Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 5 (2012)
Illustration
Isaiah 40:21-31
It's estimated that there are over 100 billion stars in our galaxy. Further research has shown that there are billions of galaxies along with the Milky Way, each one home to billions of other stars. Our limited understanding cannot possibly take in the practically infinite complexities of creation.
That is why I love passages like this. With all the advances in science and technology that we have achieved in the last century, it would be easy for us to think that we can understand all the secrets of the universe at times. It's important, however, for us to remember that we serve the God who created those billions upon billions upon billions of stars, who holds them all in place, and knows each and every one of them by name (v. 26).
C. Kelly
Isaiah 40:21-31
In his book Strength to Love, Martin Luther King Jr. tells of a low moment in his personal life as he battled for civil rights in Montgomery, Alabama. It was late at night; his family had gone to sleep. He was awakened by a threatening phone call. He describes what happened next.
"I got out of bed and began to walk the floor. Finally, I went to the kitchen and heated a pot of coffee. I was ready to give up. I tried to think of a way to move out of the picture without appearing to be a coward. In this state of exhaustion, when my courage had almost gone, I determined to take my problem to God. My head in my hands, I bowed over the kitchen table and prayed aloud… I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left. I've come to the point where I can't face it alone."
At that moment as he waited on the Lord he received the renewal of strength that he needed to continue his ministry of compassion for his people.
R. Hasler
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
On February 24, 1742, Peter Bohler gathered a group of Moravians who would sail to the American colonies. There they would establish a settlement in what became known as Bethlehem in Pennsylvania. They first began their missionary work to the black slaves and American Indians. The group, as they were to traverse the Atlantic Ocean, became known as the "sea congregation."
The sea congregation understood the words of Paul when he wrote, "I am entrusted with a commission." All of us are commissioned to serve Jesus, whether it be crossing the Atlantic or caring for those in our own community.
R. Love
Mark 1:29-39
Dr. Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist, once had a troubled clergyman come to him for help. His work schedule was overwhelming. Dr. Jung suggested that he work eight hours a day, get eight hours of sleep at night, and spend the remaining hours in his study all alone in quiet. The clergyman agreed to follow this plan. He worked only eight hours and in the evening he went into his study, played a few Chopin etudes and finished a Herman Hesse novel. The next evening he read Thomas Mann's Magic Mountain and played a Mozart sonata.
Later he came to Dr. Jung and complained he didn't feel any better. He explained what he had been doing. The psychiatrist replied, "I didn't want you to be with Herman Hesse or even Mozart and Chopin. I wanted you to be alone with yourself." At this the minister looked terrified and gasped, "Oh, but I can't think of any worse company."
Dr. Jung's rejoinder was, "And yet this is the self you inflict on other people fourteen hours a day."
R. Hasler
Mark 1:29-39
What is the first thing we do in the morning? Turn on the coffee maker? Read the paper? Hit the snooze button, maybe? While there are a few morning people, those of us who resemble zombies at the start of the day have a hard time thinking anything other than, "How can I possibly go back to bed and sleep 'til next Tuesday?"
How I long to be more like Jesus. "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed" (v. 35).
C. Kelly
It's estimated that there are over 100 billion stars in our galaxy. Further research has shown that there are billions of galaxies along with the Milky Way, each one home to billions of other stars. Our limited understanding cannot possibly take in the practically infinite complexities of creation.
That is why I love passages like this. With all the advances in science and technology that we have achieved in the last century, it would be easy for us to think that we can understand all the secrets of the universe at times. It's important, however, for us to remember that we serve the God who created those billions upon billions upon billions of stars, who holds them all in place, and knows each and every one of them by name (v. 26).
C. Kelly
Isaiah 40:21-31
In his book Strength to Love, Martin Luther King Jr. tells of a low moment in his personal life as he battled for civil rights in Montgomery, Alabama. It was late at night; his family had gone to sleep. He was awakened by a threatening phone call. He describes what happened next.
"I got out of bed and began to walk the floor. Finally, I went to the kitchen and heated a pot of coffee. I was ready to give up. I tried to think of a way to move out of the picture without appearing to be a coward. In this state of exhaustion, when my courage had almost gone, I determined to take my problem to God. My head in my hands, I bowed over the kitchen table and prayed aloud… I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left. I've come to the point where I can't face it alone."
At that moment as he waited on the Lord he received the renewal of strength that he needed to continue his ministry of compassion for his people.
R. Hasler
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
On February 24, 1742, Peter Bohler gathered a group of Moravians who would sail to the American colonies. There they would establish a settlement in what became known as Bethlehem in Pennsylvania. They first began their missionary work to the black slaves and American Indians. The group, as they were to traverse the Atlantic Ocean, became known as the "sea congregation."
The sea congregation understood the words of Paul when he wrote, "I am entrusted with a commission." All of us are commissioned to serve Jesus, whether it be crossing the Atlantic or caring for those in our own community.
R. Love
Mark 1:29-39
Dr. Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist, once had a troubled clergyman come to him for help. His work schedule was overwhelming. Dr. Jung suggested that he work eight hours a day, get eight hours of sleep at night, and spend the remaining hours in his study all alone in quiet. The clergyman agreed to follow this plan. He worked only eight hours and in the evening he went into his study, played a few Chopin etudes and finished a Herman Hesse novel. The next evening he read Thomas Mann's Magic Mountain and played a Mozart sonata.
Later he came to Dr. Jung and complained he didn't feel any better. He explained what he had been doing. The psychiatrist replied, "I didn't want you to be with Herman Hesse or even Mozart and Chopin. I wanted you to be alone with yourself." At this the minister looked terrified and gasped, "Oh, but I can't think of any worse company."
Dr. Jung's rejoinder was, "And yet this is the self you inflict on other people fourteen hours a day."
R. Hasler
Mark 1:29-39
What is the first thing we do in the morning? Turn on the coffee maker? Read the paper? Hit the snooze button, maybe? While there are a few morning people, those of us who resemble zombies at the start of the day have a hard time thinking anything other than, "How can I possibly go back to bed and sleep 'til next Tuesday?"
How I long to be more like Jesus. "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed" (v. 35).
C. Kelly
