Sermon Illustrations For Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 (2023)
Illustration
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Marriage has taken a lot of hits from contemporary social currents since the 1960s. A 2022 study conducted by Brigham Young University found that there has been a recent statistical decrease in marriage in America. While in 2015 half of American adults were married, just seven years later only 45% of adults are married. At the same time those not in any relationship rose by 5%. It is perhaps not a surprise given the fact that there were 630,000 divorces in the US in 2020, the third highest divorce rate in the world. A little less than half of marriages fail. And of course, we have all been exposed to feminist concerns that marriage is essentially a patriarchal institution. This is a biblical text to help the church recover praise for marriage and its importance. Martin Luther offered some helpful, inspiring remarks, noting how it provides opportunities to do holy works pleasing to God. He wrote:
No one can have real happiness in marriage who does not recognize in firm faith that this estate together with all its works, however insignificant, is pleasing to God and precious in his sight. (Luther’s Works, Vol,45, p.42)
... marriage is a figure of Christ and the church. (Luther’s Works, Vol,36, p.95)
Of course, Luther was also a realist about marriage, and along with the church’s failure to teach this realism may further account for society’s neglect of marriage and the unwillingness of too many to stick it out. As the first reformer put it:
He who takes a wife is not entering a life of ease but is creating trouble for himself... the molestations of married life are intolerable to men. Therefore, Socrates is reported to have wisely replied... Whether you marry or not, you will repent of what you have done. (What Luther Says, pp.896-897)
But to this realism (a sense that marriage and singleness both have their challenges, Luther adds that we should regard our spouse as the one “whom God has given you, ... an even greater treasure [than your body] and whom you have even more reason to love.” (Luther’s Works, Vol.21, p.98)
Mark E.
* * *
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
The Gospel Coalition shares this article on their website. It is from April 16, 2013. Gloria Furman speaks of a time when she and her family had traveled to the Middle East to help plant a church. At this time, they had been in Dubai for only a couple of days during the celebration of Ramadan. They were new to the community and not entirely certain where they were supposed to be going. After driving around most of the day, they were frustrated, lost, and weary. Gloria was overwhelmed by anxiety. As they pulled over to fill up their gas tank, she reflected, “Watching the numbers tick by on the gas pump, my anxious thoughts multiplied within me. Lord, how are we going to do anything here? We can’t even get a simple errand done much less help start a church. Lord, how? How?
The cares of my heart were interrupted by something I saw out of the corner of my eye. Walking into the fast-food joint next door was a man wearing a pair of unique sunglasses. It was Rick, the one man we knew in a city of nearly two million people. Was I seeing a desert mirage? Of all the places in the city for us to have a meltdown, the Lord ordained it to be a block away from our friend’s house when he had a craving for take-out. We cheered and thanked the Lord for his providence and grace. Rick led us to his house where he fed us, encouraged us in the Lord, and sorted out some of our errands. Some of us even dozed off on his couch.” God can provide, even when it all hope appears to be lost.
God provides. Gloria Furman understood this truth. God’s people have always come to understand this important fact. Abraham’s servant saw that firsthand when he sought a wife for Isaac. May we never doubt the loving provision of our Heavenly Father.
Bill T.
* * *
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
I always find it interesting that the first person who is depicted praying is not our first parents, Adam and Eve, our early ancestors, like one of the primeval kings who lived centuries in God’s favor, not the patriarchs Abraham and Sarah — but this slave of Abraham’s who is sent on a mission to find a bride for Isaac. In this passage he is retelling the story of what just happened, but that prayer, which is very specific, audacious, and also the epitome of faithful, gives God some pretty specific instructions, and is paired with the belief that God listens, hears, and acts in concern with the creatures of dust and ashes. Is it faithfulness to pray with that sort of specificity? Is the fact that many of us are not this specific in our prayers may reveal trust in God — or a lack of trust in God. What do you think?
Frank R.
* * *
Romans 7:15-25a
Americans do not like a text like this with all its references to sin. A 2021 survey conducted by One Poll found that 81% of believe humankind is inherently good and three in four of us believe we ourselves are fundamentally good. John Calvin offers some good antidotes to such thinking:
I am quite aware of how much more pleasing is that principle which invites us to weigh our good traits rather than to look upon our miserable want and dishonor, which ought to overwhelm us with shame. There is, indeed, nothing that man’s nature seeks more eagerly than to be flattered... It is thus no wonder that the majority of men have erred so perniciously in this respect. For since blind self-love is innate in all mortals, they are most freely persuaded that nothing inheres in themselves that deserves to be considered hateful. (Institutes [Westminster Press ed.], Vol.II/1/2)
This reality is addressed by Martin Luther in a way which characterizes Paul’s point in the lesson. The reformer wrote:
A pious Christian is nevertheless flesh and blood as other people are. But he battles with sin and evil lust and feels what he does not like to feel...
So, these two must always be mixed: that one feels both the Holy Spirit and our sin or imperfection. For we must be like a sick person who is indeed in the hands of a physician and should now improve. (What Luther Says, p.239)
Mark E.
* * *
Romans 7:15-25a
I love it that Paul admits that what he wants to do, he does not do. Anyone who has been on a diet can relate to that. I bet that made you smile — but the scripture is more serious than that. I don’t know about you, but I often want to be more forgiving, tolerant, and loving than I am. It’s hard sometimes to live into the true meaning of the word Christian, to be an active and connected member of the Body of Christ. I know that God strengthens me for this journey and forgives me when I fall into sin. I don’t think any of us are inherently evil, but we do sometimes act on our fear and in our humanness take that fear out on others. It is God that rescues us when we acknowledge that we are unable to rescue ourselves. That forgiveness, love, and rescuing by God is something I count on. Do you?
Bonnie B.
* * *
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
The Mayo Clinic website lists an overview of chronic fatigue syndrome. “Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME/CFS, is a complicated disorder. It causes extreme fatigue that lasts for at least six months. Symptoms worsen with physical or mental activity but don't fully improve with rest. The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is unknown, although there are many theories. Experts believe it might be triggered by a combination of factors. The symptoms include extreme exhaustion, muscle or joint pain, unrefreshing sleep and dizziness. According to the CDC, between and million and 2.5 million people suffer with some form of CFS.
These are distressing statistics and they indicate that there are a lot of weary people. That’s the bad news. The good news is that there is a message of hope. Jesus makes it plain. “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (vs. 28). Chuck Swindoll wrote, “In place of our exhaustion and spiritual fatigue, God will give us rest. All he asks is that we come to him...that we spend a while thinking about him, meditating on him, talking to him, listening in silence, occupying ourselves with him - totally and thoroughly lost in the hiding place of his presence.” Despite the hectic rigor of the world, there is rest and peace in Jesus Christ. Come to him. You will find rest for your soul.
Bill T.
* * *
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
There’s just no pleasing some people. Jesus says as much by citing this child’s chant that refers to two games that children of his time often played, precisely because these very public events were common occurrences: weddings and funerals. We played the pipes and you wouldn’t dance. We sang a dirge and you wouldn’t mourn. What do we got to do?
Well, we certainly want to sing and dance to God’s tune, but when it comes to other people who can’t be pleased, at some point you have to stop trying. I’m thinking of a time fifty years ago, back when I was in college, and we drove over an hour over to Knott’s Berry Farm and sat for not one, but two concerts by the great, and sadly, soon to be late Rick Nelson. He’d made his fame on the TV show “The Nelsons,” and then became a pop star in the early days of rock ‘n roll, but he resisted being stuck in the past and insisted on singing some of his new material. For that at some venues, he was booed off the stage.
However, we loved him for what he was doing in the present, including the song “Garden Party,” about the time he was booed in Madison Square Garden.
Well, it’s all right now. I’ve learned my lesson well.
You know you can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself.
And when it comes to church, sometimes we just can’t please certain people who don’t want to be pleased. So, we might as well please God and ourselves.
Frank R.
Marriage has taken a lot of hits from contemporary social currents since the 1960s. A 2022 study conducted by Brigham Young University found that there has been a recent statistical decrease in marriage in America. While in 2015 half of American adults were married, just seven years later only 45% of adults are married. At the same time those not in any relationship rose by 5%. It is perhaps not a surprise given the fact that there were 630,000 divorces in the US in 2020, the third highest divorce rate in the world. A little less than half of marriages fail. And of course, we have all been exposed to feminist concerns that marriage is essentially a patriarchal institution. This is a biblical text to help the church recover praise for marriage and its importance. Martin Luther offered some helpful, inspiring remarks, noting how it provides opportunities to do holy works pleasing to God. He wrote:
No one can have real happiness in marriage who does not recognize in firm faith that this estate together with all its works, however insignificant, is pleasing to God and precious in his sight. (Luther’s Works, Vol,45, p.42)
... marriage is a figure of Christ and the church. (Luther’s Works, Vol,36, p.95)
Of course, Luther was also a realist about marriage, and along with the church’s failure to teach this realism may further account for society’s neglect of marriage and the unwillingness of too many to stick it out. As the first reformer put it:
He who takes a wife is not entering a life of ease but is creating trouble for himself... the molestations of married life are intolerable to men. Therefore, Socrates is reported to have wisely replied... Whether you marry or not, you will repent of what you have done. (What Luther Says, pp.896-897)
But to this realism (a sense that marriage and singleness both have their challenges, Luther adds that we should regard our spouse as the one “whom God has given you, ... an even greater treasure [than your body] and whom you have even more reason to love.” (Luther’s Works, Vol.21, p.98)
Mark E.
* * *
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
The Gospel Coalition shares this article on their website. It is from April 16, 2013. Gloria Furman speaks of a time when she and her family had traveled to the Middle East to help plant a church. At this time, they had been in Dubai for only a couple of days during the celebration of Ramadan. They were new to the community and not entirely certain where they were supposed to be going. After driving around most of the day, they were frustrated, lost, and weary. Gloria was overwhelmed by anxiety. As they pulled over to fill up their gas tank, she reflected, “Watching the numbers tick by on the gas pump, my anxious thoughts multiplied within me. Lord, how are we going to do anything here? We can’t even get a simple errand done much less help start a church. Lord, how? How?
The cares of my heart were interrupted by something I saw out of the corner of my eye. Walking into the fast-food joint next door was a man wearing a pair of unique sunglasses. It was Rick, the one man we knew in a city of nearly two million people. Was I seeing a desert mirage? Of all the places in the city for us to have a meltdown, the Lord ordained it to be a block away from our friend’s house when he had a craving for take-out. We cheered and thanked the Lord for his providence and grace. Rick led us to his house where he fed us, encouraged us in the Lord, and sorted out some of our errands. Some of us even dozed off on his couch.” God can provide, even when it all hope appears to be lost.
God provides. Gloria Furman understood this truth. God’s people have always come to understand this important fact. Abraham’s servant saw that firsthand when he sought a wife for Isaac. May we never doubt the loving provision of our Heavenly Father.
Bill T.
* * *
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
I always find it interesting that the first person who is depicted praying is not our first parents, Adam and Eve, our early ancestors, like one of the primeval kings who lived centuries in God’s favor, not the patriarchs Abraham and Sarah — but this slave of Abraham’s who is sent on a mission to find a bride for Isaac. In this passage he is retelling the story of what just happened, but that prayer, which is very specific, audacious, and also the epitome of faithful, gives God some pretty specific instructions, and is paired with the belief that God listens, hears, and acts in concern with the creatures of dust and ashes. Is it faithfulness to pray with that sort of specificity? Is the fact that many of us are not this specific in our prayers may reveal trust in God — or a lack of trust in God. What do you think?
Frank R.
* * *
Romans 7:15-25a
Americans do not like a text like this with all its references to sin. A 2021 survey conducted by One Poll found that 81% of believe humankind is inherently good and three in four of us believe we ourselves are fundamentally good. John Calvin offers some good antidotes to such thinking:
I am quite aware of how much more pleasing is that principle which invites us to weigh our good traits rather than to look upon our miserable want and dishonor, which ought to overwhelm us with shame. There is, indeed, nothing that man’s nature seeks more eagerly than to be flattered... It is thus no wonder that the majority of men have erred so perniciously in this respect. For since blind self-love is innate in all mortals, they are most freely persuaded that nothing inheres in themselves that deserves to be considered hateful. (Institutes [Westminster Press ed.], Vol.II/1/2)
This reality is addressed by Martin Luther in a way which characterizes Paul’s point in the lesson. The reformer wrote:
A pious Christian is nevertheless flesh and blood as other people are. But he battles with sin and evil lust and feels what he does not like to feel...
So, these two must always be mixed: that one feels both the Holy Spirit and our sin or imperfection. For we must be like a sick person who is indeed in the hands of a physician and should now improve. (What Luther Says, p.239)
Mark E.
* * *
Romans 7:15-25a
I love it that Paul admits that what he wants to do, he does not do. Anyone who has been on a diet can relate to that. I bet that made you smile — but the scripture is more serious than that. I don’t know about you, but I often want to be more forgiving, tolerant, and loving than I am. It’s hard sometimes to live into the true meaning of the word Christian, to be an active and connected member of the Body of Christ. I know that God strengthens me for this journey and forgives me when I fall into sin. I don’t think any of us are inherently evil, but we do sometimes act on our fear and in our humanness take that fear out on others. It is God that rescues us when we acknowledge that we are unable to rescue ourselves. That forgiveness, love, and rescuing by God is something I count on. Do you?
Bonnie B.
* * *
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
The Mayo Clinic website lists an overview of chronic fatigue syndrome. “Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME/CFS, is a complicated disorder. It causes extreme fatigue that lasts for at least six months. Symptoms worsen with physical or mental activity but don't fully improve with rest. The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is unknown, although there are many theories. Experts believe it might be triggered by a combination of factors. The symptoms include extreme exhaustion, muscle or joint pain, unrefreshing sleep and dizziness. According to the CDC, between and million and 2.5 million people suffer with some form of CFS.
These are distressing statistics and they indicate that there are a lot of weary people. That’s the bad news. The good news is that there is a message of hope. Jesus makes it plain. “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (vs. 28). Chuck Swindoll wrote, “In place of our exhaustion and spiritual fatigue, God will give us rest. All he asks is that we come to him...that we spend a while thinking about him, meditating on him, talking to him, listening in silence, occupying ourselves with him - totally and thoroughly lost in the hiding place of his presence.” Despite the hectic rigor of the world, there is rest and peace in Jesus Christ. Come to him. You will find rest for your soul.
Bill T.
* * *
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
There’s just no pleasing some people. Jesus says as much by citing this child’s chant that refers to two games that children of his time often played, precisely because these very public events were common occurrences: weddings and funerals. We played the pipes and you wouldn’t dance. We sang a dirge and you wouldn’t mourn. What do we got to do?
Well, we certainly want to sing and dance to God’s tune, but when it comes to other people who can’t be pleased, at some point you have to stop trying. I’m thinking of a time fifty years ago, back when I was in college, and we drove over an hour over to Knott’s Berry Farm and sat for not one, but two concerts by the great, and sadly, soon to be late Rick Nelson. He’d made his fame on the TV show “The Nelsons,” and then became a pop star in the early days of rock ‘n roll, but he resisted being stuck in the past and insisted on singing some of his new material. For that at some venues, he was booed off the stage.
However, we loved him for what he was doing in the present, including the song “Garden Party,” about the time he was booed in Madison Square Garden.
Well, it’s all right now. I’ve learned my lesson well.
You know you can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself.
And when it comes to church, sometimes we just can’t please certain people who don’t want to be pleased. So, we might as well please God and ourselves.
Frank R.
