Sermon Illustrations for Lent 3 (2014)
Illustration
Object:
Exodus 17:1-7
Now that the Russians finally got rid of the communist regime, they are complaining that there is no longer any free medical care and no income if they don't have jobs!
That is standard among humans. They were complaining in the U.S. about lack of medical care, but when Congress approves a program, they complain that the program is too expensive for some!
We have all heard about the complaints against the ELCA for its reduction in pension benefits. It doesn't take much searching to find something to complain about.
The list would take too many days to complete! We here in the west were always complaining about the lack of water. Even the Rio Grande was no longer so grand! Someone must have complained to the Lord, because now we are flooding!
How many times has the Lord solved one problem for us and then we have another complaint for him? Where is our faith? Where is our patience?
In spite of their complaints -- or maybe because of them -- Moses goes to find some water. Out of his love, our Lord answered their cry instead of bawling them out for complaining. Notice that they directed their complaint against Moses, not God. They are ready to take their vengeance out against Moses, so Moses turns to the only source we have, our God, and he is given directions to find water. He knows that it ultimately falls on God. He shouts back to them, "Why do you put God to the test?" That's where the buck stops. I hope we know that!
Pastors may also take the brunt of members' complaints. Why aren't we bringing in more new members? Why aren't we increasing the income? We complain against the synod for the same reason. We wouldn't dare go over their heads and blame God! But as Moses says, we are putting God to the test. The question we may have after reading this is: Would God let them die of thirst in they didn't complain and ask for an answer? How long must they wait? Is God testing them? We have to be careful about the lesson here that if we complain loud enough, our prayers may be answered but God will not be happy.
Moses brought witnesses to see water come when his staff hit the rock. He wanted all of them to know who answered their "prayers." He wanted them to know that it was the Lord who was among them.
He is among us also. The Lord has done so many things for us. How can we doubt that he will give us what we need? As Jesus also said, "If we ask our Father for bread, will he give us a stone?" I think God gives us some periods of doubt and problems to test our faith and to see if we are only concerned about ourselves and can't wait for his good timing.
Bob O.
Romans 5:1-11
This scripture deals with expectations of faith, praise, sacrifice, and hope. God gives us the power to overcome obstacles that would hinder our vision or expectations. Dr. Charles Spurgeon was talking to a minister, "feeling him out" about his ministry and asked, "Young man, you really don't expect much to happen in your pastorate, do you?" The minister replied, "Well... no... not really." Spurgeon looked him in the eyes and said, "Then you won't see much happen either!"
Ask God to give you a high expectation of what can occur as you put your faith in him. Praise him to the fullest extent possible. Sacrifice for the sake of others. Hope in him for abundant life, now and for eternity!
Derl K.
Romans 5:1-11
A friend of mine told me why he will not do online dating. He offered me a new insight when he told me that the descriptive postings are what the individual desires to be, rather than who the individual really is.
Application: It takes a great deal of character to accept an accurate self-assessment of ourselves.
Ron L.
Romans 5:1-11
Paul says that even while enemies of God we were reconciled to him through Christ (v. 10). And we are his enemies. Famed Puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards well described us in our enmity to God: "They count him [God] worthy neither to be loved nor feared... They value one of their equals much more than God..." (Works, Vol. 2, p. 131).
We do not want to see ourselves as enemies of God. We prefer to focus on our faith, to tell ourselves and everyone else how good and faithful we are. Martin Luther puts us in our place: "But in our day the hypocrites and legalists swell up with horrifying pride and think that they are now saved and sufficiently righteous because they believe in Christ, but they are unwilling to be considered unrighteous or regarded as fools" (Luther's Works, Vol. 25, p. 287).
"Every statement in scripture and every action of God has the purpose of changing this mind" [so we see ourselves as sinners] (Ibid., p. 218). In view of our enmity to God, our faith does not mean much. It is as Luther says, "Faith makes the dwelling place, but Christ the protection and the aid" (Ibid., p. 286). It is Christ, not faith, that saves.
Mark E.
Romans 5:1-11
When demanding fair pay for hard work, we often say that a person should get what they deserve. Oddly, we use those same words when it comes time to sentence a convicted criminal. It is only fair when we get what we deserve. We call that justice. When you get better than you deserve, it is not justice at all. Instead, it's what we call mercy. God is not fair. God is merciful.
OR
A billboard for a hospital with the word "mercy" in its name once encouraged drivers-by to go to that hospital with the words "you deserve mercy." If you deserve it, it's not mercy.
Scott B.
John 4:5-42
How many times has God put us in situations that we might not think are kosher? When I was a jail chaplain, some thought I was wasting my time with those evil people. But then, Jesus hung out with an unacceptable crowd quite often -- like tax collectors and sinners -- and he was condemned.
No, I can't say the Lord gave me prophecies about the prisoners I talked with, but after a year or two of service I heard enough similar stories so that I sometimes finished a fellow's confession and surprised him. "How did you know that?" he would respond. I did the same in marriage counseling, where the disagreements were sometimes so similar that I surprised them by finishing their story. Sometimes those insights I had opened them up to share many more problems in their marriage which they were reluctant to offer before. Jesus had more than just insights learned from years of experience! Sometimes the Lord may give your pastor those insights also. It can give you a real shock! It can also be embarrassing!
Yes, people are different, but the similarities between people are the things that books are written about. There would be no point in studying psychology if everyone's situation were totally different. Sometimes different cultures can make analyses different. Marriage traditions are different in Asian countries. They were in Nepal when I lived there. There were different taboos. Some rebelled in private to me if they were in an arranged marriage. They were afraid of hurting their parents or breaking their age-old traditions.
Hindus had a great division between Brahmins and lower castes. They felt their god had separated them for a reason because some people were inferior to others at birth. It was like a breath of fresh air to them when they became Christian and all could love each other. We still sent high caste to call on high-caste prospects -- they could call on any caste! Then when they converted, they set that prejudice aside -- forever!
Jesus loved to show people that God loved Samaritans as much as he loved standard Jews! This often ruffled some feathers in high places. It can be harder to break tradition than to be in conflict with the commands of the Bible! Jesus always seemed to be in conflict with the age-old traditions!
Often prisoners are surprised that I should care about them. I try to point out that it is God who cares about them, and I am just his messenger.
I saw a man in rags with his toes sticking out of his shoes in one community where I served. I passed him in a hurry, but then it occurred to me that God loved him as much as God loved me! God loves everyone, regardless of the color of their skin or their financial status -- or their denomination! Remember that!
Bob O.
Now that the Russians finally got rid of the communist regime, they are complaining that there is no longer any free medical care and no income if they don't have jobs!
That is standard among humans. They were complaining in the U.S. about lack of medical care, but when Congress approves a program, they complain that the program is too expensive for some!
We have all heard about the complaints against the ELCA for its reduction in pension benefits. It doesn't take much searching to find something to complain about.
The list would take too many days to complete! We here in the west were always complaining about the lack of water. Even the Rio Grande was no longer so grand! Someone must have complained to the Lord, because now we are flooding!
How many times has the Lord solved one problem for us and then we have another complaint for him? Where is our faith? Where is our patience?
In spite of their complaints -- or maybe because of them -- Moses goes to find some water. Out of his love, our Lord answered their cry instead of bawling them out for complaining. Notice that they directed their complaint against Moses, not God. They are ready to take their vengeance out against Moses, so Moses turns to the only source we have, our God, and he is given directions to find water. He knows that it ultimately falls on God. He shouts back to them, "Why do you put God to the test?" That's where the buck stops. I hope we know that!
Pastors may also take the brunt of members' complaints. Why aren't we bringing in more new members? Why aren't we increasing the income? We complain against the synod for the same reason. We wouldn't dare go over their heads and blame God! But as Moses says, we are putting God to the test. The question we may have after reading this is: Would God let them die of thirst in they didn't complain and ask for an answer? How long must they wait? Is God testing them? We have to be careful about the lesson here that if we complain loud enough, our prayers may be answered but God will not be happy.
Moses brought witnesses to see water come when his staff hit the rock. He wanted all of them to know who answered their "prayers." He wanted them to know that it was the Lord who was among them.
He is among us also. The Lord has done so many things for us. How can we doubt that he will give us what we need? As Jesus also said, "If we ask our Father for bread, will he give us a stone?" I think God gives us some periods of doubt and problems to test our faith and to see if we are only concerned about ourselves and can't wait for his good timing.
Bob O.
Romans 5:1-11
This scripture deals with expectations of faith, praise, sacrifice, and hope. God gives us the power to overcome obstacles that would hinder our vision or expectations. Dr. Charles Spurgeon was talking to a minister, "feeling him out" about his ministry and asked, "Young man, you really don't expect much to happen in your pastorate, do you?" The minister replied, "Well... no... not really." Spurgeon looked him in the eyes and said, "Then you won't see much happen either!"
Ask God to give you a high expectation of what can occur as you put your faith in him. Praise him to the fullest extent possible. Sacrifice for the sake of others. Hope in him for abundant life, now and for eternity!
Derl K.
Romans 5:1-11
A friend of mine told me why he will not do online dating. He offered me a new insight when he told me that the descriptive postings are what the individual desires to be, rather than who the individual really is.
Application: It takes a great deal of character to accept an accurate self-assessment of ourselves.
Ron L.
Romans 5:1-11
Paul says that even while enemies of God we were reconciled to him through Christ (v. 10). And we are his enemies. Famed Puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards well described us in our enmity to God: "They count him [God] worthy neither to be loved nor feared... They value one of their equals much more than God..." (Works, Vol. 2, p. 131).
We do not want to see ourselves as enemies of God. We prefer to focus on our faith, to tell ourselves and everyone else how good and faithful we are. Martin Luther puts us in our place: "But in our day the hypocrites and legalists swell up with horrifying pride and think that they are now saved and sufficiently righteous because they believe in Christ, but they are unwilling to be considered unrighteous or regarded as fools" (Luther's Works, Vol. 25, p. 287).
"Every statement in scripture and every action of God has the purpose of changing this mind" [so we see ourselves as sinners] (Ibid., p. 218). In view of our enmity to God, our faith does not mean much. It is as Luther says, "Faith makes the dwelling place, but Christ the protection and the aid" (Ibid., p. 286). It is Christ, not faith, that saves.
Mark E.
Romans 5:1-11
When demanding fair pay for hard work, we often say that a person should get what they deserve. Oddly, we use those same words when it comes time to sentence a convicted criminal. It is only fair when we get what we deserve. We call that justice. When you get better than you deserve, it is not justice at all. Instead, it's what we call mercy. God is not fair. God is merciful.
OR
A billboard for a hospital with the word "mercy" in its name once encouraged drivers-by to go to that hospital with the words "you deserve mercy." If you deserve it, it's not mercy.
Scott B.
John 4:5-42
How many times has God put us in situations that we might not think are kosher? When I was a jail chaplain, some thought I was wasting my time with those evil people. But then, Jesus hung out with an unacceptable crowd quite often -- like tax collectors and sinners -- and he was condemned.
No, I can't say the Lord gave me prophecies about the prisoners I talked with, but after a year or two of service I heard enough similar stories so that I sometimes finished a fellow's confession and surprised him. "How did you know that?" he would respond. I did the same in marriage counseling, where the disagreements were sometimes so similar that I surprised them by finishing their story. Sometimes those insights I had opened them up to share many more problems in their marriage which they were reluctant to offer before. Jesus had more than just insights learned from years of experience! Sometimes the Lord may give your pastor those insights also. It can give you a real shock! It can also be embarrassing!
Yes, people are different, but the similarities between people are the things that books are written about. There would be no point in studying psychology if everyone's situation were totally different. Sometimes different cultures can make analyses different. Marriage traditions are different in Asian countries. They were in Nepal when I lived there. There were different taboos. Some rebelled in private to me if they were in an arranged marriage. They were afraid of hurting their parents or breaking their age-old traditions.
Hindus had a great division between Brahmins and lower castes. They felt their god had separated them for a reason because some people were inferior to others at birth. It was like a breath of fresh air to them when they became Christian and all could love each other. We still sent high caste to call on high-caste prospects -- they could call on any caste! Then when they converted, they set that prejudice aside -- forever!
Jesus loved to show people that God loved Samaritans as much as he loved standard Jews! This often ruffled some feathers in high places. It can be harder to break tradition than to be in conflict with the commands of the Bible! Jesus always seemed to be in conflict with the age-old traditions!
Often prisoners are surprised that I should care about them. I try to point out that it is God who cares about them, and I am just his messenger.
I saw a man in rags with his toes sticking out of his shoes in one community where I served. I passed him in a hurry, but then it occurred to me that God loved him as much as God loved me! God loves everyone, regardless of the color of their skin or their financial status -- or their denomination! Remember that!
Bob O.
