Sermon Illustrations for Lent 1 (2013)
Illustration
Object:
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
The small West African country of Liberia experienced 14 years of devastating civil war from 1990 through 2003. St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Gbarnga was taken over by one of the warlords who used it as central command for his rebel forces. The church building was eventually shot up and looted. Today, on the altar is a parament that declares "In Everything Give Thanks." Their hardships, like that of the Israelites in Egypt and in the wilderness, prepared them to thank God when better times came their way. They did not become bitter. Their first fruits were not the produce from the ground but the harvest in the spirit as their liturgical response was woven into that altar parament for future generations to see.
Mark M.
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
We might have said we lived in a land flowing with milk and honey except for those in the Midwest who are suffering drought so badly that their crops are failing and they don't have enough feed for their livestock. We hope and pray that the Lord will bring them out of this misery so they can praise God's name -- and really mean it.
We know that the prediction for our future on earth is not good with the threat of global warning (if we are allowed to use those dirty words!). We may not make it without God's help!
If we look over the whole history of our country, we should be thankful for what the Lord has given us. He has brought some of us out of "captivity" in a country we were fleeing from, but others just for more opportunity. My experience in Nepal taught me how the Lord has blessed us here in our country compared to those who struggle every day for enough to feed their family. What I noticed is the overflowing gratitude of those people for what little they do have. We saw the widow's mite in the offering every Sunday.
We can also see, as the writer here can attest, that over his 85 years there have been ups and downs -- good times and bad, but he has survived by the Lord's grace -- and will continue to survive, God willing. In other words we need perspective. This Bible verse hints that our perspective may go back generations to a time long before we were born. Lent reminds us that our Lord was having a very low time when we see his suffering, but we can see ahead to the resurrection when God sets it all right again.
In any case, we need to show our gratitude to almighty God for his grace to us. We need to think of him first when we gather our crops or receive our monthly salary. Those who have been blessed with much need to bring more to the Lord, though even the widow's mite means much to our God. We need to bless as we have been blessed.
This verse lets us know that God sees our suffering if we are going through rough times. He cares! The whole of scripture, and especially Lent, points up his caring. The important thing for us is how we respond to him. Notice that "first fruits" does not mean anything we have left over after we have covered our wants and needs.
Bob O.
Romans 10:8b-13
"Son of Man" was the most deliberately chosen title that Jesus selected for himself. It is used 82 times in the New Testament. With few exceptions Jesus always pronounced the title upon himself. One exception was an individual questioning Jesus with these words: "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" (John 12:34). The anonymous one from the crowd asked: "Who is this Son of Man and why must he be lifted up?" The man was understandably confused, for Jesus had redefined "Son of Man."
Jesus' use of the Son of Man did mirror the image pictured by Enoch. Jesus confirmed the Son of Man would come in judgment, returning to the glorious throne in heaven where he would rule righteously over a new world. The following saying parallels so many others pronounced by Jesus: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats."
The Son of Man comes both to judge and to save.
Ron L.
Romans 10:8b-13
Paul's concern with confessing that Jesus is Lord (v. 9) reminds us of Augustine's famed definition of confession: "For when I am wicked, confession to you [O Lord] means being displeased with myself; but when I am good, confession to you means simply not attributing my goodness to myself" (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 1, p. 142).
We will want this mindset the next time we recite one of the creeds. Paul noted that confession brings people together and overcomes differences between Gentile and Jew (vv. 12-13). This is not surprising in light of what scholars of evolution are learning about the development of religion. It seems that common patterns of worship have historically united people and enhanced their solidarity despite their differences (Nicholas Wade, The Faith Instinct, pp. 79-81). In view of the increased social isolation in America today (Facebook has not stopped the 75% increase in the number of Americans who say that there is no one with whom they can discuss important matters), common confession (even doing it together) may help bring us together.
Mark E.
Luke 4:1-13
Aren't we tempted more when we are hungry or thirsty or have some other urgent need? Satan took Jesus at his weakest moment. When I read of the shootings in our country, I see the defense attorneys pleading that their clients were just having a weak moment and should not be made to spend years locked up and certainly not executed! They point up mental conditions plus upbringing and background which were not their fault. Jesus is our example and shows that no excuses will do. All we need to do is call on him and he will give us strength to overcome.
What a temptation hunger can be! Not just for ourselves, but also for our loved ones. Would we succumb to a temptation to rob for the money needed to give them food if we were broke? It seems like a good excuse as long as they are not robbing you. The Lord tells us that if we see our neighbor hungry we should feed him. Unless it will raise our taxes! It seems that most of us want to know if the reason for his hunger is laziness. If so, let him starve and teach him a lesson. Does this strike too close to home?
What about the temptation to vast riches? Isn't that what really makes America great? God can make us wealthy enough to live, and there is nothing wrong with working hard to make more. We know that Satan can tempt us to abuse every law in order to enrich ourselves, but to what purpose?
If our goal is to make money to help others and spread the gospel, then I am all for it. We each have a talent the Lord has given us. If our talent happens to be the skill to make money (honestly, we presume) so that we can share with the needy, then God would approve. It just seems that those whose goal is to make money spend most of it on themselves -- yachts, fancy cars, world travel, golf courses, mansions, and so on. There is nothing wrong with giving ourselves a few luxuries -- as long as our neighbors are not starving.
Just remember who should get the credit and where the first fruits should go. Don't let the tempter fool you! Call on the Lord to save you! Our Lord knows what temptation is.
Bob O.
Luke 4:1-13
In one of Shakespeare's more unpleasant plays, Measure for Measure, Isabella learns that her brother is to be executed for an indiscretion. Lucio, who informs her of this circumstance, encourages her to help her brother. She doubts she has the ability to do so. Lucio says to her: "Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt." In other words, our doubts get in the way of our doing. Jesus was tempted to doubt who he was (temptation one), to doubt the way he was to live out God's purpose for him (temptation two), and even to doubt God (temptation three). Would Jesus betray his confidence as to who he was, what he was to do, and how God was with him? He was tempted by doubt. Would such doubts get in the way of his doing? Would he lose the good that he was commissioned by God to accomplish?
Mark M.
The small West African country of Liberia experienced 14 years of devastating civil war from 1990 through 2003. St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Gbarnga was taken over by one of the warlords who used it as central command for his rebel forces. The church building was eventually shot up and looted. Today, on the altar is a parament that declares "In Everything Give Thanks." Their hardships, like that of the Israelites in Egypt and in the wilderness, prepared them to thank God when better times came their way. They did not become bitter. Their first fruits were not the produce from the ground but the harvest in the spirit as their liturgical response was woven into that altar parament for future generations to see.
Mark M.
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
We might have said we lived in a land flowing with milk and honey except for those in the Midwest who are suffering drought so badly that their crops are failing and they don't have enough feed for their livestock. We hope and pray that the Lord will bring them out of this misery so they can praise God's name -- and really mean it.
We know that the prediction for our future on earth is not good with the threat of global warning (if we are allowed to use those dirty words!). We may not make it without God's help!
If we look over the whole history of our country, we should be thankful for what the Lord has given us. He has brought some of us out of "captivity" in a country we were fleeing from, but others just for more opportunity. My experience in Nepal taught me how the Lord has blessed us here in our country compared to those who struggle every day for enough to feed their family. What I noticed is the overflowing gratitude of those people for what little they do have. We saw the widow's mite in the offering every Sunday.
We can also see, as the writer here can attest, that over his 85 years there have been ups and downs -- good times and bad, but he has survived by the Lord's grace -- and will continue to survive, God willing. In other words we need perspective. This Bible verse hints that our perspective may go back generations to a time long before we were born. Lent reminds us that our Lord was having a very low time when we see his suffering, but we can see ahead to the resurrection when God sets it all right again.
In any case, we need to show our gratitude to almighty God for his grace to us. We need to think of him first when we gather our crops or receive our monthly salary. Those who have been blessed with much need to bring more to the Lord, though even the widow's mite means much to our God. We need to bless as we have been blessed.
This verse lets us know that God sees our suffering if we are going through rough times. He cares! The whole of scripture, and especially Lent, points up his caring. The important thing for us is how we respond to him. Notice that "first fruits" does not mean anything we have left over after we have covered our wants and needs.
Bob O.
Romans 10:8b-13
"Son of Man" was the most deliberately chosen title that Jesus selected for himself. It is used 82 times in the New Testament. With few exceptions Jesus always pronounced the title upon himself. One exception was an individual questioning Jesus with these words: "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" (John 12:34). The anonymous one from the crowd asked: "Who is this Son of Man and why must he be lifted up?" The man was understandably confused, for Jesus had redefined "Son of Man."
Jesus' use of the Son of Man did mirror the image pictured by Enoch. Jesus confirmed the Son of Man would come in judgment, returning to the glorious throne in heaven where he would rule righteously over a new world. The following saying parallels so many others pronounced by Jesus: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats."
The Son of Man comes both to judge and to save.
Ron L.
Romans 10:8b-13
Paul's concern with confessing that Jesus is Lord (v. 9) reminds us of Augustine's famed definition of confession: "For when I am wicked, confession to you [O Lord] means being displeased with myself; but when I am good, confession to you means simply not attributing my goodness to myself" (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 1, p. 142).
We will want this mindset the next time we recite one of the creeds. Paul noted that confession brings people together and overcomes differences between Gentile and Jew (vv. 12-13). This is not surprising in light of what scholars of evolution are learning about the development of religion. It seems that common patterns of worship have historically united people and enhanced their solidarity despite their differences (Nicholas Wade, The Faith Instinct, pp. 79-81). In view of the increased social isolation in America today (Facebook has not stopped the 75% increase in the number of Americans who say that there is no one with whom they can discuss important matters), common confession (even doing it together) may help bring us together.
Mark E.
Luke 4:1-13
Aren't we tempted more when we are hungry or thirsty or have some other urgent need? Satan took Jesus at his weakest moment. When I read of the shootings in our country, I see the defense attorneys pleading that their clients were just having a weak moment and should not be made to spend years locked up and certainly not executed! They point up mental conditions plus upbringing and background which were not their fault. Jesus is our example and shows that no excuses will do. All we need to do is call on him and he will give us strength to overcome.
What a temptation hunger can be! Not just for ourselves, but also for our loved ones. Would we succumb to a temptation to rob for the money needed to give them food if we were broke? It seems like a good excuse as long as they are not robbing you. The Lord tells us that if we see our neighbor hungry we should feed him. Unless it will raise our taxes! It seems that most of us want to know if the reason for his hunger is laziness. If so, let him starve and teach him a lesson. Does this strike too close to home?
What about the temptation to vast riches? Isn't that what really makes America great? God can make us wealthy enough to live, and there is nothing wrong with working hard to make more. We know that Satan can tempt us to abuse every law in order to enrich ourselves, but to what purpose?
If our goal is to make money to help others and spread the gospel, then I am all for it. We each have a talent the Lord has given us. If our talent happens to be the skill to make money (honestly, we presume) so that we can share with the needy, then God would approve. It just seems that those whose goal is to make money spend most of it on themselves -- yachts, fancy cars, world travel, golf courses, mansions, and so on. There is nothing wrong with giving ourselves a few luxuries -- as long as our neighbors are not starving.
Just remember who should get the credit and where the first fruits should go. Don't let the tempter fool you! Call on the Lord to save you! Our Lord knows what temptation is.
Bob O.
Luke 4:1-13
In one of Shakespeare's more unpleasant plays, Measure for Measure, Isabella learns that her brother is to be executed for an indiscretion. Lucio, who informs her of this circumstance, encourages her to help her brother. She doubts she has the ability to do so. Lucio says to her: "Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt." In other words, our doubts get in the way of our doing. Jesus was tempted to doubt who he was (temptation one), to doubt the way he was to live out God's purpose for him (temptation two), and even to doubt God (temptation three). Would Jesus betray his confidence as to who he was, what he was to do, and how God was with him? He was tempted by doubt. Would such doubts get in the way of his doing? Would he lose the good that he was commissioned by God to accomplish?
Mark M.
