conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

the sermon: now with notes!

"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.
- 1 Peter 2:22-23

Good grief but this is a hard passage to preach. So, I keep asking myself why I cannot leave it alone. I keep asking myself, pleading with myself to talk about the Good Shepherd and to let the epistles to the experts. But I am a fool. I cannot let it alone. Or, more accurately to how I feel, this passage won't let me alone.

There is no full manuscript this morning. I hope that does not disappoint anyone overly. I will be preaching from an outline this morning. I know I run the risk of rambling, but I am hoping that the more "conversational" style will help moderate/mediate the difficulty of the 1 Peter passage. Not that there is a shortage of confidence in my congregation, I think that the pulpit sometimes gives a sermon an air of "the last word" that I want to be certain to avoid this morning.

So, I will wear the "wireless" microphone this morning (Have you noticed how many wires dangle from a wireless microphone?) and come down from the pulpit to talk with people. When I talk about suffering, I balk at making "The Grand Proclamation!" Choreography matters. Anyway, here is the outline as of 5:30-ish this morning. Click on the extended link. I've been awake since 4:00am musing over this in bed. So, I just got up.

Christian Disciplines
- trading cards
- sports page

Naming living and current disciplines
- discipline of being family
- discipline of being friends
- these things point not to us, but to God.

Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It is a gift to the world and every being in it. Don't cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you've got. - Steven Pressfield

1 Peter (dating: 65-70 A.D.)
- about family (family slave oiketai)
- "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.
- not about martyrdom, but about "milder" persecutions
- we are burdened by various interpretations of this passage that suggest we should stay in situations that are dangerous to us.

Conversations with others in the congregation
- the struggle for perfection in our relationships
- the fear and shame of failure in our family life
- the fear and expectation of inadequacy in caring for one another
- we are good in caring for others (agencies, not-for-profits), but caring for one another in the congregation...That might be more intimidating.
- Do we talk ourselves out of Christ-like action?
- Perhaps there is wisdom in 1 Peter and in John's Gospel for us: We show Christ, not ourselves, when we care for one another, when we struggle together, when we bear together the burdens of imperfections in our families.
- Christ is present in our attempts to love one another.

The Injunction to reveal "The Good Shepherd"
- other passages? (i.e. "I no longer call you servants..." or "brothers and sisters in Christ")

Yeah...ending this will be the problem. Maybe I can name once again that what we currently admire in ourselves is the discipline, the vocation we are being called to. We just need to remind ourselves that it is a discipline that shows forth God.

How about...

Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It is a gift to the world and every being in it. Don't cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you've got. - Steven Pressfield

You've got the Good Shepherd.

Posted by tripp at April 13, 2008 05:15 AM