Epiphany 3: Assembling the Team

Isaiah 9:1-4
Psalm 27:1, 4-9
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Matthew 4:12-23

First Lesson: Isaiah 9:1-4

Challenges:

Another week, more Isaiah.  It's pretty obvious that this has been chosen due to the reference to the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, which points to our Gospel lesson and Jesus' ministry in Galilee.  As I have said in other posts, sometimes there are texts that don't seem to have many challenges and this is one of them: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light..." What could be the problem with that?!?!?! It's amazing.

The closest I could come with a challenge is that it can be hard to do such texts true justice in a sermon or Bible Study.  As a preacher you can look at a text like this and worry about your ability to get the true brilliance, meaning, and hope in this passage.  You want the import of what is being said to be relevant, yet not "dumbed down."  How do you do that?

Oh, and what exactly is the "day of Midian?"  People probably won't know...

Opportunities:

Again, this lesson can provide an excellent "assist" to the Gospel lesson.  There was enough corruption and oppression in Isaiah's, Jesus' and our day to make a phrase like "the people who have walked in darkness" make all too much sense. Perhaps you could give a short description of some of the corruption going on throughout the world (a google search should suffice for finding examples).  This could vividly describe the darkness.  It's one thing to talk about darkness in the abstract, it's another to be confronted by it in a flesh-and-blood example.

The Good News: 

There IS a lot of darkness out there: ink-black darkness that can feel very, very overwhelming. BUT, there is a great light. That light is provided by God through Jesus Christ.  The light might not always be pleasant (it can shine on things we are less than excited about), but it will be freeing.  As Rob Bell once said, "God is in the liberation business," and verse 4 bears this out.

 

Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 4-9

Challenges:

It always feels a bit weird when a psalm has been chopped up like this.  It's also too easy to spend all of our time complaining about how the RCL committee chopped it up and not get at what this psalm can say to us.  Complaints might make us all feel better and superior, but it is hardly productive.

One challenge that comes from this Psalm is the attitude toward the speaker's ("psalm-er's"?) enemies.  There's not much reconciliation here: it's very much an 'us versus them' message.  A lot of this is avoided by skipping verses 2-3, but you get a hint of it with verse 6.

This begs the question: what should our approach to our enemies be?  What's a 'biblical' approach?  While there might not be just one biblical approach, we can certainly look at Jesus' approach, and a study of this would certainly be worthwhile.

Opportunities:

Psalm 27:1 is one of those verses that can be very helpful to have memorized.  When a person (or community) has a verse like this in their 'vocabulary' or 'prayer arsenal' if you will, it can be very useful in both moments of joy and celebration as well as moment of deep need and darkness.  Maybe you could have this verse printed on little slips of paper that can be handed out to the congregation while you encourage everyone to carry it with them throughout the week.

The Good News: 

Again, if you are looking for the good news, just look at some of the words in this psalm: light, salvation, stronghold, beauty, shelter, cover, lifted, etc.  God is active and acting.  God is a God of help.

Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 

Challenges:

This is a very practical, timely and helpful passage for ANY time in church history, and our time is certainly not an exception.  BUT, we also see a bit of Paul's personality here.  If there is one thing that Paul has in spades, it's personality (and energy too, but that's a different post).  Some people don't find Paul's personality to be a problem. Others find him to be cantankerous, pushy and annoying.  I'm sure some people could be put off by the way Paul starts by saying that be baptized only Crispus and Gaius...and then adds a few more people after that. (Other people might find this rhetorical approach to be a bit funny, I'd be one of those).

The question is, how do we deal with someone whose personality is not necessarily to our liking, but who is still very definitely in the canon. 

Opportunities:

The opportunities here are endless.  How easy and appropriate would it be for us to add our own denominational leaders or founders into verse 13: "...Was Martin Luther/John Calvin/John Wesley/Billy Graham/whoever crucified for you?"  Another approach would be to talk about church division by starting with a seemingly 'silly' example (the color of the carpet, the position of the piano in the sanctuary, you name it) to get everyone in the mood, and then drive straight home with a truly deep and divisive issue which would be up to you (abortion, church-and-state, sexuality, you name it).  This could be an excellent chance to talk about how we are not united by agreeing 100% of the time, but rather by Christ.

Also, I use the Prepare/Enrich program for my premarital counseling and it points out an important truth for situations with conflict.  Strong, health relationships are not without conflict.  These relationships just know how to face them.  May that be the case for the church!

The Good News: 

I find hope in the fact that this sort of division happened 2,000 years ago and yet the church is still here.  Early Christians faced the same sorts of human problems that we face, just in a different context.  Christ came to save sinners and that's us. Thank God for that.  

Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23

Challenges:

The lectionary skips right over Jesus' temptation in the wilderness (we'll see it on the first Sunday of Lent).  It will be tempting to mention this, deal with this, etc.  It's quite possible that you could do this, but it could also prove to be a distraction. No need to take out your frustrations with the RCL Committee and whoever else on your congregation! 

Much like last week's lesson from John 1, it's as if we have two major emphases here: the beginning of Jesus' ministry in Galilee and then his calling of the first disciples.  The two are related, of course, but it does seem like this is a lot of ground to cover. It is perfectly fine to emphasize one over the other.  Personally, I'm going with the calling of the disciples, but that's me.

Opportunities:

If you are a fan of movies, you might be familiar the "gathering a team" motif in cinema.  You'll see it when a team is gathered together, usually by a key leader, in order to accomplish a specific task.  Many film critics believe that Kurosawa's "The Seven Samurai" was the first of such films and that it inspired a myriad of other examples: "The Magnificient Seven," "The Guns of Navaronne," "The Dirty Dozen," "Oceans Eleven" are just a few examples.  See what Roger Ebert has to say about "The Seven Samurai" here.

I can't help but think of this motif when I read about Jesus calling his disciples.  Here we have the ultimate leader assembling a team for what will become the ultimate mission: the salvation of the world.  While the team he assembles has some initial issues (see Christ's ministry on earth, especially Holy Week), they are molded into an amazing force by the gift of the Holy Spirit in John 20/Acts 2 depending on your evangelist.

Drawing attention to this motif can be fun, exciting and inspiring.  After all, in baptism we are brought onto the team and are given a mission.

The Good News:

Again and again, as I read about Jesus' work, I am inspired by the idea that God cares.  God cares enough for us, that God sent God's Son.  And not just in such a way that everything would be easy, but where it would be hard.  N.T. Wright likes to describe the Incarnation as God's Rescue Mission: I think we really see that here.  Help is on the way!

Epiphany 2: On the Lamb

Isaiah 49:1-7
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:

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. 

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:

 

This could be a good time to give a personal example or two of being rescued or delivered, much like the speaker of this psalm...let's call him David...was.  I always like the idea that the same person who wrote Psalm 51 ("I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me...) also wrote this one ("He drew me up from the desolate pit...He put a new song in my mouth...") and Psalm 22 ("My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?") I know I have different times in my life when each of these psalms would apply: moments of deliverance and victory, moments where confession is definitely in order and moments when I feel completely abandoned and lonely.  The psalms tap into something deep and true in the human condition.

The Good News: 

God is a God of deliverance who you don't have to "buy off" with expensive gifts (again look at verse 6-9).  God is all about relationship.  Allow yourself to just caught up in the joy and excitement of this psalm: a whoop, crow, or barbaric 'yawp' might be in order here.

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.

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?

 

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.

Baptism: Confusing People Since AD 30

Isaiah 42:1-9

Psalm 29
Acts 10:34-43
Matthew 3:13-17

First Lesson: Isaiah 42:1-9

Challenges:

And here we have the first of the four servant songs in Isaiah.  It is very easy to connect these songs with Jesus (personally I don't have a problem with this).  But when one does this, it's important to be careful about HOW that connection is made.  If you take a literalist approach, Jesus won't match up completely: "He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break..." doesn't sound like the guy who overturned the table of money-changers or called out pharisees.  But to say that really misses the point.  Really, trying to connect everything in a word-for-word, minute way really becomes a distraction.

I remember awhile back in college when a bunch of us were watching THE MATRIX (which was huge back in the late 90s).  Since the Neo character seemed very similar to Jesus many of my friends had heard that when Neo dies in the movie, he stays dead for 72 seconds of movie time and that 1 second of movie time equaled 1 hour of "real time" that made up the three days that Jesus was dead before he was resurrected.  So of course they all timed it and it actually didn't equal 72 seconds at all, but everyone agreed it would have been cool if it had.  Even more important is the point that Jesus wasn't dead for three 24 hour days anyway, hey, whatever...

The point is, it's very easy to get caught up in minutiae while missing the important message.

Opportunities:

What does it mean to give 'light to the nations' and 'sight to the blind.' We could be talking about literal light and sight (I have no problem with that either), but it could also mean something else too.  How many things do we miss, even while looking at them, because we didn't know what to look for?  Have you ever seen optical illusions that could either be one thing or another? 

I believe this is much like the 'light' and 'sight' that this servant will be bringing: eyes to see what God is up to.  Maybe, just maybe God's Kingdom is inside of us and we are missing it: we need someone to point it out to us. 

The Good News:

There are problems in the world (people who can't see or in prison for instance) but God has seen this and is doing something about it.  God's plan?  Jesus Christ. 

Psalm: Psalm 29

Challenges:

The notes in my study bible tell me that this psalm might have been appropriated from an earlier Canaanite hymn to Baal.  I could see it being the case, especially since there is no talk about the Lord helping widows, orphans, prisoners, the blind, etc.  I've said it before in the "challenges" section and I'm sure I'll say it again: does this really matter on a Sunday morning?  Even during Bible Study where you have a chance to flesh something out a bit more?   I don't think people wake themselves up on a Sunday morning, or make time on their Saturday evening, or take the time to click on a blog whenever JUST to learn that some of our psalms are appropriated Canaanite Hymns.  I doubt that this will make the souls of many sing with joy.  I'm not saying we should either hide the truth or even try to prove that it WASN'T APPROPRIATED, just we don't have to make it the main point of our sermons or studies.

Opportunities:

This psalm uses vivid imagery to describe the power of the Lord.  The images that are used must have felt very applicable to an ancient context. While they aren't completely foreign to us today, what are some ways you as the preacher could "update" the images?  What could fill in for the 'wilderness of Kadesh?'  I'm not saying you should change the psalm as it is read in worship! Just that it could be good chance to think of some images that would resonate with your audience.

The Good News: 

All of this is good news to me because I have learned and experienced God in other ways and know God (especially through Jesus Christ) to be loving, merciful, tranformative and grace-filled.  Because I know that, hearing that God is/does "powerful...full of majesty...breaks the cedars...shakes the wilderness...etc." If all of these things were done by a malevolent figure this psalm would cease to be good news and would fill me with dread and despair.  As it is, this psalm fills me with joy, wonder and hope. 

Second Lesson: Acts 10:34-43

Challenges:

The challenge for me is that I'm having trouble finding challenges in the text!  Well, when I really think about it, there is this: while good and true and worthwhile, this passage will probably be overshadowed by the Gospel lesson (which is the usual and sorry fate of many a second lesson).  At best it can hope to be used to "flesh out" some of what happens in Matthew's Gospel today.  As I type I realize at least one other "challenge:" we don't get to see the context around this speech.  This takes place in Cornelius' house: just after the Holy Spirit has played "match-maker" between the Roman Centurion and the Apostle.  I wish we had time to get Peter's other great line (which comes after the Holy Spirit descends on 'all who heard the word'): CAN ANYONE WITHHOLD THE WATER FOR BAPTIZING THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT JUST AS WE HAVE?"  

Opportunities:

Alright, so I might have already jumped the gun and started listing opportunities up in the challenges section...it happens.  The context of the second lesson is astounding and exciting.  If you are going to look at this lesson in your sermon or in a Bible Study or whenever, think about the awe and excitement that must have permeated the house of Cornelius as Peter was speaking.  Have there been profoundly spiritual moments that you have experienced that could set the stage for this?  Maybe a time of prayer, a special retreat, or a moment with an elderly relative?  This seems like one of those moments that are "heavy" with the Spirit.

The Good News: 

Again, the good news is spelled out right there in Peter's words.  In essence, this IS the gospel message in a nutshell. If memory serves the writer of Acts (heck, I'll call him Luke, why not?) gives the reader the central Gospel message of Jesus Christ again and again in slightly different words to different groups of people.  We hear it preached to Jews on Pentecost, the household of Cornelius here and Greeks Philosopher et. al. in Athens much later on.  While the wording might be SLIGHTLY different each time: the central message is always the same.  JESUS IS LORD. JESUS SAVES. 

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

Challenges:

So what exactly IS baptism?  That's a complicated and delicate question both back then AND today.  What does baptism do?  I can easily go to the Small Catechism (and usually do), but while we Lutheran-types see it and the rest of the Book of Concord as having quite a bit of authority, other denominations have their own documents as well.  What did John's baptism do? Even the Synoptic Gospels are slightly divided on that one: Mark says John proclaimed "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (1:4b)  Matthew leaves out the forgiveness-through-baptism part, just that people were.  The point is, it's all confusing...

PLUS, why DID Jesus get baptized? He was without sin right?  And if you're like me, getting the answer "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness," doesn't really clear it all up for me (without study of course).

Opportunities:

First of all, if you are familiar with the Re:form material that comes out through Sparkhouse, they do an excellent segment on the question "Why did Jesus get baptized?" You can check out Re:form here.

This could be a good opportunity to talk about water and the power that water has in our lives and world.  I will probably tell the story of a train-ride during a 1996 high school trip to Europe.  While on an overnight train from Paris to Lucerne Switzerland, the aftershave in my toiletries bag broke open.  When I reached into the bag to get my toothbrush both of my hands became covered with the stuff.  Normally aftershave smells pretty good, but here it was overpowering and not pleasant at all. I couldn't get it all off and when we finally arrived in Lucerne, we learned that we couldn't get into our hotel for another few hours.  The smell of the aftershave became sickening.

With a group of fellow students I had the chance to walk down to a local park where there was a crystal-clear Alpine lake.  I remember walking to the edge and plunging my arms down into the amazing water.  It was a glorious moment. I felt clean. What's more the experience gave me added energy and changed my outlook on things.  While it would be an exaggeration to call this experience "life-changing," it certainly had an effect on me that day!

Do you have similar stories?  Similar images? 

And for good measure: when it comes to talking about our own baptism and water I am remembered of the common phrase, "A little water doesn't hurt anyone, but a lot will kill you."  While the actual amount of water in baptism (either a sprinkle or dunk, font or lake) doesn't really matter, I like the image of the deadly effects of water: baptismal water is indeed dangerous and deadly: to our old self.  It helps us die to ourselves and live in Christ.  So yeah, water can kill you, and in this case that's good news.

The Good News: 

Many commentators speak of how Jesus submitted himself to baptism, even though he didn't need it to have his [non-existent] sins washed away. I particularly like this explanation.  In this way Jesus' Baptism is yet another example of the INCARNATION: God coming down and taking up our condition.  Jesus COULD have stood aside smugly and said, "Well, baptism is a good idea for all of YOU people who need that sort of thing."  He doesn't do that.  

Later on, as he is being arrested in Gethsemane, Jesus says to a sword-wielding disciple, "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen this way?" (26:53-54)  

God could have worked out our salvation in any number of ways.  Instead God chose a particular way, worked out in the scriptures, and Jesus followed that plan to the letter: and thank God that he did!

John, that whole "Word" concept is hazy, could you flesh it out a bit?

Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm 147:12-20
Ephesians 1:3-14
John 1:(1-9) 10-18

SPECIAL NOTE: This a "View from the Pew" addition.

 

In other words, I've attempted to simulate what it's like to hear these lessons on Sunday morning when I haven't had a whole week or more to dwell on them. It also made a difrerence that there was no long pause between lessons, I just had to take it all in as the words came. 

 

So I went into the empty sanctuary, read the lessons and then sat there in a pew and typed as quickly as possible (I call it "method-blogging").  It was actually helpful: you can try it yourself!

First Lesson: Jeremiah 31:7-14

 

Challenges:

It seems that good things are coming: I wonder when this will happen.  Did it happen back in Bible times?  I don't remember hearing about a time when people" never languished again." (v. 12) If there was a time like that, it didn't last long!  My life can be stressful and it seems like when good things like this happen to me, even in small doses, I don't really know how to handle them or 'take them in.' I hope God will help with this.

 

Oh yeah, and what will the old women being doing here? Verse 13 says that the young women will dance and the young AND old men will be merry. What about the old women? Will they be cleaning up after everyone else? What gives?

Opportunities:

 If we are giving out descriptions of the good things that God will do for the people I could add a few: the Cubs winning the World Series, Chicken Wings going back to 25 cents a wing, etc. etc.  Also, I remember singing "Listen You Nations of the World" from the old Green Hymnal: I really liked that tune and it seems that they got all the words from this passage.

The Good News:

Good things are coming: God will provide happiness and wholeness.  It might not be here yet, but God promises that it will come.  I'm not going to dwell on the specifics, as in what the old women will be doing: I'm sure God has that taken care of and it will be great for them.  God will build things up again.  We just have to hold on.

 

Psalm 147:12-20

 

Challenges:

Seems a bit exclusive there, doesn't it? I don't think the writer was thinking of Germans, Italians, Scots or Americans (all of the nations where my ancestors originated plus my own homeland).  Does this mean we're on the outside looking in? How do I get to be a part of Israel? How can I learn the ordinances of the Lord?

Opportunities:

I like the fact that God BOTH brings snow and ALSO melts it.  God is flexible like that. (see verse 16-18) As the father of a 3 year old, I have seen my fair share of crumb-hurling: I'm glad my daughter does not have access to hail.

The Good News:

 

Since according to this psalm I'm not a part of Israel and don't know God's ordinances (I'm being a bit snarky here), I guess the hail/crumb throwing and melting words are good things.  I'm mean they are good if the one doing them is benevolent, loving and just.  If the one doing these things ISN'T benevolent, loving and just we're in trouble!

 Second Lesson: Ephesians 1:3-14

 

Challenges:

Whoa, there's a lot of information here: you could concentrate on just a few verses and have enough for a Bible Study. There was something said early on that tripped me up a bit: who is the "us" that is destined for adoption in verse 5? Just the church?  I mean the Roman Emperors and everyone else didn't really appear to be marked with the Holy Spirit. But is also says that all things will be drawn to God. What with the what now?!?  Who gets destined for adoption today? Everyone?  Just a few people? Some are destined at one point and others at a different point? If we're destined do we have ANY part in loving God? And if we don't, doesn't that just make me some sort of robot for God?  I know a lot of other things were said in that passage, but I got caught up with this one. 

Opportunities:

Having said all of those things in the challenges, I will admit that it was good to hear that we are being called for a purpose: we have a job to do in God's great plan.  (verse11-14 or so)  It's really great to be a part of something greater than yourself: a team, congregation, business, country, etc. (well, most of the time it is).

The Good News:

 

Going back and looking at it again, verse 7 sticks out as good news: we've received redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ.  The word "redemption" somehow reminds me of my time living in Boston Massachusetts where aluminum can "redemption" centers were stationed throughout our neighborhood (usually connected with liquor stores). You could put your aluminum can in the machines and when the machine had read your bar code you were credited 5 cents (this was back in 2002-2005).

 

Those redemption centers smelled like old soda and skunky beer and the floors practically squelched as you walked on them,  but as a grad student without much ready cash, it was a great way to take something seemingly worthless and make it worthwhile.  It happened in a messy, way...but didn't out own redemption on the cross happen in such a way (multiplied to the millionth degree beyond this)?

THE GOSPEL: John 1:(1-9) 10-18

Challenges:

Ok, hard to find any challenges here: very beautiful stuff here. Well, I guess just one quick challenge: there are lots of Johns mentioned in the New Testament: John the Baptist, John the disciple, that John-guy who wrote Revelation: that's quite a few Johns to keep track of!

Also, what exactly does "The Word" mean? I might need to have that fleshed out for me [pun intended]...there's another 20 chapters after this one?  Oh.
 

Opportunities:
 

That whole line about 'the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen his glory' is really, REALLY striking and personal. It gives me goosebumps to think that the writer of this Gospel has had a PERSONAL connection with Jesus the Word, the beloved Son: it makes this more significant, more real to me somehow. I don't care at this point about what scholars and professors say about when things were written and how this probably wasn't what it says it is: I resonate with the personal connection.

 

The Good News:

"The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it." That sums it all up right there: that is a verse to memorize and repeat to myself when I am in dark places: both metaphorically and physically.

Advent 4: Hey Joe

Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25

First Lesson: Isaiah 7:10-16

Challenges:

You scholarly types out there have already considered a challenge already: the Septuagint translation of verse 14 uses a word that is translated as "virgin" while the original Hebrew says "young woman."  Early Christians, including the authors of the Gospels, used the Septuagint for all of their scriptural needs and thus it was easy for them to see Jesus in this verse.  Had they been familiar with the earlier Hebrew, who knows what would have happened. And therefore our belief in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ is undermined completely and utterly...at least that is what some people will say or think.

This might be a challenge best left to a Sunday School or Adult Forum class, unless you want to make it the center of your entire sermon.  At the same time it might not be that big a deal: each faith community has it's own personality and concerns, but I see this as less of a concern for people in my particular faith community than it might have been a few decades ago.  They might just shrug their shoulders and say, "Ok." You are the expert on your own community/audience. How might they react?

Opportunities:

This could be a great chance to talk about names and their meaning.  I bet you already know (and if you didn't just nod and pretend that you did) that names in the Bible took on a special meaning.  They told you something about the person they were attached to.  Just read the prophet Hosea's words to get a sense of the importance of names.  Perhaps some people will not know, or need to be reminded, that "Immanuel" means "God with us."  To begin your sermon, you could pick out some popular names within you congregation and give their meanings (any baby name website will work for this).  From here you can springboard into what "God with us" is all about.

The Good News:

The "hope and expectation" wagon keeps rolling along with this lesson. Like many, if not all, of the texts for Advent there is something to look forward to.  And, hopefully, all of this hope, expectation and "looking forward" to a future reality will effect our present.  As many wise and faithful theologians have already said, this is a way that the future is breaking into the present.

Psalm: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Challenges:

There is some powerful imagery that can make a point, but some of this imagery can either be confusing or problematic to the ears of some of your listeners.  What does it mean to be enthroned upon the cherubim and to shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh? (1-2) Why are only a few tribes of Israel mentioned?  This has to do with the fact that this is a psalm from the Northern Kingdom of Israel (not Judah).

Also, there is a very prevalent feeling today (at least in my context) that shies away from the idea that we should "fear" God.  God is love, etc.  People who dislike the idea of our "fear" of God will probably shy away from verse 4, which speaks of God's anger toward the prayers of the people. This doesn't make the psalm a bad one, it just presents a challenge for your listeners.

Also, the verses of the psalm that are left out of this reading are a vivid analogy for the liberation of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and their foundation in the Promised Land.  You can't include everything I suppose!

Opportunities:

As I read and reread this psalm the word that kept coming into my head was "relationship."  The writer/speaker of this psalm has a relationship with God.  They acknowledge the ways that the people have failed God, but they are also not shy in describing the ways that God has punished them.  All of the psalms are great examples of people being honest and "leveling" with God: this is an excellent example of this.

 

The Good News:

This is a prayer FROM people TO God. In this psalm itself we do not hear if it was answered.  We do know that God DID and DOES remain faithful in many ways...especially through the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Second Lesson: Romans 1:1-7

Challenges:

There is quite a bit packed into these opening seven verses of Romans: themes and ideas that would need chapters to completely flesh them out...and guess what, that's what the rest of Romans does! But we're not going to hear the rest of Romans today are we? Also, because so much is packed into a reading which takes about 40 seconds (yes I timed it) there is no way my mind can process all of the information in this reading and I have a theology degree: processing this sort of stuff is what I do!

Hearers of this lesson will have a tough time taking it all in: NOT because they are dumb or anything like this, but because it's a difficult passage. This is a good text for Sunday School or Bible Study.

Opportunities:

Having listed all of those challenges in the lines above, I will say that there is a treasure trove of content here: statements about the nature of the gospel, the identity of Jesus Christ, what Jesus does for us, and the purpose and goal given to Christians in the wake of all the above.  Instead of leading with this lesson, it could be a perfect addition to bring into your sermon after you have looked at the Gospel or the First Lesson.  There really is "something for everyone" here.

The Good News:

"...through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ..." (v. 5-6).  That sums it up: we are saved FROM many things (sin, death, etc.) FOR a purpose.

Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25

Challenges:

This is a pretty familiar story from the Bible, so familiar that people might tune out the details because they feel like they already know it.  Also, while a familiar story it is often read or heard in such a traditional, stilted way (at pageants or services) that the true, emotional import of Joseph's experience can be overlooked.  The way that you read this Gospel Lesson (inflection, emphasis, etc.) will help tell the story, while what you bring up in your sermon will take it the rest of the way.

Opportunities:

Can you get much more "real-life" than this? A regular guy is preparing to get married when he finds out that his bride-to-be is pregnant! I don't think this is the time to go into a description of First Century Galilean Marriage/Engagement customs...this is a chance to talk about how every-day, even MUNDANE this situation is.

The men in your audience/congregation probably have a deep sense of responsibility and honor: this sort of situation will speak deeply to them. It is also an amazing opportunity to talk about what it means to be a righteous man.

What should Joseph do? What kind of emotions are running through his head and heart?  While Matthew doesn't tell us, he DOES tell us that Joseph is a RIGHTEOUS (right-related) man and he is going to do the decent thing: dismissing Mary quietly.  If you are tempted to be a bit critical of Joseph for this, remember that Joseph hasn't been reciting the Apostles or Nicene Creed each Sunday and doesn't know that the child is conceived by the Holy Spirit. 

I named this post "Hey Joe" because Joseph's situation reminded me of the Jimi Hendrix song of the same name, where Hendrix sings, "Hey Joe, where are you going with that gun in your hand?" and the answer comes back, "I'm going down to shoot my old lady, I found her messing around with another man."  This is NOT our Joseph's reaction: he is a righteous man.

In a world where the mistreatment of women is all-too-common, Joseph is an amazing example of something else.

If you are not familar with the sermons of Fred Craddock I thoroughly recommend them.  You can buy his book here.  He preaches an AMAZING sermon on this text.  He talks about how Joseph could have received guidance from his friends and neighbors (who probably would have said, "Dump her!"), he could have "just done what the Bible Says." If this was the case Deuteronomy 22 says, "She is to be taken out and stoned to death in front of the people."

But Craddock says, "Joseph is a good man, and he rises to a point that is absolutely remarkable for his day and time.  He loves his Bible and he knows his Bible and bless his heart for it.  But he reads his Bible through a certain kind of lens, the lens of the character and nature of a God who is loving and kind.  Therefore, he says, "I will not harm her, abuse her, expose her, shame her, ridicule her, or demean her value, her dignity, or her worth.  I will protect her." Where does it say that, Joseph? In your Bible? I'll tell you where it says that. It says that in the very nature and character of God." The Collected Sermons of Fred Craddock (Westminster John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 2011), page 66.

The Good News:

All the "usual suspects" found in the Gospel Message are here: a challenging situation (v. 18-19) which is changed by the action/intervention of God (v. 20-21) and the transformation of a situation into something whole and complete (24-25) according to the fulfilment of prophecy (v. 22-23).

I find there to be good news in the fact that God chose to use regular people to bring about a (or rather THE) transformation in the world.  Sure, Joseph was descended from David...not that this pedigree would have seemed that grand to a Roman or Greek.  But he wasn't a ruler or official or particularly "special" guy.  But God worked through him (and Mary too).

Advent 3: Will the Real John the Baptist Please Stand Up?

Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 146:5-10
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11

First Lesson: Isaiah 35:1-10

Challenges:

Of course, there is the usual, "When will all of this happen?" (look at the Gospel for an answer to this question).

The image of the "wilderness and dry land" being glad is a good one, but it is rather sad to know that while there is certainly irrigated and flourishing farmland in the Holy Land today, it comes at the expense of other areas, which have become dryer and dryer.  The Jordan River, for instance, is little more than a watery ditch in some places while the Dead Sea is becoming lower and lower.  While a challenge, this could also be an opportunity to compare and contrast God's actions with humanity's actions.

Opportunities:

Again there are powerful images in this passage.  How could they be fleshed out for today?  What do strengthened hands and firm knees look like (v.3) or strong hearts (v.4)?  And how about the blind seeing?

Here's an example:

In his book The Reason For God, Timothy Keller tells the story of a drug dealer who lived a very violent and immoral life.  Finally, in one deal gone bad, he was shot and lost his sight.  This experience, however, proved to be a catalyst that caused him to change his life and become a follower of Jesus. He said, "As my physical eyes were closed, my spiritual eyes were opened, as it were.  I finally saw how I'd been treating people.  I changed, and now for the first time in my life I have friends, real friends.  It was a terrible price to pay, and yet I must say it was worth it.  I finally have what makes life worthwhile." (Reason for God pg. 25)

The Good News:

I find it particularly good news to hear that "not even fools shall go astray" on the Holy Way that leads to Zion.  If I am honest with myself I know that I can be rather foolish most of the time: sometimes particularly so.  Quite often we are VERY afraid to appear foolish and that fear can stop us from stepping up and following Jesus.  "Saving face" or "not looking ridiculous" is something that stretches far beyond High School: the adult world knows these "values" quite well.  It can be liberating to put aside the fear of these things.

Psalm: Psalm 146: 5-10

Challenges:

The word "happy" is a complicated one that carries a great deal of cultural baggage.  When you hear the word "happy" it is easy to think of smiles and high-fives and Skittles falling from the sky (at least I do...when I mentioned how great it would be if Skittles fell from the heavens a venerable church lady looked at me and said, "But they'd chip the paint of your car!")

Anyway, what does it mean that "happy are those whose help is in the God of Jacob'? Does this mean we need to be upbeat all of the time? Well, of course not, but I'm sure at least one person hearing this on Sunday Morning might start to think this. For the sake of that one person, try to make it clear that "happy" doesn't have to mean "upbeat."  Maybe you don't mention it in your sermon, but you could make a side statement in between different parts of the liturgy.

Opportunities:

Like I said with the Isaiah text, there are some awesome examples: justice for the oppressed, food for the hungry, prisoners set free (7), the opening of blind eyes (8), etc. etc.  That's how God rolls.  What are some present day examples of this?  If you didn't mention Nelson Mandela in your sermon last week (or even if you did), his life could be a good example.  Especially since in his life many of these things fed off each other: his time in prison changed him profoundly and HIS freedom and how he used it became a chance for many of the OTHER things in this Psalm to begin to happen in South Africa.

The Good News:

Okay, so this is one of those times where it's all good news.  Sometimes you have to do hunting for it, here you just have to get out of its way!

Second Lesson: James 5:7-10

Challenges:

A very, very small percentage of the American population is employed in farming these days (certainly under 10%...or something like that, google it if you want an exact figure).  Therefore verse 7, with it's farming example, might seem a bit removed from our experience.  It might not connect with our ears, or even worse, seem quaint.

Also, when it comes to a critique of grumbling it is always important to not "grumble about people who grumble" if you know what I mean.  Have you ever heard anyone say, "I just hate it how negative those clowns are? It really annoys me!"  Don't get caught in the vortex of negativity!  

Opportunities:

While written almost 2,000 years ago, James sure can peg church people today, can't he?  If there is something we have brought to a near art-form it's grumbling.  This could be a great chance to humorously list the various types of grumbling you have seen in a church community.  Come up with your own, but here could be a few possibilities:

1) "Lonely Grumbling:" 'No one else will sign up to do "x" so I guess I'll keep doing it, even though I've been doing it for the past 3 months...'

2) "Sniper Grumbling:" 'You know what our leadership needs to do?  It's "x."  I've been trying to tell them! What was that?  Can I serve in leadership? Oh no, I don't have the time..."

3) "Nostalgic Grumbling:" "You know, there was a time when there weren't games on Sunday morning or Wednesday Night, we prayed in schools and had nativity scenes at the court house, what is wrong with us today? I'll tell you what, it's "x."

4) "The Grumbling Pastor" "People just don't...come to church anymore...read the bible anymore...care anymore...sing in church anymore...do "x" anymore..."

What are your favorite varieties of grumbling?

The Good News:

The Lord has not come in the way we hope, but there is assurance here that he is, in fact, coming.  Also, if things are not going particularly well for you and you think that you aren't making a difference, you are not alone.  Many of the prophets had a similar experience: it must have been very frustrating to be Amos or Micah or Jeremiah...I'm sure they felt like saying, "IS THIS MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT ALL?!?!?!"

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11

Challenges:

One of the chief challenges with this, or any, text is the lack of adverbs or adjectives to describe John's vocal tone or demeanor.  Was he frustrated? Hopeful?  Worried? Disgusted?  Spiritually beaten down?

WILL THE REAL JOHN THE BAPTIST PLEASE STAND UP????

While many people are "sure" he felt a certain way, it is less than clear as to his mental and spiritual state.  If you are the one reading this lesson, the way that you speak John's lines will be interpretation itself.  This is a challenge, but that's what we signed up for!

Also, it is very, VERY easy for us to put-down John for not having a "proper understanding" of who Jesus really was.  Even if this is the case, I say we cut the guy some slack.

Opportunities:

I never saw John as a "doubter" in this story.  I always saw it as a matter of fact statement which ultimately says, "Hey, I know "the one" is coming sooner or later, of that I have no doubt, I just want to know if it's you."

I have no way to prove that's what John was really saying, but it's the way I see it in my mind's eye when I hear this story.  I'm also not saying I'm right...just that this is what I see. You might have people like me listening to you on Sunday.  I will certainly have people who look at it the other way listening to me.  This should be a reminder of all the different ways a group of people can hear the same story. Maybe you could explore all of these different possibilities of John's reaction.

The Good News:

Succinctly, the good news comes in the answer to John's question, "Are you the one?" That answer is simply, "YES." Jesus is pointing out the signs of "the Kingdom of Heaven" that have come near.

I have heard the question before, "What were the point of Jesus' miracles?"  It's a fair question. Were they meant to change the world? If so, why did he have to go and get himself killed? He could have stayed alive and taken on a utilitarian ethic that "did the most good." Or were the miracles just opportunities for people to believe, in which case the people healed were just props or "examples?"

All good questions.

I think the good news comes with the fact that Jesus miracles are BOTH signs to bring faith AND ways to change the world.  Jesus could have chosen signs that hurt or harmed people, signs that cowed his viewers into submission.  Instead he used signs that brought and enhanced life...because like his Father, that's how he rolls.  As his followers we get to roll that way too.  I think the church's benchmark for "success" should take into account all of the signs of the coming kingdom that Jesus lists in verses 4-6.

Advent 2: Wolves, Bears and Vipers...Oh My!

Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12

First Lesson: Isaiah 11:1-10

Challenges:

So who are we talking about here?  Who is the "shoot that will come out from the stump of Jesse"? Is this poem from the 700s, or Josiah's time, or even later in the exilic period?  Who knows?  Christians have seen this poem pointing to Jesus Christ.  I'm sure that whoever the original author had in mind as the "shoot" and "branch" on whom rests the spirit of the Lord, they did not have Jesus of Nazareth in mind.  This, of course, in no way negates the fact that Jesus fulfills these words, but it does make things somewhat complicated.

Let's face it:  while this wonderful imagery of 'wolf and lamb' and 'cow and bear' lying down or grazing together, gets the point across, it might bring up distracting thoughts into the heads of your hearers.  As a kid I always wondered, what will the wolves eat?  Will the bear enjoy grazing?  How about the lion eating straw, will that be fun for him? Of course, such musing totally miss the point, but that doesn't mean they won't be there in your congregation's minds.  Images are wonderful things, but even the best ones fall short when it comes to describing God and what God is up to.

Opportunities:

Another lesson from Isaiah, more great imagery.  It seems that the Season of Advent is all about vivid imagery...and that's certainly not a bad thing. What are some contemporary images that relate to what Isaiah is speaking of here? For instance, I once saw a commercial (I can't remember what the product was) where they would show random groups of people finally getting along. There was a wolf and a lamb lying together, followed by a picture of Coach Bobby Knight arm-in-arm with a referee.

"Updating" this imagery could be very useful: Michigan and Ohio State Fans perhaps?  And if people have a problem with an image like that, it might be a good time to talk about the need for healthy rivalries that don't involve actual "hatred."

The Good News:

I've said it before and I'll say it again: HOLD ON, GOOD TIMES WILL COME, GOD IS STILL WORKING: HOLD ON! HAVE HOPE!

Psalm: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

Challenges:

Americans have a very interesting relationship with the concept of royalty.  We are very proud that we declared our independence from 'that tyrant George III," (even though American Revolution was infinitely more complex).  At the same time we are fascinated by the British Royal family today, especially its most recent George.  We love fantasy stories with kings, castles, queens and especially princesses (just look at the marketing directed at young girls and you'll see what I mean).  At the same time we become very nervous with the idea of absolute power (and its corrupting influence). Kingship is a strange concept that has many layers in our cultural pysche.

Also, note how we leave out verses like 9: "may his foes bow down before him and his enemies lick the dust."  Lovely huh? We like to leave out the unappetizing bits when we can, don't we? Also, this is a very "us vs. them" sort of psalm.  It's talking about "OUR" king who will look after US and trounce everyone else.  If you lived in the ancient world, you'd probably want the same thing (it wasn't an easy place to live) but still, this is a bit problematic.

Opportunities:

What makes a king a good king?  What kind of things should you expect from a king?  Various cultures and ideologies will tell you, but here we have a biblical image of kingship: justice and righteousness, prosperity for the people, defending the cause of the poor, etc., etc.  Of course, read the rest of the bible  and you can realize that the kings of Israel and Judah had a very...well, let's say..."mixed" record on all of these counts.  Okay, that was being generous: most of the time they failed miserably.  But this desire for something greater and better is still present.  The bible doesn't just shrug and say, "Oh well, that's how the world works: "Might Makes Right.'" Instead there is the possibility, the hope, of something more.

The Good News:

Kings and rulers should be there for the benefit of their people.  There should be righteousness, justice and prosperity.  For God, these things aren't aberrations: they are the norm.  If they seem like aberrations to us, it's because our world is not yet what it will someday be.  

Second Lesson: Romans 15:4-13

Challenges:

Here's the greatest challenge for this text on this particular week: it's going to be overshadowed by the Gospel of Matthew and Isaiah (both books have a way of doing this don't they?).  What Paul has to say here is really insightful and important, but when you have John the Baptist with his camel's hair, locusts and wild honey on the same Sunday, gosh, that doesn't leave much space for Paul's words about the Gentiles and the words of the Old Testament.  At best Romans will get an "assist" for mentioning the "root of Jesse" from Isaiah 11.10.  This is a shame because verse seven ("welcome one another...") should be driven into our brains on a regular basis.

Opportunities:

I really like how Paul argues here: he makes a statement and then backs it up with the example of Christ and Scripture.  Verse Seven says, "Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." Verse 8 then gives an example of what Christ did and verse 9 follows with the purpose of Christ's actions as well as a quote from Scripture.  Something similar happens at the beginning of Chapter 15, it's just that our lesson starts in the middle of the argument.  If you are leading a Bible Study or small group you can use Paul's method of reasoning as a good example of making an argument.

The Good News:

If there is any point in scripture that speaks of the Gentile's inclusion into the covenant that God has with God's people, I need to remember to rejoice enthusiastically.  As my father, a very wise and witty pastor, has said, "At this point in human history [i.e. the time of Jesus] my ancestors were worshipping trees in a German forest."  God loves "those people" and that's good news because I am "those people."  Realizing this changes a person's perspective.

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

Challenges:

Along with all of the academic hullaballoo and "goings-on"that comes with the "Quest for the Historical Jesus," there is a great deal of question, at least in some circles, as to the "Historical John the Baptist."  Who was he? A prophet?  An Essene? A "PK" (Priest's Kid) like Luke says?  Who knows?  How much does it matter for your sermon?

There is also the challenge of John's, shall we say, directness.  "YOU BROOD OF VIPERS!!!"  You never find yourself wanting to say, "So John, tell me how you really feel."  There is some end-times, apocalyptic imagery going on here what with axes lying at tree roots (v.10) and there certainly is an emphasis on works...or in this case "fruit." It'd be tempting to say, "Well John was concerned with works and Jesus was concerned with faith." This would help us all breath a sigh of relief, but I do not believe that such a statement stays true to the Gospel of Matthew.  Jesus can be just as, shall we say, "direct" as John.  Ask the "foolish bridesmaids" (25.1-3) about Jesus' "directness." How do we deal with this without whitewashing or watering-down the text just so we can sleep better at night?

Opportunities:

John is all about "image." I can't imagine that his wardrobe and diet were accidents: he knew what he was doing.  Since strong images are there, this is a great opportunity to take them out for a spin and see what they can do.  For myself, it is very hard for me to not think of John as some sort of Revivalist Preacher from the American South. I think "Cotton Patch Gospel" (Book and Musical) have become ensconced in my mind.  Wouldn't "YOU BROOD OF VIPERS" or "YOU SONS OF SNAKES" come across much more effectively and colorfully with a southern accent?

There are extravagant and almost outrageous images here: have some fun with them.

The Good News:

Okay, finding some "good news" here can be a bit tough.  I think the closest you can come, without whitewashing or watering-down what Matthew is saying throughout the Gospel, is to say that there is an opportunity to REPENT, or as the CEB translation puts it, "Change your hearts and minds."  The Kingdom of Heaven has come near: God is active.  That might not be exactly "pleasant" news (considering our track record of following God's ways), but it is "good" news. If having God and God's  reality near to us isn't good news, well, we might as well do something else.