Untitled Sermon

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Excuses

A farmer asked his neighbor if he might borrow a rope.

“Sorry,” said the neighbor, “I’m using my rope to tie up my milk.”

“Rope can’t tie up milk.”

“I know,” replied the neighbor, “but when a man doesn’t want to do something, one reason is as good as another.”

Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a Word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip, and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You send it, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

There are two seemingly disconnected events that are pushed together in our Gospel lesson today. The first tells the story of James and John who respond to the Samaritan rejection of Jesus’ coming to them with thoughts of retaliation, which Jesus rebukes. The second event is an illustration of the cost of following Jesus. The first event is loved by those who love talking about the gentleness of Jesus, while the second is a favorite of those who view Christianity as a call to a ruthless pursuit of perfection, disparaging all who fail to measure up.