“How Not to Be A Disciple: A Sermon Series for Summer, 2010
5 weeks: June 27-July 25 or 6 weeks: June 27-August 1
Based on the Lectionary Texts from Luke
Some Preliminary Thoughts on Sermon Series:
Effective series can take up a cultural artifact (tv show; movie; song) and use it as a dialogue partner for the gospel. “Desperate Households. Faith Apps, etc” “My old dog got drunk last night and stole my ex wife’s truck: Sin and Redemption in Country Music.” We need to make sure that the biblical, theological portion of the sermon is not overpowered by the memorable cultural references.
Sermon series can take up topics of contemporary interest in home and family. “Divorce Proofing Your Marriage.” The trouble there is that the widows in the congregation may go elsewhere until your series is over. And, as one teenager told me recently, “We get tired of examples that don’t relate to us. Like illustrations about marriage. We’re not married. Use examples that help us.”
The message I take from widow and teenager is that we preachers need to evaluate how large a portion of the congregation is served by a particular theme. Sometimes, it may be better to offer a specific study at another time of the week. Rather than so specific a focus, we might do a series on Forgiveness and use marriage as one of several examples of places we live out forgiveness in daily life (or not).
Effective series can also come from lectionary texts. I was mulling over the texts from Luke for the next several weeks and the thought occurred to me that each of the four gospels has it own depiction of what a disciple looks like. For John, a disciple believes. For Mark, a disciple is willing to suffer. For Matthew, a disciple follows the teachings of Jesus.
For Luke a disciple is one who accepts and offers forgiveness. A disciples is one who prays as Jesus did and who uses wealth wisely. A disciple is one whose focus is on ministry to the poor and outcast, after the examples of Jesus’ ministry. If I were preaching from the lectionary in June/July and wanted to do a series, I think I’d call it “How Not to Be a Disciple.” I’d take the opportunity to do some teaching about how Luke views the qualities of a disciple. I’d approach it from the “how not to” angle to add some interest. In every sermon there would need to be a positive discussion of how to be a disciple as well.
There could be a sixth Sunday in which the sermon pulls the positive threads from the prior 5 weeks.
Or not.
June 27: Luke 9:51-62
“How (Not) to Accept Jesus “
- The Samaritans refuse to receive Jesus.
- The disciples vow to avenge him, possibly to get in good with him. (serving Christ for self-serving reasons).
- Several people sort of want to follow him, but not that much. This is an odd and motley group of first (not) responders.
They offer helpful cautionary tales. If you want to be a disciple, don’t be like them.
- Accept Jesus into your home and town.
- Check your motives (check your ego at the door)
- Be willing to follow him as a first priority.
July 4 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
“How Not to Spread the Good News”
- To be appointed as one of the 70 and then not to go.
- To not proclaim the message wherever you go “The kingdom of God has come near to you” with your words and your deeds.
- To take rejection of the good news personally.
- To take personal credit for the good you do in your ministry.
++++++++++++++++++
- When called, go
- Whereever you go, proclaim the message of the kingdom of God
- Give God your hurt at rejection and failure, and God will heal it and strengthen you to continue
- Give God the glory
July 11 Luke 10:25-37
“How Not to Inherit Eternal Life”
- Be preoccupied with “will this be on the test?” (lawyer’s question: What must I do to inherit eternal life? Focus on rules not relationship)
- Walk by the neighbor in need
- Stay in the ditch when a neighbor offers to help you
+++++++++++++++++++
- Focus on relationships
- Stop
- Let somebody help you up
July 19 Luke 10:38-42
“How Not to Grow in Faith”
- Focus on details of service to the neglect of prayer and study
- Focus on prayer and study to the neglect of the needs of those around you
++++++++++++++++++++
Focus on the needs of others and on study and prayer. They cannot be separated.
July 25 Luke 11:1-13
You might want to title this last sermon in the series
How to Be a Disciple (=Pray)
- Answer the door (unlike the grouchy homeowner in the parable) and offer fresh bread to your neighbor.
- Knock on the door (prayer; Lord’s prayer as our model; ask, seek, knock as Jesus’ method of prayer; Luke’s emphasis on Jesus’ life of prayer) and receive fresh bread from God.
Or, you could continue the “how not to” emphasis with the following:
“How Not to Pray “
- Don’t answer the door when a neighbor stands there.
- Don’t knock on the door when you’re the one who needs bread. (Bread is a symbol for divine nourishment as well as the reality of physical nourishment in Scripture, especially the Gospels)
+++++++++++++++++
- Answer the door (unlike the grouchy homeowner in the parable) and offer fresh bread to your neighbor.
- Knock on the door (prayer; Lord’s prayer as our model; ask, seek, knock as Jesus’ method of prayer; Luke’s emphasis on Jesus’ life of prayer) and receive fresh bread from God.
Check back each week for further exegetical help on the individual texts…
Alyce McKenzie is Professor of Homiletics at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.
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