Illustrations Archives

• To Illustrate: Atonement  (July 1, 2008)
  According to a Ripley?s column, there is a Shinto ceremony where people feed the alcohol drink sake to carps and then release the fish, believing they will swim away, carrying the troubles of the person who released them.
• Humility  (June 3, 2008)
  An elderly minister who survived the great Johnstown Flood of 1889 loved to regale audiences with tales of that harrowing event. When he died and went to heaven, he found himself in a meeting of saints who were sharing their life experiences. He took St. Peter aside and asked if he could tell about surviving the Johnstown Flood. Peter hesitated, then said, "Well, you can tell your story, but just keep in mind that Brother Noah will be in the audience...
• Church  (June 3, 2008)
  In the basement of America?s largest home, the Biltmore mansion in Asheville, North Carolina, you can see a model of the struc­ture. The model was completed first as a guide to build the home...
• Greed  (June 2, 2008)
  According an old fable, attributed to Aesop, a dog was carrying a bone as he crossed a bridge. He looked into the water and saw his own reflection...
• Preaching for Life Change  (May 5, 2008)
  Are there some particular insights you?ve gained during the years that help you preach for life change?
• To Illustrate: Worship  (May 3, 2008)
  In a recent ?Dennis the Menace? comic, Dennis is seated in church beside his father. He looks up and says, ?Is it OK if we leave at half time??
• To Illustrate: Worship  (May 3, 2008)
  In a recent ?Dennis the Menace? comic, Dennis is seated in church beside his father. He looks up and says, ?Is it OK if we leave at half time??
• To Illustrate: Wealth  (May 3, 2008)
  It is reported that Abraham Lincoln once said, ?You can see what God thinks of money when you see the people He gives it to.?
• To Illustrate: Wealth  (May 3, 2008)
  It is reported that Abraham Lincoln once said, ?You can see what God thinks of money when you see the people He gives it to.?
• To Illustrate: Swearing  (May 3, 2008)
  News reports recently told of something unusual in South Pasadena, California. The city council adopted a resolution calling for one week off from swearing.
• To Illustrate: Swearing  (May 3, 2008)
  News reports recently told of something unusual in South Pasadena, California. The city council adopted a resolution calling for one week off from swearing.
• To Illustrate: Sacrifice  (May 3, 2008)
  Nathaniel Greene was one of the most celebrated generals in the American Revolution. He was a favorite of General George Washington.
• To Illustrate: Serendipity  (May 3, 2008)
  In 1820, a man named Yorgos was digging in his field on the island of Milos in Greece. As he was digging, he hit upon some stones.
• To Illustrate: Perseverence  (May 3, 2008)
  Dustin Carter is an extraordinary athlete. He finished his high school wrestling career with a 40-4 record. While he made it to the Ohio state championship, he did not win.
• To Illustrate: Optimism  (May 3, 2008)
  Motivational speaker Jack Canfield likes to remind people of an incident in the life of Ty Cobb ...
• To Illustrate: Grace  (May 3, 2008)
  In one of Bishop Fulton Sheen?s books, he made an interesting observation about Christianity. He said, ?In other religions, one must be purified before he can knock at the door. In Christianity, one knocks at the door as a sinner, and He who answers us, heals.? If that is not good news, I don?t know what is.
• To Illustrate: Evangelism  (May 3, 2008)
  There is an old story about how the University of Chicago received a million-dollar grant from the heiress of a major department store. She had been a student at Northwest. So, administrators of Northwest went to visit her and asked why she had not made such a gift to her alma mater. Her answer was simple, ?The people at the University of Chicago asked. You did not.?
• To Illustrate: Discipleship  (May 3, 2008)
  Herb Miller used to tell a story about a man whose daughter was applying to an Ivy League school. In a questionnaire sent by the school, he was asked if his daughter was a leader. He answered honestly, ?I?m not sure about that, but she is an excellent follower.? The man received a letter back from the president of the college that said, ?Our freshman class next fall is expected to contain several hundred leaders. We congratulate ourselves on the acceptance of your daughter as a member of the class. We shall thus be assured of having one good follower in the group.?
• To Illustrate: Conflict  (May 3, 2008)
  Two writers who were bitter rivals were both attending the same party. One had recently had a book published, and the other commented to him, ?I read your new book, and liked it. Who wrote it for you?? The other replied, ?I?m glad you liked the book?who read it to you??
• Christian Life  (April 29, 2008)
  Basketball players dress simply: shoes, shirts, shorts, and sweatbands. But life is not so simple for football players ? and what about ice hockey players? Besides clothes, the athletes in these two sports have to cover themselves with pads and helmets for protection. Regardless of the sport, no athlete can expect to win without the proper equipment.