Sermon Illustrations for Lent 2 (2016)
Illustration
Object:
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
I don’t know about you, but I like watch game shows on television. There are all kinds of them. Some are simply games of luck; others require great knowledge. Some rely on quick reflexes, and others are just goofy. One of the “goofier” but fun ones is Let’s Make a Deal. You remember how it goes. The host (on the original version it was Monty Hall) selects a contestant from those in the studio audience who all dressed up in strange costumes hoping to get attention and be chosen. Once the host picks a contestant, they are offered a deal. The host says something like “I’ll give you $50, or you can have what’s behind curtain number three.” The contestant then decides whether he or she wants the money or the prize behind the curtain. It was always fun to see those who make good deals and those who made bad deals.
In this text we have God and Abram making a deal. It is not anything like a deal on a game show. This covenant is one of the biggest moments in history. God announces that Abram will have a blood descendant, and that God will give his descendants land (the boundaries of which he describes). God has chosen a people. He has promised them land. As we read the description of all the things that happened to signify this covenant, it is a bit unusual and maybe even scary. The scene, however, evokes respect, dignity, and honor. God is entering into a promise agreement with a man. I can’t imagine what Abram must’ve thought. I feel pretty sure, though, that Abram was not entertaining the idea of exchanging this deal for what’s behind door number two. I wonder, though, if we on occasion do just that. Would we exchange God’s promises for what’s behind the curtain?
Bill T.
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Abram was living in fear, fear that he had been led astray, that his descendants would not exist. He was ready to give his inheritance away to another. Abram forgot to trust God. Trust in the face of fear is difficult. Recently I was reminded of this story (whose source is not known to me).
Uncle Oscar was apprehensive about his first airplane ride. His friends, eager to hear how it went, asked if he enjoyed the flight. “Well,” commented Uncle Oscar, “it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be, but I’ll tell you this. I never did put all my weight down!”
Friends, if we are to trust God, we need to put our weight down and rest in the embrace of God. I believe the opposite of fear is not courage, but trust. This Lenten season, try to let go of fear and to live in trust.
Bonnie B.
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
God’s answer to Abram’s understandable impatience with the seeming delay in the fulfillment of the promise he and Sarai had received is to invite the patriarch to join him in a mysterious ceremony that reconfirms their covenant. Opinions differ, but the part of the ritual of “cutting” a covenant (we speak of cutting a check) in this case involved literally cutting the slaughtered sacrifice in half. The message was, “May this happen to me if I do not keep up my end of the bargain.” This seems to be a rather audacious thing for God to do, but it is akin to God accepting the bet of the Adversary in the story of Job. When Job refused to curse God at the end of the first chapter, the Adversary returns and ups the ante. “Skin for skin,” he dares God (Job 2:4). Once again, opinions differ as to whether this is part of a bet between God and the Adversary -- whoever loses will lose existence, but note that after chapter 2 it’s all about Job and God. The Adversary is no longer a part of the drama.
Frank R.
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
I wonder what I would have said to the Lord if he gave me such a promise. Like me, Abraham was an old man (and so was his wife, I believe). I am 88 and don’t look for any more offspring. I have seven children and no servant will inherit, but when the Lord makes us a promise that seems impossible, will we believe him?
Abraham left his native land because he followed God’s command. It must have been hard enough to leave the country he grew up in, but now God suggested an impossible promise. If Abraham had not believed that promise, we might not be sitting here in this church. Not only did God promise a son, but he showed Abraham that he would be the ancestor of millions!
Lent is a time when we must look in our hearts and see if we are ready to believe all that God has in store for those who believe! It may be hard for some to believe, but only God can give us faith through his Holy Spirit. Sometimes God gives us little tests for our faith. It was a strange one for Abraham (and fortunately is not likely to be given to us), but God can still test our faith! Can we survive anything he may send? Lent is a time of testing for all of us.
God’s promise sounds like the “manifest destiny” of America’s history, in which we took over the whole western part of our country. God answered Abraham’s promise -- and ours!
Bob O.
Philippians 3:17--4:1
He is a responsible citizen who lives on a quiet cul-de-sac. After intensely studying the issues, he never misses an opportunity to vote for candidates who support “liberty and justice for all.” He willingly pays his taxes. He cares for his property by keeping the lawn mowed and the house painted. He always carries a plastic waste bag while walking the family dog. He avoids tobacco, seldom touches alcohol, and shuns fatty foods while exercising regularly. Because he is honest in business, he always puts his customers’ needs first. As a leader of his church, he regularly attends worship services and teaches Sunday school. Far and wide, he has a reputation for being a loving and faithful husband and father. This man does everything decently and in good order. He is a regularly nominated for his community’s “Good Citizenship Award.”
The problem is that occasionally he abandons his responsible citizen behaviors. It began a few years ago after he saw a television advertisement. There was a distant city that offered an opportunity to visit, jettison all the hometown standards of good behavior, and yield to any passion short of a felony. When you return home, your visit will be kept a secret. The promise of this city is that the meaning of citizenship is different there.
In this reading, Paul makes clear that as people of faith we are citizens of heaven. This means that we are to live by a higher standard of behavior. We cannot abandon that citizenship on occasion, even if we are promised that it will be kept a secret.
R. Robert C.
Philippians 3:17--4:1
I remember a story -- as clearly as if it were told today -- that my pastor shared during a sermon when I was in elementary school. I do not remember the sermon, but I clearly remember the minister and the story -- and the story, of course, has always carried with it the sermon’s message. The reverend spoke of when he was a navy chaplain, and a terrible storm was approaching his ship that could not be avoided. Accompanying the storm were massive waves and high winds. The captain of the ship told the chaplain that when a storm this fierce approaches, the ship is turned straight into the storm so as to meet the waves head-on. The ship could not outrun the storm, and confronting the waves in any other direction, such as sideways or from the rear, would cause it to capsize. The preacher then shared how this became for him a lesson in life -- that we are to meet our problems head-on. We cannot run from them. We cannot sidestep them. Instead we must confront them directly. And with the assurance of the Lord’s presence, we can do so confidently. (Note: You can personalize this illustration by substituting the words “somebody I know told me...” or “I read about...” for the first-person pronoun “I.”)
Application: As citizens of heaven, we can confront our problems straight on.
Ron L.
Philippians 3:17--4:1
Cross-bearing is not very popular among Americans. It goes against our desire for instant gratification (see the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project), illustrated by the success of prosperity gospel preaching in many of our member churches. We seem to be like the enemies of the cross of Christ described by our lesson (v. 18). John Calvin nicely explains this phrase. He claims it is living by carnal affections, thinking of nothing but the world (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol. XXI/2, p. 106).
In fact, crosses are good for faith, make us all the more dependent on God. It is like the 17th-century Scottish clergyman Samuel Rutherford once put it: “How soon would faith freeze without a cross.” They get us to stop thinking about ourselves. Paul refers to our being transformed so that we may be conformed to Christ’s Body. Medieval mystic Bernard of Clairvaux compares this to a marriage, in which the couples are transformed by living with each other: “And the mutual sweet affection between the Word and the soul cannot more sweetly be expressed than by thus calling them the Bridegroom and the Bride. For between bride and bridegroom all is held in common; neither calls anything their own or possesses a single thing the other does not share. They have but one inheritance, one home, and one couch; they are in fact one flesh” (Readings in Christian Thought, p. 97).
When events in life and the love of your lover make your selfish agenda get out of the way, that makes for a better marriage with an earthly spouse, a better marriage with Jesus.
Mark E.
Luke 13:31-35
Lament is a powerful tool for the release of grief and pain. Often we encourage people to “get over it” when they are grieving. Yet there is no getting over the pain and loss -- there is only a getting through. As a pastor, I remember counseling a widow who after five years was still deeply in grief at the loss of her husband. I asked her how long she had loved her husband. She replied, “Forty years, until he died.” As I held her hand and prayed with her in celebration of her 45 years of love, I reminded her, and myself, that love doesn’t end when someone is no longer physically present to us, that actually love never ends.
Jesus is lamenting over Jerusalem, a city that has killed and destroyed the lives of prophets. Jesus is grieving for the lost prophets, the lost teachings, and the whole of the city. Jesus expresses his love through this lament. He laments, and his desire is to protect the children of Jerusalem from more loss. Who or what do you need to lament for this day? Let the loss be expressed. Move into the emotion and let it out. Grief unexpressed causes only more pain. If Jesus could lament, you can as well.
Bonnie B.
Luke 13:31-35
They just didn’t get it. “One Tin Soldier” was a hit song in 1971, and was also the theme song for the movie Billy Jack. I’m not necessarily supporting the movie or the group that sang the song, but the words to that song have always struck me. The lyrics speak of a mountain kingdom with a secret treasure buried there. The people of the valley wanted the treasure, and would go to any means necessary to get it. Here are the final three haunting stanzas:
Came an answer from the kingdom,
“With our brothers we will share
All the secrets of our mountain,
All the riches buried there.”
Now the valley cried with anger,
“Mount your horses! Draw your sword!”
And they killed the mountain-people,
So they won their just reward.
Now they stood beside the treasure,
On the mountain, dark and red.
Turned the stone and looked beneath it...
“Peace on Earth” was all it said.
In the song, the valley people didn’t get it. They didn’t understand the treasure, and murdered the mountain-people to gain sole possession of it. It is a song that speaks of unimaginable regret and tragedy.
That’s merely a song. How much more tragic and regrettable is the story of Jerusalem? Jesus makes it clear that he longed to love her. He wanted to gather her children as a hen does her brood. Here are the most unfortunate words in the text: “you were not willing.” Jerusalem, who had a history of killing the prophets, would see the death of the perfect Lamb of God. There would come a day when they would recognize him, but for now they just didn’t get it. It was a tragic and regrettable mistake. Do we get it?
Bill T.
Luke 13:31-35
Jesus knew he was walking into danger. He knew his end was coming. Yet he marched bravely on! He was setting an example, but he was also following the example of generations of prophets who died before him.
Notice that some Pharisees were the ones who warned Jesus. That is like Republicans warning Democrats to watch out for danger ahead! Most of them wanted him killed, not warned.
The Bible also says, “Be not afraid, though men may persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely. Rejoice and be glad, for the prophets before you were also persecuted.” In other words, don’t worry about what lies ahead -- even if it looks bad. Just obey the Lord’s leading!
My wife and I were warned about the dangers that lay ahead for many missionaries around the world when we went to Nepal. We saw things happen to some around us when we were there. Some were thrown in prison (including a Norwegian missionary), and two pastors were killed for their faith. Thanks to God, we survived as most of those before us had.
We must be careful as we listen to “prophets” today! Too many are not genuine. (Among the false prophets I’m thinking of are Joseph Smith and Muhammad.) There were many false prophets who lived in Jesus’ day also. They were predicted! Naturally, not all prophets (pastors?) today are evil, so we need God’s Spirit to guide us. That is one great benefit of our church. We have others there who can help us.
Without God’s Holy Spirit and his holy Word (and his church), we might also be led astray. We must keep our ears and our hearts open. If we want to see the Lord, we must say (and believe) that those who bless the name of the Lord will see him come! We all want see him. That is one reason we all show up on Sunday.
Bob O.
Luke 13:31-35
It can be a little confusing with regards to which Herod was which. Herod the Great, the villain of the second chapter of Matthew and the one known for his great architectural works including the completion of the Second Temple, is the father of Herod Antipas, the one referred to in this passage. Herod Antipas ruled Galilee and Peraea from roughly 4 BC to 39 AD, when he was deposed by the emperor Caligula. (It’s another Herod entirely, Herod Agrippa, who is the villain in the Acts of the Apostles).
The contempt with which Jesus holds this Herod is typified by the fact he calls him a fox. In animal fables the lion is a noble creature, and the lion was also the symbol of the nation of Judah. The fox, however, is typically sly and cunning but not admirable. Herod may have all the political power, but he is treated in this text as insignificant. Later, during his trial, Pilate will have Jesus sent over to Herod, in Jerusalem for the festival, because as a Galilean he is technically Herod’s problem. Jesus’ response then (as here) is to treat him with indifference.
Frank R.
I don’t know about you, but I like watch game shows on television. There are all kinds of them. Some are simply games of luck; others require great knowledge. Some rely on quick reflexes, and others are just goofy. One of the “goofier” but fun ones is Let’s Make a Deal. You remember how it goes. The host (on the original version it was Monty Hall) selects a contestant from those in the studio audience who all dressed up in strange costumes hoping to get attention and be chosen. Once the host picks a contestant, they are offered a deal. The host says something like “I’ll give you $50, or you can have what’s behind curtain number three.” The contestant then decides whether he or she wants the money or the prize behind the curtain. It was always fun to see those who make good deals and those who made bad deals.
In this text we have God and Abram making a deal. It is not anything like a deal on a game show. This covenant is one of the biggest moments in history. God announces that Abram will have a blood descendant, and that God will give his descendants land (the boundaries of which he describes). God has chosen a people. He has promised them land. As we read the description of all the things that happened to signify this covenant, it is a bit unusual and maybe even scary. The scene, however, evokes respect, dignity, and honor. God is entering into a promise agreement with a man. I can’t imagine what Abram must’ve thought. I feel pretty sure, though, that Abram was not entertaining the idea of exchanging this deal for what’s behind door number two. I wonder, though, if we on occasion do just that. Would we exchange God’s promises for what’s behind the curtain?
Bill T.
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Abram was living in fear, fear that he had been led astray, that his descendants would not exist. He was ready to give his inheritance away to another. Abram forgot to trust God. Trust in the face of fear is difficult. Recently I was reminded of this story (whose source is not known to me).
Uncle Oscar was apprehensive about his first airplane ride. His friends, eager to hear how it went, asked if he enjoyed the flight. “Well,” commented Uncle Oscar, “it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be, but I’ll tell you this. I never did put all my weight down!”
Friends, if we are to trust God, we need to put our weight down and rest in the embrace of God. I believe the opposite of fear is not courage, but trust. This Lenten season, try to let go of fear and to live in trust.
Bonnie B.
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
God’s answer to Abram’s understandable impatience with the seeming delay in the fulfillment of the promise he and Sarai had received is to invite the patriarch to join him in a mysterious ceremony that reconfirms their covenant. Opinions differ, but the part of the ritual of “cutting” a covenant (we speak of cutting a check) in this case involved literally cutting the slaughtered sacrifice in half. The message was, “May this happen to me if I do not keep up my end of the bargain.” This seems to be a rather audacious thing for God to do, but it is akin to God accepting the bet of the Adversary in the story of Job. When Job refused to curse God at the end of the first chapter, the Adversary returns and ups the ante. “Skin for skin,” he dares God (Job 2:4). Once again, opinions differ as to whether this is part of a bet between God and the Adversary -- whoever loses will lose existence, but note that after chapter 2 it’s all about Job and God. The Adversary is no longer a part of the drama.
Frank R.
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
I wonder what I would have said to the Lord if he gave me such a promise. Like me, Abraham was an old man (and so was his wife, I believe). I am 88 and don’t look for any more offspring. I have seven children and no servant will inherit, but when the Lord makes us a promise that seems impossible, will we believe him?
Abraham left his native land because he followed God’s command. It must have been hard enough to leave the country he grew up in, but now God suggested an impossible promise. If Abraham had not believed that promise, we might not be sitting here in this church. Not only did God promise a son, but he showed Abraham that he would be the ancestor of millions!
Lent is a time when we must look in our hearts and see if we are ready to believe all that God has in store for those who believe! It may be hard for some to believe, but only God can give us faith through his Holy Spirit. Sometimes God gives us little tests for our faith. It was a strange one for Abraham (and fortunately is not likely to be given to us), but God can still test our faith! Can we survive anything he may send? Lent is a time of testing for all of us.
God’s promise sounds like the “manifest destiny” of America’s history, in which we took over the whole western part of our country. God answered Abraham’s promise -- and ours!
Bob O.
Philippians 3:17--4:1
He is a responsible citizen who lives on a quiet cul-de-sac. After intensely studying the issues, he never misses an opportunity to vote for candidates who support “liberty and justice for all.” He willingly pays his taxes. He cares for his property by keeping the lawn mowed and the house painted. He always carries a plastic waste bag while walking the family dog. He avoids tobacco, seldom touches alcohol, and shuns fatty foods while exercising regularly. Because he is honest in business, he always puts his customers’ needs first. As a leader of his church, he regularly attends worship services and teaches Sunday school. Far and wide, he has a reputation for being a loving and faithful husband and father. This man does everything decently and in good order. He is a regularly nominated for his community’s “Good Citizenship Award.”
The problem is that occasionally he abandons his responsible citizen behaviors. It began a few years ago after he saw a television advertisement. There was a distant city that offered an opportunity to visit, jettison all the hometown standards of good behavior, and yield to any passion short of a felony. When you return home, your visit will be kept a secret. The promise of this city is that the meaning of citizenship is different there.
In this reading, Paul makes clear that as people of faith we are citizens of heaven. This means that we are to live by a higher standard of behavior. We cannot abandon that citizenship on occasion, even if we are promised that it will be kept a secret.
R. Robert C.
Philippians 3:17--4:1
I remember a story -- as clearly as if it were told today -- that my pastor shared during a sermon when I was in elementary school. I do not remember the sermon, but I clearly remember the minister and the story -- and the story, of course, has always carried with it the sermon’s message. The reverend spoke of when he was a navy chaplain, and a terrible storm was approaching his ship that could not be avoided. Accompanying the storm were massive waves and high winds. The captain of the ship told the chaplain that when a storm this fierce approaches, the ship is turned straight into the storm so as to meet the waves head-on. The ship could not outrun the storm, and confronting the waves in any other direction, such as sideways or from the rear, would cause it to capsize. The preacher then shared how this became for him a lesson in life -- that we are to meet our problems head-on. We cannot run from them. We cannot sidestep them. Instead we must confront them directly. And with the assurance of the Lord’s presence, we can do so confidently. (Note: You can personalize this illustration by substituting the words “somebody I know told me...” or “I read about...” for the first-person pronoun “I.”)
Application: As citizens of heaven, we can confront our problems straight on.
Ron L.
Philippians 3:17--4:1
Cross-bearing is not very popular among Americans. It goes against our desire for instant gratification (see the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project), illustrated by the success of prosperity gospel preaching in many of our member churches. We seem to be like the enemies of the cross of Christ described by our lesson (v. 18). John Calvin nicely explains this phrase. He claims it is living by carnal affections, thinking of nothing but the world (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol. XXI/2, p. 106).
In fact, crosses are good for faith, make us all the more dependent on God. It is like the 17th-century Scottish clergyman Samuel Rutherford once put it: “How soon would faith freeze without a cross.” They get us to stop thinking about ourselves. Paul refers to our being transformed so that we may be conformed to Christ’s Body. Medieval mystic Bernard of Clairvaux compares this to a marriage, in which the couples are transformed by living with each other: “And the mutual sweet affection between the Word and the soul cannot more sweetly be expressed than by thus calling them the Bridegroom and the Bride. For between bride and bridegroom all is held in common; neither calls anything their own or possesses a single thing the other does not share. They have but one inheritance, one home, and one couch; they are in fact one flesh” (Readings in Christian Thought, p. 97).
When events in life and the love of your lover make your selfish agenda get out of the way, that makes for a better marriage with an earthly spouse, a better marriage with Jesus.
Mark E.
Luke 13:31-35
Lament is a powerful tool for the release of grief and pain. Often we encourage people to “get over it” when they are grieving. Yet there is no getting over the pain and loss -- there is only a getting through. As a pastor, I remember counseling a widow who after five years was still deeply in grief at the loss of her husband. I asked her how long she had loved her husband. She replied, “Forty years, until he died.” As I held her hand and prayed with her in celebration of her 45 years of love, I reminded her, and myself, that love doesn’t end when someone is no longer physically present to us, that actually love never ends.
Jesus is lamenting over Jerusalem, a city that has killed and destroyed the lives of prophets. Jesus is grieving for the lost prophets, the lost teachings, and the whole of the city. Jesus expresses his love through this lament. He laments, and his desire is to protect the children of Jerusalem from more loss. Who or what do you need to lament for this day? Let the loss be expressed. Move into the emotion and let it out. Grief unexpressed causes only more pain. If Jesus could lament, you can as well.
Bonnie B.
Luke 13:31-35
They just didn’t get it. “One Tin Soldier” was a hit song in 1971, and was also the theme song for the movie Billy Jack. I’m not necessarily supporting the movie or the group that sang the song, but the words to that song have always struck me. The lyrics speak of a mountain kingdom with a secret treasure buried there. The people of the valley wanted the treasure, and would go to any means necessary to get it. Here are the final three haunting stanzas:
Came an answer from the kingdom,
“With our brothers we will share
All the secrets of our mountain,
All the riches buried there.”
Now the valley cried with anger,
“Mount your horses! Draw your sword!”
And they killed the mountain-people,
So they won their just reward.
Now they stood beside the treasure,
On the mountain, dark and red.
Turned the stone and looked beneath it...
“Peace on Earth” was all it said.
In the song, the valley people didn’t get it. They didn’t understand the treasure, and murdered the mountain-people to gain sole possession of it. It is a song that speaks of unimaginable regret and tragedy.
That’s merely a song. How much more tragic and regrettable is the story of Jerusalem? Jesus makes it clear that he longed to love her. He wanted to gather her children as a hen does her brood. Here are the most unfortunate words in the text: “you were not willing.” Jerusalem, who had a history of killing the prophets, would see the death of the perfect Lamb of God. There would come a day when they would recognize him, but for now they just didn’t get it. It was a tragic and regrettable mistake. Do we get it?
Bill T.
Luke 13:31-35
Jesus knew he was walking into danger. He knew his end was coming. Yet he marched bravely on! He was setting an example, but he was also following the example of generations of prophets who died before him.
Notice that some Pharisees were the ones who warned Jesus. That is like Republicans warning Democrats to watch out for danger ahead! Most of them wanted him killed, not warned.
The Bible also says, “Be not afraid, though men may persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely. Rejoice and be glad, for the prophets before you were also persecuted.” In other words, don’t worry about what lies ahead -- even if it looks bad. Just obey the Lord’s leading!
My wife and I were warned about the dangers that lay ahead for many missionaries around the world when we went to Nepal. We saw things happen to some around us when we were there. Some were thrown in prison (including a Norwegian missionary), and two pastors were killed for their faith. Thanks to God, we survived as most of those before us had.
We must be careful as we listen to “prophets” today! Too many are not genuine. (Among the false prophets I’m thinking of are Joseph Smith and Muhammad.) There were many false prophets who lived in Jesus’ day also. They were predicted! Naturally, not all prophets (pastors?) today are evil, so we need God’s Spirit to guide us. That is one great benefit of our church. We have others there who can help us.
Without God’s Holy Spirit and his holy Word (and his church), we might also be led astray. We must keep our ears and our hearts open. If we want to see the Lord, we must say (and believe) that those who bless the name of the Lord will see him come! We all want see him. That is one reason we all show up on Sunday.
Bob O.
Luke 13:31-35
It can be a little confusing with regards to which Herod was which. Herod the Great, the villain of the second chapter of Matthew and the one known for his great architectural works including the completion of the Second Temple, is the father of Herod Antipas, the one referred to in this passage. Herod Antipas ruled Galilee and Peraea from roughly 4 BC to 39 AD, when he was deposed by the emperor Caligula. (It’s another Herod entirely, Herod Agrippa, who is the villain in the Acts of the Apostles).
The contempt with which Jesus holds this Herod is typified by the fact he calls him a fox. In animal fables the lion is a noble creature, and the lion was also the symbol of the nation of Judah. The fox, however, is typically sly and cunning but not admirable. Herod may have all the political power, but he is treated in this text as insignificant. Later, during his trial, Pilate will have Jesus sent over to Herod, in Jerusalem for the festival, because as a Galilean he is technically Herod’s problem. Jesus’ response then (as here) is to treat him with indifference.
Frank R.
