The Third Sunday in Lent

[chemnitznsasse]

The Third Sunday in Lent

RCL C/LSB C (LSB 1 Year)
Isaiah 55:1-9/Ezekiel 33:7-20 (Exodus 8:16-24 OR Jeremiah 26:1-15)
1 Corinthians 10:1-13/Same (Ephesian 5:1-9)
Luke 13:1-9/ Same (Luke 11:14-28)

[dirty6]

This lesson & parable baffles me. The first message is clear, repent or else. Then there is the fruitless tree, which gets a second chance. So do we get a second chance or not?

My initial musing is that the tree eventually gets cut down. As Paul reminds us in the Cor. lesson, God has time and again tried to nurture Israel to a proper way, and yet depressingly little fruit has come out of God's cultivation. Jesus is the answer to our fruitless-ness. Jesus cuts down the old way and plants the new seed...Meh, its late and I'm going home.

[gracealone]

I think I am preaching the gospel in this manner by looking at our individual and corporate sin (s) and our willingness to allow God enough room in our lives to address those things that keep us from being more like Christ. Most of us get defensive when we ask for correction and someone (even God) actually responds with correction. Most of us (read I try) by trying to show God that I ain't so bad by asking about others and pointing to their sins to prove my point. I believe that one of the layers of this particular reading is that God will not be destracted from my own need for correction from my sins - by me asking about another's sin. That I need to bear fruit too - I don't get to coast because I'm in the right crowd, or "orchard" - I've recieved the gift and transformation of my life begins in this life - now, not later. Also corporately how are we responsible for society's actions?when is the church called to be public about their faith and standing up for the poor, the voiceless, etc. ? Also dare I mention fertilizers and what a gardener might put around the tree to help it bear fruit? I probably need to plant something this morning to help my mind be open to the Spirit.

I always find preaching awesome there is always so much in just a few verses of God's word. the Psalms are right when they try to teach us to meditate day and night on God's word.

[chemnitznsasse]

Third Sunday in Lent
March 11, 2007
Luke 13:1-9
“You, Too, Repentâ€

[pstrmry]

I wasn't going to post this. but after reading the thread on grace & salvation wrestling, and because Chem's sermon helped me with mine, even tho the day is past, thought I'd put mine out there too.

Lent 3 C 2007 the future in fig trees. Grace & Peace, etc.

 a mother & 16 yr. old daughter were
Returning home after church,
Where the sermon had been about Lent.
“ I don’t get it mom, I still don’t understand what Lent is
All about.â€

[thessarabian]

Our pastor did a great analogy that keeps popping into my head so I thought I'd share.
First he reminded us of an old bumper sticker & saying, which he modified to say "Manure Happens". That saying refers to how bad stuff happens, but pastor told us that the same manure (bad stuff) that happens is also a fertilizer to help our trees bear fruit. So the bad stuff that happens can be used to help us bear fruit.
And now I realize that I'm not doing this analogy justice, but I hope I've gotten the jist of it across.