Sermon Prep

So, I’m preaching Sunday, and as always, gather sermon ideas through conversation with other folks.

Here’s my text:

Luke 9: 51-62

⁵¹ When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. ⁵²And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; ⁵³but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. ⁵⁴When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” ⁵⁵But he turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶Then they went on to another village. ⁵⁷As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” ⁵⁸And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” ⁵⁹To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” ⁶²Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

What do you see/hear? What stands out? What questions are raised for you? I’m thinking about discipleship – the call to follow and the cost of following. Any thoughts?

So, I’m preaching Sunday, and as always, gather sermon ideas through conversation with other folks.

Here’s my text:

Luke 9: 51-62

⁵¹ When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. ⁵²And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; ⁵³but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. ⁵⁴When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” ⁵⁵But he turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶Then they went on to another village. ⁵⁷As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” ⁵⁸And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” ⁵⁹To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” ⁶²Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

What do you see/hear? What stands out? What questions are raised for you? I’m thinking about discipleship – the call to follow and the cost of following. Any thoughts?

Comments

[KnittinPreacher]

I'm wondering about the idea of excuses - -what kinf of excuses do we make to avoid doing what we know is right? I read somewhere this week that we don't know for sure if the father to be buried is even dead yet ir if the son is going to wait for him to die and then bury him. What are our excuses to avoid following Jesus. Soccer on Sunday morning instead of church? In our part of the world I hear "it's too hot to come on Sunday morning" (no a/c). What excuses do we make to have to avoid the tough desicions of discipleship?

That part about not being able to say goodbye to family always gets me -- what if it wasn;t an excuse, but a genuine need to say "Mom and Dad, I'm leaving now but it's for a good cause so don't worry about me. I'll be fine." Then the person leaving doesn;t have to worry about his or her parents wondering what happened ot heir child, but can focus on the work at hand.

They don;t mesh, but it's where I am today.

Blessing as you muse!