THE SOUND OF MY VOICE I overheard two laymen discussing the direction that my sermons for several weeks had been taking. Apparently, one of the men felt quite satisfied with himself and where he was…
Sermon Illustrations
THE PRAYER OF DESPERATION -- HOW SINCERE? Charlie Brown is in school and it is time to give a report. He just knows the teacher must be about to call on him. But he is…
CHANGING ATTITUDES TOWARDS PRAYER In a recent issue of the Reader's Digest there is a report on a RD/Gallup Survey on interest in religion. They detect a rising tide of interest in prayer. 87% said…
UNIVERSAL PRAYER If I am right, Thy grace impart, Still in the right to stay; If I am wrong, O teach my heart To find that better way! Alexander Pope
OLD FASHIONED PRAYER A farmer was entertaining one of his sophisticated relatives from the city. Before the meal the farmer gave thanks for the food. When he finished the visitor jeered: "This is old-fashioned; nobody…
CHILDREN'S SERMON: THE BEST KINDS OF PRAYER How many of you say your prayers each night before going to bed? That is a great way to close the day, isn't it? What are some of…
UNANSWERED PRAYER Remember St. Augustine, the wild profligate young man, and Monica, his saintly mother? They lived in North Africa when Augustine told his mother he was going to Rome where he could study rhetoric…
THE EFFECT OF OUR SURROUNDINGS I 've heard several versions of the following story, but I am assured by close sources that this is an approximation of the version told by John R. Stott (who…
A NOTE FROM HOME A saleswoman in a shop in a convention city often waited on businessmen who wanted to take gifts home to their wives. During one convention a man came into the store…
ENVY I 've always enjoyed using Paul Eldridge's Maxims For A Modern Man. They are witty and full of acerbic bite. They are a gentler form of cynicism than those of the old misanthrope, Ambrose…
VICTORY OR DEFEAT Only by desertion can we be defeated. With Christ and for Christ victory is certain. We can lose the victory by flight but not by death. Happy are you if you die…
COURAGE, E T. AL. One of the bishops attending Vatican II later shared with a few colleagues a note from his personal journal: "Wisdom everywhere, courage nowhere. Dear Lord, we are dying of prudence."
HOUSE AND HOME Because of a housing shortage near a military base where he was stationed, a young doctor and his wife and three children had to live in cramped quarters in a hotel. A…
REAL SATISFACTION, OF SORTS Lucy: "What happened when you showed your new engagement ring to the women in the office? Did they admire it?" Lois: "Admire it? Four of them recognized it!"
SCREAMING HUNGER In the book published by CALC called Hunger for Justice, Jack Nelson describes walking through the streets of Calcutta where "the poverty so enraged me that I wanted to scream at God. Then…
OVERMUCH GUILT Martin Luther was one who struggled with his sins. Before his break with the church he went to confession every day, he was so guilt-ridden by his sins he would almost have gone…
SECURITY: THE NARROW LINE Linus says of his security blanket: "Only one yard of outing flannel stands between me and a nervous breakdown."
ESCAPE One day Linus and Charlie Brown are walking along and chatting with one another. Linus says "I don't like to face problems head on. I think the best way to solve problems is to…
ONE STEP AT A TIME The cartoon strip shows Frank, of "Frank and Earnest" sound asleep. Then, through his window you see the sun coming up. He awakes, looks out the window and says: "Well,…
EVANGELISM An ancient story recalls how Satan once summoned his top three aides to plan how to stop a group of dedicated Christians from effective missionary work. One of the lieutenants, Rancor, said to Satan,…
