What's Appropriate?
Stories
56 Stories For Preaching
Mary and Jack had really begun to feel at home in their new
church, once they made the decision to join the Tuesday night
home Bible study group. Most of the members were young adults
just like themselves, and best of all, the group was so loving,
Mary and Jack quickly felt as if they had found a group of true
friends. Each member of the small group took a turn leading the
study for that week, and everyone felt free to share both their
questions and their doubts about living as faithful Christians.
As Thanksgiving approached that year, Mary and Jack were
feeling so grateful for these new friends, they wanted to invite
the entire group to their home for a Saturday night dinner. Both
of them were excited as Mary planned the menu, and Jack pitched
in to help with the cleaning. They wanted this evening to be
something very special.
About an hour before the guests were to arrive, Jack was
getting out the wine glasses. He was excited about sharing some
new wines that he and Mary had purchased on their tour of the
winery in New York State just a few weekends ago. He had placed
three bottles on ice, and was whistling softly to himself when
Mary entered the room.
Seeing the wine glasses, Mary said softly, "Jack, do you
really think serving that wine tonight is such a good idea?" Jack
was startled as he turned to face his wife and said, "Well, for
goodness sake, why not?" Mary faced him and Jack could tell that
she was searching for the right words. "Don't get me wrong, Jack,
about the wine. I am excited about sharing those new wines with
our friends as well. But I can't help thinking about how Marge
will feel. Remember the painful memories
she shared in our last meeting about her alcoholic father, and
her discomfort around people who drink, even socially?"
Jack had been listening to his wife, but the unfairness of not
being able to enjoy his own wine in his own home really bothered
him. "Mary, I'm sorry about Marge's alcoholic father, and the bad
time her family had. But this is our party, and our house, and we
can serve whatever we want to our guests! Hey, even Jesus drank
wine with his friends."
Mary slowly put her arms around Jack. She looked up at him and
said, "Jack, you are absolutely right. We are free to serve what
we want in our own home. But maybe this is one place where being
a Christian makes a difference. Maybe being free to do something
isn't what really matters. Maybe what really counts is the loving
thing to do, and I just feel the loving thing, the Christlike
thing tonight is not to make Marge feel the least bit
uncomfortable in our home."
"As usual, Mary, you are right on target! I'm a lucky man to
have a partner like you!"
church, once they made the decision to join the Tuesday night
home Bible study group. Most of the members were young adults
just like themselves, and best of all, the group was so loving,
Mary and Jack quickly felt as if they had found a group of true
friends. Each member of the small group took a turn leading the
study for that week, and everyone felt free to share both their
questions and their doubts about living as faithful Christians.
As Thanksgiving approached that year, Mary and Jack were
feeling so grateful for these new friends, they wanted to invite
the entire group to their home for a Saturday night dinner. Both
of them were excited as Mary planned the menu, and Jack pitched
in to help with the cleaning. They wanted this evening to be
something very special.
About an hour before the guests were to arrive, Jack was
getting out the wine glasses. He was excited about sharing some
new wines that he and Mary had purchased on their tour of the
winery in New York State just a few weekends ago. He had placed
three bottles on ice, and was whistling softly to himself when
Mary entered the room.
Seeing the wine glasses, Mary said softly, "Jack, do you
really think serving that wine tonight is such a good idea?" Jack
was startled as he turned to face his wife and said, "Well, for
goodness sake, why not?" Mary faced him and Jack could tell that
she was searching for the right words. "Don't get me wrong, Jack,
about the wine. I am excited about sharing those new wines with
our friends as well. But I can't help thinking about how Marge
will feel. Remember the painful memories
she shared in our last meeting about her alcoholic father, and
her discomfort around people who drink, even socially?"
Jack had been listening to his wife, but the unfairness of not
being able to enjoy his own wine in his own home really bothered
him. "Mary, I'm sorry about Marge's alcoholic father, and the bad
time her family had. But this is our party, and our house, and we
can serve whatever we want to our guests! Hey, even Jesus drank
wine with his friends."
Mary slowly put her arms around Jack. She looked up at him and
said, "Jack, you are absolutely right. We are free to serve what
we want in our own home. But maybe this is one place where being
a Christian makes a difference. Maybe being free to do something
isn't what really matters. Maybe what really counts is the loving
thing to do, and I just feel the loving thing, the Christlike
thing tonight is not to make Marge feel the least bit
uncomfortable in our home."
"As usual, Mary, you are right on target! I'm a lucky man to
have a partner like you!"
