Sermon Illustrations for Proper 23 | OT 28 (2019)
Illustration
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
There's an intense bitterness to the ending of Psalm 137, the lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and Temple and the loss of land and identity in exile. At the end of that psalm, with its evocative phrases calling to mind the heartfelt grief of those wrenched from their homes, that God would see to it that the infants of their tormentors would be dashed to death against the rocks.
Perhaps that is a natural reaction in the face of a national disaster. One thinks of the rage and despair that followed the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
But what next? Shall we continue to pray for evil to befall our enemies? Shades of the Sermon on the Mount, Jeremiah's letter to the exiles, calls upon them to turn the other cheek, to seek the welfare of Babylon — though the prophet can't quite seem to get himself to name the city — and to live full lives! We cannot continue hatred and bitterness forever. Though we may never truly recover from life’s traumas, at some point we need to live real lives.
Frank R.
* * *
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
John Denver, who was most popular in the 1960s and early 1970s, was known for his love songs and ballads. He transcended the typical the “boy meets girl, girl meets boy” formula to express the complexity of relationships, both as a blessing and as a source of sadness. The lyrics of Denver’s song “Follow Me” captured the complexity of human engagement as one life seeks to impact another. Prior to performing this song on The Tonight Show in 1974, Denver said he wrote it for his wife Annie whom he had to leave behind when he was touring at the beginning of his career because he couldn't afford to take her with him. This song has often been applied to what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Especially potent are the lines: “Follow me where I go, what I do, who I know, Make it part of you to be a part of me’” and, “take my hand and I will follow you.” The song reads:
It's by far the hardest thing I've ever done,
To be so in love with you and so alone.
Follow me where I go, what I do, who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me.
Follow me up and down,
all the way and all around,
take my hand and say you'll follow me.
It's long been on my mind,
you know it's been a long, long time,
I've tried to find the way that I can make you understand
The way I feel about you,
and just how much I need you
To be there where I can talk to you
when there's no one else around.
Follow me where I go, what I do, who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me.
Follow me up and down,
all the way and all around,
take my hand and say you'll follow me.
You see I'd like to share my life with you
And show you things I've seen,
Places that I'm going to
Places where I've been
To have you there beside me
to never be alone
and all the time that you're with me,
we will be at home
Follow me where I go, what I do, who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me.
Follow me up and down,
all the way...
take my hand and I will follow you.
Ron L.
* * *
2 Timothy 2:8-15
C.S. Lewis once was asked, "Why do the righteous suffer?" "Why not?" he replied. "They're the only ones who can take it."
I found this story from Scott Higgins in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book. It reflects the heart of what Paul writes in this last letter to Timothy.
Roy Campanella was one of the first African Americans to play in the major leagues. In a distinguished career he won the Brooklyn Dodgers Most Valued Player award many times, and in 1955 was on the team that won the World Series. But in January 1958 his career was cut short after a car crash left him a quadriplegic. After he was injured, he spent a lot of time in the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in New York City. One day he stopped to read a gold plaque on one of the walls, and for someone who had been blessed with such athletic gifts it resonated deeply within him:
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey…
I asked for health that I might do great things.
I was given infirmity that might do better things…
I asked for riches that I might be happy,
I was given poverty that I might be wise…
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of others.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God…
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things…
I got nothing I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among men, most richly blessed!
Bill T.
* * *
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Paul reminds us that faithfulness does not prevent tragedy from coming into our lives. Imprisonment, chaining, ridicule, even death may be the result of faithfulness. Yet, this is our call, our response to the love God has shown us through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and through the strengthening power of the Holy Spirit. We are not alone. We are never alone. When the worst happens, God is there. When the best happens, God is there. Wrangling over biblical interpretations, worship order and liturgical practice, music style, or which pew we sit in doesn’t bring people into the church or a relationship with God. Rather our quarreling and wrangling convinces people to stay away. Surely we will disagree, but may we act in faith and love in all cases and in all situations.
Bonnie B.
* * *
2 Timothy 2:8-15
We are asked to remember Christ’s suffering as he was dying. That is not easy. We only like to think of his resurrection. Jesus pain reminds us of our sins that he had to suffer and die for. I always have to think: were my sins that bad?
At the age of 92 my resurrection is more on my mind. Each day brings me closer.
I read about it as a child, but it never made a deep impression on me. But then when I was in my pre-teens I rarely thought of being a star on the football team or a star in the movies or anywhere else. That was too far away. I might have been most excited about my folks inviting me to a movie or some other exciting event.
When I was older I might have thought of the pain I might have suffered in my athletic training. Not death, of course, but running and falling and being tossed on the ground.
But we tried to be good workmen who did not need to be ashamed. We learned the truth of what it takes to succeed in our goal.
In our 90s do we want to know what it takes to be approved by our God? Do we check all the rules we find in scripture? What joy it brings when we learn that Jesus has won the race for us and paid the price of our salvation. That is one of our goals in being faithful to our church.
Bob O.
* * *
Luke 17:11-19
For the first three centuries church historians have no information on how the early Christians consecrated a new church. We only learned of the Roman ritual, which occurred sometime between 350 and 400. It was in Northern Italy that is was discovered that the relics of the Apostles were placed in the newly built churches. The church father Ambrose, learning of this, popularized the custom. Relics were placed on the altar, or a church was built over the existing tomb of a martyr. Pagan temples that were turned into churches were sprinkled with holy water.
Ron L.
* * *
Luke 17:11-19
We talk about Good Samaritans as if Samaritans were considered good by Judeans and Galileans, but when Jesus talked about them in a positive light it was surprising, shocking, and probably annoying to his listeners.
42 years ago I served a congregation in California’s Central Valley, and preached on the story of the Surprising Samaritan. Taking a cue from the Cotton Patch Bible translated by Clarence Jordon, who enraged white southerners by setting the New Testament in the American South, it was a member of the Hell’s Angels who stopped on Highway 99 to help an injured tourist after two good church folks drove right by.
In this passage the Samaritan spoken of is not a character in a parable, but the real thing, a living, breathing good example, not in the least bit appreciated by the target audience.
The possibilities for retelling this story of extraordinary gratitude in our era are boundless.
Frank R.
There's an intense bitterness to the ending of Psalm 137, the lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and Temple and the loss of land and identity in exile. At the end of that psalm, with its evocative phrases calling to mind the heartfelt grief of those wrenched from their homes, that God would see to it that the infants of their tormentors would be dashed to death against the rocks.
Perhaps that is a natural reaction in the face of a national disaster. One thinks of the rage and despair that followed the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
But what next? Shall we continue to pray for evil to befall our enemies? Shades of the Sermon on the Mount, Jeremiah's letter to the exiles, calls upon them to turn the other cheek, to seek the welfare of Babylon — though the prophet can't quite seem to get himself to name the city — and to live full lives! We cannot continue hatred and bitterness forever. Though we may never truly recover from life’s traumas, at some point we need to live real lives.
Frank R.
* * *
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
John Denver, who was most popular in the 1960s and early 1970s, was known for his love songs and ballads. He transcended the typical the “boy meets girl, girl meets boy” formula to express the complexity of relationships, both as a blessing and as a source of sadness. The lyrics of Denver’s song “Follow Me” captured the complexity of human engagement as one life seeks to impact another. Prior to performing this song on The Tonight Show in 1974, Denver said he wrote it for his wife Annie whom he had to leave behind when he was touring at the beginning of his career because he couldn't afford to take her with him. This song has often been applied to what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Especially potent are the lines: “Follow me where I go, what I do, who I know, Make it part of you to be a part of me’” and, “take my hand and I will follow you.” The song reads:
It's by far the hardest thing I've ever done,
To be so in love with you and so alone.
Follow me where I go, what I do, who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me.
Follow me up and down,
all the way and all around,
take my hand and say you'll follow me.
It's long been on my mind,
you know it's been a long, long time,
I've tried to find the way that I can make you understand
The way I feel about you,
and just how much I need you
To be there where I can talk to you
when there's no one else around.
Follow me where I go, what I do, who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me.
Follow me up and down,
all the way and all around,
take my hand and say you'll follow me.
You see I'd like to share my life with you
And show you things I've seen,
Places that I'm going to
Places where I've been
To have you there beside me
to never be alone
and all the time that you're with me,
we will be at home
Follow me where I go, what I do, who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me.
Follow me up and down,
all the way...
take my hand and I will follow you.
Ron L.
* * *
2 Timothy 2:8-15
C.S. Lewis once was asked, "Why do the righteous suffer?" "Why not?" he replied. "They're the only ones who can take it."
I found this story from Scott Higgins in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book. It reflects the heart of what Paul writes in this last letter to Timothy.
Roy Campanella was one of the first African Americans to play in the major leagues. In a distinguished career he won the Brooklyn Dodgers Most Valued Player award many times, and in 1955 was on the team that won the World Series. But in January 1958 his career was cut short after a car crash left him a quadriplegic. After he was injured, he spent a lot of time in the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in New York City. One day he stopped to read a gold plaque on one of the walls, and for someone who had been blessed with such athletic gifts it resonated deeply within him:
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey…
I asked for health that I might do great things.
I was given infirmity that might do better things…
I asked for riches that I might be happy,
I was given poverty that I might be wise…
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of others.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God…
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things…
I got nothing I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among men, most richly blessed!
Bill T.
* * *
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Paul reminds us that faithfulness does not prevent tragedy from coming into our lives. Imprisonment, chaining, ridicule, even death may be the result of faithfulness. Yet, this is our call, our response to the love God has shown us through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and through the strengthening power of the Holy Spirit. We are not alone. We are never alone. When the worst happens, God is there. When the best happens, God is there. Wrangling over biblical interpretations, worship order and liturgical practice, music style, or which pew we sit in doesn’t bring people into the church or a relationship with God. Rather our quarreling and wrangling convinces people to stay away. Surely we will disagree, but may we act in faith and love in all cases and in all situations.
Bonnie B.
* * *
2 Timothy 2:8-15
We are asked to remember Christ’s suffering as he was dying. That is not easy. We only like to think of his resurrection. Jesus pain reminds us of our sins that he had to suffer and die for. I always have to think: were my sins that bad?
At the age of 92 my resurrection is more on my mind. Each day brings me closer.
I read about it as a child, but it never made a deep impression on me. But then when I was in my pre-teens I rarely thought of being a star on the football team or a star in the movies or anywhere else. That was too far away. I might have been most excited about my folks inviting me to a movie or some other exciting event.
When I was older I might have thought of the pain I might have suffered in my athletic training. Not death, of course, but running and falling and being tossed on the ground.
But we tried to be good workmen who did not need to be ashamed. We learned the truth of what it takes to succeed in our goal.
In our 90s do we want to know what it takes to be approved by our God? Do we check all the rules we find in scripture? What joy it brings when we learn that Jesus has won the race for us and paid the price of our salvation. That is one of our goals in being faithful to our church.
Bob O.
* * *
Luke 17:11-19
For the first three centuries church historians have no information on how the early Christians consecrated a new church. We only learned of the Roman ritual, which occurred sometime between 350 and 400. It was in Northern Italy that is was discovered that the relics of the Apostles were placed in the newly built churches. The church father Ambrose, learning of this, popularized the custom. Relics were placed on the altar, or a church was built over the existing tomb of a martyr. Pagan temples that were turned into churches were sprinkled with holy water.
Ron L.
* * *
Luke 17:11-19
We talk about Good Samaritans as if Samaritans were considered good by Judeans and Galileans, but when Jesus talked about them in a positive light it was surprising, shocking, and probably annoying to his listeners.
42 years ago I served a congregation in California’s Central Valley, and preached on the story of the Surprising Samaritan. Taking a cue from the Cotton Patch Bible translated by Clarence Jordon, who enraged white southerners by setting the New Testament in the American South, it was a member of the Hell’s Angels who stopped on Highway 99 to help an injured tourist after two good church folks drove right by.
In this passage the Samaritan spoken of is not a character in a parable, but the real thing, a living, breathing good example, not in the least bit appreciated by the target audience.
The possibilities for retelling this story of extraordinary gratitude in our era are boundless.
Frank R.
