Lesson Goal
Preach a sermon that contrasts different sides.
Lesson Intro
When we spoke of a false dichotomy, we realized that some stories have more than two sides. However, some stories have only two options, or sides and that is not a false dichotomy, but a genuine one. Let's contrast two or more different texts of scripture or concepts can be a rather interesting sermon.
Lesson Plan
This lesson teaches techniques for taking contrasting biblical points or verses in two or more different contexts and how to rightly understand the contrasting principles. We will look at issues when there are either several sides to the story, or where it is logical to give only two sides and how to present them as a sermon of contrast.
Lesson Body
Multi-Sided Contrasts
Be careful of the false dichotomy. For example, in Genesis 1 when preachers give sermons contrasting evolution with creation, I'm suspicious of bad logic, and I am equally suspicious of glib so-called scientific dogmatism. It is a false dichotomy to present only two sides such as evolution OR the literal 6 day option, especially because among creationists there are many different sides. Some creation theories even acknowledge a contribution to our existence from a modified definition of the word evolution. I don't pretend to know the answers to that topic, but I know plenty of people with no scientific or theological credential who will tell you dogmatically that they have the right answer because they subscribe to a one-sided "creation" magazine or they have a science degree but no theology degree. Such oversimplification by Christians who are neither qualified in biology nor theology comes across as ignorance and presumptuous arrogance.
When discussing creation, I recommend contrasting several different views. For example, you could contrast the several literal 6 day theories, the several day-age theories, the gap theories, the several theistic evolution theories, the majestic prose (semi-poetry) theory, the polemic theory, the mythos (stylized teaching) theory, and so on. Please, openly admit your limited abilities in Hebrew and science. I will usually say that I have only known one individual on the planet who was both a biologist and a theologian, and that his theory was different again. Then I will point out the important lesson from Genesis 1, that God created everything, everything in the entire universe that I believe that he is all powerful and could have created it all in any way he wanted to. How he did create everything specifically, scientifically, I cannot conclude with certainty because God has not revealed that to me, nor do I believe that the Bible was intended to be a science text book.
The following list is by no means expert. It merely gives my amateur example of contrasting creation theories. Feel free to improve upon it.
Literal 6 Day Theories: Strengths: On the surface, seem to be a natural reading of Genesis 1. Weaknesses: Many scientific questions unanswered, textual contradictions unanswered.
Gap Theories: Strengths: Seem to answer apparent age of the earth. Weaknesses: Badly translates the Hebrew in Genesis 1:2.
Day-Age Theories: Strengths: Seem to answer apparent age of the earth. Weaknesses: Not clearly substantiated in the fossil record.
Theistic Evolution Theories: Strengths: May answer some scientific questions. Weaknesses: Seem to contradict a simple reading of Genesis 1.
Majestic Prose Theories: Strengths: Semi-poetic majestic prose seems to answer apparent contradictions in Genesis 1. Weaknesses: Is not conclusively proven.
Polemic Theories: Strengths: Seems to counter ancient pagan gods. Weaknesses: Is not conclusively proven.
Mythos Theories: Strengths: Stylized teaching seems to answer apparent contradictions in Genesis 1. Weaknesses: The word myth is misunderstood in modern English.
It's a similar story with denominationalism. I grieve deeply when I hear a pastor or priest claim that his church has the fullness of God's truth, or the fullness of God's Spirit, or the only correct doctrine on such and such, or the only correct practice of so and so, and that other churches are second class or worse. There certainly are bad churches, but even among the good ones, no church has it all and Jesus can offer the free gift of salvation among whichever churches he likes. He doesn't need our approval.
I personally don't like the designations of liberal and conservative, because I believe that Jesus was both. So, a comparative religion chart might be dangerous to suggest. If I touch a sensitive point in the following perceptions, please forgive me, as I attempt to openly and honestly assess and contrast the various branches of Christianity. Remember this is not a thoroughly researched comparison, merely one man's fallible opinion.
I could describe the Catholic version of the gospel as an authoritarian gospel, or an authority gospel. I could describe the Orthodox version of the gospel as a tradition gospel. I could describe the liberal Protestant version of the gospel as a humanist, social gospel. I could describe the conservative Protestant gospel as a legalistic gospel. Finally, I could describe the Pentecostal version of the gospel as a health-wealth, miracle gospel. The true gospel of Jesus and his kingdom is found among all of these groups, but so often it is masked by an over concentration on other distractions. Is the extent, to which a local church focuses on pet doctrines and fads versus the gospel of Jesus, one measure of its spiritual health? I certainly believe that it is.
Contrasting Two Items
There are topics that we Christians believe only have two sides, or that can be legitimately discussed from only two sides. For example, a person is either saved or unsaved, Christian or shall we say pre-Christian? There is either a God who created everything we see by some means or there is not. There is either a true Church made up of people whose names are in the book of life, or there is not. There is either an eternity with God or an eternity without God. Another legitimate possibility that does not present a false dilemma is contrasting or comparing two biblical characters. For example, here are a few starter points for consideration comparing Abraham and Lot:
Abraham immediately left Haran. Lot reluctantly left Sodom.
Abraham built an altar to God and worshipped him. Lot does not seem to have built an altar, nor bothered with worship.
Abraham generously offered Lot his choice of pasture land. Lot greedily took his choice of pasture land.
Abraham had sexual troubles with a household employee. Lot had sexual troubles with his daughters.
Abraham obtained a good report through faith. Lot knew about God but does not seem to have believed him.
Preparation
Simply start a list of contrasts. This may involve a lot of research, use of a concordance, the internet and so on. But start a list. On the left you may have hell and on the right you may have heaven. You may contrast staying a virgin until marriage with sex before marriage. You may want to contrast three points of view and as such may want 3 lists side by side. When your list is long enough, and contains enough depth, you will want to begin the weeding process, eliminating unwanted points and logically organizing the ones you want to keep.
Example Sermon
Title: "Two Covenants"
Goal
Better understand the new covenant.
Intro
The old covenant or agreement between God and man is over. What is the difference between the old and new?
Plan
Let's look at a chart comparing both covenants and why the new is a better agreement.
Body
What is a Covenant
A covenant is simply an agreement, a formal deal, a pact, treaty or alliance between parties. The Bible contains many covenants. For example, between Abraham and the Amorites, Edom and its allies, between Jacob and Laban, Zedekiah made a covenant with his people (Jeremiah 34:8), Jehoiada made a covenant with his captains (2 Kings 11:4), the friendship alliance between David and Jonathan was a covenant (1 Samuel 18:3), a marriage agreement is also a covenant (Malachi 2:14).
God also made various covenants with different people. For instance, he assured Noah that there would be no more massive floods on the scale of that time (Genesis 9:17), he pledged to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that he would multiply their descendants (Exodus 2:24; Leviticus 26:42; 2 Kings 13:23). On Mt Sinai, God delivered to Moses the words of the covenant with Israel, also called the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13). The agreement made at Mt Sinai is also called the Sinaitic or Mosaic covenant. Since the new covenant was made, this deal between God and Israel is also called the old covenant. The new covenant is also called the new testament, because it was ratified by the death of Christ.
Comparing the Old and New Covenants:
When? Old at Sinai. New at the Cross.
Who? Old between God & Israel. New between God & Christians.
Salvation? Old, from Egypt. New, from sin.
Mediator? Old, Moses. New, Christ.
What? Old, nationhood, land. New, eternal life.
Duration? Old, from Sinai to the cross. New, from the cross forever.
Observances? Old, Circumcision, Saturday & annual Sabbaths. New, Baptism, Lord's Supper.
Sacrifices? Old, animals. New, Christ, Christian service.
Law? Old, Ten Commandments. New, Law of Christ.
Obedience? Old, letter. New, spirit.
Summary
The new covenant is the establishing of a personal and contractual relationship with God. It is a free gift, because we cannot possibly do what would be required to establish and maintain this new deal. It is established on our behalf by the only person who can possibly take care of the mediating business, Jesus. Our part in the deal is simply to change our minds about our own insufficient goodness; to know that we can never be good enough and so have a living faith in Jesus' death and resurrection as the only solution to cover our inadequacies. This new deal is a relationship based on that kind of living faith and grace and not the works of the old covenant law.
Outro
The new deal sets us free from the penalty of laws we find it impossible to obey. It liberates us from a lifetime of mistakes and bad decisions and sets us on the path to eternal life and happiness beyond measure with God.
Suggested Assignment
Choose a topic that could be covered as a contrast, collect information for points of contrast, weed out those that are irrelevant or don't fit, and organize those that do into a logical sequence.
Lesson Outro
We saw that some stories have only two options, or sides and that is not a false dichotomy, but a genuine one. Contrasting two or more different texts of scripture or concepts can be a rather interesting sermon. This lesson taught techniques for taking contrasting points or verses in two or more different contexts and how to rightly understand the contrasting principles. We looked at issues when there are either several sides to the story, or where it is logical to give only two sides and how to present them as a sermon of contrast.
