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.
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.
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.
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...
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:
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.
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