Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas

Sermon Illustrations

Ernest Gordon’s Miracle on the River Kwai:

The Scottish soldiers, forced by their Japanese captors to labour on a jungle railroad, had degenerated to barbarous behaviour, but one afternoon something happened. A shovel was missing. The officer in charge became enraged. He demanded that the missing shovel be produced, or else. When nobody in the squadron budged, the officer got his gun and threatened to kill them all on the spot . . . It was obvious the officer meant what he had said.

Then, finally, one man stepped forward. The officer put away his gun, picked up a shovel, and beat the man to death. When it was over, the survivors picked up the bloody corpse and carried it with them to the second tool check. This time, no shovel was missing. Indeed, there had been a miscount at the first check point. The word spread like wildfire through the whole camp. An innocent man had been willing to die to save the others! . . .

Related Sermon Illustrations

Related Sermons

  • What Is Good About Friday? An Easter Message Series

    Contributed by Dean Courtier on Apr 1, 2016
    based on 5 ratings
     | 16,495 views

    Have you ever wondered what is good about Good Friday? What is good about a day that exists to commemorate the torture and execution of Jesus on a cross?

  • Contagious Christianity

    Contributed by Chris Surber on Apr 12, 2008
    based on 4 ratings
     | 16,426 views

    It is genuine Christianity which turned the world upside down and it is genuine Christ-like love which transforms lives.

  • When A Little Guy Meets A Big God

    Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Nov 6, 2016
    based on 1 rating
     | 14,309 views

    Jesus reaches out to the smallest and the evilest among us with a very personal invitation. He calls us by name. He invites himself over. He desires nothing less than a radically changed life, submitted to him, and all for our good!

  • We Are More Than Conquerors

    Contributed by Timm Meyer on Feb 12, 2008
    based on 5 ratings
     | 14,059 views

    Lent 1 (B) - We are more than conquerors. Nothing can stand against the believer. Nothing can separate from God’s love.

  • Caught In The Act Series

    Contributed by Seth Lawson on Jan 22, 2018
    based on 3 ratings
     | 13,715 views

    Examining this event from Jesus' life and ministry in John 8, we can learn to live as he lived and love as he loved ... no condemnation, no compromise, full of compassion.

Browse All Media

Related Media