Sermon Illustrations

Construction workers attempt to use God to take what is Caesars. (Matt 22:15-21)

In the late 1970’s large numbers of skilled construction workers, commonly referred to as “Boomers”, traveled the country looking for work on electric power plant maintenance projects. These were short-term (4-8 weeks), high-overtime (60-70 hours a week) projects.

The Boomers loved the overtime, but hated to pay taxes. So they came up with a scheme. Suddenly, our payroll department noticed something unusual about the W-4’s many of the Boomers were filling out at time of hire. As you know for most people the normal number of tax exemptions is 2, 3, 4 or so depending on family size. The higher the number of exemptions, the less tax is withheld from the weekly paycheck. These Boomers were filing W-4’s with 99 exemptions, which had the effect of eliminating any tax withholding from their paycheck.

Needless to say, the IRS took exception to this practice and required these workers to justify their claim of exemption from withholding taxes.

The Boomers were ready for the IRS. Each promptly produced a letter/certificate from a so-called School of Theology in Illinois which declared the Boomer to be an ordained minister. The Boomer’s letter was on stationary from the Church of This or the Church of That in Illinois, professing that he/she was the pastor of that church and that all labor was rendered in the name of God and all earnings belonged to the Church and were therefore tax exempt.

Well, the IRS didn’t buy that...

Continue reading this sermon illustration (Free with PRO)

Related Sermon Illustrations

  • When We Let Go Of Money, We Are Letting Go Of ...  PRO

    Contributed by Mary Lewis on Aug 6, 2003
    based on 11 ratings
     | 18,161 views

    When we let go of money, we are letting go of part of ourselves and part of our security. But this is precisely why it is important to do it. It is one way to obey Jesus’ command to deny ourselves.… When we give money, we are releasing a little more of our egocentric selves and a little more of our ...read more

  • Dead In Unrighteousness  PRO

    Contributed by Clark Tanner on Oct 18, 2002
    based on 3 ratings
     | 8,837 views

    DEAD IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS Several years ago a movie came out called “Death Becomes Her”. I don’t recommend it. It was dark humor at best, but the few funny parts weren’t worth the cost of the movie rental; much less, a theatre ticket. But the basic premise of the movie turns out to be a ...read more

  • A Limerick Conveys A Message Very Pertinent To ...  PRO

    Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 7, 2002
    based on 2 ratings
     | 6,009 views

    A limerick conveys a message very pertinent to all of us in the Lord’s Body. There once were two cats of Killkenny. Each thought there was one cat too many. They fought and they spit, they clawed and they bit, till instead of two cats there weren’t any! How many times have we seen the saga of ...read more

  • And Starting Today, You Are Beginning To Turn ...  PRO

    Contributed by Peter Schmidt on Nov 13, 2003
    based on 2 ratings
     | 5,852 views

    And starting today, you are beginning to turn into adults. While your parents still are going to make a lot of choices for you, you are just beginning that Phase where you begin to make some life-changing decisions. You will learn that mom and dad won’t always be there to tell you what to do. I’m ...read more

  • Anyway  PRO

    Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 18, 2002
    based on 6 ratings
     | 5,550 views

    Quote. (John Maxwell) Do It Anyway! People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. – Love them anyway! If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. – Do good anyway! If you are successful you will win false friends and true enemies. – Succeed anyway! The good you ...read more

Related Sermons

  • The Joy Of Giving Series

    Contributed by Erik Estep on Mar 7, 2016
    based on 1 rating
     | 35,573 views

    Sermon #3 of "Give" series. One of the great blessings that comes with giving is joy.

  • The Anointing Of Multiplication

    Contributed by Troy Campbell on Oct 5, 2011
    based on 4 ratings
     | 24,769 views

    In John 10:10, this kind of life is referred to in the Greek as zoe life. Zoe life is life on a higher dimension. It is eternal, victorious, powerful and rich. To have the God-kind of life, you must abide in the anointing. Learning to utilize the anoi

  • Anzac Day/Memorial Day

    Contributed by Noel Atkinson on Apr 26, 2010
    based on 1 rating
     | 19,249 views

    This sermon looks at the sacrifices soldiers make on behalf of others. This is the same sacrifice Jesus makes for us on the cross. We have been bought with a high price and should enjoy our lives.

  • Vida Abundante

    Contributed by Raquel Martinez on Apr 9, 2011
    based on 4 ratings
     | 18,767 views

    Dios quiere que seamos felices y disfrutemos la vida. No solo sobrevivir, sino disfrutar.

  • Be Holy?

    Contributed by Richard Francis on Jan 31, 2009
    based on 5 ratings
     | 16,751 views

    How do you feel to "Be Holy as I am holy" up to the task, impossible? Take heart and lets explore holiness and living like Jesus and find hope in loving like Jesus

Browse All Media

Related Media


Giving Hands
SermonCentral
Preaching Slide
Treasure
SermonCentral
Preaching Slide