Sixth Sunday After The Epiphany
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle A
Object:
Seasonal Theme
The dawning on many who Jesus was and the dawning of a new light into the dark world as promised.
Theme For The Day
God asks us to grow in maturity of faith and keep God's covenant. We have help along the way.
Old Testament Lesson
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
God's Covenant
God is making a covenant in Moab with the people of Israel before they cross the Jordan River and go into their Promised Land. The deal is this: be loyal to the Lord, obeying God's commands, and if they do they will prosper. If they do not and worship other gods, they just won't live long. So they must choose death or life. The sky and earth are to be witnesses to this covenant. Then come two wonderful urgings: choose life (19b) and "the Lord is the only one who can give life" (v. 20b).
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Paul And Apollos
Today we return to the quarreling in the Corinthian congregation. They were fighting over to whom they belonged. Some were loyal to Paul and some to Apollos. Paul said he and Apollos work together as a team and that it's God who ought get the credit and the loyalty.
The first paragraph (vv. 3:1 to 3:3) puts before us an interesting principle. Paul said these new Christians were like infants not yet weaned from their mother's breast milk. So he had to feed them carefully. What proved they were not yet mature Christians was their arguing and jealousies, which is behavior like secular people rather than disciples. It gives us guidance on how we must treat the new Christian compared with the more mature.
Verse 9 is a great metaphor. These Christians are like God's garden or house. Paul and Apollos work together to plant and water the garden and to construct the house.
The Gospel
Matthew 5:21-37
Teaching For Disciples
We continue in the teaching of disciples by Jesus. First come some words about murder and anger. The emphasis shifts from outward acts to attitude of the heart. A little parable explains that if two people reconcile on the way to fight in court, how much more should disciples be reconciled to each other. Next come some teachings about divorce. This is less radical than in Mark 10:11. Jesus was giving here the meaning of marriage and not so much a strict interpretation of the ancient laws on divorce. The marriage covenant was in real danger and the break-up of marriage near. So Jesus, against the social conditions of his day, spoke strongly in defense of marriage.
Now a word on swearing and promises (vv. 33-37). In verse 37 we have the focus -- when you speak tell the truth. If we always speak the truth, then we will rarely need to swear something is the truth. Jesus said when we are truthful we seldom need oaths. A person's character should take care of the need for oaths.
Preaching Possibilities
Because we have the reading of both 1 Corinthians and Matthew's Sermon on the Mount story in Epiphany, it is not honest to connect these lessons together. They just were not meant for each other.
A. However, if you want to stretch a bit, the Old Testament Lesson and the Gospel can connect somewhat. Both seem to deal with an outward behavior and inward intentions. In Deuteronomy 30 we have the covenant between God and the people to keep the commandments. In Matthew 5 we have the admonition for disciples to keep that law not only outwardly but also in our hearts. I will pursue that homiletical plot under "Possible Sermon Moves" following.
B. Let's consider the New Testament Lesson on its own. Here are many important ideas about maturation in our faith, stuff we need to know for our spiritual growth and stuff we need know in how to see others beginning in the faith. It is an opportunity to speak about the following: God's Garden.
1. Christians are at various levels of spiritual maturity and immaturity in any congregation and we need know that in dealing with them (v. 2).
2. Strife in the congregation is often based on misplaced loyalty toward leaders who really don't want that kind of jealousy or competition (v. 4).
3. Leaders in any congregation are merely servants of God who ought not be given the praise and credit (v. 5).
4. We all need to continue to mature in our faith, nurture one another in our spiritual growth, and work together (v. 7).
5. Rejoice in our congregation as you would a beautiful garden with plants of all sizes, colors, and stages of maturity which belongs to God (v. 9).
This will preach. Some congregations will have much more need than others to hear a sermon like that outlined above.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
1. A sermon title: "Covenants Kept and Abandoned."
2. Introduction: Start by doing a narrative of the people, after many years, approaching the Promised Land. Before they enter into what they so long have anticipated, God admonished them to keep the traveling rules (Ten Commandments) after they go into their new country.
3. Focus: Like those arriving in Palestine, their promised land, we too have rules and a covenant with God, for we also live in a promised land as well.
4. Examples of our covenants with God:
a. We promised at baptism and confirmation to be ministers in the world.
b. We promised at our marriage to be faithful in a covenant of fidelity.
c. We promised to be truth tellers and peacemakers in conversation and prayer.
5. Radical examples of radical action necessary to keep our covenant with our God:
a. Leave offering until reconciled with brother or sister (vv. 23 and 24).
b. Make friends with those who dislike you (v. 25).
c. Punch out an eye which causes you to sin (v. 29).
d. Cut off a hand which causes you to sin (v. 30).
e. Don't divorce your spouse (v. 32).
f. Don't swear by God (v. 34).
6. And there are serious consequences to consider:
a. Deuteronomy 30:15 -- it's life or death.
b. Deuteronomy 30:19b -- be put under a curse and killed.
7. Now finish with yet a new promise: We have a God who went to the cross and gave us a new and more promising covenant. It is one of grace and not law. When we take communion we celebrate this new covenant and go our way equipped to better keep our promises.
Prayer Of The Day
God our Holy Parent, help us to keep our promises and be honest people in our speaking. Forgive us the many ways we abandon your rules for the good life. Bless our marriages and remind us often how you want us to live our in the world. We pray in Christ's name in whose covenant we celebrate. Amen.
Possible Stories
Dave Carlson of Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines tells of local resturants importing live fish by plane. All died during the long flight. So now they put a catfish in the tank. It prods them to keep moving. All arrive alive.
In the South China Morning Post, September 27, 1999, there was a story of two brothers being pulled from above from the wreckage of a Taipei building. They were there five days after being buried by Taiwan's devastating earthquake. Sun Chi Kung and Sun Chi-Kuang were 20 and 26 years old. The two were dehydrated and had a few bruises, but survived by eating rotting apples and drinking their own urine. They were protected from tons of concrete by a refrigerator and a desk and could talk to each other. Their parents are devout Buddhists and claimed, "It's a miracle." Mrs. Liu said: "I did not believe heaven would take my sons. When I heard someone had been rescued, I knew it was them." They chose life and God gave life.
The dawning on many who Jesus was and the dawning of a new light into the dark world as promised.
Theme For The Day
God asks us to grow in maturity of faith and keep God's covenant. We have help along the way.
Old Testament Lesson
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
God's Covenant
God is making a covenant in Moab with the people of Israel before they cross the Jordan River and go into their Promised Land. The deal is this: be loyal to the Lord, obeying God's commands, and if they do they will prosper. If they do not and worship other gods, they just won't live long. So they must choose death or life. The sky and earth are to be witnesses to this covenant. Then come two wonderful urgings: choose life (19b) and "the Lord is the only one who can give life" (v. 20b).
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Paul And Apollos
Today we return to the quarreling in the Corinthian congregation. They were fighting over to whom they belonged. Some were loyal to Paul and some to Apollos. Paul said he and Apollos work together as a team and that it's God who ought get the credit and the loyalty.
The first paragraph (vv. 3:1 to 3:3) puts before us an interesting principle. Paul said these new Christians were like infants not yet weaned from their mother's breast milk. So he had to feed them carefully. What proved they were not yet mature Christians was their arguing and jealousies, which is behavior like secular people rather than disciples. It gives us guidance on how we must treat the new Christian compared with the more mature.
Verse 9 is a great metaphor. These Christians are like God's garden or house. Paul and Apollos work together to plant and water the garden and to construct the house.
The Gospel
Matthew 5:21-37
Teaching For Disciples
We continue in the teaching of disciples by Jesus. First come some words about murder and anger. The emphasis shifts from outward acts to attitude of the heart. A little parable explains that if two people reconcile on the way to fight in court, how much more should disciples be reconciled to each other. Next come some teachings about divorce. This is less radical than in Mark 10:11. Jesus was giving here the meaning of marriage and not so much a strict interpretation of the ancient laws on divorce. The marriage covenant was in real danger and the break-up of marriage near. So Jesus, against the social conditions of his day, spoke strongly in defense of marriage.
Now a word on swearing and promises (vv. 33-37). In verse 37 we have the focus -- when you speak tell the truth. If we always speak the truth, then we will rarely need to swear something is the truth. Jesus said when we are truthful we seldom need oaths. A person's character should take care of the need for oaths.
Preaching Possibilities
Because we have the reading of both 1 Corinthians and Matthew's Sermon on the Mount story in Epiphany, it is not honest to connect these lessons together. They just were not meant for each other.
A. However, if you want to stretch a bit, the Old Testament Lesson and the Gospel can connect somewhat. Both seem to deal with an outward behavior and inward intentions. In Deuteronomy 30 we have the covenant between God and the people to keep the commandments. In Matthew 5 we have the admonition for disciples to keep that law not only outwardly but also in our hearts. I will pursue that homiletical plot under "Possible Sermon Moves" following.
B. Let's consider the New Testament Lesson on its own. Here are many important ideas about maturation in our faith, stuff we need to know for our spiritual growth and stuff we need know in how to see others beginning in the faith. It is an opportunity to speak about the following: God's Garden.
1. Christians are at various levels of spiritual maturity and immaturity in any congregation and we need know that in dealing with them (v. 2).
2. Strife in the congregation is often based on misplaced loyalty toward leaders who really don't want that kind of jealousy or competition (v. 4).
3. Leaders in any congregation are merely servants of God who ought not be given the praise and credit (v. 5).
4. We all need to continue to mature in our faith, nurture one another in our spiritual growth, and work together (v. 7).
5. Rejoice in our congregation as you would a beautiful garden with plants of all sizes, colors, and stages of maturity which belongs to God (v. 9).
This will preach. Some congregations will have much more need than others to hear a sermon like that outlined above.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
1. A sermon title: "Covenants Kept and Abandoned."
2. Introduction: Start by doing a narrative of the people, after many years, approaching the Promised Land. Before they enter into what they so long have anticipated, God admonished them to keep the traveling rules (Ten Commandments) after they go into their new country.
3. Focus: Like those arriving in Palestine, their promised land, we too have rules and a covenant with God, for we also live in a promised land as well.
4. Examples of our covenants with God:
a. We promised at baptism and confirmation to be ministers in the world.
b. We promised at our marriage to be faithful in a covenant of fidelity.
c. We promised to be truth tellers and peacemakers in conversation and prayer.
5. Radical examples of radical action necessary to keep our covenant with our God:
a. Leave offering until reconciled with brother or sister (vv. 23 and 24).
b. Make friends with those who dislike you (v. 25).
c. Punch out an eye which causes you to sin (v. 29).
d. Cut off a hand which causes you to sin (v. 30).
e. Don't divorce your spouse (v. 32).
f. Don't swear by God (v. 34).
6. And there are serious consequences to consider:
a. Deuteronomy 30:15 -- it's life or death.
b. Deuteronomy 30:19b -- be put under a curse and killed.
7. Now finish with yet a new promise: We have a God who went to the cross and gave us a new and more promising covenant. It is one of grace and not law. When we take communion we celebrate this new covenant and go our way equipped to better keep our promises.
Prayer Of The Day
God our Holy Parent, help us to keep our promises and be honest people in our speaking. Forgive us the many ways we abandon your rules for the good life. Bless our marriages and remind us often how you want us to live our in the world. We pray in Christ's name in whose covenant we celebrate. Amen.
Possible Stories
Dave Carlson of Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines tells of local resturants importing live fish by plane. All died during the long flight. So now they put a catfish in the tank. It prods them to keep moving. All arrive alive.
In the South China Morning Post, September 27, 1999, there was a story of two brothers being pulled from above from the wreckage of a Taipei building. They were there five days after being buried by Taiwan's devastating earthquake. Sun Chi Kung and Sun Chi-Kuang were 20 and 26 years old. The two were dehydrated and had a few bruises, but survived by eating rotting apples and drinking their own urine. They were protected from tons of concrete by a refrigerator and a desk and could talk to each other. Their parents are devout Buddhists and claimed, "It's a miracle." Mrs. Liu said: "I did not believe heaven would take my sons. When I heard someone had been rescued, I knew it was them." They chose life and God gave life.
