Sermon Illustrations for Easter 5 (2014)
Illustration
Object:
Acts 7:55-60
When someone today claims to have a vision of Jesus and God, we don't drag them off to be stoned. We figure that they are stoned and take them to a rehab center.
There was a book written by a man who claimed to have received visions of the Lord, who gave him instructions. When the synod president read it, he said it must have been from God because everything God told that man was true to Lutheran doctrine. Why didn't the Pharisees believe, since everything Jesus said confirmed Old Testament scripture?
Depending on which side you are on, if someone claims to have a message about global warming, those who don't believe in it would like to see him stoned to death -- at least in the news media!
When all seems lost for us, we could follow Stephen's example and look up to heaven. God holds our future, whether to live or die, in his hands. Some who face death sometimes get a vision of what lies ahead. I saw one woman in the hospital dying, and she was obviously suffering. While I was watching, there was suddenly a smile of joy on her face and then she was gone. Interpret that as you will, but it is not a rare occasion. I know it increased my faith and gave me something to add to her funeral sermon.
As he was dying Stephen gave his spirit to the Lord, but before he went he did one of the hardest things Christians are asked to do: He forgave the ones who were stoning him. Jesus was his example. Jesus forgave the ones who were driving nails into his hands and feet -- a much slower way to go. Then it says he fell asleep. Jesus often uses the term "sleep" to mean death as in the "death" of Lazarus, for one example.
Pray that we have the Spirit to do the same. Your church can help give you that Spirit.
Bob O.
1 Peter 2:2-10
When Julius Caesar was provoked, he would recite to himself the entire Roman alphabet before he responded. Calm reflection is the preventative medicine for anger.
Application: During that time of reflection Julius Caesar was allowing himself to "be built into a spiritual house."
Ron L.
1 Peter 2:2-10
A 2011 Gallup poll found that 71% of Americans are not happy with their jobs (not "actively engaged"). This text's reference to the priesthood of all believers has some advice for those seeking to cope. This is a concept that teaches us that all Christians do is holy work and meaningful, if done to serve God. Martin Luther makes these points in a compelling way: "Manservants and maidservants are Christian just as other people are; for they share the word, faith, and baptism, and all blessings with everyone else. Therefore before God they are just as great and high as others" (Luther's Works, Vol. 30, p. 82). "Before God no work is better than the other, but that through faith they are all alike" (Ibid., p. 95).
The high value of the work of all Christians seems to be related to the fact that we have become spiritual houses or temples (v. 5). John Calvin nicely elaborated on this theme: "For though every one of us is said to be the temple of God, yet all are united together in one and must be joined together by mutual love, so that one temple may be made of us all" (Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. XXII/2, p. 64).
The work we do as temples of God is holy when we see it as done for him and as aiming to make us all one. With that attitude toward our work, Christians say with gusto what Bill Cosby once uttered: "There is no job a man can do that is undignified -- if he does it well."
Mark E.
1 Peter 2:2-10
Soren Kierkegaard said that mercy has converted more people than zeal, or eloquence, or learning or all of them together.
Mercy is when we are spared from harm or judgment. How often we find ourselves in the seat of judgment of others wanting to condemn them for what they have done. As Kierkegaard says, it would be better to have mercy on them and to win them to Christ. Mercy demonstrates that we care about people. Isn't that what Jesus did? Someone told a group of ministers that if we preach on hell, there should be tears in our eyes because mercy would be in our hearts.
Derl K.
John 14:1-14
When I found a home that we could retire to, my wife had never seen it. When I went she said she would feel alone -- she would miss me. I comforted her by assuring her that I would be preparing a place for us there.
Jesus' leaving would be more traumatic, but his disciples (and us) should not be troubled. Why? Because he was going to prepare a place for them -- and us -- to spend eternity. He promises to come back for us and take us there. No one can conceive of where it is or what heaven will be like. The only thing we need to know is Jesus will take us there, and he and the Father will be with us.
When I went back to bring my wife to our new place, she was comforted by my love for her and by my assurance that there was a nice place waiting for us. My love gave her the most assurance. She trusted me.
The writer was probably referring to their present habitation, which for the Greeks could mean a tent, but from there they would go to "mansions" above and Jesus would pay the rent.
The important thing for me is God's love. I won't worry about real estate if I am assured that God will be there and I will be sheltered in his love.
Even so, I can empathize with the disciple's questions because we aren't sure where Jesus was going either. Jesus seems to be saying, "Why are you worried? Don't you know that I am the way...?" In other words, just trust me! If you put your trust in me, you will never be disappointed. I will be there with you. Jesus and the Father are one.
Even the disciples who were with Jesus day after day had their problems, so we can expect our problems in believing in a God we have never seen in person. At least they had seen and were with Jesus. He is saying that if we "know" him, we should also know the Father because they are one. We can't separate the two.
That last promise is the hardest, especially for Lutherans: that we will be doing even greater things than Jesus did. We have trouble with miracles in this scientific age where everything has to make sense to our minds. Jesus is also encouraging us to ask for what we want and he will give it to us. Wow! Are we afraid to ask because we are afraid that we won't get it or that we will get it? Miracles can be frightening, but as I always say, missionaries find fewer problems among new converts on the mission field. They haven't had the education to doubt.
A scientist runs tests when he is given a challenge. That is the scientific way. Pray and see if he answers. You will never be the same. I know, and I'm sure the pastor knows also.
Bob O.
When someone today claims to have a vision of Jesus and God, we don't drag them off to be stoned. We figure that they are stoned and take them to a rehab center.
There was a book written by a man who claimed to have received visions of the Lord, who gave him instructions. When the synod president read it, he said it must have been from God because everything God told that man was true to Lutheran doctrine. Why didn't the Pharisees believe, since everything Jesus said confirmed Old Testament scripture?
Depending on which side you are on, if someone claims to have a message about global warming, those who don't believe in it would like to see him stoned to death -- at least in the news media!
When all seems lost for us, we could follow Stephen's example and look up to heaven. God holds our future, whether to live or die, in his hands. Some who face death sometimes get a vision of what lies ahead. I saw one woman in the hospital dying, and she was obviously suffering. While I was watching, there was suddenly a smile of joy on her face and then she was gone. Interpret that as you will, but it is not a rare occasion. I know it increased my faith and gave me something to add to her funeral sermon.
As he was dying Stephen gave his spirit to the Lord, but before he went he did one of the hardest things Christians are asked to do: He forgave the ones who were stoning him. Jesus was his example. Jesus forgave the ones who were driving nails into his hands and feet -- a much slower way to go. Then it says he fell asleep. Jesus often uses the term "sleep" to mean death as in the "death" of Lazarus, for one example.
Pray that we have the Spirit to do the same. Your church can help give you that Spirit.
Bob O.
1 Peter 2:2-10
When Julius Caesar was provoked, he would recite to himself the entire Roman alphabet before he responded. Calm reflection is the preventative medicine for anger.
Application: During that time of reflection Julius Caesar was allowing himself to "be built into a spiritual house."
Ron L.
1 Peter 2:2-10
A 2011 Gallup poll found that 71% of Americans are not happy with their jobs (not "actively engaged"). This text's reference to the priesthood of all believers has some advice for those seeking to cope. This is a concept that teaches us that all Christians do is holy work and meaningful, if done to serve God. Martin Luther makes these points in a compelling way: "Manservants and maidservants are Christian just as other people are; for they share the word, faith, and baptism, and all blessings with everyone else. Therefore before God they are just as great and high as others" (Luther's Works, Vol. 30, p. 82). "Before God no work is better than the other, but that through faith they are all alike" (Ibid., p. 95).
The high value of the work of all Christians seems to be related to the fact that we have become spiritual houses or temples (v. 5). John Calvin nicely elaborated on this theme: "For though every one of us is said to be the temple of God, yet all are united together in one and must be joined together by mutual love, so that one temple may be made of us all" (Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. XXII/2, p. 64).
The work we do as temples of God is holy when we see it as done for him and as aiming to make us all one. With that attitude toward our work, Christians say with gusto what Bill Cosby once uttered: "There is no job a man can do that is undignified -- if he does it well."
Mark E.
1 Peter 2:2-10
Soren Kierkegaard said that mercy has converted more people than zeal, or eloquence, or learning or all of them together.
Mercy is when we are spared from harm or judgment. How often we find ourselves in the seat of judgment of others wanting to condemn them for what they have done. As Kierkegaard says, it would be better to have mercy on them and to win them to Christ. Mercy demonstrates that we care about people. Isn't that what Jesus did? Someone told a group of ministers that if we preach on hell, there should be tears in our eyes because mercy would be in our hearts.
Derl K.
John 14:1-14
When I found a home that we could retire to, my wife had never seen it. When I went she said she would feel alone -- she would miss me. I comforted her by assuring her that I would be preparing a place for us there.
Jesus' leaving would be more traumatic, but his disciples (and us) should not be troubled. Why? Because he was going to prepare a place for them -- and us -- to spend eternity. He promises to come back for us and take us there. No one can conceive of where it is or what heaven will be like. The only thing we need to know is Jesus will take us there, and he and the Father will be with us.
When I went back to bring my wife to our new place, she was comforted by my love for her and by my assurance that there was a nice place waiting for us. My love gave her the most assurance. She trusted me.
The writer was probably referring to their present habitation, which for the Greeks could mean a tent, but from there they would go to "mansions" above and Jesus would pay the rent.
The important thing for me is God's love. I won't worry about real estate if I am assured that God will be there and I will be sheltered in his love.
Even so, I can empathize with the disciple's questions because we aren't sure where Jesus was going either. Jesus seems to be saying, "Why are you worried? Don't you know that I am the way...?" In other words, just trust me! If you put your trust in me, you will never be disappointed. I will be there with you. Jesus and the Father are one.
Even the disciples who were with Jesus day after day had their problems, so we can expect our problems in believing in a God we have never seen in person. At least they had seen and were with Jesus. He is saying that if we "know" him, we should also know the Father because they are one. We can't separate the two.
That last promise is the hardest, especially for Lutherans: that we will be doing even greater things than Jesus did. We have trouble with miracles in this scientific age where everything has to make sense to our minds. Jesus is also encouraging us to ask for what we want and he will give it to us. Wow! Are we afraid to ask because we are afraid that we won't get it or that we will get it? Miracles can be frightening, but as I always say, missionaries find fewer problems among new converts on the mission field. They haven't had the education to doubt.
A scientist runs tests when he is given a challenge. That is the scientific way. Pray and see if he answers. You will never be the same. I know, and I'm sure the pastor knows also.
Bob O.
