WESLEY ON SINGING Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing God more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of…
Sermon Illustrations
DISILLUSIONED Santa Clara County Supervisor Dianne McKenna recently told the following story at the DeAnza College Commencement that she read in Bloom County: Opus, the penguin was suffering a crisis of faith. While standing in…
THIELICKE ON THE CRY FROM THE DEPTH Helmut Thielicke writes in Our Heavenly Father about the bombing raids of World War II on the German homeland. His church in Stuttgart had been destroyed, the city…
COEXISTENCE Visitors to the zoo were surprised to see the exhibit labeled, "Coexistence" containing a lion and some lambs. The zookeeper explained there was nothing to it. "All I have to do every now and…
LEVELS OF MEANING A missionary acquaintance of mine was working in Indochina shortly before the fall of Dien Bien Phu. He was taken captive by a band of Communist guerillas and held for several weeks.…
WORDS FITLY SPOKEN From a collection of expressions coined in the rural south: "He's so tight he don't even breathe all the air he needs." "A few drinks of that and you're nine feet tall…
THE FIRST PRAYER IN CONGRESS Given by Rev. J. Duche, Chaplain, December 17, 1777. O Lord, our heavenly Father, High and Mighty, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who dost from the Throne behold…
MARRIAGE The Irish have a ring called the Claddagh. It is often used as a wedding ring. Engraved on it are three symbols: a heart, a pair of folded hands, and a crown. The heart…
HUNGER FOR THE GOSPEL This strange tale takes place in a small village in north central India near the border of Nepal. And it begins with a man who bought three cigarettes from a shopkeeper…
COMMUNICATION An executive who had recently hired an English secretary had to go on a business trip to London. While he was away, a salesman who had never spoken to the new secretary made one…
PARTIAL COMMITMENT Overheard as a man was leaving his companion at the entrance to the IRS office: "As your tax consultant, I said in case of an audit I would accompany you to the IRS.…
FROG'S PERSPECTIVE One frog to another, "Time's fun when your having flies." Robert Strand, Grand Junction, CO.
STRESS DIET We live in one of the most diet- conscious societies that has ever existed. Some of them are more realistic than others. Here's one that has been called The Stress Diet. Breakfast: 1/2…
THEOLOGY AND MUSIC There has always been a close association between theology and music. A theological drama, such as Calvin's Geneva Liturgy, would be barren without the musical settings of the Psalms provided by Louis…
THE REST OF THE STORY The student grabbed the professor after class and asked for an explanation of the notations on his examination paper. The pupil inquired, "How come I only got a 'D' on…
SECOND GUESSING THE LORD An acquaintance was talling his mother about a friend who had died and left three small children. His mother said, "Why couldn't it have been me? I am ninety-three years old,…
WISDOM FROM WOODY ALLEN Regarding science, Woody Allen stated at the conclusion of a recent commencement address: Science has taught us how to pasteurize cheese -- but what about the H-Bomb? Have you ever seen…
LACK OF VISION Many years ago a young man went to work at a hardware store. He found all sorts of junk that took up space but did not sell well. This clerk asked the…
WHAT MAKES A HAPPY MARRIAGE? As a neglected garden is soon invaded by weeds, so a love carelessly guarded is quickly submerged by unkind feelings. Everything threatens it: ennui, monotony, illness, the spitefulness of third…
TIMING IS EVERYTHING A saleman from the Chicago area was in Miami when he called his manager. He explained the difficult situation saying: "I'm stuck here in the middle of a hurricane. All of the…
