Proper 7, Pentecost 5, Ordinary Time 12
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
God's presence provides us a courageous way to face the many struggles and problems that come to us.
Old Testament Lesson
1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23) 32-49
David And Goliath
During the street fighting of 2000 and 2001 in Palestine between Israelis and Arabs, this story took on a poignant meaning. We saw daily scenes on our televisions of young Arab boys with slingshots hitting heavily armed Israeli soldiers. Notice the contrast. Goliath, 9' 9" tall with a bronze helmet and a coat of scale armor weighing 125 pounds. He had a long spear and a bronze javelin (v. 7). David, unable to wear the heavy armor of King Saul, had a sling and five smooth stones. The confrontation took place outside Jerusalem where the two armies were facing each other over the Valley of Elah. They had decided one representative from each side would determine the victor. It was a scheme that, no doubt, conserved the lives of many soldiers. It's a story that can be retold with great theatre.
New Testament Lesson
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Enduring Our Struggles
Paul begins chapter six with a crucial plea. Don't take God's grace in vain (v. 6:1). God gives us all this love undeserved and Paul says don't make what God has done for us on the cross having been done in vain. Verse 4 continues with Paul calling himself a servant of God. Then he lists a long catalogue of troubles he has endured to be that faithful servant. And that word endured is an important one. Chrysostom calls this word, which comes from the Greek hypomone "the queen of virtues, the foundation of right actions, peace in war, calm in tempest, security in plots." Barclay says of hypomone, "It is the courageous and triumphant ability to bear things which enables a man to pass the breaking point and not to break and always greet the unseen with a cheer." So this is no passive accepting of our troubles in a fatalistic manner; but rather finding a way to turn them into strength and victory. It is a long list and there are alternatives to the bad: purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God.
This whole passage is a fine description of the struggle to be a faithful Christian and follow Christ as his disciple.
The Gospel
Mark 4:35-41
Jesus Stills A Storm
Here is a story told by Mark to prove the power of Jesus over nature. We could try to explain how this happened; but we would probably miss the point of Mark's relating the incident by doing so. Notice as Mark tells it the disciples scold Jesus for not being more concerned. In Matthew 8:25 and Luke 8:42, the disciples' scolding is changed to a request for help. Perhaps the peace Jesus commands is more needed by the disciples than it is by the wind and waves! In his typical fashion, Mark presents the disciples as bewildered and filled with awe. Notice, too, that the words Jesus used to address the wind and waves are exactly the words used in Mark 1:25 to the demon possessed man. Sometimes it does seem as though nature gets taken over by the power that opposes God. It's almost like demon possession.
Preaching Possibilities
This is a rare Sunday (in my opinion) when we could use any of the three readings by themselves for our sermon text, or use all three together on the topic of courage, or even use either two of the three with good results. For a possible development of the Gospel by itself, see my The Miracles Of Jesus And Their Flip Side, CSS Publishing, 2000, pp. 53-57. In this treatment, I have proposed the "flip side" as being: "Perhaps Jesus calming was not so much the waves and the wind on Galilee that day, but rather the fear and panic in the hearts of those sailor-disciples." The Second Reading is a rich deposit of challenges of being a Christian and the victorious ways we can get through.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Introduction: The two stories and a letter we read today as our Bible readings all cry out for us to have courage.
B. Tell in your own words of David whipping Goliath. The story of Jesus stilling the storm, then Paul's struggle in being a Christian.
C. Now invite your hearers to consider each one of these readings and what they tell us about facing adversities and coming through:
1. The odds were against young and small David except he was on the right side. And he wasn't weighed down with armor and he had courage to do it.
2. The disciples forgot in that storm they were in the same boat as Jesus. When they remembered it they had a new courage to get to the other side.
3. Paul reminds us that there is a courageous endurance that gets us through the worst of struggles. As David took his slingshot and the disciples asked for help, so Paul says that's the victorious way we can endure our problems and difficulties.
D. Move to an illustration in your own life where at first you thought all was lost and then God gave courage.
E. Move to how these stories ought to affect our congregational ministries of each member here in the church and out in each individual's daily lifestyle.
Optional: Talk about the congregation's problems and how the boat has always been a symbol of the church. We, too, as a congregation, must not give up; but have courage and know the peace available in our storms.
F. Frame the sermon by referring to the three lessons and their main teachings in reverse order.
3. Paul teaches us about courageous endurance.
2. Jesus teaches us to remain calm in the storms that come.
1. And brave young David illustrates courage when God is on our side.
Prayer For The Day
Give us courage, O God, that we might accept our struggles with your help and do our best to overcome them. And when the forces seem overwhelmingly against us, give us the bravery of David and the peace of the storm-surrounded disciples. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
The Philistine Goliath from Gath looked so big and strong, no Israelite soldier had the courage to fight there in the valley of Elah against him. David, however, saw him so big he just couldn't miss with his trusty slingshot!
When rough seas and wild storms rage about us,
There is one who can speak the word of blessed calm,
To still the turmoils which often so threaten us.
Yet, best of all, guide us through while winds rage on.
-- JLS
A special program about Pope John Paul II tells about his assistant when he was a bishop and the communists demanded work stop on a church at Mora Huta. The Communists said it could not be built. His assistant said he was afraid. John Paul replied, "Nicolei, fear only poor work." Sometimes our best contribution in the circumstances is to do our work well.
John Wayne, born in Winterset, Iowa: "Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." Perhaps this kind of bravado helps if one believes it deeply enough.
We learn of the Christian faith and how we are to follow Jesus as his disciples.
Theme For The Day
God's presence provides us a courageous way to face the many struggles and problems that come to us.
Old Testament Lesson
1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23) 32-49
David And Goliath
During the street fighting of 2000 and 2001 in Palestine between Israelis and Arabs, this story took on a poignant meaning. We saw daily scenes on our televisions of young Arab boys with slingshots hitting heavily armed Israeli soldiers. Notice the contrast. Goliath, 9' 9" tall with a bronze helmet and a coat of scale armor weighing 125 pounds. He had a long spear and a bronze javelin (v. 7). David, unable to wear the heavy armor of King Saul, had a sling and five smooth stones. The confrontation took place outside Jerusalem where the two armies were facing each other over the Valley of Elah. They had decided one representative from each side would determine the victor. It was a scheme that, no doubt, conserved the lives of many soldiers. It's a story that can be retold with great theatre.
New Testament Lesson
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Enduring Our Struggles
Paul begins chapter six with a crucial plea. Don't take God's grace in vain (v. 6:1). God gives us all this love undeserved and Paul says don't make what God has done for us on the cross having been done in vain. Verse 4 continues with Paul calling himself a servant of God. Then he lists a long catalogue of troubles he has endured to be that faithful servant. And that word endured is an important one. Chrysostom calls this word, which comes from the Greek hypomone "the queen of virtues, the foundation of right actions, peace in war, calm in tempest, security in plots." Barclay says of hypomone, "It is the courageous and triumphant ability to bear things which enables a man to pass the breaking point and not to break and always greet the unseen with a cheer." So this is no passive accepting of our troubles in a fatalistic manner; but rather finding a way to turn them into strength and victory. It is a long list and there are alternatives to the bad: purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God.
This whole passage is a fine description of the struggle to be a faithful Christian and follow Christ as his disciple.
The Gospel
Mark 4:35-41
Jesus Stills A Storm
Here is a story told by Mark to prove the power of Jesus over nature. We could try to explain how this happened; but we would probably miss the point of Mark's relating the incident by doing so. Notice as Mark tells it the disciples scold Jesus for not being more concerned. In Matthew 8:25 and Luke 8:42, the disciples' scolding is changed to a request for help. Perhaps the peace Jesus commands is more needed by the disciples than it is by the wind and waves! In his typical fashion, Mark presents the disciples as bewildered and filled with awe. Notice, too, that the words Jesus used to address the wind and waves are exactly the words used in Mark 1:25 to the demon possessed man. Sometimes it does seem as though nature gets taken over by the power that opposes God. It's almost like demon possession.
Preaching Possibilities
This is a rare Sunday (in my opinion) when we could use any of the three readings by themselves for our sermon text, or use all three together on the topic of courage, or even use either two of the three with good results. For a possible development of the Gospel by itself, see my The Miracles Of Jesus And Their Flip Side, CSS Publishing, 2000, pp. 53-57. In this treatment, I have proposed the "flip side" as being: "Perhaps Jesus calming was not so much the waves and the wind on Galilee that day, but rather the fear and panic in the hearts of those sailor-disciples." The Second Reading is a rich deposit of challenges of being a Christian and the victorious ways we can get through.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Introduction: The two stories and a letter we read today as our Bible readings all cry out for us to have courage.
B. Tell in your own words of David whipping Goliath. The story of Jesus stilling the storm, then Paul's struggle in being a Christian.
C. Now invite your hearers to consider each one of these readings and what they tell us about facing adversities and coming through:
1. The odds were against young and small David except he was on the right side. And he wasn't weighed down with armor and he had courage to do it.
2. The disciples forgot in that storm they were in the same boat as Jesus. When they remembered it they had a new courage to get to the other side.
3. Paul reminds us that there is a courageous endurance that gets us through the worst of struggles. As David took his slingshot and the disciples asked for help, so Paul says that's the victorious way we can endure our problems and difficulties.
D. Move to an illustration in your own life where at first you thought all was lost and then God gave courage.
E. Move to how these stories ought to affect our congregational ministries of each member here in the church and out in each individual's daily lifestyle.
Optional: Talk about the congregation's problems and how the boat has always been a symbol of the church. We, too, as a congregation, must not give up; but have courage and know the peace available in our storms.
F. Frame the sermon by referring to the three lessons and their main teachings in reverse order.
3. Paul teaches us about courageous endurance.
2. Jesus teaches us to remain calm in the storms that come.
1. And brave young David illustrates courage when God is on our side.
Prayer For The Day
Give us courage, O God, that we might accept our struggles with your help and do our best to overcome them. And when the forces seem overwhelmingly against us, give us the bravery of David and the peace of the storm-surrounded disciples. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
The Philistine Goliath from Gath looked so big and strong, no Israelite soldier had the courage to fight there in the valley of Elah against him. David, however, saw him so big he just couldn't miss with his trusty slingshot!
When rough seas and wild storms rage about us,
There is one who can speak the word of blessed calm,
To still the turmoils which often so threaten us.
Yet, best of all, guide us through while winds rage on.
-- JLS
A special program about Pope John Paul II tells about his assistant when he was a bishop and the communists demanded work stop on a church at Mora Huta. The Communists said it could not be built. His assistant said he was afraid. John Paul replied, "Nicolei, fear only poor work." Sometimes our best contribution in the circumstances is to do our work well.
John Wayne, born in Winterset, Iowa: "Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." Perhaps this kind of bravado helps if one believes it deeply enough.
