Sermon Illustrations for Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 (2013)
Illustration
Object:
Joel 2:23-32
John Hancock was president of the Continental Congress. In that position he was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. After he signed his name in a large bold stroke he said, "There, I guess King George will be able to read that."
Application: We all have a prophetic mission in life.
Ron L.
Joel 2:23-32
Some situations seem hopeless, like the plague of locusts inflicted on Judah. America has its plagues -- like the imbalance of poor black men in prison (39.4% of the total prison population in 2009 according to U.S. Bureau of Justice statistics), the higher rates of alcoholism among Native Americans (11.7% to 7.6% for other ethnic groups according to a 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health), and lower prospects for social mobility of the poor (those born in the lowest 20% of the economy having only a 1 in 20 chance of achieving wealth, while those in the top 20% of the wealthy families have a 4 in 10 chance of achieving such wealth). Joel proclaims that the Lord will pour out his Spirit on the people in the midst of our suffering.
Fear and hopeless situations and our past can trap us. New Testament scholar Rudolf Bultmann well describes how freedom involves freedom from our past. We come into every new situation as the person we have become through previous decisions. Our decisions are not free but are shaped by our experiences in the past. The only way to be free, then, to get a truly fresh start, is for the gospel to release us from what has transpired and the ongoing impact the past has on us (History and Eschatology, p. 44). Until the Spirit gives us such freedom, the locust plagues, the legacies of slavery and poverty will forever have their way with us. This freedom is the spontaneous and willing agreement with God's freedom, Karl Barth claims (Church Dogmatics, Vol. IV/1, p. 101). Freedom is being joyfully and unthinkingly wrapped up in God's will, spontaneously doing God's thing. It changes our behavior, as the fresh start the Spirit liberates us from the hopelessness of "what is." John Wesley powerfully made that point, for the freedom of the Spirit lets us know who we really are:
... but the light that most necessarily attends to it [the Holy Spirit] is a light to discern the fallacies of flesh and blood, to reject the irreligious maxims of the world, and to practice those degrees of trust in God and love to men… as in some that are not yet come. The object which this light brings us most immediately to know is ourselves.
(Works, Vol. 7, pp. 514-515)
Mark E.
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
The message here is: Don't give up! No matter what you may have to suffer, hang in there so that we can be as confident as Paul that there is stored up for us a crown of righteousness. Is Paul just bragging, is he encouraging us, or is he setting an example for all of us who look for the Lord's coming that we will receive the same reward?
As much as I have done in my life as a pastor and missionary, I still hesitate to claim that I have always fought the good fight! I'm retired as a pastor, but I have still not finished the race. Our Lord has given me the opportunity to write these pieces that you are reading. I sincerely hope I have kept the faith. I don't want to brag, and I hope all of you pastors will use your ministry as an example for others and not just an opportunity to tell them all the things you have done for the Lord, though it is tempting and I have to constantly examine my words and actions. As the Bible says, let your actions be observed before men so that God may receive the glory! As Paul closes, "To him be the glory for ever and ever."
When I was in seminary they warned us that in every congregation you served, there will be a good many loyal supporters, but there will always be a group that are waiting for you to leave so a new pastor will come who will listen to them and do what they want done. We should do what Paul says and forgive them.
In my first church I had one fellow I thought was a good friend. I had a family of three kids and the council decided I needed another bathroom in the parsonage. They had a man who would do it right away for a very good price as it was around Christmas and he had little work and he would be busy again in January and the price would have to go up. The one I thought was a friend always held it against me that I agreed with council and they installed the bathroom immediately. My friend said I should have waited until the annual meeting in January and let the people vote on it! That was tradition but could have cost much more. It was a year later that I found out he was still bitter about that decision. Is there any pastor without some similar experience? I have not found a pastor who has served his church for over a year who has not.
God will rescue you from every such attack and bring you safely to his kingdom so don't lose faith in the one who will save you!
Is there any job our members have where they have not had conflict? Even in a marriage! Tell them all to hang in there!
Bob O.
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Coach Johnson was about training character. He told his distance runners, "The tape for the 5K is not set at 4,999 meters. You will not finish this race until you have run at least 5,000 meters. Quitting is not an option. I don't care how long it takes you to run the race. But, you will cross the finish line. That's the goal and that will make me proud of each and every one of you." His team trained hard. Some runners were naturally better than others and had great times; but all ran with equal character. They finished the race each time. Together, they saw themselves standing on the top podium with a gold medal for the character of perseverance. They trusted their coach from the starting gun to the tape.
Mark M.
Luke 18:9-14
Jean Harlow, the great screen actress, asked the great playwright Eugene O'Neil, to write a play specifically for her. She sent him her request in a telegram and asked that he reply in his standard twenty words or less. His replay came as follows, "No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no Eugene O'Neil."
Application: Those who exalt themselves will one day hear the word "no."
Ron L.
Luke 18:9-14
America is a pharisaic nation. We say how generous we are, when in fact when it comes to foreign aid we are quite stingy, ranking 19th regarding percentage of Gross National Income donated to development assistance. We consider ourselves a reasonable peace-loving people, only fighting wars against nations who don't "respect" our Western values. John Calvin captures our pharisaic lifestyle and how it can be changed:
Every man that is puffed up with self-confidence carries on open war with God, to whom we cannot be reconciled in any other way than by denial of ourselves; this is, by laying aside all confidence in our own virtue and righteousness, and relying on his mercy alone.
(Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. XVI/2, p. 202)
We can be changed by God's word, though, like it changed the tax collector. Martin Luther powerfully expresses these dynamics:
No, no; faith is a living and an essential thing, which makes a new creature of man, changes his spirit and wholly and completely converts him. It goes to the foundation and there accomplishes a renewal of the entire man; so, if I have previously seen a sinner, I now see in changed conduct, manner and life that he believes. So high and great a thing is faith.
(Luther's Works, Vol. 31, p. 25)
Mark E.
John Hancock was president of the Continental Congress. In that position he was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. After he signed his name in a large bold stroke he said, "There, I guess King George will be able to read that."
Application: We all have a prophetic mission in life.
Ron L.
Joel 2:23-32
Some situations seem hopeless, like the plague of locusts inflicted on Judah. America has its plagues -- like the imbalance of poor black men in prison (39.4% of the total prison population in 2009 according to U.S. Bureau of Justice statistics), the higher rates of alcoholism among Native Americans (11.7% to 7.6% for other ethnic groups according to a 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health), and lower prospects for social mobility of the poor (those born in the lowest 20% of the economy having only a 1 in 20 chance of achieving wealth, while those in the top 20% of the wealthy families have a 4 in 10 chance of achieving such wealth). Joel proclaims that the Lord will pour out his Spirit on the people in the midst of our suffering.
Fear and hopeless situations and our past can trap us. New Testament scholar Rudolf Bultmann well describes how freedom involves freedom from our past. We come into every new situation as the person we have become through previous decisions. Our decisions are not free but are shaped by our experiences in the past. The only way to be free, then, to get a truly fresh start, is for the gospel to release us from what has transpired and the ongoing impact the past has on us (History and Eschatology, p. 44). Until the Spirit gives us such freedom, the locust plagues, the legacies of slavery and poverty will forever have their way with us. This freedom is the spontaneous and willing agreement with God's freedom, Karl Barth claims (Church Dogmatics, Vol. IV/1, p. 101). Freedom is being joyfully and unthinkingly wrapped up in God's will, spontaneously doing God's thing. It changes our behavior, as the fresh start the Spirit liberates us from the hopelessness of "what is." John Wesley powerfully made that point, for the freedom of the Spirit lets us know who we really are:
... but the light that most necessarily attends to it [the Holy Spirit] is a light to discern the fallacies of flesh and blood, to reject the irreligious maxims of the world, and to practice those degrees of trust in God and love to men… as in some that are not yet come. The object which this light brings us most immediately to know is ourselves.
(Works, Vol. 7, pp. 514-515)
Mark E.
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
The message here is: Don't give up! No matter what you may have to suffer, hang in there so that we can be as confident as Paul that there is stored up for us a crown of righteousness. Is Paul just bragging, is he encouraging us, or is he setting an example for all of us who look for the Lord's coming that we will receive the same reward?
As much as I have done in my life as a pastor and missionary, I still hesitate to claim that I have always fought the good fight! I'm retired as a pastor, but I have still not finished the race. Our Lord has given me the opportunity to write these pieces that you are reading. I sincerely hope I have kept the faith. I don't want to brag, and I hope all of you pastors will use your ministry as an example for others and not just an opportunity to tell them all the things you have done for the Lord, though it is tempting and I have to constantly examine my words and actions. As the Bible says, let your actions be observed before men so that God may receive the glory! As Paul closes, "To him be the glory for ever and ever."
When I was in seminary they warned us that in every congregation you served, there will be a good many loyal supporters, but there will always be a group that are waiting for you to leave so a new pastor will come who will listen to them and do what they want done. We should do what Paul says and forgive them.
In my first church I had one fellow I thought was a good friend. I had a family of three kids and the council decided I needed another bathroom in the parsonage. They had a man who would do it right away for a very good price as it was around Christmas and he had little work and he would be busy again in January and the price would have to go up. The one I thought was a friend always held it against me that I agreed with council and they installed the bathroom immediately. My friend said I should have waited until the annual meeting in January and let the people vote on it! That was tradition but could have cost much more. It was a year later that I found out he was still bitter about that decision. Is there any pastor without some similar experience? I have not found a pastor who has served his church for over a year who has not.
God will rescue you from every such attack and bring you safely to his kingdom so don't lose faith in the one who will save you!
Is there any job our members have where they have not had conflict? Even in a marriage! Tell them all to hang in there!
Bob O.
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Coach Johnson was about training character. He told his distance runners, "The tape for the 5K is not set at 4,999 meters. You will not finish this race until you have run at least 5,000 meters. Quitting is not an option. I don't care how long it takes you to run the race. But, you will cross the finish line. That's the goal and that will make me proud of each and every one of you." His team trained hard. Some runners were naturally better than others and had great times; but all ran with equal character. They finished the race each time. Together, they saw themselves standing on the top podium with a gold medal for the character of perseverance. They trusted their coach from the starting gun to the tape.
Mark M.
Luke 18:9-14
Jean Harlow, the great screen actress, asked the great playwright Eugene O'Neil, to write a play specifically for her. She sent him her request in a telegram and asked that he reply in his standard twenty words or less. His replay came as follows, "No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no Eugene O'Neil."
Application: Those who exalt themselves will one day hear the word "no."
Ron L.
Luke 18:9-14
America is a pharisaic nation. We say how generous we are, when in fact when it comes to foreign aid we are quite stingy, ranking 19th regarding percentage of Gross National Income donated to development assistance. We consider ourselves a reasonable peace-loving people, only fighting wars against nations who don't "respect" our Western values. John Calvin captures our pharisaic lifestyle and how it can be changed:
Every man that is puffed up with self-confidence carries on open war with God, to whom we cannot be reconciled in any other way than by denial of ourselves; this is, by laying aside all confidence in our own virtue and righteousness, and relying on his mercy alone.
(Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. XVI/2, p. 202)
We can be changed by God's word, though, like it changed the tax collector. Martin Luther powerfully expresses these dynamics:
No, no; faith is a living and an essential thing, which makes a new creature of man, changes his spirit and wholly and completely converts him. It goes to the foundation and there accomplishes a renewal of the entire man; so, if I have previously seen a sinner, I now see in changed conduct, manner and life that he believes. So high and great a thing is faith.
(Luther's Works, Vol. 31, p. 25)
Mark E.
