COMMENTARY
Lesson 1: Deuteronomy 8:1-18
The people of Israel must remember God's goodness in leading them through the wilderness into the promised land. Since God has blessed them by bringing them into a rich and fruitful land, thankful lives are called for. When the people enjoy prosperity, the children of God must resist the temptation to pat themselves on the back and take credit for all their good fortune.They must render thanksgiving to the Lord, for he is the source of all blessing. The Lord is the One who led them through the perilous wilderness, supporting them in those difficult times. Thanksgiving is the only proper response.
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Paul encourages the Corinthian church to generously support the offering that he is taking up for the Jerusalem Christians. The apostle reminds them that those who sow sparingly will reap sparingly and vice-versa. Generosity is a prime mark of the Christian life, which will be richly rewarded by the Lord, not materially but spiritually. Their liberality will bring a rich harvest of praise and thanksgiving to God from others. This giving spirit comes from the grace of God, who favors us with the gift above all gifts, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lesson 2: Philippians 4:6-20
Parting instructions from Paul to the church at Philippi. Do not worry about anything but make your requests known to God in a spirit of thanksgiving. Those who do this will experience the peace of God which is beyond understanding. Focus on that which is honorable, noble, true, and so forth. They are instructed to keep on doing the things they were taught.
Lesson 2: 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings are made for all people and especially those in authority. God wills all to be saved.
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19
Of the ten lepers whom Jesus healed, only one returns to give thanks to God, and he is a Samaritan outsider. Jesus instructs the lepers to show themselves to the priests, who alone could declare them fit to associate with the rest of society. On the way, they are healed. Their going demonstrated their faith, which made them well. While ten were healed of their leprosy, only the one leper was truly whole, for his spirit was filled with thanksgiving.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION
Lesson 1: Deuteronomy 8:1-18
Remember. The people of Israel are urged to remember all the long way that the Lord has led them (v. 2) during the days of struggle and to refrain from forgetting the blessings of the Lord when life becomes prosperous (vv. 11, 14, 18). They must remember to give thanks.
Credit where it is due. The Deuteronomist warns of the very real danger of giving the credit to oneself rather than the Lord (vv. 14, 17). A person cannot lift up holy hands to God in praise and thanksgiving while, at the same time, reaching around to pat himself on the back. Recall that God rejected the prayer of the Pharisee who prayed: "God, I thank you that I am not like other people ... I fast twice a week, I give a tenth of all my income" (Luke 18:11-12). A thankless heart is discrediting to God and a sign of a soul out of touch with God's Spirit.
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
The law of farming. "The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (v. 6). Sowing and reaping are proportional. The more you sow; the more you will reap. This principle applies not only to farming but to life itself. The more a person hoards the gift of life, the less life will reward her. It's a law built into the structure of things, that is equally valid for those who sow through the Spirit of God.
Hold things lightly. The Corinthians were instructed to give freely and cheerfully (v. 7). In other words, hold on to things very loosely; don't clutch them tightly, so as to keep them from others. Material possessions are meant to be shared with those in need, not put in a safe.
Why God loves a cheerful giver. The grudging giver regards possessions as his own, while the cheerful Christian giver knows that everything comes from God. Who wouldn't be cheerful when you're giving somebody else's money or possessions away? The cheerful Christian giver focuses on the human dimension, the needs of people. The grudging giver loves things more than people. The cheerful Christian giver concentrates on the object of his giving, while the grouch preoccupies himself with what he has given up. The cheerful Christian giver has the faith to entrust his or her future to the Lord; the grudging giver believes that he must shape his own future. The cheerful Christian giver uses his money to empower others; the grudging giver strives only to strengthen his own position. The cheerful Christian giver worships God with his money; the grudging giver worships money as his god.
Lesson 2: Philippians 4:6-20
Why worry when you can pray? (v. 6). All of us have been plagued with worry from time to time. Not only is worry futile and counterproductive but, at its root, worry demonstrates a lack of faith in God. The worrier is possessed by her worries, while the prayer practitioner is freed by giving her worries to the Lord.
Guided imagery. Guided imagery is a meditational technique of envisioning oneself in peaceful and pleasant surrounding, to reduce stress. That upon which we focus our minds influences our thinking and action. Thus, the wisdom of Paul's words: "Whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing..." (v. 8).
Keep on doing it (v. 9). The apostle encourages his followers to keep on doing all that they had learned, heard and seen in him. He points to the discipline aspect of discipleship. It's like losing weight: You can't stop monitoring your diet once you reach your weight goal. The Christian faith consists of the sometimes unexciting discipline of worship, prayer, service and giving. Paul encourages us to keep on doing it, because once you stop doing it, you will soon stop being it. Behavioral specialists tell us to act like the person that you want to be and it will come to pass. The Bible teaches: Act according to the new nature God gave you in baptism, so that you will realize your true identity in Christ.
Lesson 2: 1 Timothy 2:1-4
First things. I recently subscribed to a Christian magazine called First Things. In the church we often get waylaid with secondary concerns, like the color of the board room, so that we forget the first things of Christ. In this passage we are reminded that prayer ought to be at the top of our list. We are urged to pray for all people, especially for those in authority, so that we might know God's peace.
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19
Equality in suffering. The region through which Jesus was traveling, the border of Samaria and Galilee, contained a mixture of races. The text does not explicitly state the composition of the group of lepers, except that the man who returned to give Jesus thanks was a Samaritan. From Jesus' comment, "Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (v. 18), we must assume that some of the ten lepers were Jews. Without their affliction, they would have nothing to do with one another. Their disease was an equalizer. Suffering seems to break down barriers and create a community of the afflicted. Note that when they sought Jesus' healing power, they didn't pray, "Jesus, have mercy on me," but, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (v. 13). They saw themselves as a community and sought healing not just for themselves but for the community. Unfortunately, once healed of their disease, they ceased functioning as a community. Only one man was changed.
As they went, they were made clean (v. 14). Going to the priests was a demonstration of faith. The priest was the one who could declare that they were now clean and ready to re-enter regular society. The healing was not instantaneous but occurred on the way. As we obey the commands of the Master and do his bidding, we are made clean.
Returning thanks. Only the Samaritan returned to praise and thank God for his healing. Giving thanks entails returning to the Source of our blessings. It also involves returning something to the ones who have gifted us. This provides recognition not just of the gift but of the giver. To return thanks communicates that the giver is precious to us, a necessary part of our lives.
Resounding thanks. The man who returned thanks to Jesus lost himself in praise and thanksgiving. He praised God with a loud voice, prostrating himself before Jesus (vv. 15-16). He was oblivious to the reactions of others. When we really become aware of Christ's healing and cleansing grace, we become like those about God's heavenly throne, lost in wonder, love and praise.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Theme: Thanksgiving. God has blessed us with the good things of creation, with healing and other benefits. Therefore, our lives are to be a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God.
Lesson 1: Deuteronomy 8:1-18
Sermon Title: Living In Remembrance. Sermon Angle: The book of Deuteronomy calls the people of Israel to remembrance and our text is no exception. They are called to remember God's great acts of salvation and providence. Thanksgiving necessarily focuses on past deeds and requires that we recall our blessings. We must not be so focused on where we are going that we forget those who have helped us get this far. When Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, he told his disciples to live in thankful remembrance of his saving grace. Living in remembrance begins at the foot of the cross.
Outline:
1. The Israelites were called to live in remembrance
- of God's leadership in difficult times (v. 2)
- of God's provision in prosperous times (v. 14)
2. We are to live in remembrance
- of material gifts (v. 14)
- of God's gift of salvation through Christ
3. The Eucharist reminds us to live in thankful remembrance
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Sermon Title: What's The Point? Sermon Angle: Paul provides a rationale for the cause of giving to the needs of others: in this case, the church in Jerusalem. He addresses the underlying fear that to give generously will cause the giver to come up short. What is the point? The more we give; the more we receive. The more we sow; the more we reap (v. 6).
Outline:
- Our misconception has it that giving impoverishes the giver
- The Bible teaches that giving enriches the giver and the receiver (v. 6)
- Give freely and God will provide for your needs and bless you (v. 8)
Sermon Title: Planned Giving. Sermon Angle: The Corinthians were to give great thought to their giving (v. 7). They were not to be pressured into giving but to contribute freely, according to their own decision. This suggests that giving ought not be haphazard but well thought out. Unplanned giving usually leads to giving God our leftovers but planned giving enables us to make our giving an expression of our faith.
Sermon Title: Seed Money. Sermon Angle: Verse 10 asserts that not only will God supply that which we need to live (the seed) but will multiply that seed if we freely sow it. Sometimes groups are given so-called seed money to get a new venture off the ground or sustain an existing one. Comparing money to seed is very biblical. Money, like seed, can be consumed and then it's gone or it can be invested (planted) in hopes of a greater return. God promises that if we invest our seed money, we will reap a bountiful harvest.
Lesson 2: Philippians 4:6-20
Sermon Title: Peace Guard. Sermon Angle: Verses 6 and 7 urge us not to worry but to pray, with the promise of God's peace. Paul says that God's peace will "guard" our hearts and minds. The word for guard is phroureo (foo-reh-o) in Greek, which means to be watching in advance; to mount a guard or sentinel; to watch at the gate. Once we commit our whole life to God in thankful prayer, God posts a guard at our hearts and minds to keep out the enemy (worry), which seeks to dominate our lives. God's Spirit serves as our Peace Guard.
Outline:
- Worry is one of our great enemies and once inside our lives can destroy us
- Thankful prayer keeps worry from gaining the upper hand
- Through prayer, God gives his Spirit as a Peace Guard
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19
Sermon Title: From A Distance. Sermon Angle: Luke states that the lepers kept their distance as they begged for healing (v. 12), in accordance with Jewish law. These pathetic sufferers observed all of life from a distance, except that of their companions. They were all healed physically, but only one, spiritually. Only the Samaritan drew near to Jesus to render thanks for his cleansing. Were the others so alienated from society and God that even after their skin was restored, their souls remained leprous? Were they still outsiders, outcasts, who could not draw near to God in worship and thanksgiving? To live in sin is to be an outcast, looking at life from a distance.
Sermon Title: Returning Thanks. Sermon Angle: The Samaritan, when he noticed that he was healed, turned back to render thanks to God (v. 15). The head of the household sometimes prefaces a meal with the words, "let us return thanks." Returning is a wonderful choice of words to use with thanks. Thanksgiving causes one to stop and go back to the source of blessings to return thanks, especially to the Lord.
Outline:
- The Samaritan stopped to return thanks to Jesus.
- Returning thanks completed the healing process.
- Thanksgiving involves returning to the Source of blessings (God) and to others through whom God blesses us.
- Who are those to whom you need to return thanks?
Illustration: Let me tell you about Gertrude, a pillar of our little Swedish Lutheran church on the south side of Omaha, Nebraska, who lived for decades with her son, since being widowed. Both mother and son were full of the joy of life, oozing with warmth. Some eight or nine years ago, I was reunited with Gertrude at the congregation's 75th anniversary. Her eyes were aglow as she vigorously pumped my hand and exclaimed: "We're so proud of you!" I was the rebel miscreant whom they never dreamed would become a pastor, one of the three in the history of the congregation. Her love lifted me. I was one of her children, whom she loved unconditionally. Recently my wife, who is a nurse, happened to meet Gertrude's son at a nursing home. Gertrude had recently been admitted. "Maybe you could visit my mom," he suggested, "though I don't know if she'll remember you." Those last words set off alarm bells. Fran and I went to visit Gertrude a week later. She was sitting at the dining room table, soup was spilled in front of her. "Hi, Gertrude, remember me?" She said yes, but there was no spark of recognition. She only complained of her back and of wanting to get back to her room. We spoke of the old days but they were dead to her. We were dead to her. The past was dead to her. Without remembrance there is no life, humanly speaking. I thank God that Gertrude lives, not only in my mind, but in the hearts of those who loved her and continue to love her. I thank God that he remembers Gertrude and will raise her to newness of life. Thanks be to God for the gift of remembrance and of life eternal.
Sermon Title: Prostrate Trouble. Sermon Angle: Have you noticed how many people, when referring to the male sexual gland called the prostate, refer to it as the prostrate? They bemoan, "I have prostrate trouble." No, they really have prostate trouble; prostrate trouble is a spiritual disease that afflicts us all. The Samaritan was so overwhelmed with thanksgiving that he fell on his face (prostrate) at the feet of Jesus. When is the last time you were so overwhelmed with thanksgiving to God that you fell prostrate at the feet of Jesus, as you shouted out your praise and thanksgiving to God?
WORSHIP RESOURCES
Psalm Of The Day: Psalm 65 (C, L) -- "Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion" (v. 1).
Prayer Of The Day: God of grace, you have blessed us beyond our knowing with gifts great and small. Give us but one thing more, a grateful heart, eager to return thanks for your continued bounties. In Jesus' name. Amen.