Sermon Illustration

There is an old story about a devout mother, who had a large and busy family. This family, composed mostly of boys, lived in the country; and in most seasons of the year that meant the children were constantly out of doors, coming and going about their work or play—checking in at mealtimes, but off again at full speed afterwards. But as twilight drew its curtains across the end of each day, the mother would begin to count her brood, concerned when not all could be found within the shelter of the home. “Are all the children in?” she would ask her oldest son. And as the darkness grew, so did her anxiety if any were missing. “Not all in? Go! Ring the bell again!” she would exclaim. She could not rest easy until she was assured that all were safe within. I told that story at my mother’s funeral, years ago—for she was just such a mother, and I knew it had been her concern for years that all her children be gathered safe against the night, within the bosom of the Savior she so loved. “Are...

Basically, God is looking for us to serve Him in three ways: as a wife (bride of Christ), as a worker, and as a witness. Wife—The good wife comes from the fact that Christians are the bride of Christ. Christ expects His bride to be pure (avoid the things of the world that would defile us) and chaste (not flirting with the world or running after other loves). That’s easy to understand. These are the same things you want of your husband or wife. When we violate God’s rules in marriage we come to the big “D’s” (and I don’t mean Dallas!)—disgrace, disease, debt, dishonor, and divorce. Worker—a good worker is someone who comes to work on time every day; gives an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay; and does his job without complaining. These are simple ideas that should apply to your place of employment as well as your place of worship. Witness—Witnessing is not throwing someone in a corner and making them believe as you believe. Witnessing is simply telling people the difference ...

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds, and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Ted Engstrom, in The Pursuit of Excellence, tells of one day when he was cleaning his desk, and found a flashlight which had not been used for over a year. Trying the switch, he couldn’t get it to light. He unscrewed the top, and shook the flashlight, but the batteries wouldn’t budge. Then suddenly, after a quick shake and a knock against his arm, the batteries came loose and went clattering to the floor. What a mess! Battery acid had corroded the inside of the flashlight. Ted was disgusted. The batteries were new when he put the flashlight into the warm, dry drawer. That was the problem! Batteries are meant to be used; not hidden away! It’s the same with us. Our faith is not meant to be stored away! It is intended to be shown everyday in our life. In the midst of difficult and trying situations, like the flashlight, we are to let our light shine. The Visitor

Over the door of a church in Scotland are carved the three Hebrew words translated in our Bible, “He that winneth souls is wise” (Prov. 11:30). They were put there as an indication of the object of the church’s existence, and also in the hope that some Jews passing by might see them, and come in to worship the God of Abraham. Dr. Bonar preached from these words on the day on which the church was opened, explaining that “winning” was the word used to describe a hunter stalking game, and reminding “soul-winners” that their work must be done in a wise way. “How carefully David prepared to meet Goliath! He chose five smooth stones out of the brook. He did not assume that one would be lying by his hand when he needed it. Never go to the Lord’s work with meager preparation.” —James Hastings

Some time ago an evangelist, traveling on the cars, was singing to himself the song, “I’ve been Redeemed.” A fellow passenger, hearing, joined him in the son. After singing, the evangelist put the question to the stranger, “Have you been redeemed?” “Yes, praise the Lord,” was the answer. “May I ask you how long since?” “About nineteen hundred years ago,” came the reply. The astonished evangelist echoed in surprise, “Nineteen hundred years ago?” “Yes,” was the reply, “but I’m sorry that it’s not more than a year that I’ve known it.”

Robley D. Evans will scarcely go down in fame as a diplomat; but in all his stirring career, remarks the New York Sun, he never rendered a greater service to this country than during that trying time in the harbor of Valparaiso when his little gunboat, the Yorktown, was the sole representative of our naval power in Chilean waters. Insult after insult was coolly heaped upon the young captain’s hot-tempered head, and diplomacy was needed. Evans lay in the harbor with nine Chilean war vessels about him. The Chileans were celebrating some independence day or other with fireworks and searchlight drills. The white beams from the Chilean vessels had an impudent way of swinging occasionally on the little Yorktown, where she lay within machine-gun range of the Chilean cruisers. As the cruiser Cochrane fired her salute she let off a flight of war-rockets, and one of the heavy bombs barely missed the Yorktown. “I at once hoisted a large American flag,” read Evans’ log, “and turned both my searchl...

A commercial traveler, named Rigby, was compelled to spend a weekend every quarter in Edinburgh. He always worshiped in Dr. Alexander Whyte’s church and always tried to persuade some other visitor to accompany him. On one occasion, having taken a Roman Catholic traveler there who thereby accepted Christ, he called on Dr. Whyte to tell him of the conversion. The doctor then asked his name, and on being told that it was Rigby, he exclaimed: “Why, you are the man I’ve been looking for for years!” He then went to his study and returned with a bundle of letters from which he read such extracts as these: “I was spending a weekend in Edinburgh some weeks ago, and a fellow commercial traveler named Rigby invited me to accompany him to St. George’s. The message of that service changed my life.” “I am a young man, and the other day I came to hear you preach at the invitation of a man called Rigby, and in that service I decided to dedicate my life to Christ.” Dr. Whyte went on to say that twelve ...