Sermon Illustrations for Lent 1 (2018)
Illustration
Genesis 9:8-17
We don’t know all the animals on the ark. Mark Twain thought there should be dinosaurs! Wouldn’t we rather have dinosaurs than some of the more dangerous animals and did he also bring deadly germs with him on the ark? If not, where did they come from?
Some other countries also have a record of great floods. If every living thing was killed, how did some in those countries survive enough to write about the flood? We can get into trouble if we try to be too literal especially with the Old Testament. Like the seven days of creation. Were they seven 24 hour days? Were those seven days 1000 years each, since the Bible says, “A day to the Lord is as a thousand years!?
God has allowed many other great calamities in our world where many were killed, but the rest of us are still alive.
Nepal had a great earthquake where many were killed and much was destroyed, but the survivors saw God’s rainbow when it was over and knew God’s words to Noah, that a total destruction of the world would never happen again.
We are all descendants of Noah. That includes all races: Ham was the father of the black race, for one. That makes us all one! We all are under the covenant God made with Noah. All races were not destroyed in the flood!
We are threatened with floods again because of failure to prevent global warming from raising the ocean level. That may be many years to come, but we should think of it now, just as Noah built the ark before any rain fell. The main comfort we have is God’s covenant that a total disaster will not happen again.
Our church is the best place to see and hear about the rainbow and know that major disasters are over for us if we belong to our God. Even if we die in a minor disaster we still belong to God.
Bob O.
Genesis 9:8-17
Covenant sometimes seems an ancient word. Yet, in my home denomination, the United Church of Christ, we boast a covenantal relationship between the settings of the church. The UCC is not hierarchical. Rather the center of our denomination is the local setting, the local congregation. The other settings, the association, the conference and the national setting, and the local congregation are in covenant with each other, each with a role and each with responsibilities. Local congregations sometimes think of themselves as autonomous because the settings talk TO each other not FOR each other. Being autonomous forgets the covenantal relationship promises we make to one another.
Just as God made a covenant with Noah on behalf of all of creation, we covenant with each other to act with knowledge, respect, understanding and grace. That’s not particularly easy for us humans to do. God does it much better. Today as we remember God’s covenant with creation, let us reflect on the covenantal relationships we are part of and move toward sustaining them with even more integrity.
Bonnie B.
Genesis 9:8-17
This is clearly a text for considering Ecology and Creation. It will be wise to track the follow-up on the controversy over President Trump’s decision to remove the United States from the Paris Climate Accord. About this text and the story of the end of The Flood, Martin Luther claimed that the rainbow should remind us to give thanks to God (Luther’s Works, Vol.2, p.148).
Concerning the beauties of creation, famed pilot Charles Lindbergh offered a penetrating observation in 1967: “In the wilderness I sense the miracle of life, and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia.” His wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh echoed these sentiments, but in such a way as to sensitize Christians to how miraculous God’s ways are in nature:
After all, I didn’t see why I am always asking for private, individual, selfish miracles when every year there are miracles like the white dogwood.
The ancient Roman comedy writer Plautus expressed appreciation of the wonders of creation as well: “The day, water, sun, moon, night -- I do not have to purchase these with money.” Martin Luther well expresses the joy these insights bring:
God wants us to be cheerful and he hates sadness. For had he wanted us to be sad he would not have given us the sun, the moon and the various fruits of the earth. All these he gave for our good cheer. (Weimar Ausgabe, Vol.1, p.52)
Mark E.
1 Peter 3:18-22
The Christian writer C.S. Lewis is best known for books like “The Screwtape Letters,” “Mere Christianity,” the Space Trilogy and the Narnia Chronicles. However, his first book, “Spirits in Bondage: A Cycle of Lyrics,” is largely unknown, even to many of his most ardent fans.
The title of the book comes from 1 Peter 3:18, with its reference, in some translations, to time after the crucifixion, when Jesus preached to the “spirits in bondage,” or the “spirits in prison.”
Lewis was only twenty when his book of poetry was published in 1919. He had only recently returned from the staggering horror of the trench warfare of the First World War. These poems not only recall his experiences in the war, but also his growing belief that if there was a god, it was an angry, heartless being who had no sympathy with the struggles and suffering of human beings. For many years Lewis would hover between agnosticism and atheism, but thanks to the patience of his Christian friends, he himself would eventually find his own spirit delivered from bondage as he rediscovered and embraced Christianity, becoming an ardent spokesman for the faith.
Frank R.
1 Peter 3:18-22
It’s funny the things you notice. There is a sign in almost every restaurant restroom that says, “Employees must wash their hands before returning to work.” I don’t know about you, but I would think that might go without saying, but I’m glad the sign is there, at least as a reminder. Washing our hands is important and nearly every preschool teacher has tried to get children to do it. Here are some tips one school sent to elementary children and parents:
“Wash your hands! How many times did you hear that today? Probably a lot. But why are adults so hung up on hand washing? Why are they so in love with lather? Washing your hands is the best way to stop germs from spreading. Think about all of the things that you touched today -- from the telephone to the toilet. Maybe you blew your nose in a tissue and then went outside to dig around the dirt. Whatever you did today, you came into contact with germs. It's easy for a germ on your hand to end up in your mouth. Think about how many foods you eat with your hands.”
Being clean matters. It’s also important to be clean spiritually. Our text reminds us of this truth. Peter is talking about Jesus and how he died to bring all to God. Upon his death, he revealed himself to those who did not obey God. Peter then references Noah and how he and his family were saved in the ark as they went through the water of the flood. This, he notes, is a prefigure for baptism (our going through the water). It isn’t about the physical cleansing, though. Baptism isn’t about washing the body of dirt. It’s about identifying with Jesus. It’s the pledge of a good conscience to God. It’s the representation of the cleansing of our soul.
Being clean matters; in every way.
Bill T.
Mark 1:9-15
Like Jesus in the Gospel, Martin Luther claimed that “[The Kingdom of God comes] Whenever our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that through His grace we believe His Holy Word and live godly lives here in time and hereafter in eternity.” (The Book of Concord, p.357) We are in the End Times whenever we believe or see good done! There is an awareness of urgency in this viewpoint, a sense that the Kingdom of God may appear in what seems like ordinary events. This seems to be Jesus’ point in the lesson.
Benjamin Franklin espoused such urgency: “You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again.” American preacher Norman Vincent Peale made a similar point: “If you put off everything till you’re sure of it, you’ll never get anything done.” A lifestyle lived with such urgency will be more successful, Alexander Graham Bell thought: “The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action.”
Mark E.
Mark 1:9-15
John was sent into Israel to announce the coming of the savior, and then he died a terrible death. When Jesus the savior came he also died a terrible death.
I’m happy that I, like John, also announced the presence of Jesus, but here I am at 90 and still alive. I did know some in Nepal, when I served there, who were jailed and some died terrible deaths for making that same announcement.
It is good to read about that miraculous event when Jesus was introduced to us on earth, but what does it take to make believers of the people we know today who have doubts? Yes, some witnessed the message from heaven after John’s baptism of Jesus, but still did not believe. Yes some have miraculous introductions to our Lord today, but most only have the message from the pulpit of our church every Sunday or have been introduced to our Lord through the faith of our parents.
There are two steps to come to our Lord: 1. Repent and 2. Believe. Sometimes we reverse that order. Some must “meet” the Lord in their lives before they feel the necessity to repent. Some have trouble believing and getting to know their Lord until they are convicted of their sins and repent.
Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. Most of our temptations are not in one forty day period. Temptations come and go every day, and sometimes by surprise when we least expect them. When we do our income tax we may be tempted to save some money by questionable means. Some may be tempted to cheat on their wife because of a pretty girl they met. I am tempted to curse and swear when I have computer problems! The list could go on forever, so we need to keep the Lord in our heart constantly.
Private prayer is necessary, but sometimes we need the support of Christian friends who can pray with us. That is where our church serves us. Sometimes the spirit may lead us into temptation, so never forget that we belong to God and that only he can save us. He has saved us if accept His sacrifice for us.
Bob O.
Mark 1:9-15
Good news seems so rare these days. Generally, the news is full of the hate, judgment, war and violence in the world. I think it was likely the same for John and for Jesus. The Hebrew people were oppressed by Rome. Their religious leaders were burdening them and often in cahoots with the Roman oppressors. Poverty was common. Sickness seemed a judgment from God, or at least it was interpreted that way. It wasn’t a wonderful time to be a Jew in what is now Israel/Palestine.
Yet into this time and place comes John who baptizes, proclaiming repentance, proclaiming that one greater than he will come into the world. Then Jesus comes to John to be baptized as the heavens open and God’s voice is heard, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." Jesus then wanders into the wilderness to be tempted for forty days. When Jesus returns he doesn’t complain; he doesn’t seem worn out or negative. Rather Jesus proclaims, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
During this challenging time, in this challenging place, God has come near. God is with us. There is good news. Believe it. Proclaim it. Turn around toward it. Maybe that’s what we need to do during Lent -- turn toward the kingdom of God, believe the Good News, and proclaim the Good News everywhere to everyone!
Bonnie B.
We don’t know all the animals on the ark. Mark Twain thought there should be dinosaurs! Wouldn’t we rather have dinosaurs than some of the more dangerous animals and did he also bring deadly germs with him on the ark? If not, where did they come from?
Some other countries also have a record of great floods. If every living thing was killed, how did some in those countries survive enough to write about the flood? We can get into trouble if we try to be too literal especially with the Old Testament. Like the seven days of creation. Were they seven 24 hour days? Were those seven days 1000 years each, since the Bible says, “A day to the Lord is as a thousand years!?
God has allowed many other great calamities in our world where many were killed, but the rest of us are still alive.
Nepal had a great earthquake where many were killed and much was destroyed, but the survivors saw God’s rainbow when it was over and knew God’s words to Noah, that a total destruction of the world would never happen again.
We are all descendants of Noah. That includes all races: Ham was the father of the black race, for one. That makes us all one! We all are under the covenant God made with Noah. All races were not destroyed in the flood!
We are threatened with floods again because of failure to prevent global warming from raising the ocean level. That may be many years to come, but we should think of it now, just as Noah built the ark before any rain fell. The main comfort we have is God’s covenant that a total disaster will not happen again.
Our church is the best place to see and hear about the rainbow and know that major disasters are over for us if we belong to our God. Even if we die in a minor disaster we still belong to God.
Bob O.
Genesis 9:8-17
Covenant sometimes seems an ancient word. Yet, in my home denomination, the United Church of Christ, we boast a covenantal relationship between the settings of the church. The UCC is not hierarchical. Rather the center of our denomination is the local setting, the local congregation. The other settings, the association, the conference and the national setting, and the local congregation are in covenant with each other, each with a role and each with responsibilities. Local congregations sometimes think of themselves as autonomous because the settings talk TO each other not FOR each other. Being autonomous forgets the covenantal relationship promises we make to one another.
Just as God made a covenant with Noah on behalf of all of creation, we covenant with each other to act with knowledge, respect, understanding and grace. That’s not particularly easy for us humans to do. God does it much better. Today as we remember God’s covenant with creation, let us reflect on the covenantal relationships we are part of and move toward sustaining them with even more integrity.
Bonnie B.
Genesis 9:8-17
This is clearly a text for considering Ecology and Creation. It will be wise to track the follow-up on the controversy over President Trump’s decision to remove the United States from the Paris Climate Accord. About this text and the story of the end of The Flood, Martin Luther claimed that the rainbow should remind us to give thanks to God (Luther’s Works, Vol.2, p.148).
Concerning the beauties of creation, famed pilot Charles Lindbergh offered a penetrating observation in 1967: “In the wilderness I sense the miracle of life, and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia.” His wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh echoed these sentiments, but in such a way as to sensitize Christians to how miraculous God’s ways are in nature:
After all, I didn’t see why I am always asking for private, individual, selfish miracles when every year there are miracles like the white dogwood.
The ancient Roman comedy writer Plautus expressed appreciation of the wonders of creation as well: “The day, water, sun, moon, night -- I do not have to purchase these with money.” Martin Luther well expresses the joy these insights bring:
God wants us to be cheerful and he hates sadness. For had he wanted us to be sad he would not have given us the sun, the moon and the various fruits of the earth. All these he gave for our good cheer. (Weimar Ausgabe, Vol.1, p.52)
Mark E.
1 Peter 3:18-22
The Christian writer C.S. Lewis is best known for books like “The Screwtape Letters,” “Mere Christianity,” the Space Trilogy and the Narnia Chronicles. However, his first book, “Spirits in Bondage: A Cycle of Lyrics,” is largely unknown, even to many of his most ardent fans.
The title of the book comes from 1 Peter 3:18, with its reference, in some translations, to time after the crucifixion, when Jesus preached to the “spirits in bondage,” or the “spirits in prison.”
Lewis was only twenty when his book of poetry was published in 1919. He had only recently returned from the staggering horror of the trench warfare of the First World War. These poems not only recall his experiences in the war, but also his growing belief that if there was a god, it was an angry, heartless being who had no sympathy with the struggles and suffering of human beings. For many years Lewis would hover between agnosticism and atheism, but thanks to the patience of his Christian friends, he himself would eventually find his own spirit delivered from bondage as he rediscovered and embraced Christianity, becoming an ardent spokesman for the faith.
Frank R.
1 Peter 3:18-22
It’s funny the things you notice. There is a sign in almost every restaurant restroom that says, “Employees must wash their hands before returning to work.” I don’t know about you, but I would think that might go without saying, but I’m glad the sign is there, at least as a reminder. Washing our hands is important and nearly every preschool teacher has tried to get children to do it. Here are some tips one school sent to elementary children and parents:
“Wash your hands! How many times did you hear that today? Probably a lot. But why are adults so hung up on hand washing? Why are they so in love with lather? Washing your hands is the best way to stop germs from spreading. Think about all of the things that you touched today -- from the telephone to the toilet. Maybe you blew your nose in a tissue and then went outside to dig around the dirt. Whatever you did today, you came into contact with germs. It's easy for a germ on your hand to end up in your mouth. Think about how many foods you eat with your hands.”
Being clean matters. It’s also important to be clean spiritually. Our text reminds us of this truth. Peter is talking about Jesus and how he died to bring all to God. Upon his death, he revealed himself to those who did not obey God. Peter then references Noah and how he and his family were saved in the ark as they went through the water of the flood. This, he notes, is a prefigure for baptism (our going through the water). It isn’t about the physical cleansing, though. Baptism isn’t about washing the body of dirt. It’s about identifying with Jesus. It’s the pledge of a good conscience to God. It’s the representation of the cleansing of our soul.
Being clean matters; in every way.
Bill T.
Mark 1:9-15
Like Jesus in the Gospel, Martin Luther claimed that “[The Kingdom of God comes] Whenever our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that through His grace we believe His Holy Word and live godly lives here in time and hereafter in eternity.” (The Book of Concord, p.357) We are in the End Times whenever we believe or see good done! There is an awareness of urgency in this viewpoint, a sense that the Kingdom of God may appear in what seems like ordinary events. This seems to be Jesus’ point in the lesson.
Benjamin Franklin espoused such urgency: “You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again.” American preacher Norman Vincent Peale made a similar point: “If you put off everything till you’re sure of it, you’ll never get anything done.” A lifestyle lived with such urgency will be more successful, Alexander Graham Bell thought: “The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action.”
Mark E.
Mark 1:9-15
John was sent into Israel to announce the coming of the savior, and then he died a terrible death. When Jesus the savior came he also died a terrible death.
I’m happy that I, like John, also announced the presence of Jesus, but here I am at 90 and still alive. I did know some in Nepal, when I served there, who were jailed and some died terrible deaths for making that same announcement.
It is good to read about that miraculous event when Jesus was introduced to us on earth, but what does it take to make believers of the people we know today who have doubts? Yes, some witnessed the message from heaven after John’s baptism of Jesus, but still did not believe. Yes some have miraculous introductions to our Lord today, but most only have the message from the pulpit of our church every Sunday or have been introduced to our Lord through the faith of our parents.
There are two steps to come to our Lord: 1. Repent and 2. Believe. Sometimes we reverse that order. Some must “meet” the Lord in their lives before they feel the necessity to repent. Some have trouble believing and getting to know their Lord until they are convicted of their sins and repent.
Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. Most of our temptations are not in one forty day period. Temptations come and go every day, and sometimes by surprise when we least expect them. When we do our income tax we may be tempted to save some money by questionable means. Some may be tempted to cheat on their wife because of a pretty girl they met. I am tempted to curse and swear when I have computer problems! The list could go on forever, so we need to keep the Lord in our heart constantly.
Private prayer is necessary, but sometimes we need the support of Christian friends who can pray with us. That is where our church serves us. Sometimes the spirit may lead us into temptation, so never forget that we belong to God and that only he can save us. He has saved us if accept His sacrifice for us.
Bob O.
Mark 1:9-15
Good news seems so rare these days. Generally, the news is full of the hate, judgment, war and violence in the world. I think it was likely the same for John and for Jesus. The Hebrew people were oppressed by Rome. Their religious leaders were burdening them and often in cahoots with the Roman oppressors. Poverty was common. Sickness seemed a judgment from God, or at least it was interpreted that way. It wasn’t a wonderful time to be a Jew in what is now Israel/Palestine.
Yet into this time and place comes John who baptizes, proclaiming repentance, proclaiming that one greater than he will come into the world. Then Jesus comes to John to be baptized as the heavens open and God’s voice is heard, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." Jesus then wanders into the wilderness to be tempted for forty days. When Jesus returns he doesn’t complain; he doesn’t seem worn out or negative. Rather Jesus proclaims, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
During this challenging time, in this challenging place, God has come near. God is with us. There is good news. Believe it. Proclaim it. Turn around toward it. Maybe that’s what we need to do during Lent -- turn toward the kingdom of God, believe the Good News, and proclaim the Good News everywhere to everyone!
Bonnie B.
