for it. Only God knows all their circumstances.
March 9, 1909, the city water tank in Des Moines collapsed and nearly washed away First Lutheran Church. After rebuilding, there was a foreclosure on their church during the Depression and the congregation bought it back at a reduced price. It's now debt free. Our baptismal water could have the power to move churches. Jesus has bought us back with a big price. We are debt free. All is forgiven.
Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes claimed no one is to blame for anything in our country.
"... the good boy got in bad company; it was the pusher's fault not the drug taker; the person was legally insane at the time of the crime." He ended by saying, "Don't blame me for what I just said. The devil made me do it." Christians can own their behavior and seek forgiveness but often still have to pay the price of it.
The grass in the yard is all brown now for lack of rain, but weeds are thriving in the cracks in the concrete. Interesting how the good often seems to wilt away in very favorable places and the unwanted seems to thrive where we don't want it to survive.
Heads Up Alert On Jeremiah
Perhaps you would like to include in your worship bulletin the following: For the next six weeks we will be reading from the book of Jeremiah for the Old Testament Lesson. In the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible we read: "Jeremiah was always conscious of his call from the Lord to be a prophet, and as such proclaimed words that were spoken first by God and were therefore certain of fulfillment. Judgment is one of his all-pervasive themes. He was careful to point out, however, that repentance, if sincere, would postpone the inevitable. Jeremiah conceived of God as the Creator of all that exists, and as the all-powerful and everywhere present Lord. At the same time he emphasized that God was very much concerned about individual people who were accountable to God."
