Sermon Illustrations for Ash Wednesday (2011)
Illustration
Isaiah 58:1-12
When the armistice was signed that ended the Spanish-American War, which was fought in 1898, the Americans had lost a total of 460 soldiers in combat. Compared to the Civil War, fought 33 years earlier, in which thousands were often killed in a single day, these casualties seemed insignificant. That is why the ambassador to England wrote to his friend, Teddy Roosevelt that "It's been a splendid little war."
Isaiah was upset with his people, saying, "You fast only to quarrel and to fight." Because of the conflict within the community of faith they were being disobedient to God's Law. There is no such thing as a "splendid" fight. There is no such thing as a "little" fight. Each quarrel brings permanent harm to all who are involved. Just as the British ambassador dismissed the pain and suffering to the families of the 460, we cannot dismiss the pain and suffering our quarreling causes to others.
R. Love
2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10
Francis of Assisi grew up in a wealthy Italian family. As a young man he was something of a playboy who loved fancy clothes and doing pretty much what he wanted to do. After fighting in local wars, he was captured and during his stay in prison God began speaking to him and redirecting the course of his life. Now, he only wanted to serve God among the poor of the land. He notified his father of his intentions, and his father was horrified. Eventually the son was brought into court by his father.
Elizabeth Goudge, in her biography of Francis describes the scene.
"My Lord Bishop, I will give back unto him with a light heart not only the money that belongeth unto him, but my clothes also… Hear ye all, and understand; until now I called Pietro Bernadone my father, now I give back all that I had of him, desiring to say only, 'Our Father, Which art in heaven,' with Whom I have laid up my whole treasure and on Whom I have set my whole trust and hope."
R. Hasler
2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10
How many times have we faced a situation where someone died suddenly? It could be for many reasons: cancer, an accident, suicide, anything. How many of these same people thought they had their whole life ahead of them not long before they died? I could cite example after example of this. Take, for instance, the tragic plane crash that killed the entire Marshall University football team in 1970. Seventy-five people lost their lives in an instant. How many of them thought they would live a long life?
Many of us live with that same attitude toward life and many fellow believers tend to share that philosophy when it comes to spreading the gospel. We see friends and loved ones who need the Lord, and yet we delay, thinking we'll have more time. How can we know which breath will be our last? That is why Paul emphasizes, "Now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (6:2b).
C. Kelly
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
In the early days of World War II, Ruth Handler and her husband Elliott designed plastic picture frames from scrap Lucite and scrap Plexiglas. Their friend Harold "Matt" Matson made the sample frames in his garage. Ruth, who was to be the saleswoman, was excited when she received an order for the frames from a chain of photographic studios. As Ruth was driving to make her first delivery, she heard an announcement by President Franklin Roosevelt over the car radio. The president declared that all plastics were to be used only for defense. Ruth turned her car around and went home in a state of disarray.
Once home, the three pondered what to do with the newly founded business. They questioned how they could continue. They feared their investment would be lost. It appeared as though their one chance for success was gone forever. There was no future.
Then they got an idea. They decided to make wooden frames, spraying them for a cloth-looking covering. Anxious and afraid, Ruth returned to the photographic studio manager ready to peddle the new frame. To her surprise and delight the manager was even more impressed with these frames than the former plastic ones. Ruth received an even bigger order than before, providing the company with enough money to rent a small shop.
Later on, the three entrepreneurs decided to make dollhouse furniture out of the scrap lumber. Elliott sketched the furniture, Matt made the sample products, and Ruth went out and sold them. That venture launched Mattel Toy Company (a combination of the names "Matt" and "Elliott.")
Jesus told us not to store up our treasures on earth where moths and rust can destroy them; instead, we are to store our treasures in heaven. The Jesus concluded, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Ruth, Elliott, and Matt all labored in love. That is why a setback did not destroy their spirit but only challenged them to a new opportunity. If we live with our hearts in heaven, then material successes and failures on earth will not destroy us but only empower us.
R. Love
When the armistice was signed that ended the Spanish-American War, which was fought in 1898, the Americans had lost a total of 460 soldiers in combat. Compared to the Civil War, fought 33 years earlier, in which thousands were often killed in a single day, these casualties seemed insignificant. That is why the ambassador to England wrote to his friend, Teddy Roosevelt that "It's been a splendid little war."
Isaiah was upset with his people, saying, "You fast only to quarrel and to fight." Because of the conflict within the community of faith they were being disobedient to God's Law. There is no such thing as a "splendid" fight. There is no such thing as a "little" fight. Each quarrel brings permanent harm to all who are involved. Just as the British ambassador dismissed the pain and suffering to the families of the 460, we cannot dismiss the pain and suffering our quarreling causes to others.
R. Love
2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10
Francis of Assisi grew up in a wealthy Italian family. As a young man he was something of a playboy who loved fancy clothes and doing pretty much what he wanted to do. After fighting in local wars, he was captured and during his stay in prison God began speaking to him and redirecting the course of his life. Now, he only wanted to serve God among the poor of the land. He notified his father of his intentions, and his father was horrified. Eventually the son was brought into court by his father.
Elizabeth Goudge, in her biography of Francis describes the scene.
"My Lord Bishop, I will give back unto him with a light heart not only the money that belongeth unto him, but my clothes also… Hear ye all, and understand; until now I called Pietro Bernadone my father, now I give back all that I had of him, desiring to say only, 'Our Father, Which art in heaven,' with Whom I have laid up my whole treasure and on Whom I have set my whole trust and hope."
R. Hasler
2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10
How many times have we faced a situation where someone died suddenly? It could be for many reasons: cancer, an accident, suicide, anything. How many of these same people thought they had their whole life ahead of them not long before they died? I could cite example after example of this. Take, for instance, the tragic plane crash that killed the entire Marshall University football team in 1970. Seventy-five people lost their lives in an instant. How many of them thought they would live a long life?
Many of us live with that same attitude toward life and many fellow believers tend to share that philosophy when it comes to spreading the gospel. We see friends and loved ones who need the Lord, and yet we delay, thinking we'll have more time. How can we know which breath will be our last? That is why Paul emphasizes, "Now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (6:2b).
C. Kelly
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
In the early days of World War II, Ruth Handler and her husband Elliott designed plastic picture frames from scrap Lucite and scrap Plexiglas. Their friend Harold "Matt" Matson made the sample frames in his garage. Ruth, who was to be the saleswoman, was excited when she received an order for the frames from a chain of photographic studios. As Ruth was driving to make her first delivery, she heard an announcement by President Franklin Roosevelt over the car radio. The president declared that all plastics were to be used only for defense. Ruth turned her car around and went home in a state of disarray.
Once home, the three pondered what to do with the newly founded business. They questioned how they could continue. They feared their investment would be lost. It appeared as though their one chance for success was gone forever. There was no future.
Then they got an idea. They decided to make wooden frames, spraying them for a cloth-looking covering. Anxious and afraid, Ruth returned to the photographic studio manager ready to peddle the new frame. To her surprise and delight the manager was even more impressed with these frames than the former plastic ones. Ruth received an even bigger order than before, providing the company with enough money to rent a small shop.
Later on, the three entrepreneurs decided to make dollhouse furniture out of the scrap lumber. Elliott sketched the furniture, Matt made the sample products, and Ruth went out and sold them. That venture launched Mattel Toy Company (a combination of the names "Matt" and "Elliott.")
Jesus told us not to store up our treasures on earth where moths and rust can destroy them; instead, we are to store our treasures in heaven. The Jesus concluded, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Ruth, Elliott, and Matt all labored in love. That is why a setback did not destroy their spirit but only challenged them to a new opportunity. If we live with our hearts in heaven, then material successes and failures on earth will not destroy us but only empower us.
R. Love
