Proper 4
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII Cycle C
Seasonal Theme
Jesus' acts of compassion and teaching ministry.
Theme For The Day
The compassionate healing Christ who responds at a distance for one of a different race and religion.
Old Testament Lesson
1 Kings 18:20-39
Elijah's Test For God
Up on Mount Carmel, Elijah took a big gamble. He called for a trial to see whose God was real: Baal or Yahweh. It's a dramatic story about the prophets each praying to their God to bring down fire and burn the offering placed on the altar. There is some humor in verse 27. The first two phrases could mean Baal was relieving himself! Verse 28 means the priests of Baal were doing a sort of frantic prophesying and actually hurting themselves. Verse 36 reminds us that this is not just a God of nature, but also a God of history and people to whom Elijah prayed. And the prayed-for fire came ... and the people responded to such a demonstration of power. Homiletically, we must ask pointed questions about this story:
1. Should we test God like Elijah did up on Mount Carmel?
2. If the fire had not come down, does this mean Yahweh is not really our God?
3. How about we who have not seen the fire come -- can we believe also without such an experience?
I believe the most poignant verse is 29: "... was no voice, no answer, and no response." Those prophets of Baal are not the only ones who have times like that when it just seems as though God is not paying attention to us.
New Testament Lesson
Galatians 1:1-12
Direct From God
Right at the opening of this letter Paul lets us know his authority. He considered himself an apostle by direct divine intervention. His authority comes from God. The letter goes to those churches he founded on his first missionary journey. In verses 3-5, we have the focus of early preaching. Some of these Christians were deserting the true faith for a perversion of the faith as Paul had presented it to them. Then in verses 11 and 12 we have sort of an announcement of the focus of his thesis -- through a revelation of Jesus Christ, Paul received this gospel he now proclaims. Not from humans did this come, nor from a Professor of Theology at an Association of Theological Schools approved Seminary. This came direct from God! That belief of Paul must have been the engine which drove his missionary zeal.
The Gospel
Luke 7:1-10
Healing A Centurion's Servant
There is a similar story in John 4:46-53. In that account it's an official in Capernaum whose son is ill. What we can't miss homiletically here is the strong faith of this centurion. And notice his sense of stewardship. He made a big donation, even though a Gentile, to build the Jewish synagogue. Then he tries not to waste Jesus' time. And he was a good steward of his servant's health as well (vv. 6, 7). He sensed somehow that Jesus had a higher authority than he did. That authority was none other than God. But it's the faith of the man which moves me. He just knew all Jesus had to do was to "... speak the word" and his servant would be healed.
Preaching Possibilities
I have published a sermon on this parable in my book The Miracles Of Jesus And Their Flip Side (CSS Publishing Company, 2000).
A. It would be possible to talk about miracles today using the Old Testament Lesson and the Gospel as literal ones and the Second Reading as a miracle of change of heart in Saul of Tarsus to Paul the Apostle.
B. Of course this Sunday could also be the first in a series of sermons based on Galatians as outlined above.
C. If we first go with the Elijah story, we could say something like this:
1. God can still light fires in our lives.
2. We also have proof of God's power and presence.
3. What shall we do when, like the prophets of Baal, there seem to be "... no voice, and no answer" (v. 26c).
4. Our response ought to be like the people's response in verse 39.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Begin by telling the Luke story, putting it in a contemporary setting. "A Muslim once sent word to an ordained Christian medical missionary that his domestic worker was ill and near death...."
B. Move to the scripture account in Luke and read it, explaining that it is a similar situation.
C. Move to what you think this miracle of healing at a distance says to you today.
1. God will heal us at a distance also.
2. God would have us be concerned about the health and well being of those who serve us.
3. Our importance doesn't count for much when disaster hits.
4. Faith makes a bigger difference than our ethnic background or churchly loyalties!
D. Move to a different take on this parable as we consider the stewardship principle.
1. The Centurion was a good steward of his servant's health.
2. The Centurion was a good steward of his wealth as he shared it for the building of a synagogue.
3. The Centurion was a good steward of Jesus' energy. "Just speak the Word."
4. The Centurion was a good steward of the gospel that Jesus can do all things.
E. Move to what the implications are for your congregation.
1. We have a ministry of prayer and healing.
2. We have a ministry of compassion for others, often those much less fortunate than we are.
3. In our congregation those of power and those of no power are all God's people and should be treated with respect.
4. We have a ministry of stewardship of our health, our money, and our energy.
F. Frame your sermon by returning to the opening story and finish the story similar to the way Luke finishes it.
Prayer For The Day
Help us to be good stewards and bless the ministries you have given us of healing and compassion. And here in (your congregation) help us all to respect each other no matter what our status or lack of it. And for those of us who have the capacity to give, show us how to bless others with the gift. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter has used a slogan on television: "Move your money; get well connected." It is similar to Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount: "Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth ... but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19, 20).
Now that is really connected!
Dan Rather told of the rising water in Great Salt Lake, twelve feet higher in the year 1987. Christians got together and prayed. Engineers built a viaduct and pumped it out to another lake in the desert! There is a time to pray and a time to be the instrument through which God answers prayers. Get up off your knees and get busy!
Sir Philips Gibbs in his book The Cross of Peace wrote of modern civilization: "Modern progress has made the world a neighborhood. In the days of dividing walls of race and class and creed we must shake the earth anew with the message of the all-inclusive Christ, in whom there is neither bond or free, Jews or Greek ... but all in one."
We relocated the thermostat from the drafty hall to the living room today. There is a big difference between a thermostat and a thermometer. One feels the temperature and takes the necessary action to change it. The other just tells you the temperature but does nothing about it. It's the difference in the way we often respond as well: complain and do nothing to help make the necessary improvement.
Jesus' acts of compassion and teaching ministry.
Theme For The Day
The compassionate healing Christ who responds at a distance for one of a different race and religion.
Old Testament Lesson
1 Kings 18:20-39
Elijah's Test For God
Up on Mount Carmel, Elijah took a big gamble. He called for a trial to see whose God was real: Baal or Yahweh. It's a dramatic story about the prophets each praying to their God to bring down fire and burn the offering placed on the altar. There is some humor in verse 27. The first two phrases could mean Baal was relieving himself! Verse 28 means the priests of Baal were doing a sort of frantic prophesying and actually hurting themselves. Verse 36 reminds us that this is not just a God of nature, but also a God of history and people to whom Elijah prayed. And the prayed-for fire came ... and the people responded to such a demonstration of power. Homiletically, we must ask pointed questions about this story:
1. Should we test God like Elijah did up on Mount Carmel?
2. If the fire had not come down, does this mean Yahweh is not really our God?
3. How about we who have not seen the fire come -- can we believe also without such an experience?
I believe the most poignant verse is 29: "... was no voice, no answer, and no response." Those prophets of Baal are not the only ones who have times like that when it just seems as though God is not paying attention to us.
New Testament Lesson
Galatians 1:1-12
Direct From God
Right at the opening of this letter Paul lets us know his authority. He considered himself an apostle by direct divine intervention. His authority comes from God. The letter goes to those churches he founded on his first missionary journey. In verses 3-5, we have the focus of early preaching. Some of these Christians were deserting the true faith for a perversion of the faith as Paul had presented it to them. Then in verses 11 and 12 we have sort of an announcement of the focus of his thesis -- through a revelation of Jesus Christ, Paul received this gospel he now proclaims. Not from humans did this come, nor from a Professor of Theology at an Association of Theological Schools approved Seminary. This came direct from God! That belief of Paul must have been the engine which drove his missionary zeal.
The Gospel
Luke 7:1-10
Healing A Centurion's Servant
There is a similar story in John 4:46-53. In that account it's an official in Capernaum whose son is ill. What we can't miss homiletically here is the strong faith of this centurion. And notice his sense of stewardship. He made a big donation, even though a Gentile, to build the Jewish synagogue. Then he tries not to waste Jesus' time. And he was a good steward of his servant's health as well (vv. 6, 7). He sensed somehow that Jesus had a higher authority than he did. That authority was none other than God. But it's the faith of the man which moves me. He just knew all Jesus had to do was to "... speak the word" and his servant would be healed.
Preaching Possibilities
I have published a sermon on this parable in my book The Miracles Of Jesus And Their Flip Side (CSS Publishing Company, 2000).
A. It would be possible to talk about miracles today using the Old Testament Lesson and the Gospel as literal ones and the Second Reading as a miracle of change of heart in Saul of Tarsus to Paul the Apostle.
B. Of course this Sunday could also be the first in a series of sermons based on Galatians as outlined above.
C. If we first go with the Elijah story, we could say something like this:
1. God can still light fires in our lives.
2. We also have proof of God's power and presence.
3. What shall we do when, like the prophets of Baal, there seem to be "... no voice, and no answer" (v. 26c).
4. Our response ought to be like the people's response in verse 39.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Begin by telling the Luke story, putting it in a contemporary setting. "A Muslim once sent word to an ordained Christian medical missionary that his domestic worker was ill and near death...."
B. Move to the scripture account in Luke and read it, explaining that it is a similar situation.
C. Move to what you think this miracle of healing at a distance says to you today.
1. God will heal us at a distance also.
2. God would have us be concerned about the health and well being of those who serve us.
3. Our importance doesn't count for much when disaster hits.
4. Faith makes a bigger difference than our ethnic background or churchly loyalties!
D. Move to a different take on this parable as we consider the stewardship principle.
1. The Centurion was a good steward of his servant's health.
2. The Centurion was a good steward of his wealth as he shared it for the building of a synagogue.
3. The Centurion was a good steward of Jesus' energy. "Just speak the Word."
4. The Centurion was a good steward of the gospel that Jesus can do all things.
E. Move to what the implications are for your congregation.
1. We have a ministry of prayer and healing.
2. We have a ministry of compassion for others, often those much less fortunate than we are.
3. In our congregation those of power and those of no power are all God's people and should be treated with respect.
4. We have a ministry of stewardship of our health, our money, and our energy.
F. Frame your sermon by returning to the opening story and finish the story similar to the way Luke finishes it.
Prayer For The Day
Help us to be good stewards and bless the ministries you have given us of healing and compassion. And here in (your congregation) help us all to respect each other no matter what our status or lack of it. And for those of us who have the capacity to give, show us how to bless others with the gift. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter has used a slogan on television: "Move your money; get well connected." It is similar to Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount: "Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth ... but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19, 20).
Now that is really connected!
Dan Rather told of the rising water in Great Salt Lake, twelve feet higher in the year 1987. Christians got together and prayed. Engineers built a viaduct and pumped it out to another lake in the desert! There is a time to pray and a time to be the instrument through which God answers prayers. Get up off your knees and get busy!
Sir Philips Gibbs in his book The Cross of Peace wrote of modern civilization: "Modern progress has made the world a neighborhood. In the days of dividing walls of race and class and creed we must shake the earth anew with the message of the all-inclusive Christ, in whom there is neither bond or free, Jews or Greek ... but all in one."
We relocated the thermostat from the drafty hall to the living room today. There is a big difference between a thermostat and a thermometer. One feels the temperature and takes the necessary action to change it. The other just tells you the temperature but does nothing about it. It's the difference in the way we often respond as well: complain and do nothing to help make the necessary improvement.
