[Propertalk] FW: Sermon Resources for August 14 - Part 2

[Joe Parrish]

Breaking down Barriers

 

C.S. Lewis once wrote an essay entitled The Inner Ring. He says in the
article that in any playground or office or church there are little groups
or rings of people who are on the "inside". And those who aren't: those who
don't get picked at playtime, those who stand on their own in the lunchroom.
Lewis says that the existence of such rings is not necessarily bad. We're
finite beings, and we can only have deeply intimate friendships with a
limited number of people. But he says that the desire to gain status or
self-worth by being part of an "inner ring" is deeply destructive. It causes
you to constantly compare yourself with others, to feel anguish when you're
left out, and deeper anguish when someone close to you gets let in. Worst of
all, once you're in, you want to keep others out, because it's the exclusive
nature of the group tha t makes you feel good. 

Jesus' disciples wrestled often with that desire to be part of the inner
ring. They argued over who should have the seats closest to Jesus. They
asked Jesus to bring down fire on pagan villages. They rebuked little
children for coming in too close and wasting Jesus' time. Jesus must have
often shaken his head because he was constantly teaching about who was in
and who was out, about God's desire to bring into the inner ring of his love
anyone who will come. One of the most intriguing stories about status is
this one in Matthew 15:21-28.

John Tucker, Breaking Down Barriers: Inclusion

 

_____________________________________

 

Learning to Be Like Christ

 

A householder keeps faith, keeps care, of all those in his household. This
is what the Canaanite woman learns from Jesus' example. And this is what she
reveals back to him.  In other words, Jesus "learns" to hear his own words
through the ears of her faith. That's why ultimately Jesus declares, "Woman,
great is your faith" - not, "You are very clever." 

 

This is how philosopher Dallas Willard puts it, as he defines exactly what
is a disciple: "One of those who have trusted Jesus with their whole life,
so far as they understand it. Because they've done so, they want to learn
everything he has to teach them about life in the kingdom of God now and
forever, and they're constantly with him to learn this. Disciples of Jesus
are those learning to be like him" (Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart:
Putting on the Character of Christ, 241). 

 

Leonard Sweet, Collected Sermons,
<http://mail.churchmail.com/lists/lt.php?id=Kk8GAgABDwNQRAMDBUsDAABWWg%3D%3D
> www.Sermons.com 

 

_____________________________

 

Don't Jump to Conclusions

A family of five was enjoying their day at the beach. The children were
playing in the ocean and making sand castles when in the distance a little
old lady appeared. Her gray hair was blowing in the wind and her clothes
were dirty and ragged. She was muttering something to herself as she picked
up things from the beach and put them into a bag. The parents called the
children to their side and told them to stay away from the old lady. As she
passed by, bending down every now and then to pick something up, she smiled
at the family. But her greeting wasn't returned.

Couple weeks later this family learned that little old lady was a retired
school teacher who'd made it her lifelong crusade to pick up bits of glass
from the beach so children wouldn't cut their feet. And as she picked up the
broken glass, she prayed for the people who had dropped it, even though she
didn't know who they were.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, gave his life on the cross so that we
might know the love, forgiveness and acceptance of our God. Jesus died for
each of us personally. We can't look at another human being without thinking
to ourselves, Jesus died for them, too. We do a disservice when we jump to
conclusions about people because of how they look, where they live or the
type of work that they do. We are all equal Jesus' eyes.

Billy D. Strayhorn, From the Pulpit, CSS Publishing Company
__________________________________

A Strong Woman

 

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape, but a woman of
strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything, but a woman of strength shows her
courage in the midst of fear.

A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her, but a woman of strength
gives the best of her to everyone.

A strong woman walks sure-footedly, but a woman of strength knows God will
catch her when she falls.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face, but a woman of
strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey, but a
woman of strength has faith that in the journey she will become strong.

Author unknown

___________________________________

 

Humility

 

One of the most respected personalities in the entertainment world today is
a man named Quincy Jones. Performer, composer, promoter, producer, director,
arranger--Qunicy Jones is all of these and much, much more. In recent years,
he has also become known for his amazing ability to bring together the
superstars of the entertainment industry, getting them to blend their
talents and work together, share the spotlight and function as a team to
produce something that is very special. He can bring together stars such as
Diana Ross, Kenney Rogers, Aretha Franklin, Michael Bolton, Gladys Knight,
Kenney G., Lionel Ritchie, and many others; he can give them a single phrase
there, and combine their artistic skills into a powerful and moving
expression of music.

 

Perhaps Jones is best known for the production of the hit recording "We are
the World," which featured the combined talents of many of the top pop
singers of our time. Do you know how he did it--how he persuaded those music
superstars to come together and work as a team to create that song? Well, he
did a very interesting and, evidently, effective thing. He put a sign at the
entry to the recording studio.

 

The conclusion to this list and for many additional illustrations and
sermons for Proper 15 can be accessed at
<http://mail.churchmail.com/lists/lt.php?id=Kk8GAgABDwNQRAMDBUsDAABWWg%3D%3D
> www.Sermons.com.

 

 

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