Proper 20, Pentecost 18, Ordinary Time 25
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle A
Object:
Seasonal Theme
The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Christ.
Theme For The Day
The generosity of God providing according to our needs and not our merit.
Old Testament Lesson
Exodus 16:2-15
Bread From Heaven
God gives quail for meat and manna for bread to the hungry, grumbling Israelites when they found themselves in a lonely and barren land. It was so bad they began to regret they had left Egypt where the suffering wasn't this severe. The newness of freedom has worn off and the hardship of wilderness life has set in, so the people complain against their leaders. God's glory was to be recognized in the supply of food given to them. The manna would be their diet for the next forty years (v. 35; cf. Joshua 5:12). According to Deuteronomy 8:3, 16, this was also "spiritual food." It foreshadowed Christ, the true bread from heaven. Manhu means: what is it? This may be what they first asked when the saw it. The Holman Bible Dictionary (p. 916) defines it as a "grain-like substance which appeared around the Israelites' camp each morning with the dew. It was ground and baked into cakes." Also explained is that "today a type of manna has been identified with the secretion left on tamarisk bushes by insects feeding on the sap." The important element here is that God provided it at the right time to the people.
New Testament Lesson
Philippians 1:21-30
"In Christ"
Paul is now in prison and simply tells the Philippian Christians whether he lives or dies makes little difference since he is "in Christ" either way. Barclay writes in this passage that for Paul, Christ was the inspiration, power, task, strength, and reward of life. So Paul was caught between two desires -- to die and be with Christ and to live and continue with them which seemed very important that he could share their joy in the faith.
The picture Paul paints of the Christian's death is a beautiful one. The word used here is the Greek for striking camps, setting sail, or solving problems. We die, move on, depart on a trip, and go where problems find solutions. Paul asks them (and us) to live in such a way that others can see what it means to live a life in Christ.
If these Christians can become united in their struggles, they will not need fear their opponents (v. 28). Christianity is not presented as easy (v. 29) but they now are in the same struggle they saw Paul in when he was first with them (see Acts 16:19). So now they have the privilege of suffering as he did then and still does.
The Gospel
Matthew 20:1-16
Laborers In The Vineyard
The first part of this story will be well understood in my part of the world which is northern California and wine country. Here it's common to be in a hurry to harvest the grapes at just the right time before the devastating forecasted weather will ruin the crop for making the best wine. Large numbers of temporary workers are recruited over a short period of time. But this outlandish way of paying workers would not be tolerated for a moment! Only Matthew keeps this parable. It probably should end with the two questions in verse 15.
It's a story about God's grace no matter when you come into the kingdom. The central figure is not the disgruntled workers but rather the generous landowner. Older commentaries speak more metaphorically with the vineyard representing eternal life. And the idea is we have eternal life not by earning it but by a gift from God. It's a parable about God's grace no matter when you come into the kingdom seen in this light.
There are other approaches. These workers are paid according to their needs not according to what they deserve. Then it becomes a picture of the generosity of God without regard to justice. Perhaps the whole lesson is that we are to treat others that way because God has treated us this way. In that case Jesus may have been aiming straight at his own disciples!
Preaching Possibilities
A. All three readings could be connected with the theme of struggle and our response to it. It would be a novel approach.
1. The Old Testament Reading tells of the Israelites grumbling about the struggle in the wilderness as they traveled. Little food was available. They wished they were back in Egypt. They complained and complained.
2. In the Second Reading both Paul and the Philippians struggled. Paul counted it a privilege to be in jail and struggle (v. 29). His advice was to live worthy of the gospel and be unified working side by side having a common spirit. (v. 27). Jesus' answer to all this suffering and grumbling was to assure them God was a gracious God. God's generosity can be counted on.
B. Another theme which could be used with all three readings would be that God gives us what we need and often more than we deserve.
1. When the Israelites were in need of bread and meat, God provided it in manna and quails.
2. When Paul and the Philippians needed strength to get through God gave them faith (v. 25) and the belief that it's a privilege to suffer for Christ.
3. When those workers in the vineyard for a very short time needed a full day's wages anyhow -- the owner gave it to them. We have a gracious, generous God who provides for us what we really need.
C. Of course the Old Testament Reading will stand alone as a lesson in God's provision. God provides our daily needs, our spiritual leaders, and a Bread from Heaven (Jesus in the sacrament of the altar).1
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Let us try my formula for a narrative sermon and base it on the Gospel Reading of the parable of "The Laborers in the Vineyard."
Sermon title: "Grace Isn't Fair"
1. Run the story. Put this parable in your own words or in a contemporary context. It could be about construction workers today being hired out of a union hall. Or it could be workers without "green cards" being hired out of the corner of a town to harvest a perishable crop.
2. Explain why you think the author recorded this parable. Matthew is the teaching gospel and he may have wanted Jews not to think they were better Christians than the Gentiles who just joined.
3. What does this say about us? When the going gets tough, we often just complain. When someone else gets more than what he deserves, we often are jealous.
4. What does this say about God? God is generous and gives to us according to our needs rather than what we deserve.
5. What is the flip side of this story? The other side of this story is that the owner who was so generous is the one who most benefited from the sharing. We who have so much need to give a lot away. We most benefit from doing it.
6. So what? Let us find ways to share what we have even with those who don't deserve it. List a couple places, people, organizations in the community where and how we can do it, individually and as a congregation.
7. Frame the sermon. Return now to the original story which was either the parable as Jesus told it or your own contemporary one. Put a conclusion on it which surprises or delights your hearers and finish by quoting verse 16.
Prayer Of The Day
Make us generous, O God. When we are tempted to complain and grumble, remind us of the privilege of suffering on your behalf. Remove jealousy from our hearts and help us here today to be your disciples not resentful of others; but welcoming and celebrating their good fortune. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Stories
Because Dwaine Pittman was ill on the day we seven were examined before confirmation, the questions Reverend Wessel had promised us were out of order. I gave the answers I had memorized anyway for each seventh question. Reverend Wessel never let on they were the wrong answers. What an example of grace he granted to us that day!
In an HBO movie Tell Me What You Want, Max Herschel's daughter tells him, as he tries to keep track of what his lover had done and was doing, "Don't keep books on people you love." Like God's love for us, which is grace-filled, we accept the ones we love without demanding they live as we want. We accept them as they are.
A country song on radio has the line: "Somewhere between hell-raising and amazing grace." Perhaps that's a good description of where we humans live.
In our chapel service at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong, a Chinese woman, Lo Wai Ling, got the response to a prayer for generosity a little wrong. She printed for our response the words: "Dear Lord, we thank you heartlessly." It's what the vineyard owner did not do and exactly what whose who worked all day (perhaps the disciples) did do!
_____________
1. See the hymn, "O Living Bread From Heaven" by Johann Rist. It may be found in Lutheran Book of Worship, Augsburg Publishing, 1978, hymn #197.
The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Christ.
Theme For The Day
The generosity of God providing according to our needs and not our merit.
Old Testament Lesson
Exodus 16:2-15
Bread From Heaven
God gives quail for meat and manna for bread to the hungry, grumbling Israelites when they found themselves in a lonely and barren land. It was so bad they began to regret they had left Egypt where the suffering wasn't this severe. The newness of freedom has worn off and the hardship of wilderness life has set in, so the people complain against their leaders. God's glory was to be recognized in the supply of food given to them. The manna would be their diet for the next forty years (v. 35; cf. Joshua 5:12). According to Deuteronomy 8:3, 16, this was also "spiritual food." It foreshadowed Christ, the true bread from heaven. Manhu means: what is it? This may be what they first asked when the saw it. The Holman Bible Dictionary (p. 916) defines it as a "grain-like substance which appeared around the Israelites' camp each morning with the dew. It was ground and baked into cakes." Also explained is that "today a type of manna has been identified with the secretion left on tamarisk bushes by insects feeding on the sap." The important element here is that God provided it at the right time to the people.
New Testament Lesson
Philippians 1:21-30
"In Christ"
Paul is now in prison and simply tells the Philippian Christians whether he lives or dies makes little difference since he is "in Christ" either way. Barclay writes in this passage that for Paul, Christ was the inspiration, power, task, strength, and reward of life. So Paul was caught between two desires -- to die and be with Christ and to live and continue with them which seemed very important that he could share their joy in the faith.
The picture Paul paints of the Christian's death is a beautiful one. The word used here is the Greek for striking camps, setting sail, or solving problems. We die, move on, depart on a trip, and go where problems find solutions. Paul asks them (and us) to live in such a way that others can see what it means to live a life in Christ.
If these Christians can become united in their struggles, they will not need fear their opponents (v. 28). Christianity is not presented as easy (v. 29) but they now are in the same struggle they saw Paul in when he was first with them (see Acts 16:19). So now they have the privilege of suffering as he did then and still does.
The Gospel
Matthew 20:1-16
Laborers In The Vineyard
The first part of this story will be well understood in my part of the world which is northern California and wine country. Here it's common to be in a hurry to harvest the grapes at just the right time before the devastating forecasted weather will ruin the crop for making the best wine. Large numbers of temporary workers are recruited over a short period of time. But this outlandish way of paying workers would not be tolerated for a moment! Only Matthew keeps this parable. It probably should end with the two questions in verse 15.
It's a story about God's grace no matter when you come into the kingdom. The central figure is not the disgruntled workers but rather the generous landowner. Older commentaries speak more metaphorically with the vineyard representing eternal life. And the idea is we have eternal life not by earning it but by a gift from God. It's a parable about God's grace no matter when you come into the kingdom seen in this light.
There are other approaches. These workers are paid according to their needs not according to what they deserve. Then it becomes a picture of the generosity of God without regard to justice. Perhaps the whole lesson is that we are to treat others that way because God has treated us this way. In that case Jesus may have been aiming straight at his own disciples!
Preaching Possibilities
A. All three readings could be connected with the theme of struggle and our response to it. It would be a novel approach.
1. The Old Testament Reading tells of the Israelites grumbling about the struggle in the wilderness as they traveled. Little food was available. They wished they were back in Egypt. They complained and complained.
2. In the Second Reading both Paul and the Philippians struggled. Paul counted it a privilege to be in jail and struggle (v. 29). His advice was to live worthy of the gospel and be unified working side by side having a common spirit. (v. 27). Jesus' answer to all this suffering and grumbling was to assure them God was a gracious God. God's generosity can be counted on.
B. Another theme which could be used with all three readings would be that God gives us what we need and often more than we deserve.
1. When the Israelites were in need of bread and meat, God provided it in manna and quails.
2. When Paul and the Philippians needed strength to get through God gave them faith (v. 25) and the belief that it's a privilege to suffer for Christ.
3. When those workers in the vineyard for a very short time needed a full day's wages anyhow -- the owner gave it to them. We have a gracious, generous God who provides for us what we really need.
C. Of course the Old Testament Reading will stand alone as a lesson in God's provision. God provides our daily needs, our spiritual leaders, and a Bread from Heaven (Jesus in the sacrament of the altar).1
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Let us try my formula for a narrative sermon and base it on the Gospel Reading of the parable of "The Laborers in the Vineyard."
Sermon title: "Grace Isn't Fair"
1. Run the story. Put this parable in your own words or in a contemporary context. It could be about construction workers today being hired out of a union hall. Or it could be workers without "green cards" being hired out of the corner of a town to harvest a perishable crop.
2. Explain why you think the author recorded this parable. Matthew is the teaching gospel and he may have wanted Jews not to think they were better Christians than the Gentiles who just joined.
3. What does this say about us? When the going gets tough, we often just complain. When someone else gets more than what he deserves, we often are jealous.
4. What does this say about God? God is generous and gives to us according to our needs rather than what we deserve.
5. What is the flip side of this story? The other side of this story is that the owner who was so generous is the one who most benefited from the sharing. We who have so much need to give a lot away. We most benefit from doing it.
6. So what? Let us find ways to share what we have even with those who don't deserve it. List a couple places, people, organizations in the community where and how we can do it, individually and as a congregation.
7. Frame the sermon. Return now to the original story which was either the parable as Jesus told it or your own contemporary one. Put a conclusion on it which surprises or delights your hearers and finish by quoting verse 16.
Prayer Of The Day
Make us generous, O God. When we are tempted to complain and grumble, remind us of the privilege of suffering on your behalf. Remove jealousy from our hearts and help us here today to be your disciples not resentful of others; but welcoming and celebrating their good fortune. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Stories
Because Dwaine Pittman was ill on the day we seven were examined before confirmation, the questions Reverend Wessel had promised us were out of order. I gave the answers I had memorized anyway for each seventh question. Reverend Wessel never let on they were the wrong answers. What an example of grace he granted to us that day!
In an HBO movie Tell Me What You Want, Max Herschel's daughter tells him, as he tries to keep track of what his lover had done and was doing, "Don't keep books on people you love." Like God's love for us, which is grace-filled, we accept the ones we love without demanding they live as we want. We accept them as they are.
A country song on radio has the line: "Somewhere between hell-raising and amazing grace." Perhaps that's a good description of where we humans live.
In our chapel service at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong, a Chinese woman, Lo Wai Ling, got the response to a prayer for generosity a little wrong. She printed for our response the words: "Dear Lord, we thank you heartlessly." It's what the vineyard owner did not do and exactly what whose who worked all day (perhaps the disciples) did do!
_____________
1. See the hymn, "O Living Bread From Heaven" by Johann Rist. It may be found in Lutheran Book of Worship, Augsburg Publishing, 1978, hymn #197.
