Proper 9
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series IV
David becomes king of all Israel. For 71/2 years he ruled the
southern tribes from Hebron. Then leaders of the northern tribes
came to Hebron and made him king of all Israel. At the time he
was 30 years old, and ruled Israel and Judah for 33 years. This
was in accord with the Lord's will that David should be the
shepherd-ruler over the entire country.
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 (C, E)
Paul is fed up with his opponents who cast doubt on his
apostleship and boast about their work and religious experience.
This pericope is a part of the "terrible letter" (10-13) in which
Paul makes a heated defense of his apostleship. If his opponents
can boast of their accomplishments, he can, too. This passage is
part of his boasting. Paul claims he, too, has had an abundance
of revelations, but to keep him humble God gave him a thorn in
the flesh. Repeatedly he prayed to have it removed, but God
assured him his grace was enough to bear it. Now Paul boasts of
his weaknesses, handicaps and sufferings, for through these
weaknesses the power of Christ comes upon him.
Gospel: Mark 6:1-13 (C)
Earlier Jesus was rejected by his family and religious
leaders. Now he is rejected by the people (friends and relatives)
of his home town, Nazareth. They were astonished at his teaching
and mighty works. They could not explain his greatness; they
referred to him as a carpenter and as the son of Mary along with
brothers and sisters. Unable to explain him, they took offense or
were scandalized by him. Jesus reacted by saying that a prophet
was without honor among his own people. He was unable to do
mighty works because of the people's unbelief. So Jesus left with
his disciples to teach in other towns.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 48 (C) -- "Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised."
(v. 1)
Psalm 123 (E); Psalm 143:1-2, 5-8
Prayer Of The Day
"God of glory, Father of love, peace comes from you alone.
Send us as peacemakers and witnesses to your kingdom, and fill
our hearts with joy in your promises of salvation."
Hymn Of The Day
"God Moves In A Mysterious Way"
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Mark 6:1-13 (C)
1. His own (v. 1). There is a touch of irony and tragedy in
the words, "his own country." It might have been "his country."
"Own" intensifies the closeness of the relationship
203
-- his very own country, Nazareth, where Jesus grew up, worked as
a carpenter, and where his family and relatives lived. The
tragedy is that his home folks rejected him. "He came to his own
and his own received him not." His immediate family called him
crazy. His hometown rejected him. Leaders of his native religion
pronounced him "possessed" of the devil. His nation cried,
"Crucify him!"
2. Offense (v. 3). It is a mild word. In Greek it is
"scandal." His townspeople were not proud of his teaching and
healing. For them Jesus was not a local boy who made good. They
were jealous of his power, wisdom and success. After all, he was
only a carpenter -- where did he get his wisdom? His mother,
brothers and sisters live here and they are common folks. Who
does he think he is? They were so offended that they could not
believe he was a prophet of God.
3. Unbelief (v. 6a). Here we see the connection of faith and
God's blessings. It was not that Jesus could not do any mighty
work, for he had the power and wisdom of God. Faith is the
receptive agent which accepts God's gifts and enables God's power
to work in the people with faith. Without our willingness to be
helped, Christ cannot help us. Without faith to accept, God
cannot give us grace.
4. Went (v. 6b) Nazareth was a defeat for Jesus. There was no
other place where Jesus was rejected. Of all places Jesus could
have expected acceptance was among his closest friends and
family. It may have discouraged Jesus into giving up his teaching
and healing. How does he take his failure? "He went ...
teaching." He went on with his work to other villages, working as
hard as ever.
Lesson 1: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 (C)
1. Bone and flesh (v. 1). David was no stranger nor foreigner
to the northern tribes. The leaders of the northern tribes came
to Hebron and claimed David as one of their own. They recognized
who he was -- the same bone and flesh.
2. Led (v. 2). It was not a matter who David was but what he
did for the whole of Israel. He was a military leader who led
Israel to war and to victory. The elders realized they needed a
leader who could do something for them. David had a good record
and he proved his leadership ability.
3. Covenant (v. 3). The elders of the North felt God had a
hand in what they proposed. The Lord told David that he was to be
the shepherd-king of his people. In the presence of God, king and
people agreed to a covenant in which they recognized their
responsibilities to each other. For Christians, baptism is a
covenant between God and the individual. God is accepted as the
king of their lives and God accepts the person as his child.
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 (C, E)
1. Thorn (v. 7). Paul was given a thorn in the flesh. No one
knows what it was. One person's guess is as good as another's
because Paul does not tell us what it was. There was a reason for
the thorn -- to keep Paul humble. He had so many "third heaven"
experiences that he could have been intolerably proud. Do we ever
consider the thorn (cross) we have as a gift from God for our own
good?
2. But (v. 9). "But" means God's "no" to Paul's prayers that
the thorn might be removed. Even Paul did not have all his
prayers answered. At one time he wrote, "We know not how to pray
as we ought." There is such a thing as unanswered prayers. God
does not answer, as in Paul's case, because it is for our
ultimate good.
3. Weaknesses (v. 9). Paul has learned to boast of his
weaknesses. We usually boast of our strengths and
accomplishments. Paul learned through his thorn that there is a
theology of the cross. God works in and through our weaknesses.
In suffering he accomplishes redemption. In death he produces
life. When we are weak, God has the opportunity to work in us.
The result is strength for us.
204
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Gospel: Mark 6:1-13 (C)
1. A cool reception for a hometown boy. 6:1-6
Need: By the time Jesus returned to his hometown, Nazareth, he
had become a famous person in Palestine: Crowds thronged to hear
him, hundreds came to be healed, religious leaders were alarmed.
He was the talk of the town. Other towns begged him to come to
him. You could expect Nazareth to be proud of their son and give
him a hero's welcome. In this sermon we see the cool reception he
received. Translated to our time, we can give Jesus a similar
rejection by refusing to believe in him.
Outline: The possible reaction of home folks --
a. Astonishment -- v. 2.
b. Offense -- v. 3.
c. Unbelief -- v. 6.
2. Jesus the failure! 6:1-6
Need: "With God all things are possible." If so, we could
expect Jesus to be a success on every occasion and in every
problem. Hardly ever do we think that Jesus could fail. At
Nazareth he failed to win his people to faith and to heal. At
another time Jesus failed to make a disciple out of a rich young
ruler. The emphasis in this sermon should not be on failure but
the reason for the failure -- the lack of the people's
cooperation.
Outline: How Jesus failed --
a. Failed to gain the people's understanding -- vv. 2-3.
b. Failed to win the people's faith in him -- v. 6.
c. Failed to do them good -- v. 5.
3. You gotta believe! 6:1-6
Need: Man can stymy and frustrate God's blessings. It is
tragic to love and have the love rejected. It is sad when one
wants to do good but the needy refuse to accept help. Unbelief
blocks the channel of grace. Lack of faith breaks the wire of
communication between God and humans. Faith does not heal nor
bless, but it is the receptive agent that allows God's blessings
to become a reality in our lives.
Outline: Without faith, you cannot --
a. Accept Jesus as your Savior -- vv. 1-4.
b. Be healed -- vv. 5-6.
Lesson 1: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 (C)
The man we want for president. 5:1-3
Need: Every four years Americans have the task of electing a
national leader. We are very much like the Israelite leaders who
came to get David to be their king. What they demanded in their
future king applies to us who choose a president.
Outline: The man we want --
a. He must be one of us -- v. 1.
b. He must be a successful leader -- v. 2.
c. He must have God's approval -- v. 3.
2. This nation under God. 5:2-3, 10
Need: To be successful, to have peace, to live in brotherhood,
a nation must acknowledge God and be faithful to the covenant
with God. Then, the words became meaningful when we say, "This
nation under God."
Outline: God makes the difference in a people --
a. God makes a covenant with a nation -- v. 3.
b. God approves of the leader -- v. 2.
c. God makes a nation great -- v. 10.
205
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 (C, E)
1. How to take suffering. 12:7-10
Need: Suffering is a fact of life. The good as well as the bad
suffer pain, hardship and defeat. The difference in the two is
how they take the suffering. The sun of suffering can melt wax or
harden clay. A Christian uses suffering as Paul did in the text.
Outline: What to do when suffering comes --
a. Pray for its removal -- v. 8.
b. Accept grace to bear it -- v. 9.
c. Use it as a stepping-stone to greatness -- v. 10.
2. The good of suffering. 12:7-10
Need: Can there be any good in suffering? If so, should we
seek to suffer? Since every person must deal with suffering at
some point in his life, it would be wise to know that God can use
suffering for our good. The text gives us the possible good to be
derived from adversity.
Outline: The good of suffering; suffering --
a. Makes you humble -- v. 7.
b. Causes you to pray -- v. 8.
c. Brings you grace -- v. 9.
d. Blesses you with strength -- v. 10.
206
southern tribes from Hebron. Then leaders of the northern tribes
came to Hebron and made him king of all Israel. At the time he
was 30 years old, and ruled Israel and Judah for 33 years. This
was in accord with the Lord's will that David should be the
shepherd-ruler over the entire country.
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 (C, E)
Paul is fed up with his opponents who cast doubt on his
apostleship and boast about their work and religious experience.
This pericope is a part of the "terrible letter" (10-13) in which
Paul makes a heated defense of his apostleship. If his opponents
can boast of their accomplishments, he can, too. This passage is
part of his boasting. Paul claims he, too, has had an abundance
of revelations, but to keep him humble God gave him a thorn in
the flesh. Repeatedly he prayed to have it removed, but God
assured him his grace was enough to bear it. Now Paul boasts of
his weaknesses, handicaps and sufferings, for through these
weaknesses the power of Christ comes upon him.
Gospel: Mark 6:1-13 (C)
Earlier Jesus was rejected by his family and religious
leaders. Now he is rejected by the people (friends and relatives)
of his home town, Nazareth. They were astonished at his teaching
and mighty works. They could not explain his greatness; they
referred to him as a carpenter and as the son of Mary along with
brothers and sisters. Unable to explain him, they took offense or
were scandalized by him. Jesus reacted by saying that a prophet
was without honor among his own people. He was unable to do
mighty works because of the people's unbelief. So Jesus left with
his disciples to teach in other towns.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 48 (C) -- "Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised."
(v. 1)
Psalm 123 (E); Psalm 143:1-2, 5-8
Prayer Of The Day
"God of glory, Father of love, peace comes from you alone.
Send us as peacemakers and witnesses to your kingdom, and fill
our hearts with joy in your promises of salvation."
Hymn Of The Day
"God Moves In A Mysterious Way"
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Mark 6:1-13 (C)
1. His own (v. 1). There is a touch of irony and tragedy in
the words, "his own country." It might have been "his country."
"Own" intensifies the closeness of the relationship
203
-- his very own country, Nazareth, where Jesus grew up, worked as
a carpenter, and where his family and relatives lived. The
tragedy is that his home folks rejected him. "He came to his own
and his own received him not." His immediate family called him
crazy. His hometown rejected him. Leaders of his native religion
pronounced him "possessed" of the devil. His nation cried,
"Crucify him!"
2. Offense (v. 3). It is a mild word. In Greek it is
"scandal." His townspeople were not proud of his teaching and
healing. For them Jesus was not a local boy who made good. They
were jealous of his power, wisdom and success. After all, he was
only a carpenter -- where did he get his wisdom? His mother,
brothers and sisters live here and they are common folks. Who
does he think he is? They were so offended that they could not
believe he was a prophet of God.
3. Unbelief (v. 6a). Here we see the connection of faith and
God's blessings. It was not that Jesus could not do any mighty
work, for he had the power and wisdom of God. Faith is the
receptive agent which accepts God's gifts and enables God's power
to work in the people with faith. Without our willingness to be
helped, Christ cannot help us. Without faith to accept, God
cannot give us grace.
4. Went (v. 6b) Nazareth was a defeat for Jesus. There was no
other place where Jesus was rejected. Of all places Jesus could
have expected acceptance was among his closest friends and
family. It may have discouraged Jesus into giving up his teaching
and healing. How does he take his failure? "He went ...
teaching." He went on with his work to other villages, working as
hard as ever.
Lesson 1: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 (C)
1. Bone and flesh (v. 1). David was no stranger nor foreigner
to the northern tribes. The leaders of the northern tribes came
to Hebron and claimed David as one of their own. They recognized
who he was -- the same bone and flesh.
2. Led (v. 2). It was not a matter who David was but what he
did for the whole of Israel. He was a military leader who led
Israel to war and to victory. The elders realized they needed a
leader who could do something for them. David had a good record
and he proved his leadership ability.
3. Covenant (v. 3). The elders of the North felt God had a
hand in what they proposed. The Lord told David that he was to be
the shepherd-king of his people. In the presence of God, king and
people agreed to a covenant in which they recognized their
responsibilities to each other. For Christians, baptism is a
covenant between God and the individual. God is accepted as the
king of their lives and God accepts the person as his child.
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 (C, E)
1. Thorn (v. 7). Paul was given a thorn in the flesh. No one
knows what it was. One person's guess is as good as another's
because Paul does not tell us what it was. There was a reason for
the thorn -- to keep Paul humble. He had so many "third heaven"
experiences that he could have been intolerably proud. Do we ever
consider the thorn (cross) we have as a gift from God for our own
good?
2. But (v. 9). "But" means God's "no" to Paul's prayers that
the thorn might be removed. Even Paul did not have all his
prayers answered. At one time he wrote, "We know not how to pray
as we ought." There is such a thing as unanswered prayers. God
does not answer, as in Paul's case, because it is for our
ultimate good.
3. Weaknesses (v. 9). Paul has learned to boast of his
weaknesses. We usually boast of our strengths and
accomplishments. Paul learned through his thorn that there is a
theology of the cross. God works in and through our weaknesses.
In suffering he accomplishes redemption. In death he produces
life. When we are weak, God has the opportunity to work in us.
The result is strength for us.
204
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Gospel: Mark 6:1-13 (C)
1. A cool reception for a hometown boy. 6:1-6
Need: By the time Jesus returned to his hometown, Nazareth, he
had become a famous person in Palestine: Crowds thronged to hear
him, hundreds came to be healed, religious leaders were alarmed.
He was the talk of the town. Other towns begged him to come to
him. You could expect Nazareth to be proud of their son and give
him a hero's welcome. In this sermon we see the cool reception he
received. Translated to our time, we can give Jesus a similar
rejection by refusing to believe in him.
Outline: The possible reaction of home folks --
a. Astonishment -- v. 2.
b. Offense -- v. 3.
c. Unbelief -- v. 6.
2. Jesus the failure! 6:1-6
Need: "With God all things are possible." If so, we could
expect Jesus to be a success on every occasion and in every
problem. Hardly ever do we think that Jesus could fail. At
Nazareth he failed to win his people to faith and to heal. At
another time Jesus failed to make a disciple out of a rich young
ruler. The emphasis in this sermon should not be on failure but
the reason for the failure -- the lack of the people's
cooperation.
Outline: How Jesus failed --
a. Failed to gain the people's understanding -- vv. 2-3.
b. Failed to win the people's faith in him -- v. 6.
c. Failed to do them good -- v. 5.
3. You gotta believe! 6:1-6
Need: Man can stymy and frustrate God's blessings. It is
tragic to love and have the love rejected. It is sad when one
wants to do good but the needy refuse to accept help. Unbelief
blocks the channel of grace. Lack of faith breaks the wire of
communication between God and humans. Faith does not heal nor
bless, but it is the receptive agent that allows God's blessings
to become a reality in our lives.
Outline: Without faith, you cannot --
a. Accept Jesus as your Savior -- vv. 1-4.
b. Be healed -- vv. 5-6.
Lesson 1: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 (C)
The man we want for president. 5:1-3
Need: Every four years Americans have the task of electing a
national leader. We are very much like the Israelite leaders who
came to get David to be their king. What they demanded in their
future king applies to us who choose a president.
Outline: The man we want --
a. He must be one of us -- v. 1.
b. He must be a successful leader -- v. 2.
c. He must have God's approval -- v. 3.
2. This nation under God. 5:2-3, 10
Need: To be successful, to have peace, to live in brotherhood,
a nation must acknowledge God and be faithful to the covenant
with God. Then, the words became meaningful when we say, "This
nation under God."
Outline: God makes the difference in a people --
a. God makes a covenant with a nation -- v. 3.
b. God approves of the leader -- v. 2.
c. God makes a nation great -- v. 10.
205
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 (C, E)
1. How to take suffering. 12:7-10
Need: Suffering is a fact of life. The good as well as the bad
suffer pain, hardship and defeat. The difference in the two is
how they take the suffering. The sun of suffering can melt wax or
harden clay. A Christian uses suffering as Paul did in the text.
Outline: What to do when suffering comes --
a. Pray for its removal -- v. 8.
b. Accept grace to bear it -- v. 9.
c. Use it as a stepping-stone to greatness -- v. 10.
2. The good of suffering. 12:7-10
Need: Can there be any good in suffering? If so, should we
seek to suffer? Since every person must deal with suffering at
some point in his life, it would be wise to know that God can use
suffering for our good. The text gives us the possible good to be
derived from adversity.
Outline: The good of suffering; suffering --
a. Makes you humble -- v. 7.
b. Causes you to pray -- v. 8.
c. Brings you grace -- v. 9.
d. Blesses you with strength -- v. 10.
206
