Exodus 32:7-14
Psalm 51:1-10
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-10
FIRST LESSON: Exodus 32:7-14
Challenges:
- In this passage, it seems like God has to be “talked down” from doing some destroying. It can be disconcerting to hear God sound so very emotional and ANGRY! Making sense of this will take some conversation.
- This lesson begins right in the middle of the action-talking about this will require background, but not too much: you only have so much time. Why is God upset???
- We are used to the picture of God being timeless and all-knowing. Seeing God change God’s mind can be a bit shocking.
Opportunities:
- One of my wife’s Old Testament professors talked about how in the OT God is vulnerable: God cares enough about God’s relationship with humanity that God can be hurt.
- If you really wanted to create an interesting
juxta-position to this lesson, you can sing “Immortal, Invisible, God Only
Wise” and then explore about how we view God.
- This comes directly after Israel makes a Golden Calf, THAT comes after God liberates Israel from slavery. Telling the abbreviated Exodus story will give this story pathos.
The Good
News:
- Had I been in God’s place I would have been upset too. While God not only refrains from DESTROYING the people, God continues to PROTECT the people. That’s amazing and grace-filled.
- God listens. God sees. God is connected. If God's nature really is community (as in the Trinity, which I believe) listening and seeing and interacting are all about who God is.
PSALM: 51:1-10
Challenges:
- This psalm concerns penitence and confession. Some people think penitence is over-rated and ruins your self esteem. Other people might be on the opposite end of the spectrum and beat themselves up all of the time. A preacher will be speaking to both types (and everyone in between)
- Words like "iniquity" and "hyssop" might sound unfamilar to those who are not really well versed in scripture (which would be most people).
- You can practically feel the pathos and emotion coming from this psalm. This is a great chance to use nonbiblical stories of people who have really felt the need for forgiveness.
- The image of "being made clean" is strong in this Psalm: a chance to talk about laundry? Cleaning the house?
- If you have a literature-friendly crowd, you could talk about Lady Macbeth's line: "Out, damned spot, out," and a little later, "Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand." She's haunted by her role in murder and the imagery fits well.
The Good
News:
- While we don't hear from God in these ten verses, we can assume that the speaker believes all of these things are possible: cleansing, truth, a right spirit, etc.
- The speaker feels that a person can approach God. We can take a cue from this psalm and approach God as well.
- By "listening in" to this psalm, we learn about the character of God: God desires TRUTH.
SECOND
LESSON: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Challenges:
- It might be tempting to explain that this isn't actually Paul writing. Unless your sermon's main topic is pseudepigraphy (in which case, good luck!) mentioning this will just confuse the main point. Is it THAT important for people to know? Really?
- Verse 12 can be potentially confusing: did Christ Jesus strengthen Paul BECAUSE he found Paul faithful? Or is Paul thankful 'because' he was considered faith and appointed to Christ's service, even though he was a blasphemer? I think it's the later, but the way you say the sentence makes a difference.
- Verse 17's image of God as 'immortal, invisible, and only God' is really in tension with Exodus 32's view of God. Of course, this might not be a challenge, but rather an opportunity...
Opportunities:
- Here the writer, speaking as/for Paul, talks about his past as a "blasphemer, persecutor, and man of violence." This could be a good chance to talk about the benefits of "coming clean" or "confessing" the things from our past that go against God's way. Trying to justify yourself can be exhausting. Giving in to the mercy and forgiveness of God can be a relief.
- In the third bullet point for "the Good News" section I talk about how God's mercy through Jesus Christ is not only for Paul personally, but also so that Paul can be an example for others. I say that in this way Jesus is like a Master Chess player who sees the game four or five moves in advance and all of his moves will bring multiple benefits. Emphasizing this image of Jesus as someone whose "moves" have multiple benefits could be helpful.
- In verse 14, there's a great image of "the grace of our Lord" overflowing for Paul. The idea of God's love and grace being extravagent and overwhelming can be very powerful.
- "...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." (v 15) That pretty much sums it up.
- Verse 15b and 16 clear up some of the issues caused by the wording of verse 12. Paul received mercy BECAUSE "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" not because of anything he did.
- Paul is not only shown mercy for his own sake, the mercy he receives is also a great example to others. (see v. 16) Again and again in the Bible we see Jesus acting in a way that helps many different people from many different angles. He is like a master chess-player who can see four or five moves ahead: and each move is going to help someone.
GOSPEL: Luke 15:1-10
Challenges:
- There are almost TOO MANY good things to talk about here. Do you pick just one aspect/story or do you do a survey of th
- A well-meaning, but unhelpful view of the tax-collectors and other "sinners" is that Jesus accepts them and doesn't want them to change their lives at all. Instead, he is there so that they will repent, change their hearts and lives and come back home to God. We often emphasize the acceptance, but not the call for repentence.
- It is also often easy to criticize the Pharisees and scribes for being religious hypocrites (which, of course, they are). But if we criticize them without thinking, we miss the ways we too can be put in their shoes, AND the radical, amazing, UNCOMFORTABLE and CHALLENGING message that Jesus is preaching. If I'm honest with myself, if I had heard it back then (or placed in my present context now) it would unsettle me.
Opportunities:
- AS A GREAT IMAGE: The Altar at St. Gregory's of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco, CA has "This man welcomes sinners" written where many other altars say "Do this in remembrance of me." This congregation also holds it's weekly food pantry around the altar, using it to hold food that will be distributed.
- N.T. Wright says, "...all heaven is having a party, the angels are joining in and if we don't have one as well we'll be out of tune with God's reality. (Luke for Everyone, pg. 184.) This is a great chance to talk about parties. Big, fun, joyful, exciting parties.
- Here you have many of the principle social groups present in the story: scribes and pharisees, tax collectors and "sinners." This is a good chance to talk about the background of these groups: (i.e. tax collectors weren't only greedy and immoral, they were also collaborators with Rome and the local rulers, I don't think I would have liked them either, frankly).
- This is one of those passages where you don't have to hunt for the "good news," you just have to get out of its way.
- Jesus doesn't ONLY love sinners as they are: he is here to change their lives for the better. Positive change will happen.
- There is nothing special about the lost sheep or the lost coin other than the fact that they are lost. You don't have to be anything other than you are for God to love you and want to be in a relationship with you. If you take part in the relationship, expect to have things change...and for there to be parties in heaven.
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