Master the Tempest is Raging

Someone asked me last week if I got my sermons from the internet.  That question could be interpreted a number of different ways, both positive and negative.  However, I think the question was asked, not about the quality (or lack thereof) of the sermons, but so that the person could do some further research on something of interest.

For those who are now wondering, I do in fact, write all of my sermons.  However, I have found a number of resources helpful. Morna Hooker's small book is very insightful and has illuminated a number of texts. One of the newest additions to my library is Kelber's work, Mark's Story of Jesus.  Both of these books are less than 100 pages and well worth reading. For those who would prefer a verse by verse commentary I have found Mark Black's addition to the College Press Commentary series to be useful.

Of course, nothing should ever be substituted for reading the Gospel yourself, often and in a variety of translations.  As you consider comments by various authors and preachers you will quickly discover that they do not agree with each about many details of Mark's Gospel, or perhaps even the point of the book itself!  That is why all reading and listening should be done critically.  Well-studied students can enlighten you, but in the final analysis you must let Mark tell you who Jesus is.

And Now, A Word About Seeds

Sermon production is a strange craft.  Preaching a sermon in a series like "Jesus Through the Eyes of Mark" begins by wrestling with the text seeking to understand it's meaning.  The next step is determining exactly what message from the text  the congregation needs to hear.  Finally, the preacher must decide the best way to communicate with his audience.  These steps are not so much walked through in sequential order as they are always in my mind as I work on a sermon. 

This week's sermon seemed to be particularly difficult to put together.  What do the three seed parables mean when read together?  What is the proper interpretation of that strange Isaiah quote where Jesus essentially says he speaks in parables so outsiders will not understand and thus be unable to repent?  How does the statement about the lamp and the bowl fit into the three seed parables?  What is to be made of the repetition of the words "hear" and "listen"? 

As I worked on the sermon it just didn't seem to be coming together until it finally hit me that since the germ of life is in the seed, and sense the seed is the message, then the seed needs to be envisioned as Jesus himself.  He IS the message.  Life is found ONLY in him.  With that revelation, the message of the sermon took shape.