Sermon Illustrations For Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 (2017)
Illustration
Exodus 1:8--2:10
There have been many plots, historically, to eradicate the Jews. Around 475 BC Haman’s attempt to wipe them out occurred. The book of Esther powerfully depicts that account. In 50 AD the Roman emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome. In 1012 the Holy Roman emperor Henry II expelled all Jews from Mainz, Germany. In 1421 the Weiner Gesera (the Vienna Edict) was passed, which stripped Jews in Vienna of all property, forced the conversion of their children, and saw nearly 300 Jews burned at the stake. Of course, the most infamous was perpetrated by Nazi Germany through the “Final Solution” -- the extermination of Jews in the Holocaust.
The idea of eliminating God’s people has been around for a long time. In this text, the new king in Egypt hoped to accomplish that task too. Some suggest that the king of Egypt at this time was Amenhotep I, though that is debated by biblical scholars. Whoever he was, he hoped to eliminate a threat and ordered baby boys killed. The Hebrew midwives, though, did not obey his command. They let the boys live. God honored them, but the king was livid. Pharaoh then ordered every boy that was born to be thrown into the Nile. It was his second attempt to control the Jewish population. God, however, had other plans. The deliverer of his people was spared in a basket floating on the Nile. The river that was intended to bring death to the Hebrews brought a deliverer instead. A well-devised plan to stamp out God’s people failed in a powerful and ironic way. God protected his people.
Bill T.
Exodus 1:8--2:10
According to a 2000 Barna Research poll, nearly 75% of Americans believe that “God helps those who help themselves.” Successful American businessman Charles Munger, an associate of Warren Buffett, says that “to get what you want you have to deserve what you want.” Our lesson certainly makes clear that Moses did not deserve the leadership position that he eventually held. But no, Americans agree with Munger. Maybe this belief in meritocracy is why Americans poll so low on gratitude. According to a study published in 2016 by the British Journal of Social Psychology, only 20% of Americans find gratitude to be a constitutive emotion -- compared to three in ten Germans who deem it a good thing.
Our lesson makes clear that God can make something out of nothing, out of the most inauspicious start. Martin Luther says that everything that we have that is good is from God: “...because he is an eternal fountain who overflows with pure goodness and from whom pours forth all that is truly good” (The Book of Concord [2000 ed.], p. 389). It’s like Larry King often said: “Those who have succeeded at anything and don't mention luck are kidding themselves.” What King calls luck, Christians recognize as divine providence, the work of God. So how about “Those who have succeeded at anything and don’t mention what God has done in their lives are blind”? Luther once put it this way in a sermon, a comment certainly illustrated by Moses’ rise to prominence: “Our Lord God likes to act otherwise than we suggest” (What Luther Says, p. 1151). If we believed that we would be much more grateful, Luther says (The Book of Concord [2000 ed.], p. 433).
Mark E.
Exodus 1:8--2:10
With a word spoken and the sweep of his hand, Pharaoh decreed that every boy born to the Hebrews should be thrown into the Nile. The carnage that should have resulted would bring to mind the innocents slaughtered in Bethlehem by Herod’s soldiers, or the 20 children shot to death at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
In the wake of that shooting, numerous strong editorials were written on the need for stronger gun control legislation by influential newspapers like the New York Times and Washington Post. This position was confirmed by the mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, who said: “We have not seen leadership -- not from the White House and not from Congress.” The reason for this outcry is that the guns used in the shooting spree were a semi-automatic Bushmaster rifle, whose projectiles travel at 3,000 feet per second; a semi-automatic Glock 9mm handgun that fires five bullets per second at a velocity of 1,200 feet per second; and a 9mm SIG pistol that fires five bullets per second at a velocity of 1,200 feet per second. Could stricter gun laws prevent this? Possibly. But I do not think the Roman soldiers would have been hindered in their task if they had used clubs instead of swords.
People say only the deranged cause such mayhem. This could also be true. And we know our mental health facilities need to be completely revitalized. But let’s be honest, a Pharaoh and a Herod and as well as an Adam Lanza will always be able to slip through the bars.
The comforter-in-chief, President Barack Obama, came to Newtown, Connecticut, an affluent town of 27,000 residents, to grieve with its residents. It is interesting that our country has become so secularized that the commander-in-chief, the only person who has access to the “football” (the briefcase that contains the codes to launch our weapons of mass destruction) is now also our national comforter. The president did say: “The majority of those who died were children, beautiful little kids between the ages of five and ten years old,” and then he wiped a tear from his eye, pausing for several seconds to gain his composure before continuing. This is as it should be, but the Constitution does not delegate the one who can make war as the one who brings solace. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution reserves comforting to the church and the clergy. If the issue of gun control has lost its way, perhaps it’s because we cannot distinguish the roles of those who have access to the codes of violence from those who have access to the codes of scripture.
Many journalists, politicians by profession, have assumed the mantle of moralists. In editorials, they have written that this is a part of God’s plan or that at the gates of heaven there will be no tears. In commentaries they have asked these questions: Is there a God? How can God allow this? Where is God to be found? If they would have taken the time to look, God would have been found in a Christmas manger.
Connecticut Governor Daniel P. Malloy may have said it best with these words: “Evil visited this community today.” This is what makes Pharaoh’s directive to kill male Hebrew babies and Herod’s story of the slaughter of the innocents relevant. This day and every day evil visits our world, our nation, our communities, our churches, and our lives. Evil is inescapable. Pass more laws... build more prisons... invest in our mental health system. And after all this, there will still be an Adam Lanza.
Application: Evil visited the community of Newtown, Connecticut, and so did God. Our lesson discusses oppression, but with Christians dedicated to social justice much of the oppression in the world today can be alleviated.
Ron L.
Romans 12:1-8
The two Greek words translated as “spiritual worship” by the NRSV in Romans 12:1 can mean something quite different, and I would suggest that the alternate meaning is the more important one.
Paul begins by talking about making our own lives a living sacrifice -- and why? Because this is our “logical” or “reasonable” “latrine work.” The word logikos,from which we get the word “logical,” can be translated as “reasonable” and “rational.” The word translated as worship is latreian,from which we get both the words “liturgy” and “latrine.” A latreian was a slave who worked in a temple, and part of his reasonable or logical service to the god was to do the cleaning. Not everybody can be in charge of altar decoration or lead the choir in the church. Somebody’s got to clean the toilets at the church. Paul is talking about gutty service in this passage, and that is what truly requires the change in perspective he calls for.
Frank R.
Romans 12:1-8
We human beings like to conform. We like to be one of the crowd. We like to be in the comfort of our peers. There is comfort in numbers. Yet I wonder how often we go along with the crowd, with our peers, when we really want to stand up for what we believe is right and is diametrically opposed to the crowd. Paul reminds us to not think too highly of ourselves, but also calls on us to focus on what God wants for us, on who God wants us to be, on the living Spirit within us.
How might our lives be different if we presented ourselves as a sacrifice before God, recognizing the power in being ourselves and offering the gifts God has given us -- not demeaning other people’s gifts, but proclaiming our own gifts? How might the world be changed, one person, one action at a time? God is not calling us to be someone we are not, to do the thing for which we have no gift. Rather, God is calling us to embrace our gifts and use them through and for the grace and love of God. It’s not a simple thing, but it’s worth it!
Bonnie B.
Romans 12:1-8
How can we dedicate our lives to God? It sounds like everything else in life should take a back seat. Not all of us will be called on to make great sacrifices, unless God calls us to do so. Most of the men in my seminary class had made great sacrifices to become pastors -- and even just to become Christians!
What if you have a job and your boss wants you to leave all your other interests aside, even your church, and only serve him? If you want to obey God’s command, you might lose your job.
There was a professional counselor in my church who placed God first. Instead of losing his job, he got a promotion because his clients thought he was the best counselor they ever had. He was so kind and loving to them. It was God who put that spirit in him! When he put God’s interests first, he discovered that God’s purpose was to make him put himself second and the needs of his clients first.
Even Americans are tempted to put our country first, and may even be told to do so by our leaders.
I like the words that tell us we don’t all have the same job. We are like different parts of the body or like those playing different instruments in an orchestra or who have different roles on an athletic team. Wouldn’t it be boring if we all had the same job? Don’t we sense that our friends and even the members of our family have different jobs because we each have different talents and abilities? We can’t all be mothers, and how would we get here if we were all fathers?
A church is one place where you can find out what part you play in the body. Some have talent in teaching and some in speaking or leading meetings, or some can even fix a faucet in the kitchen or a faulty PA system. We need them all, and we should not inflate our egos thinking that our talents are much more important. That is hardest for the pastor, who usually gets such special treatment and is honored so highly. I had police who stopped me for a traffic offense and then told me to go on when they saw my clerical collar.
Doctors often get more respect than nurses, or architects than those doing the construction -- but they are all needed! We can’t get along without others, even if they have “lesser” roles to play in life.
This text has the most simple illustration. Think of our body. We need legs, but can live without them. Same with arms, ears, eyes, etc. Try to think of any parts of your body that you could do without. The important point is that we are all ONE.
We are especially one in the Lord, who loves and needs us all!
Bob O.
Matthew 16:13-20
The world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, opened in Dubai on January 4, 2010. It is a staggering 2,717 feet tall (more than a mile and a half), and easily surpasses the previous tallest building. It is double the height of the Empire State Building, accommodates 12,000 people, and was built at a cost of $1.5 billion.
It holds several world records. Those include:
* Tallest man-made structure (previously Warsaw radio mast -- 2,121 ft.)
* Building with most floors:160 (previously Willis Tower -- 108)
* Highest elevator and world’s fastest elevators (40 mph)
* World’s highest swimming pool (76th floor)
While most attention is focused on its height, perhaps what is more important is what lies buried beneath the building. Without a solid foundation, the world’s tallest building would become the world’s largest pile of rubble. The foundation extends 164 feet deep. Under the Burj Khalifa lies 58,900 cubic yards of concrete, weighing over 120,000 tons. It took a year just to build the foundation.
You can get on a search engine and find images of this remarkable building. It is an incredible sight, and no doubt the foundation is crucial. But as important as the foundation is to the Burj Khalifa, the foundation we see in this text is even more valuable.
Jesus asks his disciples in this passage “But who do you say I am?” Peter, who is often impulsive, gives a powerful and concise answer: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It is a definitive statement. Jesus is not just another teacher or prophet. He is the one. Jesus notes that it is upon this truth that he will build his church. The foundation of the church is found in the substance of what Peter proclaimed. The church can grow and thrive throughout time and to all peoples because its foundation is solid. Jesus is the Christ.
Bill T.
Matthew 16:13-20
Jesus seems to teach in our lesson that forgiveness (the power of the keys) is at the heart of the Church (vv. 18-19). Donald Trump stated in July 2015, early in his campaign: “I don’t think I’ve ever asked God for forgiveness.” A lot of Americans apparently agree with him, as a Fetzer Institute 2010 poll revealed that 58% of us say that there are instances when we should never forgive.
Martin Luther has some insights to set us straight in our self-serving pride: “In this world one brother is forever rebuking another because of a speck while he himself has a large beam in the eye. For where you have charge against the neighbor, God has thousands upon thousands against you.... Therefore a Christian should follow a different practice. When he sees the speck in his brother’s eye, he should go look at himself in a mirror before passing judgment. He will find beams in his eye big enough to make hog troughs” (What Luther Says, p. 524).
There is a wonderful thing that happens when such confession of sin happens; we actually hear God forgive us through ordinary human beings: “For any Christian can say to you, ‘God forgives you your sins, in the name,’ etc. ...and if you can accept that word with a confident faith, as though God were saying it to you, then in that same faith you are surely absolved” (Luther’s Works, Vol. 35, p. 12).
Mark E.
Matthew 16:13-20
The program Weeds (aired by Showtime) introduced religion as a prominent theme in its third season. It depicted the religion of snake handlers. A grade school class was taught the evils of abortion by being shown a shocking photograph. A Jewish boy was sought out for conversion, only to be snubbed because a little girl claimed to be homosexual, which was considered to be a more fallen soul. Creationists dethrone evolutionists, saying evolution is a theory unsubstantiated by facts. A young co-ed remains true to abstinence, but liberally interpreted. She also abstains from cigarettes, but marijuana is acceptable for it is wholesome. The season ends showing a prayer circle, with the participants speaking in tongues and gyrating. It was such a strong indictment against religion that I wondered if this is how the writers really perceived Christianity.
Application: Our lesson discusses the importance of making a confession of faith, but the confession must be an honest one that aligns with the scriptures.
Ron L.
There have been many plots, historically, to eradicate the Jews. Around 475 BC Haman’s attempt to wipe them out occurred. The book of Esther powerfully depicts that account. In 50 AD the Roman emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome. In 1012 the Holy Roman emperor Henry II expelled all Jews from Mainz, Germany. In 1421 the Weiner Gesera (the Vienna Edict) was passed, which stripped Jews in Vienna of all property, forced the conversion of their children, and saw nearly 300 Jews burned at the stake. Of course, the most infamous was perpetrated by Nazi Germany through the “Final Solution” -- the extermination of Jews in the Holocaust.
The idea of eliminating God’s people has been around for a long time. In this text, the new king in Egypt hoped to accomplish that task too. Some suggest that the king of Egypt at this time was Amenhotep I, though that is debated by biblical scholars. Whoever he was, he hoped to eliminate a threat and ordered baby boys killed. The Hebrew midwives, though, did not obey his command. They let the boys live. God honored them, but the king was livid. Pharaoh then ordered every boy that was born to be thrown into the Nile. It was his second attempt to control the Jewish population. God, however, had other plans. The deliverer of his people was spared in a basket floating on the Nile. The river that was intended to bring death to the Hebrews brought a deliverer instead. A well-devised plan to stamp out God’s people failed in a powerful and ironic way. God protected his people.
Bill T.
Exodus 1:8--2:10
According to a 2000 Barna Research poll, nearly 75% of Americans believe that “God helps those who help themselves.” Successful American businessman Charles Munger, an associate of Warren Buffett, says that “to get what you want you have to deserve what you want.” Our lesson certainly makes clear that Moses did not deserve the leadership position that he eventually held. But no, Americans agree with Munger. Maybe this belief in meritocracy is why Americans poll so low on gratitude. According to a study published in 2016 by the British Journal of Social Psychology, only 20% of Americans find gratitude to be a constitutive emotion -- compared to three in ten Germans who deem it a good thing.
Our lesson makes clear that God can make something out of nothing, out of the most inauspicious start. Martin Luther says that everything that we have that is good is from God: “...because he is an eternal fountain who overflows with pure goodness and from whom pours forth all that is truly good” (The Book of Concord [2000 ed.], p. 389). It’s like Larry King often said: “Those who have succeeded at anything and don't mention luck are kidding themselves.” What King calls luck, Christians recognize as divine providence, the work of God. So how about “Those who have succeeded at anything and don’t mention what God has done in their lives are blind”? Luther once put it this way in a sermon, a comment certainly illustrated by Moses’ rise to prominence: “Our Lord God likes to act otherwise than we suggest” (What Luther Says, p. 1151). If we believed that we would be much more grateful, Luther says (The Book of Concord [2000 ed.], p. 433).
Mark E.
Exodus 1:8--2:10
With a word spoken and the sweep of his hand, Pharaoh decreed that every boy born to the Hebrews should be thrown into the Nile. The carnage that should have resulted would bring to mind the innocents slaughtered in Bethlehem by Herod’s soldiers, or the 20 children shot to death at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
In the wake of that shooting, numerous strong editorials were written on the need for stronger gun control legislation by influential newspapers like the New York Times and Washington Post. This position was confirmed by the mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, who said: “We have not seen leadership -- not from the White House and not from Congress.” The reason for this outcry is that the guns used in the shooting spree were a semi-automatic Bushmaster rifle, whose projectiles travel at 3,000 feet per second; a semi-automatic Glock 9mm handgun that fires five bullets per second at a velocity of 1,200 feet per second; and a 9mm SIG pistol that fires five bullets per second at a velocity of 1,200 feet per second. Could stricter gun laws prevent this? Possibly. But I do not think the Roman soldiers would have been hindered in their task if they had used clubs instead of swords.
People say only the deranged cause such mayhem. This could also be true. And we know our mental health facilities need to be completely revitalized. But let’s be honest, a Pharaoh and a Herod and as well as an Adam Lanza will always be able to slip through the bars.
The comforter-in-chief, President Barack Obama, came to Newtown, Connecticut, an affluent town of 27,000 residents, to grieve with its residents. It is interesting that our country has become so secularized that the commander-in-chief, the only person who has access to the “football” (the briefcase that contains the codes to launch our weapons of mass destruction) is now also our national comforter. The president did say: “The majority of those who died were children, beautiful little kids between the ages of five and ten years old,” and then he wiped a tear from his eye, pausing for several seconds to gain his composure before continuing. This is as it should be, but the Constitution does not delegate the one who can make war as the one who brings solace. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution reserves comforting to the church and the clergy. If the issue of gun control has lost its way, perhaps it’s because we cannot distinguish the roles of those who have access to the codes of violence from those who have access to the codes of scripture.
Many journalists, politicians by profession, have assumed the mantle of moralists. In editorials, they have written that this is a part of God’s plan or that at the gates of heaven there will be no tears. In commentaries they have asked these questions: Is there a God? How can God allow this? Where is God to be found? If they would have taken the time to look, God would have been found in a Christmas manger.
Connecticut Governor Daniel P. Malloy may have said it best with these words: “Evil visited this community today.” This is what makes Pharaoh’s directive to kill male Hebrew babies and Herod’s story of the slaughter of the innocents relevant. This day and every day evil visits our world, our nation, our communities, our churches, and our lives. Evil is inescapable. Pass more laws... build more prisons... invest in our mental health system. And after all this, there will still be an Adam Lanza.
Application: Evil visited the community of Newtown, Connecticut, and so did God. Our lesson discusses oppression, but with Christians dedicated to social justice much of the oppression in the world today can be alleviated.
Ron L.
Romans 12:1-8
The two Greek words translated as “spiritual worship” by the NRSV in Romans 12:1 can mean something quite different, and I would suggest that the alternate meaning is the more important one.
Paul begins by talking about making our own lives a living sacrifice -- and why? Because this is our “logical” or “reasonable” “latrine work.” The word logikos,from which we get the word “logical,” can be translated as “reasonable” and “rational.” The word translated as worship is latreian,from which we get both the words “liturgy” and “latrine.” A latreian was a slave who worked in a temple, and part of his reasonable or logical service to the god was to do the cleaning. Not everybody can be in charge of altar decoration or lead the choir in the church. Somebody’s got to clean the toilets at the church. Paul is talking about gutty service in this passage, and that is what truly requires the change in perspective he calls for.
Frank R.
Romans 12:1-8
We human beings like to conform. We like to be one of the crowd. We like to be in the comfort of our peers. There is comfort in numbers. Yet I wonder how often we go along with the crowd, with our peers, when we really want to stand up for what we believe is right and is diametrically opposed to the crowd. Paul reminds us to not think too highly of ourselves, but also calls on us to focus on what God wants for us, on who God wants us to be, on the living Spirit within us.
How might our lives be different if we presented ourselves as a sacrifice before God, recognizing the power in being ourselves and offering the gifts God has given us -- not demeaning other people’s gifts, but proclaiming our own gifts? How might the world be changed, one person, one action at a time? God is not calling us to be someone we are not, to do the thing for which we have no gift. Rather, God is calling us to embrace our gifts and use them through and for the grace and love of God. It’s not a simple thing, but it’s worth it!
Bonnie B.
Romans 12:1-8
How can we dedicate our lives to God? It sounds like everything else in life should take a back seat. Not all of us will be called on to make great sacrifices, unless God calls us to do so. Most of the men in my seminary class had made great sacrifices to become pastors -- and even just to become Christians!
What if you have a job and your boss wants you to leave all your other interests aside, even your church, and only serve him? If you want to obey God’s command, you might lose your job.
There was a professional counselor in my church who placed God first. Instead of losing his job, he got a promotion because his clients thought he was the best counselor they ever had. He was so kind and loving to them. It was God who put that spirit in him! When he put God’s interests first, he discovered that God’s purpose was to make him put himself second and the needs of his clients first.
Even Americans are tempted to put our country first, and may even be told to do so by our leaders.
I like the words that tell us we don’t all have the same job. We are like different parts of the body or like those playing different instruments in an orchestra or who have different roles on an athletic team. Wouldn’t it be boring if we all had the same job? Don’t we sense that our friends and even the members of our family have different jobs because we each have different talents and abilities? We can’t all be mothers, and how would we get here if we were all fathers?
A church is one place where you can find out what part you play in the body. Some have talent in teaching and some in speaking or leading meetings, or some can even fix a faucet in the kitchen or a faulty PA system. We need them all, and we should not inflate our egos thinking that our talents are much more important. That is hardest for the pastor, who usually gets such special treatment and is honored so highly. I had police who stopped me for a traffic offense and then told me to go on when they saw my clerical collar.
Doctors often get more respect than nurses, or architects than those doing the construction -- but they are all needed! We can’t get along without others, even if they have “lesser” roles to play in life.
This text has the most simple illustration. Think of our body. We need legs, but can live without them. Same with arms, ears, eyes, etc. Try to think of any parts of your body that you could do without. The important point is that we are all ONE.
We are especially one in the Lord, who loves and needs us all!
Bob O.
Matthew 16:13-20
The world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, opened in Dubai on January 4, 2010. It is a staggering 2,717 feet tall (more than a mile and a half), and easily surpasses the previous tallest building. It is double the height of the Empire State Building, accommodates 12,000 people, and was built at a cost of $1.5 billion.
It holds several world records. Those include:
* Tallest man-made structure (previously Warsaw radio mast -- 2,121 ft.)
* Building with most floors:160 (previously Willis Tower -- 108)
* Highest elevator and world’s fastest elevators (40 mph)
* World’s highest swimming pool (76th floor)
While most attention is focused on its height, perhaps what is more important is what lies buried beneath the building. Without a solid foundation, the world’s tallest building would become the world’s largest pile of rubble. The foundation extends 164 feet deep. Under the Burj Khalifa lies 58,900 cubic yards of concrete, weighing over 120,000 tons. It took a year just to build the foundation.
You can get on a search engine and find images of this remarkable building. It is an incredible sight, and no doubt the foundation is crucial. But as important as the foundation is to the Burj Khalifa, the foundation we see in this text is even more valuable.
Jesus asks his disciples in this passage “But who do you say I am?” Peter, who is often impulsive, gives a powerful and concise answer: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It is a definitive statement. Jesus is not just another teacher or prophet. He is the one. Jesus notes that it is upon this truth that he will build his church. The foundation of the church is found in the substance of what Peter proclaimed. The church can grow and thrive throughout time and to all peoples because its foundation is solid. Jesus is the Christ.
Bill T.
Matthew 16:13-20
Jesus seems to teach in our lesson that forgiveness (the power of the keys) is at the heart of the Church (vv. 18-19). Donald Trump stated in July 2015, early in his campaign: “I don’t think I’ve ever asked God for forgiveness.” A lot of Americans apparently agree with him, as a Fetzer Institute 2010 poll revealed that 58% of us say that there are instances when we should never forgive.
Martin Luther has some insights to set us straight in our self-serving pride: “In this world one brother is forever rebuking another because of a speck while he himself has a large beam in the eye. For where you have charge against the neighbor, God has thousands upon thousands against you.... Therefore a Christian should follow a different practice. When he sees the speck in his brother’s eye, he should go look at himself in a mirror before passing judgment. He will find beams in his eye big enough to make hog troughs” (What Luther Says, p. 524).
There is a wonderful thing that happens when such confession of sin happens; we actually hear God forgive us through ordinary human beings: “For any Christian can say to you, ‘God forgives you your sins, in the name,’ etc. ...and if you can accept that word with a confident faith, as though God were saying it to you, then in that same faith you are surely absolved” (Luther’s Works, Vol. 35, p. 12).
Mark E.
Matthew 16:13-20
The program Weeds (aired by Showtime) introduced religion as a prominent theme in its third season. It depicted the religion of snake handlers. A grade school class was taught the evils of abortion by being shown a shocking photograph. A Jewish boy was sought out for conversion, only to be snubbed because a little girl claimed to be homosexual, which was considered to be a more fallen soul. Creationists dethrone evolutionists, saying evolution is a theory unsubstantiated by facts. A young co-ed remains true to abstinence, but liberally interpreted. She also abstains from cigarettes, but marijuana is acceptable for it is wholesome. The season ends showing a prayer circle, with the participants speaking in tongues and gyrating. It was such a strong indictment against religion that I wondered if this is how the writers really perceived Christianity.
Application: Our lesson discusses the importance of making a confession of faith, but the confession must be an honest one that aligns with the scriptures.
Ron L.
