Matthew Eyerman
July 11, 2004
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
I. Introduction
1. the Park District has done redone Meyering Park
a. named after one of our members
b. a WW II veteran
2. lots of new park equipment
3. one piece missing: the seesaw
II. Connection
1. what makes this board and this rock a seesaw
a. might say a big imagination
b. or might say Damon and 4 hours of professional carpentry
c. but in reality: it is the action
2. what makes the Parable powerful
3. more than just the teachings
4. it is the action
5. call this sermon: Go and Do Likewise
III. too complex --- #1
1. first temptation is to stand on one end of the seesaw
a. is this a seesaw
b. just standing here?
2. first temptation in the parable is to be too complex
a. take a simple point
b. add all kinds of ifs, ands, buts, if onlys, possibilities
3. suddenly simple thing is very complex
4. lawyer ask the age old question: What do I have to do to get to heaven?
5. Jesus simple answer a. combines two pillars of Old Testament (Dt 6:5 NRSV) You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. (Lev 19:18 NRSV) You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. 6. that is it: simple enough 7. lawyer: a. looking for a loophole b. making simple into complex c. well d. “what do you mean by neighbor”
IV. too complex ---- #2
1. simple things need not be complex
2. story
a. tried to assemble the new keyboard this week
b. has legs that needed attaching
c. direction went on for 25 pages
d. in English, Spanish, and French
e. so complex I had to get Dave our maintenance man
f. took one look at it
g. and put it together
3. simple things need not be complex
V. summary of complex:
1. Christianity is simply not that complex
2. someone has published a book
a. in the same series
b. Mathematics for Idiots
c. Computers for Idiots
d. Christianity for Idiots
3. all the person had to do was write down Luke 10:27
a. Love God
b. Love your neighbor
4. is it just not that complex
5. stop standing on the end
6. move to action
7. go and do
VI. Result #1
1. Good Samaritan story pushes us to middle
2. to the action 3. away from a. who is my neighbor b. once defined c. can tell who can avoid and what neighborhoods can be overlooked 4. to Genesis neighborhood (Gen 1:27 NRSV) So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 5. all humans are our neighbors
VII. too simple --- intro
1. the other mistake is the stand on the other end of the seesaw
a. is this a seesaw
b. just standing here?
2. make things too simple
3. either ---- or
4. things, people, places, food, etc.
a. either good
b. or bad
5. no middle ground
6. it is the Wild, Wild, West
a. good guys
b. bad guys
VIII. too simple --- Samaritan
1. thus
2. priest & Levi = bad
3. Samaritan = good
4. only one way to see things
5. end of story
IX. reality: not either --- or
1. reality is not as simple as either --- or
2. return to the scripture
3. the Priest and Levi
a. perhaps good men
b. to come within a few feet of a dead body
c. ritually impure
d. could not do church service
e. on the one hand: once a year opportunity
f. on the other hand: perhaps no one to assist at church
g. no associate pastor
h. without them no church service
4. Samaritans
a. no angels
b. hated the Jews
c. remember Luke 9
d. Jesus not welcomed in Samaria because He was going to Jerusalem
5. life is not simply yes or no
6. stop standing on the end
X. Result -- #2 1. Good Samaritan story pushes us to the middle
2. to the action 3. away from a. the Wild, Wild West b. good guys and bad guys c. either ---- or
4. also away from finding fault without knowing entire story (Mat 7:1 NRSV) "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.
XI. action
1. title of sermon is Go and Do Likewise
2. the purpose of the Parable is to inspire action
3. don’t stand on the ends
4. go and do
5. move the seesaw
6. move the faith
XII. see opportunities ---- #1
1. first see opportunities
2. those who passed by
a. the priest
b. the Levi
3. all had one thing in common
4. did not see a person
5. saw a problem
XIII. see opportunities ---- #2
1. open your eyes
2. whatever you are going through
a. with someone else
b. with yourself
3. whatever storm you are in
4. whatever crisis that is threatening to swamp you
5. that is not a problem
6. that is an opportunity for God to pour down grace upon you
7. change your perspective
XIV. see opportunities ---- #3: Jesus
1. biblical scholars quickly flip to John 9
a. story of man born blind
b. disciples ask
c. was it his sin or sin of parents that made this man blind
2. they were looking at problem
a. looked it up and down
b. tried to find a solution
3. Jesus changes their perspective
a. not his sin or some other sin
b. blindness not a result of evil
4. opportunity for God’s grace to show through
XV. see opportunities --- #4: us
1. who has got trouble
a. problems
b. storms
c. in your life
2. stop worrying all about them
3. stop focusing all your energies on them
4. you are just standing on one edge of the seesaw
5. step to the middle
6. step to where the action is
7. seize the opportunity
8. gospel singer tells us: you are next in line for a miracle
XVI. take risks
1. while you are seizing opportunities
2. keep the seesaw going
3. keep moving the faith
4. take risks
5. you know why your seesaw of life is not working
6. all you are doing is standing on the edge
7. move
XVII. take risks ---- #2
1. the Samaritan
a. took a risk
b. could have been a trap
2. take a risk --- don’t be scared
3. step out on faith ---- get the seesaw working
4. Christian risk taking a. counter cultural b. only dead fish go with the flow
5. risk#1: stand for right to life -- from cradle to grave 6. risk #2: bottom line isn’t only line a. life is not just collecting stuff
b. more things and more and more
(Luke 9:25 NRSV) What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? 5. risk #3: open our mouths
a. spread the good news
b. tell someone about Jesus
c. bring people to church
6. risk #4: get involved
a. how
b. read the bulletin
c. don’t wait for me to show up at your door knocking
d. summer school to youth outings to Theology on Tap to Adoration
XVIII. Conclusion 1. the seesaw will not work
a. if you just stand on one edge
b. if you don’t put any effort in 2. the Parable is about living Christianity 3. neither too complex 4. nor too simple 5. seize opportunities 6. take Christian risks 7. did you get my point 8. how did Jesus end his sermon? (Luke 10:37b NRSV) Jesus said to him (AND TO US) "Go and do likewise."
