Sermon Illustrations for Proper 14 | OT 19 (2012)
Illustration
Object:
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
An elderly lady had been waiting to pull into a parking place. And she had been waiting and waiting with her blinker on and doing all the right things. When suddenly this young man in his brand new red Mercedes speeds around her and parked in the space.
The little old lady was very upset, as I would be, and she went up to the man and said, "I was going to park there!" And the young man replied with a smirk and said, "That's what you can do when you're young and smart."
That did it. The lady got in her car and backed it up and then she stepped on the gas and plowed right into his Mercedes. The young man jumped out of his car and ran back and said, "What did you do that for?" And the little old lady smiled and said, "That's what you can do when you're old and rich!"
The story of Absalom is always one of vengeance and vindictiveness. The story of Absalom is always one of justice and judgment. And in such stories someone, or something, is always hurt.
Ron L.
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
The story of David's remarkable compassion toward his rebellious son Absalom is a love that seems to go beyond how we humans love. This is a love that points to the miraculous love God has for us Martin Luther profoundly spoke of this love:
Our Lord God must be a devout man to be able to love knaves. I can't do it, although I am myself a knave (Luther's Works, Vol.5 4, p. 32).
Our heart is much too limited to be able to grasp the scope of this blessing. For such is its magnitude that if anyone were able to comprehend it... a joy so great would come to us from this recognition that we would promptly die because of it (What Luther Says, p. 821).
Mark E.
Ephesians 4:25--5:2
Garret Keizer in his provocative book, The Enigma of Anger, tells a story about his father-in-law who lives in a three-story house on a small yard in the middle of a blue-collar town in northeastern New Jersey. Although his father-in-law is in poor health, he likes to keep his place neat, his porch painted, and the grass mowed and trimmed. His neighbors' overarching trees drop leaves and twigs in his yard and those who pass by his home have a tendency to leave their litter on his sidewalk.
The falling leaves and twigs and the constant litter, nonetheless do not annoy him or make him mad. Every day he goes out and picks up the wrappers and coffee cup caps that have been thrown on the lawn. He sweeps the sidewalk, stopping occasionally for a toke from his pocket inhaler he uses to battle his emphysema.
When salesmen come to the door to pester him, he has a tendency to reply, "The owner isn't home, I'm just the gardener."
This man had learned to put into practice Paul's admonition: "... do not let the sun go down on your anger" (Ephesians 4:26).
Richard H.
John 6:34, 41-51
In calling himself the bread of life, Jesus was making the point about how essential he is for human life. Ordinary bread is essential for nourishment and energy. The great guru of American manners Emily Post has made that clear when she wrote, "Bread is like dressed hats and shoes -- in other words essential!" And Burt Lancaster joined her in a similar assessment: "I judge a restaurant by the bread..." We can tell what kind of God we have from the delicious nourishing bread he has given us in Jesus Christ!
Mark E.
John 6:34, 41-51
Suze Oman, financial expert and TV host, reflected on what she thought was the most influential place in history. She recalled Sutter's Mill, where gold was first discovered that began the California Gold Rush. Oman said, "The home of the American Gold Rush -- amazing stories of hope and discovery. How I wish I could have been there!"
When Jesus taught would not his words bring us a message of hope and discovery. As the Jews questioned and challenged, we would be thinking the words are amazing.
Ron L.
An elderly lady had been waiting to pull into a parking place. And she had been waiting and waiting with her blinker on and doing all the right things. When suddenly this young man in his brand new red Mercedes speeds around her and parked in the space.
The little old lady was very upset, as I would be, and she went up to the man and said, "I was going to park there!" And the young man replied with a smirk and said, "That's what you can do when you're young and smart."
That did it. The lady got in her car and backed it up and then she stepped on the gas and plowed right into his Mercedes. The young man jumped out of his car and ran back and said, "What did you do that for?" And the little old lady smiled and said, "That's what you can do when you're old and rich!"
The story of Absalom is always one of vengeance and vindictiveness. The story of Absalom is always one of justice and judgment. And in such stories someone, or something, is always hurt.
Ron L.
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
The story of David's remarkable compassion toward his rebellious son Absalom is a love that seems to go beyond how we humans love. This is a love that points to the miraculous love God has for us Martin Luther profoundly spoke of this love:
Our Lord God must be a devout man to be able to love knaves. I can't do it, although I am myself a knave (Luther's Works, Vol.5 4, p. 32).
Our heart is much too limited to be able to grasp the scope of this blessing. For such is its magnitude that if anyone were able to comprehend it... a joy so great would come to us from this recognition that we would promptly die because of it (What Luther Says, p. 821).
Mark E.
Ephesians 4:25--5:2
Garret Keizer in his provocative book, The Enigma of Anger, tells a story about his father-in-law who lives in a three-story house on a small yard in the middle of a blue-collar town in northeastern New Jersey. Although his father-in-law is in poor health, he likes to keep his place neat, his porch painted, and the grass mowed and trimmed. His neighbors' overarching trees drop leaves and twigs in his yard and those who pass by his home have a tendency to leave their litter on his sidewalk.
The falling leaves and twigs and the constant litter, nonetheless do not annoy him or make him mad. Every day he goes out and picks up the wrappers and coffee cup caps that have been thrown on the lawn. He sweeps the sidewalk, stopping occasionally for a toke from his pocket inhaler he uses to battle his emphysema.
When salesmen come to the door to pester him, he has a tendency to reply, "The owner isn't home, I'm just the gardener."
This man had learned to put into practice Paul's admonition: "... do not let the sun go down on your anger" (Ephesians 4:26).
Richard H.
John 6:34, 41-51
In calling himself the bread of life, Jesus was making the point about how essential he is for human life. Ordinary bread is essential for nourishment and energy. The great guru of American manners Emily Post has made that clear when she wrote, "Bread is like dressed hats and shoes -- in other words essential!" And Burt Lancaster joined her in a similar assessment: "I judge a restaurant by the bread..." We can tell what kind of God we have from the delicious nourishing bread he has given us in Jesus Christ!
Mark E.
John 6:34, 41-51
Suze Oman, financial expert and TV host, reflected on what she thought was the most influential place in history. She recalled Sutter's Mill, where gold was first discovered that began the California Gold Rush. Oman said, "The home of the American Gold Rush -- amazing stories of hope and discovery. How I wish I could have been there!"
When Jesus taught would not his words bring us a message of hope and discovery. As the Jews questioned and challenged, we would be thinking the words are amazing.
Ron L.
