Sermon Illustrations for Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 (2020)
Illustration
Joshua 3:7-17
Do you remember a time when you were excitedly anticipating something? Maybe it was a birthday. It might have been Christmas day or a trip to the amusement park. As we get older, we look forward to graduation, maybe our wedding day, or getting that first job.
Depending on what’s happening on that day, that time could also bring some anxiety because of the challenges that might await. Imagine it. You’ve prepared and looked forward to this particular thing happening and now it’s here! Anticipation and excitement build while the shadow of nervousness lingers. That might have been the feeling the children of Israel had as they stood before the Jordan.
They likely remember an earlier generation had failed to enter because of unbelief. This is their time. Some have waited close to forty years. Joshua and Caleb, who were now about eighty years old, had waited even longer. The Lord has promised to exalt Joshua in the sight of the people and the moment is at hand. Joshua tells the people, “Draw near and hear the words of the Lord your God.” The time has come.
Life is like that. Often, with our hopes at their highest, there are challenges and problems that we face at the very same time. Verse 15 records that the priests stepped into the water of the Jordan. They took that step of faith. Verse 16 notes the result of that faith. Once again, God divides the waters and the path to the promise is cleared.
It’s a good lesson for us. Despite the anxiety of the moment, will we trust enough to see how God fulfills his promise?
Bill T.
* * *
Joshua 3:7-17
Joshua is no Moses, but like Moses, Joshua is called by God to be a leader. In this section the parallels between Moses and Joshua are intentional, as are the differences. The people are saved from the Egyptians when the waters part and they cross the Red Sea to safety. The people are saved from their dependencies in the desert when the waters of the Jordan part and they cross over into the promised land. Since most of the previous generation had died in the desert it was important for the new generation to claim the promise by living it, much as we relive the Last Supper in our communion services.
And in both cases the people will continue to be both faithful and unfaithful, obedient at times and grumbling at others.
There are differences, of course. The biggest is that the people crossing the Jordan are not in an existential crisis. There is no Egyptian army on their heels. Another difference is that in Exodus, the Passover precedes the crossing of the Red Sea. Although it does not occur in this passage, shortly after the crossing the people will celebrate the Passover, the ultimate recreation and parallel.
Frank R.
* * *
Joshua 3:7-17
John Legend was interviewed in April 2018 regarding his role as portraying Jesus of Nazareth. This was for NBC’s musical adaption of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Recognizing, in Legend’s words, that “the Bible was a huge part of my upbringing,” he took the role very seriously. Regarding how he viewed Jesus, Legend said I “imagine what a real human being would think going through betrayal and the challenge of joining together with your friends to fight against oppression. My job is to embody that.” Anticipating the NBC’s telecast Legend said, “Hopefully the show’s story of the power of sacrifice — and suffering to make the world better — will inspire people.”
Ron L.
* * *
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
Bible reading and knowledge of the Bible is on the decline in America. A 2017 LifeWay Research poll found that a majority of Americans (53%) have hardly read the Bible. A 2016 study by George Gallup found that fewer than half of all adults can name the four gospels. Many Christians cannot identify more than two or three of the disciples. According to data from the Barna Research Group in the same year, 60% of Americans can't name even five of the ten commandments. We know more about the Presidential candidates’ lives than the most intimate details of Jesus’ life.
The lesson offers some hints on how to appreciate the Bible. Paul’s comments imply that when he speaks, it is God using the words spoken/written, that in scripture we actually encounter God in Christ Himself! It is really Christ and God speaking to us in scripture. The 19th-century forefather of existential philosophy Søren Kierkegaard spoke of becoming contemporaneous with Christ. He wrote:
... Now just as the historical gives occasion for the contemporary to become a disciple, but only it must be noted through receiving the condition from God Himself, since otherwise we speak socratically, so the testimony of contemporaries gives occasion for each successor to become a disciple but only it must be noted through receiving the condition from God Himself. (Philosophical Fragments, pp.125-126)
Famed modern theologian Karl Barth says much the same thing as he describes what happens when we read the Bible:
We are with Abraham in Haran. We hear a call [of God] which commands... We are with Moses in the wilderness...We have found in the Bible a new world, God... (The Word of God & The Word of Man, pp.28,45)
Bible reading is a lot harder to avoid when you realize whom you meet there.
Mark E.
* * *
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
I wonder, as I read Paul’s letter, how true I have been to the call to share and spread the gospel. Have I worked day and night to make the word of God real to people? Have my words made a difference? I got a Facebook instant message not so long ago from a woman who wrote to thank me. She was thanking me for a sermon I couldn’t remember, but which inspired her to act on her call from God to become a pastor. I struggled to remember what words I could have said. I could not remember so maybe they weren’t my words but God’s words. Earlier this year I received another message from a young woman, a granddaughter of a congregation member in a church I served. She wanted to thank me for the words of peace and hope I gave her as she struggled in the hospital after a suicide attempt. Again, I struggled to remember the words I had said. Once again, maybe they weren’t my words but God’s words. God’s words are the words that are important. Maybe if I can just share those words, I will have done enough.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Matthew 23:1-12
Louie Giglio is the founding and senior pastor of the megachurch Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Giglio is known to be outspoken on social issues. His theology is extremely conservative. For example, Giglio on January 11, 2013, withdrew from the second Obama inauguration at which he was due to deliver a benediction. This came after it became known that in a sermon he delivered in the 1990s, he urged Christians to oppose the “aggressive agenda” of the gay rights movement. He described homosexuality as a “sin in the eyes of God, and it is sin in the word of God.”
Giglio further fell into disrespect for comments he made on a talk show that aired on Sunday, June 14, 2020. On that program the pastor said, “We understand the curse that was slavery, white people do, and we say ‘that was bad.’ But we miss the blessing of slavery, that it actually built up the framework for the world that white people live in and lived in.”
This dialogue came after the death of George Floyd, who suffocated as a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes. On the police video Floyd could be heard repeatedly saying, “I can’t breathe.” This occurred on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2020. It was an event that made our nation aware of the systematic racism that has existed for centuries because of “white privilege.”
Giglio in his interview changed the understanding of “white privilege” to “white blessing.” In essence Giglio posted that whites had been blessed by slavery. It was not a “privilege” but an “inheritance.” He placed systematic racism in the framework that whites were blessed by the African American’s enslavement, providing “the framework of the world that white people live in.”
Social media went viral in criticizing Giglio for smoothing over, for downplaying, those who suffered as slaves. The best criticism came from Goldie Taylor, the editor-at-large for the online news magazine “The Daily Beast.” Taylor said of Giglio, that he has a “damningly inadequate grasp of history.” She went on to say, “Slavery was not a blessing. It was the manifestation of evil. It did not spawn white privilege. It was born of it. This isn’t poor phrasing.”
Ron L.
* * *
Matthew 23:1-12
John Bunyan once wrote, “He that is down needs fear no fall. He that is low, no pride; he that is humble ever shall have God to be his guide.”
In his book Extraordinary Faith for Ordinary Time, Larry R. Kalajainen recounts a story about actor Gregory Peck. He was once was standing in line with a friend, waiting for a table in a crowded Los Angeles restaurant. They had been waiting for some time; those eating seemed to be taking their time. New tables weren’t opening up very quickly. They weren’t even that close to the front of the line when Peck’s friend became impatient. He turned to Peck and said, “Why don’t you tell the maître d’ who you are?”
Peck responded, “If you have to tell them who you are, then you aren’t.”
In this passage Jesus calls out the arrogance and hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Jewish religious leaders. He warns against thinking you are something special and tells them, “The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” It’s a good lesson to remember.
Bill T.
* * *
Matthew 23:1-12
“Do as they say, not as they do,” is the message of Jesus about religious authorities, both in his day and probably in ours. That may be an uncomfortable message to preach, but we’re not presenting ourselves asholier than thou. Or at least I hope not.
Case in point iswhat is referred to as “phylacteries,” a word that means “safeguard” in the Greek text of Matthew. It’s a translation of the Hebrew word tefillin, taken from the word for prayer. These refer to boxes that have scripture texts within them, which are worn on the forehead or the arm during times of public prayer. These are mandated in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and other texts. When we wear a cross around our neck, or scripture verses on our t-shirts we come close to this practice of publicly displaying our faithfulness.
However now as then these can become, instead of a symbol of piety and obedience, a sign of our arrogant assertion of superiority. The religious authorities had to wear bigger tefillin, or boxes. We may opt for supremely garish displays of faith to show our moral superiority. If so, woe to us!
Frank R.
Do you remember a time when you were excitedly anticipating something? Maybe it was a birthday. It might have been Christmas day or a trip to the amusement park. As we get older, we look forward to graduation, maybe our wedding day, or getting that first job.
Depending on what’s happening on that day, that time could also bring some anxiety because of the challenges that might await. Imagine it. You’ve prepared and looked forward to this particular thing happening and now it’s here! Anticipation and excitement build while the shadow of nervousness lingers. That might have been the feeling the children of Israel had as they stood before the Jordan.
They likely remember an earlier generation had failed to enter because of unbelief. This is their time. Some have waited close to forty years. Joshua and Caleb, who were now about eighty years old, had waited even longer. The Lord has promised to exalt Joshua in the sight of the people and the moment is at hand. Joshua tells the people, “Draw near and hear the words of the Lord your God.” The time has come.
Life is like that. Often, with our hopes at their highest, there are challenges and problems that we face at the very same time. Verse 15 records that the priests stepped into the water of the Jordan. They took that step of faith. Verse 16 notes the result of that faith. Once again, God divides the waters and the path to the promise is cleared.
It’s a good lesson for us. Despite the anxiety of the moment, will we trust enough to see how God fulfills his promise?
Bill T.
* * *
Joshua 3:7-17
Joshua is no Moses, but like Moses, Joshua is called by God to be a leader. In this section the parallels between Moses and Joshua are intentional, as are the differences. The people are saved from the Egyptians when the waters part and they cross the Red Sea to safety. The people are saved from their dependencies in the desert when the waters of the Jordan part and they cross over into the promised land. Since most of the previous generation had died in the desert it was important for the new generation to claim the promise by living it, much as we relive the Last Supper in our communion services.
And in both cases the people will continue to be both faithful and unfaithful, obedient at times and grumbling at others.
There are differences, of course. The biggest is that the people crossing the Jordan are not in an existential crisis. There is no Egyptian army on their heels. Another difference is that in Exodus, the Passover precedes the crossing of the Red Sea. Although it does not occur in this passage, shortly after the crossing the people will celebrate the Passover, the ultimate recreation and parallel.
Frank R.
* * *
Joshua 3:7-17
John Legend was interviewed in April 2018 regarding his role as portraying Jesus of Nazareth. This was for NBC’s musical adaption of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Recognizing, in Legend’s words, that “the Bible was a huge part of my upbringing,” he took the role very seriously. Regarding how he viewed Jesus, Legend said I “imagine what a real human being would think going through betrayal and the challenge of joining together with your friends to fight against oppression. My job is to embody that.” Anticipating the NBC’s telecast Legend said, “Hopefully the show’s story of the power of sacrifice — and suffering to make the world better — will inspire people.”
Ron L.
* * *
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
Bible reading and knowledge of the Bible is on the decline in America. A 2017 LifeWay Research poll found that a majority of Americans (53%) have hardly read the Bible. A 2016 study by George Gallup found that fewer than half of all adults can name the four gospels. Many Christians cannot identify more than two or three of the disciples. According to data from the Barna Research Group in the same year, 60% of Americans can't name even five of the ten commandments. We know more about the Presidential candidates’ lives than the most intimate details of Jesus’ life.
The lesson offers some hints on how to appreciate the Bible. Paul’s comments imply that when he speaks, it is God using the words spoken/written, that in scripture we actually encounter God in Christ Himself! It is really Christ and God speaking to us in scripture. The 19th-century forefather of existential philosophy Søren Kierkegaard spoke of becoming contemporaneous with Christ. He wrote:
... Now just as the historical gives occasion for the contemporary to become a disciple, but only it must be noted through receiving the condition from God Himself, since otherwise we speak socratically, so the testimony of contemporaries gives occasion for each successor to become a disciple but only it must be noted through receiving the condition from God Himself. (Philosophical Fragments, pp.125-126)
Famed modern theologian Karl Barth says much the same thing as he describes what happens when we read the Bible:
We are with Abraham in Haran. We hear a call [of God] which commands... We are with Moses in the wilderness...We have found in the Bible a new world, God... (The Word of God & The Word of Man, pp.28,45)
Bible reading is a lot harder to avoid when you realize whom you meet there.
Mark E.
* * *
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
I wonder, as I read Paul’s letter, how true I have been to the call to share and spread the gospel. Have I worked day and night to make the word of God real to people? Have my words made a difference? I got a Facebook instant message not so long ago from a woman who wrote to thank me. She was thanking me for a sermon I couldn’t remember, but which inspired her to act on her call from God to become a pastor. I struggled to remember what words I could have said. I could not remember so maybe they weren’t my words but God’s words. Earlier this year I received another message from a young woman, a granddaughter of a congregation member in a church I served. She wanted to thank me for the words of peace and hope I gave her as she struggled in the hospital after a suicide attempt. Again, I struggled to remember the words I had said. Once again, maybe they weren’t my words but God’s words. God’s words are the words that are important. Maybe if I can just share those words, I will have done enough.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Matthew 23:1-12
Louie Giglio is the founding and senior pastor of the megachurch Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Giglio is known to be outspoken on social issues. His theology is extremely conservative. For example, Giglio on January 11, 2013, withdrew from the second Obama inauguration at which he was due to deliver a benediction. This came after it became known that in a sermon he delivered in the 1990s, he urged Christians to oppose the “aggressive agenda” of the gay rights movement. He described homosexuality as a “sin in the eyes of God, and it is sin in the word of God.”
Giglio further fell into disrespect for comments he made on a talk show that aired on Sunday, June 14, 2020. On that program the pastor said, “We understand the curse that was slavery, white people do, and we say ‘that was bad.’ But we miss the blessing of slavery, that it actually built up the framework for the world that white people live in and lived in.”
This dialogue came after the death of George Floyd, who suffocated as a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes. On the police video Floyd could be heard repeatedly saying, “I can’t breathe.” This occurred on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2020. It was an event that made our nation aware of the systematic racism that has existed for centuries because of “white privilege.”
Giglio in his interview changed the understanding of “white privilege” to “white blessing.” In essence Giglio posted that whites had been blessed by slavery. It was not a “privilege” but an “inheritance.” He placed systematic racism in the framework that whites were blessed by the African American’s enslavement, providing “the framework of the world that white people live in.”
Social media went viral in criticizing Giglio for smoothing over, for downplaying, those who suffered as slaves. The best criticism came from Goldie Taylor, the editor-at-large for the online news magazine “The Daily Beast.” Taylor said of Giglio, that he has a “damningly inadequate grasp of history.” She went on to say, “Slavery was not a blessing. It was the manifestation of evil. It did not spawn white privilege. It was born of it. This isn’t poor phrasing.”
Ron L.
* * *
Matthew 23:1-12
John Bunyan once wrote, “He that is down needs fear no fall. He that is low, no pride; he that is humble ever shall have God to be his guide.”
In his book Extraordinary Faith for Ordinary Time, Larry R. Kalajainen recounts a story about actor Gregory Peck. He was once was standing in line with a friend, waiting for a table in a crowded Los Angeles restaurant. They had been waiting for some time; those eating seemed to be taking their time. New tables weren’t opening up very quickly. They weren’t even that close to the front of the line when Peck’s friend became impatient. He turned to Peck and said, “Why don’t you tell the maître d’ who you are?”
Peck responded, “If you have to tell them who you are, then you aren’t.”
In this passage Jesus calls out the arrogance and hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Jewish religious leaders. He warns against thinking you are something special and tells them, “The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” It’s a good lesson to remember.
Bill T.
* * *
Matthew 23:1-12
“Do as they say, not as they do,” is the message of Jesus about religious authorities, both in his day and probably in ours. That may be an uncomfortable message to preach, but we’re not presenting ourselves asholier than thou. Or at least I hope not.
Case in point iswhat is referred to as “phylacteries,” a word that means “safeguard” in the Greek text of Matthew. It’s a translation of the Hebrew word tefillin, taken from the word for prayer. These refer to boxes that have scripture texts within them, which are worn on the forehead or the arm during times of public prayer. These are mandated in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and other texts. When we wear a cross around our neck, or scripture verses on our t-shirts we come close to this practice of publicly displaying our faithfulness.
However now as then these can become, instead of a symbol of piety and obedience, a sign of our arrogant assertion of superiority. The religious authorities had to wear bigger tefillin, or boxes. We may opt for supremely garish displays of faith to show our moral superiority. If so, woe to us!
Frank R.
