Pentecost 16: September 8, 2013

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Psalm 1

Philemon 1-21

Luke 14:25-33

FIRST LESSON: Deuteronomy 30: 15-20

Challenges:

• This lesson seems to take on a very “IF this, THEN that” conditional attitude toward following God.  

• If you look at this lesson as a contract that we have to uphold to God’s satisfaction, how do you ever know if you’ve done enough? Is there a proper “covenant batting average” that will get you into God’s “Hall of Fame?”

• Let’s just say that Israel and Judah had actually followed these commandments.  They were still small countries in between large empires: the chances of getting conquered would have still be very strong indeed.

Opportunities:

• Recently many evolutionary scientists have maintained the long-term advantages of altruism, selflessness and cooperation.  Jews and Christians can say, “That’s not new to us: we’ve been saying it for millennia!”

• With v. 19 the image of a buffet comes to mind: do you choose a blessing or curse?  Life or death? Crab Rangoon or General Tso’s Chicken?

• This is a good chance to give a very basic overview of the commands, decrees and ordinance of Deuteronomy to show the things that God finds to be important.

The Good News:

• God doesn’t give us commands to ruin our good times: God gives us a way of life that is fulfilling.

• This lesson gives you the sense that God is really looking for a relationship: God really cares.

•   In v.20 we see God making a promise, and God keeps God’s promises.

PSALM: Psalm 1

Challenges:

•    “In all that they do, they prosper.” Really? I’ve seen nasty people prosper and good people fail.

• While in verse 5 we learn that sinners will not be able to stand in the congregation when the judgment comes: trying to figure out who-is-who (sinners or righteous?) is counter-productive.

• Depending on your mindset this psalm could make the smug, smugger and those with low self-esteem feel even lower. 

Opportunities:

•     You could look at this psalm in two different ways: a smug person congratulating themselves, or a down-trodden person saying these words, hoping that they are true, despite his/her experience.

• This psalm has great imagery: visuals of trees and other parts of creation could enhance the message, as well as stories about trees, gardens, etc.

•     This is a great chance to talk about “the law of the Lord” (v.2) as a way of life.

The Good News:

•     The strength of those who delight in the law of the Lord is contingent on God, not their own strength.

•    Prosperity isn’t a reward, it’s a result. As Coach Taylor on the show Friday Night Lights tells his team: “success is a byproduct” of good practice. 

 

SECOND LESSON: Philemon 1-21

Challenges:

• The Bible was written and compiled during a time when slavery was an accepted institution.  The fact that the Bible accepts the institution and does not categorically denounce it can be hard to stomach.
   
• There’s a temptation to give Onesimus and Philemon character traits and personalities that are not supported by the text: we don’t know if Philemon was a likeable guy, or a tyrant.  We can’t assume too much.
• You could spend the whole sermon explaining the socio-economic world of Paul and not get to any application for the present day.

Opportunities:

 

• This is a practical, messy, real-life situation. It shows that Paul was VERY interested in the everyday life of the church: he wasn’t an abstract academic. Paul’s passive aggressive, guilt-inducing style is actually almost funny (v.18-19)

• This could possibly be the first time some people have heard from (or even of) this book.  It’s a great chance for an introduction. 

• Why not throw in the last 4 verses so that you can say you read an entire Biblical book during worship?
  

The Good News:

 

• Paul’s goal here is even more challenging (and rewarding) than liberty: it’s community.  This isn’t about “good guys” vs. “bad guys:” it’s about reconciliation. 

•  Paul’s goal of reconciliation is very similar to Martin Luther King Jr.’s goal for America:  the “Beloved Community” for ALL Americans together. From the speech Our God is Marching On: “Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate the white man but to win his friendship and understanding.” (I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches that Changed the World: HarperCollins, 1992)

•  If you ever wondered if Paul really meant what he said about “No longer slave or free.” (Gal. 3:28)

GOSPEL: Luke 14:25-33

Challenges:

•  An obvious challenge in v. 26: the word “hate” is very strong.  The Greek word “misseo” can mean “to have a strong aversion to,” or “to be disinclined to.” 

• We’re supposed to give up our possessions?   Is that likely?  Possible?

• There have been some really intense, challenging Gospel lessons from Luke recently.  It can get exhausting!

Opportunities:

 

• This is a good chance to talk about hyperbole and how the Bible will often use such extreme examples to make a point.  “Hate” can have the meaning “love less.” 

• This is a good chance to talk about being an actual “Christ-follower” and not just a “Christian.”

• Rob Bell has an excellent Nooma video (Shells) where he talks about how saying “yes” to one thing means saying “no” to plenty of other things. 

The Good News:

•  Jesus' words really point to a person's PRIORITIES. What comes first?

• This is an invitation to a new and better life.  Jesus knows that possessions will rule us: he gives us the chance to have something else.

• We can all get caught up with numbers and "large crowds."  If we don't have tons of people flocking to our church, group, organization, etc. we can feel like failures. It can be helpful to know that Jesus wasn't obsessed with quantity like we sometimes are.