Sermon Illustrations for Advent 4 (2018)
Illustration
Micah 5:2-5a
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah…(Micah 5:2).
Most towns have a slogan. We remember the clever ones.
I spent part of my childhood in the city of Azusa, California. The town was named after the Susa family, ranchers who owned much of the land during the days of Spanish colonization. But the town fathers decided they needed something a little more catchy, so they advertised that Azusa has everything from A to Z in the USA.
One website reveals the slogan for Walla Walla, Washington is “The city so nice they named it twice.” Gettysburg, South Dakota is “Where the Battle Wasn’t.” Manhattan, Kansas, in contrast to some other Manhatten, claims to be “The Little Apple.” According to the sign outside of Bushnell, South Dakota, “It’s not the end of the Earth, but you can see it from here.” Denver, Colorado may be the “Mile High City,” but the little town of Denver, Iowa, calls itself “The Mile Wide City.”And despite its name Lake City, Iowa, goes by the slogan “Everything but a lake.”
Then there’s Bethlehem. I have no idea if the modern day Bethlehem has a slogan, but it’s clear from what Micah writes that this town was known as “one of the little clans of Judah.” That’s not very flattering, and unlike some of the clever slogans shared above, I don’t think the Bethlehemites got to pick it out. But their slogan is about to change from “one of the little clans” to Birthplace of the One From of Old. A new leader, about to turn things around, was coming. And fast forward a few hundred years and the slogan gets even more explicit -- “Birthplace of the Son of God, Prince of Peace, Savior of the World -- Jesus!”
Frank R.
* * *
Micah 5:2-5
The hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem” is one of the favorites of many. The first verse reads:
O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.
I found this interesting historical note. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, obviously was named for Bethlehem in Judea, but how did it happen? A group of Moravians, led by David Nitschmann and Nicolaus Zinzendorf, settled this area of Pennsylvania to evangelize Native Americans and German immigrants. They founded the town officially on Christmas Eve 1741. At that time, Zinzendorf said, “Brothers, how more fittingly could we call our new home than to name it in honor of the spot where the event we now commemorate took place. We will call this place Bethlehem.”
Through the years, Bethlehem has celebrated this connection with many lights and enjoyable festivals. They even erected a star that can be seen twenty miles away. What happened in Bethlehem of Judea really has changed us all, not just the residents of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania.
Bill T.
* * *
Hebrews 10:5-10
There are some scriptures that tell us a wife is obligated to serve her husband, but I know that my wife only makes a great meal for me because she loves me and appreciates what I do for her including the job I have which brings us enough income to buy all we need. We may have a legal obligation to support our family—even if we may not be able to provide all their needs
There are soldiers who would sacrifice their life for their wife and family.
Even here we don’t make sacrifices of time or money or even our life because of the offerings our mate has given us. If there is no love, then even giving burnt offerings is pointless. We don’t earn God’s love!
We have left everything we own in our will for our kids, but they have given us nothing but loving cards for birthdays, and holidays. We never asked for more. Their thoughtful kindness doesn’t change our will as long as there is love. Yes, it is true that they show their love by doing the things we want them to do.
This passage tells us that our Lord’s sacrifice of his life for us is what makes us holy. We owe our Lord even more than we could repay even with our life.
Bob O.
* * *
Hebrews 10:5-10
In the spirit of this lesson about Christ’s sacrifice, John Wesley once claimed that “all the world is interested in his [Christ’s] sacrifice.” (Commentary On the Bible, p.568) Famed 20th-century theologian Karl Barth concisely explains why this sacrifice suffices for salvation. It reminds us that “there is no prior or subsequent contribution that we can make to its accomplishment.” (Church Dogmatics, Vol.IV/2, p.517)
Martin Luther elaborated on how what Christ has done makes life good and beautiful, explains what is really special about Christmas:
But if you possess faith, your heart cannot do otherwise than laugh for joy and grow free, confident, and courageous. For how can the heart remain sorrowful and dejected when it entertains no doubt of God’s kindness to it, and of His attitude as a good friend with whom it may ureservedly and freely enjoy all things. (Complete Sermons, Vol.3/2, p.146)
Mark E.
* * *
Hebrews 10:5-10
Jesus proclaims, “See God, I have come to do your will.” Through obedience and sacrifice we are sanctified. Through the birth, life, submission, death, and resurrection of Jesus we are blessed. I wonder about what might have happened if we human beings had responded with the love and mercy, the justice and compassion, Jesus called us to? Would he still have needed to die? Would we have been sanctified simply by following in the footsteps of the incarnate God in the world? I do not mean to open a deep theological conversation about atonement. Rather I wonder what would change in our life, in our human experience, if we each and all arose tomorrow morning and said, “See God, I have come to do your will” and then acted like it. Would the world be more like God created and intended it to be? How would our personal, corporate, and global relationships change. Why don’t we think about trying it just this week? Awake each morning and say, “See God, I have come to do your will.” Then do it!
Bonnie B.
* * *
Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)
I am a fan of the old Peanuts cartoons by Charles Schultz. There are a lot of good messages in those old comic strips and cartoons. In one particular strip, Lucy was saying to Charlie Brown that Christmas is a time for kindness and a time to forgive one another. He answers, “Why do that just at Christmas? Why can't we have the Christmas spirit the rest of the year?” Lucy looks at Charlie and says, “What are you, some kind of religious fanatic?”
I smile at that, but have to wonder if perhaps Mary might have been accused of being “a religious fanatic?” She is carrying the son of God. Who could possibly believe that? It is so outrageous, so unbelievable. The New Testament doesn’t tell us much about this aspect of the Christmas story, but we can only imagine how scandalous and difficult it had to be for Mary. Elizabeth’s response to Mary must’ve been a blessed confirmation. How sweet her words must’ve been to young Mary’s ears. “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
Bill T.
* * *
Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country…(Luke 1:39).
Dante’s great poem, “The Divine Comedy,” is divided into three parts. Dante is led by the poet Virgil through hell and purgatory. Beatrice, an idealized love he only glimpsed twice before her early death, leads him through heaven.
On each level of the Mountain of Purgatory the sinners recite examples from the Bible and from classical history to inspire them to purge their sins. In Canto 18 of that poem Dante watches as the slothful run swiftly, never resting though it is dark night as they pass, and they call to mind this verse:
They were upon us soon, for all that rout
was running furiously, and out in front
two spirits streaming tears were calling out:
“Mary ran to the hills” ….
(Purgatorio, Canto XVII, ll 97-100, translated by John Ciardi)
Most Bible translations say that Mary traveled with haste, but Dante has her running! Since it was a three day journey I’m not sure Mary really ran all the way, but her haste struck the great poet as praiseworthy.
Whether or not you think a newly pregnant Mary ran on her way, it’s worth thinking about what caused you and your parishioners to run. What excited you so much you could not keep your dignity about you, but took off with abandon? Was it to get in line a ride at an amusement park or a ball game? In line for a sale on Black Friday? Was somone in danger, perhaps a child? When did something at church call out to you with such urgency that you ran? Ever?
Frank R.
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah…(Micah 5:2).
Most towns have a slogan. We remember the clever ones.
I spent part of my childhood in the city of Azusa, California. The town was named after the Susa family, ranchers who owned much of the land during the days of Spanish colonization. But the town fathers decided they needed something a little more catchy, so they advertised that Azusa has everything from A to Z in the USA.
One website reveals the slogan for Walla Walla, Washington is “The city so nice they named it twice.” Gettysburg, South Dakota is “Where the Battle Wasn’t.” Manhattan, Kansas, in contrast to some other Manhatten, claims to be “The Little Apple.” According to the sign outside of Bushnell, South Dakota, “It’s not the end of the Earth, but you can see it from here.” Denver, Colorado may be the “Mile High City,” but the little town of Denver, Iowa, calls itself “The Mile Wide City.”And despite its name Lake City, Iowa, goes by the slogan “Everything but a lake.”
Then there’s Bethlehem. I have no idea if the modern day Bethlehem has a slogan, but it’s clear from what Micah writes that this town was known as “one of the little clans of Judah.” That’s not very flattering, and unlike some of the clever slogans shared above, I don’t think the Bethlehemites got to pick it out. But their slogan is about to change from “one of the little clans” to Birthplace of the One From of Old. A new leader, about to turn things around, was coming. And fast forward a few hundred years and the slogan gets even more explicit -- “Birthplace of the Son of God, Prince of Peace, Savior of the World -- Jesus!”
Frank R.
* * *
Micah 5:2-5
The hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem” is one of the favorites of many. The first verse reads:
O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.
I found this interesting historical note. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, obviously was named for Bethlehem in Judea, but how did it happen? A group of Moravians, led by David Nitschmann and Nicolaus Zinzendorf, settled this area of Pennsylvania to evangelize Native Americans and German immigrants. They founded the town officially on Christmas Eve 1741. At that time, Zinzendorf said, “Brothers, how more fittingly could we call our new home than to name it in honor of the spot where the event we now commemorate took place. We will call this place Bethlehem.”
Through the years, Bethlehem has celebrated this connection with many lights and enjoyable festivals. They even erected a star that can be seen twenty miles away. What happened in Bethlehem of Judea really has changed us all, not just the residents of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania.
Bill T.
* * *
Hebrews 10:5-10
There are some scriptures that tell us a wife is obligated to serve her husband, but I know that my wife only makes a great meal for me because she loves me and appreciates what I do for her including the job I have which brings us enough income to buy all we need. We may have a legal obligation to support our family—even if we may not be able to provide all their needs
There are soldiers who would sacrifice their life for their wife and family.
Even here we don’t make sacrifices of time or money or even our life because of the offerings our mate has given us. If there is no love, then even giving burnt offerings is pointless. We don’t earn God’s love!
We have left everything we own in our will for our kids, but they have given us nothing but loving cards for birthdays, and holidays. We never asked for more. Their thoughtful kindness doesn’t change our will as long as there is love. Yes, it is true that they show their love by doing the things we want them to do.
This passage tells us that our Lord’s sacrifice of his life for us is what makes us holy. We owe our Lord even more than we could repay even with our life.
Bob O.
* * *
Hebrews 10:5-10
In the spirit of this lesson about Christ’s sacrifice, John Wesley once claimed that “all the world is interested in his [Christ’s] sacrifice.” (Commentary On the Bible, p.568) Famed 20th-century theologian Karl Barth concisely explains why this sacrifice suffices for salvation. It reminds us that “there is no prior or subsequent contribution that we can make to its accomplishment.” (Church Dogmatics, Vol.IV/2, p.517)
Martin Luther elaborated on how what Christ has done makes life good and beautiful, explains what is really special about Christmas:
But if you possess faith, your heart cannot do otherwise than laugh for joy and grow free, confident, and courageous. For how can the heart remain sorrowful and dejected when it entertains no doubt of God’s kindness to it, and of His attitude as a good friend with whom it may ureservedly and freely enjoy all things. (Complete Sermons, Vol.3/2, p.146)
Mark E.
* * *
Hebrews 10:5-10
Jesus proclaims, “See God, I have come to do your will.” Through obedience and sacrifice we are sanctified. Through the birth, life, submission, death, and resurrection of Jesus we are blessed. I wonder about what might have happened if we human beings had responded with the love and mercy, the justice and compassion, Jesus called us to? Would he still have needed to die? Would we have been sanctified simply by following in the footsteps of the incarnate God in the world? I do not mean to open a deep theological conversation about atonement. Rather I wonder what would change in our life, in our human experience, if we each and all arose tomorrow morning and said, “See God, I have come to do your will” and then acted like it. Would the world be more like God created and intended it to be? How would our personal, corporate, and global relationships change. Why don’t we think about trying it just this week? Awake each morning and say, “See God, I have come to do your will.” Then do it!
Bonnie B.
* * *
Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)
I am a fan of the old Peanuts cartoons by Charles Schultz. There are a lot of good messages in those old comic strips and cartoons. In one particular strip, Lucy was saying to Charlie Brown that Christmas is a time for kindness and a time to forgive one another. He answers, “Why do that just at Christmas? Why can't we have the Christmas spirit the rest of the year?” Lucy looks at Charlie and says, “What are you, some kind of religious fanatic?”
I smile at that, but have to wonder if perhaps Mary might have been accused of being “a religious fanatic?” She is carrying the son of God. Who could possibly believe that? It is so outrageous, so unbelievable. The New Testament doesn’t tell us much about this aspect of the Christmas story, but we can only imagine how scandalous and difficult it had to be for Mary. Elizabeth’s response to Mary must’ve been a blessed confirmation. How sweet her words must’ve been to young Mary’s ears. “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
Bill T.
* * *
Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country…(Luke 1:39).
Dante’s great poem, “The Divine Comedy,” is divided into three parts. Dante is led by the poet Virgil through hell and purgatory. Beatrice, an idealized love he only glimpsed twice before her early death, leads him through heaven.
On each level of the Mountain of Purgatory the sinners recite examples from the Bible and from classical history to inspire them to purge their sins. In Canto 18 of that poem Dante watches as the slothful run swiftly, never resting though it is dark night as they pass, and they call to mind this verse:
They were upon us soon, for all that rout
was running furiously, and out in front
two spirits streaming tears were calling out:
“Mary ran to the hills” ….
(Purgatorio, Canto XVII, ll 97-100, translated by John Ciardi)
Most Bible translations say that Mary traveled with haste, but Dante has her running! Since it was a three day journey I’m not sure Mary really ran all the way, but her haste struck the great poet as praiseworthy.
Whether or not you think a newly pregnant Mary ran on her way, it’s worth thinking about what caused you and your parishioners to run. What excited you so much you could not keep your dignity about you, but took off with abandon? Was it to get in line a ride at an amusement park or a ball game? In line for a sale on Black Friday? Was somone in danger, perhaps a child? When did something at church call out to you with such urgency that you ran? Ever?
Frank R.
