Sermon Illustrations

I looked about some more and saw a huge maple tree. Magnificent, tall and strong it had many leaves like a flowing royal garment. It was lush and full of gorgeous green foliage so not a branch could be seen. It was in all its glory.

-Lisa DeLay, wrier and founder of wit4life.com

As I continued my gaze I noticed many of the middle branches of leaves were moving in various circular motions. It seemed fairly standard at first, but it went on and on never stopping. The tree’s mid-section was in continual movement. Round and round, undulating and moving for over five minutes with no ending in sight. What kind of a breeze does that? I thought.

A rainstorm is rolling in, I thought. The trees must be blowing from an undercurrent of storm weather breezes. I surveyed the surrounding trees and saw none moving the same strange way. They were blowing in a typical fashion. This first maple seemed to be having its own party. It seemed alive. Could scores of children be hiding in the tree and gyrating the branches? I thought. Then it dawned on me, the tree is dancing! The weather is wonderful right now. I really think it’s dancing in joy.

Shortly before a meeting last week I stopped my car and spent several needed minutes in solitude. A moment of quiet and calm is very rare when you are a mother. I stopped myself from thinking about the hectic day, looked out of my windows and viewed the beautiful early evening.

May is such a nice time of year, I thought. It is when the green on the trees and hills redeem all of the gloominess from the winter and the heat has not yet descended for the dog days of summer. What a lovely twilight.

I looked about some more and saw a huge maple tree. Magnificent, tall and strong it had many leaves like a flowing royal garment. It was lush and full of gorgeous green foliage so not a branch could be seen. It was in all its glory.

As I continued my gaze I noticed many of the middle branches of leaves were moving in various circular motions. It seemed fairly standard at first, but it went on and on never stopping. The tree’s mid-section was in continual movement. Round and round, undulating and moving for over five minutes with no ending in sight. What kind of a breeze does that? I thought.

A rainstorm is rolling in, I thought. The trees must be blowing from an undercurrent of storm weather breezes. I surveyed the surrounding trees and saw none moving the same strange way. They were blowing in a typical fashion. This first maple seemed to be having its own party. It seemed alive. Could scores of children be hiding in the tree and gyrating the branches? I thought. Then it dawned on me, the tree is dancing! The weather is wonderful right now. I really think it’s dancing in joy.

I was reminded of the verse in Isaiah 55:12

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace. The mountains and hills will burst forth into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

I did go out from my car in joy and peace. I do believe I saw this tree dance and clap its hands. What a sight! Maybe you can’t believe if you don’t see it for yourself, but I was actually inspired. If I hadn’t chosen that time for a moment of brief solitude I would have missed the beautiful dancing tree. So if trees can dance and clap their hands, surely I can find the joy to be grateful for each day of spring as well. All creation is full of God’s glory.

I hope you find the time to see the dancing tree in your life.

Related Sermon Illustrations

  • Most Of Us Are Familiar With This Song – It's The ...

    Contributed by Robert Marsh on Mar 22, 2005
    based on 1 rating
     | 30,976 views

    Most of us are familiar with this song – it’s the theme from the television show Friends. But have you ever caught the lyrics to the song? They read, in part: So no one told you life was gonna be this way Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s D.O.A. It’s like you’re always stuck ...read more

  • A Man Was Packing A Shipment Of Food ...

    Contributed by David Dewitt on Aug 20, 2002
    based on 1 rating
     | 10,188 views

    "A man was packing a shipment of food contributed by a school for the poor people of Appalachia. He was separating beans from powdered milk, and canned vegetables from canned meats. Reaching into a box filled with various cans, he pulled out a little brown paper sack. Apparently one of the ...read more

  • Don't Move The Piano  PRO

    Contributed by James Chandler on Jan 10, 2007
    based on 2 ratings
     | 8,541 views

    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

  • Giving In Theory  PRO

    Contributed by Susan Blader on Jan 21, 2007
    based on 3 ratings
     | 6,215 views

    Giving in Theory The story is told of the missionary who asked a new convert, “Pablo, if you had a hundred sheep, would you give fifty of them to the Lord’s work?” “You know I would gladly give them,” he replied. “Pablo, if you had fifty cows, would you give twenty-five to the Lord’s ...read more

  • A Fifteen-Year-Old Boy Came Bounding Into The ...  PRO

    Contributed by Donnie Martin on May 11, 2003
    based on 2 ratings
     | 5,057 views

    A fifteen-year-old boy came bounding into the house and found his mom in bed. He asked if she were sick or something. He was truly concerned. Mom replied that, as a matter of fact, she didn’t feel too well. The son replied, “Well, don’t worry a bit about dinner. I’ll be happy to ...read more

Related Sermons