Celebrate the new year!
Commentary
About the author R. Robert Cueni is the Charting The Course guest columnist for this issue. He is senior minister of Country Club Christian Church, Kansas City, Missouri. He is author of "It Was A Day Like This," a Good Friday service of worship, published by CSS. His book of first lesson sermons for the first third of Pentecost, Cycle A, will be published by CSS in 1995. Cueni is a former "Emphasis" illustration writer. He has served pastorates in Michigan, Indiana and Texas prior to his current assignment. He is a graduate of Kent State University (Ohio), Christian Theological Seminary (Indiana) and San Francisco Theological Seminary.
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The folks will arrive frazzled this Sunday. The frantic activity of the Christmas season has concluded with non-stop New Year's Day mind-numbing game bowls. Celebrating will rank low among the pew-sitter's priorities. The day's lessons, however, call for just that. The Babe of Bethlehem is among us and it is time to celebrate -- even when we don't feel much like it.
Tony Campolo's traveling sermon for the early 1990s was "Let's Have A Party." For 50 minutes this Christian author, sociologist, theologian and evangelist led his listeners through a range of emotions from laughter to tears on how this faith of ours calls us to celebrate every dimension of life. We worship a God who promises that whatever circumstances we face, we shall not be abandoned, rather we shall be so strengthened to endure that we can rejoice.
That the folks may not feel much like celebrating interfaces nicely with the lessons. John tells us that when the Word became flesh, the world did not know him. Even his own people did not accept him. "But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God." (John 1:12 NRSV) Let us not bemoan the losses, let us celebrate the gains.
Jeremiah calls the people to celebrate the possibility of homecoming in the midst of dispersion. Don't give up. In spite of sorrow and hardship, God will bring good things to pass. After all, God has chosen us to share in the promise of the gospel. (Ephesians 1:3-14) The secret is out! How can we not celebrate?
The post-holiday blues will dominate the mood of the sanctuary this Sunday. The Christmas tree has dried out and the needles are becoming imbedded in the carpet. The luster has dulled from the gifts. There is not even another party on the calendar until spring. The winter stretches uninterrupted to the horizon. Now we must return to the routine. Usually, "one day right on the heels of another" can be less than exciting. What better time to leave them with a word of hope? In spite of the emotional exile we might be experiencing, God will not abandon us. Others may reject us, but we will have the power to become the children of God. After all, we are loved.
OUTLINE I
In Christ, even losers are winners
Ephesians 1:3-14
Paul's claim to be the least of the saints could be echoed by any of us. The good news of the gospel, however, is that "before the foundation of the earth" we were included in God's plan of salvation.
A. A pretty poor excuse for God's child. I just happened to hear of the death of the minister of a small congregation in a declining part of town. Out of a sense of collegiality I attended his service. The presiding bishop acknowledged that the deceased was not very good at the tasks of ministry. His track record of less than adequate performance attested to that.
As I listened, I realized that most of us could be thusly described. Indeed, there was not one in the congregation for whom the description was not apt.
B. But that is only part of the story. As the bishop concluded the litany of shortcomings, he turned toward the casket and with outstretched arm addressed the deceased, "But I have seen the end of your story. You are God's chosen child and you are a winner."
C. Conclusion: Is that not the assurance with which we all need to begin a new year? Christ is the answer to our yearnings for salvation. Even the losers are winners in Christ.
OUTLINE II
Words from the hopeful scroll
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Much of the writing of Jeremiah consists of oracles against Judah and Jerusalem. In point of fact, there was much in that nation's behavior about which to rail. The nation had not been faithful and, if they did not change their ways, would pay a terrible price.
A. O woe is me, ain't it awful. The evil of this present age is rampant. The family is in decline. Crime statistics are soaring off the charts. Even community leaders regularly abandon a recognizable code of personal responsibility. The regularity of drive-by shootings and violent car-jacking say something significant about the tearing of our social fabric. That those crimes are considered "ordinary" says something even worse about us. If our nation does not reverse the process of moral decay we shall go the way of Judah.
B. However, let us not despair. God has not abandoned us. Things are critical, but not desperate. As the preacher you have a greater task than scolding the flock. The news is good and good news needs to be encouraging even in discouraging times.
C. We need to leave them with a word of hope. Jeremiah 30-32 is sometimes called the "hopeful scroll." In the midst of the prophet's wailing and gnashing of teeth, he calls a timeout to remind the people that God will bring them back home again.
No matter how bad it seems right now, hang in there. "I will lead them back." (v. 9b)
OUTLINE III
When chased into a corner
John 1:(1-9) 10-18
The prologue of John is better handled as a long, long sermon series rather than a short homily. I had a seminary professor who spent nearly half the semester of his course, "The Gospel of John," on these opening 18 verses. Before he was finished he had provided his students with the outlines of nearly 50 sermons we could preach on John 1.
With that disclaimer, let me suggest a sermon which develops the paradoxes and the other assorted difficulties in the passage.
A. The notion of the cosmic Christ of John still boggles the mind. How could anyone fully grasp the significance of the Word becoming flesh and living among us? Why did the world not know him then and why do they continue not to know him? How can the light shining in the darkness be rejected by those who so desperately need the light? How can so much hatred still be perpetrated in the name of the One who brought the message of love?
B. When we herd all these issues into a corner, it comes down to the fact that everything we look for in life is found in the Christ. Those who witness in his name may falter and set poor examples. People may reject him. On the other hand, it has always been that way.
____________
The folks will arrive frazzled this Sunday. The frantic activity of the Christmas season has concluded with non-stop New Year's Day mind-numbing game bowls. Celebrating will rank low among the pew-sitter's priorities. The day's lessons, however, call for just that. The Babe of Bethlehem is among us and it is time to celebrate -- even when we don't feel much like it.
Tony Campolo's traveling sermon for the early 1990s was "Let's Have A Party." For 50 minutes this Christian author, sociologist, theologian and evangelist led his listeners through a range of emotions from laughter to tears on how this faith of ours calls us to celebrate every dimension of life. We worship a God who promises that whatever circumstances we face, we shall not be abandoned, rather we shall be so strengthened to endure that we can rejoice.
That the folks may not feel much like celebrating interfaces nicely with the lessons. John tells us that when the Word became flesh, the world did not know him. Even his own people did not accept him. "But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God." (John 1:12 NRSV) Let us not bemoan the losses, let us celebrate the gains.
Jeremiah calls the people to celebrate the possibility of homecoming in the midst of dispersion. Don't give up. In spite of sorrow and hardship, God will bring good things to pass. After all, God has chosen us to share in the promise of the gospel. (Ephesians 1:3-14) The secret is out! How can we not celebrate?
The post-holiday blues will dominate the mood of the sanctuary this Sunday. The Christmas tree has dried out and the needles are becoming imbedded in the carpet. The luster has dulled from the gifts. There is not even another party on the calendar until spring. The winter stretches uninterrupted to the horizon. Now we must return to the routine. Usually, "one day right on the heels of another" can be less than exciting. What better time to leave them with a word of hope? In spite of the emotional exile we might be experiencing, God will not abandon us. Others may reject us, but we will have the power to become the children of God. After all, we are loved.
OUTLINE I
In Christ, even losers are winners
Ephesians 1:3-14
Paul's claim to be the least of the saints could be echoed by any of us. The good news of the gospel, however, is that "before the foundation of the earth" we were included in God's plan of salvation.
A. A pretty poor excuse for God's child. I just happened to hear of the death of the minister of a small congregation in a declining part of town. Out of a sense of collegiality I attended his service. The presiding bishop acknowledged that the deceased was not very good at the tasks of ministry. His track record of less than adequate performance attested to that.
As I listened, I realized that most of us could be thusly described. Indeed, there was not one in the congregation for whom the description was not apt.
B. But that is only part of the story. As the bishop concluded the litany of shortcomings, he turned toward the casket and with outstretched arm addressed the deceased, "But I have seen the end of your story. You are God's chosen child and you are a winner."
C. Conclusion: Is that not the assurance with which we all need to begin a new year? Christ is the answer to our yearnings for salvation. Even the losers are winners in Christ.
OUTLINE II
Words from the hopeful scroll
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Much of the writing of Jeremiah consists of oracles against Judah and Jerusalem. In point of fact, there was much in that nation's behavior about which to rail. The nation had not been faithful and, if they did not change their ways, would pay a terrible price.
A. O woe is me, ain't it awful. The evil of this present age is rampant. The family is in decline. Crime statistics are soaring off the charts. Even community leaders regularly abandon a recognizable code of personal responsibility. The regularity of drive-by shootings and violent car-jacking say something significant about the tearing of our social fabric. That those crimes are considered "ordinary" says something even worse about us. If our nation does not reverse the process of moral decay we shall go the way of Judah.
B. However, let us not despair. God has not abandoned us. Things are critical, but not desperate. As the preacher you have a greater task than scolding the flock. The news is good and good news needs to be encouraging even in discouraging times.
C. We need to leave them with a word of hope. Jeremiah 30-32 is sometimes called the "hopeful scroll." In the midst of the prophet's wailing and gnashing of teeth, he calls a timeout to remind the people that God will bring them back home again.
No matter how bad it seems right now, hang in there. "I will lead them back." (v. 9b)
OUTLINE III
When chased into a corner
John 1:(1-9) 10-18
The prologue of John is better handled as a long, long sermon series rather than a short homily. I had a seminary professor who spent nearly half the semester of his course, "The Gospel of John," on these opening 18 verses. Before he was finished he had provided his students with the outlines of nearly 50 sermons we could preach on John 1.
With that disclaimer, let me suggest a sermon which develops the paradoxes and the other assorted difficulties in the passage.
A. The notion of the cosmic Christ of John still boggles the mind. How could anyone fully grasp the significance of the Word becoming flesh and living among us? Why did the world not know him then and why do they continue not to know him? How can the light shining in the darkness be rejected by those who so desperately need the light? How can so much hatred still be perpetrated in the name of the One who brought the message of love?
B. When we herd all these issues into a corner, it comes down to the fact that everything we look for in life is found in the Christ. Those who witness in his name may falter and set poor examples. People may reject him. On the other hand, it has always been that way.
