Multiple Illustrations for Advent 3
Illustration
Object:
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
When I was a child, one of my favorite Disney movies was The Sword in the Stone. I loved the climactic scene where there is a tournament going on to determine who will be the next king. Strong, imposing knights joust and fight, hoping to use their strength to gain the throne. Meanwhile, in an old churchyard in another part of London, the true king, King Arthur, is revealed when a scrawny boy pulls a miraculous, yet forgotten sword from an anvil. This was not the way the people expected the next king to be revealed; yet it was undeniable who the true king was meant to be.
In today's passage, we see Israel's expectations for the revealing of their true king. "Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence" (v. 1). They expected a glorious appearing of a great warrior king from heaven who would slay their adversaries and set up his throne in Jerusalem. As this season celebrates, the true king was revealed in a dirty stable, much like England's king was found in a scrawny ward far from the roaring crowd.
C. Kelly
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Jesus used the opening words of this passage as his "mission statement" when he spoke in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth. Why are we so uncertain about our own affirmation of faith; especially why don't our young people enunciate the Christian faith more clearly and more firmly?
Kenda Dean, a professor of youth, church, and culture at one of our leading theological schools, has written a recent book titled Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church. Here is the gist of what she said. American young people are theoretically fine with religious faith -- but it does not concern them very much, and it is not durable enough to survive long after they graduate from high school. One more thing: we're responsible.
The adults are responsible, Dean says, because in many ways the teenagers' tepid response to religion reflects a lack of clarity among their parents and among adults from their congregations about their own beliefs. In other words, teenagers don't have much to say about faith because many of the adults around them don't either.
Dean urges adults who want to convince teenagers that the Christian faith really matters to "do something that strikes at the root of who we are as Christians and to articulate their motivation."
R. Hasler
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Sometimes it seems like "Rejoice always" is the toughest command in the New Testament. There is certainly much to be joyful about; Paul's letters are filled with that kind of hope and good news. Yet there is also much in the world and sometimes in our own lives over which to be sorrowful. In fact, Paul himself says, "Mourn with those who mourn." Of course this is only immediately after telling the Roman churches, "Weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15)! How do we reconcile this? Imagine that instead of joy and sorrow being two opposite ends on the same spectrum playing tug-of-war that they are different measures entirely. We can think of sorrow as a depth and joy as a fullness. If we picture a well, sorrow digs out the deepness that our joy fills up, such that joy depends on sorrow and sorrow on joy.
B. Hohmeier
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Unique. Controversial. That is the label often placed upon religious movements and churches that do not fit the norm. The criticisms are often well-founded but does that negate all the good that they are doing? Perhaps, sometimes, it is good to look past the "what's wrong" in order to see the "what's right."
The International House of Prayer, in Kansas City, Missouri, does have some questionable theological positions. Yet with an attendance of over 25,000, it must be a blessing unto others. And if some of the IHOP theology is called into question, it could serve Christendom well to adopt its mission. The mission of IHOP, under the leadership of Mike Bickle, is to continue in prayer without ceasing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. The congregation has been sustaining this calling since May 1999. According to Bickle, the focused worship affects world events by weakening the demons and strengthening the angels that swirl among us.
A 24/7/365 ministry of prayer, undertaken by all congregations of all denominations, would empower the angels and weaken the demonic hold of Satan. This certainly would give new meaning to Paul's admonition to "pray without ceasing."
R. Love
John 1:6-8, 19-28
One day Branch Rickey, the general manager of the then Brooklyn Dodgers major league baseball team, decided to take a great risk. It was the mid-1940s and Rickey decided he was going to sign the first black man to a major league baseball contract. He called Jackie Robinson into his office. Robinson had been a superb athlete at UCLA in several sports, especially in baseball. He was known for his sense of pride and his fierce temper. He also had a strong family background with an intense Christian faith. But Rickey wondered if Robinson had the humility to go with his pride.
In the course of the conversation Rickey pulled out a copy of Giovanni Papini's book The Life of Christ. Then he quoted Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount: "Ye have heard that it has been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; But I say unto you that you resist not evil: But whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."
Now, Rickey said softly to Robinson, "Can you do it?"
R. Hasler
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Merriam Webster's first definition of witness is "attestation of a fact or an event." It then goes on to give a second definition as "one that gives evidence." That is why we talk about witnesses at a court trial or someone serving as a witness on important documents or someone in the Witness Protection Program. This word was also used in describing John the Baptist (v. 7). In preaching the message of repentance and living a devout life, he gave attestation of the imminent arrival of the Messiah. As we prepare to celebrate Christ's arrival, how are we being witnesses for him? What evidence of the life-changing power of this event do our lives give?
C. Kelly
When I was a child, one of my favorite Disney movies was The Sword in the Stone. I loved the climactic scene where there is a tournament going on to determine who will be the next king. Strong, imposing knights joust and fight, hoping to use their strength to gain the throne. Meanwhile, in an old churchyard in another part of London, the true king, King Arthur, is revealed when a scrawny boy pulls a miraculous, yet forgotten sword from an anvil. This was not the way the people expected the next king to be revealed; yet it was undeniable who the true king was meant to be.
In today's passage, we see Israel's expectations for the revealing of their true king. "Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence" (v. 1). They expected a glorious appearing of a great warrior king from heaven who would slay their adversaries and set up his throne in Jerusalem. As this season celebrates, the true king was revealed in a dirty stable, much like England's king was found in a scrawny ward far from the roaring crowd.
C. Kelly
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Jesus used the opening words of this passage as his "mission statement" when he spoke in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth. Why are we so uncertain about our own affirmation of faith; especially why don't our young people enunciate the Christian faith more clearly and more firmly?
Kenda Dean, a professor of youth, church, and culture at one of our leading theological schools, has written a recent book titled Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church. Here is the gist of what she said. American young people are theoretically fine with religious faith -- but it does not concern them very much, and it is not durable enough to survive long after they graduate from high school. One more thing: we're responsible.
The adults are responsible, Dean says, because in many ways the teenagers' tepid response to religion reflects a lack of clarity among their parents and among adults from their congregations about their own beliefs. In other words, teenagers don't have much to say about faith because many of the adults around them don't either.
Dean urges adults who want to convince teenagers that the Christian faith really matters to "do something that strikes at the root of who we are as Christians and to articulate their motivation."
R. Hasler
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Sometimes it seems like "Rejoice always" is the toughest command in the New Testament. There is certainly much to be joyful about; Paul's letters are filled with that kind of hope and good news. Yet there is also much in the world and sometimes in our own lives over which to be sorrowful. In fact, Paul himself says, "Mourn with those who mourn." Of course this is only immediately after telling the Roman churches, "Weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15)! How do we reconcile this? Imagine that instead of joy and sorrow being two opposite ends on the same spectrum playing tug-of-war that they are different measures entirely. We can think of sorrow as a depth and joy as a fullness. If we picture a well, sorrow digs out the deepness that our joy fills up, such that joy depends on sorrow and sorrow on joy.
B. Hohmeier
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Unique. Controversial. That is the label often placed upon religious movements and churches that do not fit the norm. The criticisms are often well-founded but does that negate all the good that they are doing? Perhaps, sometimes, it is good to look past the "what's wrong" in order to see the "what's right."
The International House of Prayer, in Kansas City, Missouri, does have some questionable theological positions. Yet with an attendance of over 25,000, it must be a blessing unto others. And if some of the IHOP theology is called into question, it could serve Christendom well to adopt its mission. The mission of IHOP, under the leadership of Mike Bickle, is to continue in prayer without ceasing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. The congregation has been sustaining this calling since May 1999. According to Bickle, the focused worship affects world events by weakening the demons and strengthening the angels that swirl among us.
A 24/7/365 ministry of prayer, undertaken by all congregations of all denominations, would empower the angels and weaken the demonic hold of Satan. This certainly would give new meaning to Paul's admonition to "pray without ceasing."
R. Love
John 1:6-8, 19-28
One day Branch Rickey, the general manager of the then Brooklyn Dodgers major league baseball team, decided to take a great risk. It was the mid-1940s and Rickey decided he was going to sign the first black man to a major league baseball contract. He called Jackie Robinson into his office. Robinson had been a superb athlete at UCLA in several sports, especially in baseball. He was known for his sense of pride and his fierce temper. He also had a strong family background with an intense Christian faith. But Rickey wondered if Robinson had the humility to go with his pride.
In the course of the conversation Rickey pulled out a copy of Giovanni Papini's book The Life of Christ. Then he quoted Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount: "Ye have heard that it has been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; But I say unto you that you resist not evil: But whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."
Now, Rickey said softly to Robinson, "Can you do it?"
R. Hasler
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Merriam Webster's first definition of witness is "attestation of a fact or an event." It then goes on to give a second definition as "one that gives evidence." That is why we talk about witnesses at a court trial or someone serving as a witness on important documents or someone in the Witness Protection Program. This word was also used in describing John the Baptist (v. 7). In preaching the message of repentance and living a devout life, he gave attestation of the imminent arrival of the Messiah. As we prepare to celebrate Christ's arrival, how are we being witnesses for him? What evidence of the life-changing power of this event do our lives give?
C. Kelly
