Opening Story: Opportunity is nearer than you think—The Irish Potato Famine (1846-1851) resulted in a 30 percent drop in the population of the west of Ireland. The prolonged suffering of the Irish peasantry had broken the survivors in body and spirit. John Bloomfield, the owner of Castle Caldwell in County Fermanagh, was working on the recovery of his estate when he noticed that the exteriors of his tenant farmers' small cottages had a vivid white finish. He was informed that there was a clay deposit on his property of unusually fine quality. To generate revenue and provide employment on his estate, he built a pottery business at the village of Belleek in 1857. The unusually fine clay yielded a porcelain china that was translucent with a glass-like finish. It was worked into traditional Irish designs and was an immediate success. Today, Belleek's delicate strength and its iridescent pearlized glaze is enthusiastically purchased the world over. This multimillion-dollar industry arose from innovative thinking during some very anxious times.
Bits & Pieces, June 25, 1992.
Exegetical Work:
Need: A righteousness (a right-standing before God) by faith
Subject: The life in a right-standing with God based on faith is nearby to all because it is in the preached gospel about Jesus, which most Gentiles were believing and most Jews were not.
Purpose: To place the gospel at the center of the salvation of the people of God
Idea: Paul positioned life in Christ nearby to all through the preaching of the gospel.
- Paul explained that the righteousness based on the law is contingent upon obedience (10:5).
- Paul contrasted that the righteousness based on faith is near and attainable by faith (10:6–9).
- Paul explained that a right relationship with God and salvation is attained by faith in Jesus Christ (10:10).
- Paul explained that believers will not be put to shame but instead will find riches and salvation (10:11–13).
- Paul demonstrated the process for bringing Christ near (10:14–17).
- Paul explained the responses of Israel and of the Gentiles (10:18–21).
Theological Work:
Problem: Dull hearing prevents faith
Solution: Christ’s life in a right-standing with God is brought near to any who believe the gospel preached.
Purpose: To demonstrate human response to the nearness of the gospel [from sending to preaching to hearing to faith to calling out to God or from sending to preaching to hearing to lacking understanding to jealousy because of disobedience]
Timeless Truth: God's freedom to accurately elect gave Jesus whose salvation is as near as the gospel preached.
Homiletical Work:
Need: People’s biggest problem is a right relationship with God
Subject: Beautiful, timely feet
Purpose: To bring Christ near by proclaiming him
Message: Step and Speak into Timely Situations to Bring Christ’s Life [i.e., a right-standing with God] Near.
Applications for Today:
- Step in and speak to bring the gospel near.
- Step in and speak the gospel to everyone.
- Step in and speak by sending.
- Step in and speak by preaching.
- Trust God with the hearing, the believing, and the calling.
- Repent of the sins of the house of Israel.
- Repent when outreach makes you jealous.
- Rejoice when those who did not seek, find God.
- Beware the sins of the house of Israel.
Closing Story: With the polarizing social and political trends in our country and additionally the diminishing verticality of life in America, it is inevitable that God is calling his church to bring the good news of his Son’s salvation near to people who make you uncomfortable. Read Luke 7:36–50 and speak from a Spirit-filled heart.