Sermon Illustrations For Lent 4 (2023)
Illustration
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Sometimes the most unlikely among us is called by God. This is the case with Jesse’s sons — it was not the oldest, the strongest, the most capable — rather it was David, the youngest, the one left behind to tend the flock, that was called by God. Our humanness judges differently. We sometime look for the strongest, the most experienced, and sometimes the best person to undertake the word of God, the actions of faith, is the least among us — the person we would never expect. I remember when I told former high school classmates that I was going into the ministry as a second career, many of them scoffed and couldn’t imagine that. Music maybe, teaching yes, but the ministry — no way! And yet here I am twenty years later experiencing the joy in answering this call. Look around — who is being called by God that you have dismissed before? Maybe you shouldn’t.
Bonnie B.
* * *
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Given our socio-political chaos there is a lot of talk about the need for new leaders. There is a feeling out there that we need more Samuels to find us better leaders. Ben Carson who served in the Trump cabinet put it this way:
We need to understand that we are not each other’s enemies in this country. And it is only the political class that derives its power by creating friction. It is only the media that derives its importance by creating friction... that uses every little thing to create this chasm between people. This is not who we are.
We crave the kind of leadership that ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu called us to:
A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim is fulfilled, they will say: We did it ourselves.
Our lesson gives us hope, even the promise, that God will raise up the kind of leaders we need. Sothern Baptist Convention mega-church pastor Matt Chandler put it this way:
God ultimately raises up leaders for one primary reason: his glory. He shows his power in our weakness. He demonstrates his wisdom in our folly. We are all like a turtle on a fence post. If you walk by a fence post and see a turtle on top of it, then you know someone came by and put it there. In the same way, God gives leadership according to his good pleasure.” (Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church)
Mark E.
* * *
1 Samuel 16:1-13
There’s a great scene near the beginning of Samuel Beckett’s classic play, “Waiting for Godot.” Two tramps, Vladimir and Estragon, are waiting by the side of a country road for a man named Godot who (spoiler alert!) never arrives. To help pass the time, Vladimir tries to start a conversation about how only one of the four evangelists talks about a thief being saved. “The four of them were there — or thereabouts — and only one speaks of a thief being saved.” Why is that? he wonders. Estragon is bored by it all and finally says, “They don’t agree, and that’s all there is to it!”
Maybe that’s the best we can say for biblical contradictions when we find them. Certainly, one of the more puzzling ones is the present passage, in which “Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel….” (1 Samuel 16:10) only to discover there is one more, an eighth, the youngest, out keeping the sheep, David, destined to become king.
The author of Samuel and Kings wrote this history after Jerusalem fell and while the people were in exile in Babylon. The historian known as the chronicler wrote after the people had returned from Babylon. In his listing of the sons of Jesse he writes: “Jesse became the father of Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh….” (1 Chronicles 2:13-15)
Maybe the best we can say is “They don’t agree, and that’s all there is to it.”
Frank R.
* * *
Ephesians 5:8-14
Digital cameras, such as those we have in our phone, record what is “seen” through a series of ones and zeros. But many of us can think back to when photographs were recorded on film. When the film was exposed, the true image was revealed. In this passage the apostle uses the Greek word elegxho which means exposed, because we who believe in Jesus “are light” and therefore we are to “walk as children of light….” (5:8) We are the light that will “expose” “the unfruitful works of darkness….” (5:11) for what they are. After all, “…everything exposed by the light becomes visible….” (5:13). Not only are we to expose the works of darkness, but also to interpret their significance. That verb, by the way, has several shades of meaning as revealed in common usage in everyday affairs, including “convict, “condemn.” “give evidence,” and “state the facts.”
Frank R.
* * *
Ephesians 5:8-14
This anecdotal story about President Abraham Lincoln is unattributed, but reflective of his attitude. During the Civil War, President Lincoln is said to have met with a group of ministers for a prayer breakfast. One of the ministers reportedly said, “Mr. President, let us pray that God is on our side”. What Lincoln allegedly replied was, “No, gentlemen, let us pray that we are on God’s side.”
“Pray that we are on God’s side.” That’s powerful advice and connects with what Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus and the churches of the surrounding area. He reminds them that they were once in darkness, but now are in the light. Verse ten is direct. “Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.” What Christians do, even in the darkness away from others, will be made visible. Do our actions match our profession? Are we on God’s side?
Bill T.
* * *
John 9:1-41
This is a text about Jesus’ love and compassion. On this subject Martin Luther once compared Christ’s love to the light of the sun which “will not refuse to shine because I am lazy and would gladly sleep an hour or two longer.” (Complete Sermons, Vol.2/1, p.347) When you get exposed to this kind of love it sets you and your will on fire, the famed theologian Augustine once said. As he put it:
And consequently, a good will, by which we love God. cannot be in man, save in whom God also worketh to will. This good will therefore, that is, a will faithfully subjected to God, a will set on fire by sanctity of that ardor which is above, a will which loves God and his neighbor for God’s sake... is the love of God. (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol.3, p.534)
John Calvin advises us to take lessons from the healed blind man in responding to God’s love in Christ. He advised that “In short, as soon as God enlightens us by calling us, we ought to make no delay, that the opportunity may not be lost.” (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.XVII/2, p.368)
Mark E.
* * *
John 9:1-41
I came across an article from a Fox News report first published on May 1, 2013. It described how a Michigan company had decided to reach out to baseball fans and offer them a product that would be a final testimony of their allegiance to their team. They are selling MLB themed caskets! That was one of the more unusual products I have ever seen advertised. A person would have to be incredibly loyal to his or her favorite team to order one.
Looking at the ads for these caskets made me think a little about loyalty. I don’t think my support for the Kansas City Royals is so strong that I want to be ushered off into eternity in a Royals casket, but it did make me wonder to what or who am I loyal?
In this text, the blind man encountered Jesus and received his sight. Despite relentless attacks by the religious leaders, he remained loyal to the facts and the one thing he knew. He made it clear. “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” He knew the truth and who did it. The formerly blind man concluded his argument, “ If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
Knowing what we know and who we know and standing by it. That’s what matters.
Bill T.
* * *
John 9:1-41
John shares with us miracles of giving sight, blindness Jesus cured. Those around him cannot believe this to be true. It cannot be a miracle, miracles performed by this itinerant preacher and prophet — this poor man from Nazareth. How can this be? It’s not real. “You’ve been deceiving us” is the claim made. How often in our lives do we discount the miracle? How often do we write it off to coincidence or happenstance? Do you really believe in your soul that miracles happen? Can you wrap your head around the fact that God can still act in the world? It is not punishment when things don’t turn out the way we wish, but it may not be coincidence when the miracle happens. God knows there have been miracles I have witnessed in my own life — cancer remission for years, survival of fires and accidents, even being fired. I do not discount that Jesus heals, that God works in the world. I hope you do not discount it either.
Bonnie B.
Sometimes the most unlikely among us is called by God. This is the case with Jesse’s sons — it was not the oldest, the strongest, the most capable — rather it was David, the youngest, the one left behind to tend the flock, that was called by God. Our humanness judges differently. We sometime look for the strongest, the most experienced, and sometimes the best person to undertake the word of God, the actions of faith, is the least among us — the person we would never expect. I remember when I told former high school classmates that I was going into the ministry as a second career, many of them scoffed and couldn’t imagine that. Music maybe, teaching yes, but the ministry — no way! And yet here I am twenty years later experiencing the joy in answering this call. Look around — who is being called by God that you have dismissed before? Maybe you shouldn’t.
Bonnie B.
* * *
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Given our socio-political chaos there is a lot of talk about the need for new leaders. There is a feeling out there that we need more Samuels to find us better leaders. Ben Carson who served in the Trump cabinet put it this way:
We need to understand that we are not each other’s enemies in this country. And it is only the political class that derives its power by creating friction. It is only the media that derives its importance by creating friction... that uses every little thing to create this chasm between people. This is not who we are.
We crave the kind of leadership that ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu called us to:
A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim is fulfilled, they will say: We did it ourselves.
Our lesson gives us hope, even the promise, that God will raise up the kind of leaders we need. Sothern Baptist Convention mega-church pastor Matt Chandler put it this way:
God ultimately raises up leaders for one primary reason: his glory. He shows his power in our weakness. He demonstrates his wisdom in our folly. We are all like a turtle on a fence post. If you walk by a fence post and see a turtle on top of it, then you know someone came by and put it there. In the same way, God gives leadership according to his good pleasure.” (Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church)
Mark E.
* * *
1 Samuel 16:1-13
There’s a great scene near the beginning of Samuel Beckett’s classic play, “Waiting for Godot.” Two tramps, Vladimir and Estragon, are waiting by the side of a country road for a man named Godot who (spoiler alert!) never arrives. To help pass the time, Vladimir tries to start a conversation about how only one of the four evangelists talks about a thief being saved. “The four of them were there — or thereabouts — and only one speaks of a thief being saved.” Why is that? he wonders. Estragon is bored by it all and finally says, “They don’t agree, and that’s all there is to it!”
Maybe that’s the best we can say for biblical contradictions when we find them. Certainly, one of the more puzzling ones is the present passage, in which “Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel….” (1 Samuel 16:10) only to discover there is one more, an eighth, the youngest, out keeping the sheep, David, destined to become king.
The author of Samuel and Kings wrote this history after Jerusalem fell and while the people were in exile in Babylon. The historian known as the chronicler wrote after the people had returned from Babylon. In his listing of the sons of Jesse he writes: “Jesse became the father of Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh….” (1 Chronicles 2:13-15)
Maybe the best we can say is “They don’t agree, and that’s all there is to it.”
Frank R.
* * *
Ephesians 5:8-14
Digital cameras, such as those we have in our phone, record what is “seen” through a series of ones and zeros. But many of us can think back to when photographs were recorded on film. When the film was exposed, the true image was revealed. In this passage the apostle uses the Greek word elegxho which means exposed, because we who believe in Jesus “are light” and therefore we are to “walk as children of light….” (5:8) We are the light that will “expose” “the unfruitful works of darkness….” (5:11) for what they are. After all, “…everything exposed by the light becomes visible….” (5:13). Not only are we to expose the works of darkness, but also to interpret their significance. That verb, by the way, has several shades of meaning as revealed in common usage in everyday affairs, including “convict, “condemn.” “give evidence,” and “state the facts.”
Frank R.
* * *
Ephesians 5:8-14
This anecdotal story about President Abraham Lincoln is unattributed, but reflective of his attitude. During the Civil War, President Lincoln is said to have met with a group of ministers for a prayer breakfast. One of the ministers reportedly said, “Mr. President, let us pray that God is on our side”. What Lincoln allegedly replied was, “No, gentlemen, let us pray that we are on God’s side.”
“Pray that we are on God’s side.” That’s powerful advice and connects with what Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus and the churches of the surrounding area. He reminds them that they were once in darkness, but now are in the light. Verse ten is direct. “Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.” What Christians do, even in the darkness away from others, will be made visible. Do our actions match our profession? Are we on God’s side?
Bill T.
* * *
John 9:1-41
This is a text about Jesus’ love and compassion. On this subject Martin Luther once compared Christ’s love to the light of the sun which “will not refuse to shine because I am lazy and would gladly sleep an hour or two longer.” (Complete Sermons, Vol.2/1, p.347) When you get exposed to this kind of love it sets you and your will on fire, the famed theologian Augustine once said. As he put it:
And consequently, a good will, by which we love God. cannot be in man, save in whom God also worketh to will. This good will therefore, that is, a will faithfully subjected to God, a will set on fire by sanctity of that ardor which is above, a will which loves God and his neighbor for God’s sake... is the love of God. (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol.3, p.534)
John Calvin advises us to take lessons from the healed blind man in responding to God’s love in Christ. He advised that “In short, as soon as God enlightens us by calling us, we ought to make no delay, that the opportunity may not be lost.” (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.XVII/2, p.368)
Mark E.
* * *
John 9:1-41
I came across an article from a Fox News report first published on May 1, 2013. It described how a Michigan company had decided to reach out to baseball fans and offer them a product that would be a final testimony of their allegiance to their team. They are selling MLB themed caskets! That was one of the more unusual products I have ever seen advertised. A person would have to be incredibly loyal to his or her favorite team to order one.
Looking at the ads for these caskets made me think a little about loyalty. I don’t think my support for the Kansas City Royals is so strong that I want to be ushered off into eternity in a Royals casket, but it did make me wonder to what or who am I loyal?
In this text, the blind man encountered Jesus and received his sight. Despite relentless attacks by the religious leaders, he remained loyal to the facts and the one thing he knew. He made it clear. “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” He knew the truth and who did it. The formerly blind man concluded his argument, “ If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
Knowing what we know and who we know and standing by it. That’s what matters.
Bill T.
* * *
John 9:1-41
John shares with us miracles of giving sight, blindness Jesus cured. Those around him cannot believe this to be true. It cannot be a miracle, miracles performed by this itinerant preacher and prophet — this poor man from Nazareth. How can this be? It’s not real. “You’ve been deceiving us” is the claim made. How often in our lives do we discount the miracle? How often do we write it off to coincidence or happenstance? Do you really believe in your soul that miracles happen? Can you wrap your head around the fact that God can still act in the world? It is not punishment when things don’t turn out the way we wish, but it may not be coincidence when the miracle happens. God knows there have been miracles I have witnessed in my own life — cancer remission for years, survival of fires and accidents, even being fired. I do not discount that Jesus heals, that God works in the world. I hope you do not discount it either.
Bonnie B.
