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Lectionary Notes
- 18th Sunday after Pentecost
(view sermon
or sermon
for this text)
Readings for 18th
Sunday after Pentecost, 9/30/07:
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, Psalm 91:1-6,
14-16, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15:
- I would have a hard time preaching
on this text, without it being a part of a series on Jeremiah, personally.
Chris Haslam points
out that this text records a very detailed account of a business transaction
from that period, with the deeds, sealed and opened, and the earthen vessel
to store them in. But for preaching, I'm not sure where that leads us.
- Verse 15 - "Houses and fields
and vineyards shall again be bought in this land." This place has a future!
- "right of possession and
right of redemption" - property - what can property and ownership and
land signify? In the Old Testament, land, and possessing it, is integral to
the story of God's people. Finding a home - literally and figuratively, home
is an important concept to most people.
Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16:
- This psalm provides the verses
for the popular hymn, "On Eagle's Wings"
- The
themes here are of God's protection, finding refuge in God. Safety from harm,
physical and spiritual.
- By verse 14, we have switched
narration - here God is speaking in the first person.
- God promises to deliver and protect
those "who love me" and "who know my name." Does God protect
others too? Deliver others? Does God need our love to act with love?
1 Timothy 6:6-19:
- "for the love of money is
a root of all kinds of evil" - Perhaps one of the most famous verses
in the Bible, though many do not know it is from the Bible! Note, money itself
is not evil, but the love of money is. And we do love money...
- godliness + contentment = great
gain. That's all we need, perhaps.
- "Fight the good fight of
faith."
- Many words here for those who
are rich - to be truly rich, be "rich in good works" and "ready
to share" - this brings "the life that really is life." everything
else is cheap imitation!
Luke 16:19-31:
- "this place of torment,"
verse 28. The Greek word is basanou, literally can translate also as
"the touch-stone", "trial", or "test"
- "who longed to satisfy his
hunger", verse 21. The Greek here is epithumon, which means literally,
"set his heart/psyche/soul upon", "covet", "desire"
as well as "long for"
- Abraham speaks of the "great
chasm" that cannot be crossed between "heaven" and "hell"
- isn't this indeed comparable to the great chasm in life between the rich
and the poor, that is essentially, seemingly, un-crossable?
- Lazarus means "help/assistance
of God" according to http://www.sacklunch.net/BibleNames/L/Lazarus.html
Pastor’s Note: (I use the Greek-English Lexicon from Liddell
and Scott, the “little Liddell” and the Metzger
et. al Greek New Testament in my translation work.)
Lectionary Notes are from
the Lectionary Chat Group Bible Study of St.
Paul's UMC, Oneida, NY, Rev. Beth Quick.
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