Sermon Illustrations for Proper 9 | OT 14 (2015)
Illustration
Object:
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
With Ishbaal slain, it was perfectly natural that the north should turn to David. He was anointed king over all Israel. "The Lord's anointed" may be king "by divine right," but he is a constitutional, not an absolute monarch, for his kingship is based upon a solemn covenant with his subjects; this covenant doubtless set forth the king's duties as well as his privileges. The anointing is a solemn religious act, but it is performed, not by the priests but by the heads of the tribes.
(The Abingdon Bible Commentary, edited by Frederick Eiselen, Edward Lewis, and David G. Downey, 1929, p. 400)
Frank R.
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
Always elect a winner. There was no one left to rule over Israel and David had the best reputation. He had been standard-bearer in all their battles and now the former enemies were getting restless and the people were worried. They decided that the best approach was that all the divisions in Israel should unite for greater power and they felt David was the best one to do that because of his past history. It took a little while but soon all the country was under David whom they trusted and made king. His reign was a long one: forty years altogether. He was just a young guy when he was made king -- younger than our youngest president. So he shepherded his people from then on with the Lord’s help.
He chose to live in a fancy home in the fortress and called it after himself, “The City of David.” He did a lot of construction work and became more powerful because the Lord was with him.
I’m not sure what this says to us as Christians today, but I suppose it emphasizes the ancestry of our Lord, who though he was called the son (descendant) of David, David still called him Lord. Interesting history. That is about all.
Bob O.
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
In the spirit of this lesson, leading English evangelical John Stott writes: “Instead of always being one of the chief bastions of the status quo, the Church is to develop a Christian counterculture with its own distinctive goals, values, standards, and lifestyle -- a realistic alternative to the contemporary technology that is marked by bondage, materialism, self-centeredness, and greed. Christ’s call to obedience is a call to be different, not conformist. Such a church -- joyful, obedient, loving, and free -- will do more than please God: it will attract the world (Obeying Christ in a Changing World).
A 2011 Pew Research Center poll found that nearly half (46%) of American Christians felt it was more important to identify themselves as Christians than as Americans. Counter-culturalism is not all dead in the American church. We have something in our churches that can attract aging Baby Boomers plus X-er and Millennial generations, if we package it right. Our counter-culturalism is not found in how we dress, the English we speak, or the things we own. No, as Martin Luther noted, our counter-culturalism is found in how we offend logic with our attention to seemingly ordinary and poor things and people: “Christ attracts all men by the knowledge and contemplation of himself and tears them away from things to which they clung to in the world” (Luther’s Works, Vol. 29, p. 132); “the works of God are always unattractive and evil” (Luther’s Works, Vol. 31, p. 44).
And about our freedom, Luther writes: “Rather we should with discretion and understanding adapt ourselves to that which promotes the neighbor’s welfare” (Complete Sermons, Vol. 4/1, p. 140).
Christian values really go against American thinking. Christianity truly is a rebellious way of life!
Mark E.
Mark 6:1-13
Several facets of this story merit our attention. Although this is the third time Jesus has taught in a synagogue on the Sabbath and the third time he has experienced opposition to his teaching, on this occasion it is not demons or religious authorities who oppose him but his neighbors and closest kin (cf. 1:21-28; 3:1-6). They are scandalized by his message. The imperfect tense used here suggests that the people continue to take offense at his preaching. Through a series of five questions spread over two verses we witness the marked shift among townsfolk who wonder about the source of Jesus' power and wisdom, the reports of his miraculous deeds, and his lineage and relationship to kinfolk who still live close to home. It is was unusual to identify a son in relation to his mother rather than his father, and it is possible the words "son of Mary" are intended as a slur that implies dubious paternity. Earlier in the gospel, Jesus' biological family suspected he was insane (3:21), and he redefined kinship in terms of faithfulness to God's will (3:12-35). Later he speaks of the importance of familial support (7:9-13) and promises new familial ties in the age to come (10:29-31). But at this point, his family members are counted among those who reject Jesus' authority and power.
(Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm, Preaching the Gospel of Mark: Proclaiming the Power of God, 103)
Frank R.
Mark 6:1-13
Familiarity breeds contempt? As I always heard in seminary, don’t take a call to a church in your hometown. Even if you led a perfect life like Jesus, they only remember that “He had been a carpenter’s son, and that all his relatives were still there.” “Why doesn’t he stay home and take care of his family?” they want to know.
Sometimes that can apply to any familiar group like a football team where your friends on the team only remember you as a fellow player. Even if you get into trouble, they still treat you as a team member. It could also be your lodge or school or any place where they think they know you too well.
If you come across as being better than the folks you knew back home, they will not take it happily. Even being humble didn’t help Jesus. I’m sure he did not “lord it over them” -- even though he could have! He was just hoping they would listen to his message and learn from it.
The next part is practiced by some conservative mission schools today. There was one in England that sent the students out on missions to test them and see if they had enough faith to count on the Lord to supply their needs. I would hate to do that in Nepal where you might starve but even in poorer neighborhoods in our country today, you might make out all right.
The idea is that if you are working for the Lord, he should provide for your needs. But even Paul made some income as a tent maker so he wouldn’t have to make his congregation support him. He was even proud of it. Some denominations make their pastors take a job on the side rather than expect the congregation to support them -- like us Lutherans.
But Jesus is not talking about established congregations. He is talking about going out to places that have not heard the gospel. He was counting on the message being so inspiring and powerful that the hospitality was automatic. That was proof that they were preaching Jesus message! The fact that they healed some of the sick and drove out demons must have helped!
Even Jesus did not want people to come just to be healed. When he healed an individual, he told them not to blab about it all over town. He wanted to win people through the message and not just because of the healing miracles. He didn’t want his PR to start until after the resurrection. Now we can tell anyone what the Lord has been doing for us!
Bob O.
With Ishbaal slain, it was perfectly natural that the north should turn to David. He was anointed king over all Israel. "The Lord's anointed" may be king "by divine right," but he is a constitutional, not an absolute monarch, for his kingship is based upon a solemn covenant with his subjects; this covenant doubtless set forth the king's duties as well as his privileges. The anointing is a solemn religious act, but it is performed, not by the priests but by the heads of the tribes.
(The Abingdon Bible Commentary, edited by Frederick Eiselen, Edward Lewis, and David G. Downey, 1929, p. 400)
Frank R.
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
Always elect a winner. There was no one left to rule over Israel and David had the best reputation. He had been standard-bearer in all their battles and now the former enemies were getting restless and the people were worried. They decided that the best approach was that all the divisions in Israel should unite for greater power and they felt David was the best one to do that because of his past history. It took a little while but soon all the country was under David whom they trusted and made king. His reign was a long one: forty years altogether. He was just a young guy when he was made king -- younger than our youngest president. So he shepherded his people from then on with the Lord’s help.
He chose to live in a fancy home in the fortress and called it after himself, “The City of David.” He did a lot of construction work and became more powerful because the Lord was with him.
I’m not sure what this says to us as Christians today, but I suppose it emphasizes the ancestry of our Lord, who though he was called the son (descendant) of David, David still called him Lord. Interesting history. That is about all.
Bob O.
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
In the spirit of this lesson, leading English evangelical John Stott writes: “Instead of always being one of the chief bastions of the status quo, the Church is to develop a Christian counterculture with its own distinctive goals, values, standards, and lifestyle -- a realistic alternative to the contemporary technology that is marked by bondage, materialism, self-centeredness, and greed. Christ’s call to obedience is a call to be different, not conformist. Such a church -- joyful, obedient, loving, and free -- will do more than please God: it will attract the world (Obeying Christ in a Changing World).
A 2011 Pew Research Center poll found that nearly half (46%) of American Christians felt it was more important to identify themselves as Christians than as Americans. Counter-culturalism is not all dead in the American church. We have something in our churches that can attract aging Baby Boomers plus X-er and Millennial generations, if we package it right. Our counter-culturalism is not found in how we dress, the English we speak, or the things we own. No, as Martin Luther noted, our counter-culturalism is found in how we offend logic with our attention to seemingly ordinary and poor things and people: “Christ attracts all men by the knowledge and contemplation of himself and tears them away from things to which they clung to in the world” (Luther’s Works, Vol. 29, p. 132); “the works of God are always unattractive and evil” (Luther’s Works, Vol. 31, p. 44).
And about our freedom, Luther writes: “Rather we should with discretion and understanding adapt ourselves to that which promotes the neighbor’s welfare” (Complete Sermons, Vol. 4/1, p. 140).
Christian values really go against American thinking. Christianity truly is a rebellious way of life!
Mark E.
Mark 6:1-13
Several facets of this story merit our attention. Although this is the third time Jesus has taught in a synagogue on the Sabbath and the third time he has experienced opposition to his teaching, on this occasion it is not demons or religious authorities who oppose him but his neighbors and closest kin (cf. 1:21-28; 3:1-6). They are scandalized by his message. The imperfect tense used here suggests that the people continue to take offense at his preaching. Through a series of five questions spread over two verses we witness the marked shift among townsfolk who wonder about the source of Jesus' power and wisdom, the reports of his miraculous deeds, and his lineage and relationship to kinfolk who still live close to home. It is was unusual to identify a son in relation to his mother rather than his father, and it is possible the words "son of Mary" are intended as a slur that implies dubious paternity. Earlier in the gospel, Jesus' biological family suspected he was insane (3:21), and he redefined kinship in terms of faithfulness to God's will (3:12-35). Later he speaks of the importance of familial support (7:9-13) and promises new familial ties in the age to come (10:29-31). But at this point, his family members are counted among those who reject Jesus' authority and power.
(Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm, Preaching the Gospel of Mark: Proclaiming the Power of God, 103)
Frank R.
Mark 6:1-13
Familiarity breeds contempt? As I always heard in seminary, don’t take a call to a church in your hometown. Even if you led a perfect life like Jesus, they only remember that “He had been a carpenter’s son, and that all his relatives were still there.” “Why doesn’t he stay home and take care of his family?” they want to know.
Sometimes that can apply to any familiar group like a football team where your friends on the team only remember you as a fellow player. Even if you get into trouble, they still treat you as a team member. It could also be your lodge or school or any place where they think they know you too well.
If you come across as being better than the folks you knew back home, they will not take it happily. Even being humble didn’t help Jesus. I’m sure he did not “lord it over them” -- even though he could have! He was just hoping they would listen to his message and learn from it.
The next part is practiced by some conservative mission schools today. There was one in England that sent the students out on missions to test them and see if they had enough faith to count on the Lord to supply their needs. I would hate to do that in Nepal where you might starve but even in poorer neighborhoods in our country today, you might make out all right.
The idea is that if you are working for the Lord, he should provide for your needs. But even Paul made some income as a tent maker so he wouldn’t have to make his congregation support him. He was even proud of it. Some denominations make their pastors take a job on the side rather than expect the congregation to support them -- like us Lutherans.
But Jesus is not talking about established congregations. He is talking about going out to places that have not heard the gospel. He was counting on the message being so inspiring and powerful that the hospitality was automatic. That was proof that they were preaching Jesus message! The fact that they healed some of the sick and drove out demons must have helped!
Even Jesus did not want people to come just to be healed. When he healed an individual, he told them not to blab about it all over town. He wanted to win people through the message and not just because of the healing miracles. He didn’t want his PR to start until after the resurrection. Now we can tell anyone what the Lord has been doing for us!
Bob O.
