Third 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
God would have us followers of Jesus inclusive people always guarding against bigotry and racism.
Old Testament Lesson
Exodus 17:1-7
Water From A Rock
This is a combination of two traditions about springs: Massah and Meribah. The former means "proving" where the people tested Yahweh. The latter means "contention" which informs us of the competition for water among the desert nomads. Verse 3 refers to the Exodus and the leading of the people from the Delta to Palestine. "The rock" in verse 6 probably means "this rock." The walking stick is the one used to part the waters of the Nile so the people could go through.
New Testament Lesson
Romans 5:1-11
God's Graceful Presence
Packed with Christian beliefs, we are at the heart of Paul's theology. He expresses his confidence in God. In verse 2 the Greek for "introduced" is prosagoge, which can mean a couple different things:
1. It meant bringing someone to a royal person. So here is the work for a worshiper approaching God. We learn when we come into God's presence we do not find judgment but rather God's forgiving, undeserved grace.
2. The second meaning of prosagoge is a harbor or haven. From off the storm-tossed sea we find a safe harbor of God's grace. We have a calm from the storm by no longer depending on what we do, but in what God has done for us.
The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary on the Bible divides this reading in this way:
5:1a
Justification by Faith
5:1b
Peace with God
5:2-5
New Hope
5:6-11
Evidence of God's Love
5:9
Not Having to Experience God's Anger
5:10-11
Reconciliation Brings Peace
The Gospel
John 4:5-42
Jesus And A Samaritan Woman
This is the story of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman. It tells us so much about Jesus. The fact that Jesus would speak to a Samaritan woman of disrepute was startling to both the woman (v. 9) and to Jesus' disciples (v. 27).
The author of the story is making the point that Jesus is Savior of the world, not just of the Jews (v. 42b). Jesus is talking about life-giving water and the woman is thinking of scarce water in earthly terms. Because Jesus spoke to the woman in public is as radical as the fact that she was a Samaritan.
Jesus makes a Messianic claim as well (vv. 25 and 26). The center of the story must be that we humans have a thirst which only God can satisfy.
Preaching Possibilities1
Any of the three readings can stand alone and be the basis for at least one sermon, and in the case of the New Testament Lesson and the Gospel, two sermons or a two-part sermon.
A. Moses locating water for his people in the desert and Jesus giving water to a Samaritan woman in the Gospel will connect well as probably the church Mothers and Fathers planned in their scripture selections. In the Exodus account, God through Moses provides water needed to survive their travel toward the Promised Land. In the Gospel story Jesus takes that water to a deeper spiritual level as life-giving water.
B. The New Testament Lesson is packed full of theological teaching and is the cause for a teaching sermon. Justification, peace, hope, God's love, and reconciliation are all there.
1. It could be presented more like a Bible study explaining that Paul was laying out what he believed and taught as an introduction of himself to this congregation in Rome which he hoped to visit soon.
2. One way to present these great doctrines would be to sing a verse of a hymn based on the teaching between each instruction. There are many hymns which will fit each of the above listed doctrines.
C. For the exegetical preacher, verses 3 and 4 are so wonderful to examine and lift up for our people. It's a powerful text! To Christians who were having such a difficult time in Rome, Paul writes profound encouragement. The original language helps and opens up the rich meanings.
Trouble
thlipsis
= pressure
Fortitude
krysomon
= the spirit that overcomes
Character
dokime
= pure or sterling or metal refined by fire
Then comes the assurance that Christian hope is founded on the love of God.
D. After saying the above, I must admit I believe that the story of the Samaritan Woman at Jacob's well is so compelling it must be experienced in the retelling, and its strong message of God's inclusiveness must be proclaimed. It is an excellent opportunity to do fascinating narrative preaching.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
1. Begin the narrative by telling of Jesus' travel and needing some rest. They stopped at Jacob's well, a place which still can be located and enjoyed.
a. Tell of the prejudice between Jew and Samaritan and between men and women. Tell of Jesus asking for a drink.
b. Develop the thought that prejudice is a very old condition and tears at the very fabric of God's multicultural curtain.
c. List prejudices we must still confront: religious, race, sex, age, nationalities.
2. Return to the story about what kind of water Jesus offered the woman and what kind she thought of.
a. Now speak of those earthly things we thirst for which do not and will never help our thirst.
b. Talk of how luxuries become necessities.
c. Speak of the world's thirst for a spiritual life. Talk of a time you were thirsty and how good the water was.
3. Now return to the woman at the well story and talk of her answer to Jesus when he asked to meet her husband.
4. Then speak of being honest to God and how we often think we can hide our sins even from God.
5. Now back to the Well of Jacob.
a. This time tell of how Jesus and the woman spoke to each other about real worship. Speak of spirit-led worship and what is possible to happen in that time we worship God.
b. Ask what is a "true worshiper"? It's one who seeks God's spirit to lead them, one who is truthful to God.
6. Now return once more to John's story and tell how she invited the whole village to come see the Messiah and the response of the whole town going out to meet him. Explain that if we have really met Jesus and been honest with him, our experience at this well is also worth going and telling and inviting others to meet him.
7. Frame your sermon by returning to your first sentences. "Yes, it was quite a long, hot trip. Rest and a drink of water were really what Jesus needed that day -- and what a day it was for one Samaritan woman who happened to be there..." and so on.
From that chance meeting we discovered -- list your summary of moves.
Prayer Of The Day
God of Jacob, whose well it was, and of the Samaritan woman who thirsted for your spirit, instruct us today that we might also drink of the living water only Jesus can provide. And give us a sense of your presence through your spirit as we worship you today and serve you all week long. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Possible Stories
October 22, 1999, ABC News with Peter Jennings reported that a horrible fire broke out in Hebron in an illegal lighter factory. Lots of lighter fluid fueled the fire. There was no fire exit. The Arabs' equipment to fight the fire was outdated and could not handle the blaze. So the Jews came and helped. They announced, "In times like these there are no borders." Because Hebron is a place of terrible strife between Arabs and Jews, the bringing of their ambulance and fire-fighting equipment was marvelous and astonishing... and the way Jesus would want it to be! I wonder how far it is from Jacob's well to Hebron's awful fire?
I followed a large cement truck being towed up Lower Beaver Road. I wondered what happens when a truck full of concrete stalls and the barrel no longer rotates. I drove on out to the concrete place to ask. They carry a certain chemical with them just in case, and they can put it in the mix to keep it from setting up in the barrel of the truck. What might we use to keep our minds and prejudices from setting up like concrete?
From The Covenant Book of Worship (Covenant Press, 1981, p. 11): "The rhythm which emerges in biblical worship moves between memory and anticipation. Its integrity lies in its backward look of faith, its forward gaze of hope, and its present response of love." Now that's worship!
____________
1. For additional information on narrative preaching, see the author's The Preacher's Edge, CSS Publishing, Lima, Ohio, 1996.
We head toward the passion and cross of Christ.
Theme For The Day
God would have us followers of Jesus inclusive people always guarding against bigotry and racism.
Old Testament Lesson
Exodus 17:1-7
Water From A Rock
This is a combination of two traditions about springs: Massah and Meribah. The former means "proving" where the people tested Yahweh. The latter means "contention" which informs us of the competition for water among the desert nomads. Verse 3 refers to the Exodus and the leading of the people from the Delta to Palestine. "The rock" in verse 6 probably means "this rock." The walking stick is the one used to part the waters of the Nile so the people could go through.
New Testament Lesson
Romans 5:1-11
God's Graceful Presence
Packed with Christian beliefs, we are at the heart of Paul's theology. He expresses his confidence in God. In verse 2 the Greek for "introduced" is prosagoge, which can mean a couple different things:
1. It meant bringing someone to a royal person. So here is the work for a worshiper approaching God. We learn when we come into God's presence we do not find judgment but rather God's forgiving, undeserved grace.
2. The second meaning of prosagoge is a harbor or haven. From off the storm-tossed sea we find a safe harbor of God's grace. We have a calm from the storm by no longer depending on what we do, but in what God has done for us.
The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary on the Bible divides this reading in this way:
5:1a
Justification by Faith
5:1b
Peace with God
5:2-5
New Hope
5:6-11
Evidence of God's Love
5:9
Not Having to Experience God's Anger
5:10-11
Reconciliation Brings Peace
The Gospel
John 4:5-42
Jesus And A Samaritan Woman
This is the story of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman. It tells us so much about Jesus. The fact that Jesus would speak to a Samaritan woman of disrepute was startling to both the woman (v. 9) and to Jesus' disciples (v. 27).
The author of the story is making the point that Jesus is Savior of the world, not just of the Jews (v. 42b). Jesus is talking about life-giving water and the woman is thinking of scarce water in earthly terms. Because Jesus spoke to the woman in public is as radical as the fact that she was a Samaritan.
Jesus makes a Messianic claim as well (vv. 25 and 26). The center of the story must be that we humans have a thirst which only God can satisfy.
Preaching Possibilities1
Any of the three readings can stand alone and be the basis for at least one sermon, and in the case of the New Testament Lesson and the Gospel, two sermons or a two-part sermon.
A. Moses locating water for his people in the desert and Jesus giving water to a Samaritan woman in the Gospel will connect well as probably the church Mothers and Fathers planned in their scripture selections. In the Exodus account, God through Moses provides water needed to survive their travel toward the Promised Land. In the Gospel story Jesus takes that water to a deeper spiritual level as life-giving water.
B. The New Testament Lesson is packed full of theological teaching and is the cause for a teaching sermon. Justification, peace, hope, God's love, and reconciliation are all there.
1. It could be presented more like a Bible study explaining that Paul was laying out what he believed and taught as an introduction of himself to this congregation in Rome which he hoped to visit soon.
2. One way to present these great doctrines would be to sing a verse of a hymn based on the teaching between each instruction. There are many hymns which will fit each of the above listed doctrines.
C. For the exegetical preacher, verses 3 and 4 are so wonderful to examine and lift up for our people. It's a powerful text! To Christians who were having such a difficult time in Rome, Paul writes profound encouragement. The original language helps and opens up the rich meanings.
Trouble
thlipsis
= pressure
Fortitude
krysomon
= the spirit that overcomes
Character
dokime
= pure or sterling or metal refined by fire
Then comes the assurance that Christian hope is founded on the love of God.
D. After saying the above, I must admit I believe that the story of the Samaritan Woman at Jacob's well is so compelling it must be experienced in the retelling, and its strong message of God's inclusiveness must be proclaimed. It is an excellent opportunity to do fascinating narrative preaching.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
1. Begin the narrative by telling of Jesus' travel and needing some rest. They stopped at Jacob's well, a place which still can be located and enjoyed.
a. Tell of the prejudice between Jew and Samaritan and between men and women. Tell of Jesus asking for a drink.
b. Develop the thought that prejudice is a very old condition and tears at the very fabric of God's multicultural curtain.
c. List prejudices we must still confront: religious, race, sex, age, nationalities.
2. Return to the story about what kind of water Jesus offered the woman and what kind she thought of.
a. Now speak of those earthly things we thirst for which do not and will never help our thirst.
b. Talk of how luxuries become necessities.
c. Speak of the world's thirst for a spiritual life. Talk of a time you were thirsty and how good the water was.
3. Now return to the woman at the well story and talk of her answer to Jesus when he asked to meet her husband.
4. Then speak of being honest to God and how we often think we can hide our sins even from God.
5. Now back to the Well of Jacob.
a. This time tell of how Jesus and the woman spoke to each other about real worship. Speak of spirit-led worship and what is possible to happen in that time we worship God.
b. Ask what is a "true worshiper"? It's one who seeks God's spirit to lead them, one who is truthful to God.
6. Now return once more to John's story and tell how she invited the whole village to come see the Messiah and the response of the whole town going out to meet him. Explain that if we have really met Jesus and been honest with him, our experience at this well is also worth going and telling and inviting others to meet him.
7. Frame your sermon by returning to your first sentences. "Yes, it was quite a long, hot trip. Rest and a drink of water were really what Jesus needed that day -- and what a day it was for one Samaritan woman who happened to be there..." and so on.
From that chance meeting we discovered -- list your summary of moves.
Prayer Of The Day
God of Jacob, whose well it was, and of the Samaritan woman who thirsted for your spirit, instruct us today that we might also drink of the living water only Jesus can provide. And give us a sense of your presence through your spirit as we worship you today and serve you all week long. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Possible Stories
October 22, 1999, ABC News with Peter Jennings reported that a horrible fire broke out in Hebron in an illegal lighter factory. Lots of lighter fluid fueled the fire. There was no fire exit. The Arabs' equipment to fight the fire was outdated and could not handle the blaze. So the Jews came and helped. They announced, "In times like these there are no borders." Because Hebron is a place of terrible strife between Arabs and Jews, the bringing of their ambulance and fire-fighting equipment was marvelous and astonishing... and the way Jesus would want it to be! I wonder how far it is from Jacob's well to Hebron's awful fire?
I followed a large cement truck being towed up Lower Beaver Road. I wondered what happens when a truck full of concrete stalls and the barrel no longer rotates. I drove on out to the concrete place to ask. They carry a certain chemical with them just in case, and they can put it in the mix to keep it from setting up in the barrel of the truck. What might we use to keep our minds and prejudices from setting up like concrete?
From The Covenant Book of Worship (Covenant Press, 1981, p. 11): "The rhythm which emerges in biblical worship moves between memory and anticipation. Its integrity lies in its backward look of faith, its forward gaze of hope, and its present response of love." Now that's worship!
____________
1. For additional information on narrative preaching, see the author's The Preacher's Edge, CSS Publishing, Lima, Ohio, 1996.
