Sermon Illustrations for Advent 3 (2012)
Illustration
Object:
Zephaniah 3:14-20
What would it sound like to hear God sing? Throughout scripture much is made of the people singing to the Lord with a new song, thanksgiving, and praise. But here, Zephaniah hears God singing -- loudly, even (v. 17). What does such a song sound like? It sounds like the quiet after the storm, forgiveness after the sin, the footsteps of the lame, and the gathering sounds of the outcasts. Such are the verses of God’s song. When we see such sights, experience such happenings, then we can say we have heard God sing and scripture will be fulfilled in our day.
Mark M.
Zephaniah 3:14-20
There are at least a couple surprises in this lesson. The first is the enthusiastic response to the Lord for taking away our punishment. Lutherans are so reserved. We hate to shout with praise and throw our arms in the air, for fear people will think we are Baptist or Pentecostal! God forbid! We want to preserve our dignity at all costs. It is out tradition! We really aren't that bad, are we?
It may be okay to rejoice in our heart but certainly not out loud! We wouldn't dare raise those limp arms. The Lord will accept both kinds of rejoicing but it wouldn't hurt us Lutherans to loosen up now and then. A greater number of our churches are showing more enthusiasm in hopes of bringing in more people -- younger people. It may be upsetting some of the "old guard" and so we often add a second service for them.
When I tried that in my churches, I checked to find out why the people were choosing either service and most of them told me it was because of the hour of service and not the content of the liturgy. Maybe we should get our eyes off the details and put them back on the Lord.
The second surprise is the sorrow they were feeling for the appointed feast. Do any of you feel sorrow over the coming feast of Christmas? Aren't we all rejoicing? Advent, however, reminds us of the down side of this joyous holiday: The reason our Lord had to come was because of our sins. So in Advent we sorrow over the reason he had to come! He came and suffered much so that we might be wrapped in his love and forgiven.
We may feel bad for the reason he had to come, but we can rejoice in what his coming has meant for us! If he hadn't come then we would be lost. The Lord came and removed the reason for our sorrows and took away our fears. The only enemy we really have to fear is Satan, and he has been conquered. He no longer has any power over us.
There is still no praise and honor in some countries for God's people. But God tells us that day is coming. It is our job to hasten that day to show our appreciation for what our God has done for us. In Nepal, where I served as a missionary, the "lost" people see the joy and peace in God's people in the face of rejection and persecution and come to find out how to find that joy! God is not always restoring the financial fortunes of the people, but he makes them happy with what they have and especially for the gift of his Son. God is our wealth! He is our peace! We can relax in the joy of his love! Let us rejoice in the Christmas season but let us realize in Advent what it cost.
Bob O.
Philippians 4:4-7
Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan (374-397), is one of our most prominent church fathers. He is known for his writings, especially his homilies and commentaries on the books of the Bible. Ambrose’s observation of the healing power of the Eucharist as displayed by Jesus, the Great Physician, is recorded in his “Exposition of the Gospel of Luke.” Ambrose renders this perception, “That Physician has many remedies with which he is accustomed to cure. His speech is a remedy. One of his sayings binds up wounds, another treats with oil, another pours in wine. He binds wounds with a stricter rule. He treats with the forgiveness of sins. He stings with the rebuke of judgment as if with wine.”
“Rejoice in the Lord always," for he is the Great Physician.
Ron L.
Philippians 4:4-7
Paul urges the Philippians and us to rejoice in the Lord that they need not worry about anything and then he commends prayer (vv. 4, 6). It is no accident that he lumps these activities and attitudes together. Nuerobiologists have identified a direct connection between spiritual exercises (faith, prayer, meditation, worship) and joy or the alleviation of anxiety. It seems that when we practice faith or pray the front part of our brain (the prefrontal cortex) becomes activated. Because this is the most developed part of our brain, our bodies reward its use. Consequently when the prefrontal cortex is activated it not only enhances our sociability and makes us more loving. Like any amphetamine, the experience of dopamine gives us a high, makes us happy, and takes away worry (Andrew Newberg and Mark Waldman, Why We Believe What We Believe, p. 187). The next time worry hits, concentrating on God will by the Holy Spirit stimulate the wonderful bodies our Lord has created in such a way that some intimacy with him will overcome our lows. That why Christmas, a time to concentrate on Christ, can be such a joyful time!
Mark E.
Luke 3:7-18
Our text was before the days of political correctness! We pussy foot around so as not to offend anyone. If our sermons get too radical we might lose members! We are Americans! We are the best! Nothing is wrong with us even though we try to remove the Ten Commandments from a court house and refuse to allow prayer in public. We are also Lutherans! We are the best of the best and not like those legalistic Roman Catholics who won't pay for contraceptives even though 95% of the members use them or those radical Baptists who won't even let you sip a beer! How then did John bring such crowds to hear him?
We don't like to hear that unless we know we need to shape up and might be going to hell! We certainly are not as bad as those sinners around us who may even include some politicians who ran for office. Some political ads were so bad, I wondered if I could stay in our country regardless who won. All candidates appeared to be beyond salvation if you watched those ads!
Are we ready to confess our sin and ask what we can do to atone and be restored? We aren't like those liberals who want us to give up some of our hard earned money to support the lazy! We aren't like those conservatives who cut corners to make a buck -- which is only standard business practice, after all. We ought to be content with our income and not always beg for more. Just be thankful for what we have!
If you heard your pastor speak with such authority, would you be like those who gathered to hear John and look into your heart and repent? I once asked the members of one of my congregations what went through their minds as they came forward for the Lord's Supper. Some were surprised I asked. They told me that they had always done it. It was a family tradition. Some said that if their spouse went up they felt they should follow. Some said they had a good "feeling" when they participated, and some, of course, just quoted from the catechism. I never found any who said they felt so deeply about their sins that they feared that winnowing fork and needed to come forward to find forgiveness and relief.
How can the coming of our Lord be good news if we don't really feel we need him? Good news is not just the gifts piled under the tree and a great Christmas feast! It is thankfulness for the life preserver thrown out for a drowning person. Do you feel the need of a life saver or are you just content to enjoy the Christmas tree and all the festivities? Don't forget the reason for the season!
Bob O.
Luke 3:7-18
John the Baptist is on the same team with Jesus, but he is not Jesus. Among the events in the 30th Olympic Games this past summer in London were the relays, both in the pool and on the track. Preliminary heats are held to qualify for the finals. Being a team event, there can be swimmers or runners in the semi-finals that are not in the finals; they helped get the team into the finals but then another member may be substituted for that race. John prepared the way for Jesus to show up in the finals. It is Jesus who brings home the gold.
Mark M.
What would it sound like to hear God sing? Throughout scripture much is made of the people singing to the Lord with a new song, thanksgiving, and praise. But here, Zephaniah hears God singing -- loudly, even (v. 17). What does such a song sound like? It sounds like the quiet after the storm, forgiveness after the sin, the footsteps of the lame, and the gathering sounds of the outcasts. Such are the verses of God’s song. When we see such sights, experience such happenings, then we can say we have heard God sing and scripture will be fulfilled in our day.
Mark M.
Zephaniah 3:14-20
There are at least a couple surprises in this lesson. The first is the enthusiastic response to the Lord for taking away our punishment. Lutherans are so reserved. We hate to shout with praise and throw our arms in the air, for fear people will think we are Baptist or Pentecostal! God forbid! We want to preserve our dignity at all costs. It is out tradition! We really aren't that bad, are we?
It may be okay to rejoice in our heart but certainly not out loud! We wouldn't dare raise those limp arms. The Lord will accept both kinds of rejoicing but it wouldn't hurt us Lutherans to loosen up now and then. A greater number of our churches are showing more enthusiasm in hopes of bringing in more people -- younger people. It may be upsetting some of the "old guard" and so we often add a second service for them.
When I tried that in my churches, I checked to find out why the people were choosing either service and most of them told me it was because of the hour of service and not the content of the liturgy. Maybe we should get our eyes off the details and put them back on the Lord.
The second surprise is the sorrow they were feeling for the appointed feast. Do any of you feel sorrow over the coming feast of Christmas? Aren't we all rejoicing? Advent, however, reminds us of the down side of this joyous holiday: The reason our Lord had to come was because of our sins. So in Advent we sorrow over the reason he had to come! He came and suffered much so that we might be wrapped in his love and forgiven.
We may feel bad for the reason he had to come, but we can rejoice in what his coming has meant for us! If he hadn't come then we would be lost. The Lord came and removed the reason for our sorrows and took away our fears. The only enemy we really have to fear is Satan, and he has been conquered. He no longer has any power over us.
There is still no praise and honor in some countries for God's people. But God tells us that day is coming. It is our job to hasten that day to show our appreciation for what our God has done for us. In Nepal, where I served as a missionary, the "lost" people see the joy and peace in God's people in the face of rejection and persecution and come to find out how to find that joy! God is not always restoring the financial fortunes of the people, but he makes them happy with what they have and especially for the gift of his Son. God is our wealth! He is our peace! We can relax in the joy of his love! Let us rejoice in the Christmas season but let us realize in Advent what it cost.
Bob O.
Philippians 4:4-7
Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan (374-397), is one of our most prominent church fathers. He is known for his writings, especially his homilies and commentaries on the books of the Bible. Ambrose’s observation of the healing power of the Eucharist as displayed by Jesus, the Great Physician, is recorded in his “Exposition of the Gospel of Luke.” Ambrose renders this perception, “That Physician has many remedies with which he is accustomed to cure. His speech is a remedy. One of his sayings binds up wounds, another treats with oil, another pours in wine. He binds wounds with a stricter rule. He treats with the forgiveness of sins. He stings with the rebuke of judgment as if with wine.”
“Rejoice in the Lord always," for he is the Great Physician.
Ron L.
Philippians 4:4-7
Paul urges the Philippians and us to rejoice in the Lord that they need not worry about anything and then he commends prayer (vv. 4, 6). It is no accident that he lumps these activities and attitudes together. Nuerobiologists have identified a direct connection between spiritual exercises (faith, prayer, meditation, worship) and joy or the alleviation of anxiety. It seems that when we practice faith or pray the front part of our brain (the prefrontal cortex) becomes activated. Because this is the most developed part of our brain, our bodies reward its use. Consequently when the prefrontal cortex is activated it not only enhances our sociability and makes us more loving. Like any amphetamine, the experience of dopamine gives us a high, makes us happy, and takes away worry (Andrew Newberg and Mark Waldman, Why We Believe What We Believe, p. 187). The next time worry hits, concentrating on God will by the Holy Spirit stimulate the wonderful bodies our Lord has created in such a way that some intimacy with him will overcome our lows. That why Christmas, a time to concentrate on Christ, can be such a joyful time!
Mark E.
Luke 3:7-18
Our text was before the days of political correctness! We pussy foot around so as not to offend anyone. If our sermons get too radical we might lose members! We are Americans! We are the best! Nothing is wrong with us even though we try to remove the Ten Commandments from a court house and refuse to allow prayer in public. We are also Lutherans! We are the best of the best and not like those legalistic Roman Catholics who won't pay for contraceptives even though 95% of the members use them or those radical Baptists who won't even let you sip a beer! How then did John bring such crowds to hear him?
We don't like to hear that unless we know we need to shape up and might be going to hell! We certainly are not as bad as those sinners around us who may even include some politicians who ran for office. Some political ads were so bad, I wondered if I could stay in our country regardless who won. All candidates appeared to be beyond salvation if you watched those ads!
Are we ready to confess our sin and ask what we can do to atone and be restored? We aren't like those liberals who want us to give up some of our hard earned money to support the lazy! We aren't like those conservatives who cut corners to make a buck -- which is only standard business practice, after all. We ought to be content with our income and not always beg for more. Just be thankful for what we have!
If you heard your pastor speak with such authority, would you be like those who gathered to hear John and look into your heart and repent? I once asked the members of one of my congregations what went through their minds as they came forward for the Lord's Supper. Some were surprised I asked. They told me that they had always done it. It was a family tradition. Some said that if their spouse went up they felt they should follow. Some said they had a good "feeling" when they participated, and some, of course, just quoted from the catechism. I never found any who said they felt so deeply about their sins that they feared that winnowing fork and needed to come forward to find forgiveness and relief.
How can the coming of our Lord be good news if we don't really feel we need him? Good news is not just the gifts piled under the tree and a great Christmas feast! It is thankfulness for the life preserver thrown out for a drowning person. Do you feel the need of a life saver or are you just content to enjoy the Christmas tree and all the festivities? Don't forget the reason for the season!
Bob O.
Luke 3:7-18
John the Baptist is on the same team with Jesus, but he is not Jesus. Among the events in the 30th Olympic Games this past summer in London were the relays, both in the pool and on the track. Preliminary heats are held to qualify for the finals. Being a team event, there can be swimmers or runners in the semi-finals that are not in the finals; they helped get the team into the finals but then another member may be substituted for that race. John prepared the way for Jesus to show up in the finals. It is Jesus who brings home the gold.
Mark M.
