Things are about to get real
Phillip Martin, pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia says, when discussing rules at school, "I had to laugh at what one of my daughters said...Very matter-of-factly she remarked, “In second grade, the teacher won’t give you a warning. If you do something wrong, you just ‘clip down.’” I thought to myself: I guess second grade is where it starts to get real." In Exodus 20:1-17, God "gets real" with the Israelites by providing the Ten Commandments. However, the Israelites miss the point. They begin to see them as nothing more than a list of rules instead of "a gracious gift that describes and defines the life of a free people." In John 2:13-22, Martin says, "We learn from Jesus...that God’s message is not going to get across until God’s message gets a cross." It almost doesn't make sense, but our faith, the church at its best, is exactly that message.
This sermon is from A Sermon for Every Sunday, a series of lectionary-based video sermons designed for use in worship, Bible study, small groups, Sunday school classes or for individual use.
For more sermon preparation help, check out Pulpit Resource, Will Willimon's weekly lectionary-based sermon resource, available online and through a print subscription.