Robberies are not unusual, but this one is. A sketch by artist Salvador Dali has been stolen from the men’s prison at Riker’s Island. The sketch is of Jesus Christ on the cross. The sketch could be worth from $175,000 to as much as three times that amount.

It seems amazing that this work of art could be stolen from a place so well guarded. We can hope that the thief who stole it might be so influenced by the depiction of Christ that he might return it and steal no longer. The more we comprehend the Christ of the cross, the more inclined we are toward reformation.

-Michael Shannon, Preaching May/June 2003


View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

Share this content with your peers!

According to the people at “Ripley’s Believe it or Not,” the cornerstone of the Washington Monument, which was laid on July 4, 1884, disappeared and has never been found. How could someone have carried off the stone which weighed 24,500 pounds? Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith and the church. Some might argue that our cornerstone is missing. This is not true. He is a living stone and he lives and reigns in his church from the glories of heaven. He is not lost, we know where he is.

-Michael Shannon, Preaching September/October 2003


View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

Mel Gibson, star and director of many an action film, has taken on a new challenge. Gibson, a devout Roman Catholic, felt a compulsion to produce the most accurate film depiction yet of the life of Christ, so accurate the characters speak in Aramaic. Gibson has used his considerable clout to make it happen along with the financing of about 25 million dollars. When Gibson was thanked for producing the film he said, “I was afraid not to.” To keep in the right frame of mind, Gibson went to mass daily. The film star went on to recount that many people working on the film, including some agnostics were converted as a result of thinking on what they were depicting in the movie. There is indeed a power in the person of Christ. People may criticize the church and even the Bible. Rare is the person who will say a bad word about Jesus.

-Michael Shannon, Preaching September/October 2003

 


View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

Mel Gibson, star and director of many an action film, has taken on a new
challenge. Gibson, a devout Roman Catholic, felt a compulsion to
produce the most accurate film depiction yet of the life of Christ,
so accurate the characters speak in Aramaic. Gibson has used his
considerable clout to make it happen along with the financing of
about 25 million dollars. When Gibson was thanked for producing the
film he said, “I was afraid not to.”

To keep
in the right frame of mind, Gibson went to mass daily. The film star
went on to recount that many people working on the film, including
some agnostics were converted as a result of thinking on what they
were depicting in the movie. There is indeed a power in the person of
Christ. People may criticize the church and even the Bible. Rare is
the person who will say a bad word about Jesus.
_______________

J. Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati, OH.


View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

Robberies
are not unusual, but this one is. A sketch by artist Salvador Dali
has been stolen from the men’s prison at Riker’s Island. The sketch
is of Jesus Christ on the cross. The sketch could be worth from
$175,000 to as much as three times that amount.

It seems
amazing that this work of art could be stolen from a place so well
guarded. We can hope that the thief who stole it might be so
influenced by the depiction of Christ that he might return it and
steal no longer. The more we comprehend the Christ of the cross, the
more inclined we are toward reformation.

_______________

J. Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati, OH.


View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.