Preaching "through" a book of the Bible, a process referred to as lectio continua, is a venerable preaching tradition. (One Puritan preacher, working his way through Hebrews, preached sixty-five sermons on the eleventh chapter!) Such preaching has usually not been related to the church year (I recall one pastor preaching on Leviticus 13 on Easter Sunday), but at times one can match a series with the church-year cycle.
For our particular series we have chosen chapters 16-18 of the gospel of Matthew, chapters that focus on the life of Christ and on the cost of discipleship-both fitting themes for Lent. For each pas-sage we have selected a theme (realizing that not every expositor would select the same theme); that theme serves both as a possible focus for the sermon and as a guide for the choice of hymns and an-thems. The hymns are selected from the Psalter Hymnal (PH), the Trinity Hymnal (TH), Rejoice in the Lord (RL), and The Hymnbook (HB).
First Sunday
Matthew 16:1-20: Peter's Confession
The discussion about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees comes on the heels ofJesus' miracles of healing and plentiful feeding, described in the previous chapters. Those miracles had called forth praise and gratitude from the people. The Phar-isees and Sadducees, however, failed to grasp the es-sence of Jesus' messiahship and. his kingdom, and Jesus warns his disciples against similar failure. Pe-ter then goes beyond the admiration of the crowds and sums up Jesus' ministry with the marvelous confession "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." The first Sunday in Lent can properly focus on the need for seeing Christ as he truly is and for confessing his work in our salvation.
Hymns:
Rejoice, the Lord Is King
(PH 368, TH 226, RL 596,597, HB 140)
I Greet Thee
(PH 432, TH 135, RL 366, HB 144)
Psalm 45
(PH 82,83, TH 125)
Psalm 47
(PH 86)
Anthems & Concertato:
Christ, We Do All Adore Thee (Dubois. G. Schirmer,
#9749)
This anthem can be used as an introit for several weeks during Lent.
The Lord Is a Mighty God (M. Jothen. 4-part Chorus.
Coronet Press A.B.I.: New York, #C.P. 210) Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven (Clokey. Unison.
Harold Flammer, #86149)
Rejoice, the Lord Is King (arr. S. D. Wol( Congr. acc. 2 T pts, SATB choir. Concordia, #98-2552
Second Sunday
Matthew 16:21-28: Suffering and Discipleship
Even though Peter had voiced a beautiful con-fession, he still didn't understand Jesus' task. Peter probably envisioned Jesus as a king enthroned in Jerusalem, as one who would drive out the Roman oppressors. In emphasizing his impending trials, Jesus echoed Isaiah 53 and other Old Testament passages that portray the suffering Servant. Besides learning the hard truth about Jesus' coming death, the disciples also had to learn that followers of Christ must be willing to walk this same road of suf-fering.
Hymns:
Jesus Calls Us
(PH 459, TH 491, RL 258,259, HB 269)
At the Name of Jesus
(PH 372, TH 124, RL 336, HB 143)
0 Master, Let Me Walk with Thee
(PH 450, RL 428, HB 304)
Psalm 22
(PH 34, HB 35)
Anthems:
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (G. M. Martin. T.
Presser, #312-40785)
Lamb of God 0- M. Christiansen. Augsburg, #133)
This anthem can be used as an introit for several weeks during Lent.
Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs (Healey Willan. SA. Concordia, #98-1769)
Third Sunday
Matthew 17:1-13: The Transfiguration
The suffering motif is here put in its proper context. We learn from Luke's account of the trans-figuration (9:31) that Jesus' death was to be a "fulfillment"-that is, his death had a purpose. And his death would culminate in a vision of glory-of which we are given a brief glimpse here. The kingdom motif of "already but not yet," which we find in so much of the Christian life, comes to ex-pression here.
Hymns:
Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus
(PH 369, TH 128, RL 333, HB 210)
0 Wondrous Sight,0 Vision Fair
(RL 256, HB 182)
Christ upon the Mountain Peak
(RL 257)
Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies
(PH 448, HB 47)
Anthems:
Surely He Has Borne Our Grief (Craun. Concordia,
#98-1171)
Christ the King (R. Ling W. with bells and flute.
Augsburg, #112110
Fourth Sunday
Matthew17:14-27: "lfYouHaveFaith ... "
This section has several themes. We have chosen to emphasize faith as reliance on God. If the disciples had relied on God, they would have had the power and the authority to cast out the demon and to restore the boy. Only through faith in God's power to work in and through them can the disci-ples follow Jesus.
Hymns:
I Need Thee Every Hour
(PH 427, TH 710, RL 443, HB 324)
If Thou But Suffer
(TH 567, RL 151, HB 344)
How Firm a Foundation
(PH 411, TH 80, RL 172, HB 172)
Psalm46
(PH 84,85, TH 37, RL 102, HB 381)
Anthems:
Wondrous Love (Arr. Shaw-Parker. G. Schirmer: New
York, #907)
0 God, and Not on Human Trust (J. Pachelbel. Con-
cordia, #98-1006)
Lord, Give Me Faith (Roff. SA. R. D. Row, #25)
Fifth Sunday
Matthew 18:1-14: The Importance of Little Ones
After Jesus had established his messianic claim, he began stressing relationships in the mes-sianic community. Verses 1-14 deal in several ways with the "little ones" in the community, those who often seem insignificant or go unnoticed. These lit-tle ones (children, recent converts, "average" mem-
hers, wandering ones) are to be models for us of deep trust and humble reliance on God; and like God we should abhor the idea that any one of them be lost.
Hymns:
Shepherd of Tender Youth
(PH 414, TH 117, HB 471)
Blessed Jesus, We Are Here
(RL 530)
Psalm40
(PH 72, TH 565, RL470, HB 413)
Psalm43
(PH77)
Anthems:
I Will Rise (A. Lovelace. Sacred Press, #L-7425) Lift High the Cross (R. Vickery. AMSI, #380) Lead Me, Lord (Wesley. SA. B. F. Wood, #228)
Sixth Sunday
Matthew 18:15-35: Forgiveness
This passage teaches that Christians have two ways of responding to sin and hurt and that both ways are aimed at reconciliation and restoration. The first response involves the official community ("tell it to the church") and may lead to excluding a nonrepentant member in the hope that he or she will return. The second response involves individ-ual Christians: Peter asksJesus how often we should forgive someone who does wrong to us, and Jesus demonstrates that the follower of Christ doesn't keep count. Remembering how much we have been forgiven by the King, we say, "Of course I'll forgive my sister or brother-always."
Hymns:
I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord
(PH 479, TH 280, RL409)
Blest Be the Tie That Binds
(PH 447, TH 285, RL 407,408, HB 473)
Psalm 133
(PH 278,279)
Psalm 20
(PH 15)
Anthems:
The Gift of Love (H. Hopson. Agape: Carol Stream, Illi-
nois, #3922)
To Thee We Sing (P. Tkach. Neil Kjos: Park Ridge, Illi-nois, #6501)
Praise the Lord (M. Jillson, CRC Pub.: Grand Rapids,
Michigan, Bible Songs, Ps. 113)
