Sermon Illustrations for Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 (2011)
Illustration
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Since high school, Julie prayed daily for the persecuted church in North Korea and over time her heart grew for the people and their suffering. She started teaching herself Korean, devoured any news she could find about Christians there, and hoped for the day that she could live among them as a missionary and worship with them in secret. In her last year of college, the opportunity suddenly arose to deliver Bibles to China and visit to just outside the northern border of the forbidden peninsula. As she stood on Chinese soil with her team and gazed across the Yalu River to the bleak and oppressed land, she felt very much like Moses. Julie had never been closer to the people for whom her heart longed and it was uncertain if she would ever be closer, but it was bittersweet. With the sorrow of distance was great joy at seeing.
Brian H.
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
On April 14, 1865, arguably the greatest president in the history of the United States was assassinated. Abraham Lincoln was shot six days after the Confederate surrender at the end of a war that had begun within months of his becoming president. While today he is generally hailed as the greatest of presidents, during his tenure he faced opposition from nearly every political faction as war raged between American and American. The strong hands of Mr. Lincoln held a nation together. Today his hands are carved in stone, larger than life, a testament to their Atlas-like ability to hold the American world in place. On April 15, 1865, we saw the death of a legend. It is not likely we will see another like Abraham Lincoln.
Leah T.
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
One of the earliest problems with microscopy was the fact that only one person at a time could look at the image. This hindered dialogue as only one observer could report on the changing cell structure. In 1871, Robert Koch solved the problem by inventing the three tube microscope. Now, three scientists could simultaneously observe and discuss an event.
Moses, from Mount Nebo, could look over onto the Promised Land but he alone was not confined to that observation post, as other excited Israelites joined him. Though only Moses' testimony is recorded for us, certainly the group experience and interaction aided Moses in his perceptions.
Ron L.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
It is estimated that there are over 30,000 Christian missionaries in the unevangelized world today. Two thirds of them are full-time Christian workers abroad. These people have left the familiar comforts of home and family to take the message of the gospel to unfamiliar parts of the world, sometimes even putting themselves in mortal jeopardy. There have been countless stories of missionaries being tortured or killed for sharing their faith. However, these reports do not sway the hearts of new generations of missionaries eager to see the gospel spread throughout the world.
If there is an inspiration in scripture for these people, one need look no further than this: "Just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts…. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves" (vv. 4, 8). This, in a nutshell, is the heart of a missionary.
Craig K.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Preaching professor Tom Long tells a story about shopping in a grocery store one day. He was not in the best mood because he didn't enjoy grocery shopping. Then he ran into a mother and her son who really seemed to be enjoying their shopping. They made a game of it. She would read the first item on her list and then the little boy would race around the store until he found the item. They laughed and had a great time. Long met the mother and boy several times as he continued his shopping. Gradually, Long realized the little boy had a mental disability. The next time he met the mother Long said to her, "I was just admiring your relationship with your son." She responded, "Yes, he is a gift from God."
The mother could have been bitter and blamed God for having a child with a mental disability but instead she praised God. She accepted her situation and even saw her son as gift from God.
Richard H.
Matthew 22:34-46
An old brain-teaser: "A man and his son are on a fishing trip when their boat capsizes. The son is injured. His father rushes him to the nearest hospital, where they are immediately admitted into the emergency room. Suddenly a doctor sprints into the room and runs to the child, crying 'My son! My son!' " How is this possible?
Jesus asks the Pharisees a similar question: Can the Messiah be the son of David -- the son of Man -- as well as God? The answer to our first brain-teaser is easy. The answer to Jesus' brain-teaser is not.
(Answer to first brain-teaser: the doctor is female -- the child's mother.)
Leah T.
Matthew 22:34-46
One of the most famous riddles is that of the Sphinx: "What creature goes on four legs in the morning, two at midday, and three at night?" Often riddles are used as a game but they are also historically and culturally a display of wisdom. Riddles maintain multiple perspectives in tension. Thus, the sphinx was shown to be wise as the keeper of the riddle and Oedipus in solving it, answering, "Man."
When the Sadducees and Pharisees ask Jesus about the greatest commandment, they intend to feel him out with a standard theological question and perhaps engage him with some lively debate. In return, however, they get not only a sound answer but a question of Jesus' own, a sort of theological riddle. When they fail to answer, the point is clear. If they want to debate Jesus' theology, they're out of their league.
Brian H.
Matthew 22:34-46
Carol Burnett was struggling financially to remain at UCLA as a drama student. Having been raised in a family that was sustained by welfare checks, all Carol knew was poverty. Even though she was able to remain in college on a day-to-day basis, Carol did not believe her dream of going to New York would ever be realized.
One day a professor invited Carol and eight of her classmates to entertain his evening dinner guest. Carol and a friend acted out a comedy scene from Annie Get Your Gun. After the performance a gentleman came to Carol and expressed his admiration for her talent. He asked Carol what she intended to do with her life. Carol shared her dream of acting on Broadway. The man then asked what kept Carol from following her dream. She simply replied: a lack of money.
The gentleman then offered Carol enough money to travel to New York and establish her stage career. Before Carol could accept the money, her benefactor outlined three rules to which she must adhere: First, if Carol became a success, she was to pay back the loan within five years, without interest. Second, she was never to reveal the identity of her patron. Third, she was to pass the kindness along by helping someone else in a similar circumstance. Carol accepted the offer, established her career in the theater, and remained true to her promise. Burnett kept her promise by promoting many other struggling young actors.
Jesus taught, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Certainly Carol Burnett could see herself in the other struggling actors.
Ron L.
Since high school, Julie prayed daily for the persecuted church in North Korea and over time her heart grew for the people and their suffering. She started teaching herself Korean, devoured any news she could find about Christians there, and hoped for the day that she could live among them as a missionary and worship with them in secret. In her last year of college, the opportunity suddenly arose to deliver Bibles to China and visit to just outside the northern border of the forbidden peninsula. As she stood on Chinese soil with her team and gazed across the Yalu River to the bleak and oppressed land, she felt very much like Moses. Julie had never been closer to the people for whom her heart longed and it was uncertain if she would ever be closer, but it was bittersweet. With the sorrow of distance was great joy at seeing.
Brian H.
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
On April 14, 1865, arguably the greatest president in the history of the United States was assassinated. Abraham Lincoln was shot six days after the Confederate surrender at the end of a war that had begun within months of his becoming president. While today he is generally hailed as the greatest of presidents, during his tenure he faced opposition from nearly every political faction as war raged between American and American. The strong hands of Mr. Lincoln held a nation together. Today his hands are carved in stone, larger than life, a testament to their Atlas-like ability to hold the American world in place. On April 15, 1865, we saw the death of a legend. It is not likely we will see another like Abraham Lincoln.
Leah T.
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
One of the earliest problems with microscopy was the fact that only one person at a time could look at the image. This hindered dialogue as only one observer could report on the changing cell structure. In 1871, Robert Koch solved the problem by inventing the three tube microscope. Now, three scientists could simultaneously observe and discuss an event.
Moses, from Mount Nebo, could look over onto the Promised Land but he alone was not confined to that observation post, as other excited Israelites joined him. Though only Moses' testimony is recorded for us, certainly the group experience and interaction aided Moses in his perceptions.
Ron L.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
It is estimated that there are over 30,000 Christian missionaries in the unevangelized world today. Two thirds of them are full-time Christian workers abroad. These people have left the familiar comforts of home and family to take the message of the gospel to unfamiliar parts of the world, sometimes even putting themselves in mortal jeopardy. There have been countless stories of missionaries being tortured or killed for sharing their faith. However, these reports do not sway the hearts of new generations of missionaries eager to see the gospel spread throughout the world.
If there is an inspiration in scripture for these people, one need look no further than this: "Just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts…. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves" (vv. 4, 8). This, in a nutshell, is the heart of a missionary.
Craig K.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Preaching professor Tom Long tells a story about shopping in a grocery store one day. He was not in the best mood because he didn't enjoy grocery shopping. Then he ran into a mother and her son who really seemed to be enjoying their shopping. They made a game of it. She would read the first item on her list and then the little boy would race around the store until he found the item. They laughed and had a great time. Long met the mother and boy several times as he continued his shopping. Gradually, Long realized the little boy had a mental disability. The next time he met the mother Long said to her, "I was just admiring your relationship with your son." She responded, "Yes, he is a gift from God."
The mother could have been bitter and blamed God for having a child with a mental disability but instead she praised God. She accepted her situation and even saw her son as gift from God.
Richard H.
Matthew 22:34-46
An old brain-teaser: "A man and his son are on a fishing trip when their boat capsizes. The son is injured. His father rushes him to the nearest hospital, where they are immediately admitted into the emergency room. Suddenly a doctor sprints into the room and runs to the child, crying 'My son! My son!' " How is this possible?
Jesus asks the Pharisees a similar question: Can the Messiah be the son of David -- the son of Man -- as well as God? The answer to our first brain-teaser is easy. The answer to Jesus' brain-teaser is not.
(Answer to first brain-teaser: the doctor is female -- the child's mother.)
Leah T.
Matthew 22:34-46
One of the most famous riddles is that of the Sphinx: "What creature goes on four legs in the morning, two at midday, and three at night?" Often riddles are used as a game but they are also historically and culturally a display of wisdom. Riddles maintain multiple perspectives in tension. Thus, the sphinx was shown to be wise as the keeper of the riddle and Oedipus in solving it, answering, "Man."
When the Sadducees and Pharisees ask Jesus about the greatest commandment, they intend to feel him out with a standard theological question and perhaps engage him with some lively debate. In return, however, they get not only a sound answer but a question of Jesus' own, a sort of theological riddle. When they fail to answer, the point is clear. If they want to debate Jesus' theology, they're out of their league.
Brian H.
Matthew 22:34-46
Carol Burnett was struggling financially to remain at UCLA as a drama student. Having been raised in a family that was sustained by welfare checks, all Carol knew was poverty. Even though she was able to remain in college on a day-to-day basis, Carol did not believe her dream of going to New York would ever be realized.
One day a professor invited Carol and eight of her classmates to entertain his evening dinner guest. Carol and a friend acted out a comedy scene from Annie Get Your Gun. After the performance a gentleman came to Carol and expressed his admiration for her talent. He asked Carol what she intended to do with her life. Carol shared her dream of acting on Broadway. The man then asked what kept Carol from following her dream. She simply replied: a lack of money.
The gentleman then offered Carol enough money to travel to New York and establish her stage career. Before Carol could accept the money, her benefactor outlined three rules to which she must adhere: First, if Carol became a success, she was to pay back the loan within five years, without interest. Second, she was never to reveal the identity of her patron. Third, she was to pass the kindness along by helping someone else in a similar circumstance. Carol accepted the offer, established her career in the theater, and remained true to her promise. Burnett kept her promise by promoting many other struggling young actors.
Jesus taught, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Certainly Carol Burnett could see herself in the other struggling actors.
Ron L.
