Third Sunday In Lent
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VI, Cycle A
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 17:1-7 (C, E); Exodus 17:3-7 (RC)
The Israelites had begun their migration from Sin. Arriving at Reph'-i-dim they were unable to find any water. Angry, they turned on their leader, Moses, and threatened him with death. Frightened, Moses prayed to God for help. Actually, he was angry at God for leading everyone this far, only seemingly to desert them. He said as much to God, who proceeded to ignore Moses' complaints. Instead, the Lord ordered Moses to leave the others and, with some trusted assistants, to go on to a place called Ho'reb where he would find a rock. He was to strike the rock whereupon enough water would gush forth to feed Moses' people. This is what happened.
Lesson 2: Romans 5:1-11 (C, E); Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 (RC)
Paul begins with a repetition of his fundamental thesis that we are justified (saved) by faith and therefore we have peace with God through Christ. Since Paul also presumes the certainty of suffering, he cannot mean by "peace" what we sometimes seek today. Rather, to Paul peace was the inner certainty of God's empowering of us in times of difficulty. We are to boast of our suffering since it produces endurance, which builds character, and thereby brings hope. That hope doesn't disappoint us because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, a free gift.
All this takes place because Christ died for us while we were weak and sinful. Paul uses the analogy of one person dying for another. Rarely does that happen, but Jesus did it. We can therefore understand that if Jesus would die for us when we are undeserving, how much more certain it is that we will exist in a close relationship with God now that we have ceased to be his enemies.
Gospel: John 4:5-42 (C, RC); John 4:5-26 (27-38) 39-42 (E)
Here we have the familiar story of the Samaritan woman who encountered Jesus at the well. Traditionally, the Israelites and the Samaritans had little to do with each other. The animosities so familiar from that day to this existed between the two races. Jesus, of course, is above such things and his friendly demeanor impresses the woman. They engage in a lengthy and lively conversation, during which Jesus reveals an embarrassing knowledge of the woman's past: her five husbands, the fact that the man she currently lives with is not her husband. This doesn't seem particularly to disturb Jesus, but he informs her and her neighbors whom she has summoned that worship (and he probably meant closeness to God here) is not a matter of geography. The competition existing between people of the time as to where God is really to be found revealed a fundamental misunderstanding. God is to be found not on some mountain, nor necessarily in Jerusalem. Worship is an inner transaction between a person and God through the Spirit.
Jesus' disciples urge him to take a break, to eat, but he uses this as a springboard for his teachings about the fact that there is a more enriching food available through the Spirit. Meanwhile, the Samaritans are intrigued by what the woman has told them and they prevail on Jesus to remain among them for a couple days. At the end of that time, many have begun to believe in him, no longer because of the woman's witness but because of their own observations of Jesus.
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: "Sympathize, Don't Criticize"
Text: Exodus 17:1-7
Theme: Moses was learning the price of leadership. There are always people who, lacking the qualities of leadership themselves, are quick to criticize those who do. I've always been grateful for the words of one Methodist bishop who, many years ago, was preaching on a very controversial issue at General Conference, using as his text the experience of Jonah. It came to his attention that some of the brothers were saying some unkind things about him behind his back. Unperturbed, the bishop announced: "I am willing to be consumed by a great fish. I am not, however, willing to be nibbled to death by minnows." That's what some of Moses' followers were: minnows.
1. Worthy achievement always runs the risk of criticism. Moses had done his best. He had shared the suffering of his people, never asking for any special favor as their leader. We might have expected some of these people to offer their help. But no. They were ready to stone the poor man for doing his best. Any of us who step out in front through hard work, risk, and ability should not be surprised if we have detractors. I recall standing on a street corner in front of one of our largest, finest Methodist churches. The pastor had won national recognition for his splendid accomplishments. Another pastor standing near me, a rather untalented plodder, informed me that the only difference he could see between himself and the pastor of that great church was that the other fellow had been given a chance. Right.
2. Moses was frightened and turned to God. Frankly, I was sort of glad to notice that. Not that I would in any way compare myself to that great man, but I figure if even Moses got a little scared in the face of a mighty challenge, then I might not need be ashamed if I sometimes feel a little scared when I have something very demanding to accomplish.
3. God came through for Moses. I don't so much mean the water gushing out of a rock, though that's the story. But God empowered Moses to come up with a plan, he gave him the courage to attack his problem, he made sure Moses had some people he could trust to work with, and he enabled Moses to accomplish what he set out to do. There's a word here for us if we see ourselves facing something extremely difficult but eminently worthwhile.
Title: "Suffering And The Will Of God"
Text: Romans 5:1-11
Theme: There are several ways to go with this. However, having emphasized the matter of justification by faith several times, I would emphasize that profound sentence: "... suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us...." This speaks an eloquent word to the common human complaint about life: why do we suffer?
1. Suffering is an inescapable part of all human existence. Job said, "Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward." His theatrical counterpart J.B., in the play of that name by Archibald MacLeish, said, "God always asks the proof of pain." The ancients thought suffering was a punishment from God for wrongdoing. We know better. Truthfully, there's little rhyme or reason to it.
2. What matters is choice. How will I respond? Like a knife blade rubbed against a stone, it can be sharpened or ruined, depending on the way it's done. Some people step forth, summon their deepest qualities, and become far better men and women because of their suffering. Some people whine and seek pity, from others and from themselves. I don't mean to sound insensitive to the person immersed in the pain of cancer or terrible accident. There is a time to ask for help. But Paul said it: character should grow out of our sufferings, and if it does, God's love is poured into our hearts.
3. The highest form of suffering is that which we voluntarily accept, for the sake of someone else. Oscar Robertson, one of professional basketball's all-time superstars, recently gave his kidney to his daughter so she would not die. A family in our church, a white family, discovered three little African-American babies no one wanted. They adopted them and have suffered badly in a dozen ways since then. But as the children have grown, they have been loved and God must smile. None of this is comforting in some ways. But perhaps Peter could speak a final word: "Those who suffer because it is God's will for them, should by their good actions trust themselves completely to their creator, who always keeps his promise."
Title: "God Knows What We're Up To"
Text: John 4:39
Theme: It must have been more disconcerting for this Samaritan woman than she let on for Jesus to see right through her, to know everything about her. I can't imagine the discomfort of spending time with someone like that. I certainly have done a few things I'd prefer no one know about.
1. God knows our deepest thoughts. How many times we have recited the collect for purity of heart: "Almighty God unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid." This must play an important part in our prayer life. How fortunate that we are accepted by faith rather than deeds which would include our deepest fantasies.
2. It is important, therefore, that we bring these secret parts of our being under scrutiny. Was it Luther who once said, "We can't keep the crows from flying overhead, but we can keep them from making a nest in our hair"?
3. Things we say and do when we think no one will know are known. God knows. Granted, we can be forgiven. How much better, though, to resist those temptations. Our hurtful remarks made behind someone's back, our betrayals of the wedding vow or the implied contract of friendship. God knows all about those things, the promises we made and never carried out. He knows.
4. We'll go on making some mistakes. But how much more joyous our feelings about ourselves, and how much less embarrassing our encounters with God if we are at least engaged in the effort to refrain from even those hurtful thoughts and deeds which may remain unknown to the people around us, but for which we must answer not only to ourselves, but to God.
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Ralph Waldo Emerson once made a speech at Middlebury College that a minister sitting on the platform didn't like. The unhappy clergyman was not a speaker, but he was assigned the benediction. When his turn came he prayed like this: "We beseech Thee, O Lord, to deliver us from ever hearing any more such transcendental nonsense as we have just heard from this sacred desk." Emerson later, when interviewed, calmly remarked, "The minister seems a very conscientious, plainspoken gentleman." What a healthy way to deal with criticism.
____________
Dr. Willis Tate, when president of Southern Methodist University, told of a letter he received from the mother of an incoming freshman. It asked that Dr. Tate please look after her son. She wanted to be sure he didn't grow hair like a hippy, that he got a good roommate, and that he go to church every Sunday. "For you see," she wrote, "my son has never been away from home before except for three years in the Marine Corps." (re. protection from hardship)
_____________
"The cry of earth's anguish went up unto God,
Lord, take away pain.
The shadow that darkens the world thou hast made,
The close coiling chain that strangles the heart,
The burden that weighs on the wings that would soar.
Lord, take away pain from the world thou hast made,
That it love thee the more.
Then answered the Lord to the world he had made:
Shall I take away pain?
And with it, the power of the soul to endure,
Made strong by the strain?
Shall I take away pity that knits heart to heart,
And sacrifice high?
Will you lose all your heroes that lift from the flame
White brows to the sky?
Shall I take away love that redeems with a price
And smiles to the lost?
Can ye spare from the lives who would climb unto mine
The Christ on the cross?"
____________
Several years ago there was a terrible earthquake in Managua, Nicaragua. Howard Hughes, one of the richest men in the world, was there that day. Having survived, he used his great wealth to bring in a private jet and fly to the safety of his home in London. Meanwhile, young Roberto Clemente, a highly successful baseball professional, leased a plane, filled it with relief supplies, and took off. His plane crashed. So Howard Hughes found safety in Chelsea, London, while Clemente, trying to help, died in the murky waters off his beloved Puerto Rico. Some people have the courage to face the suffering which heroism sometimes demands.
____________
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 95 (C, RC, E) -- "Come, let us sing unto the Lord."
Prayer Of The Day
Dear and loving God, help us to find within ourselves the courage to face our most difficult responsibilities. We pray to be delivered from suffering and hardship. But if these must be our lot, we pray for courage for this too, that when it ends, we will have faced our responsibilities with noble character. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Lesson 1: Exodus 17:1-7 (C, E); Exodus 17:3-7 (RC)
The Israelites had begun their migration from Sin. Arriving at Reph'-i-dim they were unable to find any water. Angry, they turned on their leader, Moses, and threatened him with death. Frightened, Moses prayed to God for help. Actually, he was angry at God for leading everyone this far, only seemingly to desert them. He said as much to God, who proceeded to ignore Moses' complaints. Instead, the Lord ordered Moses to leave the others and, with some trusted assistants, to go on to a place called Ho'reb where he would find a rock. He was to strike the rock whereupon enough water would gush forth to feed Moses' people. This is what happened.
Lesson 2: Romans 5:1-11 (C, E); Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 (RC)
Paul begins with a repetition of his fundamental thesis that we are justified (saved) by faith and therefore we have peace with God through Christ. Since Paul also presumes the certainty of suffering, he cannot mean by "peace" what we sometimes seek today. Rather, to Paul peace was the inner certainty of God's empowering of us in times of difficulty. We are to boast of our suffering since it produces endurance, which builds character, and thereby brings hope. That hope doesn't disappoint us because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, a free gift.
All this takes place because Christ died for us while we were weak and sinful. Paul uses the analogy of one person dying for another. Rarely does that happen, but Jesus did it. We can therefore understand that if Jesus would die for us when we are undeserving, how much more certain it is that we will exist in a close relationship with God now that we have ceased to be his enemies.
Gospel: John 4:5-42 (C, RC); John 4:5-26 (27-38) 39-42 (E)
Here we have the familiar story of the Samaritan woman who encountered Jesus at the well. Traditionally, the Israelites and the Samaritans had little to do with each other. The animosities so familiar from that day to this existed between the two races. Jesus, of course, is above such things and his friendly demeanor impresses the woman. They engage in a lengthy and lively conversation, during which Jesus reveals an embarrassing knowledge of the woman's past: her five husbands, the fact that the man she currently lives with is not her husband. This doesn't seem particularly to disturb Jesus, but he informs her and her neighbors whom she has summoned that worship (and he probably meant closeness to God here) is not a matter of geography. The competition existing between people of the time as to where God is really to be found revealed a fundamental misunderstanding. God is to be found not on some mountain, nor necessarily in Jerusalem. Worship is an inner transaction between a person and God through the Spirit.
Jesus' disciples urge him to take a break, to eat, but he uses this as a springboard for his teachings about the fact that there is a more enriching food available through the Spirit. Meanwhile, the Samaritans are intrigued by what the woman has told them and they prevail on Jesus to remain among them for a couple days. At the end of that time, many have begun to believe in him, no longer because of the woman's witness but because of their own observations of Jesus.
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: "Sympathize, Don't Criticize"
Text: Exodus 17:1-7
Theme: Moses was learning the price of leadership. There are always people who, lacking the qualities of leadership themselves, are quick to criticize those who do. I've always been grateful for the words of one Methodist bishop who, many years ago, was preaching on a very controversial issue at General Conference, using as his text the experience of Jonah. It came to his attention that some of the brothers were saying some unkind things about him behind his back. Unperturbed, the bishop announced: "I am willing to be consumed by a great fish. I am not, however, willing to be nibbled to death by minnows." That's what some of Moses' followers were: minnows.
1. Worthy achievement always runs the risk of criticism. Moses had done his best. He had shared the suffering of his people, never asking for any special favor as their leader. We might have expected some of these people to offer their help. But no. They were ready to stone the poor man for doing his best. Any of us who step out in front through hard work, risk, and ability should not be surprised if we have detractors. I recall standing on a street corner in front of one of our largest, finest Methodist churches. The pastor had won national recognition for his splendid accomplishments. Another pastor standing near me, a rather untalented plodder, informed me that the only difference he could see between himself and the pastor of that great church was that the other fellow had been given a chance. Right.
2. Moses was frightened and turned to God. Frankly, I was sort of glad to notice that. Not that I would in any way compare myself to that great man, but I figure if even Moses got a little scared in the face of a mighty challenge, then I might not need be ashamed if I sometimes feel a little scared when I have something very demanding to accomplish.
3. God came through for Moses. I don't so much mean the water gushing out of a rock, though that's the story. But God empowered Moses to come up with a plan, he gave him the courage to attack his problem, he made sure Moses had some people he could trust to work with, and he enabled Moses to accomplish what he set out to do. There's a word here for us if we see ourselves facing something extremely difficult but eminently worthwhile.
Title: "Suffering And The Will Of God"
Text: Romans 5:1-11
Theme: There are several ways to go with this. However, having emphasized the matter of justification by faith several times, I would emphasize that profound sentence: "... suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us...." This speaks an eloquent word to the common human complaint about life: why do we suffer?
1. Suffering is an inescapable part of all human existence. Job said, "Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward." His theatrical counterpart J.B., in the play of that name by Archibald MacLeish, said, "God always asks the proof of pain." The ancients thought suffering was a punishment from God for wrongdoing. We know better. Truthfully, there's little rhyme or reason to it.
2. What matters is choice. How will I respond? Like a knife blade rubbed against a stone, it can be sharpened or ruined, depending on the way it's done. Some people step forth, summon their deepest qualities, and become far better men and women because of their suffering. Some people whine and seek pity, from others and from themselves. I don't mean to sound insensitive to the person immersed in the pain of cancer or terrible accident. There is a time to ask for help. But Paul said it: character should grow out of our sufferings, and if it does, God's love is poured into our hearts.
3. The highest form of suffering is that which we voluntarily accept, for the sake of someone else. Oscar Robertson, one of professional basketball's all-time superstars, recently gave his kidney to his daughter so she would not die. A family in our church, a white family, discovered three little African-American babies no one wanted. They adopted them and have suffered badly in a dozen ways since then. But as the children have grown, they have been loved and God must smile. None of this is comforting in some ways. But perhaps Peter could speak a final word: "Those who suffer because it is God's will for them, should by their good actions trust themselves completely to their creator, who always keeps his promise."
Title: "God Knows What We're Up To"
Text: John 4:39
Theme: It must have been more disconcerting for this Samaritan woman than she let on for Jesus to see right through her, to know everything about her. I can't imagine the discomfort of spending time with someone like that. I certainly have done a few things I'd prefer no one know about.
1. God knows our deepest thoughts. How many times we have recited the collect for purity of heart: "Almighty God unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid." This must play an important part in our prayer life. How fortunate that we are accepted by faith rather than deeds which would include our deepest fantasies.
2. It is important, therefore, that we bring these secret parts of our being under scrutiny. Was it Luther who once said, "We can't keep the crows from flying overhead, but we can keep them from making a nest in our hair"?
3. Things we say and do when we think no one will know are known. God knows. Granted, we can be forgiven. How much better, though, to resist those temptations. Our hurtful remarks made behind someone's back, our betrayals of the wedding vow or the implied contract of friendship. God knows all about those things, the promises we made and never carried out. He knows.
4. We'll go on making some mistakes. But how much more joyous our feelings about ourselves, and how much less embarrassing our encounters with God if we are at least engaged in the effort to refrain from even those hurtful thoughts and deeds which may remain unknown to the people around us, but for which we must answer not only to ourselves, but to God.
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Ralph Waldo Emerson once made a speech at Middlebury College that a minister sitting on the platform didn't like. The unhappy clergyman was not a speaker, but he was assigned the benediction. When his turn came he prayed like this: "We beseech Thee, O Lord, to deliver us from ever hearing any more such transcendental nonsense as we have just heard from this sacred desk." Emerson later, when interviewed, calmly remarked, "The minister seems a very conscientious, plainspoken gentleman." What a healthy way to deal with criticism.
____________
Dr. Willis Tate, when president of Southern Methodist University, told of a letter he received from the mother of an incoming freshman. It asked that Dr. Tate please look after her son. She wanted to be sure he didn't grow hair like a hippy, that he got a good roommate, and that he go to church every Sunday. "For you see," she wrote, "my son has never been away from home before except for three years in the Marine Corps." (re. protection from hardship)
_____________
"The cry of earth's anguish went up unto God,
Lord, take away pain.
The shadow that darkens the world thou hast made,
The close coiling chain that strangles the heart,
The burden that weighs on the wings that would soar.
Lord, take away pain from the world thou hast made,
That it love thee the more.
Then answered the Lord to the world he had made:
Shall I take away pain?
And with it, the power of the soul to endure,
Made strong by the strain?
Shall I take away pity that knits heart to heart,
And sacrifice high?
Will you lose all your heroes that lift from the flame
White brows to the sky?
Shall I take away love that redeems with a price
And smiles to the lost?
Can ye spare from the lives who would climb unto mine
The Christ on the cross?"
____________
Several years ago there was a terrible earthquake in Managua, Nicaragua. Howard Hughes, one of the richest men in the world, was there that day. Having survived, he used his great wealth to bring in a private jet and fly to the safety of his home in London. Meanwhile, young Roberto Clemente, a highly successful baseball professional, leased a plane, filled it with relief supplies, and took off. His plane crashed. So Howard Hughes found safety in Chelsea, London, while Clemente, trying to help, died in the murky waters off his beloved Puerto Rico. Some people have the courage to face the suffering which heroism sometimes demands.
____________
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 95 (C, RC, E) -- "Come, let us sing unto the Lord."
Prayer Of The Day
Dear and loving God, help us to find within ourselves the courage to face our most difficult responsibilities. We pray to be delivered from suffering and hardship. But if these must be our lot, we pray for courage for this too, that when it ends, we will have faced our responsibilities with noble character. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
