Poetic Sermons

Poetic Sermons are fun to write but require much more time to compose. I hope you will enjoy some of the sermons posted.   “The Persistent Widow” is my most recent. Please scroll past it to see other poetic sermons.

THE PERSISTENT WIDOW  Luke 18:1-8

The judge or the widow, who will it be?  Which one will win the victory?                         The judge is smart and has no fear.  The widow is old, has shed many a tear.

The judge has no respect for others, Considers no one his sisters or brothers                    He is simply above them all,  Among civic leaders stands seven feet tall.

The widow is lonely, humble and poor, No one comes with her, that’s for sure                    A man with power has done her wrong, And walked away singing his little song.

She’s desperate, angry, mad as can be.  The town’s only judge she wants to see                 She begs a hearing, wants to have her say,   But he is busy and waves her away.

The widow’s persistent and won’t go away.  She keeps coming back, day after day             “I have a problem and I need your ear.  I have a case I want you to hear.”

The judge gets tired of hearing her shout,  So decides to listen to what it’s all about            The widow explains in terms quite clear, The injustice she suffered for nearly a year.

“I must admit,” the judge says with a frown,  “Your coming each day was wearing me down                                                                                                                                                         I see your point, what you’ve spoken is true. I’ll see the scoundrel gives back what is due.

The widow went home greatly relieved.  She took a deep breath, tried not to be peeved    In her persistence she saw justice done.    Her battle now over, a victory won.

Think of the things that have happened to you.  Did you give up or seem them through? And what of the trials you’re facing right now.   They’ll come to an end, though God knows how.

Jesus tells the story of the widow persistent, And with his hearers is quite insistent      That we not give up and not despair, But keep on seeking what’s right and fair.

Sometimes going to court is a must.  We pray the judge will be honest and just   Sometimes we just wait, day after day.  Nothing can be done except to pray.

If an uncaring judge heard the widow’s plea, Won’t our loving God listen to you and to me?                                                                                                                                                    Jesus tells us to pray to God for our need, Not all that we want, for that would be greed.

Cry to God, that’s okay, by day and by night, And God will hear you, and do what is right Sometimes we wonder what’s taking so long,  Just keep on praying, let your faith be strong.

And remember it’s not your faith that achieves, But God who accomplishes that which relieves                                                                                                                                                          Faith means trusting in God not in you.  There simply are some things you cannot do.

Do what you can, be strong and persistent,  To get through problems that seem so resistant                                                                                                                                             And never stop praying, to some that sounds odd,  Just let go of your fears and trust in your God.

“I tell you,” said Jesus, a rabbi quite wise, “God will grant justice right before your eyes. “It may seem to you that you’re waiting forever; God is still with you and will leave you never.”

I’ve rambled enough, it’s time to sit down. I pray my poem has not caused you to frown    I am the preacher just for today,   While Jesus is our Savior, every day!  Amen

Click on the sermon title link to read any of the following poetic sermons:

“I SEE YOU IN I.C.U.” A rich man must fall from success in order to learn compassion; the rich man and Lazarus from Luke 16:19-31

“EXALTED ON EARTH, HUMBLED IN HEAVEN” Jimmy the Great is proud of his reputation and wealth. He is excited to be invited to the banquet, but upon arriving, is humbled before all the guests. Luke 14:11

“SWEET GRAPES” How easy it is to forget that everything is ultimately God’s. – Isaiah 5:1-7 Matthew 21:33-46

“ONE SNOWFLAKE, ONE MAN” The uniqueness of Jesus – John 1:1-18

“THE STORY OF PETER IN LIMERICK METER” – Matthew 4:18-19, 16:21-35, 18:13-19

“COME TASTE THE WINE” – John 2:1-11 At the wedding in Cana, all were invited, but only the obedient servants knew of the miracle, water becomes wine.

“WHY MUST WE WAIT?” Waiting is one of the hardest things we must do. God’s timing is not our timing, and usually that’s for the best. “For so many reasons, things must go slow; Some day you’ll see; some day you’ll know.”

“GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD” – John 3:16

“WHAT GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER” The Journey of Marriage – Mark 10:2-16

“WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS” Those who lose the most and learn to trust God, are willing to give the most to others. – Mark 12:38-44

“CREATION WAITS” For its fulfillment and completion by its Creator. – Romans 8:18-25

“ABANA AND PHARPAR” Naaman, the Syrian Army Commander, is told to wash in the Jordan River to be cleansed of leprosy – 2 Kings 5:1-15

“WHO SHUT IN THE SEA” Job questions God; Jesus calms the sea – Job 38:1-11 Mark 4:35-41

Here is another sample:
LOOK AT THE BIRDS OF THE AIR
Matthew 6:24-34

There once was a young man named Jesus
Who urged us not to do as we pleases
On the mountain he spoke
To all kinds of folk
Telling all to get down on their kneeses.
(I’m sorry; that was really bad! Let me try again.)

Jesus went up the mountain to pray
It was much like any other day
But the crowds gathered ‘round
They sat down on the ground
And waited to hear what he’d say.

Their crops were not doing well
And they had very little to sell
He saw they were nervous,
So instead of a service
A sermon he decided to tell.

Just look at the birds of the air
They seem to find food everywhere
They don’t sow or reap
They just eat and sleep
So think how your Father must care.

Are you not of more value than they?
Do you not have some food each day?
It’s not absurd
You’re worth more than a bird
God always provides a way.

Consider the lilies of the field
What beautiful flowers they yield
These lilies tell a story
More than Solomon’s glory
Of the faithfulness God can wield.

If God clothes the grass in lilies blue
Which fade in only a month or two
Which sprout from the soil
And neither spin nor toil
Will he not much more clothe you?

Your heavenly Father has understood
Even Gentiles need clothing and food
God knows your need
He is generous indeed
So why strive for wealth? That is rude!

Our faith is not based on a whim
Your Father wants you to trust him
So seek the Lord first
And your heart will soon burst
Into singing the words of a hymn!

In twenty centuries, the world’s changed a lot
But our worries, my friends, have not
We still lie awake
And sleeping pills take
Afraid our wealth will vanish or rot.

Dear friends, don’t you think we’re the same?
Dazzled by power, wealth and fame?
I feel quite sure
No one wants to be poor
But wealth’s not the name of the game.

You all know Wealth can deceive us
And sometimes good fortune may leave us
For wealth and success
Can make such a mess
And its loss can certainly grieve us.

The god named Wealth is a lie
The best things in life you can’t buy
Goodness and love
Both come from above
For the kingdom of God we sigh.

So strive to love God and do right
Leave the darkness and move toward the light
Remember to pray
Every night, every day,
And you will be blessed in God’s sight.

Can worrying make you live longer?
Does money make you much stronger?
Stay focused on heaven
And strive to be leaven
To worry just couldn’t be wrong-er!

Here, today, Jesus speaks to his friends
Encouraging us to make amends
God knows your need
He is generous indeed
And now into the world he sends. Amen
“GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD” – John 3:16

LORD, SEND US A SIGN
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be as deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” Isaiah 7:10-11

“Lord, send us a sign,” the people cry;
“We need to know you’re there!
Make it unmistakable, like a word in the sky;
Make it loud, like a trumpet’s blare.

Give us some sign that you really exist,
A sign that you can be trusted,
Before our faith disappears in the mist
And all of its symbols are rusted.”

We’ve wearied the Lord with our “bigger is better;”
We’ve put our God to the test.
Our egos have grown and our favorite letter
Is “I” because I am the best!

I want my way; my needs come first;
Of course I should have it all!
Unlimited possibilities, unquenchable thirst,
And an “I” on my funeral pall.

Who are we kidding with talk about God?
Religion is one big scam!
I won’t be one who’s looked at as odd;
A believer is not what I am.

Unless I’m a little confused or afraid,
Then I find that I might try to pray;
Even slip off to church when my nerves are frayed
To hear what the preacher might say.

Life is a gamble, God, give me a sign,
So I’ll know just what to do.
Tell me the winning numbers in your grand design,
I’d share my good luck with a few.

We read the world’s signs with anticipation;
Economic indicators give some of us hope.
The bond market’s rise fills with elation;
Stocks fall and some people can’t cope.

It’s not the world that determines our fate;
Our fears and our faith will decide
What paths we choose, what end we await,
God knows what goes on inside.

Restless and fitful is our sleep,
A sign of God’s displeasure.
Our sin is broad, our sin is deep;
It truly knows no measure.

The sky cries out its ozone warning,
A testimony to our pollution.
Before we destroy each new morning,
Will we manage to find a solution?

Lift up your heart, lift up your voice,
A sign, the Lord has given;
O earth and sun and stars rejoice,
A gift to earth from heaven!

The gift comes as a little child,
Not seen as something great;
Yet in this baby meek and mild,
The sign for which we wait.

An innocent one without much power,
Or so it often seems,
Has come at the appointed hour
To heal our broken dreams.

(Concluding with verses from Madeleine L’Engle’s “First Coming.”

He did not wait till the world was ready,
Till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
And prisoners cried out for release.

He came to a world which did not mesh,
To heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made flesh,
The Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane
To raise our shouts with joyful voice,
For to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

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