Sermon Illustrations for Proper 10 | OT 15 (2013)
Illustration
Object:
A builder uses a plumb line to determine true vertical from the gravitational center of the earth, not the particular topography of the land. Only in this way can bricks be laid to create a vertical wall that will not topple from being "off center." It is of simple construction: a string with a weight attached at the bottom. Amos uses the metaphor of the plumb line to announce to Israel that God is measuring how true or "off center" Israel is to God's purposes.
Mark M.
Amos 7:7-17
Even though the Lord is merciful and loving, He still has his exact requirements for us. I like to compare this to our parents who are also loving (we hope) but have exact expectations for us: Clean your room, get dressed in time for breakfast so you won't miss the school bus, brush your teeth, and so on. We should remember all these from our childhood, but also for the way we raise our children today. We can ask forgiveness and God will give it, but we still have to obey his rules.
There is a limit to God's patience. If we don't listen to him, then one day he will send someone to warn us. Sometimes we don't like to hear those warnings. We always think they must be for someone else! Go back to Judah! Certainly the other guy is more sinful than me! Go blame him for his sins and leave us in peace! He throws in a jibe telling the prophet that they are paying his salary so he should concentrate on setting them straight.
But what a dire forecast! Your whole family will be affected because of what you have done. I read a story where the Russians were taking some non-Russians to Siberia. Some stood firm and refused to renounce their faith. They would die for it. But when the guards threatened to kill their wives or children, then they had to think twice. One woman became a prostitute to save her son! In this case even that did not help. They were blind to their own sin. We all hate prophets of doom! We hear them today blaming the other party for all our country's troubles! When will we realize that we have all sinned and just accept responsibility for our own sin -- before it is too late?
Amos shoots back that he is really not a prophet. He was just minding his own business as a shepherd when the Lord came and ordered him to go to Israel. The Lord never seems to go according to our plans, so keep listening for his words -- and take them to heart! I had a motion picture business in Sacramento but the Lord called me to be a pastor, so keep your ears open for his call, which may not be what you want to hear and may even lead you into danger!
Bob O.
Colossians 1:1-14
The Human Genome Project, which mapped all the various combinations of human genes, teaches us that we are much less autonomous and self-determining than we might think we are, and environment is a major factor in shaping the human person. In this text Paul implies that Christians have been placed in a new environment, rescued by Christ from the power of darkness. Martin Luther once made a similar point, contending that "man, rather than sin, is taken away..." (Luther's Works, Vol. 25, p. 322). In this new context we are forever changed, and life becomes a lot sweeter, happier, at peace with all God's creatures. As Luther said it so well in a sermon on the text:
"The essential feature of redemption -- forgiveness of sins -- being once obtained. Everything belonging to its completion immediately follows... The creatures are no longer opposed, but at peace with us and friendly; they smile upon us and we have only joy and life in God and his creation" (Complete Sermons, Vol. 4/2, p. 377).
What a wonderful environment into which Christ has placed us Christians.
Mark E.
Colossians 1:1-14
Gregg Marshall is the basketball coach for the Wichita State Shockers. And it was a shocker to many with how far he brought the team in the recent NCAA tournament. When Wichita defeated Ohio State, 70-66, the future for the team was pleasantly optimistic. Marshall said, "What are there now, 347 basketball teams out there? Well, there are 343 of them sitting at home wishing they were in our place, and if we are successful tonight, there will be 345 of them wanting to trade places with us."
Application: We are not to decay, but we are always to be bearing good fruit for the Lord. We are not to be on the sidelines but always in the field of play.
Ron L.
Colossians 1:1-14
The dog comes whining to you in the middle of the night, requesting to be let outside. You get out of bed, shuffle over to the door, and you turn on the light. Out of the bedroom, into the hall and you turn on the light. You make your way to the front door turning lights on all the way. It helps you to see where you are going. It also helps the dog. Can a dog understand that it can now see because you flipped a switch? Would it ever occur to the dog that you are responsible for the light?
Does it always occur to us that our understanding, our ability to see what is going on around us, comes from God?
Scott B.
Luke 10:25-37
Even every confirmand could probably quote this passage or a list of other passages that he might be called upon to give. Our faith is more than just memorizing passages that tell us what to do (or not to do). They may roll off our lips with ease, but then Jesus may make it more complicated by giving us examples. In my Nepal ministry I concentrated on Jesus' parables. My students had to translate them into their culture and many were amazed at what they learned.
It is easy to know the generalities, but when all those examples come up they may make it harder to accept. If Jesus were with us today, would his example be a black man? Would it be someone of the wrong party? A non-Lutheran or even a non-Christian? How far would we go to help bind up the wounds of an Arab, an Iranian, a known socialist, a fundamentalist, a Roman Catholic, or anyone else you can think of who might be on your most hated list. It is so easy to generalize God's commands, but if we start naming individual cases it gets sticky.
I see in the news that there are some of our soldiers in Afghanistan who have helped even an enemy when they needed help. In so doing they sometimes won them to love and respect the rest of us (and maybe our faith!). That Samaritan went overboard and spent some of his hard-earned money and time from his busy schedule to help a hated opponent.
Even those on the same side passed that needy person up. When I was driving in downtown Chicago a number of years ago, I saw two children on the curb huddled together from the chilly weather. I passed by thinking that something ought to be done by the city to help children like that. I thought of bringing it up at a church council meeting. The next day I was filled with shame for being the priest who passed by on the other side, when I read an article in the paper. A reporter was following a man in a Cadillac passing that corner. He saw him slam on his brakes, jump out, take off his big fur-lined coat, and put it around those kids. I had to ask myself, which was I? If I didn't want to sound too sorry, I might say, "The one who showed mercy on them." That makes it more generalized!
What else can we add to that story than Jesus' words "go thou do likewise"? Now we are hooked!
Bob O.
Luke 10:25-37
There are four different paradigms functioning on the path to Jericho. The first is that of the original traveler. He knowingly takes the risk on the road so that he can get from one place to another. Viewing the treacherous terrain and the possibilities that are presented to them, the robbers on the road take advantage of the wary traveler. The two religious individuals consider their reputation on the road, not wanting to soil their purity for temple and priestly functions by coming into contaminating contact with a possibly dead person. It is the Samaritan who unexpectedly sees the need for restoration on the road, and he does what is necessary to help the beleaguered person. Same road for all, but depending on the paradigm with which they view the road, they respond differently.
Mark M.
Mark M.
Amos 7:7-17
Even though the Lord is merciful and loving, He still has his exact requirements for us. I like to compare this to our parents who are also loving (we hope) but have exact expectations for us: Clean your room, get dressed in time for breakfast so you won't miss the school bus, brush your teeth, and so on. We should remember all these from our childhood, but also for the way we raise our children today. We can ask forgiveness and God will give it, but we still have to obey his rules.
There is a limit to God's patience. If we don't listen to him, then one day he will send someone to warn us. Sometimes we don't like to hear those warnings. We always think they must be for someone else! Go back to Judah! Certainly the other guy is more sinful than me! Go blame him for his sins and leave us in peace! He throws in a jibe telling the prophet that they are paying his salary so he should concentrate on setting them straight.
But what a dire forecast! Your whole family will be affected because of what you have done. I read a story where the Russians were taking some non-Russians to Siberia. Some stood firm and refused to renounce their faith. They would die for it. But when the guards threatened to kill their wives or children, then they had to think twice. One woman became a prostitute to save her son! In this case even that did not help. They were blind to their own sin. We all hate prophets of doom! We hear them today blaming the other party for all our country's troubles! When will we realize that we have all sinned and just accept responsibility for our own sin -- before it is too late?
Amos shoots back that he is really not a prophet. He was just minding his own business as a shepherd when the Lord came and ordered him to go to Israel. The Lord never seems to go according to our plans, so keep listening for his words -- and take them to heart! I had a motion picture business in Sacramento but the Lord called me to be a pastor, so keep your ears open for his call, which may not be what you want to hear and may even lead you into danger!
Bob O.
Colossians 1:1-14
The Human Genome Project, which mapped all the various combinations of human genes, teaches us that we are much less autonomous and self-determining than we might think we are, and environment is a major factor in shaping the human person. In this text Paul implies that Christians have been placed in a new environment, rescued by Christ from the power of darkness. Martin Luther once made a similar point, contending that "man, rather than sin, is taken away..." (Luther's Works, Vol. 25, p. 322). In this new context we are forever changed, and life becomes a lot sweeter, happier, at peace with all God's creatures. As Luther said it so well in a sermon on the text:
"The essential feature of redemption -- forgiveness of sins -- being once obtained. Everything belonging to its completion immediately follows... The creatures are no longer opposed, but at peace with us and friendly; they smile upon us and we have only joy and life in God and his creation" (Complete Sermons, Vol. 4/2, p. 377).
What a wonderful environment into which Christ has placed us Christians.
Mark E.
Colossians 1:1-14
Gregg Marshall is the basketball coach for the Wichita State Shockers. And it was a shocker to many with how far he brought the team in the recent NCAA tournament. When Wichita defeated Ohio State, 70-66, the future for the team was pleasantly optimistic. Marshall said, "What are there now, 347 basketball teams out there? Well, there are 343 of them sitting at home wishing they were in our place, and if we are successful tonight, there will be 345 of them wanting to trade places with us."
Application: We are not to decay, but we are always to be bearing good fruit for the Lord. We are not to be on the sidelines but always in the field of play.
Ron L.
Colossians 1:1-14
The dog comes whining to you in the middle of the night, requesting to be let outside. You get out of bed, shuffle over to the door, and you turn on the light. Out of the bedroom, into the hall and you turn on the light. You make your way to the front door turning lights on all the way. It helps you to see where you are going. It also helps the dog. Can a dog understand that it can now see because you flipped a switch? Would it ever occur to the dog that you are responsible for the light?
Does it always occur to us that our understanding, our ability to see what is going on around us, comes from God?
Scott B.
Luke 10:25-37
Even every confirmand could probably quote this passage or a list of other passages that he might be called upon to give. Our faith is more than just memorizing passages that tell us what to do (or not to do). They may roll off our lips with ease, but then Jesus may make it more complicated by giving us examples. In my Nepal ministry I concentrated on Jesus' parables. My students had to translate them into their culture and many were amazed at what they learned.
It is easy to know the generalities, but when all those examples come up they may make it harder to accept. If Jesus were with us today, would his example be a black man? Would it be someone of the wrong party? A non-Lutheran or even a non-Christian? How far would we go to help bind up the wounds of an Arab, an Iranian, a known socialist, a fundamentalist, a Roman Catholic, or anyone else you can think of who might be on your most hated list. It is so easy to generalize God's commands, but if we start naming individual cases it gets sticky.
I see in the news that there are some of our soldiers in Afghanistan who have helped even an enemy when they needed help. In so doing they sometimes won them to love and respect the rest of us (and maybe our faith!). That Samaritan went overboard and spent some of his hard-earned money and time from his busy schedule to help a hated opponent.
Even those on the same side passed that needy person up. When I was driving in downtown Chicago a number of years ago, I saw two children on the curb huddled together from the chilly weather. I passed by thinking that something ought to be done by the city to help children like that. I thought of bringing it up at a church council meeting. The next day I was filled with shame for being the priest who passed by on the other side, when I read an article in the paper. A reporter was following a man in a Cadillac passing that corner. He saw him slam on his brakes, jump out, take off his big fur-lined coat, and put it around those kids. I had to ask myself, which was I? If I didn't want to sound too sorry, I might say, "The one who showed mercy on them." That makes it more generalized!
What else can we add to that story than Jesus' words "go thou do likewise"? Now we are hooked!
Bob O.
Luke 10:25-37
There are four different paradigms functioning on the path to Jericho. The first is that of the original traveler. He knowingly takes the risk on the road so that he can get from one place to another. Viewing the treacherous terrain and the possibilities that are presented to them, the robbers on the road take advantage of the wary traveler. The two religious individuals consider their reputation on the road, not wanting to soil their purity for temple and priestly functions by coming into contaminating contact with a possibly dead person. It is the Samaritan who unexpectedly sees the need for restoration on the road, and he does what is necessary to help the beleaguered person. Same road for all, but depending on the paradigm with which they view the road, they respond differently.
Mark M.
