Proper 28
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII Cycle C
Seasonal Theme
Jesus' acts of compassion and teaching ministry.
Theme For The Day
The prophecy and promise of Jesus about discipleship and last things.
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 65:17-25
The New Creation
The promise of Isaiah is a new creation where and when the past transgressions will be set aside and a new created order called into being. No longer are laments necessary; but, rather, rejoicing. The new creation will include long life, no crying or suffering, no early death of children, and no more having their homes or crops taken away from them. And their children will have much better lives in which God will delight. God will hear their prayers almost before they speak them. Peace shall be in Jerusalem. The serpent is a symbol of evil which will be kept restrained.
The promise is that God not only loves us, but that God takes delight in us (v. 18).
New Testament Lesson
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Until That Day
In this congregation Paul had to deal with the wrong idea about the second coming of the Christ. Some thought because it was so soon they might as well quit work and wait for the time. So they were what Paul wrote in the Greek, "truant" from their work. Paul advised them to get back to work and he made the assertion that they should follow his example. All his ministry he continued to make his tents and earn his own financial support. He also quoted a saying probably common in the workshops of his day (v. 10b). Notice the admonition is for those who are "unwilling" to work. This is far different from those who just can't find work. The "unwilling" says to me that person who had work available but refused to do it.
The Gospel
Luke 21:5-19
Promise Of Things To Come
There are several different concepts which makes this a tough chapter to interpret:
1. the coming suffering for being a Christian,
2. the fall of Jerusalem,
3. the second coming of Christ, and
4. the day of the Lord.
Someone was commenting on the beauty of the Temple and that triggered Jesus to prophesy. Jesus says it will all come down. Notice the frankness of his saying that if they followed him there would be rough times ahead. Jesus evidently could accurately predict these future outcomes because he could glean them from present signs.
To this he added they would not have to go through their persecution alone and that no matter what came they would be safe (v. 18). Verses 12 and 19 deal with the coming persecution.
Verses 9, 11, 25, and 26 take their images from the Jewish "day of the Lord" which all would recognize. Also Jerusalem did fall to the Romans in A.D. 70.
Preaching Possibilities
All three readings deal with a future which can be anticipated by God's people. I am sure they were chosen by our foremothers and forefathers because of our now being at the end of the liturgical year.
A. The three together might go like this:
1. The Old Testament -- A new day is coming when God will actually "delight" in us.
2. The New Testament -- Keep at it in the meantime not taking advantage of your beliefs.
3. The Gospel -- You have a lot of suffering ahead but you don't go through it alone.
B. I believe one of the nicest thoughts today is in the Old Testament Lesson, verse 19: God delights in us. To be delighted in is more than a superficial love or respect. To have a God who delights in us means to me:
1. above all other creatures, God delights in us.
2. a God who delights in us is approachable by prayer.
3. a God who has this kind of delight in us will go to the cross for our forgiveness.
4. To be "delighted in" ought to affect our attitude toward God and toward others profoundly.
C. In dealing with the Second Readings, we could use the following warnings: idleness, busy-body-ness, weariness in doing the right thing. They all can be like a poison which can infect and destroy a congregation. Careful, lest the sermon become a moralistic lecture absent of Gospel.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Title: Understanding The Terms
A. Introduction: Today's Gospel talks about what we Christians believe about last things.
B. Move to defining the terms:
1. "Day of the Lord" which includes the present age and the age to come, (vv. 9, 11, 25, and 26).
2. "The fall of Jerusalem" (vv. 5, 6, 20-24).
3. "The second coming of Christ" (vv. 7, 8, and 9).
4. "Persecution to come" (vv. 12-19).
C. Move to the truths we can learn from this passage (see comments on the scripture).
1. Jesus was always frank about what it meant to be a Christian.
2. As Christians we ought be able to learn from our history.
3. We do not have to suffer for our faith alone.
4. Ultimately we will be safe -- not even our hair destroyed!
D. Give your own witness as to what all this means for you and for your congregation. We can keep on even when it's tough being a Christian. We ought to be God's support for each other. We can take risk knowing God protects us. Give an example or story or metaphor from below.
E. Frame your sermon by returning to your opening statement about last things and how confusing it can be.
Prayer For The Day
Spare us, O God, from being morbidly curious about what happens in the "end times." We rejoice that you delight in us as Isaiah claims and that you will see us through even the most difficult times in our discipleship. In our curiosity about your second coming, let us never forget you are already with us here and now. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
An advertisement on Hong Kong television for AIG insurance simply states: "The greatest risk is not taking one."
When a knight came to the court of King Arthur, he did not come to spend the rest of his days in knightly feasting and celebration. He came reporting for duty, asking what mission he might be sent on which would be done for Arthur. So, too, our discipleship.
Editor David Miller of The Lutheran magazine in a Bible study for returned missionaries: "We are not just loved; we are delighted in by God according to our Bible. I delight in that!"
Jesus' acts of compassion and teaching ministry.
Theme For The Day
The prophecy and promise of Jesus about discipleship and last things.
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 65:17-25
The New Creation
The promise of Isaiah is a new creation where and when the past transgressions will be set aside and a new created order called into being. No longer are laments necessary; but, rather, rejoicing. The new creation will include long life, no crying or suffering, no early death of children, and no more having their homes or crops taken away from them. And their children will have much better lives in which God will delight. God will hear their prayers almost before they speak them. Peace shall be in Jerusalem. The serpent is a symbol of evil which will be kept restrained.
The promise is that God not only loves us, but that God takes delight in us (v. 18).
New Testament Lesson
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Until That Day
In this congregation Paul had to deal with the wrong idea about the second coming of the Christ. Some thought because it was so soon they might as well quit work and wait for the time. So they were what Paul wrote in the Greek, "truant" from their work. Paul advised them to get back to work and he made the assertion that they should follow his example. All his ministry he continued to make his tents and earn his own financial support. He also quoted a saying probably common in the workshops of his day (v. 10b). Notice the admonition is for those who are "unwilling" to work. This is far different from those who just can't find work. The "unwilling" says to me that person who had work available but refused to do it.
The Gospel
Luke 21:5-19
Promise Of Things To Come
There are several different concepts which makes this a tough chapter to interpret:
1. the coming suffering for being a Christian,
2. the fall of Jerusalem,
3. the second coming of Christ, and
4. the day of the Lord.
Someone was commenting on the beauty of the Temple and that triggered Jesus to prophesy. Jesus says it will all come down. Notice the frankness of his saying that if they followed him there would be rough times ahead. Jesus evidently could accurately predict these future outcomes because he could glean them from present signs.
To this he added they would not have to go through their persecution alone and that no matter what came they would be safe (v. 18). Verses 12 and 19 deal with the coming persecution.
Verses 9, 11, 25, and 26 take their images from the Jewish "day of the Lord" which all would recognize. Also Jerusalem did fall to the Romans in A.D. 70.
Preaching Possibilities
All three readings deal with a future which can be anticipated by God's people. I am sure they were chosen by our foremothers and forefathers because of our now being at the end of the liturgical year.
A. The three together might go like this:
1. The Old Testament -- A new day is coming when God will actually "delight" in us.
2. The New Testament -- Keep at it in the meantime not taking advantage of your beliefs.
3. The Gospel -- You have a lot of suffering ahead but you don't go through it alone.
B. I believe one of the nicest thoughts today is in the Old Testament Lesson, verse 19: God delights in us. To be delighted in is more than a superficial love or respect. To have a God who delights in us means to me:
1. above all other creatures, God delights in us.
2. a God who delights in us is approachable by prayer.
3. a God who has this kind of delight in us will go to the cross for our forgiveness.
4. To be "delighted in" ought to affect our attitude toward God and toward others profoundly.
C. In dealing with the Second Readings, we could use the following warnings: idleness, busy-body-ness, weariness in doing the right thing. They all can be like a poison which can infect and destroy a congregation. Careful, lest the sermon become a moralistic lecture absent of Gospel.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Title: Understanding The Terms
A. Introduction: Today's Gospel talks about what we Christians believe about last things.
B. Move to defining the terms:
1. "Day of the Lord" which includes the present age and the age to come, (vv. 9, 11, 25, and 26).
2. "The fall of Jerusalem" (vv. 5, 6, 20-24).
3. "The second coming of Christ" (vv. 7, 8, and 9).
4. "Persecution to come" (vv. 12-19).
C. Move to the truths we can learn from this passage (see comments on the scripture).
1. Jesus was always frank about what it meant to be a Christian.
2. As Christians we ought be able to learn from our history.
3. We do not have to suffer for our faith alone.
4. Ultimately we will be safe -- not even our hair destroyed!
D. Give your own witness as to what all this means for you and for your congregation. We can keep on even when it's tough being a Christian. We ought to be God's support for each other. We can take risk knowing God protects us. Give an example or story or metaphor from below.
E. Frame your sermon by returning to your opening statement about last things and how confusing it can be.
Prayer For The Day
Spare us, O God, from being morbidly curious about what happens in the "end times." We rejoice that you delight in us as Isaiah claims and that you will see us through even the most difficult times in our discipleship. In our curiosity about your second coming, let us never forget you are already with us here and now. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
An advertisement on Hong Kong television for AIG insurance simply states: "The greatest risk is not taking one."
When a knight came to the court of King Arthur, he did not come to spend the rest of his days in knightly feasting and celebration. He came reporting for duty, asking what mission he might be sent on which would be done for Arthur. So, too, our discipleship.
Editor David Miller of The Lutheran magazine in a Bible study for returned missionaries: "We are not just loved; we are delighted in by God according to our Bible. I delight in that!"
