Man's Existence and God's Glory

In this part of the sermon: Martin begins by noting Jesus' open-air ministry and expresses a desire to preach outdoors to use vivid illustrations from nature, specifically withered grass and fallen flowers…

Martin uses Jesus' example of pointing to lilies to illustrate the advantage of open-air preaching. He then wishes he could transport the congregation to his backyard to show them his withered grass and fallen Rose of Sharon flowers, directly connecting to the text's imagery of transient life.

And open air preaching has some disadvantages, but it has many advantages, not the least of which it gives the preacher an opportunity to turn not only the ears of his hearers to the truth, but also their eyes. No doubt when our Lord was speaking on the Sermon on the Mount and said, Behold the lilies of the field! He could point to a patch of wild flowers, turn their eyes to them, let them look upon them for a few moments, and then turn their attention back to His words as He made appropriate comments upon that which their eyes had seen in response to His words. Well, this morning is one of th...

2:21 - 3:40 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin begins by noting Jesus' open-air ministry and expresses a desire to preach outdoors to use vivid illustrations from nature, specifically withered grass and fallen flowers…

Martin uses the proverb 'If Mohammed won't go to the mountain, you bring the mountain to Mohammed' to justify bringing withered grass and fallen flowers into the pulpit as visual aids.

It speaks of flowers that fall, and in one part of our property, the line that divides ours from our neighbors is a rose of Sharon bush, for you horticulturalists, it's a hibiscus syriacus, and it's in full bloom. And as I was out taking some pictures of some of those open blossoms the other day, I noticed at my feet dozens and dozens of that which a couple of days ago were full of flowers that were in full bloom. In full bloom, rows of Sharon flowers that are now nothing but fallen, shriveled remnants of their former glory. So I'd love to preach with the withered grass beneath your feet and m...

3:41 - 4:41 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into the imagery of 'all flesh is as grass' and 'all the glory thereof as the flower of grass,' using physical examples from his backyard to powerfully illustrate…

Martin brings actual withered grass from his backyard into the pulpit to visually demonstrate the 'withered the grass' imagery from the text, emphasizing its reality.

Describing that state that is continually in existence when you look out upon a field that it goes so soon from the state of being lush and green to being withered and the flower that was in full bloom and had such glory withers and falls. I said I was going to bring some of the backyard into the pulpit. I went out this morning and I clipped some of this from the backyard. Brown matches the pulpit just a few little sprigs of green in it.

22:32 - 23:12 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into the imagery of 'all flesh is as grass' and 'all the glory thereof as the flower of grass,' using physical examples from his backyard to powerfully illustrate…

Martin displays withered Rose of Sharon blossoms, comparing them to 'dried cigarette butts,' to illustrate the 'fallen the flower' imagery and the rapid decay of beauty.

And what about the flowers? I went out to take pictures of the Rosa Sharon bush. The ground was scattered with weeds. You know what's in there?

23:59 - 24:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into the imagery of 'all flesh is as grass' and 'all the glory thereof as the flower of grass,' using physical examples from his backyard to powerfully illustrate…

Martin compares young people in the congregation to unopened flower buds, soon to be in full bloom, but ultimately destined to wither and fall, making the transience of life personal.

They've withered and they've fallen. This one that I cut this morning just being away from its own native bush has already begun to show the signs of withering. Now it has on it some that have not yet opened up. They're like you young people.

24:37 - 24:57 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Applying the imagery, Martin vividly describes how even the strongest, most beautiful, and accomplished individuals will inevitably wither and fall, emphasizing the universal…

Martin uses Arnold Schwarzenegger as an example of a strong, glorious man who, if spared, will inevitably become 'bent, arthritic, nearsighted, drooling, bumbling old men,' illustrating that 'all flesh is as grass.'

Now do you really believe that? Men who swagger in their strength and in their glory. The Arnold Schwarzeneggers. If the Lord tarries and spares them.

27:19 - 27:37 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Applying the imagery, Martin vividly describes how even the strongest, most beautiful, and accomplished individuals will inevitably wither and fall, emphasizing the universal…

Martin uses Leonardo DiCaprio's youthful fame and attractiveness as an example of fleeting glory, predicting his eventual physical decline to 'wrinkled, sagging jowls' and 'false teeth,' reinforcing the 'all flesh is as grass' theme.

The time will come when Arnold will be a shriveled, weak, toothless, nearsighted, bumbling old man. Young Leonardo DiCaprio. Everybody's heart throbbed because of that inane, banal, immoral, picture titanic. I trust no Christian here watched it.

27:53 - 28:15 Read in full sermon

Driving home: You see, this is not some negative perspective of dour, negativized, religious people. This is reality. All flesh is grass.

Martin cites Alexander the Great and fallen empires as historical examples of great power and glory that have withered and become 'piles of rubble,' demonstrating the universal truth of human and worldly transience.

And crowns and fillings. All flesh is as grass. Take the great ones of the earth. The Alexanders.

28:44 - 28:54 Read in full sermon

The point: When you go out and see the grass, you'll say, Lord, that's me. Withering grass. When you see the flowers in full bloom, Lord, you said, even my best accomplishments, my noble accomplishments, the things in which we can,…

Martin shares the story of Christopher Fideli, a seven-year-old boy connected to the church who died, illustrating that life can be 'plucked and withered before it ever blossoms,' emphasizing the unpredictability of human transience.

It is withering. And while it is not yet blossomed out, you don't know but what like little Christopher Fideli it will be plucked and withered before it ever blossoms. Seven years old for you visiting with us. The son of a family connected with our church for whom we prayed for months.

29:38 - 30:06 Read in full sermon

The point: When you go out and see the grass, you'll say, Lord, that's me. Withering grass. When you see the flowers in full bloom, Lord, you said, even my best accomplishments, my noble accomplishments, the things in which we can,…

Martin uses Michael Jordan as an example of a once-great athlete who will eventually lose his physical prowess, demonstrating that even peak human strength is 'not imperishable.'

Withered. Fallen. The time is coming when Michael Jordan won't be able to dunk a golf ball in his...

30:06 - 30:15 Read in full sermon

The point: When you go out and see the grass, you'll say, Lord, that's me. Withering grass. When you see the flowers in full bloom, Lord, you said, even my best accomplishments, my noble accomplishments, the things in which we can,…

Martin points to Hollywood beauty queens, noting that even plastic surgery and silicone cannot ultimately prevent the effects of aging, reinforcing that 'all flesh is as grass.'

Let alone reach above the rim a foot and a half and slam it down through. Michael Jordan is not imperishable. He's not. And the beauty queens over which people now drool in Hollywood.

30:15 - 30:38 Read in full sermon

Driving home: God will never have to send us a book of retractions. Never.

Martin contrasts God's Word with human authors who write 'books of retractions' later in life, emphasizing that God's Word is absolutely truthful and never needs correction.

Surely it abides forever first of all in its absolute truthfulness. In its absolute truthfulness. God will never have to send down from heaven a book of retractions. There are certain authors who have written over a long period of time and in the history of the church this has been true.

35:18 - 35:42 Read in full sermon

Driving home: No changeless realities. No wonder you have a generation that doesn't know where it came from, doesn't know where it's going and how to get where it doesn't know where it isn't going.

Martin quotes a children's hymn to illustrate how the Bible answers fundamental questions about human origin, identity, and destiny, contrasting with the confusion of a post-modern world.

There's no reality beyond what I can contact with my five senses. And there's no voice that comes to me from outside of myself in the language of the lovely little children's hymn to tell me whence I am and who and what I am. Holy Bible book divine. Precious treasure thou art mine. Mine to tell me whence I came. Mine to tell me whence I came. Mine to tell me, Lord Jesus Christ, I have testify that you teach me what I am. One of the first questions around him. Ok. All right.

47:34 - 48:14 Read in full sermon

The point: Don't trifle with the god who cannot lie. He that believes not shall be damned, the scriptures say.

Martin quotes John Calvin, who warns that those who wander beyond God's revealed Word will find only 'impostures of Satan and their own delusions,' underscoring the sufficiency and authority of Scripture.

That's a sobering place. That word will not fail of its fulfillment. Calvin very perceptively commented on this text Those who wander beyond the bounds of revelation, that is the words, God has spoken shall in place of that word of the Lord gain nothing but the impostures of Satan and their own delusions who wants the impostures of the devil and the delusions of his own mind when we have a word from God that lives and abides forever let's pray our father we do thank you for your holy word we thank you for this portion of that word that we have been privileged to study together this morning and...

59:17 - 60:28 Read in full sermon