Sermon Illustrations for Proper 6 | OT 11, Cycle B (2021)
Illustration
1 Samuel 15:3--16:13
Things aren’t always what they seem. I did a little research on apples this week. On the outside, an apple can look good, healthy and delicious. That same apple, though, on the inside may have a worm. How does that happen? According to the Mid-City Nursery in California, the worm is the larvae from a coddling moth. in the Spring, the moth lays its eggs at the base of newly formed and very small apples or pears and also on the leaves. These worms/caterpillars then hatch and work their way into the center of the newly formed, tiny apple often without detection, where they remain until they mature. Once they have matured, they eat their way out of the apple or pear. The apple can look great on the outside only to be rotten on the inside.
Apples and people have some things in common. People can have a good, wholesome exterior that is really a façade for secret sin hidden on the inside. People can fool other people. There’s a long list of preachers who’ve done just that. You can’t fool God, though. The Lord told Samuel as he was selecting Saul’s replacement, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (v.7)
Bill T.
* * *
1 Samuel 15:34--16:13
All right — here’s a triptych, three panels with different ways to look at this particular passage.
I am extremely interested in the fact that since Samuel believes that anointing a new king while the old was still alive is a dangerous occupation, God gives Samuel a cover story so he can safely travel to the area where Jesse and his son David live. It seems like a lot of skullduggery when God might simply have blinded Saul to the fact, but there it is. What I think of in this regard is that there are times in our ministry, and indeed, in all our lives together, when we can’t simply set out to accomplish something ticklish. We need a “cover story.” Maybe it’s time to speak to a parishioner about first and last things, about the possibility of death, or maybe we simply need to confront someone about a ticklish situation, and we need an entree. To simply call and say, “We need to talk about death,” or “We need to talk about your relationship with the folks in the pew two rows over,” may result in getting the door – and a heart – locked against us. Are there times when we need to say, “I’d like to come by and drop off a pie,” or a devotional booklet, or simply, to see how you’re doing? It may seem ticklish, or tricklish, but sometimes we need a little misdirection to get a foot in the door.
There’s something else this passage brings to mind. In the last two verses of chapter 15 we learn that Samuel grieves over the end of his relationship with King Saul. I don’t blame him. There’s always an emotional investment in people, in programs, in the time that’s spent in cherished ministries. But you know, when it comes to continuing to repair a car that’s been repaired over and over, we say, “There’s no point in pouring good money after bad.” We have to recognize when a beloved old beater is ready to be retired to the junkyard. Not that we want to send any cherished ministries, gifted pianos, or even the time we’ve put into a parishioner, to the junkyard. But to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. It may be that a particular mission no longer serves its original purpose and the money and energy that goes into this, now more begrudged than beloved, could be put into something that excites the congregation. Some pianos, even though they were donated by a much loved servant of the Lord, or perhaps a too vigilant donor, have to be replaced. And finally, there are people who have required a good deal of your time to no purpose. Grieve. And listen to God for what comes next.
Finally, David is anointed king, but he’s not going to be king for decades. There is a lot of growing and learning ahead of him. When our congregations call young women and men, and older women and men as well, into the ministry we mustn’t forget that years of exploration, learning, and training lie ahead. We need to be ready to walk with them through what may be a protracted process.
Frank R.
* * *
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17
This is a lesson to remind us that everything is new when you live the Christian life, that you have little hints of heaven here on earth. John Wesley made that point one time:
Religion is no less than living in eternity and walking in eternity; and hereby walking in the love of God and man, in lowliness, meekness, and resignation. (Works, Vol.7, p.263)
This new start, a sense that life has dramatically changed because of Christ, sets us free from the past. It is just yesterday. Famed 20th-century New Testament scholar Rudolf Bultmann nicely made that point:
To exist as Christian means to live in freedom, a freedom into which the believer is brought by the divine grace which appeared in Christ. The one justified by faith is
set free from his past, from his sin, from himself. And he is set free for a real historical life in free decisions. (History and Eschatology, p.45)
Mark E.
* * *
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17
We live in tumultuous times, but these are not the first of those times. We sometimes think the challenges we are facing are the only ones. Paul wrote during tumultuous times, times of Roman oppression, times of congregational challenges and conflicts. The times may not be changing or as different as we think. However, just as Paul reminds the church in Corinth to live in faith, to follow Jesus, we are also called to do so. Even though the times may not be so new, living in Christ makes us new creations. “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” Even in these challenging days, we can be made new, renewed through our faith. That, my friends, is the hope of our faith.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Mark 4:26-34
We’ve heard the parable of the kingdom of God and the mustard seed before. Jesus’ hearers knew about the mustard seed and plant. American Christians, I don’t think, do. So, I thought I’d look to find out a little about the seed and plant.
The mustard seed, once planted, would not need any cultivating. It sprouts all by itself. The seed of both black and white mustard is similar in size, about 1.0 to 3.0 mm so it is not the smallest seed ever, but it is the smallest seed of those which "you plant in the ground" clearly indicating that Jesus was not comparing the mustard seed to all plants but only to those which were commonly grown. The important characteristic of the mustard seed is that the new plants can grow large in one season. Few plants would be characterized by such rapid germination of the seed. Mustard planted one day could begin growing the next.
Jesus’ comparison is clear. Just as the mustard shrub can grow large and strong in a short amount of time, the kingdom of God will, too. Looking back through the pages of history, we see that’s just what happened. Today we are the benefactors of that growth and heirs of that kingdom.
Bill T.
* * *
Mark 4:26-34
There are many ways of learning and what seems obvious to some people is opaque to others. Some people hear a song and have a feel for the melody, while others hear all the instruments, the way they blend, harmonize, and create dissonance. For some reading is a chore, and for others it’s the door to many worlds. Some struggle to follow the directions of a cookbook while others perform wonders in the kitchen while seeming to improvise like a jazz musician. The final two verses of this passage state that during this time of his ministry he spoke entirely in parables and explained them privately to his disciples. Some might interpret this to mean that his listeners were puzzled, and his disciples were part of an inner circle who were in the know. I wonder if many people can hear parables, stories, and get it, immediately. The disciples may have been the sort who don’t always get it and required extra teaching. Remember, when you make an inside reference, not everyone’s kids attend the same school district, or know all the inside jokes, or know what you’re talking about.
Frank R.
Things aren’t always what they seem. I did a little research on apples this week. On the outside, an apple can look good, healthy and delicious. That same apple, though, on the inside may have a worm. How does that happen? According to the Mid-City Nursery in California, the worm is the larvae from a coddling moth. in the Spring, the moth lays its eggs at the base of newly formed and very small apples or pears and also on the leaves. These worms/caterpillars then hatch and work their way into the center of the newly formed, tiny apple often without detection, where they remain until they mature. Once they have matured, they eat their way out of the apple or pear. The apple can look great on the outside only to be rotten on the inside.
Apples and people have some things in common. People can have a good, wholesome exterior that is really a façade for secret sin hidden on the inside. People can fool other people. There’s a long list of preachers who’ve done just that. You can’t fool God, though. The Lord told Samuel as he was selecting Saul’s replacement, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (v.7)
Bill T.
* * *
1 Samuel 15:34--16:13
All right — here’s a triptych, three panels with different ways to look at this particular passage.
I am extremely interested in the fact that since Samuel believes that anointing a new king while the old was still alive is a dangerous occupation, God gives Samuel a cover story so he can safely travel to the area where Jesse and his son David live. It seems like a lot of skullduggery when God might simply have blinded Saul to the fact, but there it is. What I think of in this regard is that there are times in our ministry, and indeed, in all our lives together, when we can’t simply set out to accomplish something ticklish. We need a “cover story.” Maybe it’s time to speak to a parishioner about first and last things, about the possibility of death, or maybe we simply need to confront someone about a ticklish situation, and we need an entree. To simply call and say, “We need to talk about death,” or “We need to talk about your relationship with the folks in the pew two rows over,” may result in getting the door – and a heart – locked against us. Are there times when we need to say, “I’d like to come by and drop off a pie,” or a devotional booklet, or simply, to see how you’re doing? It may seem ticklish, or tricklish, but sometimes we need a little misdirection to get a foot in the door.
There’s something else this passage brings to mind. In the last two verses of chapter 15 we learn that Samuel grieves over the end of his relationship with King Saul. I don’t blame him. There’s always an emotional investment in people, in programs, in the time that’s spent in cherished ministries. But you know, when it comes to continuing to repair a car that’s been repaired over and over, we say, “There’s no point in pouring good money after bad.” We have to recognize when a beloved old beater is ready to be retired to the junkyard. Not that we want to send any cherished ministries, gifted pianos, or even the time we’ve put into a parishioner, to the junkyard. But to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. It may be that a particular mission no longer serves its original purpose and the money and energy that goes into this, now more begrudged than beloved, could be put into something that excites the congregation. Some pianos, even though they were donated by a much loved servant of the Lord, or perhaps a too vigilant donor, have to be replaced. And finally, there are people who have required a good deal of your time to no purpose. Grieve. And listen to God for what comes next.
Finally, David is anointed king, but he’s not going to be king for decades. There is a lot of growing and learning ahead of him. When our congregations call young women and men, and older women and men as well, into the ministry we mustn’t forget that years of exploration, learning, and training lie ahead. We need to be ready to walk with them through what may be a protracted process.
Frank R.
* * *
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17
This is a lesson to remind us that everything is new when you live the Christian life, that you have little hints of heaven here on earth. John Wesley made that point one time:
Religion is no less than living in eternity and walking in eternity; and hereby walking in the love of God and man, in lowliness, meekness, and resignation. (Works, Vol.7, p.263)
This new start, a sense that life has dramatically changed because of Christ, sets us free from the past. It is just yesterday. Famed 20th-century New Testament scholar Rudolf Bultmann nicely made that point:
To exist as Christian means to live in freedom, a freedom into which the believer is brought by the divine grace which appeared in Christ. The one justified by faith is
set free from his past, from his sin, from himself. And he is set free for a real historical life in free decisions. (History and Eschatology, p.45)
Mark E.
* * *
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17
We live in tumultuous times, but these are not the first of those times. We sometimes think the challenges we are facing are the only ones. Paul wrote during tumultuous times, times of Roman oppression, times of congregational challenges and conflicts. The times may not be changing or as different as we think. However, just as Paul reminds the church in Corinth to live in faith, to follow Jesus, we are also called to do so. Even though the times may not be so new, living in Christ makes us new creations. “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” Even in these challenging days, we can be made new, renewed through our faith. That, my friends, is the hope of our faith.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Mark 4:26-34
We’ve heard the parable of the kingdom of God and the mustard seed before. Jesus’ hearers knew about the mustard seed and plant. American Christians, I don’t think, do. So, I thought I’d look to find out a little about the seed and plant.
The mustard seed, once planted, would not need any cultivating. It sprouts all by itself. The seed of both black and white mustard is similar in size, about 1.0 to 3.0 mm so it is not the smallest seed ever, but it is the smallest seed of those which "you plant in the ground" clearly indicating that Jesus was not comparing the mustard seed to all plants but only to those which were commonly grown. The important characteristic of the mustard seed is that the new plants can grow large in one season. Few plants would be characterized by such rapid germination of the seed. Mustard planted one day could begin growing the next.
Jesus’ comparison is clear. Just as the mustard shrub can grow large and strong in a short amount of time, the kingdom of God will, too. Looking back through the pages of history, we see that’s just what happened. Today we are the benefactors of that growth and heirs of that kingdom.
Bill T.
* * *
Mark 4:26-34
There are many ways of learning and what seems obvious to some people is opaque to others. Some people hear a song and have a feel for the melody, while others hear all the instruments, the way they blend, harmonize, and create dissonance. For some reading is a chore, and for others it’s the door to many worlds. Some struggle to follow the directions of a cookbook while others perform wonders in the kitchen while seeming to improvise like a jazz musician. The final two verses of this passage state that during this time of his ministry he spoke entirely in parables and explained them privately to his disciples. Some might interpret this to mean that his listeners were puzzled, and his disciples were part of an inner circle who were in the know. I wonder if many people can hear parables, stories, and get it, immediately. The disciples may have been the sort who don’t always get it and required extra teaching. Remember, when you make an inside reference, not everyone’s kids attend the same school district, or know all the inside jokes, or know what you’re talking about.
Frank R.
