Sermon Illustrations for Proper 8 | OT 13 (2013)
Illustration
Object:
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
It could sound like Elisha was being tested. Elijah was going to be taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, so Elisha didn't want to miss it. He insisted that he would follow Elijah wherever he goes. I don't read that to mean that Elisha wouldn't obey Elijah. I see it as a desire to follow him and be faithful to him. It could have been dangerous, as Bethel was a hotbed of false worship. Elisha didn't want to miss this. Elijah tried again to leave him while going to the Jordan River. If Elisha had missed that, he would have missed the whole show! So Elijah's words must have been a testing and not a command.
The message must have gotten around as there were fifty prophets who were following them by now, but they stood at a distance -- out of respect?
Then the moment of truth. Elijah rolled up his robe and struck water which divided -- something like Moses crossing the Red Sea where the land was dry also for their crossing. It must have been a shock to Elisha and the others watching. They could never forget it.
Then Elijah asks him the surprise question: "What can I do for you?" What a thing to ask after that miracle! We are surprised at Elisha's presumptuousness! All he asks for is to be given twice the Spirit that was Elijah's! It is a shock even for Elijah, who admits "it ain't easy!" But he concedes that, if Elisha sees Elijah fly off, he will get what he asked for.
What a fantastic sight! Elijah flies away. At first Elisha is panicked and cries out that his spiritual father would not leave him. He even tore his clothes in grief! But sure enough, Elisha's own cloak did the same trick for him, dividing the water. That gift was not Elijah's to give. It came from God only if Elisha was able to see Elijah fly away.
What we gain from this passage is first that we should follow faithfully the one or the mission God has given us, second ask God to give you the strength and wisdom you need to perform it, and third be prepared for a the surprise of a life if you use God's strength!
Bob O.
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Halo Nation is a video game franchise that has as a basis for its storyline a responsibility to protect the galaxy. The symbol for the authority to perform this duty is the Mantle. The Forerunners accepted the task to protect the planetary systems and their varied inhabitants within their domain. The Forerunners received this Mantle from an earlier and more advanced civilization called the Precursors. Kids and adults enjoy hours of gaming on Halo Nation.
Elisha did not enjoy what was happening at the time of our story because his mentor Elijah was going to be taken from him. Elisha hopes to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, his precursor as prophet of the Lord. His hopes are realized when Elijah's mantle falls into the hands of Elisha, who now has the authority to continue as prophet of the Lord with the power he had seen in Elijah, represented by the waters parting when he, Elisha, now struck the waters with the mantle just like Elijah had done -- and they parted.
Mark M.
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
The freedom that Paul describes in this text is a word we need badly in America today, as according to a 2001 poll of the Barna Research Group 7 in 10 Americans think that our works earn salvation. Most of us are still under the bondage of God's law, thinking that freedom leads to a "do-whatever-you-feel-like" faith. Martin Luther offers two comments that seem to defend Paul's perspective:
"I shall set down the following two propositions concerning the freedom and bondage of the spirit: A Christian is perfectly free lord, subject to no one; a Christian is perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all" (Luther's Works, Vol. 31, p. 344).
"Since then all law exists to promote love, law must cease where it is in conflict with love... If you are a Christian you have the power to dispense with all commandments so far as they hinder you in the practice of love, even as Christ... teaches" (Complete Sermons, Vol. 3/1, pp. 161, 166).
Mark E.
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Don't run in the house. Don't chew with your mouth open. Don't drive through a red light. Don't say things you will later regret. It's far easier to list the things that we shouldn't do, far easier to dole out punishments for misbehavior, than it is to define the things that we must do. Laws set boundaries. Laws draw lines that we cannot cross. In order to protect other people's feelings, to promote public safety, and to assure that we can get along with each other, we make laws that restrict and rein in anything destructive, hurtful, or dangerous. We grow up with rules at home, in school, at work, and pretty much everywhere. We live with limits. God is unlimited. God knows no boundaries.
Scott B.
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Ryan Fry has more than 250 poisonous lizards and snakes in his yard in Australia. When the zoological society that he works with ran out of space, he opened his home to these reptiles. As a zoologist he is studying the venom of these reptiles in order to produce medicine. In the course of his work and travels he has been bitten by 26 venomous snakes, stung by a stonefish, centipedes, scorpions, and box jellyfish. When he was asked why he pursues this dangerous work, he replied, "Most conservation effort is targeted toward cute-and-cuddlies, but I've never seen a single useful compound that's come out of a panda."
Application: Though we may be doing the good works of the Spirit, the work will not always be safe or easy.
Ron L.
Luke 9:51-62
Luke includes a number of stories of Jesus' last week that no other gospels contain. He is the scholar who does a lot of research since he was not an eyewitness. He emphasizes the end of Jesus' ministry on earth. I like that word "resolutely." Jesus did not look forward to the end. He knew it would be painful, and he even asked God in the garden if there were any other way! That emphasizes the human side of our redeemer. I can't imagine any human approaching the end that he could foresee without looking for any other alternative! Even though Jesus knew that the outcome would be glorious, it was that last door that caused him to question why he had to go through it. He was God and could have jumped off the temple roof. He could have driven off the Romans. He could have squelched the Pharisees. He could do anything! But he followed the plan that his Father in heaven had laid out for him. He went right ahead with the preliminary preparations.
Who knows why he set up his last meeting in a place where the people hated him? Why didn't he listen to his disciples and rain down fire from heaven? That would have made him many instant converts, and Judas might not have left the group.
Do we ever think about short cuts that will accomplish our goals even if they might be questionable or even openly dishonest? It is easier to attack our enemy than to offer other options -- even at some sacrifice to ourselves. Jesus knew his goal, and the only way to accomplish it was to follow the pattern laid down from the beginning of time and prophesied in the scriptures.
Not just Jesus' goal plan, but he even seemed to be discouraging a possible follower warning him about the price to be paid if he became a follower. The terrible end that came to Jesus' disciples bears this out. In other words, it may not be easy to be a Christian, but the reward can be fantastic. What if Jesus told you to sell all that you had and give to the poor? If that were a requirement would our churches stand empty? He didn't even offer this fellow the option of going home to burn his bridges first!
Once you become a Christian, don't look back. Only look ahead and follow Jesus. Will anyone be in your church next Sunday?
Bob O.
Luke 9:51-62
Farmers know that you do not look back when you are plowing the field. To do so would lose focus on the line to follow. The furrow will be cut crooked. "I line the point of my tractor on a tree or rock on the edge of the field. If I stay true to that, I know the field will be plowed right," said one farmer to a friend. Kingdom work is like this, Jesus says. As we keep focused on what is front of us, where God is calling us, then the effort in our field of endeavor will be straight and true.
Mark M.
It could sound like Elisha was being tested. Elijah was going to be taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, so Elisha didn't want to miss it. He insisted that he would follow Elijah wherever he goes. I don't read that to mean that Elisha wouldn't obey Elijah. I see it as a desire to follow him and be faithful to him. It could have been dangerous, as Bethel was a hotbed of false worship. Elisha didn't want to miss this. Elijah tried again to leave him while going to the Jordan River. If Elisha had missed that, he would have missed the whole show! So Elijah's words must have been a testing and not a command.
The message must have gotten around as there were fifty prophets who were following them by now, but they stood at a distance -- out of respect?
Then the moment of truth. Elijah rolled up his robe and struck water which divided -- something like Moses crossing the Red Sea where the land was dry also for their crossing. It must have been a shock to Elisha and the others watching. They could never forget it.
Then Elijah asks him the surprise question: "What can I do for you?" What a thing to ask after that miracle! We are surprised at Elisha's presumptuousness! All he asks for is to be given twice the Spirit that was Elijah's! It is a shock even for Elijah, who admits "it ain't easy!" But he concedes that, if Elisha sees Elijah fly off, he will get what he asked for.
What a fantastic sight! Elijah flies away. At first Elisha is panicked and cries out that his spiritual father would not leave him. He even tore his clothes in grief! But sure enough, Elisha's own cloak did the same trick for him, dividing the water. That gift was not Elijah's to give. It came from God only if Elisha was able to see Elijah fly away.
What we gain from this passage is first that we should follow faithfully the one or the mission God has given us, second ask God to give you the strength and wisdom you need to perform it, and third be prepared for a the surprise of a life if you use God's strength!
Bob O.
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Halo Nation is a video game franchise that has as a basis for its storyline a responsibility to protect the galaxy. The symbol for the authority to perform this duty is the Mantle. The Forerunners accepted the task to protect the planetary systems and their varied inhabitants within their domain. The Forerunners received this Mantle from an earlier and more advanced civilization called the Precursors. Kids and adults enjoy hours of gaming on Halo Nation.
Elisha did not enjoy what was happening at the time of our story because his mentor Elijah was going to be taken from him. Elisha hopes to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, his precursor as prophet of the Lord. His hopes are realized when Elijah's mantle falls into the hands of Elisha, who now has the authority to continue as prophet of the Lord with the power he had seen in Elijah, represented by the waters parting when he, Elisha, now struck the waters with the mantle just like Elijah had done -- and they parted.
Mark M.
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
The freedom that Paul describes in this text is a word we need badly in America today, as according to a 2001 poll of the Barna Research Group 7 in 10 Americans think that our works earn salvation. Most of us are still under the bondage of God's law, thinking that freedom leads to a "do-whatever-you-feel-like" faith. Martin Luther offers two comments that seem to defend Paul's perspective:
"I shall set down the following two propositions concerning the freedom and bondage of the spirit: A Christian is perfectly free lord, subject to no one; a Christian is perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all" (Luther's Works, Vol. 31, p. 344).
"Since then all law exists to promote love, law must cease where it is in conflict with love... If you are a Christian you have the power to dispense with all commandments so far as they hinder you in the practice of love, even as Christ... teaches" (Complete Sermons, Vol. 3/1, pp. 161, 166).
Mark E.
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Don't run in the house. Don't chew with your mouth open. Don't drive through a red light. Don't say things you will later regret. It's far easier to list the things that we shouldn't do, far easier to dole out punishments for misbehavior, than it is to define the things that we must do. Laws set boundaries. Laws draw lines that we cannot cross. In order to protect other people's feelings, to promote public safety, and to assure that we can get along with each other, we make laws that restrict and rein in anything destructive, hurtful, or dangerous. We grow up with rules at home, in school, at work, and pretty much everywhere. We live with limits. God is unlimited. God knows no boundaries.
Scott B.
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Ryan Fry has more than 250 poisonous lizards and snakes in his yard in Australia. When the zoological society that he works with ran out of space, he opened his home to these reptiles. As a zoologist he is studying the venom of these reptiles in order to produce medicine. In the course of his work and travels he has been bitten by 26 venomous snakes, stung by a stonefish, centipedes, scorpions, and box jellyfish. When he was asked why he pursues this dangerous work, he replied, "Most conservation effort is targeted toward cute-and-cuddlies, but I've never seen a single useful compound that's come out of a panda."
Application: Though we may be doing the good works of the Spirit, the work will not always be safe or easy.
Ron L.
Luke 9:51-62
Luke includes a number of stories of Jesus' last week that no other gospels contain. He is the scholar who does a lot of research since he was not an eyewitness. He emphasizes the end of Jesus' ministry on earth. I like that word "resolutely." Jesus did not look forward to the end. He knew it would be painful, and he even asked God in the garden if there were any other way! That emphasizes the human side of our redeemer. I can't imagine any human approaching the end that he could foresee without looking for any other alternative! Even though Jesus knew that the outcome would be glorious, it was that last door that caused him to question why he had to go through it. He was God and could have jumped off the temple roof. He could have driven off the Romans. He could have squelched the Pharisees. He could do anything! But he followed the plan that his Father in heaven had laid out for him. He went right ahead with the preliminary preparations.
Who knows why he set up his last meeting in a place where the people hated him? Why didn't he listen to his disciples and rain down fire from heaven? That would have made him many instant converts, and Judas might not have left the group.
Do we ever think about short cuts that will accomplish our goals even if they might be questionable or even openly dishonest? It is easier to attack our enemy than to offer other options -- even at some sacrifice to ourselves. Jesus knew his goal, and the only way to accomplish it was to follow the pattern laid down from the beginning of time and prophesied in the scriptures.
Not just Jesus' goal plan, but he even seemed to be discouraging a possible follower warning him about the price to be paid if he became a follower. The terrible end that came to Jesus' disciples bears this out. In other words, it may not be easy to be a Christian, but the reward can be fantastic. What if Jesus told you to sell all that you had and give to the poor? If that were a requirement would our churches stand empty? He didn't even offer this fellow the option of going home to burn his bridges first!
Once you become a Christian, don't look back. Only look ahead and follow Jesus. Will anyone be in your church next Sunday?
Bob O.
Luke 9:51-62
Farmers know that you do not look back when you are plowing the field. To do so would lose focus on the line to follow. The furrow will be cut crooked. "I line the point of my tractor on a tree or rock on the edge of the field. If I stay true to that, I know the field will be plowed right," said one farmer to a friend. Kingdom work is like this, Jesus says. As we keep focused on what is front of us, where God is calling us, then the effort in our field of endeavor will be straight and true.
Mark M.
