Sermon Illustrations for Proper 23 | OT 28 (2013)
Illustration
Object:
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
O. Henry, that great short story writer, was born William Sidney Porter. On his deathbed in 1910 he quoted from a popular song of the day: "Don't turn down the light. I'm afraid to go home in the dark."
Application: If we seek the welfare of the city to which God has sent us, we need not be afraid.
Ron L.
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
Speaking of the life of Christians, a first-century anonymous treatise titled The Epistle to Diognetus (V) claims that "they dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners… They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh" (Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1, pp. 26-27). The lesson teaches that the faithful are resident aliens in the world. To be an alien in a foreign land entails that you are never fully identified with the culture in which you are residing. You don't seek power in that nation, because as an alien you can't get elected.
Reinhold Niebuhr makes clear the implications of our alien status for everyday life. As aliens, Christians, he says, don't get sucked into the world's power games. We are people who check their individual egos at the gate, and so we might be more likely to seek the interests of others and enlarge areas of cooperation (Moral Man and Immoral Society, pp. 274-276). We can illustrate this point sharply with the observation of modern Methodist theologian Stanley Hauerwas: Christians believe that "Jesus is Lord, and everything else is bull!"
Mark E.
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Paul often repeats the basis of our faith in Christ! It can't be stated often enough! Paul is saying that we may suffer for our faith, but God has already suffered so that we will not have to suffer. Many Christians suffered for their faith in Nepal, and that is true of many mission countries where the Christian faith is treated as a threat to the local faiths. So even if we die for our faith we are still alive in our God. He will always keep us in his love.
Then the warning comes: If we disown him, he will disown us. But even if we are faithless, he will remain faithful. It is like the story of the life preserver; there it lies in the water near the drowning man. If he fails to grab it he has sealed his doom. His way of escape is lying there in the water within reach. All he has to do is grab it, since God remains faithful even if we aren't.
What can make a person faithless? Temptation is one thing. We may be so excited about an opportunity, which lies even closer than that life preserver. That sexy girl we see who keeps us from thinking about God. It could be many things like money or power -- you name it. There are too many! We confess them every Sunday when we say we have sinned in thought and word as well as deed! The pastor's job is to keep reminding us of these words from Paul.
That warning about quarreling over words reminds us of seminary! How many of those learned scholars, whose books may still be on our shelves, fight over gnats and swallow camels? I heard arguments about the virginity of Mary and even about the literal resurrection. They say they are trying to reach "modern man" who can't believe all those miracle stories! Yes, there are a few good ones, but we dare not let some destroy our faith -- not to mention the faith of our members. I would not want my members to read some of those books! This problem was present in Jesus' day, because the Pharisees and Sadducees and the lawyers were constantly arguing fine points of law and missing the main point!
We must be good workmen who don't need to be ashamed (because we are not academically respectable). Don't get lost in all the arguments of some, and instead serve the Lord faithfully. We are admonished to "correctly" handle the word of truth -- not the word of doubt and confusion! In one respect, I have learned more from my members than from my professors!
Bob O.
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Is Paul naïve? Or has he hit on something that we have yet to learn? How can we help but wrangle over words? The church split into East and West in the 11th century over the argument between homoousios and homoiousios: the distinction in meaning caused by one letter ("i"). The Reformation was in turmoil over which word rightly explains what is happening with the bread and wine of Holy Communion: transubstantiation (Catholic), consubstantiation (Lutheran), or symbol (Reformed).
Frank Luntz, in his book Words That Work, writes: "We have put our words on steroids and amped the language up so high that unless we communicate in overdrive and hyperbole, we believe -- perhaps correctly -- that nobody will hear us. In the process, we've sacrificed nuance and judgment and distinctions, and thereby cheapened the conversation."
Mark M.
Luke 17:11-19
When John Deere introduced its home lawn tractor in 1963, they were promoted as "freedom machines," since they were intended to save time on lawn maintenance, allowing one to pursue leisurely activities. Unsure of the reception, only 1,000 of the small tractors were made that year. On the 60th anniversary, over 5 million have been made.
Application: We must always be aware of those things that bring solace to life and be thankful.
Ron L.
Luke 17:11-19
This text testifies and extols the greatness of faith. Martin Luther has a lot to say about faith. "For faith is a living, active thing," he says (Complete Sermons, Vol. 3/1, p. 71). But we do well not to think that we are saved by the strength of our faith. As Luther put it, faith is like two people in possession of a large amount of a nation's financial currency. One may carry the money in a paper sack and the other carry the fortune in an iron chest, but either way the two are rich (Luther's Works, Vol. 23, p. 28). Faith just opens the sack and holds out its hand. Faith does not save. The big deal is the treasure [Jesus Christ] it has in its hand (Complete Sermons, Vol. 2/1, p. 360).
Mark E.
O. Henry, that great short story writer, was born William Sidney Porter. On his deathbed in 1910 he quoted from a popular song of the day: "Don't turn down the light. I'm afraid to go home in the dark."
Application: If we seek the welfare of the city to which God has sent us, we need not be afraid.
Ron L.
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
Speaking of the life of Christians, a first-century anonymous treatise titled The Epistle to Diognetus (V) claims that "they dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners… They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh" (Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1, pp. 26-27). The lesson teaches that the faithful are resident aliens in the world. To be an alien in a foreign land entails that you are never fully identified with the culture in which you are residing. You don't seek power in that nation, because as an alien you can't get elected.
Reinhold Niebuhr makes clear the implications of our alien status for everyday life. As aliens, Christians, he says, don't get sucked into the world's power games. We are people who check their individual egos at the gate, and so we might be more likely to seek the interests of others and enlarge areas of cooperation (Moral Man and Immoral Society, pp. 274-276). We can illustrate this point sharply with the observation of modern Methodist theologian Stanley Hauerwas: Christians believe that "Jesus is Lord, and everything else is bull!"
Mark E.
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Paul often repeats the basis of our faith in Christ! It can't be stated often enough! Paul is saying that we may suffer for our faith, but God has already suffered so that we will not have to suffer. Many Christians suffered for their faith in Nepal, and that is true of many mission countries where the Christian faith is treated as a threat to the local faiths. So even if we die for our faith we are still alive in our God. He will always keep us in his love.
Then the warning comes: If we disown him, he will disown us. But even if we are faithless, he will remain faithful. It is like the story of the life preserver; there it lies in the water near the drowning man. If he fails to grab it he has sealed his doom. His way of escape is lying there in the water within reach. All he has to do is grab it, since God remains faithful even if we aren't.
What can make a person faithless? Temptation is one thing. We may be so excited about an opportunity, which lies even closer than that life preserver. That sexy girl we see who keeps us from thinking about God. It could be many things like money or power -- you name it. There are too many! We confess them every Sunday when we say we have sinned in thought and word as well as deed! The pastor's job is to keep reminding us of these words from Paul.
That warning about quarreling over words reminds us of seminary! How many of those learned scholars, whose books may still be on our shelves, fight over gnats and swallow camels? I heard arguments about the virginity of Mary and even about the literal resurrection. They say they are trying to reach "modern man" who can't believe all those miracle stories! Yes, there are a few good ones, but we dare not let some destroy our faith -- not to mention the faith of our members. I would not want my members to read some of those books! This problem was present in Jesus' day, because the Pharisees and Sadducees and the lawyers were constantly arguing fine points of law and missing the main point!
We must be good workmen who don't need to be ashamed (because we are not academically respectable). Don't get lost in all the arguments of some, and instead serve the Lord faithfully. We are admonished to "correctly" handle the word of truth -- not the word of doubt and confusion! In one respect, I have learned more from my members than from my professors!
Bob O.
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Is Paul naïve? Or has he hit on something that we have yet to learn? How can we help but wrangle over words? The church split into East and West in the 11th century over the argument between homoousios and homoiousios: the distinction in meaning caused by one letter ("i"). The Reformation was in turmoil over which word rightly explains what is happening with the bread and wine of Holy Communion: transubstantiation (Catholic), consubstantiation (Lutheran), or symbol (Reformed).
Frank Luntz, in his book Words That Work, writes: "We have put our words on steroids and amped the language up so high that unless we communicate in overdrive and hyperbole, we believe -- perhaps correctly -- that nobody will hear us. In the process, we've sacrificed nuance and judgment and distinctions, and thereby cheapened the conversation."
Mark M.
Luke 17:11-19
When John Deere introduced its home lawn tractor in 1963, they were promoted as "freedom machines," since they were intended to save time on lawn maintenance, allowing one to pursue leisurely activities. Unsure of the reception, only 1,000 of the small tractors were made that year. On the 60th anniversary, over 5 million have been made.
Application: We must always be aware of those things that bring solace to life and be thankful.
Ron L.
Luke 17:11-19
This text testifies and extols the greatness of faith. Martin Luther has a lot to say about faith. "For faith is a living, active thing," he says (Complete Sermons, Vol. 3/1, p. 71). But we do well not to think that we are saved by the strength of our faith. As Luther put it, faith is like two people in possession of a large amount of a nation's financial currency. One may carry the money in a paper sack and the other carry the fortune in an iron chest, but either way the two are rich (Luther's Works, Vol. 23, p. 28). Faith just opens the sack and holds out its hand. Faith does not save. The big deal is the treasure [Jesus Christ] it has in its hand (Complete Sermons, Vol. 2/1, p. 360).
Mark E.
