[Propertalk] Fw: SermonWriter: Jan. 31 (Epiphany 4C) Luke 4:21-30

[Joe Parrish]

The following are SermonWriter materials for Jan. 31 (Epiphany 4C). They 
focus on Luke 4:21-30, the second part of the story of Jesus' visit to the 
Nazareth synagogue.


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Dick Donovan

A THOUGHT ON PREACHING: If you don't live it, it won't come out of your 
horn. (Charlie Parker -- the famous saxophone player).

TITLE:  Jesus, the Gentile-Lover

SERMON IN A SENTENCE:  Jesus' sermon in the Nazareth synagogue reminds us of 
the scope of God's love and challenges us to make room in our hearts even 
for our enemies.

SCRIPTURE:  Luke 4:21-30

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FOR MORE SERMONS ON THIS TEXT, GO TO:
http://www.lectionary.org/SermLinks/NT/NT03luke.htm

Scroll down to chapter 4.


TRUE STORY:

Martin Niemoller was a Lutheran pastor and an ardent German nationalist when 
Adolf Hitler came to power.  Initially a supporter of Hitler, Niemoller 
gradually came to see Hitler as an enemy of the Christian faith.  However, 
in Hitler's early years, Niemoller made derogatory comments about Jews that 
he later came to regret -- comments that reflected prejudice against Jews 
that was commonplace in Germany at that time.

Beginning in 1934, Niemoller turned against Hitler, and was arrested several 
times.  He was last arrested in 1937 and spent more than seven years in 
concentration camps.  It would be appropriate to regard his survival as a 
miracle, because those were death camps.

After being liberated by American soldiers near the end of World War II, 
Niemoller spoke openly of Germany's guilt for following Hitler and of the 
guilt of the German churches for their failure to oppose Hitler.

Just a few months after the end of the war, Niemoller made a speech to 
representatives of the Confessing Church in Frankfurt (the Confessing Church 
was made up of Protestants who opposed Hitler's efforts to Nazify the German 
Protestant Church).  As part of his speech, Niemoller made the following 
statement, which has often been quoted.  He said:

"In Germany they came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time no one was left to speak up."


THOUGHT PROVOKERS:

It is not intolerant to reject falsehood,
neither are we tolerant when we warmly appraise and accept screwy ideas.
But in our wise intolerance we must not lose our love;
and in our tolerance we must not give away our souls.

Lloyd H. Ahlem

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

There are no "white" or "colored" signs
on the foxholes or graveyards of battle.

John F. Kennedy

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Many years ago, while Americans were still locked in a deadly dance with the 
Soviet Union, Billy Graham made this comment.  He said:

"Americans are no special pets in the eyes of God.
He loves the Russians just as much."


Graham also said:

"I feel it is my duty to warn the American people
that a day of reckoning is coming.
We cannot ignore the oppressed, suffering and helpless peoples
behind the Iron Curtain
without paying for it at the judgment of God."

Those were bold, courageous statements to come from the mouth of a 
conservative clergyman at the time that Graham said them.  Americans didn't 
want to hear favorable comments about Russians any more than the people of 
Nazareth wanted to hear favorable comments about Jews.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Today, tolerance has become the new religion.  Adherents regard everything 
as permissible -- as worthy of affirmation. It is unfashionable to say 
anything critical about anything or anyone.

However, this new religion follows a rigid creed, and quickly turns 
intolerant in the face of anything opposed to that creed.  It reminds me of 
something that Samuel Taylor Coleridge said two hundred years ago.  He said:

"I have seen gross intolerance
shown in support of toleration."

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

According to Carl Sandburg, an elderly woman asked Lincoln, "How can you 
speak kindly of your enemies when you should rather destroy them?"  "Madam," 
he said, "Do I not destroy them when I make them my friends?"

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
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HYMN STORY:  Lord, Speak to Me

Frances Ridley Havergal wrote the hymn, "Lord, Speak to Me."  She also wrote 
other hymns, the best known being "Take My Life and Let It Be."

The daughter of an Anglican clergyman who devoted himself to the improvement 
of church music, Frances was a gifted poet, pianist, and singer who followed 
in his footsteps.  Her passion was bringing people to Christ.  Her charming 
personality helped her to do that, and her musical gifts continue to nurture 
our faith even today.

Her original title for this hymn was "A Worker's Prayer."  When you read the 
words of the hymn, it becomes clear that she was speaking of a Christian 
worker -- a worker for the Kingdom of God.

The hymn is a prayer that God will speak to us so that we might, in turn, 
speak for God.  It is a prayer that God will teach us so that we might be 
able to teach others.  It is a prayer that God will fill us until our hearts 
overflow with kind thoughts, glowing words, love, and praise.  It is a 
prayer that God will use us however he chooses until that day when we see 
him face to face.

Let us make this hymn our prayer.

NOTE:  See other hymn stories at http://www.lectionary.org/hymnstories.htm


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