Sermon Illustrations for Proper 11 | OT 16 (2021)
Illustration
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
How disappointing it must have been for David to be told that it was not his role to build the temple for the ark of God. There are moments when God calls us to undertake a task, and times when God calls us not to. When I was a local church pastor beginning my fifth pastorate, I was asked by a conference minister to consider moving into conference ministry as an associate conference minister. I prayed about it. I did not, then, feel that call. I tried to honor the call on my life as a pastor. Coincidently, several years later, God called me to move into broader ministry and I moved into judicatory work. Waiting on God is not always easy, but it is always right. This has been the deepest learning of my life.
Bonnie B.
* * *
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
David did not seem to get what he wanted. Instead, he got more (the promise of the establishment of his kingdom [vv.12-13]). God’s plans typically violate (are even better than) our own grand schemes. Pastors who had other plans for their lives than ministry in their youth can provide excellent illustrations. Use the stories of laity in the congregation who are doing great things vocationally, but never dreamed of doing it in their youth.
The Black church has a relevant aphorism for this text: “God may not come when you want him, but he’s always on time.” In that spirit, College Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz (heads up Notre Dame fans) nicely explains how it is good that God often ignores our foolish requests in prayer: “God answers prayers, but he doesn’t always answer it your way.” Augustine compared God to a wise parent or good doctor, who sometimes refuses to grant harmful requests we make (Sermons, 286.6.5).
Mark E.
* * *
Ephesians 2:11-22
Paul talks about how the two — that is pointedly self-divided fragments of humanity — are made one in Christ Jesus. This language reminds me a good deal of Genesis, and the admonition that accompanies the story of Adam and Eve, about two becoming one. Since Paul is willing to use birthing images, bloody and messy yet bringing new life, elsewhere in his letters, I’m not surprised he is using sexual images — also pretty messy and uncomfortable for us to deal with in a public setting — in talking about bringing two radically different cultures together in Christ. The dividing wall that has been torn down, which was a symbol of our division as enemies, might have been referring in his day to the barrier in the temple courtyard that prevented those of Gentile background from proceeding any further. It read: “Nobody descended from others is to enter into the temple and surrounding areas. Otherwise, they’re responsible for their own death, which will come immediately.”
Ronald Reagan is famed for having challenged, in West Berlin, “Mister Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” But we’re not always so good at tearing down our walls. Each new wave of immigrants to our land of immigrants found walls had been erected against employment and inclusions. But that is nothing compared to what African Americans encountered first as slaves, then as second-class citizens in Jim Crow America.
Many communities in the United States were sundown cities — that is, signs made it clear that no African Americans (although no such polite term was used) were to be found in the city limits after sundown, or death would certainly follow as well.
Paul will have none of it. Keep in mind he wishes Gentiles, Jews, Celts, Romans, Greeks, barbarians — everyone — to be who they are, but he wants us to be who we are together, as one in Christ. No longer strangers and aliens, but citizens of heaven, members of one household created by God.
Μηθένα ἀλλογενῆ εἰσπο-
ρεύεσθαι ἐντὸς τοῦ πε-
ρὶ τὸ ἱερὸν τρυφάκτου καὶ
περιβόλου. Ὃς δ᾽ ἂν λη-
φθῇ, ἑαυτῶι αἴτιος ἔσ-
ται διὰ τὸ ἐξακολου-
θεῖν θάνατον.
Frank R.
* * *
Ephesians 2:11-22
On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan gave one of his most famous speeches in West Berlin at the Berlin Wall. He spoke emphatically to the crowd, saying, “There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. Secretary General Gorbachev, if you seek peace–if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe–if you seek liberalization: come here, to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
It was a powerful historical moment. At the beginning of 2021, I was asked by the librarian at the college where I work if I would like to have a piece of the Berlin Wall. It seems that a book provider had given us a commemorative piece. I was thrilled to get it. To have a piece of one of the greatest dividing walls in history is amazing.
I thought about that small rock again as I read this passage. Verse 14 makes it clear that Jesus broke down the “dividing wall” between Jew and Gentile, the hostility that existed between them. As important as it was for the Berlin Wall to fall, it was much more important for the wall that separated Jew and Gentile to come down. Jesus intended to reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross. It is time for all dividing walls to come down. God intends for his people to be one.
Bill T.
* * *
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
The crowd that Jesus encountered leading to this miracle was said to be like sheep with no shepherd (v.34) – aimless. That is the way life often seems. Famed existentialist Søren Kierkegaard well described the aimlessness of American life:
I have the courage, I believe, to doubt everything; I have the courage, I believe, to fight everything; but I have not the courage... to possess, to own anything. (Either/Or, Vol.1, p.23)
We just keep drifting. Jesus had compassion on the crowd, and on us, in dealing with them and us. This is a lesson about Jesus’ love. Medieval mystic Meister Eckhart offers such a beautiful and timely description of God. He wrote:
You may call God love, you may call God goodness, but the best name for God is compassion.
Famed 20th-century reformed theologian Karl Barth thinks that the miracle of this feeding still transpires every Sunday, as what Jesus does with the bread in this miracle “is even formally an obvious anticipation of the institution of The Lord’s Supper.” (Church Dogmatics, Vol.II/2, p.447) Like He did for the 500, Jesus comes to us and the food he provides each Sunday overcomes our aimlessness. It is truly miraculous!
Mark E.
* * *
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
I cannot imagine how tired Jesus became. As a pastor and then as a judicatory leader, I am sometimes exhausted by the tugs and pulls on my life. I am certainly not Jesus, never have claimed to be. Yet, my ministry sometimes exhausts me, and I seek out quiet places for rest and renewal, much as Jesus did in this gospel reading. The people follow Jesus to learn and to be healed. Not once, in the scriptural writings, does Jesus turn away from this ministry. Yet, he does find other moments for quiet, prayer and rest. It is a good example for all who walk in the faith. We care and work when we may and must. We must also rest, pray, and be renewed as Jesus did and taught us through example.
Bonnie B.
How disappointing it must have been for David to be told that it was not his role to build the temple for the ark of God. There are moments when God calls us to undertake a task, and times when God calls us not to. When I was a local church pastor beginning my fifth pastorate, I was asked by a conference minister to consider moving into conference ministry as an associate conference minister. I prayed about it. I did not, then, feel that call. I tried to honor the call on my life as a pastor. Coincidently, several years later, God called me to move into broader ministry and I moved into judicatory work. Waiting on God is not always easy, but it is always right. This has been the deepest learning of my life.
Bonnie B.
* * *
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
David did not seem to get what he wanted. Instead, he got more (the promise of the establishment of his kingdom [vv.12-13]). God’s plans typically violate (are even better than) our own grand schemes. Pastors who had other plans for their lives than ministry in their youth can provide excellent illustrations. Use the stories of laity in the congregation who are doing great things vocationally, but never dreamed of doing it in their youth.
The Black church has a relevant aphorism for this text: “God may not come when you want him, but he’s always on time.” In that spirit, College Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz (heads up Notre Dame fans) nicely explains how it is good that God often ignores our foolish requests in prayer: “God answers prayers, but he doesn’t always answer it your way.” Augustine compared God to a wise parent or good doctor, who sometimes refuses to grant harmful requests we make (Sermons, 286.6.5).
Mark E.
* * *
Ephesians 2:11-22
Paul talks about how the two — that is pointedly self-divided fragments of humanity — are made one in Christ Jesus. This language reminds me a good deal of Genesis, and the admonition that accompanies the story of Adam and Eve, about two becoming one. Since Paul is willing to use birthing images, bloody and messy yet bringing new life, elsewhere in his letters, I’m not surprised he is using sexual images — also pretty messy and uncomfortable for us to deal with in a public setting — in talking about bringing two radically different cultures together in Christ. The dividing wall that has been torn down, which was a symbol of our division as enemies, might have been referring in his day to the barrier in the temple courtyard that prevented those of Gentile background from proceeding any further. It read: “Nobody descended from others is to enter into the temple and surrounding areas. Otherwise, they’re responsible for their own death, which will come immediately.”
Ronald Reagan is famed for having challenged, in West Berlin, “Mister Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” But we’re not always so good at tearing down our walls. Each new wave of immigrants to our land of immigrants found walls had been erected against employment and inclusions. But that is nothing compared to what African Americans encountered first as slaves, then as second-class citizens in Jim Crow America.
Many communities in the United States were sundown cities — that is, signs made it clear that no African Americans (although no such polite term was used) were to be found in the city limits after sundown, or death would certainly follow as well.
Paul will have none of it. Keep in mind he wishes Gentiles, Jews, Celts, Romans, Greeks, barbarians — everyone — to be who they are, but he wants us to be who we are together, as one in Christ. No longer strangers and aliens, but citizens of heaven, members of one household created by God.
Μηθένα ἀλλογενῆ εἰσπο-
ρεύεσθαι ἐντὸς τοῦ πε-
ρὶ τὸ ἱερὸν τρυφάκτου καὶ
περιβόλου. Ὃς δ᾽ ἂν λη-
φθῇ, ἑαυτῶι αἴτιος ἔσ-
ται διὰ τὸ ἐξακολου-
θεῖν θάνατον.
Frank R.
* * *
Ephesians 2:11-22
On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan gave one of his most famous speeches in West Berlin at the Berlin Wall. He spoke emphatically to the crowd, saying, “There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. Secretary General Gorbachev, if you seek peace–if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe–if you seek liberalization: come here, to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
It was a powerful historical moment. At the beginning of 2021, I was asked by the librarian at the college where I work if I would like to have a piece of the Berlin Wall. It seems that a book provider had given us a commemorative piece. I was thrilled to get it. To have a piece of one of the greatest dividing walls in history is amazing.
I thought about that small rock again as I read this passage. Verse 14 makes it clear that Jesus broke down the “dividing wall” between Jew and Gentile, the hostility that existed between them. As important as it was for the Berlin Wall to fall, it was much more important for the wall that separated Jew and Gentile to come down. Jesus intended to reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross. It is time for all dividing walls to come down. God intends for his people to be one.
Bill T.
* * *
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
The crowd that Jesus encountered leading to this miracle was said to be like sheep with no shepherd (v.34) – aimless. That is the way life often seems. Famed existentialist Søren Kierkegaard well described the aimlessness of American life:
I have the courage, I believe, to doubt everything; I have the courage, I believe, to fight everything; but I have not the courage... to possess, to own anything. (Either/Or, Vol.1, p.23)
We just keep drifting. Jesus had compassion on the crowd, and on us, in dealing with them and us. This is a lesson about Jesus’ love. Medieval mystic Meister Eckhart offers such a beautiful and timely description of God. He wrote:
You may call God love, you may call God goodness, but the best name for God is compassion.
Famed 20th-century reformed theologian Karl Barth thinks that the miracle of this feeding still transpires every Sunday, as what Jesus does with the bread in this miracle “is even formally an obvious anticipation of the institution of The Lord’s Supper.” (Church Dogmatics, Vol.II/2, p.447) Like He did for the 500, Jesus comes to us and the food he provides each Sunday overcomes our aimlessness. It is truly miraculous!
Mark E.
* * *
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
I cannot imagine how tired Jesus became. As a pastor and then as a judicatory leader, I am sometimes exhausted by the tugs and pulls on my life. I am certainly not Jesus, never have claimed to be. Yet, my ministry sometimes exhausts me, and I seek out quiet places for rest and renewal, much as Jesus did in this gospel reading. The people follow Jesus to learn and to be healed. Not once, in the scriptural writings, does Jesus turn away from this ministry. Yet, he does find other moments for quiet, prayer and rest. It is a good example for all who walk in the faith. We care and work when we may and must. We must also rest, pray, and be renewed as Jesus did and taught us through example.
Bonnie B.
