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Sermon Starters
Support and Resources For Pastors and
Christian Ministry Professionals
Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Editor
Sixth Sunday After Pentecost
Option A: From Rev. Kelly Bedard
"(God's) True Love
Waits"
Lamentations 3:22-33
[This sermon outline is in essence a summary of the
themes and theology of
the Book of Lamentations as per Concordia Self-Study Bible, page
1218-1219]
A. Divine Retribution: Israel's sin and rebellion results in:
1. Wholesale devastation and slaughter (e.g., starving
mothers reduced to cannibalism [2:20; 4:10])
2. Being dragged off to exile (1:3, 18) and an end to the
elaborate system of worship and ceremony (1:4, 10)
B. Divine Restitution: The goodness of God--love (3:22), faithfulness (23)
and salvation (26)--produces:
1. Heartfelt contrition (3:40-42)
2. Repentance (5:21-22)
Notes:
1. "Great love" (verse 22)
a. Plural; God's faithfulness to His Covenant promises
b. "Considering the wickedness of man it is a marvel
that any remains alive: but only that God for His own mercies sake and for His
promise will ever have His Church remain, though they are never so few in
number" (Geneva notes)
2. "Faithfulness" (verse 23): firmness, security, moral fidelity,
stability
3. "Wait" (verse 25)
a. To bind together by twisting, collect, expect hopefully
b. "The godly put their whole confidence in God, and
therefore look for no other inheritance" (Geneva notes)
4. "Compassion" (verse 32): to fondle; mercy; womb; bowels; pity;
tender love
Kelly Bedard, B.A., M.Div..
------------
Option B: From Rev. Wayne Dobratz
"The Word Of
Life"
Mark 5:21-24a; 35-43
Intro: "She kept on getting weaker, as day dragged
into day. The Doctors gave no hope for her; she just seemed to fade away. My
hours were filled with constant dread; time became a knife that slowly and
relentlessly cut the cord of life."
Anyone who has sat with a family member in the Intensive Care Unit can
identify with Don Francisco's eloquent, emotional words. That's how he begins
his modern-day retelling of the Raising of Jairus' Daughter from the Dead. It
is one of those Bible stories you can hear 500 times and never grow tired of
it. Our fears, our hopes, our love for family and friends--they are all the
same as those of a desperate Synagogue ruler who sought out Jesus for His
help. Jesus gave Jairus...
"The Word Of Life"
I. The Problem
A. Sin
1. It started the process of decay and
dissolution--Gen. 2:17
2. Death passed to all--Rom. 3:23, 1 Cor. 15:22
B. Anxiety--Heb. 2:14-17
C. Death--Rom. 6:23a
II. The Promise
A. Of victory over death--Gen. 3:15, Isa. 25:7-8, vv. 35- 36,
38-39--"Not
dead, but asleep"
B. Of Eternal Life--John 6:40
III. The Fulfillment
A. The Word of Life brought her back from death--vv.41-42
B. He reunited those separated by death's cruel hand here and in Lk.
7:15
C. Jesus' powerful Word will reunite all of Abraham's children who were
devastated by death--Rev. 21:4, 1 Cor. 15:54
Comments:
Matthew Henry writes: "We may suppose Jairus hesitating whether he should
ask Christ to go on or not, when told that his daughter was dead. But have we
not as much occasion for the grace of God, and the comfort of his Spirit, for
the prayers of our ministers and Christian friends, when death is in the
house, as when sickness is there?
Faith is the only remedy against grief and fear at such a time. Believe the
resurrection, then fear not. He raised the dead child to life by a word of
power. Such is the gospel call to those who are by nature dead in trespasses
and sins. It is by the word of Christ that spiritual life is given. All who
saw it, and heard of it, admired the miracle, and Him that worked it. Though
we cannot now expect to have our dead children or relatives restored, we may
hope to find comfort under our trials."
Rev. Wayne Dobratz, B.S., M.Div.
Option Three: (For those using the Sermon Series Planner)
"Know God's Guidance"
Ex. 3:1-15
I What indicators do you use to discern whether God is guiding you?
A. Gut Feelings, Intuition
B. Omens and Portends
C. "If it feels good, it must be God!" ???
D. All these fall short.
E. Knowing God's Guidance is much deeper than superficial, egocentric,
self-serving indicators. Seen only in
1. His Word
2. His Promise
II Ways Moses Knew God's Guidance
A. Until this incident, it may have been a struggle for him as for us. Why
else would he be a misguided shepherd???
B. Burning Bush: Proof Positive of..
1. God's Guidance
2. God's Promise
3. God's calling to him.
C. Moses' response to this "Proof Positive" experience: Rejection
D. Why did Moses reject it?
1. Was the sign not dramatic enough?
2. Was God's Word not convincing enough?
E. Moses rejected it--multiple times--because he lacked faith...even with
additional signs!
III We're Like Moses
A. The problem is not the sign. It's not God. It's not His promises.
B. The problem is our faith, our reluctance, our short-sightedness, our
dependence on signs!
C. The only sign we need is the sign raised by Moses: John 3:15
D. When in grace, we don't need to "seek" signs. We just live by the
confidence of knowing God's gracious guidance in our lives.
E. When we have this knowledge, we're totally available--and joyously
vulnerable--to following Him.
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