Proper 20
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series IV
In this epilogue in Proverbs, a godly woman is described. It
is a picture far from the view that in Old Testament times, a
woman was a nobody, a man's property without privileges and
rights. She is a wife and mother who fears the Lord. Her husband
and children praise her and call her blessed.
Lesson 2: James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a (C)
In this lesson, James distinguishes between the types of
wisdom. Earthly wisdom is characterized by ambition, rivalry and
selfishness. This kind of wisdom provides disorder and confusion.
Heavenly wisdom comes from God. This wisdom is "pure, peaceable,
gentle," etc. The heavenly wise do not boast of themselves, but
promote peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. The source of
fighting and killing each other is the heart which is full of
selfish desire.
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37 (C, E, L, RC)
On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus announces a second time that he
is going there to suffer, die and rise on the third day. To avoid
being detained, he travels incognito. Unlike the first
announcement, the disciples do not understand it and are afraid
to ask him the meaning of it. When the group reached Capernaum,
Jesus asked them what they were discussing during the walk. They
were too embarrassed to answer, for they had discussed who would
be number one in the second kingdom. Jesus taught that the one to
be first must be last as a servant. To illustrate he takes a
child in his arms, for in that day women and children were
considered second-class citizens. Jesus makes the point that the
greatest will minister to one like a child in his name, and when
he does, he serves both Christ and God.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 1 (C) -- "Happy are those who do not follow the advice
of the wicked." (v. 1)
Psalm 54 (E); Psalm 54:1-4, 6-7a
Prayer Of The Day
"Lord God, you call us to work in your vineyard and leave no
one standing idle. Set us to our tasks in the work of your
kingdom, and help us to order our lives by your wisdom."
Hymn Of The Day
"All Depends On Our Possessing"
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37 (C, E, L, RC)
1. Men (v. 31). In the previous death forecast, Jesus said
that he would suffer at the hands of religious leaders. In this
second announcement, "men" will kill him. The Son of
248
Man will be crucified by man. It is surely more accurate to say
"men," because all men are responsible for Jesus' death. Men are
by nature sinful and their sins crucify the Lord of life. Man is
basically a rebel and he is bent toward evil. It means we all of
every generation are guilty and we were there at the cross.
2. Ask (v. 32). Because the disciples did not understand the
forecast of his passion, they had reason to ask him for an
explanation. But they were afraid to ask. Why should they be
afraid of Jesus? They often asked questions and received kind
answers. Were they afraid because they did not want to face the
awful truth about his tragic end? We would rather put our heads
in the sand than face reality.
3. Silent (v. 34). Jesus was not afraid to ask the disciples'
questions. Because of his divine knowledge, he did not have to
ask them what they were talking about as they walked to
Capernaum. He asked to bring the subject out into the open. What
were they talking about? They were debating who would be the
greatest in the kingdom Jesus was soon to establish. Their
silence indicated they were ashamed to admit they were talking
about their own selfish advancement.
4. Greatest (v. 34). It is natural and human to want to get to
the top, to the head of the line. Who wants to be second or last?
Jesus did not condemn them for wanting to be number one. It was a
matter of how to be first. He explained that in his kingdom the
first would be last and servant of all. This is upside down
according to the world's standards. Jesus gave the example: He
was going to suffer and die for men. He used a child to
demonstrate the principle -- give attention and care to one as
unimportant and powerless as a child.
Lesson 1: Proverbs 31:10-31 (C)
1. Wife (v. 10). She is not an ordinary wife. She is precious
to her husband. He trusts her and does him good. He and his
children call her blessed.
2. Works (v. 13). The wife works day and night. She prepares
food for her family and makes them clothing. She does not eat the
bread of idleness.
3. Fears the Lord (v. 30). Not only does she work hard in
caring for her family, but she is a devout woman. She teaches
kindness and fears the Lord. She is generous to the poor. The
secret of her greatness is her relationship to the Lord. Above
all, she is a godly woman. Her husband and children deservedly
praise her.
Lesson 2: James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a (C)
1. Wise (v. 13). Who is wise? Who is the smart one? According
to James, all people are wise according to two categories. There
is an earthly wisdom which is of the devil. According to his
wisdom, it is smart to be jealous and selfish. If we can get away
with evil, we think we are pretty clever. The other kind of
wisdom comes from above. It comes from God, it is a wisdom that
results in peace and good deeds.
2. Peace (v. 18). Peace sows righteousness and out of
righteousness comes peace. As long as people do not treat one
another justly, there will never be peace. If there is economic
injustice, there will never be peace between the "have" and "have
not" nations. Goodwill, honesty and fairness are pre-conditions
of peace. As long as people and nations are unChristian in their
human relations, there can be no peace.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37 (C, E, L, RC)
1. When silence is not golden. 9:32, 34
Need: In a world of noise and chatter, in a world of talk-talk
by radio and television, silence seems to be golden. There are
times, however, when silence is not golden but incriminating. To
appeal to the Fifth Amendment in order to remain silent usually
means that the silence suggests guilt. In this Gospel lesson, the
disciples are silent when they should have been vocal. We, too,
can often be in the same situation.
249
Outline: When silence is not golden --
a. The silence of fear -- v. 32.
1. Fear of facing reality; the fact of suffering.
b. The silence of shame -- v. 34.
1. The disciples were ashamed to say they argued about
greatness.
2. How number two can be number one. 9:33-37
Need: One of the best sellers in recent years has been the
book, Looking Out for Number One. It unashamedly is a book to
show how you are number one. During his boxing career, Muhammed
Ali used to exclaim, "I am the greatest!" When an athletic team
wins, often the players leave the field or court by holding up
one finger -- they are number one! The disciples on the way to
Jerusalem were discussing who would be number one in Christ's
coming kingdom. Jesus did not condemn them for wanting to be the
greatest, but he pointed out what constituted greatness and how
it could be obtained.
Outline: How you can be a Christian number one --
a. Be humble -- v. 35.
b. Identify with the least of humanity -- v. 36.
c. Serve people -- vv. 35, 36.
3. We should know better! 9:32
Need: Mark emphasizes throughout his gospel the lack of
understanding of Jesus by the disciples. In this second
announcement of his coming passion, the disciples still did not
understand the meaning of his upcoming suffering and death and
were afraid to ask Jesus about the meaning of it all. We cannot
fault the disciples because if we were there, we would perhaps
have been just as dense. Hindsight is better than foresight. We
really cannot understand the cross until after it has happened.
Therefore, we should know better the meaning of the cross than
the disciples did. But, do we?
Outline: The inevitability of the cross -- v. 31. -- The
inevitability of the conflict between man and the Son of Man.
a. The necessity of the cross -- "must" -- v. 31.
b. The victory of the cross -- "After three days he will
rise" -- v. 31.
Lesson 1: Proverbs 31:10-31 (C)
1. The ideal woman. 31:10-31
Need: In today's period of women's demand for liberations, our
text describes an ideal woman. What more could a woman possibly
want? It is not a matter of demanding rights and privileges or a
plea to be equal to man, but this woman is praised for her
service to her family.
Outline: Marks of an ideal woman --
a. Companion to her husband -- vv. 11, 12.
b. Character -- vv. 25, 26.
c. Charity -- v. 20.
d. Consecration to the Lord -- v. 30b.
2. A wonderful wife. 31:10-12, 25-28
Need: What woman would make a wonderful wife and mother? Every
man looks for one, but according to the divorce rate, half of the
husbands and wives get a divorce because they cannot stand each
other. The need is to find a person who would be a wonderful
wife.
Outline: What constitutes a wonderful wife?
a. A woman a husband can trust -- v. 11.
b. A woman of strength and dignity -- v. 25.
c. A woman of wisdom -- v. 26.
d. A woman worthy of praise -- v. 28.
250
Lesson 2: James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a (C)
1. It's smart to be good! 3:13-18
Need: The world thinks that the smart one is the one who can
get away with cheating, lying, stealing and even murder. If a
person can beat another out of something, we call that person
"smart." This is not the case with Jesus. He distinguishes two
kinds of wisdom: earthly and heavenly. The former is foolishness
but the latter is really true wisdom.
Outline: Our text tells us --
a. It is unwise to be bad -- vv. 13-16.
The consequences are "disorder and vile practices."
b. It is wise to be good -- vv. 17-18.
Harvest of being good: righteousness and peace.
2. Peace in the church. 3:13-18
Need: It should not be, but many a church is afflicted with
internal war: divisions, cliques, rivalries. It is often said,
"The church is split right down the middle." Sometimes the pastor
is caught between the warring factions and he is forced to seek
another field. In this sermon we can consider the causes of the
internal dissension and show how peace can be restored and
maintained.
Outline: Let us consider --
a. The source of dissension -- vv. 14-16.
Devilish spirit of jealousy, selfishness, boastfulness,
insincerity.
Result: disorder.
b. The way to peace and harmony -- vv. 17-18.
Heavenly wisdom of righteousness.
251
is a picture far from the view that in Old Testament times, a
woman was a nobody, a man's property without privileges and
rights. She is a wife and mother who fears the Lord. Her husband
and children praise her and call her blessed.
Lesson 2: James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a (C)
In this lesson, James distinguishes between the types of
wisdom. Earthly wisdom is characterized by ambition, rivalry and
selfishness. This kind of wisdom provides disorder and confusion.
Heavenly wisdom comes from God. This wisdom is "pure, peaceable,
gentle," etc. The heavenly wise do not boast of themselves, but
promote peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. The source of
fighting and killing each other is the heart which is full of
selfish desire.
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37 (C, E, L, RC)
On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus announces a second time that he
is going there to suffer, die and rise on the third day. To avoid
being detained, he travels incognito. Unlike the first
announcement, the disciples do not understand it and are afraid
to ask him the meaning of it. When the group reached Capernaum,
Jesus asked them what they were discussing during the walk. They
were too embarrassed to answer, for they had discussed who would
be number one in the second kingdom. Jesus taught that the one to
be first must be last as a servant. To illustrate he takes a
child in his arms, for in that day women and children were
considered second-class citizens. Jesus makes the point that the
greatest will minister to one like a child in his name, and when
he does, he serves both Christ and God.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 1 (C) -- "Happy are those who do not follow the advice
of the wicked." (v. 1)
Psalm 54 (E); Psalm 54:1-4, 6-7a
Prayer Of The Day
"Lord God, you call us to work in your vineyard and leave no
one standing idle. Set us to our tasks in the work of your
kingdom, and help us to order our lives by your wisdom."
Hymn Of The Day
"All Depends On Our Possessing"
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37 (C, E, L, RC)
1. Men (v. 31). In the previous death forecast, Jesus said
that he would suffer at the hands of religious leaders. In this
second announcement, "men" will kill him. The Son of
248
Man will be crucified by man. It is surely more accurate to say
"men," because all men are responsible for Jesus' death. Men are
by nature sinful and their sins crucify the Lord of life. Man is
basically a rebel and he is bent toward evil. It means we all of
every generation are guilty and we were there at the cross.
2. Ask (v. 32). Because the disciples did not understand the
forecast of his passion, they had reason to ask him for an
explanation. But they were afraid to ask. Why should they be
afraid of Jesus? They often asked questions and received kind
answers. Were they afraid because they did not want to face the
awful truth about his tragic end? We would rather put our heads
in the sand than face reality.
3. Silent (v. 34). Jesus was not afraid to ask the disciples'
questions. Because of his divine knowledge, he did not have to
ask them what they were talking about as they walked to
Capernaum. He asked to bring the subject out into the open. What
were they talking about? They were debating who would be the
greatest in the kingdom Jesus was soon to establish. Their
silence indicated they were ashamed to admit they were talking
about their own selfish advancement.
4. Greatest (v. 34). It is natural and human to want to get to
the top, to the head of the line. Who wants to be second or last?
Jesus did not condemn them for wanting to be number one. It was a
matter of how to be first. He explained that in his kingdom the
first would be last and servant of all. This is upside down
according to the world's standards. Jesus gave the example: He
was going to suffer and die for men. He used a child to
demonstrate the principle -- give attention and care to one as
unimportant and powerless as a child.
Lesson 1: Proverbs 31:10-31 (C)
1. Wife (v. 10). She is not an ordinary wife. She is precious
to her husband. He trusts her and does him good. He and his
children call her blessed.
2. Works (v. 13). The wife works day and night. She prepares
food for her family and makes them clothing. She does not eat the
bread of idleness.
3. Fears the Lord (v. 30). Not only does she work hard in
caring for her family, but she is a devout woman. She teaches
kindness and fears the Lord. She is generous to the poor. The
secret of her greatness is her relationship to the Lord. Above
all, she is a godly woman. Her husband and children deservedly
praise her.
Lesson 2: James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a (C)
1. Wise (v. 13). Who is wise? Who is the smart one? According
to James, all people are wise according to two categories. There
is an earthly wisdom which is of the devil. According to his
wisdom, it is smart to be jealous and selfish. If we can get away
with evil, we think we are pretty clever. The other kind of
wisdom comes from above. It comes from God, it is a wisdom that
results in peace and good deeds.
2. Peace (v. 18). Peace sows righteousness and out of
righteousness comes peace. As long as people do not treat one
another justly, there will never be peace. If there is economic
injustice, there will never be peace between the "have" and "have
not" nations. Goodwill, honesty and fairness are pre-conditions
of peace. As long as people and nations are unChristian in their
human relations, there can be no peace.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37 (C, E, L, RC)
1. When silence is not golden. 9:32, 34
Need: In a world of noise and chatter, in a world of talk-talk
by radio and television, silence seems to be golden. There are
times, however, when silence is not golden but incriminating. To
appeal to the Fifth Amendment in order to remain silent usually
means that the silence suggests guilt. In this Gospel lesson, the
disciples are silent when they should have been vocal. We, too,
can often be in the same situation.
249
Outline: When silence is not golden --
a. The silence of fear -- v. 32.
1. Fear of facing reality; the fact of suffering.
b. The silence of shame -- v. 34.
1. The disciples were ashamed to say they argued about
greatness.
2. How number two can be number one. 9:33-37
Need: One of the best sellers in recent years has been the
book, Looking Out for Number One. It unashamedly is a book to
show how you are number one. During his boxing career, Muhammed
Ali used to exclaim, "I am the greatest!" When an athletic team
wins, often the players leave the field or court by holding up
one finger -- they are number one! The disciples on the way to
Jerusalem were discussing who would be number one in Christ's
coming kingdom. Jesus did not condemn them for wanting to be the
greatest, but he pointed out what constituted greatness and how
it could be obtained.
Outline: How you can be a Christian number one --
a. Be humble -- v. 35.
b. Identify with the least of humanity -- v. 36.
c. Serve people -- vv. 35, 36.
3. We should know better! 9:32
Need: Mark emphasizes throughout his gospel the lack of
understanding of Jesus by the disciples. In this second
announcement of his coming passion, the disciples still did not
understand the meaning of his upcoming suffering and death and
were afraid to ask Jesus about the meaning of it all. We cannot
fault the disciples because if we were there, we would perhaps
have been just as dense. Hindsight is better than foresight. We
really cannot understand the cross until after it has happened.
Therefore, we should know better the meaning of the cross than
the disciples did. But, do we?
Outline: The inevitability of the cross -- v. 31. -- The
inevitability of the conflict between man and the Son of Man.
a. The necessity of the cross -- "must" -- v. 31.
b. The victory of the cross -- "After three days he will
rise" -- v. 31.
Lesson 1: Proverbs 31:10-31 (C)
1. The ideal woman. 31:10-31
Need: In today's period of women's demand for liberations, our
text describes an ideal woman. What more could a woman possibly
want? It is not a matter of demanding rights and privileges or a
plea to be equal to man, but this woman is praised for her
service to her family.
Outline: Marks of an ideal woman --
a. Companion to her husband -- vv. 11, 12.
b. Character -- vv. 25, 26.
c. Charity -- v. 20.
d. Consecration to the Lord -- v. 30b.
2. A wonderful wife. 31:10-12, 25-28
Need: What woman would make a wonderful wife and mother? Every
man looks for one, but according to the divorce rate, half of the
husbands and wives get a divorce because they cannot stand each
other. The need is to find a person who would be a wonderful
wife.
Outline: What constitutes a wonderful wife?
a. A woman a husband can trust -- v. 11.
b. A woman of strength and dignity -- v. 25.
c. A woman of wisdom -- v. 26.
d. A woman worthy of praise -- v. 28.
250
Lesson 2: James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a (C)
1. It's smart to be good! 3:13-18
Need: The world thinks that the smart one is the one who can
get away with cheating, lying, stealing and even murder. If a
person can beat another out of something, we call that person
"smart." This is not the case with Jesus. He distinguishes two
kinds of wisdom: earthly and heavenly. The former is foolishness
but the latter is really true wisdom.
Outline: Our text tells us --
a. It is unwise to be bad -- vv. 13-16.
The consequences are "disorder and vile practices."
b. It is wise to be good -- vv. 17-18.
Harvest of being good: righteousness and peace.
2. Peace in the church. 3:13-18
Need: It should not be, but many a church is afflicted with
internal war: divisions, cliques, rivalries. It is often said,
"The church is split right down the middle." Sometimes the pastor
is caught between the warring factions and he is forced to seek
another field. In this sermon we can consider the causes of the
internal dissension and show how peace can be restored and
maintained.
Outline: Let us consider --
a. The source of dissension -- vv. 14-16.
Devilish spirit of jealousy, selfishness, boastfulness,
insincerity.
Result: disorder.
b. The way to peace and harmony -- vv. 17-18.
Heavenly wisdom of righteousness.
251
