A. THIRD SUNDAY AFTE R EPIPHANY THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW:

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Cuthbert Booker
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1 THE LECTIONARY STUDY for January 23, 2011, Matthew 4: Some Gut Trip Analysis is provided as a sermon starter. The Liturgical Color for Epiphany is Green -- Year A. THIRD SUNDAY AFTE R EPIPHANY THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW: Matthew s message is powerful and relevant to our current human situation. His purpose is to give us a training manual for teaching the Deeply Satisfied Life. Matthew s teaching role model is Jesus. The Deeply Satisfied Life is the experience ( Gut Trip Analysis ) of the term Sanctification or the activity of embracing the surrendered life. The chart is divided into seven sub-titles and today s scripture is in the section, Preparing The Teacher. ABOUT THIS SCRIPTURE: The Mission of Isaiah In God s conversation with Abram, and later with Moses, the challenge for the Nation of Israel was to take the message of God s love to all the world. The one big problem is that the Promised Land given by God belonged to someone else, and the Nation spent most of its time defending what they thought God gave to them. This made their work of spreading the Good News of God s love a difficult process. Prior to The Babylonian Exile, Jeremiah forth-told (the examination of the Times and what would be the result) that Judah (southern Palestine) would be defeated because they had failed to be obedient to the 10 Commandments. Isaiah contradicted Jeremiah, believing they would be defeated because they failed to be obedient to their assignment of spreading God s love. As we know, Jesus picks up Isaiah s format (Isaiah 9: 1 & 2) as his own. The Purpose of Matthew--- It is necessary to add to the statement above about Matthew that Jesus Teaching Manual begins with establishing an internship, of which the material is printed in the early chapters of Matthew. Also, at this point Jesus is writing his theological credo. The Kingdom of Heaven--- In Gut Trip Analysis, all theological terms are to first taken experientially. The first question always is, How do we experience them? In this regard, the KOH is not a place but rather a relationship. When we experience a sense of deep satisfaction after a hard day s labor then we have experienced a little bit of living in the presence of God; i.e., the kingdom of heaven. Repentance--- Repentance is experienced as a turning around. The function of repentance is not to change my human circumstance, but rather to change me; i.e., to transform my perception of my problem. Take, for instance, the Bus Stop story: A man waits at a city bus stop under a sign saying The Bus Stops Here Every 15 minutes. After waiting for 30 minutes, a neighbor comes by asking, Are you waiting for the bus? When we affirm that we are, the neighbor informs us, I ve got good news for you; the bus doesn t stop here any more. Now, how is this Good News? Ah, yes, we can stop waiting and start walking. Has this information changed the Bus Stop? Not at all but now my perception of my situation is changed, and I can do something about me. Do you hear the Good News in this? Repentance is frequently defined as looking in a new direction. While standing in the same place, but now I can look in a new direction and find hope.

2 Christians are Yes people--- One IHOP correspondent said it was unrealistic that Peter and Andrew, and James and John, would respond so quickly as simply to leave their fishing equipment and father Zebedee in the boat and leave to follow Jesus. My response to her was to note that Christians are the Yes people. Our first response always is Yes. If our first response is, No, then we limit our options. However, when we first respond with Yes, then we can add qualifiers as necessary. In the movie Joe Vs. the Volcano, Joe is confronted with the possibility of jumping into a volcano on behalf of a Jewish remnant who had integrated into the Polynesian island community. Joe (Tom Hanks) thinks for just a second, and responds, OK! This is a prime example of Christian surrender (faith). Nazareth and Zebulun/Naphtali, and Galilee of the Gentiles--- In the New Testament place names are to be treated as Theological Geography. The writers of the New Testament are like today s TV or movie producers. Nothing can be left to chance, and every word, action, backdrop, activity, raised eyebrow, or song choice has a purpose. Consequently, the NT writers set the location of their material very deliberately. Gut Trip Analysis helps us immeasurably. In today s scripture, Nazareth is the place Jesus leaves. So what does Nazareth represent but a place of deep familiarity. Jesus is choosing to expose himself to something that is unfamiliar, and this is the Gentile world. So the question for us is, How do we experience the Gentile world? First, we are Gentiles. Second, our human experience is constantly exposed to situations and circumstances that are totally unfamiliar and frightening. This can be as personal as getting lost using a road map, to those with dementia, the loss of a relationship, or going broke or winning the lottery. The solution is that there is no place where Jesus hasn t already left Nazareth and found his way into our lost world. The Good News is that we can look in a new direction (repent) and see Jesus leading the way out. The Bean Trees--- (Note: I used this story intro as my Pre-Itch.) In Barbara Kingsolver's, The Bean Trees, spunky Marietta (Missy) Greer leaves her Kentucky home to start a new life in Tucson, Arizona. Along the way, she adopts a new name Taylor Greer and takes on the responsibilities of instant motherhood when a Cherokee child she calls Turtle is left in her care. Taylor's travels introduce her to two Guatemalan refugees and a kindly woman from her home state, characters conceived by author Barbara Kingsolver to express the value of community. (From a summary by Cliffs Notes ) A Partial Summary Chart of the Gospel of Matthew Preparing the Teacher The Birth of the Teacher Training of a Teacher Genealogy: Note the Women Christmas: Escape to Egypt and Return Instructions and test time Galilean Internship 1: 1 1: 17 1: 18 2: 23 3: 1 4: 11 4: 12 4: 25

3 GUT TRIP ANALYSIS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU MEMORIZE THE FOLLOWING For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12: 34 The Key to this sermon is to ground the following before you begin writing. This means to define the word, describe your experience of it, and then illustrate it. Getting this grounded in your own experience and illustrated will change your sermons from ho-hum to a real message of victory and hope. Along the way, I ve shared a thought or two to inspire your efforts. Word/Phrase Definition Experience Illust./Film Clip Vs. 12, Returned to Galilee (Treat as theological Note material at the end of this document regarding Galilee, Capernaum, Zebulun and Nathtali Vs. 13, Leaving Nazareth He went and lived in Capernaum (Treat these words as theological Capernaum was in Gentile territory; a place of unfamiliarity Vs. 14, To fulfill the prophet Isaiah (9: 1 & 2) This is known as 1st Isaiah the prophet who for forthtold the destruction of Israel unless they fulfilled God s OT covenant to take the love of God to all the earth. Their failure to do so they were fighting those who owned the Promised Land and couldn t get the job done. In living through the Exile they fulfilled God s assignment anyway. Vs. 15A, Land of Zebulun and Nathtali (Treat at theological Vs. 15B, the Galilee of the Gentiles (A place of darkness and a type of death)

4 Vs. 16A. Living in Darkness seeing a great light Vs. 16B, Those living in the shadow of death on which a great light dawned Vs. 17A, Jesus began to preach Vs. 17B, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near (Treat as theological Vs. 18A, Jesus walking besides the Sea of Galilee (Treat as theological Vs. 18B, He saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew. They were casting nets into the lake Vs. 19, Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of humanity Vs. 20, At once they left their nets and followed him Gut Trip treats the KOH as a relationship and not a place. The title of this sermon: Vs. 16D,... a light has dawned The Theological Focus: Epiphany as an awakening from darkness The ONE THING to be said: When we see the light of day, while living in the darkness, then we are experiencing Jesus The GOOD NEWS: The call to spiritual awakening is the event of repentance. The EXISTENTIAL AIM: Trust and Obey The Capital Verse: Vs. 15E, Galilee of the Gentiles... The Souvenir: KITCHEN TABLE TENT Distribute one to each member! Use a 3 X 5 card. Fold in half and write the following on the bottom half: In our darkness we experience the LIGHT Matthew 4: Epiphany, Jan. 23, 2011

5 AN OUTLINE BASED ON THE SCRIPTURE ** The Lowery Loop The PRE-ITCH (Establish the ambiguity) Living in the darkness is an uncomfortable experience. NOTE: I m summarizing the story of The Bean Trees See the material at the end of this document.) Or, illustrate someone living in the shadow of death. End by asking, What has Matthew got to offer to help? The ITCH (Making the ITCH to itch!) While living in the darkness A. We experience lots of ways to die 1. Hopelessness Illustrate how hopelessness is a kind of dieing If you use, The Bean Trees story, isn t this the experience of the Cherokee young women who gives up her baby? 2. Depression Research, Statistics on depression in the United States Share your findings 3. Ghettoizing our neighborhoods Think about your own city/village to observe the many ways we live in sociological and economic ghettos Share your findings B. The Exile of Israel to Babylonia 1. Share your own insights 2. Consider sharing the insights mentioned above concerning the message of Jeremiah and Isaiah. Observe with whom Jesus associates himself. The UGH (Deepen the ambiguity) Vs. 16D, What does it mean to, live in the valley of the shadow of death? A. For the Jews 1. Nazi Germany Share what insights you know B. For the Early Church 1. Share an insight into why it was frightening for the Early Church to associate with Gentiles 2. What is Jesus experience? Vs. 13, What is the significance of Jesus leaving Nazareth and going to work in Zebulun and Naphtali? The AHA (Share the unusual solution offered by this gospel) In order for us to have seen a great light... A. Vs. 17, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. 1. The way in which the word near IS NOT used by Jesus Near is not the opposite of far away Near is not used as an expectation, Santa Claus day is near 2. The way in which the word near IS used by Jesus The Kingdom of Heaven is IMMANENT i.e., is in-breaking at every moment

6 How can you illustrate this point? B. We are called to repent 1. How can you illuminate the experience of repentance? C. In order for us to see a Great Light 1. Jesus comes into our darkness i.e., moving out of Nazareth and into Galilee Share the significance of this move 2. Remind your people where it is we find Jesus! The GOOD NEWS ( So what? ) Jesus message comes to us A. As a call to WAKE UP! How can you nail down this point? B. As a call to follow Jesus 1. What are we called to leave? 2. What are we called to surrender? WHEE! (Nail home the good Good News) Share a story of an awakened one who left the darkness and answered the call to follow Jesus. (I suggest this person be local and the call is not to a Christian vocation.) Send out: You are sent out to your kitchen table to rehearse this Good News. God goes with you. Amen. (The ushers will have a basket by each door for people to pick up their Kitchen Table Tent for this week. ** This sermonic progression is described in more detail in the following resource: Lowry, Eugene L., The Homilectical Plot: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form, Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, A hybrid land... ** from the blogspot of Fr. Matthew Jackson They occupied the same land that Galilee, or Galilee of the Gentiles, occupied in the time of Jesus. So the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali are the same geographical location as Galilee. And by the time of our Lord, this area is predominately Gentile, it s not part of Jewish Israel any longer. So this is the place our Lord visits almost immediately after His public ministry has begun. A land that once had belonged to the Chosen People of God, but now was a land of Gentiles. The prophecy of Isaiah finishes by saying The people who sat in darkness [these people of Galilee] have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. The prophecy is fulfilled in its entirety Zebulun and Naphtali are the Gentile land of Galilee, and Christ goes to bring these people who have set in darkness the light of Gospel. These people sitting in darkness refers to their lack of knowledge of God. They live in godlessness (not necessarily sin, but without God), darkness, because of their separation from God. They don t worship the One True God. Isaiah further describes this sitting in darkness as the region and shadow of death. Not knowing God, darkness, is equated with death. The great enemy of humankind is death so the people who don t know God sit in the shadow of death.

7 Death always looms. The Father s say that the fuel for our sinfulness being continually perpetuated and always getting worse is the fear of death. On one level we know that our life on this earth will end, and we struggle with the temptation to be happy and fulfill physical desires with nothing but our own gratification in mind. Even over us as Christians, the shadow of death affects our actions. The solution for the darkness and shadow and region of death a Light has dawned. Christ has come. He comes as the Messiah for the Jews, and as a Light for the Gentiles. He comes for salvation for all mankind salvation and redemption from the region and shadow of death. On the greatest feast of the year, that s what we sing: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. And the first place Christ goes to bring this message is to Galilee. A hybrid land. (Priestmatthewjackson.blogspot.com I am an Orthodox Christian priest assisting at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Clinton, MS. I am married to the woman of my dreams and we have 5 wonderful children together. This is my contribution to the world.)

A Partial Summary Chart of the Gospel of Matthew. Preparing the Teacher. Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3

A Partial Summary Chart of the Gospel of Matthew. Preparing the Teacher. Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 3, pp. 16 21 TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IHOP BIBLE STUDY Topic: Matthew 4: 12 to 4: 25 Galilean Internship The gospel of Matthew s message is powerful and relevant to our current human situation.