Sermon Illustrations for Baptism of Our Lord (2011)
Illustration
Genesis 1:1-5
Whether it's the first brush stroke on the Mona Lisa, the first chipped marble off David, or the first note in Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, every masterpiece has a beginning.
Genesis 1 is the retelling of the creation of God's masterpiece -- creation itself. It is truly amazing to consider that all the wonders of creation we enjoy today all begin with four simple words: "Let there be light."
C. Kelly
Genesis 1:1-5
When Helmut Thielicke, the great German Lutheran pastor and theologian, indicated that he proposed to preach a series of sermons on the biblical story of creation he received a letter in which the sender stated: "What do you think you know about creation anyhow? Who was there when it happened? After all, there were no reporters there to hear those words 'Let there be!' Yet the Bible acts as if it were presenting an eyewitness account."
Thielicke considered this to be a serious question, and he responded by saying he thought the writers of the Bible were not seeking to write a biological or geological treatise but rather they presented these words in a form of praise of God, and then he said: "All that interests these men in the beginning of the world is not the condition of the world before history began, but rather the certainty that here, before the foundation of the world, there begins the history of a great love and a great search."
R. Hasler
Acts 19:1-7
William Shatner for years avoided any convention that was related to the television series Star Trek. He had moved onto other network shows and felt that chapter was behind him. Yet the invitations to attend persisted. He finally yielded and attended Comic-Con International 2011, held in San Diego with over 100,000 people in attendance, many of them in costume. Shatner offered this explanation for attending: "At first I rejected it but I finally see that people have taken Star Trek into their hearts."
We take many things into our hearts that are important to us. This goes beyond just family members but it also can be our work and hobbies. None of this is wrong; but as Paul indicates, first and foremost in our hearts must be the Holy Spirit. Paul laid his hand upon the new converts and "the Holy Spirit came upon them." Let us be sure that we are receptive to receiving the Holy Spirit and that it is not crowded out of hearts by other pursuits.
R. Love
Mark 1:4-11
Walker Percy as a young college student emulated the spirit of John when he said, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals" (Mark 1:7).
Percy applied for admission to the English department at the University of North Carolina. When he arrived on campus he was asked to provide a "diagnostic" writing sample. He responded by writing a description of the Mississippi River in a single long paragraph without punctuation -- an imitation of The Sound and Fury by William Faulkner, which he had read that summer. The result of his effort was to be diagnosed as "language deficient" and placed in a remedial writing class.
Although he had read Faulkner and Dostoevsky and despite the fact that he was a renowned poet's adopted son, he didn't protest the university's decision. He could wait. He wasn't proud. He took the class and learned from it. Later, he would become a best-selling novelist with keen Christian insights into daily living.
R. Hasler
Mark 1:4-11
Growing up in a musical family, I've had the opportunity to get something of an insider's view into the music industry. First, you start out small. Get your band together, then maybe hit a local bar or lounge, try to record a few singles, get some local radio time... eventually, if you're lucky, you can land an opening gig for a bigger group. Ultimately, the goal for every band is the same: to be that bigger group.
Here Mark introduces us to John the Baptist. As the prophet who was sent to "prepare the way," he is, in essence, Jesus' opening act. However, that is where the comparison ends. He had no ambition to usurp Jesus' role or to steal his thunder. He was perfectly content playing the role that God had set for him. "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie" (v. 7).
C. Kelly
Whether it's the first brush stroke on the Mona Lisa, the first chipped marble off David, or the first note in Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, every masterpiece has a beginning.
Genesis 1 is the retelling of the creation of God's masterpiece -- creation itself. It is truly amazing to consider that all the wonders of creation we enjoy today all begin with four simple words: "Let there be light."
C. Kelly
Genesis 1:1-5
When Helmut Thielicke, the great German Lutheran pastor and theologian, indicated that he proposed to preach a series of sermons on the biblical story of creation he received a letter in which the sender stated: "What do you think you know about creation anyhow? Who was there when it happened? After all, there were no reporters there to hear those words 'Let there be!' Yet the Bible acts as if it were presenting an eyewitness account."
Thielicke considered this to be a serious question, and he responded by saying he thought the writers of the Bible were not seeking to write a biological or geological treatise but rather they presented these words in a form of praise of God, and then he said: "All that interests these men in the beginning of the world is not the condition of the world before history began, but rather the certainty that here, before the foundation of the world, there begins the history of a great love and a great search."
R. Hasler
Acts 19:1-7
William Shatner for years avoided any convention that was related to the television series Star Trek. He had moved onto other network shows and felt that chapter was behind him. Yet the invitations to attend persisted. He finally yielded and attended Comic-Con International 2011, held in San Diego with over 100,000 people in attendance, many of them in costume. Shatner offered this explanation for attending: "At first I rejected it but I finally see that people have taken Star Trek into their hearts."
We take many things into our hearts that are important to us. This goes beyond just family members but it also can be our work and hobbies. None of this is wrong; but as Paul indicates, first and foremost in our hearts must be the Holy Spirit. Paul laid his hand upon the new converts and "the Holy Spirit came upon them." Let us be sure that we are receptive to receiving the Holy Spirit and that it is not crowded out of hearts by other pursuits.
R. Love
Mark 1:4-11
Walker Percy as a young college student emulated the spirit of John when he said, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals" (Mark 1:7).
Percy applied for admission to the English department at the University of North Carolina. When he arrived on campus he was asked to provide a "diagnostic" writing sample. He responded by writing a description of the Mississippi River in a single long paragraph without punctuation -- an imitation of The Sound and Fury by William Faulkner, which he had read that summer. The result of his effort was to be diagnosed as "language deficient" and placed in a remedial writing class.
Although he had read Faulkner and Dostoevsky and despite the fact that he was a renowned poet's adopted son, he didn't protest the university's decision. He could wait. He wasn't proud. He took the class and learned from it. Later, he would become a best-selling novelist with keen Christian insights into daily living.
R. Hasler
Mark 1:4-11
Growing up in a musical family, I've had the opportunity to get something of an insider's view into the music industry. First, you start out small. Get your band together, then maybe hit a local bar or lounge, try to record a few singles, get some local radio time... eventually, if you're lucky, you can land an opening gig for a bigger group. Ultimately, the goal for every band is the same: to be that bigger group.
Here Mark introduces us to John the Baptist. As the prophet who was sent to "prepare the way," he is, in essence, Jesus' opening act. However, that is where the comparison ends. He had no ambition to usurp Jesus' role or to steal his thunder. He was perfectly content playing the role that God had set for him. "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie" (v. 7).
C. Kelly
