Second Sunday In Lent
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle A
Object:
Seasonal Theme
We head toward the passion and cross of Christ.
Theme For The Day
We must be born again, have faith, and celebrate that God loves us anyhow and wants to save us most of all.
Old Testament Lesson
Genesis 12:1-4a
God Blesses Abraham
Abraham is called to make a break with his past and become the founder of a nation. One could claim to have Abraham as our spiritual father willing to commit himself to this request of God. God blesses Abraham for his faithfulness by promising him descendants at this old age and with a barren Sarah! So at the age of 75, he leaves his home for the promised land of Canaan.
New Testament Lesson
Romans 4:1-5
Grace Over Works
Paul points out that the reason Abraham was acceptable to God wasn't because of his acts, but rather his faith in God. Then Paul offers an illustration. He claims you cannot make God accept you as an employee asks an employer for his wages. No, God accepts us only because of our faith in God. No doubt Paul uses Abraham to make his point about gift over works because Abraham was considered by the Jews as the founder of their race. It was his complete trust that Paul points out and not his perfect keeping of the law.
The Gospel
John 3:1-17
Born Anew
Some things we know about this aristocrat of Jerusalem. He was a Pharisee who worked hard at keeping the law and was probably of some wealth. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, the high court of the Jews. He came to Jesus during the nighttime perhaps not to be seen; or perhaps it was the only time one could find Jesus accessible by himself.
Now we must deal with verse 3 which says that he must be born "from above" or "in a new way." The same Greek word is used in verse 7: 31 (anothen). William Barclay says the word can have three meanings: 1) from the beginning; 2) again in the sense of for the second time; or 3) from above, and therefore from God.
The idea of rebirth is to be found many places in the New Testament: 1 Peter 1:3; 1 Peter 1:22, 23; James 1:18; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 3:1, 2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; and Galatians 6:15. Rabbis claimed that when someone became a Jew he was regarded as reborn.
Water represents cleaning and the Spirit represents power. So we have here the cleansing and power of Christ. We are wiped clean of the past and empowered for the future. Verses 7-13 warn us about intellectualizing Christianity and not experiencing it. We must know the power. It is not something simply to be argued but something to live out. Of course John 3:16 has been called the little Gospel and we even see it between the goal posts at NFL games. But rarely do we hear about John 3:17 which is such a reassuring promise. God doesn't want to punish us but to save us! Let's always put that next to 3:16. Now that's really gospel and that will preach!
Preaching Possibilities
A. The New Testament Lesson connects with the Old Testament Lesson for a sermon on "having faith." Paul tells the Christians in Rome that one cannot get God's salvation and acceptance by pointing to one's deeds. It's our faith, says Paul in Romans 4:5, which makes us acceptable to God. As an example of this, Paul points to Abraham. And Abraham's faith is obvious in the passage for today as he picks up and leaves for a new land confident this is what God would have him do. We might approach it by telling Abraham's story and then reading Paul's interpretation of the story. It lets us speak of faith and assure our people they need not count on their good deeds in life.
1. Sinners are also acceptable to God.
2. God judges us by our faith and not our deeds.
3. Our faith is only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit.
B. This Gospel from John 3:1-17 has enough content for at least a three-part sermon:
1. Nicodemus and being born again by the Spirit (v. 3:5).
2. God loves us so much (v. 3:16).
3. People who live in the dark or the light which has come into the world (vv. 3:20-21). This extends the reading a little. Or we can put the three great messages here into one sermon under the theme of what Nicodemus must have learned during that nocturnal visit.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
1. Introduction: Begin with a narrative of a wealthy Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin trying his best to keep the law but still feeling not at all confident he was acceptable to God. Describe his debate with himself about this Jesus and if he dare go to get some of his questions answered.
2. Then move to what Nicodemus learned from Jesus that wonderful night.
a. He learned that he needed to have a second spiritual birth which included not only water, but God's spirit (v. 5).
b. He learned only with this spirit could one really live a new life he was desperately seeking (v. 8).
c. He learned it would be necessary for Jesus to go to the cross in order for him to have forgiveness and eternal life (v. 14).
d. He learned God loves us and if we have faith in God we too can have eternal life (v. 16; also Romans 5:1).
e. He learned God really wants to save us and not judge or punish us (v. 3:17).
f. He learned that night that we usually love the dark but we have the light which comes into our dark world (v. 3:21 -- extending the text by a few verses in order to use the light/dark imagery which goes with the previous dawning and Epiphany season).
3. Now return to the Nicodemus story and imagine his going home late that night and what he told his wife or friends about the experience.
4. You might also frame your sermon by describing how his life changed after this experience. For instance:
a. He decided to let up on meticulously keeping the law and began to pray for the spirit to come into his life.
b. He called a meeting with a friend Josephus also in the Sanhedrin to see if they could get this Jesus protected from his enemies and make sure the Romans didn't crucify him.
c. He told his wife he had changed his idea about eternal life.
d. He spoke in the Synagogue the next Sabbath about God's love and desire to save rather than judge and condemn.
5. Then finally move to the "So what?" of your message, listing out how this Gospel will shape your own life and challenge your listeners to change theirs as well.
Prayer Of The Day
God of Abraham and Paul and Nicodemus, our prayer today is one of thanksgiving that you love us anyway and want most to save us. Help us to be born over and over in your spirit and know anew again and again life in the light and out of the dark. In the name of Christ, the true light. Amen.
Possible Stories
"Four Toast Henry" (Henry Siang Kung) of Myanmar (Burma) told me at breakfast in Hong Kong where I was lecturing that in his country they know nothing of "adult" baptism -- it's "believer's" baptism. So too for Nicodemus. More than water, he needed faith and then also the spirit.
I preached recently in a Nepali church in China. The new Christians there told me they have a saying in their country that "persecution means to give birth to a new church." We dedicated a new flat for worship with the printed sign which read: "Every Body Well Come to New Place unc., H.K."
In southern Egypt the temples are built on the east side of the Nile where the sun comes up. On the west side of the Nile where the sun sets are the tombs. Where are we building our faith temples?
A representative of the WCC-USA said to the ELCA constituting convention in Columbus, Ohio, that he was brought up on the Heidelberg Catechism, so: "On good days I read Calvin and on bad days I read Luther."
We head toward the passion and cross of Christ.
Theme For The Day
We must be born again, have faith, and celebrate that God loves us anyhow and wants to save us most of all.
Old Testament Lesson
Genesis 12:1-4a
God Blesses Abraham
Abraham is called to make a break with his past and become the founder of a nation. One could claim to have Abraham as our spiritual father willing to commit himself to this request of God. God blesses Abraham for his faithfulness by promising him descendants at this old age and with a barren Sarah! So at the age of 75, he leaves his home for the promised land of Canaan.
New Testament Lesson
Romans 4:1-5
Grace Over Works
Paul points out that the reason Abraham was acceptable to God wasn't because of his acts, but rather his faith in God. Then Paul offers an illustration. He claims you cannot make God accept you as an employee asks an employer for his wages. No, God accepts us only because of our faith in God. No doubt Paul uses Abraham to make his point about gift over works because Abraham was considered by the Jews as the founder of their race. It was his complete trust that Paul points out and not his perfect keeping of the law.
The Gospel
John 3:1-17
Born Anew
Some things we know about this aristocrat of Jerusalem. He was a Pharisee who worked hard at keeping the law and was probably of some wealth. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, the high court of the Jews. He came to Jesus during the nighttime perhaps not to be seen; or perhaps it was the only time one could find Jesus accessible by himself.
Now we must deal with verse 3 which says that he must be born "from above" or "in a new way." The same Greek word is used in verse 7: 31 (anothen). William Barclay says the word can have three meanings: 1) from the beginning; 2) again in the sense of for the second time; or 3) from above, and therefore from God.
The idea of rebirth is to be found many places in the New Testament: 1 Peter 1:3; 1 Peter 1:22, 23; James 1:18; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 3:1, 2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; and Galatians 6:15. Rabbis claimed that when someone became a Jew he was regarded as reborn.
Water represents cleaning and the Spirit represents power. So we have here the cleansing and power of Christ. We are wiped clean of the past and empowered for the future. Verses 7-13 warn us about intellectualizing Christianity and not experiencing it. We must know the power. It is not something simply to be argued but something to live out. Of course John 3:16 has been called the little Gospel and we even see it between the goal posts at NFL games. But rarely do we hear about John 3:17 which is such a reassuring promise. God doesn't want to punish us but to save us! Let's always put that next to 3:16. Now that's really gospel and that will preach!
Preaching Possibilities
A. The New Testament Lesson connects with the Old Testament Lesson for a sermon on "having faith." Paul tells the Christians in Rome that one cannot get God's salvation and acceptance by pointing to one's deeds. It's our faith, says Paul in Romans 4:5, which makes us acceptable to God. As an example of this, Paul points to Abraham. And Abraham's faith is obvious in the passage for today as he picks up and leaves for a new land confident this is what God would have him do. We might approach it by telling Abraham's story and then reading Paul's interpretation of the story. It lets us speak of faith and assure our people they need not count on their good deeds in life.
1. Sinners are also acceptable to God.
2. God judges us by our faith and not our deeds.
3. Our faith is only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit.
B. This Gospel from John 3:1-17 has enough content for at least a three-part sermon:
1. Nicodemus and being born again by the Spirit (v. 3:5).
2. God loves us so much (v. 3:16).
3. People who live in the dark or the light which has come into the world (vv. 3:20-21). This extends the reading a little. Or we can put the three great messages here into one sermon under the theme of what Nicodemus must have learned during that nocturnal visit.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
1. Introduction: Begin with a narrative of a wealthy Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin trying his best to keep the law but still feeling not at all confident he was acceptable to God. Describe his debate with himself about this Jesus and if he dare go to get some of his questions answered.
2. Then move to what Nicodemus learned from Jesus that wonderful night.
a. He learned that he needed to have a second spiritual birth which included not only water, but God's spirit (v. 5).
b. He learned only with this spirit could one really live a new life he was desperately seeking (v. 8).
c. He learned it would be necessary for Jesus to go to the cross in order for him to have forgiveness and eternal life (v. 14).
d. He learned God loves us and if we have faith in God we too can have eternal life (v. 16; also Romans 5:1).
e. He learned God really wants to save us and not judge or punish us (v. 3:17).
f. He learned that night that we usually love the dark but we have the light which comes into our dark world (v. 3:21 -- extending the text by a few verses in order to use the light/dark imagery which goes with the previous dawning and Epiphany season).
3. Now return to the Nicodemus story and imagine his going home late that night and what he told his wife or friends about the experience.
4. You might also frame your sermon by describing how his life changed after this experience. For instance:
a. He decided to let up on meticulously keeping the law and began to pray for the spirit to come into his life.
b. He called a meeting with a friend Josephus also in the Sanhedrin to see if they could get this Jesus protected from his enemies and make sure the Romans didn't crucify him.
c. He told his wife he had changed his idea about eternal life.
d. He spoke in the Synagogue the next Sabbath about God's love and desire to save rather than judge and condemn.
5. Then finally move to the "So what?" of your message, listing out how this Gospel will shape your own life and challenge your listeners to change theirs as well.
Prayer Of The Day
God of Abraham and Paul and Nicodemus, our prayer today is one of thanksgiving that you love us anyway and want most to save us. Help us to be born over and over in your spirit and know anew again and again life in the light and out of the dark. In the name of Christ, the true light. Amen.
Possible Stories
"Four Toast Henry" (Henry Siang Kung) of Myanmar (Burma) told me at breakfast in Hong Kong where I was lecturing that in his country they know nothing of "adult" baptism -- it's "believer's" baptism. So too for Nicodemus. More than water, he needed faith and then also the spirit.
I preached recently in a Nepali church in China. The new Christians there told me they have a saying in their country that "persecution means to give birth to a new church." We dedicated a new flat for worship with the printed sign which read: "Every Body Well Come to New Place unc., H.K."
In southern Egypt the temples are built on the east side of the Nile where the sun comes up. On the west side of the Nile where the sun sets are the tombs. Where are we building our faith temples?
A representative of the WCC-USA said to the ELCA constituting convention in Columbus, Ohio, that he was brought up on the Heidelberg Catechism, so: "On good days I read Calvin and on bad days I read Luther."
