Proper 21, Pentecost 19, Ordinary Time 26
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle B
Seasonal Theme
The Pentecost Season is one of Christian growth and learning about the way of discipleship.
Theme For The Day
The seriousness of temptation and warnings of danger.
Old Testament Lesson
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
A Reason For Purim
I don't believe this is a familiar book to most Christians and it will need an introduction to the congregation. Page 538 of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible does it well.
While God is not mentioned in the entire book, it does seem to indicate that God cares for his chosen people, the Jews. The passage we have today related the background and justification for the Jewish festival of Purim. This has been written to help future generations remember the great deliverance of the people under the reign of Ahasuerus.
The gifts to the poor in verse 9:22 is rather natural for such an observance of joy. It is still a part of the Jewish festival today.
New Testament Lesson
James 5:13-20
Priesthood Of All Believers
A ministry of prayer is called for by James. Ways are described that give opportunity for ministry to each other: Pray for each other, pray for the rich, and pray for forgiveness. Then in verse 17, James gives an example of Elijah, who prayed it would not rain and it didn't for three and one half years! I'll bet Elijah was not popular for that prayer! On the other hand, when he then did pray for rain, it really did (1 Kings 17:1 and 18:42). We are also to rescue each other when we stray into sin (v. 19). So, according to James, we are a singing, praying, confessing, and forgiving church. We care about each other.
The Gospel
Mark 9:38-50
Advice On Temptation
Verses 38-41 don't seem to be related to the rest of the passage. Evidently there were wonder-workers using Jesus' name as their formula of power and John was concerned what the twelve should do about them. Jesus' answer is that anyone who uses his name and power will be unable to say anything bad against him. He adds in verses 40-41 that whoever isn't against them is for them and anyone who does the good thing on Jesus' behalf will be rewarded. It is not an answer John expected.
Now follows a passage about temptations and how to deal with them. It says:
We must not cause new Christians to be tempted (v. 42). "Little ones" could mean children or young in the faith or (I prefer) Jesus' followers of any age. See Matthew 18:6 and Luke 17:1-2.
Then drastic measures are called for when facing temptations, even if it is hand, foot, or eye. Hell is the Hebrew gehenna. This was the valley near Jerusalem where infant sacrifice to the Ammonite god Molech was practiced and was called Hinnon valley. The name became a symbol for hell. Verse 48 comes from Isaiah 66:24 and it symbolizes the finality of God's judgment.
The three sayings on salt are unrelated in verse 49. They teach us: suffering is a normal experience, we can lose our usefulness, and we should be at peace with each other. See Romans 12:18.
Preaching Possibilities
The New Testament and the Gospel will combine together nicely for our preaching this weekend. We would use the theme of "this is our ministry" from James and tell about:
A. A ministry of prayer for each other, the sick, and for others' and our forgiveness.
B. James tells us our ministry ought produce a singing, confessing, and forgiving church.
C. Jesus tells us disciples that we ought partner with anyone who ministers in his name. (Identify who that may be in your community.)
D. Then add Jesus' words about temptation. We must not be the one who brings temptation upon someone else.
E. And this is so serious we must take drastic measures to halt whatever the temptation, like cutting off a limb of our bodies.
F. Christian disciples are to be at peace with each other.
This could be a marvelous sermon about our practice of the faith. We ought use some humor and stories to keep it from being too dour.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Title: These little ones
Text: Mark 9:42
A. Introduction: Down through the years, there have been a number of theories about who Jesus meant when he talked of "little ones." Some have thought children, some have thought new Christians, and some have thought all Christian disciples.
B. Sermon moves:
1. "Little ones" has most often been thought of as children. It is true that one of the worst sins is to teach or seduce a child into such behavior.
Recent research has revealed that drug addicts are often made by "using" with their own parents.
Other ways we might cause children to stumble are by our own example in language, in cheating, in ugliness toward our spouse or children, by our unfaithfulness toward church, etc. Children are watching us! Are we fulfilling the vows we made at our children's baptisms to raise them in the faith?
2. More and more scholars have called attention to the fact that Paul and John called new converts to the faith "little ones." We can cause new members to stumble by not doing out part in welcoming them into the congregation. Or advising them not to be "radical" in their discipleship, or by considering them second-rate members in the congregation.
3. Some would claim "little ones," according to Jesus, were all his disciples. In John's Gospel, Jesus calls the disciples "little ones." So in this case, we are not to do anything that would discredit the church or each other. Frying the pastor for Sunday lunch is not recommended. Explain the Greek word for "stumble," which meant a bait stick. It was the enticement in a trap. Our behavior inside the church and outside all week long must not set traps for other Christians, but, rather, help them to grow in the faith.
4. Now give examples of "little ones" in your congregation -- a child, a new member, and one of the long-time faithful. All are "little ones" in Jesus' view. He loves them and we must also.
Prayer For The Day
There are so many temptations all around us, dear Holy Parent. Help us to resist them in whatever form they come. And, most of all, give us the motivation and insight not to ever, ever bring a temptation to others, whether they are children, new Christians, or old faithful disciples. Thank you for considering us your "little ones." In Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
Dan Rather announced on CBS Nightly News on March 31, 1987, that the AIDS virus "resurrects itself." Kill it and it somehow starts again. So the bad can resurrect as well as the good! Addictions, prejudices, bad habits, greed, and so forth.
The palm tree outside my office window on the seminary campus must have the dead fronds removed every so often so new ones will grow. The Christian life does call for the removal of the dead that new might grow. Let's see, what ought we remove?
prejudices
old enemies
wealth addiction
saved-up hurts
selfishness
jealousy
On a Northwest Airlines plane they place a plastic cover over the engine intake while loading the food from a truck to the plane's galley.
I wonder what we ought to cover and with what to keep from contaminating our intake which propels us through life?
Andrew Hsiao, former President of Lutheran Theological Seminary, Hong Kong, told me of his mother in Hunan Province, People's Republic of China, during the Cultural Revolution. As an old woman, she was called into their Lutheran church building, put on trial for being a Christian, and forced to renounce her faith in the sanctuary of her own church. She never recovered from it. I am not sure he has either. An important thing for us to ask is if we have even been faithful enough that they would try us as they did her.
A Suggestion:
With Proper 22, Pentecost 20, Ordinary Time 27, we begin readings from the New Testament book of Hebrews for seven weeks. Thus, a couple suggestions you might consider: place in the worship bulletin a brief introduction to the book of Hebrews or announce it verbally before reading the New Testament reading. Consider using material provided at the beginning of the book found in the New Revised Standard Version (p. 265). The second suggestion is to conduct a Bible study1 over the next seven weeks using the readings for the day. I, personally, think this is very rich doctrinal theology better learned in Bible study than in preaching. An outline might go like this:
Proper 22, Pent. 20, O. T. 27, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
Jesus, pioneer of salvation
Proper 23, Pent. 21, O. T. 28, Hebrews 4:12-16
Jesus, our high priest
Proper 24, Pent. 22, O. T. 29, Hebrews 5:1-10
Jesus compared with the temple high priest
Proper 25, Pent. 23, O. T. 30, Hebrews 7:23-28
Jesus as guarantee of our better new covenant
Proper 26, Pent. 24, O. T. 31, Hebrews 9:11-14
The contrast of perfection, performance, and completeness. We have an eternal redemption.
Proper 27, Pent. 25, O. T. 32, Hebrews 10:11-14
Once for all sacrifice and resurrection and coming again. And a summary of the seven weeks study of Hebrews.
Possible Worship Bulletin Announcement:
Beginning with Proper 22, Pentecost 20, Ordinary Time 27, we will read from the book of Hebrews as the New Testament Reading for seven Sundays. Written to Jewish Christians who were considering returning to Judaism, the writer tries to persuade them to hold fast in their faith in Jesus Christ. The book was written prior to the fall of Jerusalem. The author may have been Apollos or Barnabas. Without presenting my reasons, I believe this may be the one book of the Bible written by a woman.
The central theme is the sovereignty of the Christ. The practical applications of this we'll find in the Second Lesson readings. As I read from this book, however, it sounds to me like a missal to teachers of the Christian faith as to what content to teach. It would be like a theologian writing to Sunday school teachers.
____________
1. William Barclay's Daily Study Bible's volume on Hebrews will be a very helpful reference on conducting this study.
The Pentecost Season is one of Christian growth and learning about the way of discipleship.
Theme For The Day
The seriousness of temptation and warnings of danger.
Old Testament Lesson
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
A Reason For Purim
I don't believe this is a familiar book to most Christians and it will need an introduction to the congregation. Page 538 of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible does it well.
While God is not mentioned in the entire book, it does seem to indicate that God cares for his chosen people, the Jews. The passage we have today related the background and justification for the Jewish festival of Purim. This has been written to help future generations remember the great deliverance of the people under the reign of Ahasuerus.
The gifts to the poor in verse 9:22 is rather natural for such an observance of joy. It is still a part of the Jewish festival today.
New Testament Lesson
James 5:13-20
Priesthood Of All Believers
A ministry of prayer is called for by James. Ways are described that give opportunity for ministry to each other: Pray for each other, pray for the rich, and pray for forgiveness. Then in verse 17, James gives an example of Elijah, who prayed it would not rain and it didn't for three and one half years! I'll bet Elijah was not popular for that prayer! On the other hand, when he then did pray for rain, it really did (1 Kings 17:1 and 18:42). We are also to rescue each other when we stray into sin (v. 19). So, according to James, we are a singing, praying, confessing, and forgiving church. We care about each other.
The Gospel
Mark 9:38-50
Advice On Temptation
Verses 38-41 don't seem to be related to the rest of the passage. Evidently there were wonder-workers using Jesus' name as their formula of power and John was concerned what the twelve should do about them. Jesus' answer is that anyone who uses his name and power will be unable to say anything bad against him. He adds in verses 40-41 that whoever isn't against them is for them and anyone who does the good thing on Jesus' behalf will be rewarded. It is not an answer John expected.
Now follows a passage about temptations and how to deal with them. It says:
We must not cause new Christians to be tempted (v. 42). "Little ones" could mean children or young in the faith or (I prefer) Jesus' followers of any age. See Matthew 18:6 and Luke 17:1-2.
Then drastic measures are called for when facing temptations, even if it is hand, foot, or eye. Hell is the Hebrew gehenna. This was the valley near Jerusalem where infant sacrifice to the Ammonite god Molech was practiced and was called Hinnon valley. The name became a symbol for hell. Verse 48 comes from Isaiah 66:24 and it symbolizes the finality of God's judgment.
The three sayings on salt are unrelated in verse 49. They teach us: suffering is a normal experience, we can lose our usefulness, and we should be at peace with each other. See Romans 12:18.
Preaching Possibilities
The New Testament and the Gospel will combine together nicely for our preaching this weekend. We would use the theme of "this is our ministry" from James and tell about:
A. A ministry of prayer for each other, the sick, and for others' and our forgiveness.
B. James tells us our ministry ought produce a singing, confessing, and forgiving church.
C. Jesus tells us disciples that we ought partner with anyone who ministers in his name. (Identify who that may be in your community.)
D. Then add Jesus' words about temptation. We must not be the one who brings temptation upon someone else.
E. And this is so serious we must take drastic measures to halt whatever the temptation, like cutting off a limb of our bodies.
F. Christian disciples are to be at peace with each other.
This could be a marvelous sermon about our practice of the faith. We ought use some humor and stories to keep it from being too dour.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Title: These little ones
Text: Mark 9:42
A. Introduction: Down through the years, there have been a number of theories about who Jesus meant when he talked of "little ones." Some have thought children, some have thought new Christians, and some have thought all Christian disciples.
B. Sermon moves:
1. "Little ones" has most often been thought of as children. It is true that one of the worst sins is to teach or seduce a child into such behavior.
Recent research has revealed that drug addicts are often made by "using" with their own parents.
Other ways we might cause children to stumble are by our own example in language, in cheating, in ugliness toward our spouse or children, by our unfaithfulness toward church, etc. Children are watching us! Are we fulfilling the vows we made at our children's baptisms to raise them in the faith?
2. More and more scholars have called attention to the fact that Paul and John called new converts to the faith "little ones." We can cause new members to stumble by not doing out part in welcoming them into the congregation. Or advising them not to be "radical" in their discipleship, or by considering them second-rate members in the congregation.
3. Some would claim "little ones," according to Jesus, were all his disciples. In John's Gospel, Jesus calls the disciples "little ones." So in this case, we are not to do anything that would discredit the church or each other. Frying the pastor for Sunday lunch is not recommended. Explain the Greek word for "stumble," which meant a bait stick. It was the enticement in a trap. Our behavior inside the church and outside all week long must not set traps for other Christians, but, rather, help them to grow in the faith.
4. Now give examples of "little ones" in your congregation -- a child, a new member, and one of the long-time faithful. All are "little ones" in Jesus' view. He loves them and we must also.
Prayer For The Day
There are so many temptations all around us, dear Holy Parent. Help us to resist them in whatever form they come. And, most of all, give us the motivation and insight not to ever, ever bring a temptation to others, whether they are children, new Christians, or old faithful disciples. Thank you for considering us your "little ones." In Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
Dan Rather announced on CBS Nightly News on March 31, 1987, that the AIDS virus "resurrects itself." Kill it and it somehow starts again. So the bad can resurrect as well as the good! Addictions, prejudices, bad habits, greed, and so forth.
The palm tree outside my office window on the seminary campus must have the dead fronds removed every so often so new ones will grow. The Christian life does call for the removal of the dead that new might grow. Let's see, what ought we remove?
prejudices
old enemies
wealth addiction
saved-up hurts
selfishness
jealousy
On a Northwest Airlines plane they place a plastic cover over the engine intake while loading the food from a truck to the plane's galley.
I wonder what we ought to cover and with what to keep from contaminating our intake which propels us through life?
Andrew Hsiao, former President of Lutheran Theological Seminary, Hong Kong, told me of his mother in Hunan Province, People's Republic of China, during the Cultural Revolution. As an old woman, she was called into their Lutheran church building, put on trial for being a Christian, and forced to renounce her faith in the sanctuary of her own church. She never recovered from it. I am not sure he has either. An important thing for us to ask is if we have even been faithful enough that they would try us as they did her.
A Suggestion:
With Proper 22, Pentecost 20, Ordinary Time 27, we begin readings from the New Testament book of Hebrews for seven weeks. Thus, a couple suggestions you might consider: place in the worship bulletin a brief introduction to the book of Hebrews or announce it verbally before reading the New Testament reading. Consider using material provided at the beginning of the book found in the New Revised Standard Version (p. 265). The second suggestion is to conduct a Bible study1 over the next seven weeks using the readings for the day. I, personally, think this is very rich doctrinal theology better learned in Bible study than in preaching. An outline might go like this:
Proper 22, Pent. 20, O. T. 27, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
Jesus, pioneer of salvation
Proper 23, Pent. 21, O. T. 28, Hebrews 4:12-16
Jesus, our high priest
Proper 24, Pent. 22, O. T. 29, Hebrews 5:1-10
Jesus compared with the temple high priest
Proper 25, Pent. 23, O. T. 30, Hebrews 7:23-28
Jesus as guarantee of our better new covenant
Proper 26, Pent. 24, O. T. 31, Hebrews 9:11-14
The contrast of perfection, performance, and completeness. We have an eternal redemption.
Proper 27, Pent. 25, O. T. 32, Hebrews 10:11-14
Once for all sacrifice and resurrection and coming again. And a summary of the seven weeks study of Hebrews.
Possible Worship Bulletin Announcement:
Beginning with Proper 22, Pentecost 20, Ordinary Time 27, we will read from the book of Hebrews as the New Testament Reading for seven Sundays. Written to Jewish Christians who were considering returning to Judaism, the writer tries to persuade them to hold fast in their faith in Jesus Christ. The book was written prior to the fall of Jerusalem. The author may have been Apollos or Barnabas. Without presenting my reasons, I believe this may be the one book of the Bible written by a woman.
The central theme is the sovereignty of the Christ. The practical applications of this we'll find in the Second Lesson readings. As I read from this book, however, it sounds to me like a missal to teachers of the Christian faith as to what content to teach. It would be like a theologian writing to Sunday school teachers.
____________
1. William Barclay's Daily Study Bible's volume on Hebrews will be a very helpful reference on conducting this study.
