Sermon Illustrations for Christmas 1 (2019)
Illustration
Isaiah 63:7-9
It was reported in 2018 that 142 million Americans received unwanted Christmas gifts, and that $13 billion was spent on unwanted presents. In fact, the true gift of Christmas, God revealed in Christ, is a gift that keeps on giving. Martin Luther claimed that this is what this lesson is all about:
... in adversity we ought instantly to remember those benefits which the Lord bestowed on His people, as if they were placed before our eyes... For when we are in persecutions, sorrows easily attack us. Therefore, when I am sad, I should avoid all examples of terror so as not to be overwhelmed with sorrow. Rather, the blessings should be remembered. (Luther’s Works, Vol.17, pp.345,355)
No matter how low we get, the Christmas gift of Christ is always present. It is as modern theologian Hans Frei put it: “... it is appropriate to speak of the relation between Christ and the believer as one of presence to each other.” (The Identity of Jesus Christ, p.3) The real present of Christmas is always present.
We can better come to appreciate how this present gives its gift by reflecting on the observations of Swiss philosopher Alain de Botton. He argues that much unhappiness in life is a function about what others think of us – whether we matter, get attention, and are admired. By contrast, he notes, in religious devotion the differences between winners and losers fade so that the concern about what others think of us (the causes of anxiety) fades (Status Anxiety, p.251). The mercy God shows His people testified to in this lesson makes it clear that all of us losers (sinners) are now winners.
Mark E.
* * *
Isaiah 63:7-9
Isaiah proclaims what the actions of God will be. “‘Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely’; and he became their Savior in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them.” While angels may comfort Mary and Joseph, call out to the shepherds, and sing praises to God, it is our God who comes to save us, who is born among us. God saves us. Isaiah reminds us of God’s great love for us.
This Sunday has historically had low church attendance. People are traveling, away from home, or collapsing after the hectic seasons of Advent and the Christmas celebrations. Aren’t we lucky that God doesn’t take a break from attending to us? God’s love and grace take no vacation. God lifts us and carries us all the days of our lives, every moment. God saves. Love wins. What a wonderful post-Christmas day gift!
Bonnie B.
* * *
Hebrews 2:10-18
Soren Kierkegaard tells a story of a prince who wanted to find a maiden suitable to be his queen. One day, while running an errand in the local village he passed through a poor section. Looking out the windows of the carriage, his eyes fell upon a beautiful peasant maiden. For days he passed by the young lady and soon fell in love. However, he had a problem. How would he seek her hand?
He could order her to marry him. But even a prince wants his bride to marry him freely and voluntarily and not through coercion. He could put on his most splendid uniform and drive up to her front door in a carriage drawn by horses. But if he did this, he would never know if the maiden loved him or was simply overwhelmed with all the splendor. The prince came up with another solution. He would give up his kingly robe. He moved, into the village, entering not with a crown but in the garb of a peasant. He lived among the people, shared their interests and concerns, and talked their language. In time, the maiden grew to love him for who he was and because he had first loved her.
Jesus shared in flesh and blood “so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, the devil.” Because of his incredible love, Jesus came as a human being to help human beings. That’s the message of the incarnation. That’s the message of Christmas.
Bill T.
* * *
Hebrew 2:10-18
Joan Rivers and her husband Edgar Rosenberg dedicated their lives to a single goal: producing an evening talk show with Joan as host. The dream became a reality on October 9, 1986 with the debut of The Late Show.
The same night The Late Show went on the air, Edgar watched the movie That’s Life. The motion picture starred Jack Lemon as an architect who upon turning 60 had not achieved his life goal – to design his dream building. At the conclusion of the movie Edgar said to Joan, “Aren’t we lucky, because we can still build our building – The Late Show.” The talk show came crashing down on May 14 when the program was cancelled. After the cancellation, Edgar made reference to the movie seen seven months earlier; now, he believed, they would never build their building.
As the executive producer, Edgar was blamed for the show’s failure. This criticism, along with health problems, placed Edgar in a severe state of depression. During this period, Edgar traveled to Philadelphia, where in a hotel room he committed suicide. It is unfortunate that Edgar lost all hope, for Joan Rivers went on to have a successful career on daytime talk shows.
Ron L.
* * *
Hebrews 2:10-18
"For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham." (Hebrews 2:16)
One of the problems I have preaching on Hebrews is that some of things the author is concerned about may not be my issues. Take all that preoccupation with angels.
The author of Hebrews talked about Jesus being greater than the angels because angelology was highlighted in popular works of contemporary literature like Enoch, Jubilees, and some of the Dead Sea Scrolls. We only get the echoes of those well-developed hierarchies in our scriptures, although Paul hints at it in Romans 8, when he speaks about powers and principalities and dominions in the list of angelic beings that are unable to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The present author was at pains to keep Jesus at the center of it all, and because Jesus came to save the world, by extension, the focus has to be on “the descendants of Abraham,” which now includes all of us through lineage and adoption. As we recover from the holidays, keeping Jesus at the center of it all can be a lot harder than we think. Even though we’ve got our nativity sets on display and probably have stacks of Christmas cards (or Christmas posts on Facebook) to sort through, we may lose sight not only of Jesus, but the sisters and brothers, descendants of Abraham through one line or another, who surround us. Just because we’ve thrown some coins in the bucket some weeks ago doesn’t mean we’re off the hook!
Frank R.
* * *
Matthew 2:13-23
Use your common sense! That is what Jesus’ family did to preserve His life, both the decision to flee to Egypt and when returning to Israel settling in Nazareth. Common sense. German enlightenment-era Poet and philosopher Johann von Goethe put it well: “Common sense is the genius of humanity.” French Enlightenment philosopher Rene Descartes reminds us that, “Common sense is the most widely shared commodity in the world, for every man is convinced that he is well supplied with it.”
Too often we are inclined to think of reason and common sense as not in touch with faith. Christian businessman Kevin Shorter has a nice way of debunking that kind of thinking: “God gave you a brain. Use it.” John Wesley makes a similar point:
... What is it that reason can do? And who can deny that it can do much, very much, in the affairs of common life?... No thinking man can doubt but reason is of considerable service in all things relating to the present world. (Works [Baker Book edition], Vol.6, pp.353,354)
But reason and common sense have their limits. As Martin Luther noted:
Reason is also a light, and a beautiful light. But it cannot show or find the way or the path that will lead from sin and from death too righteousness and to life... (What Luther Says, pp.1158-1159)
Joseph observed that distinction in hearing the voice of the angel, not letting reason govern, when advised to return to Israel (vv.19-20). It is good to hear the reminder of 18th-century French scholar Blaise Pascal: “Mankind suffers from two excesses: to exclude reason, and to live by nothing but reason.” This Gospel story teaches us this lesson.
Mark E.
* * *
Matthew 2:13-23
This week we skip to the time after the wise men have left. Joseph is warned in a dream of what is to come. He and Mary take the infant Jesus off to Egypt. They become refugees in that foreign land.
Herod’s wrath knows no boundaries. The coming event, the death of the children in and around Bethlehem, is called the massacre of the innocents. We mark it with horror and sorrow, with deep pain. Anyone parent who has lost a child knows the ongoing pain of this type of loss. To have your child murdered in front of you – how much worse would that be?
These days we hear a lot about immigrants, refugees and their children. Whatever your stance on the issue, please remember that every child removed from the care of their parents, every child who dies while separated from their families, brings pain to parent and child, to culture and to our nation and the world. Separation and death are not what Christian love is about.
Bonnie B.
It was reported in 2018 that 142 million Americans received unwanted Christmas gifts, and that $13 billion was spent on unwanted presents. In fact, the true gift of Christmas, God revealed in Christ, is a gift that keeps on giving. Martin Luther claimed that this is what this lesson is all about:
... in adversity we ought instantly to remember those benefits which the Lord bestowed on His people, as if they were placed before our eyes... For when we are in persecutions, sorrows easily attack us. Therefore, when I am sad, I should avoid all examples of terror so as not to be overwhelmed with sorrow. Rather, the blessings should be remembered. (Luther’s Works, Vol.17, pp.345,355)
No matter how low we get, the Christmas gift of Christ is always present. It is as modern theologian Hans Frei put it: “... it is appropriate to speak of the relation between Christ and the believer as one of presence to each other.” (The Identity of Jesus Christ, p.3) The real present of Christmas is always present.
We can better come to appreciate how this present gives its gift by reflecting on the observations of Swiss philosopher Alain de Botton. He argues that much unhappiness in life is a function about what others think of us – whether we matter, get attention, and are admired. By contrast, he notes, in religious devotion the differences between winners and losers fade so that the concern about what others think of us (the causes of anxiety) fades (Status Anxiety, p.251). The mercy God shows His people testified to in this lesson makes it clear that all of us losers (sinners) are now winners.
Mark E.
* * *
Isaiah 63:7-9
Isaiah proclaims what the actions of God will be. “‘Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely’; and he became their Savior in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them.” While angels may comfort Mary and Joseph, call out to the shepherds, and sing praises to God, it is our God who comes to save us, who is born among us. God saves us. Isaiah reminds us of God’s great love for us.
This Sunday has historically had low church attendance. People are traveling, away from home, or collapsing after the hectic seasons of Advent and the Christmas celebrations. Aren’t we lucky that God doesn’t take a break from attending to us? God’s love and grace take no vacation. God lifts us and carries us all the days of our lives, every moment. God saves. Love wins. What a wonderful post-Christmas day gift!
Bonnie B.
* * *
Hebrews 2:10-18
Soren Kierkegaard tells a story of a prince who wanted to find a maiden suitable to be his queen. One day, while running an errand in the local village he passed through a poor section. Looking out the windows of the carriage, his eyes fell upon a beautiful peasant maiden. For days he passed by the young lady and soon fell in love. However, he had a problem. How would he seek her hand?
He could order her to marry him. But even a prince wants his bride to marry him freely and voluntarily and not through coercion. He could put on his most splendid uniform and drive up to her front door in a carriage drawn by horses. But if he did this, he would never know if the maiden loved him or was simply overwhelmed with all the splendor. The prince came up with another solution. He would give up his kingly robe. He moved, into the village, entering not with a crown but in the garb of a peasant. He lived among the people, shared their interests and concerns, and talked their language. In time, the maiden grew to love him for who he was and because he had first loved her.
Jesus shared in flesh and blood “so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, the devil.” Because of his incredible love, Jesus came as a human being to help human beings. That’s the message of the incarnation. That’s the message of Christmas.
Bill T.
* * *
Hebrew 2:10-18
Joan Rivers and her husband Edgar Rosenberg dedicated their lives to a single goal: producing an evening talk show with Joan as host. The dream became a reality on October 9, 1986 with the debut of The Late Show.
The same night The Late Show went on the air, Edgar watched the movie That’s Life. The motion picture starred Jack Lemon as an architect who upon turning 60 had not achieved his life goal – to design his dream building. At the conclusion of the movie Edgar said to Joan, “Aren’t we lucky, because we can still build our building – The Late Show.” The talk show came crashing down on May 14 when the program was cancelled. After the cancellation, Edgar made reference to the movie seen seven months earlier; now, he believed, they would never build their building.
As the executive producer, Edgar was blamed for the show’s failure. This criticism, along with health problems, placed Edgar in a severe state of depression. During this period, Edgar traveled to Philadelphia, where in a hotel room he committed suicide. It is unfortunate that Edgar lost all hope, for Joan Rivers went on to have a successful career on daytime talk shows.
Ron L.
* * *
Hebrews 2:10-18
"For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham." (Hebrews 2:16)
One of the problems I have preaching on Hebrews is that some of things the author is concerned about may not be my issues. Take all that preoccupation with angels.
The author of Hebrews talked about Jesus being greater than the angels because angelology was highlighted in popular works of contemporary literature like Enoch, Jubilees, and some of the Dead Sea Scrolls. We only get the echoes of those well-developed hierarchies in our scriptures, although Paul hints at it in Romans 8, when he speaks about powers and principalities and dominions in the list of angelic beings that are unable to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The present author was at pains to keep Jesus at the center of it all, and because Jesus came to save the world, by extension, the focus has to be on “the descendants of Abraham,” which now includes all of us through lineage and adoption. As we recover from the holidays, keeping Jesus at the center of it all can be a lot harder than we think. Even though we’ve got our nativity sets on display and probably have stacks of Christmas cards (or Christmas posts on Facebook) to sort through, we may lose sight not only of Jesus, but the sisters and brothers, descendants of Abraham through one line or another, who surround us. Just because we’ve thrown some coins in the bucket some weeks ago doesn’t mean we’re off the hook!
Frank R.
* * *
Matthew 2:13-23
Use your common sense! That is what Jesus’ family did to preserve His life, both the decision to flee to Egypt and when returning to Israel settling in Nazareth. Common sense. German enlightenment-era Poet and philosopher Johann von Goethe put it well: “Common sense is the genius of humanity.” French Enlightenment philosopher Rene Descartes reminds us that, “Common sense is the most widely shared commodity in the world, for every man is convinced that he is well supplied with it.”
Too often we are inclined to think of reason and common sense as not in touch with faith. Christian businessman Kevin Shorter has a nice way of debunking that kind of thinking: “God gave you a brain. Use it.” John Wesley makes a similar point:
... What is it that reason can do? And who can deny that it can do much, very much, in the affairs of common life?... No thinking man can doubt but reason is of considerable service in all things relating to the present world. (Works [Baker Book edition], Vol.6, pp.353,354)
But reason and common sense have their limits. As Martin Luther noted:
Reason is also a light, and a beautiful light. But it cannot show or find the way or the path that will lead from sin and from death too righteousness and to life... (What Luther Says, pp.1158-1159)
Joseph observed that distinction in hearing the voice of the angel, not letting reason govern, when advised to return to Israel (vv.19-20). It is good to hear the reminder of 18th-century French scholar Blaise Pascal: “Mankind suffers from two excesses: to exclude reason, and to live by nothing but reason.” This Gospel story teaches us this lesson.
Mark E.
* * *
Matthew 2:13-23
This week we skip to the time after the wise men have left. Joseph is warned in a dream of what is to come. He and Mary take the infant Jesus off to Egypt. They become refugees in that foreign land.
Herod’s wrath knows no boundaries. The coming event, the death of the children in and around Bethlehem, is called the massacre of the innocents. We mark it with horror and sorrow, with deep pain. Anyone parent who has lost a child knows the ongoing pain of this type of loss. To have your child murdered in front of you – how much worse would that be?
These days we hear a lot about immigrants, refugees and their children. Whatever your stance on the issue, please remember that every child removed from the care of their parents, every child who dies while separated from their families, brings pain to parent and child, to culture and to our nation and the world. Separation and death are not what Christian love is about.
Bonnie B.
