Proper 4
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series IV
Lesson 1: Genesis 6:11-22; 7:24; 8:14-19 (C)
We begin today a series of 12 readings from Genesis. It is a story of the Patriarchs from Noah to Joseph. The series lends itself to narrative and biographical sermons. The disadvantage is the length of the series. It may be difficult to maintain interest over 12 weeks.
Lesson 1: Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28 (E, L); Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32 (RC)
Life or death depends on obedience to God's laws.
Lesson 2: Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31) (C); Romans 3:21-25a, 27 (E); Romans 3:21-25a, 27-28 (L); Romans 3:21-25, 28 (RC)
The righteousness of God is not received by works of the Law but by faith in Christ. This is the first of 16 lessons from Romans. The passage is a good summary of the book of Romans. Prior to this pericope, Paul explained that both Jew and Gentiles are sinners and that obeying the Law of God cannot result in justification. Our salvation depends upon the grace of God in Christ. It becomes a personal possession by faith in Christ. Since the righteousness of God comes as a gift and not by works, we have no reason to be proud of ourselves.
Gospel:
Matthew 7:21-29 (C); Matthew 7:(15-20), 21-29 (L); Matthew 7:21-27 (E, RC)
They who obey Jesus' words build their lives on rock. For the balance of the church year, the Gospel is taken from Matthew. Today's pericope is the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount. It does what a sermon conclusion should do: a call to put the Word into action through obedience. Obeying the Law will not gain a right relation with God. Jesus asks for more than lip service. He calls for life service by obeying his teachings. The one who does it will have the security and stability of a house built on rock when the floods come.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 46 (C) - "God is our refuge and strength (v. 1)."
Psalm 31:1-5, 19-24 (L); Psalm 31:2-4, 17, 25 (RC) - "Be thou a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me (v. 2b)."
Prayer Of The Day
"Lord God of all nations, you have revealed your will to your people and promised your help to us all. Help us to hear and do what you command, that the darkness may be overcome by the power of your light."
Hymn Of The Day
"My Hope Is Built On Nothing Else"
Theme Of The Day
For the remainder of the Pentecost season, we have three independent routes: Lesson 1, Lesson 2 and Gospel. Lesson 1 deals primarily with the Patriarchs and Moses, Lesson 2 with Romans and the Gospel with Matthew. The Psalm of the Day usually harmonizes with Lesson 2; the Prayer and Hymn of the Day with the Gospel. To try to find a unifying theme for the Lessons and Propers would do an injustice to the passages. Pentecost is a wide-open field for preaching because it gives the preacher a wide latitude of sources and subjects.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Pentecost 2 confronts us with a central theological issue: how is a person saved: by faith alone, by works or both? Lesson 1 and the Gospel emphasize obedience: in Lesson 1 obedience brings God's blessing; the Gospel says obedience opens the gates of the kingdom. Lesson 2, on the other hand, gives Paul's teaching on justification by grace through faith. Accordingly, salvation is not related to obedience to the Law.
The average congregation is confused on this issue, and the seemingly contradictory Lessons may add to the confusion. A poll of recent years indicates that a majority of Lutheran people believe they will go to heaven if they do good works. Many church members are content to have faith in terms of religiosity, saying, "Lord, Lord." The disturbing fact is that most Christians live by the Law rather than by the Gospel. If preachers claim to be proclaimers of the Gospel, how could our people be living by the law?
Today's Lessons constitute a challenge to the preacher to reconcile Lesson 2 with the other Lessons and to blend them into a meaningful unity. Lesson 2 serves as a counter-balance to the other Lessons which teach obedience as a way to God's favor and entrance into the Kingdom of God. To preach obedience alone may not be helpful to the people. Urging, scolding and exhorting people to obey God's commands will not produce results other than to make nervous saints out of church members who are frustrated by having to do something they cannot do, no matter how hard they try. Lesson 2 serves as the key to obedience. Good works resulting from obedience to the Law are not the cause but the result of salvation. An experience of grace through faith provides the motivation for obedience, the motivation for gratitude. Without the truth of Lesson 2, we could easily fall into the trap of preaching salvation by works.
The task of the preacher to stimulate increased obedience is most urgent when crime, permissiveness and moral deterioration are household words. Sin is a generally accepted way of modern life. Lying, cheating, stealing, murder and rape are everyday occurrences. How can a preacher get obedience without encouraging works of righteousness? If there is a lack of obedience, there must be a lack of understanding and appreciation of grace through faith. If salvation by grace has been emphasized, it may have deteriorated into cheap grace, that is, grace without obedience. Probably the solution to the problem is to preach grace to such an extent and in such a manner that obedience would naturally follow as a by-product.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
In Obedience School
Need: The subject of obedience needs to be put in perspective through the three Lessons. It is helpful to know what, why and whom to obey. Since sin is disobedience, we need to enter God's obedience school. We do not by nature obey God; we need to learn to obey.
Outline: In God's obedience school, we learn -
a. The content of obedience - Lesson 1 - Noah is commanded to build an ark.
b. The value of obedience - Gospel - Jesus gives the benefits of obedience -
1. Entrance into the kingdom - v. 21.
2. Security in life's storms - vv. 24, 25.
c. The reason for obedience - Lesson 2 - Gratitude for God's grace in Christ motiyates obedience.
Gospel:
Matthew 7:21-29
1. The Danger of Being Religious. 7:21
Need:
Our churches are full of people who are content to say, "Lord, Lord," and not obey their Lord in practicing their faith. We come to worship but we fail to obey the laws of the One we worship. The sermon is to challenge the people to both worship and work.
Outline: The danger of being religious.
a. The danger of lip service without life service.
b. Danger of confession without expression.
c. Danger of worship without work.
2. Can Bad Men Do Good Deeds? 7:22-23
Need: Exegesis tells us these verses were probably directed toward the problem of charismatic leaders who were disturbing the peace and unity of the church. It has always been a problem for the church when religious leaders apparently do "great" things in the name of Christ and attract large followings, but their motivation is not always pure. Various radio-television personalities seem to be getting crowds and performing miracles. When religious work can produce millionaires and preachers can afford to live in palaces, people may question the motivation involved. This sermon is not an attack on any particular sect or leaders, but it opens up the question of proper motivation for Christian work. In other words, an act is not good in itself; to be truly good the motive for doing it must be good also.
Outline: If a deed is good in God's sight -
a. The doer says more than "Lord, Lord" - v. 22.
b. Mighty works are done in the proper use of Jesus' name - v. 22.
c. It is done from a good motive - v. 23.
3. Stability in a Storm. 7:24-27
Need: This passage does not deal with the construction of houses or lives. It is not saying we should build our lives on the rock of Christ rather than on sand. This passage concludes the Sermon on the Mount, the greatest collection of Jesus' teachings. The question may have come to Jesus' mind: Will the people obey these teachings or will they resume their old way of life? It becomes a concern of obedience. He who hears and obeys is like a man who builds his house on rock. Then the storms of life will not wash him away. The results of obedience are stability and security.
Outline: Two men in a storm.
a. The foolish man - built on sand - vv. 26, 27. Reason for foolishness: heard but did not obey. Consequence: destruction.
b. The wise man - built on rock - vv. 24, 25. Reason for wisdom: heard and obeyed. Consequence: stability, security, safety.
Lesson 1: Genesis 6:9-22 (C)
A Ridiculous Obedience. 6:9-22
Need: When we were children, parents sometimes asked us to obey when we could see no reason for it. The usual question was "Why?" In the case of Noah, he may have thought that God's command to build an ark was senseless. Build an ark on dry ground miles from the ocean? Build an ark at a time of drought? Build an ark to house all animals? Obedience does not ask "Why?" but does it. Today we ask, "Why do good?" or "Why love enemies?" or "Why forgive?" or "Why give a tithe?"
Outline:
a. God's need may seem ridiculous - v. 14. See "Need" above.
b. God's command calls for radical obedience - v. 22. What kind of person would obey?
1. A good person - "Noah had no faults (v. 10)."
2. A godly person - "Fellowship with God (v. 10)."
3. An obedient person - "Noah did everything that God commanded (v. 22)."
Lesson 1: Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28 (E, L, RC)
1. The Sacred in the Secular. 11:18-21
Need: The farther society gets away from God the more secular it becomes. Secularism is that view of life that ignores God in life. It lives as though God did not exist. Secularism sucks the spirituality out of society. In this passage, Moses calls upon the Israelites to put God in every area of life, every day and in every way. No one at any time can escape the presence of God. This is related to obedience. In a secular world, obedience to God cannot be a factor, for God is not there. In a sacred world, God is central and we live in harmony with God's will.
Outline: How God can be put back into daily life.
a. Put God's Word in your heart - v. 18.
b. Keep God's Word before your eyes - v. 18.
c. Teach God's Word to your children - v. 19.
d. Write God's Word on your property - v. 20.
2. To Obey or Not to Obey. 11:26-28
Need: Moses gives his people a choice to obey or not to obey. Unless it is voluntary, obedience is not obedience. It is compulsion and carries no merit. The choice is presented to every person - obey God or not? Does it really matter whether we obey God?
Outline: To obey or not to obey.
a. Not to obey: a curse - v. 28. Disobedience to God's law breaks the sacred covenant with God. Sin is a curse, for it brings suffering, separation from God and death. Moral pollution brings eventual destruction.
b. To obey: a blessing - v. 27. Obedience opens up the channel through which God's blessings flow.
Lesson 2: Romans 3:21-28 (C, E, L, RC)
1. Why be Good? 3:21-28
Need: Here we deal with the place of obedience in salvation. The other Lessons emphasize obedience, but this pericope says obedience does not save the soul - "a man is justified by faith apart from the works of law." Apparently, obedience to God's law has no part in getting right with God. This is a necessary corrective to the other Lessons. In this sermon we want to put obedience in proper perspective.
Outline: Why be good by obeying God's Laws?
a. Not to earn God's acceptance - vv. 21, 28.
b. To express gratitude for grace received - vv. 24, 25.
2. It All Depends on Faith. 3:21-28
Need: It is difficult for many to rely upon faith to get right with God. Some of us would rather "do it ourselves" by our good deeds or character. God has done for us all that is needed to be forgiven and accepted. All we need is faith to make grace a personal posses-sion. So we need only faith to receive the grace. This is what we must convince the people in this sermon.
Outline: Our salvation -
a. It all depends on God.
1. Our justification (acquittal) - v. 24.
2. Our redemption (purchased from slavery) - v. 24.
3. Our cleansing (sin exorcised) - v. 25.
b. It all depends on faith.
1. Not by works - v. 28.
2. Acceptance of grace by faith - v. 25.
We begin today a series of 12 readings from Genesis. It is a story of the Patriarchs from Noah to Joseph. The series lends itself to narrative and biographical sermons. The disadvantage is the length of the series. It may be difficult to maintain interest over 12 weeks.
Lesson 1: Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28 (E, L); Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32 (RC)
Life or death depends on obedience to God's laws.
Lesson 2: Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31) (C); Romans 3:21-25a, 27 (E); Romans 3:21-25a, 27-28 (L); Romans 3:21-25, 28 (RC)
The righteousness of God is not received by works of the Law but by faith in Christ. This is the first of 16 lessons from Romans. The passage is a good summary of the book of Romans. Prior to this pericope, Paul explained that both Jew and Gentiles are sinners and that obeying the Law of God cannot result in justification. Our salvation depends upon the grace of God in Christ. It becomes a personal possession by faith in Christ. Since the righteousness of God comes as a gift and not by works, we have no reason to be proud of ourselves.
Gospel:
Matthew 7:21-29 (C); Matthew 7:(15-20), 21-29 (L); Matthew 7:21-27 (E, RC)
They who obey Jesus' words build their lives on rock. For the balance of the church year, the Gospel is taken from Matthew. Today's pericope is the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount. It does what a sermon conclusion should do: a call to put the Word into action through obedience. Obeying the Law will not gain a right relation with God. Jesus asks for more than lip service. He calls for life service by obeying his teachings. The one who does it will have the security and stability of a house built on rock when the floods come.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 46 (C) - "God is our refuge and strength (v. 1)."
Psalm 31:1-5, 19-24 (L); Psalm 31:2-4, 17, 25 (RC) - "Be thou a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me (v. 2b)."
Prayer Of The Day
"Lord God of all nations, you have revealed your will to your people and promised your help to us all. Help us to hear and do what you command, that the darkness may be overcome by the power of your light."
Hymn Of The Day
"My Hope Is Built On Nothing Else"
Theme Of The Day
For the remainder of the Pentecost season, we have three independent routes: Lesson 1, Lesson 2 and Gospel. Lesson 1 deals primarily with the Patriarchs and Moses, Lesson 2 with Romans and the Gospel with Matthew. The Psalm of the Day usually harmonizes with Lesson 2; the Prayer and Hymn of the Day with the Gospel. To try to find a unifying theme for the Lessons and Propers would do an injustice to the passages. Pentecost is a wide-open field for preaching because it gives the preacher a wide latitude of sources and subjects.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Pentecost 2 confronts us with a central theological issue: how is a person saved: by faith alone, by works or both? Lesson 1 and the Gospel emphasize obedience: in Lesson 1 obedience brings God's blessing; the Gospel says obedience opens the gates of the kingdom. Lesson 2, on the other hand, gives Paul's teaching on justification by grace through faith. Accordingly, salvation is not related to obedience to the Law.
The average congregation is confused on this issue, and the seemingly contradictory Lessons may add to the confusion. A poll of recent years indicates that a majority of Lutheran people believe they will go to heaven if they do good works. Many church members are content to have faith in terms of religiosity, saying, "Lord, Lord." The disturbing fact is that most Christians live by the Law rather than by the Gospel. If preachers claim to be proclaimers of the Gospel, how could our people be living by the law?
Today's Lessons constitute a challenge to the preacher to reconcile Lesson 2 with the other Lessons and to blend them into a meaningful unity. Lesson 2 serves as a counter-balance to the other Lessons which teach obedience as a way to God's favor and entrance into the Kingdom of God. To preach obedience alone may not be helpful to the people. Urging, scolding and exhorting people to obey God's commands will not produce results other than to make nervous saints out of church members who are frustrated by having to do something they cannot do, no matter how hard they try. Lesson 2 serves as the key to obedience. Good works resulting from obedience to the Law are not the cause but the result of salvation. An experience of grace through faith provides the motivation for obedience, the motivation for gratitude. Without the truth of Lesson 2, we could easily fall into the trap of preaching salvation by works.
The task of the preacher to stimulate increased obedience is most urgent when crime, permissiveness and moral deterioration are household words. Sin is a generally accepted way of modern life. Lying, cheating, stealing, murder and rape are everyday occurrences. How can a preacher get obedience without encouraging works of righteousness? If there is a lack of obedience, there must be a lack of understanding and appreciation of grace through faith. If salvation by grace has been emphasized, it may have deteriorated into cheap grace, that is, grace without obedience. Probably the solution to the problem is to preach grace to such an extent and in such a manner that obedience would naturally follow as a by-product.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
In Obedience School
Need: The subject of obedience needs to be put in perspective through the three Lessons. It is helpful to know what, why and whom to obey. Since sin is disobedience, we need to enter God's obedience school. We do not by nature obey God; we need to learn to obey.
Outline: In God's obedience school, we learn -
a. The content of obedience - Lesson 1 - Noah is commanded to build an ark.
b. The value of obedience - Gospel - Jesus gives the benefits of obedience -
1. Entrance into the kingdom - v. 21.
2. Security in life's storms - vv. 24, 25.
c. The reason for obedience - Lesson 2 - Gratitude for God's grace in Christ motiyates obedience.
Gospel:
Matthew 7:21-29
1. The Danger of Being Religious. 7:21
Need:
Our churches are full of people who are content to say, "Lord, Lord," and not obey their Lord in practicing their faith. We come to worship but we fail to obey the laws of the One we worship. The sermon is to challenge the people to both worship and work.
Outline: The danger of being religious.
a. The danger of lip service without life service.
b. Danger of confession without expression.
c. Danger of worship without work.
2. Can Bad Men Do Good Deeds? 7:22-23
Need: Exegesis tells us these verses were probably directed toward the problem of charismatic leaders who were disturbing the peace and unity of the church. It has always been a problem for the church when religious leaders apparently do "great" things in the name of Christ and attract large followings, but their motivation is not always pure. Various radio-television personalities seem to be getting crowds and performing miracles. When religious work can produce millionaires and preachers can afford to live in palaces, people may question the motivation involved. This sermon is not an attack on any particular sect or leaders, but it opens up the question of proper motivation for Christian work. In other words, an act is not good in itself; to be truly good the motive for doing it must be good also.
Outline: If a deed is good in God's sight -
a. The doer says more than "Lord, Lord" - v. 22.
b. Mighty works are done in the proper use of Jesus' name - v. 22.
c. It is done from a good motive - v. 23.
3. Stability in a Storm. 7:24-27
Need: This passage does not deal with the construction of houses or lives. It is not saying we should build our lives on the rock of Christ rather than on sand. This passage concludes the Sermon on the Mount, the greatest collection of Jesus' teachings. The question may have come to Jesus' mind: Will the people obey these teachings or will they resume their old way of life? It becomes a concern of obedience. He who hears and obeys is like a man who builds his house on rock. Then the storms of life will not wash him away. The results of obedience are stability and security.
Outline: Two men in a storm.
a. The foolish man - built on sand - vv. 26, 27. Reason for foolishness: heard but did not obey. Consequence: destruction.
b. The wise man - built on rock - vv. 24, 25. Reason for wisdom: heard and obeyed. Consequence: stability, security, safety.
Lesson 1: Genesis 6:9-22 (C)
A Ridiculous Obedience. 6:9-22
Need: When we were children, parents sometimes asked us to obey when we could see no reason for it. The usual question was "Why?" In the case of Noah, he may have thought that God's command to build an ark was senseless. Build an ark on dry ground miles from the ocean? Build an ark at a time of drought? Build an ark to house all animals? Obedience does not ask "Why?" but does it. Today we ask, "Why do good?" or "Why love enemies?" or "Why forgive?" or "Why give a tithe?"
Outline:
a. God's need may seem ridiculous - v. 14. See "Need" above.
b. God's command calls for radical obedience - v. 22. What kind of person would obey?
1. A good person - "Noah had no faults (v. 10)."
2. A godly person - "Fellowship with God (v. 10)."
3. An obedient person - "Noah did everything that God commanded (v. 22)."
Lesson 1: Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28 (E, L, RC)
1. The Sacred in the Secular. 11:18-21
Need: The farther society gets away from God the more secular it becomes. Secularism is that view of life that ignores God in life. It lives as though God did not exist. Secularism sucks the spirituality out of society. In this passage, Moses calls upon the Israelites to put God in every area of life, every day and in every way. No one at any time can escape the presence of God. This is related to obedience. In a secular world, obedience to God cannot be a factor, for God is not there. In a sacred world, God is central and we live in harmony with God's will.
Outline: How God can be put back into daily life.
a. Put God's Word in your heart - v. 18.
b. Keep God's Word before your eyes - v. 18.
c. Teach God's Word to your children - v. 19.
d. Write God's Word on your property - v. 20.
2. To Obey or Not to Obey. 11:26-28
Need: Moses gives his people a choice to obey or not to obey. Unless it is voluntary, obedience is not obedience. It is compulsion and carries no merit. The choice is presented to every person - obey God or not? Does it really matter whether we obey God?
Outline: To obey or not to obey.
a. Not to obey: a curse - v. 28. Disobedience to God's law breaks the sacred covenant with God. Sin is a curse, for it brings suffering, separation from God and death. Moral pollution brings eventual destruction.
b. To obey: a blessing - v. 27. Obedience opens up the channel through which God's blessings flow.
Lesson 2: Romans 3:21-28 (C, E, L, RC)
1. Why be Good? 3:21-28
Need: Here we deal with the place of obedience in salvation. The other Lessons emphasize obedience, but this pericope says obedience does not save the soul - "a man is justified by faith apart from the works of law." Apparently, obedience to God's law has no part in getting right with God. This is a necessary corrective to the other Lessons. In this sermon we want to put obedience in proper perspective.
Outline: Why be good by obeying God's Laws?
a. Not to earn God's acceptance - vv. 21, 28.
b. To express gratitude for grace received - vv. 24, 25.
2. It All Depends on Faith. 3:21-28
Need: It is difficult for many to rely upon faith to get right with God. Some of us would rather "do it ourselves" by our good deeds or character. God has done for us all that is needed to be forgiven and accepted. All we need is faith to make grace a personal posses-sion. So we need only faith to receive the grace. This is what we must convince the people in this sermon.
Outline: Our salvation -
a. It all depends on God.
1. Our justification (acquittal) - v. 24.
2. Our redemption (purchased from slavery) - v. 24.
3. Our cleansing (sin exorcised) - v. 25.
b. It all depends on faith.
1. Not by works - v. 28.
2. Acceptance of grace by faith - v. 25.
