Sermon Illustrations for Proper 14 | OT 19 (2013)
Illustration
Object:
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20
The opener appears to be an introduction to the whole book, as Isaiah's life of prophecy appears to cover all of these kings. It takes a brave man to tell them what was wrong with their life. It is a surprise that he survived that long!
The message is an interesting one for many churches today who may be more interested in the offering, in lengthy prayers, and in celebrating all the holy days. How righteous we may feel if we accomplish these three areas. Then we may feel that God owes us something!
This does not mean that we should stop giving or celebrating or praying! Heaven forbid! They are commanded in other scripture! But God is asking us to check out our deeds and our motivations. Are our hands full of blood from hurting others? There was a U.S. general who was criticized for his attacks that were also killing some good people. His response was "Let God sort 'em out." We may not be murderers, but do we support causes that hurt others? Do we initiate wars and violence like the war in Iraq, which was started under false pretenses and still does not seem to have solved our problems or the problems of the people? There are many other examples if we check the news. Maybe it is too dangerous to get into the battle over gun control with the NRA. We could mention the things that we could have done to prevent the deaths of people in train or auto wrecks or in natural catastrophes. Do those who did not want to spend the money to make the oil rigs safe to prevent BPs Gulf disaster have blood on their hands? What can we do to prevent these things?
Can we wash our hands? What can we do to stop our evil deeds? In our daily prayers do we ask God to show us what we are doing that hurts and angers him? Can we stop doing evil if we lose money or hurt our reputation if others find out? What about the Roman Catholic bishops who hid the sexual sins of the pastors under their care?
A popular word in the church today is "advocacy." It means that God may want us to actually fight for the rights of others. That may be uncomfortable, especially if a cause is not popular and may hurt our relationship with friends or family. Those who fought for the rights of black people in the South during the civil rights movement might have endured suffering and death for their efforts.
Even if our sins are like scarlet, we can hope for God's forgiveness if are willing to obey him. It shows that we value our relationship to God above all else. Then we will have his reward. But if we resist his rules and want to do things our own way -- then beware!
Bob O.
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20
"Hands, hands, fingers, thumb; dum ditty dum ditty dum dum dum!" Dr. Seuss' playful poem helps kids read and enjoy the particularities of the parts of the hand and what it can do. Isaiah refers to hands that are full of religious practices, but devoid of ethical action. Isaiah would have liked the Peanuts cartoon where Linus is waxing eloquently over his hands as he eats a sandwich, imagining that his hands may one day build mighty bridges, hit home runs, or write soul-stirring novels. His sister Lucy, overhearing him, comes in from another room and says after looking at his hands, "They've got jelly on them."
Mark M.
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
We can't see gravity, but we know it is there because we can see what it does. We can prove it. We can measure it. We cannot see electricity, but we know it is there because we can see its effects. If we get the wrong wires crossed, we can feel it.
We cannot prove God. We can't measure God. We can only know that God is there by faith. Faith is the gift of being able to feel the presence of the Lord. By faith we can see the things that God does.
Scott B.
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
The Seventh-Day Adventist denomination celebrated their 150th anniversary in May. Yet they looked upon it as a failure, for their denomination was founded upon the principle of the immediate return of Jesus. Lisa Beardsley-Hardy, the denomination's director of education, said, "It's almost an embarrassment to be celebrating 150 years." Michael Ryan, a vice-president, said, "In one kind of way it really is a sad event."
Application: The author of Hebrews directs us to place our faith in Jesus and avoid placing our faith in church doctrine.
Ron L.
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
The text is all about faith. But we make too much of faith, according to Martin Luther. Faith is a small thing in his view, "nothing else than a clinging to the word of God" (Luther's Works, Vol. 29, p. 230). The strength of one's faith does not matter: "It is, of course, true that I and you do not hold and believe the saving truth so firmly as Saint Peter does. Yet we have one and the same treasure... Two persons may hold a purse full of money: one with a weak hand, the other with a strong hand. Whether the hand is strong or weak, please God, it neither increases nor decreases the contents of the purse" (What Luther Says, p. 487).
Faith is just the "empty hand" that holds Christ. It's what's in the hand of faith (Christ) that makes it valuable. Don't mistake the gift for the purse it's in.
Mark E.
Luke 12:32-40
It sounds like God has already given us our inheritance -- his kingdom. That should make us feel so rich that we can sell our possessions and give to the needy -- like good "Democrats." We should not resent Jesus' suggestion that we are given wealth so we can share with those who have none. It is not just so we can buy yachts and big houses! God has allowed us be rich for a purpose. Some have and some don't, so those who have must share. Don't just gripe and tell God how hard you have worked for the money you have! Some may have worked harder and received less (because their boss was greedy?). There are too many examples of how God works. The important thing for us is to remember that he has given us his kingdom, which is far more than we deserve or that we could even dream of asking for. No one can steal it! It is good for all eternity! So why worry?
The command is "be ready at all times." You don't want to miss the knock on your door if it is your master. Those who are watching and waiting for him will be rewarded. It is not just those who, like myself, are in their eighties who need to be ready. God is hoping that Christians of all ages will be prepared to serve him.
If we knew when God or the thief might come (the good or the bad), we want to be ready. He warns us that Jesus will come when we least expect him. My folks died in an auto accident on the way home from my ordination. They had hoped to stop at some other relatives in our hometown and celebrate, but God had other plans. In my long life I have often been surprised at God's timing. When I graduated from college I was looking for a secondary school in California. There were no openings so I was forced to take the only thing available, a job in a grade school teaching Apache Indians. I only survived two years, but 50 some years later, when I was checking out a foreign mission opening, they said that I would need some experience in another culture. When I told them about my teaching on the reservation, they said that would do! The delay in my mission service was a bit disappointing to my mother's hope when I was a teenager that I would be a missionary some day. They weren't around to see it, but her prayers were answered. So don't make a timetable for God! Be ready for the Lord's coming at any moment! We already have the kingdom, so don't risk loosing it!
Bob O.
Luke 12:32-40
Marjorie Jillson has written a hymn text that in simple measure expresses the comfort and resolve of these verses.
Have no fear, little flock; have no fear, little flock,
For the Father has chosen to give you the kingdom;
Have no fear, little flock!
Thankful hearts raise to God; thankful hearts raise to God,
For he stays close beside you, in all things works with you;
Thankful hearts raise to God!
Mark M.
The opener appears to be an introduction to the whole book, as Isaiah's life of prophecy appears to cover all of these kings. It takes a brave man to tell them what was wrong with their life. It is a surprise that he survived that long!
The message is an interesting one for many churches today who may be more interested in the offering, in lengthy prayers, and in celebrating all the holy days. How righteous we may feel if we accomplish these three areas. Then we may feel that God owes us something!
This does not mean that we should stop giving or celebrating or praying! Heaven forbid! They are commanded in other scripture! But God is asking us to check out our deeds and our motivations. Are our hands full of blood from hurting others? There was a U.S. general who was criticized for his attacks that were also killing some good people. His response was "Let God sort 'em out." We may not be murderers, but do we support causes that hurt others? Do we initiate wars and violence like the war in Iraq, which was started under false pretenses and still does not seem to have solved our problems or the problems of the people? There are many other examples if we check the news. Maybe it is too dangerous to get into the battle over gun control with the NRA. We could mention the things that we could have done to prevent the deaths of people in train or auto wrecks or in natural catastrophes. Do those who did not want to spend the money to make the oil rigs safe to prevent BPs Gulf disaster have blood on their hands? What can we do to prevent these things?
Can we wash our hands? What can we do to stop our evil deeds? In our daily prayers do we ask God to show us what we are doing that hurts and angers him? Can we stop doing evil if we lose money or hurt our reputation if others find out? What about the Roman Catholic bishops who hid the sexual sins of the pastors under their care?
A popular word in the church today is "advocacy." It means that God may want us to actually fight for the rights of others. That may be uncomfortable, especially if a cause is not popular and may hurt our relationship with friends or family. Those who fought for the rights of black people in the South during the civil rights movement might have endured suffering and death for their efforts.
Even if our sins are like scarlet, we can hope for God's forgiveness if are willing to obey him. It shows that we value our relationship to God above all else. Then we will have his reward. But if we resist his rules and want to do things our own way -- then beware!
Bob O.
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20
"Hands, hands, fingers, thumb; dum ditty dum ditty dum dum dum!" Dr. Seuss' playful poem helps kids read and enjoy the particularities of the parts of the hand and what it can do. Isaiah refers to hands that are full of religious practices, but devoid of ethical action. Isaiah would have liked the Peanuts cartoon where Linus is waxing eloquently over his hands as he eats a sandwich, imagining that his hands may one day build mighty bridges, hit home runs, or write soul-stirring novels. His sister Lucy, overhearing him, comes in from another room and says after looking at his hands, "They've got jelly on them."
Mark M.
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
We can't see gravity, but we know it is there because we can see what it does. We can prove it. We can measure it. We cannot see electricity, but we know it is there because we can see its effects. If we get the wrong wires crossed, we can feel it.
We cannot prove God. We can't measure God. We can only know that God is there by faith. Faith is the gift of being able to feel the presence of the Lord. By faith we can see the things that God does.
Scott B.
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
The Seventh-Day Adventist denomination celebrated their 150th anniversary in May. Yet they looked upon it as a failure, for their denomination was founded upon the principle of the immediate return of Jesus. Lisa Beardsley-Hardy, the denomination's director of education, said, "It's almost an embarrassment to be celebrating 150 years." Michael Ryan, a vice-president, said, "In one kind of way it really is a sad event."
Application: The author of Hebrews directs us to place our faith in Jesus and avoid placing our faith in church doctrine.
Ron L.
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
The text is all about faith. But we make too much of faith, according to Martin Luther. Faith is a small thing in his view, "nothing else than a clinging to the word of God" (Luther's Works, Vol. 29, p. 230). The strength of one's faith does not matter: "It is, of course, true that I and you do not hold and believe the saving truth so firmly as Saint Peter does. Yet we have one and the same treasure... Two persons may hold a purse full of money: one with a weak hand, the other with a strong hand. Whether the hand is strong or weak, please God, it neither increases nor decreases the contents of the purse" (What Luther Says, p. 487).
Faith is just the "empty hand" that holds Christ. It's what's in the hand of faith (Christ) that makes it valuable. Don't mistake the gift for the purse it's in.
Mark E.
Luke 12:32-40
It sounds like God has already given us our inheritance -- his kingdom. That should make us feel so rich that we can sell our possessions and give to the needy -- like good "Democrats." We should not resent Jesus' suggestion that we are given wealth so we can share with those who have none. It is not just so we can buy yachts and big houses! God has allowed us be rich for a purpose. Some have and some don't, so those who have must share. Don't just gripe and tell God how hard you have worked for the money you have! Some may have worked harder and received less (because their boss was greedy?). There are too many examples of how God works. The important thing for us is to remember that he has given us his kingdom, which is far more than we deserve or that we could even dream of asking for. No one can steal it! It is good for all eternity! So why worry?
The command is "be ready at all times." You don't want to miss the knock on your door if it is your master. Those who are watching and waiting for him will be rewarded. It is not just those who, like myself, are in their eighties who need to be ready. God is hoping that Christians of all ages will be prepared to serve him.
If we knew when God or the thief might come (the good or the bad), we want to be ready. He warns us that Jesus will come when we least expect him. My folks died in an auto accident on the way home from my ordination. They had hoped to stop at some other relatives in our hometown and celebrate, but God had other plans. In my long life I have often been surprised at God's timing. When I graduated from college I was looking for a secondary school in California. There were no openings so I was forced to take the only thing available, a job in a grade school teaching Apache Indians. I only survived two years, but 50 some years later, when I was checking out a foreign mission opening, they said that I would need some experience in another culture. When I told them about my teaching on the reservation, they said that would do! The delay in my mission service was a bit disappointing to my mother's hope when I was a teenager that I would be a missionary some day. They weren't around to see it, but her prayers were answered. So don't make a timetable for God! Be ready for the Lord's coming at any moment! We already have the kingdom, so don't risk loosing it!
Bob O.
Luke 12:32-40
Marjorie Jillson has written a hymn text that in simple measure expresses the comfort and resolve of these verses.
Have no fear, little flock; have no fear, little flock,
For the Father has chosen to give you the kingdom;
Have no fear, little flock!
Thankful hearts raise to God; thankful hearts raise to God,
For he stays close beside you, in all things works with you;
Thankful hearts raise to God!
Mark M.
