Illustration: God

J. Michael Shannon

Martin Gardner was a fascinating Renaissance man. In his youth, he was an evangelical Christian, later abandoning Christianity. He became a columnist and essayist in the area of mathematics, magic, philosophy, paranormal debunking and religion. He became an expert on Lewis Carroll and G.K. Chesterton. He also wrote a semi-autobiographical novel on the loss of traditional faith, The Flight of Peter Fromm.

What surprised many of his colleagues and fans is that he could not eliminate completely the idea of eternal life and God. He remained at least a philosophical theist. He said that one of his favorite quotes was from G.K. Chesterton, who observed that to atheists, “the universe was the most exquisite masterpiece ever created by nobody.”

View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

Illustration: God

J. Michael Shannon

Sydney, Australia, gets its power from a generator in the Hunter Valley 100 miles away. Due to the resistance of the wires, some of the electricity is lost on the journey. Only about three-tenths of the power generated actually gets all the way to Sydney.

If you want to experience the fullness of God’s power, you had better stay close to Him.

View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

Illustration: God

J. Michael Shannon

Jimmy Webb is the composer of some of the most well-known pop songs of all time, including, “Up, Up, and Away,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Galveston,” “MacArthur Park” and “Wichita Lineman.” Jimmy is the son of a Baptist minister. His family lived in southern California. After his mother’s death, Jimmy’s father decided to move, but Jimmy wanted to stay and write songs for a living. Reluctantly, his father gave him all the money in his wallet—$40.00—to get started. Jimmy still composes and sings in concerts. In the past few years, he has reconnected with his faith, writing a Christmas cantata and several Christian-oriented songs. In an interview with the Salvation Army newspaper, Webb said: “I couldn’t write a song without God. Sure, I could hack out hackneyed phrases and clichés, but to write anything meaningful I have to be in tune with God. He is the great source, my inspiration, the current that I have to connect to. Sadly I’ve not always used the gift He’s given me—the answered prayer—as best as I could or should have. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve done things I wish I hadn’t done.

View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

Illustration: God

J. Michael Shannon

Unfortunately Edwin Booth is known primarily as the brother of John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Abraham Lincoln. Booth was a celebrated Shakespearean actor.

One stormy night in London, only a few people showed up for a performance. Some of the actors wanted to cancel the performance, but Booth said, “No.” The cast asked how they could possibly get motivated for the performance, and Booth suggested they pretend the king was in the audience and to perform for him. “The king is in the audience. Play to the king,” said Booth.

One day later, Booth received a note that bore the royal seal. It was a note of appreciation from the king. He had been in the audience. He had chosen the stormy night, thinking few would be present. He sat in the back unrecognized. They had played to the king.

Whatever we do, whether we realize it or not, we play to the King.

View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

Illustration: God

J. Michael Shannon

Sir Ernest Shackleton became a folk hero because of his expeditions to Antarctica. He once described his journeys this way: “When I look back on those days with all their anxiety and peril, I cannot doubt that our party of three was divinely guided over the ice and across the storm-swept sea…it seemed to be often that we were not three, but four.”

View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

Illustration: God

J. Michael Shannon

A few years ago a school bus driver in a Chicago suburb legally changed his name to “In God We Trust.” His name was Steve Kreuscher. When the judge agreed to the change, Steve’s first name was declared to be “In God,” and his last name was declared to be “We Trust.” You can only imagine what kind of looks he will get when he signs his name or introduces himself. Mr. We Trust is also an amateur artist. He said at the time the name change was a genuine tribute to God who helped him through some difficult times. He also said he couldn’t wait to begin using his new name on his artwork. Whatever we think of In God’s decision, we know that whether you bear it as a name or print it on your coins, it makes a better philosophy.

View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.