Sermon Illustrations for Easter 6 (2019)
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Acts 16:9-15
I love this passage of scripture. Paul travels as he feels called, to spread the teachings and word of Jesus. Once at the city gates, instead of going into the city, Paul stops at the gates at a place of prayer where women are gathered. There he encounters Lydia, who listened deeply to the message of Paul. Once when I interviewed for a pastoral position I was asked who my favorite biblical character was. I replied that it was Lydia – a successful woman of business, who in spite of the challenges it might place on her business, accepts the will and wisdom of her faith. She invited Paul and his friends to her home and as we find out later, her entire household converts to Christianity. This is a woman I admire. This is a woman who puts her faith ahead of everything else and in humility seeks a understanding of her faith and an acknowledgment that she is truly a woman of faith. How could we not admire her?
Bonnie B.
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Acts 16:9-15
Sociologically, not just politically, America is becoming a divided nation. Some sociologists contend that our great division is by class. Those of the elite, graduate-degree metropolitan locations not only don’t live near members of the working class or the struggling rural middle class. Both sides don’t even know each other. They don’t even have common leisure interests or values, don’t worship together anymore (see Charles Murray Coming Apart). The 2016 election was just a symptom of this division. In that context, Paul’s outreach to the Greek Gentile Lydia, the fact that he even socialized with her, is a striking witness for us today.
It’s not that we hate those not of our class here in America. We just avoid them and don’t understand them (like Gentile-Jewish tensions in the New Testament era). And yet we do disdain the “other” for his/her backward (or liberal) ways (pretty close to hating them). Taking lessons from Paul and other leaders of the New Testament who broke through these barriers we do well to hear the words of Booker T. Washington: “I shall never allow myself to stoop so low as to hate any man.” Prayer and spirituality facilitate this sort of acceptance of those different from us. It’s hard to hate someone you’ve been praying for or with. Leading neurobiologist Andrew Newberg has observed it was “fun” to watch what happened inside the brains of a group of Franciscan nuns when they joined together in a meditative prayer. The area of the brain associated with the sense of self began to “shut down,” according to Newberg. “You become connected to God. You become connected to the world,” he said. “Your self sort of goes away.” No accident that Paul undertook his outreach to the Gentile woman after prayer. Christian spirituality gets us out of our boxes.
Mark E.
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Acts 16:8-15
God works in different ways. I did not have a vision in the night to come to Nepal and preach. I have met many fellow missionaries who told me that it was not a vision that brought them to their mission.
After my mission in Nepal, God called me to a mission in Mexico. I had also served American Indians for a couple years. None of them was because of a vision.
Wherever I went I found some who had faith in something. When I told them about Jesus, they recognize that he was God and turned to him.
There are people all over the world, including in the US, who believed in “a” God, but were happy to hear my message. Some even came to my church to search for the true God.
Wherever we go, there are people searching for the true God. That was even true in the Unitarian church my daughter once went to. They are searching, but once they find the true God they are looking for, all they can do is open their ears to God’s call to find a faithful Christian church even if it is for them to visit a next door neighbor who is a solid believer.
Bob O.
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Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
One of the promises of Revelation is that the New Jerusalem is a secure place in part because there is no night there. No more night. Night is dangerous. In the darkness the ancient people could not see danger approaching. They were prey to thieves, the violent, and sexual predators. The darkness was powerful, and a lamp could only provide so much light.
Yet there is a beauty and a wonder to the night that we backyard astronomers are astounded by. Maybe because to some extent we have banished the night it is much harder for us to appreciate the stark beauty of the stars as well as to fear the night just for its being night. The Milky Way is lost to many of us. Those nights when we are far away from any natural lighting we may even feel intimidated by the awe-inspiring power of a truly dark night sky.
So it is not the night that is evil, but human sin that twists what should be peaceful and restful.
Frank R.
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Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
Harper’s Bazaar recently noted the top twenty most beautiful cities in the world. It declared Florence, Italy number one and wrote of it, “Rome may get the credit for being Italy's most historic city, but for sheer, unadulterated Italian beauty, it's hard to beat Florence. Take a stroll down any cobblestone street and you're bound to bump into astonishing piazzas and cathedrals — the skyline dominating cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is a cannot-miss — as well as museums and galleries where the absence of mile-long lines belies the presence of some of star works of the Italian masters, including Michelangelo's iconic David.”
I’ve never been to Florence, but I’m sure it is beautiful. The beauty of Florence, however, pales in comparison to the wonder of New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:23 notes the presence of God there. “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” An incredible sight that will highlight the New Jerusalem is the tree of life. “On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”
What is the New Jerusalem? I know that there are differing opinions. What is clear, though, is that God is there. It is a place of wonder, joy and praise. What an incredible place.
Bill T.
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Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
In September 2018 the memorial to those who died on Flight 93 was dedicated. The Flight 93 National Memorial is located in the field where Flight 93, a commuter flight from New Jersey to California, was highjacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001.
As passengers on the Boeing 757 learned of other highjacked aircraft being used as flying bombs to be crashed into buildings, they decided to act. The passengers decided to retake their airplane with the now famous words, “Let’s Roll.” As they stormed the cockpit the terrorist pilot rolled the plane, trying to get the intruders off balance. The aircraft then became inverted and crashed at 563 mph on the edge of a reclaimed strip mine, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:30 a.m. The impact ignited about 100 hemlock trees. All 40 passengers were killed.
The 44-acre impact site is fenced off from the public. A 17-ton sandstone marks the exact impact site. Though at memorial plaza the Flight 93 National Memorial, called the Tower of Voices, stands proud. The 93-foot structure is shaped like a hemlock tree, and is encircled by hemlock trees. The tower has 40 wind chimes, one for each passenger, and each has a distinctive and coordinated sound. The surrounding hemlock trees symbolize sound waves. The bells range from 5 to 10 feet long, and weigh as much as 150 pounds.
Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, and the first secretary of Homeland Security, said the Tower of Voices will be “an everlasting concert by our heroes.”
Ron L.
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John 14:23-29
To understand this text, John Calvin once noted that “we are altogether alienated from God, and that we are infected and filled with hatred of Him, unless He change our hearts.” (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol. XVIII/1, p.98). This lesson reminds us what Martin Luther wrote in one of his sermons: “Thus there develops in man a confident defiance of everything upon earth, for he has God and all that is His. He does all that.” (Complete Sermons, Vol.2/1, p.292) The Spirit works this faith, and yet, as Luther remarks, we continue to feel and experience our sin and fear of death:
The two must always be mingled in our feelings — the Holy Spirit and our sin and imperfection. Our case must be like that of a sick man who is in the hands of the physician; presently he will be better. Therefore let no one think: Such a one possesses the Holy Spirit, consequently he must be altogether strong, without infirmities, and do only precious works. No not yet... (Complete Sermons, Vol.2/1, p.281)
On this side of the End Time we will always be a little blind to God’s ways, and no need to get all bent out of shape because of it. At least we’ve got the right medicine (the Holy Spirit) for coping and getting well.
Mark E.
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John 14:23-29
Peace sometimes feels outside our grasp. There are conflicts within families, friends, workplaces, communities, churches, and the world. We seem so beset with conflict that peace seems a foreign concept to us. Yet, Jesus reminds us that the Holy Spirit has been sent to us through the desires of Jesus that we have peace. So much of the conflict in our world has to do with fear – fear of losing face, fear of being ridiculed, fear of losing jobs or money or prestige or power. Peace can’t thrive in a heart filled with fear. Thus, Jesus reminds us, yet again, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” Peace is real. Peace is here. Peace begins in our own hearts and then we share that peace in our interactions and relationships with others. When we can lay aside our fear, we open our hearts to the peace that comes from God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Do not be afraid. Seek first, peace. May it be so.
Bonnie B.
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John 14:23-29
If our wife or husband loves us he or she will want to do whatever pleases us. I stopped what I was doing every Saturday and helped my wife do the laundry. It hurt her back to bend over the washer and take things out to put in the drier. She cooks and I do the dishes.
We also know our children love us if they obey us without complaining.
We find God’s love in his book the Bible. Our churches should also show us God’s teachings and help us obey them. One law that makes God happy when we obey is coming to our church faithfully every week.
If we obey God’s teaching he knows we love him.
Let’s hope the words we hear from the pastor are our heavenly Father’s.
When we live in obedience we feel peace in our heart.
Children can find peace by obeying their parents
We find peace by obeying the laws of our country and of God. Those who obey should not worry, but have peace.
Sometimes the laws of our country conflict with God’s laws. We need our Bible and fellow Christians to help us decide what is right. That is where a church can be a big help.
Bob O.
