Sermon Illustrations for Proper 16 | OT 21 (2016)
Illustration
Object:
Jeremiah 1:4-10
In this powerful, poetic account, Jeremiah remembers that time when he was a boy and first heard God’s call to preach. One can only wonder what was going through the mind of the young Jeremiah. Where did he imagine God’s assignment might take him? Was he expecting fame and fortune? Did he dream the road ahead of him would be trouble-free? Did he assume that when he delivered a word from the Lord the people would listen, respond positively, and honor him with some ancient equivalent of a Nobel Prize? Perhaps he did. He was, after all, only a boy.
On the other hand, Jeremiah tries to make the case that he is not qualified for the job. He is young and a notoriously lousy public speaker. Even as a boy, Jeremiah was apparently aware that responding to God promises troubles as well as blessings.
The former part of that equation certainly proved true for Jeremiah. He was frequently knocked off his prophetic feet, both figuratively and literally. Every time he was bowled over by circumstances, God gave him the strength to get back up. However, instead of being offered a life of wealth, health, and happiness, the prophet was directed back down the road that led to angry confrontation, mocking crowds, imprisonment, and one problem after another.
In this era of grandiose commercial, political, and religious promises that there is some easy means of solving all our problems and living happily ever after, it is good to be reminded that life comes with a certain amount of struggle. The promise of faith is the strength to get through the pain, not to avoid it.
R. Robert C.
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Adrian Peterson, the star running back of the Minnesota Vikings, was publically criticized and suspended when it was learned that he injured his 4-year-old son by spanking him with a wooden switch. Upon returning from his suspension, Peterson set out to rebuild his image as a Christian. As part of that witness he had tattooed on his left shoulder and pectoral the Bible verse from Ephesians 6:10-18 about putting on the whole armor of God. Peterson now realizes that he needs the armor of God to protect himself from public criticism as he once again becomes a player and a servant in community organizations. Peterson said, “When you start trying to take things in your hands, that’s when you mess up. When you leave things in God’s hands, that’s when things work out.”
Application: We are called to be witnesses. But as we know from Jeremiah, we will never be perfect witnesses.
Ron L.
Jeremiah 1:4-10
To have a destiny and to know it is yours is a wonderful, comforting insight. Michael Jordan and Oprah Winfrey have both written how they felt destined to greatness. It really is as once-famed Penn State University football coach Joe Paterno put it: “Believe deep down in your heart that you’re destined to do great things.” The eminent Reformed theologian Karl Barth has claimed that when you have this sense of destiny, of being called by God, then the principle that controls your life is that “God on one side and the world... on the other have become more important” than you are to yourself (Church Dogmatics, Vol. IV/3 Second Half, p. 592).
Mark E.
Hebrews 12:18-29
The bride and groom entered the bridal suite of the hotel with high expectations. As they came in, though, they were a little disappointed. The room was nice, but it was not nearly as big as they thought a bridal suite would be. There was a nice bed in the room, but it wasn’t anything particularly fancy. Flowers were neatly placed on the table, but again, it didn’t cry out “special” or “amazing.” It was, though, the bridal suite -- and it was their honeymoon, so they didn’t complain. As they came down for breakfast, the woman at the counter asked them how they enjoyed the suite. They didn’t want to be seen as griping, but they did share that they thought the room was a bit small and ordinary. She had a puzzled look on her face. They continued that the bed and table were just routine. She asked them about the hot tub. That’s when they looked puzzled. She took them upstairs. They entered the room and she laughed. “Oh my goodness,” she exclaimed, “you stayed in the front room.” She then opened the door to a beautiful bedroom, with a gorgeous view and a luxurious hot tub. It was all right behind the door they never opened.
How foolish is it to be right on the cusp of something really special and then to settle for something far less? In this passage, the writer of Hebrews is making a clear comparison: that which came through Moses and the old covenant had a purpose, but it pales next to that which Jesus brings in the new covenant. The Hebrews writer is urging his readers not to settle for the old -- an important challenge to them, and a good reminder for us.
Bill T.
Hebrews 12:18-29
In the progressive Christian church we don’t talk about eschatology -- defined as “a belief concerning death, the end of the world, or the ultimate destiny of humankind; specifically: any of various Christian doctrines concerning the Second Coming, the resurrection of the dead, or the Last Judgment.” It’s a difficult concept, and therefore an unusual conversation to have. But we skate around the topic all the time. We talk about heaven. We talk about good winning in the end. We talk about the saints of the church and the saints of the Old Testament (Hebrew scriptures). We talk about atonement and the concept that Jesus dies for our sins. We talk about God’s grace and mercy.
This passage reminds us that the concepts of eschatology are connected throughout the ages. Just as the plant that dies provides a seed that rises again as a new plant, eschatology reminds us that there is more -- more good, more grace, and more life -- ahead for us. We are called to remember the Holy Kingdom, the heavenly Jerusalem, the reign of God, which is yet to be encountered by most of us. Whether or not we believe in the theology of atonement as the reason for Jesus’ crucifixion and death or we believe in a religious-political conspiracy that Jesus stood against as he surrendered to death, we proclaim the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as key to our faith. The promise of our own resurrection moment gives us hope -- and ultimately for those of us who believe in resurrection, that is all we need to know about eschatology.
Bonnie B.
Hebrews 12:18-29
It’s not always either/or. In this passage it’s both/and. We are reminded of the fearsome and awesome presence of the Shekinah in the Tabernacle, the tent of meeting, sound and fury and fear -- yet there is the command to approach this awe-inspiring presence as well. Dare you approach God? Dare you refuse? Thanks to Jesus, you can approach! You must approach! You dare!
The author uses images of God’s awesome presence, but contains it in a simple place, the tent of meeting, that is transformed. Something great rests inside something so small. In The Last Battle,the last volume of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, the children are cast into a small stable to their supposed doom -- and are stunned to find there is a vast, peaceful, and perfect world inside. This causes Lucy to make the statement that in our own world there was once a stable that held something larger than the whole world!
You have come to Jesus -- you can approach, but it is still frightening! Whether you are high-church or low-church or middle-church or whatever, whether you worship in a grand cathedral or a simple meeting house, we must ask: though we enter joyfully, is there ever a sense of the awe-inspiring, something fearsome -- but just as awesome? It doesn’t have to be either/or. It can be both/and.
Frank R.
Hebrews 12:18-29
This is not an easy illustration for us today. The writer tries to point out the difference between the old dispensation under Moses and the new one under Christ. In the old one you had to be petrified if you touched the old mountain (which is physical); the new mountain (the new covenant), Mount Zion, is different. The distinction was clearer for those who read this letter.
The writer compares the blood of Abel with Jesus’ blood. Both were innocent, but Jesus’ blood was for all of us. Some might compare it today with someone who was shot by a family member and one who was killed defending our whole country.
Moses might have been terrified, but we can rejoice coming to the new Jerusalem -- a spiritual kingdom.
We would rather hear the voice of Moses, a human, than the terrifying voice of God that shook the earth!
We might prefer the voice of our pastor speaking to us about God’s message instead of hearing the terrifying voice of God himself... his voice can shake the earth. This may not be something you can picture in your mind with reality -- it has to be experienced. But at least we won’t be making golden calves!
We are living under the Christian dispensation, which gives us security. This passage compares both dispensations. This is one of many comparisons between the Old Testament and the New Testament. We need to read both to help us understand.
We find more love in the New Testament and more fear in the Old Testament. Yes we find some love in the OT and some fear in the NT. It is important to find out the reason for each one. As long as our names are written in heaven, that is what is most important. We come to church to be assured!
Bob O.
Luke 13:10-17
Why can’t this woman stand up straight? Luke does not tell us. It could be a physical problem. For instance, she might have had scoliosis or osteoporosis. If a physical disorder caused her problem, this passage reports another miracle performed by our Lord.
On the other hand, it is beneficial to note that many translators say the woman was bent over by a spirit. That suggests to modern ears that she suffered from some psychological ailment. Even today problems that bend people over are commonplace. Consider how many we meet who are bent over by troubled children, a bad marriage, divorce, alcoholism, drug abuse, finances, disappointment in themselves or others, guilt, or some other shoulder-hunching burden. Bent-over people in our midst are legion.
If that is the situation in Luke 13 when Jesus says, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment,” our Lord is expressing confidence in this woman’s possibilities. To paraphrase: “You can do this. This burden is not more than you can handle. I believe in you. Look up. Stand up straight. Go for it.” The woman hears the encouragement of Jesus. She not only stands up straight, she starts jumping up and down, praising God.
Those who have witnessed the discouraged and hopeless gain sufficient confidence and strength to stand up straight under a burden they once thought overwhelming understand that this is a miracle nearly as significant as the healing of a physical disorder.
R. Robert C.
Luke 13:10-17
Country music stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert were married and often performed together in concerts around the country, where they appeared on stage as a happy couple -- so when they announced that they were getting divorced, it came as a surprise to everyone. In a joint statement they said, “We are real people, with real lives...”
Application: Sometimes we are too quick to call others hypocrites, forgetting they are real people with real lives.
Ron L.
Luke 13:10-17
Despite all the social media and our internet “friends,” social commentators like David Putnam are still correct in noting that we more isolated than at any time in American history (Bowling Alone, pp. 261-262). But this is not the way we want to live. Modern American author David Levithan makes that clear: “Here’s what I think. We all want someone to build a fort with. We want somebody to swap crayons with and play hide-and-seek with and live our imaginary lives with and live out imaginary stories with... what we want is a companion. And we make it so damn hard to find” (Are We There Yet?).
Famed modern theologian Karl Barth claims that Jesus is always at our side, meets this need for companionship (Church Dogmatics, Vol. IV/2, p. 226). Martin Luther King Jr. made a similar point: “[God] is not outside the world looking on with a sort of cold indifference. Here on all roads of life, he is striving in our striving... the God of the universe struggles with us” (Strength to Love, p. 110).
Aware of this companionship, we begin to experience what the 17th-century French intellectual Blaise Pascal said we would, that “with Christ man is free from vice in wretchedness. In him is all our virtue and happiness” (Pensees, p. 149).
Mark E.
In this powerful, poetic account, Jeremiah remembers that time when he was a boy and first heard God’s call to preach. One can only wonder what was going through the mind of the young Jeremiah. Where did he imagine God’s assignment might take him? Was he expecting fame and fortune? Did he dream the road ahead of him would be trouble-free? Did he assume that when he delivered a word from the Lord the people would listen, respond positively, and honor him with some ancient equivalent of a Nobel Prize? Perhaps he did. He was, after all, only a boy.
On the other hand, Jeremiah tries to make the case that he is not qualified for the job. He is young and a notoriously lousy public speaker. Even as a boy, Jeremiah was apparently aware that responding to God promises troubles as well as blessings.
The former part of that equation certainly proved true for Jeremiah. He was frequently knocked off his prophetic feet, both figuratively and literally. Every time he was bowled over by circumstances, God gave him the strength to get back up. However, instead of being offered a life of wealth, health, and happiness, the prophet was directed back down the road that led to angry confrontation, mocking crowds, imprisonment, and one problem after another.
In this era of grandiose commercial, political, and religious promises that there is some easy means of solving all our problems and living happily ever after, it is good to be reminded that life comes with a certain amount of struggle. The promise of faith is the strength to get through the pain, not to avoid it.
R. Robert C.
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Adrian Peterson, the star running back of the Minnesota Vikings, was publically criticized and suspended when it was learned that he injured his 4-year-old son by spanking him with a wooden switch. Upon returning from his suspension, Peterson set out to rebuild his image as a Christian. As part of that witness he had tattooed on his left shoulder and pectoral the Bible verse from Ephesians 6:10-18 about putting on the whole armor of God. Peterson now realizes that he needs the armor of God to protect himself from public criticism as he once again becomes a player and a servant in community organizations. Peterson said, “When you start trying to take things in your hands, that’s when you mess up. When you leave things in God’s hands, that’s when things work out.”
Application: We are called to be witnesses. But as we know from Jeremiah, we will never be perfect witnesses.
Ron L.
Jeremiah 1:4-10
To have a destiny and to know it is yours is a wonderful, comforting insight. Michael Jordan and Oprah Winfrey have both written how they felt destined to greatness. It really is as once-famed Penn State University football coach Joe Paterno put it: “Believe deep down in your heart that you’re destined to do great things.” The eminent Reformed theologian Karl Barth has claimed that when you have this sense of destiny, of being called by God, then the principle that controls your life is that “God on one side and the world... on the other have become more important” than you are to yourself (Church Dogmatics, Vol. IV/3 Second Half, p. 592).
Mark E.
Hebrews 12:18-29
The bride and groom entered the bridal suite of the hotel with high expectations. As they came in, though, they were a little disappointed. The room was nice, but it was not nearly as big as they thought a bridal suite would be. There was a nice bed in the room, but it wasn’t anything particularly fancy. Flowers were neatly placed on the table, but again, it didn’t cry out “special” or “amazing.” It was, though, the bridal suite -- and it was their honeymoon, so they didn’t complain. As they came down for breakfast, the woman at the counter asked them how they enjoyed the suite. They didn’t want to be seen as griping, but they did share that they thought the room was a bit small and ordinary. She had a puzzled look on her face. They continued that the bed and table were just routine. She asked them about the hot tub. That’s when they looked puzzled. She took them upstairs. They entered the room and she laughed. “Oh my goodness,” she exclaimed, “you stayed in the front room.” She then opened the door to a beautiful bedroom, with a gorgeous view and a luxurious hot tub. It was all right behind the door they never opened.
How foolish is it to be right on the cusp of something really special and then to settle for something far less? In this passage, the writer of Hebrews is making a clear comparison: that which came through Moses and the old covenant had a purpose, but it pales next to that which Jesus brings in the new covenant. The Hebrews writer is urging his readers not to settle for the old -- an important challenge to them, and a good reminder for us.
Bill T.
Hebrews 12:18-29
In the progressive Christian church we don’t talk about eschatology -- defined as “a belief concerning death, the end of the world, or the ultimate destiny of humankind; specifically: any of various Christian doctrines concerning the Second Coming, the resurrection of the dead, or the Last Judgment.” It’s a difficult concept, and therefore an unusual conversation to have. But we skate around the topic all the time. We talk about heaven. We talk about good winning in the end. We talk about the saints of the church and the saints of the Old Testament (Hebrew scriptures). We talk about atonement and the concept that Jesus dies for our sins. We talk about God’s grace and mercy.
This passage reminds us that the concepts of eschatology are connected throughout the ages. Just as the plant that dies provides a seed that rises again as a new plant, eschatology reminds us that there is more -- more good, more grace, and more life -- ahead for us. We are called to remember the Holy Kingdom, the heavenly Jerusalem, the reign of God, which is yet to be encountered by most of us. Whether or not we believe in the theology of atonement as the reason for Jesus’ crucifixion and death or we believe in a religious-political conspiracy that Jesus stood against as he surrendered to death, we proclaim the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as key to our faith. The promise of our own resurrection moment gives us hope -- and ultimately for those of us who believe in resurrection, that is all we need to know about eschatology.
Bonnie B.
Hebrews 12:18-29
It’s not always either/or. In this passage it’s both/and. We are reminded of the fearsome and awesome presence of the Shekinah in the Tabernacle, the tent of meeting, sound and fury and fear -- yet there is the command to approach this awe-inspiring presence as well. Dare you approach God? Dare you refuse? Thanks to Jesus, you can approach! You must approach! You dare!
The author uses images of God’s awesome presence, but contains it in a simple place, the tent of meeting, that is transformed. Something great rests inside something so small. In The Last Battle,the last volume of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, the children are cast into a small stable to their supposed doom -- and are stunned to find there is a vast, peaceful, and perfect world inside. This causes Lucy to make the statement that in our own world there was once a stable that held something larger than the whole world!
You have come to Jesus -- you can approach, but it is still frightening! Whether you are high-church or low-church or middle-church or whatever, whether you worship in a grand cathedral or a simple meeting house, we must ask: though we enter joyfully, is there ever a sense of the awe-inspiring, something fearsome -- but just as awesome? It doesn’t have to be either/or. It can be both/and.
Frank R.
Hebrews 12:18-29
This is not an easy illustration for us today. The writer tries to point out the difference between the old dispensation under Moses and the new one under Christ. In the old one you had to be petrified if you touched the old mountain (which is physical); the new mountain (the new covenant), Mount Zion, is different. The distinction was clearer for those who read this letter.
The writer compares the blood of Abel with Jesus’ blood. Both were innocent, but Jesus’ blood was for all of us. Some might compare it today with someone who was shot by a family member and one who was killed defending our whole country.
Moses might have been terrified, but we can rejoice coming to the new Jerusalem -- a spiritual kingdom.
We would rather hear the voice of Moses, a human, than the terrifying voice of God that shook the earth!
We might prefer the voice of our pastor speaking to us about God’s message instead of hearing the terrifying voice of God himself... his voice can shake the earth. This may not be something you can picture in your mind with reality -- it has to be experienced. But at least we won’t be making golden calves!
We are living under the Christian dispensation, which gives us security. This passage compares both dispensations. This is one of many comparisons between the Old Testament and the New Testament. We need to read both to help us understand.
We find more love in the New Testament and more fear in the Old Testament. Yes we find some love in the OT and some fear in the NT. It is important to find out the reason for each one. As long as our names are written in heaven, that is what is most important. We come to church to be assured!
Bob O.
Luke 13:10-17
Why can’t this woman stand up straight? Luke does not tell us. It could be a physical problem. For instance, she might have had scoliosis or osteoporosis. If a physical disorder caused her problem, this passage reports another miracle performed by our Lord.
On the other hand, it is beneficial to note that many translators say the woman was bent over by a spirit. That suggests to modern ears that she suffered from some psychological ailment. Even today problems that bend people over are commonplace. Consider how many we meet who are bent over by troubled children, a bad marriage, divorce, alcoholism, drug abuse, finances, disappointment in themselves or others, guilt, or some other shoulder-hunching burden. Bent-over people in our midst are legion.
If that is the situation in Luke 13 when Jesus says, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment,” our Lord is expressing confidence in this woman’s possibilities. To paraphrase: “You can do this. This burden is not more than you can handle. I believe in you. Look up. Stand up straight. Go for it.” The woman hears the encouragement of Jesus. She not only stands up straight, she starts jumping up and down, praising God.
Those who have witnessed the discouraged and hopeless gain sufficient confidence and strength to stand up straight under a burden they once thought overwhelming understand that this is a miracle nearly as significant as the healing of a physical disorder.
R. Robert C.
Luke 13:10-17
Country music stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert were married and often performed together in concerts around the country, where they appeared on stage as a happy couple -- so when they announced that they were getting divorced, it came as a surprise to everyone. In a joint statement they said, “We are real people, with real lives...”
Application: Sometimes we are too quick to call others hypocrites, forgetting they are real people with real lives.
Ron L.
Luke 13:10-17
Despite all the social media and our internet “friends,” social commentators like David Putnam are still correct in noting that we more isolated than at any time in American history (Bowling Alone, pp. 261-262). But this is not the way we want to live. Modern American author David Levithan makes that clear: “Here’s what I think. We all want someone to build a fort with. We want somebody to swap crayons with and play hide-and-seek with and live our imaginary lives with and live out imaginary stories with... what we want is a companion. And we make it so damn hard to find” (Are We There Yet?).
Famed modern theologian Karl Barth claims that Jesus is always at our side, meets this need for companionship (Church Dogmatics, Vol. IV/2, p. 226). Martin Luther King Jr. made a similar point: “[God] is not outside the world looking on with a sort of cold indifference. Here on all roads of life, he is striving in our striving... the God of the universe struggles with us” (Strength to Love, p. 110).
Aware of this companionship, we begin to experience what the 17th-century French intellectual Blaise Pascal said we would, that “with Christ man is free from vice in wretchedness. In him is all our virtue and happiness” (Pensees, p. 149).
Mark E.
