Sermon Illustrations for Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 (2018)
Illustration
Job 1:1, 2:1-10 and Psalm 26
John Claypool was a pastor in Louisville, Kentucky, many years ago. He and his wife lost their daughter, Laura Lou, to leukemia. He later explained his loss by telling a story from his childhood.
During WWII his family didn't own a washing machine, and since gas was rationed, they couldn't afford to drive to a laundry. Keeping their clothes clean became a challenge. John's neighbor went into the service and his wife and family moved in with John’s. They offered to let John's family use their Bendix wringer washer while they were gone. They thought it would be better for it to be used than to sit rusting on the porch.
As part of John’s chores, he helped with the laundry. As he did, he developed a fondness for that old green Bendix. When the war ended his neighbors returned and reclaimed their washing machine. Over the course of the war, young John had forgotten the machine was loaned to them, so when the neighbors removed it, John was upset and angry that they would take his washing machine. His mother sat him down and said, "John, you must remember that the washing machine never belonged to us in the first place. That we ever got to use it at all was a gift. So, instead of being mad at it being taken away, let us use this as an occasion to be thankful that we ever had it at all."
John Claypool would say years later he struggled with the death of eight-year-old Laura Lou, until he remembered that old green Bendix. He realized that God allowed him eight years with his little girl and that was truly a gift.
Satan was certain that if Job lost the good he enjoyed, he’d curse God. God allowed him to take his best shot. Though advised to, Job never did turn away from God. Despite all Satan threw at him, Job trusted. Will we?
Bill T.
* * *
Job 1:1, 2:1-10 and Psalm 26
Leonard Bernstein, born in 1918, was a great American composer, conductor, author, music lecturer and pianist. Arriving at an airport one day, a photographer asked to take a picture of him sitting on a motorcycle. Bernstein refused saying the picture would be a “phony” since he doesn’t ride motorcycles. The photographer persistently continued in his request, and Bernstein continued to be equally persistent in his refusal. The photographer then showed Bernstein the controls of the motorcycle and how to operate them. The photographer then encouraged Bernstein to ride the motorcycle. Bernstein got on the bike, and to everyone’s surprise zoomed off at top speed across the airport. After a few maneuvers he returned to the photographer saying, “Now you can take your picture. I’m a motorcycle rider.”
Application: Our lectionary reading calls for us to be individuals with integrity.
Ron L.
* * *
Job 1:1, 2:1-10 and Psalm 26
Job’s wife is condemned for her statement, translated as “Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die (Job 2:9).” The early church fathers saw the wife of Job as a temptress and handmaiden of the devil. However, the Hebrew word brk, which is translated as curse is the same as the word for bless. She may have been suggesting to Job that it is time to bless God and to pass on. Haven’t we all, in our own experience, considered it a blessing when someone who is suffering greatly with a terminal illness, lets go and dies?
In any event her words awakens Job from his misery. She has struck a nerve. His wife has prodded him to evaluate on his condition and to begin to engage God.
(Adapted from “Job: The Bootleg Commentary” by Robert W. Neff and Frank Ramirez.)
Frank R.
* * *
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
In my faith tradition, the first Sunday of October is World Communion Sunday. On this day we celebrate the many people, nations and ecumenical partners who partake of bread and cup in the name of the risen Christ. Usually the breads are varied, the prayers are from a variety of traditions, the remembrances are inclusive of all our Christian brothers and sisters. Hebrews calls us to this memory, the memory that through Jesus we are all brothers and sisters, all children of God, all welcome.
We are also reminded that awe is the appropriate response to an almighty God who sees us as only a little less than heavenly beings. We are imbued with gifts and talents, faith and compassion, grace and blessings from God. We are called, therefore, to share those gifts and talents as we express the compassion, grace and blessings of God to others. May it be so today and everyday.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12
The Lesson seems to testify to the belief that Jesus is both God and human. (A 2015 Barna Research poll found that only 56% of Americans (46% of Millennials) believe that Jesus was divine.) It is as if Americans were now embracing the words of founding father John Adams: “The divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity.” The early Church developed an interesting analogy for making the mystery of the Incarnation intelligible. The union of Christ’s Two Natures was said to be like an incandescent iron or like the union of body and soul. The lesson also testifies to Christ’s suffering on our behalf, tasting death for us. Famed preacher of the early Church John Chrysostom offered a thoughtful analogy to explain this idea. He claimed that Jesus tasted death, removing its dread from us, like a caring doctor might inject himself with the medicine he/she has prescribed for a patient in order to still the patient’s fears (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol.1:14, p.384).
Mark E.
* * *
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
It sounds like we don’t need the Old Testament prophets any more because now God speak only through his son, Jesus. The Pharisees only used the Old Testament with all its prophetic rules and regulations.
Today some only use the Constitution to regulate our life in America. We almost worship the Second Amendment. We forget that Jesus died for people and not principles. There is nothing evil about principles as long as the needs of people comes first. We are still so proud if we can say we are people of principle. Yes there are Biblical principles as in the Ten Commandments. The Pharisees found over 600 additional rules. Thank God that he gave us Jesus to forgive us if we break any of the Old Testament laws. Because of Jesus we can be forgiven a long list of sexual sins -- for one: There are denominations fighting over the principle of abortion. Some are ready to send you to hell if you violate the laws they believe in, for example, that you are to make any sacrifice to save a child at birth.
But we can execute criminals who break some of our laws and we can shoot those who are wearing the wrong uniform. Even suicide is now okay in certain circumstances if family and doctor agree.
Even though Jesus himself gave a rule for marriage, we have some new rules in the church. Does that mean we should care more for the desires of individuals then for some laws we find in both Old and New Testament. Does it mean we should always care more for people than principles? What about stealing food to save the life of a loved one?
How do we decide where to draw the line on the law -- even Biblical laws? We hope our church can help us. We sure need help in some situations. So does our government.
Bob O.
* * *
Mark 10:2-16
Kriselle Dawson, a missionary in Papua New Guinea, writes in her blog, “My guard in Papua New Guinea once gave a delightful little pigeon to my daughter as a gift of gratitude. Unfortunately, things didn't always go smoothly for poor little Nutmeat (so named by my three-year-old). After we had had Nutmeat for a few months, we noticed her dancing about on one foot and refusing to stand on the other foot at all. A closer inspection revealed a broken leg. To this day we don't know how Nutmeat's leg got broken. Fortunately, a few days later we had visitors who knew a bit about pigeons. Using matchsticks and tape they splinted her tiny little leg, and things were looking up for her. Then one morning before getting breakfast, I looked out the window and saw that Nutmeat's cage was empty and there was a little grey bundle lying on the grass. My heart in my throat, I ran outside to see what had happened. There lay Nutmeat, chewed up, spat out, and more dead than alive. During the night a cat must have bent the wire of his cage and attacked him. With the broken leg, Nutmeat would have been sleeping on the floor of the cage, instead of on her usual perch. While I was rushing around trying to figure out the best way to fix the bird, I saw my young daughter and visiting friend kneel in the lounge room to pray to their friend Jesus -- that he would heal poor, helpless Nutmeat. I can imagine that there might have been tears in Jesus’ eyes when he heard their prayer -- tears of sorrow for the pain in their hearts, and tears of joy that these precious little children had immediately brought their burden to him.
In the passage for today Jesus gives the disciples an important lesson. “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” Having the trust and unpretentious nature of a child.
I am sure you are anxious to learn how God answered the prayers of the two precious children. Nutmeat made a full recovery within just a few short weeks. Just like he was in biblical days, God is still in the prayer answering business.
Bill T.
* * *
Mark 10:2-16
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in 1770. He was a great German composer of music. His best-known compositions include 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 1 violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, his great Mass the Missa solemnis, and one opera, Fidelio. Beethoven’s Third Symphony, composed in 1803, was titled Bonaparte. The Third Symphony is considered an important landmark in the transition between the Classical period and the Romantic era. This title came from the great respect Beethoven had for Napoleon Bonaparte. It was a tribute to the leader of revolutionary France that set forth a democratic form of government. But his admiration gave way to disillusionment when Napoleon declared himself emperor of France in May 1804. Beethoven was in Vienna when he learned of the news. In his anger at Napoleon’s action, he went to where the score lay, picked it up, and tore off the title page. He renamed the composition Eroica, which means “Heroic.” That title for the Third Symphony remains until this day.
Application: When Napoleon suffered from “hardness of Heart,” Beethoven was willing to judge him for it.
Ron L.
* * *
Mark 10:2-16
According to the Biblical experts who argue with Jesus, the law seems to be very clear -- if the man decides for whatever reason he wants a divorce, he gets a divorce. Cut and dried. What's to argue about?
But there’s something odd about the law of Moses. Did you ever notice that there are no laws pertaining to weddings? That’s because people already knew their wedding customs and didn’t need the case law of the Torah to guide them.
The same is true when it comes to divorce. Divorce no doubt took place among God’s people according to the customs developed over the centuries. This reference to Deuteronomy was misused by the Pharisees. They were using an isolated case law that addressed a specific problem and applied it universally.
The phrase “something objectionable” found in Deuteronomy 24:1 is translated by Robert Alter as “he finds in her some shamefully exposed thing.” The Jewish Publication Society's translation says, “he finds something obnoxious” about her. And Duane L. Christensen's translation for the Word Biblical Commentary is very literal: “...because he finds in her ‘a naked thing...’” The implication is that she is engaged in public lewd misbehavior. It has nothing to do with whether she has failed to please her husband in the ordinary course of events.
Jesus knows this. Jesus knows scripture. He ought to. Jesus also knows that the Hebrew words are referring to extraordinarily lewd public behavior, and so he replies, scornfully one imagines, that this law has more to do with their hardness of heart -- something we associate with the tyranny of a Pharaoh, than permission to divorce as one pleases.
(Adapted from the sermon contained in “Mark His Words” by the present author, Frank Ramirez.)
Frank R.
John Claypool was a pastor in Louisville, Kentucky, many years ago. He and his wife lost their daughter, Laura Lou, to leukemia. He later explained his loss by telling a story from his childhood.
During WWII his family didn't own a washing machine, and since gas was rationed, they couldn't afford to drive to a laundry. Keeping their clothes clean became a challenge. John's neighbor went into the service and his wife and family moved in with John’s. They offered to let John's family use their Bendix wringer washer while they were gone. They thought it would be better for it to be used than to sit rusting on the porch.
As part of John’s chores, he helped with the laundry. As he did, he developed a fondness for that old green Bendix. When the war ended his neighbors returned and reclaimed their washing machine. Over the course of the war, young John had forgotten the machine was loaned to them, so when the neighbors removed it, John was upset and angry that they would take his washing machine. His mother sat him down and said, "John, you must remember that the washing machine never belonged to us in the first place. That we ever got to use it at all was a gift. So, instead of being mad at it being taken away, let us use this as an occasion to be thankful that we ever had it at all."
John Claypool would say years later he struggled with the death of eight-year-old Laura Lou, until he remembered that old green Bendix. He realized that God allowed him eight years with his little girl and that was truly a gift.
Satan was certain that if Job lost the good he enjoyed, he’d curse God. God allowed him to take his best shot. Though advised to, Job never did turn away from God. Despite all Satan threw at him, Job trusted. Will we?
Bill T.
* * *
Job 1:1, 2:1-10 and Psalm 26
Leonard Bernstein, born in 1918, was a great American composer, conductor, author, music lecturer and pianist. Arriving at an airport one day, a photographer asked to take a picture of him sitting on a motorcycle. Bernstein refused saying the picture would be a “phony” since he doesn’t ride motorcycles. The photographer persistently continued in his request, and Bernstein continued to be equally persistent in his refusal. The photographer then showed Bernstein the controls of the motorcycle and how to operate them. The photographer then encouraged Bernstein to ride the motorcycle. Bernstein got on the bike, and to everyone’s surprise zoomed off at top speed across the airport. After a few maneuvers he returned to the photographer saying, “Now you can take your picture. I’m a motorcycle rider.”
Application: Our lectionary reading calls for us to be individuals with integrity.
Ron L.
* * *
Job 1:1, 2:1-10 and Psalm 26
Job’s wife is condemned for her statement, translated as “Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die (Job 2:9).” The early church fathers saw the wife of Job as a temptress and handmaiden of the devil. However, the Hebrew word brk, which is translated as curse is the same as the word for bless. She may have been suggesting to Job that it is time to bless God and to pass on. Haven’t we all, in our own experience, considered it a blessing when someone who is suffering greatly with a terminal illness, lets go and dies?
In any event her words awakens Job from his misery. She has struck a nerve. His wife has prodded him to evaluate on his condition and to begin to engage God.
(Adapted from “Job: The Bootleg Commentary” by Robert W. Neff and Frank Ramirez.)
Frank R.
* * *
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
In my faith tradition, the first Sunday of October is World Communion Sunday. On this day we celebrate the many people, nations and ecumenical partners who partake of bread and cup in the name of the risen Christ. Usually the breads are varied, the prayers are from a variety of traditions, the remembrances are inclusive of all our Christian brothers and sisters. Hebrews calls us to this memory, the memory that through Jesus we are all brothers and sisters, all children of God, all welcome.
We are also reminded that awe is the appropriate response to an almighty God who sees us as only a little less than heavenly beings. We are imbued with gifts and talents, faith and compassion, grace and blessings from God. We are called, therefore, to share those gifts and talents as we express the compassion, grace and blessings of God to others. May it be so today and everyday.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12
The Lesson seems to testify to the belief that Jesus is both God and human. (A 2015 Barna Research poll found that only 56% of Americans (46% of Millennials) believe that Jesus was divine.) It is as if Americans were now embracing the words of founding father John Adams: “The divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity.” The early Church developed an interesting analogy for making the mystery of the Incarnation intelligible. The union of Christ’s Two Natures was said to be like an incandescent iron or like the union of body and soul. The lesson also testifies to Christ’s suffering on our behalf, tasting death for us. Famed preacher of the early Church John Chrysostom offered a thoughtful analogy to explain this idea. He claimed that Jesus tasted death, removing its dread from us, like a caring doctor might inject himself with the medicine he/she has prescribed for a patient in order to still the patient’s fears (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol.1:14, p.384).
Mark E.
* * *
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
It sounds like we don’t need the Old Testament prophets any more because now God speak only through his son, Jesus. The Pharisees only used the Old Testament with all its prophetic rules and regulations.
Today some only use the Constitution to regulate our life in America. We almost worship the Second Amendment. We forget that Jesus died for people and not principles. There is nothing evil about principles as long as the needs of people comes first. We are still so proud if we can say we are people of principle. Yes there are Biblical principles as in the Ten Commandments. The Pharisees found over 600 additional rules. Thank God that he gave us Jesus to forgive us if we break any of the Old Testament laws. Because of Jesus we can be forgiven a long list of sexual sins -- for one: There are denominations fighting over the principle of abortion. Some are ready to send you to hell if you violate the laws they believe in, for example, that you are to make any sacrifice to save a child at birth.
But we can execute criminals who break some of our laws and we can shoot those who are wearing the wrong uniform. Even suicide is now okay in certain circumstances if family and doctor agree.
Even though Jesus himself gave a rule for marriage, we have some new rules in the church. Does that mean we should care more for the desires of individuals then for some laws we find in both Old and New Testament. Does it mean we should always care more for people than principles? What about stealing food to save the life of a loved one?
How do we decide where to draw the line on the law -- even Biblical laws? We hope our church can help us. We sure need help in some situations. So does our government.
Bob O.
* * *
Mark 10:2-16
Kriselle Dawson, a missionary in Papua New Guinea, writes in her blog, “My guard in Papua New Guinea once gave a delightful little pigeon to my daughter as a gift of gratitude. Unfortunately, things didn't always go smoothly for poor little Nutmeat (so named by my three-year-old). After we had had Nutmeat for a few months, we noticed her dancing about on one foot and refusing to stand on the other foot at all. A closer inspection revealed a broken leg. To this day we don't know how Nutmeat's leg got broken. Fortunately, a few days later we had visitors who knew a bit about pigeons. Using matchsticks and tape they splinted her tiny little leg, and things were looking up for her. Then one morning before getting breakfast, I looked out the window and saw that Nutmeat's cage was empty and there was a little grey bundle lying on the grass. My heart in my throat, I ran outside to see what had happened. There lay Nutmeat, chewed up, spat out, and more dead than alive. During the night a cat must have bent the wire of his cage and attacked him. With the broken leg, Nutmeat would have been sleeping on the floor of the cage, instead of on her usual perch. While I was rushing around trying to figure out the best way to fix the bird, I saw my young daughter and visiting friend kneel in the lounge room to pray to their friend Jesus -- that he would heal poor, helpless Nutmeat. I can imagine that there might have been tears in Jesus’ eyes when he heard their prayer -- tears of sorrow for the pain in their hearts, and tears of joy that these precious little children had immediately brought their burden to him.
In the passage for today Jesus gives the disciples an important lesson. “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” Having the trust and unpretentious nature of a child.
I am sure you are anxious to learn how God answered the prayers of the two precious children. Nutmeat made a full recovery within just a few short weeks. Just like he was in biblical days, God is still in the prayer answering business.
Bill T.
* * *
Mark 10:2-16
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in 1770. He was a great German composer of music. His best-known compositions include 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 1 violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, his great Mass the Missa solemnis, and one opera, Fidelio. Beethoven’s Third Symphony, composed in 1803, was titled Bonaparte. The Third Symphony is considered an important landmark in the transition between the Classical period and the Romantic era. This title came from the great respect Beethoven had for Napoleon Bonaparte. It was a tribute to the leader of revolutionary France that set forth a democratic form of government. But his admiration gave way to disillusionment when Napoleon declared himself emperor of France in May 1804. Beethoven was in Vienna when he learned of the news. In his anger at Napoleon’s action, he went to where the score lay, picked it up, and tore off the title page. He renamed the composition Eroica, which means “Heroic.” That title for the Third Symphony remains until this day.
Application: When Napoleon suffered from “hardness of Heart,” Beethoven was willing to judge him for it.
Ron L.
* * *
Mark 10:2-16
According to the Biblical experts who argue with Jesus, the law seems to be very clear -- if the man decides for whatever reason he wants a divorce, he gets a divorce. Cut and dried. What's to argue about?
But there’s something odd about the law of Moses. Did you ever notice that there are no laws pertaining to weddings? That’s because people already knew their wedding customs and didn’t need the case law of the Torah to guide them.
The same is true when it comes to divorce. Divorce no doubt took place among God’s people according to the customs developed over the centuries. This reference to Deuteronomy was misused by the Pharisees. They were using an isolated case law that addressed a specific problem and applied it universally.
The phrase “something objectionable” found in Deuteronomy 24:1 is translated by Robert Alter as “he finds in her some shamefully exposed thing.” The Jewish Publication Society's translation says, “he finds something obnoxious” about her. And Duane L. Christensen's translation for the Word Biblical Commentary is very literal: “...because he finds in her ‘a naked thing...’” The implication is that she is engaged in public lewd misbehavior. It has nothing to do with whether she has failed to please her husband in the ordinary course of events.
Jesus knows this. Jesus knows scripture. He ought to. Jesus also knows that the Hebrew words are referring to extraordinarily lewd public behavior, and so he replies, scornfully one imagines, that this law has more to do with their hardness of heart -- something we associate with the tyranny of a Pharaoh, than permission to divorce as one pleases.
(Adapted from the sermon contained in “Mark His Words” by the present author, Frank Ramirez.)
Frank R.
