Sermon Illustrations for Thanksgiving (2012)
Illustration
Object:
Joel 2:21-27
There is an ecological dimension to this text (concern with the land). Googling statistics about US oil consumption and worldwide carbon dioxide omissions are possibly relevant illustration.
Another angle on the text: Note that English author Alduous Huxley has claimed that "Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted." But Gerald Good's advice provides a most timely corrective: "If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness, it will change your life mightily." This insight is supported by sociological research conducted by Richard Sennett (The Corrosion of Character, esp. pp. 30, 145-146). He notes that gratitude creates a narrative for your life, which in turn makes sense of it, gives it coherence and meaning. Life is a lot sweeter when it is lived with thanks.
Mark E.
Joel 2:21-27
A couple traveling in Europe wanted to stop in and see a famous Jewish rabbi who happened to live near where they were staying. They had heard of his fame and had read his books. Now, with great anticipation they sought him out. To their dismay, they found him in a humble dwelling living in a single room with only a bed, a table and chairs, and a few books surrounding him. In shock, they asked him, "Where are all your possessions?" In the return the rabbi asked his visitors, "And where are all your possessions?" But, they exclaimed, "We are only tourists!" His reply, "So am I."
The rabbi gave the right answer. He too was only a tourist, a pilgrim. People of faith know that they are on their way to a better land, and like the prophet Joel, the rabbi knew God had given him a promise: "And my people shall never again be put to shame" (Joel 22:7b).
Richard H.
1 Timothy 2:1-7
One year Thanksgiving plans were cancelled for the Husings. "What will I do with all this food?" Tracy lamented. Everyone she called had other commitments, but the Fausts would come if they could bring a widower friend. "Absolutely!" Tracy answered.
A miracle happened the day Andrew Vespa came to dinner. A quiet, gentle, stoic old man, Andy soon found himself drawn into the Husing family circle.
"My kids need a grandpa, Andrew. Want the position?" Tracy challenged.
"What would I have to do?"
"Attend their football and baseball games. Concerts and plays as well. Of course, there's church. Second service. We'll pick you up."
For ten years Andy kept his promise. Tracy stocked his cupboards, filled his pillbox, drove him to appointments, and hid his car keys. Every Sunday "Grandpa Andy" proudly sat in the third row pew as a Husing family member. When he died at 95, the Husings thanked God for blizzards and big turkeys.
Cynthia C.
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Timothy didn't fail! That is one reason the church grew so fast in those early years! The blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church.
Nothing could stop them -- back then. It is true that there were many like Timothy, and yes, Martin Luther among others, who served in later years and suffered for their faith. Books are written about them to inspire us but too many failed in their job. I sometimes say, "The whole world would be Christian if it weren't for Christians." How many have failed in their task and had other priorities? What are the priorities of our church today? What are your priorities? Some churches put building programs or local issues ahead of mission. Local needs are important, but the Christ's church will only grow through mission. Let us set an example in our lives, drawing others into the kingdom.
Bob O.
1 Timothy 2:1-7
In the tradition of what was started by Leymah Gbowee, 2012 Nobel Peace Laureate, the women of Liberia gather weekly now to pray for the nation, the elected leaders, and the people of Liberia. Under the hot tropical sun, they continue to meet, dressed in white, erasing all human distinctions between them on that same sports field where thousands gathered daily in the very early years of the new millennium to pray peace into the fabric of war-torn Liberia. The women are convinced that the future of their country needs to be built on prayer, seeking God's grace and guidance, so that a "quiet and peaceable life" can be shared by all, especially the new generation that is rebuilding a devastated country.
Mark M.
1 Timothy 2:1-7
In July 2012 at a Sotheby's auction, Edvard Munch's painting The Scream was sold for $120 million, in a process that lasted a mere twelve minutes. Sotheby's is not required to reveal the name of the purchaser, so he became known as the "mystery buyer."
Weeks later it was learned that the "mystery buyer" was Leon Black, an American mogul whose net worth is $3.5 billion. Black has an extensive private collection of art worth $750 million.
Black sits on the boards of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. Both institutions are dedicated to making art available to the public. Yet the man who sits on the board of these two galleries, and has a personal collection worth $750 million, keeps his art collection private, out of view of the public.
Application: Timothy instructs us that we are to be a "herald" of the gospel message. We can only do that if we display our message to the public, removing it from the privacy of our hearts.
Ron L.
Matthew 6:25-33
Arthur Gordon was a writer who helped many people on their own spiritual journeys, yet he had his own moments of uncertainty -- even despair. Once he went to his doctor for counseling.
The doctor gave him four slips of paper, a prescription to be followed at 9:00 a.m., 12 noon, 3:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. as he took a day off at the beach. At 9:00 a.m. Gordon took out his first prescription. It read, "Listen carefully." He listened to the surging tides and he began to think of things bigger than he was. At 12:00 noon he opened the second prescription. It read, "Try reaching back." He reached back to happy times, and he sensed a new strength coming to him. At 3:00 p.m. he opened the third prescription; the words read, "Re-examine your motives." He realized his job had become solely a means of making money.
Finally, at 6:00 p.m. he opened the last slip of paper that said, "Write your worries in the sand." He wrote his worries in the sand. The tide was coming in.
Richard H.
Matthew 6:25-33
Martin Luther provides compelling images about this text: "Day and night everybody's concern is how to make a living. And this stimulates greed to the point where no one is content with what God provides and bestows... Everyone wants to get on better and have more... With this sermon the Lord endeavored to put a brake on such attitude and conduct" (Complete Sermons, Vol. 7, p. 16). "Too often, he adds, we are serving food and clothes, and not them serving us" (Ibid., Vol. 3/1, p. 111). "Ay, shame on you now, that the little birds are more pious and believing than you; they are happy and sing with joy and know not whether they have anything to eat" (Ibid., p. 114).
If animals can sing thanks, why not homo sapiens? If only we could learn the lesson taught by English author G.K. Chesterton: "I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."
Wish the congregation a lot of wonder with their happiness.
Mark E.
There is an ecological dimension to this text (concern with the land). Googling statistics about US oil consumption and worldwide carbon dioxide omissions are possibly relevant illustration.
Another angle on the text: Note that English author Alduous Huxley has claimed that "Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted." But Gerald Good's advice provides a most timely corrective: "If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness, it will change your life mightily." This insight is supported by sociological research conducted by Richard Sennett (The Corrosion of Character, esp. pp. 30, 145-146). He notes that gratitude creates a narrative for your life, which in turn makes sense of it, gives it coherence and meaning. Life is a lot sweeter when it is lived with thanks.
Mark E.
Joel 2:21-27
A couple traveling in Europe wanted to stop in and see a famous Jewish rabbi who happened to live near where they were staying. They had heard of his fame and had read his books. Now, with great anticipation they sought him out. To their dismay, they found him in a humble dwelling living in a single room with only a bed, a table and chairs, and a few books surrounding him. In shock, they asked him, "Where are all your possessions?" In the return the rabbi asked his visitors, "And where are all your possessions?" But, they exclaimed, "We are only tourists!" His reply, "So am I."
The rabbi gave the right answer. He too was only a tourist, a pilgrim. People of faith know that they are on their way to a better land, and like the prophet Joel, the rabbi knew God had given him a promise: "And my people shall never again be put to shame" (Joel 22:7b).
Richard H.
1 Timothy 2:1-7
One year Thanksgiving plans were cancelled for the Husings. "What will I do with all this food?" Tracy lamented. Everyone she called had other commitments, but the Fausts would come if they could bring a widower friend. "Absolutely!" Tracy answered.
A miracle happened the day Andrew Vespa came to dinner. A quiet, gentle, stoic old man, Andy soon found himself drawn into the Husing family circle.
"My kids need a grandpa, Andrew. Want the position?" Tracy challenged.
"What would I have to do?"
"Attend their football and baseball games. Concerts and plays as well. Of course, there's church. Second service. We'll pick you up."
For ten years Andy kept his promise. Tracy stocked his cupboards, filled his pillbox, drove him to appointments, and hid his car keys. Every Sunday "Grandpa Andy" proudly sat in the third row pew as a Husing family member. When he died at 95, the Husings thanked God for blizzards and big turkeys.
Cynthia C.
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Timothy didn't fail! That is one reason the church grew so fast in those early years! The blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church.
Nothing could stop them -- back then. It is true that there were many like Timothy, and yes, Martin Luther among others, who served in later years and suffered for their faith. Books are written about them to inspire us but too many failed in their job. I sometimes say, "The whole world would be Christian if it weren't for Christians." How many have failed in their task and had other priorities? What are the priorities of our church today? What are your priorities? Some churches put building programs or local issues ahead of mission. Local needs are important, but the Christ's church will only grow through mission. Let us set an example in our lives, drawing others into the kingdom.
Bob O.
1 Timothy 2:1-7
In the tradition of what was started by Leymah Gbowee, 2012 Nobel Peace Laureate, the women of Liberia gather weekly now to pray for the nation, the elected leaders, and the people of Liberia. Under the hot tropical sun, they continue to meet, dressed in white, erasing all human distinctions between them on that same sports field where thousands gathered daily in the very early years of the new millennium to pray peace into the fabric of war-torn Liberia. The women are convinced that the future of their country needs to be built on prayer, seeking God's grace and guidance, so that a "quiet and peaceable life" can be shared by all, especially the new generation that is rebuilding a devastated country.
Mark M.
1 Timothy 2:1-7
In July 2012 at a Sotheby's auction, Edvard Munch's painting The Scream was sold for $120 million, in a process that lasted a mere twelve minutes. Sotheby's is not required to reveal the name of the purchaser, so he became known as the "mystery buyer."
Weeks later it was learned that the "mystery buyer" was Leon Black, an American mogul whose net worth is $3.5 billion. Black has an extensive private collection of art worth $750 million.
Black sits on the boards of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. Both institutions are dedicated to making art available to the public. Yet the man who sits on the board of these two galleries, and has a personal collection worth $750 million, keeps his art collection private, out of view of the public.
Application: Timothy instructs us that we are to be a "herald" of the gospel message. We can only do that if we display our message to the public, removing it from the privacy of our hearts.
Ron L.
Matthew 6:25-33
Arthur Gordon was a writer who helped many people on their own spiritual journeys, yet he had his own moments of uncertainty -- even despair. Once he went to his doctor for counseling.
The doctor gave him four slips of paper, a prescription to be followed at 9:00 a.m., 12 noon, 3:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. as he took a day off at the beach. At 9:00 a.m. Gordon took out his first prescription. It read, "Listen carefully." He listened to the surging tides and he began to think of things bigger than he was. At 12:00 noon he opened the second prescription. It read, "Try reaching back." He reached back to happy times, and he sensed a new strength coming to him. At 3:00 p.m. he opened the third prescription; the words read, "Re-examine your motives." He realized his job had become solely a means of making money.
Finally, at 6:00 p.m. he opened the last slip of paper that said, "Write your worries in the sand." He wrote his worries in the sand. The tide was coming in.
Richard H.
Matthew 6:25-33
Martin Luther provides compelling images about this text: "Day and night everybody's concern is how to make a living. And this stimulates greed to the point where no one is content with what God provides and bestows... Everyone wants to get on better and have more... With this sermon the Lord endeavored to put a brake on such attitude and conduct" (Complete Sermons, Vol. 7, p. 16). "Too often, he adds, we are serving food and clothes, and not them serving us" (Ibid., Vol. 3/1, p. 111). "Ay, shame on you now, that the little birds are more pious and believing than you; they are happy and sing with joy and know not whether they have anything to eat" (Ibid., p. 114).
If animals can sing thanks, why not homo sapiens? If only we could learn the lesson taught by English author G.K. Chesterton: "I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."
Wish the congregation a lot of wonder with their happiness.
Mark E.
