Pentecost 6–Followers of Christ Understand the Call for Total Commitment

Following Christ calls for total commitment. The life of faith walks in lockstep with the will of God and does not follow the meandering ways of this world. Elisha’s response to the Lord’s call stands in contrast to the initially willing, but ultimately uncommitted “followers” of Jesus. Our Prayer of the Day says it well, “Pour into our hearts such love for you that, loving you above all things, we may obtain your promises…” and our Verse of the Day aptly summarizes the Sunday.

HT: Lesson summaries produced by Rev. Joel Gawrisch and Rev. Jonathan E. Schroeder for Planning Christian Worship Year C.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God, you have prepared joys beyond understanding for those who love you. Pour into our hearts such love for you that, loving you above all things, we may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

VERSE OF THE DAY

Alleluia. If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Alleluia. (Mark 8:34b)

THE GOSPEL: LUKE 9:51-62

Following Christ leaves no room for vengeance, self-preservation or wrong priorities. So many want to follow Jesus, but only if a life of faith can be lived as much of the world as in the world. Breathless excitement wasn’t enough; cultural conventions weren’t enough; not even seemingly loving acts were enough to change Jesus’ claim: Following Christ is all or nothing—it calls for total commitment.

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FIRST LESSON: 1 KINGS 19:14-21

Elisha is called to follow Elijah in proclaiming the Word of the Lord to Israel. He answered the all or nothing call of God with total commitment by burning his oxen and plow. There would be no looking back. He promptly leads his family in a farewell thanksgiving celebration and then left them behind to follow Elijah. Let us put our hand to the plow and look only ahead to the eternal harvest.

SECOND LESSON: GALATIANS 5:1, 13-25

We were once yoked in slavery to sin and the Law. Now, set free from evil, our newfound freedom does not lead to waywardness or being yoked again by sin. We are called to leave behind our life of sin and not look back to it. Rather, we follow Christ completely and with willing hearts we joyfully serve the Lord, walking in step with the Spirit.

May an overriding desire for Christ, granted by the indwelling Spirit, drive us to see crucified sin stripped from our lives.

Christopher Powers

SUPPLEMENTAL FIRST LESSON: JONAH 3:3—4:4

Jonah could best be described as the Lord’s reluctant prophet. Jonah thought he could outmaneuver God, but a fish spit him back into line with the Lord’s will. He preached the Word and to his dismay saw the enemy of Israel in the dust and ashes of repentance. Jonah would rather have died than seen the mercy of the Lord showered upon them. He was unwilling to commit to God’s will and leave behind his hatred and prejudice. God calls Jonah to leave them behind and instead follow him on the path of mercy and forgiveness.

Artist	John Martin  (1789–1854)
Title	Repentance of Nineveh
Object type	painting
Date	circa 1840
Medium	oil on canvas
Collection	Yale University Art Gallery

SUPPLEMENTAL SECOND LESSON: 2 CORINTHIANS 11:21B-30

How easy it would have been for Paul to give up the Way to return to the way of the world! Yet by grace, through faith, Paul continued to follow Christ. Even in the face of a host of dangers and hardships, he did not look back. Every Christian is called to similarly follow Christ with unswerving devotion.

HYMN OF THE DAY

Christian Worship #465; Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

Indelible Grace Arrangement

TEXT:Henry Lyte MUSIC:Bill Moore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7W_L50RQLI

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 62

Hymnlike: My Soul Finds Rest by Aaron Keyes

Questions to Consider

(Please share your answers/thoughts in the comments below)

1. What is God saying to me in these lessons?
2. For what do these lessons lead me to give thanks?
3. What sins do these lessons lead me to confess?
4. For what do these lessons lead me to pray?
5. What is the connecting thought that sticks out the most in these lessons? What major theme(s) connect(s) all the lessons?
6. Which piece of artwork did you find to be most beneficial? Why?