Psalm 121
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Luke 18:1-8
First Lesson: Genesis 32:22-31
Challenges:
- The text is somewhat ambiguous in naming Jacob's assailant. Instead of calling him either "God" or "An Angel" the narrator simply says "a man" (v.24). This man won't give his name and it is Jacob who says it was God (v.30). So was it an angel or God? Or is "an angel" (found in later tradition) just a way of saying "it was God?" I'm in the "it was God" camp.
- This story has A LOT of backstory to it. Don't assume that everyone remembers Jacob's story. They might know someone named Jacob...that could be about the limit of their knowledge. How will you tell Jacob's story accurately yet succinctly?
- I feel like I should have a third bullet-point, but I can't think of any other challenges, this is such a good, rich text. The third challenge is that I cannot find anymore challenges.
Opportunities:
- This is a powerful story and you can go all-out theatrical. The sermon with which I had the most fun involved "announcing" this story as if it were a prize fight between Jacob and the Angel/God. Go ahead, ring a bell, use your best announcer's voice, and get people's attention in the introduction. You can return to the theme at the end to tie things up: "Well, ladies and Gentlemen, we've had quite a fight here tonight..."
- Other really good commentators (http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1793) talk about how the people of Israel mention and identify with Jacob/Israel even more than Abraham and the rest. Jacob IS Israel, both by his name (given here) and his relationship with God. The people and God have had and will have quite a contentious, crazy relationship that can feel like a wrestling match. This story is THEIR story in a nutshell.
The Good News:
- Maybe you don't necessarily fit the stereotypical description of a "saint." Maybe you show a bit of attitude and you can be a bit...well, rambunctious. Jacob is the character for you. He might not be perfect, but he has a relationship with God and a blessing.
- The "man" could certainly have zapped Jacob after the wrestling match
- As it was mentioned up in the "Opportunity" section, this story is THE story of Israel's relationship with God. They wrestle, they fight, but they stick together and there is a blessing. This is personal and intimate.
The Psalm: Psalm 121
Challenges:
- Anytime you have a psalm that talks about all of the wonderful things that God does it is possible to veer into one of two problem areas: 1) "God doesn't always seem to be ready to help in my life! This psalm is just wrong." OR... 2) "Everything is great! God had everything in hand so cheer up! Nothing to worry about! If you worry, you must be an atheist, because you don't trust that there is a God! Suck it up and cheer up, even though your life is falling apart..." Both points of view are problematic and need some guidance.
Opportunities:
- I have no idea if this is what the psalmist mean about "The Lord is your shade at your right hand" BUT...in ancient armies that used a "phalanx" in battle, warriors lined up in tightly packed ranks with overlapping shields. Your shield was on your left and your spear/sword was on your right. That meant the guy to your right protected you with his shield. The guy on your right was very important and the guy all the way on the far right of the line (who had no one to protect him) was hugely important. The Lord's shield gives you shade and protects your right-side.
- God does not slumber or sleep. This could be a great opportunity to talk about the somewhat dubious benefits of "customer service" via phone versus a relationship with God. This could be through-provoking and somewhat humorous, just don't get silly and promise that God will "always answer like and provide good customer support."
- If we're on the phone subject. You could allude to Johnny Cash's cover of Depesh Mode's "Personal Jesus." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6ZFZ-shKJg. When The Man in Black sings "Someone to hear your prayers, someone who cares." It really resonates with me, even if the "pick up the receiver, I'll make you a believer" line seems cheesy.
The Good News:
- God does not slumber or sleep. There is no "bad" time to look to God, to pray or to reach out to God. Day or Night, Sunday morning or any other day of the week. At a worship service or in your living room. While singing a 300 year old hymn or a praise song written last week. God is there, God is not asleep and God is listening.
- Even when things seem down, bad, hard and hopeless God is there. God cares, God loves and God works for good. Hold on. Look to God.
The Second Lesson: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Challenges:
- The first lesson was action-packed and exciting. The Psalm had some really great imagery. Even the Gospel lesson is interesting enough (i.e. confusing enough) to get a person thinking. This lesson, however, is a bit bland and might not really get people excited: its words might hit the congregation's ears like water hits a duck's back.
- Verses 3-5 talk about a time when people will have itching ears and not put with sound doctrine. People will wander away from the truth and toward myths. This, of course, does happen, and it will be very tempting to point this out in our world today. Here's the thing: it's always very easy to spot this in people who disagree with us. Conservatives will see it in liberals and liberals will see it in conservatives. It's much harder to see our own itching ears, isn't it?
Opportunities:
- Paul instructs Timothy to "convince, rebuke and encourage." These are three actions that could be examined from our own context. What does it mean to do them today? You could give an example for each in light of what else Paul has to say.
- Much of this lesson is concerns Timothy "standing fast" in what he has already learned. An image from the movie "Master and Commander" comes to mind. In the middle of a sea battle an old salt shows a young midshipman the tattoo on his knuckles which reads "stand fast" in order to give him encouragement.
- Every once and awhile you here someone downplay the Old Testament in favor of the New. Paul (AND the writer of 2 Timothy) would have none of that. When it says, "All Scripture" in verse 16, it is referring to the Old Testament since the New Testament was in the process of being written. This is a good chance to talk about the relationship between the two.
The Good News:
- God has given Timothy the tools and the support that he needs to negotiate and navigate his way forward: Holy Scripture, the example of Paul, his own heritage of faith (Lois and Eunice from another section) and Jesus Christ himself. Timothy doesn't need more, he has it all there: he just needs to look at what he has.
The Gospel: Luke 18:1-8
Challenges:
- So...if this is a story about prayer, is God supposed to be the judge in this story? If so, why does it say that the judge doesn't fear God? Is God like this judge? That's scary. Or...is not God NOT like this judge? If that's the case, why talk about a judge like this? This is confusing.
- What about the persistent prayer for justicein our lives that JUST DOESN'T GET ANSWERED. And yes, you could say, "...it is answered, just not in the way you expected." But this story seems to suggest that the widow's EXACT appeal is granted. So, what's up with that?
- So is the main point of this parable prayer? Or justice? Or prayer for justice? Or...what? If God is going to act "quickly," that must be a different definition of "quickly" than the one I'm used to.
Opportunities:
- Okay, so the judge and God are probably two different entities. This is a good chance to break out some serious biblical expertise like the Qal Vahomer Argument. This is "the lesser to greater"argument that says, "If "A" is true, how much more will "B" be true!" So, if this works for the widow when she pesters the judge, how much more will it work with God (who actually cares and wants to help).
- This reminds me of an instance in the movie The Shawshank Redemption (Haven't seen the Shawshank Redemption? What?!?! Stop everything and go watch it...now!!!) In this movie, prisoner Andy Dufresne writes a letter a day asking the Maine State legislature for funds and books for a prison library. When his request is finally granted (which comes with a letter asking him to stop writing), he then says he'll send TWO a day to ask for more things.
The Good News:
- God is so much better than an apathetic judge. God WANTS to grant justice. God is itching to set things right. Doubtful? Look at God's Son Jesus Christ and see what he did, does and continues to do.
- Even bad judges do the right thing from time to time. Keep striving for justice.
- When the Son of Man returns will He find faith? Look around you. There are many, many examples of God-given faith for those who have eyes to see.
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