Sermon Illustrations for First Sunday after Christmas Day (2024)
Illustration
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
In the mid-1990’s, Wendy’s restaurants had a promotion win which they would “biggie size” your drink, your meal, almost everything but the Frosty! Wendy’s decided to discontinue this promotion after getting some criticism from those who claim the fast-food industry was contributing to the nation’s obesity problem.
The idea behind the “biggie size” was to have the largest possible drink. The one who ordered it wanted to get the most out of it. “Biggie size” sought to grow the normal product into a bigger, better version of it. I don’t know if that worked out well for fries and drinks, but we find a couple of young men in scripture grew. They grew in stature and favor. Of course, we are talking about Samuel in this text and Jesus in Luke 2.
What facilitated Samuel’s growth? His mother dedicated him to the Lord and Samuel sought to minister. When Eli’s sons were found to be wicked, Samuel stands in stark contrast to them. As we consider Jesus and his growth, it is good to see a foreshadowing of that in the life of Samuel.
Bill T.
* * *
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
There’s an obvious connection between 1 Samuel 2:26 (“Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with the people.”) and Luke 2:52, (“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.”) While ancient histories stroke to demonstrate that the adult qualities of a person were present in the child from the beginning, here we see emotional and spiritual growth in Jesus as well as physical growth. This is a reminder to be patient with each other as we strive over the years to achieve maturity and shalom.
But parents have to grow in understanding also. Luke will tell us that Mary will be filled with wonder the night of Jesus’ birth and that she will continue to not only treasure what has happened but ponder its meaning. And in the story of Jesus and the temple, we will see both mother and child have a moment where deep feelings have to be admitted, confronted, and acknowledged.
In the Samuel saga, we see the depth of Hannah’s feeling for the sun she willingly surrenders to God’s work. Every year when the family comes to the tent of meeting to sacrifice, she brought a new robe appropriate to his size, a more informal garment than the ephod he would wear in performing his official duties. This would be a constant reminder of her devotion. Robert Alter, in his translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, points out that the prophet wears a robe, not an ephod, while carrying out his prophetic duties in both life and in the odd incident in which he is summoned back from the dead at Saul’s insistence.
The Christmas season for many of us is a time of unexpected conflict, hopefully some resolution, and gifts that may seem small but are treasured for a lifetime.
Frank R.
* * *
Colossians 3:12-17
When it comes to faith, it is like Mark Twain once claimed: "Clothes make the man." Our lesson refers to Christians putting on Christ. Social commentator Alain de Botton (Status Anxiety, p.183) has suggested (at least prior to the breakdown of the dress code) that the clothes you wear are a sign of whether you have made it in society. Well, Christians have made it. We are wearing Christ, instead of our old shabby sinful garb. Be careful though, Paul seems to warn us in this text. When you dress rich, you tend to start acting rich. Dress cool and you are likely to start doing cool things. Dress with Jesus, and you might start doing his (loving) thing.
Mark E.
* * *
Colossians 3:12-17
Many pastors I know take this Sunday off from preaching. Church attendance is usually very low and hymn sings seem to be the best way to continue to celebrate Christmas. And when that happens, we do not take the opportunity to preach on this passage of Paul’s letters. Herein, we are called to clothe ourselves in love, to let peace rule in our hearts. These are important reminders to us in our divided and chaotic world. We are reminded, so soon after celebrating the birth of Jesus, to put Jesus in our hearts, to allow Jesus to live in our hearts.
How might the new year be different if we did so? How might seeing God’s divine spark of life in each person we meet, change the world? How might preaching love, blessing, grace, and the living Christ anchor us for the days ahead? I don’t have a preaching assignment for this particular Sunday, but I will pray this passage. Perhaps you will be traveling or absent from a worship service as well, but I encourage you to anchor your spirit with these words. Move into 2025, with love and peace in your heart.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Luke 2:41-52
I came across this story that I thought might resonate. An elderly lady was amazed at how nice the young man was next door. He was always willing to help her gather things from her car or work in her yard. One day the old lady finally asked the young man, “Son, how did you become such a fine young man?"
The young man replied, “Well, when I was a boy, I had a drug problem.”
The old lady was shocked, “I can’t believe that.”
The young man replied, “It’s true, my parents drug me to church on Sunday morning, drug me to church on Sunday night, and drug me to church on Wednesday night.”
In today’s text, we see Jesus in the temple. He wasn’t “drug” there, but rather was “left” there. Mary and Joseph assumed he was with other family members in the travelling party. When he wasn’t, they came back for him. They found him engaged in teaching and responding to the religious teachers. He was in “his Father’s house.” Subsequent to that event, the text says, he was obedient to his parents and “increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor” (vs. 52).
“Drug to church” or “left,” maybe it just matters that we be in our “Father’s house.” Something to consider in this new year.
Bill T.
* * *
Luke 2:41-52
The liturgical seasons are so interesting and the lectionary readings as well. Only here do we skip from birth to pre-teen years and then back to the toddler years for Epiphany. I have stood on the steps of the temple where Jesus is thought to have had these conversations with the learned men of the day. I recall this passage whenever I look at my pictures of this place. I would not have had the courage to remain behind from my parents and sit with the religious leaders and ask and answer questions. I had courage for other things, as a pre-teen: standing for justice, protesting war, but not courage for theological arguments.
Jesus is in his Father’s house and seems surprised that his parents couldn’t figure that out. And yet, as all teens do, after some rebellion, there is obedience to family and responsibilities. I think of this too – although my journey from Jerusalem to Nazareth was later in my life and by bus rather than on foot. What questions is Jesus calling you to ask as you survey the world and life within the church? How will you respond to the questions asked of you about faith and religion? Think on these questions as you prepare to move into the new year – what are your questions and what are your answers when questioned and may it be a faithful and fruitful year for you.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Luke 2:41-52
Neurobiological research has demonstrated that failure to focus disorders the brain (Daniel Amen, Change the Brain; Change Your Life. Pp.116-117). Jesus illustrates his single-minded focus on the will of God, even if it is necessary to put matters like parental authority on the back burner. This sort of prioritization is good both for your spiritual and apparently for your mental well-being. Help the congregation better understand the concept of freedom from the law, first with the quote from St. Augustine, which immediately follows, and then a quote by Martin Luther:
Once for all, then, a short precept is given thee: love, and do what thou wilt... (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol.7, p.504)
If you are Christian you have the power to dispense with all commandments so far as they hinder you in the practice of love. (Complete Sermons, Vol.3/1, p.166)
Mark E.
* * *
Luke 2:41-52
One verse. One word. “When his parents saw him they were astonished….’ (2:48) Astonished. The Greek word in question, explessomai, has several layers of meaning. Fright. Wonder. Joy. Dazzled. Overwhelmed.
Maybe all of the above. Jesus, a year before he becomes an adult at the age of thirteen, did not appreciate or understand or perhaps ignored the feelings his parents would experience with the disappearance of a son in the big city. Jesus, like some teens I know, never took his parents feelings into account because he knew where he was and he knew he was safe. He’s practically an adult. Didn’t they know that?
So yes, fright, wonder, joy, dazzled, overwhelmed, ready both to kiss and kill him, or whatever the first century equivalent of that would be. And transformation. And not just for Mary and Joseph. Jesus made the decision to return home with his parents despite his assertion he was exactly where he belonged, which shows the recognition that he is recognizing other people have feelings too.
Part of becoming a true adult is realizing the people you know and the people you don’t know have feelings. One of the things that is apparent in the ministry of Jesus is his compassion for those who are suffering. Perhaps this was the first step in which God on earth transitions to true human on earth as well.
Frank R.
In the mid-1990’s, Wendy’s restaurants had a promotion win which they would “biggie size” your drink, your meal, almost everything but the Frosty! Wendy’s decided to discontinue this promotion after getting some criticism from those who claim the fast-food industry was contributing to the nation’s obesity problem.
The idea behind the “biggie size” was to have the largest possible drink. The one who ordered it wanted to get the most out of it. “Biggie size” sought to grow the normal product into a bigger, better version of it. I don’t know if that worked out well for fries and drinks, but we find a couple of young men in scripture grew. They grew in stature and favor. Of course, we are talking about Samuel in this text and Jesus in Luke 2.
What facilitated Samuel’s growth? His mother dedicated him to the Lord and Samuel sought to minister. When Eli’s sons were found to be wicked, Samuel stands in stark contrast to them. As we consider Jesus and his growth, it is good to see a foreshadowing of that in the life of Samuel.
Bill T.
* * *
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
There’s an obvious connection between 1 Samuel 2:26 (“Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with the people.”) and Luke 2:52, (“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.”) While ancient histories stroke to demonstrate that the adult qualities of a person were present in the child from the beginning, here we see emotional and spiritual growth in Jesus as well as physical growth. This is a reminder to be patient with each other as we strive over the years to achieve maturity and shalom.
But parents have to grow in understanding also. Luke will tell us that Mary will be filled with wonder the night of Jesus’ birth and that she will continue to not only treasure what has happened but ponder its meaning. And in the story of Jesus and the temple, we will see both mother and child have a moment where deep feelings have to be admitted, confronted, and acknowledged.
In the Samuel saga, we see the depth of Hannah’s feeling for the sun she willingly surrenders to God’s work. Every year when the family comes to the tent of meeting to sacrifice, she brought a new robe appropriate to his size, a more informal garment than the ephod he would wear in performing his official duties. This would be a constant reminder of her devotion. Robert Alter, in his translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, points out that the prophet wears a robe, not an ephod, while carrying out his prophetic duties in both life and in the odd incident in which he is summoned back from the dead at Saul’s insistence.
The Christmas season for many of us is a time of unexpected conflict, hopefully some resolution, and gifts that may seem small but are treasured for a lifetime.
Frank R.
* * *
Colossians 3:12-17
When it comes to faith, it is like Mark Twain once claimed: "Clothes make the man." Our lesson refers to Christians putting on Christ. Social commentator Alain de Botton (Status Anxiety, p.183) has suggested (at least prior to the breakdown of the dress code) that the clothes you wear are a sign of whether you have made it in society. Well, Christians have made it. We are wearing Christ, instead of our old shabby sinful garb. Be careful though, Paul seems to warn us in this text. When you dress rich, you tend to start acting rich. Dress cool and you are likely to start doing cool things. Dress with Jesus, and you might start doing his (loving) thing.
Mark E.
* * *
Colossians 3:12-17
Many pastors I know take this Sunday off from preaching. Church attendance is usually very low and hymn sings seem to be the best way to continue to celebrate Christmas. And when that happens, we do not take the opportunity to preach on this passage of Paul’s letters. Herein, we are called to clothe ourselves in love, to let peace rule in our hearts. These are important reminders to us in our divided and chaotic world. We are reminded, so soon after celebrating the birth of Jesus, to put Jesus in our hearts, to allow Jesus to live in our hearts.
How might the new year be different if we did so? How might seeing God’s divine spark of life in each person we meet, change the world? How might preaching love, blessing, grace, and the living Christ anchor us for the days ahead? I don’t have a preaching assignment for this particular Sunday, but I will pray this passage. Perhaps you will be traveling or absent from a worship service as well, but I encourage you to anchor your spirit with these words. Move into 2025, with love and peace in your heart.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Luke 2:41-52
I came across this story that I thought might resonate. An elderly lady was amazed at how nice the young man was next door. He was always willing to help her gather things from her car or work in her yard. One day the old lady finally asked the young man, “Son, how did you become such a fine young man?"
The young man replied, “Well, when I was a boy, I had a drug problem.”
The old lady was shocked, “I can’t believe that.”
The young man replied, “It’s true, my parents drug me to church on Sunday morning, drug me to church on Sunday night, and drug me to church on Wednesday night.”
In today’s text, we see Jesus in the temple. He wasn’t “drug” there, but rather was “left” there. Mary and Joseph assumed he was with other family members in the travelling party. When he wasn’t, they came back for him. They found him engaged in teaching and responding to the religious teachers. He was in “his Father’s house.” Subsequent to that event, the text says, he was obedient to his parents and “increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor” (vs. 52).
“Drug to church” or “left,” maybe it just matters that we be in our “Father’s house.” Something to consider in this new year.
Bill T.
* * *
Luke 2:41-52
The liturgical seasons are so interesting and the lectionary readings as well. Only here do we skip from birth to pre-teen years and then back to the toddler years for Epiphany. I have stood on the steps of the temple where Jesus is thought to have had these conversations with the learned men of the day. I recall this passage whenever I look at my pictures of this place. I would not have had the courage to remain behind from my parents and sit with the religious leaders and ask and answer questions. I had courage for other things, as a pre-teen: standing for justice, protesting war, but not courage for theological arguments.
Jesus is in his Father’s house and seems surprised that his parents couldn’t figure that out. And yet, as all teens do, after some rebellion, there is obedience to family and responsibilities. I think of this too – although my journey from Jerusalem to Nazareth was later in my life and by bus rather than on foot. What questions is Jesus calling you to ask as you survey the world and life within the church? How will you respond to the questions asked of you about faith and religion? Think on these questions as you prepare to move into the new year – what are your questions and what are your answers when questioned and may it be a faithful and fruitful year for you.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Luke 2:41-52
Neurobiological research has demonstrated that failure to focus disorders the brain (Daniel Amen, Change the Brain; Change Your Life. Pp.116-117). Jesus illustrates his single-minded focus on the will of God, even if it is necessary to put matters like parental authority on the back burner. This sort of prioritization is good both for your spiritual and apparently for your mental well-being. Help the congregation better understand the concept of freedom from the law, first with the quote from St. Augustine, which immediately follows, and then a quote by Martin Luther:
Once for all, then, a short precept is given thee: love, and do what thou wilt... (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol.7, p.504)
If you are Christian you have the power to dispense with all commandments so far as they hinder you in the practice of love. (Complete Sermons, Vol.3/1, p.166)
Mark E.
* * *
Luke 2:41-52
One verse. One word. “When his parents saw him they were astonished….’ (2:48) Astonished. The Greek word in question, explessomai, has several layers of meaning. Fright. Wonder. Joy. Dazzled. Overwhelmed.
Maybe all of the above. Jesus, a year before he becomes an adult at the age of thirteen, did not appreciate or understand or perhaps ignored the feelings his parents would experience with the disappearance of a son in the big city. Jesus, like some teens I know, never took his parents feelings into account because he knew where he was and he knew he was safe. He’s practically an adult. Didn’t they know that?
So yes, fright, wonder, joy, dazzled, overwhelmed, ready both to kiss and kill him, or whatever the first century equivalent of that would be. And transformation. And not just for Mary and Joseph. Jesus made the decision to return home with his parents despite his assertion he was exactly where he belonged, which shows the recognition that he is recognizing other people have feelings too.
Part of becoming a true adult is realizing the people you know and the people you don’t know have feelings. One of the things that is apparent in the ministry of Jesus is his compassion for those who are suffering. Perhaps this was the first step in which God on earth transitions to true human on earth as well.
Frank R.
