Sermon Illustration

Author and pastor Max Lucado said that giving up beer helped him get closer to God. Lucado said, "I come from a family of alcoholism. If there's anything about this DNA stuff, I've got it." For more than 20 years, drinking wasn't a major issue for Lucado. But a couple of years ago, it nearly became one. Lucado recalled, "I lowered my guard a bit. One beer with a barbecue won't hurt. Then another time with Mexican food. Then a time or two with no food at all." One afternoon on his way to speak at a men's retreat he began to plot: "Where could I buy a beer and not be seen by anyone I know?" He drove to an out-of-the-way convenience store, parked, and waited till all the patrons left. He entered, bought a beer, held it close to his side, and hurried to his car. "I felt a sense of conviction," Lucado remembers, "because the night before I'd had a long talk with my oldest daughter about not covering things up." Luca...

On a dangerous sea coast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a crude little life-saving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea and with no thought for themselves went out day and night tirelessly searching for the lost. Some of those who were saved, and various others in the surrounding area, wanted to become associated with the station and give of their time and money and effort for the support of its work. New boats were bought and new crews trained. The little lifesaving station grew. Some members of the lifesaving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those saved from the sea. They replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in the enlarged building. Now the lifesaving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they decorated it ...

The folklore surrounding Poland's famous concert pianist and prime minister, Ignace Paderewski, includes this story: A mother, wishing to encourage her young son's progress at the piano, bought tickets for a Paderewski performance. When the night arrived, they found their seats near the front of the hall and eyed the majestic Steinway waiting on the stage. Soon the mother found a friend to talk to, and the boy slipped away. When 8pm arrived, the spotlights came on, the audience quieted, and only then did they notice the boy up on stage sitting at the bench, innocently picking out, "Twinkle, twinkle little star." His mother gasped, but before she could retrieve her son, the master appeared on the stage and quickly moved to the keyboard. "Don't quit - keep playing," he whispered to the boy. Leaning over, the master reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around the other side, encircling the ...

We forget Lincoln's road to the White House: Failed in business in 1831, defeated for legislature in 1832, second failure in business in 1833, suffered nervous breakdown in 1836, defeated for Speaker in 1838, defeated for Elector in 1840, defeated for Congress in 1843, defeated for Congress in 1848, defeated for Congress in 1848, defeated for Senate in 1855, defeated for Vice-President in 1856, defeated for Senate in 1858, elected President in 1860.

The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him. "Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I'll open up your heart..." "You'll find Jesus there," the boy interrupted. The surgeon looked up, annoyed. "I'll cut your heart open," he continued, "to see how much damage has been done..." "But when you open up my heart, you'll find Jesus in there." The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat quietly. "When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest back up and I'll plan what to do next." "But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The Bible says He lives there. The hymns all say He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart." The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart. I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll find out if I can make you we...

A man caught in a terrible flood climbed on top of his house to avoid the rushing water and prayed to God that he’d be saved. A few minutes later a boat came by and offered him a ride. “No, thank you,” he said, “I trust God to rescue me.” A few minutes later a helicopter flew overhead and dropped down a rope ladder. His response was the same. Finally, another boat came by and offered to help him, but no, he was waiting on God. He was eventually lost in the flood, and in heaven asked God why he didn’t save him. God’s response was simple: “I tried three times, but you wouldn’t accept my help!”

A blonde finds herself in serious trouble. Her business has gone bust and she's in dire financial straits. She's so desperate that she decides to ask God for help. She begins to pray ... 'God, please help me. I've lost my business and if I don't get some money, I'm going to lose my house as well. Please let me win the lottery .' Lottery night comes, and somebody else wins. She again prays ... 'God, please let me win the lottery! I've lost my business, my house and I'm going to lose my car as well.' Lottery night comes and she still has no luck. Once again, she prays ... 'My God, why have you forsaken me? I've lost my business, my house and my car. My children are starving. I don't often ask You for help, and I've always been a good servant to you. PLEASE let me win the lottery just this one time so I can get my life back in order.' Suddenly there is a blinding flash of light as the heavens open. Th...

It sometimes helps to see things from another perspective. Lord, thank thee for this sink of dirty dishes...We have plenty of food to eat. Thank thee for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry... We have plenty of nice clothes to wear. And I would like to thank thee, Lord, for those unmade beds in there... They were so warm and so comfortable last night... I know that many have no bed. My thanks to thee, Lord, for this bathroom complete with all the splattered mirrors, soggy, grimy towels and dirty lavatory... They are so convenient. Thank thee for this finger smudged refrigerator that needs defrosting so badly... It has served us faithfully for many years... It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers for two or three meals. Thank thee Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today... It has baked so many things over the years. The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing....The lawn that needs raking... We all enjoy the yard. Thank thee...