Rev. Dr. Bary R. Fleet - Pastor
August 19, 2007 - 12th Sunday after Pentecost
Isaiah 5:1-7
Hebrews 11:29-12:2
Luke 12:49-56

Right Relationships

Story about a boy trying to dunk a basketball, getting his teeth caught in the net – sued the manufacturer, and settled out of court for $50,000. I guess they needed a warning label: “Keep your mouth closed when jumping near the net!”

There are so many frivolous lawsuits now. The Girl Scouts of Metro Detroit now have to sell 36,000 boxes of cookies just to cover their liability insurance coverage.

Many companies are trying to protect themselves with warning labels. Here are some examples:

A label on a baby stroller warns: “Remove child before folding.”
A flushable toilet brush warns: “Do not use for personal hygiene.”
A household iron warns users: “Never iron clothes while they are being worn.”
A cartridge for a laser printer says: “Do not eat toner.”
A 13-inch wheel on a wheelbarrow warns: “Not intended for highway use.”
A dishwasher carries this warning: “Do not allow children to play in the dishwasher.”
A box of birthday candles says: “DO NOT use soft wax as ear plugs or for any other function that involves insertion into a body cavity.”

Can you imagine? “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you … hey, get those candles out of your ears!”

Today’s passage from Isaiah is a kind of warning label. It is sort of a love song sung by the prophet to the people of Israel about a vineyard.

God plants a vineyard, but it doesn’t produce good grapes. God does everything that needs to be done, but still no good grapes. Whose fault is it … God’s or the vineyard itself?

And, if it is the vineyard, then God will leave the vineyard to its own devices.

God’s warning label is clear: “Caution: Producing wild grapes can result in injury, dismemberment or death.”

God created Israel for a purpose:

God made us for a certain kind of relationship with the rest of the world. There is a warning label attached: “Beware of yielding wild grapes!”

NOTE: The above sermon is credited to Homiletics: July/August 2007., Vol. 19, Number 4.

SERMON IN A SACK: A roll of tape. Mark off a section of the floor. Talk about how we usually think of Jesus bringing people together, but sometimes he divides – between those who follow him and those who don’t!

Be sure which side of the tape you are on!