SermonStudio

In Job 23, Job responds to Eliphaz, one of Job's supposed
friends and comforters. In this chapter Job longs for an
experience with God to present his case to God. But, Job only
experiences the absence of God. This absence terrifies Job and he
wishes he could vanish in the darkness caused by God's absence.

Lesson 2: Hebrews 4:12-16 (C)
In the first four chapters, the author of Hebrews demonstrates
the superiority of Jesus over angels, Moses and Joshua. In
Chapter 3 we are told of the people under Moses who were
disobedient in that they refused to accept the report of Caleb
and Joshua concerning the advisibility of entering the promised
land, and then led a revolt against Moses. As punishment, none
but Caleb and Joshua were permitted to enter the promised land.
Now Chapter 4 assures us that Christians have the promise of rest
in God by entering the promised land of heaven. If God's people
today are faithful and obedient, they will enter God's rest, a
sabbath rest from the labors of life.

Gospel: Mark 10:17-31 (C)
The lection deals with the power of wealth to keep one from
entering God's kingdom and thereby inheriting eternal life. (v.
25) On the other hand, if wealth is secondary to Jesus, a rich
man can enter the kingdom. (v. 27) The occasion for this teaching
is a man (rich young ruler) who asks Jesus how he can receive
eternal life, life not necessarily in its quantitative but in its
qualitative dimension. His kneeling shows that he really wants
more than physical life; he comes begging. Does he see Jesus as
the Son of God because he calls Jesus "good?" Jesus points out to
him that only God is good. Though he obeys the commandments, he
still does not have true life. Jesus perceives that his problem
is wealth which keeps him from God, the Author of life. The man
refuses to give up his wealth to follow and walks away from
eternal life. But those who give up everything to follow Jesus
are promised the reward of eternal life.

Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 22:1-15 (C) -- "O my God, I cry by day, but you do not
answer." (v. 2)
Psalm 90 (E); Psalm 90:12-17 (L)

Prayer Of The Day
"Almighty God, source of every blessing, your generous
goodness comes to us anew every day. By the work of your Spirit,
lead us to acknowledge your goodness, give thanks for your
benefits and serve you in willing obedience." (Note the
possibility of a sermon on this prayer:)
a. "Acknowledge your goodness."
b. "Give thanks for your benefits."
c. "Serve you in willing obedience."

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Hymn Of The Day
"Thee Will I Love, My Strength"

THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Mark 10:17-31 (C)
1. Knelt (v. 17). The man ran up to Jesus and knelt before
him. There is a meaning to posture. When the President of the
U.S.A. enters a room, people stand. Before whom would you kneel?
In Jesus' day one would not kneel before even a rabbi. In this
young man's mind, Jesus must have been the Son of God. A further
indication is the man's calling Jesus "good." As Jesus pointed
out to him, only God is good. We kneel before a holy presence.
Isn't it sad that some churches make no provision for people to
kneel before God? Moreover, kneeling expresses intensity of
desire. We get down on our knees to beg for mercy. The young
ruler expressed his intense desire for eternal life by falling on
his knees.
2. Good (v. 18). The youth called Jesus a "good teacher."
Jesus did not accept flattery. He reminded him that only God is
good. Did he mean to say that he was not God? Was this the man's
way of acknowledging Jesus as Son of God, Messiah? "Good" and
"God" have the same root. To be good is to be godly. It is the
nature of God to be good. It is possible for humans to do good as
the youth admitted that he obeyed God's commands. Because one is
good, he does good. One is good to the extent that he has the
good God in his heart.
3. Know (v. 19). How did Jesus know the man knew the
commandment? Could it be assumed that everyone in Jesus' day was
taught the commands of God? It could not be taken for granted in
today's America. A Gallup poll revealed that only 40 percent of
American Protestants can give five of the 10 commandments. How
can the laws be obeyed if they are not known? If they are not
known, there is no guarantee that they will be obeyed. Home and
church should see a challenge here to teach the Bible to children
and youth.
4. Look (vv. 21, 27). Look and love. How can we love if we do
not see the person? Jesus looked at the young man and saw his
fine qualities, eagerness for life and bright potential as a
follower. Often someone asks, "What does he see in her?" He sees
something he can love. Also, Jesus looked at his disciples when
they were discussing the possibility of rich people entering the
kingdom. To get his point across, he looked at them. Look me in
the eye when you say it, and I will probably believe you!

Lesson 1: Job 23:1-9, 16-17 (C)
1. Complaint (v. 1). Job has a complaint against God. What is
it? He is a righteous man but he suffers as a terrible sinner.
His friends accuse him of being a sinner and this is supposed to
explain his suffering. Job will not admit he is a sinner because
he must be honest with himself. He has not done wrong and
therefore this is a false explanation.
2. Find (v. 3). Job wants to find God to get an answer to his
suffering. He wants to know why a righteous person suffers.
Wherever he turns, God is not there. He is experiencing the
absence of the presence of God. Job lived at a time when he did
not have Christ nor the Bible where we find God today.
3. Terror (v. 16). What is the result of the absence of God?
For Job it meant he was terrified. He was all alone with his
misery without an explanation for its existence. His only
solution is the wish for complete darkness, the darkness of
death. Then he would be free of his anxiety and misery.

Lesson 2: Hebrews 4:12-16 (C)
1. Judge (v. 12). Can anyone fool God? To enter God's rest we
must be faithful to him and his Word and obedient to his will.
Can we feign loyalty and obedience? This verse tells us we cannot
"fool" God, for his Word is alive, sharper than a two-edged
sword. The Word penetrates our hearts and inspects our motives
and intentions. It means that at all times we must be honest with
God and with ourselves. There is no place for make-believe or
hypocrisy.

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2. High priest (v. 14). According to Hebrews we have more than
a priest, a high priest. We do not have only a high priest, but a
"great" high priest. He is the one who left earth for the heavens
where at the right hand of God he intecedes for us. He can do
this because he was altogether human, except he did not sin.
3. Boldness (v. 16). We can approach God through Christ with
"boldness." We come with boldness, not with fear nor hesitancy.
Our boldness is based on the fact that Christ loved us enough to
die for us. In love there is no fear. Though he is in heaven, we
can receive mercy from him for our sins.

PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Gospel: Mark 10:17-31 (C)
1. How to get real life. 10:17-22
Need: Many identify with the man of the text who could not
wait to get real life. He ran to Jesus, kneeling he begged Jesus
to give him life. He wanted "eternal life." He had life in the
sense of existence, but he wanted something more -- a life of
quality. It was that kind of life that existed both in this world
and the next. Today people are more interested in life today
rather than in life after death. The tragedy of this story is
that the young man turned down the opportunity to get real life -
- the price was too high!
Outline: How do you get real life?
a. By earning it? No! It is not a reward for obeying the
commands.
b. By buying it? No! The youth had the wealth to buy it if
it could be bought.
c. By being taught? No! The man called Jesus a "good
teacher," hoping Jesus would teach him how to get eternal life.
Jesus refused to be his guru.
d. By receiving it as a gift? Yes! Eternal life is
"inherited" as a gift from the One to whom we are fully
committed.
2. Having everything but one thing. 10:17-22
Need: Our world is full of people who seem to have everything:
high salary, good executive position, comfortable home, college
education, appreciation for culture -- art and music. They have
friends, live respectably and are kind and helpful to anyone in
trouble. They may be called secularists or humanists but not
Christians even though their names may be on a church roll. They
fulfill the role of the rich young ruler.
Outline: You may be one who --
a. Has apparently everything -- vv. 19-22. Youth, power as a
ruler, character, money.
b. Has nothing without Christ -- v. 21.
1. To know Christ is to know all.
2. To have Christ is to have all.
3. The possible impossibility. 10:23-27
Need: In this passage Jesus makes it impossible for a rich
person to enter heaven. This is compared to the impossibility of
a camel going through the eye of a needle. When the disciples
wondered who then can be saved, Jesus answered that what is
impossible with a person is possible with God. It is not
necessary to be poor, to give away all your goods and take the
vow of poverty as a monk or nun. This passage must be seen in
perspective with other teachings of Jesus. Zaccheus, Joseph of
Arimathea and Matthew were wealthy but yet followers of Jesus.
Many well-to-do Christians feel uncomfortable and guilty when
they confront this passage. The sermon needs to bring assurance
and comfort that it is possible for a person of means to enter
the kingdom.
Outline: How a rich person can be a true Christian --
a. Wealth is not the master but the servant in a Christian's
life -- 10:21.
b. Trusts in God rather than in wealth.
c. Uses wealth for service of God and humanity. Not
renunciation but stewardship of wealth.

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Lesson 1: Job 23:1-9, 16-17 (C)
1. The absence of the presence of God. 23:1-9
Need: The absence of God is not an experience limited to Job.
In this modern age, many people are saying, "Oh, that I knew
where I might find him." Where is God when I need him? Without
God life is empty and meaningless. Especially at times of
hardship, bereavement and tragedy, we ask where God is. The
absence of God is a common experience.
Outline: The absence and presence of God --
a. The absence of the presence of God -- vv. 3, 8, 9.
b. The presence of the absent God -- vv. 4-7.
2. Where God can be found. 23:3
Need: The absence of God is a common experience. The problem
is where to find him when you need him. Many do not know where to
look for God. Others are looking in the wrong places.
Outline: Where God can be found --
a. The Word of God, the Bible.
b. The Son of God, Jesus Christ.
c. The church's word and sacraments.
d. The Holy Spirit in the body of believers.

Lesson 2: Hebrews 4:12-16 (C)
1. The ancient word that lives today. 4:12-13
Need: The Bible is the recorded Word of God. The Word comes to
us by reading, hearing and experiencing it in the sacraments.
However, many think of the Word as dead in a book. The majority
seldom read it. The Bible gathers dust from non-use. How then can
we claim it is a living Word?
Outline: How the Word lives today --
a. It is incisive -- v. 12.
b. It reveals the condition of the heart -- v. 12.
c. It exposes our sins -- v. 13.
2. We have a friend in heaven. 4:14-16
Need: Since Jesus left the earth 2,000 years ago, we may feel
lonely and bereft. We know some day we must face the almighty
God. While on earth we often feel the need of heaven's help. To
whom can we go with confidence? Does anyone up there care about
us?
Outline: The friend we have in heaven --
a. Our friend is Jesus, the high priest -- v. 14.
b. He knows our weaknesses -- v. 15.
c. He gives mercy and grace to help us -- v. 16.

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