Proper 5
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII Cycle C
Seasonal Theme
Jesus' acts of compassion and teaching ministry.
Theme For The Day
Jesus and our ministry of compassion and miracles on God's behalf.
Old Testament Lesson
1 Kings 17:8-24
The Widow Of Zarephath
There are two miracles recorded here. Elijah provided the widow of Zarephath, who had so little, with a jar of meal and a jug of oil which would not run out. And in verses 17-24 Elijah also revived from death the widow's son. Good work, Elijah! No doubt this reading was selected to partner with Jesus' healing of another widow's son at Nain. Interesting in this story of Elijah and the widow that the widow was a Phoenician, a worshiper of Baal -- and a widow, which means she was extremely poor. Add to these facts that the city of Zarephath was in extreme drought. This is also the homeland of Jezebel, who became the champion for Baal in Israel after marrying Ahab (16:31). There may be a strong homiletical contrast between God using the ravens to feed Elijah and this widow to feed him.
Next in verses 17 and 24, we have the resuscitation of the widow's dead son. Here, it seems to me, is another attempt to claim that Elijah's God, the God of Israel, is truly a God of life and power -- even the dead can be revived! So we have a number of attempts to establish that not Baal, but Yahweh, Elijah's God, is real:
1. The lighting of water-soaked wood on the mountain;
2. The feeding of Elijah, using ravens;
3. The widow's bottomless container of food; and
4. The bringing back to life of the widow's son.
And maybe best of all, this widow was not a worshiper of Elijah's God -- yet she received these marvelous gifts from God through Elijah. If we think of Elijah as a forerunner of Jesus and Elijah's ministry as foreshadowing Jesus, we really have something here to preach about.
New Testament Lesson
Galatians 1:11-24
Paul's Authority
First a chronology of Saul to Paul:
1. Saul is persecuting the church.
2. Saul gains high position in the Jewish faith.
3. Saul, however, was elected even before his birth to be an apostle to the Gentiles.
4. Saul has a vision on the Damascus road.
5. Paul goes on retreat into Arabia.
6. Paul returns to preach in Damascus.
7. Paul visits Peter and James in Jerusalem.
8. Paul preaches in Syria and Silesia.
So the great missionary begins his ministry of evangelism to the Gentiles. Paul now begins his argument which will continue through chapter 2. He tries to establish his authority and thus prove the validity of his message. Like verses 11 and 12 state, the gospel he preaches didn't come from humans -- but through Jesus' revelation to him. I wonder if he isn't also trying his best to explain that this rabid Jew who was persecuting Christians now wants to be their spokesperson of the gospel.
The Gospel
Luke 7:11-17
New Life For A Nain Widow's Son
There are three such resurrection miracles done by Jesus in the Gospels: this widow's son, Jairus' daughter, and Lazarus. Raising the dead is one of the signs of the Messiah Jesus called attention to in 7:22. Some of the language this event uses is the same language as the Elijah account we have in the Old Testament Lesson for today. Verse 13 is the first time Luke calls Jesus "... the Lord." His power over death evidenced that which must have caused the title to be used.
Perhaps in both resurrection stories today we have best the power of compassion for those who grieve as much as the power to bring back to life a dead corpse.
Preaching Possibilities
A. Of course the Old Testament Lesson and the Gospel will work well together, especially with the theme of compassion for the poor, giving, and the ability to have and give new life. What fun it could be to tell the story in your own contemporary context. "A Christian pastor was on her way to a Rotary Club meeting when she came across a crowd weeping and watching pall bearers loading a casket into a waiting funeral coach ..." (be sure to use the local funeral home's real name).
B. The New Testament Reading will stand alone very well with the theme of where the Gospel comes from.
C. It would be a stretch, but one could call this "Miracle Sunday" and use all three readings, organizing them around the Old Testament Lesson and the miracle of food for the hungry; then the New Testament Reading with the theme of a miracle of conversion; then the Gospel with a miracle of compassion and new life for dead bodies.
To prepare for such an emphasis you might want to call three or four members and ask them what miracles Jesus has performed in their lives.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Begin by reading a contemporary and imaginary newspaper article about "a local funeral director and mourners were astounded last Tuesday as Pastor (Name) brought back to life a little son of local widow." And so on.
B. Move to reading the account of the event at Nain's gate from the Bible.
C. Move to mention the other two resurrections in the Gospels.
D. Explain how they were motivated as acts of compassion because Jesus had the power to help, not to prove Jesus' power to do them.
E. Use the revival of the widow's son in 1 Kings to illustrate how Jesus' example and forerunner had demonstrated this same compassion years before.
F. Tell your people about some of the miracles you have witnessed in your life.
G. Follow with what you think this all says to us in the church today.
1. God wants us to feed the poor, like Elijah.
2. God wants us to give new life, like Elijah.
3. God wants us always to have compassion, not just for "our own," but for all people who are in pain and suffering.
H. Frame the sermon by returning to your opening imaginary newspaper story and add how this miracle affected the local church and community.
Prayer For The Day
We celebrate today the warm concern you have for us and for all people whether they are your disciples or not. Show us the way to be instruments of your love in the world to all those who have need of your compassion. And hear our thankfulness today as well, that we might invite others to be fed and given new life here and eternal life beyond this one. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes was looking through many travel brochures. He asked, "Why isn't it ever raining in any of these pictures? And there are never any crowds either. When you get there, everyone is dressed just like you."
We do romanticize life and often think it far better somewhere else.
At the Cathedral of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico, there is a long narthex hall full of hand-painted plaques representing the miracles occurring in individual lives. An example is a picture of a boat on fire, or a car hitting a pedestrian, or a person getting out of a hospital bed.
What miracles of our members could we paint on the walls of our church narthexes?
Atlanta's Dion James hit a baseball in Shea Stadium which hit and killed a dove on the fly. He got a double and thus set it up for the Braves to win the game. A fly ball to left field had been turned into a double. It was the first time this had ever happened in Major League baseball. Shortstop Rafael Santana had to pick up the dead bird and bring it to the bat girl, who didn't want it.
Life is as fickle for us as for the bird. Death comes any time. Our finest efforts can kill.
At the funeral of Ruth Walthall, Pastor William Zimman told of falling asleep on a trip as a child and waking up the next morning in his own bed. Heaven must be a similar experience.
For a sample sermon on today's Gospel see The Miracles Of Jesus And Their Flip Side (Schmalenberger, CSS Publishing Company, 2000).
Jesus' acts of compassion and teaching ministry.
Theme For The Day
Jesus and our ministry of compassion and miracles on God's behalf.
Old Testament Lesson
1 Kings 17:8-24
The Widow Of Zarephath
There are two miracles recorded here. Elijah provided the widow of Zarephath, who had so little, with a jar of meal and a jug of oil which would not run out. And in verses 17-24 Elijah also revived from death the widow's son. Good work, Elijah! No doubt this reading was selected to partner with Jesus' healing of another widow's son at Nain. Interesting in this story of Elijah and the widow that the widow was a Phoenician, a worshiper of Baal -- and a widow, which means she was extremely poor. Add to these facts that the city of Zarephath was in extreme drought. This is also the homeland of Jezebel, who became the champion for Baal in Israel after marrying Ahab (16:31). There may be a strong homiletical contrast between God using the ravens to feed Elijah and this widow to feed him.
Next in verses 17 and 24, we have the resuscitation of the widow's dead son. Here, it seems to me, is another attempt to claim that Elijah's God, the God of Israel, is truly a God of life and power -- even the dead can be revived! So we have a number of attempts to establish that not Baal, but Yahweh, Elijah's God, is real:
1. The lighting of water-soaked wood on the mountain;
2. The feeding of Elijah, using ravens;
3. The widow's bottomless container of food; and
4. The bringing back to life of the widow's son.
And maybe best of all, this widow was not a worshiper of Elijah's God -- yet she received these marvelous gifts from God through Elijah. If we think of Elijah as a forerunner of Jesus and Elijah's ministry as foreshadowing Jesus, we really have something here to preach about.
New Testament Lesson
Galatians 1:11-24
Paul's Authority
First a chronology of Saul to Paul:
1. Saul is persecuting the church.
2. Saul gains high position in the Jewish faith.
3. Saul, however, was elected even before his birth to be an apostle to the Gentiles.
4. Saul has a vision on the Damascus road.
5. Paul goes on retreat into Arabia.
6. Paul returns to preach in Damascus.
7. Paul visits Peter and James in Jerusalem.
8. Paul preaches in Syria and Silesia.
So the great missionary begins his ministry of evangelism to the Gentiles. Paul now begins his argument which will continue through chapter 2. He tries to establish his authority and thus prove the validity of his message. Like verses 11 and 12 state, the gospel he preaches didn't come from humans -- but through Jesus' revelation to him. I wonder if he isn't also trying his best to explain that this rabid Jew who was persecuting Christians now wants to be their spokesperson of the gospel.
The Gospel
Luke 7:11-17
New Life For A Nain Widow's Son
There are three such resurrection miracles done by Jesus in the Gospels: this widow's son, Jairus' daughter, and Lazarus. Raising the dead is one of the signs of the Messiah Jesus called attention to in 7:22. Some of the language this event uses is the same language as the Elijah account we have in the Old Testament Lesson for today. Verse 13 is the first time Luke calls Jesus "... the Lord." His power over death evidenced that which must have caused the title to be used.
Perhaps in both resurrection stories today we have best the power of compassion for those who grieve as much as the power to bring back to life a dead corpse.
Preaching Possibilities
A. Of course the Old Testament Lesson and the Gospel will work well together, especially with the theme of compassion for the poor, giving, and the ability to have and give new life. What fun it could be to tell the story in your own contemporary context. "A Christian pastor was on her way to a Rotary Club meeting when she came across a crowd weeping and watching pall bearers loading a casket into a waiting funeral coach ..." (be sure to use the local funeral home's real name).
B. The New Testament Reading will stand alone very well with the theme of where the Gospel comes from.
C. It would be a stretch, but one could call this "Miracle Sunday" and use all three readings, organizing them around the Old Testament Lesson and the miracle of food for the hungry; then the New Testament Reading with the theme of a miracle of conversion; then the Gospel with a miracle of compassion and new life for dead bodies.
To prepare for such an emphasis you might want to call three or four members and ask them what miracles Jesus has performed in their lives.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Begin by reading a contemporary and imaginary newspaper article about "a local funeral director and mourners were astounded last Tuesday as Pastor (Name) brought back to life a little son of local widow." And so on.
B. Move to reading the account of the event at Nain's gate from the Bible.
C. Move to mention the other two resurrections in the Gospels.
D. Explain how they were motivated as acts of compassion because Jesus had the power to help, not to prove Jesus' power to do them.
E. Use the revival of the widow's son in 1 Kings to illustrate how Jesus' example and forerunner had demonstrated this same compassion years before.
F. Tell your people about some of the miracles you have witnessed in your life.
G. Follow with what you think this all says to us in the church today.
1. God wants us to feed the poor, like Elijah.
2. God wants us to give new life, like Elijah.
3. God wants us always to have compassion, not just for "our own," but for all people who are in pain and suffering.
H. Frame the sermon by returning to your opening imaginary newspaper story and add how this miracle affected the local church and community.
Prayer For The Day
We celebrate today the warm concern you have for us and for all people whether they are your disciples or not. Show us the way to be instruments of your love in the world to all those who have need of your compassion. And hear our thankfulness today as well, that we might invite others to be fed and given new life here and eternal life beyond this one. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes was looking through many travel brochures. He asked, "Why isn't it ever raining in any of these pictures? And there are never any crowds either. When you get there, everyone is dressed just like you."
We do romanticize life and often think it far better somewhere else.
At the Cathedral of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico, there is a long narthex hall full of hand-painted plaques representing the miracles occurring in individual lives. An example is a picture of a boat on fire, or a car hitting a pedestrian, or a person getting out of a hospital bed.
What miracles of our members could we paint on the walls of our church narthexes?
Atlanta's Dion James hit a baseball in Shea Stadium which hit and killed a dove on the fly. He got a double and thus set it up for the Braves to win the game. A fly ball to left field had been turned into a double. It was the first time this had ever happened in Major League baseball. Shortstop Rafael Santana had to pick up the dead bird and bring it to the bat girl, who didn't want it.
Life is as fickle for us as for the bird. Death comes any time. Our finest efforts can kill.
At the funeral of Ruth Walthall, Pastor William Zimman told of falling asleep on a trip as a child and waking up the next morning in his own bed. Heaven must be a similar experience.
For a sample sermon on today's Gospel see The Miracles Of Jesus And Their Flip Side (Schmalenberger, CSS Publishing Company, 2000).
