Davison's Doodle

Sermon Snippet: Jan 8, 2017

Tomorrow I’m honored to be gifted the trust of the pulpit at University Place Christian Church in Enid.  We will be reading Ephesians 3:1-12 and wandering through some of my thoughts about epiphany.  Here is a snippet of my words for tomorrow.

What is the mystery of gospel?  All the religions of the world have an answer for this question, but I’m not sure it is something a person can be told.  I think the mystery of gospel is the epiphany moments recognized and acted upon from a person’s experience of grace, forgiveness, compassion, or acceptance.

All Christians have a response to the question, “What is the mystery of gospel?” The answer is often based in an orthodox theology that centers on a cross and a risen Christ.  Maybe this year, the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation can invite Christians to consider a response found in working the parables that Jesus told and applying what we learn to our time in history.  We are not afraid to listen, reason, and follow, “when you have done this for the least among you, for any among you, . . . you have done it to me.”  Maybe it is a good idea in a time such as this, to seek that epiphany in the simple and commonplace experiences of life.

Blogging toward Sunday

I fill the pulpit about twelve to fifteen times a year.  That means I am invited to preach in a local congregation on special occasions, like for the installation of a new minister, an anniversary, a special Sunday in the life of the congregation or when the congregation’s minister is on vacation or their may be an emergency.  This is one of the roles of a Regional minister.  It is an honor and also a challenge.  Though I may know some or many members of a congregation, I don’t live and interact with these people everyday. I don’t know their stories.  I don’t know their community celebrations and struggles.  Guest preaching has a freedom and is perilous.  In Regional ministry you will see these folks again so words, as always from the pulpit, need to chosen and used with intention.  Maybe everyday life would be different if we all did that.  Each time I guest preach I remember the critique of a minister friend of mine, Rev. Loader, who once told me that too often Regional ministers show up and preach prophetically, critically, with only the authority of their office to support them rather than knowing anything about the people or the community.

This coming Sunday, September 18, I have been gifted the trust of the pulpit at First Christian Church in Hennessey.  I’ll be blogging as I study and create my words for the sermon.  I am what is called a manuscript preacher.  I work on words.  I take my digital text, and a printed backup copy (tech fails), with me to the pulpit.  I don’t read the words, though some may disagree, but present them for consideration on the day’s text.  This Sunday’s lectionary gospel reading is Luke 16:1-13.  My title for the sermon is “Shrewd Grace.”

My study begins with the text from a New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translation of the Greek.  I also do my best to brush the rust off my college Greek and review the text in my Greek New Testament most of the with the help of actual Second Testament biblical scholars.  In this instance, and my typical practice with the Second Testament, I refer to Dr. Marcus Borg’s book, Evolution of the Word. I typically break up the text to make it easier to follow.

Then Jesus said to the disciples,

‘There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned the manager and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.”

Then the manager said to himself, “What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.”

So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, “How much do you owe my master?” The first answered, “A hundred jugs of olive oil.” The manager said to him, “Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.”

Then the manager asked another, “And how much do you owe?” He replied, “A hundred containers of wheat.” The manager said to him, “Take your bill and make it eighty.”

And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’

This text is one of those hard sayings of Jesus that, until the moral at the end of the parable, doesn’t make much sense.  This teaching story, is called, “The Dishonest Manager.”  What is Jesus trying to teach?  There are many places to begin with the text.  Often preachers will drill down on the money aspect of the parable or the character of the manager and the “master” or owner of the business.  Some identify the “master” in the text as God.  What character do you identify with most in the parable?

The word “shrewd” drew my attention.  This is not a common word in our daily English vocabulary in the 21st century.  When used in our culture it often takes on a negative or almost criminal tone.  That is one of the reasons why I chose it as one of the words for the title for words for Sunday.

What do the words shrewd and grace mean?

Shrewd [simple definition]: having or showing an ability to understand things and to make good judgments : mentally sharp or clever

archaic: mischievous

obsolete: abusive, ominous, dangerous

severe, sharp, piercing

marked by clever discerning awareness and hardheaded acumen

given to wily and artful ways or dealing
(“Shrewd.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2016.)

 

Grace [simple definition]: a way of moving that is smooth and attractive and that is not stiff or awkward; a controlled, polite, and pleasant way of behaving; skills that are needed for behaving in a polite way in social situations.

unmerited diving assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification; a virtue coming from God

approval, favor

archaic: mercy or pardon

a special favor or privilege

disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy or clemency; a temporary exemption

a short prayer at a meal asking blessing or giving thanks

the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful
(“Grace.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2016.)

I’ll work these words all week and blog as well.  To hear the finished version of the sermon, I’ll see you at First Christian in Hennessey, OK this Sunday.