Sermon Illustrations for Proper 13 | OT 18 (2024)
Illustration
2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a
USA Today in the December 26, 2013, edition reports on the danger of eating pufferfish. The pufferfish looks harmless. Remember “Bloat” from Finding Nemo? Looks, however, can be deceiving. The pufferfish carries deadly toxins that can kill a person after just a few bites. Every year several people in Japan die from eating this unique fish delicacy and many others get sick. The danger is so great that Japanese chefs must receive years of training to learn the intricate skills of removing the lethal toxin before they can be certified to serve pufferfish.
In many ways, that’s how sin appears to people. It looks harmless enough, even inviting. Once you get in, though, the end result is death (Romans 6:23). David’s story in this text demonstrates that in a powerful way. He sinned against God, had an affair with Bathsheba, had her husband killed, and then brought her into his home. He thought all was well. It wasn’t God knew and was not happy. Nathan the prophet’s words in chapter 12 must’ve stung. “You are the man!” (vs. 7).
Sin, like improperly prepared pufferfish, can look delightful. It may even taste good for a bit, but it will get you. God can and does forgive, but sin has consequences. We’re better off to just stay away.
Bill T.
* * *
2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a
I mentioned last week that David sends messages and messengers eleven times to arrange his adulterous encounter and then to cover it up including the successful attempt to arrange the death of Uriah. Now the story takes a dramatic turn because it’s God’s turn to send a message and a messenger. Nathan the prophet comes to tell a story, a story that engages David’s attention, drawing him in to the point where at the climax of the story he will demand justice for the poor man and death for the rich man who acted with impunity.
The story is rich with dramatic irony – we the listeners know exactly what Nathan is talking about, and how David is stepping into a trap. The man deserves death! That’s when Nathan springs his trap. “You are the man!” he cries out – in Hebrew just two powerful words!
This parable reminds us of the power of storytelling. I’ve had people tell me they don’t read fiction because it’s not true. But storytelling, whether written or performed, reveals deep truths about who we are, how we live, and what we believe! Jesus knew that. He told many parables, and the stories are so powerful that the prodigal son and the good Samaritan are more real to us than most of the presidents and kings who were very powerful in their day.
Frank R.
* * *
Ephesians 4:1-16
To be sure, Paul was human. As Saul, he persecuted those following Jesus. After his revelation of the Risen Christ, his whole being changed. He reminds us, and himself, that we are called into unity with God, into one body and one spirit. He calls us to love and unity, to faithfulness in new ways. He calls us to become as Jesus, faithful and true, loving and grace-filled, unified in our focus on God and our striving to be one with the divinity that is within us.
How do we go about moving into unity, into one body and one spirit? In the UCC, we focus on Jesus as the head of the church. To me that means that everything we do in and through church should focus on Jesus. In a real sense we need to ask what Jesus would do – would Jesus condemn, limit access to the body, or would Jesus welcome everyone and celebrate the diversity of the members of the body? Which do you think brings us closer to Jesus, closer to God?
Bonnie B.
* * *
Ephesians 4:1-16
The text seems to affirm that God permeates the cosmos (v.6), and so all the faithful are united in him. Augustine nicely portrays this reality, comparing God to an infinite sea and the cosmos as but a sponge dropped into it (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol.1, pp.104-105,74). Another theologian of the early church John Chrysostom eloquently explained the absurdity of trying to fracture our unity. He noted:
And yet surely these are the very reasons why thou oughtest not rise up against thy neighbors. For if all things are common, and one has nothing more than another, whence this mad folly? We partake of the same nature, partake alike of soul and body, we breathe the same air, we use the same food. Why this rebellious rising of one against another? (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol.13, p.99)
Martin Luther nicely described why and how faith provides us with patterns of behavior which makes preserving unity possible. He wrote:
Note that genuine humility is bound to follow where faith is real. Upon humility follows real patience and love toward our neighbor, so that we despise no one, gladly serve everybody and do good to him, bear whatever happens to us, are not angry and do not avenge ourselves when men show ingratitude, unfaithfulness, spite, mockery, and disgrace. (What Luther Says, p.671)
Mark E.
* * *
John 6:24-35
“I am the Bread of Life” proclaims Jesus. I am that which will feed you, which will sustain you, that which will quench your thirst. Sure, we need earthly bread and drink to sustain our bodies, but Jesus wants us to go deeper than that. Jesus wants us to know that our existence is to be focused on him, on his teachings, on our relationship with him and with God – which is made possible, often, by the strengthening of the Holy Spirit. It’s not enough to feed our bodies. We need to feed our spirits.
I was recently at a meeting where one of the ice-breaker questions was, “What is your favorite devotional practice?” The answers were as varied as the people and ranged from sitting outside in silence, using prayer beads, hiking and pausing to look at an be nourished by creation. How do you practice devotion to God? I have to admit some of my devotional time is spent writing these illustrations, preparing for worship and writing sermon messages – but often I just sit in silence, in contemplation and listen for God. I’m not sure it matters what your devotional time is. Really it just matters that you take the time to commune with God, to reflect on scripture, to be present in your faith. May it be so my friends.
Bonnie B.
* * *
John 6:24-35
Do it again! That’s what the folks who broke bread with Jesus said after the feeding of the multitudes. Free food is great! Sign me up! And to back up their demand, they’re ready to quote (and misuse) scripture about the manna falling from heaven. The sign is just a start.
There are other examples. In the Gospel of John, Jesus uses the image of being born from above as an opening for Nicodemus to enter into a discussion and grow in knowledge and wisdom – and new life. It takes him a while, but by the end of the gospel he gets it.
Jesus uses the image of a bottomless bucket of water that never needs refilling to intrigue the Samaritan woman at the well, and once she enters into the discussion, she’s willing to go deeper and deeper until she’s all in, and so is her village.
Worship is often an exciting, fulfilling, even thrilling experience – especially for those of us who’ve never experienced anything like it – but when we demand that those planning worship provide bigger and bigger thrills, more songs that we like, more stunts. We might ask if we’re like those folks who wanted more bread, and weren’t ready to learn what it means to truly partake of the Bread of Life. I’m speaking to you as one who plans worship weekly and doesn’t want to repel people, but all the same, our main purpose in gathering is not entertaining, but praising God because God is God.
Frank R.
* * *
John 6:24-35
Martin Luther once said, "Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times." Believing implies acting upon what one believes.
Ken Davis, in his book How to Speak to Youth, shares an intriguing story. In college he was asked to prepare a lesson for his speech class. The instructions were to be creative and drive home a point in a memorable way. He spoke that day on the law of the pendulum. He explained how, in a pendulum, it can never return to a point higher than the point from which it was released. He did a thorough job discussing friction and gravity and how they work on the pendulum. At the end, he asked how many in the room believed the law of the pendulum. All raised their hands, including the professor. He then asked the professor to take part in an experiment. He had tied, from a steel beam in the ceiling, a 250-pound weight. He centered it, making it a pendulum. He invited the professor to sit in a chair next to the wall and he pulled the 250-pound weight to a point about two inches from his nose. He asked the professor if he still believed in the law of the pendulum, to which he answered he did. When the weight was released, however, the professor darted from the chair. It was clear that he did not believe.
Jesus makes a point to those who heard him teach and had followed him to the other side of the sea. They wanted to know what they had to do to perform the works of God (vs. 28). Jesus answered directly. “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” (vs. 29). Believing in Jesus compels action. It is the work of God.
Bill T.
* * *
John 6:24-35
John Calvin commented on the disciples’ and our misguided reasons for wanting Jesus. The Genevan reformer wrote:
The fault which he complains of in them is, that they seek Christ for the sake of the belly and not for the sake of the miracles. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.XVII/2, p.239)
Martin Luther elaborated on why we are no longer hungry once we have Christ, the bread of life. In a sermon he once observed:
Christ is serious when he says that you will abide in him and he in you... He says: “It matters not if you are still somewhat weak, for I am in you. If you lack anything I have an abundance of righteousness, holiness, and wisdom; I have no weaknesses. But if you are weak, your weakness is in me, and I will see to it that I help you, that I drown your weakness in my strength and power, that I delete your sin in my righteousness, that I devour your death in my life.” (Luther’s Works, Vol.23, pp,147-148)
To this point the reformer adds:
Cling to this food of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the Holy Spirit, and be assured that no one’s works and alms give life, only this food, the Body and blood of Christ accomplishes that. Then good works will follow automatically. (Luther’s Works, Vol.23, p,18)
Mark E.
USA Today in the December 26, 2013, edition reports on the danger of eating pufferfish. The pufferfish looks harmless. Remember “Bloat” from Finding Nemo? Looks, however, can be deceiving. The pufferfish carries deadly toxins that can kill a person after just a few bites. Every year several people in Japan die from eating this unique fish delicacy and many others get sick. The danger is so great that Japanese chefs must receive years of training to learn the intricate skills of removing the lethal toxin before they can be certified to serve pufferfish.
In many ways, that’s how sin appears to people. It looks harmless enough, even inviting. Once you get in, though, the end result is death (Romans 6:23). David’s story in this text demonstrates that in a powerful way. He sinned against God, had an affair with Bathsheba, had her husband killed, and then brought her into his home. He thought all was well. It wasn’t God knew and was not happy. Nathan the prophet’s words in chapter 12 must’ve stung. “You are the man!” (vs. 7).
Sin, like improperly prepared pufferfish, can look delightful. It may even taste good for a bit, but it will get you. God can and does forgive, but sin has consequences. We’re better off to just stay away.
Bill T.
* * *
2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a
I mentioned last week that David sends messages and messengers eleven times to arrange his adulterous encounter and then to cover it up including the successful attempt to arrange the death of Uriah. Now the story takes a dramatic turn because it’s God’s turn to send a message and a messenger. Nathan the prophet comes to tell a story, a story that engages David’s attention, drawing him in to the point where at the climax of the story he will demand justice for the poor man and death for the rich man who acted with impunity.
The story is rich with dramatic irony – we the listeners know exactly what Nathan is talking about, and how David is stepping into a trap. The man deserves death! That’s when Nathan springs his trap. “You are the man!” he cries out – in Hebrew just two powerful words!
This parable reminds us of the power of storytelling. I’ve had people tell me they don’t read fiction because it’s not true. But storytelling, whether written or performed, reveals deep truths about who we are, how we live, and what we believe! Jesus knew that. He told many parables, and the stories are so powerful that the prodigal son and the good Samaritan are more real to us than most of the presidents and kings who were very powerful in their day.
Frank R.
* * *
Ephesians 4:1-16
To be sure, Paul was human. As Saul, he persecuted those following Jesus. After his revelation of the Risen Christ, his whole being changed. He reminds us, and himself, that we are called into unity with God, into one body and one spirit. He calls us to love and unity, to faithfulness in new ways. He calls us to become as Jesus, faithful and true, loving and grace-filled, unified in our focus on God and our striving to be one with the divinity that is within us.
How do we go about moving into unity, into one body and one spirit? In the UCC, we focus on Jesus as the head of the church. To me that means that everything we do in and through church should focus on Jesus. In a real sense we need to ask what Jesus would do – would Jesus condemn, limit access to the body, or would Jesus welcome everyone and celebrate the diversity of the members of the body? Which do you think brings us closer to Jesus, closer to God?
Bonnie B.
* * *
Ephesians 4:1-16
The text seems to affirm that God permeates the cosmos (v.6), and so all the faithful are united in him. Augustine nicely portrays this reality, comparing God to an infinite sea and the cosmos as but a sponge dropped into it (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol.1, pp.104-105,74). Another theologian of the early church John Chrysostom eloquently explained the absurdity of trying to fracture our unity. He noted:
And yet surely these are the very reasons why thou oughtest not rise up against thy neighbors. For if all things are common, and one has nothing more than another, whence this mad folly? We partake of the same nature, partake alike of soul and body, we breathe the same air, we use the same food. Why this rebellious rising of one against another? (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol.13, p.99)
Martin Luther nicely described why and how faith provides us with patterns of behavior which makes preserving unity possible. He wrote:
Note that genuine humility is bound to follow where faith is real. Upon humility follows real patience and love toward our neighbor, so that we despise no one, gladly serve everybody and do good to him, bear whatever happens to us, are not angry and do not avenge ourselves when men show ingratitude, unfaithfulness, spite, mockery, and disgrace. (What Luther Says, p.671)
Mark E.
* * *
John 6:24-35
“I am the Bread of Life” proclaims Jesus. I am that which will feed you, which will sustain you, that which will quench your thirst. Sure, we need earthly bread and drink to sustain our bodies, but Jesus wants us to go deeper than that. Jesus wants us to know that our existence is to be focused on him, on his teachings, on our relationship with him and with God – which is made possible, often, by the strengthening of the Holy Spirit. It’s not enough to feed our bodies. We need to feed our spirits.
I was recently at a meeting where one of the ice-breaker questions was, “What is your favorite devotional practice?” The answers were as varied as the people and ranged from sitting outside in silence, using prayer beads, hiking and pausing to look at an be nourished by creation. How do you practice devotion to God? I have to admit some of my devotional time is spent writing these illustrations, preparing for worship and writing sermon messages – but often I just sit in silence, in contemplation and listen for God. I’m not sure it matters what your devotional time is. Really it just matters that you take the time to commune with God, to reflect on scripture, to be present in your faith. May it be so my friends.
Bonnie B.
* * *
John 6:24-35
Do it again! That’s what the folks who broke bread with Jesus said after the feeding of the multitudes. Free food is great! Sign me up! And to back up their demand, they’re ready to quote (and misuse) scripture about the manna falling from heaven. The sign is just a start.
There are other examples. In the Gospel of John, Jesus uses the image of being born from above as an opening for Nicodemus to enter into a discussion and grow in knowledge and wisdom – and new life. It takes him a while, but by the end of the gospel he gets it.
Jesus uses the image of a bottomless bucket of water that never needs refilling to intrigue the Samaritan woman at the well, and once she enters into the discussion, she’s willing to go deeper and deeper until she’s all in, and so is her village.
Worship is often an exciting, fulfilling, even thrilling experience – especially for those of us who’ve never experienced anything like it – but when we demand that those planning worship provide bigger and bigger thrills, more songs that we like, more stunts. We might ask if we’re like those folks who wanted more bread, and weren’t ready to learn what it means to truly partake of the Bread of Life. I’m speaking to you as one who plans worship weekly and doesn’t want to repel people, but all the same, our main purpose in gathering is not entertaining, but praising God because God is God.
Frank R.
* * *
John 6:24-35
Martin Luther once said, "Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times." Believing implies acting upon what one believes.
Ken Davis, in his book How to Speak to Youth, shares an intriguing story. In college he was asked to prepare a lesson for his speech class. The instructions were to be creative and drive home a point in a memorable way. He spoke that day on the law of the pendulum. He explained how, in a pendulum, it can never return to a point higher than the point from which it was released. He did a thorough job discussing friction and gravity and how they work on the pendulum. At the end, he asked how many in the room believed the law of the pendulum. All raised their hands, including the professor. He then asked the professor to take part in an experiment. He had tied, from a steel beam in the ceiling, a 250-pound weight. He centered it, making it a pendulum. He invited the professor to sit in a chair next to the wall and he pulled the 250-pound weight to a point about two inches from his nose. He asked the professor if he still believed in the law of the pendulum, to which he answered he did. When the weight was released, however, the professor darted from the chair. It was clear that he did not believe.
Jesus makes a point to those who heard him teach and had followed him to the other side of the sea. They wanted to know what they had to do to perform the works of God (vs. 28). Jesus answered directly. “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” (vs. 29). Believing in Jesus compels action. It is the work of God.
Bill T.
* * *
John 6:24-35
John Calvin commented on the disciples’ and our misguided reasons for wanting Jesus. The Genevan reformer wrote:
The fault which he complains of in them is, that they seek Christ for the sake of the belly and not for the sake of the miracles. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.XVII/2, p.239)
Martin Luther elaborated on why we are no longer hungry once we have Christ, the bread of life. In a sermon he once observed:
Christ is serious when he says that you will abide in him and he in you... He says: “It matters not if you are still somewhat weak, for I am in you. If you lack anything I have an abundance of righteousness, holiness, and wisdom; I have no weaknesses. But if you are weak, your weakness is in me, and I will see to it that I help you, that I drown your weakness in my strength and power, that I delete your sin in my righteousness, that I devour your death in my life.” (Luther’s Works, Vol.23, pp,147-148)
To this point the reformer adds:
Cling to this food of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the Holy Spirit, and be assured that no one’s works and alms give life, only this food, the Body and blood of Christ accomplishes that. Then good works will follow automatically. (Luther’s Works, Vol.23, p,18)
Mark E.
