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Illustration
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Illustrations
Isaiah 5:1-7
In 1869, Fanny Crosby was addressing a group of working class men in New York City. It was a hot summer evening and she was sharing the gospel message of redemption. As she spoke a nagging thought kept running through her mind. She felt, somewhere in the crowd of workers, there was a boy who had wandered from his mother's home and teaching. So she made the plea that if there was such a man in the audience, he should come to her at the end of the service. In her own words Crosby recounts what happened next. "A young man of eighteen came forward and said, 'Did you mean me? I promised my mother to meet her in heaven, but as I am now living that will be impossible.' We prayed for him and he finally arose with a new light in his eyes and exclaimed in triumph, 'Now I can meet my mother in heaven, for I have found God.' " When Crosby returned home she sat down and composed the hymn "Rescue the Perishing" in a single day. The lyrics came to her as she reminisced about the lost youth she met in New York City.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from the grave;
Weep over the erring one. Lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.
Note that the young man said, "as I am living now." There was a need for a change in his life. Helped by the witness and love of Fanny Crosby the man was able to change his life's orientation and live obedient unto God. We have in our lectionary reading today that as the people of Judah are living in disobedience they will be judged by God. We have before us a hymn that expresses a concern for the souls of others and is a summons for repentance. God will always seek to rescue the perishing, for as Isaiah began his hymn "I will sing for the one I love."
Ron L.
Isaiah 5:1-7
In the 1930s much of America's heartland experienced massive dust storms due to drought and over-farming. By taking out the native grasses in areas like Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas, the soil dried during drought season, turning to dust and being picked up by the wind. These areas, which had grown colossal crops during the 1920s, became deserts during this period known as the "Dust Bowl."
This sounds eerily similar to what Isaiah described in this prophecy against Israel: "I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it" (v. 6).
Craig K.
Isaiah 5:1-7
A retired pastor tells of an experience when he was just starting out in ministry. He was a student pastor serving a rural farming community. Most of the families lived near the church and attended services. In the church there was a strong feeling of goodwill among the members.
There was one man who did not speak to any of the other members but kept to himself. The pastor discovered that relationships had been broken when he accused the other farmers of impropriety. The man was a disgruntled, middle-aged man who was lonely and unhappy.
The man became ill and was hospitalized. Suddenly he lapsed into a coma and was no longer able to receive visitors. The doctor gave him little hope for recovery and told the family to expect the worst. Then unexpectedly he showed signs of recovery. He sent word to the men he had wronged, requesting them to come to the hospital to see him. He wanted to ask their forgiveness.
One by one the men came to see him. Old hurts that had festered for years were dealt with. Words of forgiveness were spoken and received. As a result new relationships were established. The man recovered and was able to return to church. He was a new person. The congregation experienced the power of forgiveness as they embraced the man.
The prophet Isaiah tells a parable of sorts about a landowner planting a vineyard. While a crop of grapes was expected wild grapes grew in its place much to the dismay of the vineyard owner. In telling the story Isaiah wanted the people to reflect on their own lives and see for themselves where they have strayed away from God. God "expected justice" but instead saw bloodshed -- God wanted for the people to show righteous, but instead heard cries of despair.
Tim S.
Hebrews 11:29--12:2
During the Underground Railroad, people would hide runaway slaves in their homes. Sometimes they built special rooms or cellars for the runaways to hide in. Although they knew that they ran a great risk in hiding runaway slaves in their homes, they had faith in God and conviction in his teachings that all men are equal under Christ. In the twentieth century, those who helped Jews escape or avoid Nazis during World War II showed their faith in the idea that we should love all our brothers and sisters, no matter our differences.
Leah T.
Hebrews 11:29--12:2
I visited Israel as a tourist several years ago. Our tour guide took us to many of the historical sites of the area. She told us that there were three categories of authenticity to each of the sites. They were a probability, a possibility, or "proposterousability" meaning that this is most likely the original site, or it fits some of the details that would make it the site or it was ridiculous that it was even considered as the place it was suppose to represent.
We were taken to two different locations for the tomb of Christ. One was the location shared by the Roman, Eastern, and other orthodox churches inside a church. We stood in line and looked down from the top of a site at what was suppose to be Calvary and then ushered a few feet away to what was said to be the empty tomb guarded by a priest. Later we were bussed to what the Protestant churches regard as Calvary and next to it a garden with a tomb discovered in the 1800s. Again we were ushered into line and allowed to look and linger in the tomb. I have a picture of the place that the guide told us was the place where Jesus was laid and is now empty. We were left to draw our own conclusion as to which was in the "probability" category.
I have my own opinion, but my conclusion of resurrection faith is not based on either of the two tombs. My faith is the fact that the Bible says that Jesus died, descended to Hell, preached the truth, and was resurrected after three days. "Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe" (St. Augustine). My faith is not in a place, but in an event of spiritual importance and hope!
Derl K.
Luke 12:49-56
A friend from work asked Denny if he would like to go on a mission trip with him and other members of the church. Denny's first reaction was to politely decline the invitation. Besides not having any skills that would benefit the mission he really did not want to go. Every time he saw his friend he was talking about the up-coming trip. The church Denny attended did not emphasize short term mission trips; they were an older more established congregation.
Denny's friend continued to gently urge him to go with them. "When you see the faces of the children that will make the whole trip worthwhile," he told him. Denny prayed about the opportunity and felt the hand of God guiding him to step out in faith. His family was less than supportive, asking him why he would want to do such a thing.
The group would be in a small Caribbean country for one week. The more Denny learned about the trip the more impressed he became. A dentist from the church would provide free dental care to anyone in need. Some of the adults in that small country had never been under the care of a dentist.
The week went fast. Denny would sit and talk with the children, sometimes holding them before they visited the doctor, sometimes after the routine exam. Denny saw human need in a way he never did before. What surprised him was that there was such need less than a day's plane ride away.
Once Denny was home he started collecting items to take with him on the next mission trip. He told his Sunday school class which contributed clothing and money to support this missionary effort.
Jesus has a way of disrupting our lives. At those times when we feel comfortable, Jesus challenges us to step out in faith in some new way. From the beginning of his ministry Jesus showed care and concern for the poor, down and out. In today's lesson Jesus forthrightly informs his followers, "Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!" When we follow Jesus' footsteps there may be times when other people, even within our own families who do not understand why we do what we do.
Tim S.
Luke 12:49-56
This may seem to be an unusual statement coming from Jesus: He came to set "father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law" (v. 53). Sadly, however, it has proved to be true. Even today, there are many cases of family members being ostracized or even killed for being Christians. I recently read a story of a father-in-law handing two sons-in-law over to police in Laos for sharing the gospel. You can read their story and stories of others persecuted for their faith at www.persecution.com.
Craig K.
Luke 12:49-56
In the comic strip Beetle Bailey the chaplain is standing in the pulpit. Before beginning his sermon he shares this introduction, "Today my sermon will be short and sweet." From the congregation there is heard a single voice echoing the loud cry of "Hallelujah!" The chaplain inquires, "Was that for short or for sweet?"
As we read in our gospel lesson today short and sweet is not always going to be the message we will hear and neither is it the message we should only hear. There are times when we must be made strikingly aware of the seriousness of God expectations. We must be firmly reminded that we will be held accountable for our actions. We must listen carefully to the words of Jesus, "I have come to bring fire on the earth.…"
Ron L.
Isaiah 5:1-7
In 1869, Fanny Crosby was addressing a group of working class men in New York City. It was a hot summer evening and she was sharing the gospel message of redemption. As she spoke a nagging thought kept running through her mind. She felt, somewhere in the crowd of workers, there was a boy who had wandered from his mother's home and teaching. So she made the plea that if there was such a man in the audience, he should come to her at the end of the service. In her own words Crosby recounts what happened next. "A young man of eighteen came forward and said, 'Did you mean me? I promised my mother to meet her in heaven, but as I am now living that will be impossible.' We prayed for him and he finally arose with a new light in his eyes and exclaimed in triumph, 'Now I can meet my mother in heaven, for I have found God.' " When Crosby returned home she sat down and composed the hymn "Rescue the Perishing" in a single day. The lyrics came to her as she reminisced about the lost youth she met in New York City.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from the grave;
Weep over the erring one. Lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.
Note that the young man said, "as I am living now." There was a need for a change in his life. Helped by the witness and love of Fanny Crosby the man was able to change his life's orientation and live obedient unto God. We have in our lectionary reading today that as the people of Judah are living in disobedience they will be judged by God. We have before us a hymn that expresses a concern for the souls of others and is a summons for repentance. God will always seek to rescue the perishing, for as Isaiah began his hymn "I will sing for the one I love."
Ron L.
Isaiah 5:1-7
In the 1930s much of America's heartland experienced massive dust storms due to drought and over-farming. By taking out the native grasses in areas like Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas, the soil dried during drought season, turning to dust and being picked up by the wind. These areas, which had grown colossal crops during the 1920s, became deserts during this period known as the "Dust Bowl."
This sounds eerily similar to what Isaiah described in this prophecy against Israel: "I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it" (v. 6).
Craig K.
Isaiah 5:1-7
A retired pastor tells of an experience when he was just starting out in ministry. He was a student pastor serving a rural farming community. Most of the families lived near the church and attended services. In the church there was a strong feeling of goodwill among the members.
There was one man who did not speak to any of the other members but kept to himself. The pastor discovered that relationships had been broken when he accused the other farmers of impropriety. The man was a disgruntled, middle-aged man who was lonely and unhappy.
The man became ill and was hospitalized. Suddenly he lapsed into a coma and was no longer able to receive visitors. The doctor gave him little hope for recovery and told the family to expect the worst. Then unexpectedly he showed signs of recovery. He sent word to the men he had wronged, requesting them to come to the hospital to see him. He wanted to ask their forgiveness.
One by one the men came to see him. Old hurts that had festered for years were dealt with. Words of forgiveness were spoken and received. As a result new relationships were established. The man recovered and was able to return to church. He was a new person. The congregation experienced the power of forgiveness as they embraced the man.
The prophet Isaiah tells a parable of sorts about a landowner planting a vineyard. While a crop of grapes was expected wild grapes grew in its place much to the dismay of the vineyard owner. In telling the story Isaiah wanted the people to reflect on their own lives and see for themselves where they have strayed away from God. God "expected justice" but instead saw bloodshed -- God wanted for the people to show righteous, but instead heard cries of despair.
Tim S.
Hebrews 11:29--12:2
During the Underground Railroad, people would hide runaway slaves in their homes. Sometimes they built special rooms or cellars for the runaways to hide in. Although they knew that they ran a great risk in hiding runaway slaves in their homes, they had faith in God and conviction in his teachings that all men are equal under Christ. In the twentieth century, those who helped Jews escape or avoid Nazis during World War II showed their faith in the idea that we should love all our brothers and sisters, no matter our differences.
Leah T.
Hebrews 11:29--12:2
I visited Israel as a tourist several years ago. Our tour guide took us to many of the historical sites of the area. She told us that there were three categories of authenticity to each of the sites. They were a probability, a possibility, or "proposterousability" meaning that this is most likely the original site, or it fits some of the details that would make it the site or it was ridiculous that it was even considered as the place it was suppose to represent.
We were taken to two different locations for the tomb of Christ. One was the location shared by the Roman, Eastern, and other orthodox churches inside a church. We stood in line and looked down from the top of a site at what was suppose to be Calvary and then ushered a few feet away to what was said to be the empty tomb guarded by a priest. Later we were bussed to what the Protestant churches regard as Calvary and next to it a garden with a tomb discovered in the 1800s. Again we were ushered into line and allowed to look and linger in the tomb. I have a picture of the place that the guide told us was the place where Jesus was laid and is now empty. We were left to draw our own conclusion as to which was in the "probability" category.
I have my own opinion, but my conclusion of resurrection faith is not based on either of the two tombs. My faith is the fact that the Bible says that Jesus died, descended to Hell, preached the truth, and was resurrected after three days. "Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe" (St. Augustine). My faith is not in a place, but in an event of spiritual importance and hope!
Derl K.
Luke 12:49-56
A friend from work asked Denny if he would like to go on a mission trip with him and other members of the church. Denny's first reaction was to politely decline the invitation. Besides not having any skills that would benefit the mission he really did not want to go. Every time he saw his friend he was talking about the up-coming trip. The church Denny attended did not emphasize short term mission trips; they were an older more established congregation.
Denny's friend continued to gently urge him to go with them. "When you see the faces of the children that will make the whole trip worthwhile," he told him. Denny prayed about the opportunity and felt the hand of God guiding him to step out in faith. His family was less than supportive, asking him why he would want to do such a thing.
The group would be in a small Caribbean country for one week. The more Denny learned about the trip the more impressed he became. A dentist from the church would provide free dental care to anyone in need. Some of the adults in that small country had never been under the care of a dentist.
The week went fast. Denny would sit and talk with the children, sometimes holding them before they visited the doctor, sometimes after the routine exam. Denny saw human need in a way he never did before. What surprised him was that there was such need less than a day's plane ride away.
Once Denny was home he started collecting items to take with him on the next mission trip. He told his Sunday school class which contributed clothing and money to support this missionary effort.
Jesus has a way of disrupting our lives. At those times when we feel comfortable, Jesus challenges us to step out in faith in some new way. From the beginning of his ministry Jesus showed care and concern for the poor, down and out. In today's lesson Jesus forthrightly informs his followers, "Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!" When we follow Jesus' footsteps there may be times when other people, even within our own families who do not understand why we do what we do.
Tim S.
Luke 12:49-56
This may seem to be an unusual statement coming from Jesus: He came to set "father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law" (v. 53). Sadly, however, it has proved to be true. Even today, there are many cases of family members being ostracized or even killed for being Christians. I recently read a story of a father-in-law handing two sons-in-law over to police in Laos for sharing the gospel. You can read their story and stories of others persecuted for their faith at www.persecution.com.
Craig K.
Luke 12:49-56
In the comic strip Beetle Bailey the chaplain is standing in the pulpit. Before beginning his sermon he shares this introduction, "Today my sermon will be short and sweet." From the congregation there is heard a single voice echoing the loud cry of "Hallelujah!" The chaplain inquires, "Was that for short or for sweet?"
As we read in our gospel lesson today short and sweet is not always going to be the message we will hear and neither is it the message we should only hear. There are times when we must be made strikingly aware of the seriousness of God expectations. We must be firmly reminded that we will be held accountable for our actions. We must listen carefully to the words of Jesus, "I have come to bring fire on the earth.…"
Ron L.
