Sermon Illustrations for Lent 1 (2016)
Illustration
Object:
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
This story is told about Richard Leakey, the anthropologist whose family has spent a century searching Africa’s Turkana Basin for the origin of Homo sapiens. Leakey was once asked “What is distinctive about human beings?” Surprising some, he responded, “The capacity to be generous distinguishes human beings from every other creature.” He continued by noting that there are, of course, animals that will be generous with their own offspring. There are even some species that will share with members of their group. No other creature, however, will be generous with strangers.
This reading reminds people of faith that we are called, even obliged, to be generous with God by returning to the Lord’s work. This we are to do not with our leftovers, but with the first fruits of the harvest.
Practicing abundant generosity with first fruits may predate the book of Deuteronomy to a time when our ancestors lived in part by gathering wild grain from unplanted fields. By experience, these distant kin learned that if they dropped a portion of the harvest onto the ground, their source of food would be renewed the next year. If they kept all the seeds, the next year they had to find a different field to harvest. They also learned that it was necessary to drop the seeds for the next year’s harvest immediately. Attempts to drop only the seeds that were left over from everyone eating their fill didn’t work. There were never any leftovers. They had to give from the first fruits of this year’s harvest.
That principle has remained unchanged into the 21st century.
R. Robert C.
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
There is a game to test one’s ability to be rational and generous with one’s money. One of two players is given a sum of money, which he has to share with the other player. If other player agrees with the split that is offered, they both get to keep the money as agreed upon. Rationally, the second player should take whatever he’s offered, since he’s at least better off than he was before. But almost everyone refuses the offered share, thinking the offer is unfair -- even though they’re punishing themselves as well as the other player by not accepting the offer. A study found that after intense negotiations, the usual agreed-upon amount is 30%. Clearly emotions, rather than rational thinking, play large part in how we see money.
Application: We are instructed in Deuteronomy not to bargain with God, but to freely give the first fruits of our labor.
Ron L.
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Americans like to think that they are self-made men and women. It is common to speak of the “meritocracy” that Americans have created, deluding ourselves along with the media’s help into thinking that we have earned everything we have (Robert Reich, The Work of Nations; Christopher Lasch, The Revolt of the Elites, pp. 39-44). We’d be a lot happier, celebrate life a lot more, if we saw what we have as a gift and were grateful for it.
Love is gift. We have not earned the love of our lovers or of our parents. It is as the American writer of the last century Leo Buscaglia once said: “Love is always bestowed as a gift -- freely, willingly, and without expectation. We don’t love to be loved; we love to love.” Famed modern theologian Karl Barth made this point clearly with reference to this lesson, how God makes us his people: “There is a people like this, a people of Jesus Christ, elected and called by God. But there are no men who have any right or claim to be this people. They can be what they are, namely this particular people, only by free grace” (Church Dogmatics, Vol. IV/3 Second Half, p. 726).
This sort of perspective leads to a life of gratitude, like the late medieval mystic Meister Eckhart called for when he claimed: “If the only prayer you said in your whole life was ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” Gratitude also seems to make you happy. Studies indicate that people keeping gratitude journals or other expressions of thanksgiving tend to poll as happier (Robert Emmons, Thanks: How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier).
Mark E.
Romans 10:8b-13
Both words and feelings are important, but there is a difference between confessing with our mouths and believing in our hearts. Do all those who come to church and pray and recite the creed also believe in our Lord with all their hearts?
One concern that pastors have for confirmation kids is: after a class has been confirmed and they have confessed their faith to the whole congregation, do they continue to come faithfully to services? When I left home I fell away for a few years myself! Only when I returned did I believe in my heart.
Do you wonder about those politicians who swear allegiance to their party and to our government -- do you wonder what they believe in their hearts? How many organizations that we have joined and been sworn in to do we believe in with all our hearts?
One of the most important swearing-in ceremonies is marriage. Are we just saying the words, or do we believe with all our heart that we will keep them? Our words to the Lord are important, but our belief is the most important. When a couple swears to love each other as long as they live, I tell them that they are not swearing to a permanent romantic feeling. They are swearing to act in a loving way. The word “love” is not a promise of romance, but more of a “family” kind of love. We don’t love the Lord in a romantic love, but in a deep believing way.
Lent is a time for us to looking into our souls and our hearts and see if we are genuine believers. It is a time for us to grow closer and to come back if we find that we have wandered away in our hearts. Don’t lose this opportunity!
Bob O.
Romans 10:8b-13
Salvation is a tricky business. Our various Christian denominations outline the path to salvation as the acceptance of Jesus as our Savior and our Lord -- developing a personal relationship with Jesus is key. But what if the sacrifice of Jesus is not about substitutional atonement, not about Jesus dying for the sins of the world? What if the point of salvation, the act of salvation is the willingness of Jesus to die for his faith, his connection, his trust in the Living God? What if the profession we need to make is that God conquers everything that is evil or that separates us from God, including death?
As the mother of a son, I find it difficult, humanly and unimaginably difficult, to envision a loving God sending his beloved son to death -- even for such a purpose as the conquering of sin, a realignment of our relationships with God. This is not the loving God in which I believe. The loving God in which I believe seeks to give life in the face of death, seeks to raise the just and righteous among us. Jesus doesn’t earn my freedom or my eternal life. Rather, my freedom and eternal life is given to me just as it was given to Jesus, from a loving God who seeks to be reunited with the children of creation. That is my salvation.
Bonnie B.
Romans 10:8b-13
The whole town gathered at the courthouse in the town square. He was going before the judge today; everyone knew it and wanted to see it. The courtroom seated 100 comfortably, but nearly double that number packed in. Right as the bells chimed noon, he was brought in. He wore handcuffs and the bright orange coveralls that were the standard dress for those in the county jail. Being cuffed and wearing orange were not the only things different about him. Gone was his confident look, bright eyes, and engaging smile. The athletic build that had served him well in the high school here in town was noticeably gone too. Now the young man stood before the judge, sagging and defeated. He’d gone from hero to convict. He’d violated their trust and their laws. He stood, soaking up their contempt. His shame was evident to all.
I don’t know if you’ve ever been in a situation like the one described in the preceding paragraph. I haven’t, but having worked with men in correctional facilities, I’ve talked to some who have. From what I’ve been told, the description isn’t too far off. Here’s the tough part... all of us deserve that. We all deserve our day in court. We’ve all fallen. We’ve gone from something created to be “very good” to something far less. Our shame and disgrace should be visible to all of heaven -- yet, because of Jesus, it doesn’t have to be. Paul writes, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” What an incredible offer! What an amazing gift! I do not have to stand in shame before my holy Father because Jesus endured the shame of the cross. Incredible! Astounding! Amazing Grace!
Bill T.
Romans 10:8b-13
One may interpret the last verse of this passage (“For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ ”) to mean that scripture or the dictates of scripture are not necessary for a right relationship with God -- the foundation of salvation by grace and not by works. But the fact that in this short passage the apostle quotes the Hebrew scriptures three times is a reminder that he loves the Word, and that it is certainly necessary to refer to the Law and the Prophets because they seem to be necessary for right relationship with each other.
“The Word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (Deuteronomy 30:14). This comes from the last address of Moses to the people. God’s commands will not be too difficult for them to obey, Moses tells them, because (anticipating Jeremiah’s description of the New Covenant) the people will discover that the Word is within us, written in our own heartbeat.
“No one who believes in him will be put to shame” (Isaiah 28:6). In response to the insistence of those in the royal court, in the politics of the nation which is based on denial of the truth, upon lies and misdirection, Isaiah suggests that God’s reign will be built around justice and righteousness. That foundation and cornerstone is solid enough for our salvation.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Joel 2:32). The people looked forward to the Day of the Lord as one in which they would be vindicated, regardless of their unjust practices towards each other. Joel warned that it would be a day of darkness for anyone who ignored God’s law, but that even in the midst of destruction and doom there was hope for those who called upon the name of the Lord.
Frank R.
Luke 4:1-13
If we get a chance to ask our Lord “How did you know that what the devil was offering was a highly destructive temptation?” then certainly Jesus will answer, “Because it was the devil and I could see his lips moving.”
Unfortunately for us, temptation is not as easily identified. We cannot see the devil’s lips moving. How then does one recognize temptation when it presents itself? This passage of scripture is an excellent place to begin answering that question. Jesus’ temptations are models for our temptations. Consider these three categories:
Temptation #1: The offer to turn stones to bread. What a tempting opportunity. If you could do that, you could feed not only yourself, you could also feed the world. Beware! This is the equivalent of the e-mail from the Nigerian prince offering to make you rich. If it sounds too good to be true, it is a temptation to avoid, not an opportunity to pursue.
Temptation #2: “You can rule the world if you just bow down before the evil one.” This is the temptation to believe that the end will always justify the means. Compromising your core values in order to gain a significant reward is not an acceptable opportunity. It is a life-crushing temptation.
Temptation #3: “If you jump off this tower, God will save you and people will be impressed.” Do whatever it takes to get people to like you. Make popularity your highest priority. Never offend anyone.
If the situation promises only popularity, it is probably a temptation, not an opportunity.
R. Robert C.
Luke 4:1-13
Cardinal Josef Mindszenty was arrested by Hungarian authorities on December 26, 1948, because he was an outspoken critic of communism. He spent eight years in prison, always fearful that he would break under torture. For this reason he wrote his mother: “I shall not make a confession. But if despite what I now say you should read that I confessed, and even see it authenticated by my signature, bear in mind it will have been only the result of human frailty.”
Application: Often times when we surrender our beliefs it is not because we do not believe, but because the burden becomes too much.
Ron L.
Luke 4:1-13
We are all tempted. It feels a little better to know that even Jesus was tempted. C.S. Lewis offers an interesting observation in this connection: “A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is.... A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in” (Mere Christianity).
Some Christians err in only facing temptations up to a point. Atlanta megachurch pastor Charles Stanley puts it this way: “Too many Christians have a commitment of convenience. They’ll stay faithful as long as it’s safe and doesn’t involve risk, rejection, or criticism. Instead of standing alone in the face of challenge or temptation, they check to see which way their friends are going.”
There’s no avoiding temptations, Martin Luther says (The Book of Concord [edited by Wengert and Kolb], 454.105). But God will not let us fall, and temptation will meet defeat (Ibid., 455.110-111) like the love in a good marriage always overcomes temptations. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2847) quotes the ancient African theologian Origen to state that temptation reveals to us knowledge of ourselves “and in this way we discover our evil inclinations and are obliged to give thanks for the goods that temptations has revealed to us.” Ultimately we can be sure that God will overcome temptations. Modern evangelical theologian John Piper says it well: “Darkness comes. In the middle of it, the future looks blank.... You will argue with yourself that there is no way forward. But with God nothing is impossible. He has more ropes and ladders and tunnels out of pits than you can conceive.”
Mark E.
This story is told about Richard Leakey, the anthropologist whose family has spent a century searching Africa’s Turkana Basin for the origin of Homo sapiens. Leakey was once asked “What is distinctive about human beings?” Surprising some, he responded, “The capacity to be generous distinguishes human beings from every other creature.” He continued by noting that there are, of course, animals that will be generous with their own offspring. There are even some species that will share with members of their group. No other creature, however, will be generous with strangers.
This reading reminds people of faith that we are called, even obliged, to be generous with God by returning to the Lord’s work. This we are to do not with our leftovers, but with the first fruits of the harvest.
Practicing abundant generosity with first fruits may predate the book of Deuteronomy to a time when our ancestors lived in part by gathering wild grain from unplanted fields. By experience, these distant kin learned that if they dropped a portion of the harvest onto the ground, their source of food would be renewed the next year. If they kept all the seeds, the next year they had to find a different field to harvest. They also learned that it was necessary to drop the seeds for the next year’s harvest immediately. Attempts to drop only the seeds that were left over from everyone eating their fill didn’t work. There were never any leftovers. They had to give from the first fruits of this year’s harvest.
That principle has remained unchanged into the 21st century.
R. Robert C.
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
There is a game to test one’s ability to be rational and generous with one’s money. One of two players is given a sum of money, which he has to share with the other player. If other player agrees with the split that is offered, they both get to keep the money as agreed upon. Rationally, the second player should take whatever he’s offered, since he’s at least better off than he was before. But almost everyone refuses the offered share, thinking the offer is unfair -- even though they’re punishing themselves as well as the other player by not accepting the offer. A study found that after intense negotiations, the usual agreed-upon amount is 30%. Clearly emotions, rather than rational thinking, play large part in how we see money.
Application: We are instructed in Deuteronomy not to bargain with God, but to freely give the first fruits of our labor.
Ron L.
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Americans like to think that they are self-made men and women. It is common to speak of the “meritocracy” that Americans have created, deluding ourselves along with the media’s help into thinking that we have earned everything we have (Robert Reich, The Work of Nations; Christopher Lasch, The Revolt of the Elites, pp. 39-44). We’d be a lot happier, celebrate life a lot more, if we saw what we have as a gift and were grateful for it.
Love is gift. We have not earned the love of our lovers or of our parents. It is as the American writer of the last century Leo Buscaglia once said: “Love is always bestowed as a gift -- freely, willingly, and without expectation. We don’t love to be loved; we love to love.” Famed modern theologian Karl Barth made this point clearly with reference to this lesson, how God makes us his people: “There is a people like this, a people of Jesus Christ, elected and called by God. But there are no men who have any right or claim to be this people. They can be what they are, namely this particular people, only by free grace” (Church Dogmatics, Vol. IV/3 Second Half, p. 726).
This sort of perspective leads to a life of gratitude, like the late medieval mystic Meister Eckhart called for when he claimed: “If the only prayer you said in your whole life was ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” Gratitude also seems to make you happy. Studies indicate that people keeping gratitude journals or other expressions of thanksgiving tend to poll as happier (Robert Emmons, Thanks: How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier).
Mark E.
Romans 10:8b-13
Both words and feelings are important, but there is a difference between confessing with our mouths and believing in our hearts. Do all those who come to church and pray and recite the creed also believe in our Lord with all their hearts?
One concern that pastors have for confirmation kids is: after a class has been confirmed and they have confessed their faith to the whole congregation, do they continue to come faithfully to services? When I left home I fell away for a few years myself! Only when I returned did I believe in my heart.
Do you wonder about those politicians who swear allegiance to their party and to our government -- do you wonder what they believe in their hearts? How many organizations that we have joined and been sworn in to do we believe in with all our hearts?
One of the most important swearing-in ceremonies is marriage. Are we just saying the words, or do we believe with all our heart that we will keep them? Our words to the Lord are important, but our belief is the most important. When a couple swears to love each other as long as they live, I tell them that they are not swearing to a permanent romantic feeling. They are swearing to act in a loving way. The word “love” is not a promise of romance, but more of a “family” kind of love. We don’t love the Lord in a romantic love, but in a deep believing way.
Lent is a time for us to looking into our souls and our hearts and see if we are genuine believers. It is a time for us to grow closer and to come back if we find that we have wandered away in our hearts. Don’t lose this opportunity!
Bob O.
Romans 10:8b-13
Salvation is a tricky business. Our various Christian denominations outline the path to salvation as the acceptance of Jesus as our Savior and our Lord -- developing a personal relationship with Jesus is key. But what if the sacrifice of Jesus is not about substitutional atonement, not about Jesus dying for the sins of the world? What if the point of salvation, the act of salvation is the willingness of Jesus to die for his faith, his connection, his trust in the Living God? What if the profession we need to make is that God conquers everything that is evil or that separates us from God, including death?
As the mother of a son, I find it difficult, humanly and unimaginably difficult, to envision a loving God sending his beloved son to death -- even for such a purpose as the conquering of sin, a realignment of our relationships with God. This is not the loving God in which I believe. The loving God in which I believe seeks to give life in the face of death, seeks to raise the just and righteous among us. Jesus doesn’t earn my freedom or my eternal life. Rather, my freedom and eternal life is given to me just as it was given to Jesus, from a loving God who seeks to be reunited with the children of creation. That is my salvation.
Bonnie B.
Romans 10:8b-13
The whole town gathered at the courthouse in the town square. He was going before the judge today; everyone knew it and wanted to see it. The courtroom seated 100 comfortably, but nearly double that number packed in. Right as the bells chimed noon, he was brought in. He wore handcuffs and the bright orange coveralls that were the standard dress for those in the county jail. Being cuffed and wearing orange were not the only things different about him. Gone was his confident look, bright eyes, and engaging smile. The athletic build that had served him well in the high school here in town was noticeably gone too. Now the young man stood before the judge, sagging and defeated. He’d gone from hero to convict. He’d violated their trust and their laws. He stood, soaking up their contempt. His shame was evident to all.
I don’t know if you’ve ever been in a situation like the one described in the preceding paragraph. I haven’t, but having worked with men in correctional facilities, I’ve talked to some who have. From what I’ve been told, the description isn’t too far off. Here’s the tough part... all of us deserve that. We all deserve our day in court. We’ve all fallen. We’ve gone from something created to be “very good” to something far less. Our shame and disgrace should be visible to all of heaven -- yet, because of Jesus, it doesn’t have to be. Paul writes, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” What an incredible offer! What an amazing gift! I do not have to stand in shame before my holy Father because Jesus endured the shame of the cross. Incredible! Astounding! Amazing Grace!
Bill T.
Romans 10:8b-13
One may interpret the last verse of this passage (“For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ ”) to mean that scripture or the dictates of scripture are not necessary for a right relationship with God -- the foundation of salvation by grace and not by works. But the fact that in this short passage the apostle quotes the Hebrew scriptures three times is a reminder that he loves the Word, and that it is certainly necessary to refer to the Law and the Prophets because they seem to be necessary for right relationship with each other.
“The Word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (Deuteronomy 30:14). This comes from the last address of Moses to the people. God’s commands will not be too difficult for them to obey, Moses tells them, because (anticipating Jeremiah’s description of the New Covenant) the people will discover that the Word is within us, written in our own heartbeat.
“No one who believes in him will be put to shame” (Isaiah 28:6). In response to the insistence of those in the royal court, in the politics of the nation which is based on denial of the truth, upon lies and misdirection, Isaiah suggests that God’s reign will be built around justice and righteousness. That foundation and cornerstone is solid enough for our salvation.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Joel 2:32). The people looked forward to the Day of the Lord as one in which they would be vindicated, regardless of their unjust practices towards each other. Joel warned that it would be a day of darkness for anyone who ignored God’s law, but that even in the midst of destruction and doom there was hope for those who called upon the name of the Lord.
Frank R.
Luke 4:1-13
If we get a chance to ask our Lord “How did you know that what the devil was offering was a highly destructive temptation?” then certainly Jesus will answer, “Because it was the devil and I could see his lips moving.”
Unfortunately for us, temptation is not as easily identified. We cannot see the devil’s lips moving. How then does one recognize temptation when it presents itself? This passage of scripture is an excellent place to begin answering that question. Jesus’ temptations are models for our temptations. Consider these three categories:
Temptation #1: The offer to turn stones to bread. What a tempting opportunity. If you could do that, you could feed not only yourself, you could also feed the world. Beware! This is the equivalent of the e-mail from the Nigerian prince offering to make you rich. If it sounds too good to be true, it is a temptation to avoid, not an opportunity to pursue.
Temptation #2: “You can rule the world if you just bow down before the evil one.” This is the temptation to believe that the end will always justify the means. Compromising your core values in order to gain a significant reward is not an acceptable opportunity. It is a life-crushing temptation.
Temptation #3: “If you jump off this tower, God will save you and people will be impressed.” Do whatever it takes to get people to like you. Make popularity your highest priority. Never offend anyone.
If the situation promises only popularity, it is probably a temptation, not an opportunity.
R. Robert C.
Luke 4:1-13
Cardinal Josef Mindszenty was arrested by Hungarian authorities on December 26, 1948, because he was an outspoken critic of communism. He spent eight years in prison, always fearful that he would break under torture. For this reason he wrote his mother: “I shall not make a confession. But if despite what I now say you should read that I confessed, and even see it authenticated by my signature, bear in mind it will have been only the result of human frailty.”
Application: Often times when we surrender our beliefs it is not because we do not believe, but because the burden becomes too much.
Ron L.
Luke 4:1-13
We are all tempted. It feels a little better to know that even Jesus was tempted. C.S. Lewis offers an interesting observation in this connection: “A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is.... A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in” (Mere Christianity).
Some Christians err in only facing temptations up to a point. Atlanta megachurch pastor Charles Stanley puts it this way: “Too many Christians have a commitment of convenience. They’ll stay faithful as long as it’s safe and doesn’t involve risk, rejection, or criticism. Instead of standing alone in the face of challenge or temptation, they check to see which way their friends are going.”
There’s no avoiding temptations, Martin Luther says (The Book of Concord [edited by Wengert and Kolb], 454.105). But God will not let us fall, and temptation will meet defeat (Ibid., 455.110-111) like the love in a good marriage always overcomes temptations. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2847) quotes the ancient African theologian Origen to state that temptation reveals to us knowledge of ourselves “and in this way we discover our evil inclinations and are obliged to give thanks for the goods that temptations has revealed to us.” Ultimately we can be sure that God will overcome temptations. Modern evangelical theologian John Piper says it well: “Darkness comes. In the middle of it, the future looks blank.... You will argue with yourself that there is no way forward. But with God nothing is impossible. He has more ropes and ladders and tunnels out of pits than you can conceive.”
Mark E.
