THE CAPACITY FOR TENDERNESS There is a tragic story about Lenin that persists to this day, revealing much about his inner soul. Vladimir Ulyanov was born in 1870 to a family that would suffer many…
Sermon Illustrations
WEARING ONE ANOTHER'S BURDEN In Booker T. Washington's autobiography, Up From Slavery, Mr. Washington recalled a beautiful incident of an older brother's love. He said the shirts worn on his plantation by the slaves were…
PERSPECTIVES A church was having air conditioning installed in the sanctuary and so the pastor was meeting with the contractor. The man asked the pastor a number of questions about the seating capacity, square footage,…
YOUR ATTITUDE TO THE NARROW WAY Truth is narrow. If we were hiking and came to a wide river, and we learned that there was one bridge, down the river a mile or two, we…
FIRST, THEY GAVE OF THEMSELVES Dr. W. L. Stidger asked a young man to recount his most exciting adventure during the war. His reply was as follows: "We were in the submarine zone and knew…
TOTAL STEWARDSHIP Helen Rosavere is an English woman who had interests in becoming a doctor and serving God. Upon completion of her medical training at Cambridge University, Helen began to ask God where he would…
THE PASTOR'S INVOLVEMENT WITH STEWARDSHIP A man called at the church and asked if he could speak to the Head Hog at the Trough. The Secretary said, "Who?" The man replied, "I want to speak…
FORBIDDEN WORD The denominational headquarters were making some video tapes for use as a resource in local churches. The theme of the series was stewardship. Attempting to approach the theme with a humorous twist, this…
DON'T DESPAIR I have never known a person who genuinely committed his or her life to God who was ever sorry. Chuck Swindoll has a humorous story in his book, Growing Strong in the Seasons…
TO PLEDGE OR NOT TO PLEDGE To Pledge or Not to Pledge-That is the question Whether 'tis nobler in a man, To take the Gospel free and Let another man foot the bill, Or sign…
A SACRED TRUST TO ADMINISTER Dennis the Menace was walking out of church with his dad and mom. As they approached the pastor, Dennis asked, much to the embarrassment of his father, "What are you…
WHAT TAKES WHO WITH WHOM? The story is told of Rose Greenhow, a Confederate spy during the Civil War, who tried to evade capture and the loss of her fortune by sewing the gold she…
YOUR HEART FOLLOWS YOUR DOLLARS Connie was a young woman who rejected people and became a lonely individual. Reading, working, and taking care of her apartment became the focal interests in her life. Connie's whole…
ONLY A PENNY A little girl who loved the Lord longed to share the message of salvation with those who had never heard it. So she contributed a penny to a missionary to help with…
DEBT COLLECTORS The pastor responded to a member: "You say you can't give to the church because you owe everyone. Don't you feel that you owe the Lord something?" The member responded: "Yes, of course…
TALK ABOUT MONEY I have never felt any hesitation in speaking to my congregation about money. I thrill to it. I revel in it. I love to see the liberal enjoy it. I love to…
AN ANALOGY JUST OFF THE TOP OF HIS HEAD Gary Rinehults shares with us a lesson he uses in teaching stewardship -- using his balding head as a point (excuse the pun) of reference. He…
A TRUST OF LOVE God loaned me a life and I must pay Him back a portion of each day In loving service; I must give A part of every hour I live In thoughtful,…
MONEY MAGNATES In 1923 at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, eight of the most powerful money-magnates in the world gathered for a meeting. These eight, if they combined their resources and their assets,…
UNEXPECTED GIVING On Friday, I had the opportunity to hear Conrad Tietel, one of America's foremost authorities on philanthropic giving and taxes. He told a couple of interesting stories: He said that churches in his…
