Proper 27
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VI, Cycle A
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 (C)
There are two ways to read this passage. Historically, it is the end of the Exodus period. Joshua, an aged man with much wisdom, reminds the people that there was a time when they served other gods, those still served by many people of the world at that time. Now they must repudiate any such loyalties. They must decide now whom they will serve. To serve the God of their ancestors with less than total commitment will amount to serving other gods, and that will only anger God and lead to unpleasant punishment. Here, then, with the setting of a stone at Shechem, the people of Israel start forth on a new era in their history.
Another way to read this, the practical application way, is to see that Joshua was rather overstating the case, much like a mother who tells her naughty son, "If you do that again the monster from the basement will come up and eat all your toys." Really. Viewed against the revelation of the teachings of Jesus, this perception of God is false. Joshua, for instance, tells the people that God will not forgive their sins, that God will punish them for their wrongdoing. We realize that Joshua must have believed this, and that strong language was needed then as now to win loyalty to God. What we can make of this passage in terms of preaching is that sometimes the case is overstated in the Old Testament (perhaps in the New as well on occasion), call it hyperbole, but nevertheless, we are all called to make the same choice Joshua did when he said, "Choose this day whom you will serve ... as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
Lesson 1: Wisdom 6:12-16 (RC)
Friendship: true or false?
Lesson 1: Amos 5:18-24 (E)
A powerful statement: "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." Powerful imagery, again as in the Joshua passage, warning in clear and forceful terms of the consequences of unfaithful conduct.
Lesson 2: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (C, RC, E)
A rather interesting bit of poetic imagery here. It would seem that Paul expected the culmination of history, the parousia, in his own time. He would later amend that expectation, but in this passage he is mainly trying to quiet the fears of people whose loved ones have died and thus they fear, will miss out. The essence of this passage -- I leave to the individual what to make out of the meeting of the Lord in the air -- seems to be the promise that those who die, and that clearly includes all of us since nearly 2,000 years have passed since this was written, will be a part of that future world to come.
Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13 (C, RC, E)
Essentially Jesus was warning that in this life we had better prepare for the ultimate "emergency": death. Or, to be more upbeat, we are to prepare ourselves for events in this life which confront us with the ultimates, with crises of various kinds and with epiphanies, with what Bruce Larson called "ah ha moments." These young women had all been warned that important events were planned for their lives. Five of them prepared themselves for those events, five did not. There are several ways to go with this passage. Certainly the bridegroom was seen as Jesus himself, and we could ask whether we are ready for the moment we encounter Jesus in our lives. My choice is the practical one of asking exactly what characteristics within us turn us into people who are ready for either crises or epiphanies.
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: "Choosing Life"
Text: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
Theme: Joshua may have overstated his case a bit in describing God but one thing is clear to us: the progress of the people of Israel through their long and arduous history was a result of divine guidance. Many centuries have passed and the nation of Israel today is ridden with torment and violence, but it has survived. Of all the ancient civilizations of the time of Joshua, it would be difficult to find any other which has survived intact, but the Israelis have. The people were persistently turning away from God as individuals and required continual reminding of their likely fate if they continued thus. But as a people, God remained faithful to them.
What does this say to us? Jesus made it clear that we are beneficiaries of God's patient and forgiving oversight, just as much as were his own people. As a nation, our hope is no more in military might than was that of Joshua's people (though, of course, some military might is essential these days). Our hope is in God who, despite the perverse nature of a people, can save and redeem. As individuals, the same is true.
1. It begins with faith. God can do little in a person's life unless we have the faith by which God can work.
2. We must serve God. That was Joshua's point. "Choose this day whom you will serve," he ordered. Serve. In other words, our faith must be backed up by actions. Faith without works is dead, said James.
3. We must look backwards to see God. There's probably a better way to say that, but I have found that I never have a sense that God is working in my life until time has passed and I, in looking back, realize great things were happening. I didn't usually have a sense of that at the time.
Title: "A Lovely Day Tomorrow"
Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Theme: Weatherhead told of the sentiment on a gravestone which moved him deeply. It read: "When we saw the glory of his sun setting, we said, 'It will be a lovely day tomorrow.' " Paul believed that. His triumphant fifteenth chapter of the first Corinthian letter affirms that in glowing terms. The timing seems unimportant, whether now or at some future time. If you were to sit through a meeting for eight hours, or find it necessary to mow the lawn for eight hours, it might seem that the time would never end. Yet you can fall asleep and, if it's a good night's sleep, awake with no sense at all of the passage of time. Following death, I expect to be instantly conscious of a new environment and it will not matter at all to me whether it was, in fact, instant or whether thousands of years passed.
1. There will be renewed life after death. Angels-on-a-pin theologians like to debate whether it will be immortality (a continuation of life), or resurrection (you die -- then, if chosen, be restored to life). These distinctions will probably seem unimportant when the time comes.
2. Everyone is included. Uncle Shamus who never darkened the door of a church will no doubt be there, along with Uncle Harry who never missed a Sunday. My own guess is that there will be work to do, new things to learn, and Uncle Shamus will get another chance to get to know God.
3. We'll have responsibilities there. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." Just as each of us has a mission here in this life, surely each of us will have a further mission in the life that lies ahead. I also personally believe there will be reunion with loved ones.
4. Love will begin to work for us. God is, after all, love (John). I find in this life that I often fall woefully short of loving the people in my life the way I wish I could. Too many of my own selfish tendencies get in the way at crucial moments. I also sometimes find it difficult to accept love, feeling undeserving at times, I suppose. I anticipate that in the next life I will begin to grow better at all of that.
Title: "Preparation For Living"
Text: Matthew 25:1-13
Theme: This is one of those stories which requires a bit of information about marriage customs of the time. The busy preacher will, though, take time for a quick bit of exegesis. For our purposes, the important warning is about the danger of not being ready for certain pending events. It could refer to death. It could refer to a crisis of one kind or another. It could refer to conversion in one of its many forms. It could refer to something marvelous. What is important to emphasize is that it's better to be ready, to equip ourselves now, for whatever life may hold for us. We never know what is about to happen, what lies around life's next corner. The healthy thing to do is expect the best and prepare for the worst. Incidentally, Jesus uses a happy event here, a wedding, to make his point. It implies that good things lie ahead for us, but we could miss out by not being ready. So that's the issue before us. How should we prepare?
1. Prayer. Most of us slip and slide in our prayer lives, regrettably neglecting this indispensable part of the Christian life. I always hope God is permissive on this matter, but I also know we all miss out on a lot if we do not pray. As Tennyson said, "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of."
2. Worship. Preferably in church, though I've become increasingly wishy-washy about this. Naturally, I would prefer that everyone worship in a church or synagogue on a regular basis. But what is important is to praise God, not because God needs it, but because to do so does wonders for our own inner lives.
3. Witness. There are many ways to do this. Some people are able to be quite open about their faith, bearing verbal witness to others. Some people find other ways, are embarrassed to discuss it with just anyone, but are quite sacrificial and generous in their life's actions. It doesn't matter. According to one's personality we are to witness to the presence of Christ in our lives.
4. Maintain health. We are told that our bodies are temples of a sort, means by which we carry out the above. There are some things we can't help. Genetics plays its part, as do diseases and accidents. But we have control over smoking, drinking, exercise, overeating, drug use, as well as emotional health involving reading, limiting television, and the like.
5. Relationships. Even for extreme introverts, good interpersonal relationships are important. Studies show conclusively that this is an important element in physical and emotional health, and hardly anyone can be truly happy without friends and loved ones. The key to this is to do for others, rather than trying to use others to find our own happiness. It's in giving that we receive.
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Harry Emerson Fosdick referred to the great Baptist missionary Adoniram Judson, who said: "I never prayed earnestly or sincerely for anything, but it came; at some time -- no matter how distant a day -- somehow, in some shape -- probably the last I should have devised -- it came." Fosdick, however, observed that "Judson had prayed for entrance into India and been compelled to go to Burma; he had prayed for his wife's life and had buried both her and their two children; he had prayed for release from the King of Ava's prison and had lain there for months, chained and miserable. Scores of Judson's petitions had gone without an affirmative answer, but Judson always had been answered. He had been upheld, guided, reinforced; unforeseen doors had opened through the very trials he sought to avoid; and the deep desires of his life were being accomplished, not in his way, but beyond his way."
____________
Perhaps you've heard about the man who died, then awoke in a splendid city of golden streets and fine homes. He was shown to one of the finest, one with a rolling front yard, lovely flowers, luxuriant shrubs. Wondering how to care for those things, he was told that others would do that for him. So, he climbed in a hammock and spent the day contemplating his happy state. Days passed, then weeks. Finally, bored, he sought to do some yard work but was told he might not. He then inquired what kind of work he could do. He was told by the fellow in charge that he was not allowed to do anything but rest. Finally, the man complained, he said: "I never thought heaven would be this boring." The man in charge stared at him for a minute, then said: "What made you think this was heaven?"
____________
"So be my passing!
My task accomplish'd and the long day done,
My wages taken, and in my heart
Some late lark singing,
Let me be gather'd to the quiet west,
The sundown splendid and serene,
Death."
-- W. E. Henley
____________
As Charles Wesley, brother of John and author of so many wonderful hymns, lay dying, he called his wife to his side and dictated to her his final hymn. It went like this:
In age and feebleness extreme,
Who shall a helpless world redeem?
Jesus, my only hope thou art,
Strength of my failing flesh and heart.
If I could have one smile from thee,
Then slip into eternity.
Mrs. Wesley said that her husband died shortly after dictating these words, died with a smile on his face, as though he were seeing at last with his eyes that which we must yet see only with the eyes of faith.
____________
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 78:1-7 (C) -- "Give ear, O my people, to my teaching."
Psalm 63:2-8 (RC) -- "So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary"
Psalm 70 (E) -- "Be pleased, O God, to deliver me."
Prayer Of The Day
Eternal God, you have overseen our adventures in life. At times we have failed to pray, failed to think of you in connection with our works, failed to understand our relationship with you. Yet you have been patient with us until we have begun to learn, through our prayer lives, that you are available to us, that we can draw upon your higher wisdom and power. We thank you for this presence and pray for faith that we may remain faithful. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Lesson 1: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 (C)
There are two ways to read this passage. Historically, it is the end of the Exodus period. Joshua, an aged man with much wisdom, reminds the people that there was a time when they served other gods, those still served by many people of the world at that time. Now they must repudiate any such loyalties. They must decide now whom they will serve. To serve the God of their ancestors with less than total commitment will amount to serving other gods, and that will only anger God and lead to unpleasant punishment. Here, then, with the setting of a stone at Shechem, the people of Israel start forth on a new era in their history.
Another way to read this, the practical application way, is to see that Joshua was rather overstating the case, much like a mother who tells her naughty son, "If you do that again the monster from the basement will come up and eat all your toys." Really. Viewed against the revelation of the teachings of Jesus, this perception of God is false. Joshua, for instance, tells the people that God will not forgive their sins, that God will punish them for their wrongdoing. We realize that Joshua must have believed this, and that strong language was needed then as now to win loyalty to God. What we can make of this passage in terms of preaching is that sometimes the case is overstated in the Old Testament (perhaps in the New as well on occasion), call it hyperbole, but nevertheless, we are all called to make the same choice Joshua did when he said, "Choose this day whom you will serve ... as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
Lesson 1: Wisdom 6:12-16 (RC)
Friendship: true or false?
Lesson 1: Amos 5:18-24 (E)
A powerful statement: "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." Powerful imagery, again as in the Joshua passage, warning in clear and forceful terms of the consequences of unfaithful conduct.
Lesson 2: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (C, RC, E)
A rather interesting bit of poetic imagery here. It would seem that Paul expected the culmination of history, the parousia, in his own time. He would later amend that expectation, but in this passage he is mainly trying to quiet the fears of people whose loved ones have died and thus they fear, will miss out. The essence of this passage -- I leave to the individual what to make out of the meeting of the Lord in the air -- seems to be the promise that those who die, and that clearly includes all of us since nearly 2,000 years have passed since this was written, will be a part of that future world to come.
Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13 (C, RC, E)
Essentially Jesus was warning that in this life we had better prepare for the ultimate "emergency": death. Or, to be more upbeat, we are to prepare ourselves for events in this life which confront us with the ultimates, with crises of various kinds and with epiphanies, with what Bruce Larson called "ah ha moments." These young women had all been warned that important events were planned for their lives. Five of them prepared themselves for those events, five did not. There are several ways to go with this passage. Certainly the bridegroom was seen as Jesus himself, and we could ask whether we are ready for the moment we encounter Jesus in our lives. My choice is the practical one of asking exactly what characteristics within us turn us into people who are ready for either crises or epiphanies.
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: "Choosing Life"
Text: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
Theme: Joshua may have overstated his case a bit in describing God but one thing is clear to us: the progress of the people of Israel through their long and arduous history was a result of divine guidance. Many centuries have passed and the nation of Israel today is ridden with torment and violence, but it has survived. Of all the ancient civilizations of the time of Joshua, it would be difficult to find any other which has survived intact, but the Israelis have. The people were persistently turning away from God as individuals and required continual reminding of their likely fate if they continued thus. But as a people, God remained faithful to them.
What does this say to us? Jesus made it clear that we are beneficiaries of God's patient and forgiving oversight, just as much as were his own people. As a nation, our hope is no more in military might than was that of Joshua's people (though, of course, some military might is essential these days). Our hope is in God who, despite the perverse nature of a people, can save and redeem. As individuals, the same is true.
1. It begins with faith. God can do little in a person's life unless we have the faith by which God can work.
2. We must serve God. That was Joshua's point. "Choose this day whom you will serve," he ordered. Serve. In other words, our faith must be backed up by actions. Faith without works is dead, said James.
3. We must look backwards to see God. There's probably a better way to say that, but I have found that I never have a sense that God is working in my life until time has passed and I, in looking back, realize great things were happening. I didn't usually have a sense of that at the time.
Title: "A Lovely Day Tomorrow"
Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Theme: Weatherhead told of the sentiment on a gravestone which moved him deeply. It read: "When we saw the glory of his sun setting, we said, 'It will be a lovely day tomorrow.' " Paul believed that. His triumphant fifteenth chapter of the first Corinthian letter affirms that in glowing terms. The timing seems unimportant, whether now or at some future time. If you were to sit through a meeting for eight hours, or find it necessary to mow the lawn for eight hours, it might seem that the time would never end. Yet you can fall asleep and, if it's a good night's sleep, awake with no sense at all of the passage of time. Following death, I expect to be instantly conscious of a new environment and it will not matter at all to me whether it was, in fact, instant or whether thousands of years passed.
1. There will be renewed life after death. Angels-on-a-pin theologians like to debate whether it will be immortality (a continuation of life), or resurrection (you die -- then, if chosen, be restored to life). These distinctions will probably seem unimportant when the time comes.
2. Everyone is included. Uncle Shamus who never darkened the door of a church will no doubt be there, along with Uncle Harry who never missed a Sunday. My own guess is that there will be work to do, new things to learn, and Uncle Shamus will get another chance to get to know God.
3. We'll have responsibilities there. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." Just as each of us has a mission here in this life, surely each of us will have a further mission in the life that lies ahead. I also personally believe there will be reunion with loved ones.
4. Love will begin to work for us. God is, after all, love (John). I find in this life that I often fall woefully short of loving the people in my life the way I wish I could. Too many of my own selfish tendencies get in the way at crucial moments. I also sometimes find it difficult to accept love, feeling undeserving at times, I suppose. I anticipate that in the next life I will begin to grow better at all of that.
Title: "Preparation For Living"
Text: Matthew 25:1-13
Theme: This is one of those stories which requires a bit of information about marriage customs of the time. The busy preacher will, though, take time for a quick bit of exegesis. For our purposes, the important warning is about the danger of not being ready for certain pending events. It could refer to death. It could refer to a crisis of one kind or another. It could refer to conversion in one of its many forms. It could refer to something marvelous. What is important to emphasize is that it's better to be ready, to equip ourselves now, for whatever life may hold for us. We never know what is about to happen, what lies around life's next corner. The healthy thing to do is expect the best and prepare for the worst. Incidentally, Jesus uses a happy event here, a wedding, to make his point. It implies that good things lie ahead for us, but we could miss out by not being ready. So that's the issue before us. How should we prepare?
1. Prayer. Most of us slip and slide in our prayer lives, regrettably neglecting this indispensable part of the Christian life. I always hope God is permissive on this matter, but I also know we all miss out on a lot if we do not pray. As Tennyson said, "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of."
2. Worship. Preferably in church, though I've become increasingly wishy-washy about this. Naturally, I would prefer that everyone worship in a church or synagogue on a regular basis. But what is important is to praise God, not because God needs it, but because to do so does wonders for our own inner lives.
3. Witness. There are many ways to do this. Some people are able to be quite open about their faith, bearing verbal witness to others. Some people find other ways, are embarrassed to discuss it with just anyone, but are quite sacrificial and generous in their life's actions. It doesn't matter. According to one's personality we are to witness to the presence of Christ in our lives.
4. Maintain health. We are told that our bodies are temples of a sort, means by which we carry out the above. There are some things we can't help. Genetics plays its part, as do diseases and accidents. But we have control over smoking, drinking, exercise, overeating, drug use, as well as emotional health involving reading, limiting television, and the like.
5. Relationships. Even for extreme introverts, good interpersonal relationships are important. Studies show conclusively that this is an important element in physical and emotional health, and hardly anyone can be truly happy without friends and loved ones. The key to this is to do for others, rather than trying to use others to find our own happiness. It's in giving that we receive.
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Harry Emerson Fosdick referred to the great Baptist missionary Adoniram Judson, who said: "I never prayed earnestly or sincerely for anything, but it came; at some time -- no matter how distant a day -- somehow, in some shape -- probably the last I should have devised -- it came." Fosdick, however, observed that "Judson had prayed for entrance into India and been compelled to go to Burma; he had prayed for his wife's life and had buried both her and their two children; he had prayed for release from the King of Ava's prison and had lain there for months, chained and miserable. Scores of Judson's petitions had gone without an affirmative answer, but Judson always had been answered. He had been upheld, guided, reinforced; unforeseen doors had opened through the very trials he sought to avoid; and the deep desires of his life were being accomplished, not in his way, but beyond his way."
____________
Perhaps you've heard about the man who died, then awoke in a splendid city of golden streets and fine homes. He was shown to one of the finest, one with a rolling front yard, lovely flowers, luxuriant shrubs. Wondering how to care for those things, he was told that others would do that for him. So, he climbed in a hammock and spent the day contemplating his happy state. Days passed, then weeks. Finally, bored, he sought to do some yard work but was told he might not. He then inquired what kind of work he could do. He was told by the fellow in charge that he was not allowed to do anything but rest. Finally, the man complained, he said: "I never thought heaven would be this boring." The man in charge stared at him for a minute, then said: "What made you think this was heaven?"
____________
"So be my passing!
My task accomplish'd and the long day done,
My wages taken, and in my heart
Some late lark singing,
Let me be gather'd to the quiet west,
The sundown splendid and serene,
Death."
-- W. E. Henley
____________
As Charles Wesley, brother of John and author of so many wonderful hymns, lay dying, he called his wife to his side and dictated to her his final hymn. It went like this:
In age and feebleness extreme,
Who shall a helpless world redeem?
Jesus, my only hope thou art,
Strength of my failing flesh and heart.
If I could have one smile from thee,
Then slip into eternity.
Mrs. Wesley said that her husband died shortly after dictating these words, died with a smile on his face, as though he were seeing at last with his eyes that which we must yet see only with the eyes of faith.
____________
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 78:1-7 (C) -- "Give ear, O my people, to my teaching."
Psalm 63:2-8 (RC) -- "So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary"
Psalm 70 (E) -- "Be pleased, O God, to deliver me."
Prayer Of The Day
Eternal God, you have overseen our adventures in life. At times we have failed to pray, failed to think of you in connection with our works, failed to understand our relationship with you. Yet you have been patient with us until we have begun to learn, through our prayer lives, that you are available to us, that we can draw upon your higher wisdom and power. We thank you for this presence and pray for faith that we may remain faithful. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
