Sermon Illustrations for Pentecost (2018)
Illustration
Acts 2:1-21
Pentecost is often associated with the birthday of the Church. The birthday child is not in good shape in America. Over 1 in 4 of us (36% of Democrats) find the church and religious institutions detrimental to American society according to a 2017 Pew Research Center poll. We need to get clear on what the Church’s real role is. Famed modern Reformed theologian Karl Barth explains this well, making clear that the Church can never be concerned about its own business, but only with the business of Jesus:
Martin Luther reminds us that the Church relies totally on Christ, that the foibles and mistakes of its members do not stop the Church from being the Church”
Elsewhere Luther elaborated on the benefits of the Pentecost message:
Acts 2:1-21
Sue Grafton died in December 2017 at the age of 77. Grafton is best known as the author of the alphabet murder mysteries. Her first murder mystery novel was “A is for Alibi,” and was published in 1982. The inspiration for the alphabet series came from her reading “The Gashlycrumb Tinies” by Edward Gorey. It is a story of little Victorian children dying in various ways. The book follows each child along the alphabet. “A is for Amy who fell down the stairs. B is for Basil who was assaulted by bears.” And the book continues with each child to the end of the alphabet. Grafton’s mystery novels were so popular that they were translated into dozens of languages. Her publishing advances were in the millions of dollars, and the first hard cover print run was always 500,000 copies or more. Kinsey Millhone was the private detective who starred in her books. And unlike male mystery writers, Kinsey Millhone dealt with the human and emotional ramifications of violent crime. Grafton, before becoming an internationally recognized novelist, wrote television scripts and screenplays for movies. From that experience she realized that a book converted to the screen was always misrepresented. This is why Grafton said, “Ask me if I’d ever sell the film or TV rights to these books? No, I would not. I would never let those clowns get their hands on my work. They’d ruin it for everyone. Me more than most.”
Application: At Pentecost the integrity of the biblical message was secured. Let us be sure that we maintain that integrity and never turn it over to clowns.
Ron L.
Acts 2:1-21
Charles Spurgeon said, “Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without the wind, branches without sap, and like coals without fire, we are useless.” Whenever some of my family members get together, regardless of the holiday, we spend some time trying to fly this huge kite that we’ve had for several years. I can remember Thanksgiving afternoons, Christmas mornings and Mother’s Day evenings out in the field trying to get that kite up. We tried to run with it, of course. We tried riding a four-wheeler with it. Just about every imaginable method to get that kite to fly, we’ve done it. The problem? There’s never enough wind in that field to get that big kite up in the air. It is an amazing looking kite and I’m sure it would be spectacular to see it flying across the sky. It is useless, though, without the wind.
Spurgeon is making a good point here and we see it in Acts 2. The apostles are gathered together, and Jesus is no longer with them. By themselves they are frightened and insecure. The Holy Spirit, however, comes on them and they are able to do remarkable things. What is true for them is true for us. The Holy Spirit can empower us to be what God wants us to be. Will you allow him to let you soar?
Bill T.
Romans 8:22-27
Sometimes I don’t have the words to pray. Sometimes the pain or grief or regret or anger or hopelessness just overwhelms me. I want to pray. I seek the words. I know the need. I understand the presence of God, but the words will not come. I am like a puddle on the floor, formless and lacking substance. It is at those moments when I remember this passage and the words of Paul, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” The Spirit intercedes with sights too deep for words.
Thank you, God, this is so. I can rest in the knowledge that the Holy Spirit speaks for me, guides me, envelopes me and makes it possible for me to connect with God even when I am not able.
Bonnie B.
Romans 8:22-27
John Calvin saw this text as a call to patience and hope:
Mark E.
Romans 8:22-27
We can’t look into the future with certainty, but we have hopes. How many things do we hope for? We may hope for a good job or a good wife or a good home (just to name a few). It is true that sometimes we groan inwardly as we eagerly wait for our hopes to bear fruit. We have not seen our Lord in person. We only see Him reflected in friends and pastors, but that can give us hope.
As a pastor I was in a hospital room where a man was dying. When I came in he was conscious but sad looking. Those of his family who were there were also looking sad. Then something happened which I have only seen rarely. He suddenly smiled and said, “I know where I’m going! After all these years. I know that my Lord did not give me hope in vain!” Then he closed his eyes and was gone.
We may not see the Lord, but we have his spirit. That spirit intercedes for us. Somehow we know that he is leading us. But we need patience. Sometimes we need our church to give us that patience -- help us to know we are not the only ones needing patience!
I try to make sure that my kids have patience. I try to explain to them that I would be nothing without God’s spirit of patience. I try to show them how important patience is! It won’t come without asking the Lord for it. I tell them that I pray every day that they will have patience. Sometimes it takes a great personal problem for us to ask God for his patience.
Bob O.
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
On September 17, 1942 Colonel Leslie R. Groves was selected to oversee the Manhattan Project. The purpose of this project was to develop the world’s first atomic bomb. Even though the assignment came with a promotion to brigadier general, Groves was disappointed with the appointment. Yearning for overseas duty, he was disgruntled by the prospect of filling a trivial administrative position in Washington, DC. Besides, the project held little promise for success. Groves, utterly frustrated, realized: an inadequate supply of uranium had been mined; scientists were still uncertain about the chemical properties of plutonium; production equipment had yet to be designed; acquisitions for plant sites were in abeyance; and the entire nuclear process was only a theory. Perturbed, Groves judged, “The whole endeavor was founded on possibilities rather than probabilities.” But it was in the midst of those possibilities that the A-bomb was created.
Application: Frequently it is “possibilities” and not “probabilities” that propel us forward toward our goal. We are sustained by the belief that it can be done. And is not the meaning of possibilities almost synonymous with the word hope. And is not the message of the Resurrection that if we live by faith we live by possibilities. The Pentecost testimony is a testimony to the Resurrection.
Ron L.
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
The work of the Holy Spirit is vividly described in this passage of John’s gospel. Though there is a lot of discussion about the Holy Spirit, I’m convinced many Christians do not know what he does or who he is. We understand that he is the third person of the God-head. His role? Jesus describes it. He is the “Advocate” or “Comforter.” He will empower followers of Jesus. He will dwell in and seal those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ. He will guide the followers of Jesus into truth and, from this passage, he comes to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. It is the Holy Spirit in us who sounds the alarm during temptations. It is the Holy Spirit in us that causes us to think about what we’ve done and inspire a guilt that leads to repentance. These are wonderful things that are available to us through his work. The problem, though, is we can ignore him.
A park ranger at Yellowstone National Park was leading a group of hikers to a fire lookout. The ranger was so intent on telling the hikers about the flowers and animals that he considered the messages on his two-way radio distracting, so he switched it off. As the group neared the tower, the ranger was met by a nearly breathless lookout, who asked why he hadn’t responded to the messages on his radio. A grizzly bear had been seen stalking the group, and the authorities were trying to warn them of the danger.
I suppose there are times when we might think of the voice of the Holy Spirit as distracting or awkward. There may be times when we simply turn him off. We do so at our own risk. Will you hear him today?
Bill T.
Pentecost is often associated with the birthday of the Church. The birthday child is not in good shape in America. Over 1 in 4 of us (36% of Democrats) find the church and religious institutions detrimental to American society according to a 2017 Pew Research Center poll. We need to get clear on what the Church’s real role is. Famed modern Reformed theologian Karl Barth explains this well, making clear that the Church can never be concerned about its own business, but only with the business of Jesus:
The historical existence of the Church is legitimate only in so far as it refrains from giving specific weight to its own possibilities, developments, and achievements, from interesting its members in these things and therefore in itself instead of pointing simply to that beginning in direct and exclusive proclamation of Jesus Christ. (Church Dogmatics, Index Vol., p.297)
Martin Luther reminds us that the Church relies totally on Christ, that the foibles and mistakes of its members do not stop the Church from being the Church”
It is not we who can sustain the Church, nor was it our forefathers, nor will it be our descendents. It was and is and will be the One Who says, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world...”
For you and I were not alive thousands of years ago, but the Church was presevered without us, and it was done by the One [Who is Jesus Christ]...
Again we do not do it in our lifetime, for the Church is not upheld by us. For we could not resist the devil... and the sects and other wicked folk. For us the Church would perish before our very eyes and we with it (as we daily prove), were it not for the other Man (Jesus Christ) Who manifestly uphold the Church for us. (quoted in Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics, Vol.I/2, p.xi)
Elsewhere Luther elaborated on the benefits of the Pentecost message:
Our Pentecost message should remove all terror of sin and death. The more joyful you are and the more certain and sure the faith in your heart is, the nearer the Holy Spirit is to you and the more you benefit from the new Pentecost. (Complete Sermons, Vol.6, p.160)Mark E.
Acts 2:1-21
Sue Grafton died in December 2017 at the age of 77. Grafton is best known as the author of the alphabet murder mysteries. Her first murder mystery novel was “A is for Alibi,” and was published in 1982. The inspiration for the alphabet series came from her reading “The Gashlycrumb Tinies” by Edward Gorey. It is a story of little Victorian children dying in various ways. The book follows each child along the alphabet. “A is for Amy who fell down the stairs. B is for Basil who was assaulted by bears.” And the book continues with each child to the end of the alphabet. Grafton’s mystery novels were so popular that they were translated into dozens of languages. Her publishing advances were in the millions of dollars, and the first hard cover print run was always 500,000 copies or more. Kinsey Millhone was the private detective who starred in her books. And unlike male mystery writers, Kinsey Millhone dealt with the human and emotional ramifications of violent crime. Grafton, before becoming an internationally recognized novelist, wrote television scripts and screenplays for movies. From that experience she realized that a book converted to the screen was always misrepresented. This is why Grafton said, “Ask me if I’d ever sell the film or TV rights to these books? No, I would not. I would never let those clowns get their hands on my work. They’d ruin it for everyone. Me more than most.”
Application: At Pentecost the integrity of the biblical message was secured. Let us be sure that we maintain that integrity and never turn it over to clowns.
Ron L.
Acts 2:1-21
Charles Spurgeon said, “Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without the wind, branches without sap, and like coals without fire, we are useless.” Whenever some of my family members get together, regardless of the holiday, we spend some time trying to fly this huge kite that we’ve had for several years. I can remember Thanksgiving afternoons, Christmas mornings and Mother’s Day evenings out in the field trying to get that kite up. We tried to run with it, of course. We tried riding a four-wheeler with it. Just about every imaginable method to get that kite to fly, we’ve done it. The problem? There’s never enough wind in that field to get that big kite up in the air. It is an amazing looking kite and I’m sure it would be spectacular to see it flying across the sky. It is useless, though, without the wind.
Spurgeon is making a good point here and we see it in Acts 2. The apostles are gathered together, and Jesus is no longer with them. By themselves they are frightened and insecure. The Holy Spirit, however, comes on them and they are able to do remarkable things. What is true for them is true for us. The Holy Spirit can empower us to be what God wants us to be. Will you allow him to let you soar?
Bill T.
Romans 8:22-27
Sometimes I don’t have the words to pray. Sometimes the pain or grief or regret or anger or hopelessness just overwhelms me. I want to pray. I seek the words. I know the need. I understand the presence of God, but the words will not come. I am like a puddle on the floor, formless and lacking substance. It is at those moments when I remember this passage and the words of Paul, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” The Spirit intercedes with sights too deep for words.
Thank you, God, this is so. I can rest in the knowledge that the Holy Spirit speaks for me, guides me, envelopes me and makes it possible for me to connect with God even when I am not able.
Bonnie B.
Romans 8:22-27
John Calvin saw this text as a call to patience and hope:
...we have here a remarkable passage which shows that patience is an inseparable companion of faith; and the reason of this is evident, for when we console ourselves with the hope of a better condition, the feeling of our present miseries is softened and mitigated, so that they are borne with less difficulty. (Calvin’s Commentaries, ol.XIX/2, p.310)The Spirit’s guidance is crucial in sorting out where God is taking us as we and creation groan. Famed preacher of the early Church John Chysostom provides a penetrating insight on this matter:
And this he [Paul] said to show the Spirit’s great concern about us, and also to instruct them not to think for certainty that those things are desirable which to man’s reasonings appear so... by no means (he says) suppose that what seem blessings to you really are so. For we need the Spirit’s aid even to do this. (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol.11, pp.446-447)Martin Luther compared the Spirit’s work to what happens to an artist who comes on material suitable for the work of art planned and needs to mold the form to the work of art planned. So it is, the reformer adds, that God comes upon our feeling and thinking, seeing what it is praying for, what it is suitable for, and what it desires; then heeding the request he begins to mold the form which suits his art and his counsel. (Luther’s Works, Vol.25, p.367)
Mark E.
Romans 8:22-27
We can’t look into the future with certainty, but we have hopes. How many things do we hope for? We may hope for a good job or a good wife or a good home (just to name a few). It is true that sometimes we groan inwardly as we eagerly wait for our hopes to bear fruit. We have not seen our Lord in person. We only see Him reflected in friends and pastors, but that can give us hope.
As a pastor I was in a hospital room where a man was dying. When I came in he was conscious but sad looking. Those of his family who were there were also looking sad. Then something happened which I have only seen rarely. He suddenly smiled and said, “I know where I’m going! After all these years. I know that my Lord did not give me hope in vain!” Then he closed his eyes and was gone.
We may not see the Lord, but we have his spirit. That spirit intercedes for us. Somehow we know that he is leading us. But we need patience. Sometimes we need our church to give us that patience -- help us to know we are not the only ones needing patience!
I try to make sure that my kids have patience. I try to explain to them that I would be nothing without God’s spirit of patience. I try to show them how important patience is! It won’t come without asking the Lord for it. I tell them that I pray every day that they will have patience. Sometimes it takes a great personal problem for us to ask God for his patience.
Bob O.
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
On September 17, 1942 Colonel Leslie R. Groves was selected to oversee the Manhattan Project. The purpose of this project was to develop the world’s first atomic bomb. Even though the assignment came with a promotion to brigadier general, Groves was disappointed with the appointment. Yearning for overseas duty, he was disgruntled by the prospect of filling a trivial administrative position in Washington, DC. Besides, the project held little promise for success. Groves, utterly frustrated, realized: an inadequate supply of uranium had been mined; scientists were still uncertain about the chemical properties of plutonium; production equipment had yet to be designed; acquisitions for plant sites were in abeyance; and the entire nuclear process was only a theory. Perturbed, Groves judged, “The whole endeavor was founded on possibilities rather than probabilities.” But it was in the midst of those possibilities that the A-bomb was created.
Application: Frequently it is “possibilities” and not “probabilities” that propel us forward toward our goal. We are sustained by the belief that it can be done. And is not the meaning of possibilities almost synonymous with the word hope. And is not the message of the Resurrection that if we live by faith we live by possibilities. The Pentecost testimony is a testimony to the Resurrection.
Ron L.
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
The work of the Holy Spirit is vividly described in this passage of John’s gospel. Though there is a lot of discussion about the Holy Spirit, I’m convinced many Christians do not know what he does or who he is. We understand that he is the third person of the God-head. His role? Jesus describes it. He is the “Advocate” or “Comforter.” He will empower followers of Jesus. He will dwell in and seal those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ. He will guide the followers of Jesus into truth and, from this passage, he comes to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. It is the Holy Spirit in us who sounds the alarm during temptations. It is the Holy Spirit in us that causes us to think about what we’ve done and inspire a guilt that leads to repentance. These are wonderful things that are available to us through his work. The problem, though, is we can ignore him.
A park ranger at Yellowstone National Park was leading a group of hikers to a fire lookout. The ranger was so intent on telling the hikers about the flowers and animals that he considered the messages on his two-way radio distracting, so he switched it off. As the group neared the tower, the ranger was met by a nearly breathless lookout, who asked why he hadn’t responded to the messages on his radio. A grizzly bear had been seen stalking the group, and the authorities were trying to warn them of the danger.
I suppose there are times when we might think of the voice of the Holy Spirit as distracting or awkward. There may be times when we simply turn him off. We do so at our own risk. Will you hear him today?
Bill T.
