[Propertalk] Fw: Sermon Points - Luke 13:1-9 - Part 6

[Joe Parrish]

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From: Joe Parrish 
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Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2010 1:44 AM
Subject: Sermon Points - Luke 13:1-9 - Part 6


The ultimate sign of our changing of the mind, our repentance, our turning in a new direction is the action of our life. It is not words. It is not sentiment. It is not feelings. It is action, bearing fruit, doing some new things in our lives. The fulfillment of the call to change and repent is new action of faith in our living.
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"Repent. Change your mind. Bear fruit." There it is, a repentance recipe for this season, the ingredients for spiritual renewal during these 40 days of the Lenten season. 

http://day1.org/1033-changing_your_mind_bearing_fruit

James B. Lemler, 2007 
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I love the opera, LES MISERABLES, and the song "One more day, one more hour." I love that song by Valjean. I love that opera. I love the story. And I know the song, "One more day. One more hour" that Jon Valjean sings.
  "VALJEAN
  Tomorrow we'll be far away,
  Tomorrow is the judgment day

  ALL
  Tomorrow we'll discover
  What our God in Heaven has in store!
  One more dawn
  One more day
  One day more!"

The Lord God gives us one day more...to change... grow up...to mature...to do the right thing...to live as God created us to live...to be people of love for the Lord God and neighbor. 

You may have been drifting along in life, not doing much with the life that the Lord God has given you. 

http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_c_wanted_fig_trees_that_produces_figs.htm

Edward F. Markquart
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Garrison Keillor warns us, "You can become a Christian by going to church just as about easily as you can become an automobile by sleeping in a garage." What we're speaking of is the danger of presumed spiritual security. Our parable says that we're not called just to be here. It is a clear warning against a fruitless existence in the light of God's grace given to us. 
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There is a story told of a bishop in England who was traveling by train to perform a confirmation service. He misplaced his ticket and was unable to produce it when requested by the conductor. "It's quite all right, my lord, we know who you are." But the bishop replied, "You don't see. Without the ticket, I don't know where I'm going." 
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There are a number of us who creep into the world to eat and sleep, and, know, not the reason we are born but only to consume the corn, devour the cattle, flesh, and fish, and leave behind an empty dish. If our tombstones when we die were not taught to flatter or lie, there's nothing better to be said than this: "He's eaten all his bread, drunk up his drink and gone to bed?

http://day1.org/472-missing_is_not_final

B. Wiley Stephens. 2004
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His passion marked for us by great urgency--don't wait! Look at your life and dare to ask the hard questions: Am I stingy in my love for others? Am I withholding forgiveness for old wrongs? Do I refuse to believe that I can be forgiven, carrying from year to year a growing burden of guilt? Am I so busy making a living that I've forgotten to make a life? 

http://day1.org/638-could_this_be_the_year_for_figs

Barbara K. Lundblad, 2001
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You have likely heard about the pastor who really wanted to get a message through to one of her stubborn deacons that he was a stumbling block to the diaconate because he was so argumentative in the meetings. The pastor did a sermon in which she really came down hard on stubborn argumentative folk. At the conclusion of the sermon, the deacon said, "That was a wonderful sermon pastor, too bad there weren't more people in worship to hear it. She tried again, with a slightly different slant at a small prayer group when it was time for the devotion. The deacon called her aside after the meeting and said, "That devotion touched my heart pastor, I think the people could really use more of that. Why don't you preach on the subject some Sunday." "Just can't win," the pastor thought. But finally her chance came. It was a cold Sunday morning when one of the worst blizzards to ever hit the area hammered the town. No one was able to get to the worship service -- except for one person. You got it! It was that stubborn old deacon. "Thank you Lord, here's my chance!" the pastor prayed within as she rushed back to her office to dig out her notes on the theme of stubborn, argumentative people and how they harm the church. She delivered her sermon with commanding enthusiasm. At the close of worship, the deacon came to the pastor with a downhearted look on his face. A hard won sense of accomplishment began to swell within the pastor when the deacon said sadly, "Pastor, that is one of the finest sermons you've ever preached. It's just a darn shame they weren't here to hear it!"

http://www.lectionarysermons.com/zun3l.html

John Jewell, 1998
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They admitted that they were cutting it close because their prize ran out on June 1, but they were sure nothing would go wrong. Then the husband had a gallbladder attack and required surgery. The doctors said he would be able to travel, oh, by the middle of June.

http://www.agreeley.com/hom07/mar11.htm

Andrew Greeley, 2001
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