March 30, Holy Humor Service

Lesson: Luke 15

Sermon Title: Beware of the Grumbles

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INTRODUCTION:

  1. Beware of the Grumbles.

    1. What are the grumbles?

    2. Grumble (1) grum·ble

      1. v. grum·bled, grum·bling, grum·bles

        1. v.intr.

        2. To complain in a surly manner; mutter discontentedly: "The governed will always find something to grumble about" Crane Brinton.

        3. To rumble or growl.

        4. v.tr. To express in a grumbling discontented manner: grumbled a rude response.

      2. n.

        1. A muttered complaint.

        2. A rumble; a growl.

    3. The grumbles create discontent and rob you of joy.

      1. Joy replenishes the spirit.

      2. Jesus is a source of joy.

  2. The antidote for the grumbles is Holy Humor Sunday.

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  1. In the Joyful Noiseletter there is an article: Churches resurrect an old Easter custom (2)

Many American churches are resurrecting an old Easter custom begun by the Greeks in the early centuries of Christianity-"Holy Humor Sunday" celebrations of Jesus' resurrection on the Sunday after Easter.

For centuries in Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant countries, the week following Easter Sunday, including "Bright Sunday" (the Sunday after Easter), was observed by the faithful as "days of joy and laughter" with parties and picnics to celebrate Jesus' resurrection.

Churchgoers and pastors played practical jokes on each other, drenched each other with water, told jokes, sang, and danced.

The custom was rooted in the musings of early church theologians (like Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and John Chrysostom) that God played a practical joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead. "Risus paschalis-the Easter laugh," the early theologians called it.

In 1988 the Fellowship of Merry Christians began encouraging churches and prayer groups to resurrect Bright Sunday celebrations and call it "Holy Humor Sunday," with the theme: "Jesus is the LIFE of the party."

Many churches from different traditions responded enthusiastically. Holy Humor Sunday services are bringing back large crowds to churches on a Sunday when church attendance typically drops dramatically.

  1. I gave each person a drawing of a face that had no eye3s, nose or mouth and asked them to finish the face of Jesus.

    1. What emotion did you use to create the expression in the eyes and the set of the mouth.

    2. Beware of the lopsided Jesus.

      1. The lopsided Jesus is the one in which we see only one side of his personality and desire.

      2. Some people see only the stern, disapproving face, and liive with apprehension and anxiety.

    3. Jesus experienced the whole gamut of human emotions, either personally or imposed on him.

      1. List of Common Emotions.

      2. 152 common emotions listed on this site.

      3. Jesus experienced at least 68 of them.

  2. The one attribute that we are least likely to attribute to Jesus is humor.

    1. Jesus first miracle was performed at the wedding in Cana.

      1. He had the servants fill 6 stone jars that held 20 to 30 gallons apiece.

      2. This is about 120 to 180 gallons of fine wine.

    2. He once said in Luke 7: 31"To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,

'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;

we wailed, and you did not weep.'

33For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon'; 34the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' (Luke 7:31-34, NRSVA).

      1. Does this sound like Jesus enjoyed a feast or celebration.

      2. Of course it does.

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  1. Luke 15 reveals Jesus humorous and joyful side.

    1. It also reveals the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes.

    2. It also reveals the emotions of the older son and brother that are in opposition to those of the Father, God, Jesus.

      1. The lost sheep.

        1. Rejoice with me, the lost is found.

      2. The story of the lost coin.

        1. Rejoice with me, the lost is found.

      3. The lost son.

        1. Kill the fatted calf.

        2. Let us eat and celebrate.

        3. They had a celebration.

    3. Did Jesus have a sense of humor; yes!

    4. Did Jesus laugh and enjoy himself; Yes!

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CONCLUSION:

  1. Time for humor.

Driver Learns Valuable Lesson About Traffic Signs (3)

Parked on the side of the road, waiting to catch speeding drivers, a state trooper sees a car puttering along at 22 mph. Thinking the driver is as dangerous as a speeder, the state trooper turns on his lights and pulls the car over.

As he approaches the vehicle, the officer notices there are five elderly ladies inside--two in the front seat and three in the back--wide-eyed and white as ghosts.

The driver, obviously confused, says, "Officer, I don't understand. I was going the exact speed limit. What seems to be the problem?"

The trooper, trying to contain a chuckle, explained to her that 22 was the route number--not the speed limit.

A bit embarrassed, the woman grins and thanks the officer for pointing out her error.

"Before you go," the officer says, "I have to ask: Is everyone in this car okay? These women seem awfully shaken."

"Oh," she answered, "they'll be all right, sir. We just got off of Route 127."

XXX

Forgetful (4)

While on a road trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch. After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant and resumed their trip. When leaving, the elderly woman unknowingly left her glasses on the table and she didn't miss them until they had been driving about twenty minutes.

By then, to add to the aggravation, they had to travel quite a distance before they could find a place to turn around, in order to return to the restaurant to retrieve her glasses.

All the way back, the elderly husband became the classic grouchy old man. He fussed and complained and scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire return drive. The more he chided her, the more agitated he became. He just wouldn't let up one minute.

To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant. As the woman got out of the car and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, her husband yelled to her, "While you're in there, you might as well get my hat and the credit card."

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XXX

Deacon Meeting Minutes (5)

The newly elected secretary for the Deacon Board at church submitted this report:

October the something Deacon's meeting

Present was most of the deacons; one was absent.

Chairman Tad asked Luke to say something, and he did.

New officers were needed; some of us were arm twisted into taking the positions.

Some old business was remembered, and most of it had been approved. What wasn't was not important.

We tried to think of some new business, but it was decided that we're too old to be new.

Some of the deacons were getting tired so we decided to get out of the meeting.

(Secretary's note: I said I would type the meeting minutes; not that they would be worth a hoot!!)

XXX

High Blood Pressure (6)

When a physician remarked on a new patient's extraordinarily ruddy complexion, the patient said, "High blood pressure, Doc. It comes from my family."

"Your mother's side or your father's?" the doctor asked.

"Neither," the patient replied. "It's from my wife's family."

"Oh, come now," the doctor said. "How could your wife's family give you high blood pressure?"

He sighed. "You oughta meet 'em sometime, Doc!"

XXX

Sunrise Pun (7)

One morning a man got up early to watch the sun rise.

As he sat in the dark it suddenly dawned on him!

XXX

New Apartment (8)

A property manager of single-family residence was showing a unit to prospective tenants and asking the usual questions.

"Professionally employed?" he asked.

"We're a military family," the wife answered.

"Children?"

"Oh, yes, ages nine and twelve," she answered proudly.

"Animals?"

"Oh, no," she said earnestly. "They're very well behaved."

XXX

Frustration (9)

The minister stormed into the vestry and flung his sermon notes on the table. "Today," he shouted to the church officer, "I have preached to a congregation of jackasses!"

The Church officer nodded, "So that was why you kept calling them 'beloved brethren.'"

XXX

1. Retrieved from: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/grumbles

2. http://www.joyfulnoiseletter.com/hhsunday.asp

3. Submitted by Van Morris, Mount Washington, Kentucky, Church Laughs Newsletter [churchlaughs-html@lists.christianitytoday.com]

4. forwarded by Fred Dick, Mikey's Funnies [funnies-owner@lists.MikeysFunnies.com]

5. Received from Danny Wilder via Carole Johnson. The Good, Clean Funnies List [gcfl-info@gcfl.net]

6. Received from ArcaMax Jokes. The Good, Clean Funnies List [gcfl-info@gcfl.net]

7. Pastor Tim [posts@cybersaltlists.org]

8. Pastor Tim [posts@cybersaltlists.org]

9. Pastor Tim [posts@cybersaltlists.org]

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