Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 5 (2021)
Illustration
Isaiah 40:21-31
On May 25, 1979 American Airlines flight 191 took off from Chicago’s O’Hare airport and then, just seconds after takeoff, crashed killing 258 passengers and 13 crew members.
Charles Swindoll, in his book Growing Strong, tells of an article of wrote in the June 1980 issue of Our Daily Bread. Swindoll told about a Christian providentially escaped death. An unexpected delay in New York kept him from catching Flight 191 in Chicago. He wrote in his book that the article brought a note from a reader about one of God’s saints who ran to catch that flight and did.
That passenger’s name was Edwards E. Elliott. Elliott was the beloved pastor of the Garden Grove Orthodox Presbyterian Church in California. His plane from Pennsylvania was late and he had to sprint through the terminal to make his connection.
Swindoll wrote, “As I read about Pastor Elliott’s fruitful ministry, the question I raised in that June devotional challenged me with new urgency: ‘Was Divine providence operating only in New York and not in Chicago?’ Immediately the words of my correspondent came alive: “At the time, Reverend Elliott didn’t know he was indeed running to Heaven...Mrs. Elliott and her four married children comforted the entire church. Their Christian faith and testimony in sorrow was most extraordinary. “
The question Swindoll raises is important. God’s ways and understanding are far above that of his people.
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary,
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless. (vv. 28-29)
The words of Jeremy Camp’s song which became the basis for a blockbuster movie ring true. “Even when I don’t see, I still believe.”
Bill T.
* * *
Isaiah 40:21-31
Nowadays most of us have to travel to special places in order to see the night sky our ancestors knew as a matter of course. On a moonless night the stars truly seemed innumerable, the Milky Way glorious, and procession of the heavens over the course of a year a magnificent, stately parade.
Isaiah 40:26 focuses on those heavens, inviting us to look up and remember who it is that created this heavenly host. Not only is this daunting army a thing of beauty and a reminder of God’s power, but unlike an earthly commander, who might lead troops into battle but really know none of them as people, this Lord of Hosts has numbered them and knows their names. They are not simply cannon fodder. They are known and cherished. Which means — we are known and cherished.
Frank R.
* * *
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
This lesson emphasizes the Christian’s freedom. Such freedom does not mean “do your own thing,” but has to do with how we Christians have a mission. John Calvin made that clear:
Let not the man, then, who has been once called to it, imagine that he is any longer at liberty to withdraw when he chooses, if, perhaps he is harassed with vexatious occurrences, or weighed down with misfortunes, for he is devoted to the Lord and to the Church and bound by a sacred tie, which it were criminal to break asunder. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.XX/1, p.301)
Martin Luther made a similar point, describing the Christian as both king and priest:
The nature of this priesthood and kingship is something like this: First, with respect to kingship, every Christian is by faith so exalted above all things that, by virtue of a spiritual power, he is lord of all things without exception, so that nothing can do him any harm... Not only are we the freest of kings, we are also priests forever, which is far more excellent than being kings, for as priests we are worthy to appear before God to pray for others and to teach one another divine things. (Luther’s Works, Vol.31, pp.354-355)
This freedom gives us an openness to get out of our boxes in bringing Jesus to others, to do like mega-church pastor Rick Warren at Saddleback Church in California or Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston by targeting some in the community not yet reached by the Church and then adjusting what the Church does to reach that target audience. It is like one other mega-church pastor Lon Solomon of McLean [Virginia] Bible Church put it: “Sometimes you need to explain bananas in a different way.” Paul says that the Gospel has set us free to explain bananas to the public differently than ever before.
Mark E.
* * *
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
One of the first things I learned as a new manager, and again as a new pastor, was to meet people where they were. I may not like a person’s attitude, understanding, opinions or beliefs, but it is not my role to change them. Rather it is my role to meet them where they are with love, compassion, kindness, generosity and with the knowledge that God can work in our relationships, but only if I exemplify the gifts of God, the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Certainly, I cannot condone dangerous or hurtful behaviors to go unchallenged, but speaking the truth is much more powerful than reacting in anger or from my own humanness. Paul reminds us that his call was to meet the people where they were and share the Good News. That is our call as well.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Mark 1:29-39
In his commentary on the Old Testament Book of Judges, J. Vernon McGee shares the following first-hand experience:
Right before World War II, the city of Pasadena was having its annual Rose Parade. The float that was entered by the Standard Oil Company was covered with American Beauty roses. It was a sight to behold. The theme of the parade was, “Be prepared.” Right in the middle of the parade the Standard Oil Company’s float ran out of gas. It stopped right where I was viewing the parade.
Running out of gas in a parade is not good. The Los Angeles Times on December 30, 1985 ran a story about the Rose Parade and included this anecdote. “Mark Bevan first got hooked on the Rose Parade when he was 15 1/2 years old and possessed a new learner’s permit that allowed him to drive a small float. It ran out of gas.”
In our text for today we find that Jesus knew the secret for not “running out of gas.” Verses 32-34 indicate the challenges of his day. “That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.”
Jesus had a full, busy day. He’d engaged with many people. He’d demonstrated his compassion and healing. What did he do next? In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed “ (vs. 35).
When we are struggling and the tank is nearing the “E,” take time to pray. Renew your strength.
Bill T.
* * *
Mark 1:29-39
Jesus calls us into a new family as disciples. However, though Peter is now a follower of Jesus Christ, he still has obligations towards people to whom he is related. It’s not clear if Peter’s wife is still alive, but his mother-in-law was doing fine, at least until she got good and sick. The mortality rate was high for everyone, what with the ills everyone was prey to. Women had the added danger of childbirth, or an infection that might follow.
Regardless of the family of God that Jesus was forming, Peter had obligations towards his mother-in-law. Jesus recognizes those obligations and heals her.
Elsewhere in the Gospel of Mark people will hide behind something called Corban (see Mark 7:11) — the practice of donating all one’s money for the use of the Temple after their death, while using it for their own benefit during their life, yet refusing to fulfill obligations to their parents because technically the money now belongs to God. Jesus would have none of that.
Frank R.
On May 25, 1979 American Airlines flight 191 took off from Chicago’s O’Hare airport and then, just seconds after takeoff, crashed killing 258 passengers and 13 crew members.
Charles Swindoll, in his book Growing Strong, tells of an article of wrote in the June 1980 issue of Our Daily Bread. Swindoll told about a Christian providentially escaped death. An unexpected delay in New York kept him from catching Flight 191 in Chicago. He wrote in his book that the article brought a note from a reader about one of God’s saints who ran to catch that flight and did.
That passenger’s name was Edwards E. Elliott. Elliott was the beloved pastor of the Garden Grove Orthodox Presbyterian Church in California. His plane from Pennsylvania was late and he had to sprint through the terminal to make his connection.
Swindoll wrote, “As I read about Pastor Elliott’s fruitful ministry, the question I raised in that June devotional challenged me with new urgency: ‘Was Divine providence operating only in New York and not in Chicago?’ Immediately the words of my correspondent came alive: “At the time, Reverend Elliott didn’t know he was indeed running to Heaven...Mrs. Elliott and her four married children comforted the entire church. Their Christian faith and testimony in sorrow was most extraordinary. “
The question Swindoll raises is important. God’s ways and understanding are far above that of his people.
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary,
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless. (vv. 28-29)
The words of Jeremy Camp’s song which became the basis for a blockbuster movie ring true. “Even when I don’t see, I still believe.”
Bill T.
* * *
Isaiah 40:21-31
Nowadays most of us have to travel to special places in order to see the night sky our ancestors knew as a matter of course. On a moonless night the stars truly seemed innumerable, the Milky Way glorious, and procession of the heavens over the course of a year a magnificent, stately parade.
Isaiah 40:26 focuses on those heavens, inviting us to look up and remember who it is that created this heavenly host. Not only is this daunting army a thing of beauty and a reminder of God’s power, but unlike an earthly commander, who might lead troops into battle but really know none of them as people, this Lord of Hosts has numbered them and knows their names. They are not simply cannon fodder. They are known and cherished. Which means — we are known and cherished.
Frank R.
* * *
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
This lesson emphasizes the Christian’s freedom. Such freedom does not mean “do your own thing,” but has to do with how we Christians have a mission. John Calvin made that clear:
Let not the man, then, who has been once called to it, imagine that he is any longer at liberty to withdraw when he chooses, if, perhaps he is harassed with vexatious occurrences, or weighed down with misfortunes, for he is devoted to the Lord and to the Church and bound by a sacred tie, which it were criminal to break asunder. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.XX/1, p.301)
Martin Luther made a similar point, describing the Christian as both king and priest:
The nature of this priesthood and kingship is something like this: First, with respect to kingship, every Christian is by faith so exalted above all things that, by virtue of a spiritual power, he is lord of all things without exception, so that nothing can do him any harm... Not only are we the freest of kings, we are also priests forever, which is far more excellent than being kings, for as priests we are worthy to appear before God to pray for others and to teach one another divine things. (Luther’s Works, Vol.31, pp.354-355)
This freedom gives us an openness to get out of our boxes in bringing Jesus to others, to do like mega-church pastor Rick Warren at Saddleback Church in California or Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston by targeting some in the community not yet reached by the Church and then adjusting what the Church does to reach that target audience. It is like one other mega-church pastor Lon Solomon of McLean [Virginia] Bible Church put it: “Sometimes you need to explain bananas in a different way.” Paul says that the Gospel has set us free to explain bananas to the public differently than ever before.
Mark E.
* * *
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
One of the first things I learned as a new manager, and again as a new pastor, was to meet people where they were. I may not like a person’s attitude, understanding, opinions or beliefs, but it is not my role to change them. Rather it is my role to meet them where they are with love, compassion, kindness, generosity and with the knowledge that God can work in our relationships, but only if I exemplify the gifts of God, the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Certainly, I cannot condone dangerous or hurtful behaviors to go unchallenged, but speaking the truth is much more powerful than reacting in anger or from my own humanness. Paul reminds us that his call was to meet the people where they were and share the Good News. That is our call as well.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Mark 1:29-39
In his commentary on the Old Testament Book of Judges, J. Vernon McGee shares the following first-hand experience:
Right before World War II, the city of Pasadena was having its annual Rose Parade. The float that was entered by the Standard Oil Company was covered with American Beauty roses. It was a sight to behold. The theme of the parade was, “Be prepared.” Right in the middle of the parade the Standard Oil Company’s float ran out of gas. It stopped right where I was viewing the parade.
Running out of gas in a parade is not good. The Los Angeles Times on December 30, 1985 ran a story about the Rose Parade and included this anecdote. “Mark Bevan first got hooked on the Rose Parade when he was 15 1/2 years old and possessed a new learner’s permit that allowed him to drive a small float. It ran out of gas.”
In our text for today we find that Jesus knew the secret for not “running out of gas.” Verses 32-34 indicate the challenges of his day. “That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.”
Jesus had a full, busy day. He’d engaged with many people. He’d demonstrated his compassion and healing. What did he do next? In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed “ (vs. 35).
When we are struggling and the tank is nearing the “E,” take time to pray. Renew your strength.
Bill T.
* * *
Mark 1:29-39
Jesus calls us into a new family as disciples. However, though Peter is now a follower of Jesus Christ, he still has obligations towards people to whom he is related. It’s not clear if Peter’s wife is still alive, but his mother-in-law was doing fine, at least until she got good and sick. The mortality rate was high for everyone, what with the ills everyone was prey to. Women had the added danger of childbirth, or an infection that might follow.
Regardless of the family of God that Jesus was forming, Peter had obligations towards his mother-in-law. Jesus recognizes those obligations and heals her.
Elsewhere in the Gospel of Mark people will hide behind something called Corban (see Mark 7:11) — the practice of donating all one’s money for the use of the Temple after their death, while using it for their own benefit during their life, yet refusing to fulfill obligations to their parents because technically the money now belongs to God. Jesus would have none of that.
Frank R.
