Proper 22
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII Cycle C
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Seasonal Theme
Jesus' acts of compassion and teaching ministry.
Theme For The Day
The Christian life of discipleship and sincere faith in Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Lesson
Lamentations 1:1-6
A Funeral Dirge
Written by Jeremiah, Lamentations is the only Old Testament book that is made up solely of laments (bemoans). These were written to express the feelings of the people after their city was destroyed and the Temple burned to the ground.
This passage needs little interpretation. Jerusalem has been captured and sacked, the Temple had been burned. The people have been taken into captivity. Jerusalem is pictured as a widow without anyone to be with her while she grieves over the loss. Chapter 1 has this emphasis of uncomforted aloneness. In verses 5-7, this funeral dirge centers on enemies and then moves to a righteous God who is punishing the people for their transgressions. Verse 6 refers to Jerusalem's rulers. It's a sad song, Jeremiah.
New Testament Lesson
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Encouragement From Experience
Donald Guthrie of the London Bible College in The Pastoral Epistles gives a helpful outline for this portion of 2 Timothy.
1. Salutation (vv. 1-2);
2. Thanksgiving (vv. 3-5);
3. Encouragement from experience (vv. 6-10):
a. The gift of God (vv. 6-10);
b. The testimony of Paul (vv. 11-12); and
c. The charge to Timothy (vv. 13-14).
In the salutation Paul claims his apostle status and also reflects his deep conviction that his life here has a divine purpose. The "... in Christ Jesus" is consistent with Paul's letters of being in Christ. See Galatians 2:20. Paul always reflected his Jewishness in insisting that worship, morality, and service go together -- so we have verse 3. The tears in verse 4 probably are Timothy's upon last leaving Paul.
In verse 5, the thought of Timothy's sincere faith causes Paul to remember his mother's and grandmother's faith as well. The fact Timothy's father is not mentioned probably means his Greek father (Acts 14:1) was not a Christian. We do know Timothy benefited from a devout home life seen to by Lois and Eunice.
As we read verses 6-14, we get the impression that Tim's character needs some strengthening of backbone. In verse 7 we have a ready made three-point outline for preaching: God gives a spirit of:
1. power,
2. love, and
3. self-discipline.
Perhaps this is the gift of God Paul mentions in verse 6.
There is an interesting new word in Greek in verse 8. Sunkakopathio means to take one's share of ill-treatment (see also 2:3). Here it is translated as "... suffering for the gospel." In verse 11 we have another threefold formula -- Paul is for the Gospel to be a herald, an apostle, and a teacher.
The Gospel
Luke 17:5-10
Sayings Of Jesus
These verses tell us that faith is a very strong force in the world. If we approach that which to the world seems impossible with strong faith, it becomes possible. Let's remember all the fantastic accomplishments achieved in our history because someone had faith they could be done. We also have God's power built into our faith and so have an extraordinary helper in the "impossible" task.
Verses 7 to 10 relate to our New Testament Reading 2 Timothy 1:7 and say we can't put God in our debt. We will never have a claim on God. That which we have done is only what we should have done anyway. We must remember that discipleship is a full commitment and is never just partial. And what we then receive from God is not what we have earned but a gift our graceful God gives.
Frankly, if I ever write a piece on "Parables I don't like," this will be one of them. I don't like the treatment of the master to the slave who worked all day. And I believe the answer to verse 9 is a "yes"! It seems to me cruel to force the slave to do more after a hard day's work. I don't like the idea of slave and master either.
Preaching Possibilities
A. As indicated above we can make a direct connection between verses 7-10 in the Gospel and Timothy 1:7. It's all about the false idea that we can make it so that God owes us. While not an easy theme, it could be developed.
B. Certainly verse 5 in the Gospel has possibilities of a topical sermon on discipleship and faith. It must reflect what some of our hearers are asking for also, "increase in faith." What are the ways we can deepen our faith?
1. Learning how to pray well;
2. Being with others of faith;
3. Sharing our faith with others;
4. Developing a loyalty to Christ as well as Church; and
5. When we do increase it, we will have great power to do great things on God's behalf. We are shy about this one!
C. Perhaps the Lamentations passage could produce a sermon on the idea of mourning and its value. Or we might approach it from the view of why God allows such things to happen to God's people. If so, we will need to distinguish between what God allows and what God causes to happen.
D. There might also be a possible way to use all three readings by uniting them around the title: "Sad, in Prison, and Lacking Faith." Jeremiah is grieving, Paul is in prison, and the disciples were asking to have their faith increased.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Consider trying a letter sermon today. Take the message Paul is writing to young Timothy and put it in an e-mail format which most would recognize and make it in contemporary language and context. It might be read by you from a laptop computer in the pulpit or write it in "Snail Mail" format on stationery placed in an envelope which you can open and read from the pulpit.
B. It might begin like this: "Dear Tim, I have written to you there at Ephesus previously while I was in prison. Don't forget my advice to remember that if Christ can change the likes of me, he can change anyone (Proper 19). God wants to save everyone (Proper 20). Watch out for the dangers of materialism (Proper 21). In this letter I want to be sure to say to you to be strong in your faith like your mother and grandmother...."
C. Some continuing paragraphs for the letter could be about:
1. Jesus gives us a promise of real life (v. 1);
2. We are called to a sincere faith (v. 5);
3. God has given you the spirit of power, love, and self-discipline (v. 7);
4. You are called to a holy calling (v. 9);
5. Keep your standards of teaching high (v. 13); and
6. You have treasures; guard them carefully (v. 14).
D. In Christ's Love, Paul the Apostle, Rome, Italy.
E. Be sure to place the stationery in the envelope and seal it in front of the congregation. Or, in case of the e-mail, tell the hearers to use spell-check and then "send."
Prayer For The Day
Holy God, we rejoice today in the memory and advice of Saint Paul to Timothy on how to live the Christian life. Help us to increase our faith, watch out for materialism, and realize the potential of our call to discipleship by you. We need your spirit to aid us in being loving and self-disciplined disciples. In your name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
The Indonesians have a saying about corruption: "As long as the hen eats the corn, we still can catch it."
Betsy Stark, ABC's financial reporter on Peter Jennings' Nightly News, called April "confessional season" for corporations. They are "confessing" that their earnings will not be as great as they had said they would. This affects the stock market negatively.
At a PLTS chapel service, Christine Sinnott talked of an eagle stirring up its nest. I went outside and saw four eagles soaring over Tilden Park Hills in an updraft. What if when we walked outside church we always saw it happening?
There used to be a commercial for Honda lawnmowers which tells of a test each of their mowers meet: "the Clara Johnson test." It must start on the first pull by Clara. What test do we insist on in our lives? The Christian lifestyle, the discipleship test, the "if Jesus were watching test"?
Seasonal Theme
Jesus' acts of compassion and teaching ministry.
Theme For The Day
The Christian life of discipleship and sincere faith in Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Lesson
Lamentations 1:1-6
A Funeral Dirge
Written by Jeremiah, Lamentations is the only Old Testament book that is made up solely of laments (bemoans). These were written to express the feelings of the people after their city was destroyed and the Temple burned to the ground.
This passage needs little interpretation. Jerusalem has been captured and sacked, the Temple had been burned. The people have been taken into captivity. Jerusalem is pictured as a widow without anyone to be with her while she grieves over the loss. Chapter 1 has this emphasis of uncomforted aloneness. In verses 5-7, this funeral dirge centers on enemies and then moves to a righteous God who is punishing the people for their transgressions. Verse 6 refers to Jerusalem's rulers. It's a sad song, Jeremiah.
New Testament Lesson
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Encouragement From Experience
Donald Guthrie of the London Bible College in The Pastoral Epistles gives a helpful outline for this portion of 2 Timothy.
1. Salutation (vv. 1-2);
2. Thanksgiving (vv. 3-5);
3. Encouragement from experience (vv. 6-10):
a. The gift of God (vv. 6-10);
b. The testimony of Paul (vv. 11-12); and
c. The charge to Timothy (vv. 13-14).
In the salutation Paul claims his apostle status and also reflects his deep conviction that his life here has a divine purpose. The "... in Christ Jesus" is consistent with Paul's letters of being in Christ. See Galatians 2:20. Paul always reflected his Jewishness in insisting that worship, morality, and service go together -- so we have verse 3. The tears in verse 4 probably are Timothy's upon last leaving Paul.
In verse 5, the thought of Timothy's sincere faith causes Paul to remember his mother's and grandmother's faith as well. The fact Timothy's father is not mentioned probably means his Greek father (Acts 14:1) was not a Christian. We do know Timothy benefited from a devout home life seen to by Lois and Eunice.
As we read verses 6-14, we get the impression that Tim's character needs some strengthening of backbone. In verse 7 we have a ready made three-point outline for preaching: God gives a spirit of:
1. power,
2. love, and
3. self-discipline.
Perhaps this is the gift of God Paul mentions in verse 6.
There is an interesting new word in Greek in verse 8. Sunkakopathio means to take one's share of ill-treatment (see also 2:3). Here it is translated as "... suffering for the gospel." In verse 11 we have another threefold formula -- Paul is for the Gospel to be a herald, an apostle, and a teacher.
The Gospel
Luke 17:5-10
Sayings Of Jesus
These verses tell us that faith is a very strong force in the world. If we approach that which to the world seems impossible with strong faith, it becomes possible. Let's remember all the fantastic accomplishments achieved in our history because someone had faith they could be done. We also have God's power built into our faith and so have an extraordinary helper in the "impossible" task.
Verses 7 to 10 relate to our New Testament Reading 2 Timothy 1:7 and say we can't put God in our debt. We will never have a claim on God. That which we have done is only what we should have done anyway. We must remember that discipleship is a full commitment and is never just partial. And what we then receive from God is not what we have earned but a gift our graceful God gives.
Frankly, if I ever write a piece on "Parables I don't like," this will be one of them. I don't like the treatment of the master to the slave who worked all day. And I believe the answer to verse 9 is a "yes"! It seems to me cruel to force the slave to do more after a hard day's work. I don't like the idea of slave and master either.
Preaching Possibilities
A. As indicated above we can make a direct connection between verses 7-10 in the Gospel and Timothy 1:7. It's all about the false idea that we can make it so that God owes us. While not an easy theme, it could be developed.
B. Certainly verse 5 in the Gospel has possibilities of a topical sermon on discipleship and faith. It must reflect what some of our hearers are asking for also, "increase in faith." What are the ways we can deepen our faith?
1. Learning how to pray well;
2. Being with others of faith;
3. Sharing our faith with others;
4. Developing a loyalty to Christ as well as Church; and
5. When we do increase it, we will have great power to do great things on God's behalf. We are shy about this one!
C. Perhaps the Lamentations passage could produce a sermon on the idea of mourning and its value. Or we might approach it from the view of why God allows such things to happen to God's people. If so, we will need to distinguish between what God allows and what God causes to happen.
D. There might also be a possible way to use all three readings by uniting them around the title: "Sad, in Prison, and Lacking Faith." Jeremiah is grieving, Paul is in prison, and the disciples were asking to have their faith increased.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Consider trying a letter sermon today. Take the message Paul is writing to young Timothy and put it in an e-mail format which most would recognize and make it in contemporary language and context. It might be read by you from a laptop computer in the pulpit or write it in "Snail Mail" format on stationery placed in an envelope which you can open and read from the pulpit.
B. It might begin like this: "Dear Tim, I have written to you there at Ephesus previously while I was in prison. Don't forget my advice to remember that if Christ can change the likes of me, he can change anyone (Proper 19). God wants to save everyone (Proper 20). Watch out for the dangers of materialism (Proper 21). In this letter I want to be sure to say to you to be strong in your faith like your mother and grandmother...."
C. Some continuing paragraphs for the letter could be about:
1. Jesus gives us a promise of real life (v. 1);
2. We are called to a sincere faith (v. 5);
3. God has given you the spirit of power, love, and self-discipline (v. 7);
4. You are called to a holy calling (v. 9);
5. Keep your standards of teaching high (v. 13); and
6. You have treasures; guard them carefully (v. 14).
D. In Christ's Love, Paul the Apostle, Rome, Italy.
E. Be sure to place the stationery in the envelope and seal it in front of the congregation. Or, in case of the e-mail, tell the hearers to use spell-check and then "send."
Prayer For The Day
Holy God, we rejoice today in the memory and advice of Saint Paul to Timothy on how to live the Christian life. Help us to increase our faith, watch out for materialism, and realize the potential of our call to discipleship by you. We need your spirit to aid us in being loving and self-disciplined disciples. In your name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
The Indonesians have a saying about corruption: "As long as the hen eats the corn, we still can catch it."
Betsy Stark, ABC's financial reporter on Peter Jennings' Nightly News, called April "confessional season" for corporations. They are "confessing" that their earnings will not be as great as they had said they would. This affects the stock market negatively.
At a PLTS chapel service, Christine Sinnott talked of an eagle stirring up its nest. I went outside and saw four eagles soaring over Tilden Park Hills in an updraft. What if when we walked outside church we always saw it happening?
There used to be a commercial for Honda lawnmowers which tells of a test each of their mowers meet: "the Clara Johnson test." It must start on the first pull by Clara. What test do we insist on in our lives? The Christian lifestyle, the discipleship test, the "if Jesus were watching test"?
