Do you get the Yoke?

Zechariah 9:9-12

Psalm 145:8-14

Romans 7:15-25a

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

First Lesson: Zechariah 9:9-12

Challenges:

Normally we would expect to hear this lesson on Palm Sunday so it might almost sound out of place here.  Also, I normally don't have trouble coming up with challenges for preaching on a text, but it's rather hard to come up with things here! It's a wonderful image: peace and liberation and hope and restoration.  Hard to find a challenge here! Except...

When texts have promises this wonderful, it is important to ask, does this apply to us? I think the answer is "yes," but it might take a bit of explaining on exactly HOW is does.  "The blood of my covenant with you," makes me think of the "new covenant in my blood" that Jesus refers to during the Last Supper. 

Opportunities:

Perhaps you could paint a verbal picture here of what everything will look like when this happens.  It could be somewhat humorous ("skittles falling from the sky," "the abolition of astro-turf on baseball fields" etc.) but move to rather serious to make a point (no more children dying of cancer, no more addictions, etc).

The Good News: 

As Christians, we believe that our king has already come to us: riding on a donkey, hanging from a cross and emerging from an empty tomb.  We have faith and hope that God's great rescue mission is not only underway, Jesus has already done all of the heavy lifting.  We're just waiting for him to come back.

Psalm: Psalm 145:8-14

Challenges:

Again, like the first lesson, these are beautiful and amazing promises about God and what God does.  Verses like "The LORD upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down." can bring some questions.  It sure seems like this doesn't always happen. How about people who die tragically?  Why did God not uphold them?  Many congregations in my own denomination are losing members: there are probably many people who wonder, "will God uphold us? It feels like we're falling."  Answers to these challenges can be found below.

Opportunities:

I really believe that the WAY you read or speak this psalm makes a tremendous difference.  Saying that "The LORD upholds all who are falling..." in a smug, self-confident way will certainly ring false.  If a person, or group of people, use the idea behind this psalm as a way to puff themselves up, it is less than helpful.  Instead, if the psalm is read or said in a hopeful, humble, and thankful tone it can be very powerful indeed.  As with almost everything in life: the less smugness the better, the more humility the better, the more thankful the tone...you get the idea.

The Good News: 

As I have said for other passages, you don't have to go looking for the good news here: you practically have to get out of the way as it goes roaring right past you.

Second Lesson: Romans 7:15-25a

Challenges:

So, Paul, you say that it is "sin that dwells within me" that makes you do the things you don't want to do.  Does this really mean that "the devil made you do it?"  

Also, it's nice that Paul can "delight in the law of God in my inmost self." I thiink I do too...sometimes...other times I'm not even trying to do the right thing.  !As a matter of fact there are times when trying to do the right thing and having the wrong thing happen would be something of an improvement!

Opportunities:

I remember a conversation I had with a young boy at Vacation Bible School a few years ago. He was talking to me about why things were so hard for him at his school and why he kept getting into trouble.  He said, "In my head I'm the good guy, but when I say things and do things I become the bad guy."  He summed up the predicament Paul is describing quite well.

And also, John Donne's sonnet "Batter my heart, three person'd God" certainly comes to mind after reading this text. You can read the whole sonnet HERE. Donne describes himself as a usurped town, controlled by a foreign power.  Donne pleads with God to come and "imprison me" so that he will be truly free.  The idea that we are like captive towns, held by the enemy and in need of rescue is a very powerful thought.

As this lesson builds up in intensity and urgency, it could be great to read it louder and louder, faster and faster until you pause for a few seconds after asking "Who will rescue me from this body of death?"  Then, in a calm and measured tone, you can say "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

The Good News: 

Okay, so I really gave Paul a hard time up in the "challenges" section, but I am very ready to admit that there are many times when I feel EXACTLY like what he is describing in this lesson.  I can feel like I am...well..."captive to sin and I can't free myself." (I remember hearing that somewhere).  First of all, I find comfort in knowing that I am not the only one to feel this way (not by a long shot!) and second, I feel great comfort, hope and inspiration in knowing that I am saved by and through Jesus Christ.  When I read this lesson, I get caught up in the salvation story and know that I am a part of it.

Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Challenges:

If you are reading the Gospel lesson before you preach, in what tone will you read Jesus' words?  Will he sound angry? Frustrated?  Annoyed?  Your tone will make a difference.  Also, a phrase like "we played the flute for you and you did not dance..." does not necessarily connect readily for today's audiences.  How will you make it connect? And for that matter, what does it mean for someone to take on Jesus' yoke? Does that have something to do with an egg? What's going on here?

Opportunities:

Okay, while I said that dancing to the flute does not immediately connect, I will say that the reaction of people to both John the Baptist's and Jesus' ministry sounds very contemporary.  People are finicky, aren't they?  Something is always too old, too new, too easy, too hard, too boring, too exhausting, too...whatever.  If anything, we have become very good at finding excuses for just about anything. What are some of your favorite excuses (that someone has ever said to you...or that you have used yourself)?

To answer some of the questions from the challenges section, the "yoke" concept is a rabbinical phrase.  If you followed a particular rabbi, you took on their "yoke" which meant that you followed that particular rabbi's interpretation of God's law.  Jesus is saying that his yoke is easy and the burden it puts in place is light.

  

The Good News:

First of all, if Jesus is actually a friend of sinners (as he is accused) that sounds like good news to a sinner like me!  Also, there's something about following Rabbi Jesus that is very compelling.  It means that we are part of something greater than ourselves, we are not alone, we have a rabbi who cares about us.  It's also good to know that "wisdom is vindicated by its deeds."  In other words "truth will out!"  It's good to keep this in mind when it seems like only the devious, strong, and ruthless prevail.

It's the Little Things

Jeremiah 28:5-9

Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18

Romans 6:12-23

Matthew 10:40-42

First Lesson: Jeremiah 28:5-9

Challenges:

I really like the final two verses of this lesson: the point they make is a very good and important one. At the same time, I find myself thinking, "Whoa, there's absolutely no context here!" I mean, you could provide it, but if Jeremiah isn't at the center of your sermon, I don't know if I'd spend too much time talking about it.

Opportunities:

I have found that if there is a lesson or a concept or an idea that I can't get to in my sermon, a small side conversation during the service doesn't hurt anything. As a matter of fact, the congregation might get something out of a comment on the side about a lesson BECAUSE it is separate and not thrown into the sermon itself.  Who knows?  There is almost some wry humor here, as Jeremiah says "Yeah, well, if a prophet says that there will be peace...well...let's see it happen, and then we'll know that the prophesy came from God."  Capitalizing on that wry humor could be very helpful indeed.

The Good News: 

Well, frankly, right now I've got nothing.  I will offer a full refund of all payments to this blog for those who request it.

Psalm: Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18

Challenges:

What exactly does a "festal shout" sound like? Send me audio files of examples please.

Opportunities:

Having just read verse 1 of this psalm, I now have the praise song "I Will Sing of Your Love Forever" stuck in my head. How is this an opportunity?  I'm not sure, but if you know that praise song, you probably have it stuck in your head too.  You're welcome.

The Good News: 

Verses 15-18 pretty much spell it out for us.

Second Lesson: Romans 6:12-23

Challenges:

Romans is a very theologically "meaty" work.  There are some very "heady" words here.  I can just see some people getting to the end of hearing the Second Lesson thinking, "Wait, what just happened?" Romans is an EXCELLENT book for bible study. If you can pour over the text and really think about what is said, Paul's writings can come alive. This can happen in preaching too, but there is an added challenge. 

Also (and this is from my text study conversation today) which "members" is Paul talking about here? This, of course, could cause some excessive giggling or embarrassed expressions.  How to deal with that?

Opportunities:


As I read this text an image came to mind. Many years ago I was invited to take part in an "Ultimate Frisbee League."  I had limited experience with the game, but I thought it would be fun. As the season progressed, I made a very disturbing discovery. The team I had joined was "the nasty team:" they yelled at the refs and their opponents, they played dirty, and they weren't very friendly with each other.  About three games within the season one of the team captains was kicked out of the league.  And here I was wearing the team shirt and playing with them.  In some ways I felt like sin was excercising dominion over me, I felt like I was in bondage to sin in some ways. Eventually I left the league and it felt like a great weight had lifted from my shoulders.

The Good News: 

There is a real sense of meaning and purpose in what Paul is talking about here when talks about being 'slaves to righteousness.' There is a sense in which this passage is dripping with liberation from sin.  You see it in Galatians as well...for Paul "SIN" seems to be this big bad thing that we are captive to and we need to be liberated from. Who does this for us? Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus!

Gospel: Matthew 10:40-42

Challenges:

Two things: what the heck does it mean to "welcome a prophet in the name of a prophet"? A special thanks to my Text Study Colleague's for pointing out the very awkward translation there.  I prefer something like the Common English Bible which says "those who receive a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward." Now that makes more sense. Also, while this seems to be a deceptively simple text about "little things" done to help others, it can be quite complicated. Is the main thrust of these few verses really about how we as Christians should act, OR...is this really about how we should gauge the reaction of others to the message we share? You could have two completely different sermons there, depending on which perspective you take.

Opportunities:

The image of a "cup of cold water" is a very vivid, down-to-earth picture.  There are many real-life things from the first century that have had trouble making the cultural leap to the 21st century, but the cup of cold water isn't one of them. Everybody gets it. I imagine just about everyone has had the chance to have a drink of cold water on a hot day and have it refresh them.  What other "common-place" or "every-day" examples of actions that can be done in the name of a disciple can you think of? Giving up a seat on the bus?  A parking space?  Space under someone's umbrella in the rain?  A hot cup of coffee in the bitter cold?  Even a sympathetic smile that lifts someone's spirits? 

The Good News:

Sometimes I think it is easy to be discouraged when we look at some of the great paragons of church history. How could I ever match up with St. Francis, Mother Theresa...whoever?  Would I really even want to?  At the same time this Gospel lesson reminds us that small gestures, actions, displays of affection do make a difference...and not just in that sappy, Hallmark Card sort of way either.  They really do change things. I like to look at it this way: there are, say, 2 billion Christians in the world (give or take). If a sizeable portion of Christians today started doing more "small actions," there could be a momentous change.  Maybe you could estimate how much water is in the "cup" that Jesus is talking about. 6 ounces? 8?  Multiply that by a million...ten million...a billion. How many "ounces" is that? What kind of tank, pool, or Lake would that fill?  (I really don't like math so I'm not going to work it out...if you do, let me know).

The GOOD NEWS is better than you think.

Jeremiah 20:7-13

Psalm 69: 7-10 [11-15], 16-18

Romans 6:1b-11

Matthew 10:24-39

NOTE ON THE TITLE:

I'll talk about this below in the section on Romans, but I want to make it clear here. I've run into many, many, MANY people who have found the core of the Gospel, or "good news," to be that God loves me no matter what I do. This can quickly turn into "I can do whatever I want and it's all cool." 

Yeah...no. 

It's not that I'm advocating hellfire and brimestone: far from it!  But to keep the gospel at "God loves you just as you are," is incomplete. Goes DOES love you just as you are...but...God also wants to transform your life.  God wants you to be a complete human-being.  

God DOES love you no matter what, but if you leave it at that short-changes the Gospel.  

There's new life, transformation, and [dare I say it] sanctification in the life of a follower of Jesus Christ.  Not as a prerequisite for salvation, but a byproduct of salvation.  These lessons will talk about this...

First Lesson: Jeremiah 20:7-13

Challenges:

The words of Jeremiah are very powerful, but I believe that we have to be careful when we think we are walking in his footsteps. I've known many people who thought they were being prophetic when they cry out "Violence and destruction!" Instead, however, they were just annoying and a bit full of themselves. Being prophetic is a good and fine thing, but it's important to remember that the prophets often did their best to give up this calling.  I don't think we can [only] measure success by how many people we alienate, frustrate or annoy.  Sometimes that happens, but it shouldn't be a goal itself. You might think you are Jeremiah when really you're just a jerk.

Opportunities:

At the same time, this passage can be a very good corrective to sentiments that are all-too-common. You know, the whole "My life was a total mess and then I found Jesus and now my life is perfect" sort of statement.  Now, I do believe that Jesus makes a person's life better, but not necessarily less complicated, messy or unsuccessful.  I remember hearing Shane Claiborne once say, "I hadn't been arrested until I met Jesus." It was his relationship with Jesus that caused him to be arrested for feeding homeless people in Philadelphia, purposefully breaking a city law against such an act. 


I don't believe that it's God's will that his followers all have flashy cars, big bank accounts, and nice houses.  If you follow Jesus and have these things, fine. That means you can use them to help other people.  But following Jesus doesn't mean there will be worldly success.

The Good News: 

Jeremiah was not exactly "popular" in his day.  But the words of God that flowed through him come down to us today.  May we too echo him in saying, "Sing to the Lord; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers." (v.13)

Psalm: Psalm 69: 7-10 [11-15], 16-18

Challenges:

Do you use the whole psalm, brackets and all, or do you just use the short version?  Do you use a psalm at all? If you do, how do you make it come alive? Really, I'm wondering: let me know what you've come up with!

Opportunities:

I'm really struck by the line, "the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." Wow.  I don't think the original psalmist had Jesus in mind when this was written, but it completely applies.  We bear Christ's name, we follow him.  Look what he experienced and went through. Should we expect anything less?  There are instances in Acts (I can't remember exactly where), when the early church REJOICED when they faced suffering because they interpreted it as being worthy enough to suffer for Christ. Wow, that's a different outlook!


What if we looked at the ways we get kick-back or issues for following Christ as a privilege? That'd be interesting.

Also, I read "...or the Pit close its mouth over me" and I have a STAR WARS image jump into my mind. In Episode VI, Return of the Jedi, there's Luke Skywalker standing over the Sarlacc Pit on Tatooine.  Does he go into the Pit? Watch the clip to find out by clicking here.  Later on in the clip you see Lando almost end up in there as well, only to be helped by his friends (the clip doesn't include this bit).  I could see verse 15 applying in such a situation.

The Good News: 

We don't hear how the life of this person continues from this psalm, but I find great comfort and solace from the fact that this person felt quite able to approach God asking for help in this way. This is very powerful language.  There are people in authority who, when you get to know them, you know aren't worth appealing to for help: it's a waste of time.  God is NOT like those people.

Second Lesson: Romans 6:1b-11

Challenges:

This is a VERY important passage.  Paul speaks of baptism, sin, new life, all sorts of stuff. A sermon that deals with this passage runs the danger of being very academic, dry and "churchy."  You could use all sorts of churchy words in talking about what this means.  While this wouldn't be an evil choice to make, it would mean missing a tremendous opportunity.  Besides, you'd be taking some of the best stuff we get to hear and make it yawn-worthy. Whatever you do, DON'T MAKE THIS PASSAGE YAWN-WORTHY.

Opportunities:

Instead of being dry, academic and "churchy" this reading from Romans 6 can be overwhelming practical.  Paul brings up a very good point: well, does it matter whether we sin or not since God loves us?  Heck, why not sin more because God is a God of forgiveness?  This is a very real-life, practical question.  In my years in ministry, I've run into MANY people who have no problem believing that God will love them no matter what they do.  This is a much larger group than those who are convinced of "hellfire and brimestone." Maybe your context is different, but this passage is really important for people who easily think "we can do whatever we want and no one should judge me at all."  


I'm not advocating a "hellfire and brimestone" approach (far from it). But if we just believe that Jesus died and was raised so that we don't have to worry about God's wrath, we're missing a tremendously, hugely, amazingly large part of the GOOD NEWS. What's that?  Well...

The Good News: 

It's the idea that we are TRANSFORMED in our baptism.  In Christ, we get to be all we were meant to be.  That's not just "getting off the hook so we can mess up as much as we want." It's transformation, freedom, power and meaning.  We are alive to God and dead to sin.  That's huge and so much better than, "Hey, God loves me so I can do whatever I want."

Gospel: Matthew 10:24-39

Challenges:

There has be a lot of unpacking here, especially the line about father and mother in verse 37.  We so often equate Christianity with "family values" that it's easy for us to forget that life in the name of Jesus can be very divisive.  This was true back in Jesus' day and it's very true today as well.  Life in the name of Jesus can break up families.  It really can.  But having the chance to describe this is very important. How much can you get across so that people will listen?

Opportunities:

Want to see what life as a disciple of Jesus will look like?  Well, as Jesus says "it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher." How did things go for Jesus? Well, on one level, very, very, VERY badly.  Death on a cross.  And yet, they went amazingly, tremendously and completely WELL. He was raised on the third day and death has no more power over him and all authority has been given to him.  Cross and Empty Tomb, Death and Life: you can't have one without the other. And so it is with us.  We will experience rejection and even death for following our teacher, but we also receiver everlasting life in the name of Jesus.  BTW, if you have never experienced ANY rejection of any kind AT ALL for following Jesus, I'm not saying you AREN'T his disciple, but hopefully it will give you pause.

The Good News:

At first blush, it might be easy to miss the good news here, but it's there.  Remember, "you are of more value than many sparrows."  Jesus' disciples don't have to fear those who kill the body but cannot destroy the soul. Also, while we don't want to confuse discipleship with being a jerk, it is good to know that just because you aren't the most popular, respected, or influential person in your community doesn't mean God hates you. Following Jesus might actually take away your popularity, respect and influence. That might not sound like good news, but it does mean that we don't have to rely on those things for meaning, identity, joy and happiness.

"Holy Trinity Batman!"

First Lesson: Genesis 1:1-2:4a

Psalm: Psalm 8

Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

BONUS: Thoughts on the Trinity, Experience, Revelation, Theology and Preaching:

So there they were: eleven pious Jews.  They might not have been the cream of the crop when it came to theological education, but they certainly had had the core and essence of their faith pounded into them again and again: "Hear O Israel: the LORD is our God, the LORD alone." (Deut. 6:4) Along with their relatives and neighbors they recited this daily.  Their teacher and leader himself quoted scripture to resist the tempter: "Away with you, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him." (Deut. 6:13) Israel had ONE GOD....and Israel came to believe THERE WAS ONLY ONE GOD.  THAT'S IT.  These pious, if a bit rough-around-the-edges, Galilean Jews would not only have known this, it was core to their being.

And yet, here they are on a mountain WORSHIPPING their teacher. Why? I imagine they were doing this because it was the right and natural thing to do.  It just made sense (and NOT in that way that eating a second jelly donut "makes sense" at the time). Despite the teachings and values that (quite rightly) scream at them "Don't worship a person, DON'T WORSHIP A PERSON!!!!" they worship Jesus.

Thank God, literally, that he's not JUST a person. And let's face it, if Jesus is JUST a person we Christians are in big, big trouble.

Perhaps right in the middle of the experience, they began to think "...is this really what we should be doing?..." (hence the doubts).  But, it was the right thing to do (or Jesus would have stopped them).

And he doesn't stop them, he even talks about "The Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

Here's the thing about the relationship between EXPERIENCE, REVELATION, and THEOLOGY (at least in my mind).  The EXPERIENCE and REVELATION of Jesus Christ come first...the THEOLOGY comes later as we try to make to make sense of what God is doing. Now, if you are a Lutheran pastor reading this you might be about to "defend the importance of theology." Hey, I have no problem with theology, it's very important...but it comes later as we try to make sense of things.  EXPERIENCE and REVELATION come first (and they go together, having one without the other doesn't really work).

As Rolf Jacobsen says, "Theology is always playing a catch-up game - trying to catch up to the reality of who God is. Doctrine doesn't make God triune; God is triune.  Our language runs to catch." (Crazy Talk pg. 175). So there's not a doctrine of the Trinity spelled out in Scripture? So what!?!? The doctrine is trying to catch up with what God is up to.

So, in my humble opinion, that tries to "explain the Trinity" with all sorts of analogies really misses the point. Why does it matter?  I prefer a sermon that gets at the heart of the experience of God in Jesus Christ (and the revelation that comes from God).

This is what I usually say about the Trinity: at God's very core essence, God is RELATIONSHIP and COMMUNITY (that doesn't mean that relationship and community are God...) God is love (I remember reading that somewhere...like, say First John). That's what the Trinity is getting at (at least to me).  If we are "made in the image of God" that means the importance of relationship and community are core and central to who we are.  As the musical Les Mis says "To love another person is to see the face of God." Well, yeah.

So theology is important, especially if it's put into the right place. Jesus Christ didn't die and rise from the dead to that we could have perfect theology.  Nope. It's so that we can have life in his name.  Life in his name, where we truly get to be who we were meant to be...claiming our gift of being made in the image of God.

When I hear people talk about the Trinity, I need to hear about the wild and crazy and totally fitting experience of the disciples in Matthew 28.  I don't need a talk about how the Trinity is like a piece of pie or H20 in it's three forms.  Give me the crazy and amazing revelation and experience of God any day.

First Lesson: Genesis 1:1-2:4a

Challenges:

This is a wonderful piece of scripture, but it is also very long (over a chapter).  If it is being read in worship people might get lost in the descriptions of days, or get destracted by something else as they try to listen (if you have ever experienced trying to keep a three year old setting the contents of your pew on fire, you know what I'm talking about).  There's a lot to digest and cover...and unless your sermon is centered on Genesis 1, you might not get to it in your sermon.

Opportunities:

While it might come as a surprise to some, this is not an excerpt from a science textbook, but rather amazing poetry that gives us truth (not necessarily "fact"). There's a cadence and rhythm to the words here. How can you emphasize those two things? Perhaps you can ask whoever is reading to put a small pause between the descriptions of the days (verses 5/6, 8/9, 13/14, 19/20, 23/24, 31/2:1)

There's also the "obvious" (at least after you've been shown it and learned about it), "sighting" of the Holy Trinity as God creates: there's God the creator, the "wind" from God is the Holy Spirit (wind, spirit, and breath all come from the same word), and when God speaks things into being, there is Christ "the Word." Something tells me that the original writers of this text didn't think to themselves, "Let's get this just so because, hundreds of years from now, it'll be part of an important dogma in the church.  But that doesn't mean the Holy Trinity ISN'T there.

The Good News: 

God creates, God makes things that are good.  Humankind is made in the image and likeness of God. I'll say in other places that Christians believe that at God's core essence, God is COMMUNITY and RELATIONSHIP. Because we are made in the image of God, there is something in us, at our very core, that longs for and needs COMMUNITY and RELATIONSHIP. With God and with each other.  Hmmmm....that reminds of me of the two greatest commandments: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind....and love your neighbor as yourself." It's as if these things fit together...weird. It's as if the Holy Spirit just might have had something to do with this whole compilation of the Bible thing, eh?

Psalm: Psalm 8

Challenges:

What exactly does "dominion" mean here? The right to screw up the environment?  The right to "dominate" and destroy? I don't believe so.  I see this as our role as caretakers, stewards, people in positions of "delegated authority." It could be very easy for us to use a psalm like this as an opportunity to lord it over everything us...be mindful!

Opportunities:

Quite often you'll hear people quote the Bible without even knowing it ("...wolves in sheeps' clothing" etc.). Verse 2 is another example of this ("Out of the mouths of babes and infants"). It's always kind of fun and interesting when you can connect Scripture with things we say everyday, it can bring the Bible to life in the lives of people.

The Good News: 

This psalm recognizes that we humans are not anything that special...except we are. Not because we have done anything, but because God chose us and gave us our...what would you call it? "Special-ness," "Speciality," "special-nicity?" Well, whatever you call it, it comes from God and it is a gift and we can live lives of gratitude because of it.

Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Challenges:

If the first lesson was long, this one is very short (I doubt many in your congregation will complain).  Still, people will have barely settled in to listening by the time it's over.  Again, the judicious use of pauses in the reading could be very helpful.

Opportunities:

Here's another one of those phrases that gets used a lot, maybe not in popular culture (okay, DEFINITELY not in popular culture), but certainly in church culture. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God..." I remember the first time I read something in scripture that is also found in our liturgy (from 1 John, "If we say we have not sinned we deceive ourselves...") and there was this really amazing moment where I thought, "Wow! We're not just making all of this up!" It gave the liturgy a greater significance and GRAVITAS from then on. This lesson can do the same thing. We're not just making it all up. Isn't that nice?

The Good News: 

The first verses talk about what the hearers should do (put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with each other, live in peace, etc.) and then there is the blessing of God's presence among them and on them.  I read this and realize that all of the stuff we "should" or "have" to do becomes something we get to do...and we're not doing it alone.  We're doing it with the help, inspiration, and comradeship of God.  That's amazing and exciting...certainly not drudgery.

Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

Challenges:

Those of us familiar with the Gospels will know that this is at the end of the Gospel of Matthew.  We'll know about how it happens after the crucifixion and resurrection.  Will other people know this? Will they be surprised that only eleven disciples are named? And instead of thinking, "Oh, it's only eleven, this must be AFTER Judas hanged himself (or fell over into a field and had his guts burst out, if you prefere Acts 1) or will they think, huh, "I guess I was wrong, there were only eleven?" How much explanation should you give BEFORE reading the Gospel, or should you just leave it for the sermon?

Opportunities:

 By now you might have heard about the not-so-great job that the NRSV does in translating verse 17. It doesn't necessarily say "they worshipped him, but SOME doubted." It actually says "They worshipped him and doubted." It means that worship and doubt can co-exist together.  You don't have to have it all together and figured out before you can live a life of worship. You don't have to have "a proper theological understanding of....fill in the blank" before you have an experience of Jesus.  At the same time, it's not all doubts either (I think we like to lean on one or the other worship, or doubt, rather than balance them).  We are called to "go" and make disciples. We do know what Jesus commanded us to do (see Sermon on the Mount as well as lots of other things).  So this could be a good chance to talk about the exhilerating, glorious, chaotic, mess that is discipleship and how it can change your life and the world.

The Good News:

Sometimes I read this text and put myself in the place of the disciples (which is wholy and completely an "okay" thing to do). I think about how I Jesus is with me always, I think about how I am to "go" and make disciples, I think about the things Jesus has commanded me to do and how I can teach them.  Again, nothing wrong with this.  As I read the lesson today, however, I found myself putting myself outside of the story.  I find myself thinking, "Because these disciples listened to Jesus and WENT somewhere, my ancestors eventually heard the Gospel, stopped worshipping trees in the forrests of Germany, and had new life.  Because the disciples did what Jesus told them, I eventually heard the Good News and experienced Jesus.  When I think of the story that way, above all, I feel grateful.

"Pentecostal" Preaching

And here it is, Pentecost 2014. Like most of my blog posts for festivals and high feast days, this one will look different from the "normal" set up.


...and to explain the title of this post. A few years ago while worshipping on Pentecost, I approached pastor and said "You look very pentecostal!" (The pastor had on a very nice red stole with flames on it.) Sadly, she did not find this amusing...


One Thought on Pentecost

There is always one thing I try to remember as I prepare for this Sunday: while I myself think about Pentecost, the Second Chapter of Acts, and all of this stuff A LOT, not everyone in my congregation does.  It doesn't mean that they don't care...they actually care a great deal, but not many of them dwell on the details.  Do I dwell on the details of their jobs?  So, if I start to think that what I'm talking about is "just too painfully obvious and boring since we all know this stuff, don't we?" I might be the only one.  There is a great chance that you will preaching to someone who is hearing (or more likely, truly considering) this story for the first time.  My goodness, that's awesome.  Make it come alive with your words and demeanor.


Superheroes?

Okay, I don't want to make too much of this, but as I hear Acts 2 read again (and again...and again) over the years I can't help but see these apostles in an almost superhero-esque light.  Like many of the superheroes we see in the movies or in graphic novels they are given special powers and abilities (there's the great language-thing going on in our own lesson for this Sunday but also check out Acts 1:8 for Jesus' own words).

Other superheroes get their powers from a radioactive spider (Spiderman), or by coming from another planet (Thor or Superman), or by receiving a "super-serum" (Captain America), or getting hit by gamma radiation (Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk), or cosmic rays while in outer space (The Fantastic Four), or just by having lots and lots and lots of money (Batman or Iron Man). Okay, that last one was unfair to Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark: they have a great work ethic, intelligence, etc. These apostles receive their "super powers" from the Holy Spirit and Pentecost is the beginning of a tremendous adventure.  It's an adventure that will include healings, daring escapes, long journeys, riots, encounters with demon-possessed individuals, shipwrecks, and much more. In fact,  it's an adventure that has not yet ended, even to this day.

If you start with the idea of calling the apostles of Pentecost Superheroes people might go along with it. Once you have them along for the ride, then you can land an amazing "punch."  Your listeners are superheroes as well, given amazing powers by their baptism and by receiving the Lord's Supper.

Think of the amazing powers they have: the ability to proclaim the good news, the ability to love like Jesus, to strive for justice and peace...hey, why not just run through the 'Affirmation of Baptism' (aka Confirmation) service again.

Hey, if you really want to get all Lutheran with this, talk about even believing in Jesus or calling him "Lord" is a super-power granted by the Holy Spirit (can anyone say Explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles Creed?)

AND while your at it, why not look at all of those gifts of the Spirit that Paul mentions in First Corinthians.  THEN you can point out how these different gifts work together: you practically have "The Avengers" here.


Other Images:

• I really enjoy the "Re:form" confirmation lesson on "Who Wrote the Bible, God or Humans?" (check out the video clip HERE.) It talks about the meaning of the word "Inspired." "In" means..."in" and "spired" means "breathed" as in "breathed into."  The apostles on Pentecost were quite literally "inspired" by the Holy Spirit.  There's plenty to be said about being "inspired."

• I really like how a crowd forms after hearing the sound of the apostles praising God in their own languages and then Peter is able to give a powerful sermon.  He was given the words when the time came.  How often do we worry about whether or not we will find the opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ? Well, if you are like me, quite often.  Sometimes, however, the opportunity jumps up right in our faces.  Pentecost is ten days after Jesus Christ's ascension. Peter didn't know that he would be preaching a sermon on that day...but when the time came, the Holy Spirit gave him word.

• Okay, this probably isn't helpful, BUT...when I was a young kid and heard this story, I somehow got the idea that when people started speaking in different languages that they were ONLY able to speak that new language and had somehow forgotten their OLD language. Why did I feel this was how it worked? I really can't tell you, but the idea made be rather sad as I thought "They won't be able to talk to their friends anymore!" How happy was I when I discovered that they could still speak the way they had before.  I guess my point is, who knows what will be running through the minds of your listeners?

Yeah, What He Said...

"It is most significant, in the light of what we said before about the ascension, that the wind came 'from heaven' (verse 2). The whole point is that, through the spirit, some of the creative power of God himself comes from heaven to earth and does its work here.  The aim is not to give people a 'spirituality' which will make the things of earth irrelevant.  The point is to transform earth with the power of heaven, starting with those parts of 'earth' which consist of the bodies, minds, hearts and lives of the followers of Jesus - as a community..."

-N.T. Wright, Acts for Everyone, Part 1, pg. 22-23


"The New Testament writers in general affirm that after the death of Jesus his followers were united, guided, and empowered by the experience of the risen Christ, who empowered them by the Holy Spirit to carry on his work.  All agree that the church began not by human initiative, but in the conviction that the presence and power of God ( = the risen Christ, the Holy Spirit) generated the renewed Christian community.  The New Testament authors have different ways of conceptualizing and expressing this.  The Gospel of John, for instance, does not have a separate Pentecost scene but pictures Jesus as giving the Spirit to his followers on the first Easter day by breathing on them (...the Greek words for "breathe" and "spirit" are related).  Luke portrays the coming of the Spirit in a separate scene, just as he had pictured the ascension as an event distinct from the resurrection.  In the story of Pentecost, Luke sums up a gradual process in one paradigmatic scene."

-M. Eugene Boring and Fred Craddock, The People's New Testament Commentary, pg.369



"Luke's point is not the pyrotechnics of theophany, but spiritual transformation. The real "event" of Pentecost is the empowerment of the disciples by the Holy Spirit...."

-Luke Timothy Johnson, The Acts of the Apostles: Sacra Pagina, pg. 45