Proper 6, Pentecost 4, Ordinary Time 11
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle A
Object:
Seasonal Theme
The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Christ
Theme For The Day
Jesus sending his disciples out into the world with instructions to stay focused and announce the nearness of the kingdom.
Old Testament Lesson
Genesis 18:1-15
Hospitality
We have in this passage the themes of both hospitality and a birth announcement. Stories about visits from strangers are found in many cultures. Abraham's hospitality has several characteristics: it applies to strangers; it follows a certain protocol: seeing, running to meet, honoring, inviting, refreshing, preparing, serving. Notice these heavenly beings do eat! Sarah denies laughing (v. 15) either to withdraw her laughter or she is becoming more aware of the identity of the messenger. Of course the son later will be named Isaac = "he laughs."
Notice this involves hospitality toward God as well as human hospitality.
The New Interpreter's Bible states about this passage, "The active engagement of God in the midst of the problems of daily life opens up the future rather than closing it down." Here God finds the way into the future of a promised son. Against insurmountable hurdles of human bodily limits and the uncertain responses of both Abraham and Sarah, it is about to take place as part of God's divine plan. It seems to me there is some male unfairness with the excusing of Abraham's laughter and criticizing Sarah's. It is not all that uncommon in the Old Testament that humans question God as a part of their conversation with God. Abraham is about to do so (vv. 23-25)! By the way, if I were that old and my wife in Sarah's situation, I'd have a raucous belly laugh over the silliness of this announcement of a son also. This, even in spite of post-menopausal births in recent years. Anyway -- a son is promised. Wow!
New Testament Lesson
Romans 5:1-8
Faith Brings Justification
Paul writes as one who would like to sing it. He is confident in God's action in doing what the law could never do. And that's the wonderful truth: Our faith brings justification and because of it we have beautiful peace (v. 1). When we are introduced to God, we find not judgment but blessed grace -- the incredible kindness of God. Then comes verse 3 on which we must spend a little time:
1. suffering produces endurance (v. 3),
2. endurance produces character (v. 4),
3. character produces hope (v. 4),
4. hope does not disappoint us (v. 5).
William Barclay's Daily Study Bible unpacks this pithy passage with Greek:
1. Suffering = literally means pressure,
2. Endurance = the spirit which can overcome the world,
3. Character = sterling, a metal passed through the fire and refined,
4. Hope = a challenge to greatness,
5. Christian hope = founded on the love of God.
That love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. It gets better and better as you progress through Paul's confident and encouraging statements.
Verses 6-8 say that the fact Christ died for us is proof enough of God's unlimited and undeserved love. To die for a good cause or person is one thing; but, Paul says, Christ died for us while we are still sinners and in rebellion against God.
The Gospel
Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23)
Compassion
Right away we see Jesus' ministry as teaching, preaching, and healing. Not a bad model! An interesting observation is that when we read through the Gospels, we see Jesus spent much more time healing, feeding, and comforting than he did talking about God. His was a ministry of acting out God's love even more than talking about God's love. In a day when some super Jews called for a sacrifice and others for observance of the law, Jesus acted out God's love for God's people.
The word for compassion in verse 36 is a gut-wrenching, moving identification with the pain of others. He was moved with compassion for the world's frustration, grief, illness, hunger, and loneliness.
Now to the harvest waiting in verse 37 and 38. It's a simple premise: the harvest cannot be received unless there are people to do the work of harvesting. Christ's ministry needs people, disciples who will continue what he began in Palestine.
According to Matthew -- who was there and heard it first hand -- Jesus gave the disciples authority over unclean spirits and every disease. Perhaps we who claim discipleship ought take this responsibility more seriously.
The list informs us that these were average, ordinary people and they were an inclusive bunch! Just think of Simon the Zealot and Matthew, who had joined the enemy to collect their taxes in the same group of twelve! It's only in God's presence these two could get along with each other. There were probably twelve because of the Old Testament's twelve tribes of Israel. In Revelation 21:14 we learn these twelve apostles' names were inscribed on the very foundation of the Holy City (church).
Verses 5-8 tell us Jesus sent them out with the announcement to make ready for "The Kingdom of Heaven has come near." They are to keep their mission focused and go first to God's favorite people, the Jews. And they were not to carry a beggar's bag. Keep it simple, Jesus instructed them, otherwise the message might get diluted. Their ministry was to be more than works; they were to cure, raise, cleanse, and cast out (v. 8). And so also our ministries.
Preaching Possibilities
The three readings may best stand alone.
A. The Old Testament reading about Sarah is an opportunity to give equality to the female in the story. It could be the basis for a sermon on hospitality even though I doubt the writer had that in mind.
B. Perhaps best here is an exegetical homily. You retell the story and then make the points:
1. God would have us be hospitable with all people.
2. God can do great things through those who will trust God.
3. God has a plan to eventually make us God's people.
C. The reading from Romans continues Paul's explanation of his theology.
1. Two weeks ago the words were: faith, justification. and salvation.
Last week we added: promise, grace, righteousness, and hope.
2. Now today, another "add-on" sermon, by adding the words: peace (v. 1), glory (v. 2), and God's love (vv. 5 and 8).
3. Or you could simply use the verses of 5:3-5. Barclay's unpacking from the Greek provides an excellent outline. Here would be a time to try old fashioned Bible verse memorization. Put these verses on signs, print in bulletins, make stickers to take home -- any method to help your people learn these precious verses.
4. Be sure to review briefly the previous words before taking on the three new ones for today.
a. Peace = the very best good for the other person and God's calm for us
b. Glory = we can share in this mixture of confidence and God's presence
c. God's love = an unselfish deep concern for the other person (or could we add non-human world also?) It is a love demonstrated and proved for us on the cross.
D. With the Gospel reading there are four possibilities:
1. Sheep without a shepherd (v. 9:36).
2. Workers for the harvest (v. 9:37).
3. Discipleship authority and instructions (vv. 10:1, 7, and 8).
4. And we can put them all together and talk about a message to announce, a mission to set out on, and a harvest which is plentiful. The title might be: "Our Call to Discipleship."
E. It's a real stretch to put the three readings together! The best I could do is:
1. Abraham and Sarah's hope for a son (Genesis 18:14)
2. Saint Paul's hope for justification (Romans 5:1)
3. Jesus' hope for a harvest (Matthew 9:37b)
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
In the excellent book, The Homiletical Plot, author Eugene Lowry proposes five sermon moves in the construction of a sermon. We will use them for today's Gospel reading.
1. Upsetting the equilibrium -- "Oops"
2. Analyzing the discrepancy -- "Ugh"
3. Disclosing the resolution -- "Aha"
4. Experiencing the Gospel -- "Whee"
5. Anticipating the consequence -- "Yea"
"Oops" The disciples had been given a wonderful message to announce in their discipleship -- the good news of the kingdom. But there were so few of them to take on such a large task. And the people were like shepherdless sheep. So much to do, so few to do it.
"Ugh" People were like lost sheep. They were sick, dying, having leprosy, and demon possessed. Some were going around claiming they could cure them and charging money for it.
"Aha" Perhaps the answer was the calling of twelve apostles who were to go out with a new good news. They were to follow Jesus' example of teaching, healing, casting out, and so on, just as he did but now instead of one there would be twelve!
"Whee" Matthew was one of those whom Jesus called to do (and be) discipleship on Jesus' behalf. He was there and an eyewitness. He wrote it down so we could read it today. (Read Matthew 9:35 to 38.) The good news is we also are called to be disciples and listen to the names: (read 10:1-4) and end by saying, "and our names can be added to the list. We also have a big task for even today. God's presence through us is needed for those who are like sheep without a shepherd. These are many who are hungry for the good news, and so on.
"Yea" We disciples whom Jesus calls today have a mission. Matthew said back then... (read 10:7-8). And what a marvelous difference we can make because we have heard the call to discipleship just like those first ones heard it. Through us and our ministries, the good news of the kingdom may not only be heard but also lived out in our world. A hymn verse might be recited here or sung by the congregation or as a solo.
"Jesus Calls Us; O'er The Tumult" by Cecil F. Alexander
"Hark, The Voice Of Jesus Calling" by Daniel March will also work
Prayer Of The Day
Show us the way to join your disciples of old, dear God, that we might also announce the nearness of the kingdom. Fill our hearts with your compassion for others and commitment to be disciples in our day and world. And, dear God, make us bold in our witness. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Stories
A young man working as church van driver, Larry Kennedy, locked himself out on the roof of high rise Park Place in Des Moines, Iowa. He called for help, but they couldn't locate the source of calling. Men on the parking lot said he deserved to be out there. Others waved and smiled. He was out there for two hours before someone finally figured out his problem. We often misunderstand or fail to hear our neighbor's call for help. How many remain there alone and discouraged?
The big fire at Thousand Oaks, California, was started by a homeless man trying to keep warm. Many million dollar homes burned to the ground. Perhaps they failed to take in the man. We pay a price whenever we ignore the poor and homeless. Eventually it comes back to our own lives and homes.
I visited the memorial for Henry Lyman and Samuel Munson, missionaries from the United States who were killed by the Bataks in Sumatra. One of the old farmers nearby joked he had missionary blood in his family because his ancestors had eaten two of them! It was the year 1843. In that same year a baby boy was born in Germany named Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen who became the famous "Apostle to the Bataks" and is still considered the father of Christian missions in Sumatra. He served in Sumatra for 65 years as a Christian missionary. Even at times when it seems all is lost in the church, God is moving to call new leadership to establish the Kingdom.
Dennis Anderson, President of Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, told of a woman named Judy Cobb of West Virginia who claimed, "We must rediscover the theology of go." Like Paul and Muhlenberg and Father Hyer.
The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Christ
Theme For The Day
Jesus sending his disciples out into the world with instructions to stay focused and announce the nearness of the kingdom.
Old Testament Lesson
Genesis 18:1-15
Hospitality
We have in this passage the themes of both hospitality and a birth announcement. Stories about visits from strangers are found in many cultures. Abraham's hospitality has several characteristics: it applies to strangers; it follows a certain protocol: seeing, running to meet, honoring, inviting, refreshing, preparing, serving. Notice these heavenly beings do eat! Sarah denies laughing (v. 15) either to withdraw her laughter or she is becoming more aware of the identity of the messenger. Of course the son later will be named Isaac = "he laughs."
Notice this involves hospitality toward God as well as human hospitality.
The New Interpreter's Bible states about this passage, "The active engagement of God in the midst of the problems of daily life opens up the future rather than closing it down." Here God finds the way into the future of a promised son. Against insurmountable hurdles of human bodily limits and the uncertain responses of both Abraham and Sarah, it is about to take place as part of God's divine plan. It seems to me there is some male unfairness with the excusing of Abraham's laughter and criticizing Sarah's. It is not all that uncommon in the Old Testament that humans question God as a part of their conversation with God. Abraham is about to do so (vv. 23-25)! By the way, if I were that old and my wife in Sarah's situation, I'd have a raucous belly laugh over the silliness of this announcement of a son also. This, even in spite of post-menopausal births in recent years. Anyway -- a son is promised. Wow!
New Testament Lesson
Romans 5:1-8
Faith Brings Justification
Paul writes as one who would like to sing it. He is confident in God's action in doing what the law could never do. And that's the wonderful truth: Our faith brings justification and because of it we have beautiful peace (v. 1). When we are introduced to God, we find not judgment but blessed grace -- the incredible kindness of God. Then comes verse 3 on which we must spend a little time:
1. suffering produces endurance (v. 3),
2. endurance produces character (v. 4),
3. character produces hope (v. 4),
4. hope does not disappoint us (v. 5).
William Barclay's Daily Study Bible unpacks this pithy passage with Greek:
1. Suffering = literally means pressure,
2. Endurance = the spirit which can overcome the world,
3. Character = sterling, a metal passed through the fire and refined,
4. Hope = a challenge to greatness,
5. Christian hope = founded on the love of God.
That love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. It gets better and better as you progress through Paul's confident and encouraging statements.
Verses 6-8 say that the fact Christ died for us is proof enough of God's unlimited and undeserved love. To die for a good cause or person is one thing; but, Paul says, Christ died for us while we are still sinners and in rebellion against God.
The Gospel
Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23)
Compassion
Right away we see Jesus' ministry as teaching, preaching, and healing. Not a bad model! An interesting observation is that when we read through the Gospels, we see Jesus spent much more time healing, feeding, and comforting than he did talking about God. His was a ministry of acting out God's love even more than talking about God's love. In a day when some super Jews called for a sacrifice and others for observance of the law, Jesus acted out God's love for God's people.
The word for compassion in verse 36 is a gut-wrenching, moving identification with the pain of others. He was moved with compassion for the world's frustration, grief, illness, hunger, and loneliness.
Now to the harvest waiting in verse 37 and 38. It's a simple premise: the harvest cannot be received unless there are people to do the work of harvesting. Christ's ministry needs people, disciples who will continue what he began in Palestine.
According to Matthew -- who was there and heard it first hand -- Jesus gave the disciples authority over unclean spirits and every disease. Perhaps we who claim discipleship ought take this responsibility more seriously.
The list informs us that these were average, ordinary people and they were an inclusive bunch! Just think of Simon the Zealot and Matthew, who had joined the enemy to collect their taxes in the same group of twelve! It's only in God's presence these two could get along with each other. There were probably twelve because of the Old Testament's twelve tribes of Israel. In Revelation 21:14 we learn these twelve apostles' names were inscribed on the very foundation of the Holy City (church).
Verses 5-8 tell us Jesus sent them out with the announcement to make ready for "The Kingdom of Heaven has come near." They are to keep their mission focused and go first to God's favorite people, the Jews. And they were not to carry a beggar's bag. Keep it simple, Jesus instructed them, otherwise the message might get diluted. Their ministry was to be more than works; they were to cure, raise, cleanse, and cast out (v. 8). And so also our ministries.
Preaching Possibilities
The three readings may best stand alone.
A. The Old Testament reading about Sarah is an opportunity to give equality to the female in the story. It could be the basis for a sermon on hospitality even though I doubt the writer had that in mind.
B. Perhaps best here is an exegetical homily. You retell the story and then make the points:
1. God would have us be hospitable with all people.
2. God can do great things through those who will trust God.
3. God has a plan to eventually make us God's people.
C. The reading from Romans continues Paul's explanation of his theology.
1. Two weeks ago the words were: faith, justification. and salvation.
Last week we added: promise, grace, righteousness, and hope.
2. Now today, another "add-on" sermon, by adding the words: peace (v. 1), glory (v. 2), and God's love (vv. 5 and 8).
3. Or you could simply use the verses of 5:3-5. Barclay's unpacking from the Greek provides an excellent outline. Here would be a time to try old fashioned Bible verse memorization. Put these verses on signs, print in bulletins, make stickers to take home -- any method to help your people learn these precious verses.
4. Be sure to review briefly the previous words before taking on the three new ones for today.
a. Peace = the very best good for the other person and God's calm for us
b. Glory = we can share in this mixture of confidence and God's presence
c. God's love = an unselfish deep concern for the other person (or could we add non-human world also?) It is a love demonstrated and proved for us on the cross.
D. With the Gospel reading there are four possibilities:
1. Sheep without a shepherd (v. 9:36).
2. Workers for the harvest (v. 9:37).
3. Discipleship authority and instructions (vv. 10:1, 7, and 8).
4. And we can put them all together and talk about a message to announce, a mission to set out on, and a harvest which is plentiful. The title might be: "Our Call to Discipleship."
E. It's a real stretch to put the three readings together! The best I could do is:
1. Abraham and Sarah's hope for a son (Genesis 18:14)
2. Saint Paul's hope for justification (Romans 5:1)
3. Jesus' hope for a harvest (Matthew 9:37b)
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
In the excellent book, The Homiletical Plot, author Eugene Lowry proposes five sermon moves in the construction of a sermon. We will use them for today's Gospel reading.
1. Upsetting the equilibrium -- "Oops"
2. Analyzing the discrepancy -- "Ugh"
3. Disclosing the resolution -- "Aha"
4. Experiencing the Gospel -- "Whee"
5. Anticipating the consequence -- "Yea"
"Oops" The disciples had been given a wonderful message to announce in their discipleship -- the good news of the kingdom. But there were so few of them to take on such a large task. And the people were like shepherdless sheep. So much to do, so few to do it.
"Ugh" People were like lost sheep. They were sick, dying, having leprosy, and demon possessed. Some were going around claiming they could cure them and charging money for it.
"Aha" Perhaps the answer was the calling of twelve apostles who were to go out with a new good news. They were to follow Jesus' example of teaching, healing, casting out, and so on, just as he did but now instead of one there would be twelve!
"Whee" Matthew was one of those whom Jesus called to do (and be) discipleship on Jesus' behalf. He was there and an eyewitness. He wrote it down so we could read it today. (Read Matthew 9:35 to 38.) The good news is we also are called to be disciples and listen to the names: (read 10:1-4) and end by saying, "and our names can be added to the list. We also have a big task for even today. God's presence through us is needed for those who are like sheep without a shepherd. These are many who are hungry for the good news, and so on.
"Yea" We disciples whom Jesus calls today have a mission. Matthew said back then... (read 10:7-8). And what a marvelous difference we can make because we have heard the call to discipleship just like those first ones heard it. Through us and our ministries, the good news of the kingdom may not only be heard but also lived out in our world. A hymn verse might be recited here or sung by the congregation or as a solo.
"Jesus Calls Us; O'er The Tumult" by Cecil F. Alexander
"Hark, The Voice Of Jesus Calling" by Daniel March will also work
Prayer Of The Day
Show us the way to join your disciples of old, dear God, that we might also announce the nearness of the kingdom. Fill our hearts with your compassion for others and commitment to be disciples in our day and world. And, dear God, make us bold in our witness. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Stories
A young man working as church van driver, Larry Kennedy, locked himself out on the roof of high rise Park Place in Des Moines, Iowa. He called for help, but they couldn't locate the source of calling. Men on the parking lot said he deserved to be out there. Others waved and smiled. He was out there for two hours before someone finally figured out his problem. We often misunderstand or fail to hear our neighbor's call for help. How many remain there alone and discouraged?
The big fire at Thousand Oaks, California, was started by a homeless man trying to keep warm. Many million dollar homes burned to the ground. Perhaps they failed to take in the man. We pay a price whenever we ignore the poor and homeless. Eventually it comes back to our own lives and homes.
I visited the memorial for Henry Lyman and Samuel Munson, missionaries from the United States who were killed by the Bataks in Sumatra. One of the old farmers nearby joked he had missionary blood in his family because his ancestors had eaten two of them! It was the year 1843. In that same year a baby boy was born in Germany named Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen who became the famous "Apostle to the Bataks" and is still considered the father of Christian missions in Sumatra. He served in Sumatra for 65 years as a Christian missionary. Even at times when it seems all is lost in the church, God is moving to call new leadership to establish the Kingdom.
Dennis Anderson, President of Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, told of a woman named Judy Cobb of West Virginia who claimed, "We must rediscover the theology of go." Like Paul and Muhlenberg and Father Hyer.
