Sermon Central
-
God, Please Help Me! Rescue Me! Help Me!
Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 25, 2026 (message contributor)
The story opens: It was a dark and stormy night.
A man was walking along a seaside cliff.
He was unfamiliar with the path and didn't know that a part of it had crumbled away.
He stepped onto the crumbled bank and found himself sliding down the edge of the cliff.
He was frantically scratching and grabbing for anything to grasp to stop his fall, and finally he grabbed onto a small root protruding from the face of the cliff.
He was hanging on for dear life.
Because it was a dark night, he couldn't see the sky or the water below.
But he could hear the sound of the crashing waves on the rocks below.
Soon, his fingers grew tired and so he cried out, "God, please help me! Rescue me! Help me!"
In a few moments God said to the man, "Let go of the root and trust me."
"No, God! I can't do that.
I've got to hang on for dear life!"
Again, he heard the voice, "I am the truth and the life.
Let go and trust me."
But the man continued to hang on with all of his might.
His fingers were aching, and his arms began to cramp.
Finally, with sweat filling his eyes, he said, "Okay, God.
I'll let go and trust you."
He released the root and fell...four inches onto a wide, rock path right below his feet all along.
He felt like such a fool.
He had been straining and holding on for dear life when safety was just below his feet.
Only when he let go of his own efforts did he learn that God could be trusted.
Many people still try to experience salvation by holding on to their own efforts, yet salvation only comes by resting ... resting in Christ ... the Lord of the Sabbath.
So, ... stop trying ... start trusting!
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
A Newly Appointed Young Preacher Was Contacted By ...
Contributed by Craig West on Dec 10, 2004
A newly appointed young preacher was contacted by the local funeral director to hold a graveside committal service at a small country cemetery in Iowa. There was to be no funeral, just the committal, because sadly, the deceased had no family or friends left in Iowa. The young pastor started ...read more
-
Don't Move The Piano PRO
Contributed by James Chandler on Jan 10, 2007
A new preacher at the local church walked into the auditorium of His new church. He thought it would be best to move the piano from the right side of the stage to the left side of the stage, so he moved it. Soon after he was fired for the disruption caused by ...read more
-
Pulling The Plow Themselves PRO
Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 23, 2004
Illus.: “Pulling the Plow Themselves” Shortly after the Korean War ended, two businessmen took a trip around the world. During their tour of Korea they traveled by bus with a missionary guide. In a field nearby they noticed a young boy pulling a plow. One of the businessmen commented on how poor ...read more
-
T.w. Hunt Said In His Book "The Doctrine Of ... PRO
Contributed by Jeff Simms on Jul 11, 2004
T.W. Hunt said in his book “The Doctrine of Prayer” “Selfishness brings into our experience a danger so great that God knows He cannot coddle us with answers hostile to the very thing He is working to achieve in us. I would not give a murderer a knife to pamper one of his whims. God will not ...read more
-
City Slickers
Contributed by Sam Peters on Mar 1, 2007
(If available, use the clip illustrated here) In the movie City Slickers, Mitch (Billy Crystal) is on a Baby Boomer cattle drive in search of the real meaning of life. In one scene he is out riding with the gritty trail boss, Curly (Jack Palance). Curly realizes why Mitch is on the trip and ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Doors: Open Or Closed
Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Aug 24, 2017
The majority of the body of Christ believes that God opens doors (a "yes" answer to prayer) and closes doors (a "no" answer to prayer) in their lives. Does scripture support such a belief?
-
When God Restores: Steps To Recovery & Restoration In God
Contributed by Jeremiah Menyongai on Mar 10, 2020
As believers, our hope ultimately rests in the promise that Christ will come back for us one day and make all things new. But what about the here & now? The Bible is full of examples of how God makes things new for His glory & our good.
-
Hope In A Covenant Of Faith Series
Contributed by Dean Courtier on Feb 18, 2018
A Covenant of Faith and a man named Abraham. Romans 4:3, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
-
I’m Going Through, But I’m Coming Out
Contributed by Dr. Jwt Spies on Jul 24, 2020
In the face of adversity God will see you through.
-
Knowing God
Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Sep 12, 2017
Paul wrote to Timothy, "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day." There is a great difference between knowing about God, and knowing God. Paul knew the one to whom he trusted all.
