Second Sunday After The Epiphany
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle B
Seasonal Theme
Jesus grows up and it begins to dawn on some who and what he is.
Theme For The Day
God calls us to ministry and discipleship. That is a call to a certain kind of life as well.
Old Testament Lesson
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
The Call Of Samuel
1. Verses 1-10 -- Samuel had been serving in the Levitical ministry at Shilo. Now God was speaking to him directly. He was in the temple watching the burning lamp. At first he thought the voice was that of Eli. But Eli knew it was calling his successor so advised him to answer and obey.
2. Verses 11-20 -- Eli's sons were wicked and he did not chastise them so God needed to remove Eli's family from the priesthood. In Samuel, God had found a man to whom he could entrust the ministry. The sign that he was a true prophet was that what he said came true (v. 19). Thus, a new era is underway. God's revelation through priest and Ephod was over and revelation through the prophets was beginning.
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Christian Guidelines
This passage by Paul to the Corinthians is packed full of guidance for Christian ethics, i.e., right and wrong for us disciples of Jesus.
1. Verse 12 -- The Christian must not do some things even though it is perfectly legal to do so. We must be aware of any vice, habit, etc., that controls us rather than we control it.
2. Verses 13-15 -- Our bodies are precious and we should be good stewards of their use.
3. Verse 17 -- We are bodily united to Christ through the Spirit and must do all things which reflect well on his body, the church.
4. Verse 18 -- To have sexual relations outside the marriage is to sin against our own bodies.
5. Verse 19 -- We must treat our bodies as we treat a holy temple. It belongs to God and must be treated so.
6. Verse 20 -- What we do physically should glorify God.
Paul meant these guidelines for the quarreling Corinthian Christians who lived in such an evil and tempting place. But, they will work for us today as well! In our American culture, verse 12 especially speaks to me. Often we Christians must refrain from a behavior, not because it is illegal or not our right to do so. We must refrain because of how it makes the Christian faith look to others. Now that will really preach!
The Gospel
John 1:43-51
The Calling Of Phillip And Nathaniel
This reading fits nicely with the Old Testament Lesson about yet another call. This time a brother's witnessing to his brother and his technique may still be the most effective witness in our day. Not a lecture but, rather, an invitation to "come and see."
1. Verse 46 -- Phillip's emblem contains a basket because of his reply to Jesus.
2. John 6:7 -- when he fed the multitude. His was a very close to the ground, practical approach. We meet Phillip at the last supper, also. He still wanted proof. See John 14:8-14. John speaks of Nathaniel here but the other evangelists call him Bartholomew, which means "son of Tolmai." We know almost nothing at all about him. After we are told how he became a disciple, we read nothing except that he came from Cana in Galilee. Perhaps he was present at Jesus' first miracle of changing water into wine at the wedding feast. His symbol is three flaying knives which indicate his martyrdom.
Preaching Possibilities
The New Testament Reading will easily stand alone as we preach on "Paul's Right or Wrong for Christians." You could use the principles laid out in the comments on the scripture above as an outline.
The Old Testament call of Samuel will also stand alone as we address the subject of "God's Call and Our Response."
But perhaps the best approach to today's readings is to use all three with the Old Testament and talk about what God's call really is and where and when God does call us. Then the Gospel can give us guidance about who God calls, like Phillip and Nathaniel, and into what kinds of discipleship God calls us today. Then use the letter by Paul to talk about the standards required from one called by God, like the following.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Introduction: Begin by telling about your call into the gospel ministry.
B. Now move to retelling Samuel's call from the Old Testament Lesson.
1. Now relate how God usually calls us through other people, as Samuel was through Eli.
2. Now explore the ways we might be the instrument through which God calls others into discipleship.
3. Explore how a youth program in your parish might be effective in calling young people today as happened in church to Samuel.
C. Move to the Gospel and Nathaniel and Phillip.
1. Talk about how "the call" is to average people like us and like them.
2. Speak of why Phillip's answer was so inspired and effective: not a lecture but an invitation to come and see.
3. Talk about how important it is when the ones invited do come and see -- that they see something convincing!
D. Go to Paul's advice to the Corinthians and talk about into what kind of discipleship we are called. And what kind of behavior is expected. You might want to add some of Jesus' admonitions to Paul's list: turn the other cheek, love and pray for enemies, go the extra mile, and be kind to one another.
E. Now frame the sermon by returning to your story about your call. Finish by stating that God calls us all to ministry in the world -- not just the preacher. Invite them to come and see and bring others to see, as well.
Prayer For The Day
Like Samuel, O God, help us to hear again and again your call. Like Nathaniel and Phillip, call us in our daily lives to be your disciples and follow you. And like Paul, show us the way to behave in this tempting world and culture, that others would want to accept our invitation to come and see. In Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
Ruth, one of our older Hong Kong students and a recent Chinese Christian, won an award for writing the best Christian tract. In accepting the award, she told how she had opposed Christianity all her life and now that she had become a Christian, she wrote the gospel tract hoping that her husband would read it and believe. He was not there to see her receive the award.
In Henry IV, Part Two, Shakespeare has Henry say: "The oldest sins the newest kind of ways?" And in Julius Caesar, III, Caesar says, "The evil that men do lives after them." And in Much Ado About Nothing, III, "They that touch pitch will be defiled."
As I prepared to return to the People's Republic of China, I had to apply for a work visa again. On St. Martin's Day, I had to take my University diplomas to a notary and have her validate the copies to be submitted with the application. She first checked the original and then put her seal on the copy to show it was an authentic copy. Being in Christ and, as Luther called us, "Little Christ to our neighbor," how can we be authenticated as genuine disciples? Are we authentic copies of those early called disciples of Jesus?
After the lacing of Tylenol Extra Strength with poison in Chicago, there began to be what the police called "copycat" crimes. We ought to live out our call as copycats of the good ministry of others like Saint Francis, Joan of Arc, and Mother Teresa. And perhaps in the practice of our discipleship we might inspire others to "copy" us.
Jesus grows up and it begins to dawn on some who and what he is.
Theme For The Day
God calls us to ministry and discipleship. That is a call to a certain kind of life as well.
Old Testament Lesson
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
The Call Of Samuel
1. Verses 1-10 -- Samuel had been serving in the Levitical ministry at Shilo. Now God was speaking to him directly. He was in the temple watching the burning lamp. At first he thought the voice was that of Eli. But Eli knew it was calling his successor so advised him to answer and obey.
2. Verses 11-20 -- Eli's sons were wicked and he did not chastise them so God needed to remove Eli's family from the priesthood. In Samuel, God had found a man to whom he could entrust the ministry. The sign that he was a true prophet was that what he said came true (v. 19). Thus, a new era is underway. God's revelation through priest and Ephod was over and revelation through the prophets was beginning.
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Christian Guidelines
This passage by Paul to the Corinthians is packed full of guidance for Christian ethics, i.e., right and wrong for us disciples of Jesus.
1. Verse 12 -- The Christian must not do some things even though it is perfectly legal to do so. We must be aware of any vice, habit, etc., that controls us rather than we control it.
2. Verses 13-15 -- Our bodies are precious and we should be good stewards of their use.
3. Verse 17 -- We are bodily united to Christ through the Spirit and must do all things which reflect well on his body, the church.
4. Verse 18 -- To have sexual relations outside the marriage is to sin against our own bodies.
5. Verse 19 -- We must treat our bodies as we treat a holy temple. It belongs to God and must be treated so.
6. Verse 20 -- What we do physically should glorify God.
Paul meant these guidelines for the quarreling Corinthian Christians who lived in such an evil and tempting place. But, they will work for us today as well! In our American culture, verse 12 especially speaks to me. Often we Christians must refrain from a behavior, not because it is illegal or not our right to do so. We must refrain because of how it makes the Christian faith look to others. Now that will really preach!
The Gospel
John 1:43-51
The Calling Of Phillip And Nathaniel
This reading fits nicely with the Old Testament Lesson about yet another call. This time a brother's witnessing to his brother and his technique may still be the most effective witness in our day. Not a lecture but, rather, an invitation to "come and see."
1. Verse 46 -- Phillip's emblem contains a basket because of his reply to Jesus.
2. John 6:7 -- when he fed the multitude. His was a very close to the ground, practical approach. We meet Phillip at the last supper, also. He still wanted proof. See John 14:8-14. John speaks of Nathaniel here but the other evangelists call him Bartholomew, which means "son of Tolmai." We know almost nothing at all about him. After we are told how he became a disciple, we read nothing except that he came from Cana in Galilee. Perhaps he was present at Jesus' first miracle of changing water into wine at the wedding feast. His symbol is three flaying knives which indicate his martyrdom.
Preaching Possibilities
The New Testament Reading will easily stand alone as we preach on "Paul's Right or Wrong for Christians." You could use the principles laid out in the comments on the scripture above as an outline.
The Old Testament call of Samuel will also stand alone as we address the subject of "God's Call and Our Response."
But perhaps the best approach to today's readings is to use all three with the Old Testament and talk about what God's call really is and where and when God does call us. Then the Gospel can give us guidance about who God calls, like Phillip and Nathaniel, and into what kinds of discipleship God calls us today. Then use the letter by Paul to talk about the standards required from one called by God, like the following.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Introduction: Begin by telling about your call into the gospel ministry.
B. Now move to retelling Samuel's call from the Old Testament Lesson.
1. Now relate how God usually calls us through other people, as Samuel was through Eli.
2. Now explore the ways we might be the instrument through which God calls others into discipleship.
3. Explore how a youth program in your parish might be effective in calling young people today as happened in church to Samuel.
C. Move to the Gospel and Nathaniel and Phillip.
1. Talk about how "the call" is to average people like us and like them.
2. Speak of why Phillip's answer was so inspired and effective: not a lecture but an invitation to come and see.
3. Talk about how important it is when the ones invited do come and see -- that they see something convincing!
D. Go to Paul's advice to the Corinthians and talk about into what kind of discipleship we are called. And what kind of behavior is expected. You might want to add some of Jesus' admonitions to Paul's list: turn the other cheek, love and pray for enemies, go the extra mile, and be kind to one another.
E. Now frame the sermon by returning to your story about your call. Finish by stating that God calls us all to ministry in the world -- not just the preacher. Invite them to come and see and bring others to see, as well.
Prayer For The Day
Like Samuel, O God, help us to hear again and again your call. Like Nathaniel and Phillip, call us in our daily lives to be your disciples and follow you. And like Paul, show us the way to behave in this tempting world and culture, that others would want to accept our invitation to come and see. In Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
Ruth, one of our older Hong Kong students and a recent Chinese Christian, won an award for writing the best Christian tract. In accepting the award, she told how she had opposed Christianity all her life and now that she had become a Christian, she wrote the gospel tract hoping that her husband would read it and believe. He was not there to see her receive the award.
In Henry IV, Part Two, Shakespeare has Henry say: "The oldest sins the newest kind of ways?" And in Julius Caesar, III, Caesar says, "The evil that men do lives after them." And in Much Ado About Nothing, III, "They that touch pitch will be defiled."
As I prepared to return to the People's Republic of China, I had to apply for a work visa again. On St. Martin's Day, I had to take my University diplomas to a notary and have her validate the copies to be submitted with the application. She first checked the original and then put her seal on the copy to show it was an authentic copy. Being in Christ and, as Luther called us, "Little Christ to our neighbor," how can we be authenticated as genuine disciples? Are we authentic copies of those early called disciples of Jesus?
After the lacing of Tylenol Extra Strength with poison in Chicago, there began to be what the police called "copycat" crimes. We ought to live out our call as copycats of the good ministry of others like Saint Francis, Joan of Arc, and Mother Teresa. And perhaps in the practice of our discipleship we might inspire others to "copy" us.
