Narrative Lectionary Year Four, Summer (John)
August 1, 2021 — Ephesians 6:10-20
Free Additional Resources for Study & Sermon Preparation
Furthering the Power of God’s Story – Narrative Lectionary Commentary
by Daniel D. Maurer
The thing about armor is, it’s that it doesn’t actually make you invulnerable. It makes you believe you are. That’s about courage, and that’s the core of what today’s reading is about.
Cool image above, isn’t it? I found it online as marked as “CC0 - Free” and think it fit perfectly what most people believe today’s text is about. More on that in a bit.
First, “this present darkness.”
I read a popular book in the early 90s floating around at that time titled This Present Darkness. If I recall correctly, the story was about a theologically-fundamentalist-leaning battle tale between angels, demons, and people living in a small town. The author intended the title, I believe, to reflect a short passage in the very text we’re given for this day in the NL. I remember it being a fun story, but ultimately just that: a story.
And, again, if I recall correctly, many throughout more spiritually-fundamentalist inclined communities cited the book as representative of reality—that angels and demons really are battling against pulling the meek humans one way or the other.
It’s odd, when you think about it. Wouldn’t a heavenly battle preclude any free choice, give your heart to Jesus sort of theology, which in my understanding is how they define the subject?
I’ve digressed a bit. Sorry.
Armor, shields and helmets.
I think if you take the larger theme of Ephesians in mind, the writer was interested in encouraging communities to stop fighting and get along. It goes to reason that identifying a common enemy it’s much easier to work together.
I mean, after 9-11, look at this. Signing comes in second half.
Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. All singing together, because of a perceived common enemy.
Now, I’m not going down the rabbit hole of talking about either the politics of that time or the psychological phenomena of group-think, but it does go to show how effective a threat can be to even diverse political and belief spectrums when that threat is evident.
Translate back to Ephesians-time: the Roman Empire.
Translate to our time . . . see below.
What does this all mean for your preaching?
I think I’d like to propose different routes you may go in a series of questions.
Is there a way you can inform your people to believe that there are far greater threats than that of what the news tells us?
Can the common threat of individual passions not be perceived in others as a point of either pity or judgment, but instead as a point of empathy?
Last, and perhaps most important, how can both communal and personal prayer allow us to see our brothers and sisters—in our neighborhoods, in our congregations, in our country, and worldwide—as fellow travellers seeking to find meaning in a terrifying landscape?
Happy preaching.
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The following links and resources are not produced or maintained by Clergy Stuff. However, at the time of this posting, the links were active and considered to be good source material for proclamation for the text for this week. Please scroll down or click on the quick jump menu you find below. For more free worship resources & planning materials, please visit our links for RCL Worship Resources.
Other Resources
Exegetical Links
Epistle LV -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252 CE)
"God's Armor," Faith Element Discipleship System, "Setting the Bible Free.”
"The Whole Armor of God," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources.
"Peace with Our Enemies," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Peace and War," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University.
Great Quotes
““There are two kinds of idiots - those who don’t take action because they have received a threat, and those who think they are taking action because they have issued a threat.””
““There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.””
““For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.””
Video Resources
Daily Devotional Feed
Free Dramatic Reading For This Text (NRSV)
Readers: Reader 1, Reader 2
Reader 1: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Reader 2: Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.
Reader 1: With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Reader 2: Take the helmet of salvation,
Reader 1: And the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God.
Reader 2: Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication.
Reader 1: To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
Reader 2: Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.
Reader 1: Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.