Sermon illustrations for Easter 4 (2025)
Illustration
Acts 9:36-43
Cryonics is an interesting and, if I’m honest, disturbing practice. You might be wondering, what is cryonics? The aim of cryonics, according to Dennis Kowalski, the president of the Cryonics Institute in Michigan, is to “keep bodies in a stable, preserved state until the necessary medical technology arrives.” As of June 1, 2024, there were about five hundred people who have tried to keep themselves preserved for future medical advances to revive.
I suppose people will go to great lengths to defeat and cheat death. Groucho Marx once said, “I intend to live forever, or die trying.”
The human spirit longs to live and survive. There is only one way, though, to defeat death. Peter demonstrates it in this passage. Tabitha, a godly woman who demonstrated her faith regularly, died. The disciples called for Peter. He came to see her. Though the power of Jesus Christ, Tabitha was raised from the dead. John records Jesus’ words of victory in Revelation 1:8, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
Bill T.
* * *
Acts 9:36-43
When Peter entered the room where Tabitha died, the widows who she nurtured showed the garments Tabith made them. She was remembered for her acts of kindness. There were no social agencies available to take care of widows and other vulnerable populations with no reliable source of income, leaving them with no hope except when individuals made their care a personal mission. Tabitha was vital.
In 2016, papyrologist Lincoln H. Blumell, a professor at BYU, published a simple obituary from Egypt inscribed as an epitaph on a stone. It has been dated to the late third century, AD, and it reads
In peace and blessing Ama Helene, a Jew, who loves the orphans, [died]. For about 60 years, her path was one of mercy and blessing; on it she prospered.
Helene is identified as a Jew, but she is also given the title Ama, which is associated with Christianity. A couple centuries later, the term would be associated with nuns, but at the period of time in question it signified a woman who was considered holy. It was not a Jewish title so a couple possibilities come to mind. Helene (a Greek name, by the way – remember Helen of Troy) might have been a Jewish woman who became Christian, or a Jewish woman who worked with Christians, or this might well have been a time in that region when Christianity and Judaism were not necessarily differentiated.
The meaning of words change with time, and some suggest that the term was used as a substitute for “foster mother,” “nurse,” or just plain old “mom.”
Regardless of that, Helene is remembered because she made orphans, a particularly vulnerable population, her focus for ministry. Generations of orphans survived because of her caring ministry. The Greek word agape, associated with God’s unfailing, steadfast love, is used in this epitaph.
Like Jesus said, “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.” (cf. Matthew 25:40) That goes for Tabitha. That goes for Helene. I hope it goes for us.
Frank R.
* * *
Acts 9:36-43
John Wesley claimed that Dorcas being brought back to life was a surprise (Commentary On the Bible, p.480). This is God’s style, according to Pope Francis. He has claimed in one of his homilies that “… this God, our Father… always surprises us: the God of surprises.” And this God launches us on wonderful lives of surprises. It is as Condoleeza Rice once observed:
Life is full of surprises and serendipity. Being open to unexpected turns in the road is an important part of success. If you try to plan every step, you may miss those wonderful twists and turns. Just find you next adventure – do it well, enjoy it – and and then, not now, think about what comes next.
Christians are people who act like Dorcas and follow Rice’s advice, because we know that God made life that way. Or as famed modern theologian Reinhold Niebuhr once put it: “A genuine faith resolves the mystery of life by the mystery of God.”
Mark E.
* * *
Revelation 7:9-17
Amidst all the turmoil America has been facing since before and after the elections, the horrible wars in Israel, Gaza, and the Ukraine, our lesson’s portrayal of the glorious existence God has planned for the faithful offers comfort and hope. John Calvin nicely describes the comfort those living may gain from this heavenly vision. He writes:
… the entire company of believers, so long as they dwell on earth… would therefore have been desperately unhappy unless with mind intent upon heaven, they had surmounted whatever is in this world… if, moreover, believers are troubled by the wickedness of three (greedy, arrogant) men… they will without difficulty bear up under such evils also. For before their eyes will be that day when the Lord will receive his faithful people into the peace of his kingdom, “will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Institutes, III.X.6)
Martin Luther offered similar reflections about how the glorious vision of the end helps us forget the trial and tears of daily life:
This forgetting should gradually come upon us even in this life. For although at the present time, while worms and rottenness are before our eyes, we cannot be unmindful of them, nevertheless there will be a time God will wipe away every tear, as is stated in Revelation 7. (Luther’s Works, Vol.7, pp.210-211)
Mark E.
* * *
Revelation 7:9-17
I love to sing. As a young child I was exceptionally shy. In the third grade, a music teacher asked me to sing solo, and I refused. He came and picked up my stool to carry me and it to the piano and I have to admit, I bit him. He never flinched. He placed the stool near the piano, asked me about my choice of songs to sing. I still remember it was Ta-Ra-Ra Boom-De-Ay. I sang so softly I am sure he couldn’t hear me. He kept me after class, and I was sure I was going to the principal’s office to be punished. Rather, he told me I had a lovely voice, but no one would ever know it if I didn’t sing out. He never told anyone at the school or my parents about this incident.
That was the beginning of my singing in choruses, church choirs, competitions, and yes, even singing solos. I have been singing since that day – secular music, folk music, contemporary Christian music, hymns, and European classics. I actually took six years of voice lessons, sang in state and national choirs, and in churches, took music in college, and continue to sing to this day. That instruction to sing out, to share my voice with confidence comes to mind as I read about those surrounding the throne of God and singing their praise. Please God, one day may I be among those singing at the throne.
Bonnie B.
* * *
John 10:22-30
In the gospel of John, Jesus is present at many religious festivals. The festival of the dedication in this passage is none other than the one we know as Hannukah, which commemorates the military victory of the Maccabees, in 164 BC, when they wrested control of Jerusalem and the temple from the Seleucids. This Independence Day celebration was taking place at a time when the Judeans were not independent, and both they and the Romans were aware of just how touchy this made people. To some extent, the Romans can get credit for respecting the religion of Jerusalem. Everywhere else in the empire the likeness of the emperor was required to be on display, but the Judeans were exempted from this requirement. The Judeans were not required to serve in the military, unlike residents everywhere else. In addition, the temple authorities were allowed to carry out the death penalty on any non-Jews who entered restricted areas beyond the court of the Gentiles.
Even so, Hannukah was a tense time because it was a reminder that their former independence had come because of a military victory. It was made even tenser by questions like “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” (10:24) This question had an unspoken military edge. Are you the Messiah who will lead God’s army and expel the Romans? And as often is the case, Jesus does not allow the questioners to determine the landscape of the discussion. Jesus stated his works testified to his intentions. This means he defined the Messiah in terms of salvation – in the literal sense of well-being, and his ministry focused on healing, comfort, and restoring those cut off from illness back into their communities, as well as in the sense of becoming an eternal part of God’s kingdom.
Frank R.
* * *
John 10:22-30
Actions speak louder than words. That was shared with me from the time I was little. What I say is important, but what I do is even more important. Jesus seems to be saying this to those at the temple. It’s as if Jesus says, “You have seen my work, you have seen my actions, why do you need to hear me proclaim something you should already know?” Look at my actions. Look at how I have lived into the faith and the call of God. The Father and I are one.
When I talk to people who are “done” with the church, what I hear is they have left the church because people do not live what they say. Folks proclaim love, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness on Sunday morning, but they don’t seem to live out that faith every day. The hypocrisy of proclamation without action drives people out of the church. Even though we may confess our sins and our failures to live our faith, what people see is most important. How do you live your faith? What actions show the love of God, the presence of Jesus, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
If all of us, every one of us, could move closer to acting on the faith we proclaim and profess, churches might be growing rather than declining, people might believe in the power of grace and of God? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Bonnie B.
* * *
John 10:22-30
Did you know super glue’s original use dates back to World War II? In 1942, scientists at Eastman Kodak were trying to produce clear plastic for precisions gun sights for the military when they developed cyanoacrylates. Researchers initially discarded cyanoacrylates because they permanently stuck to everything, but inventor Dr. Harry Coover took out a patent for super glue after realizing the value of cyanoacrylates’ adhesive power. He began selling super glue with Loctite in 1958. During the Vietnam War, an unusual use for super glue was discovered. It was used to staunch bleeding wounds, which saved many lives.
Super glue is a tough product that really sticks things together. If it is bonded with super glue, often it cannot be pulled apart. I don’t think Jesus was talking about super glue in John 10, but he does note the confidence that those how know Jesus can have. He makes it clear, “No man will snatch them out of my hand,” he continues, “and no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (vs. 28-29). We can be confident that there is no other person, creature or event that can pull us away from Jesus.
Bill T.
Cryonics is an interesting and, if I’m honest, disturbing practice. You might be wondering, what is cryonics? The aim of cryonics, according to Dennis Kowalski, the president of the Cryonics Institute in Michigan, is to “keep bodies in a stable, preserved state until the necessary medical technology arrives.” As of June 1, 2024, there were about five hundred people who have tried to keep themselves preserved for future medical advances to revive.
I suppose people will go to great lengths to defeat and cheat death. Groucho Marx once said, “I intend to live forever, or die trying.”
The human spirit longs to live and survive. There is only one way, though, to defeat death. Peter demonstrates it in this passage. Tabitha, a godly woman who demonstrated her faith regularly, died. The disciples called for Peter. He came to see her. Though the power of Jesus Christ, Tabitha was raised from the dead. John records Jesus’ words of victory in Revelation 1:8, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
Bill T.
* * *
Acts 9:36-43
When Peter entered the room where Tabitha died, the widows who she nurtured showed the garments Tabith made them. She was remembered for her acts of kindness. There were no social agencies available to take care of widows and other vulnerable populations with no reliable source of income, leaving them with no hope except when individuals made their care a personal mission. Tabitha was vital.
In 2016, papyrologist Lincoln H. Blumell, a professor at BYU, published a simple obituary from Egypt inscribed as an epitaph on a stone. It has been dated to the late third century, AD, and it reads
In peace and blessing Ama Helene, a Jew, who loves the orphans, [died]. For about 60 years, her path was one of mercy and blessing; on it she prospered.
Helene is identified as a Jew, but she is also given the title Ama, which is associated with Christianity. A couple centuries later, the term would be associated with nuns, but at the period of time in question it signified a woman who was considered holy. It was not a Jewish title so a couple possibilities come to mind. Helene (a Greek name, by the way – remember Helen of Troy) might have been a Jewish woman who became Christian, or a Jewish woman who worked with Christians, or this might well have been a time in that region when Christianity and Judaism were not necessarily differentiated.
The meaning of words change with time, and some suggest that the term was used as a substitute for “foster mother,” “nurse,” or just plain old “mom.”
Regardless of that, Helene is remembered because she made orphans, a particularly vulnerable population, her focus for ministry. Generations of orphans survived because of her caring ministry. The Greek word agape, associated with God’s unfailing, steadfast love, is used in this epitaph.
Like Jesus said, “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.” (cf. Matthew 25:40) That goes for Tabitha. That goes for Helene. I hope it goes for us.
Frank R.
* * *
Acts 9:36-43
John Wesley claimed that Dorcas being brought back to life was a surprise (Commentary On the Bible, p.480). This is God’s style, according to Pope Francis. He has claimed in one of his homilies that “… this God, our Father… always surprises us: the God of surprises.” And this God launches us on wonderful lives of surprises. It is as Condoleeza Rice once observed:
Life is full of surprises and serendipity. Being open to unexpected turns in the road is an important part of success. If you try to plan every step, you may miss those wonderful twists and turns. Just find you next adventure – do it well, enjoy it – and and then, not now, think about what comes next.
Christians are people who act like Dorcas and follow Rice’s advice, because we know that God made life that way. Or as famed modern theologian Reinhold Niebuhr once put it: “A genuine faith resolves the mystery of life by the mystery of God.”
Mark E.
* * *
Revelation 7:9-17
Amidst all the turmoil America has been facing since before and after the elections, the horrible wars in Israel, Gaza, and the Ukraine, our lesson’s portrayal of the glorious existence God has planned for the faithful offers comfort and hope. John Calvin nicely describes the comfort those living may gain from this heavenly vision. He writes:
… the entire company of believers, so long as they dwell on earth… would therefore have been desperately unhappy unless with mind intent upon heaven, they had surmounted whatever is in this world… if, moreover, believers are troubled by the wickedness of three (greedy, arrogant) men… they will without difficulty bear up under such evils also. For before their eyes will be that day when the Lord will receive his faithful people into the peace of his kingdom, “will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Institutes, III.X.6)
Martin Luther offered similar reflections about how the glorious vision of the end helps us forget the trial and tears of daily life:
This forgetting should gradually come upon us even in this life. For although at the present time, while worms and rottenness are before our eyes, we cannot be unmindful of them, nevertheless there will be a time God will wipe away every tear, as is stated in Revelation 7. (Luther’s Works, Vol.7, pp.210-211)
Mark E.
* * *
Revelation 7:9-17
I love to sing. As a young child I was exceptionally shy. In the third grade, a music teacher asked me to sing solo, and I refused. He came and picked up my stool to carry me and it to the piano and I have to admit, I bit him. He never flinched. He placed the stool near the piano, asked me about my choice of songs to sing. I still remember it was Ta-Ra-Ra Boom-De-Ay. I sang so softly I am sure he couldn’t hear me. He kept me after class, and I was sure I was going to the principal’s office to be punished. Rather, he told me I had a lovely voice, but no one would ever know it if I didn’t sing out. He never told anyone at the school or my parents about this incident.
That was the beginning of my singing in choruses, church choirs, competitions, and yes, even singing solos. I have been singing since that day – secular music, folk music, contemporary Christian music, hymns, and European classics. I actually took six years of voice lessons, sang in state and national choirs, and in churches, took music in college, and continue to sing to this day. That instruction to sing out, to share my voice with confidence comes to mind as I read about those surrounding the throne of God and singing their praise. Please God, one day may I be among those singing at the throne.
Bonnie B.
* * *
John 10:22-30
In the gospel of John, Jesus is present at many religious festivals. The festival of the dedication in this passage is none other than the one we know as Hannukah, which commemorates the military victory of the Maccabees, in 164 BC, when they wrested control of Jerusalem and the temple from the Seleucids. This Independence Day celebration was taking place at a time when the Judeans were not independent, and both they and the Romans were aware of just how touchy this made people. To some extent, the Romans can get credit for respecting the religion of Jerusalem. Everywhere else in the empire the likeness of the emperor was required to be on display, but the Judeans were exempted from this requirement. The Judeans were not required to serve in the military, unlike residents everywhere else. In addition, the temple authorities were allowed to carry out the death penalty on any non-Jews who entered restricted areas beyond the court of the Gentiles.
Even so, Hannukah was a tense time because it was a reminder that their former independence had come because of a military victory. It was made even tenser by questions like “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” (10:24) This question had an unspoken military edge. Are you the Messiah who will lead God’s army and expel the Romans? And as often is the case, Jesus does not allow the questioners to determine the landscape of the discussion. Jesus stated his works testified to his intentions. This means he defined the Messiah in terms of salvation – in the literal sense of well-being, and his ministry focused on healing, comfort, and restoring those cut off from illness back into their communities, as well as in the sense of becoming an eternal part of God’s kingdom.
Frank R.
* * *
John 10:22-30
Actions speak louder than words. That was shared with me from the time I was little. What I say is important, but what I do is even more important. Jesus seems to be saying this to those at the temple. It’s as if Jesus says, “You have seen my work, you have seen my actions, why do you need to hear me proclaim something you should already know?” Look at my actions. Look at how I have lived into the faith and the call of God. The Father and I are one.
When I talk to people who are “done” with the church, what I hear is they have left the church because people do not live what they say. Folks proclaim love, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness on Sunday morning, but they don’t seem to live out that faith every day. The hypocrisy of proclamation without action drives people out of the church. Even though we may confess our sins and our failures to live our faith, what people see is most important. How do you live your faith? What actions show the love of God, the presence of Jesus, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
If all of us, every one of us, could move closer to acting on the faith we proclaim and profess, churches might be growing rather than declining, people might believe in the power of grace and of God? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Bonnie B.
* * *
John 10:22-30
Did you know super glue’s original use dates back to World War II? In 1942, scientists at Eastman Kodak were trying to produce clear plastic for precisions gun sights for the military when they developed cyanoacrylates. Researchers initially discarded cyanoacrylates because they permanently stuck to everything, but inventor Dr. Harry Coover took out a patent for super glue after realizing the value of cyanoacrylates’ adhesive power. He began selling super glue with Loctite in 1958. During the Vietnam War, an unusual use for super glue was discovered. It was used to staunch bleeding wounds, which saved many lives.
Super glue is a tough product that really sticks things together. If it is bonded with super glue, often it cannot be pulled apart. I don’t think Jesus was talking about super glue in John 10, but he does note the confidence that those how know Jesus can have. He makes it clear, “No man will snatch them out of my hand,” he continues, “and no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (vs. 28-29). We can be confident that there is no other person, creature or event that can pull us away from Jesus.
Bill T.
