Proper 8
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series IV
Lesson 1: Genesis 22:1-14 (C)
God orders Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Yahweh puts Abraham to the toughest test of his life. His son, Isaac, was to be sacrificed as proof of Abraham's love and loyalty to God. At the moment Abraham is about to plunge the knife into Isaac, God stops him and pro-vides a substitute sacrifice of a ram.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 2:10-17 (E)
Pride will be destroyed and God will be exalted.
Lesson 1: Jeremiah 28:5-9 (L)
A true prophet is one whose message is fulfilled.
Lesson 1: 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16 (RC)
Opening our lives to God's messengers.
Lesson 2: Romans 6:12-23 (C)
Be not slaves of sin but slaves of God.
Lesson 2: Romans 6:3-11 (E); Romans 6:lb-11 (L); Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 (RC)
Christians are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. Since we are saved by grace through faith and not by works of the law, the question arises, "Shall we then sin in order to experience grace?" For Paul this is a foolish question because a Christian identifies with Christ's death and resurrection. This identification takes place in baptism. With Christ, we die to sin and rise with him to newness of life. If we are dead to sin, why would we want to con-tinue in sin? By baptism we are no longer in Adam but in Christ. Now we continue in Christ and ever grow in the Christian life.
Gospel:
Matthew 10:40-42 (C); Matthew 10:34-42 (E, L); Matthew 10:37-42 (RC)
Jesus calls upon his disciples to love him above all others. Matthew continues in this pericope with the price of discipleship. In vv. 34-36 Jesus declares that his coming will cause dissension in families because disciples will love him more than any member of the family. In vv. 37-39 Jesus calls upon his disciples to take up the cross and to lose themselves in his cause. To those who do this, Jesus promises rewards (vv. 40-42). In this passage we have the cost and reward of discipleship.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 13 (C) - "I trusted in your steadfast love (v. 5)."
Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18 (E, L, RC) - "I will sing of thy steadfast love, O Lord, forever (v. 1a)."
Prayer Of The Day
"O God, you have prepared for those who love you joys beyond understanding. Pour into our hearts such love that, loving you above all things, we may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire."
Hymn Of The Day
"O God, Send Heralds Who Will Never Falter"
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel:
Matthew 10:34-42
1. Jesus' sword (v. 34). Though he was born Prince of Peace, Jesus shocks us when he says he did not come to bring peace but a sword. Peace is not always possible. There are times when war is inevitable. Christians dare not live at peace with Satan. Stand for the truth, justice and liberty and enemies will cluster around you. Jesus was and still is a controversial figure. He makes us choose sides in the battle of good and evil.
2. Family dissension (vv. 35-37). Jesus says it is a matter of priorities. Who shall come first in your life? Whom do we love the best? Does Jesus come before spouse, child or parent? Jesus demands that he come first, even ahead of the family. If members of the family do not share in the devotion to Christ, there is trouble in the home. In this case, Christ is the cause of family dissension. Since Jesus is Lord, he cannot take second place to any other person. To be worthy of Christ, we must put him first.
3. Life - lose or find it (v. 39). Life is something we cannot preserve. It cannot be placed in a museum for safe keeping and preservation. By its very nature, life must be given away. Each person chooses how he will spend it. He can lose his life by wasting it on secondary causes, or he can invest his life in the cause of Christ. The one who invests his life takes up his cross and follows Jesus in service.
4. High reward (vv. 40-42). There are many rewards - reward of a prophet, or a righteous man, of a spokesperson and ambassador of Christ. "He who receives you receives me." To accept a follower of Christ is to accept Jesus; to help a disciple is to help Christ. To reject a disciple is to reject Christ. What a high honor to be a surrogate of Christ!
Lesson 1: Genesis 22:1-14 (C)
1. Tested (v. 1). Here God gives the test. God called Abraham, entered into a covenant with him and promised to bless him. A human response is called for - does Abraham have the faith in God that it takes to be God's chosen one? It is a test of faith because Abraham had to decide between the love of God and love of son. Moreover, how could God ask a thing like killing Isaac through whom God's promise was to be fulfilled? Does Abraham have the faith to believe something so contradictory? If God asked any one of us to kill the one we love the best to prove our faith, could we do it? Can we still believe in God's promise when it seems irrational to do so?
2. Went (v. 3). God gave the command and Abraham "went." His faith passed the test of obedience. Faith is more than belief, more than trust; it is ultimately obedience to God's commands. Abraham went to Moriah with his son, some wood and a fire. The angel said, "Now I know that you fear God."
3. Provide (vv. 8, 14). Here is a sample of the grace of God. When Abraham passed the test of faith, God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac. God provided his own sacrifice. He did it again on Mount Calvary. He gave his only Son to die on the cross. Jesus was both the sacrifice and the high priest. Jesus passed the test of faith, for he was obedient unto death. Because we fail the test, Christ died for us and became our vicarious offering.
Lesson 1: Jeremiah 28:5-9 (L)
1. God's bad news (vv. 5-8). Most of us think God has only good news for us. According to this Lesson, God has both good and bad news. For the rebellious and disobedient there is bad news - judgment, war, famine and death. King Ahab referred to Elijah as, "you troubler of Israel," and "my enemy." Micaiah had bad news of defeat for the kings about to go to war. To say peace because people want to hear it is to be faithless to God who brings judgment upon a sinful people.
2. Two preachers (v. 9). One day two preachers were speaking in the temple. They contradicted each other and yet both claimed to be prophets. Whom were the people to believe? One says God will send peace; the other promises war. Jeremiah gives the acid test: the true prophet is one whose preaching comes true. So, we have to wait and see who is right.
Lesson 2: Romans 6:3-11 (E)
1. Baptism (vv. 3-4). According to Paul, baptism is more than a few drops from a tank of water, more than a sentimental ceremony of dedication of a child, more than a custom of the church. It is a drowning of a sinner. The old self is crucified and a new person is raised into a new life. Baptism is a mystical experience in which Christ and the believer are one. A person dies with Christ according to the old Adam and rises with Christ into new life. Accordingly, baptism is a crucial and essential experience in becoming a Christian.
2. Dying to live (vv. 8-11). It seems simple enough: die with Christ and then live with him. If you die to sin, you are free from sin. Out of this death comes life in Christ. The price of real life is death - death to the old, sinful self. Who wants to pay this price? Our problem is that we are trying to have new life without a prior death. No wonder our Chris-tianity has so little joy and power! The butterfly cannot be born except the caterpillar dies and is buried in a cocoon. This is a price of discipleship along with telling God's truth regardless of how negative it might be (Lesson 1), and placing Christ first in all human relationships (Gospel).
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
The Price of Being a Christian.
Need: We may have made becoming a Christian too easy. We will do almost anything to win a convert. We make becoming a Christian as easy and as comfortable as we can afford. We attract new members with air-conditioned buildings, cushioned pews, nursery for children, fun and fellowship and we even send a bus to pick you up! We often require nothing for membership, not even membership preparatory classes. We invite, plead, beg people to come forth and join the church right now! How different is the Word in these Lessons. The sermon shows the high cost of discipleship.
Outline: The price of being a Christian -
a. Love Jesus more than one's own family - Gospel.
b. Be willing to sacrifice for God - Lesson 1.
c. Die to self and live in Christ - Lesson 2.
Gospel:
Matthew 10:34-42
1. Can You Afford to Be a Christian? 10:34-39
Need: Most of us think Christianity is an easy way of life. This may be due to a neglected truth in our preaching. We forget to proclaim that discipleship is costly. Grace is not cheap. Christianity is a challenge to the strong and brave. What is the cost of discipleship? Then we can decide whether we can afford becoming or being a Christian, or maybe we cannot afford not to be a Christian.
Outline: What it costs to be a disciple of Christ.
a. Placing Christ first in your life - v. 37.
b. Taking your cross - a life of sacrifice - v. 38.
c. Investing your life in Christ's cause - v. 39.
2. The Troubler of Humankind. 10:34
Need: King Ahab called Elijah the "troubler of Israel" because he demanded justice and obedience to God. Christ was a troubler in his day - he cleansed the temple, broke the Sabbath law by healing on it and challenged the religious leaders for their hypocrisy and bigotry. In our day Jesus is the troubler of our society. He is not content with a status quo based on injustice and falsehood. When conditions are evil, Jesus comes not to bring peace but a sword - conflict, fighting, dissension. Out of this conflict will come genuine peace when truth and justice triumph. Jesus will have no part in the violence of our day because it is the product of hatred. The controversy and conflict result when truth challenges falsehood, right faces wrong and love opposes hatred.
Outline: Jesus brings a sword of conflict into our world.
a. When truth confronts error.
b. When right opposes wrong.
c. When love challenges hatred.
3. Family: First? 10:35-37
Need: Who should come first - family or Christ? Apparently, this is a valid problem or Jesus would not have discussed it with his men. It was a problem for Abraham when he was ordered to sacrifice Isaac. Ministers today face the question - should family concerns take precedence over one's ministry? Here is the real test of our Christianity. Normally the ones we love the most and the ones most precious to us are the members of our immediate family. Do they mean more to us than Christ? That is the pivotal question. Jesus says no one who considers his family of greater importance is worthy of being his follower.
Outline: When Christ is first in the family -
a. We have family devotions.
b. We have a higher loyalty to Christ than to family.
c. We are willing to sacrifice the family for Christ.
4. The High Reward of a Christian. 10:41-42
Need: There was a time when we gave rewards for attendance, memory work and other church projects. Then we dropped the practice because we believed we ought to be faithful and render service for the love of Christ alone. But we are re-thinking this old practice of rewards. It is human to desire a reward for good work. It is also a legitimate reason for doing our best. In this passage, Jesus refers to rewards three times. It depends largely on what the reward is. A Christian is one who is rewarded.
Outline: This is the Christian's high reward.
a. The reward of a good conscience.
b. The reward of the joy of service.
c. The reward of satisfaction for a job well done.
d. The reward of knowing we do God's will.
Lesson 1: Genesis 22:1-14 (C)
1. No Sacrifice Too Great? 22:1-14
Need: To prove your faith and love of God, would you make any sacrifice? Any sacrifice? Think of what is most precious to you. Could you give it up if God asked you to do it? In Abraham's case, the most precious possession was his only natural son, Isaac, whom he loved and through whom God promised to bless Abraham as a nation as large as the sands on the shore. Not everyone today feels that way about their child. Parents can give up a child for adoption, abandon it, abuse it, kill it or rent and sell it for immoral purposes. If it is not your only child, what is most precious to you? Do you have enough faith to sacrifice it in obedience to God? It is a soul-searching sermon.
Outline: When no sacrifice is too great -
a. When God is dearer to you than your dearest - v. 2.
b. When you obey God rather than self - v. 3.
c. When you fear God rather than people - v. 12.
2. Here I am! 22:1-14
Need: There is a commercial, "Delta is ready when you are." In this passage Abraham is always ready when he is called and needed. In each case, he replies, "Here am I." Abraham is always ready and willing to respond. He is always there when you need him. What an example for us! When a job needs to be done, who will say, "Here am I?" When you need somebody desperately to help in time of need, does the Christian say, "Here am I?"
Outline: A Christian is ready when called -
a. When God calls - v. 1 - a call to obey.
b. When humans call - v. 7 - a call to answer.
c. When angels call - v. 11 - a call to receive grace.
Lesson 1: Jeremiah 28:5-9 (L)
1. The Truth Nobody Wants to Hear. 28:7-9
Need: The truth often hurts. Since nobody likes to be hurt, nobody wants to hear truth that hurts. The truth is that judgment is coming upon those who disobey God. The truth is that hell is reserved for the wicked. The Word of the Lord can be bad news for the disobedient: famine, persecution, sorrow and death. The Law is reaping its harvest of hardship. Do we resent the preacher who steps on our toes?
Outline: The truth we hate to hear.
a. Hell is reserved for the wicked.
b. Suffering follows sin.
c. The wages of sin is death.
2. The Popular Preacher. 28:6
Need:Tell the people what they want to hear and you can be a popular preacher like Hananiah. He told his people Babylon was going to be defeated, the exiles would return, and peace would prevail.
Outline: Your popular preacher -
a. Avoids the subject of sin.
b. Tells you that you are getting even better.
c. Assures you that peace and power are your birthright.
Lesson 1: 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16 (RC)
Making Room for Religion. 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16
Need: The root cause of today's family problems and breakup is the paucity or non-existence of religion in the home. This contention is borne out by the fact that in a recent poll of 2,500 church members only 49 percent said grace before meals, 57 percent prayed, 27 percent read the Bible, eight percent had family devotions and 30 percent attended worship services. In our text a wealthy couple added a room to their house to provide a place for an itinerant prophet to stay. They added a room of religion.
Outline: How to make room for religion in your home -
a. Acknowledge the need of religion in the home - v. 10. The couple needed to add a room for the prophet.
b. Be the kind of people who make room - v. 10. Hospitality meant food and furniture for the prophet.
c. Receive the blessing of making a room for religion - v. 16. The elderly couple through a miracle received a son.
Lesson 2: Romans 6:3-11
1. Wanted: Dead or Alive! 6:11
Need: Law enforcement officials often advertise that they want top criminals dead or alive. God wants sinners, even the worst, both dead and alive. A true Christian is one who had experienced a death to self and a new life in Christ. The catch in it is that no one can have the new life without prior death. Like Jesus' resurrection, life comes out of death, not after death. The need for this sermon is to show and persuadepeople to experience death to the old self that the new might live.
Outline: God wants you -
a. Dead - "dead to sin."
b. Alive - "alive to God in Christ Jesus."
2. Drowned at Baptism. 6:2-8
Need: At baptism, Paul says, a person is baptized into the death of Christ. The candidate drowns in the baptismal water! The old Adam is held under the water until it dies, and then the new person is raised to a new life. This is patterned after the death and resurrection of Christ. A Christian dies to his old self with sin. After baptism he has a new spirit and a new life. He is a new creature who now lives to glorify God. How many know that they died at their baptism? If they do know, why do they continue to sin? We sin because the old person in us must be put to death again. This calls for daily repentance and renewal of the baptismal experience.
Outline: What baptism means -
a. Death to the old self - vv. 3, 6, 7.
b. Life to a new self - vv. 4, 5, 8.
Lesson 2: Romans 6:12-23 (C)
Need: We like to think that we are born free. According to scripture we are born slaves of sin. Christ by his death and resurrection frees us from the dominion of sin, but immediately thereafter we become slaves of Christ. A human must have a master. It is a question who will rule over us, who we will permit to rule over us. In this passage Paul admonishes us to forsake Satan and become servants of Christ.
Outline: Choose your slavery
a. The slavery of Satan - v. 12. Reward: the wages of death - v. 23.
b. The slavery of Christ - v. 19. Reward: the gift of eternal life - v. 23.
God orders Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Yahweh puts Abraham to the toughest test of his life. His son, Isaac, was to be sacrificed as proof of Abraham's love and loyalty to God. At the moment Abraham is about to plunge the knife into Isaac, God stops him and pro-vides a substitute sacrifice of a ram.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 2:10-17 (E)
Pride will be destroyed and God will be exalted.
Lesson 1: Jeremiah 28:5-9 (L)
A true prophet is one whose message is fulfilled.
Lesson 1: 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16 (RC)
Opening our lives to God's messengers.
Lesson 2: Romans 6:12-23 (C)
Be not slaves of sin but slaves of God.
Lesson 2: Romans 6:3-11 (E); Romans 6:lb-11 (L); Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 (RC)
Christians are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. Since we are saved by grace through faith and not by works of the law, the question arises, "Shall we then sin in order to experience grace?" For Paul this is a foolish question because a Christian identifies with Christ's death and resurrection. This identification takes place in baptism. With Christ, we die to sin and rise with him to newness of life. If we are dead to sin, why would we want to con-tinue in sin? By baptism we are no longer in Adam but in Christ. Now we continue in Christ and ever grow in the Christian life.
Gospel:
Matthew 10:40-42 (C); Matthew 10:34-42 (E, L); Matthew 10:37-42 (RC)
Jesus calls upon his disciples to love him above all others. Matthew continues in this pericope with the price of discipleship. In vv. 34-36 Jesus declares that his coming will cause dissension in families because disciples will love him more than any member of the family. In vv. 37-39 Jesus calls upon his disciples to take up the cross and to lose themselves in his cause. To those who do this, Jesus promises rewards (vv. 40-42). In this passage we have the cost and reward of discipleship.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 13 (C) - "I trusted in your steadfast love (v. 5)."
Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18 (E, L, RC) - "I will sing of thy steadfast love, O Lord, forever (v. 1a)."
Prayer Of The Day
"O God, you have prepared for those who love you joys beyond understanding. Pour into our hearts such love that, loving you above all things, we may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire."
Hymn Of The Day
"O God, Send Heralds Who Will Never Falter"
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel:
Matthew 10:34-42
1. Jesus' sword (v. 34). Though he was born Prince of Peace, Jesus shocks us when he says he did not come to bring peace but a sword. Peace is not always possible. There are times when war is inevitable. Christians dare not live at peace with Satan. Stand for the truth, justice and liberty and enemies will cluster around you. Jesus was and still is a controversial figure. He makes us choose sides in the battle of good and evil.
2. Family dissension (vv. 35-37). Jesus says it is a matter of priorities. Who shall come first in your life? Whom do we love the best? Does Jesus come before spouse, child or parent? Jesus demands that he come first, even ahead of the family. If members of the family do not share in the devotion to Christ, there is trouble in the home. In this case, Christ is the cause of family dissension. Since Jesus is Lord, he cannot take second place to any other person. To be worthy of Christ, we must put him first.
3. Life - lose or find it (v. 39). Life is something we cannot preserve. It cannot be placed in a museum for safe keeping and preservation. By its very nature, life must be given away. Each person chooses how he will spend it. He can lose his life by wasting it on secondary causes, or he can invest his life in the cause of Christ. The one who invests his life takes up his cross and follows Jesus in service.
4. High reward (vv. 40-42). There are many rewards - reward of a prophet, or a righteous man, of a spokesperson and ambassador of Christ. "He who receives you receives me." To accept a follower of Christ is to accept Jesus; to help a disciple is to help Christ. To reject a disciple is to reject Christ. What a high honor to be a surrogate of Christ!
Lesson 1: Genesis 22:1-14 (C)
1. Tested (v. 1). Here God gives the test. God called Abraham, entered into a covenant with him and promised to bless him. A human response is called for - does Abraham have the faith in God that it takes to be God's chosen one? It is a test of faith because Abraham had to decide between the love of God and love of son. Moreover, how could God ask a thing like killing Isaac through whom God's promise was to be fulfilled? Does Abraham have the faith to believe something so contradictory? If God asked any one of us to kill the one we love the best to prove our faith, could we do it? Can we still believe in God's promise when it seems irrational to do so?
2. Went (v. 3). God gave the command and Abraham "went." His faith passed the test of obedience. Faith is more than belief, more than trust; it is ultimately obedience to God's commands. Abraham went to Moriah with his son, some wood and a fire. The angel said, "Now I know that you fear God."
3. Provide (vv. 8, 14). Here is a sample of the grace of God. When Abraham passed the test of faith, God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac. God provided his own sacrifice. He did it again on Mount Calvary. He gave his only Son to die on the cross. Jesus was both the sacrifice and the high priest. Jesus passed the test of faith, for he was obedient unto death. Because we fail the test, Christ died for us and became our vicarious offering.
Lesson 1: Jeremiah 28:5-9 (L)
1. God's bad news (vv. 5-8). Most of us think God has only good news for us. According to this Lesson, God has both good and bad news. For the rebellious and disobedient there is bad news - judgment, war, famine and death. King Ahab referred to Elijah as, "you troubler of Israel," and "my enemy." Micaiah had bad news of defeat for the kings about to go to war. To say peace because people want to hear it is to be faithless to God who brings judgment upon a sinful people.
2. Two preachers (v. 9). One day two preachers were speaking in the temple. They contradicted each other and yet both claimed to be prophets. Whom were the people to believe? One says God will send peace; the other promises war. Jeremiah gives the acid test: the true prophet is one whose preaching comes true. So, we have to wait and see who is right.
Lesson 2: Romans 6:3-11 (E)
1. Baptism (vv. 3-4). According to Paul, baptism is more than a few drops from a tank of water, more than a sentimental ceremony of dedication of a child, more than a custom of the church. It is a drowning of a sinner. The old self is crucified and a new person is raised into a new life. Baptism is a mystical experience in which Christ and the believer are one. A person dies with Christ according to the old Adam and rises with Christ into new life. Accordingly, baptism is a crucial and essential experience in becoming a Christian.
2. Dying to live (vv. 8-11). It seems simple enough: die with Christ and then live with him. If you die to sin, you are free from sin. Out of this death comes life in Christ. The price of real life is death - death to the old, sinful self. Who wants to pay this price? Our problem is that we are trying to have new life without a prior death. No wonder our Chris-tianity has so little joy and power! The butterfly cannot be born except the caterpillar dies and is buried in a cocoon. This is a price of discipleship along with telling God's truth regardless of how negative it might be (Lesson 1), and placing Christ first in all human relationships (Gospel).
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
The Price of Being a Christian.
Need: We may have made becoming a Christian too easy. We will do almost anything to win a convert. We make becoming a Christian as easy and as comfortable as we can afford. We attract new members with air-conditioned buildings, cushioned pews, nursery for children, fun and fellowship and we even send a bus to pick you up! We often require nothing for membership, not even membership preparatory classes. We invite, plead, beg people to come forth and join the church right now! How different is the Word in these Lessons. The sermon shows the high cost of discipleship.
Outline: The price of being a Christian -
a. Love Jesus more than one's own family - Gospel.
b. Be willing to sacrifice for God - Lesson 1.
c. Die to self and live in Christ - Lesson 2.
Gospel:
Matthew 10:34-42
1. Can You Afford to Be a Christian? 10:34-39
Need: Most of us think Christianity is an easy way of life. This may be due to a neglected truth in our preaching. We forget to proclaim that discipleship is costly. Grace is not cheap. Christianity is a challenge to the strong and brave. What is the cost of discipleship? Then we can decide whether we can afford becoming or being a Christian, or maybe we cannot afford not to be a Christian.
Outline: What it costs to be a disciple of Christ.
a. Placing Christ first in your life - v. 37.
b. Taking your cross - a life of sacrifice - v. 38.
c. Investing your life in Christ's cause - v. 39.
2. The Troubler of Humankind. 10:34
Need: King Ahab called Elijah the "troubler of Israel" because he demanded justice and obedience to God. Christ was a troubler in his day - he cleansed the temple, broke the Sabbath law by healing on it and challenged the religious leaders for their hypocrisy and bigotry. In our day Jesus is the troubler of our society. He is not content with a status quo based on injustice and falsehood. When conditions are evil, Jesus comes not to bring peace but a sword - conflict, fighting, dissension. Out of this conflict will come genuine peace when truth and justice triumph. Jesus will have no part in the violence of our day because it is the product of hatred. The controversy and conflict result when truth challenges falsehood, right faces wrong and love opposes hatred.
Outline: Jesus brings a sword of conflict into our world.
a. When truth confronts error.
b. When right opposes wrong.
c. When love challenges hatred.
3. Family: First? 10:35-37
Need: Who should come first - family or Christ? Apparently, this is a valid problem or Jesus would not have discussed it with his men. It was a problem for Abraham when he was ordered to sacrifice Isaac. Ministers today face the question - should family concerns take precedence over one's ministry? Here is the real test of our Christianity. Normally the ones we love the most and the ones most precious to us are the members of our immediate family. Do they mean more to us than Christ? That is the pivotal question. Jesus says no one who considers his family of greater importance is worthy of being his follower.
Outline: When Christ is first in the family -
a. We have family devotions.
b. We have a higher loyalty to Christ than to family.
c. We are willing to sacrifice the family for Christ.
4. The High Reward of a Christian. 10:41-42
Need: There was a time when we gave rewards for attendance, memory work and other church projects. Then we dropped the practice because we believed we ought to be faithful and render service for the love of Christ alone. But we are re-thinking this old practice of rewards. It is human to desire a reward for good work. It is also a legitimate reason for doing our best. In this passage, Jesus refers to rewards three times. It depends largely on what the reward is. A Christian is one who is rewarded.
Outline: This is the Christian's high reward.
a. The reward of a good conscience.
b. The reward of the joy of service.
c. The reward of satisfaction for a job well done.
d. The reward of knowing we do God's will.
Lesson 1: Genesis 22:1-14 (C)
1. No Sacrifice Too Great? 22:1-14
Need: To prove your faith and love of God, would you make any sacrifice? Any sacrifice? Think of what is most precious to you. Could you give it up if God asked you to do it? In Abraham's case, the most precious possession was his only natural son, Isaac, whom he loved and through whom God promised to bless Abraham as a nation as large as the sands on the shore. Not everyone today feels that way about their child. Parents can give up a child for adoption, abandon it, abuse it, kill it or rent and sell it for immoral purposes. If it is not your only child, what is most precious to you? Do you have enough faith to sacrifice it in obedience to God? It is a soul-searching sermon.
Outline: When no sacrifice is too great -
a. When God is dearer to you than your dearest - v. 2.
b. When you obey God rather than self - v. 3.
c. When you fear God rather than people - v. 12.
2. Here I am! 22:1-14
Need: There is a commercial, "Delta is ready when you are." In this passage Abraham is always ready when he is called and needed. In each case, he replies, "Here am I." Abraham is always ready and willing to respond. He is always there when you need him. What an example for us! When a job needs to be done, who will say, "Here am I?" When you need somebody desperately to help in time of need, does the Christian say, "Here am I?"
Outline: A Christian is ready when called -
a. When God calls - v. 1 - a call to obey.
b. When humans call - v. 7 - a call to answer.
c. When angels call - v. 11 - a call to receive grace.
Lesson 1: Jeremiah 28:5-9 (L)
1. The Truth Nobody Wants to Hear. 28:7-9
Need: The truth often hurts. Since nobody likes to be hurt, nobody wants to hear truth that hurts. The truth is that judgment is coming upon those who disobey God. The truth is that hell is reserved for the wicked. The Word of the Lord can be bad news for the disobedient: famine, persecution, sorrow and death. The Law is reaping its harvest of hardship. Do we resent the preacher who steps on our toes?
Outline: The truth we hate to hear.
a. Hell is reserved for the wicked.
b. Suffering follows sin.
c. The wages of sin is death.
2. The Popular Preacher. 28:6
Need:Tell the people what they want to hear and you can be a popular preacher like Hananiah. He told his people Babylon was going to be defeated, the exiles would return, and peace would prevail.
Outline: Your popular preacher -
a. Avoids the subject of sin.
b. Tells you that you are getting even better.
c. Assures you that peace and power are your birthright.
Lesson 1: 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16 (RC)
Making Room for Religion. 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16
Need: The root cause of today's family problems and breakup is the paucity or non-existence of religion in the home. This contention is borne out by the fact that in a recent poll of 2,500 church members only 49 percent said grace before meals, 57 percent prayed, 27 percent read the Bible, eight percent had family devotions and 30 percent attended worship services. In our text a wealthy couple added a room to their house to provide a place for an itinerant prophet to stay. They added a room of religion.
Outline: How to make room for religion in your home -
a. Acknowledge the need of religion in the home - v. 10. The couple needed to add a room for the prophet.
b. Be the kind of people who make room - v. 10. Hospitality meant food and furniture for the prophet.
c. Receive the blessing of making a room for religion - v. 16. The elderly couple through a miracle received a son.
Lesson 2: Romans 6:3-11
1. Wanted: Dead or Alive! 6:11
Need: Law enforcement officials often advertise that they want top criminals dead or alive. God wants sinners, even the worst, both dead and alive. A true Christian is one who had experienced a death to self and a new life in Christ. The catch in it is that no one can have the new life without prior death. Like Jesus' resurrection, life comes out of death, not after death. The need for this sermon is to show and persuadepeople to experience death to the old self that the new might live.
Outline: God wants you -
a. Dead - "dead to sin."
b. Alive - "alive to God in Christ Jesus."
2. Drowned at Baptism. 6:2-8
Need: At baptism, Paul says, a person is baptized into the death of Christ. The candidate drowns in the baptismal water! The old Adam is held under the water until it dies, and then the new person is raised to a new life. This is patterned after the death and resurrection of Christ. A Christian dies to his old self with sin. After baptism he has a new spirit and a new life. He is a new creature who now lives to glorify God. How many know that they died at their baptism? If they do know, why do they continue to sin? We sin because the old person in us must be put to death again. This calls for daily repentance and renewal of the baptismal experience.
Outline: What baptism means -
a. Death to the old self - vv. 3, 6, 7.
b. Life to a new self - vv. 4, 5, 8.
Lesson 2: Romans 6:12-23 (C)
Need: We like to think that we are born free. According to scripture we are born slaves of sin. Christ by his death and resurrection frees us from the dominion of sin, but immediately thereafter we become slaves of Christ. A human must have a master. It is a question who will rule over us, who we will permit to rule over us. In this passage Paul admonishes us to forsake Satan and become servants of Christ.
Outline: Choose your slavery
a. The slavery of Satan - v. 12. Reward: the wages of death - v. 23.
b. The slavery of Christ - v. 19. Reward: the gift of eternal life - v. 23.
