January 4, Communion Sunday, Second Sunday after Christmas

Lesson: Matthew 12.22-32

Sermon Title: Cracks in the Concrete

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INTRODUCTION:
  1. I have helped pour a lot of concrete.
    1. There is an enormous sense of satisfaction when the job is done.
      1. The slab is clean, free from cracks or holes.
      2. It is free from any dirt or stains.
      3. The surface almost gleams.
    2. Let us use concrete as a basis for developing the thoughts of this sermon.
      1. Does this seem strange.
      2. Perhaps it is.
      3. But it helps us get to the heart of an important matter.

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MAIN BODY:

  1. Jesus is fresh, clean and whole slab of concrete.
    1. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1.10-13

10Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." 13Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

  1. Again he speaks tot he same point when he writes in Ephesians 4.1-6

1I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

    1. He does not have any stains
    2. He does not have any flaws.
    3. He is representative of the wholeness of humanity.
    4. Jesus in unified in personhood
    5. Jesus is unified in purpose
    6. There are no cracks in his concrete.
  1. The people listening are like fresh poured concrete.
    1. They are confused and a little lost.
      1. They have been characterized as sheep without a shepherd

Matthew 9:35-36: 35Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

      1. They are like the Befuddled Hunters (1) in the following story.

Uncle Joe and his best buddy, Tim, went hunting a couple of weeks ago. Somehow they got lost.

Uncle Joe reassured his buddy, though. "Don't worry.

All we have to do is shoot into the air three times, stay where we are, and someone will find us."

They shot in the air three times, but no one came.

After a while, they tried it again. Still no response.

When they decided to try once more, Tim said, "It better work this time. We're down to our last three arrows."

I walk six days a week. There is a small stretch of sidewalk that carries a permanent imprint of a bicycle tire. Someone rode on the concrete before it was fully set and made the imprint.

    1. They are receptive to the influences which are being brought to bear.
    2. They are ready to receive the imprint of those in whom they will learn to believe, trust, have faith in.
    3. What they are listening to is confusing.
    4. Will they get it right?
    5. Will they "Turn It Over" (2)

A parts manager for a small electronics shop, had occasion to order part No. 669 from the factory. But when he received it he noticed that someone had sent part No. 699 instead.

Furious at the factory's incompetence, he promptly sent the part back along with a letter giving them a piece of his mind.

Less than a week later, he received the same part back with a letter containing just four words: "TURN THE PART OVER."

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  1. The Pharisees and other authorities are old concrete.
    1. In Matthew 12.25-32, Jesus says they are cracked and full of stains and old dirt.
      1. 25He knew what they were thinking and said to them,
      2. "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
      3. 26If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?
      4. 27If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
      5. 28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
      6. 29Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered.
      7. 30Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
      8. 31Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
      9. 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
    2. In John 8:39-47, Jesus speaks even plainer.
      1. 39They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, 40but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.
      2. 41You are indeed doing what your father does." They said to him, "We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself."
      3. 42Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. 43Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word.
      4. 44You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God."
    3. They are like this man who brought a Coffee Cake (3) to work.

An overweight business associate of mine decided it was time to shed some excess pounds. He took his new diet seriously, even changing his driving route to avoid his favorite bakery.

One morning, however, he arrived at work carrying a gigantic coffeecake. We all scolded him, but his smile remained cherubic.

"This is a very special coffeecake," he explained. "I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and there in the window were a host of goodies. I felt this was no accident, so I prayed, 'Lord, if you want me to have one of those delicious coffeecakes, let me have a parking place directly in front of the bakery.'"

"And sure enough," he continued, "the eighth time around the block, there it was!"

    1. They have reached the place where they no longer need forgiveness.
    2. They no longer have to ask for forgiveness.
    3. Their minds are mad-up; their hearts are hard and impenetrable
  1. We live in a world is a cracked slab of concrete.
    1. I ought to have named this sermon "Avoiding the Potholes," but that is impossible
      1. Our road system is a mess.
      2. Drive from here to Mazo.
  2. So What? Where does this leave us?

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CONCLUSION:

  1. Are we like the young man who was "Lost In the Woods (4)

Peninnah Schram, in Jewish Stories One Generation Tells Another recites the tale of a young man who became lost in the woods.

A long time ago, a young man went for a walk in the woods. He walked down a clear path, listened to the birds, marveled at the leaves as the sunlight filtered down through them. When the light began to fade, the young man decided to return home. However, as he turned down one path and then another and yet another, he realized he had become lost in the maze of the forest.

For three days he wandered alone, hungry and scared. On the third day he saw, on another path, a bearded man. This man looked like a woodsman. He was wearing clothes made of leather, and he was carrying a long carved branch as a walking stick.

"At last!" cried the young man. "Oh, you look like a good guide to help me find my way out of the woods. I'm lost and have been in these woods for three days."

"Only three days," laughed the man of the woods. "I have been lost in these woods for three years."

"What are you saying?" asked the young man in desperation. "Three years? You have been lost all that time? Then there is no possible hope for me." And the young man began to weep.

"No, no, my young friend, don't despair," replied the man of the woods. "It is true that I cannot show you the paths that lead out of the woods, but I can point out to you the paths that do not."

    1. Jesus points us to the paths that do not lead out of the woods.
    2. Jesus points out to us the paths that lead us out of the woods.
    3. We have a choice.
      1. We can be like the Pharisees and the others in the loyal opposition to Jesus who are cracked concrete, full of dirt and stains.
      2. We can be like the people who are fresh poured and receptive but do not know how to receive because they are listening to so many alternative voices.
      3. We can be like Jesus for Jesus wants each of us to become like him.
        1. This means we live with our liabilities
        2. But it also means that we we can be clean, glorious, and free from stains.
Amen!

1. posts@cybersaltlists.org

2. Retrieved from cybersaltlists.org

3. Retrieved from gcfl.net, Received from PackyHumor.

4. Peninnah Schram, JEWISH STORIES ONE GENERATION TELLS ANOTHER (New Jersey: Jason Aaronson Inc., 1987).

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