Proper 16
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Cycle A, THIRD EDITION
THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 1:8-2:10 (C)
The birth of Moses. The story of the Patriarchs ended with Joseph's bringing the Hebrews to Egypt. In due time they multiplied until they became a threat to the Egyptians. The story of the Exodus begins with the birth of Moses who was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. The next ten readings will take us from Moses' birth, to the release from Egypt, to the wilderness wanderings for forty years, to Moses' death.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 22:19--23 (RC)
Worthy and unworthy leaders.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 51:1--6 (E)
Yahweh promises to deliver the exiles.
Lesson 2: Romans 12:1--8 (C)
True worship is committing ourselves to God.
Lesson 2: Romans 11:33--36 (RC, E)
Glory be to God whose judgments are unsearchable and his ways inscrutable. With these verses Paul brings to a conclusion the doctrinal section of Romans in which he analyzed and described God's plan of salvation by grace through faith.When he thinks of God's wisdom and love, he breaks out in a doxology which glorifies God. No human can understand the wisdom of God nor his ways. The mind cannot fathom the depth of God's love and truth. For Paul, God is all in all.
Gospel: Matthew 16:13--20 (C, RC, E)
At Caesarea Philippi Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus takes his disciples out of the country to Caesarea Philippi, a city built in honor of Caesar Augustus. Jesus' public ministry has come to a close and now he turns to the training of the twelve as he goes to Jerusalem to carry out his mission as Messiah. This pericope is the source of centuries of controversy among Christians. Is the "rock" the person or the confession of Peter? Was the power of the keys given to Peter and his successors or to the church as a whole? There is a difference of interpretation and understanding between Roman Catholics and Protestants.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 124 (C) - "Our help is in the name of the Lord" (v. 8).
Psalm 138 (RC, E) - "Thy steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of thy hands" (v. 8).
Prayer Of The Day
"God of all creation, you reach out to call people of all nations to your kingdom. As you gather disciples from near and far, count us also among those who boldly confess your Son Jesus Christ as Lord."
Hymn Of The Day
"Built On A Rock The Church Shall Stand"
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Matthew 16:13--20
1. Men (v. 13). "Who do men say...." Jesus did not have a Gallup or a Harris poll in his day to find out what people were thinking about him. The president of our country can know the state of his acceptance and the people's estimate of his work by periodic opinion polls which prove to be reliable. The disciples report various opinions of who Jesus is. In no case is there unanimity. It is significant that no one thought of Jesus as the Messiah.
2. Revealed (v. 17). Peter expressed the opinion of the disciples, "You are the Christ." This was an insight and understanding into the true nature of Jesus that Peter did not think up by himself. He had help from above. This key truth was revealed to him by God. Man by himself cannot fathom the truth or the significance of Jesus as Son of God. Even today the person who confesses Jesus as the Christ does it by the power of the Holy Spirit. Only God knows who Jesus is, and he reveals this to us.
3. Rock (v. 18). It is upon a rock that Jesus builds his church. But what is the rock? Opinions vary as to the identity of the rock. Is Peter the rock? Is the confession of Peter the rock? Is Christ the rock? Peter never acted consistently as a rock. The church consists of those who confess Jesus is the Christ. Could the answer be - we as faulty rocks confess Jesus, the Rock, to be the Messiah?
4. Keys (v. 19). He who has keys has power and authority. It is the power and authority to lock or to unlock. The keys are to the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God, or salvation. To enter the kingdom is to be forgiven of sins. It is an awesome responsibility and privilege. To whom are the keys given? In this case, they were given to Peter as the representative of the disciples, the clergy. At ordination, Christ through the church gives the keys to new disciples. What are these keys? Are they not the Word and sacraments through which the grace of God is received?
Lesson 1: Exodus 1:8-2:10 (C)
1. Did you know Joseph? (v. 1:8). How quickly even the greatest are forgotten! A new king of Egypt did not know Joseph and, therefore, he began to persecute the Jews in his land. How could anyone forget a man who was prime minister during a national crisis? During the seven lean agricultural years, Joseph saved the country from starvation. So great was his wisdom that Pharaoh allowed him to rule the country. With Pharaoh's permission, the Jews were brought to Egypt to save them from the famine. And now a new generation does not even know about the savior of their country? Our fame disappears as a mist. Our works are soon forgotten. It behooves us, therefore, not to work or serve for the glory of our name nor try to go down in history, but to serve God who puts us in his book of remembrance.
2. Dread (v. 12). Because of the Jews' rapid birth rate, the Egyptians became afraid that the Jews would take over their country or be faithless in a time of war. After all, the Jews were aliens and sojourners in Egypt. To curb their number, the Egyptians oppressed them with hard labor and killed the male Jewish babies by throwing them in the Nile River. Fear causes us to perform inhuman acts. Whenever and wherever the Jews have been a threat, persecution has resulted - from the Egyptians to the holocaust of the Nazis. Fear or dread is largely the basis of anti--Semitism even in our day.
3. Man, woman (v. 2:2). It is noteworthy that anonymity prevails in the account of Moses' birth. No names are given. We are not given the name of Moses' mother, father, and sister, nor the name of the Pharaoh or the Pharaoh's daughter. Nor is there any mention of the Lord's name. There must be a reason for this. Is it telling us that this birth was not a human achievement but a mighty act of God? Though God's name is not given, we are to see God's hand of deliverance through works and not words. The focus is upon what God is doing to deliver his people from oppression.
Lesson 2: Romans 11:33--36 (RC, E)
1. Depth (v. 33). We know God only to the extent that he has revealed himself. Paul reminds us that what we know is infinitesimal, only a tip of the iceberg. Who can plumb the depths of god's wisdom, judgment, will, and grace? In this period when God is imminent to the exclusion of transcendence, when God is humanized, when Christianity has become a sanctified anthropology in place of theology, we need Paul's corrective in reminding us that God is the totally--other, the hidden, incomprehensible God. Our finite minds are unable to grasp even the smallest part of God's total truth.
2. Glory (v. 36). Paul comes to the end of his greatest work on theology. He systematically works out a theology of the Christian faith. When he comes to the end, he realizes how little he knows of God, contrasted to all God is. Theology is of the mind, and no mind can fully grasp the whole truth of God. Thus, theology is of the mind, and no mind can fully grasp the whole truth of God. Thus, theologies come and go. When the mind goes as far as it can, the thinker contemplating God turns into a worshiper. God is so great and good that he can only explode in a doxology of praise to God.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Gospel: Matthew 16:13--20 (C, RC, E)
1. A Public Opinion Poll of Jesus. 16:13--14
Need: Jesus comes to the end of his public ministry. From here on he will be going to Jerusalem and training the twelve to continue after he is gone. After almost three years of preaching, teaching, and healing, he wonders what the public thinks about him. "Who do men say that the Son of Man is?" It is significant that there was no unanimity in who he was. Also, it is noteworthy that the public did not consider him to be the Messiah. What the people thought of Jesus in terms of different characters shows what impression Jesus made on the public. If a poll were taken today, would the results be different?
Outline: What the public thinks of Jesus -
a. John the Baptist - a preacher of judgment.
b. Elijah - a champion of God.
c. Jeremiah - a prophet.
d. Messiah - the missing person.
2. Only God Can Tell. 16:1--17
Need: When Jesus asked his disciples who they thought he was, Peter was the spokesman - "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." According to the account there was no hesitation in answering. Peter did not say, "Let us think about it for a while." His reply was spontaneous and immediate. This indicates that God gave him the insight and put the words in his mouth. It was so great and true that Peter could never have thought up the answer in so many words if he had a year to consider the answer. Jesus acknowledged the correctness of the answer and told Peter that God revealed it to him. Man on his own and in his weakness cannot know or understand the true identity of Jesus. God must reveal the truth of his Son.
Outline: What God said through Peter.
a. Jesus is his Son - they share the same nature: Jesus' being.
b. Jesus is the Messiah - Redeemer, Savior: Jesus' nature and work.
3. The Peter Principle. 16:13--20
Need: In his day Peter was the instrument God used to reveal the nature of Jesus. How does God continue the revelation that people today will know who Jesus is? The Peter principle is continued in each generation by the church which has its beginning in Peter's confession. This sermon should give our people a deeper understanding of the value and purpose of the church.
Outline: Today God uses the Peter principle.
a. The confession of the church - proclamation - v. 16.
b. The permanence of the church: eternal because she is of God - v. 18.
c. The authority of the church: keys of the kingdom - v. 19.
Lesson 1: Exodus 1:8-2:10 (C)
1. An Abandoned Baby In Bulrushes. 1:6--14, 22-2:10
Need: To abandon a baby is a too--frequent happening in today's society. Children are abandoned on someone's doorstep, in a dumpster, and at other places. Fathers and mothers may abandon children by running off to escape unhappy family situations. Are today's latchkey kids abandoned by working parents? Hatred and selfishness cause parents to abandon their children. Not so with Moses; he was necessarily abandoned by parents who loved him. God loved the baby, too, and saved him in a spectacular way.
Outline: Consider the baby in the bulrushes -
a. What put him there? - 1:22.
b. Who put him there? - 2:3.
c. Who found and saved him? - 2:5.
2. Co--incidence Or God--incidence? 1:6, 14, 22-2:10
Need: Is it good luck or is it God? When something marvelous happens, is it co--incidence or God--incidence? Do things just happen as a happenstance or is God working for our good? In the case of Moses, was it God's work in saving the baby or was it a mere accident, some good fortune?
Outline: Was it co--incidence or God--incidence?
a. That a mother refused to kill her baby? - 2:2--3.
b. That a princess should find a baby in bulrushes? - 2:5--6.
c. That Moses' sister was among the attending ladies? - 2:7.
d. That Moses' mother was hired as a wet nurse? - 2:8--9.
e. That Moses was raised in a king's palace? - 2:10.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 22:19--23 (RC)
One Down And One Up. Isaiah 22:15, 19--23
Need: This may be an obscure and difficult text. It may be seen and understood in the light of the Caesarea Philippi experience when Peter was called to be the leader of the church based on his confession of Jesus as the Messiah. The Isaiah text may be seen as a type of Peter's call. An unworthy servant is replaced by Eliakim who is chosen and equipped for servanthood. In today's church we need servants like unto Eliakim and personified by Peter.
Outline: God chooses a new leader -
a. God calls the leader - v. 20.
b. God clothes the leader -
1. Authority - v. 21.
2. Key - v. 22.
c. God commissions the leader to -
1. Be a father to God's people - v. 21.
2. Bring honor to God's kingdom - v. 23.
Lesson 2: Romans 12:1--8 (C)
What Does Commitment To Christ Entail?
Need: If a person responds to the call and challenge to give one's life to Christ in total commitment and dedication, what is involved? Do I become a fanatic? Must I enter a monastery or become a clergyperson? Can an average layperson really be totally committed in this secular, godless society? Can you sing, "Take myself, and I will be / Ever, only, all for thee"? This is what Paul calls for in this Lesson. Our need: a deeper commitment to Christ.
Outline: When you are committed to Christ -
a. You know the will of God - v. 2.
b. You think soberly about yourself - v. 3.
c. You use your God--given gift - v. 6.
Lesson 2: Romans 11:33--36 (RC, E)
1. When God Boggles The Mind! 11:33--36
Need: In Romans, Paul does his best job in giving a systematic account of the Christian faith. When he comes to the end of chapter 11, he takes another look at God and realizes how little he knows and understands about God. He ends his explanation with a doxology of praise to God who is far above all he could think or say. Theology is not the last word about God. Theology is only man's limited understanding of God. Because of this, theologies come and go. The ultimate word of man as he confronts God is worship.
Outline: The greatness of God boggles the mind.
a. The depth of God's nature cannot be fathomed - v. 33.
b. The ways of God are beyond understanding - vv. 33, 34.
c. The goodness of God results in praise - v. 34.
2. Bigger Than The Biggest! 11:33--36
Need: In our day we have localized and minimized God to fit into the mold of humanity. We call it the imminence of God. This is only half the truth. Our day demands a recovery of the transcendence of God - the totally--other one, the hidden, unknown, incomprehensible God whom we can worship in fear and reverence. For many, God is too small to handle the problems of the individual as well as the world. In this text, Paul is overcome with the greatness of God.
Outline: Consider the greatness of God.
a. His possessions are unlimited - v. 33.
b. His ways are beyond understanding - v. 34.
c. His gifts are unrepayable - v. 35.
d. His being is all in all - v. 36.
Lesson 1: Exodus 1:8-2:10 (C)
The birth of Moses. The story of the Patriarchs ended with Joseph's bringing the Hebrews to Egypt. In due time they multiplied until they became a threat to the Egyptians. The story of the Exodus begins with the birth of Moses who was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. The next ten readings will take us from Moses' birth, to the release from Egypt, to the wilderness wanderings for forty years, to Moses' death.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 22:19--23 (RC)
Worthy and unworthy leaders.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 51:1--6 (E)
Yahweh promises to deliver the exiles.
Lesson 2: Romans 12:1--8 (C)
True worship is committing ourselves to God.
Lesson 2: Romans 11:33--36 (RC, E)
Glory be to God whose judgments are unsearchable and his ways inscrutable. With these verses Paul brings to a conclusion the doctrinal section of Romans in which he analyzed and described God's plan of salvation by grace through faith.When he thinks of God's wisdom and love, he breaks out in a doxology which glorifies God. No human can understand the wisdom of God nor his ways. The mind cannot fathom the depth of God's love and truth. For Paul, God is all in all.
Gospel: Matthew 16:13--20 (C, RC, E)
At Caesarea Philippi Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus takes his disciples out of the country to Caesarea Philippi, a city built in honor of Caesar Augustus. Jesus' public ministry has come to a close and now he turns to the training of the twelve as he goes to Jerusalem to carry out his mission as Messiah. This pericope is the source of centuries of controversy among Christians. Is the "rock" the person or the confession of Peter? Was the power of the keys given to Peter and his successors or to the church as a whole? There is a difference of interpretation and understanding between Roman Catholics and Protestants.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 124 (C) - "Our help is in the name of the Lord" (v. 8).
Psalm 138 (RC, E) - "Thy steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of thy hands" (v. 8).
Prayer Of The Day
"God of all creation, you reach out to call people of all nations to your kingdom. As you gather disciples from near and far, count us also among those who boldly confess your Son Jesus Christ as Lord."
Hymn Of The Day
"Built On A Rock The Church Shall Stand"
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Matthew 16:13--20
1. Men (v. 13). "Who do men say...." Jesus did not have a Gallup or a Harris poll in his day to find out what people were thinking about him. The president of our country can know the state of his acceptance and the people's estimate of his work by periodic opinion polls which prove to be reliable. The disciples report various opinions of who Jesus is. In no case is there unanimity. It is significant that no one thought of Jesus as the Messiah.
2. Revealed (v. 17). Peter expressed the opinion of the disciples, "You are the Christ." This was an insight and understanding into the true nature of Jesus that Peter did not think up by himself. He had help from above. This key truth was revealed to him by God. Man by himself cannot fathom the truth or the significance of Jesus as Son of God. Even today the person who confesses Jesus as the Christ does it by the power of the Holy Spirit. Only God knows who Jesus is, and he reveals this to us.
3. Rock (v. 18). It is upon a rock that Jesus builds his church. But what is the rock? Opinions vary as to the identity of the rock. Is Peter the rock? Is the confession of Peter the rock? Is Christ the rock? Peter never acted consistently as a rock. The church consists of those who confess Jesus is the Christ. Could the answer be - we as faulty rocks confess Jesus, the Rock, to be the Messiah?
4. Keys (v. 19). He who has keys has power and authority. It is the power and authority to lock or to unlock. The keys are to the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God, or salvation. To enter the kingdom is to be forgiven of sins. It is an awesome responsibility and privilege. To whom are the keys given? In this case, they were given to Peter as the representative of the disciples, the clergy. At ordination, Christ through the church gives the keys to new disciples. What are these keys? Are they not the Word and sacraments through which the grace of God is received?
Lesson 1: Exodus 1:8-2:10 (C)
1. Did you know Joseph? (v. 1:8). How quickly even the greatest are forgotten! A new king of Egypt did not know Joseph and, therefore, he began to persecute the Jews in his land. How could anyone forget a man who was prime minister during a national crisis? During the seven lean agricultural years, Joseph saved the country from starvation. So great was his wisdom that Pharaoh allowed him to rule the country. With Pharaoh's permission, the Jews were brought to Egypt to save them from the famine. And now a new generation does not even know about the savior of their country? Our fame disappears as a mist. Our works are soon forgotten. It behooves us, therefore, not to work or serve for the glory of our name nor try to go down in history, but to serve God who puts us in his book of remembrance.
2. Dread (v. 12). Because of the Jews' rapid birth rate, the Egyptians became afraid that the Jews would take over their country or be faithless in a time of war. After all, the Jews were aliens and sojourners in Egypt. To curb their number, the Egyptians oppressed them with hard labor and killed the male Jewish babies by throwing them in the Nile River. Fear causes us to perform inhuman acts. Whenever and wherever the Jews have been a threat, persecution has resulted - from the Egyptians to the holocaust of the Nazis. Fear or dread is largely the basis of anti--Semitism even in our day.
3. Man, woman (v. 2:2). It is noteworthy that anonymity prevails in the account of Moses' birth. No names are given. We are not given the name of Moses' mother, father, and sister, nor the name of the Pharaoh or the Pharaoh's daughter. Nor is there any mention of the Lord's name. There must be a reason for this. Is it telling us that this birth was not a human achievement but a mighty act of God? Though God's name is not given, we are to see God's hand of deliverance through works and not words. The focus is upon what God is doing to deliver his people from oppression.
Lesson 2: Romans 11:33--36 (RC, E)
1. Depth (v. 33). We know God only to the extent that he has revealed himself. Paul reminds us that what we know is infinitesimal, only a tip of the iceberg. Who can plumb the depths of god's wisdom, judgment, will, and grace? In this period when God is imminent to the exclusion of transcendence, when God is humanized, when Christianity has become a sanctified anthropology in place of theology, we need Paul's corrective in reminding us that God is the totally--other, the hidden, incomprehensible God. Our finite minds are unable to grasp even the smallest part of God's total truth.
2. Glory (v. 36). Paul comes to the end of his greatest work on theology. He systematically works out a theology of the Christian faith. When he comes to the end, he realizes how little he knows of God, contrasted to all God is. Theology is of the mind, and no mind can fully grasp the whole truth of God. Thus, theology is of the mind, and no mind can fully grasp the whole truth of God. Thus, theologies come and go. When the mind goes as far as it can, the thinker contemplating God turns into a worshiper. God is so great and good that he can only explode in a doxology of praise to God.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Gospel: Matthew 16:13--20 (C, RC, E)
1. A Public Opinion Poll of Jesus. 16:13--14
Need: Jesus comes to the end of his public ministry. From here on he will be going to Jerusalem and training the twelve to continue after he is gone. After almost three years of preaching, teaching, and healing, he wonders what the public thinks about him. "Who do men say that the Son of Man is?" It is significant that there was no unanimity in who he was. Also, it is noteworthy that the public did not consider him to be the Messiah. What the people thought of Jesus in terms of different characters shows what impression Jesus made on the public. If a poll were taken today, would the results be different?
Outline: What the public thinks of Jesus -
a. John the Baptist - a preacher of judgment.
b. Elijah - a champion of God.
c. Jeremiah - a prophet.
d. Messiah - the missing person.
2. Only God Can Tell. 16:1--17
Need: When Jesus asked his disciples who they thought he was, Peter was the spokesman - "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." According to the account there was no hesitation in answering. Peter did not say, "Let us think about it for a while." His reply was spontaneous and immediate. This indicates that God gave him the insight and put the words in his mouth. It was so great and true that Peter could never have thought up the answer in so many words if he had a year to consider the answer. Jesus acknowledged the correctness of the answer and told Peter that God revealed it to him. Man on his own and in his weakness cannot know or understand the true identity of Jesus. God must reveal the truth of his Son.
Outline: What God said through Peter.
a. Jesus is his Son - they share the same nature: Jesus' being.
b. Jesus is the Messiah - Redeemer, Savior: Jesus' nature and work.
3. The Peter Principle. 16:13--20
Need: In his day Peter was the instrument God used to reveal the nature of Jesus. How does God continue the revelation that people today will know who Jesus is? The Peter principle is continued in each generation by the church which has its beginning in Peter's confession. This sermon should give our people a deeper understanding of the value and purpose of the church.
Outline: Today God uses the Peter principle.
a. The confession of the church - proclamation - v. 16.
b. The permanence of the church: eternal because she is of God - v. 18.
c. The authority of the church: keys of the kingdom - v. 19.
Lesson 1: Exodus 1:8-2:10 (C)
1. An Abandoned Baby In Bulrushes. 1:6--14, 22-2:10
Need: To abandon a baby is a too--frequent happening in today's society. Children are abandoned on someone's doorstep, in a dumpster, and at other places. Fathers and mothers may abandon children by running off to escape unhappy family situations. Are today's latchkey kids abandoned by working parents? Hatred and selfishness cause parents to abandon their children. Not so with Moses; he was necessarily abandoned by parents who loved him. God loved the baby, too, and saved him in a spectacular way.
Outline: Consider the baby in the bulrushes -
a. What put him there? - 1:22.
b. Who put him there? - 2:3.
c. Who found and saved him? - 2:5.
2. Co--incidence Or God--incidence? 1:6, 14, 22-2:10
Need: Is it good luck or is it God? When something marvelous happens, is it co--incidence or God--incidence? Do things just happen as a happenstance or is God working for our good? In the case of Moses, was it God's work in saving the baby or was it a mere accident, some good fortune?
Outline: Was it co--incidence or God--incidence?
a. That a mother refused to kill her baby? - 2:2--3.
b. That a princess should find a baby in bulrushes? - 2:5--6.
c. That Moses' sister was among the attending ladies? - 2:7.
d. That Moses' mother was hired as a wet nurse? - 2:8--9.
e. That Moses was raised in a king's palace? - 2:10.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 22:19--23 (RC)
One Down And One Up. Isaiah 22:15, 19--23
Need: This may be an obscure and difficult text. It may be seen and understood in the light of the Caesarea Philippi experience when Peter was called to be the leader of the church based on his confession of Jesus as the Messiah. The Isaiah text may be seen as a type of Peter's call. An unworthy servant is replaced by Eliakim who is chosen and equipped for servanthood. In today's church we need servants like unto Eliakim and personified by Peter.
Outline: God chooses a new leader -
a. God calls the leader - v. 20.
b. God clothes the leader -
1. Authority - v. 21.
2. Key - v. 22.
c. God commissions the leader to -
1. Be a father to God's people - v. 21.
2. Bring honor to God's kingdom - v. 23.
Lesson 2: Romans 12:1--8 (C)
What Does Commitment To Christ Entail?
Need: If a person responds to the call and challenge to give one's life to Christ in total commitment and dedication, what is involved? Do I become a fanatic? Must I enter a monastery or become a clergyperson? Can an average layperson really be totally committed in this secular, godless society? Can you sing, "Take myself, and I will be / Ever, only, all for thee"? This is what Paul calls for in this Lesson. Our need: a deeper commitment to Christ.
Outline: When you are committed to Christ -
a. You know the will of God - v. 2.
b. You think soberly about yourself - v. 3.
c. You use your God--given gift - v. 6.
Lesson 2: Romans 11:33--36 (RC, E)
1. When God Boggles The Mind! 11:33--36
Need: In Romans, Paul does his best job in giving a systematic account of the Christian faith. When he comes to the end of chapter 11, he takes another look at God and realizes how little he knows and understands about God. He ends his explanation with a doxology of praise to God who is far above all he could think or say. Theology is not the last word about God. Theology is only man's limited understanding of God. Because of this, theologies come and go. The ultimate word of man as he confronts God is worship.
Outline: The greatness of God boggles the mind.
a. The depth of God's nature cannot be fathomed - v. 33.
b. The ways of God are beyond understanding - vv. 33, 34.
c. The goodness of God results in praise - v. 34.
2. Bigger Than The Biggest! 11:33--36
Need: In our day we have localized and minimized God to fit into the mold of humanity. We call it the imminence of God. This is only half the truth. Our day demands a recovery of the transcendence of God - the totally--other one, the hidden, unknown, incomprehensible God whom we can worship in fear and reverence. For many, God is too small to handle the problems of the individual as well as the world. In this text, Paul is overcome with the greatness of God.
Outline: Consider the greatness of God.
a. His possessions are unlimited - v. 33.
b. His ways are beyond understanding - v. 34.
c. His gifts are unrepayable - v. 35.
d. His being is all in all - v. 36.
