I am preaching tomorrow. This is not the sermon, but some thinking I've been doing around the scriptures. I spoke to the pastors and they laughed when I shared the scriptures with them. It has been a rough month in the lectionary. Preaching this stuff has been challenging. For me, this time around, I am more amazed that I have these specific reaidngs on a federal holiday. Here we are celebrating Labor Day, not a bad thing in general...people work. Let's honor that. But the readings are, in my estimation, so political that I feel burdened by them.
In general, I like to use the rule "Preach to yourself and you will preach to your congregation." It is simplistic, but it is one way to discern what God may be asking of us in the scriptures. Where I feel drawn and challenged may be where the Spirit is leading the community. It is not that the preacher is some spiritual barometer, but it is a more honest approach than telling the congregation what the Spirit is telling them and the preacher leaving herself out of that loop.
So, open up this post to see what I have been thinking thus far.
Jer. 18:1-11 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2�Come, go down to the potter�s house, and there I will let you hear my words.� 3So I went down to the potter�s house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter�s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 6Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the LORD. Just like the clay in the potter�s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7At one moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8but if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it. 9And at another moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, 10but if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to it. 11Now, therefore, say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus says the LORD: Look, I am a potter shaping evil against you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, all of you from your evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.Typically when I read this verse, for whatever reason, I often think of retreats and sermons where this "potter/clay" metaphor has been a theme for how God shapes us individually. We are Baptists after all. We typically concern ourselves with the individual first. We do not often think in terms of communities or nations. And yet, this passage is really about God shaping nations. The nation of Israel is being shaped by God's hands. All nations are, in fact, being shaped by God's hands. I cannot help in this electoral season but think of this in terms of politics. God, is deeply involved in the shaping of nations, of peoples. God is deeply involved in politics. Through the relationships between nations God rewards and punishes. We can talk later about whether or not we particularly enjoy this passage, but the passage is clear that God judges.
But by what standards?
What does God's judgment look like? What are the criteria?
Luke 14:25-33Here is a rigorous set of standards. This is probably one of the verses baptismal candidates should read before the make that final decision. I can hear this tone "Are you sure you want to follow Jesus? It can be a little, well, intense." So, here are some questions that come to mind.
25 Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, 26�Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30saying, �This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.� 31Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 33So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.
Who really wishes to follow Christ?
What would motivate such a decision?
Should we allow these words to be figurative or should we allow them to be read simply, literally?
How would I preach this to myself?
What does giving it all away look like?
Possible answer: All we have, all we do is to reflect the will of God...hospitality, generosity, holy poverty, humility...
The Holy Spirit is always at work in shaping us. We are always present before the judging throne of God. Christ is always asking us to follow. He leads us in the right path.
Yeah. So, um, how would you preach all this?
Posted by tripp at September 4, 2004 08:33 AM