Sermon Illustrations for Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 (2019)
Illustration
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
This was said to be President Ronald Reagan’s favorite joke. It’s a good one, but I think it also speaks to how we look at things.
There were twin boys about six years old. Worried that they had developed extreme personalities — one was a total pessimist, the other a total optimist — their parents took them to a doctor.
Trying to brighten the outlook of the pessimist, the doctor took him to a room piled to the ceiling with brand-new toys. But instead of yelping with delight, the little boy burst into tears. “What's the matter? Don't you want to play with any of the toys?” he was asked. “Yes,” he answered, “but if I did, I'd only break them.”
Trying to understand the optimist, the doctor took him to a room piled to the ceiling with horse manure. But instead of wrinkling his nose in disgust, the optimist whooped with joy. “Why are you so happy?” the doctor asked. “With all this manure,” the little boy replied, beaming, “there must be a pony in here somewhere!”
Though Jeremiah has been speaking words of judgment against Jerusalem and Judah throughout most of his prophetic career, chapters 30-33, also known as the Book of Comfort or the Book of Consolation, contain messages of hope. Chapter 32 contains a bold prophetic sign of future restoration. Even as Babylon is threatening to finish its destruction of Judah, the prophet makes a bold pronouncement about Judah's future — one in which houses, and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.
Bill T.
* * *
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
It is hardly surprising that Jeremiah, the unpopular prophet who predicted doom, would be considered a traitor to his country and imprisoned. Yet Jeremiah also shows faith in the future by spending his own money on land he may never live on, farm, or profit from. Since one could hardly use a safety deposit box to store the important legal document of ownership Jeremiah had Baruch take the documents and bury one of the copies in a jar for future use. Enough such documents have been discovered in enough jars to demonstrate that this is a standard practice.
Now the actual purchase procedure calls to mind the book of Ruth. Boaz, you may recall, was second in line to redeem the land that had belonged to the late Elimelech, husband of Naomi, and he had to make sure that the first in line wasn't interested in purchasing that land (which came with the stricture one had to marry the Moabite Ruth) before he purchased it. In this case Hanamel, the son of Jeremiah's uncle Shallum, needed money in a more portable form, silver ingots, and Jeremiah was first in line when it came to potential purchasers of Hanamel's land. He fulfilled that obligation in the present, which also symbolically proclaimed his belief in a future for the people and their land.
Frank R.
* * *
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
Richard W. Voelz is an Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University’s Graduate Department of Religion with the PhD in Homiletics and Liturgics. In 2019 he published a book titled, Preaching to Teach: Inspire People to Think and Act. This book merges the related functions of preaching and teaching to transform society. In his book Voelz wrote, “So how might the preacher-as-teacher imagine the public sphere, and the church’s relationship to it, through the lens of critical pedagogy? Through this frame, preachers will seek to voice a kind of ecclesiology that imagines the public sphere as one in which the church has vigorous interaction, seeking a highly participatory role where social action and change stand at the forefront.” Jeremiah, in his message of redemption, was trying to seek social change.
Ron L.
* * *
1 Timothy 6:6-19
The gap between rich and poor in America continues to grow. The Wall Street Journal reported that people who make $90,000 a year, actually earn more than 87% of the population. A 2018 study by the Economic Policy Institute found that people who make just slightly more than six figures, $118,400, made more than 90% to 95% of earners in the US. And yet the rich demanded and profited most from the Trump tax cuts. Speaking on behalf of the rich, Trump told The Wall Street Journal in July 2015, “As a businessman and a very substantial donor to very important people [in government], when you give, they do whatever the hell you want them to do.” Interpreting the lesson, John Calvin writes in response to these dynamics:
Our covetousness is an insatiable gulf, if it be not restrained; and the best bridle is, when we desire nothing more than the necessity of this life demands. (Calvin’s Commentaries, XXI/3, p.158)
John Wesley’s advice is a significant and realistic response to these dynamics. In one of his sermons he advised that we Gain all you can, Save all you can, and Give all you can (Works, Vol.7, p.9). Of course, it is only by grace, because we have been called to this way of life, that we can live this way. About this call, John Calvin notes that “there is nothing that ought to animate us with greater courage than to learn we have been ‘called’ by God.” (Calvin’s Commentaries, XXI/3, p.162)
Mark E.
* * *
1 Timothy 6:6-19
The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, the scripture reads. It does not read that money is the root of evil, but that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. What we love shapes us. If we love God with our whole selves, if we love our neighbor as ourselves, if we love all of God’s creatures and creation we are walking in the footsteps of Jesus. When we idolize wealth, position, power, influence, we move further away from God and from the path we are called to walk. It’s not easy in a capitalistic society and a world where position, power, influence and wealth seem to be the keys to success. Yet, we are called to share from what we have and move closer to the realm of God through our love of God and neighbor.
Bonnie B.
* * *
1 Timothy 6:6-19
It helps to be over 90 and realize that money does not solve our problems. I am still eating regularly and have cloths and a nice place to live in. Why should I worry?
Money is not the problem. It is the love of money. We need money to live and God knows that and will provide us enough to live on. We know people whose love of money has made them rich. It is interesting to read that many rich are not happy.
What joy we get when we see something that our contribution helped to buy in our church.
I know I get more joy out of giving to those in need. My wife and I sacrifice to help our friends in the mission field and it always makes us feel good.
We may not love money, but we may love some beautiful thing that was given us that was purchased by someone to make us happy. We may love them for their giving.
Bob O.
* * *
Luke 16:19-31
Forbes magazine reported in a May 14, 2012 article that in May of 2012, a 32-carat Burmese ruby and diamond ring — that was part of the collection of Lily Safra, one of the richest women in the world — was sold at an auction. The pre-auction estimate for the sale was $3-5 million, but the final sale price ended up at $6.7 million. It is believed to be the most expensive ruby ever sold.
The sale of that ring made international headlines. Treasure that rare is in demand. It’s value, though, is not eternal. The story of the rich man and Lazarus powerfully reminds us of that truth. Wealth, stature and accomplishment mean nothing in eternity. All that matters is knowing Jesus Christ.
The story of Robert Arthington demonstrates that. Arthington lived in a single room, cooked his own meals, and shared his friendship with students who were in need. Yet he gave tremendous amounts of money during his lifetime to Christian missions. When he died, his estate was worth about five million dollars, which he willed to missions.
After his death a letter he had received from a missionary was found in his belongings. It said, “Were I in England again, I would gladly live in one room, make the floor my bed, a box my chair, another my table, rather than the heathen should perish for the lack of knowledge of Jesus Christ.”
Bill T.
* * *
Luke 16: 19-31
Note: There are many recordings of this number on YouTube. You might play one, such as the Hank Williams version.
In 1877 Dr. Addison T. Crabtree published a song about a night watchman who discovered a tramp who died during the night. The song reflected that
“He was some mother’s darling, he was some mother’s son.
Once he was fair and once he was young.
His mother she rocked the little baby to sleep,
But they left him to die, a tramp in the street.”
In 1935 the country songwriting duo Grady and Hazel adapted the song, using Biblical imagery. Now it began: “Only a poor man was Lazarus that day.” His pleas for the rich man’s scraps were ignored and like the tramp in the original song “…they left him to die like a tramp in the street.”
The poignant stanza “He was some mother’s darling” quoted earlier from the original song followed.
The Coles took the Bible parallels further. Another stanza began “Jesus he died on Calvary’s tree.” “Though he was God’s chosen son” he too was left to die “like a tramp on the street.” When the second stanza is repeated it also is made even more personal for now it is Mary “who rocks the little baby to sleep.”
Their version has been recorded by many diverse artists, from Molly O’Day and the Cumberland Mountain Folks, Whitney & Hogan and the Farmhands, most famously by Hank Williams Sr., but also Cisco Houston, Joan Baez, the Statler Brothers, along with Peter, Paul, and Mary. The best of them conclude with a very pointed stanza that ended Crabtree’s original version, and which smacks of Matthew 25 and Jesus’ admonition about the “the least of these.”
If Jesus should come and knock on your door
For a place for to sleep or bread from your store
Would you let him come in or turn him away
For God would reward you on the great judgement day.
Frank R.
* * *
Luke 16:19-31
At the age of 63, Bill Clinton had mellowed. He took note of Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson’s fictional characters from the movie The Bucket List. It is a movie about those things that we would like to do before we die. Clinton made his list known at the 18th International AIDS Conference. He has an “A” list for those things which are important to him, and a “B” list for those activities that would just be fun. First on his A list, “I would like to live to see my own grandchildren.” First on his B list, “I’d like to climb Kilimanjaro before the snow melts.” Andrew Golis, who writes for Yahoo! News, wrote in an article for July 19, 2010, tilted What does Bill Clinton want to do before he dies? noted for those who remember a younger Clinton and his tryst with Monica Lewinsky, the “Bucket List” would have been better named as a “Gutter List.”
Ron L.
This was said to be President Ronald Reagan’s favorite joke. It’s a good one, but I think it also speaks to how we look at things.
There were twin boys about six years old. Worried that they had developed extreme personalities — one was a total pessimist, the other a total optimist — their parents took them to a doctor.
Trying to brighten the outlook of the pessimist, the doctor took him to a room piled to the ceiling with brand-new toys. But instead of yelping with delight, the little boy burst into tears. “What's the matter? Don't you want to play with any of the toys?” he was asked. “Yes,” he answered, “but if I did, I'd only break them.”
Trying to understand the optimist, the doctor took him to a room piled to the ceiling with horse manure. But instead of wrinkling his nose in disgust, the optimist whooped with joy. “Why are you so happy?” the doctor asked. “With all this manure,” the little boy replied, beaming, “there must be a pony in here somewhere!”
Though Jeremiah has been speaking words of judgment against Jerusalem and Judah throughout most of his prophetic career, chapters 30-33, also known as the Book of Comfort or the Book of Consolation, contain messages of hope. Chapter 32 contains a bold prophetic sign of future restoration. Even as Babylon is threatening to finish its destruction of Judah, the prophet makes a bold pronouncement about Judah's future — one in which houses, and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.
Bill T.
* * *
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
It is hardly surprising that Jeremiah, the unpopular prophet who predicted doom, would be considered a traitor to his country and imprisoned. Yet Jeremiah also shows faith in the future by spending his own money on land he may never live on, farm, or profit from. Since one could hardly use a safety deposit box to store the important legal document of ownership Jeremiah had Baruch take the documents and bury one of the copies in a jar for future use. Enough such documents have been discovered in enough jars to demonstrate that this is a standard practice.
Now the actual purchase procedure calls to mind the book of Ruth. Boaz, you may recall, was second in line to redeem the land that had belonged to the late Elimelech, husband of Naomi, and he had to make sure that the first in line wasn't interested in purchasing that land (which came with the stricture one had to marry the Moabite Ruth) before he purchased it. In this case Hanamel, the son of Jeremiah's uncle Shallum, needed money in a more portable form, silver ingots, and Jeremiah was first in line when it came to potential purchasers of Hanamel's land. He fulfilled that obligation in the present, which also symbolically proclaimed his belief in a future for the people and their land.
Frank R.
* * *
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
Richard W. Voelz is an Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University’s Graduate Department of Religion with the PhD in Homiletics and Liturgics. In 2019 he published a book titled, Preaching to Teach: Inspire People to Think and Act. This book merges the related functions of preaching and teaching to transform society. In his book Voelz wrote, “So how might the preacher-as-teacher imagine the public sphere, and the church’s relationship to it, through the lens of critical pedagogy? Through this frame, preachers will seek to voice a kind of ecclesiology that imagines the public sphere as one in which the church has vigorous interaction, seeking a highly participatory role where social action and change stand at the forefront.” Jeremiah, in his message of redemption, was trying to seek social change.
Ron L.
* * *
1 Timothy 6:6-19
The gap between rich and poor in America continues to grow. The Wall Street Journal reported that people who make $90,000 a year, actually earn more than 87% of the population. A 2018 study by the Economic Policy Institute found that people who make just slightly more than six figures, $118,400, made more than 90% to 95% of earners in the US. And yet the rich demanded and profited most from the Trump tax cuts. Speaking on behalf of the rich, Trump told The Wall Street Journal in July 2015, “As a businessman and a very substantial donor to very important people [in government], when you give, they do whatever the hell you want them to do.” Interpreting the lesson, John Calvin writes in response to these dynamics:
Our covetousness is an insatiable gulf, if it be not restrained; and the best bridle is, when we desire nothing more than the necessity of this life demands. (Calvin’s Commentaries, XXI/3, p.158)
John Wesley’s advice is a significant and realistic response to these dynamics. In one of his sermons he advised that we Gain all you can, Save all you can, and Give all you can (Works, Vol.7, p.9). Of course, it is only by grace, because we have been called to this way of life, that we can live this way. About this call, John Calvin notes that “there is nothing that ought to animate us with greater courage than to learn we have been ‘called’ by God.” (Calvin’s Commentaries, XXI/3, p.162)
Mark E.
* * *
1 Timothy 6:6-19
The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, the scripture reads. It does not read that money is the root of evil, but that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. What we love shapes us. If we love God with our whole selves, if we love our neighbor as ourselves, if we love all of God’s creatures and creation we are walking in the footsteps of Jesus. When we idolize wealth, position, power, influence, we move further away from God and from the path we are called to walk. It’s not easy in a capitalistic society and a world where position, power, influence and wealth seem to be the keys to success. Yet, we are called to share from what we have and move closer to the realm of God through our love of God and neighbor.
Bonnie B.
* * *
1 Timothy 6:6-19
It helps to be over 90 and realize that money does not solve our problems. I am still eating regularly and have cloths and a nice place to live in. Why should I worry?
Money is not the problem. It is the love of money. We need money to live and God knows that and will provide us enough to live on. We know people whose love of money has made them rich. It is interesting to read that many rich are not happy.
What joy we get when we see something that our contribution helped to buy in our church.
I know I get more joy out of giving to those in need. My wife and I sacrifice to help our friends in the mission field and it always makes us feel good.
We may not love money, but we may love some beautiful thing that was given us that was purchased by someone to make us happy. We may love them for their giving.
Bob O.
* * *
Luke 16:19-31
Forbes magazine reported in a May 14, 2012 article that in May of 2012, a 32-carat Burmese ruby and diamond ring — that was part of the collection of Lily Safra, one of the richest women in the world — was sold at an auction. The pre-auction estimate for the sale was $3-5 million, but the final sale price ended up at $6.7 million. It is believed to be the most expensive ruby ever sold.
The sale of that ring made international headlines. Treasure that rare is in demand. It’s value, though, is not eternal. The story of the rich man and Lazarus powerfully reminds us of that truth. Wealth, stature and accomplishment mean nothing in eternity. All that matters is knowing Jesus Christ.
The story of Robert Arthington demonstrates that. Arthington lived in a single room, cooked his own meals, and shared his friendship with students who were in need. Yet he gave tremendous amounts of money during his lifetime to Christian missions. When he died, his estate was worth about five million dollars, which he willed to missions.
After his death a letter he had received from a missionary was found in his belongings. It said, “Were I in England again, I would gladly live in one room, make the floor my bed, a box my chair, another my table, rather than the heathen should perish for the lack of knowledge of Jesus Christ.”
Bill T.
* * *
Luke 16: 19-31
Note: There are many recordings of this number on YouTube. You might play one, such as the Hank Williams version.
In 1877 Dr. Addison T. Crabtree published a song about a night watchman who discovered a tramp who died during the night. The song reflected that
“He was some mother’s darling, he was some mother’s son.
Once he was fair and once he was young.
His mother she rocked the little baby to sleep,
But they left him to die, a tramp in the street.”
In 1935 the country songwriting duo Grady and Hazel adapted the song, using Biblical imagery. Now it began: “Only a poor man was Lazarus that day.” His pleas for the rich man’s scraps were ignored and like the tramp in the original song “…they left him to die like a tramp in the street.”
The poignant stanza “He was some mother’s darling” quoted earlier from the original song followed.
The Coles took the Bible parallels further. Another stanza began “Jesus he died on Calvary’s tree.” “Though he was God’s chosen son” he too was left to die “like a tramp on the street.” When the second stanza is repeated it also is made even more personal for now it is Mary “who rocks the little baby to sleep.”
Their version has been recorded by many diverse artists, from Molly O’Day and the Cumberland Mountain Folks, Whitney & Hogan and the Farmhands, most famously by Hank Williams Sr., but also Cisco Houston, Joan Baez, the Statler Brothers, along with Peter, Paul, and Mary. The best of them conclude with a very pointed stanza that ended Crabtree’s original version, and which smacks of Matthew 25 and Jesus’ admonition about the “the least of these.”
If Jesus should come and knock on your door
For a place for to sleep or bread from your store
Would you let him come in or turn him away
For God would reward you on the great judgement day.
Frank R.
* * *
Luke 16:19-31
At the age of 63, Bill Clinton had mellowed. He took note of Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson’s fictional characters from the movie The Bucket List. It is a movie about those things that we would like to do before we die. Clinton made his list known at the 18th International AIDS Conference. He has an “A” list for those things which are important to him, and a “B” list for those activities that would just be fun. First on his A list, “I would like to live to see my own grandchildren.” First on his B list, “I’d like to climb Kilimanjaro before the snow melts.” Andrew Golis, who writes for Yahoo! News, wrote in an article for July 19, 2010, tilted What does Bill Clinton want to do before he dies? noted for those who remember a younger Clinton and his tryst with Monica Lewinsky, the “Bucket List” would have been better named as a “Gutter List.”
Ron L.
