Sermon Illustrations for Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 (2021)
Illustration
1 Samuel 1:4-20
This is a story of surprise and gratitude. And both of these reactions lead to happiness and relate to the brain dynamics associated with spirituality. All three activities activate the brain’s
prefrontal cortex, resulting in the flow of dopamine (the good-feeling amphetamine-like brain chemical) (Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough, in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology [2003]; Stefan Klein, The Science of Happiness).
The same brain dynamics also enhance empathy and so ethical behavior (Andrew Newberg and Mark R. Waldman, How God Changes Your Brain, pp.17-18). Faith does indeed lead to good works. No one has to tell the believer what to do. Martin Luther saw such connections implicit in the story of Samuel’s surprising birth. Thus, he wrote:
It further follows from this that a Christian man living in this faith has no need of a teacher of good works, but he does whatever the occasion calls for, and all is well done... So also, we read of St. Anna, Samuel’s mother. When she believed the priest Eli, who promised her God’s grace, she went home in joy and peace...and from that time paced the floor no longer; this means that whatever happened to her was all the same to her. (Luther’s Works, Vol.44, p.256).
Mark E.
* * *
1 Samuel 1:4-20
The story of Hannah’s prayer to give birth reminds us of the power of bearing a child. Even now, it is the expectation that every woman will want to, and will be able to, bear a child. We know that is not always possible, and maybe even not always advisable. And every woman is not physically or emotionally able conceive or bear a child. There are also those who become pregnant and cannot carry a child to term, who miscarry their infant. Hannah’s prayers were answered. She was able to become pregnant and bear a son, whom she named Samuel and whose life she dedicated to God. What joy she must have felt! I knew the joy of birth 45 years ago when our son was born, coincidentally also named Samuel. I also know the sorrow of loss as our twin sons, John and Kiel, were stillborn in my 34th week of pregnancy. Perhaps the wisest thing we humans can do is not foist our expectations of pregnancy and motherhood on the women around us. We do not know the burdens they may be carrying.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25
Alan Loy McGinnis wrote in The Friendship Factor about an incredible story of encouragement and perseverance. On May 24, 1965, a 13½ foot boat slipped quietly out of the marina at Falmouth, Massachusetts. It would be the smallest craft ever to make the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to England. The Tinkerbelle was piloted by Robert Manry, a copy editor for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who felt that ten years at the desk was enough boredom for a while. He took a leave of absence to fulfill his secret dream. Manry was afraid—not of the ocean, but of all who who’d try to talk him out of the trip. He didn’t share it with many, just some relatives and especially his wife Virginia.
The trip was not pleasant. He spent many sleepless nights trying to cross shipping lanes without getting run over and sunk. Weeks at sea caused his food to become tasteless. Loneliness led to terrifying hallucinations. His rudder broke three times. Storms swept him overboard, and had it not been for the rope he had tied around his waist, he would never have been able to pull himself back on board. Finally, after 78 days alone at sea, he sailed into Falmouth, Cornwall, England.
He’d often wondered about what he would do once he arrived. He expected simply to check into a hotel, eat dinner alone, then the next morning see if, perhaps, the Associated Press might be interested in his story. Was he in for a surprise! Word of his approach had spread far and wide. To his amazement, 300 boats, with horns blasting, escorted Tinkerbelle into port. 40,000 people stood screaming and cheering him to shore.
Robert Manry, the copy editor turned dreamer, became an overnight hero. His story has been told around the world. Robert, however, couldn’t have done it alone. Standing on the dock was, in his view, an even greater hero — Virginia. She encouraged him on when others would have discouraged him.
The church is called to encourage one another, too. The writer of Hebrews notes that is one of the reasons we meet together. Chuck Swindoll once wrote, “Encouragement is awesome. It can actually change the course of another person's day, week, or life.”
Bill T.
* * *
Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25
It says in Hebrews 10:24, “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds….” I want to talk about kale, the word behind the “good” in good deeds or good works. There is another word that means simply good (agathe) which is used many times in the New Testament with the word ergon, which is translated deeds or works. But kale means more than good. Sometimes it is translated noble, in the sense that people’s eyes are drawn to something with great appreciation. I’m not comfortable with the idea of nobility, that somehow some people are born to a higher station than another, but the sense in which this word is used here has nothing to do with whether someone claiming to be noble does something. What it means is that the things that are done, the deeds which we are meant as ordinary Christians, to provoke each other to do, call attention to themselves as admirable, and therefore worthy of imitation. That’s the way we provoke others to love and admirable deeds. We do these things. Then others follow our example.
Frank R.
* * *
Mark 13:1-8
Jesus’ prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple, proclaimed not long before the passion and resurrection, is a reminder that a new era has been brought about through the holy week events. Christians living since that first Easter live in this new era, one that has been realized and yet is still to come. Martin Luther explained this well:
The Kingdom began the moment He [Jesus] was raised from the dead. From that time on we have the treasure, and whatever interval of time remains must be thought of as a dream and a tiny moment. Therefore this Kingdom is hidden, and yet it flourishes... (Luther’s Works, Vol.17, p. 387)
Knowing that the kingdom of God, the future is already present, can give Christians courage to face the future, to yearn for it and not be bound by the old established, oppressive ways of the world. One of Luther’s modern heirs, Rudolf Bultmann noted that:
This is the deeper meaning of the mythological preaching of Jesus — to be open to God’s future which is really imminent for every one of us; to be prepared for this future... (Jesus Christ and Mythology, pp.31-32)
Christ’s prophecy and overall work set us free to live in a new era, breaking with all that is bad in the past and present in order to live courageously for the future. As a result, we can affirm with modern theologian Marianne Micks that worship is “a time in which something is expected to happen, as an occasion for change.” The title of her book, The Future Present (esp. p.174) is an excellent summary of how the whole of the Christian life is to be lived — as a life lived for the future in the present for the old ways are no more.
Mark E.
* * *
Mark 13:1-8
Many look at the wars and violence, the natural disasters: hurricanes, earthquakes, famines, and pandemics as the beginning of the end times, the last days of earth. Be reminded, as the disciples were, “do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.” All the tumult in our world, all the violence and hate, all the rage and disasters that we encounter, may not be of heavenly design. Rather it might be that we ourselves upset the natural order, the peaceful relationships among and between peoples. We do not know when the end of the world will come. It is less important I think to know the date, than it is to live with the joy and love of God in every moment of every day, so that if the world ends today or tomorrow, we are prepared, our souls are prepared in relationship with God and with each other. That is the way I desire to live my life. How about you?
Bonnie B.
This is a story of surprise and gratitude. And both of these reactions lead to happiness and relate to the brain dynamics associated with spirituality. All three activities activate the brain’s
prefrontal cortex, resulting in the flow of dopamine (the good-feeling amphetamine-like brain chemical) (Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough, in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology [2003]; Stefan Klein, The Science of Happiness).
The same brain dynamics also enhance empathy and so ethical behavior (Andrew Newberg and Mark R. Waldman, How God Changes Your Brain, pp.17-18). Faith does indeed lead to good works. No one has to tell the believer what to do. Martin Luther saw such connections implicit in the story of Samuel’s surprising birth. Thus, he wrote:
It further follows from this that a Christian man living in this faith has no need of a teacher of good works, but he does whatever the occasion calls for, and all is well done... So also, we read of St. Anna, Samuel’s mother. When she believed the priest Eli, who promised her God’s grace, she went home in joy and peace...and from that time paced the floor no longer; this means that whatever happened to her was all the same to her. (Luther’s Works, Vol.44, p.256).
Mark E.
* * *
1 Samuel 1:4-20
The story of Hannah’s prayer to give birth reminds us of the power of bearing a child. Even now, it is the expectation that every woman will want to, and will be able to, bear a child. We know that is not always possible, and maybe even not always advisable. And every woman is not physically or emotionally able conceive or bear a child. There are also those who become pregnant and cannot carry a child to term, who miscarry their infant. Hannah’s prayers were answered. She was able to become pregnant and bear a son, whom she named Samuel and whose life she dedicated to God. What joy she must have felt! I knew the joy of birth 45 years ago when our son was born, coincidentally also named Samuel. I also know the sorrow of loss as our twin sons, John and Kiel, were stillborn in my 34th week of pregnancy. Perhaps the wisest thing we humans can do is not foist our expectations of pregnancy and motherhood on the women around us. We do not know the burdens they may be carrying.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25
Alan Loy McGinnis wrote in The Friendship Factor about an incredible story of encouragement and perseverance. On May 24, 1965, a 13½ foot boat slipped quietly out of the marina at Falmouth, Massachusetts. It would be the smallest craft ever to make the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to England. The Tinkerbelle was piloted by Robert Manry, a copy editor for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who felt that ten years at the desk was enough boredom for a while. He took a leave of absence to fulfill his secret dream. Manry was afraid—not of the ocean, but of all who who’d try to talk him out of the trip. He didn’t share it with many, just some relatives and especially his wife Virginia.
The trip was not pleasant. He spent many sleepless nights trying to cross shipping lanes without getting run over and sunk. Weeks at sea caused his food to become tasteless. Loneliness led to terrifying hallucinations. His rudder broke three times. Storms swept him overboard, and had it not been for the rope he had tied around his waist, he would never have been able to pull himself back on board. Finally, after 78 days alone at sea, he sailed into Falmouth, Cornwall, England.
He’d often wondered about what he would do once he arrived. He expected simply to check into a hotel, eat dinner alone, then the next morning see if, perhaps, the Associated Press might be interested in his story. Was he in for a surprise! Word of his approach had spread far and wide. To his amazement, 300 boats, with horns blasting, escorted Tinkerbelle into port. 40,000 people stood screaming and cheering him to shore.
Robert Manry, the copy editor turned dreamer, became an overnight hero. His story has been told around the world. Robert, however, couldn’t have done it alone. Standing on the dock was, in his view, an even greater hero — Virginia. She encouraged him on when others would have discouraged him.
The church is called to encourage one another, too. The writer of Hebrews notes that is one of the reasons we meet together. Chuck Swindoll once wrote, “Encouragement is awesome. It can actually change the course of another person's day, week, or life.”
Bill T.
* * *
Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25
It says in Hebrews 10:24, “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds….” I want to talk about kale, the word behind the “good” in good deeds or good works. There is another word that means simply good (agathe) which is used many times in the New Testament with the word ergon, which is translated deeds or works. But kale means more than good. Sometimes it is translated noble, in the sense that people’s eyes are drawn to something with great appreciation. I’m not comfortable with the idea of nobility, that somehow some people are born to a higher station than another, but the sense in which this word is used here has nothing to do with whether someone claiming to be noble does something. What it means is that the things that are done, the deeds which we are meant as ordinary Christians, to provoke each other to do, call attention to themselves as admirable, and therefore worthy of imitation. That’s the way we provoke others to love and admirable deeds. We do these things. Then others follow our example.
Frank R.
* * *
Mark 13:1-8
Jesus’ prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple, proclaimed not long before the passion and resurrection, is a reminder that a new era has been brought about through the holy week events. Christians living since that first Easter live in this new era, one that has been realized and yet is still to come. Martin Luther explained this well:
The Kingdom began the moment He [Jesus] was raised from the dead. From that time on we have the treasure, and whatever interval of time remains must be thought of as a dream and a tiny moment. Therefore this Kingdom is hidden, and yet it flourishes... (Luther’s Works, Vol.17, p. 387)
Knowing that the kingdom of God, the future is already present, can give Christians courage to face the future, to yearn for it and not be bound by the old established, oppressive ways of the world. One of Luther’s modern heirs, Rudolf Bultmann noted that:
This is the deeper meaning of the mythological preaching of Jesus — to be open to God’s future which is really imminent for every one of us; to be prepared for this future... (Jesus Christ and Mythology, pp.31-32)
Christ’s prophecy and overall work set us free to live in a new era, breaking with all that is bad in the past and present in order to live courageously for the future. As a result, we can affirm with modern theologian Marianne Micks that worship is “a time in which something is expected to happen, as an occasion for change.” The title of her book, The Future Present (esp. p.174) is an excellent summary of how the whole of the Christian life is to be lived — as a life lived for the future in the present for the old ways are no more.
Mark E.
* * *
Mark 13:1-8
Many look at the wars and violence, the natural disasters: hurricanes, earthquakes, famines, and pandemics as the beginning of the end times, the last days of earth. Be reminded, as the disciples were, “do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.” All the tumult in our world, all the violence and hate, all the rage and disasters that we encounter, may not be of heavenly design. Rather it might be that we ourselves upset the natural order, the peaceful relationships among and between peoples. We do not know when the end of the world will come. It is less important I think to know the date, than it is to live with the joy and love of God in every moment of every day, so that if the world ends today or tomorrow, we are prepared, our souls are prepared in relationship with God and with each other. That is the way I desire to live my life. How about you?
Bonnie B.
