Free Sermon Illustrations for May 2, 2010 from SermonStudio
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Windows For Life
Inspirational And Devotional Illustrations
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Not being a television electronic designer, I do not know why all television sets begin with Channel 2. In recent years many more channels have been added, but none ever uses number 1.
What is Channel One? I call it Prayer.
Prayer is far superior to any other communications channel. It is universal and exacts no fee except the portion of our time that we give to it.
The Bible gives numerous illustrations of prayer demonstrating how it helps us make connections with God. It can be used at any time or occasion; not just when we feel we are inadequate or in fear of death.
Do you remember what the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote about prayer?
More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.
Wherefore, let thy voice rise like a fountain for me night and day.
For what are men better than sheep or goats --
that nourish a blind life within the brain;
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
both for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way bound
by gold chains about the feet of God.
Let us use the Prayer Channel, Channel One.
***
We disagree with the news media on where most people attend events on Sunday. Consider the state of Ohio.
The total average attendance of just one denomination, the United Methodist Church, on a given Sunday, from both the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences, would fill the 100,000+ seats in the Ohio State University stadium more than twice!
Add to that the attendance of Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, and the United Church of Christ, plus 20 or more other groups, not forgetting the Charismatic Churches, and you can readily see four or five million people together.
Contrast that with the numbers gathered at sports arenas for major league teams, such as the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians, and the smaller stadiums found in Columbus, Dayton, Akron, and Toledo; they will not come near the church totals.
Questions: Which group, churches or sporting events, receives the most money? Which group influences the moral standards and core values of society the most?
Think about it.
***
God permits adversity, just like an earthly father may permit his child to fall and get hurt when beginning to ride a bicycle or learning to skate.
Go with us to the pottery shop. Here we see various pots, plates, and vases with some dull paste markings. They are placed in a kiln, and after hours have passed they are removed, showing colorful blues, reds, or other hues of color.
How does the color get into the clay? The potter speaks with a twinkle in his eye: "The fire put it there."
Adversity can bring out better qualities of our soul, if we let God work through it. Jesus provided it for us.
***
It was the season of the year when snow melts and springtime rains had raised the nearby stream to flood stage. Several people stood on the bank watching the angry swirl of fast-moving water. A boat was fastened to the tree at the bank.
One fellow spied a rabbit out on an island in the flood. He said, "I'm going out to that island in the boat and get that rabbit!"
"Don't try it; it is too dangerous," someone said.
But the man went to the boat, got in, untied it from its mooring, and began to row as strongly as he could to get to the island. It was not easy to do, but he made it. He retrieved the rabbit, put it in his hunting coat pocket, and again entered the boat to go to the shore.
But the rushing stream upset the boat, and the man was dragged under by the water and was swiftly carried away. They found his body about a half mile downstream, caught in some shore debris.
One of the men who found him pulled the dead rabbit out of the dead man's coat pocket and said, "That's what he gave his life for!"
What would we give our lives for?
***
I will meet you in the morning,
Just inside the Eastern Gate;
Then be ready faithful pilgrim,
Lest with you it be too late.
If you hasten off to glory,
Linger near the Eastern Gate.
I am coming in the morning,
So you'll not have long to wait.
Keep your lamp all trimmed and burning,
For the Bridegroom watch and wait;
He'll be with us at the meeting,
Just inside the Eastern Gate.
O, the joy of that grand morning,
With the saints who for us wait;
What a blessed happy morning,
Just inside the Eastern Gate.
I will meet you in the morning,
I will meet you in the morning,
Just inside the Eastern Gate over there;
I will meet you in the morning,
I will meet you in the morning,
I will meet you in the morning over there.
-- L. G. Martin
Not being a television electronic designer, I do not know why all television sets begin with Channel 2. In recent years many more channels have been added, but none ever uses number 1.
What is Channel One? I call it Prayer.
Prayer is far superior to any other communications channel. It is universal and exacts no fee except the portion of our time that we give to it.
The Bible gives numerous illustrations of prayer demonstrating how it helps us make connections with God. It can be used at any time or occasion; not just when we feel we are inadequate or in fear of death.
Do you remember what the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote about prayer?
More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.
Wherefore, let thy voice rise like a fountain for me night and day.
For what are men better than sheep or goats --
that nourish a blind life within the brain;
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
both for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way bound
by gold chains about the feet of God.
Let us use the Prayer Channel, Channel One.
***
We disagree with the news media on where most people attend events on Sunday. Consider the state of Ohio.
The total average attendance of just one denomination, the United Methodist Church, on a given Sunday, from both the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences, would fill the 100,000+ seats in the Ohio State University stadium more than twice!
Add to that the attendance of Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, and the United Church of Christ, plus 20 or more other groups, not forgetting the Charismatic Churches, and you can readily see four or five million people together.
Contrast that with the numbers gathered at sports arenas for major league teams, such as the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians, and the smaller stadiums found in Columbus, Dayton, Akron, and Toledo; they will not come near the church totals.
Questions: Which group, churches or sporting events, receives the most money? Which group influences the moral standards and core values of society the most?
Think about it.
***
God permits adversity, just like an earthly father may permit his child to fall and get hurt when beginning to ride a bicycle or learning to skate.
Go with us to the pottery shop. Here we see various pots, plates, and vases with some dull paste markings. They are placed in a kiln, and after hours have passed they are removed, showing colorful blues, reds, or other hues of color.
How does the color get into the clay? The potter speaks with a twinkle in his eye: "The fire put it there."
Adversity can bring out better qualities of our soul, if we let God work through it. Jesus provided it for us.
***
It was the season of the year when snow melts and springtime rains had raised the nearby stream to flood stage. Several people stood on the bank watching the angry swirl of fast-moving water. A boat was fastened to the tree at the bank.
One fellow spied a rabbit out on an island in the flood. He said, "I'm going out to that island in the boat and get that rabbit!"
"Don't try it; it is too dangerous," someone said.
But the man went to the boat, got in, untied it from its mooring, and began to row as strongly as he could to get to the island. It was not easy to do, but he made it. He retrieved the rabbit, put it in his hunting coat pocket, and again entered the boat to go to the shore.
But the rushing stream upset the boat, and the man was dragged under by the water and was swiftly carried away. They found his body about a half mile downstream, caught in some shore debris.
One of the men who found him pulled the dead rabbit out of the dead man's coat pocket and said, "That's what he gave his life for!"
What would we give our lives for?
***
I will meet you in the morning,
Just inside the Eastern Gate;
Then be ready faithful pilgrim,
Lest with you it be too late.
If you hasten off to glory,
Linger near the Eastern Gate.
I am coming in the morning,
So you'll not have long to wait.
Keep your lamp all trimmed and burning,
For the Bridegroom watch and wait;
He'll be with us at the meeting,
Just inside the Eastern Gate.
O, the joy of that grand morning,
With the saints who for us wait;
What a blessed happy morning,
Just inside the Eastern Gate.
I will meet you in the morning,
I will meet you in the morning,
Just inside the Eastern Gate over there;
I will meet you in the morning,
I will meet you in the morning,
I will meet you in the morning over there.
-- L. G. Martin
