Seventh Sunday Of Easter
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII Cycle C
Seasonal Theme
The resurrected Christ becomes a physical presence in the world again.
Theme For The Day
Jesus prayed for his disciples and us to be one in God and each other.
First Lesson
Acts 16:16-34
Paul And Silas In Prison
The slave girl would have been called a Pytho, which was a mad person who did fortune telling. It is interesting that those who exploited her were angry because she no longer could make money for them. No joy here because of the healing. Whenever something cuts our profits, we are tempted to rail against it no matter how good and compassionate the cause. And these owners of the slave girl played on the hatred of the Jews by Romans when they appealed to Roman pride and had Paul and Silas arrested for actually doing a very loving act of healing. Christianity had attacked vested interests and brought lots of trouble. Certainly the Christian business persons must always ask if by earning their profit they are exploiting other people.
Look at the characters in this midnight story: the Roman jailer who would have to pay with his own life if he lost any of his prisoners; the slave girl who was of the lowest social class and Lydia who was from the highest; Paul and Silas in jail, beaten, in stocks, singing hymns. How I wish I could have heard them! Notice Paul baptizes the very one who had imprisoned him. It's a radical love.
Notice also the whole household was baptized, which probably included all ages even infants. And one wonders if there was water enough for an immersion?
Then we have again something often related in the ministry of Jesus and the Apostles. There is an immediate response to the healings and/or saving. This jailer-Christian washed their wounds and fed them!
And earthquakes. They often happen in this part of the world, as archaeological evidence reveals.
Second Lesson
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
Jesus, Come Soon To Us Saints
With this Second Reading we finish our series of readings from the book of Revelation. Phew! This reading begins with an announcement that the Lord will come soon and people will get what they deserve. This is also written in 2:23, 20:12, 1 Corinthians 4:5, and Ephesians 6:8. The Alpha and Omega is repeated again. The robed saints who have washed in the sacrificial Lamb's blood may enter through the gates to the New Jerusalem. All others look out!
Then in verses 16 and 17 we have established that it is none other than Jesus in the promised lineage of David, the Morning Star, who provided the angel's message to the churches. (See Numbers 24:17.) Also see 2 Peter 1:19 where the word is better translated "Light-bringer."
In verse 17 we have an invitation for the Lord to come. Then again, it may be the Spirit is the spirit of prophecy. So the spirit and the bride are the prophets and the saints.
Jesus is the one who "testifies" in verse 20. Verse 21 is a familiar New Testament benediction. Some use "with God's people" in place of "all the saints."
So we might summarize this reading like this: Jesus is coming soon and people will be judged according to their works on earth. Jesus is all of life from the beginning to the end. However, we who have salvation through Jesus' sacrifice will walk right into heaven. We, the saints, invite Jesus to return soon, and it is Jesus himself who has sent this word through his angel to us. God's grace be with us all. Marana-tha.
The Gospel
John 17:20-26
Jesus' Prayer For His Disciples
This passage is usually interpreted as a prayer for the entire church. In order for people to recognize Jesus as God incarnate, unity is important. The purpose of this savior -- prayed for -- unity is to make it possible for God's love to be known. The International Bible Commentary states: "That companionship, which had begun a few years earlier, the Lord wishes to take into eternity. He will derive the greatest joy from knowing that they will behold this glory. This vision of the father will also be satisfied." It seems to me there are several unities prayed for here. Jesus prays that, just like he was one with God, his disciples might be one with God. And he prays just like he and his disciples were unified so might the disciples be unified. And he prays that the whole church would be unified with God and with each other. This is one of the most quoted texts in the scripture, often used to plead for organic union of all denominations and Christians. But I wonder if it were not meant by Jesus to be more of a oneness with God, like the oneness he had with God. You decide.
Preaching Possibilities
Now that we have celebrated the Ascension it seems a little redundant to return to Jesus' after Easter appearances. Perhaps we ought to rename this Sunday "Ecumenical Sunday" or "Church Unity Sunday" or for the more liturgical-minded it could be "The Sunday after Ascension."
A. Since it is the last Sunday of the Easter season, I hope you will consider a summary of these seven Sundays of Easter beginning with Easter itself and continuing through this seventh Sunday. An outline might look like this:
1. What a great Easter day it was when we gathered here and celebrated Jesus' coming out of the grave and how Mary Magdalene and young John and Peter bore witness to the resurrection.
2. Our second Sunday we considered how Thomas doubted and they saw the alive Jesus face to face.
3. The third Sunday we heard how Jesus calls us to follow him and care for his people.
4. The fourth Sunday we heard Jesus assure those disciples of their eternal life with him.
5. The fifth Sunday Jesus is teaching the disciples to love each other and how we do that will affect those who see it.
6. The sixth Sunday we have Jesus promising the gift of the Holy Spirit and that they must continue to learn about discipleship.
7. Then this seventh Sunday we hear Jesus praying for all disciples that they might be unified and that God's love might be in them.
B. Of course the First Lesson is such a powerful story it calls for good spellbinding narrative preaching. The slave girl story of "When our faith cuts into the profits" will work.
C. Or the midnight earthquake freeing Paul and Silas in the Philippian prison. This lends itself to addressing conversion, witnessing, and baptism. We might also approach this story through the eyes of Christian joy even in persecution.
D. If you have been preaching the recommended series on the Acts First Readings during this season, today would be a time to frame the series using the outline on page 92.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Begin by telling about a prayer you heard prayed which really was moving to you.
B. Move to the prayer Jesus prayed for his disciples contained in the Gospel for today. If you have not read the Gospel yet in the service, do it now.
C. Move to listing out what Jesus prayed for:
1. He prayed his disciples would be one in God.
2. He prayed his disciples would be united with each other.
3. He prayed that all those who would believe would be one.
4. He prayed that this obvious unity lived out would help others believe in Jesus.
5. He prayed that just like God sent Jesus on a mission the disciples might consider they were sent by Jesus on a mission as well.
D. Move to a review of this Easter season and the lessons we have learned by the appearances of Jesus recorded in Acts and John these seven Sundays.
E. Tell a story to illustrate from the Possible Metaphors And Stories below.
F. Frame by returning to your opening story about a very meaningful prayer you heard or prayed.
Prayer For The Day
We thank you, dear God, for this season of Easter when we might know for certain your out-of-the-grave presence with disciples of all ages. Keep us aware of your sacrifice for us on the cross and your glorious resurrection to win the victory over death that gives us hope and comfort even today. We who are your Easter people rejoice. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
In his election concession speech, Al Gore quoted his father with the phrase, "Shake the soul and get the glory out."
"Four toast Henry" (Siang Kung) was asked about returning to Myanmar. He replied, "I would not return to that hardship except many missionaries here left their bones in our ground and I must return to honor them."
On NBC's made-for-television movie, Going Home, Bobby is dying of cancer and asks his father, "What's going to happen to me when I die? Where will I go?" The father replies, "Son, I don't know." Bobby says, "Grandpa knows; he talks to God." Grandpa had said after finding out that Bobby was dying: "You think tears dry up when you get old? Everything dries up but that!"
Life here hurts, but those who speak to God get through.
At a community Thanksgiving service at the First Methodist Church, Des Moines, the Drake University Choir sang the Messiah: "... he shall reign forever and ever ..." and left the sanctuary before the sermon.
The "forever" got shortened up a bit.
In the poem, "The Rape of Lucrece," Shakespeare has the words, "One for all, or all for one we gage." (Gage means "pledge.")
The resurrected Christ becomes a physical presence in the world again.
Theme For The Day
Jesus prayed for his disciples and us to be one in God and each other.
First Lesson
Acts 16:16-34
Paul And Silas In Prison
The slave girl would have been called a Pytho, which was a mad person who did fortune telling. It is interesting that those who exploited her were angry because she no longer could make money for them. No joy here because of the healing. Whenever something cuts our profits, we are tempted to rail against it no matter how good and compassionate the cause. And these owners of the slave girl played on the hatred of the Jews by Romans when they appealed to Roman pride and had Paul and Silas arrested for actually doing a very loving act of healing. Christianity had attacked vested interests and brought lots of trouble. Certainly the Christian business persons must always ask if by earning their profit they are exploiting other people.
Look at the characters in this midnight story: the Roman jailer who would have to pay with his own life if he lost any of his prisoners; the slave girl who was of the lowest social class and Lydia who was from the highest; Paul and Silas in jail, beaten, in stocks, singing hymns. How I wish I could have heard them! Notice Paul baptizes the very one who had imprisoned him. It's a radical love.
Notice also the whole household was baptized, which probably included all ages even infants. And one wonders if there was water enough for an immersion?
Then we have again something often related in the ministry of Jesus and the Apostles. There is an immediate response to the healings and/or saving. This jailer-Christian washed their wounds and fed them!
And earthquakes. They often happen in this part of the world, as archaeological evidence reveals.
Second Lesson
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
Jesus, Come Soon To Us Saints
With this Second Reading we finish our series of readings from the book of Revelation. Phew! This reading begins with an announcement that the Lord will come soon and people will get what they deserve. This is also written in 2:23, 20:12, 1 Corinthians 4:5, and Ephesians 6:8. The Alpha and Omega is repeated again. The robed saints who have washed in the sacrificial Lamb's blood may enter through the gates to the New Jerusalem. All others look out!
Then in verses 16 and 17 we have established that it is none other than Jesus in the promised lineage of David, the Morning Star, who provided the angel's message to the churches. (See Numbers 24:17.) Also see 2 Peter 1:19 where the word is better translated "Light-bringer."
In verse 17 we have an invitation for the Lord to come. Then again, it may be the Spirit is the spirit of prophecy. So the spirit and the bride are the prophets and the saints.
Jesus is the one who "testifies" in verse 20. Verse 21 is a familiar New Testament benediction. Some use "with God's people" in place of "all the saints."
So we might summarize this reading like this: Jesus is coming soon and people will be judged according to their works on earth. Jesus is all of life from the beginning to the end. However, we who have salvation through Jesus' sacrifice will walk right into heaven. We, the saints, invite Jesus to return soon, and it is Jesus himself who has sent this word through his angel to us. God's grace be with us all. Marana-tha.
The Gospel
John 17:20-26
Jesus' Prayer For His Disciples
This passage is usually interpreted as a prayer for the entire church. In order for people to recognize Jesus as God incarnate, unity is important. The purpose of this savior -- prayed for -- unity is to make it possible for God's love to be known. The International Bible Commentary states: "That companionship, which had begun a few years earlier, the Lord wishes to take into eternity. He will derive the greatest joy from knowing that they will behold this glory. This vision of the father will also be satisfied." It seems to me there are several unities prayed for here. Jesus prays that, just like he was one with God, his disciples might be one with God. And he prays just like he and his disciples were unified so might the disciples be unified. And he prays that the whole church would be unified with God and with each other. This is one of the most quoted texts in the scripture, often used to plead for organic union of all denominations and Christians. But I wonder if it were not meant by Jesus to be more of a oneness with God, like the oneness he had with God. You decide.
Preaching Possibilities
Now that we have celebrated the Ascension it seems a little redundant to return to Jesus' after Easter appearances. Perhaps we ought to rename this Sunday "Ecumenical Sunday" or "Church Unity Sunday" or for the more liturgical-minded it could be "The Sunday after Ascension."
A. Since it is the last Sunday of the Easter season, I hope you will consider a summary of these seven Sundays of Easter beginning with Easter itself and continuing through this seventh Sunday. An outline might look like this:
1. What a great Easter day it was when we gathered here and celebrated Jesus' coming out of the grave and how Mary Magdalene and young John and Peter bore witness to the resurrection.
2. Our second Sunday we considered how Thomas doubted and they saw the alive Jesus face to face.
3. The third Sunday we heard how Jesus calls us to follow him and care for his people.
4. The fourth Sunday we heard Jesus assure those disciples of their eternal life with him.
5. The fifth Sunday Jesus is teaching the disciples to love each other and how we do that will affect those who see it.
6. The sixth Sunday we have Jesus promising the gift of the Holy Spirit and that they must continue to learn about discipleship.
7. Then this seventh Sunday we hear Jesus praying for all disciples that they might be unified and that God's love might be in them.
B. Of course the First Lesson is such a powerful story it calls for good spellbinding narrative preaching. The slave girl story of "When our faith cuts into the profits" will work.
C. Or the midnight earthquake freeing Paul and Silas in the Philippian prison. This lends itself to addressing conversion, witnessing, and baptism. We might also approach this story through the eyes of Christian joy even in persecution.
D. If you have been preaching the recommended series on the Acts First Readings during this season, today would be a time to frame the series using the outline on page 92.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Begin by telling about a prayer you heard prayed which really was moving to you.
B. Move to the prayer Jesus prayed for his disciples contained in the Gospel for today. If you have not read the Gospel yet in the service, do it now.
C. Move to listing out what Jesus prayed for:
1. He prayed his disciples would be one in God.
2. He prayed his disciples would be united with each other.
3. He prayed that all those who would believe would be one.
4. He prayed that this obvious unity lived out would help others believe in Jesus.
5. He prayed that just like God sent Jesus on a mission the disciples might consider they were sent by Jesus on a mission as well.
D. Move to a review of this Easter season and the lessons we have learned by the appearances of Jesus recorded in Acts and John these seven Sundays.
E. Tell a story to illustrate from the Possible Metaphors And Stories below.
F. Frame by returning to your opening story about a very meaningful prayer you heard or prayed.
Prayer For The Day
We thank you, dear God, for this season of Easter when we might know for certain your out-of-the-grave presence with disciples of all ages. Keep us aware of your sacrifice for us on the cross and your glorious resurrection to win the victory over death that gives us hope and comfort even today. We who are your Easter people rejoice. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
In his election concession speech, Al Gore quoted his father with the phrase, "Shake the soul and get the glory out."
"Four toast Henry" (Siang Kung) was asked about returning to Myanmar. He replied, "I would not return to that hardship except many missionaries here left their bones in our ground and I must return to honor them."
On NBC's made-for-television movie, Going Home, Bobby is dying of cancer and asks his father, "What's going to happen to me when I die? Where will I go?" The father replies, "Son, I don't know." Bobby says, "Grandpa knows; he talks to God." Grandpa had said after finding out that Bobby was dying: "You think tears dry up when you get old? Everything dries up but that!"
Life here hurts, but those who speak to God get through.
At a community Thanksgiving service at the First Methodist Church, Des Moines, the Drake University Choir sang the Messiah: "... he shall reign forever and ever ..." and left the sanctuary before the sermon.
The "forever" got shortened up a bit.
In the poem, "The Rape of Lucrece," Shakespeare has the words, "One for all, or all for one we gage." (Gage means "pledge.")
