Sermon Date: 10-7-07
Passage: Mark 12:13-17
The working title of my sermon at this point is "The Branding of the Soul."
A theologian named Millard Erickson says this:
“What are the things that are God’s? Presumably, whatever bears the image of God. Jesus then was saying, ‘Give your money to Caesar; it has his image on it, and thus it belongs to him. But give yourselves to God. You bear his image, and you belong to him.’ Commitment, devotion, love, loyalty, service to God—all of these are proper response for those who bear the image of God.” (Erickson, M. Christian Theology. Baker; Grand Rapids. 1993 p 515)
Some thoughts and questions I am asking myself as I work out this sermon:
The “branding” of the soul (Play on words). What brand is your soul? Is it genuine or generic?
What brand am I?
What is our identity? Who am I? Jesus shares his identity with us.
What is your narrative? Who are you in the story? As the plot of your life develops, what is your identity?
Some passages that popped up:
2 Corinthians 3:18
1 Peter 2:9-12
Matthew 6:26
Psalm 139
Psalm 139
“Every man becomes the image of the God he adores. He whose worship is directed to a dead thing becomes a dead thing.” –(Merton, T. No Man is an Island. Harcourt Brace: San Diego 1983 pg. 239)
So...these are some of the thoughts and notes I have jotted down, not all of them, but some. Now it's your turn. Read the passage, read my notes, and give me some feedback.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Blessings,
-Tim
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2 comments:
HEY MAN,
You're doing a great job, bro. It might be cool to compare and contrast the brand that God leaves on us and name brand clothes. Like somehow use Abercrombie or American Eagle in saying that we place so much value on these brands that ultimately have no value at all. BUT when it comes to the brand of God we place no value on something that has value for eternity.
Maybe we can give everyone a Gap card ;)
Great comment. That is exactly what I was thinking with the play on words. Marketers spend a lot of money on us to make us into the image of their brand, but we are "branded" with the image of God.
For all of you that go to the Gathering, Chris was joking, sorry, no Gap cards this weekend.
-Tim
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