Sermons Illustrations for Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 (2014)
Illustration
Exodus 17:1-7
That passage sounds familiar. "Why can't I find a job?" "Why can't I find a doctor or an insurance company?" "Why can't I find the money I need?" We can translate their complaints in the language of today. We (and God) are always hearing complaints. (From both sides of the aisle? Let's not get too much into politics!) We want to find someone to blame. We want to go just below where the buck stops (God) sometime. They quarreled with Moses in that day. He was in charge, as far as they knew. But in complaining to Moses they are really complaining to God (where the buck stops), who had appointed him.
Sometimes it seems like there is always something to complain about. There is always room for more complaints. When I see the news and remember how many recovered from Haiti's gigantic storm and yet some are still starving and with no home to go to, the complaints go to the US or the UN. The buck stops higher, but they are afraid to say so since it seems that God only wants patience when we don't have any more.
The Israelites had just been rescued from years of slavery in Egypt and brought to safety through the sea that was parted for them. They saw God do all these miraculous things but still wondered if he was going to let them die without water. Why did he command them to walk across the desert where there was no water? Why didn't he send them through some nice land -- though most of that nice land was inhabited by people who might not want any immigrants or transients!
Does God do these things to see if we trust in him or to see if we have patience to wait for him to answer? As many times as God has gotten me through rough times, I catch myself complaining about some new need that he doesn't seem to be filling when I want it. Am I afraid he will let me suffer and die? Some are only minor problems. Where is my trust? Why do I get frustrated if my shoelace refuses to tie the way I want it to? Why do I complain if the driver in front of me is going too slowly?
Why isn't the president we elected solving all the problems we voted for him to solve? Even our children complain that we are not giving them ice cream or a toy they can't live without! Aren't husband and wife after each other for some minor thing that was forgotten accidentally or on purpose?
The need of the Israelites was urgent and they know it, but so does God! Notice that when they complain loudly enough God answers, but he is not happy. Jesus said in one parable that if we keep complaining to the judge, he will give us what we want just to get us off his back.
If we ask for fish our Father might give us a snake, Jesus says in another parable. We are always testing God. He is not always happy to give us what we want when we want it, but he will still give it whether it is water or money. He would rather give us what we need through prayer rather than larceny or bribery. The most difficult item we need is patience. It is hardest when we don't have any idea when our prayers might be answered so we can't plan for it.
Bob O.
Exodus 17:1-7
The Israelites were tired, drained, and edgy from their traveling. They were living on bare subsistence in the wilderness and needed rest. This wasn't a little caravan of people, but a mass of humanity attempting to stay in some orderly fashion just to make a few miles a day. Coming to Rephidim, which means "resting place," they were irritable, irrational, and frustrated. They had been wilted by the scorching sun and were thirsty beyond normalcy. All they wanted was a cool drink of water... but oh no, not with their "luck." The brook, which at times watered the valley floor, was dry. Their anger and frustration was vented on Moses, but aimed at God! There was a blatant lack of faith.
A miraculous occurrence happened on this day of testing and striving... God intervened in their lives. He supplied the water in the midst of their complaining. In the communicator's commentary, Maxie Dunnam wrote, "The supplying of water was the demonstration that the Lord was with his people. God never abandons God's people, but provides them with life-giving water" (Exodus, p. 212-213).
When I think I am not getting what I need and that God has abandoned me, I need to rest in God's promise that he would never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). I can drink from that rock!
Derl K.
Philippians 2:1-13
Americans are not inclined to practice humility. We are reminded of the American proverb "If you don't toot your own horn, no one else will." Employment counselors tell us you might need this attitude in the job search. But Paul tells us it is not a healthy outlook for our spiritual lives. Seventeenth-century French intellectual Blaise Pascal offers a penetrating observation: "Jesus is a God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair" (Pensees, p. 212).
Christian humility is not degrading oneself. As eighteenth-century Anglican priest William Law once put it: "Humility is nothing else but a right judgment of ourselves." It is just appreciating our sinfulness and need for God. Or as famed preacher Rick Warren writes: "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less."
Not thinking of yourself as much opens the way to spend more time on God. This is a healthy lifestyle, one that does not just enhance our spirituality but makes us more creative. Singer Steven Tyler offers this insight in a pointed way: "Humility is really important because it keeps you fresh and new."
A recent breakthrough in educational theory, the Dunning-Kruger effect, finds that people learn best when they do not overestimate their abilities. Besides being good for your faith, a little humility is also good for learning and skill enhancement.
Mark E.
Philippians 2:1-13
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was known as the "prince of preachers." As the pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, he said: "If I am asked what is my creed, I must reply it is Jesus Christ." Yet this prince of preachers became so nervous before each sermon that he would throw up.
Application: It is God who works through us, but that does not make the task easy and absent of trepidation.
Ron L.
Matthew 21:23-32
We live in a crazy, out-of-control world. Hatred, jealousy, greed and all other vestiges of evil thrive. We demand reassurance that someone knows what is going on in this mad world.
The New Testament writers describe for us the very picture of true authority. Throughout its pages one author after another paints the picture of one who is authority personified through justice and equality, loves unequivocally and unconditionally, epitomizes righteousness and holiness, brings healing and salvation to the world. Jesus is the supreme authority of life. Knowing him brings sense to our crazy world because he revolutionizes the way we understand life!
Derl K.
Matthew 21:23-32
In seminary we read many deep theological books going into great intellectual detail, but Jesus only uses stories as examples. It is easier to see God's purpose through these parables then through lengthy diatribes using language that is very academic and obscure.
If some prophet arose today, we might expect him to be approved by the synod first before we feel safe listening to him (or her). Jesus did not go through the proper channels and the leaders felt snubbed by God. They were also more interested in preserving their status as top dogs and being popular with the people. That could sound like presidents and congressmen (and perhaps bishops and synods). It certainly could not be true of us pastors.
Yes, we want to be careful whom we believe in. Bible bookstores are full of volumes by those who claim to "know" when the end of the world will happen. They know when a tornado was caused by God's wrath against the people whom it hit, assuming they must have been guilty of something terrible like allowing gays to marry. Just look at the titles by self-proclaimed "prophets," both religious and political, who know exactly what we must do to come to God or to solve all the problems in our country.
We must also be careful that we do not condemn someone who might be truly speaking for God as they did in our text. They demanded proof, but proof would only come to those who recognized John's message. It is only through God's Holy Spirit that we can recognize him speaking today.
We must also judge others and ourselves not by what we say, but by what we do. The doing is the proof of the promises that we make in church.
I was a jail chaplain in addition to serving my church once, but when I brought some of the former prisoners to give a testimony to my people, I heard complaints from some members who asked if they had to have done drugs or broken the law in order to find the Lord. I tried to tell them that these former prisoners had first turned the Lord down, but then found him and started to serve him. How many promise in their confirmation vows to serve the Lord and then don't come back to church again? It is a shameful statistic and I think the parents of those kids must share some of the blame.
We need God's Spirit in our hearts to guide us in whom we direct our lives.
Bob O.
That passage sounds familiar. "Why can't I find a job?" "Why can't I find a doctor or an insurance company?" "Why can't I find the money I need?" We can translate their complaints in the language of today. We (and God) are always hearing complaints. (From both sides of the aisle? Let's not get too much into politics!) We want to find someone to blame. We want to go just below where the buck stops (God) sometime. They quarreled with Moses in that day. He was in charge, as far as they knew. But in complaining to Moses they are really complaining to God (where the buck stops), who had appointed him.
Sometimes it seems like there is always something to complain about. There is always room for more complaints. When I see the news and remember how many recovered from Haiti's gigantic storm and yet some are still starving and with no home to go to, the complaints go to the US or the UN. The buck stops higher, but they are afraid to say so since it seems that God only wants patience when we don't have any more.
The Israelites had just been rescued from years of slavery in Egypt and brought to safety through the sea that was parted for them. They saw God do all these miraculous things but still wondered if he was going to let them die without water. Why did he command them to walk across the desert where there was no water? Why didn't he send them through some nice land -- though most of that nice land was inhabited by people who might not want any immigrants or transients!
Does God do these things to see if we trust in him or to see if we have patience to wait for him to answer? As many times as God has gotten me through rough times, I catch myself complaining about some new need that he doesn't seem to be filling when I want it. Am I afraid he will let me suffer and die? Some are only minor problems. Where is my trust? Why do I get frustrated if my shoelace refuses to tie the way I want it to? Why do I complain if the driver in front of me is going too slowly?
Why isn't the president we elected solving all the problems we voted for him to solve? Even our children complain that we are not giving them ice cream or a toy they can't live without! Aren't husband and wife after each other for some minor thing that was forgotten accidentally or on purpose?
The need of the Israelites was urgent and they know it, but so does God! Notice that when they complain loudly enough God answers, but he is not happy. Jesus said in one parable that if we keep complaining to the judge, he will give us what we want just to get us off his back.
If we ask for fish our Father might give us a snake, Jesus says in another parable. We are always testing God. He is not always happy to give us what we want when we want it, but he will still give it whether it is water or money. He would rather give us what we need through prayer rather than larceny or bribery. The most difficult item we need is patience. It is hardest when we don't have any idea when our prayers might be answered so we can't plan for it.
Bob O.
Exodus 17:1-7
The Israelites were tired, drained, and edgy from their traveling. They were living on bare subsistence in the wilderness and needed rest. This wasn't a little caravan of people, but a mass of humanity attempting to stay in some orderly fashion just to make a few miles a day. Coming to Rephidim, which means "resting place," they were irritable, irrational, and frustrated. They had been wilted by the scorching sun and were thirsty beyond normalcy. All they wanted was a cool drink of water... but oh no, not with their "luck." The brook, which at times watered the valley floor, was dry. Their anger and frustration was vented on Moses, but aimed at God! There was a blatant lack of faith.
A miraculous occurrence happened on this day of testing and striving... God intervened in their lives. He supplied the water in the midst of their complaining. In the communicator's commentary, Maxie Dunnam wrote, "The supplying of water was the demonstration that the Lord was with his people. God never abandons God's people, but provides them with life-giving water" (Exodus, p. 212-213).
When I think I am not getting what I need and that God has abandoned me, I need to rest in God's promise that he would never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). I can drink from that rock!
Derl K.
Philippians 2:1-13
Americans are not inclined to practice humility. We are reminded of the American proverb "If you don't toot your own horn, no one else will." Employment counselors tell us you might need this attitude in the job search. But Paul tells us it is not a healthy outlook for our spiritual lives. Seventeenth-century French intellectual Blaise Pascal offers a penetrating observation: "Jesus is a God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair" (Pensees, p. 212).
Christian humility is not degrading oneself. As eighteenth-century Anglican priest William Law once put it: "Humility is nothing else but a right judgment of ourselves." It is just appreciating our sinfulness and need for God. Or as famed preacher Rick Warren writes: "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less."
Not thinking of yourself as much opens the way to spend more time on God. This is a healthy lifestyle, one that does not just enhance our spirituality but makes us more creative. Singer Steven Tyler offers this insight in a pointed way: "Humility is really important because it keeps you fresh and new."
A recent breakthrough in educational theory, the Dunning-Kruger effect, finds that people learn best when they do not overestimate their abilities. Besides being good for your faith, a little humility is also good for learning and skill enhancement.
Mark E.
Philippians 2:1-13
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was known as the "prince of preachers." As the pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, he said: "If I am asked what is my creed, I must reply it is Jesus Christ." Yet this prince of preachers became so nervous before each sermon that he would throw up.
Application: It is God who works through us, but that does not make the task easy and absent of trepidation.
Ron L.
Matthew 21:23-32
We live in a crazy, out-of-control world. Hatred, jealousy, greed and all other vestiges of evil thrive. We demand reassurance that someone knows what is going on in this mad world.
The New Testament writers describe for us the very picture of true authority. Throughout its pages one author after another paints the picture of one who is authority personified through justice and equality, loves unequivocally and unconditionally, epitomizes righteousness and holiness, brings healing and salvation to the world. Jesus is the supreme authority of life. Knowing him brings sense to our crazy world because he revolutionizes the way we understand life!
Derl K.
Matthew 21:23-32
In seminary we read many deep theological books going into great intellectual detail, but Jesus only uses stories as examples. It is easier to see God's purpose through these parables then through lengthy diatribes using language that is very academic and obscure.
If some prophet arose today, we might expect him to be approved by the synod first before we feel safe listening to him (or her). Jesus did not go through the proper channels and the leaders felt snubbed by God. They were also more interested in preserving their status as top dogs and being popular with the people. That could sound like presidents and congressmen (and perhaps bishops and synods). It certainly could not be true of us pastors.
Yes, we want to be careful whom we believe in. Bible bookstores are full of volumes by those who claim to "know" when the end of the world will happen. They know when a tornado was caused by God's wrath against the people whom it hit, assuming they must have been guilty of something terrible like allowing gays to marry. Just look at the titles by self-proclaimed "prophets," both religious and political, who know exactly what we must do to come to God or to solve all the problems in our country.
We must also be careful that we do not condemn someone who might be truly speaking for God as they did in our text. They demanded proof, but proof would only come to those who recognized John's message. It is only through God's Holy Spirit that we can recognize him speaking today.
We must also judge others and ourselves not by what we say, but by what we do. The doing is the proof of the promises that we make in church.
I was a jail chaplain in addition to serving my church once, but when I brought some of the former prisoners to give a testimony to my people, I heard complaints from some members who asked if they had to have done drugs or broken the law in order to find the Lord. I tried to tell them that these former prisoners had first turned the Lord down, but then found him and started to serve him. How many promise in their confirmation vows to serve the Lord and then don't come back to church again? It is a shameful statistic and I think the parents of those kids must share some of the blame.
We need God's Spirit in our hearts to guide us in whom we direct our lives.
Bob O.
