Sermon Illustration: God
It has been reported that a student was given a question, "Where do our rights come from?" He answered with one word: God. The teacher marked it wrong.
Sermon Illustration: Decisions
Elbert Hubbard once said, "It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires a great deal of strength to decide what to do."
Sermon Illustration: Communication
Those who preach and communicate for the cause of Christ always will want to know something about their audience. It is always instructive to learn something about the culture of young adults, a group the church is desperate to reach. Every year, Beloit College issues the "Beloit College Mindset" list. It tells about the world in which the incoming college students have grown up. Here are some insights from the 2010 list, which represents the class of 2014:
Sermon Illustration: Christmas
A Sunday School teacher was trying to get some discussion going in her children's Sunday School class during the Christmas season. She said, "If the flower of Easter is a lily, what is the flower of Christmas?"
Sermon Illustration: Christmas
President Calvin Coolidge was often called "Silent Cal." It has become part of the legend of the man. Although, he wasn't silent about Christmas. Here is what he said as his Christmas message in 1927:
Sermon Illustration: Christmas
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote this prayer for Christmas: "Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of angels, the gladness of the shepherds and the worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate, and open the door of love all over the world...
God Lessons from the Great Recession: Preaching in the Context of a Financial Downturn
Several months ago, my clergy support group discussed stewardship. We eventually got to the topic of stewardship sermons. When we did, a member of the group said, "When it comes to preaching about money, most preachers are wimps!"
Seventh Sunday after Epiphany: Placing Pastoral Expectations
As long as there have been pastors, there has been the struggle of pastoral expectations. What should a church expect of its pastor? J.D. Gray aptly captured the dilemma when he wrote:
Seventh Sunday after Epiphany: Which Book Are You Living By
In the John Wayne classic The Quiet Man, Wayne's character must battle his love interest's brother, Red Danaher. Danaher is an Irish landowner with few friends and a long list of enemies. In fact, one of Danaher's cronies is tasked with maintaining the list. When offended, Danaher will cry out, "Take out your book." His crony brandishes the book and Danaher dictates the offender's name. Recording the name is not sufficient retribution. After the name is written down, Danaher proclaims, "Now strike a line through it!"
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany: Don’t Worry, Trust Jesus
In the late 1980s, Bobby McFerrin's song, "Don't Worry, Be Happy," rose to the top of the pop charts. The a cappella song with the light reggae beat invited listeners to chill out and put their worries aside.