Developing A Divine Perspective

Luke 12:13-21

Focus Statement of Sermon
God is contrasting a secular perspective against a divine perspective with a warning; be aware
and be on guard.
Function Statement of Sermon
To warn Christians against self centeredness and to dare them to live with a divine perspective
for themselves and for others.

Script

Move 1 *Money can be helpful and money can be a hazard. If I
know people like I know people, there are times when money
can lure or distract you away from having a divine perspective,
and you have to be jolted — to readjust your thinking. 1 In our
culture we have pieces of paper and metal and plastic that
functions as currency. They are symbols of status, and are used
to acquire that which we value. We deem life to be valuable, so
we give money in exchange for food. We obviously value
education, so we buy books and take out loans. We value the
spreading of the gospel message, so we support the church and

1 I am concluding this introduction with an inclusio, emphasizing both the focus and function statements of the
sermon.

its ministries. Those pieces of paper and metal and plastic can
signify that your value of God is greater than your value of
things. That is helpful. Or, they can show that you love or value
things above God. That is a hazard. — Where we spend or invest
our money is a representation of what we value. — No wonder
the Bible reads — where your treasure is. -So a warning is given
in the text and in this lesson. Be aware! Be on guard. It is easy to
disregard God’s perspective. 2 Money can be helpful and money
can be a hazard. If I know people like I know people, there are
times when money can lure or distract you away from having a
divine perspective, and you have to be jolted to readjust your
thinking. 3
Move 2

2 In move 1 I am in a mode of reflection opposed to immediacy. Within this first move I am presenting the focus and
function statements of the sermon in a way that should garner interest from the audience.
3 I am concluding this introduction with an inclusio, emphasizing both the focus and function statements of the
sermon.

*What happens when you think like God? What if our paradigm,
our American Christian paradigm, is antipodal to a “divine
perspective?” — A lack of a divine perspective can keep you
from being rich toward God. In our text — we see how a faulty
perspective of money can be hazardous. — We see a person who
is distracted — who fears they are losing their grip on their
inheritance. — Their status is in danger. — And this person is
looking for someone — to advocate — on their behalf. Not too
long ago I found myself in the midst of someone’s distraction. 4 –

• It was a typical Sunday morning and I am in the middle of
  preaching and all of a sudden, to my right, four rows from the
  front, a young man stands up and yells out “but in Luke chapter
  six it says give and it shall be given unto me. Nobody is giving
  me anything and I’m trying to make moves and do some things.

4 In this first move I am using a concretization story based on a personal experience that parallels the event of the
text.

So what am I supposed to do now?” That was right in the middle
of my lesson. A lesson that had nothing to do with giving. And
that’s what happens in our text. Jesus is teaching and out of
nowhere, an unrelated question– a demand, is put forth to Jesus.
This person shouts out in the middle of Jesus’ teaching — And
this is how it reads in the Ian D. Nickerson translation — “Tell
my brother to give me my money. I have some moves to make.”
And Jesus jolts him or warns him to adjust his thinking. 5
What happens when you think like God? What if our paradigm,
our American Christian paradigm, is antipodal to a “divine
perspective?” Beware. Watch your thinking. A lack of a divine
perspective can keep you from being rich toward God.
Move 3
Can I go deeper? The text under consideration is part of a
thematic perspective weaved throughout the book of Luke. Luke
5 I bridging the conclusion of move 1 with the conclusion of the introduction. I am continuingly placing more
attention to the verbs of the text.

is masterfully and intentionally sharing a similarity of content
warning us to not become selfish or dishonest with our material
goods. 6
The Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21) is part of a theme — that
all have to do with riches.
The guy is selfish.

The Dishonest Steward (Luke 16:1-13 *11 & 12) – He is
dishonest with other people’s money.

The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) – Rich man
lives well. Lazarus does not. Both die. And the point is,
don’t be selfish. You suppose to give to people who
have need. — A similar point is made with the rich
fool. When he had too many crops, what did he do?
He built bigger barns. — What do you think he should
he have done? — Share.

The Rich Young Ruler (Luke 18:18-27 *23 & 24)
He was selfish with their riches. — Or they were dishonest.

The Rich Tax Collector (Luke 19:1-10)

6 I want to show that I have spent time in the text and have considered the authorial intent. I want the audience to
question their own regards to riches and the poor.

Verse 8 – “I give to the poor” That is not like the rich
fool in chapter 12.