Remaining true to our covenants of faith
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle B
Theme For The Day: Remaining true to our covenants of faith. In the First Lesson, Job remained true to God in his trials. In the Second Lesson, the writer of Hebrews calls the Jewish Christians to keep from falling away from Christ. In the Gospel, Christ calls us to keep our marriage covenant.
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Job 1:1; 2:1--10 (C)
This lection comprises the first of four readings from the book of Job, one of the books of biblical wisdom literature. This reading is part of the introduction (1:1-2:13), which sets the stage for the plot of the book. God is holding an assembly of the heavenly creatures, at which Satan makes an appearance. God brags--up Job as being faithful and righteous. Satan, not yet the embodiment of the demonic, suggests that if Job's health is adversely affected, Job will curse God. The Lord permits Satan to test Job by afflicting his body with terrible sores. Job's wife calls on him to curse God and die. Job refuses: "Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord and shall we not receive evil?" (v. 10). Job remains blameless.
Lesson 1: Genesis 2:18--24 (RC, E)
Lesson 2: Hebrews 1:1--4; 2:5--12 (C); Hebrews 2:9--11 (RC); Hebrews 2:(1--8) 9--18 (E)
Hebrews was written for a Jewish audience, to keep them from abandoning their Christian faith in favor of returning to Judaism. The writer emphasizes that Christ is superior to the prophets (vv. 1--3). Christ holds the very nature of God and upholds the universe by his power. The writer also asserts Christ's superiority over angels (vv. 1:4--5; 2:5). Humanity, described by the Psalmist (8:4--6) and quoted in this passage as being a little less than the angels, attains its glory through the sufferings of Jesus (v. 10). Jesus is the pioneer or our salvation and our elder brother (v. 11).
Lesson 2: Hebrews 2:(1--8) 9--18 (E); Hebrews 2:9--11 (RC)
Gospel: Mark 10:2--16 (C, RC); Mark 10:2--9 (E)
The Pharisees attempt to trip Jesus by asking a question about divorce. "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" Jesus admits that Moses allowed for divorce but he goes on to explain that this was not God's intention from the beginning. Jesus grounds his point of view in the creation account. Marriage is instituted of God and should not be devalued by humans (v. 9). In private, the Lord further instructs his disciples on the topic. Whoever divorces his wife or her husband has committed adultery. The second part of this lection has mothers bringing their children to Jesus for his blessing. The disciples are indignant about the practice and try to bar access to Jesus. Jesus becomes angry about this and orders the children to be brought to him. If a person does not enter the kingdom like a child, he shall not enter it at all. This lesson indicates that the kingdom is a gift to be received with childlike faith.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 26 (C) - "O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell..." (v. 8).
Psalm 8 (E)
Psalm 127 (RC)
Prayer Of The Day
Gracious Lord, the devil, the world and our own sinful inclinations lead us away from our basic commitments to you and to those we love. In a fickle world of self--exaltation, keep us true to our covenants, in Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Job 1:1; 2:1--10
Where have you come from? (v. 2). Satan pops in on the heavenly assembly and God asks him where he's come from. He responds that he has been roaming the earth. The question is one that millions have pondered; where has Satan come from? Though Satan did not derive from earth, he seems to be very much at home here, testing God's children.
What will you give for your life? (v. 4). "All that people have they will give to save their lives." You may recall the joke that Jack Benny told about being robbed. The robber pointed a gun at him and demanded, "Your money or your life?" Benny did not respond and so the crook jabbed the fire iron into his ribs and shouted: "Didn't you hear me? Your money or your life?" Flustered, Jack responds, "I'm thinking, I'm thinking." Well, Satan may be right but it seems to me that there are many people who sacrifice their lives for things and a few that will sacrifice their lives for others.
Job passed the test (v. 10). The writer concludes that Job did not sin with his lips. He preserved his integrity.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 1:1--4; 2:5--12
The superiority of the Son (vv. 1--4). The book of Hebrews was written to convince believers that Jesus was superior to other means of revelation. He is superior to the prophets of old, the spokesmen for God. He is also superior to angels, messengers from God. Hebrews asserts that Jesus is the very image of God; seeing him, we view God.
The dawn of a new day (vv. 1--2). The Hebrews of the first century divided time into two ages - the present age, dominated by sin and death, and the new age, when the kingdom was to come in power and glory. Between these two ages was a period when the old was yielding way to the new. It is this in--between age, the dawning of a new day, that the writer of Hebrews refers to as "these last days."
More than a message (v. 3). The prophets were called by God to deliver a message; angels, by the very definition of their name, are messengers. In Jesus, God delivered more than a message, he communicated the light and glory of his holy presence. "He is the reflection of God's glory...."
Brother Jesus (v. 11). We normally speak of Jesus as Savior and Lord. It's hard for us to conceive of him as our brother, because the term connotes equality. Yet, this passage claims that Jesus became our brother through taking on our suffering, sin and death. We can call Christ brother because all those who are cleansed by the blood of Christ have one Father.
Gospel: Mark 10:2--16
The Great Satan. The leaders of Iran still hold that the United States is the Great Satan. In a sense, we are their Satan because we are an adversary; we oppose their very narrow world view. Those Pharisees who came to Jesus with the intent of tripping him up were Satan for Jesus. They wanted to accuse, to prosecute and to slander.
The intent, not the letter of the law. Jesus despised the legalism that permeated the religion of his day. God's moral laws are good, of course, but the scribes and Pharisees were preoccupied with framing and interpreting detailed legal rubrics. They had lost sight of the intent of the law. The same kind of legal malpractice occurs in our day too. The Pharisees were focused on the specific interpretation of the law on divorce, while Jesus zeroed in on God's intent (v. 6) for lifelong fidelity between husband and wife.
No scarlet letter. The Scarlet Letter features a woman who comes to the Massachusetts colony ahead of her husband to set up house. Her husband later is shipwrecked and presumably lost. She has a sexual liaison with the town parson and becomes pregnant. She refuses to divulge the identity of her lover and so they imprison her and then, when she is released, force her to wear a scarlet letter on her dress, "A" for adulterer. The letter is to serve as a reminder of her shame. In our day, there is little shame associated with adultery, which is the most frequent cause of divorce. Some people think that this is an improvement. I am not one of them. Some actions deserve shame.
No such thing as no--fault divorce. Many states have made divorce easier by establishing no--fault divorce. The concept is ludicrous. If there wasn't fault or sin, no divorce would have occurred. In some cases, the fault may be approximately equal. However, in most of the divorces that I observe, one of the marriage partners has committed adultery and thus broken their marriage covenant. As far as I'm concerned, the onus of fault rests on that party, though there is no such thing as absolute innocence. If we accept the premise of no one being at fault, no one will learn from his or her mistake. We see the result of glossing over the fracture of divorce in the lives of those who experience multiple failed marriages. It's easier to blame their partners than to look honestly at themselves.
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Job 1:1; 2:1--10
Sermon Title: The Fall Of Satan
Sermon Angle: The Bible provides glimpses of Satan's fall from grace. Originally, he was an angel of light. In Job, Satan still inhabits the court of the heavenly ones and serves as God's prime tester of humans. By the time Jesus comes on the scene, Satan stands as the diabolical one, who slanders God and deceives humans.
Sermon Title: Satan, Suffering and Sin
Sermon Angle: In the dialogue between Satan and God, God allows Satan to inflict suffering on Job to see if he would forsake God and commit sin. Satan postulates that suffering will cause sin. In contrast, some people feel that affliction is a consequence of their sin or somebody else's. They ask, what did I do to deserve this? What is the relationship between Satan, sin, sickness and suffering? It is plain that some suffering and sickness is a result of sin, and Satan certainly has a role in that: for instance, abusing our bodies through food, drink and drugs. Some suffering and sickness have nothing to do with personal sin, such as the consequences of heredity and environment. And yes, it is likely that God allows Satan to afflict us in order to test and purify us. Cause and effect are not easily determined. What we can know for certain is that Satan's power to hurt is limited by God's power and that God is working in everything to reveal to us his love and grace.
Outline:
1. Why we all suffer is something of a mystery.
2. Some feel that suffering is a punishment for sin; it would be better to say that suffering is sometimes a consequence of sin.
3. In our text, Job was innocent and righteous and yet he suffered. This shows that suffering is not necessarily a consequence of sin.
4. Does God permit Satan to inflict suffering to test us? Sometimes!
5. One thing we know: all things work together for good to those who love the Lord.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 1:1--4; 2:5--12
Sermon Title: The Superiority Of Our Savior
Sermon Angle: The writer of Hebrews has been trying to establish the superiority of Christ over the old revelation, but what really is the source of his superiority?
Outline:
1. The writer argues that Christ is superior to the Jewish faith, but how?
2. He is superior in divinity (he bears the very nature of God) (vv. 2b--3).
3. He is a superior intermediary and priest. He made purification for our sins (v. 3).
4. He is superior in suffering (vv. 9--10).
5. He is superior in bringing salvation to completion (vv. 10--12).
Sermon Title: Christ Died To Restore Us To Glory
Sermon Angle: Hebrews 5b--8a refers to Psalm 8:4--6, which states that God has made humans a little lower than the angels. The writer of Hebrews adds that he left nothing outside our control. A very glorious state indeed. Yet, because of sin and weakness, we have not attained that glory. Christ came into the world, suffered and died to restore our lost glory.
Outline:
1. God created humans to have mastery over the world.
2. We have fallen from that glory through sin.
3. Jesus came that, by his death and suffering, we might realize our original glory.
Gospel: Mark 10:2--16
Sermon Title: Passing The Test
Sermon Angle: The Pharisees put Jesus to the test once again (v. 2) on one of the hot topics of his day and of our day too - divorce. Jesus flunked, according to their standards, and that's what they wanted him to do. Once again, Jesus takes his stand not according to the opinion polls but according to divine truth. Once more, he takes a stand on the side of the weak and defenseless, women, in this case. In Jewish society, women were never the initiators of divorce, they were victims of the capricious whims of their husbands. Many interpretations of the grounds for divorce were very liberal. Our Lord's teaching on divorce remains unpopular and largely ignored. Of course, it doesn't really matter if he passes our test, only that we pass his.
Outline:
1. The Pharisees tested Jesus on the subject of divorce (v. 2).
2. He found that many people were failing to live up to God's standards.
3. Divorce is not God's will, but his concession to the reality of sin (v. 5).
4. In marriage, two people become one.
5. Divorce murders a living thing, marriage.
6. Christ calls us all to preserve the unity of marriage.
Sermon Title: What Has God Joined Together?
Sermon Angle: Jesus concludes his teaching on divorce. "Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate" (v. 9). Yet it is beyond belief that all who marry are following God's will. Some marriages are not made in heaven. This is likely the basis for the Roman Catholic practice of annulment. It differs from divorce in that annulment postulates that a valid marriage never took place. Christians should pray earnestly when seeking a husband or wife that the potential spouse is the one God intends. The distinction between annulment and divorce is open to abuse; even though God may not have brought two people together, he can even turn our mistakes into something good. Despite all that has been said about the oneness of marriage, some relationships are so destructive that divorce is the lesser of evils. Some relationships fail because God never joined them together.
Outline:
1. Christ says that marriage is a unity of one man, one woman and God (one flesh).
2. Christian marriage is according to God's will (what God has joined together).
3. Some marriages are the result of human willfulness and hubris - God never joined them together.
4. In some such marriages, divorce may be the lesser evil.
__________
If anyone had grounds for divorce, it was Tony Toto of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The story of Tony and his wife, Fran, was made into a movie titled: I Love You To Death. Several times: Fran attempted to dispatch her spouse to husband heaven. The first try came in 1982. A fourteen--year--old friend of one of Tony's sons tried to kill him with a baseball bat. A couple of months later, his daughter's boyfriend ran a wire from the distributor to the gas tank of Tony's car. It didn't work. In 1983, the daughter's new boyfriend agreed to do the job. He shot Tony in the head but when the bullet lodged in his skull, he panicked and ran away. He recommended his two cousins to finish the job and Fran agreed to pay them $500 each. They shot Tony in the heart but he didn't die. You might think that Fran would give up the murder racket and seek a simple divorce at this point. Right? Not Fran, she fed Tony soup laced with barbiturates. The police finally rescued Tony from this coterie of bumbling assassins, finding him in a semi--conscious state.
Fran served two years at the state prison for women in Muncy, Pennsylvania, and another two years at a minimum security prison. Tony waited for her. The first night she was home, they went out for pizza. "We never mention the words divorce, separation," Tony said in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I don't understand it, why people break up over silly things. I think people need to sit down and talk."
Sermon Title: Let Jesus Bless You
Sermon Angle: It was the custom of Jewish mothers to bring their children to a noted rabbi for a blessing, especially on their first birthday. The disciples viewed these mothers as a distraction rather than an opportunity for ministry. Children and women had relatively little status or importance. Jesus became angry and ordered that the children be allowed to come to him. He took them in his arms and blessed them. This scene is depicted in thousands of Sunday Schools. The Lord teaches that if we want to be one of God's blessed ones, we must become as a little child - powerless, humble, open, trusting. Jesus wants to bless all his children.
Outline:
1. The disciples thought Jesus had more important things to do than blessing children.
2. Jesus scolded his disciples and ordered the children to come to him for a blessing.
3. Jesus teaches that each of us must come to him as a little child - in weakness, openness, trust (vv. 14--16).
4. Don't let your sin or pride keep you from coming to Jesus. He wants to bless you!
__________
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Job 1:1; 2:1--10 (C)
This lection comprises the first of four readings from the book of Job, one of the books of biblical wisdom literature. This reading is part of the introduction (1:1-2:13), which sets the stage for the plot of the book. God is holding an assembly of the heavenly creatures, at which Satan makes an appearance. God brags--up Job as being faithful and righteous. Satan, not yet the embodiment of the demonic, suggests that if Job's health is adversely affected, Job will curse God. The Lord permits Satan to test Job by afflicting his body with terrible sores. Job's wife calls on him to curse God and die. Job refuses: "Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord and shall we not receive evil?" (v. 10). Job remains blameless.
Lesson 1: Genesis 2:18--24 (RC, E)
Lesson 2: Hebrews 1:1--4; 2:5--12 (C); Hebrews 2:9--11 (RC); Hebrews 2:(1--8) 9--18 (E)
Hebrews was written for a Jewish audience, to keep them from abandoning their Christian faith in favor of returning to Judaism. The writer emphasizes that Christ is superior to the prophets (vv. 1--3). Christ holds the very nature of God and upholds the universe by his power. The writer also asserts Christ's superiority over angels (vv. 1:4--5; 2:5). Humanity, described by the Psalmist (8:4--6) and quoted in this passage as being a little less than the angels, attains its glory through the sufferings of Jesus (v. 10). Jesus is the pioneer or our salvation and our elder brother (v. 11).
Lesson 2: Hebrews 2:(1--8) 9--18 (E); Hebrews 2:9--11 (RC)
Gospel: Mark 10:2--16 (C, RC); Mark 10:2--9 (E)
The Pharisees attempt to trip Jesus by asking a question about divorce. "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" Jesus admits that Moses allowed for divorce but he goes on to explain that this was not God's intention from the beginning. Jesus grounds his point of view in the creation account. Marriage is instituted of God and should not be devalued by humans (v. 9). In private, the Lord further instructs his disciples on the topic. Whoever divorces his wife or her husband has committed adultery. The second part of this lection has mothers bringing their children to Jesus for his blessing. The disciples are indignant about the practice and try to bar access to Jesus. Jesus becomes angry about this and orders the children to be brought to him. If a person does not enter the kingdom like a child, he shall not enter it at all. This lesson indicates that the kingdom is a gift to be received with childlike faith.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 26 (C) - "O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell..." (v. 8).
Psalm 8 (E)
Psalm 127 (RC)
Prayer Of The Day
Gracious Lord, the devil, the world and our own sinful inclinations lead us away from our basic commitments to you and to those we love. In a fickle world of self--exaltation, keep us true to our covenants, in Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Job 1:1; 2:1--10
Where have you come from? (v. 2). Satan pops in on the heavenly assembly and God asks him where he's come from. He responds that he has been roaming the earth. The question is one that millions have pondered; where has Satan come from? Though Satan did not derive from earth, he seems to be very much at home here, testing God's children.
What will you give for your life? (v. 4). "All that people have they will give to save their lives." You may recall the joke that Jack Benny told about being robbed. The robber pointed a gun at him and demanded, "Your money or your life?" Benny did not respond and so the crook jabbed the fire iron into his ribs and shouted: "Didn't you hear me? Your money or your life?" Flustered, Jack responds, "I'm thinking, I'm thinking." Well, Satan may be right but it seems to me that there are many people who sacrifice their lives for things and a few that will sacrifice their lives for others.
Job passed the test (v. 10). The writer concludes that Job did not sin with his lips. He preserved his integrity.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 1:1--4; 2:5--12
The superiority of the Son (vv. 1--4). The book of Hebrews was written to convince believers that Jesus was superior to other means of revelation. He is superior to the prophets of old, the spokesmen for God. He is also superior to angels, messengers from God. Hebrews asserts that Jesus is the very image of God; seeing him, we view God.
The dawn of a new day (vv. 1--2). The Hebrews of the first century divided time into two ages - the present age, dominated by sin and death, and the new age, when the kingdom was to come in power and glory. Between these two ages was a period when the old was yielding way to the new. It is this in--between age, the dawning of a new day, that the writer of Hebrews refers to as "these last days."
More than a message (v. 3). The prophets were called by God to deliver a message; angels, by the very definition of their name, are messengers. In Jesus, God delivered more than a message, he communicated the light and glory of his holy presence. "He is the reflection of God's glory...."
Brother Jesus (v. 11). We normally speak of Jesus as Savior and Lord. It's hard for us to conceive of him as our brother, because the term connotes equality. Yet, this passage claims that Jesus became our brother through taking on our suffering, sin and death. We can call Christ brother because all those who are cleansed by the blood of Christ have one Father.
Gospel: Mark 10:2--16
The Great Satan. The leaders of Iran still hold that the United States is the Great Satan. In a sense, we are their Satan because we are an adversary; we oppose their very narrow world view. Those Pharisees who came to Jesus with the intent of tripping him up were Satan for Jesus. They wanted to accuse, to prosecute and to slander.
The intent, not the letter of the law. Jesus despised the legalism that permeated the religion of his day. God's moral laws are good, of course, but the scribes and Pharisees were preoccupied with framing and interpreting detailed legal rubrics. They had lost sight of the intent of the law. The same kind of legal malpractice occurs in our day too. The Pharisees were focused on the specific interpretation of the law on divorce, while Jesus zeroed in on God's intent (v. 6) for lifelong fidelity between husband and wife.
No scarlet letter. The Scarlet Letter features a woman who comes to the Massachusetts colony ahead of her husband to set up house. Her husband later is shipwrecked and presumably lost. She has a sexual liaison with the town parson and becomes pregnant. She refuses to divulge the identity of her lover and so they imprison her and then, when she is released, force her to wear a scarlet letter on her dress, "A" for adulterer. The letter is to serve as a reminder of her shame. In our day, there is little shame associated with adultery, which is the most frequent cause of divorce. Some people think that this is an improvement. I am not one of them. Some actions deserve shame.
No such thing as no--fault divorce. Many states have made divorce easier by establishing no--fault divorce. The concept is ludicrous. If there wasn't fault or sin, no divorce would have occurred. In some cases, the fault may be approximately equal. However, in most of the divorces that I observe, one of the marriage partners has committed adultery and thus broken their marriage covenant. As far as I'm concerned, the onus of fault rests on that party, though there is no such thing as absolute innocence. If we accept the premise of no one being at fault, no one will learn from his or her mistake. We see the result of glossing over the fracture of divorce in the lives of those who experience multiple failed marriages. It's easier to blame their partners than to look honestly at themselves.
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Job 1:1; 2:1--10
Sermon Title: The Fall Of Satan
Sermon Angle: The Bible provides glimpses of Satan's fall from grace. Originally, he was an angel of light. In Job, Satan still inhabits the court of the heavenly ones and serves as God's prime tester of humans. By the time Jesus comes on the scene, Satan stands as the diabolical one, who slanders God and deceives humans.
Sermon Title: Satan, Suffering and Sin
Sermon Angle: In the dialogue between Satan and God, God allows Satan to inflict suffering on Job to see if he would forsake God and commit sin. Satan postulates that suffering will cause sin. In contrast, some people feel that affliction is a consequence of their sin or somebody else's. They ask, what did I do to deserve this? What is the relationship between Satan, sin, sickness and suffering? It is plain that some suffering and sickness is a result of sin, and Satan certainly has a role in that: for instance, abusing our bodies through food, drink and drugs. Some suffering and sickness have nothing to do with personal sin, such as the consequences of heredity and environment. And yes, it is likely that God allows Satan to afflict us in order to test and purify us. Cause and effect are not easily determined. What we can know for certain is that Satan's power to hurt is limited by God's power and that God is working in everything to reveal to us his love and grace.
Outline:
1. Why we all suffer is something of a mystery.
2. Some feel that suffering is a punishment for sin; it would be better to say that suffering is sometimes a consequence of sin.
3. In our text, Job was innocent and righteous and yet he suffered. This shows that suffering is not necessarily a consequence of sin.
4. Does God permit Satan to inflict suffering to test us? Sometimes!
5. One thing we know: all things work together for good to those who love the Lord.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 1:1--4; 2:5--12
Sermon Title: The Superiority Of Our Savior
Sermon Angle: The writer of Hebrews has been trying to establish the superiority of Christ over the old revelation, but what really is the source of his superiority?
Outline:
1. The writer argues that Christ is superior to the Jewish faith, but how?
2. He is superior in divinity (he bears the very nature of God) (vv. 2b--3).
3. He is a superior intermediary and priest. He made purification for our sins (v. 3).
4. He is superior in suffering (vv. 9--10).
5. He is superior in bringing salvation to completion (vv. 10--12).
Sermon Title: Christ Died To Restore Us To Glory
Sermon Angle: Hebrews 5b--8a refers to Psalm 8:4--6, which states that God has made humans a little lower than the angels. The writer of Hebrews adds that he left nothing outside our control. A very glorious state indeed. Yet, because of sin and weakness, we have not attained that glory. Christ came into the world, suffered and died to restore our lost glory.
Outline:
1. God created humans to have mastery over the world.
2. We have fallen from that glory through sin.
3. Jesus came that, by his death and suffering, we might realize our original glory.
Gospel: Mark 10:2--16
Sermon Title: Passing The Test
Sermon Angle: The Pharisees put Jesus to the test once again (v. 2) on one of the hot topics of his day and of our day too - divorce. Jesus flunked, according to their standards, and that's what they wanted him to do. Once again, Jesus takes his stand not according to the opinion polls but according to divine truth. Once more, he takes a stand on the side of the weak and defenseless, women, in this case. In Jewish society, women were never the initiators of divorce, they were victims of the capricious whims of their husbands. Many interpretations of the grounds for divorce were very liberal. Our Lord's teaching on divorce remains unpopular and largely ignored. Of course, it doesn't really matter if he passes our test, only that we pass his.
Outline:
1. The Pharisees tested Jesus on the subject of divorce (v. 2).
2. He found that many people were failing to live up to God's standards.
3. Divorce is not God's will, but his concession to the reality of sin (v. 5).
4. In marriage, two people become one.
5. Divorce murders a living thing, marriage.
6. Christ calls us all to preserve the unity of marriage.
Sermon Title: What Has God Joined Together?
Sermon Angle: Jesus concludes his teaching on divorce. "Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate" (v. 9). Yet it is beyond belief that all who marry are following God's will. Some marriages are not made in heaven. This is likely the basis for the Roman Catholic practice of annulment. It differs from divorce in that annulment postulates that a valid marriage never took place. Christians should pray earnestly when seeking a husband or wife that the potential spouse is the one God intends. The distinction between annulment and divorce is open to abuse; even though God may not have brought two people together, he can even turn our mistakes into something good. Despite all that has been said about the oneness of marriage, some relationships are so destructive that divorce is the lesser of evils. Some relationships fail because God never joined them together.
Outline:
1. Christ says that marriage is a unity of one man, one woman and God (one flesh).
2. Christian marriage is according to God's will (what God has joined together).
3. Some marriages are the result of human willfulness and hubris - God never joined them together.
4. In some such marriages, divorce may be the lesser evil.
__________
If anyone had grounds for divorce, it was Tony Toto of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The story of Tony and his wife, Fran, was made into a movie titled: I Love You To Death. Several times: Fran attempted to dispatch her spouse to husband heaven. The first try came in 1982. A fourteen--year--old friend of one of Tony's sons tried to kill him with a baseball bat. A couple of months later, his daughter's boyfriend ran a wire from the distributor to the gas tank of Tony's car. It didn't work. In 1983, the daughter's new boyfriend agreed to do the job. He shot Tony in the head but when the bullet lodged in his skull, he panicked and ran away. He recommended his two cousins to finish the job and Fran agreed to pay them $500 each. They shot Tony in the heart but he didn't die. You might think that Fran would give up the murder racket and seek a simple divorce at this point. Right? Not Fran, she fed Tony soup laced with barbiturates. The police finally rescued Tony from this coterie of bumbling assassins, finding him in a semi--conscious state.
Fran served two years at the state prison for women in Muncy, Pennsylvania, and another two years at a minimum security prison. Tony waited for her. The first night she was home, they went out for pizza. "We never mention the words divorce, separation," Tony said in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I don't understand it, why people break up over silly things. I think people need to sit down and talk."
Sermon Title: Let Jesus Bless You
Sermon Angle: It was the custom of Jewish mothers to bring their children to a noted rabbi for a blessing, especially on their first birthday. The disciples viewed these mothers as a distraction rather than an opportunity for ministry. Children and women had relatively little status or importance. Jesus became angry and ordered that the children be allowed to come to him. He took them in his arms and blessed them. This scene is depicted in thousands of Sunday Schools. The Lord teaches that if we want to be one of God's blessed ones, we must become as a little child - powerless, humble, open, trusting. Jesus wants to bless all his children.
Outline:
1. The disciples thought Jesus had more important things to do than blessing children.
2. Jesus scolded his disciples and ordered the children to come to him for a blessing.
3. Jesus teaches that each of us must come to him as a little child - in weakness, openness, trust (vv. 14--16).
4. Don't let your sin or pride keep you from coming to Jesus. He wants to bless you!
__________
