Sermon Illustrations

The Train and the Boy

I would like to tell you a story about a man named John Griffith. John was the father of an 8-year-old boy during the 20’s and 30’s. John was very fortunate during those times, because he had job. John loved his son very much. He was the apple of his eye. John’s son was a normal little boy who constantly wanted to go to work with his father. John decided he would take his boy to work with him one day. John was bridge conductor across the Mississippi River. John was in charge of raising and lowering the bridge so that boats could get through and trains could pass. John’s son was so amazed at the gears and all the things that went along with his father’s job. They had brought their lunch to work with them that day and decided to eat their lunch on the bank of the river. John and his son was eating lunch and John had realized that in about 3 minutes the Memphis Belle carrying 300 passengers was getting ready to cross the bridge, but the bridge was not lowered. John didn’t want to alarm his son so he patted him on the shoulder and told him to sit right their and he would be right back. John hustled up the stairs, he grabbed the lever to lower the bridge and he had realized that somehow his son had climbed to the bridge and had fallen in between the gears of the bridge. John could hear the train coming carrying the 300 passengers. In his mind he started going over ways he could get his son from the gears and still lower the bridge, but he knew he had to make a choice. John lowered the bridge just in time for the train to pass crushing his son in between the gears. John looked at the train passing by and saw a man reading his newspaper a woman drinking her tea and another talking to his wife. John screamed at the...

Continue reading this sermon illustration (Free with PRO)

Related Sermon Illustrations

Related Sermons

  • The Precious Blood Of Jesus

    Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Feb 20, 2016
    based on 10 ratings
     | 56,917 views

    A sermon examining the mot precious substance in history... The sinless blood of our Savior!

  • You Are What You Eat Series

    Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 6, 2017
    based on 5 ratings
     | 41,808 views

    Daniel and his friends were strangers in a strange land and were surrounded by paganism. How did they deal with standing up for God in that setting, and how can we stand up for God in an increasingly offensive world?

  • Diagnosing The Check Engine Light Series

    Contributed by John Sears on Feb 4, 2014
    based on 8 ratings
     | 29,320 views

    Mutual accountability is important to the life and health of the individual and to the life and health of the church. How do we handle the difficult task of mutual accountability? And how can it help us grow as followers of Jesus?

  • Called To Be Different

    Contributed by Derrick Thompson, Sr. on May 26, 2012
    based on 1 rating
     | 28,688 views

    Let's not try to be like everbody else, we are different, and God knew exactly what He was doing when He made us. We are all uniquely made by God, and it is time to accept ourselevs as different, and stop being insecure about who we are.

  • The Basis Of Obedience & Forgiveness Series

    Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Oct 22, 2012
    based on 14 ratings
     | 26,873 views

    The believer who craves to grow more Christ-like must go to the Advocate & through Jesus' sacrifice find the cleansing & the conviction necessary to leave the horror of sin. Those who have done so will abide in God’s Word & walk in Christ-likeness.