AQUINAS ON PRIDE Pride is the most grievous of all sins, because it exceeds them all in that turning away from God that is the crowning constituent of all sin.
Sermon Illustrations
THE TIGER CALLS There is an ancient folk-tale about a tiger that was brought up with a herd of goats. From the day his eyes opened, all he saw was a goat's life so it…
FRIENDLY COMPETITION We often find stories of competitors who are able to reach out and befriend one another even in the hard-ball world of business. This last week I've read John Sculley's book, Odyssey: Pepsi…
THANKFUL FOR TROUBLES ON THE JOB Be thankful for the troubles of your job. They provide about half your income. Because if it were not for the things that go wrong, the difficult people you…
THE PROFIT IN SERMONS "I never heard a sermon but what I got some good out of it. However, I had some mighty close calls." Dr. Pierce Harris, as
THAT'S THE ONLY PROBLEM A young man had finished his first semester in college and was spending the weekend at home. Somewhat bored with the old place, he was regaling his father with the wonders…
CAPITALISM Lately a number of Christian authors have written on the question, "Is capitalism Christian?" The attempts to answer this question have been scholarly and well developed, but some of these writers fail to perceive…
GREED There are those today who would destructively exploit the environment and bring suffering to others in order to gratify their craving for financial gain. A case in point can be found in a recent…
OVERCOMING GREED There is one primary way to overcome greed, and that is to discover the joy that comes from self-giving. The nature of sin is that it blinds us to the truth that we…
OLD COATS AND OLD FRIENDS My coat and I live comfortably together. It has assumed all of my wrinkles; does not hurt me anywhere, has molded itself on my infirmities and is complacent to all…
EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY I recently started reading Psychiatrist Scott Peck's newest book, The Different Drum, a powerful book on community. One of the most vital things that can happen to you and to me as…
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT One Saturday night a pastor threw up his hands and said to himself, "No way I can face that congregation tomorrow. I'm going golfing." So, he phoned his assistant and told him…
ADMISSION The Chinese have a story based on three or four thousand years of civilization. Two Chinese coolies were arguing heatedly in the midst of a crowd. A stranger expressed surprise that no blows were…
YOU, ME AND WE John Berger, the principal, encountered a ninth grade boy walking out of room 209 with a dour expression on his face. The concerned principal asked the boy, "And how are we…
ARE YOU HEARING THE MESSAGE? I love the story of the young man a number of years back who was seeking a job as a Morse Code operator. He found an ad in the paper…
EXCELLENCE We use this broad, generic word to speak of many things. A thing is excellent if it is of high quality, if it stands above the pack and excels, it is above the average.…
GET HELP AND GUIDANCE Picture this -- two kindergarten children -- side by side, equal intelligence, equal advantages. Both are forming letters. One is making awkward childish letters, the other is making lovely, well-formed letters.…
TRUE LIVING Years ago Louis Evans served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood, California. In his congregation was a gifted surgeon. As a sensitive Christian he was alert to the working of…
DEATH AS FOCUS A sentence of death wonderfully concentrates the mind. Napoleon
SEEING THE FUTURE Isn't it strange? The same people who laugh at gypsy fortunetellers take economists seriously. Cincinnati Enquirer
