Proper 20
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII Cycle C
Seasonal Theme
Jesus' acts of compassion and teaching ministry.
Theme For The Day
God would have us pray for all people and wants all to be saved. So God paid a big price for us.
Old Testament Lesson
Jeremiah 8:18--9:1
A Balm From Gilead
Jeremiah is sorry for the suffering of Israel. He can just hear the people asking, "Where is God? Why doesn't God help us?" In this case in verse 19 the king mentioned is not the Davidic king but is Yahweh. And God's reply is simply to ask, "Why do the people provoke me with this disloyalty?" Add to their misery the fact that harvest season is past and they don't have any food for the year ahead.
This is an often sung and quoted verse about the balm of Gilead (v. 22). East of Jordan is Gilead where a gum was produced from its trees. It was often used as a salve for wounds. Israel is wounded but there is no use calling for all Gilead's healing balm -- it will not cure this wound. Such a sad song, Jeremiah.
New Testament Lesson
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Instructions For Public Prayer
Also a reading for the day of Thanksgiving, this scripture, which was written while Paul is on his fourth missionary journey, is Paul's instruction to his young spiritual son concerning prayer. Perhaps the writer is quoting from a prayer. Verse 2 is also from a prayer.
If we compare these verses with Paul's picture of the strenuous Christian life in 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, it raises serious doubts of Paul as the author of Timothy. Notice that we are to pray "for everyone." It is tempting to pray just for our own narrow needs and community. To pray for everyone widens the vision of the one who prays. And we ought to pray for those in ruling positions that we might have a quiet and tranquil life.
Verse 4 has been controversial over the years. There is an implied universalism. It speaks of God's salvation offered to all. God wants to save all.
Most scholars treat verse 5 as a quotation. Also in this verse is something exclusively Christian: Christ as mediator. Then comes the atonement in verse 6. The word ransom comes from Jesus' words (Mark 10:45). So Christ is presented as an exchange price in the place of all.
Verse 7 has Paul claiming he was appointed by God to be a herald preacher (see 2 Timothy 1:11). Perhaps this is included to motivate Timothy to defend Paul's true apostleship to some at Ephesus who denied it. "Faith and truth" embrace both the spirit of the author and the content of his message.
The Gospel
Luke 16:1-13
The Parable Of The Dishonest Manager
There is lots of irony in this parable and we must keep that in mind as we try to understand it. This story seems to be the exact reverse of the rich man in 12:16-21. Jesus often commended astuteness like this. Examples would be the publicans and harlots who go into the kingdom of God ahead of the Pharisees who are so cautious (Matthew 21:31) or the woman in Mark 7:24-30.
God loves to forgive and is ready to do so; but that involves our forgiving others, too.
I'll admit I find it difficult to preach on this parable. The commending of this steward who was carrying out embezzlement and the rascal debtors who joined him in his dishonesty are hard for me to endorse. Perhaps we could draw the conclusion that we Christians ought to put as much energy on the things that obtain the spiritual as we do on the things which have to do with money and comfort.
Verses 10 and 11 say that our carrying out of a small responsibility is proof of our fitness to doing the greater thing. Verse 13 gives us the teaching that serving God is not part time. We either belong to God or we don't, just like a slave back then either belonged to his/her master or he/she didn't. Herein lies the weakness of our discipleship. We try to do it half-heartily and that's a miserable way to live and practice the faith. It's all or nothing here, folks!
Preaching Possibilities
A. We could use all three lessons today and talk about "God's judgment: three different views."
1. Jeremiah's view is that God will punish like the hot desert winds of Palestine.
2. Paul's view is that God has mercy and most wants to forgive.
3. Jesus' parable says we ought to put as much energy in our spiritual work as we do in gaining worldly wealth.
4. Luke's view is that it's all or nothing. Either we are Christian and loyal to him or we aren't.
B. The parable in Luke will stand alone. But I think it can easily be misunderstood or wrongly interpreted, so I'll leave it alone.
C. Verses 12 and 13 of Luke 16 are rich and full of meaning and can stand alone, in my view, for a powerful sermon on life's priorities.
D. But I'll go with Timothy's letter from Paul today.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Introduction: Tell of someone who is very special to you and how you would like to share with them that which you have learned over the years.
B. Move to today's New Testament Lesson which is a letter to young Timothy whom he considered like a son.
C. Move to the advice Paul gave Timothy.
1. Pray for everyone, including those in high position, and do it that all might live in quiet and peace because of their leadership (vv. 1, 2).
2. Remember that God wants everyone to be saved and know the truth. Our attitude and ministry must always be inclusive and not exclusive (v. 4).
3. Jesus Christ became a human and served as a mediator and ransom for humankind (vv. 5, 6). This means we have a direct connection to the divine and we have had a big price already paid for our sins.
4. Paul was appointed to preach these truths not only to the Jews but also out to the Gentiles.
D. Try placing a summary prayer after each of the four moves above. Perhaps someone of the opposite sex of you, and in a contrasting voice, could offer the prayers throughout the sermon.
E. Move to the so what? Answer what you and your congregation should do in response to the above truths:
1. If you don't have a congregational prayer band/chain and prayer ministry, get one started.
2. Go out intentionally and invite people of other colors to join you in your discipleship.
3. Celebrate in praise the high price God has paid for you. You are loved and very valuable.
4. Consider to whom God has appointed you to go in order to preach the good news.
F. Have a final prayer offered which sums up those things we have learned about ourselves and our God today.
Prayer For The Day
We thank you, dear Holy Parent, that you have made us heralds of the gospel. Keep us mindful here of the great price Christ paid as a ransom for our sins and we pray his mediation will continue for us in heaven. We rejoice that we have you as our God who would have all be forgiven and saved. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
Lyndon Johnson, President of the United States, asked Bill Moyers to offer prayer at the White House (Moyers was a former Baptist minister). He started very softly, so LBJ said, "Speak up, Bill." Moyers replied without ever looking up: "I wasn't speaking to you, Mr. President." Our prayers often are spoken for other people to hear rather than God.
Just north of our church was Bethel Mission, a homeless shelter for "knights of the road." I was walking up there to hand out some hats on a cold January day when I saw two men, one black, the other white, helping a Native American enter through the mission door. All had been drinking. The Native American had a black garbage bag with all his possessions over his shoulder. He was new to the mission. The others were old-timers.
Why can't we do this same kind of welcoming of brothers and sisters well-dressed and sober?
During Nikita Khrushchev's visit to the U.S. he bought material for a new suit. When he got home he was told there was not enough cloth to make the suit. When Khrushchev protested, the tailor told him: "... but you are not as big a man in the U.S. as in Russia." Our greatness is of little consequence as we move to other surroundings, but being purchased with the blood of Christ makes us precious wherever we are.
Note: The above three stories can fit after each of the first three moves in the suggested Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves.
Jesus' acts of compassion and teaching ministry.
Theme For The Day
God would have us pray for all people and wants all to be saved. So God paid a big price for us.
Old Testament Lesson
Jeremiah 8:18--9:1
A Balm From Gilead
Jeremiah is sorry for the suffering of Israel. He can just hear the people asking, "Where is God? Why doesn't God help us?" In this case in verse 19 the king mentioned is not the Davidic king but is Yahweh. And God's reply is simply to ask, "Why do the people provoke me with this disloyalty?" Add to their misery the fact that harvest season is past and they don't have any food for the year ahead.
This is an often sung and quoted verse about the balm of Gilead (v. 22). East of Jordan is Gilead where a gum was produced from its trees. It was often used as a salve for wounds. Israel is wounded but there is no use calling for all Gilead's healing balm -- it will not cure this wound. Such a sad song, Jeremiah.
New Testament Lesson
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Instructions For Public Prayer
Also a reading for the day of Thanksgiving, this scripture, which was written while Paul is on his fourth missionary journey, is Paul's instruction to his young spiritual son concerning prayer. Perhaps the writer is quoting from a prayer. Verse 2 is also from a prayer.
If we compare these verses with Paul's picture of the strenuous Christian life in 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, it raises serious doubts of Paul as the author of Timothy. Notice that we are to pray "for everyone." It is tempting to pray just for our own narrow needs and community. To pray for everyone widens the vision of the one who prays. And we ought to pray for those in ruling positions that we might have a quiet and tranquil life.
Verse 4 has been controversial over the years. There is an implied universalism. It speaks of God's salvation offered to all. God wants to save all.
Most scholars treat verse 5 as a quotation. Also in this verse is something exclusively Christian: Christ as mediator. Then comes the atonement in verse 6. The word ransom comes from Jesus' words (Mark 10:45). So Christ is presented as an exchange price in the place of all.
Verse 7 has Paul claiming he was appointed by God to be a herald preacher (see 2 Timothy 1:11). Perhaps this is included to motivate Timothy to defend Paul's true apostleship to some at Ephesus who denied it. "Faith and truth" embrace both the spirit of the author and the content of his message.
The Gospel
Luke 16:1-13
The Parable Of The Dishonest Manager
There is lots of irony in this parable and we must keep that in mind as we try to understand it. This story seems to be the exact reverse of the rich man in 12:16-21. Jesus often commended astuteness like this. Examples would be the publicans and harlots who go into the kingdom of God ahead of the Pharisees who are so cautious (Matthew 21:31) or the woman in Mark 7:24-30.
God loves to forgive and is ready to do so; but that involves our forgiving others, too.
I'll admit I find it difficult to preach on this parable. The commending of this steward who was carrying out embezzlement and the rascal debtors who joined him in his dishonesty are hard for me to endorse. Perhaps we could draw the conclusion that we Christians ought to put as much energy on the things that obtain the spiritual as we do on the things which have to do with money and comfort.
Verses 10 and 11 say that our carrying out of a small responsibility is proof of our fitness to doing the greater thing. Verse 13 gives us the teaching that serving God is not part time. We either belong to God or we don't, just like a slave back then either belonged to his/her master or he/she didn't. Herein lies the weakness of our discipleship. We try to do it half-heartily and that's a miserable way to live and practice the faith. It's all or nothing here, folks!
Preaching Possibilities
A. We could use all three lessons today and talk about "God's judgment: three different views."
1. Jeremiah's view is that God will punish like the hot desert winds of Palestine.
2. Paul's view is that God has mercy and most wants to forgive.
3. Jesus' parable says we ought to put as much energy in our spiritual work as we do in gaining worldly wealth.
4. Luke's view is that it's all or nothing. Either we are Christian and loyal to him or we aren't.
B. The parable in Luke will stand alone. But I think it can easily be misunderstood or wrongly interpreted, so I'll leave it alone.
C. Verses 12 and 13 of Luke 16 are rich and full of meaning and can stand alone, in my view, for a powerful sermon on life's priorities.
D. But I'll go with Timothy's letter from Paul today.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Introduction: Tell of someone who is very special to you and how you would like to share with them that which you have learned over the years.
B. Move to today's New Testament Lesson which is a letter to young Timothy whom he considered like a son.
C. Move to the advice Paul gave Timothy.
1. Pray for everyone, including those in high position, and do it that all might live in quiet and peace because of their leadership (vv. 1, 2).
2. Remember that God wants everyone to be saved and know the truth. Our attitude and ministry must always be inclusive and not exclusive (v. 4).
3. Jesus Christ became a human and served as a mediator and ransom for humankind (vv. 5, 6). This means we have a direct connection to the divine and we have had a big price already paid for our sins.
4. Paul was appointed to preach these truths not only to the Jews but also out to the Gentiles.
D. Try placing a summary prayer after each of the four moves above. Perhaps someone of the opposite sex of you, and in a contrasting voice, could offer the prayers throughout the sermon.
E. Move to the so what? Answer what you and your congregation should do in response to the above truths:
1. If you don't have a congregational prayer band/chain and prayer ministry, get one started.
2. Go out intentionally and invite people of other colors to join you in your discipleship.
3. Celebrate in praise the high price God has paid for you. You are loved and very valuable.
4. Consider to whom God has appointed you to go in order to preach the good news.
F. Have a final prayer offered which sums up those things we have learned about ourselves and our God today.
Prayer For The Day
We thank you, dear Holy Parent, that you have made us heralds of the gospel. Keep us mindful here of the great price Christ paid as a ransom for our sins and we pray his mediation will continue for us in heaven. We rejoice that we have you as our God who would have all be forgiven and saved. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
Lyndon Johnson, President of the United States, asked Bill Moyers to offer prayer at the White House (Moyers was a former Baptist minister). He started very softly, so LBJ said, "Speak up, Bill." Moyers replied without ever looking up: "I wasn't speaking to you, Mr. President." Our prayers often are spoken for other people to hear rather than God.
Just north of our church was Bethel Mission, a homeless shelter for "knights of the road." I was walking up there to hand out some hats on a cold January day when I saw two men, one black, the other white, helping a Native American enter through the mission door. All had been drinking. The Native American had a black garbage bag with all his possessions over his shoulder. He was new to the mission. The others were old-timers.
Why can't we do this same kind of welcoming of brothers and sisters well-dressed and sober?
During Nikita Khrushchev's visit to the U.S. he bought material for a new suit. When he got home he was told there was not enough cloth to make the suit. When Khrushchev protested, the tailor told him: "... but you are not as big a man in the U.S. as in Russia." Our greatness is of little consequence as we move to other surroundings, but being purchased with the blood of Christ makes us precious wherever we are.
Note: The above three stories can fit after each of the first three moves in the suggested Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves.
