Great Sermon Experiment, the finale

As mentioned last week, this will be the final installment of the 2007 Great Sermon Experiment. The final 2 weeks of August, and the first 2 weeks of September will see a great variety in Sunday Morning Experiences at Lakebay - guest preachers, Sunday in the park, Family Camp/Camp No-Go, and Dan Finally Gets a Vacation. Then we'll move in a different direction in the fall.

So, on to the (sniff, sniff) end:

Texts for Sunday, August 12
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Psalm 50
Luke 12:32-40

Both of these texts have to do with right living. Both seem to be comparing people who truly are obedient, with those who only act like it. Actions vs. words. Motive. Substance vs. style. Both allude toward judgment, with the Luke passage pointing toward the second coming, while the Psalm passage has more to do with God's judgment now. Both include warnings, and promises for obedience.

So what do you see? How do you respond? What message does our church, our culture, the KP need to hear from these two passages?

Great Sermon Experiment, nearing the end

We're two weeks from the end. August 12th will be the last in the Great Sermon Experiment series. Thanks to those of you who have been faithfully responding over the summer months.

Texts for August 5, 2007
Tenth Sunday After Pentecost

Psalm 85
Hosea 11:1-11

Any Lit professor would be glad to receive these passages for a creative writing assignment. Both are beautiful poetry, dripping with words of love, nature, kissing, parental affection. And yet both carry darker images of rebellion, anger, and wrath. What we essentially have is an Old Testament picture of grace - in spite of Israel's rebellion, God still loves them and will restore them.

What image jumps out at you? There are a lot here - lover, friend, parent, judge. Which speaks to you?

Hosea shows us God's thought process at work ("I'm going to punish you. . .no wait! I can't! I love you too much!") What do we learn about God as he carries on this conversation with himself?

Vs. 9 of the Hosea passage almost seems backward. "Because I am God, not man, I won't carry out my anger against you." Wouldn't we usually expect it the other way? That humans are prone to let each other off the hook, but God has to judge our sin? What is God saying here about himself, as opposed to humans?

The Great Sermon Experiment, Week 7

Texts for Sunday, July 29
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Colossians 2:6-15
Luke 11:1-13

The Colossians passage is a wonderful statement of christology - going into great detail in explaining the work of Christ. However, as Paul often does, the theology is heavily invested with "this then is what you should do."

The Luke passage gives us Jesus, teaching his disciples about prayer. You'll note Jesus gives pretty explicit instructions to his disciples that they need to be asking God to meet their needs. God is not shy in giving his children what they need.

So, to my faithful responders:
- So what? What do you take from these texts that will affect your life?
- How are believers called to respond to the teaching in these two texts? What are we being asked to do?
- When have you had a specific need met, after taking it to the Lord?
- Paul's explanation of Christ's work is pretty dense. Essentially, he's saying "don't let human rules get in the way, because that's exactly what Christ freed you from." Why is that so important?

The Great Sermon Experiment, Week 6

Texts for Sunday, July 22 (8th Sunday After Pentecost)

Amos 8:1-12
Luke 10:38-42

An interesting juxtaposition of passages. The Amos passage is noted for its devastating critique of Israel, the Luke passage is notable for its gentleness, it's almost intimate portrayal of the life of Jesus, Mary and Martha.

The Amos passage focuses on issues of justice - fair treatment of the poor, equitable relationships among all people, concern for the hungry. Israel is damned for mistreating those who are poor and hungry, allowing their greed to overcome a needed sense of compassion and solidarity. "Who cares about the unfortunate, as long as we're getting rich."

The Luke passage focuses in on Martha's grumpy attitude. There's probably much that isn't told us here; I doubt Jesus is chastising Martha for taking care of the work that needs to be done. This is not an excuse to throw everything aside, just to "sit at the feet of Jesus." I think it's more about attitude than action.

So, my dear readers,

1) Is our culture guilty of the same sins of Israel? If so, what would be some modern-day examples?
2) Do you think God would judge our country in the same way he judged Israel? Will God turn American's weeping into mourning if we mistreat the poor?
3) How have you personally seen injustice play out? Where have you seen the poor cheated, the widow scorned, the orphan cast out, the hungry left with nothing?
4) Do you ever identify with Martha? Where do you find yourself resentful, agitated, wishing God would change everybody else?
5) How might Martha have approached the situation differently?
6) What would you label the heart of Martha's wrong attitude here?

The great sermon experiment, Week 5

Texts for Sunday, July 8:
2 Kings 5:1-14
Psalm 30

Psalm 30 is one of my favorites, especially this line: weeping may last for a night, but rejoicing comes with the morning.

Both texts deal with a person being taken from despair to joy. They both speak of God stepping into a life and fixing that which was broken. Both deal with despair and hope. And both make clear Who it is that we can rely on for help in trouble.

Some questions to ponder:
1) Where have you seen this in your life? Have you experienced miraculous physical healing? Have you been lifted from the pit, from mourning to joy?
2) Besides being healed, what lessons did Naaman learn from his experience? Was there more to this story than flesh being made clean?
3) What is the important lesson for us to learn from these texts? There are a lot at play - power, glory, miracles, doubt, God's sovereignty. How do these texts speak to you today?
4) If you had to summarize the lesson of these texts in one sentence, what would it be?

Great Sermon Experiment, Week 4

Texts for Sunday, July 1

Galatians 5:13-25
Luke 9:51-62

And now comes the challenge. Last Sunday's text was about true freedom in Christ - Christ accepted even the prostitute because of her faith and love for him. But, both Jesus and Paul would remind us, don't think that let's us off the hook. I hear Bonhoeffer echoing in the background here with his "The Cost of Discipleship."

So for those of you responding,
- in the Gospel, Jesus pokes holes through three people who aren't wholeheartedly interested in following him. Who might this describe today? What excuses to people give for not completely giving their lives over to Christ
- In Galatians, Paul points out the possibility of using our freedom as an excuse to sin again. Do you know people like this? People who say "Well, it's all about grace, so I can do whatever I want. . ."?
- People tend to fall on one side or the other - they only think about the Jesus who loves everybody, even prostitutes, or they preach the Jesus who is harsh and demanding. Which do you most identify with? Which have you heard more? How do you think we can keep a balance between the two?
- How would you describe what it means to be guided by the Spirit? How does that work in your life? How would you explain this to a young Christian?