Sermon Illustrations for Pentecost (2024)
Illustration
Acts 2:1-21
Martin Luther viewed Pentecost as a day of celebration, as on a sermon in the topic he noted “it was on this present Pentecost Day that the joyful blessed and lovely kingdom of Christ was established, a kingdom filled with joy, courage, and certainty.” Complete Sermons, Vol.6, p.152) Awareness of the Holy Spirit is a big part of the joy and certainty Pentecost brings. John Wesley, then, offers a timely warning about how not to lose a sense of the Spirit and the joy and confidence this insight offers. He wrote:
Thus natural men are prone to ascribe supernatural things to mere natural causes; and many times as impudently and unskillfully as in the present case [the thinking of the critics of Pentecost whom Peter addressed in this text.] (Commentary On the Bible, p.473)
The Spirit works on us in such a way as to take away all the pressures and temptations of life, for we can now be confident that the Holy Spirit will have his way with us. Famed modern reformed theologian Karl Barth put it this way:
... the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ, that his power is on certain men, then comes to them as such, that he is ‘poured out’ on them, that he ‘sits’ on them and ‘fells them...’ (Church Dogmatics, Vol.IV/1, p.619)
Mark E.
* * *
Romans 8:22-27
The Apostle Paul equates the painful transition from the old life to the new life in the new creation to labor pains. It’s a fair question as to whether he’s qualified to use this image, since neither he nor I nor other men have undergone an experience reserved for women. But his use of the image makes me wonder if Paul perhaps lost a wife and a child at a time of childbirth. Certainly childbirth was a most dangerous time for women and infants in all eras until more recently, when there was competent medical aid for women and newborns in distress. Regardless of whether this might be considered cultural appropriation, Paul is making a good point when he compares “the sufferings of this present time” and “the glory about to be revealed to us,” to the way “the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor.” And just as a midwife helps other women through this harrowing time of childbirth, we are midwifed into the new life by “that very Spirit (who) intercedes with groanings too deep for words.” It may be that these images and thoughts are better explained and explicated by those of you who are women in ministry, and trust me, I’m very careful about encroaching on another’s territory but I pen these words about this biblical passage in hopes it will be helpful to some of us in one way or another.
Frank R.
* * *
Romans 8:22-27
I am not very skilled in languages. I have studied Greek and Hebrew a bit, and I had French and a year of Latin in high school. So, I would I have a tough time translating any story written in English into one of those languages. Translating is just not an easy thing for me. I know some people who are very good at it. However, even skilled translators have trouble finding the right words sometime.
I read about the difficulties of translation when I read about an experiment Mark Twain once did. One of his most famous short stories is The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. It is a funny story, written in English in 1865. Twain was garnering a world-wide following, so his story was translated into French. However, the translation proved very difficult. Twain was so annoyed by the translation, he did a “back translation” of it (French to English) to mock the translation.
I am not in a position to criticize the translator. It can be hard to find the right words sometimes. What is true in literature, I think, is even more true in prayer. There are times when we just don’t know what to say to the Lord. Things are hard, the world is a mess, and life stinks. It is at times like these, when we are out of words, the Holy Spirit intercedes. “Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words” (vs. 26). I am thankful for the Holy Spirit’s intercession in those times. Aren’t you?
Bill T.
* * *
John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15
The Greek word parakletos is translated several ways in the New Testament. Comforter, friend, advocate. Sometimes the translator punts and transliterates “Paraclete” instead of taking a chance and translating.
I wonder if the best answer is “All of the above.” John’s gospel has the simplest vocabulary, making it a delight for first year students in New Testament Greek. But it also includes subtle layers of interpretation, and John seems to know very well what he’s doing.
My favorite translation (which doesn’t exclude the subtleties of the others) is advocate. In the first century world, the word referred to those advocates who were people of some social standing, whose word meant something, who would stand up for you as a character reference in court. Having such a person on your side when your fate was being weighed in the balance could literally make the difference between life and death
I think part of what Jesus is saying here is that one reason he is leaving is that he is making room for the action of the Holy Spirit as our advocate. With Jesus on the scene, the disciples would never come fully into their own, nor would they trust that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth, and into all truthful actions.
I think we need to make room in our spiritual lives for the advocate to abide with us, and to guide us. And I think sometimes we’re the ones who need to step to the side so that others may listen to the advocate and become fully the disciples God meant them to be. Think about that. We can become so overwhelming a presence that some others are not able to become spiritually the true disciples they are meant to be.
Frank R.
* * *
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
Martin Luther offered a thoughtful reflection on the work of the Holy Spirit. In one of his sermons he proclaimed:
Whoever is converted to faith cannot say anything else than that the Holy Spirit comes and when He will and where he will and to what person he will... It is the Holy Spirit, not reason, who teaches me to be baptized and to believe. Consequently, my life must consist in the Holy Spirit, who blows where he will. (Luther’s Works, Vol.22, pp.302-303)
Mennonite founder Menno Simons echoed a similar vision. He wrote:
[The Holy Spirit] guides us into all truth; he justifies us. He cleanses, sanctifies, reconciles, comforts, reproves, cheers, and assures us. He testifies with our spirit that we the children of God. (Complete Writings, p.496)
Famed Medieval Mystic Catherine of Siena had a nice description of the Holy Spirit. She called the Spirit the mother “who nurses the soul at the breast of divine charity.” (Dialogue, 85). She also referred to the Spirit as the captain of the ship (Ibid., 158,159).
Mark E.
Martin Luther viewed Pentecost as a day of celebration, as on a sermon in the topic he noted “it was on this present Pentecost Day that the joyful blessed and lovely kingdom of Christ was established, a kingdom filled with joy, courage, and certainty.” Complete Sermons, Vol.6, p.152) Awareness of the Holy Spirit is a big part of the joy and certainty Pentecost brings. John Wesley, then, offers a timely warning about how not to lose a sense of the Spirit and the joy and confidence this insight offers. He wrote:
Thus natural men are prone to ascribe supernatural things to mere natural causes; and many times as impudently and unskillfully as in the present case [the thinking of the critics of Pentecost whom Peter addressed in this text.] (Commentary On the Bible, p.473)
The Spirit works on us in such a way as to take away all the pressures and temptations of life, for we can now be confident that the Holy Spirit will have his way with us. Famed modern reformed theologian Karl Barth put it this way:
... the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ, that his power is on certain men, then comes to them as such, that he is ‘poured out’ on them, that he ‘sits’ on them and ‘fells them...’ (Church Dogmatics, Vol.IV/1, p.619)
Mark E.
* * *
Romans 8:22-27
The Apostle Paul equates the painful transition from the old life to the new life in the new creation to labor pains. It’s a fair question as to whether he’s qualified to use this image, since neither he nor I nor other men have undergone an experience reserved for women. But his use of the image makes me wonder if Paul perhaps lost a wife and a child at a time of childbirth. Certainly childbirth was a most dangerous time for women and infants in all eras until more recently, when there was competent medical aid for women and newborns in distress. Regardless of whether this might be considered cultural appropriation, Paul is making a good point when he compares “the sufferings of this present time” and “the glory about to be revealed to us,” to the way “the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor.” And just as a midwife helps other women through this harrowing time of childbirth, we are midwifed into the new life by “that very Spirit (who) intercedes with groanings too deep for words.” It may be that these images and thoughts are better explained and explicated by those of you who are women in ministry, and trust me, I’m very careful about encroaching on another’s territory but I pen these words about this biblical passage in hopes it will be helpful to some of us in one way or another.
Frank R.
* * *
Romans 8:22-27
I am not very skilled in languages. I have studied Greek and Hebrew a bit, and I had French and a year of Latin in high school. So, I would I have a tough time translating any story written in English into one of those languages. Translating is just not an easy thing for me. I know some people who are very good at it. However, even skilled translators have trouble finding the right words sometime.
I read about the difficulties of translation when I read about an experiment Mark Twain once did. One of his most famous short stories is The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. It is a funny story, written in English in 1865. Twain was garnering a world-wide following, so his story was translated into French. However, the translation proved very difficult. Twain was so annoyed by the translation, he did a “back translation” of it (French to English) to mock the translation.
I am not in a position to criticize the translator. It can be hard to find the right words sometimes. What is true in literature, I think, is even more true in prayer. There are times when we just don’t know what to say to the Lord. Things are hard, the world is a mess, and life stinks. It is at times like these, when we are out of words, the Holy Spirit intercedes. “Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words” (vs. 26). I am thankful for the Holy Spirit’s intercession in those times. Aren’t you?
Bill T.
* * *
John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15
The Greek word parakletos is translated several ways in the New Testament. Comforter, friend, advocate. Sometimes the translator punts and transliterates “Paraclete” instead of taking a chance and translating.
I wonder if the best answer is “All of the above.” John’s gospel has the simplest vocabulary, making it a delight for first year students in New Testament Greek. But it also includes subtle layers of interpretation, and John seems to know very well what he’s doing.
My favorite translation (which doesn’t exclude the subtleties of the others) is advocate. In the first century world, the word referred to those advocates who were people of some social standing, whose word meant something, who would stand up for you as a character reference in court. Having such a person on your side when your fate was being weighed in the balance could literally make the difference between life and death
I think part of what Jesus is saying here is that one reason he is leaving is that he is making room for the action of the Holy Spirit as our advocate. With Jesus on the scene, the disciples would never come fully into their own, nor would they trust that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth, and into all truthful actions.
I think we need to make room in our spiritual lives for the advocate to abide with us, and to guide us. And I think sometimes we’re the ones who need to step to the side so that others may listen to the advocate and become fully the disciples God meant them to be. Think about that. We can become so overwhelming a presence that some others are not able to become spiritually the true disciples they are meant to be.
Frank R.
* * *
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
Martin Luther offered a thoughtful reflection on the work of the Holy Spirit. In one of his sermons he proclaimed:
Whoever is converted to faith cannot say anything else than that the Holy Spirit comes and when He will and where he will and to what person he will... It is the Holy Spirit, not reason, who teaches me to be baptized and to believe. Consequently, my life must consist in the Holy Spirit, who blows where he will. (Luther’s Works, Vol.22, pp.302-303)
Mennonite founder Menno Simons echoed a similar vision. He wrote:
[The Holy Spirit] guides us into all truth; he justifies us. He cleanses, sanctifies, reconciles, comforts, reproves, cheers, and assures us. He testifies with our spirit that we the children of God. (Complete Writings, p.496)
Famed Medieval Mystic Catherine of Siena had a nice description of the Holy Spirit. She called the Spirit the mother “who nurses the soul at the breast of divine charity.” (Dialogue, 85). She also referred to the Spirit as the captain of the ship (Ibid., 158,159).
Mark E.
