Sermon Illustrations for Advent 2 (2016)
Illustration
Object:
Isaiah 11:1-10
It was Christmastime in the second-grade classroom. The teacher had given the students a coloring sheet of a reindeer. The students would color it, and then get to put it on the wall to decorate the classroom. One boy in the class, though, was not aware that the artwork was to be displayed. He was more interested in drawing tanks on the back of the paper. By the time he realized what was going on, his paper was marred with battle scenes and soldiers. He was embarrassed. He hoped to get a new sheet. He wanted things to be right again.
That’s it, isn’t it? We all want things to be right again. We all get the sense that the way things are now is not how they were created to be. Even as the bells of Christmas ring, we notice that there is too much sadness, violence, pain, suffering, and grief. “It isn’t supposed to be like this” is the cry of our anguished spirits. If that’s the feeling of your spirit, know that a day is coming when things will be made right. Chapter 11 of Isaiah notes that when the messiah comes “the wolf will live with the lamb” and “the cow and the bear shall graze.” This chapter paints a wonderful picture of peace, love, and beauty in the kingdom of the messiah. There is a day coming when all things will be made right.
The second-grade boy was really happy to get a new coloring sheet with no questions asked. He felt relieved to be spared the embarrassment of his battle-scarred reindeer. I know that it mattered to him. That boy was me. I was hopeful then that what I’d marred could be made right. I’m still confident, on a much bigger scale than coloring sheets, that what is marred will be made right. I know that day will come, and I look forward to it. Do you?
Bill T.
Isaiah 11:1-10
There was a black hole at the heart of divine history that sucked up all matter -- or all that really mattered, as far as many of God’s people were concerned. God has promised King David that one of his descendants would always occupy the throne of Israel! Within two generations, however, that kingdom was divided in two between Israel and Judah. And there was no denying the fact that David’s divine line ended with the Babylonian conquest and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. God’s people redefined themselves upon their return from exile, but centuries had passed and there was still no Davidic king. What was up with divine history? Did God stop keeping promises?
When Isaiah wrote this passage there was still a descendant of King David on the throne, but by then it was only a matter of time. King Ahaz was responding miserably to the threat from Assyria (no one was even thinking about Babylon yet) and Isaiah speaks of the royal line as a stump, as if David’s family tree had already been cut down. But he looked ahead despite all appearances to renewal and restoration, to a king who would be devoted to God’s reign, to the Kingdom of God. Attitudes and behaviors would change. The familiar image of the wolf lying down with the lamb underscores the peaceful nature of the era that is to come. This image of a royal renewal would be interpreted in various ways as divine history unfolded without royalty.
As Christians for whom Ahaz, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians are all part of ancient history, we identify the shoot from that stump of Jesse, that king descended from David as none other than... (drum roll please...) but surely you know whose birth I’m announcing!
Frank R.
Isaiah 11:1-10
Our greatest need is to be filled with the Holy Spirit of our Lord, and our greatest delight will be in the fear of the one who died for us. It is surprising to learn that we will be judged by fear. We don’t often think of fear as a positive thing that we need, but fear can be a necessary thing -- for example, we should fear touching a hot stove. We should also fear the influence of evil ones.
I was judged by my parents by the fear I had if I disobeyed them. I never wanted to hurt them because I loved them. That was my greatest fear! I was wise enough to care what they thought of me. There were many fears that they gave me out of love, like avoiding touching a hot stove, but also food that can be harmful or friends who might be trying to lead me in dangerous ways, etc. There could be a long list -- meant for our good!
We are approaching the season of giving. We may not see ourselves as wealthy, but we can see those in need all around us -- where we live or in a starving world.
I am a branch of my folks, as I am of the Lord if I trust in him. Our root must be in him! That is the only sound future we have. We are judged by our trust in him.
All those who obey God and put him first will lie down together. Even Democrats and Republicans will be friendly and lie down together. All the nations who turn to the Lord will be one! We will all bear fruit for the Lord.
Bob O.
Isaiah 11:1-10
Have you ever worked on your family tree? I have recently been using ancestry.com as a site for exploration. It’s wonderful to make connections, to see back into my family’s history -- at least my mother’s family. Now, my father’s family is another story. There was a huge family split over the ancestral family farm between my paternal grandfather and his brothers. As a result I hardly know the names of those folks, let alone details that would make it easy to search for them. It’s been a little frustrating.
As I read this passage from Isaiah, I wonder who would claim to be a branch from the ancestral roots of Jesse and how those connections would be made. It almost seems in the text that it is the fruits of the actions of the individuals that make the connection -- the wisdom and understanding, the righteous behavior, and the commitment to God. Often we connect this passage with the ancestry of Jesus, but when we act with wisdom and understanding, when we are in awe of and committed to God, or when we seek to behave with righteousness, we too are a branch of the ancestral tree of Jesse. We too can stand as the faithful, righteous, descendants of Jesse, and of Jesus.
Bonnie B.
Romans 15:4-13
Narcissism seems to be rampant in American society. Psychologist Jean Twenge directed a 2011 study showing that 30% of U.S. college students exhibited narcissistic characteristics related to self-preoccupation and self-esteem (Generation Me, especially pp. 68-71, 92-93). A 2005 Associated Press article calls millennials the “Entitlement Generation.” Little has changed in these dynamics in the past decade, and what is said about the younger generations is not far from the truth when it comes to Baby Boomers. Famed social commentator Christopher Lasch nicely summarized the self-seeking of today: “In a society in which the dress of success has been drained of any meaning beyond itself, men have nothing against which to measure their achievements except the achievements of others. Self-approval depends on public recognition.... Today men seek the kind of approval that applauds not their actions but their personal attributes. They wish to be not so much esteemed and admired. They crave not fame but glamour and excitement. They want to be envied rather than respected” (The Culture of Narcissism, pp.116-117).
Martin Luther quoted an old German proverb that says it all about what is happening among us. In English it goes like this: “Pleased with his own way is everyone, hence the land with fools is overrun” (Complete Sermons, Vol. 3/2, p. 46).
Our lesson calls on us to seek to please others and not ourselves, to live lives in Christ under the cross. Martin Luther says in another text that being prepared for cross-bearing involves getting rid of self-reliance, counting all we do and are as garbage (Luther’s Works, Vol. 17, p. 9).
We need the babe who is coming to make this happen, to get us to throw away all our narcissistic junk.
Mark E.
Romans 15:4-13
When Phineas Bresee was a young man, he was asked to preach a sermon. Upon finishing, he wondered if he would ever preach “another sermon, for I had everything in that.” Years later he became a minister; yet he still had doubts if he had anything more to say. Then one night he threw himself across the front of the altar and began to pray. Bresee later wrote about the experience that God “seemed to open heaven on me, and gave me, as I believe, the baptism with the Holy.” Based on that experience, Bresee became a proponent of holiness. Filled with the Spirit on October 6, 1895, Bresee started the Nazarene Church with a small group that met in a barn.
Application: We can do great things if we are encouraged by the scriptures.
Ron L.
Matthew 3:1-12
It is called a foreshock. I wasn’t familiar with this term prior to reading a bit about earthquakes. It is a fascinating thing. The article was written about California (when is it not about California when it is about North American earthquakes?), but it isn’t limited to just there. A foreshock is the term used to label an earthquake that happens prior to a bigger earthquake, as recorded by the seismic scale within a given period of time. The foreshock is not identified as such until after the bigger quake happens. I think that makes sense. Scientists wouldn’t be able to determine whether or not a quake was the main quake until after some time had passed and if a bigger quake followed.
Reading again this passage about John the Baptist in Matthew 3 brought to mind what I’d seen about foreshocks. John was a bit like a foreshock. He certainly upset the norm of his world and caused a great commotion. Many people and religious leaders came out to him. He baptized many and chided a few. He also spoke out directly against the king and his immoral practices. He rocked the world in which he found himself. However, as John himself plainly says, “One who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” John spoke of the one whose birth we soon celebrate: the messiah.
In earthquake-riddled parts of the world, one quake causes people to wait and see if an even greater quake is coming. It just isn’t known for sure if it is the main quake or a foreshock. In the case of our text today, we can be certain about what John was. The one whose life changed the world was on his way.
Bill T.
Matthew 3:1-12
There’s been some talk in recent months about the coarsening of language and the damage it does to our general discourse. Certainly that criticism would have to be leveled at John the Baptist, who uses extremely harsh words in this passage. Who deserves to be called a brood of vipers, after all? Doesn’t God want everyone to be warned to flee the coming judgment? If the axe is at the root of the tree, what does this say about our chances in the future? What does this say about John’s attitude towards trees?
Yet despite the passage’s vivid images and harsh language, these are really the background to not one, but two invitations to repent! Does it take coarse language to get our attention? When is it justified?
It seems the only way to recognize true repentance is not so much in word but in an active response. Our deeds signify if we are serious about all this. John commands the people (and us) to “bear fruit worthy of repentance,” and to take action and receive a baptism of repentance. He is offering people (and us) the gift of time and opportunity! The gift is beyond price... maybe even beyond the price of a few coarse words.
Frank R.
Matthew 3:1-12
We don’t know when Jesus is coming, but BE PREPARED! John’s message has now been passed down to us. We must in turn send out the message to be prepared, for heaven is near. It doesn’t make any difference how you are dressed. As a missionary to Nepal, I often came in blue jeans! No one else dressed up. For one, they couldn’t afford it. Our job was the most important, and there was no message in our clothes.
We did not nor do not look down our nose at those who were not “real” Lutherans. We are all one people of God. Jesus has one bride!
On the mission field they were almost always new converts, so the next step was baptism. Once we are baptized we are all one, whether we are descendants from Abraham or Luther. I still don’t like to call those who disagree with me “vipers.” I do not insult them. But it may be our duty to warn them about the coming of the Lord. This is especially true if they talk like they think they have the only truth! All we can do is pity those who contradict the message of our Lord.
I wrote a Muslim friend and told him why I became a Christian, and asked him why he was a Muslim. He never answered me. His wife said that he had no answer except that he was just following what his folks had always taught him. Yes, some are Christian because that is what their family has always been -- just like those early Pharisees. They didn’t want to change and hurt their family who had taught them about father Abraham and their uniqueness. Later one of the Gentiles could be just as proud because Jesus is everyone’s Lord. We forget that there is a second baptism -- a baptism of the Spirit that Jesus gives us.
I fear the coming wrath, but look forward to the coming reward!
Bob O.
Matthew 3:1-12
At the River Jordan in 2007, I walked into the water and felt a chill through my whole being. This was the place where John stood and called for people to repent. I stood in that place and thought about my own flaws and failings, and asked for peace and reconciliation to fill my heart. Then I gathered a bottle full of water to take home with me. When I got home, I boiled it and added a little hydrogen peroxide and froze the bottle of water.
As a local church pastor, I often officiate at baptisms -- of those from the community of faith and those from the wider community. Each time I prepare to perform a baptism, I thaw the bottle a little so I will have some droplets of that water to add to the baptismal font. At each blessing of the water I remind everyone that science tells us that the earth recycles all its water -- there is no new water -- and so that as I place these droplets of water into the font, we should know that this Jordan River water was the same water in which John stood, in which Jesus was baptized. We are all interconnected. I still get chills when I participate in a baptism. That connection to God means much to me -- as it may to you. This Sunday, remember those feelings of joy and connection.
Bonnie B.
It was Christmastime in the second-grade classroom. The teacher had given the students a coloring sheet of a reindeer. The students would color it, and then get to put it on the wall to decorate the classroom. One boy in the class, though, was not aware that the artwork was to be displayed. He was more interested in drawing tanks on the back of the paper. By the time he realized what was going on, his paper was marred with battle scenes and soldiers. He was embarrassed. He hoped to get a new sheet. He wanted things to be right again.
That’s it, isn’t it? We all want things to be right again. We all get the sense that the way things are now is not how they were created to be. Even as the bells of Christmas ring, we notice that there is too much sadness, violence, pain, suffering, and grief. “It isn’t supposed to be like this” is the cry of our anguished spirits. If that’s the feeling of your spirit, know that a day is coming when things will be made right. Chapter 11 of Isaiah notes that when the messiah comes “the wolf will live with the lamb” and “the cow and the bear shall graze.” This chapter paints a wonderful picture of peace, love, and beauty in the kingdom of the messiah. There is a day coming when all things will be made right.
The second-grade boy was really happy to get a new coloring sheet with no questions asked. He felt relieved to be spared the embarrassment of his battle-scarred reindeer. I know that it mattered to him. That boy was me. I was hopeful then that what I’d marred could be made right. I’m still confident, on a much bigger scale than coloring sheets, that what is marred will be made right. I know that day will come, and I look forward to it. Do you?
Bill T.
Isaiah 11:1-10
There was a black hole at the heart of divine history that sucked up all matter -- or all that really mattered, as far as many of God’s people were concerned. God has promised King David that one of his descendants would always occupy the throne of Israel! Within two generations, however, that kingdom was divided in two between Israel and Judah. And there was no denying the fact that David’s divine line ended with the Babylonian conquest and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. God’s people redefined themselves upon their return from exile, but centuries had passed and there was still no Davidic king. What was up with divine history? Did God stop keeping promises?
When Isaiah wrote this passage there was still a descendant of King David on the throne, but by then it was only a matter of time. King Ahaz was responding miserably to the threat from Assyria (no one was even thinking about Babylon yet) and Isaiah speaks of the royal line as a stump, as if David’s family tree had already been cut down. But he looked ahead despite all appearances to renewal and restoration, to a king who would be devoted to God’s reign, to the Kingdom of God. Attitudes and behaviors would change. The familiar image of the wolf lying down with the lamb underscores the peaceful nature of the era that is to come. This image of a royal renewal would be interpreted in various ways as divine history unfolded without royalty.
As Christians for whom Ahaz, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians are all part of ancient history, we identify the shoot from that stump of Jesse, that king descended from David as none other than... (drum roll please...) but surely you know whose birth I’m announcing!
Frank R.
Isaiah 11:1-10
Our greatest need is to be filled with the Holy Spirit of our Lord, and our greatest delight will be in the fear of the one who died for us. It is surprising to learn that we will be judged by fear. We don’t often think of fear as a positive thing that we need, but fear can be a necessary thing -- for example, we should fear touching a hot stove. We should also fear the influence of evil ones.
I was judged by my parents by the fear I had if I disobeyed them. I never wanted to hurt them because I loved them. That was my greatest fear! I was wise enough to care what they thought of me. There were many fears that they gave me out of love, like avoiding touching a hot stove, but also food that can be harmful or friends who might be trying to lead me in dangerous ways, etc. There could be a long list -- meant for our good!
We are approaching the season of giving. We may not see ourselves as wealthy, but we can see those in need all around us -- where we live or in a starving world.
I am a branch of my folks, as I am of the Lord if I trust in him. Our root must be in him! That is the only sound future we have. We are judged by our trust in him.
All those who obey God and put him first will lie down together. Even Democrats and Republicans will be friendly and lie down together. All the nations who turn to the Lord will be one! We will all bear fruit for the Lord.
Bob O.
Isaiah 11:1-10
Have you ever worked on your family tree? I have recently been using ancestry.com as a site for exploration. It’s wonderful to make connections, to see back into my family’s history -- at least my mother’s family. Now, my father’s family is another story. There was a huge family split over the ancestral family farm between my paternal grandfather and his brothers. As a result I hardly know the names of those folks, let alone details that would make it easy to search for them. It’s been a little frustrating.
As I read this passage from Isaiah, I wonder who would claim to be a branch from the ancestral roots of Jesse and how those connections would be made. It almost seems in the text that it is the fruits of the actions of the individuals that make the connection -- the wisdom and understanding, the righteous behavior, and the commitment to God. Often we connect this passage with the ancestry of Jesus, but when we act with wisdom and understanding, when we are in awe of and committed to God, or when we seek to behave with righteousness, we too are a branch of the ancestral tree of Jesse. We too can stand as the faithful, righteous, descendants of Jesse, and of Jesus.
Bonnie B.
Romans 15:4-13
Narcissism seems to be rampant in American society. Psychologist Jean Twenge directed a 2011 study showing that 30% of U.S. college students exhibited narcissistic characteristics related to self-preoccupation and self-esteem (Generation Me, especially pp. 68-71, 92-93). A 2005 Associated Press article calls millennials the “Entitlement Generation.” Little has changed in these dynamics in the past decade, and what is said about the younger generations is not far from the truth when it comes to Baby Boomers. Famed social commentator Christopher Lasch nicely summarized the self-seeking of today: “In a society in which the dress of success has been drained of any meaning beyond itself, men have nothing against which to measure their achievements except the achievements of others. Self-approval depends on public recognition.... Today men seek the kind of approval that applauds not their actions but their personal attributes. They wish to be not so much esteemed and admired. They crave not fame but glamour and excitement. They want to be envied rather than respected” (The Culture of Narcissism, pp.116-117).
Martin Luther quoted an old German proverb that says it all about what is happening among us. In English it goes like this: “Pleased with his own way is everyone, hence the land with fools is overrun” (Complete Sermons, Vol. 3/2, p. 46).
Our lesson calls on us to seek to please others and not ourselves, to live lives in Christ under the cross. Martin Luther says in another text that being prepared for cross-bearing involves getting rid of self-reliance, counting all we do and are as garbage (Luther’s Works, Vol. 17, p. 9).
We need the babe who is coming to make this happen, to get us to throw away all our narcissistic junk.
Mark E.
Romans 15:4-13
When Phineas Bresee was a young man, he was asked to preach a sermon. Upon finishing, he wondered if he would ever preach “another sermon, for I had everything in that.” Years later he became a minister; yet he still had doubts if he had anything more to say. Then one night he threw himself across the front of the altar and began to pray. Bresee later wrote about the experience that God “seemed to open heaven on me, and gave me, as I believe, the baptism with the Holy.” Based on that experience, Bresee became a proponent of holiness. Filled with the Spirit on October 6, 1895, Bresee started the Nazarene Church with a small group that met in a barn.
Application: We can do great things if we are encouraged by the scriptures.
Ron L.
Matthew 3:1-12
It is called a foreshock. I wasn’t familiar with this term prior to reading a bit about earthquakes. It is a fascinating thing. The article was written about California (when is it not about California when it is about North American earthquakes?), but it isn’t limited to just there. A foreshock is the term used to label an earthquake that happens prior to a bigger earthquake, as recorded by the seismic scale within a given period of time. The foreshock is not identified as such until after the bigger quake happens. I think that makes sense. Scientists wouldn’t be able to determine whether or not a quake was the main quake until after some time had passed and if a bigger quake followed.
Reading again this passage about John the Baptist in Matthew 3 brought to mind what I’d seen about foreshocks. John was a bit like a foreshock. He certainly upset the norm of his world and caused a great commotion. Many people and religious leaders came out to him. He baptized many and chided a few. He also spoke out directly against the king and his immoral practices. He rocked the world in which he found himself. However, as John himself plainly says, “One who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” John spoke of the one whose birth we soon celebrate: the messiah.
In earthquake-riddled parts of the world, one quake causes people to wait and see if an even greater quake is coming. It just isn’t known for sure if it is the main quake or a foreshock. In the case of our text today, we can be certain about what John was. The one whose life changed the world was on his way.
Bill T.
Matthew 3:1-12
There’s been some talk in recent months about the coarsening of language and the damage it does to our general discourse. Certainly that criticism would have to be leveled at John the Baptist, who uses extremely harsh words in this passage. Who deserves to be called a brood of vipers, after all? Doesn’t God want everyone to be warned to flee the coming judgment? If the axe is at the root of the tree, what does this say about our chances in the future? What does this say about John’s attitude towards trees?
Yet despite the passage’s vivid images and harsh language, these are really the background to not one, but two invitations to repent! Does it take coarse language to get our attention? When is it justified?
It seems the only way to recognize true repentance is not so much in word but in an active response. Our deeds signify if we are serious about all this. John commands the people (and us) to “bear fruit worthy of repentance,” and to take action and receive a baptism of repentance. He is offering people (and us) the gift of time and opportunity! The gift is beyond price... maybe even beyond the price of a few coarse words.
Frank R.
Matthew 3:1-12
We don’t know when Jesus is coming, but BE PREPARED! John’s message has now been passed down to us. We must in turn send out the message to be prepared, for heaven is near. It doesn’t make any difference how you are dressed. As a missionary to Nepal, I often came in blue jeans! No one else dressed up. For one, they couldn’t afford it. Our job was the most important, and there was no message in our clothes.
We did not nor do not look down our nose at those who were not “real” Lutherans. We are all one people of God. Jesus has one bride!
On the mission field they were almost always new converts, so the next step was baptism. Once we are baptized we are all one, whether we are descendants from Abraham or Luther. I still don’t like to call those who disagree with me “vipers.” I do not insult them. But it may be our duty to warn them about the coming of the Lord. This is especially true if they talk like they think they have the only truth! All we can do is pity those who contradict the message of our Lord.
I wrote a Muslim friend and told him why I became a Christian, and asked him why he was a Muslim. He never answered me. His wife said that he had no answer except that he was just following what his folks had always taught him. Yes, some are Christian because that is what their family has always been -- just like those early Pharisees. They didn’t want to change and hurt their family who had taught them about father Abraham and their uniqueness. Later one of the Gentiles could be just as proud because Jesus is everyone’s Lord. We forget that there is a second baptism -- a baptism of the Spirit that Jesus gives us.
I fear the coming wrath, but look forward to the coming reward!
Bob O.
Matthew 3:1-12
At the River Jordan in 2007, I walked into the water and felt a chill through my whole being. This was the place where John stood and called for people to repent. I stood in that place and thought about my own flaws and failings, and asked for peace and reconciliation to fill my heart. Then I gathered a bottle full of water to take home with me. When I got home, I boiled it and added a little hydrogen peroxide and froze the bottle of water.
As a local church pastor, I often officiate at baptisms -- of those from the community of faith and those from the wider community. Each time I prepare to perform a baptism, I thaw the bottle a little so I will have some droplets of that water to add to the baptismal font. At each blessing of the water I remind everyone that science tells us that the earth recycles all its water -- there is no new water -- and so that as I place these droplets of water into the font, we should know that this Jordan River water was the same water in which John stood, in which Jesus was baptized. We are all interconnected. I still get chills when I participate in a baptism. That connection to God means much to me -- as it may to you. This Sunday, remember those feelings of joy and connection.
Bonnie B.
