Hello, preaching friends!
Some of you have already, or are, recording a sermon. Some of you are still in the midst of preparation. How can we help? Ideas? Adaptations? Children’s Time? Share this preaching moment here.
Monica Thompson Smith is a Presbyterian Church (USA) minister, serving as stated supply pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Luling, TX. She is a contributor to There’s a Woman in the Pulpit.
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Remember back in seminary when they told you “don’t just read the lectionary text, read it in context to see what comes before and after”? I am going with the 1 Samuel 3 text in the lectionary. We always read it as God’s call to the boy Samuel, with all the wonderful possibilities for talking about call. It’s a favorite for VBS and Sunday school because there’s a little boy in it.
WELL. Read 1 Samuel 2:11 through chapter 4:22. This is actually a story about God trying to get through to Eli to tell him to do something about his wicked sons. For whatever reason, Eli ignores God’s warnings. Finally God talks to young Samuel in hopes of getting Eli’s attention. The message Samuel gets from God is so disturbing he doesn’t want to tell it to Eli, but when the old man insists, he does.
The upshot is that the Philistines and the Israelites go to war. Israel thinks if it has the ark of the covenant in the battle, Israel will win, hands down. Instead, the evil sons of Eli are killed, the ark is taken captive, and old Eli drops dead when he hears the news.
Is there a place here for a sermon about turning a blind eye to things we don’t want to hear? Like, maybe, the warnings that were there before the attack on the Capitol? Not to mention the warnings that were there before 9/11? (Richard Clarke’s book Against All Enemies lays it out in discouraging detail.)
All this may be too political for some congregations. But I’m just reeling at the import of this story at this time.
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oof. yeah. it’s definitely there!
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Yeah, that whole sequence with Eli and his sons is ugly.
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If you are still working on your sermon, here is a great take on exactly what you are talking about: https://elledowd.com/2021/01/12/samuel-mlk-and-anti-fascism/
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And parents can relate. How many times have we or hear others say that they don’t want to cut off communication and relationship with their child?
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I am on Luke 4 in the NL, Jesus reading the Isaiah scroll in the local synagogue, then people being unhappy when Jesus points out the good news is for everyone. I am pondering what the good news is for those of us who are not poor or oppressed. I have a 2 part reading, rich woman, poor woman, that I thought about including but decided not to. Tomorrow is our monthly communion service. January is our first month back at weekly worship and we have registrations equal to our maximum allowed under local COVID regulations [NSW Australia]
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here is where I am up to with Luke 4, it needs an ending because I am not sure it is good news for my hearers 🙂
Good News ?
almost time to sleep.
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Her e is where I am up to with my sermon on Luke 4: 14 – 30, it needs an ending, hopefully, it materializes in the morning, or I fear it is not good news for the people who will hear it.
Almost sleep time.
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Good to hear from you, Patty. I trust the Spirit will speak exactly what your people need to hear.
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oops I thought I had lost the post.
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