05/21/2007
Hi all …
I have done quite a bit of meditating on the passage and letting it sink in. The problem is I am not patient enough to submit it all in writing (Like I said in a previous post, I think it through more than I write it down).
So, I am definitely extending the scope of the main text as all of Luke 15, I will also be stepping back into Luke 14 for context (and parts of ch 13, and parts of ch 5, oh and even ahead to ch 19 …)
When preparing for preaching, I tend to always run through a cycle mentally/emotionally. It goes pretty much in order of this:
- Pray, pray, pray (specifically on what to read, and that when I deliver it, it is correct and I don’t make God look stupid, oh yeah, and that I wouldn’t look stupid as well)
- Decide on a basic passage to start with
- Read, read, read, read it
- Check context
- Find it hard to narrow it down to a short text
- Expand text to include more text
- Read, read, read, read it
- Get a good grasp of the context and passage
- Begin to prepare for delivery
- Have too much to talk on!
- narrow down text to whittle down to a digestible amount (for listeners)
- Saturday before preaching: now I think I don’t have enough to talk about, fret, worry
- Pray, pray, pray
- make basic outline for preaching (very basic, containing short notes and cryptic writing that I forget about when delivering)
- Pray, pray, pray
- Preach
- After preaching, think about all the nice little things that I prepared but didn’t talk on.
So, I wouldn’t mind sharing more of what will be delivered on Sunday, but does anyone even read these posts? Comment … if you do, I will write more about the message.
Tell next time!
Tags: Bible, class
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05/06/2007
Some more observations on Luke 15
I had originally thought that these were three separate parables (one on the lost sheep, one on the lost coin and one on the lost boy, etc). However, verse 3 states specifically “So he told them this parable” This parable (in the greek) is referring to a singular and not plural. With that in mind, my original thought had to change a little … now Jesus is specifically sharing these 3 parts of the parable for a specific reason, rather than Luke compiling 3 different parables together.
The sheep in stage 1 got lost on its own stupidity/sheepishness.
The coin in stage 2 got lost from someone elses care …. coins don’t get up and walk away … unlike my daughters toys that seem to get lost all on their own!
The son in stage 3 got lost from his own desire to leave the situation (rebellion and whatever)
The son who stayed in stage 3 got lost in another sense, he never left, but didn’t care about his brother.
Within the context of who prompted Jesus to share the parable, the Pharisees and their dis-care via their grumbling about the “sinners”. Jesus responded to them with this story, and the big blow at the end of the story was how the Pharisees would more identify with the brother who stayed … rather than the brother who strayed … hey, that will preach!
Also, the word receive in the 2nd verse “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” has an interesting usage even within Luke … the word is used below in the following verses –
Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Luke 2:38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 12:36 like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
Luke 23:51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.
other uses within scripture are …. Acts 24:15 “cherish”, Titus 2:13 “looking for”, Heb 10:34 “accepted”, Jude 1:21 “waiting anxiously”
To add in the other words gives it a little different meaning than just … receive.
“This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
“This man waits for sinners and eats with them.”
“This man looks forward for sinners and eats with them.”
“This man cherishes sinners and eats with them.”
“This man accepted sinners and eats with them.”
“This man anxiously waits for sinners and eats with them.”
… more later
Tags: Bible, class
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04/28/2007
This series will be for the recent class we finished on “How to study the Bible”. I knew I would preaching soon and wanted the class to see some of what I do to help prepare me to study for a message.
I think fairly randomly at times, so this may not be in exact order, because I sort of have my own way of studying that utilizes many of the things that we have talked about in order …. first of all we will begin observing some things.
The passage I knew I wanted to address was Luke 15: 11-32 (grab your Bible and read it).
After reading through a couple of times (using TNIV, ESV, NLT) and then going back
Observations
- Basic characters involved: father, son who left (younger), son who stayed (older), person who hired the son who left, and the pigs (I believe there names were Huey, Duey, and Louie).
- Asked for inheritance ahead of time (is this normal?)
- Took a couple of days to gather his belongings
- Younger son (or YS for short) spent all he had (how long did it take)
- YS traveled far (how far?)
- YS spent wealth unwisely (squandered in reckless living) (How reckless? Which way is it reckless?)
- YS Hired himself out to a citizen of another country to feed pigs (was the YS Jewish, could he handle pigs, how would this handling of pigs relate to Jewish audience?)
- YS was poor enough at this job to not earn enough to feed himself (or he maybe continued to squander his wealth?)
- YS wanted to eat the pods of the pigs
- YS realized what position he was in and could be treated better with his father as a hired hand
- YS planned to go to the father and apologize
- YS along way off when father spotted him
- Father felt compassion, embraced and kissed his son
- YS stated his practiced speech to his father adding not even worthy to be his son
- Father ordered other servants to put a robe, ring and shoes to YS (YS had it bad enough off to lose shoes?) … also bring a fattened (prepared) calf to celebrate and eat …. party!
- father sees YS as was dead, now alive, was lost and now found
- Older Son (OS) heard party and investigated
- OS asked servant what is going on, servant explained what happened
- OS became angry and refused to join in on the party
- father heard OS was out there and urged him to come back in
- OS explained that all this time he himself had served, obeyed, but not got a goat (is goat same as calf?) to party with friends ….
- OS explained “actions” of YS devoured property with prostitutes, and got the calf (again is goat different than calf?)
- father explained to OS you are always with me and all I had was yours.
- It was appropriate to celebrate because he was dead and now alive, was lost and now found (phrase was repeated)
After reading the context, I fairly quickly recognize that there is a more immediate context involved, the rest of chapter 15. The first two parables before the one of the father and sons shows a shepherd losing a sheep and searching, and a woman losing a coin and searching for it. That theme of losing, and searching and finding are common in all three parables.
more later.
For those in the class, please comment freely. OK .. fine, anyone.
Tags: Bible, class
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