Psalm 40:1-11
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42
First Lesson: Isaiah 49:1-7
Challenges:
First of all, has anyone felt like the lectionary has given us A LOT of Isaiah lately? Not that you can really have too much Isaiah (the writers of the New Testament certainly didn't think you could, they were using it and the psalms all the time) but still...
Okay, for real this time: who is this passage referring to? Many see it as the second of the 'servant songs,' other people will say that it is referring to all of Israel (see verse 3). The first group will counter and say that the actual name "Israel" is missing in many early manuscripts and is probably a "gloss" (at least that's what the notes in my Oxford NRSV Study Bible say). After the first group is done talking the people in the second group try to come up with a snappy comeback but can only say, "Oh yeah...well...the notes in MY study bible say something different!"
So is this a specific individual we're talking here or the nation of Israel? Personally, I opt for the single, specific servant, but hey: I could be wrong!
Opportunities:
First of all, has anyone felt like the lectionary has given us A LOT of Isaiah lately? Not that you can really have too much Isaiah (the writers of the New Testament certainly didn't think you could, they were using it and the psalms all the time) but still...
Okay, for real this time: who is this passage referring to? Many see it as the second of the 'servant songs,' other people will say that it is referring to all of Israel (see verse 3). The first group will counter and say that the actual name "Israel" is missing in many early manuscripts and is probably a "gloss" (at least that's what the notes in my Oxford NRSV Study Bible say). After the first group is done talking the people in the second group try to come up with a snappy comeback but can only say, "Oh yeah...well...the notes in MY study bible say something different!"
So is this a specific individual we're talking here or the nation of Israel? Personally, I opt for the single, specific servant, but hey: I could be wrong!
Opportunities:
I don't want to go all triumphalist on this one but here we have a passage where Isaiah's says something will happen and it actually seems to have happened (at least this humble blogger's opinion). Verse seven says that "Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves." The very fact that the Jewish faith is still around while so many other religions have died out is nothing short of remarkable. How are the Babylonians doing right now? The Assyrians? Let's talk about the Roman Empire for that matter...anyone out there still ready to call Augustus divine?
Christianity, too, has shown it's power: many historians now feel that Constantine became a Christian mainly because he saw the way the wind was blowing and he wanted to be part of a growing faith. A few years later in the late 300s Emperor Theodosius I actually did penance before Ambrose of Milan in order to receive communion. The most amazing thing about these instances of Christian "power" is that neither involved Christians using weapons or violence. Instead, in these instances, the guys who used violence were curbed by the nonviolent.
Every once and awhile we do see a prostrate prince or two.
Christianity, too, has shown it's power: many historians now feel that Constantine became a Christian mainly because he saw the way the wind was blowing and he wanted to be part of a growing faith. A few years later in the late 300s Emperor Theodosius I actually did penance before Ambrose of Milan in order to receive communion. The most amazing thing about these instances of Christian "power" is that neither involved Christians using weapons or violence. Instead, in these instances, the guys who used violence were curbed by the nonviolent.
Every once and awhile we do see a prostrate prince or two.
The Good News:
Okay, I guess I just gave the 'good news' in the opportunity section this time: so, uh, see the above.
Psalm: Psalm 40:1-11
Challenges:
Quite often I run into psalms where the challenges abound. As I read through this one, however, I just couldn't find many. I will admit that the language in verse six with all of its "sacrifice and offering..burnt offering and sin offering" would make much more sense in Old Testament times than it would now. So what's a burnt offering and how is it different from a sin offering? Why does it matter? I guess it doesn't really, except to point out that both are things that people offer God...and here it says that they are not nearly worth as much our having delight in the Lord.
Opportunities:
The Good News:
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Challenges:
This is the beginning of Paul's letter to the Corinthians and it can appear as perfunctory and dry. It can feel like the part of the letter that doesn't really say anything: in your mind you just think "Blah, blah, blah...let's get on with it.") While this CERTAINLY NOT the case, it can appear that way.
Opportunities:
This lesson is the first six lessons from 1 Corinthians that we'll hearing in the coming weeks. Can anybody say "sermon series?" If so, you could go into a bit of background on the city of Corinth (it was the kind of place that would make you say, "What happens in Corinth stays in Corinth.") and what congregations looked like in Paul's day (house-churches, etc). This could be a chance to 'set the table' so to speak. Not that there isn't some good, meaty theology and faith here too! Just read verses 4-9: does it get any better than a line like "God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ."
The Good News:
To start out, read verse 9 again: that's awesome. I also see two distinct, yet connected messages in verses 4-9: God has given us grace, love and strength. God has also given us spiritual gifts that can be used by us as we 'wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Paul talks about these two parallels again and again: we've been freed FROM sin, death and all evil FOR a purpose: the salvation and transformation of the world around us. We have a purpose.
To start out, read verse 9 again: that's awesome. I also see two distinct, yet connected messages in verses 4-9: God has given us grace, love and strength. God has also given us spiritual gifts that can be used by us as we 'wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Paul talks about these two parallels again and again: we've been freed FROM sin, death and all evil FOR a purpose: the salvation and transformation of the world around us. We have a purpose.
Gospel: John 1:29-42
Challenges:
Two points: first of all, we basically have emphases here: John's indentification of Jesus and the gathering of disciples around Jesus. The two are related, surely, but it seems wise to me that you should really emphasize one more than the other. Which one you choose is, of course, up to you.
And secondly: "...the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Many of us sing John's words every week as we prepare to receive communion. Christ the lamb is a very, very common image. But what exactly does it mean? How can a lamb (or any animal for that matter) take away ANY sins, let alone the WORLD's sins?!?!?!). Because we live in a culture that by and large no long practices animal sacrifice, this concept might need some explanation.
In his "Everyone" series, N.T. Wright talks about how John's Gospel makes a BIG deal of the fact that Jesus is the Passover Lamb...so it stands to reason that this is what is being talked about here. If you want to split hairs the Passover Lamb didn't take away sin, its blood showed God's angel that this was a house to pass over.
Personally, a quick survey of all the different types of sacrifices makes my head swim and doesn't really excite me anyway. So, think about your audience: do they enjoy indepth looks at ancient Israelite and Judean Religion...or not?
And secondly: "...the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Many of us sing John's words every week as we prepare to receive communion. Christ the lamb is a very, very common image. But what exactly does it mean? How can a lamb (or any animal for that matter) take away ANY sins, let alone the WORLD's sins?!?!?!). Because we live in a culture that by and large no long practices animal sacrifice, this concept might need some explanation.
In his "Everyone" series, N.T. Wright talks about how John's Gospel makes a BIG deal of the fact that Jesus is the Passover Lamb...so it stands to reason that this is what is being talked about here. If you want to split hairs the Passover Lamb didn't take away sin, its blood showed God's angel that this was a house to pass over.
Personally, a quick survey of all the different types of sacrifices makes my head swim and doesn't really excite me anyway. So, think about your audience: do they enjoy indepth looks at ancient Israelite and Judean Religion...or not?
Opportunities:
If you are emphasizing the whole "Lamb of God" theme, this actually could be a useful to talk about passover (it's a pretty exciting story). Once I actually pretended to paint the doorposts and lintel that happened to be close to the pulpit where I was preaching. This helped give people a spatial image to take with them.
If you are emphasizing the Jesus-and-disciples dynamic, a great thing to talk about is the challenge of evangelism: we're freaked out about the idea of sharing our faith or somehow getting someone to become a Christian. I get that: I'm that way and I'm a pastor. It is wonderfully useful to know that sometimes all you have to say is, "Come and see" (like Jesus did) and let it start from there.
The Good News:
One piece of good news is rather obvious: THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD IS HERE! That's pretty big and good news.
Also, from a Jesus-and-disciples emphasis, it is good to know that the disciples didn't have to have it all figured out before they could follow When he asks, "What are you looking for," it doesn't appear that they have a good answer does it? He then doesn't give them an entrance exam or anything like 'Pledge Week.' He says "come and see."
When I read this it makes me want to...you guessed it...go and see. You can practically feel the force that drew them to Jesus: it's powerful.
One piece of good news is rather obvious: THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD IS HERE! That's pretty big and good news.
Also, from a Jesus-and-disciples emphasis, it is good to know that the disciples didn't have to have it all figured out before they could follow When he asks, "What are you looking for," it doesn't appear that they have a good answer does it? He then doesn't give them an entrance exam or anything like 'Pledge Week.' He says "come and see."
When I read this it makes me want to...you guessed it...go and see. You can practically feel the force that drew them to Jesus: it's powerful.
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