SermonStudio

BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Genesis 2:15--17; 3:1--7 (C); Genesis 2:7--9; 3:1--7 (RC); Genesis 2:4b--9, 15--17, 25-3:1--7 (E); Genesis 2:7--9, 15--17; 3:1--7 (L)
This text derives from the second Genesis creation account. Just prior to our reading, the stage is set. Adam and Eve are created from the dust of the earth and then infused with God's Spirit. They live in the garden, representing a state of harmony between God, humans and all creatures. The Lord delineates humankind's limits or boundaries, marking out of bounds the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This state of affairs is challenged by the serpent, the tempter. Biblical scholars insist that the serpent not be identified with Satan - it is a creature of God. Nevertheless, this association will not be erased for a majority of Christians. The serpent begins by subtly employing doubt and deception to undermine the loyalty and obedience of Eve and Adam (did God say ...?) but then directly challenges his authority. (You will not die but will be like God ...) The fall from innocence into sin is directly related to this desire to be like God.

Lesson 2: Romans 5:12--19 (C, RC); Romans 5:12--19 (20--21) (E); Romans 5:12 (13--19) (L)
The Apostle Paul has drawn an analogy between Adam and Christ, showing the consequences of one person's actions for all future generations. Sin came to all through the disobedience of Adam but God offers salvation to all through the obedience of Christ. Sin leads to death for all who sin but salvation brings life to all who believe. The actions of Adam brought condemnation to all, because all people share in Adam's rebellion, but all who turn to Christ are justified (acquitted).

Gospel: Matthew 4:1--11 (C, RC, E, L)
Directly after Jesus' baptism he is compelled by the Spirit of God to enter the wilderness, considered to be the domain of demons. The time of trial followed quickly on the heels of the moment of exaltation. The 40 days and nights of Jesus' ordeal correspond to the period that the Israelites wandered into the wilderness before occupying the Promised Land. Matthew mentions the 40 nights to draw a closer comparison to Moses' fast during the period he received the Ten Commandments. The Lord's decision to obey the Father's will needed to be tested and Satan is the one to accomplish that task. The role of Satan has changed from the time of Job from being God's tester to being the slanderer, a malignant force opposed to the Almighty. The three temptations which Satan presented to Jesus portray the nature of his spiritual struggle throughout his ministry. In the first suggestion to turn stones into bread he is tempted to fulfill the popular conception of an earthly Messiah/king. Satisfy the peoples' physical needs and you will be worshipped. ''No,'' said Jesus, ''man does not live on bread alone.'' The second temptation is to jump from the pinnacle of the temple and land unharmed. Be a miracle worker.

People like a good show and will be sure to applaud. Jesus answered ''no'' once again. ''Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'' In the final temptation, the devil takes Jesus to a high mountain and offers him all the kingdoms of the world, if Jesus will fall down and worship him. The offer here is to exercise political power. ''Go away, Satan,'' says Jesus, ''for it is written, worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'' Jesus withstands the assaults of Satan because he has stored up God's word in his heart. The responses to the Adversary are from the book of Deuteronomy (8:3; 6:13, and 6:16 respectively).

Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 32 (C) - ''Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven'' (v. 1).
Psalm 51 (E) - ''Cleanse me from my sins'' (v. 2).
Psalm 130 (L) - ''He shall redeem Israel from their sins'' (v. 7).

Prayer Of The Day
Living God, as the Lord Jesus was able to withstand the fiery arrows of the Evil One with the armor of your holy word, so strengthen us and equip us to prevail against the assaults of our ancient foe. In the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.


THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Genesis 2:4b--9, 15--17, 25-3:1--7
What did God really say? The number one technique of Satan is to get us to doubt God and his word. It is tempting to rationalize away that which goes against our grain. Satan commences his temptation of Eve with a question which raises doubts concerning the content of God's commands. ''Did God say ...?'' The New International Version precedes the word 'say'' with the adverb ''really.'' That addition ''really'' captures the intent of this question. Through the centuries people have justified their blatant disregard for God's clear command by rationalizing: It seems that God is saying thus and so but it isn't really what he is saying. Of course, God didn't really say what Satan suggested, that Adam and Eve could eat of any tree in the garden. It was only the tree in the middle of the garden which they couldn't eat, as Eve pointed out. However, the damage had been done; the seed of doubt had been planted.
The attraction of forbidden fruit. Why is it that we always desire that which is forbidden? Does not the appeal lie precisely in its forbiddance? As a kid, I was forbidden to smoke and so I would steal my dad's cigarettes and light up in some secret place. The allure of that which was off--limits was strong. It's the same with much that passes as erotic or romantic attraction. This points out some other factors that made the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden attractive. It was good for food (promised to fulfill bodily needs), was pleasant to look at (appealing to aesthetic sensibilities), and was desirable to make a person wise (attractive to the intellectual sensibilities) (v. 6).

Lesson 2: Romans 5:12--19 (20--21)
The power of one. In this era of mass media and mass marketing, we are tempted to discount the power of the individual. Yet, history is laden with examples of solitary individuals who have impacted the entire planet, either for good or for ill. For example, consider the actions of a simple black woman in Montgomery, Alabama, who refused to cede her seat in the white section of the bus. Because of this simple gesture, Rosa Parks ignited the civil rights movement. Paul points out how the sin of one man, Adam, led to the transgression of all humans and, ultimately, to death. On the other side of the ledger, the righteousness of one man, Jesus Christ, has led to the gift of justification and eternal life being offered to all people.

Gospel: Matthew 4:1--11
Your Achilles heel. If I recall correctly my knowledge of Greek mythology, Achilles was dipped head first into the River Styx, which made him immortal and invulnerable, except for the heel by which he was held, which was not immersed. He later suffered a mortal wound to that very spot, his vulnerable spot. Satan is quick to notice our Achilles heel where he stoops for attack. Since Jesus had fasted 40 days and nights, the devil figured he would be famished and, like Esau, be willing to sell his soul for a pot of stew or loaves of bread. Jesus was ready with the defense: ''Man does not live by bread alone, but every word that comes from the mouth of God'' (v. 4).
The importance of knowing who you are. All sin proceeds from a deluded or perverted sense of the self. In his baptism, Jesus received affirmation of his identity as the Son of God. In all of these temptations, Satan's tactic is to engender doubt in the mind of Jesus concerning the veracity of this identity. Satan led off his assault, ''If you are the Son of God ....'' When we think that we have to prove to ourselves or somebody else who we are or what we can do, we are already on thin ice.
Text or pretext? It is interesting that in both the temptations and the rebuttal of the temptations, scripture is employed. Satan took certain passages out of context and made them pretexts to deceive Jesus into accepting his point of view. In rejecting the temptations, Jesus also used scripture but in its proper context. Do we use the Bible to support our preconceived ideas and our established behavior patterns or do we permit God's Word to shape and inform us?


PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

Lesson 1: Genesis 2:4b--9, 15--18, 25-3:1--7
Sermon Title: The High Cost Of Forbidden Fruit
Sermon Angle: The serpent tempted Eve with forbidden fruit. Did God say you must not eat any fruit in the garden? No, Eve replies, we can eat from the fruit of any tree except that fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. The serpent wanted Eve to believe that God was unfairly restrictive. By drawing attention to that which was forbidden, he made it more alluring. The forbidden fruit was attractive and desirable but the serpent failed to point out the high cost of obtaining it - a loss of innocence, a fall from grace, broken relationships and death.
Outline:
1. The necessity of forbidden fruit - life has to have its boundaries
2. The desire for forbidden fruit is coveting
3. To take forbidden fruit destroys relationships
4. To take forbidden fruit leaves a bitter aftertaste
5. Live thankfully for what God has given you

Lesson 2: Romans 5:12--19 (20--21)
Sermon Title: The Power Of One
Sermon Angle: Somewhere along the line you have probably received a Christmas card containing a poem called ''One Solitary Life,'' which compares our Lord's humble circumstances with the enormous impact of his life on the whole world. The poem ends approximately as follows: ''All the kings that have ever ruled and all the armies that have ever marched have not changed the world as much as that One Solitary Life.'' As we look at the world with all its enormous problems, it is easy to feel insignificant. We might be tempted to speak out or act out against some problem but then refrain from doing so as we think, what can I do? I'm just a tiny drop in an endless sea. Paul argues that sin came into the world through one person but so did salvation.

Outline:
1. One person can unleash unimaginable evil (e.g. Hitler)
2. One person can unloose boundless good (examples)
3. Only one person brings eternal salvation (Jesus)

Gospel: Matthew 4:1--11
Sermon Title: Duel With The Devil
Alternative Sermon Title: High Noon
Sermon Angle: Some of you who have been around as long as I have may recall the classic western movie of the 50s titled High Noon, starring Gary Cooper, who played the role of the sheriff. The plot is classic western. This little town is controlled by a marauding band of outlaws, who have their way because the people are paralyzed with fear. The bulk of the movie is devoted to the largely losing struggle, which Cooper's character has, to convince the townspeople to join him in taking a stand against the bandits. The ultimate confrontation between good and evil occurs at noon, high noon, but I won't tell you the outcome. Our Lord went unaccompanied into the desert to duel with the devil. He knew that the only way to defeat the Evil One was to shoot it out with him, not with guns but the word of God.
Outline:
Introduction - How does one duel with the devil?
1. Know your opponent
2. Know his tactics

- create doubt about God's goodness

- appeal to human pride

- attack a vulnerable spot
3. Know your weapon and how to use it (God's Word)

Sermon Title: Your Achilles Heel
Sermon Angle: Achilles was invincible to attack except for one spot where he was vulnerable, his heel. As humans, we corporately have an Achilles heel, our desire to play God. The form in which this weakness is manifest varies from person to person, depending on the nature of our own peculiar intellectual, moral and spiritual vulnerabilities. Satan is quick to attack at the point of our weaknesses. We need to be ready with God's word and Spirit as our defense.
Outline:
1. Satan tried to uncover weakness in Jesus unsuccessfully
2. Satan attacks us in the same way
3. Know your weaknesses so that you might not be caught off guard
4. Employ the weapons of the Spirit that you might stand victorious

The Last Temptation Of Christ, in my estimation, is not a good movie. In an attempt to portray the humanity of Jesus, they seem to have painted a portrait of a rather weak, confused and indecisive Messiah. Nevertheless, the last scene provides some fodder for thought. Jesus is on the cross and he is dreaming that he has escaped from the cross to take up a new life as the husband of Mary Magdalene. This is, of course, pure fiction and the mere suggestion that Jesus might have considered such an alternative may strike us as heretical. Yet, it seems reasonable that such a temptation could have been presented to Jesus. Satan planted doubts in his mind and may have argued as follows: Why do you go around, Jesus, preaching, teaching and healing, sacrificing your own happiness for them? Those people are just using you. They don't really appreciate what you are doing for them. If you don't give them what they want, they'll turn on you in an instant. Don't throw away your life for the rabble. It will change nothing. Why not just settle down, get married, raise a family and escape the pain and turmoil of your hectic existence?

The year that the Berlin Wall was brought down we took into our home a 17--year--old girl from East Germany. She had been raised in an atheistic, totalitarian country and this was her first taste of freedom. It was a little bit like turning loose an alcoholic in a brewery or a child in a chocolate factory. In her country there was not much worth buying. Suddenly Geesche was surrounded with an abundance of attractive consumer goods. After about seven months of living with us, we received a call from the police. ''You had better come on down.'' ''What's the trouble?'' I asked. Geesche was caught with stolen goods. When I got there, she averted my gaze, her eyes red with shameful tears. She had walked out of the grocery store with unpaid food. The owner had suspected this previously and was watching her. It turns out that she had been doing this all along, her drawers were chock full of stolen merchandise - mostly earrings.
We were shocked, but in reflecting on the situation it became more understandable. Geesche was an atheist. She had no moral or spiritual principles, no ethical boundaries except that which was imposed from without. She had a sense that it was wrong to steal but this sense was not grounded in any transcendent reality. Without such boundaries, the self comes to encompass all of existence. She probably rationalized her crime away something like this: Look at all this neat stuff. I've been deprived of these things all my life, while these folks here have had an abundance. I deserve these things and so I will just take them.
She learned at least one thing from this ordeal; sin has its consequences. One has to pay the price of the forbidden fruit. Geesche was looking forward to taking a three week trip to the west coast with other exchange students. Instead, she was sent home early, with dishonor.