A well-known preacher, world-famous for his talks, was hired to speak at a town rally. The city had fallen into a deep economic depression when the local auto plant shut down, forcing thousands to join…
Sermon Illustrations
Many years ago, one of the “Dear Abby” columns was entitled “Hugging — The Perfect Cure For What Ails You.” The piece then listed the following benefits of hugging: ”No movable parts, no batteries to…
I note the obvious differences in the human family. Some of us are serious, some thrive on comedy. The variety of skin tones can confuse, bemuse, delight, brown and pink and beige and purple, tan…
Charlie Brown, in a “Peanuts” cartoon, walks away from Lucy after a baseball game, head down, totally dejected. “Another ball game lost! Good grief!” Charlie moans. “I get tired of losing. Everything I do, I…
984 The English Playwright, Oscar Wilde, arrived at his club late one night after witnessing the dismal opening performance of his latest play. ”How did your play go tonight, Oscar?” someone asked. “Oh,” said Wilde,…
Doubt sees the obstacles, Faith sees the way; Doubt sees the blackest night, Faith sees the day; Doubt dreads to take a step, Faith soars on high; Doubt questions, “Who believes?” Faith answers, “I!”
A young boy was asked, in religion class, to define “faith.” He said, “Faith is believing what you know isn’t true.” His definition is wrong all the way through. Faith is accepting. Faith is receiving.…
When they were at the peak of their power, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams hated each other with a passion. Although they were real political enemies, each was blessed with a long, creative retirement which…
There were times in the life of the saintly Theresa of Avila (1515-1582) when she must have felt that she was enduring more than her fair share of sickness and trouble. On one occasion, so…
Many years ago, a book called “The Big Fisherman,” by Lloyd C. Douglas, made the best-seller lists. The book contains a scene in which several of the Apostles are wondering aloud about Jesus: “Why did…
“Waiting for Godot” is a modern drama in which playwright Samuel Beckett offers a very pessimistic view of the human condition. The action centers around two tramps who wait in vain for a person named…
A woman who was a very faithful church-goer had just received her drivers license. Before putting the key in the ignition for her first solo trip, she prayed for a safe journey: “Lord, please guide…
”Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ’You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ “ (Matthew. 14:31). The story is told of a monastery in Portugal, perched high on…
At the age of four I knew that God was everywhere. I spoke to Him, and sometimes He listened with sympathy. It was an unforgettable occasion in boyhood when He sent me a bicycle with…
“I will extol You, my God and King and bless Your Name forever and ever . . On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wondrous works I will meditate” (Psalms 145:1,5) During…
I once attended a man in a North of England town who had all all his life prided himself upon his atheism. He had disowned his only daughter because she married a schoolmaster who was…
Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring, reminds us of an exchange between Alice and the Red Queen. Says Alice, “One can’t believe impossible things.” To which the Queen responds, “I dare say, you haven’t had…
Television’s Connie Chung admits that she is incapable of being a superwoman — “the type who, with every hair in place, can hold a job, run a household, exercise or jog, do charity work, sew,…
Some of you may have noticed a statistic a few years back which indicated that more twins are being born. When a teacher mentioned this to her third-grade class, one of the pupils said, “I…
A family sets man apart from all other living creatures. Who else has children he can call his own for longer than it takes to set them on their feet or on their way? Even…
