Proper 26, Pentecost 24, Ordinary Time 31
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
Loving our God and our neighbor.
Old Testament Lesson
Ruth 1:1-18
Ruth's Love And Commitment
This week and next week we will read from the book of Ruth. Ruth was the great-grandmother of David and was included in the genealogy of Jesus. The book gives us some intimate glimpses into the lives of people in an Israelite family. Here is an account of a remnant of faith and piety at this time. This book is a beautiful example of love and devotion. The story begins with this reading today.
Naomi's husband died. Her two sons married Moabite women, Orpha and Ruth. The sons died. Naomi was now a stranger in a foreign land. She decided to return home to Judah. She was astounded when Ruth said she would go with her. It was a loving choice. In verse 8, we have the word "kindly," which is a translation of the Hebrew hesed. It is a significant word in the book of Ruth. See 2:20 and 3:10. It has to do with grace which is given when not deserved. In this passage both God and humans were doers of hesed.
Verses 9-10 indicate a need for security, which meant, for a woman, to have a husband. Ruth's eventual decision to stay with her mother-in-law meant a very slim chance of getting a husband. Verse 16 is the lovely words of Ruth pledging loyalty to Naomi. They are read often at weddings. Ruth chose to return home with Naomi over her family, national identity, and her religious idolatry. It is a beautiful expression of commitment. What follows shows that this commitment was lived out by her as well.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 9:11-14
Christ As High Priest
We continue our reading in Hebrews and continue the analogy of Christ as the High Priest contrasted with the Old Testament priests. It is a contrast of perfection, permanence, and completeness. The analogy continues in verses 13-14, claiming Jesus' blood sacrificed for us is much more effective in purifying us than the Old Testament blood of bulls and heifers. The result is an eternal redemption. As partakers in this self-offering of Christ, we share true worship and God's service.
The Gospel
Mark 12:28-34
The First Commandment
In an answer to a question put to Jesus about what was the most important of all, Jesus quoted the creed of Judaism. It's called the shema and is still used by Jews to open their worship (v. 29). It is written on a scroll, placed in a Mezuzah, and fixed to the door post of all Jewish homes. (See Deuteronomy 6:4.)
It is interesting here that in its original language it meant to love other Jews (see Deuteronomy 6:8) but Jesus quotes it without limitation. Religion for Jesus was loving God and humans. Perhaps by putting these two together, Jesus is saying that the only way to love God is by loving neighbor!
Preaching Possibilities
Each one of the three readings can stand alone. We might preach on "love" and use all three, also:
A. Our love for each other: Ruth and Naomi. The Ruth account might also be an opportunity to talk about love across racial barriers that we humans have artificially constructed.
B. Jesus' love for us; he sacrificed himself for us: Hebrews.
C. Our love of God carried out by loving neighbors: Mark.
Then there is the possibility of a sermon where we talk about marriage and commitment in a more topical way. Many will recognize the Ruth passage as being sung or read at their wedding (or someone else's).
A. Tell the story of Ruth and Naomi and the commitment they held for each other.
B. Talk about the commitment of life long fidelity in marriage.
C. Explain that the same qualities Jesus teaches us in church we ought extend toward spouse at home! Go the extra mile, turn the other cheek, pray for those who abuse you, love the unlovely, and be kind to one another.
D. Drive home the fact that we remain sinners and must assume while we are not perfect, we are forgiven.
E. Now frame it with how Ruth's life came out as we will read next week.
F. Arrange for someone to sing "The Song Of Ruth."
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Begin by telling how scribes and Pharisees had been questioning Jesus, trying to corner and embarrass him. But now there seems to be a real sincere question. What's the greatest commandment? Jesus gave them their own scripture answer: Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and then added Leviticus 19:18b. It is to love God and love each other.
B. Now let's talk about what it means to love God. Tell the story of Stella Min (see "Possible Metaphors And Stories" below). To love God is to put God before everything else in our lives and to refrain from having other gods like money, position, power, sex, creature comforts, etc.
C. Now talk about what it means to really love our neighbor.
1. In the parable of the "Good Samaritan," Jesus said our neighbor was anyone in need of our help.
2. List out for your hearers who some of the neighbors would be for us today. In addition to those who live nearby, they would be:
a. Those who are not at all lovable or who will ever appreciate our love for them.
b. Those who are our national or personal enemies.
c. Those whose culture and race is quite different from ours.
d. Those who have hurt us severely and continue to make our lives miserable.
e. Those whose religion is different from ours.
f. Those whose sexual preference is contrary to accepted norms in our culture.
3. Now explain that often the only love we can have for those listed above is God's agape love.
D. Make the point that in loving neighbor, we who do the loving are even more affected than those who receive God's love through us!
E. Frame your sermon with a story in your own life when it was hard to refrain from hating and instead of loving someone you didn't even like and who certainly didn't deserve your, or God's, love.
Prayer For The Day
You love us in so many ways, God. Please help us to return that love to you and teach us ways to love each other. Remove from us the desire to hate and get even and put in its place the motivation to love and forgive. We pray in the name of Jesus who loved us even from a cross. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
During my class on "Teaching the Catechism," Stella Min, from Myanmar (formerly Burma), became very quiet and almost panicky. She kept watching the window and door. After class I asked what was wrong and she explained that as we were considering the first commandment and its meaning, she could never teach them at home. Stella said the military had asked the Buddhist monks to go through the Bible and announce why it was all wrong. Since that time it had been very dangerous to make the claim that our God was the true God and that we should "have no other gods." If she did so, it might mean her arrest and the closing of the school there, where she will soon teach. She had forgotten for a while that she was not under the home military government and looked as if they would come to get her any moment. The words whispered at home but openly spoken by these students were so scary for her to hear.
The editor of The Lutheran magazine, in addressing a summer missionary conference, said, "We are not just loved, we are delighted in" by God according to our Bible. I delight in the very thought.
In Columbia, guerrillas massacred an entire busload of people according to one of our missionaries. One of the survivor's relatives served in prison ministry where he had to minister to the one who led the killing. Now that's undeserved love!
In my Discipling class, I learned of the Korean ways of sustaining their families by two ethical principles: the first is heo, which means respect for old age. The second is jaae, which is love and care of the young.
The Pentecost Season is one of Christian growth and learning about the way of discipleship.
Theme For The Day
Loving our God and our neighbor.
Old Testament Lesson
Ruth 1:1-18
Ruth's Love And Commitment
This week and next week we will read from the book of Ruth. Ruth was the great-grandmother of David and was included in the genealogy of Jesus. The book gives us some intimate glimpses into the lives of people in an Israelite family. Here is an account of a remnant of faith and piety at this time. This book is a beautiful example of love and devotion. The story begins with this reading today.
Naomi's husband died. Her two sons married Moabite women, Orpha and Ruth. The sons died. Naomi was now a stranger in a foreign land. She decided to return home to Judah. She was astounded when Ruth said she would go with her. It was a loving choice. In verse 8, we have the word "kindly," which is a translation of the Hebrew hesed. It is a significant word in the book of Ruth. See 2:20 and 3:10. It has to do with grace which is given when not deserved. In this passage both God and humans were doers of hesed.
Verses 9-10 indicate a need for security, which meant, for a woman, to have a husband. Ruth's eventual decision to stay with her mother-in-law meant a very slim chance of getting a husband. Verse 16 is the lovely words of Ruth pledging loyalty to Naomi. They are read often at weddings. Ruth chose to return home with Naomi over her family, national identity, and her religious idolatry. It is a beautiful expression of commitment. What follows shows that this commitment was lived out by her as well.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 9:11-14
Christ As High Priest
We continue our reading in Hebrews and continue the analogy of Christ as the High Priest contrasted with the Old Testament priests. It is a contrast of perfection, permanence, and completeness. The analogy continues in verses 13-14, claiming Jesus' blood sacrificed for us is much more effective in purifying us than the Old Testament blood of bulls and heifers. The result is an eternal redemption. As partakers in this self-offering of Christ, we share true worship and God's service.
The Gospel
Mark 12:28-34
The First Commandment
In an answer to a question put to Jesus about what was the most important of all, Jesus quoted the creed of Judaism. It's called the shema and is still used by Jews to open their worship (v. 29). It is written on a scroll, placed in a Mezuzah, and fixed to the door post of all Jewish homes. (See Deuteronomy 6:4.)
It is interesting here that in its original language it meant to love other Jews (see Deuteronomy 6:8) but Jesus quotes it without limitation. Religion for Jesus was loving God and humans. Perhaps by putting these two together, Jesus is saying that the only way to love God is by loving neighbor!
Preaching Possibilities
Each one of the three readings can stand alone. We might preach on "love" and use all three, also:
A. Our love for each other: Ruth and Naomi. The Ruth account might also be an opportunity to talk about love across racial barriers that we humans have artificially constructed.
B. Jesus' love for us; he sacrificed himself for us: Hebrews.
C. Our love of God carried out by loving neighbors: Mark.
Then there is the possibility of a sermon where we talk about marriage and commitment in a more topical way. Many will recognize the Ruth passage as being sung or read at their wedding (or someone else's).
A. Tell the story of Ruth and Naomi and the commitment they held for each other.
B. Talk about the commitment of life long fidelity in marriage.
C. Explain that the same qualities Jesus teaches us in church we ought extend toward spouse at home! Go the extra mile, turn the other cheek, pray for those who abuse you, love the unlovely, and be kind to one another.
D. Drive home the fact that we remain sinners and must assume while we are not perfect, we are forgiven.
E. Now frame it with how Ruth's life came out as we will read next week.
F. Arrange for someone to sing "The Song Of Ruth."
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Begin by telling how scribes and Pharisees had been questioning Jesus, trying to corner and embarrass him. But now there seems to be a real sincere question. What's the greatest commandment? Jesus gave them their own scripture answer: Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and then added Leviticus 19:18b. It is to love God and love each other.
B. Now let's talk about what it means to love God. Tell the story of Stella Min (see "Possible Metaphors And Stories" below). To love God is to put God before everything else in our lives and to refrain from having other gods like money, position, power, sex, creature comforts, etc.
C. Now talk about what it means to really love our neighbor.
1. In the parable of the "Good Samaritan," Jesus said our neighbor was anyone in need of our help.
2. List out for your hearers who some of the neighbors would be for us today. In addition to those who live nearby, they would be:
a. Those who are not at all lovable or who will ever appreciate our love for them.
b. Those who are our national or personal enemies.
c. Those whose culture and race is quite different from ours.
d. Those who have hurt us severely and continue to make our lives miserable.
e. Those whose religion is different from ours.
f. Those whose sexual preference is contrary to accepted norms in our culture.
3. Now explain that often the only love we can have for those listed above is God's agape love.
D. Make the point that in loving neighbor, we who do the loving are even more affected than those who receive God's love through us!
E. Frame your sermon with a story in your own life when it was hard to refrain from hating and instead of loving someone you didn't even like and who certainly didn't deserve your, or God's, love.
Prayer For The Day
You love us in so many ways, God. Please help us to return that love to you and teach us ways to love each other. Remove from us the desire to hate and get even and put in its place the motivation to love and forgive. We pray in the name of Jesus who loved us even from a cross. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
During my class on "Teaching the Catechism," Stella Min, from Myanmar (formerly Burma), became very quiet and almost panicky. She kept watching the window and door. After class I asked what was wrong and she explained that as we were considering the first commandment and its meaning, she could never teach them at home. Stella said the military had asked the Buddhist monks to go through the Bible and announce why it was all wrong. Since that time it had been very dangerous to make the claim that our God was the true God and that we should "have no other gods." If she did so, it might mean her arrest and the closing of the school there, where she will soon teach. She had forgotten for a while that she was not under the home military government and looked as if they would come to get her any moment. The words whispered at home but openly spoken by these students were so scary for her to hear.
The editor of The Lutheran magazine, in addressing a summer missionary conference, said, "We are not just loved, we are delighted in" by God according to our Bible. I delight in the very thought.
In Columbia, guerrillas massacred an entire busload of people according to one of our missionaries. One of the survivor's relatives served in prison ministry where he had to minister to the one who led the killing. Now that's undeserved love!
In my Discipling class, I learned of the Korean ways of sustaining their families by two ethical principles: the first is heo, which means respect for old age. The second is jaae, which is love and care of the young.
