Proper 19, Pentecost 17, Ordinary Time 24
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle B
Seasonal Theme
We learn of the Christian faith and how we are to follow Jesus as his disciples.
Theme For The Day
The giving away of our lives for others is where real life here is to be found. We must expect to carry Jesus' cross as part of our discipleship.
Old Testament Lesson
Proverbs 1:20-33
Wisdom Rejected
Here we learn of disaster which accompanies the neglect of wisdom. Wisdom is personified as a woman who appeals to everyone (vv. 20-23). Verses 24-28 tell us only a fool ignores wisdom and it's at his own risk (vv. 29-33). We can, however, respond to wisdom's scolding and thus become wise.
When troubles come, as they always do, wisdom won't help if we have ignored her up till then. It's a tough saying and seems to claim that if we reject lady wisdom we can't reclaim her after she has withdrawn her invitation. Fools must suffer the consequences of their actions (v. 31). Galatians might support this idea (Galatians 6:7). In 3:23 we learn the flip side of this idea. Heeding wisdom gives safety and peace. These introductory words set the tone for the rest of the book.
New Testament Lesson
James 3:1-12
Taming The Tongue
This is a passage full of metaphors. James' point is that even though the tongue is small, its behavior can (and does) shape our entire lives. He uses these metaphors:
1. The bridle with bit guides the horse's direction.
2. The rudder of a ship guides the entire ship.
3. A whole forest is set ablaze by one flame.
4. Wild animals can be tamed but not the wild tongue.
5. A spring cannot give out fresh and brackish water.
6. A fig tree cannot give off olives.
7. A grape vine cannot yield figs.
8. Salt water cannot give us fresh water. (Before the process of desalinization!)
So the tongue controls the person. We are unable to control it. The author is close to giving us the doctrine of original sin (v. 6). See also Paul in Romans 7. This tongue is our worst enemy. We sense something is wrong because out of the same mouth comes blessings and curses. Watch your mouth. I might add not only does what we say hurt or help others; it also shapes our own behavior. James, you really are on to something here!
The Gospel
Mark 8:27-38
Peter's Confession And Jesus' Cross
Jesus and his little band of disciples are now in Caesarea Philippi where we find today the source of the Jordan River. There was also at that place a temple to Caesar, the Roman Emperor. It was in this setting that Peter finally got it right. This carpenter from Nazareth is the promised Messiah. Here in the middle of Mark's Gospel we now learn that this Jesus had ahead of him the inescapable cross. So Jesus had to determine if anyone realized, understood, who he was. Peter told him what others were saying (v. 28) and then he said what became clear to him.
Jesus saw he had a lot of teaching to be done for these disciples before he departed so he told them to keep this discovery a secret for a while longer. No doubt Peter spoke the very temptations attacking Jesus at that moment (v. 32). Not wanting to die, Jesus was re-fighting those temptations in the wilderness following his baptism. It's often true that a friend concerned about us gives voice to our temptations.
Beginning with verse 34 we have the sheer honesty of Jesus about discipleship and following him. They "deny themselves," literally meaning to "say no to self." We must say no to our natural inclination to take the easy, safe way. We say "yes" to Christ's way, which may involve suffering; but in doing so we find freedom.
Verse 36 tells us that it is most often so in the Christian faith that we find real abundant life by giving ours away for others. Mother Teresa often quoted: "Unless life is lived for others, it is not worthwhile." It's so easy to sacrifice eternity for the pleasure of the moment (v. 37).
Preaching Possibilities
All three readings will go together by using the following emphasis:
A. Old Testament Lesson: God has given us brains and we are encouraged to use them on God's behalf.
B. New Testament Reading: We must be careful lest our natural inclination to sin is enhanced by what we allow ourselves to give voice to.
C. Our words to others, like Peter's, can be the instrument through which the power that works against God may try to work (Mark 8:33).
D. To be a Christian and disciple means some sacrifice (Mark 8:35).
The Second Reading lends itself to standing alone and talking about our words and how they can destroy or build up others. And also how our words can shape who and how we are. Some moves could be:
A. Such a little instrument that has such a big effect on our and others' lives -- the tongue. Examples -- rudder of a ship, flame starting a fire.
B. What we say can be a ministry of encouragement and/or a tool of character assassination of others.
C. What we allow our tongue to say can also shape us and our attitudes in this life.
D. Our tongue's instinctive inclination is to cause trouble and tear down rather than to build up.
E. We have the potential to bring others to Christ with this instrument called the tongue.
F. We can curse God or love God with our tongue.
We also could base our sermon for today on the scripture verse Mark 8:28, asking how would we answer this question if Jesus asked it of us today?
A. A "just in case I need you for help" Jesus?
B. A "save my soul for eternity" Jesus?
C. A "make me loved by others" Jesus?
D. An "escape from my many problems" Jesus?
E. A "teacher of wise things" Jesus?
F. A "Savior my parents worshiped" Jesus?
G. A "person admired by my significant other" Jesus?
H. A "make me well" Jesus?
You add to the list from your experiences in your ministry.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Title: Discipleship For These Days
Text: Mark 8:34b-36
A. Introduction: Give the setting of this story. Jesus is teaching his disciples after Peter confessed Jesus was the Messiah.
B. Now move to what he taught. These things he wanted his disciples back then and us disciples to know about discipleship:
1. Mark 8:34b To follow Jesus will mean some hard times of sacrifice and pain (story below).
2. Mark 8:35 To gain real, full, abundant life one must take risks and give (his/her) life away (story below).
3. Mark 8:36 We must guard against striving to get rather than to give away. A life of doing for others is where real life is to be found.
See below for three metaphors that can be used to illustrate the above three moves.
C. Move to your own witness and how you have gradually matured in age and faith to realize the truth of the three above teachings of Jesus.
D. Frame you sermon by returning to your opening and how these words must have stunned the disciples and then how they teach us as well.
Prayer For The Day
O God, help us to do better at sharing our lives with others and bearing your cross in our discipleship. Move us far beyond the striving for things for ourselves to a life of concern for other people. And when the call for sacrifice comes, let us accept it with graceful hearts. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
In the movie The Thorn Birds, after telling the story of the thorn bird, the priest says to Maggie: "... for the best is only bought at the cost of great pain." Jesus bought our at-one-ment with God at great pain on the cross.
I noticed on a cold winter day that the Life Flight helicopter has a heating blanket around its engine to keep it warm and ready to fly at any moment the call comes to do so. We need to keep warm our motivation to serve others no matter how cold our own lives may be.
William Sloane Coffin said that there are two ways to be rich: "One is to have a lot of money; another is to have few needs."
Our culture foists on us so many false needs for which we sacrifice too much.
In a little general store on Kings Ranch Road in Gold Canyon, Arizona, there hangs a plaque. Burned into the wood are these words: "Cowboy etiquette: Better to taste your words before you spit them out."
The pastor was visiting in the parlor. A young farm boy had just killed a big rat and came running into the room to tell his mother, "... and I stamped and stamped on it," then, noticing the pastor for the first time, added, "... and God called it home."
We often have one language for the church and another for the world, and fail to connect the two.
We learn of the Christian faith and how we are to follow Jesus as his disciples.
Theme For The Day
The giving away of our lives for others is where real life here is to be found. We must expect to carry Jesus' cross as part of our discipleship.
Old Testament Lesson
Proverbs 1:20-33
Wisdom Rejected
Here we learn of disaster which accompanies the neglect of wisdom. Wisdom is personified as a woman who appeals to everyone (vv. 20-23). Verses 24-28 tell us only a fool ignores wisdom and it's at his own risk (vv. 29-33). We can, however, respond to wisdom's scolding and thus become wise.
When troubles come, as they always do, wisdom won't help if we have ignored her up till then. It's a tough saying and seems to claim that if we reject lady wisdom we can't reclaim her after she has withdrawn her invitation. Fools must suffer the consequences of their actions (v. 31). Galatians might support this idea (Galatians 6:7). In 3:23 we learn the flip side of this idea. Heeding wisdom gives safety and peace. These introductory words set the tone for the rest of the book.
New Testament Lesson
James 3:1-12
Taming The Tongue
This is a passage full of metaphors. James' point is that even though the tongue is small, its behavior can (and does) shape our entire lives. He uses these metaphors:
1. The bridle with bit guides the horse's direction.
2. The rudder of a ship guides the entire ship.
3. A whole forest is set ablaze by one flame.
4. Wild animals can be tamed but not the wild tongue.
5. A spring cannot give out fresh and brackish water.
6. A fig tree cannot give off olives.
7. A grape vine cannot yield figs.
8. Salt water cannot give us fresh water. (Before the process of desalinization!)
So the tongue controls the person. We are unable to control it. The author is close to giving us the doctrine of original sin (v. 6). See also Paul in Romans 7. This tongue is our worst enemy. We sense something is wrong because out of the same mouth comes blessings and curses. Watch your mouth. I might add not only does what we say hurt or help others; it also shapes our own behavior. James, you really are on to something here!
The Gospel
Mark 8:27-38
Peter's Confession And Jesus' Cross
Jesus and his little band of disciples are now in Caesarea Philippi where we find today the source of the Jordan River. There was also at that place a temple to Caesar, the Roman Emperor. It was in this setting that Peter finally got it right. This carpenter from Nazareth is the promised Messiah. Here in the middle of Mark's Gospel we now learn that this Jesus had ahead of him the inescapable cross. So Jesus had to determine if anyone realized, understood, who he was. Peter told him what others were saying (v. 28) and then he said what became clear to him.
Jesus saw he had a lot of teaching to be done for these disciples before he departed so he told them to keep this discovery a secret for a while longer. No doubt Peter spoke the very temptations attacking Jesus at that moment (v. 32). Not wanting to die, Jesus was re-fighting those temptations in the wilderness following his baptism. It's often true that a friend concerned about us gives voice to our temptations.
Beginning with verse 34 we have the sheer honesty of Jesus about discipleship and following him. They "deny themselves," literally meaning to "say no to self." We must say no to our natural inclination to take the easy, safe way. We say "yes" to Christ's way, which may involve suffering; but in doing so we find freedom.
Verse 36 tells us that it is most often so in the Christian faith that we find real abundant life by giving ours away for others. Mother Teresa often quoted: "Unless life is lived for others, it is not worthwhile." It's so easy to sacrifice eternity for the pleasure of the moment (v. 37).
Preaching Possibilities
All three readings will go together by using the following emphasis:
A. Old Testament Lesson: God has given us brains and we are encouraged to use them on God's behalf.
B. New Testament Reading: We must be careful lest our natural inclination to sin is enhanced by what we allow ourselves to give voice to.
C. Our words to others, like Peter's, can be the instrument through which the power that works against God may try to work (Mark 8:33).
D. To be a Christian and disciple means some sacrifice (Mark 8:35).
The Second Reading lends itself to standing alone and talking about our words and how they can destroy or build up others. And also how our words can shape who and how we are. Some moves could be:
A. Such a little instrument that has such a big effect on our and others' lives -- the tongue. Examples -- rudder of a ship, flame starting a fire.
B. What we say can be a ministry of encouragement and/or a tool of character assassination of others.
C. What we allow our tongue to say can also shape us and our attitudes in this life.
D. Our tongue's instinctive inclination is to cause trouble and tear down rather than to build up.
E. We have the potential to bring others to Christ with this instrument called the tongue.
F. We can curse God or love God with our tongue.
We also could base our sermon for today on the scripture verse Mark 8:28, asking how would we answer this question if Jesus asked it of us today?
A. A "just in case I need you for help" Jesus?
B. A "save my soul for eternity" Jesus?
C. A "make me loved by others" Jesus?
D. An "escape from my many problems" Jesus?
E. A "teacher of wise things" Jesus?
F. A "Savior my parents worshiped" Jesus?
G. A "person admired by my significant other" Jesus?
H. A "make me well" Jesus?
You add to the list from your experiences in your ministry.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Title: Discipleship For These Days
Text: Mark 8:34b-36
A. Introduction: Give the setting of this story. Jesus is teaching his disciples after Peter confessed Jesus was the Messiah.
B. Now move to what he taught. These things he wanted his disciples back then and us disciples to know about discipleship:
1. Mark 8:34b To follow Jesus will mean some hard times of sacrifice and pain (story below).
2. Mark 8:35 To gain real, full, abundant life one must take risks and give (his/her) life away (story below).
3. Mark 8:36 We must guard against striving to get rather than to give away. A life of doing for others is where real life is to be found.
See below for three metaphors that can be used to illustrate the above three moves.
C. Move to your own witness and how you have gradually matured in age and faith to realize the truth of the three above teachings of Jesus.
D. Frame you sermon by returning to your opening and how these words must have stunned the disciples and then how they teach us as well.
Prayer For The Day
O God, help us to do better at sharing our lives with others and bearing your cross in our discipleship. Move us far beyond the striving for things for ourselves to a life of concern for other people. And when the call for sacrifice comes, let us accept it with graceful hearts. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
In the movie The Thorn Birds, after telling the story of the thorn bird, the priest says to Maggie: "... for the best is only bought at the cost of great pain." Jesus bought our at-one-ment with God at great pain on the cross.
I noticed on a cold winter day that the Life Flight helicopter has a heating blanket around its engine to keep it warm and ready to fly at any moment the call comes to do so. We need to keep warm our motivation to serve others no matter how cold our own lives may be.
William Sloane Coffin said that there are two ways to be rich: "One is to have a lot of money; another is to have few needs."
Our culture foists on us so many false needs for which we sacrifice too much.
In a little general store on Kings Ranch Road in Gold Canyon, Arizona, there hangs a plaque. Burned into the wood are these words: "Cowboy etiquette: Better to taste your words before you spit them out."
The pastor was visiting in the parlor. A young farm boy had just killed a big rat and came running into the room to tell his mother, "... and I stamped and stamped on it," then, noticing the pastor for the first time, added, "... and God called it home."
We often have one language for the church and another for the world, and fail to connect the two.
