Sermon Central
-
The Name Auschwitz Brings Terror And Grief To ...
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007 (message contributor)
The name AUSCHWITZ brings terror and grief to the hearts of many people. It is the sight of an infamous NAZI DEATH CAMP where 4 million Jews died during World War II. A half-ton of hair is still PRESERVED. The SHOWERS that once sprayed POISON GAS still stand.
Maximillian Kolbe, a Franciscan priest who had been helping the Jews ESCAPE the NAZIS, was discovered and arrested, and then sent to AUSCHWITZ. While there he still tried to CARE for the PRISONERS. He BANDAGED their WOUNDS. He SHARED his FOOD. He gave up his BUNK. He PRAYED for his CAPTORS. He was soon nicknamed the “SAINT of AUSCHWITZ.”
In July, 1941, there was an ESCAPE. The CAMP RULE stated that upon every successful ESCAPE, 10 persons would DIE. All the PRISONERS would be gathered in the COURTYARD, and an SS OFFICER would be flipping through the pages RANDOMLY calling NAMES of the PRISONERS who would be IMMEDIATELY taken to a CELL where they would receive no FOOD and WATER until they DIED.
One by one NAMES were called. The tenth person called was a man named FRACISZEK GAJOWNICZEK. He was a SERGEANT in the Polish Army who had been CAPTURED. When his name was called he CRIED, “My WIFE and CHILDREN.” The officers turn as they hear MOVEMENT among the PRISONERS. The GUARDS raise their RIFLES. The DOGS tense, anticipating a command to ATTACK. A PRISONER has left his RANK and is PUSHING his way to the FRONT.
It is KOLBE. One of the GUARDS shout, “Stop or be SHOT” Kolbe said that he wanted to talk to the COMMANDER. For some reason, they left him. He said to the commander, “Let me DIE in the place of this man. I have no FAMILY. Besides, I am OLD and cannot do much WORK. He’s in much better CONDITION, and more USEFUL to you.” For a reason that we’ll never know, the SS OFFICER let Kolbe take the place of this man.
This PRIEST was marched off with nine other men to a COLD BASEMENT CELL where they were STRIPPED of their CLOTHES and kept without FOOD and WATER until they DIED. On August 14, 1941, the Saint of AUSCHWITZ and another were still wretchedly and miserably ALIVE, until a CAMP DOCTOR injected PHENOL into each one’s HEART and put them out of their MISERY.
Gajowniczek SURVIVED. He was LIBERATED by the ALLIES and was REUNITED with his WIFE and CHILDREN. In his backyard in Warsaw, Poland is a PLAQUE that he carved with his own hands as a MEMORIAL to Maximillian Kolbe. Until his death a few years agp he returned to AUSCHWITZ August 14th of every year and revisited the sight, and he WEPT and he PRAYED and THANKED God that someone CARED enough for him to DIE in his PLACE
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
From Chicago To Memphis PRO
Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Aug 28, 2003
From Chicago to Memphis That’s always how it is in the life of faith. Many times you will be called to step out for God and you will be precisely where Abraham was—believing God but not knowing what the future holds. When I think of that principle, my mind goes back to a conversation I had ...read more
-
Andy Fastow Was A Brilliant Kid In My High ... PRO
Contributed by Mark Connelly on Jul 31, 2003
Andy Fastow was a brilliant kid in my high school graduating class in New Providence New Jersey. He was one of the really good kids. In fact he was the student body president of my senior class. He went on to get a great education and a fantastic job. He climbed his way up the ladder until he ...read more
-
Andrew Carnegie Says, "No Man Will Make A Great ...
Contributed by Kent Lenard on Aug 24, 2003
Andrew Carnegie says, "No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get ...read more
-
Let's Imagine Dialogue Between Abraham And God. ... PRO
Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Aug 28, 2003
Let’s imagine dialogue between Abraham and God. “Abraham, this is God speaking. I want you to leave everything and go to the land I will show you.” “Where’s that?” “If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.” “Try me.” “It’s 1500 miles from here in a place called Canaan.” “Never heard of it.” ...read more
-
Nothing But Prayer And Worship PRO
Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Aug 28, 2003
Nothing But Prayer and Worship This week I chance to stop and worship God in an extended way for the first time in the last seven years. I spent four days with 75 other pastors in a Pastor’s Prayer Summit at a place called Wonderland Camp in Wisconsin. In my time I’ve been to many camps, ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Golgotha Series
Contributed by Derrick Strickland on Feb 27, 2016
Golgotha and Calvary are in fact the same place, they are inseparable. Neither can we separate the ugliness of the cross from the glory of the cross.
-
Who Am I?
Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 24, 2007
Psalm 106 gives insight on what is in us and also on why God would do this (give us salvation) for us! (Thanks to Sermon Central Contributor Paul Apple for some of these thoughts)
-
The Psalm Of The Cross Series
Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jun 28, 2009
Here we see Jesus: 1. Wondering about injustice (1-3). 2. In a wondrous relationship with the Father (9-10). 3. Willing to suffer (4-8 & 11-18). 4. Winning the victory (19-22). 5. Worthy of our praise (23-26). 6. Ruling the world forever (27-31).
-
The Mark Of Compassion Series
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Feb 8, 2007
Discover mark #2 that the cross leaves upon us in this exposition of Luke 23.
-
A Lost Sinner Sought And Saved
Contributed by Cesar Delgado on Mar 24, 2007
It is always of great rejoicing for our souls to read about the conversion of a sinner by God’s omnipotent grace
