Proper 14, Pentecost 12, Ordinary Time 19
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
Jesus is our source of real life as bread is our source of real food.
Old Testament Lesson
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Absalom's Defeat And Death
David's men convinced him to stay behind rather than lead the army as he wanted to do. He commanded his officers not to harm his rebel son Absalom in battle. The elements of the terrible region (v. 8) were even worse for Absalom than the swords of David's army. He was trying to get away on a mule and got entangled in the lower branches of an oak tree, which suspended him in midair. Joab killed him. Absalom had already erected a memorial to himself in the Kidron Valley east of Jerusalem. One can still see it below and from the pinnacle of the Temple mount. David was crushed by the news of Absalom's death as announced to him by the Cushite. He poured out his grief to God. So two of David's sons, Amon and Absalom, died violent deaths ... because of their father's transgressions?
New Testament Lesson
Ephesians 4:25--5:2
Rules For Life In Christ
First, let's look at what Paul forbids as we take up a new life in Christ:
1. Do not lie.
2. Do not be angry overnight.
3. Do not steal.
4. No evil talk from your mouth.
5. Don't grieve the Holy Spirit.
6. Get rid of any bitterness, wrath, anger, wrangling, slander, and malice.
Those things that Paul writes we should do:
1. Speak the truth.
2. Work honestly.
3. Build up in your speech.
4. Be kind to one another, forgiving one another.
5. Be imitators of God.
6. Live in love, as Christ loved us.
Verse 25 seems to be key here. We are all part of the body of Christ, the church. This new life is one of love. This, says Paul, should shape how we are as a congregation.
The Gospel
John 6:35, 41-45
The Bread Of Life Again
Last week it was one of John's bread passages; this week is one, and the next week after that will also center on bread. It goes on and on even using the same passages over again! Today's passage is one of the great passages of John's Gospel. The metaphor of Jesus as the bread of life says to us that as bread gives us physical life, so Jesus gives us real life, which is a different relationship to our Holy Parent, God. This new relationship with God is only possible through Jesus, the Christ.
There are different ways of living for us. We can just merely exist and we can really live the full abundant life in Christ. So Jesus' claim that he is the bread of life. He can satisfy our hunger for real life here and on into eternity.
The Jews' reaction to Jesus' message (v. 42) warns us to be very careful lest we reject a message from God because we don't like the human messenger!
William Barclay tells us of the background of the verb "drawn" in verse 44. It usually implies some resistance to God's attraction. Drawing a net to shore (John 12:6, 11) Paul and Silas being drawn before the magistrates in Philippi (Acts 16:19), drawing a sword from its sheath (John 18:10). In each case there is resistance to the draw (heikuein). Our resistance can defeat God's draw. It will preach! To resist the offer of Jesus is like refusing bread when we are starving. It is the very essential of life we are resisting. Life here and life in eternity are turned down.
Preaching Possibilities
If you have not yet dealt with the story of David, it could be done this week as we move on from him next week when we go from 2 Samuel to 1 Kings. It's a sad story of one called by God who was corrupted by power and whose sins caused much suffering for his family and friends.
The Second Reading is rich with content as it describes the new life in Christ lived in love of God and each other. It lends itself to a heart-to-heart sermon that talks to the congregation about how they live together as the body of Christ. It could begin by describing Paul's advice on how we ought treat each other, talking about how far from this ideal we sometimes get as a congregation, and then holding up the doctrine that God still loves the sinner, and because of that grace we ought do better in loving God and in loving each other. A very simple outline could be:
A. Tell the background of this book of Ephesians: that it was written for Paul's congregations to read at worship.
B. Tell what Paul said we should refrain from being and doing as individuals and as corporately as the body of Christ.
C. Tell what Paul said we should be and do.
D. Now share your own feelings as to where we could do better.
E. Now read it re-written in your own words and addressed to your congregation as if you were Paul and you were writing Ephesians to your own congregation.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Title: The Living Bread or Pass The Bread, Please
Text: John 6:51
A. Introduction: Tell a story about bread and then move to the claim of Jesus that he was "... the living bread that came down from heaven."
B. Move to explain what Jesus meant. He must have had in mind the manna provided the Jews in the wilderness. And because in that time bread was even more so the very foundation of what was eaten, so Jesus was the foundation, too.
C. Explain the metaphor further.
1. Bread nourishes our lives. It is essential.
2. Jesus sustains our spiritual lives, which is a radically new relationship between us and our God. Use Paul's writing in the second reading to illustrate this new relationship.
3. Without Jesus, real life, which is more than just existence, is not possible.
4. You have to have Jesus for life as you have to have bread for nourishment. Only he can end the insatiable hunger for real existence.
D. Give your own witness of how it was before you knew and accepted Jesus when your life was mere existence. Then share the wonderful new life now with the bread of life. If you cannot do this, perhaps you can tell of someone else's witness (or have him/her tell it).
E. Now move to action the hearers ought take because of the above Gospel:
1. Be certain you have a steady diet of this bread by removing your resistance to God "drawing" you. (See comments on the Gospel.)
2. As a congregation be sure that the real bread of life is served up every week for all to feast on. (There are many substitute foods.) Paul well describes a congregation without real bread.
3. "Pass the bread." Be sure this bread is not hoarded but shared with all who will take it. And in the sharing of it, we value it even more.
F. Frame the sermon by giving a summary of what you have said about Living bread and sing (or have sung) a verse of the hymn "Living Bread From Heaven." (See below.)
Prayer For The Day
Help us, O God, as a congregation and as individual Christians always to dine on you, the living bread. Show us the way to a new relationship with you and also with each other. We rejoice in how much you love us even to give your son on a cross that we might be forgiven and know that love. Help us to "pass the bread" as well as feast on it. In Jesus-the-living-bread's name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
Eddie Chan, one of my Chinese students in Hong Kong, was translating from my English into Cantonese and called it, "I am the life of bread." I'll take that mistake in translation and think about it.
O Living bread from heaven, how well you feed your guest!
The gifts that you have given have filled my heart with rest.
Oh, wondrous food of blessing, Oh, cup that heals our woes!
My heart, this gift possessing, with praises overflows!
(Text by Johann Rist; Tune: AURELIA)
A town put on the passion play and recruited a non-Christian to play the part of Jesus Christ. While carrying the cross, the crowd taunted him and he attacked them the very first night. After further coaching he just gritted his teeth and said: "Okay for now, but just wait until the resurrection!"
Think how Jesus could have reacted to his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. He could have come down off the cross, pulled it up, and thrown it down the hill at them.
I tried to use my power skillsaw recently. The round blade was just a fraction of an inch off center, so when the saw started, it vibrated and shook me and the lumber. I centered it and it ran like a top! It was smooth, and it cut great as well. Now what must I do to get back on center in my spiritual life? What is so off the center it vibrates others' lives as well?
While the basic elements are the same, one has only to look at the bread section on the grocery store to see that there are many varieties: whole wheat, rye, white sandwich, German black bread, pumpernickel, sourdough, oatmeal, cornbread, (potato bread is pretty good, too) etc. So Jesus is our nourishment in many varieties and forms.
We learn of the Christian faith and how we are to follow Jesus as his disciples.
Theme For The Day
Jesus is our source of real life as bread is our source of real food.
Old Testament Lesson
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Absalom's Defeat And Death
David's men convinced him to stay behind rather than lead the army as he wanted to do. He commanded his officers not to harm his rebel son Absalom in battle. The elements of the terrible region (v. 8) were even worse for Absalom than the swords of David's army. He was trying to get away on a mule and got entangled in the lower branches of an oak tree, which suspended him in midair. Joab killed him. Absalom had already erected a memorial to himself in the Kidron Valley east of Jerusalem. One can still see it below and from the pinnacle of the Temple mount. David was crushed by the news of Absalom's death as announced to him by the Cushite. He poured out his grief to God. So two of David's sons, Amon and Absalom, died violent deaths ... because of their father's transgressions?
New Testament Lesson
Ephesians 4:25--5:2
Rules For Life In Christ
First, let's look at what Paul forbids as we take up a new life in Christ:
1. Do not lie.
2. Do not be angry overnight.
3. Do not steal.
4. No evil talk from your mouth.
5. Don't grieve the Holy Spirit.
6. Get rid of any bitterness, wrath, anger, wrangling, slander, and malice.
Those things that Paul writes we should do:
1. Speak the truth.
2. Work honestly.
3. Build up in your speech.
4. Be kind to one another, forgiving one another.
5. Be imitators of God.
6. Live in love, as Christ loved us.
Verse 25 seems to be key here. We are all part of the body of Christ, the church. This new life is one of love. This, says Paul, should shape how we are as a congregation.
The Gospel
John 6:35, 41-45
The Bread Of Life Again
Last week it was one of John's bread passages; this week is one, and the next week after that will also center on bread. It goes on and on even using the same passages over again! Today's passage is one of the great passages of John's Gospel. The metaphor of Jesus as the bread of life says to us that as bread gives us physical life, so Jesus gives us real life, which is a different relationship to our Holy Parent, God. This new relationship with God is only possible through Jesus, the Christ.
There are different ways of living for us. We can just merely exist and we can really live the full abundant life in Christ. So Jesus' claim that he is the bread of life. He can satisfy our hunger for real life here and on into eternity.
The Jews' reaction to Jesus' message (v. 42) warns us to be very careful lest we reject a message from God because we don't like the human messenger!
William Barclay tells us of the background of the verb "drawn" in verse 44. It usually implies some resistance to God's attraction. Drawing a net to shore (John 12:6, 11) Paul and Silas being drawn before the magistrates in Philippi (Acts 16:19), drawing a sword from its sheath (John 18:10). In each case there is resistance to the draw (heikuein). Our resistance can defeat God's draw. It will preach! To resist the offer of Jesus is like refusing bread when we are starving. It is the very essential of life we are resisting. Life here and life in eternity are turned down.
Preaching Possibilities
If you have not yet dealt with the story of David, it could be done this week as we move on from him next week when we go from 2 Samuel to 1 Kings. It's a sad story of one called by God who was corrupted by power and whose sins caused much suffering for his family and friends.
The Second Reading is rich with content as it describes the new life in Christ lived in love of God and each other. It lends itself to a heart-to-heart sermon that talks to the congregation about how they live together as the body of Christ. It could begin by describing Paul's advice on how we ought treat each other, talking about how far from this ideal we sometimes get as a congregation, and then holding up the doctrine that God still loves the sinner, and because of that grace we ought do better in loving God and in loving each other. A very simple outline could be:
A. Tell the background of this book of Ephesians: that it was written for Paul's congregations to read at worship.
B. Tell what Paul said we should refrain from being and doing as individuals and as corporately as the body of Christ.
C. Tell what Paul said we should be and do.
D. Now share your own feelings as to where we could do better.
E. Now read it re-written in your own words and addressed to your congregation as if you were Paul and you were writing Ephesians to your own congregation.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Title: The Living Bread or Pass The Bread, Please
Text: John 6:51
A. Introduction: Tell a story about bread and then move to the claim of Jesus that he was "... the living bread that came down from heaven."
B. Move to explain what Jesus meant. He must have had in mind the manna provided the Jews in the wilderness. And because in that time bread was even more so the very foundation of what was eaten, so Jesus was the foundation, too.
C. Explain the metaphor further.
1. Bread nourishes our lives. It is essential.
2. Jesus sustains our spiritual lives, which is a radically new relationship between us and our God. Use Paul's writing in the second reading to illustrate this new relationship.
3. Without Jesus, real life, which is more than just existence, is not possible.
4. You have to have Jesus for life as you have to have bread for nourishment. Only he can end the insatiable hunger for real existence.
D. Give your own witness of how it was before you knew and accepted Jesus when your life was mere existence. Then share the wonderful new life now with the bread of life. If you cannot do this, perhaps you can tell of someone else's witness (or have him/her tell it).
E. Now move to action the hearers ought take because of the above Gospel:
1. Be certain you have a steady diet of this bread by removing your resistance to God "drawing" you. (See comments on the Gospel.)
2. As a congregation be sure that the real bread of life is served up every week for all to feast on. (There are many substitute foods.) Paul well describes a congregation without real bread.
3. "Pass the bread." Be sure this bread is not hoarded but shared with all who will take it. And in the sharing of it, we value it even more.
F. Frame the sermon by giving a summary of what you have said about Living bread and sing (or have sung) a verse of the hymn "Living Bread From Heaven." (See below.)
Prayer For The Day
Help us, O God, as a congregation and as individual Christians always to dine on you, the living bread. Show us the way to a new relationship with you and also with each other. We rejoice in how much you love us even to give your son on a cross that we might be forgiven and know that love. Help us to "pass the bread" as well as feast on it. In Jesus-the-living-bread's name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
Eddie Chan, one of my Chinese students in Hong Kong, was translating from my English into Cantonese and called it, "I am the life of bread." I'll take that mistake in translation and think about it.
O Living bread from heaven, how well you feed your guest!
The gifts that you have given have filled my heart with rest.
Oh, wondrous food of blessing, Oh, cup that heals our woes!
My heart, this gift possessing, with praises overflows!
(Text by Johann Rist; Tune: AURELIA)
A town put on the passion play and recruited a non-Christian to play the part of Jesus Christ. While carrying the cross, the crowd taunted him and he attacked them the very first night. After further coaching he just gritted his teeth and said: "Okay for now, but just wait until the resurrection!"
Think how Jesus could have reacted to his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. He could have come down off the cross, pulled it up, and thrown it down the hill at them.
I tried to use my power skillsaw recently. The round blade was just a fraction of an inch off center, so when the saw started, it vibrated and shook me and the lumber. I centered it and it ran like a top! It was smooth, and it cut great as well. Now what must I do to get back on center in my spiritual life? What is so off the center it vibrates others' lives as well?
While the basic elements are the same, one has only to look at the bread section on the grocery store to see that there are many varieties: whole wheat, rye, white sandwich, German black bread, pumpernickel, sourdough, oatmeal, cornbread, (potato bread is pretty good, too) etc. So Jesus is our nourishment in many varieties and forms.
