Text: Luke 9:29-31 - And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became dazzling white. And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerasalem. I am sure that there is no one within the sound of my voice who was not vitally aware that a few weeks ago we celebrated Super Sunday. For at least three weeks before that event, every news media, every form of mass communication, had ...
I want to begin with a situation that might happen to a young person. I hope that those of us who are older will think back to our youth and put ourselves into the same story. Let’s say you’re still living at home and going to school. On a Saturday night you take the family car. Let’s admit you’re an excellent driver and that you have the right to think of yourself as careful and prudent at the wheel. This is the image your parents have of you and you’re pleased with that. Good for you. You are with the ...
The Lord said: "I came to cast fire upon the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law ...
As we struggle with the burdens of the day, we sometimes wonder, but let the word go forth this morning that we have a future, that however threatening the skies appear, there is no cause for faith to fail. We have the promise of our Lord for that, and he is just as active in our world as he has ever been in anybody’s world. He is at work, in a series of unfolding promises, to bring his ultimate promise to fulfillment. The promise of our Lord is urgent on my heart whenever as a pastor I have opportunity to ...
Good news and Bad news! First the good news - Jesus associated with sinners! That means there's hope for me! God knows I'm not perfect But he loves me anyway! Now the bad news - Jesus associated with sinners! Not the good Church people Pillars of the community But the bums The crooks The drunks What kind of example is that? And even worse news A dilemma - Who should I associate with? The good people Pious Noble Religious (And boring) Those who can teach me Make me a better person? Or the "bad people" Those ...
All of us at some point have been so nervous that it was obvious to everyone - our knees shook, our hands trembled. It's happened to every one of us. I remember one incident in particular in my own life. It was the first time I ever assisted with Communion. I was a Lay Minister. It was my installation, and I was to assist in distributing Communion. My hands shook so badly in trying to pass out the bread that I'm quite certain that everyone who received a wafer had to shake his head to catch my hand. I was ...
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors ...
I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth. I will sweep away man and beast. I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. I will overthrow the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth. I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will punish the officials and the kings’ sons. And I will punish those who fill their master’s house with violence and fraud. That’s hardly the kind of talk our children hear in ...
"Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings." (v. 11) Prayer: Lord, you have made it plain that you care what we do with our lives. You are pleased when we seek to do your will, and you grieve for us when we ignore it. Speak to us in this time of worship and enable us to re-discover the joy and the blessing of doing it your way. Amen Has there been a more popular pastime in recent years, than that of "getting in shape"? One magazine called it "America’s Health and Fitness ...
COMMENTARY 1 Kings 19:15-21 Elijah obeys Yahweh's command to anoint two kings and a prophet. This and the previous two lections deal with the problem of depression as Elijah experienced it. A preacher might use these three Lessons for a series on overcoming depression. The way out: (1) Elijah is physically restored by rest and food provided by an angel; (2) Elijah had an experience with God on top of Mount Horeb where he heard the still, small voice of God; (3) in today's Lesson the final step in ...
Lk 11:1-13 · Col 2:6-15 · Gen 18:20-32 · 2 Ki 5:1-15
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John R. Brokhoff
COMMENTARY 2 Kings 5:1-15 General Naaman of Syria is healed of leprosy by obeying Elisha's order to bathe in the Jordan. The confession of faith by an unknown Jewish slave girl in the home of Syria's chief of staff results in the cure of leprosy for her master, Naaman. On the basis of the confession Naaman goes to Israel. When Elisha the prophet orders him to wash in the Jordan seven times, he goes off in a rage feeling insulted. But his aides convince him to stay. Naaman then dips himself in the Jordan ...
Lk 13:22-30 · Heb 12:5-7, 11-13, 18-29 · Jer 28:1-9 · Isa 66:18-23
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John R. Brokhoff
COMMENTARY Jeremiah 28:1-9 Hananiah, a prophet, contradicts Jeremiah's prophecy of doom. Jeremiah is confronted by Hananiah, a prophet from Gibeon, in the temple. It is a dramatic scene with Jeremiah's wearing a yoke to symbolize the coming bondage of Judah to Babylon. To Jeremiah in the presence of the priests and people, Hananiah tells Jeremiah that Babylon will be defeated and within two years the king, exiles, and the temple treasures will be returned to Jerusalem. Sarcastically Jeremiah says "Amen" to ...
I begin with a word about two American cities, cities of fame and sometimes of infamy. The first is in the east, almost as far as the Atlantic Ocean. It is this nation's capital, workplace of the president and of senators and representatives and of thousands of bureaucrats. It is a place where decisions handed down and deals hammered out affect millions of lives. It is a place so attractive and important that millions of dollars are spent to get there. It is Washington, D. C., and it symbolizes power. The ...
For generations many people have told us that the driving force behind us human beings is the will to power. Power is everything. In fact, God has often been viewed as one who gives power to God's special people. Ancient people prayed for God to give them power over the antelope and the buffalo, whose pictures they drew on the walls of caves. The ancient mariners prayed to Proteus for power over the sea. In our day and time, money is power. So we have prayed for that power and tried to help God along by ...
"So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." Brothers and Sisters in Christ, after worship, a little boy told the pastor: "When I grow up, I'm going to give you some money." "Well, thank you," the pastor replied, "but why?" "Because my daddy says you're one of the poorest preachers we've ever had."1 With the risk of this story in mind, I am pleased, nevertheless, to bring you the fifth sermon in a series of six, dealing with the spiritual needs of Americans as discovered by George Gallup, Jr. ...
Joel 2:12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2, Matthew 6:1-4, Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 6:19-24
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THEOLOGICAL CLUE The title of this day, Ash Wednesday - the rite for the imposition of ashes on the foreheads of the penitents and the central proclamation of the day, "You are dust, and unto dust you will return" provide the theological clue for preaching during Lent and Easter. Every person who is born here on the earth will, sooner or later, be claimed by death. The Genesis 3 story is certainly true in this respect; no one is exempt from death - even Jesus, the very Son of God, had to die, partly ...
Acts 2:14-41, Psalm 105:1-45, 1 Peter 1:1-12, John 20:19-23, John 20:24-31
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THEOLOGICAL CLUE Two major changes were made in the rationale of the Easter season in virtually all of the new lectionaries: the first was dropping the Latin names for the six Sundays between Easter and Pentecost, as was done in Lent. Since these names come from the introits, the psalms, rather than the gospels, and established the theoretical and real themes of the Sundays, something of Easter was often lost in the process. For example, the Fourth Sunday after Easter was Cantate and became known as Church ...
1 Kings 3:1-15, Exodus 3:1-22, Romans 8:18-27, Romans 8:28-39, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 13:47-52
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THEOLOGICAL CLUE Once more the eschatological framework of the church year is reinforced by the day's readings, especially the lesson from Romans 8 and verses 47-50 of the Gospel of the Day, which speak specifically of the "end of the age" and the judgment that will come with it. Matthew's Gospel also spells out the nature of realized and present eschatology in the two little parables of the treasure and the precious pearl. Without the readings, the eschatological motif of Pentecost would be virtually ...
THEOLOGICAL CLUE Summer is over, and fall has begun with its return of people to the churches and their activities, and the church is now entering the last quarter of the church year. Informed people will realize that about two and a half months remain in the Pentecost Cycle/Season. They are also aware that such things as Rally Day, Installation of Church School teachers, programs and retreats involving the young, the women, and the men of the churches are getting under way. Halloween decorations and cards ...
THEOLOGICAL CLUE Although the church year eschatological framework remains in place on this Sunday, it would continue to be almost imperceptible without the influence of the readings for the day. In particular, it is the Gospel for the Day, the parable of the "householder," who goes out to the market place again and again to hire day-laborers to work in his vineyard, that casts the eschatological note of the gospel, as well as the church year, in sharp focus over against the unmerited grace of God, who ...
"Truly, truly, Isay to you, the one who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life; and is not coming into Judgment, but has (already)1 passed over from Death to Life." - John 5:24 Jesus is telling us in John 5:24 what he wants us to know and believe about Eternal Life. For that is why he came, to give all who believe in him life abundantly. This short verse from John 5 also comforts us whenever we are confronted by the hard reality of death. For no matter how we try to soften it, death ...
Setting: One platform, or chancel area, should have an ornate chair in the center for the Pilate’s throne. A bowl of water and a towel should be on a table somewhere on the stage. Near it, a sign with the words, "King Of The Jews." At the edge of the chancel, front center stage, there will be a stand for the cross. The cross should be substantial in size but not too difficult for an actor to hold it on his shoulder and carry it. The cross may be placed in one of the aisles toward the back but not so far ...
"When the (rain)bow is in the clouds, I will look upon it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth." God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth." (Genesis 9:16-17) God’s Covenant of mercy extends to all Creation. Noah’s flood was no ordinary flood. According to the Bible, its distinguishing feature was not that it rained for forty days and forty nights. ...
Christian unity declares "I accept you" or "We accept you." Wherever we go or whatever we do, acceptance fulfills a deep need within us. It is especially true for those who claim Jesus the Christ as Savior and Lord. This passage from Ruth shows us dynamics involved in gaining and responding to acceptance. Her story is probably as old as human relations and provides us with wisdom which comes out of our Judeo/Christian background. It is one filled to the brim and overflowing with richness. The call to be ...
Christian unity believes in immortality and the promise of heaven. The victorious stories of the saints in the early centuries of the church can hold anyone spellbound. The heroism and total commitment to the faith of their resurrected Lord have provided permanent images in the Body of Christ for all time. In a sense, they are very much our brothers and sisters in Christ, even at this moment. Their flesh and blood left an aroma which rose above all the crudities, bestialities, and horrors that animal-like ...